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Saffron was bored out of her mind. She wasn't actually locked into the tiny passenger shuttle docked in the port opposite from Inara's, but she might as well have been. All her worldly possessions were here, scant as they were, and the rest of the ship was full of people who basically wanted her dead. She had taken her meals in the shuttle over the last two days to avoid the nasty glares from the crew.

She stared at the domed ceiling of her tiny pod. Someone had made up the small space with fresh bedsheets and an extra toothbrush — a surprisingly thoughtful gesture. It was late in the evening, and she lay in her bed fully dressed in the frilled blouse and knee length skirt she'd been arrested in, both sand-toned and threadbare. Other than meals and the latrine, she hadn't found a reason to exit the lumpy comfort of her cot for the first few days of their journey.

She knew it was pointless trying to escape Serenity now. It was much easier to let the crew believe they were bringing her to justice. Let them think themselves heroes. They would escort her to Beylix where she would meet her fate with a brave face, promising them all that she'd leave her life of lies and crime behind. It would be no great task to break out of the Belyix Federal — she knew a good forger who could do more with less. She'd escape and assume a new life, some meek little woman named Brynne or Caoifa. Another little lamb lost and in need of rescuing. Simple.

In the meantime, she'd have to kill two more weeks as Saffron, on a ship full of her enemies. They were too honorable to do her any real harm, she knew, but they were dreadfully boring. She could poke at that Mal Reynolds all day long, but the man had ways of disappearing on this lug nut of a ship. She wasn't sure if she'd heard more than a single word out of Kaylee and Simon combined, and River never stopped staring, round-eyed and unspeaking. Zoe and Wash were polite enough to entertain small talk, but Saffron hated that even more than boredom. That left Jayne — too pumped full of testosterone to do anything but bluster and finger his rifle in her presence — and Inara.

Now, Inara interested Saffron. A bonafide Companion brought surprising honor to Serenity, something Saffron was not too proud to dismiss despite never finishing the schooling herself. She had an inkling that Inara's schedule wasn't so full that she couldn't fit her in. She spent most of her time primping — albeit, that was part of her profession — and flirting with Mal. Saffron was sure she did that one off the clock.

She closed her eyes, rubbing her hands across her face, and groaned. She would kill for a tavern conversation with a stranger over shimmerwine. She always shined brightest in those conversations — she could be anyone she wanted to be. Stuck on this ship, she could only be Saffron, a boring, sexually rejected, failed con artist. She and Mal hadn't even consummated their marriage. That thought drew a rye chuckle from Saffron.

In that moment, the portal to her shuttle slid open with a hiss, making her eyes shoot open in surprise. Her spiking heart rate lowered a bit as she noted a slender frame and halo of black curls outlined in the doorway.

"I brought you some tea."

"How kind of you, Inara." It was difficult for her to keep the acerbic edge out of her voice, now that she had dropped the saccharine sweet persona of Saffron. It was a defense mechanism.

"I made enough for two, didn't want it to go to waste." Inara's voice was soft and lilting, an antidote to Saffron's poison.

"You're much less scared of me than the rest of them, you know." She spoke plainly, knowing Inara wouldn't be impressed by coquetry.

"I am different in many ways from the others on this ship," she said, her smile faltering only a little. "Kindness is simply one of them."

Saffron sat on the cot, drawing her eyes across Inara's body. She wore a tunic of deep purple which left her lithe arms exposed. It hung away from her torso, but Saffron could see the shifting planes of her body under the thin fabric as she moved.

"I thank you for it."

"It's my pleasure," Inara said, stepping into the light of Saffron's shuttle to set the thick mug on a shelf above her cot. The fluorescent light cast a saintly glow over her dark hair.

"You don't have any female clients, do you?"

It was an abrupt question, and Inara's eyebrows shot up. She had clearly realized the cloying damsel was an act Saffron put on, but she may not have suspected how different the real woman could be from the facade.

"I don't currently, but I have had many professional relationships with women."

Saffron nodded. Inara returned to the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"What makes you ask?" A smirk played at her lips.

"No reason," Saffron replied, sounding insincere even to her own ears.

"None at all, I'm sure," Inara said idly. The knowing tone bothered her, and she realized she'd shown her cards too early.

Saffron stood up from the cot, reaching to pick up the mug of steaming tea from the shelf. As she reached, she let her gauzy top ride higher up her torso, exposing the skin of her abdomen. She felt Inara's trained eye on her, appreciating and critiquing her at the same time. She let the pause deepen as she sat back down, lowering her gaze. She took a sip of the tea, bamboo and honey flavored, then gave a deep sigh of satisfaction. She flicked her eyes back toward Inara, looking at her through hooded lids.

Inara's smirk had deepened to a knowing half-smile. It was a transparent look, and Saffron translated it easily. She forced her voice to sound casual.

"I should like some company over the coming days. A friend among foes."

"I don't have friends, except Kaylee," Inara responded. "I have acquaintances, and I have... business relationships."

"Not even the occasional confidante?" Saffron bit back in an overly innocent tone.

"Do you intend to compensate me financially?" Inara asked pointedly. Saffron could have been affronted by the abrupt question, but turnabout was fair play.

"When was the last time one of your clients brought you to... completion?" She was stalling.

"You're very forward, aren't you?" Inara soundly only mildly peeved, and Saffron suspected she enjoyed the banter.

"You didn't answer the question."

"You didn't answer mine." Inara crossed her arms.

"Consider it a barter, an exchange of... services." Now Saffron was really showing all her cards.

There was another long pause. Inara's porcelain features were fixed in an amused and slightly annoyed expression. Her eyes traveled over Saffron's body, raking over each curve. She felt absolutely naked, seated in front of the woman towering over her. Finally, Inara spoke.

"I'll think about your proposal, Saffron. Albeit unorthodox for a Companion of my status, it's not an altogether unattractive offer. Of course, off the books and... Discrete."

"Of course." Saffron took another sip from the steaming mug. "I look forward to your decision."

Inara smiled, nodded, then turned away wordlessly. Her steps faded down the hallway before the shuttle door hissed closed. Saffron sipped her tea idly, replaying their conversation in her mind. Perhaps this voyage wouldn't be as uneventful as she thought.

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