The market stall was one of hundreds, all with various bits and baubles: catalyzers and cockpit controls, ice planets and inter-space communicators. Junk, really, but they offered a fair price, mostly. This one was Inara and Kaylee's territory, Zoe thought as she browsed the wares of the jewelers stall. But this trinket, the one that caught her eye and made her stop, the strange blue-green stone, she'd never seen anything like it before. The color reminded her of a picture of the sea she saw once in a brochure. Her finger traced the delicate gold chain of the bracelet, gently smoothing around each of the five stones as they crossed her path. Lost to her thoughts, she stared as the bustle of the market went on past her. A heated discussion over the price of engine parts a few stalls away brought her out of her daydream. Suddenly self-conscious, she drew her hand away slowly, resting it on the hilt of her gun as was her way. She glanced around, reacquainting herself with her surroundings, mentally chiding herself and hoping none of the crew had seen her. She almost blushed when she heard the swish of silk come to a stop beside her.

"It's very pretty." Inara liked the rarely seen softer side of Zoe.

"Yes." The fact that Inara wouldn't laugh at her did little to abate Zoe's embarrassment at getting caught.

"The stones are hard to find now. Stories of its abundance on Earth-That-Was make it sound cheap, but I've always thought it was beautiful." Inara gently touched the bracelet as Zoe had moments before. "I think it would look beautiful on you."

"Thank you, but I... I just don't think it's right for me." Zoe looked down at the perfect blue one last time, as wistful as Inara had ever seen from her, and turned to walk away.

Inara watched her straighten herself with resolve as she walked purposefully from the stall.

"The turquoise," she said, turning back to the man waiting to take her credits, "and wrap it up, please. It's a gift."