<div align="center"> Natasha (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=87320.msg3855975#msg3855975)<br/></div><br/>Hearing the sounds implying that the strange man on board had left the ship proved the ship had already landed. Gosh how long had Natasha slept ? Slept through the landing without waking ? This wasn't a good sign. Her body had been so used to stims, and was clawing lost sleep back in leaps and bounds. Deep sleeps were a luxury for some, but a weakness for ones of Natasha's ilk.<br/><br/>But it felt they must still be in space, why else wouldn't others want to be stretching their legs outside ? Then it made sense, if a ship like this was moving you can feel it in the vibrations and a slight background hum. Something  time on that cooped up abomination of a craft had let her forget. AND Natasha was used to docking in Alliance ports free, to move about without needing to watch her own back.<br/><br/>Mals crew were smugglers. All wanted. And she was one of them now. Things were different. Very different.<br/><br/>Natasha's cheeks didn't flush when embarrassed, but a need to stretch her neck to relieve tension was her instinctual equivalent. Not piecing that together and saying something implying her mind was a little rattled wasnt the first impression she had in mind. Make a joke of it or it becomes more relevant, a fleeting statement, one more rhetorical.<br/><br/><strong>"Gosh sleeping through a landing ? Usually I sleep with one eye open, getting so comfortable for a place so new must be a sign of good company" </strong>followed by an laugh, a little hollow, it wasn't genuine, any who could read eyes would know it was embarrassment thinly veiled.<br/><br/>She had to stay away from those stims, they catch up with you.<br/><br/>How all moved among each other showed familiarity Natasha was envious of, briefly roles and names of those on board were explained but Reena had been occupied with business matters and now was the first time her form appeared.<br/><br/>Reena had smiled to River and Kaylee, that must have meant something. An unspoken understanding. Social dynamics wasn't her strong point, but something had to come together quickly. It was obvious this girl must be Reena but Reena didn't seem surprised seeing Natasha, none did, which meant Mal or others had explained what little agreement Nat had made with Mal, enough so obvious reasons were covered at least.<br/><br/>There was something calmingly familiar about Jayne. Most had known the types, and gosh they had their place. Something about people who were very intelligent could make Natasha nervous. But simple people like Jayne had an air which removed fear of undercurrents. Crude maybe, simple ? Refreshing so. In a verse full of variables, something solid and stable was welcome.<br/><br/>But nothing was solid and stable about the atmosphere Natasha felt now. Natasha was used to being the pretty one, used to being the one with all the aces. Used to being the one that was in control, knew more. But now all tables had turned. Mal was the one in control. Everyone else here knew more. And as far as being the pretty one ?<br/><br/>Natasha closed her eyes briefly while exhaling slowly. It was as if this crew was blessed with exotic appeal, Kaylee had cuteness in spades one couldn't help but adore. Jayne's pretense was a simple charm. Mal ? The rustic cowboy. River that graceful unpredictable air of mystery. Simon ? Not that Natasha really had talked to him, only seen him briefly while he was engrossed in the medical lab - Classic understated gentleman with looks to boot but Reena ?<br/><br/>Time not to come over as some idiot freak, at least not on first impressions. Hell Natasha was a bounty hunter where did this feeling come from ?<br/><br/><strong>"You must be Reena, I'm Natasha, recently X-Alliance and new enough for the change to still find me quite bewildered, a pleasure meeting you."</strong><br/><br/>Natasha nodded towards her respectfully. For the last five years all her immediate contacts while working for the Alliance had been Japanese. Western etiquette was a little rusty but head nodding, bowing, eye contact, not to mention chop sticks were second nature. But appropriate ? Did that come over as arrogant ?<br/><br/>Reena looked a dream. Reds and Blues usually clash, one has to be brave to try it, pull it off and its stunning, not that this girl needed to try to be so. Still how could eyes not be drawn to her like compass needles. And look at everyone else being so matter of fact about matters ! It was like they were immune ! How is that possible ?<br/><br/>Natasha's eyes darted to others to see if they could sense her awkwardness.<br/><br/>Reena was<em>breathtaking.<br/></em>