sixwordstories | (no subject)

[He's just staring not getting it at all.]

It was lying! You look and see you - they look and see you, because they see everything. You think they can't but they're there. Everywhere.

Only thing I see here's unfair is whoever broke that ain't cleanin' it up right now.

Not broken. Fixed. It's better this way. Now they can't see.

'course they can't, mirror's broke. Now I know we ain't exactly a polished operation, but some folk on board spruce up now'n again. Want to explain why that's an improvement?

Always improving, changing, making it right, but I know better. You think it's safe, just a reflection, but it can't be trusted, can't expect it to move when you move because it isn't yours. They took it.

Awful shiny as it were, Cap'n.

Shiny, and pointy, and liable t'cut up anyone's feet to shreds. Is Inara gonna have to lock her mirrors up too?

Can't hide them. No such thing as hiding. Eyes are everywhere, everywhere when you aren't looking, and they're always looking. The Sun doesn't blink, you know.

Got no sun to worry about out in the Black, little gē. Don't be frettin' over that.

Wrong, wrong, you think the Black is empty but it's crowded, full, and you can't escape it no matter how fast you run.

Whoa, whoa. [Mal takes a gentle hold of her arm and looks in her eyes] No one's arguin' there's folk out there we'd best avoid, we all know that. But we ain't letting anything happen to you, dong ma? Got nothing to be afraid of on Serenity.

"Yi chi shen hu xi, mei mei." Safe here.

Is there a broom?

That ain't happening again, you hear?

Engine room. Gotta keep the dust out o'the gears.

Heard. Understood.

Gears have to turn to move the parts to power the ship. Piece by piece, turning, moving, pumping, beating - the heart of Serenity. She'll fly true.

Shouldn't get so caught up in what yer lookin' at you go an' break things.

Breaking is easy. Snap, crack, shatter into pieces. Wind chimes in disarray.

Understanding is harder. Can you see?

Sweetie? *Worried face.* S'easy t'clean up, don' worry on it.

Worry about food rations, fuel supply, Nien Mohn and the compression coil past due two weeks now. The mirror has been eliminated. No longer a threat.

All fair, 'cept I dunno how t'was a threat.

It can't be trusted. Think you're alone, can only see you, but they're on the other side watching, listening, eyes everywhere seeing everything. Can't trust the mirrors.

Ain't thought of it so. *Frown.*

Of course you don't. You don't hear them, see them or the voices and I do. They're there, and you think you're safe but you aren't. Not here, not anywhere, and I. I protect me and my own, Serenity has to be protected. Safe.

I oughta say thanks, then, bein' safe's important. So, Xièxiè, mèimei.