It opens with Mal and Inara fighting (as they do). Mal tells her she pretends to be a lady and wants everyone to bow before her and kiss her hand but she’s just a whore.

Wait, that never gets better? DDDD= I watched the pilot of Firefly and one of the things that really bugged me was the way Mal talked to Inara. I kind of figured he got over that though because I know they're a big ship in the fandom. (I never watched past the first episode, it didn't really grab me) I don't get it, how are they a ship?

I can't really respond to your last point because I generally avoid fiction with rape as well but I wouldn't be surprised if you're right.