002 愛 Video

[companioning]

[The feed flickers a few times as Inara pokes at her bracelet. Finally the image steadies and Inara shakes her head.] Bàoqiàn. I'm sorry, I'm still attempting to get use to this bracelet, we have nothing like them where I come from.

Nǐmén hǎo . For those of you I've failed to meet, I'm Inara Serra and still, I suppose, relatively new here.

[Her smile warms and she clasps her hands together as she continues speaking. Despite what may happen, she's determined to keep her tone friendly and professional.] In my world I'm what is called a Companion and I plan on offering my services as one for those who would like to employ me. I'm more than aware that many of you may not know what a Companion is nor what one does, so please allow me to explain.

A Companion is exactly what it sounds like. We are highly skilled and trained individuals who offers companionship. There are many ways to go about offering this; conversational, spiritual, therapeutic and of course services on a more intimate level. There have been other women and men who have had roles similar to Companions throughout history - Geisha, Sing-song Girls, Oiran and Courtesans.

[And though her expression is still quite friendly, a firmness and no nonsense tone creeps into her voice]

Please do be aware that while I am willing to work on either a short or a long term basis, it is my right as a Companion to refuse any request if I feel as though it won't benefit one or either of us. I am however willing to discuss and perhaps negotiate a contract if any are interested and wish to contact me with inquiries on how to become a client, or even would like a more in-depth what a Companion is.

Comments

[kabukihime]

A companion is like a geisha?

[That part has him interested, as he certainly knows what both geisha and oiran are. He does blush a little at the thought of more intimate things, though. You could say he's curious. Does she wear kimono like geisha do?]

Do you sing and dance, too?

[companioning]

Well there's certainly similarities. Like them, we're trained from a young age in music, dance, conversational skills - just to name a few.

[She chuckles.]

Oh, yes. Though it has been some time since I've sang, I'm probably rather rusty.

1/2 [reaction]

[whatagoodgirl]

[ - no, she wants to scream, no, you're too open about it! What will people say? How will they treat you? She's so scared for this woman who was so kind to her at the murder scene, even if she doesn't remember, terrified that her reputation will plummet and she'll have to deal with scorn and abuse around every corner. Someone so beautiful and sweet shouldn't have to be alone all the time aside from her customers.]

2/2 [video, private]

[whatagoodgirl]

[But then two things strike her. One, Claudia opened a brothel and seemed to do alright before she was taken by the gods; two, the comparisons she's made. Like Geisha or Oiran. Does that mean...]

Um, Inara... how are Companions treated, in your world?

Audio - Private

[samantha_grey]

['Geisha.' She knew the term enough, barely, to have an idea. Courtesan clinched it. Not realizing that Nakama was already in touch with Inara, Samantha sent her a quiet message, keeping it private as she knew that Nakama wouldn't want this publicized.]

I think that I might know someone who would like to speak to you about your line of work.

Audio - Private

[companioning]

Truly? And who might that be?

video;

[burping]

[Cue Mithian being scandalized and not even sure what to say to this for a long moment.] You chose such a profession? [She tries to say it without judgement but... so many have been thrust into it by desperation, she cannot imagine someone choosing to do... that for a living.]

video;

[companioning]

[Inara has actually expected such replies, but it still doesn't mean that she's not offended by them.] Yes, yes I did. Though I can't help but wonder exactly what profession do you think I have?

video.

[ofgallifrey]

[The Doctor is fiddling with his bracelet, and since he's rather new to it, he blips in and out a bit before finally his image and voice stabilize.]

That's an... interesting use of the word companion. [Not exactly the way he'd use it, but then, he's used it for a long time now to mean something else.]

video.

[companioning]

You think so? [Inara smiles, shrugging her shoulders just a tiny bit.] I don't as the main service a Companion offers is companionship.

[tradingsecrets]

[Finnick rubs the back of his neck, and gives a small good natured smile.]

We have a lot in common Inara, after I became a victor I had to keep lots of people company.

[Of course the sexual part of his was not exactly something he liked doing, but he did it to protect Annie, his mother and others close to him. He'd do it again if he had to.]

[companioning]

Oh, darling... You had to? [She presses her lips together and shakes her head.] How horrible. I have never had to do anything I wasn't comfortable with and I don't plan on letting that change any for me.

[She hesitates for a moment and then switches the feed to private.]

What exactly did you have to do while you kept these people company?

video;

[meant]

( alayne is still trying to get used to the bracelet and all of its capabilities, and however strange it is to her medieval sensibilities, this post caught her eye. she is beautiful, alayne thinks, reminded of lady merryweather from king's landing. this woman speaks and dresses like a noble lady and yet she talks of whoring (or so alayne thinks), and perhaps she might have been scandalized about this, once. back when she was sansa stark. alayne is tactful enough not to let it show. )

You're very brave.

video;

[companioning]

[Inara chuckles and offers the girl a smile.] I'm quite sure that there are those here who would disagree with you and instead think it foolish and dangerous. Though this is what I know and do, it seems foolish to me to waste my training.

[video]

[eggsterminate]

Sounds like an interesting job. How'd you get into that biz?

[Getting to know more about this pretty lady? Definitely taking the opportunity.]

[video]

[companioning]

It was something my family and I decided when I was young. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the training house and at the age of twelve I started my studies.

video;

[deputychief]

Nǐhǎo -- ah, again, Inara-san. I'm not entirely surprised at this. May I ask where such training is received and what skills are taught?

[He pauses.] May I Take it as assumed that your god power here is Charm, by the way?

video;

[companioning]

Itsuki, how lovely to talk to you again. [She smiles warmly at him.] Of course you may. We're trained in Training Houses. I was trained in House Madrassa. [She thinks for a moment before she continues speaking.] We're trained in a great many subjects. Literature, dancing, music - instruments and singing, martial arts, calligraphy, economics, psychology, religious studies and philosophy just to name a few.

[She chuckles.]

Actually yes, Charm does happen to the my god power... Though I do like to think I had plenty of my own before arriving here.

video;

[mccallmemaybe]

How intimate?

[ Not that Scott is interested! He has a girlfriend. But he's prone to getting into awkward conversations. ]

video;

[companioning]

I suppose that depends entirely on the client. [Yes, her answer is vague. Vague answers are her specialty.]

[assassina]

[Did someone say courtesan? Good thing Claudia went through some of these older recordings.]

I was unaware there were courtesans here. While I may not be one myself, I ran a bordello in Rome.

[companioning]

Ah. [She smiles slightly.] Though I'm not a courtesan so to speak. A Companion is what I'm called where I'm from. A bordello... I've heard that someone had opened something similar here in the city at one time.

[ video ]

[pratentious]

[ ... Everyone else has been respectful, but Arthur is an idiot, so he just. Stares for a moment. Then blurts: ]

So you're a whore.

[ video ]

[digophelia]

[What? Wow, Arthur, you're a jerk. Alice instantly glares.]

She is not!

voice;

[digophelia]

Back in London, it is actually very dangerous to acknowledge such a thing publicly. I know of- well. I know someone like you. I'm afraid her pimp beats on her regularly and he nearly killed her. I wasn't aware that a brothel was around in Asgard.

voice;

[companioning]

If you know someone who has a.. erm, pimp and is beaten by this person, then I'm sorry, darling, but she's nothing like me. I do not have a pimp, nor would I ever let a man beat me... And I have never nor will I ever work in a brothel.