story idea...where in that did you dream I said story idea? I was just meta-ing!! Begone! I'm sure Inara is just as evil for me as simon...moreso since i tend to prefer her not be around at all in my stories.

I agree completely that respect and protection of the guild should be enough. Then again, we weren't introduced to anything such as a "retired" companion except in respect to becoming someone's personal companion a la durran haymer. So it was just a "decentive" to any form of retirement that flitted through my head during the episode. Especially since she had to go all the way to the core for an exam instead of being able to do so on the more civilized rim worlds of persephone or boros.