[We are starting from the fact that Mal and Inara are together finally, Mal's sister is no longer with us, so pretend she was never there. Kaylee and Simon are together. River is still her usual self but more kickass. Jayne is... well, Jayne. ]

Inara

Inara went into Mal's bunk and gasped, wow.. did he have loads of stuff and it was cluttered, everywhere... Okay, so she'd work with it. Sure, she was used to clean, tidy, etc but... she loved the man so she'd force herself. She moved some stuff off the bed so she could sit down. Where to begin fixing the place to me more... "her"?

Mal

Mal climbed down the ladder to his bunk area, freezing when he saw who was there. "Wow..." he said softly, hands still on the ladder as he looked at Inara. "There's a sight I thought I'd never see." He actually had to take a minute to recover from the concept. It was something that touched him deeply.

"I don't know if I'm supposed to say 'welcome' or what..." He looked a little bashful for a moment, coming around to lean against the desk, shoving his thumbs into his belt. "But I admit... my bunk never looked so good."

Inara

She smiled briefly, "I thought I'd... clean it a little, make it more... me? I hope you don't mind but if I'm going to be staying here it needs to be less, well, masculine and more female. At least I didn't put flowers everywhere or anything. Figured that would be too girly for you so..."

"That's fine..." Mal said, somewhat embarrassed by the mess. "Sorry it's in such a shambles, as you know I don't get a lot of callers..." He ran his hand through his brown hair, looking around. "Anything you want me to do?" he asked curiously.

Inara

She smiled suddenly though she said nothing. Instead to answer him, she patted the bed next to her and scooted to the right so there would be space for him on it. Her pearly white teeth shone as her mouth opened in a smile.

Mal

Mal watched her pat the spot by the bed, still trying to accept this as the new 'reality'. Pushing himself off the bed with his hands, he slipped over the metallic floor to ease onto the bed beside Inara.

"This, uh... is this as weird for you as it is for me?" he asked as he looked into her brown eyes.

"Because, personally, I think I could take on the whole Alliance right now, but sittin' by you tends to make my insides a bit queasy..." It wasn't an insult, more a backhanded compliment from the captain.

Inara

She cleared her throat.

"It is a tad strange.. I mean, I'm more comfortable with being at your throat then having you in such proximity... but... guess we;ll just have to get used it," she said, her eyes a little focused on his lips at the moment.

Mal

" 'spose so." Mal responded quietly, smiling a little. When he looked in her eyes, he already knew he was lost. Pretty much anything the Companion... former Companion... wanted was hers for the asking. He leaned forward, slowly, brushing his lips against hers.

"You can't know just how long I've wanted to be able to do that," he confessed.

Inara

She sighed into him. Her eyes closed briefly. "Are we dreaming?" she asked, afraid she was and she would wake up and this would have never happened. She moved her arms around him, so that her body was against him. "You are so... hot... warm... I.. You know what I mean!" she said with a blush.

Mal

An easy smile graced Mal's face as he felt her arms surround him. "Inara... I think we're both past the pretendin' stage by now, don't you?" He reached up to touch her cheek softly, smiling the whole time.

"With that, we'll be relaxin' a little more and saying whatever is on your mind."

Inara

Inara smiled. "Yes, neither one of us has to pretend to love each other anymore... or act cold and unfeeling or... well, anything we've ever done before... Instead," she said, moving closer in his embrace, "We can just, have a normal relationship - or as normal as it can be within the circumstances..." She felt hot suddenly, like her body was on fire but not in a bad way.

Simon

How many times had Simon told the larger male not to touch his things in the infirmary. He picked up what used to be the instant "bandaid" maker. He groaned and put it down. He cursed under his breath soft chinese coming from his usual stiff lips. He took a step back and turned in the lab. He was a bit annoyed, but he wasn't going to throw a tantrum about it. He'd fix it later. Or maybe he could ask Kaylee to help fix it later. That would be real manly. 'Hey yeah sorry hun fix this will you? I'm incapable of doing mechanical things.' Oh yeah. Would go over brilliantly. He exited the lab pulling the door shut behind him. He took a seat on the couch across from the doors and put his feet out. Letting out a low sigh. He lifted his shirt up some touching the spot where he had been shot. It was a scar, but a constant reminder of what Simon evaded. He tilted his head back looking at the ceiling.

OOC: Okay, as I was the only one actually interacting with Sophie and Krowhop, Zoe's just going to be in a completely different place. Don't know what else to do, sorry. Oh, and Mal and Inara, sorry if I'm interrupting anything, lol. I can always edit. BIC:

Zoe

Sitting in the captain's chair in the cockpit, Zoe brushed her fingers over the little palm trees resting on the dash. She really and truely appreciated the fact that Mal had left them there, a little homage to Wash. But... every time she saw them it was like watching the wooden spike drive through his chest again and again. I've got to get over this. People have fallen in battle before. I've watched people die, people I love. Not like him, never like him, but all the same... it does no good to anyone to fall to pieces. Still trying to convince herself of the truth in that, Zoe let her hand drop from the toy and focused on the blinking incoming communication button.

Pressing the button to turn on the horn, Zoe said, "Captain, we've got a wave. You want me to bounce it down?"

Mal

Mal had relaxed into Inara for a moment, daring to simply put his head down on her shoulder and inhale her. It was intoxicating. For so long, she'd simply walk past, and the breeze that seemed to follow her smelled of jasmine and flowers. He never admitted it, but Mal recognized the fact that he had been in love with her a long time before he ever thought it.

He raised his head slightly, his nose lightly grazing along her neck, her curly locks cascading around his face as he softly planted a kiss at the base of her neck...

And right about then the chime went off from the bridge. He huffed for a moment, closing his eyes at the lost opportunity.

He patted Inara's leg (itself a pretty erotic thing, in his opinion) and got up, stepping over to the comm screen. "Put 'er through, Zoe..."

Inara

When she helf the comm go off she flinched, not expecting it.

"Worst possible timing!" she said, her arms falling to her sides. They were just getting somewhere but of course space had to interfere with their plans. If nothing else, it was predictable she guessed.

Jayne

Jayne had been sleeping. He couldn't sleep for tossing and turning. Whenever he thought about death, he always got to doing something. It was usually shacking up with a girl, lifting weights, or doing something with his hands. Books death bothered him. He was close to Book. Jayne believed in God, just as Book had tried to teach him, but he believed more that all the fun people would be in hell, and that's where he was headed. Jayne would've lifted weights earlier, but the last few weeks, all he could think about was Book and him doing that together. He finally rolled over to his side to get comfortable.

OOC: okay, I'm just making up how she would answer the comm, so if anyone knows for sure, tell me. BIC:

Zoe

Opening up the comm link, Zoe said, "This is transport ship firefly class Serenity accepting transmission from Persephone." The transmission appeared on her screen first; Zoe kept her face smooth and calm as she studied the man that flickered into life. It wasn't who she expected, but after the majority of their contacts were killed by the Alliance, she really didn't know what to expect anymore. The guy looked to smooth for her tastes, a bit upperclass, probably one of the self-proclaimed nobles on Persephone.

The man looked at her, seemingly surprised. "Are you Captain Malcom Reynolds?" he asked, voice threaded with a light, almost germanic, accent.

Zoe's eyes barely widened; she wasn't sure if he was employing sarcasm or just plain stupid. "No," she replied simply. "I'll transfer you down to him." Pressing the necessary buttons, she made it so that the transmission was beamed down to Mal, but also up on the cockpit's screen. The man couldn't see her, but she could see him. Leaning back in her chair, Zoe got comfortable, ready to see what this was all about.

Mal

Mal heard the guy ask Zoe if she was him. "Boy, that'll piss her off..." he mumbled to himself before the light came on, indicating that the comm had been switched down to him.

"I'm Captain Reynolds. What can I for you?" He crossed his arms, more than a little curious and cautious about what he said in front of others. He trusted Inara enough to stay back out of the sight of the comm, knowing that she tended to... distract him more than anything else. But what a wonderful distraction she was.

Inara

Inara knelt behind Mal, pulling on his belt till it slid out out of its hoops. She moved on her knees forwards till her arms moved around towards the front of him though the comm was above where she was so that it was unseen to anyone watching except for Mal and Inara themselves. She stopped suddenly, a question, should she continue, or not, to Mal.

Mal

Mal's eyes grew as wide as saucers, suddenly getting a distinct impression of what Inara may have in mind. Still, he made no move to stop here, merely keeping his composure (as best he could) on the screen with his focus there.

We'll see how long it lasts, he thought to himself.

Dirsk Niska

Resisting the urge to tug at his collar, Dirsk satisfied his nervousness by shifting his feet, knowing that the viewscreens only showed people from the waist up. "Good day, Captain Reynolds. My name is Dirsk," he said, purposefully making it sound as if that was his last name. "I have need of a transport ship, and someone with your reputation, to assist me in a certain... nefarious exploit. You will be well compensated, I assure you." His accent became more pronounced as he talked, much to Dirsk's dismay. For his plan to work, he needed to keep his personality and past so far under wraps, not even a whiff of wrongness would escape.

Trying to remember his father's teachings, trying to adopt the calm detatchement he had learned as a survival technique when his father's flunkies attempted to beat him into submission when he was only a small boy, Dirsk felt his face freeze even further. He smiled inwardly, suddenly confident that he was going to complete this task, confident that he was going to destroy Serenity and all that inhabit it.

Inara

Rated R

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Inara moved in front of him and bent her head so that no one could see on the screen. Taking her teeth she gently pulled the zipper down, leaving the fly open. Swinging her head back behind the comm, she started the pull at his jeans but only a little just in case he decided he wanted her to stop.

Mal

Rated R

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Mal's cheeks reddened as he realized what exactly Inara was doing. Her height was perfect to avoid being seen by the montior, but perfect for using her mouth. It was really erotic, he realized, and immediately felt himself stiffen. He never wore underwear, so she was about to get a show she'd never seen before.

"I'm sure we can help you out... sir..." he managed to speak coherently.

Dirsk Niska

Frowning, Dirsk thought, Why is he not more enthusiastic about taking this job? They have had no work since Miranda, this I know. They should be jumping on the chance to get work, money. This is not right. Still, he will take it in the end. He cannot afford to turn this opportunity away. Keeping any of his thoughts from showing on his face, Dirsk replied, "I will send you a message containing the specifics of the job, including the blueprints for the facility. If you think you can achieve the goals I specify, contact me, and we will work out the payment. Until then, Captain Reynolds."

Pressing the button to turn off his side of the transmission, Dirsk turned to his gathered crew and began to smile. The grins spread across the faces of those gathered, and cheers rang out among the crowd.

Inara

Rated R

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Inara's eyes followed her fingers as they went up his jeans and into his... wait... As the monitor went blank it was her cue to talk.

"No underwear?" she asked, her eyebrow raised, a glint of a laugh in her voice. Her eyes sparkled and her hair did a little bounce seemingly out of nowhere but hey, space did weird things but love.... love did weirder things.

Mal

Rated R

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Mal had to take it back - she had seen him butt naked before. He remembered the last time they were on Persephone, when "Mrs. Reynolds" showed up and left him sitting on a rock.

"No... I am called 'Captain Tightpants' for a reason..." he joked. "What are you doing down there, anyways???"

Jayne

Tired of tossing and turning, Jayne got up and put on his Blue Sun T-shirt. He scratched his head nad yawned a bit. Then he headed up to the forward passage. He looked towards the kitchen, then to the bridge. He moved toward the bridge hearing parts of a wave.

Hmm. Mal?

Jayne stepped into the bridge to see only Zoe.

"Zoe? I thought I heard. . ." Then he saw the transmission. "Mal."

Something wasn't quite right about this conversation.

"Gorram it, Zoe! What are you doing listening to the Cap'n's waves?"

Zoe

Thinking over the contents of the transmission, Zoe calmly reached up and clicked it off at the end. Jayne had appeared, looking like even stupider and more rumpled than normal. Swiveling in her chair, she turned to him and said, "Trying to get some information about where we're headed. I don't like the looks of this Dirsk. He reminds me of someone, but I just can't put my finger on who... and it's getting under my skin. Did the Captain's voice sound off to you? Maybe he knows something we don't."

Zoe hated the feeling of being out of the loop. And she would bet on her eternal soul that there was something wrong with Dirsk. He just wasn't telling them the whole story, and she knew it.

Inara

Rated R

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Inara smiled wickedly, "What does it feel like I'm doing, Captian?" She rubbed her hand over the width of him before leaning forwarding and nipping him ever-so-gently with the tip of her teeth.

"Sweet, you taste like... this ship, I'd imagine. Want more?"

Jayne

"Off? It was down right wooly. Something's up, I know that. Cap'n don't get all nervous, less there's something to be all nervous about. I'm sure, if he knows anything, he'll tell us. It's not like him to keep these things from us."

Jayne shifted his weight to lean in the door frame and placed his hands on his gun belt to rest them.

Mal

Rated R

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Never so glad to have the comm off, Mal leaned forward on the wall with both hands as he felt Inara's hand on his manhood. How many times had he fantasized about this? And then it got better...

"Uh, huh..." he managed to get out to her, swallowing from a very dry mouth.

Inara

Rated R

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Inara leaned forward and pulled his pants all the way off, as her mouth rolled over him in circles, till her lips circled the tip of his (insert word you like most here so I know?). She gently slid suckled the top and pressed down the length of him, taking him fully into her warm hands.

Mal

Rated R

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"Wode tian!" Mal exclaimed to a higher power, his eyes rolling back in his head as he felt Inara's mouth on his manhood. The realm of his life had just moved from a dream to one of those fantasies as he lay awake in his bunk at night. Inwardly he cursed at not saying something about his feelings for her earlier - to let her be out with some other man was simply incomprehensible now.

"Inara..." he moaned, his hands finding their way to her head and fingers slinking through her dark curls, guiding her.

Inara

Rated R

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Her mouth moved all the way down his manhood, taking the length in. Pushing upwards, she sucked him gently all the way in the back of her throat. Her teeth gently grazed the top but her tongue nippled over that. She drew him in with long pauses before pushing him out, and then in, with more force, her face becoming flushed from extersion and her eyes a bit wild.

Mal

Rated R

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Mal moaned out loud, finally having the sense to reach over and hit the 'seal' button on the hatch of his bunk. He had no doubt that with the work of Inara's mouth (which was phenomenal, he thought), there'd be some noises coming from here soon.

"Z... Zoe..." Mal called out, hitting the comm and avoiding the image. "Get the incommm... incoming wire and find out what... unnngh... details you can." Speaking seemed to be very hard for Mal as he felt Inara take him deep into her mouth. It really, really wasn't fair. He looked down into her eyes - damn, was that hot - and saw she was getting excited about it as well.

Jayne

Jayne furrowed his forehead when the captain finished speaking. It seem a bit strange to him. He looked to Zoe before she could grab the com and reply.

"That was down right unsettling," he told her.

He stood up right from leaning on the wall and moved to her.

"Something is might fishy with the Cap'n. I think maybe you're right, Zoe. Something's wrong."

Inara

Rated R

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Inara got up and licked her lips, moving up his body, straddling him, her barely clothes body pressing down against his large swollen mass. Moving her tresses out the way, she lowered her head and pressed her lips to his, her tongue darting inside to take a peak at the treasures hidden inside, while her hips rocked against him.

Mal

Rated R

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Generally Malcolm Reynolds considered himself a fair, level-headed man who believed in reality and things he could grasp. But with this creature pressed against him, he found religion very fast, as she was the only evidence of God he'd found in the 'verse.

"Glory..." he managed to mumble inbetween kisses, his hand fumbling and managing to actually cut off the comm. Once that little miracle was accomplished, his hands slid down Inara's dress, coming up the sides of her smooth, silky thighs and lifting her dress up and over her head.

Mal took a moment to actually look at Inara in her beautiful bare nakedness. Finally remembering to breathe, he found he had tears in his eyes, and was unable to speak.

Instead he kissed her, shrugging his own shirt off as he wrapped his arms around her, picking her petite form up and carrying her over to his bunk.

Inara

Rated R

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Inara let out a sigh as Mal pulled off her dress. Her eyes widened when his shirt came off. She splayed her hands over his chest. "Very manly chest you've got here, Mal.... All these muscles and ripples... Makes a girl wonder what else you've got, I mean, I know what's in those pants of yours.... but what can you do with it?" she said with a little grin and a shake of her head.

Mal

Rated NC-17

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Mal had muscles and ripples, all right... and a fair number of scars to boot. But when she commented about his member, all he could do is shake his head.

"Inara..." He'd been waiting to say this for a long time. "Shut up." To puntuate it, he pressed his mouth to hers, cutting off any further protest as his body lay atop hers. He slid his knees forward, pulling her thighs up beneath his arms and allowing him better access to her. A moment later, as his tongue slipped into her mouth, his engorged manhood slid smoothly into her sex.