Ficlet: Hard Work (Firefly, Inara)
May. 14th, 2006 11:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thegirl20Title: Hard Work
Author: Angie (![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
the_girl_20)
Character: Inara
Rating: G
Prompt: Who did you most look up to as a child, and why? Do you still admire them? (written for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
big_damn_quests)
Word Count: 501
Admiration is a strange concept, wouldn’t you agree? One that’s hard to understand and even harder to explain. But I’ll give you your answer.
When I was a young girl, maybe seven or eight, my mother employed a ‘lady who does’. She came to our house three times a week to clean it. Her name was Suni and I adored her. She had the brightest smile I’ve ever seen, she always seemed to be smiling. My house was felt like a happy place when she was in it.
She would bring me sweet things that she had made herself. She’d say, ‘We need to get some meat on your bones, child, your legs is a spindly as a foal just new born!’ Then she’d lick her thumb and wipe my face clean of whatever mess I’d made. I would throw my arms around her and revel in the warmth of her embrace: soft and comforting. And safe.
Sometimes she’d bring one of her children with her. I was never sure how many there were of them. She had a daughter just younger than me whose face always seemed to be dirty. We would play in my bedroom, she was always fascinated by my dolls and toys. I enjoyed watching her play with them more than I enjoyed playing with them myself. She derived such pleasure from things I took for granted and which had been given to me without a hint of affection. Sometimes I would give her a toy to take away. Her eyes would open wide and she’d fall over herself with thanks.
At that age I doubt I knew that I admired Suni, but with hindsight it’s very clear. My mother most likely paid her a pittance, yet she always had time to hug me or tell me a story as she polished silver. She brought up her children by working hard. She was a strong woman.
When I started earning, I sent her money. Just a little every month or so to help her out. One month, the deposit was returned to me. She had died. My heart broke a little that day.
Do I still admire her? Yes, I do. And I always will. She made me appreciate that money and connections have absolutely nothing to do with happiness or love. That is a lesson I have never forgotten. I suppose it’s part of the reason I ended up on Serenity. The crew may not be the most upstanding of citizens, but none of them are afraid of hard work. And while they may never vocalise it, they do love each other.
Every time I see Kaylee with engine oil smudged on her cheeks I think of that little girl. Every time Mal goes and does something noble, I think of…
I’m sorry, I beg your pardon? Do I admire Mal? I don’t believe that was the question you asked. And I am going to have to respectfully decline to answer.
One question at a time…
Author: Angie (
the_girl_20)Character: Inara
Rating: G
Prompt: Who did you most look up to as a child, and why? Do you still admire them? (written for
big_damn_quests)Word Count: 501
Admiration is a strange concept, wouldn’t you agree? One that’s hard to understand and even harder to explain. But I’ll give you your answer.
When I was a young girl, maybe seven or eight, my mother employed a ‘lady who does’. She came to our house three times a week to clean it. Her name was Suni and I adored her. She had the brightest smile I’ve ever seen, she always seemed to be smiling. My house was felt like a happy place when she was in it.
She would bring me sweet things that she had made herself. She’d say, ‘We need to get some meat on your bones, child, your legs is a spindly as a foal just new born!’ Then she’d lick her thumb and wipe my face clean of whatever mess I’d made. I would throw my arms around her and revel in the warmth of her embrace: soft and comforting. And safe.
Sometimes she’d bring one of her children with her. I was never sure how many there were of them. She had a daughter just younger than me whose face always seemed to be dirty. We would play in my bedroom, she was always fascinated by my dolls and toys. I enjoyed watching her play with them more than I enjoyed playing with them myself. She derived such pleasure from things I took for granted and which had been given to me without a hint of affection. Sometimes I would give her a toy to take away. Her eyes would open wide and she’d fall over herself with thanks.
At that age I doubt I knew that I admired Suni, but with hindsight it’s very clear. My mother most likely paid her a pittance, yet she always had time to hug me or tell me a story as she polished silver. She brought up her children by working hard. She was a strong woman.
When I started earning, I sent her money. Just a little every month or so to help her out. One month, the deposit was returned to me. She had died. My heart broke a little that day.
Do I still admire her? Yes, I do. And I always will. She made me appreciate that money and connections have absolutely nothing to do with happiness or love. That is a lesson I have never forgotten. I suppose it’s part of the reason I ended up on Serenity. The crew may not be the most upstanding of citizens, but none of them are afraid of hard work. And while they may never vocalise it, they do love each other.
Every time I see Kaylee with engine oil smudged on her cheeks I think of that little girl. Every time Mal goes and does something noble, I think of…
I’m sorry, I beg your pardon? Do I admire Mal? I don’t believe that was the question you asked. And I am going to have to respectfully decline to answer.
One question at a time…
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-05-14 12:45 pm (UTC)I love the idea of little Inara, before the training and that there are things that shaped her life the meant that she was never going to be suited to life on the central planets, that she was never going to have the right priorities.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-15 10:17 am (UTC)Incidentally, I am currently watching 'Baby Killer' and the 'Teflon' scene just came on. Notes are being made.
So I have continued my trend of mentioning Kaylee or Inara in the other one's fic. Will attempt to keep it up for the rest of them.
I like the thought of little Inara too, but I can't see her as a rough and tumble child at all, I kind of wanted to but it wouldn't work. So even as a child, she was a bit serene.
no subject
Date: 2006-05-15 10:31 am (UTC)Incidentally, I am currently watching 'Baby Killer' and the 'Teflon' scene just came on. Notes are being made. As they should be - I have so many notes from Teflon onwards that it could be a fic in and of itself
I need to comment on your Veronicas post and your multifandom post but have now been distracted by your email and an off to talk more things SVU