asgardeventide | 003 愛 Video

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003 愛 Video

[When the feed starts, there's Inara sitting on her couch, nursing a cup of tea. She looks a little washed out, tired even, but such is the effect of having been gray for however long she'd been. She is slowly getting more color in her cheeks, so for that, she is most grateful.

She lowers the cup and offers a small smile.]

Nǐmén hǎo. Seems many are coming back from unexpected... uncoloring. [She frowns slightly because that just does not even sound right. But, it's what had happened to many.]

I'm not entirely certain how long I was not myself, but it would be nice to know what I've missed in my absence. Perhaps someone would be kind enough to fill me in?

[Filtered to Malcolm Reynolds and Simon Tam]

I hope the two of you are well and staying out of trouble. Perhaps we could all meet up, maybe for dinner?

((OOC: hover over the Chinese for translation :D ))

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Oh, probably.

[BUT not really. She just needs some time to gather herself together and actually mentally BRACE herself to be in the same room with him. Though at the same time she wanted to see him and be able to visually look him over at least and make sure he truly was all in one piece.

She hated the conflicting emotions.]

Though, I... I could rest a bit and then maybe? If you're free by then of course.

[She probably does need some rest. And by rest, he knows she means time. Time to collect her thoughts, just as he needs it as well. On one hand, things have always worked best when they avoid talking too directly about feelings or things to that extent... but at the same time, especially after being separated from her for so long, he's awfully tempted to just say "hell with it" and come right out with it.]

I think I can do that. So, a few hours, then?

[She nods her head, flashing him a small smile. That takes effort because really, she's just all sorts of confused about what they are now. Is it not something they're to talk about? Or were they suppose to ignore and continue on as if nothing had happened.]

A few hours sounds fine, Mal. I'll see you then.

((OOC: action this out?))

[He nods and gives her his own small smile in return. On the inside, however, he's not exactly the picture of calm.]

Right. Huítóujiàn.

[And with that, he disconnects... and starts immediately collecting his thoughts. Things sure got complicated fast.

Of course, by the time a few hours rolls around, he hasn't really collected any particularly pertinent thoughts. Not ones he's inclined to share, anyway. So there's just a smidgen of anxiety pent up in his throat as he knocks on the door.]

[A few hours time should have been more than enough time to rest and get her thoughts together, in theory. Of course that's not the case, it never is when anything in her life concerns Mal.

Nothing is ever clear when she thinks of him. She just truly has no idea where they stand, more so after the time... She shakes her head and is relieved to hear the knock on the door.

Standing, she soothes her hands over the front of the dress she's wearing, moves to the door and pulls it open.]

Mal, nǐhǎo ma? [She stands there for a moment and then quickly steps back, motioning him to come inside.] Please, qǐng nǐ xiān.

[He smiles - that very small, polite smile of his - and nods in greeting.]

Hello, Inara. You're looking well.

[That's an understatement. He's so glad to see her that his heart feels about the same as someone that just loosened their belt after a huge meal.

He steps inside for her, giving her room to close the door.]

No ill effects from all that unpleasantness, I take it?

Thank you.

[She'd been about to start right in with the overly polite chitchat, but she stops herself, figuring they were a few steps past that.

But the fact that he thinks she looks well, or is at least polite enough himself to say so actually makes her feel a little better.

She pushes the door closed and turns to face him, clasping her hands together in front of her.]

I'm still a bit tired, but nothing a good night of sleep won't cure. And you? How are you faring?

[Anxious though he is, he does his best to remain calm, folding his arms loosely together in front of his chest.]

I'm alright. Staying out of trouble, like I said, though to be perfectly honest, I ain't exactly sure how much trouble there is to get into in the first place. Most folks here don't seem particularly interested in my line of work, anyway.

[Not that he's spilled the beans about it to anyone, of course. It's not exactly a good idea to broadcast the fact that one is a criminal.]

I'll try not to keep you too long... what with the, you know, good night of sleep you need and all.

[Oh, gāisǐ. Did he just imply that otherwise, he'd be keeping her up all night? Because unopposed to the idea as he is, that is not what he was trying to imply.]

I'm actually very happy to know that. [She frowns, realizing just how that might sound. And while she is happy to know that not many seem to be interested in his line of work, that was not what she'd meant.] I only mean to say that I'm happy to know you haven't been in trouble.

[She exhales a shaky breath and hurriedly moves to take a seat on the settee. This isn't going the way it should. They both just seem to be stumbling over their words.]

Mal, you really don't need to worry overly much about me, I'm fine. Though... [She smiles slightly.] It is sweet that you seem so worried for my welfare.

[Truth be told, Mal's not sure why he hasn't gotten into any trouble. Maybe he's cognizant of the fact that any trouble he gets into would make things more difficult for his crew, even if they're uninvolved. And he has to do right by them, especially in a strange place like this.]

Well, it ain't exactly out of my way to be concerned.

[He moves to take his seat as well, hesitating somewhat as he doesn't want to be too presumptuous. Which is funny, because he's presumptuous with her all the time.]

[Inara can't help the flush that spread across her cheeks. It surprised her a little that she was reacting that way to his comment - it wasn't anything that a friend wouldn't say to another... She was behaving like some blushing school girl.]

Well, thank you still.

[She looks over at him a small smile playing across her lips.]

I am happy you did come by though. There's something I've been wishing to discuss with you.

[Oh, right. The discussion. He hopes they're both... well-rested enough to have this conversation.

He swallows and nods, arms coming to fold over his chest.]

Right. I suppose we should go ahead and get started then.

[He'd like this conversation to end without things getting thrown at him. Or without getting slapped.]

[Inara nods, her hands clasping together before she rests them rather primly on her lap.]

Very well, I've actually been thinking on this for a while, since before I left. And I'm hoping that maybe you'd agree with it.

With the possibility of others from home coming here, perhaps we should think of getting a house so we can all be in one area, and it would make sense so we're not having to run all over the city to check on one another.

[Perhaps not what he thought they would be speaking of, but this is an important issue to Inara. If River were to ever come, she'd prefer to be able to keep an eye on the younger woman.]

[The look on his face - the puzzled, perplexed look - indicates that, no, this was not what he had in mind when she said they needed to talk. At the same time, that odd twinge he feels in his heart is one of relief. After all, the question of what exactly their dalliance meant was a difficult one; the question of providing for his crew was much simpler.

He opens his mouth to speak, growing visibly more relaxed in the process, even if it does take several seconds.]

I... reckon that's a good idea. Suppose I should start saving up for that, then, unless you already had something in mind.

[Of course, he did promise Simon a degree of autonomy, one that he would extend to all of the crew members if they so wished. Serenity isn't here; even if they'll always be his crew, in this strange world, they're free of any of the burdens of their jobs.]

[The look on his face.... It takes her a moment to realize just what it was for. She swallows, her gaze dropping. It was something they needed to address and perhaps soon, but it was a difficult thing to actually speak of. Part of her wanted to know where they were to go after that, but... Part of her didn't.

It was confusing.]

Oh, someone I know actually has a house and last we'd spoken she'd said there were perhaps some rooms available. It's an option.

[It's funny how they both can internally acknowledge the tensions between them and just what causes them, but neither one of them ever seems to fully address it. That body language is unmistakable; Inara must have noticed his own relief - disappointment? - and is feeling something akin to it herself.]

Is this someone you think I'd know?

[This is something that's so part of their interaction with each other that if either one of them faced what was truly transpiring between them head on, Inara might really worry. But as it was, they both seem to have slipped right back into their normal behavior. Maybe it had been a fluke, something she needn't overly think on...

But..

She shakes her head, pulling herself back into their current conversation.]

Um, I'm not certain. Kate Beckett?

[Oh, if only Mal had met Kate. He might then realize that he shares a face and voice with a certain someone she knew. But right now, the name doesn't ring a bell.]

Can't say I've heard the name before. But that ain't saying much. You trust her?

[Inara didn't know that herself or she might not have been so willing to entertain the idea. She of course would say it was out of respect for Kate, but it would really be nothing more than a jealousy thing.]

She seems very nice the times we've spoken, so yes, I'd say I trust her.

[She shifted slightly in her seat.] I know it won't be like being on Serenity, but at least we'd, uh the crew, be able to be together.

Well. I can't say that's an unappealing idea, Inara. But I'd like to make sure that folks live together 'cause they really want to, not because they feel obligated.

[Which is how he felt about her staying on the ship, too. Not that he'll say anything to that effect.]

[Inara's eyebrows furrow and she looks up at him confused. Did he not want to share a house with her?]

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, Mal.

[Uh-oh. He may have implied something he didn't intend to imply. Time to backpedal a bit.]

I don't mean anything by it. I'm tickled all kinds of pink by the idea my own self.

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