Best Intentions, ch. 2
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Set post-BDM. Mal surprises Inara with a trip back home and Inara is not pleased. Simon, Kaylee and Mal meet Mr. & Mrs. Serra. Mal/Inara, Simon/Kaylee
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3439 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
A/N: So glad that you are liking my take (or at least, my first one) on Inara's past. It's gonna get angsty folks!
And thanks again to Leiasky who always takes time to beta, even when I know she's swamped.
Keep those comments coming ... they're the cream in my coffee and I really LOVE coffee!
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Best Intentions, ch. 2
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Inara sighed as she felt Mal’s arm curl around her waist, his warm body pressing into her back. Despite all that was happening, she was glad that when she saw her parents again, for the first time in over three years, she wouldn’t have to do it alone.
Pressing a kiss behind her ear, Mal asked quietly, “You wave your folks?”
Glad he couldn’t see the frown on her features, she answered quietly, “Yes, they’re expecting you, me, Kaylee and Simon day after tomorrow.”
“Good,” Mal said, his breath tickling the back of her neck. “You still scared ‘bout seein’ ‘em?”
Allowing a bit of her annoyance to show, Inara told him hotly, “I’m not scared, Mal. I wish you’d stop saying that.”
Propping himself up on one elbow, Mal placed a finger under her chin and made her face him. As he beheld her beautiful, if angry face, he felt a pang of guilt at forcing her hand. He honestly hadn’t meant for this to get so out of control; he’d initially thought it would be a nice gesture, a surprise, something he could do for her to let her know that he cared for her, about her. But as the weeks had passed and she had become more and more resistant to the idea, he wished he’d have let it go when she’d first asked him to.
“We don’t gotta go,” he said quietly, his eyes focusing on each part of her face; her eyes, her nose, her lips. “We can skip it, if’n you want.”
Furrowing her brow, Inara asked him suspiciously, “Why?”
Sighing a bit, Mal told her, “’Cause, I don’t want you to be so anxious. I thought for sure you’d be all right with this or that at the very least you’d admit to me what was wrong. But …” He trailed off, running his hand down her sh
This chapter was great, but I'm a bit worried. Just HOW angsty are we talking? Because if it's as angsty as certain parts of your last epic...eeek!
Ain't nothing wrong with learning and mastering a trade. Only an idjit would think so, but enough about Inara's meddling parents ... do we get to see the look on their faces when they realize their 'great catch' is wanted by law?
LMAO
Sorry I didn't comment on the previous chapter. So far, I'm loving every word. It's nice to see the "elder Core parnets crap on significant other of Core raised member of the crew" fanfic plot done in a fresh new way. It's nice to read different interpretations of families of crew member we know nothing about.
Will you be bringing in the elder Tams as well? Not to toot my own horn, but I hope you can find inspiration in YCGHA if you are planning on bringing in Gabriel and Regan. I notice the jobs you assgned them were similar to mine. Guess good fanfic writers think alike.
Keep it coming.
What a terribly awkward and intense dinner. God, how I would have loved to be a fly on the wall.
And Simon! Awwwww. He was sooooo adorable in this, trying to diffuse the tension and be polite. So cute!
You can't take the sky from me
And I'll second tkid: Kaylee needs to Shut. Up. She's not as educated or mannered as Simon and Inara, be she's not stupid either. I would expect she gets the hint and just starts ignoring them.
Given what we saw of Mal in "Shindig", I'll bet he has a rabbit or two to pull out of his hat, as well.
I have faith in our intrepid crew. If Simon can't manner his way out, Mal can't witty-comment his way out, and Inara can't muster enough righteous rage to stop her parents, Kaylee can just overload something and blow the house up. They're gonna be fine.
I get the feeling Kaylee's fears about not fitting into such high society will be exploited by Inara's meddling parents.
And Kaylee's just trying to fit in. She's probably never had to deal with something like this before and continuing to talk actually worked at the Ball she went to. Granted it was the attention of the MEN she had, but maybe she's thinking that they'll like her if they get to know her better.
I forsee much arguing and angst ahead. Wheee! Bring it on!
Great writing!
I just love it that Mal was so civilised, I always suspected he had manners, and it made a nice contrast to Inara's flustered form.
Anyhoo, I'm loving Charming!Mal. He can do it so well, but be careful! He'll punch you in the face when you're not looking!
Speaking of punching, I think Liliana deserves a pop in the mouth at some point in this story. Wretched woman!
~ Who knows, maybe he'll secretly be a kindred spirit
“Now, remember Mal, my parents supported Unification, so please, no browncoat talk?” she asked, her eyes begging him to heed her. As he frowned at the request, she amended, “At least for the first twelve hours, then you can go crazy.”
~ Those are going to be some of the hardest 12 hours of Mal's life, especially if Mr. Serra starts on about it.
Liliana Serra
~ I love this name (is it yours or Joss' ??).
“Oh, Inara, don’t tell me you fell in love? Again.”
~ Again ?!?!? =-O
Of course, her parents are being traditional meddling Core parents, but if they weren't, something would definitely be wrong. Here's hoping that at least one of them is swayed by some action of Mal's or Kaylee's to at least look at the others' lives for what they really are.
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