Inara's Secret

POSTED BY: flugufrelsarinn
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 3, 2004 02:41
VIEWED: 21332
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GRACEOM

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 6:34 PM

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I guess I'll start with the background bits. First, we know the life of a registered Companion is somewhat demanding, with respect to all the training and education they go through. Very structured kinda thing, yeah? And that can wear on a girl (i.e., Nandi in Heart of Gold). Second, we know 'nara was quickly heading towards becoming House Priestess in House Madrassa, but she left Sihnon damn quick without (known) explanation. Third, we know that Companion rules about "dating" are "complicated" (Ariel) and that Companions are not allowed to have lovers (War Stories deleted scene).

Now I'll move on to Mr. Whedon... he seems to love the big emotion thing. Grand, sweeping, real human kind of emotion. That's what we're supposed to be getting from the relationship - or lack thereof - between Mal and Inara. That scene in Heart of Gold where Inara's crying her eyes out all alone? I've cried like that (shhh, don't repeat that). That tugs at the real life heart strings.

Her despair really got to me too. It was so absolute, and rather a surprise to see such an outpouring of unguarded emotion from her.

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And the one last bit...in Out of Gas, where y'all've been saying Mr. M fed you a line about a clue to Inara's whatever...I don't recall that, but I'll take your word for it. I think the most revealing line from 'nara in that is "I love this ship. I have from the first moment I saw it." I always assumed she wasn't talking about Serenity, but rather, she was talking about Mal.

Interesting. I always though she was talking about Serentiy--and hence I formed the impression that she had ventured into the black in pursuit of freedom and independence.

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So, for those of you who're still awake, here's my "theory," of sorts:

Inara spent the first majority of her life in a demanding, rigid, professional...profession. (god, sometimes I feel like Jayne...duh.) It's a good life, what with all the benefits and whatnot, and we know she enjoys most of it. But, spending your whole life doing one thing, ya start to wonder, what else is out there? You can see in Shindig that she's not entirely a part of that world anymore. Maybe she wants some of those things that a Companion isn't allowed to have, and one of those things is, potentially, a love of her life: Mal. Maybe a family.

But, for someone trained in reading body language, she still can't quite seem to figure out Mal. If I were in her position, I sure as hell wouldn't give up the life I have if I'm not 100% (...or...maybe 90%...) sure about the guy for whom I'm giving it up. I'd definitely walk soft. If Mal doesn't have capacity for what Inara needs, she's wasting her time.

Now the needle-box-thing. If I have to let go of the "suicide kit" theory, I'm gonna slide on over to what I mentioned above as someone else's idea: Inara's in "a family way," as River so eloquently put it. I'd not really considered that until I watched Objects In Space again. What stuck out is Early's statements about some of the crew, which are - more or less - true in some way. The statement that seemingly comes outta nowhere is this:
EARLY (to Inara): Man is stronger by far than woman. But only woman can create a child. That seem right to you?
Maybe he's referring to 'nara. It's probably obvious to point out the the Guild would definitely disapprove of a knocked-up Companion. So I'm thinkin' she hides it...or delays it...with whatever's in the needle, if she's really getting periodic doses of it. And she wouldn't be looking to stop the needle-dose-thing until such time as she has a commitment and a bit of stability.

I don't think Inara is pregnant--she would have to have conceived while living on Serenity, and I just find it hard to imagine she'd have allowed that to happen. But your post did make me wonder if the syringe might contain a contraceptive or abortifascient she's supposed to use...but maybe doesn't want to.

OR maybe Inara has a child somewhere. Seem

CHANNAIN

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 7:19 PM

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Originally posted by Lilianna:
Has anyone considered that maybe one of the reasons Inara and Mal tend to distance themselves from one another is that they have had "relations" before. I just wonder how the two met.

I think that's pretty plainly explained in Out of Gas as a purely business-type arrangement. Mal advertised a shuttle for rent and she answered the ad. Not to mention Mal couldn't have afforded her then or likely ever, as evidenced by his admission later in the same episode that he would have to "owe" her the security deposit on the shuttle. (I've come to know that episode pretty well - it's the one I watch when my muse needs a kick in the pants.)

There's not enough tension between these two for them to have had "relations" already. Just enough to indicate they've both been thinking about it in some detail, but never really engaged the fantasies. Not to mention there's an emotional aspect involved that seems to be scaring the begeezus out of both of them.

They're a lot alike, those two. Strong, willful individuals who have had their souls burned by some evil or other. The difference is that we know what Mal's issues are (mostly) but Inara? Not so much.

Also, Inara's parting look in Trash when Mal turns away was one of obvious surprise. I'm thinking if she had seen him in the altogether before, she'd have been more companion-like about it and not had a reaction more similar to each and every one of us red-blooded females back here on Earth-That-Was...What?

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

THOREAU

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 8:19 PM

I agree with the idea that Inara is dying. I think it's something terminal, but obviously not transmittable. I think the syringe is a medicine she has to take if and when the symptoms start to show, and for the time being it keeps her malady in recession. I feel that it's the sort of thing that might let her have a decade at most, but could flare up and end her at any time. I think she was looking at the syringe when the Reavers were upon them not in a "should i use that to kill myself" sort of way, but more of a "guess i don't need to worry about whether that will work" sort of way. When River 'reads' her, I took that as Inara wanting to hear from the 'seer' if she was close to the end. I think she stayed on Serenity for a year because it was a nice enough place to live, away from the people who knew her secret. I think she decided to leave Serenity because she fell in love with Mal and didn't want to put herself or anyone else through the agony of her upcoming demise. Well, she knew she was dying, but she didn't want to have so gorram much to lose. The annual medical checks she goes to are the usual companion checks, but also an update on the status of her malady.

So that's what I think. Lots of others have said pretty much the same thing, but everything I feel about it is based on her actions and reactions on the show.

Jayne: "These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me."

VETERAN

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 9:36 PM

What's the "True Alliance?"

GRACEOM

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:53 PM

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Originally posted by thoreau:
I agree with the idea that Inara is dying. I think it's something terminal, but obviously not transmittable. I think the syringe is a medicine she has to take if and when the symptoms start to show, and for the time being it keeps her malady in recession. I feel that it's the sort of thing that might let her have a decade at most, but could flare up and end her at any time. I think she was looking at the syringe when the Reavers were upon them not in a "should i use that to kill myself" sort of way, but more of a "guess i don't need to worry about whether that will work" sort of way. When River 'reads' her, I took that as Inara wanting to hear from the 'seer' if she was close to the end. I think she stayed on Serenity for a year because it was a nice enough place to live, away from the people who knew her secret. I think she decided to leave Serenity because she fell in love with Mal and didn't want to put herself or anyone else through the agony of her upcoming demise. Well, she knew she was dying, but she didn't want to have so gorram much to lose. The annual medical checks she goes to are the usual companion checks, but also an update on the status of her malady.

So that's what I think. Lots of others have said pretty much the same thing, but everything I feel about it is based on her actions and reactions on the show.

Jayne: "These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me."

Not trying to pick at you, or anyone, but the more I think about the "Inara's dying" idea, the less it makes sense to me. I mean everyone on Serenity is in danger of dying on a regular basis--most especially Mal, Zoe, and Jayne, who are regularly putting themselves in harm's way. So for Inara to maintain all this drama because she has some disease that might kill her in 10 years or so...seems kind of pointless.

Grace

SHINY

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 10:57 PM

You folks are all huge creative geniuses!

Just sayin, is all.

Please help Haken keep this site running by occasionally clicking on some of the sponsored ad links on the side of the page!

THOREAU

Wednesday, May 26, 2004 11:37 PM

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Not trying to pick at you, or anyone, but the more I think about the "Inara's dying" idea, the less it makes sense to me. I mean everyone on Serenity is in danger of dying on a regular basis--most especially Mal, Zoe, and Jayne, who are regularly putting themselves in harm's way. So for Inara to maintain all this drama because she has some disease that might kill her in 10 years or so...seems kind of pointless.

Grace

Another consistent theme of Mutant Enemy shows is hope. Usually twisted or broken, but hope nevertheless. Everyone on board Serenity is in mortal danger pretty regularly, but knowing you're in the process of dying is a whole different animal. For Mal, River, even YoSafBridge, the chance of eventual salvation is there. For Inara, this isn't the case. No matter how much adversity she overcomes, the end is near. Regardless of how many times the crew cheat Death, Inara is his. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. There is no sunny porch and rocking chair and glass of iced tea and watching the grandkids play in the yard in Inara's future. Because of this, every victory is tainted, every narrow escape just the inevitable prolonged.

kinda bleak, and it would temper anyone's cheery disposition.

Except maybe Kaylee...

Jayne: "These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me."

GRACEOM

Thursday, May 27, 2004 4:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by thoreau:
Another consistent theme of Mutant Enemy shows is hope. Usually twisted or broken, but hope nevertheless. Everyone on board Serenity is in mortal danger pretty regularly, but knowing you're in the process of dying is a whole different animal. For Mal, River, even YoSafBridge, the chance of eventual salvation is there. For Inara, this isn't the case. No matter how much adversity she overcomes, the end is near. Regardless of how many times the crew cheat Death, Inara is his. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. There is no sunny porch and rocking chair and glass of iced tea and watching the grandkids play in the yard in Inara's future. Because of this, every victory is tainted, every narrow escape just the inevitable prolonged.

kinda bleak, and it would temper anyone's cheery disposition.

Except maybe Kaylee...

Jayne: "These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me."

Yes but...people with terminal diseases also have hope--or can have hope just as readily as people facing a firefight against poor odds. They can hope they'll beat the odds. They can hope a cure will be found (and become an activist to try to promote that). They can hope the diagnosis was wrong. People can and do fight back against diagnoses of breast cancer, AIDS, MS, leukemia and so on.

So what makes Inara different?

Grace

THOREAU

Friday, May 28, 2004 2:38 AM

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Originally posted by GraceOM:
Yes but...people with terminal diseases also have hope--or can have hope just as readily as people facing a firefight against poor odds. They can hope they'll beat the odds. They can hope a cure will be found (and become an activist to try to promote that). They can hope the diagnosis was wrong. People can and do fight back against diagnoses of breast cancer, AIDS, MS, leukemia and so on.

So what makes Inara different?

Grace

That depends entirely on the disease. This isn't star trek, where a disase can make someone age rapidly until they look like they're 80 years old and the doctor just gives em a shot and they're all better, fit and 25 again. Depending on the malaise, there probably is some glimmer of hope, but not always. As Kaylee said, sometimes a thing's broke and can't be fixed.

Even if there is hope for a cure, I can't consider there to be any similarity between a person who is fit and healthy and leads a dangerous life and a person who is actively dying but hopes for a cure.

t

Jayne: "These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me."

LAILING

Thursday, June 24, 2004 2:31 PM

I'm sorry, but the "Inara is dying" idea is too soap-operaish and cliche for me. Just my personal opinion. And considering how innovative and creative this show has been (not to mention Joss's other shows), I would hope he's come up with something more original.
I do have a theory of my own, too:
Say River is the best success Blue Sun has had. Say Blue Sun realizes that, on a backwater planet outside the Alliance's control and/or with sufficient help, Simon & River might never be caught. Say they decide to send someone out in search of River by more devious means than the warrant for arrest. And say the Guild is connected in some way with Blue Sun (could be financial, could be something else).
So - Blue Sun goes to someone ambitious, sympathetic to the Alliance, intelligent, and a "player" (Inara re: Saffron: "Never play a player".) Her mission: to go out to planets on the rim and search for River. When she finds her, Inara is to drug her with something they give her that won't negatively interact with the mods they've made on River. Then Inara is to turn River back over to Blue Sun. A Companion is the perfect cover, since she can go anywhere, and talk to anyone, and no one will stop or question her. A ship like Serenity is the perfect place because it is a smuggling vessel, but, even if River never ends up there herself, it's other cargoes - legit and not - takes the ship to many ports - legit and not, thereby providing the largest possible numbers of places Inara can search.
However, Blue Sun didn't tell Inara anything, so when she found River - and found out what had been done to her, Inara found she couldn't go thru with turning River in. So she's decided to abandon her search. Perhaps she'll tell her superiors that she's discovered River is dead or maybe she knows she'll end up dead, but in any event, she can't do it, so she's leaving Serenity.
Corollary possibility: That, in order to ensure her loyalty, Blue Sun poisoned her, and she must have a counter-agent at regular intervals. The counter-agent was in the package she received, and also in the syringe in the Pilot.
Theory about the Syringe in the Pilot: A. A drug for River - "If I give this to River, she'll feel nothing." B. A counter-agent for poison - if the Reavers get her, that renders the whole situation moot.
Also, Inara's annual check-up could also be to check in with her superiors and make sure the poison and counter-agent are working as expected.
By the way, at least two other fanfic writers that I've read also believe that Blue Sun is somehow connected to the Companion's Guild.
This theory would also be in keeping with Joss's tendency to "wheels within wheels" mechanizations.
Plus, I just like the idea of the "nefarious scheme" better than the tired melodrama of "the beautiful heroine is tragically dying" anyway.

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