Mama 'Nara
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A few brief snapshots with Mama 'Nara and her kids. Inara tries to counsel her daughter who is recovering from a kidnapping experience. Family fic, canon pairings. Corollary to the <a href="http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=16066"Namesake</a> series.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3471 RATING: 10.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
A.N.: Comes after . I recommend reading that one and to get the basic context.
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Zoë sat at the desk in Inara’s quarters, pen pressed to her lips, eyes staring vacantly ahead. Being more advanced than Serenity’s other children, Inara schooled little Zoë privately and warned the others off with a closed door. Despite the seclusion, Zoë had been nothing but distracted today. The fourteen-year-old had dark circles under her eyes, signifying another sleepless night and Inara worried for her adopted daughter. Some days, Zoë was as lively as a circus. She would dive enthusiastically into her studies, find a dozen ways to be helpful around the ship, play games with her little brothers, and talk Inara’s ear off about current events or frivolous girlish things. Since she’d been captured by those slave traders 10 months back, days like that had become precious and rare.
Today was a bad day. Zoë wasn’t simply introspective and laconic, she was completely unengaged in the world. She had seemed to be doing so much better last month, but something had turned recently.
“Zoë,” Inara called, a gentle nudge in her voice.
“Yes’m,” Zoë said mechanically, slouching so fiercely she nearly slid off the chair.
Inara waited. Finally Zoë lifted her eyes, saw Inara’s firm, disapproving look, and snapped to attention.
“Sorry, Mama ‘Nara,” she said, sitting up straight and adopting that high level of propriety that Inara practically beat into all the children. Zoë inhaled her weariness, forced a studious smile, and resumed her work. She never made excuses unless asked.
“Are you having trouble with the passage?” Inara asked. She knew Zoë wasn’t afraid to ask for help in her schooling, but she was hoping for a hint of what was going on inside Zoë’s head.
“No, Mama. I can finish.”
“Maybe you could read it aloud,” Inara suggested with a smile. Zoë usually lov
Keep flying ;)
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