In Defence of Rayne

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 8:47 AM

When I first started posting my Maya fanfics, if anyone had said I would be writing Rayne smut, I would have said no way. Actually, I’d probably have have said lao-tyen, boo , but that’s personal. In just the same way as, to me, Mal and River is a pairing uncontemplatable (yes, that is a word – now), so was River and Jayne. Our favourite mercenary’s older than Mal, for a start, he’s a killer, not too bright … then I started to write him. And I suddenly saw he had a softer side.

From the story JAYNE’S KID he began to insinuate himself into my affections, which to someone who adores Mal is downright unsettling. But I would still have said … Jayne and River? Uh uh.

Then she started to show up. Appearing in my fics, watching him while he worked out. Spooking him. Making him all kinds of uncomfortable.

As the series progressed with other characters taking the forestage, there was this little rumbling going on the background, mostly Jayne swearing in Chinese, I’ll admit, but it was there.

Then came the revelation. PROPOSAL saw Jayne and River actually conversing, like adults. Well, almost adults. And therein lies the rub. Perhaps they’re actually closer in age than we think … she’s never really had a childhood, he’s never left his … Anyway, after BIRTHDAY it’s Jayne who helps River the most.

This was, I admit, getting creepy. Characters were taking over as stories like SOLOMON flowed fully formed from my fingers, and JAYNE’S NIGHT made the point that she was having an effect on him. And all through this Jayne was becoming more … human, showing other skills than just killing people. Then the crunch came in THE NURSERY , when they talked, and Jayne seriously began to doubt himself.

Then the spanner that was Jethro arrived, and the works ground to a halt. Fights, arguments ensued, until with Jayne leaving Serenity I really thought it was over, and I breathed a sigh of relief. But it was a temporary respite only. True love can never be honestly contained.

It has been a learning curve for me too, seeing two characters grow and develop, almost like watching two of my oldest friends fumble towards love. But here they are, and now, with fanfares and accorded drums, we come to STEALING A KISS , NC17 smutty Rayne in which the relationship is finally consummated.

Enjoy!

(Oh, and those of you who don't OCs can still read this ... there's barely a mention!)

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