The Last Straw - Ch 4
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Ch4: Jayne and Mattie's rocky history is revealed. Mal finds out about Inara. Anger and sadness. Jayne-centric plot, Inara-centric subplot. Post-series, post-comic, pre-BDM. Get the full PDF <a href="http://www.valeriebean.com/writings/fireflyfic/"here.</a>
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 2843 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
A.N. ... because I know some of you are sitting by your computers hitting refresh every 38 seconds to see if this comes up...
CHAPTER 4
When Inara didn’t show up for lunch, Kaylee decided to use the excuse to stop by her shuttle again. Inara had asked her to come back later after all. As soon as she entered the shuttle, Kaylee knew something was off. The room was filled with the scent of soothing lavender, but the walls that were once covered with curtains and tapestries were stripped bare. Most of the fabric was folded neatly on the bed and a few trunks stood open, half full. Inara sat at the vanity, powdering over the puffiness of her tear-reddened eyes. Tentatively, Kaylee came forward, placing a hand on the older woman’s shoulder. Inara cringed and turned quickly, covering the reaction by standing up and preparing some tea.
“‘Nara, what is this?” Kaylee asked, frightened to hear the answer, her mind racing, filled with a thousand thoughts.
Inara sat down on the couch, motioning Kaylee to sit too. “I wanted to tell you, before you found out some other way… I’m leaving Serenity.”
“You’re leaving?” Kaylee repeated incredulously, jumping to her feet again, her heart overwhelmed with dread and disbelief. “When? Where?”
“I haven’t confirmed it yet,” Inara answered. “I’ve sent out a few waves. I’m waiting to hear back.”
“But why?” Kaylee cried, falling to her knees before Inara, her pleading eyes searching for answers. “It’s the Captain ain’t it? He said something. He did something?! Oh, ‘Nara, he didn’t mean it!”
“No, it’s … well, maybe a little, but this last client… I just need to stop doing this for awhile.”
“Well, can’t you take your sabbatical here?” Kaylee asked hopefully. Inara smiled endearingly, taking Kaylee’s hands, pulling her up off her knees and bringing her to the couch instead. Once Kaylee was there, she could see Inara trembling, looking ghastly in the harsh shuttle light. No more fancy oils, no more relaxing nights having her hair played at. She was losing her big sist
Really was all kinds of sucked in here, valeriebean, I must admit. Reading about Mal's reaction to finding out about what happened to Inara really makes me wish we could have gotten see Nathan act the hell out of a similar scene in the series...and I am definitely waiting on tenterehooks for what Mal does next! Confront Inara? Use Shuttle Two to return to Persephone to track down the client and make him suffer? Brood like Angel multiplied by a factor of 10?
;D
BEB
You can't take the sky from me
But onto the story - this is amazing! I am on the fence about Jayne beating his kid, as I don't really think it's something he'd do, but considering how handily he tore his bunk apart at the news of his mother's death - not his wife - I can imagine he'd do all manner of things we were not made privy too in the series.
I too would have loved to see our intrepid Captain play out the scenario of Inara being injured. I can only imagine what he's going to say to her once he finally manages to get his anger under control. Which might be, you know, never ...
And, I'll have you know that I do not refresh my screen every 38 seconds - 45 is my min.! :-p
Yes, Jayne as child-beater is rough. But I'm sure he's remembering himself as more of a monster than he was on that particular night. Look at where he was... he had the kid at 16, his wife died at 18, here he is being the best dad he can for 2 years. One night, it's just particularly bad and by his own accounts, he had no idea what he was doing... and when he sees his girl, he's completely horrified at what he's done! Immediately horrified. Who knows what really happened? She may have just been caught in the crossfire when he tossed a chair across the room. But he blamed himself so fiercely and loved his girl so much that he took her somewhere safe. Even if it was a place he wouldn't be near her.
It's just one of those theories of how Jayne came to be the man he is today... hating that inner monster that isn't really there to begin with...
valeriebean. I think this may be my fav of your longer fics so far.
Great explanation of why Inara chose to teach at the Training House rather than secure passage on another transport ship. I've often wondered about that. I love how she keeps her pain closely guarded...very true to character.
Mal's poorly timed snide remarks are classic male debauchery. And now he's frustrated and angry because she's hurting and he can't let her know that he knows.
And the comment from Simon about Inara needing Mal's help. Mal wishes. Gut wrenching!
Jayne's daughter appearing and the relationship is antagonistic. Another great explanation of why Jayne left home and he is the way he is now.
Like I said, all kinds of brilliant!
I would also love to see Nathan as Mal in this particular moment. He does brooding so good and he's dammed no matter what he does.
As for Inara, this is a theme that I think Joss might have come to at some point. After all, not every client can be wide-eyed and dreamy about Companions. An Atherton-esque type would surely fall through the cracks.
Enjoying the series very much.
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