Even Roses Have Thorns, Chapter Eighteen
Friday, January 5, 2007
Simon has been captured. Zoe tries to hold things together for Kaylee and River. Angst is afoot. Canon pairings. This chapter is rated NC17, for adult themes. Postive feedback perfered.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3003 RATING: 9.0 (NC17) SERIES: FIREFLY
Even Roses Have Thorns
Chapter Eighteen: Ignis aurum probat (literally, fire tests gold) Part I
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, , , , , , *** *** *** Simon Tam reminded himself that he was used to dealing with pain. Mostly other people’s, of course. Pain that usually had a relatively easy solution: pain killers. Still, he tried to focus on the ephemeral quality of pain. Pain was only frightening because the body was terrified it was being injured – damaged. Simon wished that he could be confident that they would only hurt him – rather than damage him; use him as bait for a trap – until Mal and Serenity came to get him back. *** Simon was marched down a corridor and into a yet another cell. This was clearly the cell, the place where the nightmare would really begin. Two guards manhandled him into the metal chair, while another secured Simon’s cuffs to the chair. Across the desk from Simon sat an impassive looking dark haired older man, not unlike Simon’s father. It was not a happy association on any level. The guards saluted and left. The interrogator pointed to the tray full of standard surgical equipment. He began easily. “Usually, we begin by showing prisoners the tools of our trade. Sort of a softening up process. I know that you won’t be terrified by the sight of a few surgical tools, because they are not nameless, sharp mostly unidentifiable objects to you, Dr. Tam. No, you see them as the tools that they are – not intrinsically good, or bad
I hope you continue to read and comment.
I like Zoe here, and continue to like her throughout the story. She's got the level head and her scene with River and Jayne was wonderful.
I'd like to see more of how Kaylee is feeling over this turn of events, especially if she hears River screaming and knows that its because of what's being done to Simon.
>If anyone should be made to hear the suffering of the Tams under torture, he knew it should be him.
Perfect Jayne thought.
Ha! I liked that one. Sarcastic Simon is always fun.
I like Jayne showing a little heart here. He knows he screwed up on Ariel, and is willing to take a little karmic punishment for it. Good for him.
Simon's nightmares are great - most possible combinations of crew, all being injured on his behalf. And River's one little bit of analysis is actually scary: he doesn't mnd if Kaylee gets tortured for River - he's only scared that she'd find he lets them. Now THAT is creepy.
Well he does mind. He just minds more what the fact that River gets places 1-4 and Kaylee's only number 6, and he doesn't particularly like what that says about him.
> “Tell me, are you familiar with the works of Shan Yu?”
Ha! I liked that one. Sarcastic Simon is always fun.
Thank you so much. I'm always worried that my funny isn't that... well, funny.
Perfect Jayne thought.
Thank you, too, Leiasky. Like I was saying somewhere else, I think Jayne's a hard character to get right. He's always had some sense of conscience, however deeply buried, and it does seem to grow through the series and the movie. But still, Jayne is in other ways very straightforward, and you can't make Jayne too deep. It's a hard balance to strike, and I'm not sure that I do it perfectly, but it's nice to know that that line, in particular, rang true.
But I really gotta give you props for how you handled Jayne here. Nothing is ever truly water under the bridge when it comes to characters inhabiting Joss' storyverses and I was totally taken in by how you had Jayne accept his role as observer to River's agony and penitant seeking absolution for a crime Jayne needs to come to grips with so he can have a solid relationship -if only platonic and generally antagonistic - with River:D
BEB
BEB - are you pacing yourself? I love coming back to your comments, but, like Jayne, 'ain't patient'. Would love more shiney comments sooner. :)
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