This time, Simon's smile isn't mere politeness, it's amusement, unusual for him from a complete stranger, but her attention is rather flattering, whether because she's good-looking or because her bearing and enunciation remind him of times long lost is difficult to determine.

It doesn't have to be one or the other. It could just be because so far he's managed to have a conversation with a woman without making a fool out of himself.

"None of those, I'm afraid. I was a trauma surgeon, and now I'm the medic on a small transport ship."

That's ... probably the best way to describe Serenity without going into too much detail.