Corresponding notes: Part sixteen: River

[bookaddict43]

Title: Corresponding notes: part sixteen: River
Author: Bookaddict
Characters: River, Crew, OCs
Rating: PG13
Timeline: post the fish delivery
Disclaimer: Firefly and all its characters are the property of Joss Whedon
Word count: 1768
Comments: Because Ma started writing to Kaylee and River too I had to write this off-shoot from the Letters series. Previous chapters here. Thanks to cantonheroine for the banner and icon.



Dear Ellen,

Swimming with the fish was wonderful, I’m glad you don’t think it strange. The lion caught me twice, but told no-one. He just shook his head and told me to put some dry clothes on, I feel quite let down. I’m used to his thinking me crazy and seeing all my actions as somehow dangerous. Do you think he’s not well?

Of course the next day he was teasing me about Fifi’s behaviour with the fish. So perhaps it was just temporary. Don’t misunderstand Ellen, I like that Jayne teases me and has now entered into this conspiracy with me. I just worry sometimes.

I’m pleased my machinations worked and Kaylee is happier. My poor brother is very boobish at times and really is not good at human interaction. He can talk to his patients perfectly well, but when it comes to more intimate contact he is at sea. I’m hoping that practice will make perfect in this case. What do you think? I don’t want either my brother or my friend to be unhappy.

My drawing is in pride of place in your bedroom Ellen? How wonderful; I’m so happy you liked it. I plan to do one each of all the crew for you too and have already started sketching. Inara and Zoë were good subjects and let me take multiple sketches of them. The Captain is doubtful, Jayne un-cooperative and Simon unsure. I roll my eyes at them and shall prevail!! For practice I’ve drawn several studies of Fifi and send them to you now. She was a very intelligent subject and produced some lovely poses. I hope you like them.

The new mechanic is an improvement on the last in some ways, but in others he’s not very satisfactory. The Captain doesn’t care for his slovenly ways and Jayne detests him. Neither of them can see anyone else in that engine room except Kaylee, we all miss her so.

Thank you so much for looking after her for us.

Love River

Dear River, We like having Kaylee here she brightens our lives I can see why you all miss her. Girl if she and Simon dont work out you must accept it and help them both as you can. I think my boy is finally learning to accept you dont worry child. I know hes difficult but hes a good boy you know. The drawings of Fifi are so real I like the one where shes watching the fish best. Matties still going strong its wonderful to see Love Ellen

Dear Ellen,

We delivered the fish and then went to fetch some more lumber. I like that moon Ellen and all the beautiful trees. While the cargo was being loaded, Fifi and I wandered through the woods and sniffed the air, it was delightful. I picked some flowers this time and Inara showed me how to press them. I enjoy learning new things and my friends are all, in different ways, good teachers.

The lumber was destined for the settler’s moon and we’ve stayed to help them again. I think them very brave, to change their lives so. Zoë has found some old friends here and spends a lot of time with them. It seems to ground her somehow.

I’ve been helping in the fish raising area and learning more about the behaviour of these creatures. We’ve been contracted to deliver another cargo of the fish, so I’ll have even more opportunity to study them.

Like Jayne, the Captain hates the fish smell and sent Jayne out to scavenge some more Rosemary. He is the only one among us who would actually recognise the plant in its natural habitat. I find that interesting Ellen, did you teach him such things?

Simon didn’t want me to, but I went along as well. The lion, mainly to annoy my brother, even allowed Fifi to come too. She and I had a lovely time ranging to and fro, chasing each other and generally behaving like two thoughtless creatures. I also learnt how to find Rosemary, other herbs and edible plants, it was fascinating.

The Rosemary did come in handy again, and I had many opportunities to study and correlate fish and human behaviour before we delivered them.

We are now on our way to pick up our last load of lumber. We must be more cautious this time as there are rumours of Reavers. I hope they’re only rumours; I don’t like what their presence does to my brain.

Take care of yourself Ellen. Are your Reaver preparations adequate? I worry about my family members so far away.

Love River

Dear River, Our preparations are fine Kaylee fixed the hydraulics and generator well be safe never fear. Mattie has a vault at the shop too a big one for lots of folks weve had practises and everything. My mother mostly taught Jayne about surviving she was a wily one and loved him so much. Being thoughtless now and then is good for you girl youre young yet enjoy it. Were off to Gowan soon Ive got everything ready and Kaylee will be comfortable in the back of the wagon. I think of you as family too child. Love Ellen

Dear Ellen,

It’s been more than a month since I communicated, I’m sorry if you were worried.

The Reavers hit the lumber camp; all the people and beautiful trees are gone. The voices echo and my coherence suffers. I know you don’t mind, but I do. It brings to the fore the fact I’ll never be really normal, never be the girl I was.

Following your advice I voiced these thought to Zoë and Inara. Both in their own way comforted me. Inara says no-one is ever the girl they were; that experience changes everyone to greater and lesser degrees. Zoë asked would I rather be back on Osiris living the life prescribed for me, and that made me think.

If I were there, things would be vastly different. I would be engaged or already married to a man of my parents’ choosing. My husband or parents would permit me to work, but only in an acceptable career. There would be many boring social functions to attend where only inanities were uttered. I wouldn’t fit in. I like it better here.

Here the Captain and Jayne teach me how to hustle at pool. Here no-one, except Simon, really minds that I appear everywhere mostly barefoot. Here, despite the comforting complaining, I’m allowed to have a pet. Here I’m trusted to do my job and get yelled at if I don’t. Here I’ve been given the opportunity to meet a man who likes me for myself. I wouldn’t change it after all.

How did your trip go? I hope you are all well.

Love River

Dear River, Youre right I don’t mind that you get mixed up. Telling others your troubles always helps girl and youve got some smart friends there. The trip went well I like being out under the stars. Kaylees in the new cast and is working at the mines shes a real dynamo for work that one. Would the man who likes you be Mattie? Youre the first girl hes looked at in a long time. Im sorry about the people and the trees I know you liked them. Be easy on yourself girl and hug Fifi. Love Ellen

Dear Ellen,

This letter is late again. We were quarantined at the Breton skyplex for nearly a month. I kept myself busy replacing wiring and learning to hustle at pool; another survival skill I knew nothing about.

My mathematical abilities came in handy in this environment and I could accurately predict where and how to hit the balls. But Ellen I failed at the dissembling necessary for such things. Without my older and wilier partners I would have lost money, not gained it. Isn’t that strange?

Simon, of course, didn’t like me becoming a hustler. When I reminded him that Kaylee was adept at it, he did change his tune slightly. To be fair, the boob was more worried about my safety than anything else, but sometimes it oppresses me. I love him and wouldn’t be here without him, but he treats me like the little girl I used to be and doesn’t see the River I have become.

His concern has grown since our arrival here at the settlement; because the Reavers have been here too. The settlers here were better prepared however and most hid in their vaults. I can still here the voices of the dead though and worse still the confusion of the Reavers minds.

I am trying Kaylee’s remedy of concentrating on single things and it does work at times. Inara suggested I combine this with meditation and Jayne makes me lift weights. It all helps and I hope that one day I’ll be able to block out voices when I need to.

I concentrate too on our better news. It’s good to see the happiness in the Captain’s and Inara’s faces. The Captain tries to hide it of course with much grumbling about fuss and bother, but is not altogether successful this time.

The shipment from your town arrived and was most welcome to the settlers. I find it interesting that help mostly comes from people who can least afford it, instead of from people like my parents for instance.

We leave here next week and are on our way back to you again. Though I’m unsure of how long we’ll be Ellen. We haven’t got all our jobs lined up yet. I will let you know more accurately as soon as possible. You must have adequate notice for the wedding preparations after all.

Yes the man is Mattie. I’m hoping he’ll dance again with me at the wedding. Would I be inappropriate if I said I wanted him to dance every dance with me?

Love River

Dear River, I hope you do dance every dance with that boy of mine and shake him up some. He needs it. Kaylee and I are planning a big shindig for the wedding and will be ready to go whenever you need us. Kaylees birthday comes up soon its near to the date of what happened at Miranda you know. I think she deserves a party. You cant be here in person but I was thinking of doing something over the Cortex maybe? Folks that cant afford stuff know what its like to be wanting folks from the Core dont. Keep meditating girl youll get there one day. Love Ellen

Comments

[ladytalon1.livejournal.com]

I roll my eyes at them and shall prevail!!

When I read this I could see her in my head, rolling her eyes like she's always doing at Simon! :D It's so great that she's getting used to things and even liking Mattie so much, but you know I'm REALLY looking forward to Kaylee's bday so we can see what kind of present Jayne will get for her. *anticipates* *rubs nose* *giggles*

[himeykitty.livejournal.com]

I pretty much just died at your icon. SO funny!

[ladytalon1.livejournal.com]

Isn't it a hoot? I got it from whatever_we_are :)

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

Now I can see River doing just that and it makes me giggle. Kaylee's birthday, I have all sorts of ideas about that. But have to figure out how to write it as a letter first.

[mercsgoodgirl.livejournal.com]

"My mathematical abilities came in handy in this environment and I could accurately predict where and how to hit the balls. But Ellen I failed at the dissembling necessary for such things. Without my older and wilier partners I would have lost money, not gained it. Isn’t that strange?"

I loved that River gets the geometry and math of pool, but not how to "play" the people. The idea of Mal and Jayne teaching her to hustle pool just amuses the hell out of me for some reason. Good one!

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

I'm sure those two would see the enormous benefits of a reader in their nefarious activities. *giggle* I loved the scene at the beginning of Shindig when they take the slave-traders money. It's obvious the pair of them do that often.

[ceslas.livejournal.com]

I am happily ignoring River thinking that Mattie is the boy for her and focusing on how Jayne is getting nicer and easier for her to work with and relate to and him thinking huh? *Whistles happily, fingers in my ears, I don't hear you >;0) *

As the rest- Love *Huggles the notes*

[bookaddict43.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the huggles! River does seem a mite set on Mattie but who knows what might happen in this series? *hands you a blindfold just in case*