The Repair Job [closed]

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"Oh no," Woody said, feeling around the vicinity of his neck to see what'd popped there as Kaylee spirited him away. He couldn't tell how many stitches it was, but there was some fluff sticking out. Had the fabric ripped or was it just a popped seam?

"How bad is it? Is it bad?"

The doll was still trembling a little, after nearly having his head torn off. How he could tremble without muscles, who knew, but he could.

Comments

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Just makin' sure."

She pulled out a needle and spool of thread, close to the color of his bandana as she could. The hardest part of the process was pushing the stuffing that had escaped back in, and she couldn't help but wonder if this was how Simon might look at a person when he was operating on them. The thought was shaken from her head, and she set to work on stitching him back together.

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

There was silent wincing. It wasn't so much that it hurt--though toys could feel their own version of pain--but that it felt strange to have bits like his fluff messed with.

As she worked, he eventually stopped wincing and closed his eyes altogether, to be a little more dignified about it.

"I'm mighty grateful, by the way, for you and Allen stepping in, miss. The ship doesn't recognize me as a crew member. That horrible girl could've torn me to bits without the ship reacting."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Kaylee was careful to be as quick and clean as possible about it. She was used to working on inanimate parts, not so much on living toys. It couldn't be much more comfortable for him.

"Wouldn't have noticed myself, honestly, if Allen hadn't been there... Take it you didn't pop outta the pods, then?"

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"Weapons and possessions lockers. Ship had me in a box, and something special about it kept me asleep--only the box must've gotten jostled around when people's things were moved. Next thing I know, I'm wide awake in the dark, it's open a crack and I have to bash my way out of there," Woody explained.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like an excitin' time. Ain't sure it's much better than wakin' up naked in goop, though." Stuck in a box didn't sound much better, really.

Kaylee tied off the thread, then snipped off the extra with a pair of scissors. "All patched," she told him, looking somewhat proud. "How's it feel?"

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

Woody moved his arm around experimentally, and tilted his neck back and forth. The stitching held nicely.

"Well that feels good at new," he said. "Thank you for the help, miss...?"

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

Yep, definitely proud. "Looks pretty good from here, too. And I'm glad I could help," she promised. "Kaylee's me. Kaylee Frye."

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

Woody stood and with a sweeping motion plucked his hat off of the table and held it politely to his chest, giving her a gentlemanly little bow with his hat off as a sign of respect.

"Pleasure to meet'cha, Kaylee," said the toy. "The name's Woody. And from here on out, I certainly owe you one--or two, really."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Woody? Well, it's nice to meet you, too, Woody. Don't owe me a thing, neither. Gotta help out fellow crewmates, no matter the size, right?" She packed the extra thread and needle back up, and nodded back toward the hallway.

"You got a specific place you've been stayin', then?"

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"Oh, well, I'm Komali's toy, so I've been staying in his and Ms. Samus's room. At least for now, unless Bonnie--my owner from back home--wakes up or Ms. Samus throws me out." Woody put his hat on.

"Ms. Samus...doesn't like me much."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Komali? I'm afraid I don't know Komali, but he's gotta be a good kid if you're hangin' about. And Samus... Samus has a hard time gettin' on with folks sometime. Don't think it's anythin' particular against you, just the way she is."

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"Well, I hope she gets over it and doesn't split us apart. Because Komali is a great kid," said Woody. "He's got one heck of an imagination on him. And he's never had a toy before."

Woody looked around, and hopped down from the table to a bench.

"Where exactly are we? I haven't been around the whole ship yet--too much ground to cover."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Never had a toy?" Kaylee gave Woody a small smile. "Well, if you're as good for him as I think he is for you, I don't think Samus'll be tryin' to split you apart anytime soon."

She stepped aside, allowing him a betting look of the enormous room. "Ship Bay. Anything from cars and motorcycles to space ships down here. That one's mine," she added, pointing out Serenity nearby.

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"Well, I'll be..."

Wow, would you look at these things? Like in the movies and on television.

"That one, right there? That's your spaceship?"

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"That's her!" Just about bursting with pride, this one. "Serenity's her name. Don't look like much, especially compared to some of the others, but she's built on love and flies better'n anythin' I've seen."

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"I think she looks just fine."

Sturdy-like.

"Oh, Buzz would give up his moving parts to see all this."

Spaceships and such.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"I think she does too. Couldn't have ever asked for a better ship, let me tell ya."

Buzz is a name she hasn't heard before, though, not applied to anyone here.

"He another toy?"

[belongstoydna.livejournal.com]

"Only my best pal," Woody said cheerfully. "He's a space toy, an action figure. Buzz used to think he was a real space ranger around the beginning. Between my jealousy and his space ranger delusions that was a fun few days, until we both snapped out of it."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Seems a lot of good friendships come out of first misunderstandin's. My crew's the same way, back home. Don't always get along, especially at first, but they're close as family now." And then she grins. "But a space toy? Bet he'd be right in Heaven around here."