Heyyy loyal readers, I'm back! This is my tribute to my weekly poker game, which somehow always reminds me of my facorite 'verse. And yes, eventually my other series will get finished. If anyone would like to help with that, send me a note. Enjoy, and, as always, I'm begging for your reviews.

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Inara stands at the top of Serenity’s gangway, staring at the black water below apprehensively. A chill breeze stirs her ebony curls, making her shiver and wrap her arms around herself more tightly. The thin silk nightgown and robe she wears do nothing to cut the cold. Moonlight glitters on the ripples in the lake, and she shivers again, despite herself. “Best be getting to it.” A gruff voice says behind her, accompanied by a small shove. Inara grits her teeth, but manages to keep her serene visage intact. Gracefully, she sheds the robe and allows it to pool at her feet in a silken puddle. Another breeze rips by, and she hesitates. There’s a prod again, and she’s standing naked in the moonlight. An appreciative whistle comes from inside Serenity. “Thought you had gone inside,” the voice growls behind her. “Ain’t no harm in watchin’.” A deeper one replies. “Get out.” She hears low grumbling and the sounds of heavy boot treads on steel planking. Then silence. “Best be jumpin’ soon, kitten. I’ve waited long enough.” The voice says in her ear, warm breath rustling her curls. Inara prays silently. The only response is the wind stirring up little waves on the surface of the dark water. ------------------------------------------------- Earlier that evening…

Inara threw down the trashy romance novel Kaylee had lent her with a sigh. Three days out from Beaumonde to whatever backwater Rim world they were planning on scamming next, and she was already bored out of her wits. She had tried calligraphy, napping, meditation and yoga, to no avail. Kaylee had finally suggested one of the flimsy paperbacks she kept hidden under her bed, and out of sheer desperation had the Classically-read Companion had accepted. After an hour of the exploits of Sebastian the pirate and Melinda, his supple yet spunky abductee, she had finally had enough. Her head ached from reading in the dull light of her shuttle, and something told her a cup of calming tea was in order. As she glided through the silent hallways of the ship, she was taken aback by how quiet it was. Glancing at a chrono as she passed, she realized that it was getting late in what would be a normal planet-bound evening. she thought to herself. To her surprise, when she entered the kitchen she found most of the men of Serenity’s crew gathered around the kitchen table playing cards. A handle of Kaylee’s engine brew was being shared between them, and various bits of paper and tiny doo-dads were gathered in front of the players or in the center of the table. Mal looked up when she entered. “Didn’t know you were goin’ to be gracin’ us with your fine presence this evening,” he said snarkily. They had fought during the course of the day, this time about Inara’s privacy when it came to using the Cortex. She had asked again for a separate link, as she was sure Jayne had been listening in to her conversations with clients. Mal insisted the protection on her console was enough to keep the man-ape out of her affairs. Apparently, he was still sore about some choice words she had chosen to bestow upon his ancestry. Oh well, she could play that game too. “I wasn’t planning on it.” She put a pot on the stove to boil water, and began rummaging through the cupboards looking for her tea. “What are you playing? It doesn’t look like Tall Card.” “That’s ‘cause it ain’t.” Jayne managed to growl out around a fat cigar he was chewing. “Game from Earth-that Was Fancy-Pants here wanted to play.” Simon must have had enough of Kaylee’s wine to be able to let the remark pass unchecked. “Texas Hold- ‘Em. It’s a form of poker.” A revelation hit Inara like a proverbial bolt of lightning. When she had first been licensed out as a Companion, she had been contracted with a man whose sole job was to play poker professionally. At one tournament, the theme had been lost games and he had won the Hold- ‘Em tournament, and a tidy sum of cash. Later that night, after the festivities, he had taught her how to play. She had proved to be an adept student, her Companion training coming in handy when bluffing or seeing through other player’s bluffs. “What are you playing for?” she asked sweetly, as her pot began to whistle. “Chores, trinkets, anything of some sort of value.” Mal looked at her quizzically. “Why?” Inara kept her evil smile to herself. “It’s just that I’ve been terribly bored lately. Would you mind if I played a few hands?” Mal and Simon mulled this over, as Jayne grew outraged. “Mal! You can’t be considerin’ this! It was boy’s night in, remember! Ain’t no part of that sayin’ a girl can play. Plus, it took two hours just to knock Book and Wash out of this here party.” He stopped suddenly and fixed Inara with a leer. “What’ve you got to play for anyway, darlin’?” “Nothing you’re going to be winning, Jayne.” She poured herself a cup of tea and moved to stand next to the table. Mal kicked out a chair and nodded. “Fine by me if it’s fine with the Doc.” Simon nodded slowly. Inara figured he’d be on the floor, if good manners didn’t dictate him sitting up ramrod straight in his chair with a lady present. “Don’t I get a say-so here?” Jayne yelped in anger. “No, not really.” Mal shook his head and took another gulp of alcohol. “You know the ropes, ‘Nara?” “I learn quickly, if someone would teach me,” she said coyly, batting her eyelashes demurely. Simon offered to help, and as Mal dealt, began to lean over and whisper slurred directions in her ear. Instead of listening, Inara thought out her tactics. Simon would be the first player she would take out, then Jayne. Then she could deal with Malcolm Reynolds all by herself. “Ante,” Mal gestured from her to the pot. She drew a tiny ring off her pinky and threw it in, aware that it was worth way more than everything on the table combined. The other players threw in, and the game was on. She caught the captain staring across the table at her, fixed him with her brightest, sweetest smile, and then looked down at her cards.

Revenge was going to be so sweet.

-------------------------------------------------- To be continued...don't forget to review!