III. Playing For Keeps: Inara Serra

"I never would have thought that Jayne had much of a story to tell. Silly of me, don't you think?"

Kaylee whirls around, spooked. Sure are a lot of people up for it bein' so late at night, she thinks, and ordinarily, she'd have been overjoyed at someone to sit and chat with. Right now, though, Kaylee ain't sure she's fit for human company, her bein' so down in the dumps as she is.

But it's Inara, and Kaylee can't help but always be happy to see her. 'Sides, it looks like she could use a friend. The small smile on Inara's face is gentle and serene, but Kaylee knows better than to think Inara's okay. They all heard the wave that Inara's House Priestess sent not two days ago, tellin' her in no uncertain terms that perhaps freedom out in the black was the best option for her after all.

Especially, the Priestess had added, if falling in with criminals who levelled unjust accusations at the government who sponsers and protects the Guild was Inara's choice of--

Well, Kaylee's not sure how the Preistess's sentence ended. Inara had ended the wave abruptly, and refused to speak a word 'bout it, afterwards. In fact, she's taken to muttering unladylike things under her breath whenever anyone mentions her clients--specifically that there ain't any. 'Nara's shuttle's been empty of late, and Kaylee knows that's a mix of both Inara's own wishes and the Guild stickin' their hooty-tooty noses in Inara's business. Kaylee is impressed with how well Inara's takin' it, on the outside at least. She suspects the few times she's seen Mal talkin' to Inara in real quiet tones and all close-like have somethin' to do with that.

But Kaylee also suspects it'll be a long, long while till Inara knows how to be anything other than a House Madrassa Companion, and she's happy to entertain the older woman any way she can till then, if that's what long walks 'round Serenity in the dead of the night call for.

'Sides, it ain't like Kaylee don't know what it'