Four Drabbles-Firefly/Serenity (Hints of Rayne)

[walkwithheroes]

Written for 52_flavours

Title: Something Missing
Series: Firefly/Serenity
Theme no.: 022. The laughter of women
Character(s)/Pairing: River Tam and Jayne Cobb
Rating: G
Notes (if any): Follows Promise and Never Tell



Once upon a time, Jayne hated the sounds of laugher. Laugher meant someone was making fun of his size. Or it meant that Kaylee and River were rushing around the cargo bay, making all kinds of messes. Now, now Jayne would give a year's pay to hear someone – anyone – laugh. Especially, if it were a girl.

It's been two months since anyone but Simon's seen River. It seems ten times that long since there's been laugher on the ship.

The ship seems dead. Jayne thinks that if Kaylee's the heart of Serenity, River's the laugher and the smile. With River drugged up in her room, Serenity's only half happy, only half worth living on.

“She's...she's trying.” Simon tells anyone that will listen. “She'll get better.”

Somehow, Jayne knows Simon's lying. Still, Jayne really doesn't care. He just misses the laugh.

He wants – needs - the laugher back.

Jayne would give a year's pay to hear someone – anyone – laugh. Especially, if it were a girl named River.

Title: Belief Over Reason
Series: Firefly/Serenity
Theme no.: 025. Living like a jellyfish
Character(s)/Pairing: River Tam and Jayne Cobb
Rating: PG
Notes (if any): Follows Something Missing.



River thinks she's dead.

She feels like she's floating in space, where it is cold and lonely.

You can't hear anyone's thoughts or screams in space. River knows that's why she likes the black the best. Planets are nice, Serenity is home, but the darkness of space is comfort. River knows she can sacrifice people for comfort.

River knows that it is easier to live in space, pretending to be dead, rather then dealing with being a murder. There's a difference between killing Reavers and killing Alliance soldiers. It's why she refuses to believe she's still alive.

River can be:

River Tam, the girl.

R. Tam, the weapon.

Simon's mei-mei.

Mal's pilot.

Kaylee's friend.

But, she can't be: River Tam, the murder. It's why she'll stay believing she's dead, even if it hurts everyone around her.

Title: The Pink Dress
Series: Firefly/Serenity
Theme no.: 037. The heart of your gesture
Character(s)/Pairing: River Tam and Jayne Cobb
Rating: G
Notes (if any): Follows Belief Over Reason


It's another day, another job. The crew of Serenity stops on Hera, just after one o'clock in the afternoon. The Tam siblings stay on board, as River still isn't up for seeing...anyone. It makes Mal and Zoe frown. It makes Kaylee want to cry.

Jayne can't stand to see a girl cry, which is why he suggests Kaylee get something nice for River. A hour later, Kaylee returns to Serenity with a new pink dress for River, and a tag that simply says: 'To River. From Kaylee an' Jayne. Come Back t'us.'

That night, at dinner, Simon happily tells the others: “River looked at me today. She looked at me, touched the dress, and she nearly smile.”

Title: Should Have
Series: Firefly/Serenity
Theme no.: 035. Recalling things that other people have desired
Character(s)/Pairing: River Tam and Jayne Cobb
Rating: G
Notes (if any): Follows The Pink Dress


It's late and Simon knows he and Jayne should be asleep. Instead, the two men are up and drinking cheap beer in the common area, both trying to forget.

It's been five months since River killed the Alliance soldiers and nearly as long since she's been locked inside her own head.

Simon runs a hand through his thick hair. “River used to want to be a dancer. She should have been a dancer. She should have gone to the Ballet Academy.”

A moment later, Simon falls lazily back onto sofa and closes his eyes. Jayne shakes his head in slight amusement at the fact that the doc still can't hold his beer.

Jayne doesn't smile, though. He just wishes...he wishes River had gone to the Ballet Academy. It would have changed everything, but at least River wouldn't be trapped inside her own head.

Comments

[smth-blue.livejournal.com]

That was really amazing. Thank you!

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for reading.

[curi-o.livejournal.com]

Come back, River! Come back! We need you! Jayne needs you!

These are all really great image-moments. Very crisp. Good work.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

She'll come back one day, she's just taking some time.

Thank you for your kind words and thanks for reading.

[wiccagirl24.livejournal.com]

A few more of these, and you may have me converted to a new ship. Wow.

Love them all, but the second one is my fav.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

A few more of these, and you may have me converted to a new ship.

lol. Really? I started this as a River/Jayne 'shipper, though I'm now leaning to ending it as a River&Jayne friendship/family piece. 'Cause I'm honestly a regular ol' River ship-whore. I'll ship that girl with any male crew member and Badger!

Love them all, but the second one is my fav.

It's my favorite too.

[icebreather.livejournal.com]

I like them all, especially the first and last. River converting Jayne to laughter-love and Simon and Jayne as drinking buddies, kind of; these were really nice.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Firstly, thanks for reading.

Secondly:

I like the idea of River and Jayne forming a friendship and of Jayne missing it. Plus, I just get a huge smile at the thought of Simon and Jayne drinking together.

[ceslas.livejournal.com]

Anything that makes Jayne wish for things like laughter has to end up happy or I will have to cry, and that is just not a good idea.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

So, it should be a happy ending, then? Right, check. I'll see what I can do.

[ceslas.livejournal.com]

There will be hugs and strawberries if there is! Not to mention that wonderful growly happy voice of Jayne's when he finally gets what he wishes for....

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I'll say this: Jayne will end up happy.

[lattelady6.livejournal.com]

Please....*begging you here* please make her better. You write beautiful angst. Please bring back the laughter.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Please....*begging you here* please make her better.

Okay, just 'cause you asked so nice. River will get better, at some point.

You write beautiful angst.

Thank you. For some reason, when it comes to this fandom, I either write really sweet fluff or lovely angst.

Please bring back the laughter.

Spoiler: I have plans for River to laugh again.

[lattelady6.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I think, unless you have her laughing as she plunges a knife into Jayne or somebody not wearing purple or doesn't have Hands of Blue....sorry...no rudness meant...I'm just not good with the sadness.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I promise, River will not laugh as she plunges a knife into Jayne nor will she plunge a knife into Jayne.

[jaynedancing.livejournal.com]

Oh that's incredible, just those little snippets give you it all.

It has the whole you don't miss something until it's gone thing tied with hope that it could come back. :-)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading. :) And, you're right about it being one of those: you don't miss it until it's gone, and then you have to have hope it'll come back things.