The Misfortune - His Mrs. Janisch, Part 3

[gilliebeans]

Title: The Misfortune - His Mrs. Janisch, Part 3
Author: gilliebeans
Words: 2700
Rating: PG
Summary: Mal and Inara talk after the feds leave; Mal's job gets complicated
Author's note: It's Friday! I'm a little nervous about this part, but staring at it isn't fixing the nervous. Many, many thanks to Charlie BZ and to browncoat 2x2 for so much help

Comments

[aliasse]

I found the conversation between Inara and Seneca really touching - the way that Seneca’s training as a Companion is seamlessly and unthinkingly employed in a wholly direct and human way to support her friend.

Of course, the fact that Inara is so upset does make you wonder what she felt for Redding - who I noticed she is already calling Janisch! Which opens up the broader question of how Companions ‘do’ friendship with men they have a sexual relationship with, even if it is proscribed by all sorts of rules and conditions.

The way you show Mal’s damage really resonates with the way I see him, though you give greater emphasis - and rightly, I think - to the barely-suppressed violence that underpins his thoughts and behaviour.

All of the plot details are completely convincing - I’ve got that sucked in feeling again! and I’m looking forward to finding out what’s happened with Janisch and what this means for Mal and Inara. Are you hoping to keep up with the same rate of posting?

[gilliebeans]

Oh, thank you so much! I always get nervous with my OC's...with Seneca I wanted to show that Inara has at least one good, true Companion friend. As I imagine it, the Training Houses and Guild culture encourage close, emotionally intimate bonds between friends, maybe as a way to insulate young Companions to some degree from the loneliness they might feel behind all the "rules and conditions" surrounding boyfriend/girlfriend type relationships.

Regarding Mal, he's got a lot of impulses to suppress in this particular chapter :)

I'll post again in a few days - part 4 is mostly (or all, can't remember right now) flashback, Mal POV, to the very first days of his acquaintance with Inara.

[wytchcroft]

ha ha! i aint gonna be interesting or helpful tonight - i'm just go direct to applause. sorry. my bad.

*applauds* :))

[gilliebeans]

Hehee, I can't imagine getting tired of applause :) /blushes

[browncoat_2x2]

How much do I love Seneca? She is one of my favourite OC's and I am so glad Inara has her for a friend!

And I love the moment when Mal realizes how upset Inara really has been when he sees her with Seneca, when she finally lets go of her control. We don't often get to see that actual moment, and neither does Mal, so I liked that, it really gave good example of how Inara keeps her real emotions and self hidden/under tight control.

I liked the new bits with Mal and Kaylee, so sweet with the firefly nails :oD

All of it, really :o) I am so enjoying this story :oD

[gilliebeans]

Thanks so much! I thought of the last chapter, Shuttle Story, as a time of learning for them both, but especially for Inara, with the violence at the end.

This chapter is more about what Mal learns about Inara (more about her to love, more distance between them), and how they are moving toward where their relationship is at the time of the Pilot.

[gilliebeans]

Thank you, I am glad I made your internet experience pleasant :) I think in this part Mal is really feeling the distance between what he grew up thinking he'd be, and what he is, not only in terms of his job, but also personally.