obligation

pg | violence

Real beans, with real cheese and real corn, and even as he spoons the delicious concoction into his mouth, he can't manage to duplicate the smiles and exclamations of joy coming from his friends.

River hasn't bathed today. He can tell; he doesn't know why Jayne doesn't say something.

"You had to," she says quietly, the solemnity of the moment ruined by the fact that her mouth is half-stuffed with rice. "He would have - "

"I know."

"All of us." He hears her putting down her fork. "Even Kaylee."

He stirs his rice. The blood there surely is an illusion.