(no subject)

[river_meimei]

[After this.]

River's looking thoughtful. Intently so.

Mal's not on the bridge. Not in the kitchen, either. She keeps looking.

Comments

[river_meimei]

"Means bad," River says absently, and tries a faint smile.

"It's a trade."

[badinlatin]

Going away for a few days with Inara in exchange for having her be happy and distracted away from things?

Or having Mal be distracted away from things?

"I'd like to think so," he replies, but he's not sure to what.

[river_meimei]

"It's traditional."

River's watching something on the floor of the cargo bay. Something at least mildly interesting, apparently, although all that's there is the grating floor and the usual assortment of crates.

[badinlatin]

Mal follows River's gaze down to the floor and the crates and the absolutely nothing remotely entertaining.

"Traditions is nice, sometimes."

[river_meimei]

River shrugs.

It's a while later -- after a discussion of traditions, France, and architecture in which River spends a lot of time staring at the floor and Mal spends a lot of time looking as if he's not entirely sure what they're talking about -- that she rises and drifts away again.

But she's looking a little more relaxed, now.

Not entirely, but a little.