Thank you for those who have read and or reviewed. It always amazes me to see how many people are reading this story. I figured many of you would want to see River's dress as soon as possible... =) So as promised...A picture of the dress River wears is on this page, just remove the spaces... (www. beauty is diverse .com/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2011/ 06/ Rosie- Huntington- Whiteley- Burberry- 5 -570 x 474. jpg) As always, I own nothing...but I hope you enjoy my twisted interpretation.
Chapter 25 Totentanz and These Things
…The Ball…
"Atherton Wing, and Inara Serra."The young porter says as Inara and Atherton enter the ballroom, with is terribly genteel and stylish, people are dancing in a very courtly fashion.
As the two walk in Inara turns to a woman standing off to one side and blows her a kiss. "Roberta, it's been too long."
Next she kneels next to an older man seated and sipping a glass of red wine and greats him. "Lao pung yo, nee can chi lai hun yo jing shen."
Atherton cannot help but smile at how Inara works the room. "Half the men in this room wish you were on their arm, tonight."
XXX
…Serenity…
Mal is pacing back and forth in the cargo bay. He's dressed very respectably in a coat with tails, a collared shirt, a cravat, and dress pants. Book's outfit is in the same fashion, and Jayne, Wash, Zoe, and Riddick, are there as well, waiting for River and Kaylee to emerge in their dresses.
"What's taking those girls so long to get ready…KAYLEE…RIVER… hurry it up!" Mal yells.
"So why exactly are River and I attending? It seems like Zoe would and Wash would have made a more logical choice." Book asks curiously as he pulls on the collar of his shirt.
Zoe chuckles at this. "Captain knows better than to ask me to wear a dress, regardless of it being slinky or not."
"I don't know lamby toes…you would look awful pretty all dolled up." Wash says as he circles his arms around his wife.
"You want me wearing a slinky dress around all those men?" She says playfully.
"Point taken, no slinky dress."
XXX
Riddick's POV
I can't say I'm too happy about River going out in a dress and me not being there, especially after she refused to let me see this dress when she got back. Girl got us in a heap of trouble the last time she went out in some go se…seems like this is just asking for more trouble.
"Well don't you look purdy." Jayne says and I turn around to see what he's talking about.
There stands little Kaylee at the top of the stairs in the pink frilly dress she saw earlier. Her hair has been brushes and curled at the ends, and she has a small amount of makeup on her face…no doubt from River.
She walks down the stairs to where everyone is waiting. "Do I look alright?" She asks somewhat timidly.
"Like a pretty flower." May says. I have to say despite what he says… he sure does act like a father.
"If I weren't a married man I would take you in a manly fashion." Wash says much to Zoe's amusement.
"You'll be beating the boys back tonight mei-mei." Jayne says as he gives her a warm hug. I have to say I never quite understood why Cobb never made a move on the little mechanic, but seeing how he reacts to her now about sums it up. He's stepped into the role of her big brother.
Kaylee beams at everyone now. "Thanks, I was a little unsure about the hair and what not, but River did a really swell job."
"Where is she anyways, she's makin' us late. This party is liable to be over by the time we get here."
"She is here." Calls River from behind us.
I turn and look and am not happy with what I see. Unlike Kaylee's frilly thing, she is dressed in a sleek dress that clings to her every curve and dips into a deep v neck front, barely covering her breasts. Her hair is pulled back to allow everyone to fucking see the cut of the dress too. No fuckin' way is she wearing THAT!
XXX
…Back at the ball…
She cocks one eyebrow. "Only half? I must be losing my indefinable allure." She says with a smile.
"Oh, it's not that indefinable." And he leans in to quietly whisper. "All of them wish they were in your bed."
However Inara does not find this comment as amusing as the last and she can feel a slight blush creep onto her cheeks. "I'm looking for the boy with the shimmer wine." She says, hoping to change the subject.
"Oh, she blushes. Not many in your line of work do that. You are a very singular woman. And I find... I find I admire you more and more." Atherton says as he leads her to the dance floor.
XXX
River's POV
All eyes are on the girl as she walks down the stairs. While Zoe, Wash, Book, and Kaylee look at her as if she is the belle of the ball, three sets of eyes hold very…very different emotions. Captain Daddy and Orpheus look upset…Jayne just looks uncomfortable.
"…I won't think about her that way… or the fact she can't be wearing and unders in that dress…"
Zoe whistles and Wash kind of gapes at her. Mal looks at her as if she is his teenage daughter and has just come out in her first mini-skirt. "Bit…what the hell are you wearing?"
"No fuckin' way!" Riddick says as he walks towards the girl.
She rolls her eyes. "A dress."
"That is not a dress and you know it River!" Riddick practically yells in her face.
She glares at him now. "She spent a great deal of time looking for a dress for the ball, you should be polite and say she looks pretty."
"You do look quite lovely, River." Book offers up hoping to diffuse the situation.
"The last time you wore something like that you ended up with a warrant! AND THAT WAS ON PERSEPHONE!" Riddick barks.
She's angry now. "IRRELEVANT! SHE WILL BE AT A FORMAL BALL! SHE MUST LOOK THE PART!"
"Bit… are you even wearing anything underneath that dress?" Mal asks somewhat skeptically.
"Do you really want to know Captain Daddy?"
That was the last straw for Jayne, who promptly stormed out of the cargo bay. "I'll be in my bunk!" He says as he left.
"See your scaring poor Jayne in that thing." Mal says as his merc makes a quick exit.
"That's it! You're not wearing it, go change." Riddick says as he attempts to pull her hand up the stairs.
She yanks her hand away from him though. "She will not! She has nothing else that is suitable to wear and Captain Daddy needs her there."
"Bit…I ain't too sure about this…"
She flashes him an icy glare now. "Do you remember what the girl said Malcolm? Do not make the same mistake twice."
"Alright that's it, we're late enough as it is, and I am not having her threaten me with bodily harm. We're going." Mal says as he quickly retreats towards the cargo bay exit. Kaylee looks between River and Riddick and quickly follows the Captain out.
"If you leave in that dress, there will be consequences River." Riddick says as he leans forward and whispers to her.
"Promise?" The girl asks him before she turns and walks out the cargo bay doors. She can hear crescendo of Totentanz as she leaves…she just hopes he does not do anything too foolish before she gets back.
XXX
…Back in the ballroom…
Atherton and Inara are dancing together. It is clear that all eyes are on Inara as he Atherton spins and twirls her around the dance floor. Atherton clearly has other things on his mind than just the party though.
"I'm trying to offer you something you know. A life."
"Atherton..."
"You can live here on Persephone, as my personal companion."
She smiles softly. "You are a generous man."
However, he is clearly not happy. "That is not a "yes"."
Inara is somewhat surprised by his hostility. "It's not a "no", either."
"You belong here, Inara, not on that flying piece of gos se. You see that, don't you?" He whispers.
Now she is clearly shocked. "Atherton, language."
"What? Piece of gos se? But it is a piece of gos se." He says a little louder.
As she opens her mouth to say something though she hears the porter announce a name that clearly should not be there. "Miss Kaywinnit Lee Frye and escort."
Inara turns and looks toward the entrance. "Kaylee?"
Mal and Kaylee enter the ballroom, Kaylee looking radiant in the ruffly pink hoop skirted dress.
Again the porter announces a name Inara knows should not be there. "Mister Derrial Book and escort."
That's when Book and River enter the ballroom, and there is an audibly hush around the crowd as the guests catch site of River's dress, it's much more daring than the other girls here.
"Oh, gos se." Inara says as she watches them walk in.
XXX
River's POV
It's like Dante's second layer of hell, lust paints the room in red and gold and people do not dance but are blown about to and fro by the terrible winds. Hermes slowly takes her arm and leads her to where the Captain and the sunshine stand.
"Does.. um.. does these seem kind of tight?" Mal asks in reference to his pants. She merely rolls her eyes at his discomfort.
"Shows off your backside. Did you see the chandelier? It's hovering!" Kaylee says as she looks skyward.
"What's the point of that, I wonder?" Book asks aloud as he looks to the chandelier.
"Pretentious snobbery, everything is an illusion here." The girl says. This place reminds her of the parties she was forced to attend as a small child.
…Reality shifts…
She doesn't remember the particular reason for the party…she just knows she was forced to put on another ridiculous dress that her mother had picked out for her to wear. It's some horrible yellow monstrosity.
…There is nothing to see here people keep moving on
Slowly their necks turn and then they're gone
No one cares when the show is done…
She's standing next to Simon, behind their parents, but she doesn't really hear what her father is saying to the crowd that has gathered in their house.
She usually spent the next hour being paraded around for all of the guests to see, like a trained monkey made to perform or some fragile doll to be coveted.
…Standing in line and its cold and you want to go
Remember a joke so you turn around
There is no one to listen so you laugh by yourself…
"Why don't you try and enjoy yourself." Simon asked her when they could steal a moment of privacy.
"It's a lie." She replied.
"What is?"
"This… It's a bunch of sad strangers, and...all the gilded butterflies say it's beautiful because that's what they want to see. But the people are sad, and alone...it's a lie."
…I heard it's cold out, but her popsicle melts
She's in the bathroom, she pleasures herself
Says I'm a bad man, she's locking me out
It's cause of these things, it's cause of these things...
…Reality shifts again…
She shakes her head to dislodge the memory and takes a breath to clear her mind.
"Oh! Mangoes!" Kaylee says as she moves over to the buffet table.
Mal merely shakes his head and chuckles. "She's liable to make herself sick on all that food. Shepherd would you mind…"
"Not at all Captain." Hermes says as he moves towards Kaylee.
"Okay, help me find our man. He's supposed to be old, kinda stocky, wears a red sash crossways."
"Yes, sir." The girl replies as she begins to scan the room for their mark.
After a minute or two of looking around the room, Mal breaks the silence. "So how angry do you reckon he is going to be with you?"
"Inconsequential, had you not taken the girl she would have had to remind you of our previous conversation," she says as she snatches two glasses of champagne off a passing waiter's tray and hands one to Mal. "Besides…trouble with Riddick just makes things fun for the girl." She says as she raises her glass in silent cheers.
He mimics her movement with his glass and takes a sip. "You know if you push that man enough he is liable to push back harder."
"She is counting on it, Captain Tight-Pants."
"See, I knew these pants were too tight." And she giggles.
XXX
…Back on Serenity…
Riddick's POV
After River left I lost it…I stormed up to our bunk and proceeded to shred every article of clothing that I found to be too…alluring. They now lay in ribbons all over the floor of the bunk. After my little arts and crafts session, I decide to go see what the others are up to. I find Jayne, Zoe, and Wash are playing cards in the common room and I pull up a seat and sit at the table with them.
"Where'd you go, psycho boy?" Jayne asks me.
I smirk and think about how best to answer that question. "I felt like destroying something beautiful."
"Do I even want to know how pissed off River is going to be when she gets back?" Zoe asks as looks at me.
"No."
"Okay then, remind me to avoid the knife wielding girl who will be hell bent on gutting Riddick when she gets back." Wash says without looking up from his cards.
"What are you playing for?" I ask as I look at the little scraps of paper lying around.
"Chores."
"Deal me in next hand."
XXX
River's POV
Despite his earlier comments about Kaylee making herself sick on the buffet, the Captain had found the food too much to resist and had left her to look for Sir Harrow by herself while he indulged himself. Kaylee had come over to where the girl was standing and admiring all of the people on the dance floor.
"Aren't they something. They're like butterflies, or little pieces of wrapping paper blowing around."
"We will all laugh at gilded butterflies." The girl remarks somewhat laconically.
Kaylee turns to her now. "Aww don't be like that River, I'm sure they're nice people. See I'll show you." And she turns and walks over to a group of young women not far from them.
"Oh no, Kaylee," she says as she follows her.
"Hello." Kaylee says to the tall blonde in the front, Banning, the girl plucks from the mind of another girl.
"I don't.. um... have we been introduced?" Banning says with some disdain towards Kaylee.
"Oh, I'm Kaylee, and this is River." Kaylee says as she reaches out and shakes the Banning's hand.
While she may hate the social niceties of these parties, the girl does remember the proper etiquette and proceeds to perform a small curtsy when sunshine introduces her.
"Banning. And this is Destra, Cabott and Zelle."
"…who let this bumpkin in…"
"…they shouldn't be here…"
"…Look at her horrible pink dress…"
"Don't you just love this party? Everything's so fancy, and there's some kind of hot cheese over there." Kaylee says with cheerfulness.
"It's not as good as last year." The girl, Cabott, says.
"Oh really? What'd they have last year?" Kaylee asks enthusiastically.
"Standards."
The girl can feel the sunshine wilt now.
"Come on Kaylee, let's go get another strawberry." The girl says as she tries to avoid any other rude remarks towards her friend.
"By the way Kaylee you ought to see to your girl." Banning says as the girl tries to lure Kaylee away from the evil girls.
But the girl wasn't quick enough and Kaylee turns towards the girls again. "Shah muh?"
"Your girl. She's not very good. She made you a dress that looks like you bought it in a store."
Now the sunshine is truly crestfallen. "Oh, I didn't know."
The girl is seeing red, she wishes she had her knives…she wants to ruin this evil girl's perfect porcelain face…
However, her thoughts of revenge are interrupted by an older gentleman. "Why Banning Miller. What a vision you are in your fine dress. It must have taken a dozen slaves a dozen days to get you into that getup. Course your daddy tells me it takes the space of a schoolboy's wink to get you out of it again."
The girl cannot help but smile as she watches Banning stalks off, followed by the other women. Kaylee looks surprised and delighted.
"Thank you, sir, for assistance." The girl says with small curtsy.
"Forgive my rudeness. I cannot abide useless people. Rhett Butler at your service ladies." He says with a small bow towards the girl and the sunshine.
XXX
…Back on Serenity…
"Ante up, gentlemen. Dishes." Zoe says as she deals the cards.
Riddick tosses in a piece of paper. "Dishes."
"Garbage." Jayne says.
"Septic vat." Wash says as he throws in his ante.
Zoe turns over a card. "Tall card... plum. Plums are tall."
Riddick look down at his hand and tries not to smile. "I'll take... two."
"Two. No tall card claim." Zoe says as she deals the cards.
Jayne laughs. "Speaking of garbage, I'll take three."
"So what do you think they are doing?" Wash says. "I'll take two."
"Two."
"Eating steaks off of plates made of solid money, like as anything." Jayne says as he leans back in his chair.
"You think they're dancing? I'm sure that some fancy party like that has to have dancing?" Wash says. "Bet the girls get asked to dance a lot with the way they looked tonight."
And without any warning, Riddick throws his hand on the table and overturns his chair as he storms out of the room.
"Was it something I said?" Wash says as he looks to Zoe, who is just shaking her head at him.
"Yes husband, it was something you said." Zoe says with an exasperated sigh.
XXX
River's POV
After being assisted by Sir Butler, Kaylee had gotten involved in a lively discussion with him and several other mean about engines and ships. Book had joined the conversation not long after it begun, and the girl moved to assist Captain Daddy with the deal.
"You ready bit?" Mal asked her as they were preparing to approach Harrow.
"Always." She says as she takes his arm and they walk over towards Harrow.
"Beg pardon, but would you be Warrick Harrow?" Mal says as they approach the man.
The man turns and looks at them now, a hint of elitism in his aura. "Sir Warrick Harrow. The sash." "…youth today, no social graces…"
"It indicates lordship." The girl says to the Captain.
"And it's... it's doing a great job."
"River Marie, your lordship." The girl says with a small curtsy, which Sir Harrow returns with a small bow. "And this is Captain Malcolm Reynolds." She says to introduce Mal.
"Charmed." Harrow says as he moves to walk away from the two.
Captain Daddy is quick to make the most of his introduction though. "Sir, I've been led to believe you want to move…." He is briefly distracted by the sight of Inara dancing but a quick elbow to the side gets him back on track. "…some property off-world discreetly."
"…Goddamn urchin couldn't keep his mouth shut…"
"You're mistaken sir. I'm an honest man." Harrow says suspiciously.
"There is nothing dishonest about selling your goods to people that need them." The girl interjects.
The girl's boldness surprises Harrow a little. "Whom do you represent?"
"Represent isn't exactly the..."
But Harrow isn't buying it and cuts the Captain off. "Don't waste my time."
The girl supplies the information he seeks. "A man they call Badger." This earns her a look from the Captain, which she returns with an eye roll.
"I know him. And I think he's a psychotic low-life."
"And I think calling him that is an insult to the psychotic low-life community. But the deal is solid." Mal says.
XXX
Riddick's POV
I punch the punching bag harder. I want to gut her, I really do. It's unacceptable. I should not be this fuckin' caught up in her. It shouldn't matter… what the fuck… she wears, does, or any… of that crap.
"You alright?" Zoe says from the doorway to the cargo bay.
"Peachy." I say and punch the bag harder.
I can feel her standing there and just watching me, analyzing me. I cast a glance over my shoulder but don't stop circling the bag. "You got something to say, say it."
The question I get surprises me though. "Do you love her?"
Now she's got my attention and I turn to her. "What the fuck kind of question is that."
"I've seen the Captain act the same way, twitchy, edgy at the slightest mention of Inara…so I'll ask you again, do you love her?"
I pause for a moment and then turn back to the bag. "It's none of your damn business Zoe."
She merely shakes her head and leaves the cargo bay.
XXX
River's POV
"…What are they doing here?…"
She can hear the painted flower approaching with the Goblin King…this will not end well.
"Sorry to interrupt, Sir Warrick, I know you from the club, I believe." Atherton Wing says as he extends a hand to greet the older gentleman.
Inara and the Captain exchange a puzzled look before she decides to introduce them to her client. "Captain, River, this is Atherton Wing, Atherton; this is Captain Mal Reynolds and River, Malcolm's niece."
She can feel the Captain's contempt for the man roll off him in waves. "Pleased to meet ya." He says as he shakes Atherton's hand a little too vigorously. "Inara, I didn't realize you were going to this party."
"It's the only party." She says through gritted teeth.
"And I can see why. How about that floating chandelier? Almost outshines our girl here." He says to Atherton.
There is a spike in the Goblin King's anxiety now. Like the fairytale villan, his mind reeks of possessiveness and anger. She just hope Inara knows the right words to break the spell.
He begins to tighten his grip on Inara's arm, which Mal notices.
"…Oh, no he doesn't…"
"Ath? Can I call you Ath? Inara has spoken of you to me. She made a point of mentioning your generosity. Given that, I'm sure you won't mind if I ask Inara the favor of a dance?"
"…two can play at that game…"
Oh shit.
"Of course, but only if I can steal your niece for a dance as well."
"…that man lays a hand on Bit inappropriately I'll choke him to death with all that food they got on that table…"
Men are such boobs.
"Of course." Captain Daddy says with a false smile plastered on his face.
Mal lead Inara to the dance floor and Atherton is quick to offer his arm to the girl.
"Shall we?"
The girl takes his hand and walks into the center of the dance floor. After a few minutes of quiet dancing Atherton begins to prod her for answers.
"So Captain Reynolds is your uncle." Atherton asks.
"Yes, she…I'm visiting him before I begin university in the fall." She quickly replies.
"…I should have damaged that pretty face the last time she was here…"
"Tell me…do the Captain and Inara spend much time together?"
"Not any more than one would expect."
She follows Atherton's gazed to Mal and Inara dancing. Mal missteps the dance, and Inara and Mal both chuckle. They are comfortable with each other, laughing and smiling, and she can see where this is headed. Is it too much to ask that the Captain not piss off someone once in a while?
"Excuse me." Atherton says as he stalks over to where Mal and Inara are standing. She follows right behind him.
Atherton tries to forcibly grab Inara's arm and move her away, but she pulls her arm out of his grasp.
"Whoa now. Watch yourself. Ain't no need for hands on." Captain Daddy says growing defensive.
"Excuse me, she's not here with you, Captain. She's mine."
"Yours? She don't belong to nobody."
"Money changed hands, which makes her mine tonight." Atherton spits out venomously. "And no matter how you dress her up she's still..."
She is quick to react though, and stops Captain Daddy's fist a mere inch or two from the Goblin King's face. Atherton doesn't have a chance to finish his sentence as he stands there wide eyed at Mal's fist.
"He has no power over us." River says as she forcibly lowers Mal's fist. "It's all an illusion, and he's nothing more than a pathetic, lonely, excuse of a man."
Her words seem to shake Atherton from his stupor now. "Excuse me?"
She turns to address Atherton now. "You parade her around on your arm as if you actually won her, as if you love her, but you don't…it's all a lie." She casts a glance at Mal and then to Inara. "The Captain isn't a lie."
She watches as Inara's eyes widen ever so slightly at the girl's words, but she doesn't give anything else away.
"I think it's time we left Bit." Mal says as offers the girl his arm. He offers his other to Inara as well. "Inara?" He asks somewhat hopefully.
She casts a cold look to Atherton before accepting the Captain's arm, which infuriates the pompous dandy.
"INARA!" He yells but she doesn't turn around. "You ungrateful wh…"
But he doesn't get a chance to finish as the girl turns around, walks the two steps towards him, and hauls off and slugs him. He falls to the floor from the force of the blow. She turns around to face the Captain and the painted flower, each with mixed emotions on their faces.
While Mal looks at her with a look of utter pride, Inara looks at her with a mix of shock and fear. It's then that she realizes that everyone else in the ballroom is staring at the group, and the onlookers thoughts begin to filter in to her mind.
"…did she just…"
"…no proper…"
"…How dare she…"
"…where are the girl's manners?..."
"Well, turns out this is my kind of party." Mal says jokingly to Inara.
Inara just turns and glares at him. "Oh, Mal."
"What? Man was out of line."
Atherton is now recovering and stands before the girl, hatred in his eyes. "I accept!"
"What?" Mal says clearly confused.
"She will be fighting him in a duel Mr. Reynolds." Harrow replies from beside him.
"WHAT!"
She shakes her head and pinches the bridge of her nose trying to avoid the eventual headache. She's never going to live this down from Riddick.
XXX
Book and Kaylee are now pushing their way through the crowd to their friends and move to stand next to Inara and River.
"Will she be fighting herself or shall someone else take her place?" The porter standing next to Atherton asks.
"She accepts." River says.
Now everyone begins to scream and yell. "What?" Inara asks surprised.
"Over my dead body." Mal says.
"The duel will be met tomorrow morning at Cadrie Pond." The porter announces and he and Atherton move away from the group.
Kaylee and Book just look confused. "What's going on?" Kaylee asks to no one in particular.
"First off, she'll be put up in lodgings for the night, so she doesn't disappear. I wouldn't blame you, incidentally." He says to River. "Wing may be a spoiled dandy, but he's an expert swordsman. He's killed a dozen men with a long blade. You're niece is the first one that gave him a reason."
"Oh this is a joke." Book says. "No one would expect her punching him to be a challenge."
"Apparently Atherton did... She'll need a second."
"What's that?" Kaylee asks.
"I'll take on the job." Harrow says.
Mal looks about ready to pull his hair out. "What? What's going on here?"
"He'll fight for her if she refuses." Inara says.
"Oh you got to be kidding me." Mal says in disbelief.
"Does that mean you and my uncle are in business Sir Harrow?" River asks.
"It means you're in mortal danger. But you mussed up Atherton's face, and that has endeared you to me somewhat. You might even give him a fight, before he guts you." He says as he walks away.
"Up until the punching, it was a real nice party." Kaylee says.
XXX
AN: Oh Riddick is going to be so pissed! And before all of you start yelling at me that a woman would not be allowed to fight in a duel, I did a little research and while it was very uncommon, women did occasionally participate, there was even an opera singer who was known to be quite a swords-woman. But let's face it… a 90lb girl punch Atherton is much more insulting than having Mal punch him. Anyways, hope you guy's liked the update…till next time. ;)