Canary in the Coal Mine by Secondary Author

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: none; Simon-centric gen
Length: approximately 3,500 words
Author on LJ: 2ndary_author
Author Website: fic tag
Why this must be read:

This is a poignant, sharply observed story of Simon realizing that his old life is gone, that he's not the same man he was on Osiris.

"Sometimes, wild birds will attack the more exotic ones," Simon had explained, just as his father had explained it to him when he’d started keeping them as pets. As a child, Simon had figured that heaven must be pretty much like the east balcony, where Father kept gloriously plumed pets in giant rosewood cages amid small fountains and greenery. As an adult...well, it was still a pretty thought. "Their bright colors attract predators to food sources and—"

"They’re different," River interrupted, her voice low but fierce enough to silence the others. "They’re brighter. And stranger. They’ve been places, and they remember things. The other birds, the dull ones—they’re jealous."

It's beautifully written and has a palpable weight to it, like the boxes Simon rifles through.

Canary in the Coal Mine by 2ndary_author

If you enjoy the story, please let the author know.

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