More Inara possibilities (Spoilers) by Bytemite

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More Inara possibilities (Spoilers)

POSTED BY: BYTEMITE
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 07:44
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Monday, November 30, 2009 6:36 AM

Here's an idea about Inara I was discussing with Platonist recently.

Select to view spoiler:

So we all know Inara has an illness and is "dying" from it. Of course, all of us who adore Inara's character would probably prefer ANYTHING than if Inara actually DOES die.

Joss Whedon, unfortunately, is not known for his happy endings, and I'm not sure any of us could actually BELIEVE a happy ending for Inara.

So what do you think of the idea that things progress, maybe Mal helps her, and Inara ends up disabled in some way, instead of the alternative?

There's obviously problems with this idea, such as questions about Inara's independence, or possibly a scenario where it seems like she's with Mal because he's the only person who would still have her... But there's something strangely appealing about the idea of her still elegant and regal in a wheelchair.

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Monday, December 14, 2009 4:16 PM

KATESFRIEND

I think that Inara has a lot to learn about what real love is, and what commitment between two people is. I think it would be wonderful to see Mal - who gets overcommitted to a cause - to the point of his own destruction - to show her what hopeless love is. Even if the cause is loving someone only to lose them. Of course it would most likely kill another piece of Mal too.

There's a wonderful little fic in the BSR by Kaynara called "Past and Present" along these lines. If you've not read it, I highly recommend it.

I think Mal would love her no matter what happened to her. He will always be attracted to a hopeless cause because that's his nature. I'm just hoping that Joss would have given him a little break.

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Monday, December 14, 2009 5:36 PM

BYTEMITE

Quote:
I think that Inara has a lot to learn about what real love is, and what commitment between two people is. I think it would be wonderful to see Mal - who gets overcommitted to a cause - to the point of his own destruction - to show her what hopeless love is. Even if the cause is loving someone only to lose them. Of course it would most likely kill another piece of Mal too.

Yes, I could see this, and I could also see the opposite case, where everything else being the same it's Inara who loses a piece of herself. Mal's lifestyle is not one that's conducive to longevity.

Select to view spoiler:

Imagine trying to protect someone from finding out you're dying, only to have them die instead. Living out whatever length of days you have left with that regret, unable to move on for the same reason you denied yourself before.

And also because I do think she'd honestly be devastated to lose him, just as much as if he was to lose her.

I've read Past and Present. It is really pretty, though in the present, I feel like he's gained something because both of them let go of their fear to try. He had something, once, and because of that, he still has that something and more.

Quote:
I think Mal would love her no matter what happened to her. He will always be attracted to a hopeless cause because that's his nature. I'm just hoping that Joss would have given him a little break.

Ah, I think we all feel this way. :)

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Monday, December 14, 2009 5:47 PM

KATESFRIEND

Your alternative would be even more sad than the way we think Joss would do it. It would leave Inara very very unfulfilled. Doing all the seemingly right things for the right reasons and still losing everything she wanted. I guess it depends on who you want to see have the most character growth - Mal or Inara - you could easily write it either way. Sounds like a good thing to propose for a fic challenge. I'm not sure which way would be more interesting. But I do think it would have more of a tragic futility if they lost out on their love without ever really trying to have it.

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Monday, December 14, 2009 5:59 PM

BYTEMITE

I think tragedy could only make Mal darker, which is hard to imagine, or to break him completely, at which point I don't think he has anything or anyone that could put him back together. Knowing Joss, that's probably the way this will go, but I actually think a different direction would be better character development-wise.

Which is why I'm hoping both Mal and Inara live. :)

Quote:
But I do think it would have more of a tragic futility if they lost out on their love without ever really trying to have it.

Yes, either way, whichever one was doing the losing, if they never had a chance that makes it oh so much worse.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 2:23 AM

NCBROWNCOAT

Interesting discussion. Both scenarios would be tragic.

As to Mal going even darker...I could see him going on some type of suicidal crusade. And it would likely be even worse if he survived.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 5:01 AM

BYTEMITE

Oh man, that is BLEAK. Are you Joss?

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 5:29 AM

PLATONIST

Okay, I'm going with Inara disabled as the best case scenario or she does her secret, but leaves a child behind so Mal would have something to live for and not be suicidal.

Joss said he liked to punish Mal.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 7:28 AM

NCBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Oh man, that is BLEAK. Are you Joss?

No, I'm not. Ok then, Mal goes on a suicidal mission (to avenge Inara of course) and survives to raise his and Inara's daughter. It has to be a girl so that he can confront her first boyfriend with a shotgun and be all fatherly and threatening. That would be good fun.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 7:33 AM

BYTEMITE

Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

Okay, I'm going with Inara disabled as the best case scenario or she does her secret, but leaves a child behind so Mal would have something to live for and not be suicidal.

Joss said he liked to punish Mal.

There's only one problem with the proposed scenario... Which is that something would have to happen here that I have to wonder, despite how much I ship the pairing, if it could only happen with the advent of flying swine.

Oh wait! :o What if the kid weren't HIS? I think I just HURT myself.

I still like the disabled/frailty story-line possibility though. Platonist was poking at it some, anyone have any thoughts on that?

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 7:37 AM

BYTEMITE

Quote:
Originally posted by ncbrowncoat:

No, I'm not. Ok then, Mal goes on a suicidal mission (to avenge Inara of course) and survives to raise his and Inara's daughter. It has to be a girl so that he can confront her first boyfriend with a shotgun and be all fatherly and threatening. That would be good fun.

Nothing says "I care" like a shotgun. Or a conversation through an airlock window. Whichever.

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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 7:44 AM

NCBROWNCOAT

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Quote:
Originally posted by Platonist:

Okay, I'm going with Inara disabled as the best case scenario or she does her secret, but leaves a child behind so Mal would have something to live for and not be suicidal.

Joss said he liked to punish Mal.

There's only one problem with the proposed scenario... Which is that something would have to happen here that I have to wonder, despite how much I ship the pairing, if it could only happen with the advent of flying swine.

Oh wait! :o What if the kid weren't HIS? I think I just HURT myself.

I still like the disabled/frailty story-line possibility though. Platonist was poking at it some, anyone have any thoughts on that?

Now that's a good idea. Of course Mal have to get over the hurt of Inara having someone else's child but I think that if he raised her/him, Mal would eventually feel like it was his. Especially if something happened to Inara.

If Inara is still there and maybe disabled there would be a lot of lingering hurt between the two of them. Especially if she couldn't have a child with Mal.

Lunch time is over. I'll come back this evening.

http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/

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