Serenity Thanksgiving

[tightpantscapn]

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

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[dr_robchase]

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.

[tightpantscapn]

"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.

[dr_robchase]

"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?"

[tightpantscapn]

"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."

[dr_robchase]

"She's uh," Chase started to explain, blinking as he tried to think of the best explanation to give Mal. "Well, some kind of cooking god or something. I never really paid much attention to American TV when I had exams to pass. Pass my compliments to River," he offered, glancing her way. "She feeling okay, lately?"

[tightpantscapn]

"A cookin' god?" Mal repeated, brow furrowin' up some. Sometimes he didn't know what t' make o' 'em Earth-that-was folk. This was one o' 'em times. A god for cookin'. Didn't seem like 'n important god t' have, least in Mal's 'pinion.

"I'll surely do that." His gaze followed Chase's, lingerin' on River as she was conversin' with folk. "She's feelin' better since the last time y' saw her, though with her brother up 'n leavin' like he did...it's been a bit o' a struggle some days."

[dr_robchase]

"Yeah, he's going to be missed from the clinics," Chase offered his best version of sympathy that he had. "I don't know how I could handle it if I had a sibling." Or rather, a sibling that he'd met. "I can hardly take it when friend after friend goes and I'm not exactly a socialite."

[tightpantscapn]

"He was a good doctor," Mal murmured, eyes driftin' in the direction o' the infirmary. n' he truly had been. Fixed Mal n' the rest o' 'em up more times than Mal cared t' 'member; that much was true.

"Ne'er had a siblin' myself, but I seen 'nough o' River 'n Simon t'gether t' know how it must wound the soul. Lost 'nough crew t' know I don't like it much. Must be part o' the reason why I don't tend t' make acquaintance with most o' the folk on the island..."

[dr_robchase]

"I'm glad she has you, then," Chase said, with a rough and rusty looking smile, seeing as he wasn't sure what to do in these situations. Some days, he still felt more pain than ever that Bridget and Dixon were gone. "So, about the reason you visited. Are you two ever actually going to try for that?"

[tightpantscapn]

"Reckon 'm more glad I have her -- n' Kaylee n' the Shepherd." As Mal spoke, his gaze drifted t' where the others were gathered, conversin' n' simply enjoyin' one 'nother's company.

But Chase's question tore him straight 'way from all that. His head whipped round, somethin' resemblin' a terrified 'xpression on his face. "I wouldn't wish me on no one for raisin'," he said after a long, awkward pause.

[dr_robchase]

Chase gave him a curious look, giving him a very long moment of silence, debating whether he ought to even speak up or not. In the end, he decided to, only because...well, he had intimate relations with this subject. "I've seen poor parenting. You're a good man and you love the family you have. I'd wish you on a child. They'd be lucky."

[tightpantscapn]

At that, Mal's chin ducked some. Be that as it may, he just didn't see himself with a child. Not with the sort o' life he'd led. Not with the sort o' life he'd lead -- 'specially if'n they e'er got off the gorram island.

But all the same, 'twas nice t' hear that Chase thought so.

"I'll settle for River n' me lookin' after Samantha Halpert for a time. That's 'nough for me," he said finally, givin' Chase a half-smile.

[dr_robchase]

Chase managed a bit of a shrug, but he couldn't help but grin at Mal after causing a reaction like that. "Small steps. Baby steps, if you will," he said, knowing he was being a bit insufferable, but he didn't really care.

[tightpantscapn]

Mal groaned, waggin' a finger o'er at him. "I figure y' ought t' stick t' doctorin', Doc," he advised, "rather'n the funny business."

He did laugh, though, and clapped Chase on the back. "What 'bout y' n' your fella, then?"

[dr_robchase]

Chase snorted and gave Mal a dubious look. "What, kids?" he echoed. "I think he and I are lacking some key genetic parts to make that happen," he reminded Mal, even though he wouldn't be averse to raising a child. At least, not now that the bells of thirty had tolled for him. And thirty-one. Christ, he was old.