[EM] RP - 23: Hometown

[bigdamn_hero]

"A bit uncomfortable with it, Malcolm?"Mal narrowed his eyes just a bit, moving his gaze towards the pickup to make sure Badger picked up on it. A little menace didn't hurt none, and for the job Badger was asking, Mal figured he was owed a little toying

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[companionserra]

"Would it matter if it wasn't?"

Inara scarcely looked up from her book when Mal spoke; it was easier to half ignore his presence than the acknowledge all of the things between them. Things that had been unspoken for so long and should've remained so.

But then, Malcolm Reynolds never had known when to close his mouth.

"And do tell," Inara continued pleasantly, cooly, blissfully and convincingly unconcerned, "where would this latest jaunt of illegal activity be taking us? Anywhere I could scan for potential clients?" No sooner had he opened his mouth to answer than she waved a hand dismissively. "Don't bother answering that. I'm already quite certain the answer is 'no.'" Yet even as she spoke, she couldn't resist a glance up at him to make sure he'd found his plate--the very plate she'd covered for him and left on the still warm stove to try and keep it hot. //I certainly talk big for a woman that takes such pains to make sure the good Captain's dinner stays warm, don't I?//

[bigdamn_hero]

Once, Mal might have treaded a bit more carefully...maybe not with tact, but perhaps with a little discretion for her benefit. Those times, however, were gone. Discretion, tact...dancing around her meant distance, and he was done with that. She hadn't chosen to follow her own heart yet...but he could wait.

Didn't mean he was going to make it easy for her, though.

Lifting his plate, he picked up his fork and faced her pointedly, taking a bite of his food with a smug smile, telling her without words that he knew she was the one who had set it aside for him.

"Y'know? Funny that...second leg of the job'll take us into some real nice territory." he replied after swallowing his bite. "Familiar...least I'd think so. So don't ya fret...we'll be on Sihnon 'fore ya can spit." He paused, taking another smug bite of his food.

"Not that you would or nothin'..." he added brightly.

[companionserra]

Sihnon.

Oh dear.

Not good.

"Sihnon?" Inara repeated, even though she was certain she'd heard him perfectly clearly. "What business could you *possibly* have on Sihnon? Malcolm, you never venture that far into Alliance territoy. You don't--you don't even have proper clearance!"

Smooth, very smooth, she thought to herself, but it was too late to stop now. "Is this another one of Badger's...*stupid* jobs? Need I remind you what happened the last time you accepted some of his, dare I dignify it with the word, *work?* His crackpot ambush at the site of the Battle of Sturges?"

[bigdamn_hero]

Mal couldn't resist a look of mock curiosity. "Why 'Nara...if a body didn't know better? I'd say you might just be worried 'bout my own personal welfare there. But, of course, that'd be emotional-like, and unbefittin' a Companion, right? Of course..."

Taking another bite of his food, he leaned back against the counter, getting a bit more serious. "Any rate...Sihnon's just the dropoff. We're pickin' up the cargo from a moon some ways out. Gonna be a couple days flight...we can make it in a day at full burn, but if we can make it without refueling, all the better."

Besides...taking this job meant ferreting out a rat on Shadow. Mal hadn't been back in some years, but knowing someone there was doing dirty work for Badger...and someone doing dirty work in his home. Or at least what used to be his home.

Either way...leaving things as was just didn't set right with him.