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toxic_cornSeries: Girl Anachronism
Title: Chapter Three (3/12)
Author: toxic_corn
Pairing: River/Jayne
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon, except for a certain stowaway.
Summary: A mysterious stowaway on Serenity may bring Jayne and River together.
Warning: Takes place after the BDM but has some AU elements to it so if that's not your cup of tea, it'd be best to skip this one.
Notes: I previewed this in my journal back in February and now I'm ready to share it with the public. Hope you like!
Read the earlier chapters at the organizational post.
Chapter Three
"Why's it gotta be me?" Jayne groused.
"Because you're Daddy Dearest," Mal said, jovially. When Jayne looked like he was about to pitch a fit, Mal got serious. "You and Giacomo didn't get along so well last time. I'd like things to run smooth for once. Having you there makes things not smooth. So take River and the little lady out shopping, dong ma?"
Jayne scowled. "Why can't I just stay on the ship?"
"It's a nice day," Mal said airily. "Growing boy like you needs air and sunlight." He walked away smirking, hearing Jayne grumble behind him.
~*~
"No," Jayne said firmly, looking up at the store.
"It's full of little girls' apparel," River said, barely keeping her patience. "We have a little girl-"
"We don't got any such thing!" Jayne hissed, pointing at Nettie who wasn't paying them much attention, looking up at the store a little dubiously.
River blushed. "I didn't mean that- I only meant that we have a little girl in our company. This store caters to little girls. Ergo, this is the place to shop."
"I don't care where air goes," Jayne snapped. "But I ain't goin' in there!"
Nettie looked up at him. "What's it to you? It's not like anyone's gonna think you're the one dressing up all frilly." She frowned at the store window where a girl approximately Nettie's age simpered and pranced from side to side in a pinafore and patent leather shoes.
"I'm sure they have more than just dresses," River assured her.
Jayne looked down at Nettie in surprise. "Thought all girls liked frippery."
"I like it okay," Nettie answered him. "It's pretty, just uncomfortable as all hell to move around in."
"Crazy kinda has her mind set on us goin' in there," Jayne said, sending River a look.
Nettie let out a sigh. "I guess I'll give it a try. If I have to."
"Yeah." Jayne sighed as well. "May as well get this over with." He led the way inside, missing the wink Nettie sent River's way.
~*~
Jayne sat in the uncomfortable little chair in the waiting area, getting more and more agitated by the minute. All around him he could hear girlish squeals which he usually enjoyed, only these girls were several years too young to be any fun. At this age, they were just plain annoying. He stared down his third group of giggling girls who walked by gawking at him, talking behind cupped hands. Acting like they ain't never seen a man before. Pffft.
River came back with an armload of clothes and he finally lost what little grip on his patience he had. "Dammit, I know you don't have that much platinum! Put that crap back! She liked them overalls you sent in an hour ago; we can leave!"
"She'll need more than one pair of overalls," River said in a maddeningly calm tone. "And garments are sized differently; she'll need to try many on to make sure what fits, and then go up a size since she's still growing."
"Ta ma de!" He snarled, startling a nearby woman and the tiny girl she was clutching by the hand. The mother hustled her daughter away, glaring at Jayne all the while.
"Can you act like a human for five minutes?" River hissed. "I didn't want you coming along on this venture, either, but you don't see me complaining!"
For a minute, Jayne didn't know what to say to that. Guess it never occured to him that others might not like his company. But now that he did know it, it bugged him. Bugged him something fierce. He looked away from her, not wanting her to know that she'd struck a nerve.
Damn reader seemed to know, though. "Why don't you take a look around?" she asked all gentle-like. "Maybe you'll see something she might enjoy."
"How the hell would I know what she likes; I don't even know her." But Jayne hauled himself up out of the chair and walked around the shop, pretending like he didn't notice the stares he got.
A lot of the stuff looked the same: frilly and expensive. He snorted at row after row of ribbons and pink sweaters and stripey shirts and skirts with butterflies printed on them until he saw a dress that made him pause.
His ma had a picture of her when she was a little girl dressed up in her Sunday best. Her pink satin dress looked just like this one here, little cap sleeves and a sash that tied all big and pretty in back. Curious, he took the dress down from where it was hanging up high. Looked like it could fit the girl.
River was sitting in the chair when he came back. Once she saw the dress, she raised her eyebrows then smiled warmly at him. "That's lovely."
"Just grabbed somethin' ta get ya off m'back," Jayne mumbled, thrusting the dress into her face.
Rolling her eyes, River took the dress and handed him the stack of reject clothes she'd gotten from Nettie. "Here, go put these somewhere. I'll give her the dress."
"Yeah, yeah." Jayne took a few steps and tossed the clothes in a pile on the floor, earning him the dirty looks of the salesladies. Just for that, no tip. Wasn't the customer supposed to be always right?
He reclaimed his chair and sat there for awhile until the sound of soft giggles made him look up.
Nettie was in the dress and it fit her perfectly as she twirled around, making the skirt flare out. Her long, free hair swished around her as she spun and Jayne couldn't quite explain the sudden lump he got in his throat.
"Dance with me!" Nettie exclaimed, reaching out for River's hands. The girl took them and the two of them went spinning around the changing room, laughing delightedly. The resemblance between them was even stronger when they were both looking so happy.
It was amazing; River's good looks increased a million times when she had a huge, shiny grin on her face. She should smile like that more often...
She must have sensed his thoughts because her gaze went from the child to him and his breath caught in his chest. Maybe-
"You have such beautiful girls," a middle-aged woman said, popping out of nowhere with an armload of clothing. "You must be very proud."
Shaken out of the moment, he stared up at the woman. River was just an irritating little stick he was forced to share space with since she was crew, the little girl wasn't his and was pretty damn crazy, and Mal had tricked him into this gorram little errand because he was a ruttin' pile of go se.
"Ain't mine," Jayne snarled and tore out of the chair, stomping toward River and Nettie. "Are ya all through now?!"
The girls stopped and looked at him in surprise. "I suppose," River said. "I think we have enough clothing and underthings for her."
"Are ya gettin' the dress?" Jayne demanded.
"I looked at the price tag when I was changing into it," Nettie said and looked down at her feet. "It's too expensive."
"Then go put it back!" Jayne snapped.
Crestfallen, the girl dropped River's hands and darted off to the changing room.
"You have to ruin everything, don't you?" River said, looking upset herself. What the hell was her problem? They couldn't afford the dress, so it had to go back. What, was he supposed to magic credits out of thin air? If he could, did she honestly think he'd waste it on a ridiculous pink dress?
"Wasn't ruinin' anything!" Jayne exclaimed. "I just told her to put it back!"
"You behave as if you were never a child yourself," River said severely. "Don't you remember what it was like, having adults speak harshly to you? Having your games belittled? You don't, do you?" She shook her head. "That's very sad, Jayne Cobb."
"Don't need your pity," Jayne muttered, feeling a little ashamed despite himself.
"Good. You don't have it." River spun on her heel and went back to the dressing room to get Nettie.
When the girls came back out and went to the counter to pay for their items, Jayne strode over to the dressing room, where one of the irritable salesladies was cleaning it out to put discarded clothing away.
"Hey," he said, feeling self conscious in a way he didn't like. "There a pink dress back here?"
~*~
River stood outside the store, she and Nettie loaded down with bags. "Honestly, he has a tantrum when he sees this establishment and now we have to wait forever for him to come out. Is he worried someone will see? For someone who claims not to care what others think, he certainly-"
The door opened and Jayne came out, scowling with a pink bag in his hand. He held it far away from his body, as if he didn't want to be contaminated by its contents.
"Here," he muttered and handed the bag to Nettie.
Frowning, the little girl opened it and gasped, pulling out a long pink box that held the dress she'd danced in. "Oh! This is so-"
"I know," Jayne said, sourly. "Spent money I been savin' to get you that. So wear it and shut up."
The three of them started to walk back to the ship and Nettie reached out to take his hand. "Thank you, Daddy."
"I ain't your gorram Daddy!" He shook the girl's hand off and walked slightly ahead of them the rest of the way to Serenity.
The little girl's eyes filled with tears. "He doesn't like me."
"It's okay," River said softly, hiding tears of her own. "He doesn't like me, either."
< Chapter Two : Chapter Four >
Title: Chapter Three (3/12)
Author: toxic_corn
Pairing: River/Jayne
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss Whedon, except for a certain stowaway.
Summary: A mysterious stowaway on Serenity may bring Jayne and River together.
Warning: Takes place after the BDM but has some AU elements to it so if that's not your cup of tea, it'd be best to skip this one.
Notes: I previewed this in my journal back in February and now I'm ready to share it with the public. Hope you like!
Read the earlier chapters at the organizational post.
"Why's it gotta be me?" Jayne groused.
"Because you're Daddy Dearest," Mal said, jovially. When Jayne looked like he was about to pitch a fit, Mal got serious. "You and Giacomo didn't get along so well last time. I'd like things to run smooth for once. Having you there makes things not smooth. So take River and the little lady out shopping, dong ma?"
Jayne scowled. "Why can't I just stay on the ship?"
"It's a nice day," Mal said airily. "Growing boy like you needs air and sunlight." He walked away smirking, hearing Jayne grumble behind him.
"No," Jayne said firmly, looking up at the store.
"It's full of little girls' apparel," River said, barely keeping her patience. "We have a little girl-"
"We don't got any such thing!" Jayne hissed, pointing at Nettie who wasn't paying them much attention, looking up at the store a little dubiously.
River blushed. "I didn't mean that- I only meant that we have a little girl in our company. This store caters to little girls. Ergo, this is the place to shop."
"I don't care where air goes," Jayne snapped. "But I ain't goin' in there!"
Nettie looked up at him. "What's it to you? It's not like anyone's gonna think you're the one dressing up all frilly." She frowned at the store window where a girl approximately Nettie's age simpered and pranced from side to side in a pinafore and patent leather shoes.
"I'm sure they have more than just dresses," River assured her.
Jayne looked down at Nettie in surprise. "Thought all girls liked frippery."
"I like it okay," Nettie answered him. "It's pretty, just uncomfortable as all hell to move around in."
"Crazy kinda has her mind set on us goin' in there," Jayne said, sending River a look.
Nettie let out a sigh. "I guess I'll give it a try. If I have to."
"Yeah." Jayne sighed as well. "May as well get this over with." He led the way inside, missing the wink Nettie sent River's way.
Jayne sat in the uncomfortable little chair in the waiting area, getting more and more agitated by the minute. All around him he could hear girlish squeals which he usually enjoyed, only these girls were several years too young to be any fun. At this age, they were just plain annoying. He stared down his third group of giggling girls who walked by gawking at him, talking behind cupped hands. Acting like they ain't never seen a man before. Pffft.
River came back with an armload of clothes and he finally lost what little grip on his patience he had. "Dammit, I know you don't have that much platinum! Put that crap back! She liked them overalls you sent in an hour ago; we can leave!"
"She'll need more than one pair of overalls," River said in a maddeningly calm tone. "And garments are sized differently; she'll need to try many on to make sure what fits, and then go up a size since she's still growing."
"Ta ma de!" He snarled, startling a nearby woman and the tiny girl she was clutching by the hand. The mother hustled her daughter away, glaring at Jayne all the while.
"Can you act like a human for five minutes?" River hissed. "I didn't want you coming along on this venture, either, but you don't see me complaining!"
For a minute, Jayne didn't know what to say to that. Guess it never occured to him that others might not like his company. But now that he did know it, it bugged him. Bugged him something fierce. He looked away from her, not wanting her to know that she'd struck a nerve.
Damn reader seemed to know, though. "Why don't you take a look around?" she asked all gentle-like. "Maybe you'll see something she might enjoy."
"How the hell would I know what she likes; I don't even know her." But Jayne hauled himself up out of the chair and walked around the shop, pretending like he didn't notice the stares he got.
A lot of the stuff looked the same: frilly and expensive. He snorted at row after row of ribbons and pink sweaters and stripey shirts and skirts with butterflies printed on them until he saw a dress that made him pause.
His ma had a picture of her when she was a little girl dressed up in her Sunday best. Her pink satin dress looked just like this one here, little cap sleeves and a sash that tied all big and pretty in back. Curious, he took the dress down from where it was hanging up high. Looked like it could fit the girl.
River was sitting in the chair when he came back. Once she saw the dress, she raised her eyebrows then smiled warmly at him. "That's lovely."
"Just grabbed somethin' ta get ya off m'back," Jayne mumbled, thrusting the dress into her face.
Rolling her eyes, River took the dress and handed him the stack of reject clothes she'd gotten from Nettie. "Here, go put these somewhere. I'll give her the dress."
"Yeah, yeah." Jayne took a few steps and tossed the clothes in a pile on the floor, earning him the dirty looks of the salesladies. Just for that, no tip. Wasn't the customer supposed to be always right?
He reclaimed his chair and sat there for awhile until the sound of soft giggles made him look up.
Nettie was in the dress and it fit her perfectly as she twirled around, making the skirt flare out. Her long, free hair swished around her as she spun and Jayne couldn't quite explain the sudden lump he got in his throat.
"Dance with me!" Nettie exclaimed, reaching out for River's hands. The girl took them and the two of them went spinning around the changing room, laughing delightedly. The resemblance between them was even stronger when they were both looking so happy.
It was amazing; River's good looks increased a million times when she had a huge, shiny grin on her face. She should smile like that more often...
She must have sensed his thoughts because her gaze went from the child to him and his breath caught in his chest. Maybe-
"You have such beautiful girls," a middle-aged woman said, popping out of nowhere with an armload of clothing. "You must be very proud."
Shaken out of the moment, he stared up at the woman. River was just an irritating little stick he was forced to share space with since she was crew, the little girl wasn't his and was pretty damn crazy, and Mal had tricked him into this gorram little errand because he was a ruttin' pile of go se.
"Ain't mine," Jayne snarled and tore out of the chair, stomping toward River and Nettie. "Are ya all through now?!"
The girls stopped and looked at him in surprise. "I suppose," River said. "I think we have enough clothing and underthings for her."
"Are ya gettin' the dress?" Jayne demanded.
"I looked at the price tag when I was changing into it," Nettie said and looked down at her feet. "It's too expensive."
"Then go put it back!" Jayne snapped.
Crestfallen, the girl dropped River's hands and darted off to the changing room.
"You have to ruin everything, don't you?" River said, looking upset herself. What the hell was her problem? They couldn't afford the dress, so it had to go back. What, was he supposed to magic credits out of thin air? If he could, did she honestly think he'd waste it on a ridiculous pink dress?
"Wasn't ruinin' anything!" Jayne exclaimed. "I just told her to put it back!"
"You behave as if you were never a child yourself," River said severely. "Don't you remember what it was like, having adults speak harshly to you? Having your games belittled? You don't, do you?" She shook her head. "That's very sad, Jayne Cobb."
"Don't need your pity," Jayne muttered, feeling a little ashamed despite himself.
"Good. You don't have it." River spun on her heel and went back to the dressing room to get Nettie.
When the girls came back out and went to the counter to pay for their items, Jayne strode over to the dressing room, where one of the irritable salesladies was cleaning it out to put discarded clothing away.
"Hey," he said, feeling self conscious in a way he didn't like. "There a pink dress back here?"
River stood outside the store, she and Nettie loaded down with bags. "Honestly, he has a tantrum when he sees this establishment and now we have to wait forever for him to come out. Is he worried someone will see? For someone who claims not to care what others think, he certainly-"
The door opened and Jayne came out, scowling with a pink bag in his hand. He held it far away from his body, as if he didn't want to be contaminated by its contents.
"Here," he muttered and handed the bag to Nettie.
Frowning, the little girl opened it and gasped, pulling out a long pink box that held the dress she'd danced in. "Oh! This is so-"
"I know," Jayne said, sourly. "Spent money I been savin' to get you that. So wear it and shut up."
The three of them started to walk back to the ship and Nettie reached out to take his hand. "Thank you, Daddy."
"I ain't your gorram Daddy!" He shook the girl's hand off and walked slightly ahead of them the rest of the way to Serenity.
The little girl's eyes filled with tears. "He doesn't like me."
"It's okay," River said softly, hiding tears of her own. "He doesn't like me, either."
< Chapter Two : Chapter Four >
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-03 11:39 pm (UTC)Loving this!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-03 11:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 12:03 am (UTC)To be fair, the idea of him going into a little girl's shop is hilarious!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 01:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 12:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 12:49 am (UTC)*glares at Jayne*
He's such a stubborn man.
Great chapter, I'm really enjoying this story.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 01:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 03:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 04:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 04:22 am (UTC)Thanks,
Okegirl
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 04:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 05:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 05:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 05:03 am (UTC)My favourite line has to be:
"I don't care where air goes,"
Can't wait for the next part.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 05:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 04:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 04:36 pm (UTC)I do love that Jayne got Nettie the dress, though. It's so adorable, him getting to like them without wanting to. I hope the next chapter comes along speedily.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 06:24 pm (UTC)I'll try to have the next part out as soon as I can. I'm excited for what's to come. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-05 10:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-05 10:58 pm (UTC)