"This is your house?"
Jayne grumbled the affirmative as Wash set the shuttle down in front of the Cobb residence. In reality it wasn't so much a house as it was a plantation manor. Fourteen bedrooms not belonging to the family, Radience had at least three of her own while Jayne had a solid four, the mansion also had a parlour, a main hall, dining hall, and a ballroom. Every square foot of the place was white washed save for the blue doors in front. Jayne had missed those doors, missed coming up the drive from school and seeing them even in the middle of a snowstorm. He missed barreling through them while Mattie chased him around. He missed barreling through them while his meemaw chased after with a wooden spoon and threats.
Unfortunately, everyone else on the crew had the same question and disbelief upon seeing the great manor.
As Jayne exited the shuttle, several grooms came out from a small building to the side. Each was dressed exactly like the other in soft gray uniforms, hair styled mostly the same while they took the luggage from the shuttle. Not a word was spoken as they worked, merely a deep bow as each man passed Jayne.
"Jayne, you feel like sharin'?"
"My pa owns a plantation," Jayne told him simply. He made his way to the front door, the crew following behind as they admired the land. The black was a beautiful place, mysterious and serene, but there wasn't a single thing to compare to Xibalba.
"There's only one plantation on all of Xibalba," Simon shook his head. "Your father owns an entire moon?"
"No. My Pa owns most of it. Ma's family owns the south eastern islands." He was giving his coat to a butler, obviously a new one judging by the stiffness in his back. His friends followed suit when the butler made their way to them, first to the girls and then the boys. "Meemaw!" He shouted, voice echoing through the building. He grinned as the new butler jumped.
His shout summoned a lot more than just Meemaw. A very ancient man came hobbling over, trailing a good deal of servants behind him.
"I thought I was going mad back on Canton," Simon admitted as Jayne was greeted and fussed over by no less than twenty servants.
"I thought Jayne hated rich folk," Kaylee nearly jumped when a passing pretty maid appeared at her elbow with a glass of lemonade for each of the crew. On the other side, the maid's twin was offering snacks.
"No. He hates the core." River's silent admission rang true in each of their minds. There were plenty of rich folk out on the Rim who'd been funding the war. They hadn't been eager to join the alliance, preferring to either ranch their land or create their own small alliances with neighbor planets.
"Shall I prepare rooms for your crew young Jayne?" The elderly butler asked.
"Iffin you don't mind," Jayne nodded with a smile. "I'd hug ya but I ain't smellin' none too fresh."
"A fact Rosie will no doubt scold you for," the butler laughed. "Come along then, to the bathhouse."
The butler led them further through the home, down stairs and through elegant halls until they reached a simple room with two doors. One on the left, and one on the right. The ladies bath's were to the right, the men were welcome to bathe on the left.
"Please, take your time, and welcome home Jayne."