milliways_bar | (no subject)

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"Five years."

Mal never remembers these things on his own. It's more when he steps up to the bar and he receives a note of congratulations from his mother the Barman and a cupcake from the bar.

"Wow."

Mal orders a Coke to go with the cupcake, requesting also a pad of paper and a ballpoint pen to get some notes written out for later.

Come on by when he settles into a booth. He's got the time, apparently.

[ooc: ~~open. very open.~~ not so open anymore! off to bed. <333]

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"Or the paper. Shame to waste it with frostings."

"Frosting's tastier than paper," she says decisively.

"You've beaten me there."

After a pause, "How's Simon?"

Kaylee glances up from her half of the cupcake.

"Fine? Why?"

"'Cause I wanted to ask."

The truth is usually that simple.

"You could write him instead of me," Kaylee suggests.

"He was on my list anyhow."

Mal picks at the cake part of his dessert first, popping one or two pieces in his mouth and enjoying them before picking up his pen and rolling it over his knuckles.

"Showoff."

"What -- " Mal looks down at his pen, "This?"

The pen rolls over his knuckles again - and under them.

"Yeah," she says, grinning. "That."

"Well. Thank you."

It seems a tiny thing to him, but now he wants to actually show off.

"'S how I try and keep kind of articulate in my fingers. Does me good. And lets me accidentally show off, according to my audience."

Kaylee leans her chin in her hand. "Captain, ain't much accident to it."

"Kind of an accident? I didn't actually think about it bein' something all that impressive, Kaylee."

Kaylee laughs. "Maybe I just need to get out more."

"Beyond your garden?"

"It's not very excitin' at this season," she points out. "Just green stuff pokin' up. Literally sittin' around and watchin' the grass grow."

"Then you're right; you may need to get out more. Any viable options just yet?"

Kaylee shrugs. "Some point Simon's gonna be headin' off to the Core for a couple weeks, minimum, and I reckon I'm gonna need somethin' to do then. Hadn't done much research yet, though."

Before he can really think about it: "You lemme know if I can help? I'm workin' on some things now to pick business back up, but...well. Just let me know?"

Kaylee tilts her head.

"Okay... you got anything particular in mind?"

"No. I've got a couple contacts to check in with, see what measure of exciting they may be up to."

Kaylee immediately looks pained. "Is this the kind of thing where I'm likely to get shot?" Beat. "Again?"

"No.

"As much as I can ever guarantee that."

Mal can admit things like that! He's grown!

"If this winds up with me bleedin', you get to explain it to him." Dry.

"But I'm in."

Mal smiles at this. She has an option, and she said I'm in.

"I'll keep you in the loop for details then. Meanwhile..."

Cue winning smile.

"You goin' to share that garden work any? I'm hoping for tomatoes..."