E'erythin' Mal n' River had learned 'bout Earth That Was Thanksgivin' came from both island residents who'd 'xperienced it back home n' from what they'd read courtesy o' that bookshelf
( Read more... )
River was kind of hoping that people would notice the pies she'd made, which, while a wee bit lopsided, at least had the advantage of being the product of a cooking lesson from a professional. The rest of the food seemed all right, at least, and she expected it no one would be too particular when surrounded by people they liked.
She took some of the more questionable-looking bits of slightly overcooked bird for herself, leaving the nicer parts for guests, and felt a lot closer to happy again, to be sharing the table with so many people she was thankful for.
"I don't know about all that," said River, blushing slightly at the praise. "It all turned out all right, but mostly it's just because everyone's being very nice and pretending the food is better than it is."
"You forget, we were living off protein rations before." He smiled widely. "I remember the first night on Serenity, I brought fresh vegetables, and you all raved. I thought you were overreacting, but a while on rations has us all being thankful for real food again." His eyes twinkled. "And this is just wonderful, River."
Chase hadn't celebrated Thanksgiving before the Island and to be fair, he was mostly there for the food and to pay his respects to friends whose company he enjoyed. Besides, who could turn down free food? Even if all the food was free, it was a novelty he still liked.
"Well, now, look at what the tide musta washed in," Mal announced, walkin' o'er t' Chase with a large grin. He'd been so busy lately with River n' o' course Simon's disappearance; Mal hadn't kept up too well with most o' his friends. It felt like he hadn't spoken t' Chase in a gorram year.
"Glad y' could make it," he said, extendin' his hand.
"Free food not cooked by me?" Chase joked as he leaned over and shook Mal's hand warmly. The last time he'd seen them...well, properly together, it had been over a medical issue and this was a far better way to meet with friends. "How long did all this take?"
"Long 'nough," Mal said with a small laugh. He frowned some then, turnin' his gaze t' the table. Now, River was a gorram genius n' Mal was good at givin' orders n' all manner o' captainin', but he weren't too sure how successful they'd been at cookin'. Hopefully it'd be all right, though if it weren't...well, folks'd have somethin' t' laugh o'er for times t' come, he s'posed.
"We had some help from the bookshelf," he confessed. "Don't know who that Martha Stewart gal is, but she seemed t' know what she was talkin' 'bout."
It's strangely comforting to be so at ease with so strange a scene as Thanksgiving dinner on a beached spaceship. Jaguar in toe, even. Not that he's any urge to go exploring, it seems, which I'm grateful for as I don't think the captain would take kindly to it. Ulixes seems perfectly pleased to keep at my heel and sit beneath my chair. He's ever so well mannered
( ... )
He was having Thanksgiving dinner. On a spaceship.
Right there, he figured, was something to be thankful for, although he'd have to stop being unsettled about the fact he was having dinner on a spaceship to really express the emotion.
The food was going to help, Keith was sure. Nothing like a proper, giant meal to help you feel settled, no matter how unusual the circumstances. The company, too, definitely the company.
"I'm glad you could come, Mr. Mars," said River, offering a plate of slightly underdone bread rolls. "Or do you prefer Sheriff Mars? Or IPD Chief Mars?"
River was only interested, and not afraid, of having a lawman on Serenity because he was Veronica's dad. Not that she was very much afraid of many of the island's law enforcement (which was one of the things for which she gave thanks), but having one of them in her home was different. She just hoped he liked Serenity.
"River, right?" Keith said. "I'm glad I could be here," he told her, formally but genuinely. He was, really. "And I think we can go with Keith while I'm your guest for dinner. No badge, see?" He made a show of examining the front of his shirt for his lack of a badge.
That made River smile, because she could appreciate silliness.
"Okay. Keith. And just River for me. No one calls me much of anything else, anyway." The occasional "Mrs. Reynolds" or "Miss Tam" didn't really count, "Albatross" was only Mal, and the fewer people who called her "mei mei", the less she was reminded of how much she missed Simon.
"We've never had Thanksgiving on Serenity before. Does it look okay, to someone from Earth?"
She'd gotten the invitation from the Shepherd, and as depressing as the thought was to have to spend Thanksgiving away from her family (her father especially), Ilse was happy for a place to spend her evening. With Cuthbert and Alain not yet returned from their adventure-- because, after all, what more could she assume about a trip into the wilderness for as long as they'd been gone? It had to be an adventure. Maybe they'd have stories when the got back, which she'd listen to happily and thank her lucky stars that she didn't have an adventure bug of her own.
She was a little weirded out by the Spaceship aspect of dinner, and because she didn't know anyone yet, but Ilse was happy for the company after several days of solitude. She smiled at the other guests when appropriate but kept largely to herself. She was still the new kid in town, and she was happy to get any invitations at all.
Book smiled crookedly over at Ilse across the table, eyes shining. "I'm glad you made it." She seemed like she needed the warm welcome to the island, and he was glad to help give it.
They hadn't seemed a group terribly worried about saying Thanksgiving Grace (it was an important tradition, she thought, and one they had always practicied in her family), but Ilse folded her hands in front of her plate anyway, smiling at Book. "And I'm thankful this Thanksgiving," she said, "for health, happiness, and new friends." She paused, looking down at her clasped hands.
"Bless this food to our use and us to Thy service, we ask in Jesus' name, Amen." She waited with her hands folded just in case the Shepherd had any words of blessing before she dug into the plate she'd assembled.
He smiled softly, letting his eyes drop closed as she folded her hands in front of her. Sweet. The words were pretty formal, a grace from years long past to him. Many others may say the same words, but her heart was in it fully.
"And may this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, now thoughts to weary minds. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. Amen." The words were hollow without some soul, and he said them softly over their food, looking up at her with a smile and a wink after he finished. "Very nice, Ilse. Thank you."
Comments 39
She took some of the more questionable-looking bits of slightly overcooked bird for herself, leaving the nicer parts for guests, and felt a lot closer to happy again, to be sharing the table with so many people she was thankful for.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
"Glad y' could make it," he said, extendin' his hand.
Reply
Reply
"We had some help from the bookshelf," he confessed. "Don't know who that Martha Stewart gal is, but she seemed t' know what she was talkin' 'bout."
Reply
Reply
Right there, he figured, was something to be thankful for, although he'd have to stop being unsettled about the fact he was having dinner on a spaceship to really express the emotion.
The food was going to help, Keith was sure. Nothing like a proper, giant meal to help you feel settled, no matter how unusual the circumstances. The company, too, definitely the company.
Reply
River was only interested, and not afraid, of having a lawman on Serenity because he was Veronica's dad. Not that she was very much afraid of many of the island's law enforcement (which was one of the things for which she gave thanks), but having one of them in her home was different. She just hoped he liked Serenity.
Reply
Reply
"Okay. Keith. And just River for me. No one calls me much of anything else, anyway." The occasional "Mrs. Reynolds" or "Miss Tam" didn't really count, "Albatross" was only Mal, and the fewer people who called her "mei mei", the less she was reminded of how much she missed Simon.
"We've never had Thanksgiving on Serenity before. Does it look okay, to someone from Earth?"
Reply
She was a little weirded out by the Spaceship aspect of dinner, and because she didn't know anyone yet, but Ilse was happy for the company after several days of solitude. She smiled at the other guests when appropriate but kept largely to herself. She was still the new kid in town, and she was happy to get any invitations at all.
Reply
Reply
"Bless this food to our use and us to Thy service, we ask in Jesus' name, Amen." She waited with her hands folded just in case the Shepherd had any words of blessing before she dug into the plate she'd assembled.
Reply
"And may this food restore our strength, giving new energy to tired limbs, now thoughts to weary minds. May this drink restore our souls, giving new vision to dry spirits, new warmth to cold hearts. Amen." The words were hollow without some soul, and he said them softly over their food, looking up at her with a smile and a wink after he finished. "Very nice, Ilse. Thank you."
Reply
Leave a comment