Disclaimer: Don't own anything... wish I did but don't. All belongs to Joss Whedon.
P.S. No movie spoilers. This is set before the movie... in all it's glory.
River knocks gently on the door to Inara's shuttle. Although it's already open, she likes when you show her enough respect to knock, unlike Mal who barges in unannounced. "Yes?" Inara calls from inside. River steps inside lightly on her bare feet, seeing Inara brushing through Kaylee's hair.
"Hello there, mei-mei." Inara smiles as she sees the younger woman come in with a smile on her face. "What are you up to today that has a smile on your face? Good day I take it?" She inquires genuinely.
"Relatively good day." River replies. "Slightly uneventful... but how exciting can a day on this boat be?" She says jokingly. Kaylee giggles as Inara smiles.
"Seriously Nara. We gotta do something to liven up this gorram crew. E'eryone seems so bored lately." Kaylee says with mischief in her voice. "Hell, I know I been more bored lately than as far back as I can 'member."
"Liar." River says with a smile.
Inara laughs. "She's right Kaylee. You sure have been chasing after Simon like it's your job lately. That can't be too boring."
"Well..." Kaylee blushes. "It's tirin' is all." The girls laugh together. "Ya know what we should do..." Kaylee starts. "We should have like a party er somethin'. A lil' shindig."
"There is nothing to celebrate." River says plainly, looking at Kaylee confused.
"You don't need ta have somethin' ta celebrate ta have a party, silly." Kaylee says with a smile bright enough to light up the blackness of space. "We could just have one fer fun."
"No. Won't work." River says, squinching her nose in thought. "Theme is required. Reason is required." Kaylee looks at River, slightly confused.
"River's right Kaylee. I don't think everyone would be comfortable with the idea of a random party." Inara explains. Sitting thoughtfully on her cushioned couch, she places a finger against her lips, thinking of what to do.
"Dress up. I used to love to dress up." River says quietly. "Be someone I am not."
"What month is it?" Inara asks, thinking carefully about what River had said. Kaylee shrugs, as River seems to be deep in thought, eyes closed. Inara moves toward her schedule.
River's eyes snap open. "October." She says quickly, startling Inara as she beings to flip through her agenda book. "All Hallowed Eve."
"That's right. The 31st is coming up. In a week." Inara smiles. Kaylee looks up to her, confusion filling her eyes. "It's a celebration from the days of Earth-that-was. Some planets still celebrate it, but the Alliance feels it's Paganistic and Archaic."
Kaylee raises an eyebrow. "Ok... so... we're going to celebrate this ancient holiday? Oh, that's not random at all. No one will even know how to celebrate it!"
"Easy. Pretend to be someone else for a day. Someone not yourself. Or a part of you that doesn't show. An animal. Anything." River explains to Kaylee. "Play dress up for a day and not be looked at like you're crazy." She smiles at her own ironic comment.
Kaylee smiles. "I like this idea. I love dressin' up!" Her smile fades slightly. "I don't know what to dress as."
"Nurse." River says simply.
Inara and Kaylee look at the girl in shock. "A nurse!" Kaylee exclaims. Inara laughs at the idea.
"Simon will like it." River answers, her eyes dancing with mischief. "He's dreamt it." Kaylee blushes deeply at the thought. Inara blinks in surprise. I know she's not a little girl... but I forget sometimes just how grown up she is. She thinks to herself.
"He dreams'a me?" Kaylee asked, her eyes lightling up, the blush fading. River giggles, pulling Kaylee back to the present conversation. "This... dress up day is startin' ta sound like a right shiny idea."
"Halloween. The holiday is called Halloween. It's celebrated on the 31st of October. We have a week to plan it, and that should be more than enough time. We'll have to run the idea by the rest of the crew. Then, if everyone agrees, convince Mal to go planet side so we can get supplies. Costumes, decoration, food..." Inara explains.
"Aw hell, Nara. He's not gonna wanna stop anywheres unless'n it's fer a job." Kaylee whines.
"No. He'll stop." River interjects. The other two look at the younger woman questioningly. She looks back at them smiling. "He needs some fun just as much as the rest of the crew. He'll like the idea." She says confidently.
The next day at breakfast, wondering when to throw their idea at the rest of the crew, River, Kaylee, and Inara exchange glances. Slamming down his cup, Mal clears his throat loudly. "Is there somethin' wrong? Somethin' I should know 'bout? Why is it that you three have been givin' each other looks... all gorram suspicious like?" Mal pauses to catch a breath. "Do I got food on my face?"
"No, Sir." Zoe says, still looking at the girls. "Must be somethin' else."
"Yeah..." Jayne says gruffly. "Be'n drivin' me nuts." He glances sideways at River, sitting next to him, who is smiling knowingly at him. She best not be rummagin' 'round in my head 'gain. She smiles wider and he rolls his eyes.
"Well Cap'n... we was talkin' last night. We're thinkin' everyone's gittin' a might uptight lately. We need somethin' to... We needa have a lil' fun Cap'n." Kaylee explains with a smile glued on her lips. "Let's have a party, Cap'n!" She says suddenly.
Mal almost chokes on his food. "Lil' Miss Kaylee... does this look like a cruise ship to you? A party boat? There ain't gonna be no shindig on my boat." Mal hears River laugh at this, and throws her a sideways glance.
"I don't know, Mal. I think it might sound like a right shiny idea." Wash says hopefully. When Mal grunts in response, Wash looks towards his wife. "You like the idea don't you Lamby-toes? I bet if you agree, the Captain will too... call him Sir, he likes that." He says jokingly as Zoe rolls her eyes at him.
"We have a theme too, Cap'n. So it ain't too random like." Kaylee adds hopefully. "Halloween!" Kaylee continues, smiling bright enough to light up the entire mess hall.
"Ne'er heard'a it." Jayne says shortly.
"Of course you haven't." River teases.
"One of the holidays from Earth-that-was? One of the ones we studied in our history classes back home?" Simon asks River who nods in response. "Well, seems like fun. You have my vote." Simon says smiling at Kaylee.
"How 'bout ya fill us non-educated folk in on the nature of this... holiday." Mal says frustrated.
"Well, it's a fun holiday that was celebrated every 31st of October on Earth-that-was. You dress up in costumes and get to be someone completely different for a day." Inara chimes in with a brief explanation.
Jayne grunts. "Sounds stupid... OW!" River kicks him under the table. "Gorramit, Crazy! What in seven hells were that fer?"
"Stop lying! You like the idea... you just know that what to dress as." River hissed. "Don't kill the genius idea of ours... just because you're scared!"
"Fer the last time, girl, I ain't scar'd'a nothin'!" Jayne throws back at her.
"You are. Scared to let people in. Scared to let people close enough to you to see another part of you!" River yells at the merc sitting next to her as she stands, knocking her chair backwards, she rushes out of the mess.
Simon stands to follow her, but Mal stops him. "She'll be fine." Simon looks down at the captain then around the rest of the table. Everyone is nodding and Jayne is breathing heavily, furious.
"Never had good luck with shindigs. Somethin' always went wrong... maybe this one'll be differ'nt." Mal says as a smile creeps across his face, his gaze moving from Kaylee's face to Inara's, who smiles back at him.
"Is that a yes?" Kaylee exclaims happily. "We can have the Halloween party?"
"Sure. Everyone here needs to loosen up some." Mal says looking at Jayne who stands up, leaving the mess without a word.
"SHINY!" Kaylee smiles hugging Simon out of happiness.