app for the station
Jan. 20th, 2013 01:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
suoxiPlayer Info:
Name: Cat
Age: over 21
Contact: plurk: travelistaa
Player Journal:travelistaa
Reservation Link: Here
Character Info:
Full Name: Inara Serra
Called By: Inara
Age: 27
Canon: Firefly [Reference
History: Inara Serra
Setting information I felt was prudent to include:
HISTORY/SETTING
Firefly is a combination space opera slash western slash sci-fi amalgamation that takes how we view the future to a completely different level. Space travel is not only a thing but has also been integrated into life for many, many people of the Firefly universe. It is no longer a thing of the future, and is commonplace. Also normal are flying cars and holographics and ray guns despite the show maintaining a very old fashioned, western vibe.
As far as most of the population is concerned, Earth That Was is just legend and no longer important. Much of the history is lost – or not believed – simply because of the issues of the present that happen to be far more pressing than a bunch of legends and history books. Many cynics believe anything that is written about the past and believe it to be propaganda of an oppressive, ruling government. What matters to most people these days is the ability to survive on a day to day basis, and how that survival is managed and maintained. Be it through illegal trading and smuggling or a good, honest career, the people of the Firefly universe find a way to make it work or they die trying.
However, despite the general lack of care there is a history to be told here, and it’s important to at least understand your roots and where you came from even if the history of the planet is dead and gone. Humanity’s origin and how they got to where they are is mostly known - depleted resources, a compromised eco system, and a quickly growing human population forced the citizens of old to find an alternative. Instead of waging an all out war on each other for supplies and resources, humanity united together in a cooperative effort to ensure the survival of the human race. Scientists located a star system that was close enough to feasibly migrate to, though the journey itself took over an entire generation’s length of time to reach. Through processing plants and technology, the planets could be terra-formed to be transformed into ‘new earths’ and thus began a mass exodus into space. Loaded up onto spaceships called ‘arks’, people lived and died on these ships without ever seeing solid ground again.
Back on Earth That Was, there were two ruling superpowers that had dominated the planet through sheer numbers alone. These two superpowers remained separate entities but worked together throughout the new colonization process and as such, it was these two dominant forces that set the standard for humanity’s customs and ways of life to come through integrating – albeit unintentionally – a blend and meld of the two distinctly different cultures. Despite a distinctly futuristic setting, Firefly incorporates many oriental traditions that coexist in a bizarre sort of harmony with gun-slinging, Wild West tendencies. Chinese is incorporated into English conversations – though a lot of times this is used for slang and swears – and Buddhism and Christianity both are religions that survived the migration.
Londinium – named after the Roman name for England’s capital – became the hotspot and the representation for what used to be the American Empire. Sinon was essentially the new and updated China. After the settlement, these two civilizations continued to work in harmony with one another. Through this joining and this alliance, they grew into the most advanced populations in the new star system. They were enlightened cultures that employed religious tolerance and upheld a moral compass that we of modern earth may either agree with or find completely offensive. The sex trade is a prime example of this and for all intents and purposes will be the focus of this writeup – Inara is a Companion, and therefore that is what will be spotlighted. ‘Companion’ houses were established throughout the planetary system, and these women were treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
COMPANIONS
Companions are not dissimilar to the Oiran of Japan. Companions are entertainers and are, of course ‘women of pleasure’. They are essentially state sanctioned prostitutes, but a Companion’s role delves much, much deeper than that. They are not simply there for sex – in fact, sex is only part of the whole puzzle of a Companion’s role. These women are trained in the arts, are well educated and knowledgeable about a great many things, including psychology, music, languages, and fencing.
Companions are listed as being ‘the oldest profession in the 'Verse’ – and Companions are, as previously stated, highly respected. The concept and execution of prostitution as we know it – and that had existed on Earth That Was – was long ago abolished and replaced by the government sanctioned profession titled ‘Companion’.
What little we know about Companions comes from Inara Serra herself and her dialogue throughout Firefly. Other things have been implied, but the concrete evidence tends to come directly from Inara or from Joss Whedon himself. I have bullet pointed several key things below that were located throughout the internet.
• Companion houses cannot be run by men.
• No Companion can be coerced into accepting a client.
• A Companion chooses their own clients.
• A Companion may choose male or female clients.
• Companions are required to have yearly physical examinations in order to maintain their license.
• Companions are able to provide a certain amount of ‘psychotherapy’ for clients.
• Clients can receive a ‘black mark’ if they behave in a way that a Companion deems unacceptable. If a black mark is received, no other Companion will have dealings with said client.
Licensed Companions are members of The Companions Guild – a Guild that polices its own and requires members adhere to the laws and rules set by the Guild itself. Many of the rules listed above in bullet form are rules that are set by the Guild for both the comfort of the Companion as well as her safety.
Guild Houses were established throughout the star system in order to train its members, though because of the war many Houses on the outer planets shut down. Only training is allowed inside the House – no work is to be done on the premise whatsoever. These Houses are run very similar to the way a monastery is – the inhabitants are protected and sheltered and the practice is thick with tradition and rituals.
Once a female organization, the Guild eventually allowed males to enter, and they are required to undergo the same training as the women. As such, they must abide by the same rules and regulations as the female members of the organization – and this includes the service of both sexes.
Potential Companions may begin their training as young as twelve, and this includes a very well rounded education that includes years of study in regards to religion, the arts as well as a rigorous physical routine. Those that fail or cannot keep up are sent back to their homes. Potential Companions are only taught the art of sex once they have completed their education successfully. It is imperative that a Companion be well educated as well as have the ability to maintain that intelligence throughout the years of her or her profession.
Once they have passed the test that allows them to become a registered Companion, that Companion is then able to move about as they please and look for work. Most Companions stay near to the Core planets – this is where the most work and money resides, though a Companion is allowed to move about as he or she deems fit.
An evening and services rendered by a Companion are heavily imbibed with traditions and rituals as well. Upon both arrival and departure, each client that the Companion has chosen is treated with ceremony and respect. The act of love itself is designed to cater specifically to the client, making him or her feel valued and special. Companions are trained with the client in mind - their well being, their contentment, their happiness. Companions reach far beyond the simple act of sex, and this is what is truly differentiates them from simple prostitution. A contract with a Companion ensures that he or she will listen and sooth, entertain and converse, and possibly even offer advice. This contract will provide a client with an evening of intellectual conversation as well as a night of passion.
Despite being members of the social elite, Companions generally never marry. They are taught to cater to their clients and to enjoy their work, but remain emotionally detached in the grand scheme of things.
WAR/UNION OF ALLIED PLANETS
The Union is the central governmental organization in the Firefly universe. As it is known now in its present form, it originated after a civil war was fought between the Central Planets (the Core, mainly – the wealthiest and well to do planets) and the Independent Planets (the outer lying planets). The war was incredibly devastating and raged for nearly six long years.
Prior to the war, the outer planets didn’t seem to much care what happened or what was going on in the Core – they had other things to worry about, like food shortages and low med supplies.
That all changed once they received word that the Alliance intended to take control over the whole system. This presented them with a reason to unite – they intended to keep their freedom and with that thought they united together to fight back. They fought for their families and homes as opposed to the Alliance, who fought for control and money. The Independents – as they called themselves – had spirit, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough. The Alliance had massive resources that the Independents just didn’t have and after six years, an armistice was signed in 2511.
Each government on planets that had resisted Alliance control was replaced with Alliance political members, and the tax money collected from these individuals was sent to the Alliance instead of being dispersed at home, where the people needed it the most.
REAVERS
According to writer Joss Whedon, every series needs a monster, and the Reavers were his answer to this statement. Reavers are the epitome of fear in Firefly – when they are mentioned, they are discussed with fear and revulsion – and disbelief. Depending on where one lives in the system, Reavers are one of two things – a tall tale, or a very real threat. To those in the Core, they are nothing more than a campfire story. The Alliance has done its best to dispel the credibility of the Reaver threat. However, to those residing on the Border worlds and colonies, the Reavers are very real – and very dangerous.
Most of the populations on these outside worlds believe that Reavers are men gone mad at the edge of space, thus becoming savage and primal in their nature. It is generally accepted that Reavers ‘stared into the void’ and saw nothing, therefore becoming that which they’d seen – nothing. From there, they discarded the lifestyles of civilized man and indulged in their more primal barbaric natures – humanity’s worst nightmare: themselves.
Because of this, there is a great deal of argument about Reavers and their ‘true’ nature: are they men? Savages? Most believe the Reavers are no longer human – it’s easy to deny them their humanity due to their atrocious acts. No one wants to be lumped into the same category as the Reavers – dehumanizing them is the best way to do this.
Originally, Reavers were men – men and women that inhabited the planet Miranda. Miranda was the outermost planet in the system, and occupied by a group of settlers. The Alliance used this planet to something called G-23 Paxilon Hydrochlorate (a.k.a. "The Pax") – likely thinking it was on the outer rim and thus out of sight and mind, and no one would notice. This chemical was designed to modify behavior – the Alliance was looking for a way to dispel aggression and instead promote ‘peace’. The chemical was filtered in through the air recycling systems, and for nearly the whole population 99.9% - the chemical worked. However, it worked a little too well and instead of simply removing aggression and anger and eliminating violence, the chemical caused the people to lose all of their ambition and drive. Essentially, the population simply lay down and died. For the other.1%, it had the complete opposite effect. Instead, this small portion of the population had aggression and violence enhanced to the point of pure animalism. These ‘survivors’ became the Reavers that now plague the outer rim of the system.
The Alliance screambled to cover their mess and succeeded for the most part, spreading rumors about terraforming the planet and the consequential failed attempt that left the planet a black, uninhabitable rock. The planet was so deep into Reaver territory that no one countered this and fought the Alliance – it was generally accepted as truth.
On a genetic level, Reavers are human in nearly every way. As far as physical mutations go – they have none. The main difference between civilized man and the Reavers is the complete and total madness that they exhibit as a result of the chemical administered back on Miranda. They are driven by nothing more than homicidal and xenophobic tendencies, which manifests itself in cannibalism, torture and rape. This treatment extends to anyone that might chance across, and on occasion they will leave ‘survivors’. These survivors are generally so mentally damaged that they will do the only thing they know to do – turn themselves into a Reaver.
Reavers are very unique in their appearance and cannot be mistaken for anything or anyone else. There is no going ‘incognito’ for Reavres – they are to barbaric in personality and appearance to ever ‘fit in’ long enough to do so. They deliberately gash and cut their skin and will push metal into their flesh and take on a ‘walking corpse’ appearance. Physically, Reavers are somewhere on the same level as humans – the main difference is the fact that Reavers are so inured to pain that it barely affects them, which makes the Reavers more willing to push themselves over the edge because of their own madness.
It is unclear just how sentient they are, but they do seem to be able to competently run a space craft. It’s unclear how much intelligence has been retained, but it appears to be enough to somehow function. They do not communicate as humans and instead seem to emit only wordless shrieks as opposed to vocalizations.
Essentially, Reavers are the nightmare of space – almost, if not more so, a far more dangerous threat than the Alliance themselves.
INARA SERRA
Inara Serra is a Companion that resides primarily on board the escape shuttle of the Serenity. She rents this space from the captain of the vessel, Malcom Reynolds, and conducts most of her Companion business out of this shuttle.
Inara was born in the late 25th century on Sihnon. The third planet orbiting the White Sun, Sihnon is one of two major planets in the star system. It was essentially the new and updated China and inhabited primarily by the colonists descended from the original China on Earth That Was.
Sihnon is fairly technologically advanced and from space appears to be a deep red. According to Inara, the capitol city is "like an ocean of light." The affection in which she speaks about her home planet is real, though she no longer resides there permanently.
As a Companion, Inara enjoys many privileges that most citizens do not, and often accompanies the wealthy and powerful to different events, parties, and ultimately her own private quarters.
Her youth before entering her Companion training is relatively unknown, but it is assumed and acknowledged that she came from a good family. Once she entered her training at Companion House Madrassa at twelve years of age, Inara learned a great many things and acquired a skill set that is generally exclusive to Companions. She was taught to read, write, speak eloquently and passionately. She was taught the arts, music, philosophy as well as politics, economics, fencing, and other things.
The training was rigorous, but Inara passed the test and gained her Companions license. She openly practiced her trade until suddenly leaving to explore and travel with Mal and his crew. When prompted, Inara only reveals that she ‘wanted to see the universe’, which people appear to simply accept. She has been traveling with Mal and the crew for approximately a year.
Initially, Inara earned Mal’s irritation and general disfavor by informing him that she supported the Unification, and there is a constant tension between herself and Mal that has little to do with politics and far more to do with unacknowledged feelings. Mal and Inara cover this up by bickering – sometimes hurtfully – back and forth, and by also outright ignoring it. However, we do see that Mal cares for Inara herself – just not her occupation.
According to the actress (Morena Baccarin) that portrayed Inara, there was a subplot that was to be expanded on before the shows cancellation, and that was that Inara, quite obviously, had a secret. In 2008 at a Dragon*Con panel, it was revealed that Inara did have a secret – she was dying due to a terminal illness. As to what that illness might be is still up in the air, but in the show there are subtle hints that she is taking medication to either prolong her life or preserve the quality of it (or both). A hint of this comes from Joss Whedon himself - in the DVD commentary, he states that the syringe Inara holds during the Reaver encounter isn’t for a self inflicted death.
Inara, a Buddhist, is one of the few crew members on Serenity that has a maintained and acknowledged religion that they adhere to. Book is one, and Mal is the other, though he confesses his faith in God was crushed during his stint in Serenity Valley.
Personality:
Inara is the epitome of grace and beauty – this shines through in both the way she acts as well as how she behaves towards other people. She has been schooled to be a socialite chameleon – the kind of people person that can adapt herself and maintain an aura of grace and beauty in any situation no matter the circumstances. Rigorous training has taught her to be both adaptable and unyielding at the same time.
She is poised and confident, especially within the confines of her job. Cool, collected, and calm Inara rarely lets her clients ruffle her unless there is a true slight that she will not tolerate, though her grace extends to not only her clients but to her ‘shipmates’ as well, and is polite and considerate upon meeting Book, the Shepherd that joins their crew. People – Book included – seem to be drawn to her for a variety of reasons. Surely her beauty is one of them, but Inara possesses a kind of magnetism that radiates through the exterior mask that she wears.
While she is working, Inara is always a very professional individual and is capable of remaining steadfast and straightforward in the face of most situations. Inara is a very in control person and control is one of the most important lessons in Companion training. Inara explicitly states that control is one of the first lessons a Companion is taught, as well as one of the last. It is a very important thing to her, and to lose control almost means to lose a sense of her own self. She really prides herself on being able to keep her composure, and that is likely part of the reason she butts heads so frequently with Mal. He is an expert in pushing the right buttons with Inara, and is an extremely talented individual when it comes to ruffling her perfect feathers.
A beautiful, enigmatic woman, Inara exhibits extreme grace and subtly in every move she makes. Ingrained with heavy training since a young child, Inara chooses 'persona' 90% of the time. She maintains a decidedly feminine air, and her movements indicate the precise nature of her personality. She chooses what you see - beauty, grace, perfection.
What you do not see are her inner workings - unless she wants you too. Inara is a woman of many masks, and underneath the calm exterior is a woman not dissimilar to any other. She enjoys attention, affection, and consideration as much as the next person. She has a great heart and a very protective and mothering nature. She cares deeply for Kaylee and treats her in a very maternal manner, and exhibits the same amount of concern and protectiveness around River Tam as well. Her relationship with the others is both nurturing and affectionate yet she has also been stationed as a sort of mentor and counselor as well. Often people seek her advice or her ear when they need someone to simply speak with and listen, and Inara is excellent at giving honest – yet incredibly ambiguous – answers. She seems to know the value of a good shoulder and ear as well as the difference between acting, reacting, and simply being there for a person – though simply because she’s good at listening doesn’t mean, of course, that she won’t tell you her opinion on your decided course of action.
Inara can, in fact, be quite vocal about what she does and doesn’t disagree with, after all. Refined as she may be, Inara can be as opinionated and stubborn as Mal himself when it comes to issues on Serenity. At times, this can cause a lot of tension between herself and Mal, and often makes the rest of the crew uncomfortable. These encounters are more frequent than they are not, and the confrontations it creates certainly have the ability to clear a room. She likes to pretend that Mal's obvious disdain for her position doesn't bother her, but she becomes angry and tense when he repeatedly calls her a whore.
These quarrels seem to be a way to release the tension between the two, though it is often ad the expense of their crew-mates comfort.
The sexual tension between both Inara and Mal is very obvious though it's unfortunately left unresolved at the end of the series. This seems to be the root of their frustrations with one another, and Inara is shown on multiple occasions to be quite petty as well as jealous. In the spisode "Our Mrs. Reynolds", Inara is very displeased with the fact that Mal might be married, and she appalled at his treatment of his new 'wife', telling him to act like a 'human' for once. He states that he and Saffron are the only one's that don't think it's funny, but the clear view we get of Inara's face tells us as viewers that she doesn't think it's funny whatsoever.
Mal seeks her counsel, but it winds up confrontational with Inara being sarcastic and downright cross with Mal and her telling him to leave.
Later, in the very same episode, Inara find Mal unconscious and immediately panics, going straight to his side and kissing him which...does cause her to black out. Her feelings towards Mal are very clearly conflicted and this demonstrates that Inara, while desperately wanting to be perceived as perfect, is anything but. She can be as vindictive and petty as the next person, as well as incredibly sarcastic and angry. She is a multi-faceted woman with many edges and sides, thus making her difficult to pin down, especially from an outsiders perspective.
In 'Heart of Gold', Nandi states that Inara hates complications - which is certainly the truth. Inara dislikes things that complicate her life and Mal happens to be one of them. When Inara finds out that he took Nandi to bed, she lies directly to his face and never breaks character, telling him that she is glad he 'comforted' her friend in her time of need. This is one of Inara's many talents - she is an actress and a very good liar. As soon as she is alone she utterly breaks down into tears, showing us her vulnerability and heartbreak at the thought of Mal with another woman.
Her feelings for Mal finally seem concreted at this point, and it is now that she realizes just how much of a complication that he has become. Knowing that she cares for him, she decides to do what she thinks will be best and remove the complication - she tells him that she will be leaving Serenity.
Inara can often come up with suggestions or ideas on the fly much like the Captain himself. At her suggestion they contact Alliance assistance when Book is shot, and it is likely because of Inara’s counsel that Book had stayed on board to begin with. She seems to hold very sage wisdom for someone so young, and at times can often seem far beyond her years. Her maturity seems light years above many others, though at times Inara can also appear every bit of her young twenty seven years.
She can also be incredibly manipulative and cunning – she is schooled in lies and deception and as stated previously, she is a very talented actress, and she will often use this to her benefit if she thinks that the situation calls for it. When Mal is forced to fight a duel, Inara pleads with his opponent and appears desperate enough to stay on the planet and be his personal Companion – and it can very easily be argued this was a ploy to distract the man so that Mal could win.
Much of the time Inara chooses to be cool and aloof – she has been taught to remain emotionally detached, specifically from her clients but she seems to apply this in day to day life as well, especially with Mal. Her true feelings for him are heavily covered up and buried deep, because being involved with someone would not only compromise her career, but also everything that she personally (thinks) she believes in. Companion training is, in many ways, a gift - but it can also be a boon.
She is a proud woman without being haughty and arrogant, and she is quick witted but able to offer a kind word when needed.
Inara is a Buddhist - and this figures prominently into the way she views things and sees life. As stated previously, she has a terminal illness that is affecting her and that is also likely part of the reasons she is attempting to distance herself from Mal.
In regards to her arrival on the great turtle, Inara will wonder if she is, in fact, dead. However, her more realistic side will take over and she will ask questions -politely- and discern that despite the almost impossibility behind it, she is, in fact, still alive somehow and in a world between worlds. It isn't something she would prefer, but it is a nice...break from the world she left behind.
She will also be concerned about her illness, and will likely seek out apothecaries and the like in order to continue to stave it off.
3 Interesting Character Facts:
1) Inara has been diagnosed with an undisclosed terminal illness, according to Morena Baccarin at a panel in 2008. Her disease is very slow progressing as she is on Serenity for nearly a year without showing signs of disease or aging - it's likely she has something called chronic lymphocytic leukemia; which is a disease that progresses slowly but has no cure. She is positive for the marker ZAP-70 (which, according to wiki, is "protein normally expressed near the surface membrane of T cells and natural killer cells"), and the survival rate for this is approximately eight years from diagnosis, if caught early.
2) Inara is a Buddhist. Her religion is very important to her, though it isn't one she ever tries to force on anyone. She meditates and is an active participant in yoga in order to achieve a moving meditation as well as loosen joints and ligaments for a more stationary and quiet meditative practice.
3) Like Kaylee, Inara has a taste for beautiful things. What she considers beautiful, however, vastly differs from Kaylee's love of fluffy pink ruffles and rainbow parasols. Inara prefers the aesthetics of chinese culture as well as as a powerful Indian influence. The combination shows in her clothing style and the way she wears her hair, as well as her jewelry. She prefers high quality silks bedecked with elegant and elaborate beading, though she also finds comfort in loose, almost sari-esque garb. No matter the occasion, Inara will choose something beautiful and glamorous, not only because she must be 'on' all the time - but also because she enjoys having and wearing beautiful things.
Special Skills:
Singing, dancing, the arts, psychology - as a companion, Inara has been trained in many things. She is also shown to be proficient with a sword, as well as a bow and arrow. SHE WAS TRAINED IN LIKE EVERYTHING OKAY.
Inara is also capable of flying a shuttle as well as piloting Serenity. She also appears to be fairly computer/technology savvy.
What is your character's comm icon and why?
Comm icon. Inara is a Buddhist, and that is incredibly important to her - and figures into a lot of the things she says as well as her practices.
Anything else?: Murder made me do it. >_>
Writing Samples:
Action Tag Sample:
[ Inara prefers 'face to face' communication whenever possible - and video when it is not. That is how she conducted business on the shuttle and it is how she conducts any sort of communication now. Her feed cuts on and she is smiling lightly, crimson lips pulled upwards as she regarded her device thoughtfully. ]
Good evening, everyone. I do hope you all are faring well, and I wondered if I might be able to tempt any of you more...mechanically inclined individuals to perhaps come and take a look at my shuttle. Serenity herself appears to be in perfect shape but I confess...
[ she laughs quietly. ]
I am no mechanic, and could never compare to my dear Kaylee. The last time I took my shuttle out on a test run, it was making a sound I couldn't identify.
Anyway, if someone could take a look - I would appreciate it.
Third Person Prose Sample:
Inara was used to the black vastness of space - it was a sight frequently beheld on Serenity, especially if you happened to be having any sort of conversation with Wash at length.
She enjoyed the beauty of it; dark eyes fixed on the stars burning so brightly in the distance while knowing and realizing just how far away they are and that the Universe - what she had seen of it, anyway - was so expansive it was incomprehensible and yet...and yet somehow terrifyingly beautiful at the same time.
It was what she had wanted, to 'see the universe' - to see what lie beyond the walls of the Companion House and her comfortable, elegant lifestyle. It seems she has been granted that wish, not only on the Serenity but here, as well - here, there were people and creatures of different names, races, and species. It was...almost unfathomable, in a way - how there were so many things that Inara, a registered Companion did not know.
Not to say, of course, that Inara knew everything there was to know but she did pride herself on knowing a great deal. Here, what she thought that she had known had been microscopic, in the grand scale of things.
Sometimes she thought it was odd that she was still standing, after all that she had been through. It seemed that whatever benign force that might be - the universe, with all its encompassing greatness, or perhaps an all seeing force imbued with enlightenment that watched out for all creatures great and small - happened to be watching out for her well being, because she was not, as of yet, dead.
As Inara stared out the large window of the observation deck, her lips turned slightly upward, mind somewhere far, far away.
No. She wasn't quite gone, was she? She still had time to see, to learn, to embrace her fate.
Name: Cat
Age: over 21
Contact: plurk: travelistaa
Player Journal:
travelistaaReservation Link: Here
Character Info:
Full Name: Inara Serra
Called By: Inara
Age: 27
Canon: Firefly [Reference
History: Inara Serra
Setting information I felt was prudent to include:
HISTORY/SETTING
Firefly is a combination space opera slash western slash sci-fi amalgamation that takes how we view the future to a completely different level. Space travel is not only a thing but has also been integrated into life for many, many people of the Firefly universe. It is no longer a thing of the future, and is commonplace. Also normal are flying cars and holographics and ray guns despite the show maintaining a very old fashioned, western vibe.
As far as most of the population is concerned, Earth That Was is just legend and no longer important. Much of the history is lost – or not believed – simply because of the issues of the present that happen to be far more pressing than a bunch of legends and history books. Many cynics believe anything that is written about the past and believe it to be propaganda of an oppressive, ruling government. What matters to most people these days is the ability to survive on a day to day basis, and how that survival is managed and maintained. Be it through illegal trading and smuggling or a good, honest career, the people of the Firefly universe find a way to make it work or they die trying.
However, despite the general lack of care there is a history to be told here, and it’s important to at least understand your roots and where you came from even if the history of the planet is dead and gone. Humanity’s origin and how they got to where they are is mostly known - depleted resources, a compromised eco system, and a quickly growing human population forced the citizens of old to find an alternative. Instead of waging an all out war on each other for supplies and resources, humanity united together in a cooperative effort to ensure the survival of the human race. Scientists located a star system that was close enough to feasibly migrate to, though the journey itself took over an entire generation’s length of time to reach. Through processing plants and technology, the planets could be terra-formed to be transformed into ‘new earths’ and thus began a mass exodus into space. Loaded up onto spaceships called ‘arks’, people lived and died on these ships without ever seeing solid ground again.
Back on Earth That Was, there were two ruling superpowers that had dominated the planet through sheer numbers alone. These two superpowers remained separate entities but worked together throughout the new colonization process and as such, it was these two dominant forces that set the standard for humanity’s customs and ways of life to come through integrating – albeit unintentionally – a blend and meld of the two distinctly different cultures. Despite a distinctly futuristic setting, Firefly incorporates many oriental traditions that coexist in a bizarre sort of harmony with gun-slinging, Wild West tendencies. Chinese is incorporated into English conversations – though a lot of times this is used for slang and swears – and Buddhism and Christianity both are religions that survived the migration.
Londinium – named after the Roman name for England’s capital – became the hotspot and the representation for what used to be the American Empire. Sinon was essentially the new and updated China. After the settlement, these two civilizations continued to work in harmony with one another. Through this joining and this alliance, they grew into the most advanced populations in the new star system. They were enlightened cultures that employed religious tolerance and upheld a moral compass that we of modern earth may either agree with or find completely offensive. The sex trade is a prime example of this and for all intents and purposes will be the focus of this writeup – Inara is a Companion, and therefore that is what will be spotlighted. ‘Companion’ houses were established throughout the planetary system, and these women were treated with the utmost respect and dignity.
COMPANIONS
Companions are not dissimilar to the Oiran of Japan. Companions are entertainers and are, of course ‘women of pleasure’. They are essentially state sanctioned prostitutes, but a Companion’s role delves much, much deeper than that. They are not simply there for sex – in fact, sex is only part of the whole puzzle of a Companion’s role. These women are trained in the arts, are well educated and knowledgeable about a great many things, including psychology, music, languages, and fencing.
Companions are listed as being ‘the oldest profession in the 'Verse’ – and Companions are, as previously stated, highly respected. The concept and execution of prostitution as we know it – and that had existed on Earth That Was – was long ago abolished and replaced by the government sanctioned profession titled ‘Companion’.
What little we know about Companions comes from Inara Serra herself and her dialogue throughout Firefly. Other things have been implied, but the concrete evidence tends to come directly from Inara or from Joss Whedon himself. I have bullet pointed several key things below that were located throughout the internet.
• Companion houses cannot be run by men.
• No Companion can be coerced into accepting a client.
• A Companion chooses their own clients.
• A Companion may choose male or female clients.
• Companions are required to have yearly physical examinations in order to maintain their license.
• Companions are able to provide a certain amount of ‘psychotherapy’ for clients.
• Clients can receive a ‘black mark’ if they behave in a way that a Companion deems unacceptable. If a black mark is received, no other Companion will have dealings with said client.
Licensed Companions are members of The Companions Guild – a Guild that polices its own and requires members adhere to the laws and rules set by the Guild itself. Many of the rules listed above in bullet form are rules that are set by the Guild for both the comfort of the Companion as well as her safety.
Guild Houses were established throughout the star system in order to train its members, though because of the war many Houses on the outer planets shut down. Only training is allowed inside the House – no work is to be done on the premise whatsoever. These Houses are run very similar to the way a monastery is – the inhabitants are protected and sheltered and the practice is thick with tradition and rituals.
Once a female organization, the Guild eventually allowed males to enter, and they are required to undergo the same training as the women. As such, they must abide by the same rules and regulations as the female members of the organization – and this includes the service of both sexes.
Potential Companions may begin their training as young as twelve, and this includes a very well rounded education that includes years of study in regards to religion, the arts as well as a rigorous physical routine. Those that fail or cannot keep up are sent back to their homes. Potential Companions are only taught the art of sex once they have completed their education successfully. It is imperative that a Companion be well educated as well as have the ability to maintain that intelligence throughout the years of her or her profession.
Once they have passed the test that allows them to become a registered Companion, that Companion is then able to move about as they please and look for work. Most Companions stay near to the Core planets – this is where the most work and money resides, though a Companion is allowed to move about as he or she deems fit.
An evening and services rendered by a Companion are heavily imbibed with traditions and rituals as well. Upon both arrival and departure, each client that the Companion has chosen is treated with ceremony and respect. The act of love itself is designed to cater specifically to the client, making him or her feel valued and special. Companions are trained with the client in mind - their well being, their contentment, their happiness. Companions reach far beyond the simple act of sex, and this is what is truly differentiates them from simple prostitution. A contract with a Companion ensures that he or she will listen and sooth, entertain and converse, and possibly even offer advice. This contract will provide a client with an evening of intellectual conversation as well as a night of passion.
Despite being members of the social elite, Companions generally never marry. They are taught to cater to their clients and to enjoy their work, but remain emotionally detached in the grand scheme of things.
WAR/UNION OF ALLIED PLANETS
The Union is the central governmental organization in the Firefly universe. As it is known now in its present form, it originated after a civil war was fought between the Central Planets (the Core, mainly – the wealthiest and well to do planets) and the Independent Planets (the outer lying planets). The war was incredibly devastating and raged for nearly six long years.
Prior to the war, the outer planets didn’t seem to much care what happened or what was going on in the Core – they had other things to worry about, like food shortages and low med supplies.
That all changed once they received word that the Alliance intended to take control over the whole system. This presented them with a reason to unite – they intended to keep their freedom and with that thought they united together to fight back. They fought for their families and homes as opposed to the Alliance, who fought for control and money. The Independents – as they called themselves – had spirit, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough. The Alliance had massive resources that the Independents just didn’t have and after six years, an armistice was signed in 2511.
Each government on planets that had resisted Alliance control was replaced with Alliance political members, and the tax money collected from these individuals was sent to the Alliance instead of being dispersed at home, where the people needed it the most.
REAVERS
According to writer Joss Whedon, every series needs a monster, and the Reavers were his answer to this statement. Reavers are the epitome of fear in Firefly – when they are mentioned, they are discussed with fear and revulsion – and disbelief. Depending on where one lives in the system, Reavers are one of two things – a tall tale, or a very real threat. To those in the Core, they are nothing more than a campfire story. The Alliance has done its best to dispel the credibility of the Reaver threat. However, to those residing on the Border worlds and colonies, the Reavers are very real – and very dangerous.
Most of the populations on these outside worlds believe that Reavers are men gone mad at the edge of space, thus becoming savage and primal in their nature. It is generally accepted that Reavers ‘stared into the void’ and saw nothing, therefore becoming that which they’d seen – nothing. From there, they discarded the lifestyles of civilized man and indulged in their more primal barbaric natures – humanity’s worst nightmare: themselves.
Because of this, there is a great deal of argument about Reavers and their ‘true’ nature: are they men? Savages? Most believe the Reavers are no longer human – it’s easy to deny them their humanity due to their atrocious acts. No one wants to be lumped into the same category as the Reavers – dehumanizing them is the best way to do this.
Originally, Reavers were men – men and women that inhabited the planet Miranda. Miranda was the outermost planet in the system, and occupied by a group of settlers. The Alliance used this planet to something called G-23 Paxilon Hydrochlorate (a.k.a. "The Pax") – likely thinking it was on the outer rim and thus out of sight and mind, and no one would notice. This chemical was designed to modify behavior – the Alliance was looking for a way to dispel aggression and instead promote ‘peace’. The chemical was filtered in through the air recycling systems, and for nearly the whole population 99.9% - the chemical worked. However, it worked a little too well and instead of simply removing aggression and anger and eliminating violence, the chemical caused the people to lose all of their ambition and drive. Essentially, the population simply lay down and died. For the other.1%, it had the complete opposite effect. Instead, this small portion of the population had aggression and violence enhanced to the point of pure animalism. These ‘survivors’ became the Reavers that now plague the outer rim of the system.
The Alliance screambled to cover their mess and succeeded for the most part, spreading rumors about terraforming the planet and the consequential failed attempt that left the planet a black, uninhabitable rock. The planet was so deep into Reaver territory that no one countered this and fought the Alliance – it was generally accepted as truth.
On a genetic level, Reavers are human in nearly every way. As far as physical mutations go – they have none. The main difference between civilized man and the Reavers is the complete and total madness that they exhibit as a result of the chemical administered back on Miranda. They are driven by nothing more than homicidal and xenophobic tendencies, which manifests itself in cannibalism, torture and rape. This treatment extends to anyone that might chance across, and on occasion they will leave ‘survivors’. These survivors are generally so mentally damaged that they will do the only thing they know to do – turn themselves into a Reaver.
Reavers are very unique in their appearance and cannot be mistaken for anything or anyone else. There is no going ‘incognito’ for Reavres – they are to barbaric in personality and appearance to ever ‘fit in’ long enough to do so. They deliberately gash and cut their skin and will push metal into their flesh and take on a ‘walking corpse’ appearance. Physically, Reavers are somewhere on the same level as humans – the main difference is the fact that Reavers are so inured to pain that it barely affects them, which makes the Reavers more willing to push themselves over the edge because of their own madness.
It is unclear just how sentient they are, but they do seem to be able to competently run a space craft. It’s unclear how much intelligence has been retained, but it appears to be enough to somehow function. They do not communicate as humans and instead seem to emit only wordless shrieks as opposed to vocalizations.
Essentially, Reavers are the nightmare of space – almost, if not more so, a far more dangerous threat than the Alliance themselves.
INARA SERRA
Inara Serra is a Companion that resides primarily on board the escape shuttle of the Serenity. She rents this space from the captain of the vessel, Malcom Reynolds, and conducts most of her Companion business out of this shuttle.
Inara was born in the late 25th century on Sihnon. The third planet orbiting the White Sun, Sihnon is one of two major planets in the star system. It was essentially the new and updated China and inhabited primarily by the colonists descended from the original China on Earth That Was.
Sihnon is fairly technologically advanced and from space appears to be a deep red. According to Inara, the capitol city is "like an ocean of light." The affection in which she speaks about her home planet is real, though she no longer resides there permanently.
As a Companion, Inara enjoys many privileges that most citizens do not, and often accompanies the wealthy and powerful to different events, parties, and ultimately her own private quarters.
Her youth before entering her Companion training is relatively unknown, but it is assumed and acknowledged that she came from a good family. Once she entered her training at Companion House Madrassa at twelve years of age, Inara learned a great many things and acquired a skill set that is generally exclusive to Companions. She was taught to read, write, speak eloquently and passionately. She was taught the arts, music, philosophy as well as politics, economics, fencing, and other things.
The training was rigorous, but Inara passed the test and gained her Companions license. She openly practiced her trade until suddenly leaving to explore and travel with Mal and his crew. When prompted, Inara only reveals that she ‘wanted to see the universe’, which people appear to simply accept. She has been traveling with Mal and the crew for approximately a year.
Initially, Inara earned Mal’s irritation and general disfavor by informing him that she supported the Unification, and there is a constant tension between herself and Mal that has little to do with politics and far more to do with unacknowledged feelings. Mal and Inara cover this up by bickering – sometimes hurtfully – back and forth, and by also outright ignoring it. However, we do see that Mal cares for Inara herself – just not her occupation.
According to the actress (Morena Baccarin) that portrayed Inara, there was a subplot that was to be expanded on before the shows cancellation, and that was that Inara, quite obviously, had a secret. In 2008 at a Dragon*Con panel, it was revealed that Inara did have a secret – she was dying due to a terminal illness. As to what that illness might be is still up in the air, but in the show there are subtle hints that she is taking medication to either prolong her life or preserve the quality of it (or both). A hint of this comes from Joss Whedon himself - in the DVD commentary, he states that the syringe Inara holds during the Reaver encounter isn’t for a self inflicted death.
Inara, a Buddhist, is one of the few crew members on Serenity that has a maintained and acknowledged religion that they adhere to. Book is one, and Mal is the other, though he confesses his faith in God was crushed during his stint in Serenity Valley.
Personality:
Inara is the epitome of grace and beauty – this shines through in both the way she acts as well as how she behaves towards other people. She has been schooled to be a socialite chameleon – the kind of people person that can adapt herself and maintain an aura of grace and beauty in any situation no matter the circumstances. Rigorous training has taught her to be both adaptable and unyielding at the same time.
She is poised and confident, especially within the confines of her job. Cool, collected, and calm Inara rarely lets her clients ruffle her unless there is a true slight that she will not tolerate, though her grace extends to not only her clients but to her ‘shipmates’ as well, and is polite and considerate upon meeting Book, the Shepherd that joins their crew. People – Book included – seem to be drawn to her for a variety of reasons. Surely her beauty is one of them, but Inara possesses a kind of magnetism that radiates through the exterior mask that she wears.
While she is working, Inara is always a very professional individual and is capable of remaining steadfast and straightforward in the face of most situations. Inara is a very in control person and control is one of the most important lessons in Companion training. Inara explicitly states that control is one of the first lessons a Companion is taught, as well as one of the last. It is a very important thing to her, and to lose control almost means to lose a sense of her own self. She really prides herself on being able to keep her composure, and that is likely part of the reason she butts heads so frequently with Mal. He is an expert in pushing the right buttons with Inara, and is an extremely talented individual when it comes to ruffling her perfect feathers.
A beautiful, enigmatic woman, Inara exhibits extreme grace and subtly in every move she makes. Ingrained with heavy training since a young child, Inara chooses 'persona' 90% of the time. She maintains a decidedly feminine air, and her movements indicate the precise nature of her personality. She chooses what you see - beauty, grace, perfection.
What you do not see are her inner workings - unless she wants you too. Inara is a woman of many masks, and underneath the calm exterior is a woman not dissimilar to any other. She enjoys attention, affection, and consideration as much as the next person. She has a great heart and a very protective and mothering nature. She cares deeply for Kaylee and treats her in a very maternal manner, and exhibits the same amount of concern and protectiveness around River Tam as well. Her relationship with the others is both nurturing and affectionate yet she has also been stationed as a sort of mentor and counselor as well. Often people seek her advice or her ear when they need someone to simply speak with and listen, and Inara is excellent at giving honest – yet incredibly ambiguous – answers. She seems to know the value of a good shoulder and ear as well as the difference between acting, reacting, and simply being there for a person – though simply because she’s good at listening doesn’t mean, of course, that she won’t tell you her opinion on your decided course of action.
Inara can, in fact, be quite vocal about what she does and doesn’t disagree with, after all. Refined as she may be, Inara can be as opinionated and stubborn as Mal himself when it comes to issues on Serenity. At times, this can cause a lot of tension between herself and Mal, and often makes the rest of the crew uncomfortable. These encounters are more frequent than they are not, and the confrontations it creates certainly have the ability to clear a room. She likes to pretend that Mal's obvious disdain for her position doesn't bother her, but she becomes angry and tense when he repeatedly calls her a whore.
These quarrels seem to be a way to release the tension between the two, though it is often ad the expense of their crew-mates comfort.
The sexual tension between both Inara and Mal is very obvious though it's unfortunately left unresolved at the end of the series. This seems to be the root of their frustrations with one another, and Inara is shown on multiple occasions to be quite petty as well as jealous. In the spisode "Our Mrs. Reynolds", Inara is very displeased with the fact that Mal might be married, and she appalled at his treatment of his new 'wife', telling him to act like a 'human' for once. He states that he and Saffron are the only one's that don't think it's funny, but the clear view we get of Inara's face tells us as viewers that she doesn't think it's funny whatsoever.
Mal seeks her counsel, but it winds up confrontational with Inara being sarcastic and downright cross with Mal and her telling him to leave.
Later, in the very same episode, Inara find Mal unconscious and immediately panics, going straight to his side and kissing him which...does cause her to black out. Her feelings towards Mal are very clearly conflicted and this demonstrates that Inara, while desperately wanting to be perceived as perfect, is anything but. She can be as vindictive and petty as the next person, as well as incredibly sarcastic and angry. She is a multi-faceted woman with many edges and sides, thus making her difficult to pin down, especially from an outsiders perspective.
In 'Heart of Gold', Nandi states that Inara hates complications - which is certainly the truth. Inara dislikes things that complicate her life and Mal happens to be one of them. When Inara finds out that he took Nandi to bed, she lies directly to his face and never breaks character, telling him that she is glad he 'comforted' her friend in her time of need. This is one of Inara's many talents - she is an actress and a very good liar. As soon as she is alone she utterly breaks down into tears, showing us her vulnerability and heartbreak at the thought of Mal with another woman.
Her feelings for Mal finally seem concreted at this point, and it is now that she realizes just how much of a complication that he has become. Knowing that she cares for him, she decides to do what she thinks will be best and remove the complication - she tells him that she will be leaving Serenity.
Inara can often come up with suggestions or ideas on the fly much like the Captain himself. At her suggestion they contact Alliance assistance when Book is shot, and it is likely because of Inara’s counsel that Book had stayed on board to begin with. She seems to hold very sage wisdom for someone so young, and at times can often seem far beyond her years. Her maturity seems light years above many others, though at times Inara can also appear every bit of her young twenty seven years.
She can also be incredibly manipulative and cunning – she is schooled in lies and deception and as stated previously, she is a very talented actress, and she will often use this to her benefit if she thinks that the situation calls for it. When Mal is forced to fight a duel, Inara pleads with his opponent and appears desperate enough to stay on the planet and be his personal Companion – and it can very easily be argued this was a ploy to distract the man so that Mal could win.
Much of the time Inara chooses to be cool and aloof – she has been taught to remain emotionally detached, specifically from her clients but she seems to apply this in day to day life as well, especially with Mal. Her true feelings for him are heavily covered up and buried deep, because being involved with someone would not only compromise her career, but also everything that she personally (thinks) she believes in. Companion training is, in many ways, a gift - but it can also be a boon.
She is a proud woman without being haughty and arrogant, and she is quick witted but able to offer a kind word when needed.
Inara is a Buddhist - and this figures prominently into the way she views things and sees life. As stated previously, she has a terminal illness that is affecting her and that is also likely part of the reasons she is attempting to distance herself from Mal.
In regards to her arrival on the great turtle, Inara will wonder if she is, in fact, dead. However, her more realistic side will take over and she will ask questions -politely- and discern that despite the almost impossibility behind it, she is, in fact, still alive somehow and in a world between worlds. It isn't something she would prefer, but it is a nice...break from the world she left behind.
She will also be concerned about her illness, and will likely seek out apothecaries and the like in order to continue to stave it off.
3 Interesting Character Facts:
1) Inara has been diagnosed with an undisclosed terminal illness, according to Morena Baccarin at a panel in 2008. Her disease is very slow progressing as she is on Serenity for nearly a year without showing signs of disease or aging - it's likely she has something called chronic lymphocytic leukemia; which is a disease that progresses slowly but has no cure. She is positive for the marker ZAP-70 (which, according to wiki, is "protein normally expressed near the surface membrane of T cells and natural killer cells"), and the survival rate for this is approximately eight years from diagnosis, if caught early.
2) Inara is a Buddhist. Her religion is very important to her, though it isn't one she ever tries to force on anyone. She meditates and is an active participant in yoga in order to achieve a moving meditation as well as loosen joints and ligaments for a more stationary and quiet meditative practice.
3) Like Kaylee, Inara has a taste for beautiful things. What she considers beautiful, however, vastly differs from Kaylee's love of fluffy pink ruffles and rainbow parasols. Inara prefers the aesthetics of chinese culture as well as as a powerful Indian influence. The combination shows in her clothing style and the way she wears her hair, as well as her jewelry. She prefers high quality silks bedecked with elegant and elaborate beading, though she also finds comfort in loose, almost sari-esque garb. No matter the occasion, Inara will choose something beautiful and glamorous, not only because she must be 'on' all the time - but also because she enjoys having and wearing beautiful things.
Special Skills:
Singing, dancing, the arts, psychology - as a companion, Inara has been trained in many things. She is also shown to be proficient with a sword, as well as a bow and arrow. SHE WAS TRAINED IN LIKE EVERYTHING OKAY.
Inara is also capable of flying a shuttle as well as piloting Serenity. She also appears to be fairly computer/technology savvy.
What is your character's comm icon and why?
Comm icon. Inara is a Buddhist, and that is incredibly important to her - and figures into a lot of the things she says as well as her practices.
Anything else?: Murder made me do it. >_>
Writing Samples:
Action Tag Sample:
[ Inara prefers 'face to face' communication whenever possible - and video when it is not. That is how she conducted business on the shuttle and it is how she conducts any sort of communication now. Her feed cuts on and she is smiling lightly, crimson lips pulled upwards as she regarded her device thoughtfully. ]
Good evening, everyone. I do hope you all are faring well, and I wondered if I might be able to tempt any of you more...mechanically inclined individuals to perhaps come and take a look at my shuttle. Serenity herself appears to be in perfect shape but I confess...
[ she laughs quietly. ]
I am no mechanic, and could never compare to my dear Kaylee. The last time I took my shuttle out on a test run, it was making a sound I couldn't identify.
Anyway, if someone could take a look - I would appreciate it.
Third Person Prose Sample:
Inara was used to the black vastness of space - it was a sight frequently beheld on Serenity, especially if you happened to be having any sort of conversation with Wash at length.
She enjoyed the beauty of it; dark eyes fixed on the stars burning so brightly in the distance while knowing and realizing just how far away they are and that the Universe - what she had seen of it, anyway - was so expansive it was incomprehensible and yet...and yet somehow terrifyingly beautiful at the same time.
It was what she had wanted, to 'see the universe' - to see what lie beyond the walls of the Companion House and her comfortable, elegant lifestyle. It seems she has been granted that wish, not only on the Serenity but here, as well - here, there were people and creatures of different names, races, and species. It was...almost unfathomable, in a way - how there were so many things that Inara, a registered Companion did not know.
Not to say, of course, that Inara knew everything there was to know but she did pride herself on knowing a great deal. Here, what she thought that she had known had been microscopic, in the grand scale of things.
Sometimes she thought it was odd that she was still standing, after all that she had been through. It seemed that whatever benign force that might be - the universe, with all its encompassing greatness, or perhaps an all seeing force imbued with enlightenment that watched out for all creatures great and small - happened to be watching out for her well being, because she was not, as of yet, dead.
As Inara stared out the large window of the observation deck, her lips turned slightly upward, mind somewhere far, far away.
No. She wasn't quite gone, was she? She still had time to see, to learn, to embrace her fate.
