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Title: The Sacrament
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: Table 1, #14
Word Count: 204
Rating: G
It took Mal eight months after he finished his schooling to decide what his next step would be. His momma didn’t push him to leave the ranch. It never hurt to have an extra hand around (especially one who wasn’t allowed to backtalk when she gave him the lowliest grunt work to do).
Still, Mal felt the pressure. He sat up at night, staring up at the sky and trying to ignore the battle between devotion and freedom fighting it out in his head. There was so much to see and experience beyond Shadow’s atmosphere, but there were things and people needing attending to planetside as well.
He couldn’t say whether it was one particular thing or another that influenced his decision, but as soon as he passed through the gates there was a kind of serenity that filled him throughout. This was what he was meant for; freedom and devotion didn’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Mal pledged his oath to Father Galean on the last Sunday in November, receiving a “zhufu ni” in return. Once he finished his study in the seminary, he’d be able to take the word out into the world. He could barely contain his excitement at the thought.
~*~
Title: Faith of the Heart
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: Table 1, #28
Word Count: 269
Rating: PG
His momma died when he was in solitary, praying for the souls of those currently swept up in the war. Father Zhao interrupted him in the middle of his closing prayer to break the news.
The Alliance and the Independents had only been fighting for a couple months. The first big battle started in the system next to Constantine, where his home planet was. Earlier that day, it spilled over onto Shadow. Alliance forces tried to force his momma to turn her ranch into food and shelter for their side, but she refused. Emma Reynolds was an Independent supporter and clung firm to her ideals, and it got her killed.
Mal clutched his Bible tightly while he listened. It was three weeks since he left Shadow for extended study on Syro; five days since he last spoke to her. Father Zhao placed a hand on his shoulder, then turned and left him to his prayers.
He remained kneeling at the foot of the bed in - shock, silence, prayer, contemplation - for more than a day. His heart was torn apart and his mind couldn’t seem to make itself up. More than once he cast his eyes heavenward, searching for an answer, trusting that one would come.
Whether the answer came from God or from his momma, he didn’t know. But eventually, Mal felt his heart fill with purpose, and he had faith that his decision was going to lead him to fulfill that purpose. The next day, armed with only his Bible and his cross, he left the Abbey and never looked back. The Independents had themselves one more recruit.
~*~
Title: As I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: Table 1, #02
Word Count: 159
Rating: G
A long, foolish time ago he knelt by his bedside every night and said a prayer. He clutched the small cross, the only thing he ever knew belonged to his daddy, and thanked God for his blessings.
Malcolm Reynolds had faith until he realized that faith was good for less than nothing. He put his cross away, buried deep inside one of his trunks, and the only thing his bedside was good for now was as a surface to lean his boots on every night.
Once a year, after being extra stoic all day and tossing off a few unheeded remarks against religion, he disappeared into his bunk and slowly approached his bed. Mal knelt slowly, almost as if it hurt him to do it, and folded his hands on the edge of the bed.
Haltingly, he asked the heavens to watch over the soul of his momma…the only thing in his life that meant more than shunning God.
Title: The Sacrament
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: Table 1, #14
Word Count: 204
Rating: G
It took Mal eight months after he finished his schooling to decide what his next step would be. His momma didn’t push him to leave the ranch. It never hurt to have an extra hand around (especially one who wasn’t allowed to backtalk when she gave him the lowliest grunt work to do).
Still, Mal felt the pressure. He sat up at night, staring up at the sky and trying to ignore the battle between devotion and freedom fighting it out in his head. There was so much to see and experience beyond Shadow’s atmosphere, but there were things and people needing attending to planetside as well.
He couldn’t say whether it was one particular thing or another that influenced his decision, but as soon as he passed through the gates there was a kind of serenity that filled him throughout. This was what he was meant for; freedom and devotion didn’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Mal pledged his oath to Father Galean on the last Sunday in November, receiving a “zhufu ni” in return. Once he finished his study in the seminary, he’d be able to take the word out into the world. He could barely contain his excitement at the thought.
~*~
Title: Faith of the Heart
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: Table 1, #28
Word Count: 269
Rating: PG
His momma died when he was in solitary, praying for the souls of those currently swept up in the war. Father Zhao interrupted him in the middle of his closing prayer to break the news.
The Alliance and the Independents had only been fighting for a couple months. The first big battle started in the system next to Constantine, where his home planet was. Earlier that day, it spilled over onto Shadow. Alliance forces tried to force his momma to turn her ranch into food and shelter for their side, but she refused. Emma Reynolds was an Independent supporter and clung firm to her ideals, and it got her killed.
Mal clutched his Bible tightly while he listened. It was three weeks since he left Shadow for extended study on Syro; five days since he last spoke to her. Father Zhao placed a hand on his shoulder, then turned and left him to his prayers.
He remained kneeling at the foot of the bed in - shock, silence, prayer, contemplation - for more than a day. His heart was torn apart and his mind couldn’t seem to make itself up. More than once he cast his eyes heavenward, searching for an answer, trusting that one would come.
Whether the answer came from God or from his momma, he didn’t know. But eventually, Mal felt his heart fill with purpose, and he had faith that his decision was going to lead him to fulfill that purpose. The next day, armed with only his Bible and his cross, he left the Abbey and never looked back. The Independents had themselves one more recruit.
~*~
Title: As I Lay Me Down To Sleep
Fandom: Firefly
Characters: Mal
Prompt: Table 1, #02
Word Count: 159
Rating: G
A long, foolish time ago he knelt by his bedside every night and said a prayer. He clutched the small cross, the only thing he ever knew belonged to his daddy, and thanked God for his blessings.
Malcolm Reynolds had faith until he realized that faith was good for less than nothing. He put his cross away, buried deep inside one of his trunks, and the only thing his bedside was good for now was as a surface to lean his boots on every night.
Once a year, after being extra stoic all day and tossing off a few unheeded remarks against religion, he disappeared into his bunk and slowly approached his bed. Mal knelt slowly, almost as if it hurt him to do it, and folded his hands on the edge of the bed.
Haltingly, he asked the heavens to watch over the soul of his momma…the only thing in his life that meant more than shunning God.