Wherever you call home.

[onemanshort.livejournal.com]

Who: onemanshort, hotforhooker, someoneto_carry, fredless, mademyownpath, banditlegacy, and gottaknockhard
What: Kaylee makes a "family" dinner.
When: Backdated like a boss to Saturday, September 17
Where: SereniCrew Quarters
Rating: PG? Maybe 13 for language, depending on the topic.

It had taken a few hours to be sure everything was ready, but when six o'clock rolled around, the table was set for as fine a dinner as the Serenity Crew had ever sat down to. It might not have had the Shepherd's herbs, but it was real food, carefully prepared by someone who'd learned how to make the best out of even the most meager of supplies.

Tender potroast, mashed potatoes, plates piled high with different sorts of vegetables, and the fixings for salad were all set out in the center. And, back in the kitchen, a chocolate cake waited for anyone still hungry enough to make it to dessert (if they didn't sneak a taste of it first).

Beaming, Kaylee gestured to the display. "Well, there ain't any reason to wait. If you want somethin', dig on in."

[Thanks to notifs and various RL things on everyone's part, feel free to slow tag and threadjack like crazy. Prose or actionspam are more than welcome. Whatever floats your boat.]

Comments

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

John gave a polite nod of his head towards her.

"Thanking you kindly. You ladies slaved over this for so long, you deserve first pickin's."

[someoneto-carry.livejournal.com]

"Looks great, Kaylee."

Zoe had only helped a little with the meal, leaving most of it up to Kaylee since this was her show. She grabs her own plate, spooning up servings of everything.

"Just make sure to eat sometin', John."

[onemanshort.livejournal.com]

"There's plenty to go around. There's no need for you to wait," she told the cowboy, reaching for one of the other serving spoons.

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

"You have my honest word that I'll eat as much as I can," John chuckled a little.

Hey, free food was free food. And it wasn't, you know, burned into an unrecognisable crisp.

[gottaknockhard.livejournal.com]

[He'll be the one showing up late and not doing anything to call attention to himself. In hindsight, pretending to be social isn't the most convincing way to act like things are normal. In any case, the smell of food distracts him enough from thinking too deeply about it. The concept of sitting down for a friendly dinner is lost on him, but he can try and fake it for as long as it takes to eat.]

[onemanshort.livejournal.com]

Spike! [grinning, she'll wave him to the table to join them.] I ain't sayin' we'll run out, but you're sure not goin' to get first pick if you don't hurry up and join in.

[gottaknockhard.livejournal.com]

[Oh, they're doing the whole 'eat at the table' set up, huh? This really might be his first time, but he comes to sit down anyway. It feels like he's on autopilot, and probably looks that way too.]

So what's the occasion?

[onemanshort.livejournal.com]

Who said we needed any sort of occasion? It's just...folks gettin' together for a proper meal, is all.

[she eyed him more keenly than her light words might have given away] How's it been goin' with them racoons? You clear 'em out, right enough?

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

[Lets face it, none of these people are good at family sit downs. John nods in Spike's direction]

Glad you could make it.

[Aka, I need someone to protect me from the women if they start]

[gottaknockhard.livejournal.com]

[That'd at least make it seem more like home. As it is, Spike's eyes are fixed on the pot-roast so John barely gets a nod back.

Man, he's starving.]

I managed to find an opening in my schedule.

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

[It really is delicious food. So delicious]

Between all the trouble you usually get yourself into?

[hotforhooker.livejournal.com]

Mal was one of those headstrong lads that did what he wanted, so when the urge to come early to dinner struck him it was really a surprise as to why the captain wasn't there when everyone else arrived. He respected Kaylee's desire to have a proper meal which meant arriving at the proper time.

He's unsurprised by the girl's cheer when he does come on in, eying said spread of food. Probably embarrassing some with a low whistle while he was at it. Jerk.

"You really are the most impressive gal I know in the kitchen, Kaylee. Looks great." Mal took up a plate and loaded it. They always said you ate with your eyes--not that Mal really cared in comparison. He was just a hungry man. Plus, food was a good pacifier to these new folk that had somehow weaseled their way into his girls' fondness.

[onemanshort.livejournal.com]

"It ain't nothin'. It would be nice, Shepherd ever shows up, to do this right."

[hotforhooker.livejournal.com]

"Old man's probably too righteous for a place like this anyway," Mal replied simply. There was no malice, no ill-intent. It hadn't been long since his arrival but he missed the Shepherd's ways of riling him up. He wouldn't admit to it, though.

Taking up some vegetable he'd only seen that shape and color on the label of a can, he gestured at the ex-mechanic. Poor fresh green bean skewed and hanging on for dear life. "Let's just hope--for normalcy's sake I reckon, that he's as strangely prone to luck as we are and finds himself here. Bet he'd have some fancy time explainin' this'n." The pod met its end to Mal's hungry eyes.

[someoneto-carry.livejournal.com]

She grins a bit at their conversation, sitting nearby. To imagine the rest of the crew here...it'd be something alright. "I'd take the Preacher over Jayne showin' again."

Then again it's been a bit hard not having someone be the butt of her jokes a lot. Finding a replacement was tough work.

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

[Sup Mal, you're getting a tip of a hat from John]

So you're the Captain I've been hearin' so much about. Pleased to finally meet you.

[hotforhooker.livejournal.com]

[He can respect someone that's courteous and returns the sentiment with a nod, lips twitching a bit in what would call a smile]

Oh, she's been talkin' about me now? [Looks over at her, his expression relaxing a little more in visible amusement; returning to John; wry] I bet she was much too kind when describing me. Name's Mal. Or Captain. Pleasure's mine though-- [Look, he's going to shake your hand and then you two can enjoy this fine cooking while beating each other's respective chests.]

'Fraid I've not been here much longer than a week at most so she's not paid me the benefit of giving me a face to a name. What can I call you?

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

John Marston, and both of them have. They hold you in high regard, even if they pretend they don't some of the time.

[banditlegacy.livejournal.com]

[Jack's.......... A little bit hesitant about this whole affair. He's not exactly brimming with social skills at the best of times, and he was a kid the last time he ate with this many people. (And that was with a bunch of outlaws too! Go figure.)

[He has, however, got a bit of a sense of humour on him - which is apparently great for new and uncomfortable situations - and smiles a bit, gesturing at the food.]

This all looks real amazing, thank you. [Trying VERY CAREFULLY not to do that thing where he piles up more food on his plate than he can handle] Between the two of my parents, I almost had no idea what real food even looked like.

[mademyownpath.livejournal.com]

[HEY that's...completely and utterly true. How Jack didn't end up malnourished is anyone's guess. Dutch probably fed him out of pity or something]

Don't you ever let your mother hear that, she'll throw the pots at your head.

[someoneto-carry.livejournal.com]

[The words that Jack and John says causes her to perk up some. This is a new development she hadn't heard of yet]

Family?

[banditlegacy.livejournal.com]

[He gives his dad a bit of a thoughtful look and half smiles]

Not by choice, I assure you.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[She's later than she would like, color high on her cheeks as Fred finally knocks on the door. She got so caught up in Ollie's project that she went and lost track of time.

But hey, she brought homemade cornbread to sweeten any unintended slight?]

[onemanshort.livejournal.com]

[it takes Kaylee a minute to extract herself from the table, but when she does the door opens to a widely smiling mechanic]

I thought that might be you! Come on in... we've only just started settin' in.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_fredless/]

[Well that's a smile you have to give right back, isn't it?]

Sorry I'm so late. [Have an apology in the shape of cornbread] But here, I did get these made.