Even Roses Have Thorns, Chapter Thirty-Six
Friday, February 2, 2007
Five moments of revelation. Canon pairings +1 (River/ofc). NC17 for grown up discussions. 3k words.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3315 RATING: 9.0 (NC17) SERIES: FIREFLY
Even Roses Have Thorns
Chapter Thirty-Six: Culpam poena premit comes (Punishment closely follows crime as its companion.) Part I
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, , , , , , , *** *** *** Kaylee watched Simon climb into bed, then set up her own cot and pushed it up close so that she could sleep next to him. He lay back gingerly. “I don’t think I’ll be able to talk in the morning.” Simon’s voice was a little raspy. “It’s ok, sweetie. You can always sign.” All of the crew had ended up picking up an array of various signs in order to understand Simon’s attempts to communicate with them. Some had learned more than others, of course. She watched in the dim lighting as his fingers moved. I know. I just – wish everything was normal again. Kaylee was particularly familiar with those signs, and the ones for other, similar, complaints. “It will be, soon, sweetie. You just have to be a patient for a while longer.” Kaylee was a bundle of emotion, mostly happy, some confused, and some downright sad and scared; she desperately wanted to talk, but knew that Simon needed to rest. She leaned over and kissed him, before laying herself down. “What were you going to say bao bei?” Kaylee heard Simon whisper. “Oh, sweetie, don’t try to talk, rest your voice. I was just thinkin’ a asking ‘bout what Jayne said at the table. I know you’re her doctor so ya can’t say anything ‘bout her, but y
Next chapter: Serenity arrives on Osiris, but nothing ever goes smooth.
You went from a fairly lightweight moment concerning River's first time being intimate with someone to introducing Ceres' cutting habit - and Simon's as well! - to suggestion Simon went through all that torture and pain on purpose?!? Oh...this is some brilliant whacked-out shit, girlfan!
BEB
Simon and Ceres being cutters - it fits into what we know of Simon's childhood (being beaten for pulling his sister's hair is more than excessive). It would be nice to learn more of Ceres' childhood. I wonder if Kaylee's overreactions to Simon in the earlier chapters were her trying to cope with learning Simon's a cutter?
And Blue Sun jump to the conclusion Simon is a spook just when our heroes are bound for Osiris - this is gonna get interesting!
I'm just wondering how many people think that this was the introduction of Ceres' cutting? I ask because it seems to being coming across as a surprise - which, I guess I meant it to be a little - but it was kind of supposed to be the payoff for the scene in chapter 33 (and to some extent, a payoff for the scene in chapter 32 in Inara's shuttle).
Simon's cutting (hinted at through his relationship to Ceres cutting) was meant to be more discreet. What Simon is going through at the same time as Ceres is cutting ("Simon wished that he had something to throw, and something to throw it with. He settled for banging his head off of his pillow, and cursing.") is a frustrated attempt to deal with those same self-destructive urges.
I didn't expect it to be obvious (not the point at all), but I had hoped that in retrospect, the revelation would make sense.
Was I too subtle?
Actually, I'd not be surprised if Zoe had similar patterns (which it seems you hinted at). Like Simon and Ceres, she's always very closed off, and with Wash gone I'd bet she needs some way to deal, as well.
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