Out on the town

[Inara Serra]

Inara closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. Her Companion training kicked in, which let her put a calm mask on her face, though inwardly she was practically a maelstrom of emotions.

"How about the truth for once? Just be truthful with me for once in your life. I don't see why that is so difficult for you, Mal. I have never understood it. I don't even want to imagine how many things you have bottled up inside of you, things that are just crying to be let out, but you won't let them. Are you afraid of letting people get too close to you? Are you afraid of getting hurt? You're not alone in that, Mal. Everyone is afraid of getting hurt, but they don't let that stop them from trying to get things they actually want, because as much as they don't want to get hurt, they are more afraid of living and dying alone."

[Malcolm Reynolds]

*He watched her closely, her words soaking in. He sighed, shutting his eyes once she was finished, glancing down to the table. He knew what he wanted to say...knew every word of it. Things he had bottled up since practically the first time he had meant her. But he kept it to himself, always kept to himself. And even though she was begging, begging him to talk, he kept quiet still*

[Inara Serra]

She felt like she might cry. Not now though, later on, after she imagined beating him with her fists for a good hour, until his male stupidity left and all that was left was the core inside of him. What she longed to see.

She stood, as gracefully as she could. "I'm sorry," she said, taking out some credits for her meal and placing it on the table in front of him. "I have to be away from you before I do or say something I regret."

As she walked away from him out of the restaurant, she could feel the tears welliing up in her eyes, willing them to stay at bay until she left the restaurant. She reached the outside and went directly to the alleyway adjacent to the restaurant, retreating away from the street before she completely broke down sobbing.

[Malcolm Reynolds]

Nara...Nara wait...*He began as she stood. But he knew that wouldn't stop her. He sighed, glancing down at the table. His attention was grabbed when the waiter came up with their food, raising an eyebrow at him. Should I bring a box, sir?*

Yes...please *He sighed. Once he got the food and paid for the unfinished meal, he headed back towards Serenity with a gloomy air to him. As he walked, he passed by the shops they had glanced in. He began walking by the little stand where Inara had been so transplexed, but stopped, looking at it over his shoulder, an idea popping into his head.

He got back to the ship an hour or so later*