PLEASE! PLEASE! REVIEW! if any fellow fanfic writers understand, please review. i desperately want to some feedback. tell me if Dinah's a good oc, if my characteriztion are decent, if you think i should never write again.
oh and everything belongs to Joss whedon(sigh)
"Physical space consist of three linear dimension but, those are a part of a different four dimension continuum that is known as space-time. But, Jayne's watch doesn't measure that kind of time."
Dinah did not know how to respond to that nor the girl who was presently sitting on her bed. She had a vacant glazed expression on her pretty young features. Her mouth hung open in awe, as if she was transfixed by the light fixture.
"Is it?" Dinah asked, unsure what to do about her unexpected guest. She crossed the threshold of her small room and slipped the silver case under her bunk.
"Your name," the girl said. Dinah was unsure whether the girl was simply stating those words or asking her.
"My name is Dinah. I wasn't aware there were any child-"
"That name is in the shepherd's book."
"There's a shepherd too? Dang-ran, these thieves keep strange company."
"Daughter of Jacob and Leah. Dinah is a Hebrew woman," the girl spoke, her voice light and translucent.
"yeah...actually. How'd you know that?" Dinah asked, curious about this smart strange girl.
"She was raped by a Canaanite prince. Her brothers preformed vengeance." The words sounded monotone and solid as if they meant nothing. It was very disturbing.
"Slaughter. Blood. Bone crushed. Justice. Holy book doesn't seem right," the girl concluded, her brow furrowed in confusion.
"And that's the not so nice part. It's a family name; like a verbal heirloom, you know? I am not the original Dinah," Dinah explained, taking off her jacket and satchel and placing them on the single chair that furnished the room.
"River."
"huh, river? Where?" Dinah asked, growing suspicious that this girl was not all there. The girl laughed loudly, startling Dinah.
"No, silly," the girl teased, placing her hand over Dinah's in a friendly gesture. "We're in space. There is no water in space. Just one River."
"And whats this river?"
"Me. I am River."
"Oh! That's your name. Right! You must think I am fong luh," Dinah said, joining River on the bed, with a chuckle. River began to laugh to, her grin widening and her facing becoming more animated. She seemed like such a sweet girl and she made Dinah feel happy. Kind of.
"I am fong luh," River giggled, suddenly succumbing to her own mad mirth. Dinah's own laughter becoming strained as she realized the truth in the statement.
"River! River! Quick! You should be with your brother! There's a stranger on board-" Kaylee said as she ran into the room, flustered and slightly frightened.
"Oh! Hey Dinah!"Kaylee tensely muttered through her teeth. A fake hundred watt smile was plastered on her face. "You're in here with...her. She shouldn't be here...come on Riv-girl," the mechanic said motioning to River. With the grace and aloofness of a dancer, River stood up and delicately walked to Kaylee. Grabbing River's hand, Kaylee slowly began to lead her out of the room.
"She's just another passenger. Not anyone of interest. So don't you worry...or think about her anymore, Dinah," Kaylee spoke, fake joy coloring her voice and making Dinah tingle with suspicion.
"Is there something wrong?" Dinah asked standing up.
"Wrong! On Serenity! No! We're fine! And there is nothin' wrong with River or-or anything else on board that would concern the um- the Alliance!"
"We're fugitives."
"Really?" Dinah asked, amused by River's calm appearance as she spoke the words. At the back of her mind the word serenity nagged at Dinah. Serenity dredged up memories she wanted to keep hidden.
"River! River! Where are you? We have to hide- GAHHH!" a neatly dressed man yelled running into the room. He was rather handsome and Dinah found it odd that he was on such a cheap boat as this. He looked like he belonged on a core planet, being pampered by servants.
"Oh! Tah mah de!" the pretty boy swore.
"Hey, look Doc swore," Jayne randomly said, tramping through the hallway without a passing glance. He also toted a very large gun. What was up with this boat?
"Don't hand her to the Feds. They'll just hurt her again. And-" the unfamilar man began.
"Simon, no, she won't. She's Dinah. Justified. Doesn't judge on perception. Whats inside that matters," River mumbled, taking the man's hand.
"Are you runnin' from alliance?" Dinah asked, hoping they would be honest with her. She hated when people lied to her.
"They're on the run," Zoe said, standing in the doorway behind Simon. "Now you had better not be another government spy because if you were, we'd might have a problem. Probably involving gun-"
"Hey! Back up a moment. I ain't gonna turn them over. I don't want nothin' to do with the Alliance. I am fine with them bein' fugitives. Unless they were mass murderers or terrosists or somethin'. They aren't, are they?" Dinah asked.
"No. We are not." the man, Simon, quickly reassured, looking kind of relieved. He seemed tightly wound.
"Mass murder is defined as the slaughter of four or more people. Three won't do. It just won't," River said again, as if there weren't four people in front of her. She was just drifting along in her own world, unhindered by reality.
"She's never killed anyone. She's just insane. You know, totally fong luh," Simon quickly said., eager to convince Dinah that the girl was insane.
"We talkin' about man slaugtherin'?" Jayne asked, peeking around the door frame.
"Why are you here, Jayne?" Zoe asked turning to the man.
"I just passed by and saw everyone in here so I thought there was gonna be a fight," Jayne eagerly stated, giving a wry smile. Dinah smirked.
"There isn't gonna be a fight in here, Jayne. Why don't you help the shepherd with the meal."
"Fine, Zoe. But, if there's any punchin', I wanna know."
"We should probably leave as well. It was nice to meet-"
"Her name's Dinah," River said.
"Alright. Goodbye then," Simon said leading River out of the room, followed by Kaylee.
"No! I want to know about her hair! It doesn't match up at all!" River cried, sounding like a child. She was quickly soothed by both Kaylee and Simon. Dinah self consciously touched her hair. She had dyed blonde a while back and no doubt her brown roots were starting to show.
"Don't worry about the tams at all. They're pretty harmless," Zoe commented.
"Right. So are you here to interrogate me?"
"Yeah. Something like that."
FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**FIREFLY**
The two woman glowered at each other. Zoe wasn't sure about this passenger. Since when did women travel on the outer rim alone? This girl seemed able to hold her own. She wore sturdy cargo pants that seemed worn and dusty and a pair of surplus combat boots, the kind that had been donated to the public after the war. Her hair was a dyed yellow but, strands of brown peeked through. She was short, and her eyes had a kind of perpetual bitter glare. She was pretty, not glamorous like Inara or sweet like Kaylee, but comely all the same. She stood on her own two feet, arms crossed, ready for action. She was tough and had the build to prove it.
"What's in the case?"
"that's my business, not yours," Dinah replied quickly.
"I'm sorry but, seeing as we are transporting you, I think we have a right to know what you're carrying. You know, for safety purposes."
"Its not dangerous," the woman said. Her mouth tightened even more and Zoe felt this woman was very tightly wound. Usually she could handle tight lipped strangers but not today.
"Look ,we ain't gonna take your things. We have a nasty habit as being marked as criminals. It'd be better for all of us, if there weren't any secrets," Zoe said. After a moment of hesitation, Dinah bent down to pull the case out from under the bed. Laying it on the mattress, she opened the top.
Nestled in velvet, yellowed scrolls rested. Parchment upon parchment, weaving sprawling letters decorated the rare paper. It wasn't like the pages in the Shepherd's book. Those were white and thin. These were sturdy and thick. Then came the smell. Dark musty and sweet. The aroma filled the room and made Zoe dream of cinnamon. The scrolls seemed special. They were incredibly mystifying. Zoe moved her hand close.
"NO!" Dinah shouted loudly startling Zoe. She slammed the case down with bang, quickly locking it shut.
"Just- just don't touch it?" Dinah asked sincerely, a pleading grin touching her lips. "I've gone through so much to get this and I just- you aren't supposed to touch these kind of things." Zoe could respect that. It wasn't a bomb or a beacon so, they shouldn't have any trouble. Stepping back she allowed the passenger to slide it under her bed.
"What about that pistol you took?" Zoe asked, recalling the fight today.
"What?"
"Mal shot the guy's hand. He tossed the gun. You grabbed it. You put in your satchel. Don't play stupid with me."
"Its mine. That Tah mah de stole it from me," Dinah said, pulling said gun from her bag. She looked at the item with familiarity.
"You own an alliance pistol?" Zoe asked, her eyes narrowing. She knew that gun. During the War, many of her comrades had fallen under that kind of short range gun. Hearing the menace in her voice, Dinah looked up, her eyes wide.
"You know, two month's ago we had a government spy in here-" Zoe began.
"No, its not like- its just a souvenir. First gun I ever had and it just sorta stuck with me." Dinah seemed desperate to make amends. she put the weapon away and quickly ran a hand through her hair.
"You fought in the War, didn't you?" Dinah asked Zoe.
"Yes. Alongside Mal actually."
"I figured that much. You both got a kind of fearless pride to ya. Brown coats?"
"Wouldn't fight any other side."
"Yeah." they sat in silence for a while
"What did you do during' the war?"
"Me? Oh I got pregnant. Got married. Had a beautiful little girl. got divorced. You know how it goes," Dinah said with a chuckle. Zoe laughed a little too.
"No actually, I don't."
"You married?"
"Shi. Almost 7 years now. Happy marriage. No end in sight."
"You and Mal huh?" Dinah asked conversationally. Zoe looked at her oddly. Was she suggesting-? That she and Mal-? That was ridiculous.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA. You thought me and Mal- HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!"
"What's so funny?" Dinah asked as she watched Zoe burst into fits of hilarious laughter.
"HAHHAHAHAHHA! Nothing it's just- HHAHAHAHAHHAHA!"
"Hey! Stop laughin' at me!" Dinah snapped, a blush beginning to creep up her cheeks. she gave Zoe a dirty look
"Oh, I apologize. I didn't mean any harm. It just HAHHAHAHAH! damn that's a funny thought," Zoe laughed, wiping the tears at the edge of her eyes.
"So, he's not your husband I take it?"
"Oh God no. Wash is my husband. He's the pilot of this ship. You'll meet him at dinner probably," Zoe added. "Speakin' of which, I think the shepherd cooked up some grub tonight. You wanna meet the rest of the crew?"
"What else am I gonna do on this boat?"