Memory Corrupt General Log

[ourlittlehelpers]

Who: Everyone
What: Memory Corrupt Event
When: Friday, June 1st to Tuesday, June 5th
Warnings: Please put any and all warnings in subject headers.

[It's strange. You can't quite put your finger on it, but there's something different about today. Not only might you feel different but your families, your friends, practically everything is different.

Can you remember a moment more peculiar than this? Actually...

What do you remember?]

Comments

[companioning]

Don't be ridiculous. [Though in truth it was more than a bit odd, and a bit disconcerting but she figures she can handle it. She's handled strange things before, why not Mal thinking they were married?

She motions for him to enter again.]

This whole town is odd, it's all right. Besides, I'd like to hear... I suppose I'd like to know about well, how it is you think we're married.

[captain_tightpants]

Would you now?

[A real smile is returning. This is quite the turn-around from a second ago and Mal can't say he's complaining. He steps into the house that he remembers being in many times before, though he's now questioning whether or not those memories are real. The idea that he might not actually be married to Inara is one that he'd rather not think about right now.]

It is a story I like telling. Can't say I'd mind.

[This Mal has become familiar with social graces with his job as a government representative and he'll remain standing until Inara has found her seat.]

You need help with the tea?

[companioning]

You must admit that if you were in my shoes that it would be something you'd want to know as well.

[Inara shuts the door and leads him into the kitchen. Might as well have the tea there, besides it was much more comfortable than the formal looking living room.]

No, I can manage, sit down.

[She turns, grabbing the teapot and a couple of tea cup before turning back to the table - where Mal was still standing. Her eyebrows rose a bit but after setting the cups down and pouring the tea, she sat, soothing her skirt down.]

So, I imagine this is going to be quite the story.

[captain_tightpants]

[That's fine with Mal. He'll admit to his laziness. Though he does wait until she's seated to do so himself.]

Well, to be quite honest I never imagined myself gettin' hitched. And I suppose it'd depend upon the person who'as claiming something like that.

For instance, if Johnson told me we'd-- oh you probably don't know Johnson. Uh, he was my best man, burly guy with an equally burly mustache. If he wanted to tell me about our story of matrimony I'd hightail it to the hills.

[companioning]

[Inara lifts her cup of tea, taking a small sip as Mal speaks. This is just truly surreal. Where he'd received these memories of them being married, it was very... Strange.

She cared for Mal a lot - more than she'd admit to him or even herself, but it was... a little frightening, in a way, to hear about this life he remembered and she didn't.]

Then I suppose it's a good thing he's not the one telling this story.

[Her fingernails tap against her cup as she watches him.]

You do understand why this is strange for me, don't you? For me, you've never even kissed me and here you are telling me we're married. It's a bit of a stretch to imagine something like that.

[captain_tightpants]

[Mal looks at her more seriously. The way she said that piques his curiosity. It almost sounded like-...]

You ever wanted me to kiss you? Er, you know. The other me.

[companioning]

Shénme? [She blinks in surprise because truly that wasn't exactly the question she'd expected to be hearing. She glances down at her tea cup, suddenly finding it to be the most interesting thing. It doesn't do much to hide the fact that her cheeks are a bit flushed though.]

Oh, no. I mean, don't... No. [Worst liar ever.]

[captain_tightpants]

Huh. That's a shame.

[Sorry, Inara. He's too smart for your terrible lying.]

You know, I never been very good at speakin' my feelings neither, 'specially to a beautiful woman.

[After taking a sip of his tea, he gives her a look with a twinkle in his eye.]

But somehow it happened and I'm very, very glad it did.

[companioning]

[Inara has had years of training and been around many, many men, and yet... The only one she never knew what to say to was sitting across from her, well, in a way. It was very confusing.

She looks back up at him, smiling almost wistfully.]

It's almost a shame that I don't remember any of it. You and I, well, the you I remember, we can't talk more than a couple of minutes before we start bickering over something.

[captain_tightpants]

[Smirk.]

Sounds like me n' my wife. Oh, wait a minute!

[Now he's just trolling her. He's finding it very easy to do.]

[companioning]

[Her lips press together and she shakes her head. So he wants to troll?]

Malcolm Reynolds, [She's trying to scold him, truly, though she's a bit amused by him.] behave yourself.

[captain_tightpants]

Now now, you know I never behave myself. [Pause.] Or do I?

Ya know, I was supposed to tell you a story but the thing is, I ain't sure where to start. I'm wonderin' where our memories converge, n' how much I differ from the Mal you know.

You remember a war, yeah? 'Tween the Alliance and Independents?

[companioning]

[She just shakes her head, he's as impossible as the Mal she knows.]

I do indeed remember the war... Why do you ask?

[captain_tightpants]

Just tryin' to find the point of convergence. Curious to know where things went differently.

So you remember the war. The Independents used their victory to start rebuilding their planetary governments. How'd you meet me?

[companioning]

[Inara's eyebrows draw together and she shakes her head.]

No, Mal, they didn't. The Alliance won the war.

[Now things were just getting strange.]

[captain_tightpants]

[Blink blink. Head tilt.]

Huh.

Well now. Things is startin' to make a little more sense. [He doesn't seem happy about this news. In fact, he seems saddened.]

At least, makes sense why the me you know is so put out all the time. Can't even imagine what I'da done if we'd lost.

[companioning]

[Inara picks her cup of tea up and takes a small sip, watching Mal over its rim. It really did make sense, sadly.]

You'd do exactly what the you I know has done. You'd be the captain of your own ship.

[captain_tightpants]

[He nods.] Right. But it ain't that simple. I imagine I'd be on the run all the time, stayin' just outta the reach of the Alliance. N' the defeat itself... well, if I know myself, I reckon it'd take me a fair cut of the rest of my life to come to terms with. Admit I probably put too much faith in the wrong places.

Just explains a lot, is all.

Easier to say these things from the winning side, I wager. You probably never hear me talk like this.

[companioning]

[Inara's just openly staring at him. This was certainly a truly unexpected turn. She'd heard him talk before, though never quite like this. But then again, it wasn't the same Mal she knows.

She looks down at her tea cup and shakes her head.]

You're right, I haven't. Though it's uncanny how right you are... Well, from what I've surmised at least. [She lifts her gaze again and smiles slightly.] You like to keep the world at arm's length.

[captain_tightpants]

[He smiles wistfully.] It's true I never been a very cuddly person. S'pose that war didn't help none.

[His demeanor seems to change all of the sudden, as if he's pulling himself out of a reverie.] Well now. I was supposed to be talkin' about a weddin' and how it all came to happen, and now I know where to start. It's a happier tale than the one you probably got to tell. The 'verse rebuildin' itself in freedom, the outer rim gaining independence 'n all that.

Best part is that I got to help. I became somewhat of a counselor, havin' grown up out there. I knew how to help those folk; knew just what they needed to get on their feet. Did such a good job they made me into an official representative. I was very... official.

[companioning]

An official representative? [Her eyes widen a little at that. It's not that she can't picture him as one... All right, that's exactly what it is. The Mal she knew only had so much diplomancy in him and sometimes it was stretching even referring to it as that.

Though he did seem to be attracted to helping others, even when it seemed to actually be the last thing he wanted to do.

She sets her cup down, and rests her elbow on the table top before resting her chin on her upturned hand.]

So I imagine you have to dress up quite a bit being an official representative and all.

[captain_tightpants]

[Smirk.]

Oh yeah. Never really got used to bein' gussied up but makin' appearances was important to some folk n' they insisted on it. So long as I got to keep helpin' people.

The improvements were good. The networkin' was good. The money was good.

... Okay, the money was great. [That smirk seems to get a bit mischievous.]

In fact, that's sorta how we met. I could afford me all kinda luxuries. [Suddenly he remembers that this isn't necessarily the Inara he's familiar with and he looks a bit panicked all of the sudden.] Uh, beggin' yer pardon, but assumin' you were a companion in your-... reality... uh, memories... whatever, too.

[companioning]

[She smiles.]

It seems as though no matter which you I'm speaking to, you like money. [She's still teasing him, she truly can't help it.]

Oh, there's nothing to apologize for. I'm indeed a Companion... But wait. [She eyes him with uncertainty.] You're telling me that... You contracted me? [Now this she's finding hard to imagine and she quickly pushes her seat back and stands.]

That's... interesting. [She smiles slightly and turns so he can't see her conflicting emotions about that bit of news. She grabs the kettle off of the stove, intent on heating water for more tea.]

[captain_tightpants]

What? Is that... surprising? [His brows furrow in concern. Is he really that different from his other self? He watches her curiously.]

I mean, I'm not the type, I s'pose. A pal of mine had the idea, 'n well... I ain't one to spend money's not absolutely necessary to be spent but I'm sure glad I did.

Turned out to be the best damn night of my life.

[companioning]

Just a little. [Try very. She clears her throat, and flips the water on, filling the kettle up.] As I've said before you, the other you, tends to call me a whore whenever it suits his needs.

[She quickly looks over her shoulder at him.] And not those sort of needs.

We've never done anything.

[She picks the kettle back up and moves back to the stove, glad he can't really see her face or the blush that's creeping across her cheeks. She never blushes and yet here she was, blushing. Damn him.]

Was it now?