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Prompt #9: Blend - Every etiquette lesson she ever had growing up had prepared her for that moment.

Words: 670

Zoe Washbourne had seen River Tam in every sort of situation. She'd seen the girl go stark raving mad, seen her wax poetic and ramble nonsense, watched her pick up a gun and blast away her enemies, then seen her peel labels off protein packs while whimpering like a beaten puppy.

But she had never seen River like this before.

"First time I've seen you this off-kilter," Zoe chuckled at the girl's nervous stature. "Guess even genius psychics have things they're afraid of."

"Genius psychic is trained for combat now. Likes being in shadows, in silence, in solitude." River glanced over at the lovely blue-and-silver dress that had been specially scrounged for this particular job. "Don't like being on display like a doll."

The warrior woman let her curiosity show. "From what Simon says, you used to like being the center of attention."

"Used to." River anxiously scratched at the junction of her neck and shoulder. "Not anymore. Not since going to the Academy."

Zoe nodded. From what she'd heard from Simon and River's own behavior, she could only imagine the horrors that had gone on at that so-called school. She focused on straightening the girl's wavy locks as she said, "Well, you still remember how to do all that fanciful stuff, right?"

River slowly nodded. "Can't forget your roots. Old habits die hard."

Setting down the straightening iron, Zoe gently ran a brush through the girl's pin-straight hair. Her fingers, used to pulling triggers and throwing punches, started to gently braid River's dark hair. "Then why don't you pretend?" When River cocked her head in confusion, Zoe pressed on. "Pretend you're a Core-born girl who's never left home. Pretend you never went to the Academy."

"I pretend so much already." River stayed absolutely still, as if she were holding her breath as well. "Can't pretend no more. Hurts to fake it."

"That's not what I - " Licking her lips, Zoe let herself picture what she was trying to say. Words didn't come easily to her, but the idea she had was clear as day in her head. And luckily River didn't need words to understand what Zoe meant.

"Cinderella," whispered River. "Cinderelly, Cinderelly, night and day is Cinderelly." A shudder rippled through River's slim frame, traveling from shoulders to shins. Fingers and toes twitched, then flexed and relaxed. Her head tilted to both sides, eliciting two soft cracks from her neck. One hand rose to smooth down her hair in a perfectly feminine gesture.

"Perhaps it's not very hard at all," remarked the Reader in a perfect rendition of Inara's cultured speech. "And to answer your earlier question, I learned all forms of etiquette before I left home." She turned around, and Zoe almost didn't recognize the poised, elegantly composed young lady standing in front of her. "Thank you Zoe. Your advice was quite useful."

The warrior woman barely managed to say, "H-Happy to oblige," before River rose to her feet. It was like watching an animatronic puppet come to life. Gone was the Reader's usual awkward motions, her hesitant steps. If she hadn't known any better, Zoe could have sworn she stood before one of the Core planet's debutantes.

River gently lifted the gown into her arms. "Now if you'll excuse me, I must speak with Inara regarding my jewelry." With an imperious nod she glided out of the room and headed towards Inara's shuttle.

Zoe shook her head as she picked up her brush. "Fair strange child, that one."

"Is she gone?"

She chuckled at the nervous question from outside her room. "Yes dear, she's gone."

Wash stepped into their bunk and gave an exaggerated shudder. "She gives me the willies when she does that schizo thing."

"Stop being so dramatic."

"But you adore my flair for the dramatic."

Zoe rolled her eyes.

A little River and Zoe scene because really, they didn't have many and I thought that was a shame.

Review please!