It's that time again...

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

There are few things in the 'verse Kaylee can't stand. One of them, obviously, is that wonderful little group made up of people like Early and Niska. Another is insults to her ship. Possibly the biggest thing on the list, though, is seeing sad and lonely people, mostly because she knows there isn't much she can do to help outside of offering a friendly smile and shoulder to lean on.

Or, in this case, offering free hugs.

Once again, Kaylee has settled herself down at one of the tables in the Mess Hall with her 'Free Hugs!' sign. Even if hugs aren't wanted, the mechanic is also perfectly willing to lend an ear for a nice chat or just some company for a little while. Anything to boost morale.

Comments

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Good. I'm not evil anymore, but I still have something of a reputation to uphold."

Leaning back against the end of one of the tables, he crossed his arms.

"Now, do tell me about these heists of yours. I've always appreciated a good heist--" He leaned in and lowered his voice. "--and have committed quite a few, if I'm going to be perfectly honest."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"My Cap'n's the same way, not to fret."

Males and their reputations, honestly.

At the mention of heists, Kaylee laughed and plopped back down onto the bench. "Could be anythin', all dependin' on the client. Some were just regular smugglin' deals--anythin' from cows to bobble-head dolls--had one train job, stole supplies from the Core planets, that sorta thing." She wasn't about to mention Simon and River, though. Even if they aren't here, even if they would technically be safe if they were, she wasn't about to put them on the spot with a mostly-stranger.

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Financial gain was the end goal, I suppose?" he asked.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"If you call it gain of any kind." She could only remember maybe two times they actually had money to burn after a job. "Most anythin' we made went toward keepin' the ship in repair and the rest went for supplies. Just enough for us to be flyin' free without interference from the Alliance."

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that's rough," Megamind said sympathetically. "I've rarely wanted for anything--when free from prison, that is--but that's one of the benefits of being a genius. Selling technology on the black market, fraud, theft--the money comes pretty easily when you can think of more creative ways to divest people of it, but it was touch and go there around the beginning when I was establishing myself. The upkeep of an evil lair is expensive, you know."

Oh these poor folks. Living job to job had to be difficult.

His curiosity was piqued by that last bit. "Now, this Alliance? What's that? And you said 'ship,' so I'm going to assume you mean a spaceship? Are you from a technologically advanced society?"

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Been lucky enough ain't a one of us been to prison, so I s'pose it's all fair trade-off."

It was plenty difficult, living on barely anything, but they all understood what they each needed to do to get by, and at the end of the day they all had each other. Kaylee really couldn't complain about not having enough for that snazzy new calibrator when she had her crew.

Oh, the Alliance. Kaylee made a face. "Alliance's the government, made up to keep all the planets 'n moons in order, since everybody's all spread out. Unfortunately, they got a hankerin' for pokin' a little too far into folks' business." But he asked about the ship, too, and that was something Kaylee would much rather focus on. "But yeah, spaceship. She's here, too, the one I work on. Serenity's her name. We're decently advanced, yeah. Enough to get us 'tween planets in less than a month, 'n for all the holotech you could want 'n then some, dependin' on who you're talkin' to."

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Poking too much into people's business, how?"

He was curious.

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

She was a little unsure she really wanted to say anything about it, but she couldn't exactly deny the guy at least a basic explanation after he'd opened up to her.

"Some of it's your normal nosy-government, but...there was a branch of 'em experimentin' on folk. Cuttin' into brains, takin' pieces out. Tryin' to change people to be weapons..."

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Ooh!" Eep. "That kind of being nosy. Yes, well, I can certainly understand trying to live outside the law then."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Just easier sometimes, too. Don't got any stiff collar rules to worry over, don't gotta wonder 'bout bein' appropriate all the time...for all we get shot at, we're definitely always gonna be a thousand times happier'n any one of them purple-bellies."

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that whole thing sounds marvelous!"

Wait, he really rather should explain that, shouldn't he?

"Not the constantly being oppressed and hunted part, mind you, but being able to be criminals for justifiable reasons. If you're going to be a criminal, doing it to stick it to the man is better than just doing it by itself. Criminality and adequate cause, that's the best of both worlds."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Works well enough for the Cap'n," Kaylee laughed. "I don't think there're many who wouldn't do the same if they were in our situation. 'Specially as you see more, 'n experience it. We got a Shepherd--preacher--on our boat, and he...he wasn't so keen on a lot of our doin's when he first joined up. Near left because of 'em. But once he saw what all was goin' on besides just the thievin' he loosened up some. Perspective changes."

[brainiacinblue.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Yes, it does change sometimes, doesn't it."

Sometimes for the better.

"Well, I really should continue familiarizing myself with the ship. It was a pleasure meeting you."

[voiceofserenity.livejournal.com]

"Wouldn't learn anythin' if it didn't."

Kaylee smiled.

"Sure thing. Was nice meetin' you, too, 'n if you need help with anythin' go ahead 'n let me know."