Joss100 Challenge: Ficlet # 12 - This is How it Starts and #13 - This is Why it Ends
written for Joss100
Title: This is How it Starts
Fandom: Firefly
Author: Michmak
Rating: Teen
Character(s): Mal, Inara
Pairing: River / Mal
Prompt: 012 - The Start (list 2)
Word Count: 213
Progress: 12/100
The first eleven can be found here: Big Damn Prompt Table #2
Summary: This is how it starts….
This is how it starts.
She decides she wants to stay and he lets her.
He touches her shoulder through a red silk dress and remembers he’s always thought she was beautiful.
Her skin is soft, her hair is silky and she smells like lotus flowers.
She smiles when she sees him.
She’s a woman, with a woman’s wants, needs and experiences. She’s not innocent and he doesn’t have to worry that she’ll let her heart get in the way. He knows he won’t, because he doesn’t have a heart.
He thinks she’s perfect because she’s controlled. He thinks he wants her because she’s perfect. It’s a never-ending circle but none of the bends are right.
They stop arguing so much and he’s allowed to enter her shuttle without knocking. Other crew members smile knowingly when Mal whistles during the day.
He kisses her and doesn’t feel the need to save her from himself. His hands trace the outline of her form and he doesn’t feel like he’s using her.
She makes no demands.
He makes no promises.
Her body accepts his eagerly.
She gasps when he slides into her but she never says his name.
He gasps when she rides him but he never spends the night.
This is how it starts.
Title: This is Why it Ends
Fandom: Firefly
Author: Michmak
Rating: Teen
Character(s): Mal, Inara, River
Pairing: River / Mal
Prompt: 013 - The End (list 2)
Word Count: 328
Progress: 13/100
Summary: This is why it ends….
This is why it ends.
She calls him a bastard and says she won’t be used.
He calls her a whore and sneers a thousand men on a hundred different planets have done just that and why should he be any different?
She cries and packs her bags and tells him she’s leaving.
He shrugs and replies that maybe she’ll leave for good this time.
She tells him to get out of her shuttle and he does.
Later he comes back and helps her pack.
They don’t yell at each other, but she smiles at him sadly and notes they are both fools.
He agrees, but says gallantly that perhaps he is the biggest fool because he’s letting her go.
‘You never really loved me,’ she whispers.
‘I don’t know how to,’ he replies.
She leans into him when he says this and hides her tears against his shirt.
‘You do,’ she argues. ‘Your problem is you’re afraid to admit it. It’s easy to tell yourself you don’t love anyone, because when people let you down you can pretend it doesn’t hurt. But you’d be wrong. This hurts. I love you.’
‘I’m sorry, Inara,’ he whispers.
‘Don’t be,’ she replies. ‘It’s okay. It’s better that I know you don’t love me the way I want you too. I don’t regret any of the time we’ve spent together. I don’t regret anything about us at all - except the way we ended.’
‘Inara,’ he tries again.
She looks at him before turning to pick up her bags. ‘Find someone, Mal, before it’s too late. If it can’t be me…find someone else and be happy. Love is painful, but it’s worth the risk.’
‘Call me if you need me?’ he asks.
‘Always,’ she smiles sadly.
Everyone hugs her when she leaves, but River is the only one who says to her, ‘I’ll look after him.’
Mal stands beside the girl as Inara walks away from them. This is why it ends.
Title: This is How it Starts
Fandom: Firefly
Author: Michmak
Rating: Teen
Character(s): Mal, Inara
Pairing: River / Mal
Prompt: 012 - The Start (list 2)
Word Count: 213
Progress: 12/100
The first eleven can be found here: Big Damn Prompt Table #2
Summary: This is how it starts….
This is how it starts.
She decides she wants to stay and he lets her.
He touches her shoulder through a red silk dress and remembers he’s always thought she was beautiful.
Her skin is soft, her hair is silky and she smells like lotus flowers.
She smiles when she sees him.
She’s a woman, with a woman’s wants, needs and experiences. She’s not innocent and he doesn’t have to worry that she’ll let her heart get in the way. He knows he won’t, because he doesn’t have a heart.
He thinks she’s perfect because she’s controlled. He thinks he wants her because she’s perfect. It’s a never-ending circle but none of the bends are right.
They stop arguing so much and he’s allowed to enter her shuttle without knocking. Other crew members smile knowingly when Mal whistles during the day.
He kisses her and doesn’t feel the need to save her from himself. His hands trace the outline of her form and he doesn’t feel like he’s using her.
She makes no demands.
He makes no promises.
Her body accepts his eagerly.
She gasps when he slides into her but she never says his name.
He gasps when she rides him but he never spends the night.
This is how it starts.
Title: This is Why it Ends
Fandom: Firefly
Author: Michmak
Rating: Teen
Character(s): Mal, Inara, River
Pairing: River / Mal
Prompt: 013 - The End (list 2)
Word Count: 328
Progress: 13/100
Summary: This is why it ends….
This is why it ends.
She calls him a bastard and says she won’t be used.
He calls her a whore and sneers a thousand men on a hundred different planets have done just that and why should he be any different?
She cries and packs her bags and tells him she’s leaving.
He shrugs and replies that maybe she’ll leave for good this time.
She tells him to get out of her shuttle and he does.
Later he comes back and helps her pack.
They don’t yell at each other, but she smiles at him sadly and notes they are both fools.
He agrees, but says gallantly that perhaps he is the biggest fool because he’s letting her go.
‘You never really loved me,’ she whispers.
‘I don’t know how to,’ he replies.
She leans into him when he says this and hides her tears against his shirt.
‘You do,’ she argues. ‘Your problem is you’re afraid to admit it. It’s easy to tell yourself you don’t love anyone, because when people let you down you can pretend it doesn’t hurt. But you’d be wrong. This hurts. I love you.’
‘I’m sorry, Inara,’ he whispers.
‘Don’t be,’ she replies. ‘It’s okay. It’s better that I know you don’t love me the way I want you too. I don’t regret any of the time we’ve spent together. I don’t regret anything about us at all - except the way we ended.’
‘Inara,’ he tries again.
She looks at him before turning to pick up her bags. ‘Find someone, Mal, before it’s too late. If it can’t be me…find someone else and be happy. Love is painful, but it’s worth the risk.’
‘Call me if you need me?’ he asks.
‘Always,’ she smiles sadly.
Everyone hugs her when she leaves, but River is the only one who says to her, ‘I’ll look after him.’
Mal stands beside the girl as Inara walks away from them. This is why it ends.