Inara was starting to laugh so hard she was in danger of falling out of Mal's lap. "You do *what* with these, now?"

Mal held up a small foil-wrapped package. "See, you take one out, and stick it on your tongue like so..." He unwrapped one of the small white mint candies to demonstrate.

"Uh-huh."

"Here, you take one and do the same." He held out the roll for her to take one.

"And where did you learn this trick?"

"My best friend from when I was six, Tommy Chen. He told me."

She started to laugh again. "This wouldn't by any chance be the same Tommy Chen who taught you how to tip over cows, was it?"

Mal cocked an eyebrow at her. "Hush, woman, and turn out the light over there!"

"I bet you say that to all the pretty girls."

Once the room was dark, Mal continued. "OK, now stick the candy on your tongue and then right when I kiss you, bite down hard."

"On the candy?"

An exasperated sigh. "Yes, bao-bei, on the candy."

She did exactly as instructed when he kissed her, and they were both rewarded with a brief spark of light and a tingling sensation on their lips.

"Ooh!"

Mal grinned. "See, much more fun than cow tipping!"

"Mal?"

"Yeah, darlin'?"

"How many more candies in that roll?"