e_delmar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Ennis ain't never been one for reading, like Kaylee does. And even if his hands weren't a mess, knitting still wouldn't be his thing. But he's got some wood, and he's got a knife. And even if the damn thing'll end up looking like a shaved log, carving gives him something to do, and the lounge is at least a small change of view from the bunks.

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He'd stick his tongue out, if he were somebody else, but he ain't.

He points his finger at another picture, and asks what it is.

She looks at him and smiles widely.

"That one is the symbol for friend."

He frowns at it a little bit, and when he looks back up at her, there's something like a smile on his face.

She continues to smile back at him for a few moments, before gesturing back down to the paper in front of her.

"It's a beautiful poem - I think you would appreciate it."

His voice is quiet, almost shy.

"It say anything other'n moon on there?"

In response, she smiles and sits up straight and begins to recite, sitting very still, her only movements occasional fluid gestures with her hand or arm.

"Amongst the flowers is a pot of wine
I pour alone but with no friend at hand
So I lift the cup to invite the shining moon,
Along with my shadow we become party of three

The moon although understands none of drinking, and
The shadow just follows my body vainly
Still I make the moon and the shadow my company
To enjoy the springtime before too late

The moon lingers while I am singing
The shadow scatters while I am dancing
We cheer in delight when being awake
We separate apart after getting drunk

Forever will we keep this unfettered friendship
Till we meet again far in the Milky Way"

She finishes and looks at him, a slightly nervous smile on her lips.

Ennis is quiet for a good long while.

Now, it might not seem any different, given that Ennis' usually quiet. But it is.

"Says all that in there?"

Quietly, "It does. Well, almost. I'm not quite finished, still a few more lines to add."

Ennis nods, and waits, watchin' like he's expecting something.

She smiles and reaches behind her, pulling the stone tray with the inkstick, grinding stone, and brush on it, and a spare bit of paper.

"It's a bit of a complicated process, but I find it very soothing." She holds up the inkstick. "This is what makes the ink."

Ennis eyes it carefully.

"You grind this against this stone, then mix the result with water. You have to be careful how much of both you use, so your ink isn't too thin or thick."

As she speaks, she gently grinds some ink and carefully adds water to it. She dips the brush into the ink, spinning the tip against the side of the tray. "You spin the brush like this to rid the excess ink, then begin writing."

She traces the symbol for 'friend' in the middle of the paper, then holds out the brush to Ennis with a smile. "Now you try."

Ennis coughs nervously and takes the brush, knuckles white as he holds it far tighter than he needs to.

She reaches over and takes his arms, rolling up his sleeves for him, careful to avoid the brush.

"Now, just have fun with it. Don't try to imitate a symbol if you don't want, just experiment."

She sits back with a smile.

Ennis frowns, moving the brush against the paper in one, two uneasy strokes. The shaking's almost not noticeable, but the strain on his face is, and he puts the brush down after drawing something that almost sort of looks like a triangle.

Inara notices his distress.

Softly, "It's fine." She reaches over and takes his hand, gently stroking it.

"Ain't never been real good with anything like writin'."

She sits quietly, still stroking his hand, warming it.

He takes a breath, frowning down at the brush.

"Even when it weren't done with brushes 'n such."

"The brushes just make things more complicated. I've worked on this for years and I'm still learning."

His look says more complicated? with something of a laugh.

"Years?"

She grins. "Oh yes. It's one of the first things you begin learning in school, at least my school. And I continued when I entered the Training House, so it has been quite a while."

"That where you went when you were done with school?"

"Not quite. I entered the Training House at age twelve. It's the traditional age to begin Companion training."

He looks up, obviously surprised.