[ shí­ liù - location: frye ranch - visual ]

[gotcouplings]

As the tablet switches on, the first noticeable thing is the absolute silence. Bao isn’t pouncing around in the background, there are no strange machines being tested in the shop, and the rumble of Serenity is missing, despite the fact that the ship can be seen clearly through the window behind Kaylee

Comments

[Visual]

[imperial_long]

Long met River only the once, and the meeting hadn't been especially meaningful-- he'd only been conscious of how absurd everything he was saying sounded-- but he can register that to Kaylee, at least, the missing girl was more than just an acquaintance.

"Kaylee? I am sorry for your loss," he says in Mandarin, after flipping his tablet on to reply. "As the saying is... You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from building nests in your hair. Is there anything I can do?"

[ Location ] tl;dr

[imperial_long]

"Blasphemy," Long responded in a light, teasing tone at her heresy that there was anything not best learned in a book.

Kaylee's arms were tight around him and at this close range his sharp senses couldn't help but pick up the scents of some sort of floral and fruit shampoo, possibly strawberry, and the harsher smell of engine oil, and beneath both of these a natural bouquet that was just human, just Kaylee. Not for the first time in the last six years Long pondered how very strange humans were, and how much stranger it was to be one.

Fragile creatures, yet strong; the disconsolate girl who turned to him for comfort now when the city had stripped away those who might do a better job of it was also capable of sending ships of metal into the sky.

(Poetic license, he amended, since it was certainly not only her hands alone that did this, but still

[ Location ] it's lovely~

[gotcouplings]

"Not even." There were plenty of things that could be learned in a book, but Kaylee knew from experience that many bits of life could only be learned--really learned--from actually doing. She couldn't remember ever picking up a book to read about her engines...

The one arm was enough, and Kaylee took comfort in it. The attempt was enough, but actually having someone there, having a warm, solid body to cling on to was all she needed for the moment. It didn't matter that he was a little rigid, or that he wasn't an expert on hugs. He didn't need to be.

With a small laugh, the mechanic tilted her head to look at his face. "A for effort, and we'll say B on execution."

[ Location ] YOU are lovely

[imperial_long]

"I will take it; it's probably better than I deserve," Long admitted with a smile. Her warmth of spirit was contagious.

"Now then-- there was to be a walk around the ranch, or dinner, or something along these lines?"

[ooc: so many adorkable warm fuzzies from this thread. <3 do we want to wrap it here, let them go seeing ranch etc?]

[ Location ] your face is lovely.

[gotcouplings]

"Not at all," she laughed. "I'm a tough grader, promise." Okay, maybe not so tough, but anyone could figure that out.

Kaylee paused, debating the options. She definitely didn't want to stay here right now, not with River's door open and her dishes still in the sink. Rising, a little too quickly to be entirely want to walk, Kaylee pulled Long up and toward the door.

"Walk first, I think, then dinner sounds nice enough."

[[ OoC: I think that sounds like a plan. :D ]]

[ Location ] <3

[imperial_long]

"Then we walk. And I shall treat you to dinner within the city."

Long turned up the coat of his collar against the cold, and held the door for Kaylee on their way out into the crisp out-of-doors.

][It's a wrap! Awesome thread]