Disclaimer: Own none of it. Just having a bit of fun with it.
Summary: A visit to a rim planet leads to a 'gamble' of sorts. Simon and Book remain behind while the rest of the crew continues with their next job.
Of Cornered Kings and Other Things
Malcolm Reynolds led the crew of Serenity to the nearby market of this off-handed world. Since their options of fellow traders was dwindling and the Alliance rumored to show interest in getting River back, Mal had to be careful where he brought his crew to.
He dealt out the various errands needed to all the crew, Simon included, after the morning common meal – a rarity - was finished. Mal encouraged everyone to do their best bartering, given the limited funds to work with. As much as the captain hated to admit it, the boy's money did help from time to time. Didn't mean he intended on using all of it in one shot, but, as a savings to draw from…
"Jayne!" Mal called out as the mercenary went for his bunk. "No overdoing it, dong ma?"
Jayne Cobb, a mercenary still on Serenity's side, unless someone offered him better money, turned and glowered. "C'mon, Mal! I-." The brute of a man had more weapons in his possession than Mal and Zoë probably used during the war. Well, not quite, but darn near close.
"We only need ammo," Mal reminded him. He hated to restrict Jayne, because it was like telling a kid in a candy store to only look at the candy and not touch it. Jayne grunted his agreement as Kaylee Frye let out a small whine of her own. "What, Little Kaylee?" he asked, going from holding back one child to another.
"This ain't exactly what we need, Cap'n. The parts Serenity-."
"Kaylee, that's what we can afford. You'll have to find a way to make do for the rest. Can you do that?" Even after so many a good paying job, and too many not so good ones, Mal had to play the mean one, rationing what could and couldn't be got. He ignored Simon's offer for funds because gut feeling was, they'd need a better part of what remained for something a mite more serious than supplies. Besides, Mal and his crew have been getting by for quite a while, thank-you-very-much and could continue to do so…especially if the next job paid the way it should.
Inara Serra came to Kaylee's side. "Come on," she told the mechanic, "I'm sure we could come up with other means of getting the bare necessities." The look the Companion gave Mal was meant to guilt him if not at least shame him completely. Problem was it only made him bitterly angry.
"Don't tell me you found a client on this rock," Mal retorted. "If you did, then I'da found a client too!" He knew that wasn't true. Their job was set up by Badger for some business a few planets away. As much as he disliked the little rodent, Mal had to take the offer. Badger might be an arrogant, insecure jerk, but he had a nose for deals. Mal didn't want to have to talk with everybody before setting foot on this place. Before anyone else could lodge a protest or complaint, Mal said, "Everybody out!"