Chapter 7: Dressing Up

Inara had returned from her last client with plenty of time to prepare for the upcoming evening She was walking on endorphins when she exited her shuttle and into Serenity. Maximillian had promised a wonderful evening the night before and that was a night at the opera after a fine dinner and his favorite restaurant and then they returned to her shuttle where he had spent the rest of the evening and in the morning he escorted Inara back to his place where he served her brunch: egg white omelets, crispy bacon, fresh berries and homemade crumpets.

"Hello," Inara greeted as she looked around. She had expected Kaylee to be there waiting for her to welcome her back and ask about her latest clients as usual, but Kaylee was not to be found. In fact there was no one around. She could see that the mule was parked and that meant nobody was out in town on a job, unless they had decided to walk.

"Kaylee?" She was a little worried, especially after hearing about how the crew was lied to and cheated out of their payment and how Mal had behaved, but he also came around at least that was what Kaylee had informed her. She wished her friend was there so she could recount her evening. She loved telling Kaylee everything and the younger woman enjoyed hearing about her clients, but there was no one there.

Her fear disappear when she heard footsteps from the direction of the passenger bay. Someone was coming and perhaps would inform her of the whereabouts of the rest of the crew.

"Hello Miss—Inara," James had greeted as he approached the steps that lead to the scaffolding. "Welcome home."

"I was expecting Kaylee. She's usually here." She looked around. "Where is everyone?"

"Zoe and River went to purchase more food supplies," James explained. He had his arms behind his back and he had a small smile. "The captain is looking for work on the cortex, Cobb is actually bathing for once and Kaylee and Simon are together." He coughed and his ears turned pink. "Alone and in their bunk."

"Oh I see," Inara said. That would be the reason why Kaylee wouldn't be there. "Mal can't stop finding work. I'm glad he has gotten over his temper tantrum."

"I had a feeling he would reconsider. I had offered to give him all my money and both Zoe and I offered to give up our payments if it meant to give Serenity her fuel and keep the larder's stocked."

"Of course." She noticed there was something off about him. He seemed to be swaying a bit on his legs he kept looking around. He looked like he wanted to talk about a different topic but didn't know how to approach it. "He knows I hold them and I wouldn't give them up for anything and also I'll give him more from my earnings."

"Good," James said and continued to hold his hands behind his back. "Good to hear." His voice was a bit nervous. Yes there was something weighing heavily on him.

"Anything else?"

"The captain wanted to have lesson with me," James continued obviously avoiding the subject he wanted to talk. "And he is improving in his sword fighting skills."

"Do you want to speak in my shuttle?" She gestured back to the door she had emerged from before she lowered her voice. "Privately."

"Why?" He blinked

"You have something heavy on your mind and you want to tell someone, but feel like you can't." She held out her hand to him. "Anything you say in my shuttle will stay in there. I promise."

"There is no secret." He glanced side to side and swallowed

"You can't lie to me," Inara said and placed her hands on her hips. "I may not be able to read minds like River but I know body language and you look like you are trying to hide something like a secret and yet you also seem to want to share what you are concealing"

"Yes it is similar to River, but not River and I'm not thinking about Riv-"

Inara refused to wait and grabbed his hand and hauled him back up the steps and practically pushed him into her shuttle once she had it locked she looked at him and tried to figure what he was trying to hide or not hide.

"This is not really necessary," James said and took a few steps and nearly tripped over her aromatherapy machine, knocking it over and spilling some scented beads at least there was no water inside. "Sorry, so sorry." He dropped to his knees and swept up the beads with his hands.

"Don't be embarrassed," Inara told him as she righted the machine. "Mal has knocked this over several times and Simon has spilled scented oil when he wanted to talk to me about Kaylee before."

"I don't—there isn't anyone I want to talk about…not really." He handed her the beads back. "I—I am, uh, just looking forward to tonight."

"You are covering."

"It is not," James said and didn't look at her as he stood back up. "I mean I am not."

"Please tell me," Inara said and grabbed his hand. "Even if I am the only one it might offer some relief that someone knows and shares the secret so you don't keep it bottled up."

"It is about River," James said and ran his hand through his hair. "I feel like, that is to say, that I think I fancy her."

"You have a crush on her," she said with a smile. "I know a lot about this subject." She was going to hold in her happiness and not express how pleased she was that he finally realized his deep feelings.

"Yes you are an expert in love, or at least romance and it's not just this crush, but I feel like I have fallen in love with her, but I'm not sure she feels the same or would feel the same."

"Why would you say that?"

"Because the captain said-"

"Mal said that?" She rolled her eyes. She should have known. "What exactly did he say?"

"That River feels we all fill the role of family and that I am a very good friend." He glanced down. "Elizabeth felt I was a very good friend."

"Your heart was ripped before, not because she didn't feel the same but because she lied and only agreed to marry you so you would rescue the one she actually loved. River would never do that. She is honest about her feelings for everyone and would never use anyone in that way. If she would let you down she would be straightforward and not jerk you around."

"I'm not sure how I would feel to be alone with her."

"Tell her how you feel. It might be strange if she does let you down." Inara knew River wouldn't. If only James knew that River felt the same.

"I need to find a good time to tell her."

"Tomorrow at the ball is a good time as any," Inara said. In fact it would perfect. An elegant costume ball would be the perfect setting for love to be declared. It would be like something out of a fairytale storybook.

"Yes that would be for the best." He placed a hand behind his head and let out a deep breath. "I do feel better that I told someone and I should inform the captain you have returned."

"Give him this." Inara handed him a large bundle. "For his costume and here are your shoes." She placed a smaller bundle wrapped in indigo cloth on top.

"Thank you," James said and exited her shuttle.

Inara sighed and stretched out on her bed. She was right about River's and James's feelings for each other and had a feeling they didn't know that the other had felt the same. It appeared that James didn't know his own feelings until recently. She couldn't just tell them. Somethings needed to happen on their own and she was actually happy that Mal had skated around the subject in front of James.

The loud banging on her shuttle door caused her to sit up right. That would be Malcolm on cue, but he usually just barged in.

"Hey I heard from Jimbo you were back," Jayne's voice was heard on the other side. "You got my costume?"

She sighed and hoped that Jayne would at least be dressed and not just wearing a towel wrapped around his mid-section like the last time he knocked.

"So you are finally answering my waves," Mal said as he stared at the screen, or rather Badger's face on the screen. "Been trying to say hello for a few hours and I was starting to get the impression that you were avoiding us."

"I've been busy all right?" Badger said as he crossed his arms. He didn't look at all smug as he usually did. He was actually annoyed. "Got a lot on my plate as it is and you are not high on my list of pleasure calls."

"Now, Badger you know I don't swing that way," Mal said in a teasing tone. "Just wanted to know if you got some jobs for us seeing as we are on Persephone."

"Nice for you to visit, and I might have a job for you, but then again I might not and it might not even be today."

"Can I get a straight answer?" Mal asked and glared. "Not exactly in the mood for your games."

"Not playing any games, as I said I got a lot on my plate. I have these two brother bounty hunters who keep going after my men and threaten me from time to time, denim loving wankers, and now the previous lord of the Eavesdown docks is trying to reclaim his throne. Most of the blokes around here are loyal, but I can't trust them." Was there a bit of fear in his voice?

"Need help shaking them off?"

"If I think your lot could actually get the job done I might ponder it. Now how about we end this conversation here and-"

"Captain I have your costume." James had walked up to him and handed him a large bundle. "Sorry if this is the wrong time. I was not aware you were speaking with a possible client."

"Who's this?" Badger asked. "New guy? Hiring folk from the old home world are you?"

"Hello sir. I am James Norrington and I have been with Reynolds crew for several months now."

"Don't have to be polite with this Hundan," Mal said.

"I am sorry, Captain. I felt it would be dreadfully rude of me to not greet a possible client, especially one from Dyton."

"Not exactly from the same colony are you," Badger said and squinted at him. "Sounds like a bit of a toft, must be from Angel."

"You are quite accurate," James said.

"Sounds like you might be on the educated side and you are for some reason working for Reynolds here. Well Captain seeing how you are getting some brains on your team has made me change my mind a bit as in I will actually think about your offer, now don't call me and I might call you." He signed off.

"So that was Badger," James said and sniffed. "You were right about him. Just wave the accent around and he is eating out of your hand."

"It was only a hunch from what the others told me," Mal said and shrugged. "Good job at playing the polite gentleman role."

"Not a hard stretch for me," James said. "Do you need me for any other tasks?"

"That will be all," Mal said. "Go and work on your history lessons. I got a costume to finish." He stared down at the wrapped up components in his arm. James had given it to him a half hour earlier while Mal was still trying to page Badger. The plan just instantly clicked in his head, even if they didn't get a job from the hustler they still got to play him and that was the bit of amusement that Mal needed.

Inara studied her reflection as she placed the platinum blond wig on top of her head. She did not want to admit it to the others but she was feeling a bit giddy about that night. The costume ball was about to start in a few hours and several members of the crew could not contain their excitement, mostly it was Kaylee, Jayne and River but seeing how excited Kaylee was she felt even more giddy for the ball than she had before.

Things had been mostly quiet on Serenity since she had returned the previous day. She had another client visit and it only lasted a few hours. She was a young woman who wanted her first time with another woman to be special and Inara had made it as perfect as could be. Her name was violet and she reminded Inara of Fess Higgans in both intelligence, and temperament.

According to Kaylee things were pretty steady and quiet on Serenity. There was some good news in the form of man named Allister Pinxter who was the actual owner of the salvage that Mal had pulled out of the ocean. Pinxter was both grateful that his cargo was no longer on the ocean floor and felt sorry that Mal and the crew were tricked. He sent a digital payment over the cortex. It wasn't the amount that the thief had promised, but it was better than nothing.

There was also a tension in the air surrounding both River and James. River was trying to find ways for her to be alone with James while he was trying to avoid her and Inara could tell he didn't want to avoid her. He would stand outside the cockpit, wanting to be in there with her and watch her fly, smile at her more than usual around meal times and look at the closed door to her bunk before he went to sleep

The others seemed to try and ignore it, at least Mal appeared that he didn't know what was going on, or rather he just didn't care. Simon was trying to ignore it. Kaylee kept watching the two with hope in her eyes and would share a knowing smile with Inara. Zoe would look with eyebrows raised and then shake her head while Jayne actual asked if it was just him or did the air feel stranger than usual in the ship.

Inara pushed those thoughts outside her head. Tonight she was going to focus on enjoying herself and the evening. She stepped back from the mirror and glanced down at her gown. It was the same iconic white dress the actress wore when she stood on the air vent. Inara applied her makeup including bright red lipstick, dark mascara and even applied a beauty mark. She twirled once before she was satisfactory.

"Is everyone ready?" Kaylee asked as Inara descended down the stairs into the cargo bay. "Oh 'Nara you are gorgeous."

"Thank you," Inara said as she smiled at both Kaylee and Simon. "I knew you would be a fairy princess and wasn't sure about Simon's."

"I'm the queen of the fairies," Kaylee said. Her gown had an ombre color scheme that started at deep purple and shifted lighter to a pale pink. The bottom part had three layers of ruffles and there were sparkling gemstone like beads, sequins and glitter everywhere. Kaylee wore sparkly eyeshadow and pearly lipstick and added colorful highlights to her hair. Her wings were butterfly like in structure and just as sparkly as the rest of her costume.

"I'm Dyne Cosmo the cyber ninja," Simone said as he posed in his mostly black outfit. There were metallic blue and silver accents and Simon wore a shiny dark blue mask with goggles and added blue streaks to his hair.

"Not that familiar with comic book characters," Inara said. "But it is a well done costume."

"Actually the animated series came first in the year 2067 and five years later the comics were created."

"I love that he knows so much," Kaylee said and gave her husband a kiss on the cheek.

"Marilyn Monroe?" James asked as he entered the bay dressed in tight blue jeans, a simple white shirt and black leather jacket. What completed his costume was the slick black pompadour wig and the blue suede shoes.

"Accurate," Inara said.

"Who are you 'sposed to be?" Kaylee asked.

"He's the king," River answered as she entered. She was dressed as a 1950's bobby soxer complete with hair in ponytail and rolled down socks. She had on a white blouse, pink jacket with matching skirt that included a black poodle.

"When did royalty dress like that?" Kaylee asked

"Not a real king," Simon explained. "He was the king of rock n roll. Inara, James and River are representing people of the 1950's."

"Oh," Kaylee said and blinked. "Where we 'sposed to do a theme together."

"No theme," River said. "Just coincidence. We all kept secrets and the surprise is revealed."

"Here I come," Jayne shouted as he ran from the direction of the crews quarters. "Your friendly neighborhood hero guy." He was dressed in bright red and blue pajama like clothes that had a black pattern on top, similar to a cobweb. The mask had large white eyespots and there was an image of a spider on his chest.

"What is he?" James asked.

"I'm Spiderman," Jayne answered as if James had asked a stupid question. "Are you two supposed to be from Grease?" He pointed at James and River.

"How do you know what Grease is?" Inara asked.

"Momma's favorite musical," Jayne explained. "Knows all the songs by heart."

"I don't remember reading about this musical from the 50's," James said.

"Not 50's 70's," River answered. "Time of no gas, disasters, flashing lights while you danced. The ball shimmered and the floor change colors. Everybody liked roller-skates and the rings that change."

"Oh that would explain it."

"Nǐ huì kànzhe tā ma," Kaylee gasped. Her gaze had returned to the stairs.

Inara looked up and had to take a step back when she saw Zoe in her off white Chiton gown. Her feet were adorned with golden sandals, matching the golden bracelets she wore but it was Zoe from the neck up that had caught everyone's attention. Her hair was concealed underneath the skullcap that she wore. She had painted on fake scales and covered that with fake plastic snakes. The makeup she wore also made it look like she had scales around her eyes and also wore gold snakes.

"I do feel like I've been turned to stone," Simon said.

"It's breathtaking," James said.

"What the heck are you?" Jayne asked. "Looks cunning that for certain."

"Medusa," Inara said. "The headpiece is amazing."

"Didn't know I had a bit of a knack for arts and crafts," Zoe said. "Thank you."

"Is everybody ready?" Mal's voice was heard.

"Ready Cap'n," Kaylee said.

"Yeah get your butt down here before we are late," Jayne shouted.

"How about we leave the captaining to me, savvy?" Mal answered using that faux accent he used when he was posing as a Royal Navy officer. He approached the scaffolding dressed in a dingy white shirt, grayish-blue waistcoat, dark breeches, thick boots with the top folded over, a large dark coat, two belts over a red and white striped sash. On his head he wore a tricorn hat, red bandana and braided wig with beads and trinkets. His faux beard he wore also had beads and his eyes were rimmed with black eyeliner.

Inara stared at Mal before she looked at the others. Jayne was the only one who was grinning and nodding. Everbody else was staring with their mouths wide open and James looked like he ate some bad shellfish.

"Oh…my…God," Simon gasped.

"Wow," Kaylee said. "Great costume."

"That took work sir," Zoe said. "Looks just like him."

"Hey I know him," Jayne said and pointed at Mal. "I liked him. He was kinda funny but I liked that guy."

"I was right," Inara said and shook her head. "Didn't know you would actually pull it off."

"Captain Reynolds," James said once he regained control of his voice. The color was returning to his face but his expression was still a mix of shock and disgust. "What possessed you to dress like that…that…pirate."

"Mal is short for malfunction," River said. "His costume is a malfunction. His brain was not full throttle when he made the decision."

"Dress like something you aint," Mal said. "And there is no way in the verse that I'm like him. He got the job done and was interesting, but he was one of the most annoying folk I have ever met."

"We agree on that subject," James said weakly.

"Love the way you all look," Mal said as someone knocked from outside. "But that would be our ride. So let's go and enjoy this shindig."