Laundry Time
Aug. 20th, 2006 01:55 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
browncoat2x2Title: Laundry Time
By: 2x2
Rating: G
Spoilers: Slight allusion to Post BDM
Word Count: 338
A/N: Drabble! Written for my dear and lovely wife,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
agent_rouka who suffers from the agonies of a cold and asked me to tell her what Mal likes best about doin’ laundry, and while maybe I didn’t quite answer that question, this is what I got. Get well soon, darlin’. *HUGS*
It's the simplicity of it that draws him to it. The routine. 'Nara would call it a Ritual, akin to meditatin', and she wouldn't be far off. There's a way it helps empty his head of cumbersome thoughts, let's him refocus, get a sense of things again with the mindless, repetitive nature of it.
That an' the way the smell of fresh laundry still brings to mind a picture of his Ma stringin' up the laundry on Saturdays, airin' out the linens for a fresh start to the week on Sunday. Brings to mind memories of him an Bobby Cullen and the thrashin' his Mama gave 'em both for slingin' mud on the freshly washed tablecloths in the throes of battle in their epic struggle for the attentions of Becky Landry, not that either of 'em ever admitted that. It's enough to bring a smile to his face, 'fore he remembers not to.
An' lately it's given the opportunity for him an' Inara to rub elbows, as she's taken to washin' her things on Saturday's too of late, now that she don't have the services of that fancy Trainin' House no more. He's wondered if it was a deliberate choice, her pickin' Saturday of all days, if it was just a coincidence or if she might maybe want the time together too, considerin' that she ain't left yet, and that ain't nothin'.
He lets the thought be as the scent of her detergent mingles with his own, makin' laundry time smell a whole new way. Familiar enough that his Ma's still there, in his memory, but different enough that he's kept firmly in the present. It's a might harder to focus now, with her there, but he doesn't mind it. They've never once said anything to hurt the other over the promising scent of their freshly laundered clothes, and he's glad for it. Not that they talk over much - they surely don't - but they're together and as far as he's concerned, he calls that a win.
By: 2x2
Rating: G
Spoilers: Slight allusion to Post BDM
Word Count: 338
A/N: Drabble! Written for my dear and lovely wife,
agent_rouka who suffers from the agonies of a cold and asked me to tell her what Mal likes best about doin’ laundry, and while maybe I didn’t quite answer that question, this is what I got. Get well soon, darlin’. *HUGS*It's the simplicity of it that draws him to it. The routine. 'Nara would call it a Ritual, akin to meditatin', and she wouldn't be far off. There's a way it helps empty his head of cumbersome thoughts, let's him refocus, get a sense of things again with the mindless, repetitive nature of it.
That an' the way the smell of fresh laundry still brings to mind a picture of his Ma stringin' up the laundry on Saturdays, airin' out the linens for a fresh start to the week on Sunday. Brings to mind memories of him an Bobby Cullen and the thrashin' his Mama gave 'em both for slingin' mud on the freshly washed tablecloths in the throes of battle in their epic struggle for the attentions of Becky Landry, not that either of 'em ever admitted that. It's enough to bring a smile to his face, 'fore he remembers not to.
An' lately it's given the opportunity for him an' Inara to rub elbows, as she's taken to washin' her things on Saturday's too of late, now that she don't have the services of that fancy Trainin' House no more. He's wondered if it was a deliberate choice, her pickin' Saturday of all days, if it was just a coincidence or if she might maybe want the time together too, considerin' that she ain't left yet, and that ain't nothin'.
He lets the thought be as the scent of her detergent mingles with his own, makin' laundry time smell a whole new way. Familiar enough that his Ma's still there, in his memory, but different enough that he's kept firmly in the present. It's a might harder to focus now, with her there, but he doesn't mind it. They've never once said anything to hurt the other over the promising scent of their freshly laundered clothes, and he's glad for it. Not that they talk over much - they surely don't - but they're together and as far as he's concerned, he calls that a win.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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Date: 2006-08-20 06:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 01:42 pm (UTC)Glad to share the happy.... :o)
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Date: 2006-08-20 07:06 am (UTC)Of course, others benefit, too, hehe.
It's all so quiet and calm and all about laundry smell! Vedry peaceful. :)
He's wondered if it was a deliberate choice, her pickin' Saturday of all days, if it was just a coincidence or if she might maybe want the time together too, considerin' that she ain't left yet, and that ain't nothin'.
Heee! You know Mal's trying to play casual when he starts rambling. *G*
I like thatpicture of them, domestic and not talking = not fighting and just glowing at each other about the closeness. Mm. Happy.
Thank you, dearest! A lovely thing to wake up to!
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Date: 2006-08-20 01:55 pm (UTC)It was an epic struggle, let me tell you *GRIN* Actually, the idea wouldn't leave me all day long... the same image, of his ma hangin' laundry, over and over and over... so I had to write it out...
It's all so quiet and calm and all about laundry smell! Vedry peaceful. :)
Yeah.... fresh laundry does smell good, don't it? Especially sheets that have been hung out of doors to dry... soooo nice. :o)
Heee! You know Mal's trying to play casual when he starts rambling. *G*
He did tend to ramble a fair bit in this one, didn't he? *I* blame it on fumes... LOL
I like thatpicture of them, domestic and not talking = not fighting and just glowing at each other about the closeness. Mm. Happy.
I do too... it was the last one that came to me, but suddenly Inara just had to poke herself into the story, and there they were, sharin these little moments together, all smiles and silence... and you know Mal would start doing these silly little things to try to get a reaction out of her, and she'd be fighting her smiles and laughter all the while, but not too much, not as much as normal, because it's laundry time and things are easier between them during laundry time, and it's okay to smile at his antics, okay to arch her eyebrow over sparkling eyes filled with mirth at his matching grin. Okay that he sneaks a pair of his socks into her laundry, and she reciprocates with a scarf or eventually a shawl... excuses to bring them together outside of this, but still connected enough to maintain the lightness that laundry time allows them. And eventually, well... who knows what laundry time might lead them to? They're growing more comfortable with each other, with bein' in the same room and not trading insults and sharp little barbs, but shy smiles growing bolder, and light brushes of arm against arm in companionable silence and occassional laughter that is growing more frequent. It's a time full of promise and happiness, and complications made simple...
ramble ramble ramble... *G*
You're welcome, darlin'...
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Date: 2006-08-20 07:53 am (UTC)I loved this. Such a lovely little piece. The details you put into this; Mal remembering his mother and his childhood friends and adventures, all wrapped up in the scent and routine of doing laundry. It's so real and simple and gorgeous. And of course, the way you threw Inara into the new routine of it all. Just lovely.
Thanks for sharing! *kisses*
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Date: 2006-08-20 02:00 pm (UTC)Two things.. 1) It was sweet for teh Rouka, and 2) I think the polyeurathane fumes are attacking the angsty portion of my brain *G* Don't worry, they're feeling better now *G*
I'm so pleased you liked this so much! Mal's Ma hanging laundry became a sudden, very powerful image to me, and it wouldn't let me go... and I've always loved fresh sheets, especially ones hung outside to dry, the smell is heavenly and reminds me of my childhood and my grannie's farm and things like that... I have my own positive memories associated with laundry I guess *G*
Thank-you very muchly, darlin'!
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Date: 2006-08-20 02:01 pm (UTC)Sometimes they just have such a potential for cuteness, don't they? *G*
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Date: 2006-08-20 02:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-08-20 08:37 pm (UTC)It was fun to do, I'm glad you liked it!
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Date: 2006-08-20 05:56 pm (UTC)But... I have to ask, does Serenity have washing machines? Or do they hand-wash stuff in sinks and then hang them up to dry?
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Date: 2006-08-20 08:40 pm (UTC)And they have washing machines and dryers *G* That's what's down in that secret room in the nose of the ship past the bridge :oD
Realistically (she says, discussing laundry on a fictious spaceship) they probably have to do it by hand and hang to dry... which would also reinforce Mal's memories of his Ma hangin up the laundry to dry... hehehe
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Date: 2006-08-20 07:01 pm (UTC)Prettimous words. I like the way you strung them together!
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Date: 2006-08-20 08:41 pm (UTC)