Harry stepped off the ship, carrying his broom. Most of the crew was following him off. Each carrying a broom of their own, ready for their first day of work.
They weren't professional racing brooms, like Harry's, but rather top of the line "Travel Brooms". They had small, horse-like, saddles. Each with a number of charms on them, as well as bigger on the inside pockets... even a cup holder, and a retractable tray.
These brooms were designed for comfort and convenience, not speed or maneuverability. Apparently, they were common among grown, non-Quidditch obsessed, flyers.
"Straight to the community center," Mal reminded the boy. "River'll tell me if ya skip."
Harry did his best not to groan. This man really didn't understand him. The young prophesized savior of the wizarding world, was looking FORWARD to hanging out with the other kids of the village. No Dudley to bully him, no titles to make others gawk at him, and no school to get in the way...
Harry had been longing for this moment, his whole life. But the captain didn't know that... because he remained a virtual stranger. Mal was trying his best to be a good guardian... but the man was very reserved, and when he did talk... it was usually a meaningless joke, or stern order.
Because of that, Harry hadn't learned anything about the man, in the 2 and a half months they knew each other. The kid almost wished he went with Inara. Then he remembered Dudley was there. Harry figured a standoffish guardian, was better then dealing with a bully of a cousin. Besides, Harry was getting to know the rest of the crew, and they seemed pretty cool.
River walked over to the boy, smiling in her childish way. As if she was much younger then 17.
"Come on Harry," She mounted her broom. "Race you." and immediately took off into the air.
Harry tensed, before jumping on his broom, and following after her. All the while screaming, "Cheater!!!"
Simon came up beside the Captain. Looking up at his sister... after so long of looking after her, he had to accept she didn't need him breathing down her neck anymore.
The medicines the Goblins made, based on Alliance formulas... well, mixing magic into the meds had made them more effective. She still wasn't quite right, and would never be, but she was truly functional now.
According to the Goblins, she had become no odder then your average "seer". She would do well in this world. She could even be trusted to look after a child, while the rest of the crew worked.
"She'll be fine, Doc," came Mal's words of encouragement.
Simon sighed, "I know... still it's hard accepting... she doesn't need me anymore."
"She'll always need ya," Mal sounded oddly comforting. "You're her big brother."
"We're all family," Kaylee suddenly appeared. She had been taking full advantage, of the super speed she gained, from her lightning and Ether affinities. The rest of the crew slowly gathered.
"Me and Simon are the kids." Kaylee got into it. It was something they were debating on for awhile. As the Goblins wanted them to officially write out the inheritance chart, for future generations.
There was some kind of Blood contract, that Warlock covens used, to assign themselves family like roles. The crew understood the contract wouldn't force them into the literal family roles. Warlocks just used the terms "Brother", "Sister", "Father", or "child" to describe ranks in the coven.
Still the crew understood, intellectually, the terms were closer to religious positions then family... although there was also a mix of a family dynamic, in covens, making it more complicated.
That's why the crew felt more then a little awkward about that... but strangely, after last night... it felt right.
"Jayne's the oldest son, that was dropped on his head as a child." Jayne growled at that, but Kaylee would not be discouraged. "Shepard Book is the grampa." Book blushed as Kaylee looked at him. "Zoey is the badass Aunt, with Wash being the fun loving uncle. Then River and Harry are the babies... And Mal is the Dad."
Both Jayne and Simon, bucked at the idea.
Jayne spoke up, "Like Hell, Mal's my pa!" Although he had to admit... their time on New Earth had brought them closer together, and they were already pretty close... family did sound right. "It's more like we're cousins." he insisted.
"Distant cousins," Simon strangely found himself agreeing with Jayne.
Zoey cracked a smile, "You lot are thinking about this too literally."
Mal smiled back, then gave a firm nod. "'besides, y'all are more like my siblings."
In a Warlock coven, "children" were often the youngest, and most inexperienced. They were apprentices, working in their department. Anyone, who's magical core stabilized, could join a coven, and apprentice for a role in it.
With "brothers" and "sisters" being a cross between monks, and workers. With the "Uncle" and "Aunt" being head of their department. With the leader of the coven expected to refer to the uncles and aunts as their "Little" sibling, and the "Brothers and sisters" as "Nephews and Nieces".
"It's more like a military platoon," Mal smiled, thinking of his time as a soldier.
"Not quite sir," Zoey stressed. There was a lot less formality and ceremony, in Covens.
"Close enough to one," Mal reasoned. "A platoon is more like family, with a clear cut hierarchy. That seems to be what covens are about.
"With that thinkin', I'd say Zoey is Aunt of our 'Warriors', With Jayne being brother in her department."
Jayne sneered. He wanted to be in charge, but Mal didn't trust him... not since Jayne tried to cash in on River and Simon's bounty... Which Jayne still felt guilty over.
The money was too good, and he didn't particularly like either of them. Or didn't used to... strangely he started thinking of them more like annoying siblings, after he tried to turn them in... and they forgave him. Which just made it all worse.
"Then River can be a 'sister' in that department." Before Simon could even object, Mal informed. "It was her suggestion. She's a trained Assassin, and more in control of her faculties, nowadays. She wants to contribute."
"Then have her work with Kaylee!" Simon insisted.
Mal sighed, "It's her choice. Ain't neither of us have the right to control her life."
"Maybe YOU don't!" did the boy really just say that?
"Simon," Book got the young Doctor's attention. "She's legally an adult, by these people's standards. None of us have any rights over her, anymore. She's here because she wants to be. And she wants to make, what the Alliance did to her, worth it. Even if it's in a small way, like helping protect the family she's built around her."
Simon groaned, he still didn't like it... but Book had kinda set himself up as the conscience of the group.
They all got quiet for a moment, before moving on.
"Now that the little mutiny is over," Mal joked, before getting more serious. "Simon is obviously best qualified to be 'Uncle of Healing'." Mal pointed out. Then added, "And we can get Jypsy to apprentice under him as a 'child'." The boy might as well put the magical education, he was about to gain, to use.
Book, unfortunately, pointed out, " House Elves can't legally join Covens. Even though most have a family serving them."
Each of the crew had different reactions to that. With most being disgusted, Jayne not really caring, and Mal... becoming angry.
"I decide how people fit in my crew," Mal insisted. "Even if the warlocks don't recognize it. I want it in writing they are more then slaves. They're crew." He insisted.
There was a loud pop, and Twinkle suddenly appeared in front of them, crying hysterically.
Mal, not knowing how to handle that, allowed Kaylee to. She engulfed the Elf in a hug.
"Kaylee," Mal got the girl's attention. "You'll be 'Aunt', with Twinkle and Whiskers under you."
Now Whiskers appeared, just as weepy. Kaylee quickly pulled him into the hug.
Zoey informed, "I'll take them down to the Goblin deck. See if they'll grant access to some of those brain uploading books. They'll need: Alliance technology, enchantment magics, and techno magics."
Simon added, "Should get Jypsy books on Alliance and magical medicines... maybe herbology, as well."
Mal nodded, "Sure Doc, but I'd like him to learn most things the old fashion way. But I can see how you need a fully trained Doctor, immediately."
Simon nodded, grateful. It could be hard sometimes, not having a proper nurse.
Wash spoke up, "I could probably be a Brother Enchanter. Warlocks don't yet have an official role for 'pilot'."
Mal nodded.
"In that case," Kaylee spoke up. "I'd prefer to be 'Sister' and let Wash be the 'Uncle'."
Zoey sighed, "The terms don't literally translate, Kaylee."
Kaylee just shrugged, a big smile on her face.
"Fine," Mal conceded. "But that means you got to listen to wash, when he wants to do something you don't like, to the engine."
Kaylee frowned, then shrugged. "It's not like he ever dictates things anyway." Although Wash did know quite a bit about engines, even before he uploaded his brains with Goblin books. The man always discussed things with her, whenever they had an idea about improvements to the ship.
Seeing everyone was, in reality, very frustrated with Kaylee's refusal to take on more responsibility... simply because she liked the title more. Simon decided to point out, "Kaylee, you can only be Mal's 'Little Sister' if you're the Aunt of the department. Otherwise, you'd be his niece."
After someone spoke "Kaylee" to her, she conceded the point, and decided to take the role of "Aunt".
Book sighed, "I don't know what position I'd fill."
"I told you, You're the Grampa" Kaylee grinned, and the rest of the crew chuckled.
Book sighed, "The position of 'Elder' in a coven refers to a former leader, that retired. I don't think Someone can start with that position."
Mal waved off, "That works for me."
"You realize," Book eyed. "That means you'd have to listen to me."
"I'd have to hear you out," Mal corrected. "But the final call is with me. Which is what you already do. Ain't that right, granddad."
Book sighed, but supposed he had to deal with it everyone calling him grandpa. Despite the fact he made a point of saying he never married, and therefore never had kids, much less grandkids. Although, he supposed... these crewmen were his kids
"But..." Simon proved his role as the "annoying little brother" to Mal, by pointing out what no one else wanted to think about. "What about Inara?"
That was the thing, Inara might not be living with them, but legally, she was part of their "Coven"... and their was only one role any of them could see her filling.
• A Few Hours Later:
"That man did WHAT!?" Inara lost her calm demeanor, as Griphook delivered the magically binding paper work. It was bad enough it had to be signed in blood, but it was just like Mal to force things to go his way.
"You misunderstand," Griphook was told she might find this difficult. "The role of 'Mother', in a coven, holds no obligations to the 'Father'. You would be more a spiritual leader. Where Lord Reynolds is the more direct leader. You would have the ability to contradict him, and he would have to respect that."
Inara slowly processed that... it was obvious Mal wanted more then that. But if what Griphook said was true... It sounded like Mal was sacrificing a hell of a lot with this gesture... a magically binding contract to listen to her.
Inara sighed, and realized, she could leave the ship, even leave Mal's side, but they were still bound together. Their union with the Goblins assured that.
Inara regained her regal demeanor, worthy of the best companions. "So they wish for me to be House Mother, to our Coven." Putting it in Companion terms.
She would have to fit somewhere... and Mal offered her a seat of power, next to himself.
"The entire coven, wishes that," Griphook assured.
Inara just barely resisted giving another sigh. Before picking up the papers, and reading through them. They were expansive, leaving no room for misinterpretation of her duties... nor Mal's... but then...
"Mal... is giving me Dudley?" The Papers included joint custody over Dudley... and named the boy her heir, to the spiritual thrown. Apparently a "Coven Mother" could have either gender.
According to this Forum, Dudley and Harry would rule over the next Generation. So their truly were no underhanded binds between 'Father' and 'Mother'. For all Mal's flaws, he wouldn't marry cousins together, just to trick Inara... he was certainly cunning enough, but not so immoral.
It might also be good for the Cousins. Ruling together.
In the months Inara had been working with Dudley, the boy was certainly shaping up into a fine young man. Still a tad too greedy, and quicker to tantrums then a boy his age should be, but he was taking to his re-education well.
"Lord Reynolds," Griphook explained. "Had me write up separate custody papers, if you don't want to be Coven Mother. And wanted me to assure you, the two aren't dependent on each other."
Inara eyed the goblin a moment. Then picked up the blood quill. He had already warned her, this would hurt, but he brought ointment so the marks wouldn't scar.
Determined now, Inara signed the papers. Feeling her own signature carve into her hand, yet she refused to so much as hiss at the pain.
Thankfully, the children they claimed, weren't obligated to fill out this paperwork. At least, not until they were 17, and gained the role of "Brother" or "Sister".
Griphook nodded at her, impressed a human could handle the blood quill with such dignity. It was an ancient Goblin artifact, strictly for signing their magical contracts.
Honestly, Griphook didn't know why it took the space humans so long to assign themselves places within the Coven. The terminology seemed to bother them, but it wasn't a literal family.