e_delmar | (no subject)

(no subject)

It's nice on Shadow, quiet. Work's good, even if he ain't sleeping much.

But not sleeping's better'n what happens when he sleeps.

He don't need anything more'n what he's got there, but sometimes when he stares at the ceiling - or the night sky - he can't help but think about a thing or two left behind that maybe he don't want got rid of.

So it could be that it's late one night (on Shadow, anyway, who ever knows how times match up) Ennis sneaks into the bar, headed back towards his (their) room.

He's quick, and he's quiet, but could be you could catch him.

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His eyes glance quickly over to the wall, to something maybe even he don't see, and his words are almost a whisper.

"Ain't nothing else to do."

Kaylee reaches out. Can't not.

He sounds like Mal.

Resting a hand on his arm, she says, still quiet, "It'll be all right."

"Yeah."

He says it, but it don't sound much like he believes it right now.

Kaylee figures she's not going to be able to convince him, either.

Almost as though she doesn't want to hear the answer:

"Has it got any better at all?"

Ennis' silence probably answers that question for her.

A very soft sigh.

"It will. Just...gotta have faith."

Faith ain't something Ennis' ever had much of. Not even the get together on sundays and picnic kind. So he grunts, and nods.

Time...for a subject change. Fast.

"What is it Sallie's got you doin', exactly?"

He breathes just a little bit easier at the change of subject, and nods his head towards the door in the back.

"Workin' like here, with the horses. Odd jobs 'n such, round the ranch."

"Don't suppose I can ask a favor? I ain't seen her in here, is all, otherwise I'd do it myself."

He nods, silent.

"Let her know if she's got anything needs fixin', or just lookin' at, she can leave a note with Bar, and we'll set up a time for me to come out." A small smile. "'Less you got that covered in odd jobs -- in which case you and me need to sit a spell and talk shop."

"Just trucks 'n such. Tractors, some. Nothin' too big."

Kaylee nods.

And tilts her head a little.

And says, "Some time -- not now, 'course -- you want to find out what makes a space-goin' ship go?"

She'd taught Susan, a little.

His eyes go a bit wide at that, and he blinks a few times.

Congratulations, Kaylee, you managed to distract him.

Kaylee grins.

"Well? How about it?"

"Can't say I'd mind that too much."

His eyes are still wide, though. Much time 's he might be spending out on another planet or at the end of the universe, space's still Big and Scary and not quite real.

Makes Kaylee laugh, a little. And not in a mean way. "Talked about Susan, before -- taught her all kinds of stuff, and she came in not hardly seein' any machines ever. You got a damn good start." And here's a look of envy. "And you know about internal combustion engines -- those don't exist no more 'cept in museums."

"Could, uh."

He coughs a few more times and looks down, almost embarrassed.

"If you wanted."

"Shiny." Beaming. "Guess we got ourselves somethin' looks kind of like a deal."

"Guess so."

And that? Maybe? Is a smile. Not a bright one, and it don't quite reach his eyes, but it's something, at least.

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