Mal-Inara, Infirmary.

[badinlatin]

Mal's walking, to add to the 'talking' bit he's been doing since he woke up after Simon patched up the wound which landed him in the Milliways infirmary. He had asked Inara to go out and get something to eat - for the both of them, because asking something for himself is the only way to get her to leave sometimes - and gets up, digging out a shirt from the pile of clothes someone brought over for him. He leaves the shirt untucked, and gives up on suspenders for the day.

Comments

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara comes in, carrying a tray with bowls of rice and stir-fry, glasses of water and a pot of tea. She sees Mal and hurries in, moving to set down the tray while saying, "Here, let me help you with that."

[badinlatin]

"'S okay, 'Nara," Mal offers quietly. "Can't do with havin' too many people fawnin' on me, y'know. Gotta keep up appearances," he continues to joke.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

She laughs and checks herself, turning to set out their meal instead.
"It's true - can't have people thinking you are a soft, well-kept person. You'd never be able to make a shady deal again."

[badinlatin]

"Got keep up my disreputable nature, madam."

Mal does sit down again, to a plate of stirfry and tea.

"Xiexie, though," Mal calms.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome."
They sit quietly for a moment, before she says, "How are you feeling?"

[badinlatin]

"Better. Moving 'round and such helps. Food helps." A smirk. "You help."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

She looks up and grins. "That's good, because I'm not going anywhere. As you might have noticed."

She takes another bite of stir fry. "For being such a strange place, Milliway's does provide delicious food."

[badinlatin]

"It does do that."

As well as provide a stomping ground for personfications that stalk you because they're bored.

"But hey" 'cause subject changes are fun "I was actually surprised I managed to get Ma out o' here. Thought you 'n her'd be fightin' for closest chair to the bed."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

She laughs. "Were we that bad? Wait, don't answer that."

She sobers, but takes a sip of tea to gather her thoughts. She doesn't want to make Mal upset when he seems in such good spirits. "We ran into each other in the bar."

[badinlatin]

"Yeah? Talk about anythin' fun and amusing?"

As Mal feels his heart jump up in his throat in anticipation of the response.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

"We were talking about you...and your propensity for getting into life-threatening danger. Makes the ladies in your life a bit nervous, you know." She tries to keep things light. "I believe the merits of locking you aboard Serenity were debated."

[badinlatin]

"Was there a conclusion to the great captainly imprisonment quest I should know on?" More worried than tetchy.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

"I think we decided to forego it, though your mother did think you might enjoy it. Something about you getting itchy planetside."

[badinlatin]

Mal nods. "Sometimes greens are all well and good, but every now and again open sky's when I'm not on the ship is claustrophobic as hell."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara nods back. "I understand." She takes another bite and swallows it, though it's difficult. She breathes in and out then says, almost casually, "Do you ever feel like that aboard Serenity?"

[badinlatin]

"...Huh?"

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

She avoids looking up at him. "Do you ever feel trapped claustraphobic aboard Serenity?"

[badinlatin]

Mal does let the avoidance last too long, as he reaches toward Inara's face with one hand, looking down at her.

"Where is this comin' from."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara opens her mouth to say nothing, never mind, but something else comes out, as she continues to look down. "It was just something your mother said when we were talking. She said that you wouldn't have done well on Shadow and that...that Serenity was another form of trapped for you." It's very difficult for her to say that word, but it slips out.

[badinlatin]

Inhale. Exhale.

"Baobei. You know I love my mother.


"She's a crock of goushi."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara's eyes widen as she looks up at Mal. "What?"

[badinlatin]

Mal rubs his face with one hand, letting the other fall to Inara's shoulder.

"'Trapped' means there's something keeping you somewhere when you'd rather be somewhere else. The only thing keepin' me on the ship is me, and the reason why is 'cause all my family's there too.

"The only time I'm ever gonna feel ruttin' claustrophobic on the ship is when Naomi's born and that kid starts cryin' in the middle o' the night."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara starts to smile. "Good. I...I guess would understand if you did feel that way, but I'm very glad you don't. Sallie really surprised me when she said that."

[badinlatin]

Mal doesn't have a whole lot to add to why his mother offered her opinion that way, beyond, "Mothers 'n sons. I sure as hell don't understand it."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

"Neither do I, but as I am not a boy, nor do I have one, I guess that's to be expected." She manages to smile.

[badinlatin]

"Hmm. I guess." Return smile, another forkful of stirfry.

"Mmm. Goo' st'ff."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

"It is, though I would prefer not to see it in your open mouth," Inara admonishes, flicking a piece of rice at him.

[badinlatin]

Mal catches the grain of rice on his tongue after a minute adjustment of impending trajectory (read: He reached out and caught it, then placed it on his tongue), and beams triumphantly.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara rolls her eyes, but can't help laughing. "You do realize you are as mature as a five-year-old, don't you?" she says through her laughter.

[badinlatin]

"I am not the one in the room throwing food."

Win.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

She sniffs haughtily, and picks up another forkful of rice, bringing it to her mouth. But before it gets there, it somehow is flung at Mal. Funny how that happens.

[badinlatin]

:O!

"Doc's gonna be mad when he sees you muckin' up his infirmary."

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Slow smile. "It's worth it." Another couple of grains sailing Mal's way.

[badinlatin]

Mal has no chance to deflect, and the rice sticks on one cheek.

Pout, Mal. Pout.

[ff-ambassador.livejournal.com]

Inara giggles at both the look on Mal's face and at the rice sticking to it. She's giggling too hard to keep any rice on her fork.

[badinlatin]

Mal laughs too. It feels nice.

Except for that aching pain where he got shot, but y'know. That'll go away eventually.