(Untitled)

[belongtonobody]

Inara had endured six months on the island of Tabula Rasa, bearing witness to a season of snow and a day of Reavers. She had moved from Serenity to separate herself and still spent time with the crew regularly. She had made plans to start a school, a Companion house of her own, and found herself unable to start so complex a project, one that would

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[sidlong_glance]

Sara had felt unsettled lately, felt like things were too quiet for her liking, especially since Nick and Greg had received those...things. A CSI could never be paranoid enough, really. She let her feet guide her, though, today. It was leap year, that extra day that was like any other day, even on this damn island that gave and took away with measured abandon.

Besides, she didn't get south as much as she'd like. And as she looked up at the...well, it was a spaceship, maybe?...she realized that no, she really didn't. Knowing something was there wasn't the same as seeing it. "Oh my god," she said, almost shocked.

[belongtonobody]

Inara turned at the sound of the voice, looking from the woman to Serenity and back again. "Have you never seen a ship like this before?" she asked, her voice light, curious. It was clear that she never had, or at least that she had not known this particular one was here. Inara smiled. "She's called Serenity."

[sidlong_glance]

Sara looked slightly embarrassed, not having realized anyone had heard, least of all a very beautiful woman that reminded her vaguely of Lady Heather, but only in benign ways--the way she stood, maybe. "Only on television," she admitted. "Or in one of the casinos, but never one that was...well, real."

And this Serenity was real. The wear to her that Sara could see was indicative of travel. "Serenity's an interesting name for a ship. More zen, less fighting."

[belongtonobody]

"It depends on the Serenity you think of, I suppose," Inara said. To her, it seemed a fitting name, regardless of the battle that had marked its captain. "There's a surprising amount of peace to be found on that ship, especially given the crew that work her. I take it you're from a time before this is the norm then?" She smiled broadly then.

[sidlong_glance]

"Yeah, I'd say that," Sara said, and smiled wryly at the woman. "Early twenty-first century, for what it's worth. Not a lot of serenity or Serenity to be found there." She extended a hand. "I'm Sara."

[belongtonobody]

"Inara," she offered, shaking the offered hand. "Of the early twenty-sixth century, where we find what little serenity there is to be had where we can. I guess that much hasn't changed. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sara."

[sidlong_glance]

"Nice to meet you too," Sara replied, giving a firm handshake. "Maybe there is such a thing as human nature, then. Although in my former line of work, you see a lot more of the consistent negatives than the positives."

[belongtonobody]

Inara nodded. "In mine, we were trained to understand human nature, or what there is of it as can be understood. I think it may be safe to say there is such a thing," she said with a wry smile. "What line of work was it you were in?"

[sidlong_glance]

"Close enough to what we had to do, really, sometimes," said Sara. "People...did some weird things. I was a CSI--sorry, a crime scene investigator. A scientist, analyzing evidence from crimes. How 'bout you?"

[belongtonobody]

"A Companion," Inara replied. It was a concept she was thoroughly aware the people of Sara's time didn't readily understand. "A courtesan, you might say, even if that's somewhat antiquated a term."

[sidlong_glance]

Sara was...well, both surprised and completely not surprised at all, all things considered. "I can see," she said after a moment, "why you'd need to know about people. Is your work legal then, in your, uh, time?"

[belongtonobody]

"Legal and very highly respected," Inara said, smiling, "given how much training we go through. Or, at least, it's legal on most worlds. There were exceptions. It's not the case when you're from?"

[sidlong_glance]

"Well, it is in Nevada, but not anywhere else in the country. A few other places, Amsterdam..." Sara shrugged a little. "But they don't get training, I don't think. It's just regulated, sort of." She pondered the idea. "And you liked your work?"

Hey, it's the notif I never got. [facepalm] dammit.

[belongtonobody]

Inara nodded. "I did." She smiled, looking curiously at Sara. "You might be surprised, how fulfilling a career it can be. And I traveled quite a lot." She glanced toward Serenity.

[sidlong_glance]

"In space," Sara said, looking slightly boggled by the whole concept, though she did believe it. "I don't think...I could do that kind of job. I don't like people enough."

[belongtonobody]

"That would probably be a bit problematic, yes," Inara said, laughing softly. "It's a job that requires you to spend a lot of time with people. What made you go into crime scene investigation?"