The Unpopping of River Tam

[biblerewrite]

River found herself in the not unfamiliar state of being utterly disoriented.

This is not logical; there is not enough butter on Serenity to bathe in.
And yet, to spite the illogical bend of the situation, here she was, covered in butter. Did they even have butter?

And, surrounded by popcorn.
There is not enough popcorn on Serenity to fill a room.
This

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[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri was on his way back to his room. He had much to think on and steps to take on plants that were being prepared for medicinal use. And, while he was accustom to the odd styles of dress from the students, he could only recall one other person covered in that particular substance, and he had been rather disoriented and wishing to clean himself.

"Are you well?" he asked softly. Though he was not carrying his case, he knew his geta made enough noise that she should have been aware of his approach.

[biblerewrite]

The clacking walk was unnerving, but she supposed it was the least unsettling part of this individual. River stared at him for a few moments, before blurting out, "I forgot there were male companions."

Well, she didn't really forget, though she was unaccustomed to seeing a man dress more flamboyantly than Inara.

[edomedpeddler]

"Companion?" Kusuriyuri repeated. "What is a companion, please?" She said the word as if it meant something specifically.

[biblerewrite]

"You aren't, then..." River mused, looking him up and down. He was very... colorful, for not being one. "Companions are Ambassadors," she said, giving the most simplistic answer. She didn't think it would be polite to mention that she had mistaken him for a very high-class whore.

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri frowned slightly. "I am not an ambassador. I am a simple medicine peddler," he replies softly.

[biblerewrite]

Apothecary. The one A mentioned, there could be no other.
"Kusuriyuri," she said. She sounded almost defiant, but not impolite. A was not afraid of him, so there was no reason she should fear him at all.

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri bowed slightly. "That is so. Kusuriyuri." He pauses a moment. "If you are well, is there something or some place you would desire to find?" He recalled the last person he'd met wanting to get the butter off of him.

[biblerewrite]

"River," she said, returning the bow, "and I desire a shower."

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri turns. "This way, please." He waits for her to join him before saying, "The last I met here knew where his room was." He left the question to be implied. If she did not answer it, he would ask more directly.

[biblerewrite]

"My room is on Serenity, with Simon," she answered, following. "This is not Serenity, therefor I don't believe I have a room."

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri frowned slightly. "There are empty rooms. Perhaps you would wish to have one, while you are here?"

[biblerewrite]

"I could sleep on the floor..." she offered. It would be nothing new.

[edomedpeddler]

"If that is your desire," Kusuriyuri murmured. "If you change your mind, there will be empty rooms down the hall from the bathing room."

[biblerewrite]

She nodded solemnly. Though, a bed would be much preferable to the floor in either case.

"You are A's friend," she said. Her initial discomfort around him was still there, but slowly fading. And, silence around him was much louder than actually talking.

[edomedpeddler]

Kusuriyuri allowed a small smile to curve his lips. "A is my deshi," he replied softly, a touch of pride in his voice. "My...friend," he settles on. The full implication of the word deshi is lost on most who hear it only as student or disciple. The relationship is one of mutual trust and respect. "You have met A?" he asks, though the answer is obvious.

[biblerewrite]

Her smile matched his, and she nodded.
"I met him first."