Firefly (River, cast) [week 5 - prompt 3]
Title: Spinning Clay Author: Cadence Rating: G Word Count: 200 Summary: "This ship is like a potter's wheel," River announced.
"This ship is like a potter's wheel," River announced, swinging her legs off the edge of the scaffold. There was silence for a pace, like there usually was after the girl pulled a statement out of nowhere like that.
Eventually Kaylee spoke up. "What's a potter's wheel?"
"A balanced wheel for spinning clay," River said dreamily, examining the ceiling. "You make bowls and things. Symmetric." Everyone thought about that one for a bit.
"The engine does spin," Wash offered.
"Aw, come on." Mal broke in. "There's got to be more to it than that." Everyone looked at him. He coughed and groped madly for ideas.
"Uh. The ship does need to be well treated and balanced or she won't go. And it takes a certain art to work her." It wasn't a terribly crazy comparison, once he thought about it.
"Is that what you meant, River?" Simon asked, dropping down to kneel by his sister. The girl's eyes dropped from their wandering to fix on Mal with sudden focus.
"No." She said clearly. "I meant it's obsolete."
"Hey!" Mal, Kaylee and Wash said simultaneously.
"But it makes pretty things," she added with a sweet smile before rising and turning away.