milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Brilliant young doctor in the bar.

To be more specific: Simon Tam, sitting by the fireplace. With a mug of cinnamon-laced coffee and a buttered bagel.

He's never had a bagel before. It's ... interesting.

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"Oh? How so?"

Simon's amused.

"For my birthday, Raven ga' me a pair o' knitting needles and some yarn. Well, he actually divebombed me with 'em, but same difference I imagine. So I figured I might as well use them, and now I made things for Kaylee and I'm makin' a blanket for baby Zash."

Mal looks inordinately proud of something that could quite possibly bring the downfall of any reputation Mal had.

"...Zash? Tell me that's not what they're going to name him."

Mal laughs, "If only. No, 's just what I've taken to callin' the baby 'til they suss out a name for him. Or her.

"I'll probably call the baby that once it's born, anyway, just to irritate Zo'. Captain's privelege."

Simon considers this.

"You do realize it's likely to irritate Wash even more."

Mal beams. "Possibly."

This may have also occurred to Mal under the heading 'Added Bonus'.

Wry: "...you know, I'm beginning to see why you and River get along so well."

This statement wins Simon a somewhat surprised glance, if not simply amused.

"Come again?"

"No ... not beginning, really. Just -- you've got similar senses of humor."

"Nice to know blatant sarcasm appeals to more folk than just me, really," Mal grins. "I suppose that should mean I should know what to get 'er for New Year's but I have no gorram idea."

"I'm not sure either," Simon admits.

A pause. "Are we likely to be putting down anytime before we reach Lavinia?"

"Actually, yeah - Meetin' Monty off o' Munro, exchange cargo. 'S a quick drop though, 'less crew need to stop off somewhere."

"Munro." Simon rubs his chin thoughtfully with two fingers. "That's far out enough that we could probably risk showing our faces in public, do you think?"

Mal nods. "I would say so, yes."

So that's what Mal needed to tell Simon.

"Speakin' o' showin' your faces, I'm in the process o' workin' out how you and River can come to the temple."

"...for the ceremony?"

Simon starts to smile.

"...Yes, for the ceremony. Zoe, 'Nara and me'll split off in Inara's shuttle as we all arrive at the temple. The house priestess is aware o' our requests for discreet measures. Plus with us bein' in a rather high-up and fancy place, the Companions there will never notice the entourage of a Companion novice like me, from way out on the Rim."

Yes, the phrase 'a Companion novice like me' made Mal twitch too, no worries.

"Well."

He can't seem to stop smiling.

"Looks like it's going to be an eventful few weeks."

"That it is." Simon's grinning seems to have rubbed off on Mal. "'s nice for eventfulness to be about the good stuff." Mal starts ticking off events on his fingers.

"Me 'n 'Nara, you 'n Kaylee, Wash gettin' his leg fixed up, the year dedicated to me - yup. Good times had by all."

"...the year dedicated to you?

Simon's missed this.

Mal eyes Simon. Eeeeeeeyes.

"What's the next Chinese New Year? Or don't you know my nickname 'round here?"

Simon frowns for a moment, going through the calendar in his head --

and then glances up at Mal, and starts to laugh.

Mal laughs aloud with Simon, affecting a haughty air.

"I told Kaylee I ain't doin' dishes anymore, and every Thursday I get presents 'n everything."

Beam!

"What, for the whole year?"

"Absolutely for the whole year. Duh."

"Clearly we'll have to hire someone to take your share of the dishwashing."

"Clearly. Applyin' for the job?"

Smartass.

"I already have a job. And a share of the chores."

"You always were an overachiever, Mister Top-Three-Percent."

"...not in the field of dishwashing."

Mal shrugs. One never knows.

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