The front lawns, outside the dorms: Monday afternoon

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack had gone for a run. A very long run, down to the beach and back, though about half way through he'd decided he was insane, because it was too damn hot, which was bad timing, because he still had to run back.

Luckily there was a hose he could soak his head with and a nice bit of lawn to stretch out on. Which was what he was doing right now, wearing nothing but a pair of very short shorts, lying on his back while he worked on his tan.

[ooc: and lo, the post was open!]

Comments

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Blushing slightly, because she'd heard stories about the bidding, she replied, "I was very young at the time and don't really remember that much about the details."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The blush was adorable, and Jack very lightly brushd his fingers across the back of her hand. "Tell me what it's like," he said. "Why do you want to be a Companion?"

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"I want to make people forget whatever's bothering them," Inara said, almost surprising herself, "and to find comfort, even if it's just for an hour or two. What about you? Are you a student here?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

He smiled crookedly at her answer. "Admirable, and I used to be. Last graduating class, got some time off and came back to be a TA, apparently."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Oh? For which class?" she asked with interest.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Dealing with the opposite sex," he said, smirking. "Something I have a lot of practice with. I think I've dealt with all of them, actually."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"All of them?" Inara asked, "Don't you mean both?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Nope," he said, watching her carefully for her reaction. "Not in the fifty-first century. Humans only have two, but there's a handful of aliens which have a few more."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

Inara considered that information. She wouldn't judge Jack for it, but she was a bit relieved she'd only be expected to work with and for two sexes of humans. "Is it a difficult adjustment? Practically, I mean?"

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Not if you're smart and ask questions if you're not familiar with the species in question." Jack rubbed his forehead with one hand and grinned, looking the tiniest bit sheepish. "I learned that one the hard way. Working out the mechanics sometimes take a bit of imagination, but that just adds to the fun."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Fun?" She asked, "My instructors tended to emphasize ritual and comfort and passion--fun wasn't really discussed as a goal."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack boggled at her. "Seriously?"

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Of course."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Wow. Wow, okay. You're missing out. On a lot." Jack was still staring a bit, wondering what sort of training they were being given to skip the most important part. "Can I ask," and normally he wouldn't hesitate, but she was only fifteen, "are Companions not supposed to enjoy sex?" He'd heard of groups like that, but they were usually attached to a religion.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, mutual enjoyment is definitely the point of the exercise," she said with a smile, "but there's a difference between enjoyment and fun, at least by my understanding."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"Huh." Jack rubbed his chin thoughtfully, turning that over in his head, and still not getting it. "Had much practical experience?"

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

She shook her head. "No, physical training doesn't start until we're sixteen."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack nodded, not at all surprised. "You might change your mind about what's important once you get to try it for yourself." He grinned, deliberately teasing. "Sex is very, very fun."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"I'll have to take your word for it, I guess," Inara blushed bright red, thinking of Gavin, "at least for now."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

The blush completely caught his atention, because it was just so unexpected. "Well, I'd offer to show you if you were a few years older," he said, trying to puzzle it out.

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"If I were a few years older, I'd know already," she replied.

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

"True," he agreed, smiling smugly. "But not with me. I have to ask, why the blush?"

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"I was thinking of someone else." When she realized how that sounded, she added in a rush, "Not that there's anything wrong with you. It's my fault for not being able to concentrate! You're very attractive and friendly and charming."

[anextimeagent.livejournal.com]

Jack exerted every bit of willpower he had and didn't laugh. "Thank you," he said, rubbing a hand over his mouth to hide his smile. "But there's nothing to apologise for. This is not a Companion-Client relationship, this is two people talking. Thinking about someone else is fine. I was just curious."

[ambassadorinara.livejournal.com]

"It's still a horrible thing to say to someone," Inara said, blushing for an entirely different reason now. "I really am very sorry."