"Aiming To Misbehave" (RP w/ @parcxysm )
Captain Mal Reynolds let out a satisfied sigh.
Fate was feeling generous, and had dealt him a winning hand: Serenity was purring like a kitten, provisions were full-up, and he, along with his crew, had just pulled off a particularly well-paying hauling job. It'd been stressful for everyone, with a lot of literal heavy-lifting, but now, as they were flush with the fruits of their labors, he and his crew were able to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.
"Cap'n?"
Another sigh, this time dressed in resignation. It was nice while it lasted.
"I was just ponderin': what could possibly disrupt this most serene moment?" Mal asked rhetorically as he sat up and focused his eyes on Jayne Cobb.
"Guess it's me!" Jayne replied, almost proud to have the distinction. "Wash told me to holler at ya; got a call on the Cortex from Camellia. Says she's lookin' for a lift."
Mal perked up a bit. "Camellia! Zhè shì lìng rén xīngfèn de xiāoxī!" he exclaimed as he stood. "Haven't heard from her in a spell. Grapevine said she'd been hooked on Bellerophon. Should've known; seems like nothing holds her down."
"Well, I certainly wouldn't mind holdin'-"
"Jayne, for the sake of my knuckles and your jaw, don't finish that thought." With a departing friendly slap on the shoulder applied with a bit more force than usual, Mal passed Jayne and made his way up to the cockpit.
Once he entered, he found Wash in the pilot's seat and Zoe sitting across from him. "So, a little Jayne tells me we're pickin' up Camellia. Where is she?"
"Bernadette," Wash replied, "and we're already on our way."
"Let her know we're-"
"Already did, Cap'n," Wash interrupted, smiling proudly at his initiative.
"You're the best."
"Aww, Mal; I'm all a-blush."
"No flirting with my man, sir," Zoe said, smirking playfully.
A day later, Serenity slowly set down in the New Paris spaceport, and within minutes, Mal, Kaylee Frye, Jayne, and Simon Tam, accompanied by his sister River, were disembarking and making their way to meet with Camellia.
"The air is off. Smells bad, like spoiled food and lies," River muttered.
"They always sling the worst chow closest to the spaceport," Jayne replied.
"Well then, steer clear of the chòudòufu, and don't accept any trades from folks lookin' shady," Mal recommended with a shrug.
"Hang on," Jayne said, pointing ahead. "Ain't that Camellia comin' our way?"
"Sure seems to be," Mal replied.
Kaylee joyfully called out their friend's name and rushed forward for one of her signature hugs. "Ooo, I've missed you, sweetie! So good to see you again!"
"Well, Camellia Alden, as I live n' breathe," Mal greeted, smiling fondly.
@parcxysm
