Can’t Stop Fighting 3 - Family
Can’t Stop Fighting 3 - Family
Author: Rhiannon rhian_morwenna
Fandoms: Firefly/Angel
Prompt: 024 - Family - Big Damn Table Here
Summary: Simon and River learn more about Liam before he meets the rest of Serenity's crew
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Liam O’Connor/Angel, Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Kaylee, Simon, River
Pairing: none
Warning: angst
Spoilers/Timeline: Post BDM (Serenity Movie)
Series: Can't Stop Fighting
Sequel To: Can’t Stop Fighting, and Persephone
Disclaimer: Don’t own any of the characters, they're all Joss's, so don’t sue. The story is the product of my crack-happy brain.
Posted to rhian_morwenna, crossovers100, ff_fanfic, afterserenity, and ff_with_fangs. Please let me know if you want to archive elsewhere.
I'm experimenting with mouseover translations. If they don't work for you, the translations are at the end of the story.
Feedback is shiny. Very shiny. Did I mention how shiny feedback is?
Angel felt Serenity shudder as she left atmo. He took off his coat, hiding his weapons under it on his bed. He’d been trying to decide how he could protect Simon and River, what he could do. He admired Simon for throwing his career away for River’s sake, living a fugitive’s life, even though at the time he had no idea what that really meant.
Angel was suddenly jerked out of his thoughts by the sound of the door to his room being quietly slid open. River slid the door quietly shut behind her, and she sat next to Angel, barely making a sound the whole time. She tilted her head and examined Angel’s face, before locking eyes with Angel. Angel found himself unable to break her gaze. Angel tried to shut his mental barriers, prevent River from reading too much of his mind. ‘Is this I was like? Is this what it is like to stare in the eyes of a predator?’ Angel thought suddenly, paralyzed in fear. Just as quick as River had locked his gaze, she broke it, pulling Angel down onto her lap, stroking his hair soothingly.
“Shhh. Everything will be fine,” she cooed, still stroking his hair. “You are so much like Simon, always taking care of others, never letting anyone take care of you. It’s my turn. Everyone has their secrets, and I will keep yours, Angelus.” She leaned down and kissed his temple, before returning to stroking his hair.
Angel shuddered under her touch at the mention of that name, but otherwise couldn’t do anything. His mind wouldn’t let him do anything, so he just lay there, being comforted by the woman who had just ripped through all of his barriers.
There was a knock at the door, and a moment later it slid open. “Liam? I thought I might give you that tour now that...Liam?” Simon froze seeing Angel with his head on River’s lap. “What happened?” Simon urgently asked River as he closed the door behind him, and knelt on the floor in front of the two.
River continued to stroke Angel’s hair. “It’s all right, Simon. Liam was just remembering who he is. You might as well sit down while he finishes remembering.”
Simon looked at River, eyes narrowing. “River, what did you do to Liam?”
“He remembers us now.”
“Mei-mei, he can’t remember something that happened to his father, not him.”
“Simon Michael! Do you think I’m stupid? I know that.”
Simon was shocked by River using his middle name. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had called him Michael. He looked at River, stunned.
River seemed to regain her patience with him, explaining things to him as one would to a small child. “He’s remembering all the things he’s done, when he met you the first time. He has a lot to remember, and I said I would stay with him. He’s family, after all.”
“Shen-me? What are you talking about, River?”
“Sixteen-great grandfather,” River said simply, as if that explained everything.
Angel suddenly sat up straight, looking wildly at River, then at Simon.
“Shh, Liam. Everything will be fine. You’re with family now. We’ll take care of you. We’re all angels.”
“What are you talking about, River?” Simon asked more insistently this time.
River took Angel’s hand, and held it over her heart. She looked into his eyes, but without the predatory stare. He saw love there. “River Trsiel, and Simon Michael. You tried to keep track of us all. Names change. Connor Tamiel’s family became Tam, but the family remembered to name each new member of the family after an angel. Gabriel kept the tradition alive in Simon and I. Michael and Trsiel,” she smiled at Angel. “The Shen still exist, Angel.”
Angel could only nod. He looked at River, then at Simon. He saw what he had ignored before. The dark hair, the angled face, the piercing eyes. He knew what she said was true, and had pulled it all from his own mind.
Simon finally seemed to be snapped back into thinking. “Sixteen-great grandfather? River, what are you talking about? That would be centuries ago, before leaving Earth That Was.”
Angel looked at Simon, and finally found his ability to speak. “Simon, she’s right. I was born on Earth That Was, and I had a mortal son, Connor Angel. After I lost...everybody else...I watched out for Connor. I couldn’t really be his father, I looked only a couple years older than he did. He changed his name, to protect himself and to honor me.” Angel looked at River and Simon, “Do you have any idea what I am?”
River smiled happily, “You’re our family’s tian-shi.”
“No nian-qing de, I’m not. Far from it,” Angel looked at Simon. “Do you have any idea what I am?”
Simon seemed to consider everything for a moment, then something seemed to click in his head. “I remember stories of the xue e-mo. They look human and are immortal, or at least very difficult to kill, and live in the night feeding off of people. Is that what you are?”
Angel nodded. “Yeah. That’s pretty much what I am. A monster. A monster with the face of an angel,” Angel sighed.
River looked deep into Angel’s eyes, cupping his cheek in her hand, “Ge-ge, no you’re not. You’ve changed. You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t. You know that. I know that, ge-ge. Why don’t you finish telling Simon about our family?”
Angel nodded, and continued, still too shook up to do much thinking on his own. “I was already a vampire when I fathered Connor. His mother was a vampire also, although Connor was human. Born of two vampires, he had exceptional strength, speed, and intelligence. It wasn’t safe for him to be connected to me in any way after I lost...lost everyone else I cared about, so he changed his last name to Tamiel, one of the angels who married a mortal woman. He thought it appropriate. He knew I was always there, looking out for him, his wife. Then I became a grand-father, and I had a purpose again, to watch over my only living family. I’ve been doing that for 500 years now, since I had a second chance at a living family.”
“How old are you?” Simon asked.
“I was about 25 when I was turned. Overall, I’m about 750 years old. It’s hard to keep track of the years at this point,” he smiled ruefully.
“What happened to your birth family, your parents?” Simon asked, sensing he probably wouldn’t like the answer.
Angel hesitated. River squeezed his hand, “Everything will be fine, ge-ge, you can tell him. I already know you aren’t him anymore.”
Angel took a shuddering breath. “I ate them. My mei-mei was my first victim. She let me into our house, and I drank her dry,” Angel pulled his arms around himself again, balling up at the memory. “I then ate my mother. I left my father for last, to prove I had done something with my life, to show him I was somebody. I was worse than a Reaver. My mind was intact, but I enjoyed the kill, and I felt no remorse. My soul had been taken from me when I was made.” Tears trailed down Angel’s face as he told his story. “I was brought back from being a monster only after I killed a gypsy woman, and her Clan used magic to force my soul back into me. Then I felt unbearable remorse at what I had done, everyone I had killed. Angelus is the name of the demon that lives inside me. It’s what my mei-mei called me right before I killed her. She thought I was an angel, returned from the dead.”
Simon looked like he was about to faint as he imagined the things Angel had done. River was sitting close to Angel, her arm wrapped around his shoulders. “Shh, ge-ge. Out is better than in. All the bad is out now. We’ll take care of each other, take care of you.”
Simon took Angel’s hand, part of his mind struggling with the concept this was his sixteen great-grandfather, who looked the same age as Simon, looked more like a cousin or brother. “Liam, River’s right. You’re family, and by even watching us from afar, you’ve done more to help River and I than our closer relatives. You don’t have to be alone.”
Angel nodded, amazed by the love he felt being radiated by the two of them. He sat there, while River leaned on him, arm around his shoulders, and Simon held his hand. For someone who was supposed to be protecting his family, he was amazed how protected they were making him feel.
River looked up at Angel, smiling. “Time to meet the rest of the crew, ge-ge.”
Angel smiled back, and lightly squeezed Simon’s hand. “Lets go, then.”
Simon lead the way from Angel’s room to the kitchen and dining room. As they entered, Angel saw a small woman, face smeared with grease sitting at the table, sipping a beverage from a teacup. Sitting across from her was a large man, sharpening a large knife. They were chatting about something, until Simon, Angel and River walked in and both looked up.
“Liam, this is Kaylee Frye,” Simon gestured to the woman who smiled and waved, “and Jayne Cobb,” the man only looked at Angel, appraising him. “Kaylee and Jayne, this is Liam O’Connor, the newest member of Serenity’s crew.”
Angel stepped forward, shook Kaylee’s hand, and smiled. “Kaylee, I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Why thank you, Liam,” Kaylee beamed. “Such a gentleman!”
Angel extended his hand to Jayne. “Jayne, good to meet you,” Angel waited for Jayne to take his hand. Jayne made no move to take it, he simply grunted. Angel withdrew his hand.
“I thought we were gonna get a new pilot, but I saw River pilotin’ the ship out of atmo, which tells me you ain’t no pilot. So, then what do we need with someone who ain’t a gorram pilot, an’ one who’s another prissy boy from the Core at that?” Jayne asked the room at large.
River exploded. “Cao ni zu zong shi ba dai, Jayne Cobb! Liam is on the crew because we could use another set of hands, someone who is not a sha gua.”
Simon couldn’t but to chuckle at River’s outburst. The irony that Angel was their own eighteenth generation ancestor was not lost on him.
River let go of Angel’s arm and stalked over to Jayne. “Liam is our cousin,” River said with a menacing, quiet tone. “Ariel. If you even think about hurting a member of my family ever again, the Captain won’t get a chance to put you in an airlock, for your eyes to explode, blood boiling, and little bitty bits of Jayne getting blown out a little crack in the doors. I’ll find you, I’ll do worse, and I’ll make sure you live.” River suddenly switched to a light and happy tone. “Then, Simon, being the good doctor he is will put you back together again, so the Captain can put you out the airlock. Dong-ma?” River beamed at Jayne.
Jayne had gone pale. He swallowed, and nodded. He stood up quickly, and said to no one in particular, “I’ll be in my bunk,” as he hurried out of the room.
Kaylee looked appalled at what River had just said. “River, you ain’t gonna really do any of that!”
“Only if he ever hurts any of my family ever again,” She said calmly. “He’s been warned.”
Mal and Zoe walked in the dining area during the exchange. Zoe raised an eyebrow and sat down at the table. Mal poured himself some coffee before sitting down.
“Why am I puttin' Jayne out the airlock this time?” he asked, having heard River’s threat.
“Jayne was being nasty to Liam, and I warned him what would happen if he ever hurt my family again,” River responded casually, taking a seat herself.
Simon sat down, and gestured for Angel to take a seat.
“M’kay,” Mal said casually. “Lil’ Albatross, what is this now about Liam bein’ family an’ all?”
“It’s because he is,” River said, as if that was all the explanation that was needed.
“I don’t want to cause any problem with your crew, Captain,” Angel said. “I’m a cousin of the Tams. If my presence is going to be a problem, I’ll hop off at your next stop.”
“You’re not a problem, least not right now. Jayne causes enough problems on his own, so don’t be worryin’ about him. Cousin of the Tams, huh? I’m guessin’ that you bein’ here ain’t no coincidence.”
“River found me, I had no idea what was going on with that side of my family. River and Simon filled me in. We had never met before today.” Angel hoped the Captain would be satisfied with the half lie.
“Jus’ wanted to be sure there ain’t gonna be any problems,” Mal said before sipping his coffee.
Simon took advantage of the pause. “Liam, this is Zoe Washburne, the First Mate of Serenity. Zoe, this is Liam O’Connor.”
Angel stood and extended his hand to shake Zoe’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said as she shook it.
“I can definitely see why Jayne took a dislike to you. You’re too polite,” she said, smiling, before turning serious. “I hope you’re not this polite on a job.”
“Only when I need to be. It all depends on the situation,” Angel replied.
“Good to hear. We could use another level head around here. You any good in a fight?”
“I can hold my own, and then some,” Angel replied.
River snorted. “Second infantry, sergeant. Never really looked good in brown, though.”
Mal sat his cup down loudly. “Gorramit, son, why didn’t ya say so in the first place? Damn, nice to have 'nother browncoat on board. Zoe was a corporal, an’ I was a sergeant myself.”
“I try to forget the war, get on with living.”
“I understand that. To freedom,” Mal toasted as he raised his cup of coffee.
Angel nodded in agreement, “To freedom.”
Trsiel - The angel who protects rivers, inspires the flow of divine emotions to run in the veins
Tamiel - one of the 20 leaders of the 200 fallen angels who took human wives
Chinese used
mei-mei - little sister
Shen-me? - I’m sorry?
Shen - divine essence/spiritual being
tian-shi - angel
nian-qing de - young one
xue e-mo - blood demon
ge-ge - big brother (term of endearment)
Cao ni zu zong shi ba dai - Fuck the 18 generations of your ancestors
sha gua - stupid melon
Dong-ma? - Understand?
Author: Rhiannon rhian_morwenna
Fandoms: Firefly/Angel
Prompt: 024 - Family - Big Damn Table Here
Summary: Simon and River learn more about Liam before he meets the rest of Serenity's crew
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Liam O’Connor/Angel, Mal, Zoe, Jayne, Kaylee, Simon, River
Pairing: none
Warning: angst
Spoilers/Timeline: Post BDM (Serenity Movie)
Series: Can't Stop Fighting
Sequel To: Can’t Stop Fighting, and Persephone
Disclaimer: Don’t own any of the characters, they're all Joss's, so don’t sue. The story is the product of my crack-happy brain.
Posted to rhian_morwenna, crossovers100, ff_fanfic, afterserenity, and ff_with_fangs. Please let me know if you want to archive elsewhere.
I'm experimenting with mouseover translations. If they don't work for you, the translations are at the end of the story.
Feedback is shiny. Very shiny. Did I mention how shiny feedback is?
Angel felt Serenity shudder as she left atmo. He took off his coat, hiding his weapons under it on his bed. He’d been trying to decide how he could protect Simon and River, what he could do. He admired Simon for throwing his career away for River’s sake, living a fugitive’s life, even though at the time he had no idea what that really meant.
Angel was suddenly jerked out of his thoughts by the sound of the door to his room being quietly slid open. River slid the door quietly shut behind her, and she sat next to Angel, barely making a sound the whole time. She tilted her head and examined Angel’s face, before locking eyes with Angel. Angel found himself unable to break her gaze. Angel tried to shut his mental barriers, prevent River from reading too much of his mind. ‘Is this I was like? Is this what it is like to stare in the eyes of a predator?’ Angel thought suddenly, paralyzed in fear. Just as quick as River had locked his gaze, she broke it, pulling Angel down onto her lap, stroking his hair soothingly.
“Shhh. Everything will be fine,” she cooed, still stroking his hair. “You are so much like Simon, always taking care of others, never letting anyone take care of you. It’s my turn. Everyone has their secrets, and I will keep yours, Angelus.” She leaned down and kissed his temple, before returning to stroking his hair.
Angel shuddered under her touch at the mention of that name, but otherwise couldn’t do anything. His mind wouldn’t let him do anything, so he just lay there, being comforted by the woman who had just ripped through all of his barriers.
There was a knock at the door, and a moment later it slid open. “Liam? I thought I might give you that tour now that...Liam?” Simon froze seeing Angel with his head on River’s lap. “What happened?” Simon urgently asked River as he closed the door behind him, and knelt on the floor in front of the two.
River continued to stroke Angel’s hair. “It’s all right, Simon. Liam was just remembering who he is. You might as well sit down while he finishes remembering.”
Simon looked at River, eyes narrowing. “River, what did you do to Liam?”
“He remembers us now.”
“Mei-mei, he can’t remember something that happened to his father, not him.”
“Simon Michael! Do you think I’m stupid? I know that.”
Simon was shocked by River using his middle name. He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had called him Michael. He looked at River, stunned.
River seemed to regain her patience with him, explaining things to him as one would to a small child. “He’s remembering all the things he’s done, when he met you the first time. He has a lot to remember, and I said I would stay with him. He’s family, after all.”
“Shen-me? What are you talking about, River?”
“Sixteen-great grandfather,” River said simply, as if that explained everything.
Angel suddenly sat up straight, looking wildly at River, then at Simon.
“Shh, Liam. Everything will be fine. You’re with family now. We’ll take care of you. We’re all angels.”
“What are you talking about, River?” Simon asked more insistently this time.
River took Angel’s hand, and held it over her heart. She looked into his eyes, but without the predatory stare. He saw love there. “River Trsiel, and Simon Michael. You tried to keep track of us all. Names change. Connor Tamiel’s family became Tam, but the family remembered to name each new member of the family after an angel. Gabriel kept the tradition alive in Simon and I. Michael and Trsiel,” she smiled at Angel. “The Shen still exist, Angel.”
Angel could only nod. He looked at River, then at Simon. He saw what he had ignored before. The dark hair, the angled face, the piercing eyes. He knew what she said was true, and had pulled it all from his own mind.
Simon finally seemed to be snapped back into thinking. “Sixteen-great grandfather? River, what are you talking about? That would be centuries ago, before leaving Earth That Was.”
Angel looked at Simon, and finally found his ability to speak. “Simon, she’s right. I was born on Earth That Was, and I had a mortal son, Connor Angel. After I lost...everybody else...I watched out for Connor. I couldn’t really be his father, I looked only a couple years older than he did. He changed his name, to protect himself and to honor me.” Angel looked at River and Simon, “Do you have any idea what I am?”
River smiled happily, “You’re our family’s tian-shi.”
“No nian-qing de, I’m not. Far from it,” Angel looked at Simon. “Do you have any idea what I am?”
Simon seemed to consider everything for a moment, then something seemed to click in his head. “I remember stories of the xue e-mo. They look human and are immortal, or at least very difficult to kill, and live in the night feeding off of people. Is that what you are?”
Angel nodded. “Yeah. That’s pretty much what I am. A monster. A monster with the face of an angel,” Angel sighed.
River looked deep into Angel’s eyes, cupping his cheek in her hand, “Ge-ge, no you’re not. You’ve changed. You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t. You know that. I know that, ge-ge. Why don’t you finish telling Simon about our family?”
Angel nodded, and continued, still too shook up to do much thinking on his own. “I was already a vampire when I fathered Connor. His mother was a vampire also, although Connor was human. Born of two vampires, he had exceptional strength, speed, and intelligence. It wasn’t safe for him to be connected to me in any way after I lost...lost everyone else I cared about, so he changed his last name to Tamiel, one of the angels who married a mortal woman. He thought it appropriate. He knew I was always there, looking out for him, his wife. Then I became a grand-father, and I had a purpose again, to watch over my only living family. I’ve been doing that for 500 years now, since I had a second chance at a living family.”
“How old are you?” Simon asked.
“I was about 25 when I was turned. Overall, I’m about 750 years old. It’s hard to keep track of the years at this point,” he smiled ruefully.
“What happened to your birth family, your parents?” Simon asked, sensing he probably wouldn’t like the answer.
Angel hesitated. River squeezed his hand, “Everything will be fine, ge-ge, you can tell him. I already know you aren’t him anymore.”
Angel took a shuddering breath. “I ate them. My mei-mei was my first victim. She let me into our house, and I drank her dry,” Angel pulled his arms around himself again, balling up at the memory. “I then ate my mother. I left my father for last, to prove I had done something with my life, to show him I was somebody. I was worse than a Reaver. My mind was intact, but I enjoyed the kill, and I felt no remorse. My soul had been taken from me when I was made.” Tears trailed down Angel’s face as he told his story. “I was brought back from being a monster only after I killed a gypsy woman, and her Clan used magic to force my soul back into me. Then I felt unbearable remorse at what I had done, everyone I had killed. Angelus is the name of the demon that lives inside me. It’s what my mei-mei called me right before I killed her. She thought I was an angel, returned from the dead.”
Simon looked like he was about to faint as he imagined the things Angel had done. River was sitting close to Angel, her arm wrapped around his shoulders. “Shh, ge-ge. Out is better than in. All the bad is out now. We’ll take care of each other, take care of you.”
Simon took Angel’s hand, part of his mind struggling with the concept this was his sixteen great-grandfather, who looked the same age as Simon, looked more like a cousin or brother. “Liam, River’s right. You’re family, and by even watching us from afar, you’ve done more to help River and I than our closer relatives. You don’t have to be alone.”
Angel nodded, amazed by the love he felt being radiated by the two of them. He sat there, while River leaned on him, arm around his shoulders, and Simon held his hand. For someone who was supposed to be protecting his family, he was amazed how protected they were making him feel.
River looked up at Angel, smiling. “Time to meet the rest of the crew, ge-ge.”
Angel smiled back, and lightly squeezed Simon’s hand. “Lets go, then.”
Simon lead the way from Angel’s room to the kitchen and dining room. As they entered, Angel saw a small woman, face smeared with grease sitting at the table, sipping a beverage from a teacup. Sitting across from her was a large man, sharpening a large knife. They were chatting about something, until Simon, Angel and River walked in and both looked up.
“Liam, this is Kaylee Frye,” Simon gestured to the woman who smiled and waved, “and Jayne Cobb,” the man only looked at Angel, appraising him. “Kaylee and Jayne, this is Liam O’Connor, the newest member of Serenity’s crew.”
Angel stepped forward, shook Kaylee’s hand, and smiled. “Kaylee, I’m pleased to meet you.”
“Why thank you, Liam,” Kaylee beamed. “Such a gentleman!”
Angel extended his hand to Jayne. “Jayne, good to meet you,” Angel waited for Jayne to take his hand. Jayne made no move to take it, he simply grunted. Angel withdrew his hand.
“I thought we were gonna get a new pilot, but I saw River pilotin’ the ship out of atmo, which tells me you ain’t no pilot. So, then what do we need with someone who ain’t a gorram pilot, an’ one who’s another prissy boy from the Core at that?” Jayne asked the room at large.
River exploded. “Cao ni zu zong shi ba dai, Jayne Cobb! Liam is on the crew because we could use another set of hands, someone who is not a sha gua.”
Simon couldn’t but to chuckle at River’s outburst. The irony that Angel was their own eighteenth generation ancestor was not lost on him.
River let go of Angel’s arm and stalked over to Jayne. “Liam is our cousin,” River said with a menacing, quiet tone. “Ariel. If you even think about hurting a member of my family ever again, the Captain won’t get a chance to put you in an airlock, for your eyes to explode, blood boiling, and little bitty bits of Jayne getting blown out a little crack in the doors. I’ll find you, I’ll do worse, and I’ll make sure you live.” River suddenly switched to a light and happy tone. “Then, Simon, being the good doctor he is will put you back together again, so the Captain can put you out the airlock. Dong-ma?” River beamed at Jayne.
Jayne had gone pale. He swallowed, and nodded. He stood up quickly, and said to no one in particular, “I’ll be in my bunk,” as he hurried out of the room.
Kaylee looked appalled at what River had just said. “River, you ain’t gonna really do any of that!”
“Only if he ever hurts any of my family ever again,” She said calmly. “He’s been warned.”
Mal and Zoe walked in the dining area during the exchange. Zoe raised an eyebrow and sat down at the table. Mal poured himself some coffee before sitting down.
“Why am I puttin' Jayne out the airlock this time?” he asked, having heard River’s threat.
“Jayne was being nasty to Liam, and I warned him what would happen if he ever hurt my family again,” River responded casually, taking a seat herself.
Simon sat down, and gestured for Angel to take a seat.
“M’kay,” Mal said casually. “Lil’ Albatross, what is this now about Liam bein’ family an’ all?”
“It’s because he is,” River said, as if that was all the explanation that was needed.
“I don’t want to cause any problem with your crew, Captain,” Angel said. “I’m a cousin of the Tams. If my presence is going to be a problem, I’ll hop off at your next stop.”
“You’re not a problem, least not right now. Jayne causes enough problems on his own, so don’t be worryin’ about him. Cousin of the Tams, huh? I’m guessin’ that you bein’ here ain’t no coincidence.”
“River found me, I had no idea what was going on with that side of my family. River and Simon filled me in. We had never met before today.” Angel hoped the Captain would be satisfied with the half lie.
“Jus’ wanted to be sure there ain’t gonna be any problems,” Mal said before sipping his coffee.
Simon took advantage of the pause. “Liam, this is Zoe Washburne, the First Mate of Serenity. Zoe, this is Liam O’Connor.”
Angel stood and extended his hand to shake Zoe’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said as she shook it.
“I can definitely see why Jayne took a dislike to you. You’re too polite,” she said, smiling, before turning serious. “I hope you’re not this polite on a job.”
“Only when I need to be. It all depends on the situation,” Angel replied.
“Good to hear. We could use another level head around here. You any good in a fight?”
“I can hold my own, and then some,” Angel replied.
River snorted. “Second infantry, sergeant. Never really looked good in brown, though.”
Mal sat his cup down loudly. “Gorramit, son, why didn’t ya say so in the first place? Damn, nice to have 'nother browncoat on board. Zoe was a corporal, an’ I was a sergeant myself.”
“I try to forget the war, get on with living.”
“I understand that. To freedom,” Mal toasted as he raised his cup of coffee.
Angel nodded in agreement, “To freedom.”
Trsiel - The angel who protects rivers, inspires the flow of divine emotions to run in the veins
Tamiel - one of the 20 leaders of the 200 fallen angels who took human wives
Chinese used
mei-mei - little sister
Shen-me? - I’m sorry?
Shen - divine essence/spiritual being
tian-shi - angel
nian-qing de - young one
xue e-mo - blood demon
ge-ge - big brother (term of endearment)
Cao ni zu zong shi ba dai - Fuck the 18 generations of your ancestors
sha gua - stupid melon
Dong-ma? - Understand?