Companions 'Gilded Cage'
POSTED BY: Bytemite
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 21, 2010 08:47
VIEWED: 36140
PAGE 6 of 11
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Originally posted by Bytemite:
No worries, I didn't realize about your ex-wife...Quote:
Well, we all see things through the prism of our own life experiences. It makes discussion interesting.Quote:
I just kinda like Inara...Quote:
I like her too, it's just this thing with Mal bugged me. I could understand Mal being shaped by his past but, until today, I didn't understand Inara. Now I'm just pissed at Joss. hahahaQuote:
But I get that some people see her a selfish or high-maintenance...Quote:
I'm not sure what to think anymore. I'm reminded of the last scene of Mal and Inara in the BDM. He imagines that she will be happy to get back to civilization and she replies that she's not sure. He responds with a smile: "Good answer." That's the first glimmer of hope I saw that they might actually get together. I could tolerate Joss giving her an illness as long as their together.Quote:
...I use them in my stories...Quote:
Do you have stories on here or elsewhere on the web? After all our discussions here I would be very interested in reading them.Quote:
As for Joss Whedon, there's maybe some good news. I've noticed he seems to be getting better about letting some of his couples find a little happiness...Quote:
God I hope so! Just let her live Joss! Please let her live! hahahaQuote:
...she might even be saved.
From you keyboard to Joss' ear. hahaha
I just want for the Serenity crew what I want for everyone...contentment and a long, healthy, prosperous life. I don't mind a little drama along the way, a cliffhanger or two, but I want it to move in that direction, you know...Fantasy! ahahaNOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote Pyramid!
That brings back memories of the crazy ones I used to make in threads on another board just for kicks. Ah, good times.
> It makes discussion interesting.
It does.
> Now I'm just pissed at Joss.
He kicks puppies. *nod*
>I could tolerate Joss giving her an illness as long as their together.
It's possible. According to a short story, there's four ways it could go: she dies and they don't get to be together, she doesn't die and they do, she lives and they don't get to be together, or she doesn't live but they get to be together. Judging by the context in the story, the first two options are the most likely, though we don't know which one it's going to be.
Also, there's the unfortunate truth that tautologically, if she dies then they technically don't really get to be together after that. I'm not sure if that sways the odds, though.
> Do you have stories on here or elsewhere on the web? After all our discussions here I would be very interested in reading them.
I had a little bit of a stress attack last month and deleted the ones I have on this site. I was a little crazy, it's true, and I've been trying to keep my stress down since then by either not posting or not fighting with anyone.
...I haven't been fully successful.
But! I am hoping to be able to post a picture on the forums here for Christmas. I probably won't post in the Blue Sun Room again, I'm a little too proud to do that. Plus it's kinda silly, it'd be like asking people to read my stuff all over again.
And besides, most of them were florid romantic crap anyway. In all honesty, I'm the least suitable person in existence to write romance, I have no idea WHAT I was thinking, I just guess Firefly inspired me and I had to write out my ideas no matter how bad it was.
>I just want for the Serenity crew what I want for everyone...contentment and a long, healthy, prosperous life.
Yeah. They sure have a long way to go though, don't they?
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Quote Pyramid!
hehe Well, this one was entirely accidental I assure you. I'm still figuring out this message board thing.
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I had a little bit of a stress attack last month and deleted the ones I have on this site.
I'm really sorry to hear this. I would have been very interested to get your take on the 'Verse. You argue your points here without being insulting. I respect and appreciate that.
Oddly enough, I feel the urge to create something, my take on the 'Verse, but I'm afraid it would just be trashed by others. I'm not sure I'm up for that.
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You'd be surprised how supportive people are around here. There are certain ship lines that people are drawn to which can influence the response you might get, but people generally avoid ship to ship combat around here, so you shouldn't get flamed just for writing Kaylee x Jayne. And you seem nice, I'd read and review. :)
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You argue your points here without being insulting. I respect and appreciate that.
Sometimes! I get hot headed a little now and then, and I'm not always sure what comes out then, but I try not to be outright crude/offensive or insulting. I tend to mostly go on long rants if I feel like I've been insulted more than I actually insult other people... I think. I hope?
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Byte, I'm so sorry about your stories. Those were a lot of words up.
As for Companioning the Noun and Verb...
I do feel partially responsible for this thread--actually Sensation, should I get it up in a timely manner, deals with some of these questions.
1. Nandi companionizing Mal.
Yup. Full-on in my opinion. But the reason it happened WAS indirectly about Nandi knowing what she wanted. At first I thought it was Joss making drama because he could. Then I realized it was to illustrate more about Mal/Inara other than revealing she was actually as obsessed with him as he was with her. (oh no! real tears!)
And really, it was coming anyway, when all the theme pieces fell into place:
Inara the out-of-transport Companion has him hooked in their initial interview.
SaffYoBridge the ex-double-cross whachamacalit *cough* sweet serf girl (with Companion training ie seduction skills)...was too naked and articulate to ultimately resist. Though good-night kisses cut his decision kinda short.
Nandi the ex-COMPANION facing an angry posse and he are having drinks, after he's come to SAVE HER. (Noticing a THEME yet?)
Mal, at least you recognized how the evening THERE was obviously going to end.
I'd advise getting clear of them Companions. Your head goes all fuzzy.
[More later. Got to clear out now.]
--
Going for a ride.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
...There are certain ship lines...
Umm..."ship lines?" What are "ship lines?"
Sorry if that's a really dumb question.
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They're kinda like battle-lines, but for shippers. But none of us really seem to fight anymore, so you'll be okay.
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Anothersky: Yeah! This is something that people don't notice, all the ladies Mal goes for that we ever see are the companions.
There was a guy doing some really interesting reviews of the Firefly episodes, he actually came in expecting hype aversion but found himself squeeing over everything and his liking only getting stronger with every episode. But one of the things the guy kept missing is he kept interpreting Mal as actually MEANING when he calls Inara a whore, and thinking Mal is somehow sexist and misogynist.
And then he missed the "wait, what?! He just slept with a companion!" realization that totally reframes the entire Mal/Inara relationship problems about something beside Inara's profession and Mal being bossy and patriarchal. More like busy and petrarchal. :D
But otherwise it was really fun watching a new fan and how much they were enjoying each episode. :)
Sensations! I am so eager for this fanfic. I hope I don't miss your posting while I'm away...
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...he kept interpreting Mal as actually MEANING when he calls Inara a whore, and thinking Mal is somehow sexist and misogynist.
And then he missed the "wait, what?! He just slept with a companion!" realization that totally reframes the entire Mal/Inara relationship problems about something beside Inara's profession and Mal being bossy and patriarchal...
Forgive my piggy-backing here.
I'm not saying that Nandi didn't seduce Mal but I don't think it took much. And why would she have seduced him except that she admired and wanted him? I think Mal and Nandi had a lot in common. As Mal told her:"You're my kind of stupid." I don't see Inara as being Mal's kind of (stubborn, reckless) stupid. Nandi is more laid back. She doesn't serve Mal tea but Sake. And, of course, she is very proud of her pistol collection. I don't think this stuff was an act. besides, she was hot! I think she was a very easy person for Mal to admire and fall for. If Nandi had lived, I wonder if just that fact would have caused problems for Mal and Inara, regardless of whether Nandi pursued it or not.
Actually I like Nandi more than Inara because she is so down to earth and approachable. About the only person Inara seems to bond with is Kaylee.
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Nandi is a companion, it's stated outright in the episode. She is from the core. Her rim-world attitude is something she picked up, but it is not her original personality. She is not nearly as independent as her tough act would have you believe: the most rebellious thing she's ever done is destroy a dulcimer, and she requires the help of Inara, and a gun hand, to do what she can't herself.
Mal is saving her whorehouse from a bunch of thugs. Nandi kind of owes Mal for this. Nandi doesn't know Inara is compensating Mal for his effort. Nandi has sex with Mal.
...Seems pretty clear cut to me.
As for Inara and pistols, see Trash and holding Saffron at gun point. Inara may have a more polished veneer than Nandi or Mal, but I'd actually say all three of them aren't so very different. In fact, if Nandi lived, I actually think there would have been predominantly Nandi/Inara, and that there would have been some Mal/Inara on the side.
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About the only person Inara seems to bond with is Kaylee.
And Simon, and Zoe, and River, and Wash, and Book, and Mal, when she's not fighting with him.
People seem to forget the scenes she has with Simon, like in Out of Gas, or stopping to talk to Simon and Kaylee in Jaynestown before heading out, or her friendly banter with Wash over the coms in the pilot episode, or all the times Simon has Inara look after River, or her talking casually with Zoe in Trash about Mal's tendencies to get in women trouble, her offering Benediction to Book in the pilot and in other episodes talking with Book about life on the ship.
This idea that Inara doesn't get along with the crew is prevalent in the fandom. It makes Inara look like some stuck up bitch who stays in her shuttle and doesn't associate with them. But while the show doesn't particularly focus on her one on one scenes with the crew (and there are LOTS), it's heavily implied that she does mingle. I'd argue the only people she doesn't seem to get along with are Jayne, who she finds a little boorish, and Mal, but their relationship is complicated.
But then, people are also looking from the perspectives of their own experience and what they expect to see too, as you said before, so I must accept your interpretation as valid even though I don't agree with it.
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