Part of Inara had almost hoped that she would've been able to catch Mal during the evening shift. Hesitant as she'd been, the woman had ultimately decided to seek him out, to perhaps confront him regarding the messages they'd left one another. It had been a foolish thought, complicating things and making them uncomfortable for everyone; there had been utterly no logic involved in such an impulse, and yet she was still inclined to march over to where he stood and demand that they speak about it... Not that demanding anything from Mal usually ended well.

Torn, Inara decided to wait it out for the time being, casting a meaningful glance in his direction that lingered longer than it should have before she quickly turned her eyes away from him. It was so unlike her. Or maybe it was more like her than she'd care to admit.

After taking up a tray of eggs and granola, the cinnamon rolls looked a bit too sweet to her, the dark-haired woman scanned the cafeteria for a spot to sit. Focusing on a rather disgruntled, young man, Inara made her way over to where he sat and set her own tray down, though she herself did not yet take a seat. It was easy to see that he wasn't in the best of moods, so she smiled before speaking up gently.

"You look like you've have a rough night. Do you mind if I sit here, or would you prefer to be left alone?"