Fragment for Charlie / work in progress

[wytchcroft]

Objects in Space. Funny how many things in life come down to that.
Given the chance Inara Serra might have reflected ruefully on the truth of it.
But time was a luxury she was frequently forced to for-go, and so this is the story of a bar stool, a head -
and if not star-crossed love... then certainly crossed eyes seeing stars.

Anyhow the story goes something like this.

Woman walks into a bar -

No wait, I'll back it up some.


Inara Serra's shuttle tucked itself like a chick under the protective wing of its mother as it slipped into place on the starboard side of Serenity.
It had been a while.
"That you keeping me steady, Zoe?" Inara's voice was edged with brightness put there like lip-stick, but she was sure the pilot would understand. Hell, with Serenity pitched up here on a moon that even Mother Buddha would have overlooked, the arrival of her shuttle must be something of a pleasant distraction at least.

Inara was taken aback when she heard an unfamiliar voice and a male one.
"You must be the Ambassador we've been expecting."

She sucked in a breath.
"That's not a title I chose for myself," in fact it's old - can we just not go there please, "but yes - this is Inara."
"Welcome back to Serenity."
Inara had done the math. "You must be Shepherd Face," she said neutrally.
"That would be me, uh-huh."
"I've been looking forward to meeting you," she lied smoothy. It wasn't malicious, just... damn if Book's death didn't still...
But she closed that off. That was for her to think on privately. She began to gather up her loose things from the dash of the shuttle, luggage could wait.

In case you change your mind Inara?

She closed that off too, only in a less becoming manner.
"Wish I could say I've heard all about you," the Shepherd continued as she moved to the door, "but fact, what I know? Just that no/one will talk about you."

Oh? Fine. Just fine.

The Shepherd must have realised his lack of tact because she heard his tongue click even over the wire and he said somewhat hurriedly,
"No, I mean, the not talking is a BIG not talking. Like they don't mention you? You aint gone. Am I making ANY sense? 'Case you don't know - I spar some with Zoe and River, my lack of social skills can maybe be put down to the seven bells or more they've hammered out of me."
Inara had to smile a little at that. Good for them.
"And they would be where now?"
Ai ya! Ten seconds back on the boat and you're talking like HIM all over again.
"You know," echoed the voice from the cockpit, the man who wasn't Book or Wash, "it's strange, everyone's planet side. The Captain - he said he had business, Zoe too. Kaylee wanted to stretch her legs, Jayne said he had to go help the Captain and why is it that I'm only starting to get this now..."
"They can be very... winning." Inara said to the air. "You think they were avoiding me?"
"No, I think they were NOT avoiding something else."
Inara sighed. So, after everything and she was going to have to go trailing in his wake - or wait on him. Some choice.
She made up her mind and quick. Going would be kinder to her nails. And Mal had a way of spotting things like that - a chipped nail, he'd be on her like a -
And again with the cutting off.
"Ok, Shepherd," she said, too forcefully? Maybe. L'il bit. "You open a door for a Lady?"
She turned outside of the shuttle now, and walked the familiar winding way down to Serenity's bay doors.
"Pleasure ma'am," said the Shepherd, and with a wrenching sound the doors came up. Inara could see almost directly ahead, a small dwelling, not much more than a hut, and she could hear the inebriated sounds of an off kilter violin and a chorus of ragged voices.
So that was his business? Getting drunk?
Meh. Not again, surely something must have changed by now.
Clamping her fists toegther tight and keeping her face and figure posied, Inara Serra went to go give Captain Malcolm Reynolds a piece of her mind.

................................... to be continued..................
(just to show i'm a wytch of my word:))

Comments

[stoshagownozad.livejournal.com]

AY! I am in the middle of heavy working day...

but... later I will go through the story.
oh you're cutting my heart... right now!

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

wow - thank you!:):)
But really this is just rough for now...
:)

[stoshagownozad.livejournal.com]

anyway.. I am a kind of writer too and I also know what it is to post parts of untreated... just ideas sometimes... so we probably share the same things ^)
that is why I know that feedback is so... important? maybe.
I just still need time to read in live English, 'cause I am a technical translator, it;s absolutely different thing - live English, live speech, etc. So i need time to get in there :)))
Would it be in Russian, you probaby might have almost immediate feedback from me - at least for the things related to Firely 6) whcih is very fresh for me.

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

"Would it be in Russian, " I wish it were:)
And you are right of course about feedback
and it's very kind of you:):)

and now - like you, I have to go chase my day!

[stoshagownozad.livejournal.com]

have a good one then!

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

i hope you won't be disappointed:)

[stoshagownozad.livejournal.com]

I think I wouldn't. I may not get right thriough the text, but I still can feel the energy behind. That is good and strong enough for me.

[browncoat2x2]

Oooh! Intriguing!!
I want to know everything!! Why is she back? Where did this new Shepherd come from?!? Why isn't anyone shipside to meet her?!?!? WHAT'S GOING ON!??!?!!! WHO'S FLYING THIS THING?! ;o)

More please! :oD

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

"WHAT'S GOING ON!??!?!!! WHO'S FLYING THIS THING?! ;o)"
uh, i take the 5th on that!;)

[preyforhuntress.livejournal.com]

Shiny

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

Coming from the Captain - that means a lot. Cheers:):)

[stoshagownozad.livejournal.com]

you know what?
I have a very close friend, rather to say a kind of brother, he is an excellent writer, and he always says to me: if you'd like to encourage me enough to continue the story, just say GO ON when i stop to take a breath, nothing more.
so GO ON, please.

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

thank you! really, thanks:)

[charlie-bz.livejournal.com]

You are a wytch of your word! It seems as though you have just slipped back into Firefly fic so effortlessly. I'm very happy - and can't wait for you to keep going with this.

Great start. So many questions contained in this fragment. Where was Inara? Who is Shepherd Face? And, I noticed he didn't mention Simon and River when he gave the role call about who was doing what.
And, what is this all about? "No, I think they were NOT avoiding something else."

Other bits that I'm especially fond of:

and if not star-crossed love... then certainly crossed eyes seeing stars.

and:

Going would be kinder to her nails. hee!

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

:):):) thanks! i'm glad you liked!

there are answers to all your questions, never fear....

i will plug away and try and get the thing finished,
it is VERY rough at the moment! But i think i have the plot sussed,
if takes a little while (Who can say?) - at least you know i've made a start:)

thanks again, honestly, i appreciate it:)

[charlie-bz.livejournal.com]

At least you have a plot! I think I've expended close to 100,000 words and have yet to discover one!!

Actually, the next story does have what an acutal plottiness to it. I'm curious to see if I can actually write it! :)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

"I'm curious to see if I can actually write it! :)"

Even without your waggly fingers - i see your waggly fingers!
LOL! I'm hooked - hope you get it written soon!:)

As for this piece...
The fragment here has already changed quite a bit back home in my wytch-pit, but i'd swap my plot for your 100,000 words coz for me just now, writing f.f. is haaaard.:)

As for my plot, well - koff! - if you read the titles to the garbage 'Bleed like Me' cd, you'll have my whole fic structure - from 'Bad Boyfriend' to 'Happy Home'!:):)

[charlie-bz.livejournal.com]

I've got the title all worked out - had it in my mind for months. In fact, I love it! But, just recently, I realized it has a pornish sounding edge to it - wholly unintended. I'm fretting about it.

Oh, the title? "Somewhere Down the Crazy River"

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

LMFAO!!:):)

- oh - sorry -
wipes eyes -! -
er, maybe, uh, 'Somewhere along the Crazy River'??

[charlie-bz.livejournal.com]

It's tearing me apart!!! The title is from a Robbie Robertson song with the same name. I've incorporated aspects of the song into the fic and everything. Changing down to along may be acceptable. Depends on what mood I'm in when I post. I could be in that f*** it frame of mind. :)

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

sorry. i couldn't resist messin' wit ya!
how about 'Down along the crazy River'??
Bob n Rob in the worst of all possible title meltdowns m'wha ha ha!:)

[charlie-bz.livejournal.com]

You with the icons!!

Completely un-(but sort of) related... Levon (great Firefly fic name there) Helm was in one of the most heartbreakingly touching scene in all of cinema. He played Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter. There is this scene where he and Loretta are waiting for the train to take her to her husband. He says something like "I'm never gonna see my little girl again," and he doesn't. I'm not conveying it properly but truly a thing of beauty. I'm getting close to teary just thinking about it.

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

Damn - gonna have to watch that film again ASAP...
you're right it's wonderful:)

[agent-rouka.livejournal.com]

....but where is the rest?

*checks behind laptop screen*

Nothing.

*shakes laptop*

Nothing!

Where is more?? I want more Shepherd Face!! I want more Inara being resigned and kind of sad and pissed off and snarky and funny and Inara in her head! I want more intriguing uncertain future scenario to figure out with more clues! I wantses!!

I mean...

No, I said it. I wantses!!!

[wytchcroft.livejournal.com]

patience child... patience..
:):)