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toxic_cornSeries: Songs From a Firefly
Title: The Ballad of Serenity (12/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss, but the kids are mine.
Notes: And here's the last chapter. Previous parts are here. The title is The Ballad of Serenity but the song I was thinking of for this one is actually Escape Key's "Mal's Song" which any self-respecting Browncoat should be familiar with. This has been fun and I'm glad you guys enjoyed the ride!
Songs From a Firefly
The Ballad of Serenity
Jamey is 22, Nettie is 18
The auditorium was crowded and not for the first time, Jayne was glad they had reserved seats close to the exit doors. Also not for the first time, he cursed the fact that his little bit was graduating from a music school. And that twenty graduates were given the chance to perform for all the proud mamas and papas.
A pretty little redhead named Winnie finished her flute solo and Jayne only joined in the applause because she was a friend of Nettie’s.
The cheery-looking old headmaster came back out onstage, clapping his hands. Jayne was amazed that the old codger still had the same level of enthusiasm he’d started with two hours ago. He himself was about ready to run screaming from the room, if it weren’t for his trick knee.
“And now, our final presentation. This young woman is one of our most well-loved and talented students. Here to grace us with an original song is our very own Ms. Serenity Cobb!”
“Nettie!” Kaylee squealed as they all cheered.
“’Bout damn time,” Jayne grumbled.
“Hey, it could be worse,” Jamey said. “All the seniors coulda done something.”
Jayne groaned. “We’d be here a year.”
Then the curtains drew back and shocked gasps filled the auditorium.
~*~
Mal didn’t think he was seeing this rightly. This was… out of the ordinary. Judging by the buzzing all around him, his eyes hadn’t turned traitor.
That was indeed his Nettie-bird up on stage in full Independent gear: brown coat, chain mail, red vest and all. Her pretty hair was pulled back in a simple braid and she had a guitar slung across her front.
“Hello,” she greeted them. “I know this is a little unexpected but please bear with me.” She cleared her throat and continued. “This song was inspired by a very important man in my life. An Independent by the name of Malcolm Reynolds. Without him, my parents never would’ve met and I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you fine people tonight.” She tested a few notes on the guitar. “I had some help with this song, so credit goes to James Cobb; David, Nova, and Annabelle Tam; and Lady, Viola, and Benjamin Washburne.”
Then she started to play, telling his gorramn life story. Amazed, he turned to look at the others and saw the kids already watching him with shining eyes.
Anna, sitting right next to him, leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thanks for letting us grow up on your ship, Captain Daddy.”
He didn’t realize he was crying until Simon handed him his handkerchief.
So take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand/ I don’t care, I’m still free/ You can’t take the sky from me
~*~
Nettie was wrapped up tightly in Jayne’s arms when Mal approached the proud parents.
“Didja see her?” Jayne nearly squealed. “My little bit’s a high school graduate!”
“I mighta caught wind o’ that,” Mal said, smiling slightly.
River was beaming proudly herself. “You were wonderful, my Nettie.”
“Thank you, Mommy,” Nettie said, starting to tear up.
Jamey kissed his sister’s head then affectionately ruffled her hair. “You did good, kiddo.”
Mal waited a few minutes until her family was done fawning over her before they were able to walk away to a more private spot. At least, a spot that didn’t have any of the Serenity crew nearby to eavesdrop.
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you,” Nettie said, sounding a little nervous. “I know a lot of those things were private.”
“Oh no, it made for a good tune.” He paused. “But didja have to include that ‘married and tricked’ part?”
She giggled. “That was Vee’s idea.”
“Remind me t’ dock her pay.”
“Aww, Cap.” But she was smiling. “We just wanted a fitting tribute for you. I wanted that.” She reached out and took his hand in her own smooth, smaller one. “I have so much to thank you for.”
Mal shrugged uncomfortably. “I couldn’t put yer ma and uncle off the ship back in the day. It didn’t sit right.”
“Not just for that,” she said, softly. “But for being so kind to me when Jamey told everyone about my crush on you.”
“Oh.” Mal’s mind started to whirl. He’d told her that day that once she was grown and still wanted him… He swallowed thickly.
“I was so humiliated.” Nettie blushed at the memory. “But you made me feel so much better.” She laughed a little. “I think I fell for you a little harder that day. Ever since, I’ve used you as a standard for how I judge men.”
“That’s…” Mal nodded, not knowing what to say.
Her smile turned sad. “But I think I’m ready to let you go now. You’ve been a wonderful first crush.” She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a soft, brief kiss that had him trying to follow her before he realized what he was doing.
“Thank you, Mal.” Her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
“Pleasure was mine, darlin’.” He squeezed her arm. “Now that you’re all grown, you don’t be a stranger now.”
“I won’t,” she promised, wiping at the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “My boyfriend flies your ship, after all.”
“There is that,” Mal agreed. He held out his arm to her. “Why don’t we go and find that boy o’ yours? I heard your pa sayin’ somethin’ about dinner, his treat.”
Grinning, Nettie took his arm and the two of them strode to where the others were. Watching the brilliant smile that spread across her face at the sight of her parents’ proud faces, Mal was doubly glad that he’d picked the old Firefly class in that shipyard so many years ago.
THE END
**********
Or IS it? :P There's still an epilogue! It may take a little longer to get that one out since classes start up tomorrow and I'll be working on the weekends. (Le suck!) So it's not QUITE over yet.
Oh! And check out the Milla Jovovich video for "The Gentleman Who Fell." After I watched that back in like, May, I thought "That's grownup!Nettie right there." So watch, fall in love with the song, and marvel how a human being can be THAT beautiful.
**********
Track Eleven < The Gentleman Who Fell : > Bonus Track Across the Universe
Title: The Ballad of Serenity (12/12)
Author: Toxic Corn
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Joss, but the kids are mine.
Notes: And here's the last chapter. Previous parts are here. The title is The Ballad of Serenity but the song I was thinking of for this one is actually Escape Key's "Mal's Song" which any self-respecting Browncoat should be familiar with. This has been fun and I'm glad you guys enjoyed the ride!
Songs From a Firefly
The Ballad of Serenity
Jamey is 22, Nettie is 18
The auditorium was crowded and not for the first time, Jayne was glad they had reserved seats close to the exit doors. Also not for the first time, he cursed the fact that his little bit was graduating from a music school. And that twenty graduates were given the chance to perform for all the proud mamas and papas.
A pretty little redhead named Winnie finished her flute solo and Jayne only joined in the applause because she was a friend of Nettie’s.
The cheery-looking old headmaster came back out onstage, clapping his hands. Jayne was amazed that the old codger still had the same level of enthusiasm he’d started with two hours ago. He himself was about ready to run screaming from the room, if it weren’t for his trick knee.
“And now, our final presentation. This young woman is one of our most well-loved and talented students. Here to grace us with an original song is our very own Ms. Serenity Cobb!”
“Nettie!” Kaylee squealed as they all cheered.
“’Bout damn time,” Jayne grumbled.
“Hey, it could be worse,” Jamey said. “All the seniors coulda done something.”
Jayne groaned. “We’d be here a year.”
Then the curtains drew back and shocked gasps filled the auditorium.
Mal didn’t think he was seeing this rightly. This was… out of the ordinary. Judging by the buzzing all around him, his eyes hadn’t turned traitor.
That was indeed his Nettie-bird up on stage in full Independent gear: brown coat, chain mail, red vest and all. Her pretty hair was pulled back in a simple braid and she had a guitar slung across her front.
“Hello,” she greeted them. “I know this is a little unexpected but please bear with me.” She cleared her throat and continued. “This song was inspired by a very important man in my life. An Independent by the name of Malcolm Reynolds. Without him, my parents never would’ve met and I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you fine people tonight.” She tested a few notes on the guitar. “I had some help with this song, so credit goes to James Cobb; David, Nova, and Annabelle Tam; and Lady, Viola, and Benjamin Washburne.”
Then she started to play, telling his gorramn life story. Amazed, he turned to look at the others and saw the kids already watching him with shining eyes.
Anna, sitting right next to him, leaned her head on his shoulder. “Thanks for letting us grow up on your ship, Captain Daddy.”
He didn’t realize he was crying until Simon handed him his handkerchief.
So take my love, take my land, take me where I cannot stand/ I don’t care, I’m still free/ You can’t take the sky from me
Nettie was wrapped up tightly in Jayne’s arms when Mal approached the proud parents.
“Didja see her?” Jayne nearly squealed. “My little bit’s a high school graduate!”
“I mighta caught wind o’ that,” Mal said, smiling slightly.
River was beaming proudly herself. “You were wonderful, my Nettie.”
“Thank you, Mommy,” Nettie said, starting to tear up.
Jamey kissed his sister’s head then affectionately ruffled her hair. “You did good, kiddo.”
Mal waited a few minutes until her family was done fawning over her before they were able to walk away to a more private spot. At least, a spot that didn’t have any of the Serenity crew nearby to eavesdrop.
“I hope I didn’t embarrass you,” Nettie said, sounding a little nervous. “I know a lot of those things were private.”
“Oh no, it made for a good tune.” He paused. “But didja have to include that ‘married and tricked’ part?”
She giggled. “That was Vee’s idea.”
“Remind me t’ dock her pay.”
“Aww, Cap.” But she was smiling. “We just wanted a fitting tribute for you. I wanted that.” She reached out and took his hand in her own smooth, smaller one. “I have so much to thank you for.”
Mal shrugged uncomfortably. “I couldn’t put yer ma and uncle off the ship back in the day. It didn’t sit right.”
“Not just for that,” she said, softly. “But for being so kind to me when Jamey told everyone about my crush on you.”
“Oh.” Mal’s mind started to whirl. He’d told her that day that once she was grown and still wanted him… He swallowed thickly.
“I was so humiliated.” Nettie blushed at the memory. “But you made me feel so much better.” She laughed a little. “I think I fell for you a little harder that day. Ever since, I’ve used you as a standard for how I judge men.”
“That’s…” Mal nodded, not knowing what to say.
Her smile turned sad. “But I think I’m ready to let you go now. You’ve been a wonderful first crush.” She stood up on her tiptoes and gave him a soft, brief kiss that had him trying to follow her before he realized what he was doing.
“Thank you, Mal.” Her eyes glittered with unshed tears.
“Pleasure was mine, darlin’.” He squeezed her arm. “Now that you’re all grown, you don’t be a stranger now.”
“I won’t,” she promised, wiping at the tears that spilled down her cheeks. “My boyfriend flies your ship, after all.”
“There is that,” Mal agreed. He held out his arm to her. “Why don’t we go and find that boy o’ yours? I heard your pa sayin’ somethin’ about dinner, his treat.”
Grinning, Nettie took his arm and the two of them strode to where the others were. Watching the brilliant smile that spread across her face at the sight of her parents’ proud faces, Mal was doubly glad that he’d picked the old Firefly class in that shipyard so many years ago.
**********
Or IS it? :P There's still an epilogue! It may take a little longer to get that one out since classes start up tomorrow and I'll be working on the weekends. (Le suck!) So it's not QUITE over yet.
Oh! And check out the Milla Jovovich video for "The Gentleman Who Fell." After I watched that back in like, May, I thought "That's grownup!Nettie right there." So watch, fall in love with the song, and marvel how a human being can be THAT beautiful.
**********
Track Eleven < The Gentleman Who Fell : > Bonus Track Across the Universe
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 01:17 am (UTC)That said, it is a great way to finish Nettie's side of the story. Cause you have to do more stories for Jamey.
I love how you brought it all back to her crush on Mal. Good job!
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 01:22 am (UTC)I'm glad you liked this and sorry for the misty-eyes.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 05:54 pm (UTC)I was watching TV the other day and I saw someone that might work for Lady. Meaghan Rath stars in a Canadian TV show and I think that is part of why I am having trouble finding HQ images of her. Canadian shows that haven't gotten big in the states don't have a lot of good screencaps or web sites.
I am just going to link you to some pics of her.
one
two
three
If she is not how you pictured Lady, don't be shy about telling me. I was chanel surfing and she jumped out at me.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 05:59 pm (UTC)All of my fic ideas are Rayne. I'm not dropping this fandom any time soon.
*giggles at my icon* Even Wash is excited to see his daughter!
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 06:24 pm (UTC)I love that icon, Wash is made of awesome. Behind Jayne and River he is my third favourite FF character.
And yay for more Rayne fics.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 10:52 pm (UTC)Ben's an elusive bugger, isn't he? I'm almost ready to give up and just draw a stick figure in Paint for his portrait. :P
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Date: 2006-09-27 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 01:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 01:47 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 01:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:43 am (UTC)Yah. And, you know, as much as I love Nettie, I wonder if I didn't love Jamey just an eensy bit more. So I'm super excited that he's going to get his own show. It's like Buffy and Angel. Buffy came first, but Angel was better. Not that Nettie is Buffy, but...
*facepalm*
I'm going to stop talking now.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:54 am (UTC)The part I'm most excited about Jamey's series is the fic banner. Is that bad? I should get Kat on it soon, but she's all busy with work so maybe I'll ask my graphically inclined best friend who made me my Jamey icons. Really, I just adore the thought of getting to ogle pictures of young!Adam Baldwin. It's funny that you like Jamey more because most people seem to like Nettie more. I happen to love both kids equally (as any parent should) but hey, I like differing opinions, it makes me feel like I'm doing something right.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 11:38 am (UTC)Um, *sneaks off and uses search engine to look it up*, it's lovely and is now on my favorite things post. Am self respecting Browncoat. Hurrah!
Love that Nettie got to talk to Mal about her crush, and that she gave him a little moment of terror.
It will be great to hear more about Jamey because he's my little(ish) damn hero from 'I'll Be There'. When he says "Poppadaddy" I just want to hug him.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 05:23 pm (UTC)I think Mal was sort of looking forward to that confrontation because, hey, Milla Jovovich, you know? XD
Wow, I guess I can't really back out of the Jamey series now. I keep see-sawing over whether I should or shouldn't or if I want to, but then I remember how much I had planned for Jamey and how little of it got shown in this series. So I suppose I do have to start again and put a muzzle on Nettie.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 12:41 pm (UTC)Maybe now that she's a music school grad she'll compose a musical stage show of Serenity? Ooh, that might be fun!
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Date: 2006-09-27 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2006-09-29 11:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-29 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-29 06:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-29 11:13 pm (UTC)