A Pretty War, by Kyra Cullinan (R)

[anenko.livejournal.com]

Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: River/Kaylee, Simon/Kaylee, Simon/River/Kaylee
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author’s Website: narrowstreets.net
Why this must be read:

Unlike the vast majority of Firefly fans, neither Simon nor River were my draw to the show and fandom. I liked them well enough, but they didn’t fire my imagination the way other characters did. That said, however, authors in this fandom have done wonderful, terrible things with the Tam siblings.

I love this story because of the links between River, Simon, and Kaylee. They need each other, and River sees, River *knows.*

There are days and days, sometimes, when they don't see each other at all. Things draw River out, away, make her lose herself. Serenity swallows her up, as deep and promising as Kaylee, or more. The times when it's hard to keep track of what's now or real. Falling inside herself.

Kaylee kisses her when she comes back, if she's not doing something so terribly important. Kaylee is like Simon, she doesn't mind the way things drift. Understands. Patient with her. Pleasant idle River hum in the back of her mind when they're together, same rhythm as the way she thinks about the engine, just. Different key; soft skin and wet snail trails across it. This is what Kaylee likes, the naked and the feelgood. River likes her liking it. A focusing thing, something to learn. Quick skitter across her mind. Like Kaylee's fingers on her body.

A Pretty War