Library of the Four Winds Challenge 06#16 -- Black

[xiao_meimei]

We spend more of our time out here in the black than any other single place. Makes a right bunch of sense if you think on it, what with the sort of work we do. Weren't exactly what I meant when I said I wanted to see the 'verse, but I'm finding that it's a sight better. Course it's nice to be in port and see all the shiny things in the stores, but it ain't like we're usually in much of a position to be buying shiny things.

Out here in the black, ain't no shiny distractions and reminders of all the differences between folks and what some folk might see as fei wu and what other people might see as real pretty. It's just us and Serenity. I got my engine room and my bunk, with my pretty dress in it if I feel like looking at shiny things. Ain't sure when I'll ever get to wear it again, but it's there.

Got all sorts of possibilities, too. Out here, ain't nothin' that might not happen. Can figure you're just a girl and you're on a boat with just a lot of other folk and nothing much matters but that you get the job done and that you're there for each other and take care of your crew. Other things, things that might matter on the ground don't matter so much here. Course some folk still try and make them matter and that's just fei hua. And more than fei hua, that's just their loss.

I like it out here. Ain't what I expected when the Captain walked in on me and Bester and offered me the job. Sure is different than back home. But Serenity's become home and she's made for being out here, doing what we're doing. Ain't nowhere else I'd want to be.

Comments

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well it ain't quite so funny on this end. *smiling though*

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

And you don't find anyone in any of the ports you pull into?

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

We don't really stay in port that often. I mean Jayne just goes to the whorehouse, if he's got the money, but 'cept for them, it's kinda hard to meet someone and figure you want to have sex and get it done when you're tryin' to get work an' passengers an' fix things need fixin'.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Oh.

*slight smile* I guess it is, yeah.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

We were at this whorehouse a while back, helpin' them out, 'cause one of them was 'Nara's friend?

*brightly* An' they had boy whores. I didn't know there were boy whores.

But that just felt kinda wrong.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

*chokes again* Well. Women should be able to pay for it too...

Why'd it feel wrong?

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

*thoughtfully*

I don't know, actually. They were real pretty.

An' any of 'em were free if we wanted 'cause we were helpin', but maybe 'cause Simon really didn't seem to approve.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

*slight smile*

There was a friend of mine, once *slightly peculiar expression at the word 'friend'*, she liked a boy she knew, had grown up with. But he was totally stupid and didn't even know. I tried to tell her to tell him. Her idea of telling him was telling him that I was taking her to the Homecoming dance. That went... well, eventually he wised up

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Well that was a rather clever strategy. Simon did get all on edge when Tracy was on board.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Tracy? *amused* Yeah, that does tend to get guys' attention.

... It'd get mine, anyway. *not smiling now*

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

*confused for a second, then grins* Tracy was a boy.

*glances at him, smile a little speculative* Would it?

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

Yeah. *thinking of it, grimacing a little* Yeah, definitely.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

*frowns a bit at the grimace*

You don't sound so pleased about it.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

*wry* It's not ... yeah, it'd get my attention, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

*grins suddenly* Neither was Will when he found out Layla and I were going to the dance. He screeched the whole way to class.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

*chuckles*

Well, that really does make for a better story.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

*wry* There was a lot of miscommunication. On everyone's part.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Seems to be a regular thing.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

*slight shrug, wry smile* Am I doing better by asking you for translations from girl-speak?

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Well. I guess not. There ought to be translators or somethin for folks.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

There really should.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

*big sigh*

It oughtn't be so complicated. If you like someone an' they like you then it should just work, instead of all this wonderin' and floppin' about.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

That'd be nice...

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Well, when folks won't even say they like you it makes it even harder.

[firebugwarren.livejournal.com]

She said... *slight smile* Said I got under her skin.

She also said that we don't really know each other, not really, and that's true. We don't talk. Or didn't. Not before this, not about anything. I don't know her favorite color, what books she likes to read or music she likes, any of that.

[xiaomeimei.livejournal.com]

Well, that sounds like an admission of likin' you to me.

*smiles* So you figure it out. Talk to her. Ask.