Title: For the Job Author: bookishtype Characters: Mal, Inara Prompt: Charity Word count: 393

Inara sat back and glared at Mal, “I am not a charity worker, Mal”. Mal shifted uncomfortably in the chair, his fingers tapping his foot, which was also tapping to some unknown tempo. “I know that you think my work is a joke and that all I am is some whore like one of Jayne’s saloon girls, I am not doing this.” Inara stood up as she spoke the last part. She paced across the room to her altar and lit another incense stick.

Mal sighed, “I know you aren’t no charity worker Inara but I have nothing else that I can do!” He leaned back, “you could dress up like some saloon girl though sometimes maybe you might get some extra work”, and he grinned mischievously.

“Aauuugggh! Seriously Mal this isn’t a joke”, Inara snapped back, “if the Guild found out that I had done this I would be in serious trouble. I would lose my clients if this got out!”

“I spose I could get in before you actually have to, er, perform”, Mal sat back flustered at that thought for a bit, “what I mean is that all you will be is the diversion so that we can get in and get out without the guy knowing what we had done, and I could act like some Guild bodyguard and take you out before things got hot and sweaty.

I can’t ask Kaylee or River to do this, Kaylee I can’t risk hurting her, I need her to run this ship and plus she wouldn’t be as able to pull the wool over this guys eyes as you would.” He grinned, “plus we need River to get the guards out of the way with her ‘wily ways’.”

Inara sighed and sat down on her bed resignedly, “I will do this for you, but under two conditions, that you or Jayne will get me out of there before it goes too far and secondly that you make absolutely certain this has no way to getting back to the Guild.”

Mal nodded smiled and stood up and headed toward her shuttle door, he turned back to face Inara, “oh, you think maybe you can get one of those saloon dresses to wear for the job.” He grinned mischievously and darted out of the door just as a hairbrush flew at his head.