|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 14, 2018 20:51:36 GMT -8
"Make sure you shut the hatch completely. The Captain is particular about that," she called after Simon and River's retreating forms.
The sound of the hatch sealing shut brought a sort of tension with it. Mal had established that everything was fine so the purpose of his visit was fulfilled. And yet, he hadn't followed Simon and River out. Obviously he'd found a new purpose in his perusal of her shuttle. Perhaps it would have been better to go with the other option of leaving the hatch open, but Inara did not dwell on that. Mal might incite fear in the others at times, but not her.
Inara turned her gaze from the hatch to Mal. There was no guilt on her face over being caught defying his idea of what steps they should or should not take. There was only challenge.
"Mal," she began, defiantly sounding as if she was questioning why he'd stayed behind. She did not particularly care for the stern look of disapproval he was giving her. This was her domain and he did not have jurisdiction to wield his manly, captainy power here, and most especially, not over her. However, it being her domain, she had every right to attempt to derail whatever manly, captainy rant he'd set his mind to.
Inara casually leaned back on her couch, looking comfortable and content. She crossed one leg over the other, the hem of her blue silk robe falling to her sides, exposing the peach silk nightgown that barely went to her knees. "Is there something you wanted?" she asked in feigned innocence.
|
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 10, 2018 18:18:58 GMT -8
"Is there something you wanted?" Inara asked him but the Captain did not answer. He stood behind the chair she used when accessing the cortex. Mal leaned his hands on its back and just stared. "The Captain is particular about a lot of things. The privaledge of rank, and age." Reynolds scrunched up his face as he read the brief bio on the display. "Any chance this guy has any acting skills that could give you a run for your money? Maybe he can pretend to be me and I'll pop niska in the back when he goes to take the bait."
With a slight push he straightened himself up again and turned back towards the companion. "I suppose thats asking a bit much, but is he one of the ones who you have wrapped around your finger? He might be up for it, can't know if you don't ask right?" Mal's face remained stoic but his eyes betrayed his amusement.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 10, 2018 21:39:57 GMT -8
"The Captain is particular about a lot of things. The privaledge of rank, and age." "Any chance this guy has any acting skills that could give you a run for your money? Maybe he can pretend to be me and I'll pop niska in the back when he goes to take the bait."
Inara shot up from the couch and took quick steps over, hitting the power off on the screen none too gently. He'd reduced her lifelong training and work to 'acting skills'? In the short amount of time it took her to get there, he'd managed to raise her ire. "That is private," she said shortly, but he continued as if she hadn't spoken.
"I suppose thats asking a bit much, but is he one of the ones who you have wrapped around your finger? He might be up for it, can't know if you don't ask right?"
When he turned to face her, she was meeting his amused eyes with her own glaring in anger. She crossed her arms as he finished. He'd violated her privacy, belittled her job once again, and was taking amusement at her expense. "I have a better idea," she said sweetly. "How about I pop you," she jabbed a finger into his chest, "and save Niska the trouble? Then he'll have no reason to come after us anymore," she finished matter-of-factly. The corners of her lips quirked up. Inara looked rather pleased with her idea.
Mal was the only person who could managed to push her out of her prim and proper composure and while it was a sort of freeing state of mind to not have to keep herself in check, she'd always ended up chastising herself over it once he'd leave the room and she'd gotten her wits back about her. But he was still here and her wits were still scattered, so she stood her ground and awaited his rebuttal.
|
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 10, 2018 22:43:30 GMT -8
It surprised him a slight bit as he had turned from her screen to face her only to see her wisk by and power it down. She was a graceful woman and always seemed to conduct herself accordingly but sometimes he forgot that she possessed the speed of a cheeta when she needed it. Probably why she couldn't teach him the finer arts of the sword. She was in a league of her own. He was impressed. Then his smile vanished as he had been slightly more successful than he had anticipated.
"I have a better idea," she said sweetly as her finger jabbing at him ushered in her next statement. "How about I pop you and save Niska the trouble? Then he'll have no reason to come after us anymore." Ouch... That had some bite to it. "Well I suppose that's one idea. Not quite what I had in mind when I had words for your first go." He took a step back from her station as he folded his arms too, he wan't moving futher. "Maybe I spoke too soon. But I meant what I said before. You're right, they can't hold a candle to you. Can read em like a book and money changes hands easily with this crowd. Both ways. If you think they are going to offer anything by means of taking you away from it all... I don't trust them." These people put little value in a persons worth beyond a stack of credits. Inara wanted to help, that made him feel better but if her old pal Ath taught him anything its that they would stab you in the back and sleep like a baby. He had a bad feeling about this.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 11, 2018 1:29:10 GMT -8
And just as quickly, he could take the steam right out of her. It was exhausting, the way his words could get her worked up in one moment, then completely talk her down in the next when he let down his guard and spoke from, dare she think it, his heart.
Inara released whatever remained of her anger in a quiet exhale as she uncrossed her arms, resting one hand on the back of the chair. "Nobody is going to take me away from where I want to be, especially not any of them." She gestured toward the dark monitor, glancing at it as if picturing said people. "Those people..." she struggled for a moment, trying to find the right way to explain what it was that compelled her to turn down offers from even the most respectful of gentlemen who genuinely believed they'd fallen in love with her. But that was just it. "It's not a matter of trust. They don't truly know me. Not like..." she turned her gaze back to him and caught herself, "the people on this ship."
She was being too truthsome, as he liked to call it, and it was his fault. He'd started them off on this slippery slope. It was easier when he was raising her hackles rather than lowering her walls.
Inara momentarily glanced away to collect herself, then started to back peddle, repeating some of what she'd said to him before. "I just want to be sure we explore every option at our disposal. These people are my family, too," she gestured toward the main ship attached to her shuttle, "and I have every right, just as you, to do what I can to help protect them," she gently asserted.
|
|
|
|
Post by Medieval Kevin on Mar 11, 2018 9:08:16 GMT -8
Tactics were a big part of daily life for the captain so when he employed none in his dealings with Inara, the rollercoaster always got him by surprise. Well he didn't do it with anyone aboard ship really. "I just want to be sure we explore every option at our disposal. These people are my family, too." He always called them his guests but she was right, they were a family. And that means nothing is simple. But it was still different with Inara. And this wasn't a recent thought process on his part. But he was never closer to an answer. he couldn't know but subconsciously he wouldn't let himself.
"...and I have every right, just as you, to do what I can to help protect them," she gently asserted. She was right. "You do," he said as he nodded. He could give her orders but it would only serve to make her mad again. He wouldn't need to do that if he could just think of a plan before she found the right guy, or girl. What were they supposed to do, rob niska to discredit the man? And maybe be able to pay off some of his own mercenaries in the process? Nobody wants to follow a guy who can't pay them. "We'll put our heads together after we grab this doctor... for the doc. I'm not asking for much time, just long enough for that."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 11, 2018 13:05:17 GMT -8
Inara had allowed herself a bit of vulnerability by being open and honest and he'd rewarded her in kind. She gave him a genuine smile. No wiles, no antics, no alternative emotions or feelings behind it.
"We have a deal," she said with a small chuckle of amusement at how dramatic they sometimes were with each other. Inara moved toward him and looped her arm through his. "Let's take advantage of this rare moment of civility," she said as she led him toward the couch. "So we're upgrading from liberating things from people to liberating people from places now?" she teased, settling herself on the couch with one leg tucked under the other in order to sit sideways to face him. "Tell me about this doctor and our plan to liberate him."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Jun 28, 2018 22:02:53 GMT -8
Temp-play By Lee-o
"We have a deal," When she took him by the arm, everything in his brain yelled trap. She was being nice to him just mere moments after jamming her finger into his chest. "Let's take advantage of this rare moment of civility," Mal wondered how long this moment would last but he settled into the couch. He felt mighty vulnerable sitting on the couch but he shifted to face her. "So we're upgrading from liberating things from people to liberating people from places now?" He watched as she settled in, one leg tucked under the other. Was she using her feminine wiles to confuse him, to catch him off guard? She made him feel like some schoolboy, she messes things up- always had. "Tell me about this doctor and our plan to liberate him."
"Wendy thinks we might be able to tamper with the satellite that is watching him. After that, we sneak down with a small team, grab the doc and make our next move once we know more." Mal's nervousness got the better of him and he found himself standing up.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 7, 2018 14:20:46 GMT -8
"That sounds--" Inara had allowed herself to relax and just be. No scanning or reading or analyzing. She just listened and existed in the moment so when Mal suddenly stood, it caught her off guard. Not that she was able to read this particular man clearly even when she was trying. He tended to zig when she expected him to zag.
"Mal?" There was a gentle questioning and concern in the way she'd said his name. Was something wrong on the ship? Had he heard or felt something? Her training automatically kicked back in and she stood to get a better look at him and realized it wasn't the ship that was the problem. It was her. She'd made him nervous and uncomfortable which in turn was making her feel nervous and uncomfortable and far too vulnerable. Inara had taken the moment too far and had overstepped unspoken boundaries.
"Sorry," she said, looking down momentarily. She stepped back, physically and in the metaphorical sense then gave them an out by pretending the problem was something else. "I'll wait to hear the plan during the family meeting so you don't have to tell it all twice. I assume that's why you stopped by? Gathering everyone for a meeting?" Inara started to step away, intent on making herself busy with getting herself ready while he answered.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Jul 10, 2018 5:32:50 GMT -8
Temp-play by Lee-o
"That sounds--Mal?" Mal noticed that she looked confused and maybe she didn't realize what she was doing? Did it just come naturally? "Sorry," and then she noticed and Mal felt a bit better when she 'turned it off'. He watched her intently, he wouldn't be surprised if she could feel his eyes on her. He needed to make an escape, he needed a way out of this shuttle and take a moment. He kept reminding himself, this could never be. "I'll wait to hear the plan during the family meeting so you don't have to tell it all twice. I assume that's why you stopped by? Gathering everyone for a meeting?"
"I came in here because I heard screamin', I wanted to make sure yo- everything was okay. The girls it a might unpredictable," In short, he was worried for her safety. "I'll announce it over the ship when it's time but family meeting sounds like the way to go." He walked a little bit closer, crossing his arm, that way he wouldn't take her hand- oh how he wanted to.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 14, 2018 15:12:30 GMT -8
"I came in here because I heard screamin', I wanted to make sure yo- everything was okay. The girls it a might unpredictable,"
That's right. With her thoughts muddled, she'd forgotten. But couldn't he have played along with the excuse she'd created for both their benefits?
"I'll announce it over the ship when it's time but family meeting sounds like the way to go."
And now he'd stepped forward, eliminating the distance she'd also put for their benefit. Over and over, round and round they went. She'd made a big mistake in allowing herself to be casual and completely herself for that brief moment. It had muddled her mind as did his simple action of moving toward her. 'Dammit, Mal,' she thought. Inara had begun taking steps toward her wardrobe as she spoke, determined to not show any signs of effects by completely turning her back or breaking eye contact. That left her unaware that she was closing in on a floor pillow in her path a few steps away. "I'll be sure to listen for the announcement. In the mean time, I'll make myself presentable."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Jul 14, 2018 19:48:44 GMT -8
[Temp-play by Lee-o]
Mal kept an eye on her for a time, she really was beautiful. He could lose himself in the way she moved and it was a dangerous game they played a game that could never happen...
"I'll be sure to listen for the announcement. In the mean time, I'll make myself presentable." He nodded his head and cleared his throat.
"Sounds good, I'll leave you to spruce up. I would give you proper preening time but we don't have all day, twenty minutes." He winked and headed for the hatch opening.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 14, 2018 21:13:48 GMT -8
Inara choked back a laugh. 'All day'? Did he just have the gall to insinuate it'd take her an entire day to look presentable then top it off with a wink?
Her foot came in contact with the floor pillow and with a wicked gleam in her eyes, she picked it up and threw it, hitting him dead center of his back as she'd intended. She immediately folded her hands demurely in front of her looking for all the world like a well-bred proper lady who would never do any such thing as chuck pillows. "Twenty minutes," she confirmed sweetly.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Jul 14, 2018 21:24:48 GMT -8
The pillow hit his back right on the money and he couldn't help the chuckle that left him. "Twenty minutes," He opened the hatch and took a final look at her, he needed to leave. This woman would be the death of him, what a way to go.
*Mal exits*
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 15, 2018 10:18:51 GMT -8
Travel time from New Melbourne to Newhall passes.
The ship is nearing the vicinity of Newhall.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Jul 15, 2018 10:47:08 GMT -8
"Hey guys, we got a distress called coming in."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Sept 9, 2018 18:43:50 GMT -8
Travel time of Serenity to Shadowheart passes.
Serenity has reached the disabled Shadowheart ship to assist with repairs and an injury.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Dec 22, 2018 8:11:52 GMT -8
*River, Wendy, Inara enter from Simon and River's bunk*
Entering, River found a spot on Inara's comfy bed and smiled. This bed could tell many tales, lucky for her she didn't have to ask about any of them. Some of the thoughts made her blush but she wasn't sure why, she didn't understand such things- well at least that is what most thought. They saw her as a child and she was but she was getting older and the things she had seen...
"Tea?" River asked with a smile.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 23, 2018 14:58:14 GMT -8
Inara had caught only a brief glimpse of Madison on their quick exit to her shuttle. With an injured member of the crew, her old friend had been distracted. Inara would catch up with her later when things were less chaotic. In the meantime, she would keep her concentration here.
"Tea?"
Inara closed her shuttle door and gave River a warm smile. "Now that is a wonderful idea. I'll start preparations." Inara moved gracefully to her supply cabinet and retrieved the items, setting them on the table before lowering herself to perch on the edge of the couch. She gestured an invitation for their guest to have a seat if she wished, not needing to extend the same formality to River. River was family to her and knew she could move around Inara's shuttle as she pleased.
"Simon is a wonderful doctor. I'm sure he'll get the injured woman patched up quickly and we'll be on our way again," she reassured, knowing that time was not on Wendy's side.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Dec 23, 2018 15:25:40 GMT -8
Wendy had respectfully remained standing, subconsciously keeping near River. When Inara gestured her to a seat, Wendy took her up on it.
"I'm sure he will," she said, sounding calm and patient through delays she couldn't afford. "Tell me, River," Wendy said, turning in her seat to look at River over on Inara's bed. "Has your brother always been so..." Wendy sat up board straight, putting her shoulders back and her chin up a notch while making a serious face. "...prim and proper? I'm so curious what he was like as a kid," she added, relaxing back into her seat.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Dec 23, 2018 21:57:50 GMT -8
"Now that is a wonderful idea. I'll start preparations." River didn't like tea, only some tea, she liked Inara's tea and the tea from the place near her house. Not her mother's tea, nope, ew- but she would drink it anyways and be polite about it.
"Tell me, River," River came to attention, smiling as she asked a very serious question. "Has your brother always been so... prim and proper? I'm so curious what he was like as a kid," She chuckled as Wendy straightened herself out and posed.
"No and yes." Her thought only strayed a little before she continued. "We played a lot, it was when he got older. Our parents expected a lot from Simon, college changed him a lot. Just like it did me..." She was lucid for periods of time, it was the most she had made sense in a while.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 25, 2019 23:53:14 GMT -8
"Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a difficult time." Especially when you were prematurely ripped away from childhood. But Wendy put it in a more gentle manner. "Especially when those with a gifted mind are expected to do so at an earlier age."
The sound of the water in the kettle beginning to bubble meant Inara would be pouring the tea out soon. Wendy padded the seat beside her, inviting River to sit there, then tried to encourage her to continue talking by concentrating on happier times. "It must have been nice to grow up with a sibling who also had a gifted mind. Though I bet you ran circles around him," Wendy sent River a wink, a companionable smug smirk on her face.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Jan 26, 2019 21:38:45 GMT -8
"Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is a difficult time. Especially when those with a gifted mind are expected to do so at an earlier age." River's brain moved faster, it was her greatest gift and also her worst enemy at times. She could recall everything from the past but she couldn't always voice them. Her brain no longer knew how to move thought to words. It was like a scrambled wave, not all the pieces made it across time and space.
"Yes, so many expectations."
"It must have been nice to grow up with a sibling who also had a gifted mind. Though I bet you ran circles around him," A smile appeared.
"Simon is very smart, he takes good care of me. He's always taken good care of me, even when I'm at my worst." She was doing her best not to cry, her head was hurting again and she didn't want to go away. She didn't want to fade back into darkness.
She pulled herself upright and started to dance, twirling, trying to spin herself as fast as she could go. trying so hard to just turn back time, maybe if she spun fast enough she could change the past? Never go to that school, just stay bored at her old one? Silly, childish...
"Why?!" She sobbed, collapsing to her knees. "Why did they hurt us? Why did they make mush? Skitter scatter, brainpan mush? Why?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 27, 2019 21:43:24 GMT -8
Wendy was on her knees at River's side in a heartbeat, holding onto her, running a hand over her hair. Wendy closed her eyes, conjuring clouds and flowers for the both of them. "There is no good reason why. No right reason for what was done to us. If I make it through this, I promised you, I will make it my life's work to take down Blue Sun so nobody else can be hurt by them."
A promise easily made as it was something she'd already set out to do.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jan 27, 2019 22:34:29 GMT -8
Inara rose from her seat when River collapsed but slowly lowered back into it when Wendy had reached River first. She remained still and quiet, not wanting to disrupt this delicate moment.
"If I make it through this, I promised you, I will make it my life's work to take down Blue Sun so nobody else can be hurt by them."
If she made it through this. It was a stark reminder of how little time she had and how badly the odds were stacked against her. Inara hoped for a miracle because she had no doubt that if anyone could bring down Blue Sun, it'd be the person who'd had a lifetime of abuse at their hands.
Inara allowed them a couple more moments before gracefully getting up and kneeling in front of them. She reached out and placed a hand under each of their chins, gently lifting their faces to her. She released them, letting the back of her fingers lovingly stroke River's cheek before pulling back.
"Come now," she said gently, standing and holding out a hand to each. "Tea is ready."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Feb 5, 2019 8:22:25 GMT -8
Clouds and flowers... River stilled and let those wash over her. She was able to focus on Wendy's words again, "There is no good reason why. No right reason for what was done to us. If I make it through this, I promised you, I will make it my life's work to take down Blue Sun so nobody else can be hurt by them." River just clung, unsure of what to say or do. She was trying to ground herself with the thoughts of clouds and flowers.
The gentle touch of Inara's hand drew her back and she stared up into her eyes. Blinking, "Come now, Tea is ready." River took a look at Wendy before she got up and made her way over to sit. Tea would help calm her down, she could focus on the steam, the swirls, the meaning- distraction.
River held the cup when it was presented and she stared down into it. She felt her mind go light at the first sip, focusing on everything but the pain- she was trying to get better. She was trying not to make things difficult, they had other worries- Wendy needed them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 10, 2019 15:26:00 GMT -8
Things remained relatively calm in the shuttle. River seemed to find her center for the time being. Wendy placed her nearly empty tea cup on the table and looked across, admiration for the way she remained calm and how well she dealt with River. Simon was not River's only rock.
Inara seemed ready to remain there days on end, calmly and serenely as if nothing outside of this moment existed. She was probably eager to see her old friend but she showed no hint of it. "We'll be fine here, if you'd like to see your friend."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Feb 10, 2019 15:33:06 GMT -8
Inara looked to River before making her decision. She seemed to currently be in a good place and in the good company of someone who knew how to handle her.
"I would like that," she said patiently, taking the time to refill their cups then to take the last couple of sips from her own cup before daintily replacing it to its saucer.
Inara stood and walked around to place a kiss on the top of River's head. "I shouldn't be long," she promised.
***Inara exits to Infirmary and Common Area***
|
|
|
|
Post by Lady Lee-o on Feb 10, 2019 21:16:10 GMT -8
"We'll be fine here, if you'd like to see your friend." River perked up when Inara filled her cup, she watched the fresh stream and smiled.
"I would like that,"
"She wants to see you," River added before peering back into her tea cup, swirl, swirl. Another wave of calm coming over her as Inara placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"I shouldn't be long," River sipped her tea before looking at Wendy.
"Inara, her thoughts are her own."
|
|
|
|
Post by Hollywood Heidi on Mar 3, 2019 20:35:59 GMT -8
Wendy wholeheartedly agreed. People always gave off at least a consistent low frequency of some type of thoughts or emotions even without actively using her gift to tap into a particular person's frequency. It was very rare to come across a person who generated dead air. "She's learned to hide from her own self." Inara seemed to have mastered her training to a degree that she could fool herself. But it didn't take someone with she and River's powers to feel the electricity in the air when Inara and the Captain were in the same room.
About a half hour passes.
During that time, Dex Wilde returned on the Shadowheart away shuttle to reconnect with his crewmates aboard the Serenity and Mal calls for everyone to collect in the Dining Area for a meeting with Dex volunteering to collect Wendy and River for the meeting.
"Now, what shall we do to pass the time?" she asked, looking around the room. "A card game? Maybe take advantage of the quiet and catch a nap?" Her eyes fell on Inara's wardrobe. "Try on her fancy clothes?" she added, more as a joke. |
|
