Mal-Sallie, not really re: Hera, but I like to pretend.

[badinlatin]

Kaylee had mentioned, in her quiet voice that usually sets off bells in Mal's head that either she's right and is nervous about it or she's right and she's not nervous because she knows he won't like it, that she and his mother had had a bit of a conversation.

Time to phone home.

Comments

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie, for her part, has been keeping busy - she has the cooking contest coming up in a week or so and without Ennis around she's back to tracking down other late-night hands to try out some of her recipes.

The chatter of Skouris and Baldwin is audible in the background.

"Bi zui you two!" Sallie calls over her shoulder, Mal waiting for her on the commscreen.

"Hello, Malcolm."

[badinlatin]

"Wei, Ma," Mal replies quietly, from the emptiness of his own bunk.

"Kaylee told me you two spoke." A continuing question is chosen carefully, "She told me that Ennis went home?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"That he did."

The seconds pass, and at least a good minute goes by where Sallie retreats from the commscreen, is seen dragging a stool back in front of the feed so she could sit and then proceeds to fold her dishrag on her lap.

[badinlatin]

Mal hasn't been in touch enough with his mother lately about things that really matter. Not things that matter like the topic of her conversation with Kaylee.

This is possibly why he is out of practice with her stalling technique.










"And she told you about me headin' us all to Hera?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"YES SHE DID MALCOLM AND WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOURSELF!"

In the background at the kitchen table, Skouris and Baldwin look up in a mix of astonishment and concern.

[badinlatin]

Mal just cringes. After about ten seconds he remembers that he is indeed not in his twenties anymore, and is captain of his own ship, let alone his own life.

Like that ever wins a son points against his mother.

"I do not report to you, Ma."

[realmrsreynolds]

"And why the hell shouldn't you?"

She knows it's a weak retort, but she doesn't have anything else at the moment. One fist is still clenched around the formerly-folded dishrag, now waving haphazardly toward the screen.

"Malcolm," she restarts, "You didn't tell me because of -- "

[badinlatin]

" -- among other reasons, yes. There's no justification I could think up in my own mind as to why I should've made you worry on this too, Ma."

You won't have a home to come back to

"You told me not to come back the first time 'round - weren't willin' to risk that again."

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie sets again to folding the piece of cloth in her hand - a sign her brain is working faster than she'd like.

"You left the first time for revenge. David was dead, and so were you, then. Or at least it felt that way, to me. I thought the threat might knock some sense into your head, but --- "

Staring to the screen again: "It was the worst thing I've ever done, Malcolm."

[badinlatin]

Sallie and Mal have very few Rules. One they've always tried to keep as the number-one is never to say you're sorry. Actions are always done for a reason you think is right at the time, Mal's mother told him once, you can't say you're sorry and hope the other person forgets why the action happened in the first place.

Even with that, this sounds an awful lot like an apology to Mal, and his mouth twitches upward.

"Well, then," he stalls.

"What do you think about it?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"What do I think."

The back door opens and closes - Skouris and Baldwin have put away their dishes and made a discreet exit.

"This isn't going to solve hardly anything, you know."

[badinlatin]

"I'm all sorts o' aware on that."

I'll try.

"But it'll give things a push, don't you think?"

[realmrsreynolds]

"One would certainly hope so."

One being me, at least.

The automated lights in the kitchen and dining areas have dimmed or turned off completely for the night, seeming to catch Sallie by surprise.

[badinlatin]

"It's late there - I forget the time for you now and again," noticing the lighting change behind his mother.

"I'll call you when it's done."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Call me before."

Beat.

"If I can help."

[badinlatin]

Mal nods. "I will."

Reaching up so that his thumb is hovering over the disconnect button, "I accept your apology -- "

Click.

Mal smiles quickly, to himself.

Rules...are really more like guidelines, anyway.

[realmrsreynolds]

Staring at a blackened screen:

"That hun dan."

Said with a smile on her face, and she places the folded dishrag on the counter before pulling the stool back into place and heading for bed.