an idea

[jebbypal]

So, I was watching Ariel (haven't watched firefly in soooo long it's not even funny. Yes, attempting to recapture simon) and something occured to me.

Long ago when we all used to be obsessed w/ such things, I saw where someone had the idea that Inara's trip to ariel for her checkup was more an indication that she was sick and that was why she went out on the rim was for one big trip before she died, but continuing to work was the only way she could do it.

Another thought occured to me. That it was in fact a "checkup" as stated, but with another purpose as well. From what we saw in Heart of Gold, there was every impression that Nandi didn't continue her training. Inara of course, did. What was to stop Inara from striking out on her own once she got to the Rim (other than the pull that the Guild would have)? Why didn't more Companions venture off on their own like Nandi?

What if once you completed training, a dose of poison or virus was delivered to you and that remained innocuous so long as one continued to show up for their annual exam and companion license renewal? But if you failed to show, *bam*.

It would explain alot I think.

Comments

[inlovewithnight.livejournal.com]

It would fit in with the needle she has in Serenity-the-pilot, too. I remember reading somewhere that there was supposed to be a more complicated explanation for that than suicide in case of emergency. Maybe it's a medication that you can only get a refill of at the checkup?

[poisontaster]

As a story idea, I think that's totally fascinating and it would make an excellent story (omg write it), but societally, it just makes sense that there's no real reason for a Companion to strike out on their own. Being a Companion is an elite and highly respected position on the Core Planets and out in the black, a lot of time your only protection and recourse to the law would be having the bulk of the Guild behind you. "I am important and I have important friends so don't fuck with me."

The thing about Nandi was that she got no respect (even from Inara, to some extent) and she had no protection from someone like Rance Burgess. That's why she had to appeal to Inara in the first place.

[jebbypal]

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.

[http://users.livejournal.com/astriana_/]

The challenge with this idea is the example you gave - Nandi. She made it plain that she'd been out there for quite a while "carving our her place", and Petaline giving birth in the middle of the episode would seem to indicate that Nandi had been there for more than a year. Nandi would have been hit with the "bam" before we ever got to "Ariel".