Mal-Wash, Southdown Abbey.

[badinlatin]

Sometimes the days move too fast even for Mal.

This may be why he absconded with a cup of tea into the gardens behind one of the main buildings of the abbey, propping his feet up on a stone lining one side of a walkway and occupying a bench for no particular reason at all.

His attention seems divided between the leather-bound book on his lap and the gold hoop he keeps fidgeting with.

Comments

[flybywash]

"And far be it for any of us to deprive us of her fun on her wedding day. Whenever it happens." He shrugs. "You know, this is gonna leave Jayne as the only unmarried man on the ship? Almost enough to make me feel sorry for him."

Wash thinks this over.

As if it's just occurring to him: "Oh, wait, no. No it isn't."

[badinlatin]

"You saw 'im at the Temple though, right? He sprinted off somewhere as soon as he said hi at me and Inara. Wonder where he ran off to."

Beat. Again, with the blinking this time.

"You don't think -- ? A Companion -- ?"

[flybywash]

Thanks a lot, cap'n. Just when the brain-melt was starting to get a little better.

"Well, I didn't until you said that right this very second. And now I'm going to develop temporary amnesia and pretend you didn't. Aiya."

[badinlatin]

Mal laughs aloud, with, "Y'know what? 'Bout time he met up with someone, though - We ain't hardly ever somewhere where he isn't on a job."

Mal's much with the 'good will to all men' at the moment in this department.

[flybywash]

"You look after all of us so well," Wash comments dryly, but with humor, straightening up so he can lean back against the bench again. He flops both arms out across its back and watches the stars.

[badinlatin]

Mal looks down at the Bible again.

"I try."

Looking to Wash, "I got a contact out by Athens, maybe set up a job out Muir way."

[flybywash]

He nods.

"Crowley told me Annie's running a stable. If you, y'know. Wanted to see it. I don't think she'd mind."

A little bit of hesitation on the last words, though he masks it admirably. The Annie he knew over a decade ago wouldn't have minded; and he hopes she won't, still.

But thirteen years is a long time.

[badinlatin]

Mal smiles a bit, hearing the hesitation.

"Shiny - if ya wanted, I could help ya braid some bridles as a present for 'er."

[flybywash]

A chuckle. "Help make up for all those missed birthdays and New Year's, you mean?"

[badinlatin]

"'S not what I had been intending by it, but I suppose, if you want to think on it like that."

[flybywash]

He shrugs again, and is silent.

Just watching.

[badinlatin]

"I know a couple o' things about seein' family again, Wash. Can promise ya, what you might bring for presents won't be half as entertainin' to 'em as what Zoe's bringin'."

[flybywash]

He snorts out a loud laugh. "Shiny. I'm gonna get outclassed by somebody that's not even born yet."

And softer: "So that's three more people who're gonna spoil her shamelessly. I am not minding this at all."

[badinlatin]

Mal grins even broader.

"So that's your three, plus eight people on the ship, plus...exactly how many folk in the bar?"

[flybywash]

"Ace's already started, Lilly called dibs on being the cool aunt, wouldn't put it past Faith or the Deans to join in the spoiling -- you should've seen Susannah when I told her, she looked almost as excited as us." He smiles. "And I bet I'm missing people. Who am I missing?"

[badinlatin]

"Bernard and Tonks?"

[flybywash]

"Yeah, but there's gonna have their own kid to worry about, so it'll be low-level spoiling."

His great-great-however-man-greats-uncle to worry about.

Wash covers his eyes and swallows another hysterical laugh.

[badinlatin]

Mal shoots yet another 'bzuh?' look to Wash at the laugh.

"I'm missin' somethin' funny."

[flybywash]

Without uncovering his eyes, he makes a circling motion with his free hand.

"The part about Crowley being my uncle. Think about who he's good friends with in the bar. Maybe, I don't know...people he'd think of as brothers."

[badinlatin]

Y'know that game 'Telephone'?

Ever see someone go through facial expressions that make it look like they're playing 'Telephone' all in their own head?

"...Really."

[flybywash]

"Yeah."

He nods.

Still with his hand over his eyes.

Oh, yeah, and still struggling not to laugh.

"I think I'd have more fun sharing the head-hurting if it didn't make mine hurt, too."

[badinlatin]

"Indeed."

"I wonder if Inara has aspirin."

[flybywash]

"Smuggle some over to me. I'll bribe the novices to clear a path."

[badinlatin]

Still with one hand vaguely to his temple, Mal stands.

"Sounds like a plan." Picking up his book, "Otherwise, I'll see you later, then?"

[flybywash]

"Yeah. See you, Mal." Before he's gone too far: "And...thanks."

Wash resettles himself on the bench, the laughter and smile fading.

After a minute, carefully, he swings himself around to sprawl across the entire thing, left leg propped up, hands laced over the scar just beneath his heart.