#i'm rusty

Rosy lips press together, quickly concealing that brief glimpse of joy that, according to Maks, has been a rarity around here. It’s tempting to take offense, but she gathers that he’s not exactly wrong. She smirks, she pouts, certainly simpers enough for her audience. Anything void of cynicism or theatricality rarely works itself over her perfectly tailored features, not if she can help it anyway. And as it turns out, she couldn’t. Not with him.

“I haven’t had much of a reason to,” she finally answers, allowing the corner of her mouth to pull upwards just the slightest. Sloane inches closer, lips nearly grazing the sharp curve of his jaw, “Everyone’s always so serious around here, aren’t they?” 

It’s not the first time she’s noted her Us vs. Them mentality when it came to her bond with Maks, though it’s not something she’s looking to dissect anytime soon. His brother is a goon masquerading as a bad boy leader, why wouldn’t she feel safer with him? Why wouldn’t she stay a little later at the lounge, near-empty save for the sad drunkards, if it meant a few more shared moments of authenticity with Maks? It’d been her suggestion, after all. Let’s hang back, just a bit longer. 

BACKGROUND

she was born right in velgrove to parents that didn't really come from money and didn't particularly care for her or her sister miyeon.

she had a tendency to act out as a child, so she didn't have many friends until she reached age 14 when her edge gained her quite the notoriety among her peers.

spent most of her youth partying, drinking, hanging around - she took many part-time jobs during the summer. skipped school a lot, which meant she didn't have the best academic record and was pretty much always on probation.

when she was 17, her older sister went missing, presumably leaving on her own accord - it was a wake-up call to mina and she was pretty depressed for the year following her disappearance.

after that she got her act more together, as that's what her sister would've wanted - her bad grades however didn't really allow her to apply to collage, so she just settled in the town longterm.

currently she is a bartender at the red fox tavern, has held this position for a while and she is happily renting a small apartment for herself away from her parents.

she never stopped looking for her sister though - and probably never will.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

somebody from mina's past while she was still in high school - aka somebody from her friend's group or school who has seen her at her worst.

acquaintance of her sister miyeon - for reference she is two years older than mina, so she'd be 31 currently, and she disappeared when she was 19.

mina used to do a lot of odd part-time jobs starting from age 15 up until 21 years of age - maybe your character needed some unconventional help.

Thought of some things Inara would feel about modern travel:

She would definitely be a "why fly when it's only a 12 hour drive" kinda girl

She'd be afraid of not only flying but airports. That helpless feeling of not being in charge of anything would not be great for her

Her car (at least to start) would suck. Barely operating.