I received a negative review. What annoyed me was not that the review was negative, but that they didn't have the courtesy to sign in, thereby not allowing me to reply and ask questions. Also, their commentary simply stated that the fic was 'bad, in a bad way', which tells me nothing useful. Well, it tells me they thought it was bad

Taste, is of course personal, but I like to pick people's brains.

Let's note that this fic is me playing around; and is pretty silly. Also it is pretty shoddy in terms of construction and the paying of attention to basic mechanics; normally, I am fairly rigorous with such – that being said, having gone back to re-read things, some of this is subject to SUCH rudimentary mistakes, that I WILL go back and tidy a few things up.

That being said, do I need to take things a little more seriously? Please, give me your thoughts.

I sincerely appreciate your reviews.

I reckon the past week was Badger's idea of a joke, or his reptilian brain has evolved to a level where some measure of innate sentience is discernable and saddling us with politicians represented some arcane form of retribution.

It's certainly been interesting.

I have to admit, I derived a certain amount of amused pleasure from the morality crusader, representing some extreme religious sect, who spent a significant portion of her time aboard upbraiding Inara for being a 'whore' and a 'fallen woman'.

For some reason, Companions seem to lose their, carefully-studied, composure when responding through clenched teeth; who would have thought? I must admit, I didn't help matters by making sure to place myself in Inara's line-of-sight whenever said crusader appeared on the horizon. It was worth the price of admission as Inara desperately tried not to implode as she struggled between the reflexive urge to berate (and probably strangle) the 'idiot' in front of her and maintain a degree of decorum she constantly proclaims to be far beyond the likes of one such as I.

This is, of course, bollocks. Inara swears like a marine with a three-day leave pass; in multiple languages. Usually at the captain when he's done something to cross her - like using the wrong spoon to stir his tea. Someone also needs to mention to her that her command of multiple languages would be less apparent if she soundproofed her shuttle…

… Especially when she has visitors …

…Female visitors …

…Of the political persuasion…

… I guess whore training is good for something after all.

Of course, we had more than one politician 'staying' with us.

The official representative of the Alliance Government, with whom Badger had gifted us, had a particularly unpleasant week. If it wasn't having to deal with the wisp of insanity following him around and threatening to kill him with her (alleged) mind, he had to listen to Mal, clearly having donned his tightest pants, hold forth on why The Alliance was clearly in league with THE DEVIL! (Mal was shouting at this point). I think the tight pants cut off blood flow to both his brains. Admittedly, it probably didn't help that the politico called Mal 'rebel scum' – I do hope he enjoyed his accommodation in the airlock; it has a wonderful view of ... space.

Of us all, however, I think the 'most' offended was the Shepherd; as he constantly reminds us, ad nauseum, ' He wasn't always a Shepherd'. What he was, unfortunately, is never disclosed, leaving me to conclude that what the Shepherd most likely was, was delusional or, at the least, full of shit. I mean, seriously, enough with the cloak and dagger theatrics, it's not like you're the oooonnlllyyy person in the fuckin' 'verse with a checkered past and a morally ambiguous history – dude, seriously… welcome to Serenity?

Anyway, the Shepherd spent the entire visit wandering the ship with a permanently affronted expression on his face, constantly muttering about how we'd been invaded by the Flat Earth Society.

At least he didn't mention anything about elephants riding around on the backs of giant space-faring turtles.