Disclaimer: Joss is the master. May the success of his new series inspire Fox to come to their senses and revive Firefly.
This is just a real short something I wrote a while back that I never could quite word right, but I think I've worked it out to my satisfaction now. It's surprisingly difficult to distill the essence of these complicated characters to a few lines. I think I've left them open enough to interpretation that they can have a bunch of different meanings.
Happy Thanksgiving, folks!
Everything. Seen with her own eyes instead of inside her mind, it's not so overwhelming. Not so noisy. River smiles at it all.
A terrifying oblivion surrounds them, waiting to reach out and consume them. Simon closes his eyes and fights it back however he can.
The unknown. It's bigger than imaginable, and it can't be shot with a gun. Jayne doesn't like it, and doesn't look often.
It's a mystery, haunting and heartbreaking. Inara wants to brush her lips across the cold distance, wants to look away and forget but can't.
A curiosity. It called Wash out to play and he enthusiastically answered. He could fly for all eternity and never get tired of it.
Kaylee thinks of her ship and the people on it, sailing towards exciting new adventures. Every star is another possibility, glittering and hopeful.
Home. She was born among the stars. Zoe follows whatever road leads her back dutifully because she has people waiting for her there.
Book saw God's plan and asked himself 'why.' He might know the answer now.
Hard earned freedom. In a brooding mood, the Captain remembers all that they've lost for it. But on a good day, he's grateful for all they've gained.