The Guild, Serenity, Mal, and Inara

POSTED BY: Bytemite
UPDATED: Monday, January 15, 2024 00:21
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BYTEMITE

Monday, August 10, 2009 4:49 PM

So after digesting some of the "More about Sex and Inara" thread that Mal4Prez posted (here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=12&t=38801), I've been trying to sort through some ideas I have about Mal, Inara, and their lifestyles/careers.

I thought I'd throw some of these ideas out into the ring and see which ones survive and which ones get torn apart by tigers.

So, houses of the guild. Obviously they'll all have some things in common, like no forced prostitution and the rules on subscription fees and client payments. But do they all same policy on relationships, or might there some that might be more traditional and strict than others? And by traditional and strict, I mean geisha-like, having to retire to marry, versus the opposite end, French courtesans who could have spouses AND practice. Could individual Guild Houses have their own culture (more Christian, more Buddhist, less strict, more strict, etc.)? Could differences among Houses lead to widespread confusion over whether Companions can have relationships, as is suggested in the scene cut from War Stories?

I believe I've heard that Joss describes Companions as being like Greek Hetaerae, who upon marrying had to give up their privileged status. But it could be he was just using Hetaerae as an analogy to the privilege they enjoy.

Priestesses. What might being a Guild Priestess entail? To me, it sounds like the Priestess may put more emphasis on the spiritual and counsel side of the profession than on the money-making, and likely act as the administrators and diplomats of the guild. If Inara were to fulfill her dream of becoming a Priestess, and if a priestess has the option of not maintaining a client database, would this disenfranchise Inara as much as teaching, choosing to leave the guild, or being kicked out would?

Finally, Serenity. Both Mal and Inara love the ship, but I really think that as beneficial as the ship has been to him reconstructing himself, it's also become a destructive factor in his life. Out of Gas shows that it's a risk just flying in her, let alone the kind of jobs they have to take to keep her flying.

I've said before, that I think Mal needs to give up Serenity before he gets himself killed, and that Joss would write Mal giving up Serenity as symbolic of Mal finally healing from Serenity Valley. And, in starting a relationship with Inara, there would likely have to be some compromise in regards to career/lifestyle that both would need to make. Serenity is the biggest one I can see.

The only problem is, neat as that sounds, if Mal becomes landlocked, even if he's healed enough that he doesn't drive himself crazy with restlessness, how can this be balanced with the travel requirements of Inara's career? As a Rim-traveling companion, or even as a Guild ambassador to the Rim, she would need to travel.

That's all I can think of for now, but as things are discussed, I may come up with more.

EDIT: Another reference thread. http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=2&t=37626

UNABASHEDVIXEN

Monday, August 10, 2009 5:51 PM

What would they call the show/movie if there was no more Firelfy-class Serenity?

I agree that Mal would eventually give up the ship, but to me that would end the series.

I like the idea of different Houses having different cultures - Inara's house, Madrassa, was on Sihnon, so it makes sense that she subscribes to Buddhism, but on Londinium, for example, maybe there was an overarching Christianity. In terms of dating, Kaylee asks Inara in the series what the Guild rules are, and Inara says it's complicated. This suggests Guild-wide policy on the matter, but maybe not.

I definitely agree on the House Priestess being an administrator/diplomat type. Maybe she would also keep a client roster, but of very select and important clients only - I would think it would be a big deal to retain the services of a House Priestess, considering what a big deal it seemed to be in Heart of Gold.

I wish we had seen more of the training house in the BDM - maybe more questions would have been answered.

Okay, I confess I hit "reply" to this post before seeing who wrote it - I'm not stalking you I swear!

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BYTEMITE

Monday, August 10, 2009 6:08 PM

Mal and Inara are a common topic of mine, don't worry about it. :) Just means you and I like the same things.

Quote:
What would they call the show/movie if there was no more Firelfy-class Serenity?

I agree that Mal would eventually give up the ship, but to me that would end the series.

Exactly. Ride off into the sunset on a horse, pan camera down to one last look at Serenity. Is there really any other way Joss would've done it?

Aside from the "Everybody dies" option.

Quote:
In terms of dating, Kaylee asks Inara in the series what the Guild rules are, and Inara says it's complicated. This suggests Guild-wide policy on the matter, but maybe not.

Could be that it's complicated because of MANY different ways of interpreting the rules, and it's likely still all mired in bureaucracy and forms even if you find a house and some priestesses to submit your forms to who might be favourable.

Or it could just be NOT ALLOWED, though I think a lot of us would be disappointed in Joss for going that way. It's the obvious answer. Joss rarely is obvious, he likes to twist.

Quote:
I definitely agree on the House Priestess being an administrator/diplomat type. Maybe she would also keep a client roster, but of very select and important clients only - I would think it would be a big deal to retain the services of a House Priestess, considering what a big deal it seemed to be in Heart of Gold.

I agree, although I think if a Priestess opted to not keep a roster, that might also be respected. But that could just be me hand waving.

Then again, maybe having a roster might not be such a big deal. I'm sure if a companion felt like working but now and then didn't feel like sex, he or she might still be able to engage clients who specifically just want comfort or companionship or even just someone to listen. The engagements might not always be about sex.

MANGOLO

Monday, August 10, 2009 7:02 PM

I don't think Mal would ever give up his ship. Like any of the great captains of history, his ship defines him. Maybe he'd be in port more often as he ages, but 'keep flyin' is his credo.

KIMBER

Monday, August 10, 2009 7:19 PM

If Mal gave up his ship, I would think he'd live on a ranch =) As for the guild, I think it frowns upon dating because that means less clients...but I think if Inara made her mind up, no guild would keep her from being with Mal.

Kim

PLATONIST

Monday, August 10, 2009 7:24 PM

That may be true in other fictional stories, but not in a Whedon verse, Joss likes to take everything away from his characters, leave them with nothing, and see where that takes them. It's more likely Serenity will go down in a fiery ball with a narrow escape for the crew.

And, by the same token, Inara will probably never be a House Priestess, because that’s the life she left behind, like Simon.

BYTEMITE

Monday, August 10, 2009 7:38 PM

Well, no, I didn't say House Priestess. That sounds to me like the title of whoever is directly in charge of a specific house. Like an Abbess. I agree that wouldn't be for Inara, she's definitely a traveler now.

But there has to be other positions of authority in the Guild. Houses, as I suggested, may have different cultures, but to completely not be talking to each other and the highest authority in a guild is the mother of one house? That wouldn't work.

BYTEMITE

Monday, August 10, 2009 7:46 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Mangolo:
I don't think Mal would ever give up his ship. Like any of the great captains of history, his ship defines him. Maybe he'd be in port more often as he ages, but 'keep flyin' is his credo.

I seem to recall most great Captains in history and literature either go down with their ship or end up alone, spurned by the Gods, and thinking of better days until something falls off their ship onto their head and kills them.

I guess it goes back to that old Roman phrase, when the heroes would return and were given a rite of triumph. Memento mori. The Romans didn't think you could have a legend where the hero was glorified in conquest without seeing the end of it, when the hero is forgotten and reminded of their own mortality.

MAL4PREZ

Monday, August 10, 2009 8:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bytemite:
Well, no, I didn't say House Priestess. That sounds to me like the title of whoever is directly in charge of a specific house. Like an Abbess.

The only context in which I've heard the term "Priestess" used is "House Priestess." This is clearly established in canon, that there is a leader of each House referred to as a Priestess.

The use of "Priestess" as a more general title seems to be your invention. I must admit that I'm not sure what you mean by it, and why you needed to make the correction to Platonist. Can you explain more what you mean?

Anyway, my impression of the Guild is one of well defined central authority. It's likely that each House has its own culture, but it seems that the rules of the job, so to speak, are pretty clear and strictly defined. The rules put on Inara in her contract (where was that posted? Anyone recall?) are pretty detailed, and nothing in canon suggests that that rules are not universal. Within the Guild, I mean.

It's like any modern franchise. Part of the success of Starbucks is that any store you walk into, you know exactly what you're getting for your money. And this has to be a sensitive thing in the sex trade. There clearly is need for the Guild to separate itself from regular whoring, and those rules put on Inara suggest that they are serious about protecting their brand.

That's probably not what you're looking to hear, Bytemite. I find that you often throw these ideas out there when you have a specific idea of how you want to set things up in your fic world, and I never seem to see things your way. Sorry!

As to Mal and his ship... another topic. I'll get to it in a separate post.

ETA: Bytemite, am I remembering wrong, or have we talked about the movie's Visual Companion? I seem to recall that you hadn't read it. If you haven't, you really should. A lot of the Guild's structure and philosophy is described in there, as well as the lifestyles of retired Companions, etc. In fact, I really need to read up on it too to refresh myself, but I'm not sure where my copy is at the moment...

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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left

UNABASHEDVIXEN

Monday, August 10, 2009 8:18 PM

Inara's contract, from the show (made for The Train Job) is in the companion too - the first volume. I recall thinking I needed to get a magnifying glass though...

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People before profits

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