The crew was getting ready to go out after a job gone good. There had been no betrayals, good pay, and a polite see you next time at the end. So, they were going out celebrating. Most of them were waiting down in the bay. Zoe, Mal, and Inara were going out for a quiet drink. Kaylee and Simon were going out for dinner. And Jayne was waiting for River, who was taking forever getting ready. Finally they heard her coming down the stairs.
"Sure took your time Albatr –"
Mal's jaw joined everyone else's on the ground when he saw her. She was wearing a tiny miniskirt that, just in case it didn't show enough skin, had a slit up the side. And her shirt, can that even be called a shirt? Mal thought. It was a piece of triangle cloth with some strings that tied around her back. The napkins up in the mess have more cloth to 'em.
As if the outfit wasn't enough, her hair was pulled back from her darkly made-up face, falling in soft curls down her back. Mal immediately suppressed the very, very wrong thought of Damn, she's HOT!
She came down the stairs and walked over to Jayne, who was grinning like a kid who had just won the verse's shiniest prize. Something looked odd and it took Mal a few moments to realize that River was too tall. He looked at her feet and couldn't figure out where she had picked up four inch strappy heels.
"'Tross, how do you walk in those?" Of all the questions flying around his head, that was the one that actually made it out of his mouth.
River glanced at her feet and shrugged, "These are far easier to walk in than doing a pas de deux on pointe."
"Where are you going dressed like that?" Oh right, Mal thought, turning to Simon, that was the question he had meant to ask.
River looked as innocent as she could with her smokey eyes and crimson lips, "Just out for a little drink."
Zoe snorted, "They'll be all over you in minutes."
"Yes, I know," River grinned and her eye held a glint that they had only seen in Jayne's eyes when violence was imminent.
"You're trying to start a barfight?!" The doc was just coming up with all the good questions today.
The not quite innocent look was back, "Mebbe."
Jayne laughed at his girl's wiles, "Ya, c'mon, should be fun, bye all!" Jayne wrapped an arm around River's waist and strode confidently down the ramp.
"Will they be alright?" Inara asked, hooking her arm through Mal's.
"I imagine they'll be fine. You've seen 'em fight together, they're unstoppable."
"Besides, it's their one year anniversary and this was River's present!" The crew turned surprised looks on Kaylee.
"What was his present?" Ha! Mal had finally gotten a good question out.
"He got to buy her that outfit."