Mal-Kaylee, outside.

[badinlatin]

Caspian is around...Mal thinks, anyway. The thought is enough - and a filled flask that is easily tucked away - for Mal to head out to the stables and not just to the paddock where some of the horses were out for the morning. A dry swallow, and the door is slid open to the stable, and the interior of the building is traversed quickly - Tequila's tack has even been cleaned, thanks probably to a meticulous stablemaster.

"Sorry I got...lazy on you, Halo," Mal says absently. Tequila does not forgive Mal until the carrots come into view.

Saddle pad, saddle and bridle and reins are fetched and harnessed quickly, and Mal walks his horse to a flat area just in front of the paddock gate. He can't decide if he wants to ride for speed or tricks today, and Tequila isn't helping - antsy for action, the horse gives a loud snort.

Of course, that may be in recognition of hearing someone else in the vicinity.

Comments

[gonna_live]

"...this like to lead into somethin' falls under the category of Stuff I Don't Really Need To Know?"

[badinlatin]

"Probably not. We are not completely depraved, you know."

"Besides, me 'n her disagree on lots o' things. Like suspenders."

[gonna_live]

"The necessity of 'em, you mean?"

Surely Inara is not hating on the purple suspenders.

Surely.

[badinlatin]

"Necessity o' seein' 'em in a disposal bin on her end maybe."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee looks Very Sad.

Very Sad.

"...don't know quite what to say to that."

[badinlatin]

"If there's a fight, I demand to sell tickets."

Smirk.

Mal lifts the saddle off, finally, and sends Tequila off running through the enclosed space on his own. Mal hops the fence, lifts the saddle and walks toward the stable.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee trails behind him, and says, cheerfully, "I'm a lover, not a fighter."

[badinlatin]

"...I can't know that."

[gonna_live]

Satisfied: "Point for me."

[badinlatin]

"Never mind. I need to keep you 'n her as far the hell away from each other as ruttin' possible.

Dangerous to my health, you two are."

[gonna_live]

"...we live on the same boat," Kaylee points out. "It's kind of hard."

[badinlatin]

"Didn't think you two talked too much anymore, actually."

Mal takes the bridle from Kaylee, hanging it alongside Tequila's saddle.

[gonna_live]

"Just 'cause you don't see us talkin' doesn't mean we don't."

[badinlatin]

"True enough. I'm glad I'm wrong on that, then. I think...sometimes she misses her house."

[gonna_live]

"Reckon all of us miss where we came from, at least a little." Kaylee leans against the wall, arms folded.

[badinlatin]

"Don't think Jayne does. I think he misses people, more 'n places."

[gonna_live]

"Yeah?"

A little curiously.

Kaylee has her own opinions about Jayne. Doesn't know Mal's.

[badinlatin]

Mal doesn't elaborate too much, beyond, "Don't think the man would write to anyone if he didn't miss 'em, and most days he's got more post to send out than the rest of us."

[gonna_live]

"Maybe he's one of them travel writers."

[badinlatin]

"Oh, of course. I can see it on the Cortex now. 'Visions from the Rim', by one Jayne Cobb, mercenary and general thief slash pirate.

"Actually I think I'd read that."

[gonna_live]

"Yep." Cheerfully. "See what I mean?"

[badinlatin]

"Point. Still imagine he's sending coin home to his mother, but I think most of us do that anyhow."

"Ma keeps asking after the lot o' you."

[gonna_live]

"Yeah? Is she still comin' in the bar? Can't believe I ain't run into her yet."

[badinlatin]

"Yeah, but mostly she comes in to teach Gavroche and Ingress the piano, then heads back home. Lot of work to keep up on, y'know. Plus she's got a houseguest at the moment -- don't know if you heard 'bout Ennis at all. He's stayin' with Ma."

Mal is...not quite sure what he thinks about that, but he influences Sallie's decisions about as much as she influences his anymore.

"I manage to catch her sometimes when I come in early on in the day."

[gonna_live]

"Ennis -- what about him?"

Kaylee is suddenly a hell of a lot more serious.