Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL
A NEW DAY, ch. 31: Time to Say Goodbye
Friday, October 20, 2006
Set after A NEW BEGINNING. The outbreak rages and Simon is pulled in too many directions. S/K, R/J, M/I
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3742 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
A/N: Well, as you might guess by the title, the speculation of who will die is ended with this chapter. I'd say enjoy, but that'd just be disturbing.
Thanks to Leiasky for the great beta!
***
A NEW DAY, ch. 31: Time to Say Goodbye
***
“River?”
Jayne’s voice was barely recognizable it was so hoarse and raspy from the coughing and distress his throat and body had been under. But River heard it and was leaning over him in an instant, a cool hand to his forehead.
“Hey you,” she murmured, trying to keep her tears in. She was so grateful he was alert; it had been days since he’d been able to speak. “How’re you doing?”
Shaking his head, he breathed in to talk again and it lit off another coughing jag. Helping him sit up, River sat behind him and held his shoulders as he coughed, his hand coming away bloody. With a weary sigh, he sagged all of his weight against her, and murmured, “Not so good.”
Nodding once, River held him for another minute and then gently eased him back onto the cot. Sitting beside him, she whispered, “I know, baby, I know. But you’re going to be okay. Simon’s taking really good care of you.”
Reaching for her hand, River gave it to him, and watched as he again blinked his tired eyes open in her direction. “I’m sorry, River,” he murmured, his voice coming with even more difficulty as his body again fought to stay awake.
Shaking her head, River felt her tears come lose as she asked, “Sorry for what? You’ve don’t have anything to be sorry for.”
“For leavin’ ya,” Jayne rasped, coughing again. “For leavin’ ya alone, I din’t know I would. I don’t wanna.”
Taking his face firmly in her hands, River whispered fiercely, “Then don’t, Jayne Cobb. Do you hear me? Don’t. Stay with me. Please,” she whimpered as he again fell unconscious. Glancing to his monitors, River’s breath caught in her throat and she prayed that Simon would return soon.
***
Simon had ushered Kaylee and Daniel into the school and gotten them settled, when Mal approa
Comments
MOMIN8R
Friday, 20 October 2006 03:03
*sob* heartwrenching (sp?) does not describe it! actual tears are falling down my face.... this was as wonderful as ever and the fact that inara had her baby and then jayne died is just so very sad. and yes, i understand why you killed off my jayne! there is always a price to pay.....
KITTYKAT26
Friday, 20 October 2006 03:10
I can't believe Jayne died!!!! I would scream but I'd wake everyone in the house!!! Another riveting chapter. :)
Friday, 20 October 2006 04:02
Yikes. THat's one hell of a price. I was looking for River to have to live with bitter disappointment, NOT lose her husband.
You're evil. Evil evil evil.
Did they manage to save any of Jayne's baby batter (did I just say that?)? I bet Simon's take on the whole surrogate thing just changed.
You're evil. Evil evil evil.
Did they manage to save any of Jayne's baby batter (did I just say that?)? I bet Simon's take on the whole surrogate thing just changed.
Friday, 20 October 2006 05:22
Hated it. Abso-effing-lutely hated it.
Seriously, what is with this karma thing? River has to pay for making a decision that led to some seriously eff'd up circumstances which she had NO control over and THAT is why Jayne had to die (in your eyes)? Hell, I don't even think her decision was wrong! She made the best decision with the information she had. My opinion? Simon should have died. You want to talk about karma as being the logical system for why you did things... that bastard put her through the wringer... AFTER the wringer she survived at the Academt. BS. Absolute BS.
Because while everyone else gets to have a family and children and love (the romantic kind, not that family stuff that comes with Simon, et al), she gets... what? Nothing?? Oh right. She gets to be a widow, with no children, and watches on at a distance to M/I and K/S and their families as they grow. Super-effing-duper. Bet River would be feeling so blessed to have THAT in her life and not the things she dreamed.
Pissed. I'm royally pissed because there is nothing to make up for this.
I'm not even rating this because it wouldn't be fair. Why? Because you have written an incredible story, no matter how pissed it makes me. Because you write engaging and tender stuff. Because you, as an author, don't deserve it.
But the logic here? The outcome? Purely 1 in my ratings book.
Pissed. Sorely pissed. (of course that wont' stop me from reading the rest. I'll just piss and moan the rest of the time).
Seriously, what is with this karma thing? River has to pay for making a decision that led to some seriously eff'd up circumstances which she had NO control over and THAT is why Jayne had to die (in your eyes)? Hell, I don't even think her decision was wrong! She made the best decision with the information she had. My opinion? Simon should have died. You want to talk about karma as being the logical system for why you did things... that bastard put her through the wringer... AFTER the wringer she survived at the Academt. BS. Absolute BS.
Because while everyone else gets to have a family and children and love (the romantic kind, not that family stuff that comes with Simon, et al), she gets... what? Nothing?? Oh right. She gets to be a widow, with no children, and watches on at a distance to M/I and K/S and their families as they grow. Super-effing-duper. Bet River would be feeling so blessed to have THAT in her life and not the things she dreamed.
Pissed. I'm royally pissed because there is nothing to make up for this.
I'm not even rating this because it wouldn't be fair. Why? Because you have written an incredible story, no matter how pissed it makes me. Because you write engaging and tender stuff. Because you, as an author, don't deserve it.
But the logic here? The outcome? Purely 1 in my ratings book.
Pissed. Sorely pissed. (of course that wont' stop me from reading the rest. I'll just piss and moan the rest of the time).
Friday, 20 October 2006 05:55
You know that feeling you got when Buffy found Joyce dead on the couch? That kind of void in the pit of your stomach?
Well congratulations, you've managed to hit me with that.....................
Damn you to HELL!!!
But finish the story first... :)
Well congratulations, you've managed to hit me with that.....................
Damn you to HELL!!!
But finish the story first... :)
Friday, 20 October 2006 06:32
wow - now is the time to bear in mind that earlier comment of mine about it being a compliment how emotional people are getting about your story. :)
Very well written. Funny, I wasnt all that moved about Jayne's death. Maybe because im sick and feeling fuzzy headed, maybe because Im not reading it at night, in the dark in a quiet house, like usual, but am surrounded by distractions.....
I thought it made sense to the story.
Very well written. Funny, I wasnt all that moved about Jayne's death. Maybe because im sick and feeling fuzzy headed, maybe because Im not reading it at night, in the dark in a quiet house, like usual, but am surrounded by distractions.....
I thought it made sense to the story.
Friday, 20 October 2006 06:32
Um...yeah... have to agre with ECAmber.
River gets TOTALLY SCREWED AGAIN!!! For what... let's tally all the ways: Academy screws her up for the rest of her life; loses her baby; discovers she can't have a kid; wants to pursue what Academy did to her but brother freezes her out and blames her; vaccine never made; Jayne dies; has no chance at all for kid without husband. That's 7 things, I might have forgotten some. And to add insult to injury, she's surrounded by sickengly happy, lovey dovey, highly fertile people - I totally expect her to leave Serenity and start a new life for herself, I don't see how she could possibly stay with them and constantly be reminded of everything she's lost.
Another kick in the stomach, another thing taken from her (though it's no one's fault, except maybe the big lug's for thinking a disease wouldn't attack him cause he's all macho and shi*), another excurciating loss.
A price for bad decisions? Umm... if the world really worked this way, people like Bush wouldn't have made it past the first term in office. Things like Rwanda and Darfur, and Hitler and the Nazis, wouldn't have happened, cause karma would have kicked them in the ass before things could progress to that point of all encompassing evil.
I have maintained from early on that River didn't directly cause any of the events of this story. I still do. It's impossible to draw a direct causal link between one person's poking around for a vaccine to a kid's abduction.
If anyone deserved to die for stupid decisions, pig headed, irrational, unfair behavior, it's Simon. He was an utter ass - I get it, protecting his family and all that junk, but he took it to an extreme with his self-rightous, sanctimonious posturing... like he'd never made a bad decision, put people in danger. If he'd been smart he would have taken his family somehwere else way earlier, the life on Serenity is not one to raise kids in. Something bad would have happened eventually.
With that said, can't say I'm surprised that Jayne died, figured he would as soon as it was obvious he was acutally sick. You said only original characters counted as BDHs so Danny was never in the running (have some sympathy for the kid, I used to get awful ear infections).
You know, I wouldn't be so mad if not for that last Author's Note. It would have just been one of those things, sometimes crappy things just happen to good people. I wouldn't have thought of it as some weird karmic justice, cause as I said, I don't believe it exists. I would have been sad and miffed but not angry. But you justifying it as a price for bad decisions!? WRONG! That doesn't fly for me, not in the context of this story.
Anyway, don't take this all the wrong way. I'm just venting, voicing an opinion, giving you your much asked for feedback. But a little advice, in the future, keep your justifications to yourself unless someone outright asks, kay (cuz honestly, your A/N likely wont accomplish anything other than to alienate some readers thus shotting yourself in the foot)? And even if people do ask, a lot of times they don't really want to know.
And was anyone else heartbroken when River said "It's okay, Simon. Can't save everybody." I was.
River gets TOTALLY SCREWED AGAIN!!! For what... let's tally all the ways: Academy screws her up for the rest of her life; loses her baby; discovers she can't have a kid; wants to pursue what Academy did to her but brother freezes her out and blames her; vaccine never made; Jayne dies; has no chance at all for kid without husband. That's 7 things, I might have forgotten some. And to add insult to injury, she's surrounded by sickengly happy, lovey dovey, highly fertile people - I totally expect her to leave Serenity and start a new life for herself, I don't see how she could possibly stay with them and constantly be reminded of everything she's lost.
Another kick in the stomach, another thing taken from her (though it's no one's fault, except maybe the big lug's for thinking a disease wouldn't attack him cause he's all macho and shi*), another excurciating loss.
A price for bad decisions? Umm... if the world really worked this way, people like Bush wouldn't have made it past the first term in office. Things like Rwanda and Darfur, and Hitler and the Nazis, wouldn't have happened, cause karma would have kicked them in the ass before things could progress to that point of all encompassing evil.
I have maintained from early on that River didn't directly cause any of the events of this story. I still do. It's impossible to draw a direct causal link between one person's poking around for a vaccine to a kid's abduction.
If anyone deserved to die for stupid decisions, pig headed, irrational, unfair behavior, it's Simon. He was an utter ass - I get it, protecting his family and all that junk, but he took it to an extreme with his self-rightous, sanctimonious posturing... like he'd never made a bad decision, put people in danger. If he'd been smart he would have taken his family somehwere else way earlier, the life on Serenity is not one to raise kids in. Something bad would have happened eventually.
With that said, can't say I'm surprised that Jayne died, figured he would as soon as it was obvious he was acutally sick. You said only original characters counted as BDHs so Danny was never in the running (have some sympathy for the kid, I used to get awful ear infections).
You know, I wouldn't be so mad if not for that last Author's Note. It would have just been one of those things, sometimes crappy things just happen to good people. I wouldn't have thought of it as some weird karmic justice, cause as I said, I don't believe it exists. I would have been sad and miffed but not angry. But you justifying it as a price for bad decisions!? WRONG! That doesn't fly for me, not in the context of this story.
Anyway, don't take this all the wrong way. I'm just venting, voicing an opinion, giving you your much asked for feedback. But a little advice, in the future, keep your justifications to yourself unless someone outright asks, kay (cuz honestly, your A/N likely wont accomplish anything other than to alienate some readers thus shotting yourself in the foot)? And even if people do ask, a lot of times they don't really want to know.
And was anyone else heartbroken when River said "It's okay, Simon. Can't save everybody." I was.
Friday, 20 October 2006 07:07
Holy crap, people. I give you serious credit, TamSibling - methinks you struck a nerve.
But hey, let's back this truck up a sec. Did River get screwed in every way possible? Oh yeah. Did she deserve to lose her husband? Absolutely not - no one deserves that. Is it fair? Not in the slightest.
But if we really do wish to count karmic points, River has spent the entire trilogy racking up negatives.
Every move, speech, and tearful glance she gave was crafted to get her what she wants. At no time was her consideration for anyone but her. Who manipulated SImon agaonst his wife to get him to do what she wanted? Who contacted Daddy when it was a forseeable consequence that the blue-hands would come after them? Who consistently defied her brother's specific request to leave him alone? Who used Kaylee as an end-run around her brother making a true decision about risking HIS family once again? Karmically speaking, if anyone deserves a price, River's it.
And I feel a special need to defend Simon (Lord, he's not even real, but I still feel protective). I'm not getting where he went wrong.
Honestly, ever since the crew found him on Osiris and dragged him back to Millie's, he was doomed. Stuck between a sister that has absolutely no problem beating on his sanity until he gives in, and a wife who has no problem saying whatever she can to hurt him when he dares to not do exactly what she thinks he should (which is an oft overlooked character flaw of Kaylee's, kudos for exploiting it). Under the circumstances, he made the best choices he could, taking into account EVERYONE'S position, not just his own. His behavior was rarely irrational - in fact, he often spent too much time thinking while I'm sitting here fuming and wanting him to tell the girls to stuff it while he solves the problem for them. Again.
I really did think you'd kill Simon, but not because he deserved it, but because he needs an actual escape from the women in his life. They don't trust him, consider him, and in many cases actively make his life harder as he tries to balance two vindictive ladies who won't let up. As I said before, his death would be a mercy for him.
All that aside, I am a little bummed at the karmic price. I actually liked Jayne (good Lord, I'm getting soft) in this. Much like movie-Jayne vs. TV-Jayne, he seemed to make the leap from "cold hard cash" to "protect the family". I'll miss him. I was hoping more for a "life lesson" for River, something like "using and abusing your loved ones doesn't get you what you want, you brat."
Either way, I have no problem with the concept of karma coming back to bite someone in the ass. At this point, it's all a matter of who we think deserves it. Or maybe no one deserves it and shit happens to the nicest people.
We got two more chapters, right? Tally ho!
But hey, let's back this truck up a sec. Did River get screwed in every way possible? Oh yeah. Did she deserve to lose her husband? Absolutely not - no one deserves that. Is it fair? Not in the slightest.
But if we really do wish to count karmic points, River has spent the entire trilogy racking up negatives.
Every move, speech, and tearful glance she gave was crafted to get her what she wants. At no time was her consideration for anyone but her. Who manipulated SImon agaonst his wife to get him to do what she wanted? Who contacted Daddy when it was a forseeable consequence that the blue-hands would come after them? Who consistently defied her brother's specific request to leave him alone? Who used Kaylee as an end-run around her brother making a true decision about risking HIS family once again? Karmically speaking, if anyone deserves a price, River's it.
And I feel a special need to defend Simon (Lord, he's not even real, but I still feel protective). I'm not getting where he went wrong.
Honestly, ever since the crew found him on Osiris and dragged him back to Millie's, he was doomed. Stuck between a sister that has absolutely no problem beating on his sanity until he gives in, and a wife who has no problem saying whatever she can to hurt him when he dares to not do exactly what she thinks he should (which is an oft overlooked character flaw of Kaylee's, kudos for exploiting it). Under the circumstances, he made the best choices he could, taking into account EVERYONE'S position, not just his own. His behavior was rarely irrational - in fact, he often spent too much time thinking while I'm sitting here fuming and wanting him to tell the girls to stuff it while he solves the problem for them. Again.
I really did think you'd kill Simon, but not because he deserved it, but because he needs an actual escape from the women in his life. They don't trust him, consider him, and in many cases actively make his life harder as he tries to balance two vindictive ladies who won't let up. As I said before, his death would be a mercy for him.
All that aside, I am a little bummed at the karmic price. I actually liked Jayne (good Lord, I'm getting soft) in this. Much like movie-Jayne vs. TV-Jayne, he seemed to make the leap from "cold hard cash" to "protect the family". I'll miss him. I was hoping more for a "life lesson" for River, something like "using and abusing your loved ones doesn't get you what you want, you brat."
Either way, I have no problem with the concept of karma coming back to bite someone in the ass. At this point, it's all a matter of who we think deserves it. Or maybe no one deserves it and shit happens to the nicest people.
We got two more chapters, right? Tally ho!
Friday, 20 October 2006 11:27
While this a superb story, really beautifully told, it is also incredibly heart breaking. While I see your perceived reasoning in killing Jayne it isn't right. *HE* didn't deserve to die, where is the karmic balance in his life? River will never recover from the loss and neither will all those who love her as self obssessed and deluded as she has been if you are talking about punishing River don't take it out on Jayne. And poor Simon, the man has been run ragged. I would have thought that as people started to recover some of them would have had the grace and gratitude to want to stay and help thus relieving some of the incredible burden he is under to help EVERYONE. Usually at traumatic times like these, it brings out the best in people. It hurts to think that with all his efforts to save people he doesn't even know not one of those recovering wants to stay and help him with the others. Ingratitude sucks but losing Jayne will suck even more. Love your writing, think I need another box of tissues (sniff). Ali D
You can't take the sky from me
You can't take the sky from me
Friday, 20 October 2006 12:02
This chapter was heartbreaking. Poor River, and poor Jayne. River's lost so much, she's going to need all the family she can get right now. Will you have her mother show up? And how will Simon respond to all this? I know how Kaylee will handle things, but Simon might overreact from imagined guilt.
On the author's note, I'm not one to ascribe to bad-things-happen-to-sinners type of thinking. Measles isn't some divine form of retribution for selfishness (and if anything, Jayne's been the least selfish of all the adults). Earthquakes & tidal waves aren't God's commentary on a country's political system. They're simply bad things happening to good people.
Gonna miss ya Jayne.
On the author's note, I'm not one to ascribe to bad-things-happen-to-sinners type of thinking. Measles isn't some divine form of retribution for selfishness (and if anything, Jayne's been the least selfish of all the adults). Earthquakes & tidal waves aren't God's commentary on a country's political system. They're simply bad things happening to good people.
Gonna miss ya Jayne.
Friday, 20 October 2006 13:00
Taking his face firmly in her hands, River whispered fiercely, “Then don’t, Jayne Cobb. Do you hear me? Don’t. Stay with me. Please,” she whimpered as he again fell unconscious. Glancing to his monitors, River’s breath caught in her throat and she prayed that Simon would return soon.
~ Though I am not too much of a fan of Rayne, which I told you when I started reading this series, this was a very wrenching scene, as I can see and feel both of their hearts breaking with the revelation that he might not make it (of course I already know that he won't)
River reverting to being Crazy was a very nice touch.
“Rylee, honey, I’m going to need you to go to the school and get your daddy and Uncle Mal.”
Her eyes widening, Rylee finally felt it. “The baby?”
“Apparently, today’s the day,”
~ When it rains, it pours. Damn.
~ Though I am not too much of a fan of Rayne, which I told you when I started reading this series, this was a very wrenching scene, as I can see and feel both of their hearts breaking with the revelation that he might not make it (of course I already know that he won't)
River reverting to being Crazy was a very nice touch.
“Rylee, honey, I’m going to need you to go to the school and get your daddy and Uncle Mal.”
Her eyes widening, Rylee finally felt it. “The baby?”
“Apparently, today’s the day,”
~ When it rains, it pours. Damn.
Friday, 20 October 2006 13:52
Okay -
Author's Note at the end: Bad idea.
I did not mean to set off a fire storm ... truly, I was simply responding to previous comments by some folks that I was simply killing Jayne "because I could."
I agree that bad things happen to good people and there is no reason. Jayne was simply the most vulnerable. His immune system was weakened by the drugs he was taking for his shoulder and his body was already having a hard time fighting infection.
I suppose I was trying to justify my decision to kill a BDH before the fact so that it would cut down on the amount of flaming I got after the fact (Yes, I am aware of the irony). :o)
Leiasky - You were right, I will forever defer to your wisdom on taking so much to heart.
I really, really appreciate everyone commenting. I understand that this trilogy has been a roller coaster of emotion and I'm glad that you all have stuck with me. I hope I haven't alienated anyone for good as I have quite a few stories "banked," but if I have, I understand. If you have any additional things you'd like to discuss, don't hesitate to PM me.
Thanks again! Happy Friday!
Author's Note at the end: Bad idea.
I did not mean to set off a fire storm ... truly, I was simply responding to previous comments by some folks that I was simply killing Jayne "because I could."
I agree that bad things happen to good people and there is no reason. Jayne was simply the most vulnerable. His immune system was weakened by the drugs he was taking for his shoulder and his body was already having a hard time fighting infection.
I suppose I was trying to justify my decision to kill a BDH before the fact so that it would cut down on the amount of flaming I got after the fact (Yes, I am aware of the irony). :o)
Leiasky - You were right, I will forever defer to your wisdom on taking so much to heart.
I really, really appreciate everyone commenting. I understand that this trilogy has been a roller coaster of emotion and I'm glad that you all have stuck with me. I hope I haven't alienated anyone for good as I have quite a few stories "banked," but if I have, I understand. If you have any additional things you'd like to discuss, don't hesitate to PM me.
Thanks again! Happy Friday!
Friday, 20 October 2006 14:14
I'm with ECAmber and sbz.
I don't agree that River's done much wrong during the whole story, as I've said in comments to earlier chapters. Yes, she took a risk contacting Gabriel. Life is full of risks. (Nobody seems to have criticised Cadie for calling her and precipitating the whole Rylee situation anyway, as I recall.) She took far more numerous and far more serious risks getting Simon out of the Blue Hands' clutches and back to normality in A New Life. This is the end of it for her - I agree that she has to leave the rest of them right now to enjoy their happy little lives and cut them off completely before they mess her up any further by saying something trite like "Life goes on" or "Don't worry, we still love you".
Sure, kill Jayne to screw up River's head even more - it is very interesting to do to story characters (and evil and cruel and fun and all those other things we throw at authors just before the "Write More!"). In that respect it's a great decision story-wise, though all the other posters' comments about it being sad, tragic, heartbreaking and so on completely apply. Just... don't do it for reasons of self-imposed superiority.
OK, stopped now.
I find this very well written, technically speaking, and as above would agree with your plot decision if not for the sentiments you expressed in your last A/N.
I don't agree that River's done much wrong during the whole story, as I've said in comments to earlier chapters. Yes, she took a risk contacting Gabriel. Life is full of risks. (Nobody seems to have criticised Cadie for calling her and precipitating the whole Rylee situation anyway, as I recall.) She took far more numerous and far more serious risks getting Simon out of the Blue Hands' clutches and back to normality in A New Life. This is the end of it for her - I agree that she has to leave the rest of them right now to enjoy their happy little lives and cut them off completely before they mess her up any further by saying something trite like "Life goes on" or "Don't worry, we still love you".
Sure, kill Jayne to screw up River's head even more - it is very interesting to do to story characters (and evil and cruel and fun and all those other things we throw at authors just before the "Write More!"). In that respect it's a great decision story-wise, though all the other posters' comments about it being sad, tragic, heartbreaking and so on completely apply. Just... don't do it for reasons of self-imposed superiority.
OK, stopped now.
I find this very well written, technically speaking, and as above would agree with your plot decision if not for the sentiments you expressed in your last A/N.
Friday, 20 October 2006 14:43
I was sick last night or I'd have commented sooner. Wow, look at all the negative comments. Damn, talk about this chapter getting to everyone. I dunno. That's the mark of a good writer to me.
All I can say is that wait for the end, folks. This story has been written and done for months. It's not over yet.
I don't see at all where Simon is to blame but my judgment is probably quite clouded by the fact that he's my favorite character. Even when beta'ing this, I wasn't sure who she was going to kill until the end.
River did need to pay a price, I do agree with that. And she has. She's manipulated people to get her way even though she was in pain from the loss of her baby it was no excuse for how she behaved.
I believe there were little clues as to the outcome of HER life, scattered throughout this and maybe the previous chapter.
All I can say is that wait for the end, folks. This story has been written and done for months. It's not over yet.
I don't see at all where Simon is to blame but my judgment is probably quite clouded by the fact that he's my favorite character. Even when beta'ing this, I wasn't sure who she was going to kill until the end.
River did need to pay a price, I do agree with that. And she has. She's manipulated people to get her way even though she was in pain from the loss of her baby it was no excuse for how she behaved.
I believe there were little clues as to the outcome of HER life, scattered throughout this and maybe the previous chapter.
Friday, 20 October 2006 15:53
Well, I hated Jayne dying, but I love the story and I think you tell it brilliantly.
It's *your* story, don' [t change direction just because it upsets a few people. If they want to write it differently, they are very welcome to write their own fics.
It's *your* story, don' [t change direction just because it upsets a few people. If they want to write it differently, they are very welcome to write their own fics.
Friday, 20 October 2006 21:25
It's not TamSibling's decision to kill Jayne that rankles me. It's his/her story and s/he is entitled to write it however s/he sees fit. And I don't take issue with TamSibling's personal reasoning for why killing Jayne off served the story - I never would criticise any author for their choices in regards to a story, even if I don't like the direction it takes the narrative.
I take issue with that reasoning being stuck at the end of the story and thus colouring how I see the whole thing.
Like I said in the last post, without the A/N I would have seen it as one of those bad things that just happens to good people. That's what makes this world so hard to live in, because stuff like that happens all the time with no rhyme or reason. The A/N just changes everything, and I unfortunately can't unread it.
So, bring on the next chapter and lets see if this whole mess is made any better for the rest of out BDHs.
I take issue with that reasoning being stuck at the end of the story and thus colouring how I see the whole thing.
Like I said in the last post, without the A/N I would have seen it as one of those bad things that just happens to good people. That's what makes this world so hard to live in, because stuff like that happens all the time with no rhyme or reason. The A/N just changes everything, and I unfortunately can't unread it.
So, bring on the next chapter and lets see if this whole mess is made any better for the rest of out BDHs.
Friday, 20 October 2006 22:33
Holy shit! This is some mighty dark water we're entering with the BDHs and their families :(
I really don't know where I stand concerning River and the concept of karmic payback for her actions via Jayne's death. Honestly, no's been a saint anywhere in this series. River's pulled some mighty selfish shit, but one has to remember she's fighting to regain something that was stolen from her. I can't imagine anyone here, especially female, that would give up if options supposedly existed to allow them to procreate after illegal experiments were done to them. River's only crime is having a psychopathic father who sees his children as nothing more but pawns for his own end. We have zero clues that Gabriel wouldn't have eventually found Simon and his family, even if River had stopped looking. Cuz Simon would have had to order important medical stuff sometime down the road, so Gabriel could have tracked him down through that.
I think this is a sign that TamSibling has stuck with the vision Joss had presented us with and was working on when everything went to go se. Wash’s death in the BDM proves that these characters are vulnerable and subject to horrible actions taken against them. We have been given a highly plausible story line where a lot of issues left under the surface during the series and move – Simon’s inability to extricate himself from being crushed between Kaylee and River emotionally, the lengths the Hands of Blue and the Alliance is truly willing to go to achieve a goal, the essentially selfishness of human nature when something is stolen from us and we want it back, the inexplicable bad timing of events that change our lives – have been deeply explored and brought to a climax.
As much as I wish it wasn’t the case, Jayne’s death serves a greater purpose here, just as Wash’s did in the movie: to force the remaining characters to re-evaluate themselves and their behaviour, to cause serious personal changes in how their interact with the ‘Verse. Whether the death is justified or not really shouldn’t enter into the equation, since I doubt anyone – even River, Cadie and Rylee – could have foreseen exactly what the actions taken by each character (based on the information they had at their disposal), so things like Rylee’s kidnapping, Simon’s potentially life-changing injuries or Jayne’s wounding are a result of disparate elements coming together at a culmination point.
BEB
I really don't know where I stand concerning River and the concept of karmic payback for her actions via Jayne's death. Honestly, no's been a saint anywhere in this series. River's pulled some mighty selfish shit, but one has to remember she's fighting to regain something that was stolen from her. I can't imagine anyone here, especially female, that would give up if options supposedly existed to allow them to procreate after illegal experiments were done to them. River's only crime is having a psychopathic father who sees his children as nothing more but pawns for his own end. We have zero clues that Gabriel wouldn't have eventually found Simon and his family, even if River had stopped looking. Cuz Simon would have had to order important medical stuff sometime down the road, so Gabriel could have tracked him down through that.
I think this is a sign that TamSibling has stuck with the vision Joss had presented us with and was working on when everything went to go se. Wash’s death in the BDM proves that these characters are vulnerable and subject to horrible actions taken against them. We have been given a highly plausible story line where a lot of issues left under the surface during the series and move – Simon’s inability to extricate himself from being crushed between Kaylee and River emotionally, the lengths the Hands of Blue and the Alliance is truly willing to go to achieve a goal, the essentially selfishness of human nature when something is stolen from us and we want it back, the inexplicable bad timing of events that change our lives – have been deeply explored and brought to a climax.
As much as I wish it wasn’t the case, Jayne’s death serves a greater purpose here, just as Wash’s did in the movie: to force the remaining characters to re-evaluate themselves and their behaviour, to cause serious personal changes in how their interact with the ‘Verse. Whether the death is justified or not really shouldn’t enter into the equation, since I doubt anyone – even River, Cadie and Rylee – could have foreseen exactly what the actions taken by each character (based on the information they had at their disposal), so things like Rylee’s kidnapping, Simon’s potentially life-changing injuries or Jayne’s wounding are a result of disparate elements coming together at a culmination point.
BEB
SCIFICHICA
Saturday, 21 October 2006 15:15
I don't care what anyone else has to say about this chapter. Personally, I think people are just sad and taking out their grief on you, TamSibling. And that's the mark of a good author so congrats! You should be proud of your ability to evoke so much passion with your work.
I agree with your author's note. River was selfish throughout this chapter she's never been the one to have to pay the price for that selfishness. It was always her family around her. But never her. So I agree with your reasoning, the only way she was ever going to understand the devistation she was leaving in her wake was to have to pay herself.
Excellent chapter!! So poignant. I'm the most saddened, not by Jayne's death, but by knowing this series is coming to an end. It's been something to look forward to for me all summer long. I'll be so sad to say good-bye to it.
I agree with your author's note. River was selfish throughout this chapter she's never been the one to have to pay the price for that selfishness. It was always her family around her. But never her. So I agree with your reasoning, the only way she was ever going to understand the devistation she was leaving in her wake was to have to pay herself.
Excellent chapter!! So poignant. I'm the most saddened, not by Jayne's death, but by knowing this series is coming to an end. It's been something to look forward to for me all summer long. I'll be so sad to say good-bye to it.
Post Your Comments
You must log in to post comments.