Mal-Simon-Ma Reynolds from Lavinia

[badinlatin]

Mal and Simon have business to attend to. Business he's put off for a bit too long, but that can't be helped now.

Mal walks to Crowley's comm station and dials to the Reynolds ranch.

"What's been takin' you so gorram long, Malcolm?"

"Aren't you in a good mood today, Ma." Mal can't help smiling.

"I was supposed to be meetin' your buyer today, weren't I? Where is he?"

"Right here, Ma." Mal gestures for someone to come into view of the vidfeed.

Comments

[simon_doctor]

"Mrs. Reynolds."

Simon nods formally.

He has the grace to look a little embarrassed.

[badinlatin]

Ma Reynolds looks at Simon with a gracious smile and headtilt of a bow, politely asking him to back out of the vidfeed momentarily.

What follows, more in Chinese than in English, sounds more like an angry schoolteacher punishing a student for throwing spitballs
of the future!
than a mother talking to a son.

[badinlatin]

"Ma - I wasn't about to let you sell the ranch. Let that be number 2 on the list o' things I didn't listen to you when you told me to do 'em." Mal waves at Simon; it's safe to come back.

"Simon posed as a buyer so that it looked like it got sold. As that buyer will most definitely be not on Shadow, bank won't have no way o' takin' the land out from under you."

[simon_doctor]

Carefully: "And as an absentee landlord ... I'll need a caretaker."

[badinlatin]

It's hard to tell by looking at her through the vidfeed that Ma Reynold's eyes are a little brighter than normal.

"[Thank you from the bottom of my heart], Simon. Ever you or yours need shelter here, you are a welcome sight."

[simon_doctor]

"Xiexie ni, Mrs. Reynolds. I'm glad I was able to help."

[badinlatin]

"Don't know if you helped none, 'cept for helpin' my son disobey me. But xie-xie ni."

Mal, attempting to stifle a yawn, says good-night to Ma and flicks off the comm after a promise to call back in the morning.

Turning to Simon, Mal repeats. "Xie-xie ni. For helpin' me and mine."

[simon_doctor]

"You'd do the same for any of us."

[badinlatin]

Mal shrugs as a response and covers the vidscreen.

"Maybe. If I like you that day."