Author's Note: Ficlet for the LiveJournal ff_friday challenge. August 28's subject: anything. I chose the thirteenth challenge, "games." Sorry for the crappy title, but I just couldn't come up with anything better. Length: 329 words.
gôu pì = bullshit
wô hâo = I'm fine
qingwa cào de liúmáng = frog-humping sumbitch (thanks to TaraLJC's Mandarin glossary)
Fun and Games
By Trisana McGraw
Mal entered the galley to find Jayne, Kaylee, and Shepherd Book sitting at the table, each holding several cards. He gave them an uninterested glance -- it was usual to see crew members play when there was no work to be done -- before going to fix himself a snack. After he had found nothing satisfactory, he turned around and watched the game.
Kaylee gave each of the men a guileless smile and produced two cards, which she set facedown on top of a pile between them. "Two threes, gentlemen."
"Gôu pì!" Jayne shouted, slamming his hands on the table so hard that the cups of tea rattled. Mal's head whipped around at the noise. "And so early on in the game. I shoulda known," Jayne went on. He stabbed an accusing finger at Kaylee.
"Calm down, Jayne," Mal admonished as he came to sit beside them. "It's just a few threes; I think you want the higher cards."
"Wô hâo, Cap'n. It's part of the game." Kaylee spoke up, with a small laugh when she said his name. "We're playin' 'gôu pì' . . . you know, 'bullshit.' We try an' fool each other."
"Oh," Mal said, a little taken aback and annoyed that Jayne was now smirking at him. "Well, just don't get out of hand."
He leaned back in his chair and watched as Shepherd Book, then Jayne, then Kaylee again laid down cards. They played in silence for about a minute, until Jayne announced, "Three jacks."
"Gôu pì, you qingwa cào de liúmáng!" Kaylee shouted, throwing her cards down and leaning over the table so her face was an inch from Jayne's. Book showed a ghost of a smile. The mercenary laughed and showed that he had indeed been lying. Kaylee laughed and triumphantly sat back down, picking up her cards again. When she noticed Mal staring aghast at her, she gave him one of those brilliant, innocent smiles. "Survival of the fittest, Cap'n."
