Inara Serra

Relationships:

♥♥♥♥ Howard Stark:  They are currently seeing if they can manage to be in a relationship with each other.  It's new, and they're certainly screwing up, but she cares about him a great deal.

♥♥♥ Komui:  One of the mechanical geniuses that she manages on level five.  They're good friends and she ensures that he occasionally has a real bath, a real meal, and sleeps in a real bed.

♥♥ Amy Pond:  An acquaintance that is quickly becoming a friend.  She enjoys Amy's enthusiasm for all things and gossip.

♥♥ Howard Link:  A real gentleman and she enjoys going for walks with him to talk about whatever comes to mind.

♥ Yujinn: One of the first people to befriend her and a real gentleman.

♥ Varon: Another of the engineers, he seems like a genuinely nice guy, just a bit rough around the edges.

♥ Bucky Barnes:  They worked together to break out and she has a great deal of respect for him.  However, his girlfriend died trying to save her, and kissed her that one time, so she's been staying a respectful distance.

♥ Alex Shepherd:  Second in command of engineering, so she sees quite a bit of him.

♥ Bakura:  He's been helping to keep her supplied with incense, but he has a bit of a nasty streak she doesn't appreciate.

♥ Lenalee Lee:  Co-manager of Komui.  They did get along until Lenalee saw her feeding on Komui.  Now it's not quite as friendly.

Jenny Sparks:  They were moving toward being friends, but with the Howard fiasco, it's very tense.

- Emilia Galamar:  They had an argument around Inara's former occupation.  They haven't really talked since.

--- Asura:  Stole one of her necklaces to prove he could, she avoids anything to do with him at all costs

OOC Information:
Name: Catie
Age: OMG old
AIM: Catie79
MSN:
Y!M:
E-MAIL: dark_jewel79@hotmail.com
Are you new? If not, list your current characters: Tsunade and Temari

IC Information:
Name: Inara Serra
Fandom: Firefly
Timeline: The end of Serenity
Age: 27
Appearance: Inara is an elegant woman of average height. She has long, wavy dark hair, dark eyes, and a light gold complexion. Her build is slender and slightly muscular. She is almost always immaculately turned out in elegant dresses that show a strong Indian influence. For a formal occasion she’ll pin her hair up in elaborate styles and wear complicated gowns, but around the ship her hair is usually loose and natural while her clothes are more casual. Part of her job is to look beautiful at all times, and she’s very good at her job.

Abilities: Like the geisha Companions probably originated from, Inara has a wide variety of skills. She knows history and literature, dance, speaks many languages, easily moves through multiple societies, is a master of dress and cosmetics, and appreciates art. Most of her skills revolve around being an elegant, high class member of society. Her other training includes massage, psychology, and physical intimacy.

She has some basic hand-to-hand combat knowledge, enough to help a lady that’s found herself in a bad situation. She can also handle a sword, a pistol, and is an excellent archer. However, she is just a human and not a combatant unless given no other choice. She wouldn’t be much of a fight for a battle hardened opponent.

Personality: Inara is calm, cool, and collected. At the age of twenty-seven, she’s been in training as a Companion for at least a decade and it shows. Particularly when she’s on the job, she is difficult to ruffle. Perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect manners. The occasional sharp comment will give away the fact that she’s a lot more than a lovely, talented doll, but she is the picture of benign grace. Her care for her clients is not feigned. She chooses who she accepts as a client and she genuinely cares for their well-fare. She has no hang ups about sex and genuinely enjoys her time with her clients. They are chosen based on their chemistry with her, ensuring that everyone involved will have an intense experience. Minor annoyances and comments that are uncouth are just ignored and neatly deflected away, she’s not in the habit of arguing with her clients. She is in complete control at all times when she’s working.

Off the job, she’s easier to get ruffled. Particularly with people that know how to push her buttons. Calling her a whore is a sure fire way to get the rough side of her tongue. She is not ashamed of her job, but she can get defensive about it. Out of the public eye, her hair comes down and her manners shift to something more informal. She has a sharp, educated sense of humor and loves to laugh. Witty one line retorts are very much her weapon of choice when handling the rough types she currently lives with. Most frustrating situations will make her exasperated and have her rolling her eyes. She’s not the type to shout or get into a pushing match over small things. Rather than get into a confrontation, she will walk away. She prefers to avoid violence. Her time on Serenity has taught her that violence is not always avoidable, when pushed she will even take arms herself, but she is usually the voice of reason when tempers are running hot. Every once in a while she can be pushed far enough to see violence as perfectly acceptable, but it takes a lot. Inara is frequently seen playing the role of supporter, confidante, and even a maternal role for the crew. When the Shepherd has a crisis of faith, Inara is there to support him despite the fact he does not fully approve of her line of work. Her training in psychology makes her well suited to this role.

Behind all of the public and private masks, Inara is a very driven woman. She’s been called the shining star of House Madrassa. She was a shoo-in for House Priestess before she took off to see the universe. Her job requires her to keep an emotional distance from anyone that might become a relationship in order to avoid a conflict of interest, but she’s very much human and has a big heart. Her friends are small in number but she is extremely caring and loyal to them. She is a Buddhist and her religion is a large part of her personal philosophy.

History:  Earth-that-was has been used up and left behind.  The human race has moved to a new system of planets, each one terraformed to be as close to Earth-that-was as possible.  The Alliance planets are a bastion of civilization with gleaming cities, while the outer planets are poor and settlers struggle to exist.

Inara Serra was born on the planet Sihnon in 2490. Sihnon is a shining jewel of the Alliance, very much a part of the Core worlds. She entered Companion training at an unknown age, probably in her teens. Companions are registered, legal prostitutes. In her universe, they are considered part of the highest level of society and are very respected. Her progress was rapid and she was soon a powerful member of House Madrassa. She rubbed elbows (amongst other things) with the richest and most powerful people in the Alliance.

Suddenly, in 2516, Inara left Sihnon and rented a shuttle on a Firefly-class transport called Serenity. Many, many people questioned why an elite like Inara would start traveling with a group of smugglers. She replied that she wanted to see the universe. The reality was that she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Her rules were simple: she has full control over her shuttle so she can conduct her business, no one can come in without permission, if she makes an appointment she has to keep it, and she is not to be called a whore. A few of the rules actually stick. While Captain Malcolm Reynolds and his crew attempted to make a less than honest living, Inara added a touch of respectability to their operation and allowed them to go to planets they otherwise would not be welcome on. When work took them to worlds rich enough to afford her, Inara took clients to earn a living. The shuttle she rented was her home and gave her a place to work.

As the months went by Inara became more and more a member of the crew. She befriended Kaylee, calling her ‘mei mei’ (little sister). Shepherd Book joined the crew and was introduced to their Ambassador, Inara. Mal showed his usual disrespect for her position by calling her a whore in front of the Shepherd, causing a very awkward scene, but they were able to put that aside and become friends. Inara provided support when the Shepherd had a crisis of faith over the criminal element he was now a part of. Simon and River also joined the crew and Inara took on a caring role with the lost teen. When Mal and Zoe were pinched during the train job, Inara used her station as a Companion to have them released by the Sheriff.

Inara was enjoying a multi-day appointment with a regular of hers when she ran into Mal at a high end party he was using to make contact with a potential job. Her client was insulting to her and Mal took offense. With his usual logic, the Captain laid her regular out and landed himself with a duel. Inara offered him a way out, but Mal refused. Instead the Companion provided an emergency fencing lesson, trying to give the captain a chance of surviving this encounter. Determined to defend Inara’s honor, he fought the undefeated swordsman. Badly wounded, Mal managed to win when the other man was distracted by Inara’s desperate plea for Mal not to be killed. Inara stayed with the crew and Mal was able to pick up another job.

Inara did not approve of Mal’s handling of his unwanted bride, Saffron. She was even more annoyed when Saffron attempted to seduce her and send Serenity into a trap. As she put it, ‘you don’t play a player’ and Saffron’s attempt failed, but Inara’s training didn’t keep her from kissing Mal in a panic when she found him unconscious and getting knocked out by the same narcotics used on him. When Mal was later double-crossed by Yolanda/Saffron and left naked in the desert, it was Inara waiting with a pistol to stop her from taking off with the loot. When they’re not tossing verbal barbs at each other, the ambassador and the captain actually work well together.

Inara received a call from an old friend and former Companion, Nandi, asking to hire the crew to protect her business: a whore house called the House of Gold. Serenity went to provide support. Mal had a one night clinch with the former Companion. Inara did an excellent job of acting unaffected, but behind closed doors, she broke down. From the whispered comments, it’s clear that Mal and Inara were not doing a good job of hiding their feelings for each other anymore. Inara was not on the front lines during the fighting, but did stop the sheriff with a knife at his throat. Nandi was shot and killed during the fighting.

After fulfilling their job and leaving the planet, Inara decided to leave the ship and the increasing tension with Mal. She returned to Sihnon and the Training House where Companions learn their skills.

Her association with Serenity did not allow her to keep to her peaceful life. When a Parliament Operative was not able to capture Mal directly, he used Inara as bait. Some quick thinking and a flash bomb Inara had hidden in her altar got them out of the trap. They made their escape and the Ambassador was back on Serenity. As the crew chased down the mystery of what River knew, Inara found herself first flying through Reaver space, then on the planet Miranda learning about the Reavers’ origins. In a desperate move to get the word out to the rest of the universe, Serenity blasted through Reaver space and brought the Reavers with them to fight the Alliance fleet. Mal used Mr. Universe’s equipment to send out the origins of the Reavers while the rest of the crew, including Inara, fought for their lives. Inara helped to take down Reavers using a futuristic bow and arrow but they were badly outnumbered and had to fall back. River handled the mob and the Operative let them go. The damage was already done.

With Serenity repaired and the Alliance dealing with the firestorm Mal started, the crew returned to space. Inara was facing the decision as to whether or not stay with Serenity when she found herself in Facility.

Roleplay Sample - Log: Serenity suddenly seemed very . . . homey.

Inara walked down one of the identical white hallways, lined with identical doors. No world or ship she had been on made her feel quite like this. Like a prisoner, or an animal in a lab. Both descriptions were alarmingly accurate for her current situation. As much danger as her life on Serenity had brought her, this was the first time she’d been taken prisoner. Her standing meant nothing here.

The Companion found her way to the stairs overlooking the recreation area. She leaned against the rail, watching the facility’s residents milling around and amusing themselves. Such a variety of people trapped here, pulled from so many different worlds. As much as she loathed being a prisoner, Inara was drawn to meet some of these people and hear their stories. Of course, in order to hear their stories, introductions were in order. She brushed a hand over her dress and continued down the stairs. No one could win a fight like this alone.

Roleplay Sample - Journal:
[The feed turns on completely on purpose, a poised, lovely woman gazing at the camera.]

If anyone is receiving this wave, I’m Inara Serra. I believe I’ve been taken hostage and I require assistance. I can compensate anyone that can help me.

If my captors can hear this, there is nothing to be gained from silence. Make your demands known, I am certain we can work something out.

[She cuts the feed.]

This game includes horrible mental and physical torture of your character. After reading the rules/faq for clarification, how do you expect your character to handle this and continue to function? This will be quite a challenge for the upper class lady. Inara is not completely sheltered, so she will have some coping strategies in place already. She has seen some of what people with absolute power are capable of and the side effects. Fire fights and dead bodies are unfortunately something she has seen quite a bit. When that fails, there is her training and her religion to fall back on. She finds a sense of calm through meditation, and when things go to hell, she will probably spend time refocusing each day.

Questions? Comments? Crazed and creative statements? Those go here.