Even Roses Have Thorns, Chapter Twenty-Four
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Simon has been captured by the Alliance and turned over to Blue Sun. Angsty and owwie. This chapter is rated NC17, for adult themes. Positive comments perfered.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3072 RATING: 9.0 (NC17) SERIES: FIREFLY
Chapter Twenty-Four: De inimico non loquaris sed cogites
(don't wish ill for your enemy; plan it) Part I
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, , , , *** *** *** “River, what the hell – ?” Mal’s stunned face turned towards his fallen, screaming pilot. “’Nara, I thought she was drugged?” Inara bent down to comfort her. “River, sweet heart, please let us help you…” After about a minute, her screaming stopped and she writhed on the floor in silent agony. “River, what do you know?” “River, is Simon all right?” "The heavy whip is brought down with full force again and again across the shoulders and back. At first, it cuts through the skin only. Then, as the blows continue, they cut deeper into the subcutaneous tissues, producing first an oozing of blood from the capillaries and veins of the skin, and finally spurting arterial bleeding from vessels in the underlying muscles. Finally, the skin of the back is hanging in long ribbons, and the entire area is an unrecognisable mass of torn, bleeding tissue." River recited it from memory, in that cold academic tone the others found so disturbing, before adding in a whisper, “Crisscross, left and right, all down his spine.” At the description, Inara promised her stomach that it could throw up for as long as it liked if it would only wait until she returned to the privacy of her shuttle. River continued. “He doesn’t know yet.” “Know what, lil’ Albatross?” “That was just the first twenty. Three hundred and eighty left to go.” She whimpered. *** Mal had picked her up, and tried to carry her to the infirmary, but she insisted that he leave her in Si
Thank you all who have read and commented - please continue!
I really want to see Smith and Hunt die.
I don't know about this ... it seems to have a veered a bit too - otherwordly for my tastes - but I agree that Simon recovering from this will take years. And I don't think Kaylee will survive ... never mind River.
Glad I ate a few hours ago!
And Kaylee's not going to want him, either. Knowing that she had - at least in her own mind - a part in causing this, she'll never even look at him again. If she doesn't send herself out the airlock first.
Or...this is all a dream, right? Of course. Just a dream...
This is what Mal warned Inara, and everything he said would happen has happened.
Thinking over this overnight, I'm not sure Kaylee ever really wanted *Simon*, just her swai illusion. Her first instinct where Simon was concerned was to criticize his flaws, and when she could find any, she made them up - her rant at him in the engine room was a perfect example of this. And given how much crying she's done in the last few days, she's not really a fit match for someone who will always be on the run from the authority. Inara, yes. Zoe, heck yes. Kaylee, no.
Will Simon survive this? I don't know, and I don't know if he'll recover, either. But he doesn't strike me as the type to give up either. It'll be interesting to see how/if he copes with the new him.
The next chapter is about to go up.
I bow to you and your superior abilities! For if I had tried such a thing, I know I would have developed merely a pale shade of this...too restrained or too gory;)
BEB
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