Sora POV
"Who's she?" I ask, leaning against the railing in the docking hold, looking down at Mal speaking to a very beautiful woman, we docked in Persephone yesterday evening and after getting some supplies this morning Mal said he had some meeting with someone, guess she's her,
"Don't know and don't really care" Zoey says passing by me with a bag of her own supplies she picked up,
"She's awful pretty though isn't she?" Kaylee comments, coming to stand beside me, us both now watching Mal and this mysterious woman, I wonder what they're talking about.
"You two gossiping again, you know I feel left out if you two are gossiping without me" Wash says joining us, I smirk at him for that, me and Kaylee have become really good friends, often talking and gossiping about nearly anything that comes up and then now and again we'll be talking about a topic that draws Wash in and the three of us will be debating on a subject for hours before someone – usually Zoey breaks us up.
"Cap'n getting a lay? I thought we were setting off in an hour?" Jayne asks coming over to us, I look to him curiously then to the woman, a companion?
I look to Kaylee in question, she frowns I think not being sure either, I mean she's certainly beautiful but I wouldn't like to presume.
We all watch as Mal starts to bring the woman up towards us, Wash walks away presumably to Zoey whereas the three of us just stay where we are…well I catch Kaylee's arm so she doesn't hurry away with Wash, I promised her I'd help her to stand up for herself more after yesterday when some guys at a store we were in tried to give her trouble, gave them trouble with my fist in return of course.
"Excuse me ladies, I'd like to introduce you to Miss Anara Sarah, this here is my sister Sora, Kaylee and Jayne" I smile at the woman after Mal introduces us, I swear her smile – her whole damn face is beautiful, great now I feel insecure
"It's awful nice to meet you" Kaylee says, I nod in agreement,
"Let me show you to the mentioned available space" Mal says to Anara, leading her up and towards one of the shuttles, I follow them with my eyes wondering what they may be up to, I turn to Jayne,
"Do you really think she's a companion?" I ask curious as to why he would think that,
"Pretty woman like her, man like your brother, I mean he aint ugly but what other business would he have with such a fine looking woman as her?" he asks, looking down at me in response, I look down at this, not being able to his gaze after that comment.
"Maybe she has work for him? We can't presume to know" Kaylee says, I look to her with a light smile and nod in agreement, going down the stairs and grabbing my bag I left down there with some supplies I picked up.
I've been living on Serenity now for under a month now, Mal's been keeping me pitched in on any jobs we got and I finally saved enough spare money for some newer clothes and a new rifle I had my eye on from our last visit here on Persephone.
I walk up the steps intending to go to my room, but I pause when I see legs in my way, I look up to see Jayne stood in front of me, his arms crossed looking at me confused,
"Yes?" I ask, my bag over my shoulder,
"What got you all down just now?" he asks, I frown at him for that,
"Just earlier now when we were talking you started looking down, wouldn't look at me" he says,
"Well you're not exactly pretty on the eye Jayne" I say, stepping around him to go up the stairs but he only keeps in step with me to my left.
"Now that just isn't true and you know it. And your avoiding my question" he says, I roll my eyes at this, my lord he has to be persistent doesn't he,
"Since when do you care?" I ask looking at him, really not sure what he is up to,
"I…don't, look on these jobs you've been on with us I admit you've been a good asset to the team, I can't be having you off your game, need to…look after my crew is all, so they can look out for me, it's how it works" he says, I nod in agreement to that.
"I'm fine Jayne. Just something that was said bothered me more then it should have" I say, now stood at my bedroom door,
"What?" he asks, damn him, why couldn't he just leave it alone,
"It doesn't matter Jayne! Really so just forget it" I say now glaring at him, daring him to ask me again, I turn and open the door and about to step in,
"Sora"
I look behind me at him, seeing him still looking at me,
"It matters" he says, I pause at that, why would it matter to him, something bothering me wouldn't bother him like this, he doesn't care about anyone but himself why would he care?
"Get in here" I say with a sigh, inclining for him to enter the room, if I have to do this then I want it in private, he takes a second to register before he finally steps in, I know his eyes will be looking around the room, any of us would do the same in a space you haven't been in, its instinct.
"Look I don't know why you care, or maybe you don't care your just being damn nosey, but if you really must know…I…I don't even know why I care but when you mentioned how pretty and fine looking that Anara woman is…I guess I realised that's not something I'm going to ever hear from anyone about myself" I say, leaning against the wall, crossing my arms but keeping my eyes on him.
His response is just to be looking at me clueless, which just annoys me more,
"You…don't think someone would think you good looking?" he asks a frown on his brow like someone gave him a hard riddle, I look away from him at this, my response being his answer to his own question,
"Why would you think that?" he asks, truly sounding confused, but I just look at him oddly, surely he isn't that stupid,
"Jayne, look at me, I mean I know I wouldn't on a good day rival Anara by a long shot any day, but…with these? These and others brand me as…damn ugly, I would never be looked at as pretty…these scars, I've seen how people look at me, as soon as they see these they look away, repulsed, not wanting to engage with me, I just didn't realise it till now" I say. Looking down having pointed at my face where the scars are to make damn sure he knows what im taking about this time.
"That makes no sense. Those scars don't make you ugly – far from it! They make you look…well I don't know many damn words but you aint ugly. You're a fine woman, those are your battle scars you should wear them with pride after what you gone went through, I would and you know any one of us would too. You aren't pretty like Anara I'll say that – but your more then that your bigger then her – your fiercer then her and that – well that's something" he says.
I just stare at him in shock, wordless after what he just said to me, I saw how he struggled saying some of those things and I think I understand what he's trying to say.
"But I did…at least before Anara came by that is…I don't know why but as soon as you said she were pretty I just had this weird feeling in me, made me feel weird and that's when I just felt like I could feel my scars as if they were fresh on my face" I say, looking at him confused, he cocks his head to the side also showing how confused he is,
"Maybe you're not well? Makes sense since you aint thinking straight" he says, I laugh at that, I see him smiling at me now,
"That – that's the look, that Anara woman aint got nothing on you when your smiling" he says, I smile at him for that, why the hell do I care so much if Jayne thinks I look better then Anara?
"Folks this is your captain speaking, I'd like you all to meet in the dining area as soon as you can!"
I look up at the comm from hearing Mal on them then back to Jayne, wonder what he wants to speak to us about,
"Better get going, I'll be out in a sec I just want to change quickly" I say, he nods at this then leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
I go over to my sack and start pulling out the couple of bits of clothes I got, I bought some new pants and a new shirt ( . )
After getting dressed I hurry out to the dining area, I'm actually really happy with how the outfit looks, I hope Zoey doesn't think I'm copying her, but to be fair she herself helped me pick this outfit out so it's only mostly HER fault.
I go over to my seat next to Mal, somehow it because my spot whenever we're all here, I instantly spot Anara sat at the head of the table when I entered the room,
"It suits you Sora" Zoe says to me, I smile at her for that,
"Thank you Zoe, then again you would know" I say smirking which she shares, I swear we're almost twins in this outfit,
"Great now there's two Zoey's" Mal says with a smile, I laugh a little at that,
"Now everyone for the reason for this gathering, you have all met Anara here, Anara has been looking for a form of permanent transport to get to and from clients and wishes to rent one of our shuttles, and as of an hour ago we reached an agreement so now she is now our newest crew member" Mal says, I look at him surprised, but then I smile at Anara,
"Welcome to the family Anara" I say, she smiles that ridiculously beautiful smile of hers, I am not going to let this affect me, especially since Anara will be living with us now.
"Thank you I believe I'll enjoy staying here with you all" she says, I smile from this, she seems nice anyway, Kaylee begins talking to her beside her and I begin a conversation with Mal about our next destination, not knowing that someone's eyes have been on me since I entered the room.