Not According To Plan

Chapter Four: An Awkward Dinner

Everyone stared in shock at Inara. She was usually very calm and collected, not to mention she was an expert at hiding her emotions. She had immediately retreated back into her normal calm demeanor but no one was fooled. Inara sat down, glancing once more at Mal and Siciline, and everyone continued eating in silence. No one was talking but, River felt like she was in a very crowded room. She could hear everyone and they were all confused and unsettled.


Inara was embarrassed and jealous. Embarrassed she had let her feelings get the better of her and jealous of this woman. Who was she? She wasn't a Companion and she didn't look like a common whore. Besides, she had thought they had a mutual, unspoken understanding about their feelings for each other. He had certainly failed to tell Inara about her. And why was Simon shooting hostile glances at Mal too?

Simon was furious with Mal. Sure he wanted Siciline to come with them but he didn't want this life for her. Siciline was his best friend, but she had eyes only for Mal. He was glad to see that he wasn't the only one who was unhappy about the situation. He should have known Inara would be just as jealous. She and Mal were pretty much an unspoken couple since she hadn't returned to Sihnon. Obviously he had left this little detail out.

Zoë had known this was going to happen. This had been what she was trying to tell to Mal earlier. Not only would Simon be angry with Mal but Inara would be jealous. Now they were going into a risky job with emotions running high. This world would be a lot simpler if everyone could talk about their feelings. At least no one else seemed to be upset by this turn of events.

Kaylee had forgotten about Inara. She had thought Siciline looked like a nice person from the start. And she had been right. There was just a bit of a problem where Mal was concerned. Everyone had been so happy to have Inara back on board they thought nothing more of it. Mal and Inara had settled their differences and life was back to normal. Until today.

Amid all this tension Jada and Larzl had both remembered it was their anniversary. They could celebrate later though. Nothing like this had happened among the crew before. They usually got along so well. But this new girl, Siciline, had riled them up. They thought she was nice enough but it would take a while for her to assimilate properly. They hoped it wouldn't throw a wrench in the next job.

Jayne had been having a good day. Good payoff, minimal complications, and then Mal had gone and found this girl. It was always Mal who got the women, he couldn't fathom why but he always did. And Mal and Inara were supposed to be an item. When had Mal met this girl anyway? But in the long run what did he care as long as he got paid.

Siciline had found the ship and its crew very welcoming until a minute ago. Until this Companion had come storming in, yelling about her. What cause did a Companion have to be jealous? They were no better than prostitutes but she didn't think it was wise to say so. Anyway when she had last been on Serenity neither of the shuttles were rented out and there wasn't a Companion on board so Mal had obviously met her first. Otherwise she was enjoying her stay very much. She had a very nice room with a real bed, plenty of space, free run of the ship, two of her oldest friends back and Mal. And she had finally gotten off that rock. That was the best part of the day.

Mal hadn't really thought about the consequences of bringing Siciline with them. He had been so happy to see her that he had forgotten about Inara. The rest of the crew didn't seem to have a problem with her, besides Zoë. And everyone had been getting along so well too. Now the room was silent, the kind of silence Mal really disliked. He hoped everyone would finish their dinner quickly and go about their business. But he also expected a confrontation from about half the crew and he wasn't looking forward to that.

River heard all of this as if from their own mouths. She liked being able to know what they were thinking, instead of having to guess by expressions or gestures. It must be very hard for them at this moment. She knows they would all like to be able to read each other's minds. If they could there might not be as much tension in the room. It felt like it could snap at any moment, all it needed was a harsh word and they'd be at each other's throats. River picked up her dinner knife and sliced it through the air over the table.

She smiled, "There, all gone. Cut through it before it could snap."

Simon glanced at her, apprehensively. "River what are you talking about?"

"Too much tension, could've snapped. Cut through it and saved the trouble."

It took a moment for everyone to register what she had said. Then Zoë of all people started to laugh. Soon everyone was laughing and the awkwardness was forgotten. Normal talk resumed but Inara was quiet for the rest of the meal and every now and then a few hostile, questioning glances were exchanged. River knew this was not forgotten yet.