What next for Inara? by DesktopHippie

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

What next for Inara?

POSTED BY: DESKTOPHIPPIE
UPDATED: Saturday, April 1, 2006 06:36
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Monday, March 27, 2006 11:34 PM

This is something that's been playing on my mind since I saw the movie. (There are movie spoilers in this post by the way) I'd love to hear some opinions.

I don't think there's any doubt that Mal and Inara love each other, and at the end of the movie Mal asks her if she wants to return to her nice cosy life and her answer is "I don't know." Most people assume that she's leaning more and more towards starting a relationship with Mal.

If she ~does~ have a relationship with Mal - what happens to her job?

Inara says the Companion Guild's rules on dating are "complicated" (Ariel) and I imagine they are. But even if she were allowed to date Mal and continue working - would Mal ever accept that? Could he have a relationship with someone who sleeps with other people for a living? Even if it is considered a good, honest career, which seems to be the view on the core planets but not so much on the rim worlds.

So the alternative is that she gives up her career for Mal, and goes from being someone who was respected and admired on dozens of worlds to ... what? Mal's girlfriend, the ex-whore? Because much as Mal and the crew respect her, that's all a lot of people are going to see. Any respect she could have commanded as a bona fide companion will be lost.

And what will she do? The only job I can think of is piloting Serenity. Which she'd have to fight River for :) Or does she just become a stay-on-board girlfriend, living off the money she made before (which must be pretty substantial, and probably enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her days.) I know I'm taking a very negative view here, but I can't see Inara being content with that. I don't think she loves her job nearly as much as she loves Mal, but is being his girlfriend enough? Will she be able to give up so much without becoming bitter and resentful?

What do you guys think?

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 1:24 AM

ZOID

DesktopHippie:

First, if Inara stays aboard Serenity -- which it appears she will by the movie's end -- she won't be doing it for Mal's sake alone. She will be doing it because she has decided that's the life she wants.

All through the series, there's a lot of evidence that Inara is having grave misgivings about her life as a Companion. Oh, sure, she speaks with great pride about the noble philosophical foundations of the Guild. But, in many cases we see her crying or cringing in shame or hurt when some callow youth utters a casually unkind word, when a man reveals his true intention to make property of her, or when Mal practices the guilt-free sex she preaches...

So, I can see her settling down with Mal and her family aboard Serenity. As for her job: She was the moral counselor, the confessor for the Shepherd; she obviously has a strong talent for planning a confidence scheme ("Trash"); and she likewise has a lot of knowledge about how and through whom the Alliance conducts its most sensitive affairs. Finding some useful thing to do shouldn't be that difficult.

Methinks you underestimate the lady...

Respectfully,

zoid
ex-Companion Career Counselor

P.S.
I can also see her quitting Mal and returning to the Guild after a year or two, like nuns who quit and then rejoin the Church. I would hope not; but, there's a precedent in human behavior, which leaves the door open for Joss to rip our hearts out. Therefore, I expect him to do so. Sorry.
_________________________________________________

"I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDBOF'

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 2:21 AM

DESKTOPHIPPIE

Yeah, I know. My perspective on this is very negative. ~very~ negative! But it's just been on her mind.

I completely agree that Inara has regrets about being a companion - there's far too many hints in the show for that not to be the case. And Serenity is definately more home to her than anywhere else. I think that's pretty much the whole point of 'Shindig', showing that she and Mal don't really belong anywhere else, no matter how much they try to fit in with their respective worlds.

But like it or no, Inara's job gives her an income, independence and a certain status. And since I'm pretty sure having a relationship with Mal and being a companion are mutually exclusive, I just wonder where that will leave her when that is gone.

As you point out, she's a valuable member of the crew. You only have to look at the difference between Mal's attitude to Simon and River in 'Safe' and his attitude to them at the start of 'Serenity' (the movie) to see how much losing Inara has effected him. That being said, I did wonder if she would be at a loss once her job was gone and the only status she had was being Mal's girlfriend.

You've fired my interest in her as part of the crew though. I never thought of Inara planning heists, which of course she'd be brilliant at. That's something I'd really love to see more of! Anyone up for a fanfic challenge?

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 4:34 AM

UNREGISTEREDCOMPANION

Historically, Geisha did not always have sex with clients. She may still keep her Companion status while not taking on that type of client.

~~~~~
"Funny and sexy. You have no idea. And you never will."

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 4:47 AM

DANIELFYRE

When we first come to meet Inara in Serenity she has already stopped sleeping with men and has gone on to be a teacher. It is possible she keeps her companion status, dates mal, and teaches via some type of video device from Serenity. I'm sure that isn't too much of a stretch. It seems like too perfect and simple an explaination so I doubt it would actually happen. On another note in the series they constantly hint that Inara was running away from something which is why she left in the first place. Perhaps she wanted to quit being a companion to begin with, but found it difficult living without such status.

-Dan

Ain't that just shiny?

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 4:48 AM

ARTCAT81

What I wonder is what the guilds take on her actions in the movie will be.. will she be thrown out? The guild has to operate and it thrives under alliance rule, she was in line to be their next leader before she rented out the shuttle.

As she said the rules in the guild are complicated, I think in helping get the signal out, she has made herself as much an outlaw as the rest of the crew.

I highly doubt Miranda is the only piece of information buried in Rivers subconscious.

Inara has connections in the highest ranks, and she has a decent criminal mind, i think she could find a place on the crew

Browncoats are the shiniest folks in the 'verse

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:15 AM

RAE

I think Inara's status is too valuable to the crew to give it up. It gives them some "respectability". However, if she does take over as head of the guild, perhaps she can use Serenity to travel between the various companion houses or something.

Rae

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:34 AM

ISAACSHEPHERD

Mal and Inara getting together would be a huge complication, which is what Joss seems to like. Unlikely relationships where everyone has obvious flaws one way or another. The conflict of Inara having to give it up, and Mal for having to give up his pride and admit that he has feelings is interesting.

Another interesting twist I thought of is the effect of Inara and Mal getting together on Zoe. Seeing them happy like she was with Wash could really tear her up, espically if they would get together right away.

As for Inara flying the ship, I don't really see that happening. I think River is going to be the pilot, if Mal doesn't just hire new crew. Planning heists though does sound like something Inara would be capable of but, as Mal's feelings for her surface and develop, the less danger he would let her be in. He already seems to care about her honor and not bringing her into the life of crime. And after Nandi I would think he would be almost obsessed about protecting her.
IS

The Bible's a bit fuzzy on the subject of kneecaps.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 11:31 AM

ARCADIA

First, forgive me for my wordiness.

I think that Inara honestly likes her profession. Sure, she has misgivings from time to time (as seen in Heart of Gold when she cries, or Shindig when she is forced to acknowledge the fact that Atherton sees her as property), but she also does a lot of good (as you can see in Jaynestown when she visits Fess Higgins, or in War Stories when she offers the senator a brief reprieve from the stress of her day to day life). I don’t think she’s the one who has delusions about what she’s doing. Inara’s job is to service the often isolated members of “decent” and upper-class society. They come to her because their lives lack intimacy due to their careers (the senator), their personality (Atherton, Fess), or other reasons. Like a priest, her time with them is confidential. Her clients are free to unburden themselves without care or worry. In this way, the job appeals to her nature as a nurturer, a mother-figure.

As for the sex, I am sure that Inara enjoys it. Like an athlete or an artist, she considers sexuality her skill, and she enjoys honing it, perfecting it. It is her job to be good in bed, and it is in her nature to aim to be good at what she does. She isn’t a whore because she doesn’t see sex as a way to make money; rather, she sees it is a complicated, intricate art that she wishes to master. As for status, I think that, consciously or unconsciously, her higher status is a crutch that she can lean on when she is lonely, when she realizes that she has sacrificed aspects of her life for her career. Sure, she must have nights where she feels that despite all the care she gives others no one cares for her, but they do RESPECT her, she has STATUS, which she has been trained to think it far more valuable.

The conflict with Mal and Inara has much to do with the fact that Mal doesn’t see her job this way. The aspects of her work that Inara is most proud of – her ability to comfort, to teach and advise – happens behind closed doors. Mal can’t see it, and Inara is far too much of a professional to ever tell Mal exactly what she does. Mal is only privy to viewing the latter two aspects of Inara’s work – sex and status. The sex, he finds degrading. While Inara views it as intimate and therapeutic, Mal views it as decidedly not intimate, a mockery of intimacy, and even worse, dishonest. The status is brings her Mal views as corrupt. Because of this, I think that it would be next to impossible for Mal to be with Inara if she didn’t give up her job. They could try, but his view of what she does would haunt him everyday, pain him, and eventually it would drive them apart.

Conversely, I think that their relationship would be similarly rocky if Inara gave up her profession for him. As I said, the status that being a Companion has given Inara is her crutch – a faulty, perhaps false crutch, but a crutch nonetheless. Sacrificing the stability that it offers her could be devastating to her as a person. Though it is implied that Inara has some experience with being in positions where she is lost and vulnerable (her “lost in the woods” quote in the pilot, as well as the cuts to her looking wistfully away as she tells a client she wanted to see the universe), I highly doubt she ever chose to be lost and vulnerable. It is against her nature.

If she ever did give up her job, she would have to do a lot of soul searching before she was completely comfortable using her family, the crew of Serenity, as her support system. Until then, she would most likely feel lonely and afraid, even more isolated than ever even though she knows she is surrounded by people who love her. Mal, with so many insecurities of his own, insecurities that he has grown accustom to letting Inara tame or sooth in various situations, might not be able to handle them. Even if he could, Inara herself might not be able to handle them. Therefore, they could easily be driven apart.

As for what Inara would do if she chose to give up her job to be with Mal, I imagine for a while she would be lost. Inara is a skilled woman. Much of what she learned as a companion could be transferred to other vocations. I’m sure she knows this, but she will also be confronted by the fact that work is hard to find on the rims, where she is likely to stay. Even if she did find something, it would most likely be on a planet, away from Mal, and would therefore negate her sacrifice. I don’t think that Inara sees herself as a valuable member on a crew of petty thieves. I’m sure that she would be great at planning jobs, but she doesn’t see that, at least not yet.

Even if she did, she would still be wrestling with issues of entitlement. Thieving is like any other job. You start out working for someone, and then work your way up. I think Inara prides herself on how she was able to work her way up through the companion ranks. I don’t think she’d be comfortable suddenly finding herself near the “top” of the criminal food chain. I think there are other people, such as Jayne, who might also have a problem with this.

She might be able to be a pilot. In fact, this skill might be very useful to Serenity. Though at the end of the BDM it was implied that River would take over Wash’s role, the fact that she is a reader and a super fighter would probably compel Mal and Zoe to bring her out on jobs with them. Then they would NEED Inara to on Serenity, ready to hit the air if things went sour. This would also create issues, though, as Inara, I think, would become resentful of being left behind on the ship all the time (much as Wash did in War Stories). Though she hasn’t had much opportunity to display this particular aspect of her personality, I think that Inara is a woman of action and would tire of a pilot’s life in time. Or maybe not. If she did, though, this would undoubtedly put her into conflict with Mal, who is a protective man by nature, and would want her to stay on the ship so that he doesn’t lose her. Inara, being the strong-willed woman she is, would not appreciate this. It could drive them apart.

So yeah, things would never be easy for Mal and Inara, which is what make them my favorite Firefly couple, easily. There will always be a darkness, a sadness, entwined in their love.

At least, this is what I think.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Objects in Space"
River: It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think...

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 11:40 AM

AMYLISAI

wow, thanks for the exposition, Arcadia
and all the other people that wrote the interesting things above
I enjoyed your ideas, food for thought...

Cheers, Amylisai

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 1:45 PM

PETERWAITZMAN

Simply put, she would give up her life as companion, begin living on a very modest budget, and take the life of a pioneer. One might pressume that Inara is rich based on some of her intimations, so that might not end up being a big deal. But it's probably a lot like any of the pioneers that left big city life for adventure and fortune, they ended up living kind of like nomads and cowboys. I suspect Joss had the inclination to have Inara make this major decision pretty easily demonstrating her overriding love for Mal regardless of his socio-economic background. Classic "love conquers all." I think Mal's appeal has been his old fashion values. I think it's a kind of commentary that regardless of times and cultures, some absolutes stay the same, and sometimes the simplest of philosophies and people end up being the most formidible and enduring.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:35 PM

ZOID

peterwaitzman:

Precisely. There are a few choice lines of dialogue from Inara, that I don't believe are 'throwaways': "...So few men are"; "Please! Spend thirty minutes with him"; "Don't tell him... I never do." Mal is mysterious to her. No man should be, to a Companion. She as much as says outright that she left Serenity because she didn't know how to act around Mal, how to read him.

If you can mystify a woman... Especially one like Inara, who totally expects to be pulling all the strings...

But if she ever does get him figured out...

Arcadia:

Very interesting take, but it doesn't wash. There is only one piece of evidence required to debunk your theory: Mal asks if she's ready to go back to her life as a Companion, and she says "I'm not sure." Ask a priest if he believes in God. If he says, "I'm not sure", he is no longer a priest.

And Inara is no longer a Companion...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDBOF'

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:52 PM

DANIELFYRE

Mal asks if she's ready to go back to her life as a Companion, and she says "I'm not sure." Ask a priest if he believes in God. If he says, "I'm not sure", he is no longer a priest.

And Inara is no longer a Companion...

Respectfully,

zoid
_________________________________________________

"I aim to misbehave." -Capt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity, a.k.a. 'the BDBOF'

VERY WELL SAID. I just wanted to say that.

-Dan

Ain't that just shiny?

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:58 PM

ZOID

DanielFyre:

And even more telling, she says it with a little quirk of a smile that tells me she knows it too.

...And then Mal says, "Good answer."

v/r,
-zed

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:02 PM

NOSADSEVEN

Boy, I miss threads like this...

Anyway, one thing I think people aren't putting enough weight on is the effects that the events in the BDM have had on Mal and Inara. Mal has regained something through that experience, and is arguably a different man than the one she left. Inara, too, has been changed. That's what the whole, "I don't know," line was about. That whole ordeal has reshaped their priorities, and I like to think they are both willing to make more concessions than they would have before - and not resentfully, but because it is now truly more important to them to be together than that other thing.

Of course, I am under no illusion that if they should find happiness together Joss will let them keep it. That just wouldn't be right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't. We. Just.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 8:26 PM

ARCADIA

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
Mal asks if she's ready to go back to her life as a Companion, and she says "I'm not sure." Ask a priest if he believes in God. If he says, "I'm not sure", he is no longer a priest.

And Inara is no longer a Companion...

I'm going to have to disagree. That's completely different. Being a companion doesn't make you a religious figure. It's a job. You can have a job and question whether or not you want to keep it, but you're still working.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Objects in Space"
River: It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think...

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006 10:31 PM

ZOID

Arcadia:

...And I will disagree in turn: Being a prostitute is a job; being a Companion is much more.

v/r,
-zed

"As I said, this room is a consecrated Place Of Union. Only your son belongs here." -Inara Serra, Firefly, "Jaynestown" (emphasis mine)

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Saturday, April 1, 2006 4:47 AM

AGENTROUKA

Quote:
Originally posted by zoid:
Arcadia:

...And I will disagree in turn: Being a prostitute is a job; being a Companion is much more.

I'm going to have to side with Arcadia here.

Mal is not even directly asking her if she wants to quit being a Companion. He's asking if she wants to go back to the training house where it's safe.

To that, she says "I don't know."

They could just as easily start up their rental agreement again. Nowhere is it spelled out that Inara questions her profession in and of itself, and even if she did, it really is not the same.

You're asking the priest if he believes in God, which is the basis of the religion that makes him a priest. There the "I don't know" does sort work to make him a priest no longer.

If you ask a priest whether he wants to go back to the church he worked at before going off to uncover some huge government conspiracy and he says "I don't know"?
Still a priest. Just a homeless one.

Also: Arcadia, that was one of the best takes on Inara's profession I have ever read. Just wow! You really got it!

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Saturday, April 1, 2006 6:36 AM

ZZETTA13

Well I sprinted strait to the bottom with this so if I bring up a point that has already been covered please forgive me. I promise to go back and read all the pre-posts sometime later.

First of all after watching Serenity first, then the series after, I was a little struck as to how the "oldest profession" in the world had become one of the most "respected professions" in the universe?

Mal& Inara in love? Sure they are. But come on folk. Joss knows just like everyone here, its a love that can never be. Why because its a change that would kill the show ( not like Mal changing the part in his hair).

This relationship is "Even less simple" than that. Unlike Simon & Kaylee, which we do see get together at the end of Serenity I really think that " See you later honey...I'm off to bed a few clients. I'll be back in a couple weeks."

Well, I don't think the right response to that is "SHINY"

Nope,the BIG brother,Big Sister relationship of Mal and Inara to the rest of the crew is great. But a tease is a tease and Mal&Inara is Joss's trump card and should only be played as the light of the Firefly burns out( same thing thats been done on other shows) I'm hoping that that won't be for some time.After the resurrection of course. There are so many gorram loose ends to tie up.

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