Simon and Inara, closed PSL.

[notaboutsex]

Inara had thought about leaving Serenity for a while now. When she had initially joined the crew, she had planned on staying distant from the others. Becoming too close to any of them could only serve to hinder her, and her life as a companion. It worked well for a while... until things began to change. She loved Kaylee as a dear friend now, and she even had a comfortable rapport with Wash, and Zoe. Most of the time she tolerated Jayne, although he, too had become family. With the newest crewmembers, it had been easy to like Shepherd Book - they all did, even Mal. She had the most complicated relationship with the captain, of course. They messed about with each other's heads, and there were times she wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss him, or just hit him really hard. It was mainly because of him that she was considering leaving, still.

And then there was River and Simon. Though the girl was troubled, Inara cared about her. There was an almost motherly quality around her, really. So she'd had no trouble letting the younger woman borrow her brush. She had offered to brush her hair for her, and had even begun to... but the moment hadn't lasted when they arrived on the planet for the smugglers' newest job, and Inara's newest client. But she had left the brush with River, and she didn't mind letting her use it. Some time later, after the jobs, she thought maybe River would let her finish brushing her hair, or at least give her the brush back. Either way, it wasn't much trouble for her, but Inara enjoyed visiting her, anyway. She hadn't thought Simon was in their room, of course, not after Jayne had been shot in his shoulder on the last job. From what she had heard last, he would be fine.

Inara pauses at the closed door to their room, and knocked lightly. "River?" she calls, a smile on her voice. "Sweetie? I thought you might like me to finish brushing your hair."

Comments

[hippocratical]

The last few years of Simon's life had proven...tumultuous, to say the least. He'd gone from a leading surgeon, the next bright star on Osiris, eldest child of a very well-respected, moneyed family--to this. A fugitive, penniless, on the run from the Alliance and who else, he couldn't begin to guess. Traveling on a ship constantly one bad day from floating into the black, never to be seen again, with a crew captained by a madman. A crew that included a man who'd tried to sell them to the highest bidder. All for a sister who...he wouldn't think it. She wasn't broken. Couldn't be, not after everything he'd been through to help her. Sometimes he wondered if he weren't a little mad, too.

But she was getting better, had longer, more lucid moments. She showed flashes of being the girl she used to be, laughed like his sister used to, played games like a girl her age should. She was getting better, and some of that at least was because of this ship. He had to admit, he felt it, too. Maybe he had nothing, but this ship...it was starting to feel like something. Those moments with Kaylee that almost but weren't quite Moments, banter with Jayne that almost didn't have those sharp, bitter edges anymore. Respect, at least a little, for his skill from the others, even an uneasy truce with the captain. And then there was...

"Inara?" Simon steps around the corner, journal in his hand, facing the unexpected visitor. "Did River do something? I'm sorry." It's almost second nature by now, those apologies. Much like when they were younger, River always one step ahead of Simon diving into trouble.

[notaboutsex]

Simon was... well, he was a surprise. After what he had done when he'd first come aboard Serenity, risking Kaylee's live like that to save his sister, Inara supposed she should have distrusted him, too. She knew Mal still had misgivings about the good doctor from time to time, and more often than not. Mal might have been many things, but he was loyal to his crew, and it was for them. But she wasn't the kind of person to hate others, and when she spoke with him, she began to understand. And little Kaylee certainly held no ill will toward the good doctor. Inara knew about her infatuation with him, and she couldn't blame her. She was good at reading people, and though he wasn't quite the mystery Mal was, he still wasn't all one thing. Inara admired him for his love of River, and how he had left his comfortable life to save her. He'd probably be on the run for a very long time to come, if not forever, yet he didn't give up. And though the crew was her family, they weren't exactly civilized people. Simon was, however, and it was nice to have that aboard the ship.

River was still a mystery to her, of course, but that wasn't surprising. Still, it was good to see her moments, where she could enjoy being so young, and not nearly as inhibited by the voices in her head as usual.

Inara turns at the familiar voice, brow raised. She shakes her head at his question. "No, River didn't do anything," she corrects him, smiling lightly. "I wanted to see if she would like her hair brushed again. I think it... calms her, a little." And she did like helping people, even when they weren't her clients. After all, sometimes Kaylee came to her to have her hair brushed, her skin cleaned or her face painted. Inara's shuttle was a safe place for crew members who needed it - except, perhaps, Jayne, and Mal, who barged in unannounced, anyway.

[hippocratical]

His biggest regret in this whole feng le mess so far has been how things started. Using Kaylee's life as a bargaining chip like that. It went against everything he was, the oath he'd taken as a physician, the words a physical pain as he'd spoken them...but he'd meant every word. For River, he'd have done anything. Would still do anything. The crew hadn't been meant to find her. They should have gotten on and off, undetected, but it was little wonder that agent had tracked them. Simon wasn't exactly practiced in the art of stealth and subterfuge.

Maybe that's part of why he can't ever bring himself to follow up on any of those moments he and Kaylee share. Guilt from that first meeting. It was different, he knew her now, can say that he wouldn't make the same choice he did then, but he doesn't really know if he believes that. None of them are as important to him. It makes for a certain distance.

Inara's never really commented on that distance, though. She's the only one of them who accepts it gracefully, who acts like she doesn't even notice it, and that perhaps ironically makes her easier to talk to. "I think she's playing hide-and-seek with Kaylee," he says, another brief flash of guilt at the mention of her name. "--I'm sorry, again? Is that your brush she has?" It's been next to River's little bunk for over a week now, and he tries to recall if she'd ever said how it got there.

[[ooc: oh gosh, I am so sorry. I've been sick and overworked the last week. Promise I didn't forget about this thread, and things are better now!]]

[notaboutsex]

Inara is good at reading people, and she knows that Simon hadn't really meant to hurt anyone, especially Kaylee. He cared for his sister so much that protecting her was all he could see. But Simon was a doctor, and a kind person, not a killer. So it was something she could forgive, even if Mal couldn't. She knew the captain wasn't too fond of Simon for many reasons, however, though at the end of the day, the doctor was part of his crew. Family. Mal was strangely loyal to people he didn't treat like people most of the time.

She knows that Kaylee has a crush on Simon, and it's nice to see her friend happy. On a ship like this, there wasn't anyone else for the engineer to admire like that, and it was a very normal reaction. And Inara could understand why the other woman would look up to him. She could admire him for his love of his sister, or his gentleness, his intelligence. Both Mal and Jayne were never afraid of throwing punches, but the good doctor was different - save, perhaps, to when it came to protecting River. In another world, he could have been her client.

"I wouldn't want to interrupt her game," Inara smiled, then shaking her head. "Don't apologize, it's perfectly alright. I have other brushes, she can keep it for as long as she wants." That could have been the end of their conversation, but she makes no sign of leaving. Inara enjoyed their conversations, however brief they might be. "It sounds as if River is having a good day. I'm so glad."

[hippocratical]

Many people might consider the way Inara says the words as only being polite. And she is, of course. She's always polite. Kaylee is sweet in her way, open and honest and forthright, for the most part, to where Simon himself can't always avoid the subject or situation, but there's a certain something you don't find in Outer Planet girls. Something about the manners, but more than the manners. There are levels of conversation one has, in polite society. Multiple levels, often at the same time, and it's a challenge he's always found fascinating. Like three-dimensional chess, almost. Simultaneous games. River detested it, when they were younger, always purposely circumvented these sorts of niceties, but now...Simon took comfort in it. And thusly, a strange sort of comfort in Inara herself, even if their paths crossed less often. No reason for the Doctor to see the Companion, or vice versa he supposed, not unless there were an immediate issue. She could have her pick of Doctors in the system, even flying with this ragtag band. But here she was.

"She is, I think," he says, and it's clear even in his own polite, measured tones that his own relief and worry is greater than he can say. He loves her good days, but at the same time they make the bad so much worse. For the both of them. "It's kind of you to say. Thank you, Inara." He looks at her then, with a little smile, still paused at the end of the alley between the passenger quarters and the rest of the ship. "It's good to have someone aboard who...can be generous, with River." With her possessions, and with tolerance. And thus, with him.

[notaboutsex]

Conversation is an art form, one of the many skills she had acquired and honed while training to become a companion. When with a client, there was a certain way to keep the conversation flowing naturally, to keep it focused on the client, and not on herself. It was important the client feel special, and Inara had a way of saying things that didn't sound insincere, or like they were just things said to make that person feel better about themselves. After all, she chose her clients, and she saw something in them she felt needed to be tended to, like a fire that needed kindling. Sometimes they needed a self-esteem boost, or sometimes they just needed comforting that only she could give. There were a number of reasons why she took on a client, after all, and they were only between her and those clients - despite all the times Mal had come into her room unannounced and tried to discern what she was up to.

Inara found she enjoyed her talks with Simon, even if it was only to find out how River was doing. The poor girl was troubled, that was clear for anyone to see, but she knew his brother was trying to help her. It was admirable, and endearing. He was a good man, and it wasn't often that she found people of their society who would do such things for their family, much less give up their comfortable lives for them.

She smiles a little, relieved as well to hear River is doing better. Inara knows her good days come and go - the whole crew often knows that, when things go missing or cans end up with no labels. Or worse. But she can tell what perhaps the others can't really tell - how much of a toll this has all taken on Simon. He tries to be strong for River, and he does an admirable job, but he is only one man. "I only wish there was more I could do," she replied honestly. "If you ever need a moment to yourself, Simon, please do not hesitate to contact me. I'm more than happy to spend time with her, or let her stay in my shuttle. She seemed to enjoy having her hair brushed, anyway." Inara raises her brow, with that secret smile of hers. "You know, Kaylee visits my shuttle often, as well. She also likes having her hair brushed, or her face washed. If you ever need a moment to relax, you're more than welcome to come by. I can even make sure Mal stays out." Her voice was dry there, but she had ways of keeping the man out, even though her door was usually open to everyone. It was a small offer, the chance for a moment's peace in her shuttle, but she hoped he might take it. On a ship like this, with the rough lives they led, sometimes that small bit of luxury was nice.