A Bedtime Story
Big thank you (AGAIN!) to terimaru for lightning quick beta!
Right, this started one way and then veered off in a complete other...Such is my muse!. We know how Sushi came to Serenity, but how would Mal and Inara tell the tale to their children?
Think there may need to be another prompt soon...(Don't worry deadpoetwoffie I am on yours already!)
Disclaimer: Firefly owns me, I own words, and She Who Owns the Fishies lets me play with them!
The Princess and the Knight
“Tell us a bedtime story, Pa.” Alley and Matthew jumped on Mal and Inara’s bed eagerly.
“A bedtime story, ain’t you all a little old for stories?” Mal inquired in return, eyebrows rising and smile lines deepening on his face.
“Pa, we don’t ask very often, but it is a special day!” Alley replied.
“A special day? What have I forgotten?” Mal asked quizzically.
“Your and Momma’s anniversary!”
“It is not, I would never forget the day I married your mother!” Mal denied.
“No, Pa, not your wedding anniversary, Sushi’s joining the family anniversary!” Alley harrumphed like it was common and well-known knowledge.
“Ah, I see.” Mal answered. “Right then, settle in.” He patted the bed on either side of himself.
The children clambered into place, one under each arm, heads resting on his chest. Contented squirming settled into ready anticipation as he cleared his throat and began.
“Well, there was once a mean old man and a beautiful lady…” Mal had barely begun when he was interrupted by Inara’s silken tones.
“Once upon a time there was a lost Knight whose armor had grown dull and worn from lack of care and a Princess from a far away land…” Inara replaced Mal’s opening with hers.
“Hey, who is telling this story?” He asked in mock umbrage.
“You are ài rén, I am just setting the details correctly.”
“Bà bà, I want to hear about the Knight!” Mal and Inara’s son had stated his preference and Mal had no power to deny him. Mal merely bowed his head for a moment, regrouping his thoughts.
“So, this Knight was travellin the ‘Verse lookin for somewhat he didn’t even know…”
Inara continued from there.
“He found many adventures, fought many bad men, and took care of his squires and maids…”
“Hey now, don’t think Zoë would appreciate being called a maid ‘Nara.” Mal interjected.
Inara smiled at him in her most enigmatic way, “Ai rén, Zoë would be a man-at-arms I expect, along with Jayne.”
“Hrrmmph.” Mal moved over so Inara could join him and the children in the now crowded bed.
“Right then, his journey took him to a part of the ‘Verse where Princesses lived…” Mal looked over Alley’s raven-haired head to wink at Inara. Her lips ghosted into a secret smile. They were still having moments of conflict over her past life, but this night was not the time for that old argument.
“He found a Princess much in need of rescuing and he ordered his men-at-arms and squires to engage the enemy to free the Princess from her towered prison.
Alley squirmed down under the covers to get closer to Mal; Matthew had his eyes wide, hands to his face. He was still young enough to make big gestures and not know it. He insisted on calling Mal bà bà instead of Pa like Alley. Mal was pleased at Matthew’s choice as it reminded him of one of the men on his Ma’s ranch, Shao, a Chinese fellow who had still referred to his long deceased father that way. Shao was a kind hearted and true friend in Mal’s younger years before he left Shadow to return to his own family. Mal wondered where Shao was now, if he was still alive?
“The Princess looked down from her tower and saw this most shuài Knight coming to her rescue.” Mal tilted his head to rest on Alleys for a moment, slightly embarrassed by his wife’s compliment.
“A battle was fought across the sky with hearts and hands until the Knight won her freedom at great cost to himself.” Inara continued.
“But the Princess fought by his side and healed his wounds after the battle was let rest.” Mal finished for her.
“Pa, did Ma and you really fight Reavers?” Alley asked, sitting up quickly, eyes wide and scared looking.
“Who been telling you stories about Reavers? Jayne?” Mal asked her.
“Nah, heard Zoë talking bout it with Preacher Ethan…” Alley answered, eyes settling some as she remembered sneaking up on Zoë and Ethan and now hoping she wouldn’t get in trouble for eavesdropping.
“Well, we aren’t gonna talk about that tonight, Matthew doesn’t need to be hearing about such things yet.” Inara answered, her tone indicated that there would probably be talk about it later though, and it would be the eavesdropping part, not the Reaver part that would get Alley in trouble.
“Hey, I ain’t done with my story qin ài de .” Mal said mock sternly to his precocious daughter.
“The battle done, Princess safe by his side, the Knight had only to prove his valor in one last contest for her affections.” Matthew and Alley looked at Mal with excited expectation writ large across their faces.
Mal widened his eyes, raised his brows and smiled in his most theatrical way. “He had to win the Princess a piece of gold in a game of skill and accuracy.”
“He shot like a no one had ever shot before,” Inara continued for him, “His hand was steady, his aim true, and he won the Princess’ heart that night with a bowl full of gold that is still with them to this day.” Sushi and Sashimi fluttered in their bowl near the bed, the light glinting off their fins gold.
“And now my ruffians, it is to bed with you both!” Mal hauled both the children up as he got out of the bed; blanket trailing along in a softly flowing kite. He carried the children to their bunks, Matthew already mostly asleep, happily contented.
Alley looked at Mal, ready to spring a question at him when he tucked her into bed. With a finger on her lips, he shushed her, “No more tonight my lìngrén jingyì xin gan.” Mal kissed her forehead softly and tucked her in. “Wo ai ni.”
End
ài rén: sweetheart
bà bà: daddy (familiar)
lìngrén jingyì: stunning, amazing
qin ài de: dear, darling
shuài: handsome
wo ai ni: I love you
xin gan: sweetheart, darling
Right, this started one way and then veered off in a complete other...Such is my muse!. We know how Sushi came to Serenity, but how would Mal and Inara tell the tale to their children?
Think there may need to be another prompt soon...(Don't worry deadpoetwoffie I am on yours already!)
Disclaimer: Firefly owns me, I own words, and She Who Owns the Fishies lets me play with them!
The Princess and the Knight
“Tell us a bedtime story, Pa.” Alley and Matthew jumped on Mal and Inara’s bed eagerly.
“A bedtime story, ain’t you all a little old for stories?” Mal inquired in return, eyebrows rising and smile lines deepening on his face.
“Pa, we don’t ask very often, but it is a special day!” Alley replied.
“A special day? What have I forgotten?” Mal asked quizzically.
“Your and Momma’s anniversary!”
“It is not, I would never forget the day I married your mother!” Mal denied.
“No, Pa, not your wedding anniversary, Sushi’s joining the family anniversary!” Alley harrumphed like it was common and well-known knowledge.
“Ah, I see.” Mal answered. “Right then, settle in.” He patted the bed on either side of himself.
The children clambered into place, one under each arm, heads resting on his chest. Contented squirming settled into ready anticipation as he cleared his throat and began.
“Well, there was once a mean old man and a beautiful lady…” Mal had barely begun when he was interrupted by Inara’s silken tones.
“Once upon a time there was a lost Knight whose armor had grown dull and worn from lack of care and a Princess from a far away land…” Inara replaced Mal’s opening with hers.
“Hey, who is telling this story?” He asked in mock umbrage.
“You are ài rén, I am just setting the details correctly.”
“Bà bà, I want to hear about the Knight!” Mal and Inara’s son had stated his preference and Mal had no power to deny him. Mal merely bowed his head for a moment, regrouping his thoughts.
“So, this Knight was travellin the ‘Verse lookin for somewhat he didn’t even know…”
Inara continued from there.
“He found many adventures, fought many bad men, and took care of his squires and maids…”
“Hey now, don’t think Zoë would appreciate being called a maid ‘Nara.” Mal interjected.
Inara smiled at him in her most enigmatic way, “Ai rén, Zoë would be a man-at-arms I expect, along with Jayne.”
“Hrrmmph.” Mal moved over so Inara could join him and the children in the now crowded bed.
“Right then, his journey took him to a part of the ‘Verse where Princesses lived…” Mal looked over Alley’s raven-haired head to wink at Inara. Her lips ghosted into a secret smile. They were still having moments of conflict over her past life, but this night was not the time for that old argument.
“He found a Princess much in need of rescuing and he ordered his men-at-arms and squires to engage the enemy to free the Princess from her towered prison.
Alley squirmed down under the covers to get closer to Mal; Matthew had his eyes wide, hands to his face. He was still young enough to make big gestures and not know it. He insisted on calling Mal bà bà instead of Pa like Alley. Mal was pleased at Matthew’s choice as it reminded him of one of the men on his Ma’s ranch, Shao, a Chinese fellow who had still referred to his long deceased father that way. Shao was a kind hearted and true friend in Mal’s younger years before he left Shadow to return to his own family. Mal wondered where Shao was now, if he was still alive?
“The Princess looked down from her tower and saw this most shuài Knight coming to her rescue.” Mal tilted his head to rest on Alleys for a moment, slightly embarrassed by his wife’s compliment.
“A battle was fought across the sky with hearts and hands until the Knight won her freedom at great cost to himself.” Inara continued.
“But the Princess fought by his side and healed his wounds after the battle was let rest.” Mal finished for her.
“Pa, did Ma and you really fight Reavers?” Alley asked, sitting up quickly, eyes wide and scared looking.
“Who been telling you stories about Reavers? Jayne?” Mal asked her.
“Nah, heard Zoë talking bout it with Preacher Ethan…” Alley answered, eyes settling some as she remembered sneaking up on Zoë and Ethan and now hoping she wouldn’t get in trouble for eavesdropping.
“Well, we aren’t gonna talk about that tonight, Matthew doesn’t need to be hearing about such things yet.” Inara answered, her tone indicated that there would probably be talk about it later though, and it would be the eavesdropping part, not the Reaver part that would get Alley in trouble.
“Hey, I ain’t done with my story qin ài de .” Mal said mock sternly to his precocious daughter.
“The battle done, Princess safe by his side, the Knight had only to prove his valor in one last contest for her affections.” Matthew and Alley looked at Mal with excited expectation writ large across their faces.
Mal widened his eyes, raised his brows and smiled in his most theatrical way. “He had to win the Princess a piece of gold in a game of skill and accuracy.”
“He shot like a no one had ever shot before,” Inara continued for him, “His hand was steady, his aim true, and he won the Princess’ heart that night with a bowl full of gold that is still with them to this day.” Sushi and Sashimi fluttered in their bowl near the bed, the light glinting off their fins gold.
“And now my ruffians, it is to bed with you both!” Mal hauled both the children up as he got out of the bed; blanket trailing along in a softly flowing kite. He carried the children to their bunks, Matthew already mostly asleep, happily contented.
Alley looked at Mal, ready to spring a question at him when he tucked her into bed. With a finger on her lips, he shushed her, “No more tonight my lìngrén jingyì xin gan.” Mal kissed her forehead softly and tucked her in. “Wo ai ni.”
End
ài rén: sweetheart
bà bà: daddy (familiar)
lìngrén jingyì: stunning, amazing
qin ài de: dear, darling
shuài: handsome
wo ai ni: I love you
xin gan: sweetheart, darling