xfirefly9x

Title: Battlefield
Character: Inara Serra
Word Count: 353
Notes: Written for big_damn_quests
Challenge: (Round 4 - Challenge 1): “How did you survive the toughest battle of your life?”

The toughest battle of my life would seem very juvenile to an outsider. Most likely, it would seem that way to the crew as well and they know me better than anyone! (Not that they know me personally – they know the Companion in me and not my real persona.)

Anyway, my toughest battle wasn’t the dangerous war-like activities that occurred at Miranda, not was it the horror of the Reavers on the many occasions that Serenity came across them. It wasn’t even the jobs that the crew have been on at times putting both themselves and occasionally me in danger, or the fights I’ve had with Malcolm Reynolds, the ignorant captain of Serenity.

No, my toughest battle was leaving Serenity.

Leaving Serenity was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the decision, but I had to do it for many reasons. I’m a Companion and a Companion needs to stay in control at all times. Aboard Serenity, I was slipping.

I was feeling things that one following my profession should defend against and I was letting emotions overtake every fibre of my being. I was losing myself and becoming one of them. In saying that, I don’t mean that the crew aren’t good people. I just can’t be like them. I’m not built in the same fashion.

Leaving all of the crew behind was really hard. I’ve formed allegiance with each and every one of them in some way or another. Friendship even. But that’s why I had to leave. I was getting too attached.

Now that I think about it, my reasons sound weak and selfish. I’ve been at the Companion Training House for a little over 2 weeks and a part of me is missing. I miss the crew greatly: Kaylee and her engine grease, Simon’s disability to form a complete sentence in the presence of the mechanic, River and her random moments, Book’s company, Jayne’s crude comments, Wash’s jokes and Zoe’s constant stability and especially Mal.

More than that, I miss Serenity. Leaving Serenity was definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.

Title: Addendums
Character: Inara Serra
Word Count: 169
Notes: Written for big_damn_quests
Challenge: (Round 4 - Challenge 4): “What is your biggest pet peeve?”

My biggest pet peeve is definitely the disrespect that Mal shows me. He calls me a whore despite all the times that I’ve requested him not to. I think he does it because of his obvious dislike of my career choice. There’s almost always a hint of jealously in his voice when he uses that word…

Another thing that he does is barge into my shuttle unannounced, whenever he feels like it. He never shows any sign that he cares. Its almost like he does it on purpose, to get my attention. Intolerable is too weak a word to describe it! I fear that someday, he’s going to interrupt me at a very bad time.

I only hope that when that happens, I’m not with a client.

When I first joined the crew of Serenity, I put forward a few very simple addendums. Out of everything that asked of him, I can only think of one rule that hasn’t been broken. That is my biggest pet peeve of all.