kaylee, are you ever gonna put that capture down?
4 you promised to help me pack.
they're very sweet. but they're not companions.
on sihnon we started training at twelve. years of discipline and preparation before the physical act of pleasure was even mentioned. most of these girls --
control. was the first lesson. and the last and these worlds are not like the central planets. there is barbarism dressed up in the most civil weeds. men of the highest rank who don't know the difference between a companion and a common whore. it's unsafe.
a who? with a what?
i didn't.  have a pirate.
yes. that would be just like him.
? mal. i uh, is this a bad time
please tell me you're wearing pants.
cold. it's autumn here.
right where you left me.
it is that. what about you?
oh. thank you, i.  i guess we have something of a problem here. with the locals, i thought maybe.
i'm hoping not. but if you were close at all, you -- the crew -- could take your ease here a while.  and there'd be payment.
soon. not right away.
i miss her too. i even miss my shuttle, occasionally.
oh.
thank you. she disappears. mal thinks a moment.
i never thought for a second you'd be stupid enough to come!
you knew my invitation wasn't on the level --
i'm fine! i'm. giddy.
mal, you cannot handle this man.
i'm praying for you, mal.
oh please. spend an hour with him. mal smiles -- then glares at inara, mouthing "hey!"
i know.
and that's not incense. he turns to look: the incense stick burns away -- rather like a fuse -- and flashes in an explosion of light and sound.
what?
hang on to something.
i told you to hang on.
because he's a believer.
i honestly think the only reason we haven't been blown out of the air is that he needs to see her.
i'm uncertain. i would say to be sure of the kill, but.  i just know he'll kill us all to get to her.
what is that?
you think maybe it poses some kind of threat to the alliance?
this isn't the war, mal. mal turns, eyeing her.
you came to the training house looking for a fight.
i just want to know who i'm dealing with. i've seen too many versions of you to be sure.
mal.
i'm not trying to tear you down --
i was.
that's right at the edge of the burnham quadrant, right?
please, we should talk this over --
mal. he looks up: she's in the corner looking through that trunk of hers, hands on a long oilcloth wrapped around something.
maybe. she puts it down and crosses to the bed. he sits by her.
you think anyone's set to sleep? simon's portioning out overdoses of morphine, just in case.
sometimes.  not so much right now. a beat. he doesn't look at her when he asks:
why didn't you ask me not to?
but they didn't fall down. none of them. they just lay down.
they just lay down.  they notice river now, in the middle of the street, keening. she drops to her knees, clutching her head.
mal.
mal, i need your help with this. i need you to help me, because i can't -- he looks at her, folds her into his arms. brings her face to his, not kissing but touching, pressing into each other with the urgency of pulsing, necessary life.
lift isn't moving.
keep pressure here.
right.
i, uh.  i don't know. he looks at her, a smile in his eyes.