DISCLAIMER: Joss Whedon rules. I don't.
SUMMARY: PG. Nine people on board. Nine ways to fit in. 'Zoë' and 'Mal' are set post-Serenity.
WORDCOUNT: 9x100
FEEDBACK: yay! I'd love to hear which one was your favorite. :)

Written for fffriday Prompt:tools.

TO EACH THEIR OWN
by Leni

Simon

It must be sharp. Ideally, it'll be properly disinfected. Right. Ideal is worlds away from this second-use marketplace.

"Thirty credits?" Mal whistles. "You sure this shiny blade's worth it?"

"A brand new one costs two-hundred in the Core," Simon whispers. "Unless you'd rather I pulled bullets with the meat knife?"

Mal scowls but takes out the money. "I better not be wastin' it, doc."

Simons nods. "Twenty-five," he tells the vendor. Before the man can protest, Simon takes the wanted scalpel and looks around. "Someone offers more?"

"Well, well." Mal chuckles as the money grudgingly changes hands. "Ain't that progress?"

Inara

"Oh," Kaylee coos giddily. "It's so soft!"

Inara smiles at her friend and picks the sample to examine it. The flowered pattern is actually lovely. "It's pretty." But she doesn't have the heart to tell Kaylee it's not up to a Companion's standards.

"Aw, I bet there's prettier." Kaylee takes her and pulls her further into the store. "How 'bout this?"

"Kaylee!" 'This' is a sheer red material, completely inappropriate for a dress.

Kaylee laughs while Inara shakes her head in amusement. She was right. Bringing someone along takes away the feeling that she's just stocking up her work equipment.

Jayne

Jayne isn't picky. Any gun gets the job done. Women come and go without particular notice. But protein, day in and day out – these days he's ready to space himself out of sheer frustration.

"Everything okay, Jayne?"

Jayne glares at the doctor. "Peachy." It's not he isn't grateful there's food. He even bows his head when the Shepherd is in praying mood.

"But," Simon presses, "you aren't eating. Jayne?"

"Leave it, doc." What's he expecting, anyway? Even if Mal scrounged up enough for good pots and pans and real food, nobody knows first thing about cooking. "Ain't hungry, is all."

River

"You are too tense," River scolds the pilot.

"We-ell," he drawls. "You kinda messin' with a man's personal space here." And he cranes his neck until they're practically nose to nose. "See?" When the girl doesn't retreat, Wash sighs. "Whatcha doin' here, an'ways?

"Simon's serenading the engine room."

Wash's eyebrow shoots up. "I… really hope 'twas metaphoric."

"Of course, silly." River leans forward, almost climbing onto Wash's back. "I have the brains, you have the tools. I came to learn."

"You wanna fly, lil one?"

She smiles regally. "Already do. I just want to take you all for the ride."

Mal

Zoë raises an eyebrow. "Have you run this by her, sir?"

Mal huffs. "Next you'll be tellin' we ask her where Serenity should go."

"She's the one with the busy schedule," she points out. "And Inara ain't no graceful lady when she misses it."

Mal crosses his arms moodily. "I'm still the captain, ain't I?"

"Aye."

"So, if 'Nara wants to fly with us with the Alliance chasing our tail, she better starts learnin' guns proper." He fishes out his own pistol and puts it in her hands. "Tell her I send it with compliments."

"Sir. This a suicide mission?"

Kaylee

Kaylee bites her nail doubtfully. "Gee, Shepherd. You're nice an' all, but I ain't seein' how it'd work. I'm no good at teaching'em things."

"Think of it as a special favour, my friend. I'd be most thankful if you helped me feel less useless around the ship."

She looks between the engine and the man, then sighs. "I really can't explain. I sorta fiddle and tinker, take a wrench and hope for the best. It's all about listening to Serenity."

Book muses over it. "So it's a matter of faith."

"Sorta…."

"Good." He smiles pleasantly. "That's right up my alley."

Wash

Footsteps halt hesitatingly at the entryway. "All clear," Wash calls out. It's Inara, looking searchingly as she steps inside. "Hm. Long face. You and Mal had a row?"

"Putting it mildly," she agrees as she sits beside him. "I'm surprised you didn't hear us."

"Not one peep." At her look, he shrugs innocently. "Maybe a bit - or, okay, a lot. You really feedin' him Kaylee's tools if he don't get you to Ariel next week?"

"Probably."

"Can I watch?"

Inara chuckles.

Wash smiles to himself. Nice to know he's more than a pilot; he really likes brightening a friend's day.

Zoë

"Roses hurt, too." River tilts her head and brings up the gun to caress her cheek. "Hidden thorns inside."

"Bullets," Zoë corrects her. She knows better than to pry away the weapon, but she still checks that the safety is on. "That's no rose, River."

River shrugs. "What's in a name?"

A sigh. "Don't get dreamy now." She reaches out and places a forgotten rag back in River's hand. "Keep cleaning. Like this." She rubs the grease off the barrel, raises an expectant eyebrow.

"Fine." River imitates her movements. "But life was easier when I was too crazy for you."

Book

Jayne straightens and wipes the sweat off his brow. "One less. How many left?"

"Only five." Book stops his work, too, and leans heavily on his shovel. "Maybe we should rest for a while."

"Works for me." Without further comment, Jayne drops to sit on the dusty ground. A dozen or so crosses rise from the space around them, and Jayne looks thoughtfully at them. "We sure we ain't catching this fever?"

"Simon was very insistent." Book rubs his sore shoulder before fishing his Bible out.

Jayne groans at the sight. "Can't we make a group reading? They won't mind."

The End
01/03/08