The Firefly example... How is it this trope? That wasn't in the middle of a fight, Jubal Early holds up Simon in order to get to River, how could this ever amount to a fight? Simon can't fight, and he's got a gun on him. Jubal is kind of nuts, but doesn't want to kill Simon, he wants him to get to River.
In fact, I can't think of any examples of this in Firefly. Though talking has frequently been used to get out of trouble, but that's hardly the same thing.
The Firefly example... How is it this trope? That wasn't in the middle of a fight, Jubal Early holds up Simon in order to get to River, how could this ever amount to a fight? Simon can't fight, and he's got a gun on him. Jubal is kind of nuts, but doesn't want to kill Simon, he wants him to get to River.
In fact, I can't think of any examples of this in Firefly. Though talking has frequently been used to get out of trouble, but that's hardly the same thing.