Afterlife (1/4)
Title: Superstition
Series: Afterlife
Prompt: #85 Spiritual
Rating: G
Word Count: 627
Title: Superstition
Series: Afterlife
Prompt: #85 Spiritual
Author: Cricket
Disclaimer: I’m just playing with Joss’ toys, but I promise to put them back when I’m done
Rating: G
Word Count: 627
River sat at the kitchen table, gun, rag and oil spread out in front of her, polishing her little pistol to a bright shine while Jayne hovered over her.
“Yer usin’ too much oil there,” he criticized. “Ya don’t need that much and yer wastin’ it. This stuff don’t come cheap ya know.”
“Shouldn’t skimp either,” she replied defensively. “She deserves to be well taken care of.”
“Can’t argue with that kinda logic, now can I?” She could hear the approval in his voice, she was learning the art of weaponry and he was proud. “Have ya come up with a name for her yet? It’s bad luck to use a weapon without knowin’ what to call her.”
River scrunched up her nose in consideration, “Not sure yet. She’ll tell me when the time is right.”
“Don’t wait too long. I don’t wanna have to say ‘I told ya so’ if ya get yerself all shot up because yer gun’s mad at ya.” His tone was light and teasing but she could hear the seriousness behind his words.
“Silly superstition, but I will continue to listen for her answer if it appeases you.” She didn’t have to look up to know he was grinning smugly, thinking he’d convince her of the importance of names eventually.
“Who are you talking to mei mei?” Simon asked, sauntering into the room. He went to the sink, filling the teapot with water.
“She’s talkin’ ta me, ya pansy ass…” Jayne trailed off, grumbling under his breath. River giggled as he glared at her brother, an annoyed scowl on his face.
“What’s so funny?” Simon laughed with her while he put the teapot on the stove and lit the flame under it.
“Talking to Jayne,” she answered, the smile still hanging on her face. Jayne had turned away from Simon and with a wink returned his attention to the gun in her hands. “He makes me laugh.”
Simon’s grin faltered and he looked at her with a mixture of sadness and frustration.
“We’ve been through this before, River. Jayne’s gone. You know this, you witnessed his death yourself.” He rushed to her side and, crouching down next to her chair, took her wrist in his hand, gently testing her pulse. “What you’re seeing is a hallucination and you need to tell me when this happens so I can adjust your medication. How long has it been happening this time?” He pulled up her eyelids to take a better look at the dilation of her pupils before standing up and leaning against the table beside her.
“His body is gone, but his spirit remains.” She insisted, watching as Jayne snorted as if he’d been insulted and stood behind her, laying his phantom hand on her shoulder. It felt cool even through the cotton of her dress and she wished she had been able to feel his touch when it had been warm and solid.
“Well, until supernatural phenomenon is proven as fact, I’ll just stick with the medicine.” He thought he was humoring her little fantasy and smiled lightly at her childish behavior. “Come on, let’s go down to the infirmary so I can take a quick blood sample.” He tugged her out of her chair and guided her out of the room as if she was still the crazy invalid she had been years ago.
Jayne looked glumly at the abandoned weapon on the table and sighed. The girl still had a lot to learn before he could leave. Though, he couldn’t say he was in any kind of rush to get gone just yet. It was peaceful here and he didn’t have to worry about getting shot. With one last look around the empty room, he jogged after the retreating siblings.
Next: Touch, Prompt #14 Joined>
Series: Afterlife
Prompt: #85 Spiritual
Rating: G
Word Count: 627
Title: Superstition
Series: Afterlife
Prompt: #85 Spiritual
Author: Cricket
Disclaimer: I’m just playing with Joss’ toys, but I promise to put them back when I’m done
Rating: G
Word Count: 627
River sat at the kitchen table, gun, rag and oil spread out in front of her, polishing her little pistol to a bright shine while Jayne hovered over her.
“Yer usin’ too much oil there,” he criticized. “Ya don’t need that much and yer wastin’ it. This stuff don’t come cheap ya know.”
“Shouldn’t skimp either,” she replied defensively. “She deserves to be well taken care of.”
“Can’t argue with that kinda logic, now can I?” She could hear the approval in his voice, she was learning the art of weaponry and he was proud. “Have ya come up with a name for her yet? It’s bad luck to use a weapon without knowin’ what to call her.”
River scrunched up her nose in consideration, “Not sure yet. She’ll tell me when the time is right.”
“Don’t wait too long. I don’t wanna have to say ‘I told ya so’ if ya get yerself all shot up because yer gun’s mad at ya.” His tone was light and teasing but she could hear the seriousness behind his words.
“Silly superstition, but I will continue to listen for her answer if it appeases you.” She didn’t have to look up to know he was grinning smugly, thinking he’d convince her of the importance of names eventually.
“Who are you talking to mei mei?” Simon asked, sauntering into the room. He went to the sink, filling the teapot with water.
“She’s talkin’ ta me, ya pansy ass…” Jayne trailed off, grumbling under his breath. River giggled as he glared at her brother, an annoyed scowl on his face.
“What’s so funny?” Simon laughed with her while he put the teapot on the stove and lit the flame under it.
“Talking to Jayne,” she answered, the smile still hanging on her face. Jayne had turned away from Simon and with a wink returned his attention to the gun in her hands. “He makes me laugh.”
Simon’s grin faltered and he looked at her with a mixture of sadness and frustration.
“We’ve been through this before, River. Jayne’s gone. You know this, you witnessed his death yourself.” He rushed to her side and, crouching down next to her chair, took her wrist in his hand, gently testing her pulse. “What you’re seeing is a hallucination and you need to tell me when this happens so I can adjust your medication. How long has it been happening this time?” He pulled up her eyelids to take a better look at the dilation of her pupils before standing up and leaning against the table beside her.
“His body is gone, but his spirit remains.” She insisted, watching as Jayne snorted as if he’d been insulted and stood behind her, laying his phantom hand on her shoulder. It felt cool even through the cotton of her dress and she wished she had been able to feel his touch when it had been warm and solid.
“Well, until supernatural phenomenon is proven as fact, I’ll just stick with the medicine.” He thought he was humoring her little fantasy and smiled lightly at her childish behavior. “Come on, let’s go down to the infirmary so I can take a quick blood sample.” He tugged her out of her chair and guided her out of the room as if she was still the crazy invalid she had been years ago.
Jayne looked glumly at the abandoned weapon on the table and sighed. The girl still had a lot to learn before he could leave. Though, he couldn’t say he was in any kind of rush to get gone just yet. It was peaceful here and he didn’t have to worry about getting shot. With one last look around the empty room, he jogged after the retreating siblings.
Next: Touch, Prompt #14 Joined>