Title: I Say A Little Prayer
Author: Secret-Agent-Omega
Genre: Drama.
Rating: K.
Pairings: Mal/Inara.
Location on Firefly Universe Timeline: Undefined, but sometime after Mal and Inara have met.
Spoilers: "The Train Job".
Summary: Inara prays for a safe return.
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Length without header: 1 page(s) at 12-point Times New Roman font; 196 words; 1,083 characters including spaces.
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Notes: Inara is Buddhist; I am not. Thus, I was intentionally vague as to what her prayer entails. No offense is intended to any Buddhists in the audience.
I Say A Little Prayer
By Secret-Agent-Omega
Book: "I don't think the captain would much like me praying for him."
Inara: "Don't tell him. I never do."
- Excerpt, "The Train Job"
It is her own private ritual; not so ancient as the tea ceremony, but important nevertheless.
She never tells him, for he would despise the effort if he knew.
Closing the door to her shuttle, she kneels at her altar, lighting a stick of incense.
As the smoke curls upwards, she silently repeats the familiar litany.
Merciful
Buddha, watch over him. Lend him light, that he may see the
path before him in the dark places where he must walk. Lend
him strength, that he may overcome the obstacles he must face in his
trials. Lend him wisdom, that he may know the hearts and minds
of strangers. Free him from fear, from confusion, and from
doubt. Protect him from evils that wear the face of man and
the dress of civility.
Leaving the incense to smolder, she rises and makes her way to the door.
Upon the threshold, she pauses; casting one final glance to her altar, she concludes her unsolicited prayer.
Bring him safely back to me once more.