New Friends, Job Starting

[takeyouaway]

Betty figured it was time she left. Let the crew talk together. Smiling, she said, “Congratulations,” once again, then followed her daughter and Daniel out.

She hadn’t known that Bella was able to teach people how to dance. That was a good thing though. If he hadn’t been raised to dance, he would have to know how to. Knowing exactly where Bella went, she moved forward.

[Out-shopping]

[vincentmccloud]

Vincent turned round to Mal, looking smug, "Come on Mal. You know me better than that. While apart of the Alliance, I set up a secret account where I was able to hide a decent amount of money for emergencies and such. It has escentially been sitting there, untouched for near 30 years. Probably worth a fortune by now." Vincent always was able to think several steps ahead of everyone else.

Vincent turned back to River and whispered to her, "A friend? This friend wouldn't be a reader by any chance." Vincent gave River a kiss before whispering again. "Better go meet her then hadn't I?"

"I won't be gone long. Got somethings to take care of."

[Out-Londinum]

------------------------------

Gene just watched on while he was still working out. He didn't know what to think of the situation. Bella and Daniel were pretending to be married, Vincent and River were going to get married. This whole ship was a mad house. He should have just stayed in bed the day he came on board. "I hope you lot realise just how mad this whole situation sounds?"

[river]

River looked up at Vincent.

"Her names Solstice and yes she's a reader" whispered River

River kissed Vincent and watched as he left the ship. She looked up at Mal again and then walked off.

[out-commons]

[Captain Malcolm Reynolds]

Mal watched everyone around him disappear. Shaking his head, he was not pleased with any of this. He grumbled about being in his bunk and made to leave. He wished people didn’t spring everything at once on him. It upset him drastically.

[out-mal’s bunk]

[Dave Cassidy]

Dave looked around, watching everyone leave. Running after Mal, he caught up with him just outside his bunk and asked him "Do you want me to go check out the layout of the place? Il take my 'scope, it will do well enough."

[takeyouaway]

Betty set the bag and box on the floor of the cargo bay. The shady interior was a relief. She was getting older and unable to take the suns heat anymore. Her cheeks were red with sunlight even with the short hour they had been there. Cracking her neck, she checked her watch. She’d have to leave soon. It’d be near dinner and she’d have to get it together. She had some hairpins she got for a cover-up. On the way back, she had to make one more stop.

Waiting, when Bella appeared, her face fell. “Bella baby, I have to leave.” She hated to leave, but had to.

[Arabella Hart]

Bella waited for Daniel before moving into the ship. It had been a day of surprises. Secrets revealed. Bella pulled away though, pushing to Betty’s arms again. “Not yet, please?” Bella was like a little girl again, unwilling for her surrogate mother to leave.

[danieltam]

When Daniel stepped in, he heard Betty say that she was going to leave for now. He looked over to Bella and saw he sad she seemed by this. "Don't worry about it Bella. We'll be seeing Betty again soon. Besides we need to get everyone ready for the ball. Its not that far away now after all." Daniel was starting to feel a lot more confidence in himself now that he told Bella how he really felt. When the time was right, he would ask her.

[takeyouaway]

Betty hugged Bella to her, kissing the top of her forehead. “Daniel is right. I’ll be back. Besides, you have to dye everyone’s hair.” Kissing the girl again, she pulled away. She wished she didn’t have to go. “Tell everyone I said goodbye and that I will see them tomorrow when I come to check up quickly. But tomorrow night I expect to see you all sharp.” She paused, not knowing how they would take it. So she’d wait until the next day. “I love you little one.” With that she turned and walked back out in the heat.

[out-starting ball thread]

[Arabella Hart]

Bella hugged Betty one last time, a little upset at the hast. “I love you too.” She knew better then anyone what they had to do. Sighing, she picked up the bag and box. The cargo bay was deserted. “We can do it here. We can gather them all together, dye their hair. I can fill buckets up to rinse them out.” It was simple enough, she had done it enough when she was younger. Often the maids at her grandmother’s wanted their hair done so she’d help. But never three people at once.

“Do you think Inara and your mom would help me tomorrow night?” Bella had never prepared for a ball alone. Betty had always helped. But Betty had to be at her grandmother’s. So she was on her own.

[danieltam]

Daniel waved goodbye to Betty as she left, "Bye Betty." He turned back to Bella and helped her carry the stuff. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. It would be funny to see all of their reactions once it was all done." The crew had never done a job like this before. All of this preparation was a job in itself. "Of course mom and Inara will help. Inara is always wearing nice dresses so she knows what she's doing, and mom would jump at the chance to help. Even if you didn't want her to." His mom hardly ever dressed up, this was always the next best thing.

[Arabella Hart]

Bella wrapped one arm around Daniel’s waist, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Good. I don’t want any of you to get caught.” She knew the preparations were long and hard. But she couldn’t let any of the crew get caught. They had grown on her and she could never live with herself. They were growing on her just like a family. A family she didn’t have. “I want her to. I want them both to.”

[danieltam]

Daniel turned his head and gave Bella a kiss on the forehead. "Don't worry. Everything will go well. I have a feeling that there won't be any problems with this job." It was odd to be thinking like this because the crew has learned from personal experience that even the best laid plans can go astray. "They will. And there is a good chance Haven will help as well. She'll want you to look your best for me."

[Arabella Hart]

Bella closed her eyes, the kiss relaxing her tension even more. She remained silent for a bit as she hoped the job would go well. She couldn’t live if it didn’t. It would be bad though as she’d have to see the one person she didn’t want to see. She turned her head to watch him. They had just met, but he was so supportive of her. Of her ideas and the random thoughts that ran through her mind. “That’s the only reason to have everyone help me.” There was no one else she wanted to look good for. If she wanted to, she could show up in the plainest thing and not care.

[danieltam]

"Its a very good reason though. Even though I think you look perfect just as you are." Since they said that they loved each other, Daniel had bee thinking long and hard about what she wanted to tell him about earlier. He figured that if they could comfortably tell each other that they loved one another after such a short time, then it wouldn't matter what they told each other. They would be able to survive anything. "Bella, about what you wanted to tell me earlier, about Alec. I've been doing some thinking and I want to know. I feel I can handle it now."