River Listens

River listens, sitting on the catwalk in the hold

She shouldn’t, but it’s harder to not

The hearing comes easy, now

The keeping out requires constant effort,

And she’s so tired of that effort

Serenity talks low and steady

Electrons rush in the wires, circuits

The engine chants geometric mantras

Deep memories permeate the metal

A new twinge, an ache, appears

Uneasy, Kaylee rouses

Almost…almost, she can hear the engine tell her

What River understands clear

Maybe just a guiding touch? There?

Ai ya. Goram injector balance

Maybe just a liiittle turn. There

Better now, girl?

Silent shouts of passion, and pleasure, and love

Zoe and Wash at it again

And pain…

…if she doesn’t come back, one time?

…if he never wants a child?

…if we never again…

Forget that, for now.

Passion, and pleasure, and love

Simon once more composing in his head

All the things he’ll say to declare his feelings

Has to get the words down just right

River knows they’ll come out…just wrong

She could help. She won’t

Big brother has to do this one himself

Down planet-side, Inara entertains

A pool of calm radiates, even through his passion

Mal sits stony in a storm-eye of memory

On the bridge, yet in that other Serenity

Calm and storm

River may someday decide which will prevail

Dreams of violence. Blood. Death

Killing by stealth and killing by strength

Old loot buried beyond recovery

Old foes coming back for revenge

Old crimes awaiting payment

Have peace, for a while

Shepherd rolls over and does not dream

Hungry, horny, greedy, brave, scared, totally self-centered

Either the ship’s cat or Jayne, and there’s no ship’s cat

He sees River in the hold

Girl ain’t right. Just sits starin’ into nothin’

Don’t pull her weight at all

Trouble

Useless

River listens