Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL
Back Stories II, Chapter 20/20 - the last one!
Friday, May 30, 2008
Divergent paths finally meet. Kind of like smelly stuff hitting a fan.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 4372 RATING: 10.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
Disclaimer: It belongs to Joss and all those business people. I'm just playing.
Many thanks: fireflyfans.net members: and for beta-reading and for the artwork. Links: Prequels: The Fish Job () (), Easy Tickets () (), and Book I () (). Timing, pairings, and canon blurbs are in my . Ginger slunk quietly into the Salty Tongue Saloon and took a spot at the emptiest end of the long bar. Her high and mighty attitude (she knew very well she’d had such a thing going this afternoon, on account of her new outfit) was tumbling. It’d started with what she’d seen in the dress shop’s looking glass that morning: the boning and stays in her new gown pushed her excess bits of body into a shape that wasn’t half bad. Might have been more than the dress, too. Might just be that her time in that work-out center on the Alliance warship and the push-ups she did to pass the time while hiding from Will in her tiny cabin had put a little firm on top of her bones. Surely the bad mood that had her hardly eating in the past months had made those bones show in her face, and a little rouge and kohl, applied for free by the sweetheart of a lady who’d done Ginger’s hair, h
Comments
Friday, 30 May 2008 17:25
And so ends Book 2. I know, a lot is up in the air. That’s what I meant by not much plot resolution – Simon and River are still out there, the ship isn’t taken back, Mal’s still wonky… But I find Ginger standing up to Will to be hugely satisfying. And both searching parties got to Mal, so those two long, curving paths that ran through this book have come to their end. And Mal’s regression has been stopped. That’s at least some closure, right?
Either way, this chapter is a lovely place to get to as a writer. Quite a milestone! I believe the earliest version of the Mal/Will, Jayne/Ginger, and Mal/Inara/Will interactions date from August 2006 – and much is unchanged since then. In fact, (and maybe I shouldn’t admit it because I don’t want you to see my hand in the plot. But hell…) a whole lot of Books 1 and 2 were based in getting the players in the right place, physically, mentally, and emotionally, for this chapter to happen. Oh yes, it’s taken more than 230,000 words to get here! Nearly 400,000 if you count Easy Tickets, which in itself was a setup for Mal’s memory loss, as well as for other things in Book 3.
I sure hope it’s worth it for you. I know I enjoyed it. I admit in all (lack of) modesty, I love this damned chapter LOL!
There is plenty yet to be to done. Cause actually, the outline I made in the summer of 2006 was mostly focused on the events still to come. This chapter, hence all of ET and BS Books 1 and 2, are themselves side tracks involved in the setup for Book 3.
By which I mean to say, I’m not out of plot yet. :)
And it’s about time I acknowledge something which is probably obvious to those who know the Firefly fic scene well. Back when I was first arranging the sequels to The Fish Job, I needed a mental disorder for Mal, a consequence to the FJ brain fry, but I didn’t want to repeat things I’d already done. So, I happened upon a few chapters of Amdobell’s fic The Forgotten Realm and I thought – memory loss! Yes! That fit my needs and also opened the door on other games I’ve played: Mal’s slow backtrack, the chance to revisit the TV episodes as well as invent a war history for him and Zoë.
In turn, that structure got me into focusing on the other canon characters in Book 1, and making up little bits of history for each of them. I wanted to use Mal’s POV as little as possible, so I had to find a sensible way to tell the story from other eyes. Hence the character per chapter thing in Book 1. (Don’t read too much into the no Mal POV thing – it’s just a dramatic choice. I thought it was more emotionally loaded to have Mal’s memory loss observed rather than experienced first hand.)
Anyway, it was quite a plot bunny. If I recall correctly, Amdobell used the memory loss quite differently than I have. Still, I have tried to stay clear of The Forgotten Realm so I wouldn’t copy any of her details; if I have anyway I most certainly apologize. And I happily give credit where credit is due – her fic gave me my bunny!
Either way, this chapter is a lovely place to get to as a writer. Quite a milestone! I believe the earliest version of the Mal/Will, Jayne/Ginger, and Mal/Inara/Will interactions date from August 2006 – and much is unchanged since then. In fact, (and maybe I shouldn’t admit it because I don’t want you to see my hand in the plot. But hell…) a whole lot of Books 1 and 2 were based in getting the players in the right place, physically, mentally, and emotionally, for this chapter to happen. Oh yes, it’s taken more than 230,000 words to get here! Nearly 400,000 if you count Easy Tickets, which in itself was a setup for Mal’s memory loss, as well as for other things in Book 3.
I sure hope it’s worth it for you. I know I enjoyed it. I admit in all (lack of) modesty, I love this damned chapter LOL!
There is plenty yet to be to done. Cause actually, the outline I made in the summer of 2006 was mostly focused on the events still to come. This chapter, hence all of ET and BS Books 1 and 2, are themselves side tracks involved in the setup for Book 3.
By which I mean to say, I’m not out of plot yet. :)
And it’s about time I acknowledge something which is probably obvious to those who know the Firefly fic scene well. Back when I was first arranging the sequels to The Fish Job, I needed a mental disorder for Mal, a consequence to the FJ brain fry, but I didn’t want to repeat things I’d already done. So, I happened upon a few chapters of Amdobell’s fic The Forgotten Realm and I thought – memory loss! Yes! That fit my needs and also opened the door on other games I’ve played: Mal’s slow backtrack, the chance to revisit the TV episodes as well as invent a war history for him and Zoë.
In turn, that structure got me into focusing on the other canon characters in Book 1, and making up little bits of history for each of them. I wanted to use Mal’s POV as little as possible, so I had to find a sensible way to tell the story from other eyes. Hence the character per chapter thing in Book 1. (Don’t read too much into the no Mal POV thing – it’s just a dramatic choice. I thought it was more emotionally loaded to have Mal’s memory loss observed rather than experienced first hand.)
Anyway, it was quite a plot bunny. If I recall correctly, Amdobell used the memory loss quite differently than I have. Still, I have tried to stay clear of The Forgotten Realm so I wouldn’t copy any of her details; if I have anyway I most certainly apologize. And I happily give credit where credit is due – her fic gave me my bunny!
Friday, 30 May 2008 17:28
Oh yeah - and I hope to continue on with Book 3 with only a short break. Not more than a few weeks. I hope!
Friday, 30 May 2008 22:45
Really enjoyed that. I liked the pacing, the sense of upcoming danger, the fact that any one of a thousand things can go wrong and have massive consequences. (I also assume that as you do not take the movie timeline into consideration, all bets are off about the crew getting away or even them all being alive at the end...)
I can see everything coming together. A big risky plot for you to write, but it looks like you will pull it off with aplomb.
(not a bad place for a break. Not at all.)
I can see everything coming together. A big risky plot for you to write, but it looks like you will pull it off with aplomb.
(not a bad place for a break. Not at all.)
Saturday, 31 May 2008 09:11
well, i'm real sad to come to the end - loved the whole tale. Your characters really breathe - take Ginger in this chapter as an example. Congrats - now Kick back and bask in the glow of fic well done. (Like that's a new experience!)
Looking forward to the next:)
Looking forward to the next:)
Saturday, 31 May 2008 13:22
Wow - Mal and Inara are not only on the same planet, they're in the same ROOM! Can hardly wait for more.
Jayne was irritatingly Jayne with that Jaynelike way about him, but you sure nailed all his bad character flaws in this one. But by showing him to be the bully over Malcolm, you left no doubt in your reader's mind just what state Malcolm was in.
Zoe is still amazingly cranky. Are you writing her this way to show that she really doesn't like leadership more than endures it, and that's why she's content to be second in command? Just wondering....
I'm becoming seriously sympathetic to Ginger, so I hope that was your intention. Ginger and Jayne seem so right together. Will on the other hand was hilarious running away from the mean old companion about to beat him up - again!
Glad to see Book having such a supportive role. And Malcolm, innocent and noble and still hot for Inara. I miss being in Mal's head like in the FJ, because you write him so well. And Inara finally showing up in the nick of time - classic. Waiting eagerly to see what happens next!
Jayne was irritatingly Jayne with that Jaynelike way about him, but you sure nailed all his bad character flaws in this one. But by showing him to be the bully over Malcolm, you left no doubt in your reader's mind just what state Malcolm was in.
Zoe is still amazingly cranky. Are you writing her this way to show that she really doesn't like leadership more than endures it, and that's why she's content to be second in command? Just wondering....
I'm becoming seriously sympathetic to Ginger, so I hope that was your intention. Ginger and Jayne seem so right together. Will on the other hand was hilarious running away from the mean old companion about to beat him up - again!
Glad to see Book having such a supportive role. And Malcolm, innocent and noble and still hot for Inara. I miss being in Mal's head like in the FJ, because you write him so well. And Inara finally showing up in the nick of time - classic. Waiting eagerly to see what happens next!
Saturday, 31 May 2008 15:48
Ginger and Jayne, I can definitely see that because I hate Will.
And, upon Inara's entering, the world suddenly stops for Malcolm and starts spinning in the opposite direction, oh, yes! Memory loss or not the man is seriously humped. "Are you flirting with me?"…great line.
Inara, the last minute rescuer, yippee! That is starting to become canon as far as I’m concerned. As said above, a good place to stop, looking forward to more.
And, upon Inara's entering, the world suddenly stops for Malcolm and starts spinning in the opposite direction, oh, yes! Memory loss or not the man is seriously humped. "Are you flirting with me?"…great line.
Inara, the last minute rescuer, yippee! That is starting to become canon as far as I’m concerned. As said above, a good place to stop, looking forward to more.
Saturday, 31 May 2008 16:10
Ginger and Jayne, sitting in a tree...
And, the Mal/Inara banter is still good, even though he's lost his memories.
A few weeks? At least I have Steamer's fic to help tide me over.
And, the Mal/Inara banter is still good, even though he's lost his memories.
A few weeks? At least I have Steamer's fic to help tide me over.
Saturday, 31 May 2008 19:39
Really enjoying this but what a mean place to stop! Loved Inara turning up and immediately turning on Will when she noted Mal was not acting like himself. And Jayne, I can't believe how sloppy he was - I'm thinking Zoe is going to be having more than a few words with him. Really hope the next book or whatever is up soon. Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me
You can't take the sky from me
Sunday, 01 June 2008 04:35
Yeah Inara found them! I can;t wait till the rest of the crew gets back together as well.
And - doesn't it feel good to write a woman who has had to deal with entirely too much fei hua get to stick it to the jerk in her life?
Good for Ginger!!!! Although I think she should have shot him.
And - doesn't it feel good to write a woman who has had to deal with entirely too much fei hua get to stick it to the jerk in her life?
Good for Ginger!!!! Although I think she should have shot him.
Monday, 02 June 2008 19:16
Ginger made a nice hit in the end, pity she didn't pull the trigger...YAY, Inara found Mal at last *grins* I just hope everything will be okay after she finds out what happened=)
Keep flying ;)
Keep flying ;)
Sunday, 15 June 2008 01:24
I am now finished with the series. You write a very pretty story.
I suppose the only thing I don't like is Mal when he's with Inara. It's very hard for me to believe that Mal's personality on Shadow, even war-hardened as he is, could be so different, that he'd be so hickish and gullible.
Other than that somewhat annoying part I really enjoyed this and I look forward to more.
I suppose the only thing I don't like is Mal when he's with Inara. It's very hard for me to believe that Mal's personality on Shadow, even war-hardened as he is, could be so different, that he'd be so hickish and gullible.
Other than that somewhat annoying part I really enjoyed this and I look forward to more.
EPM0001
Sunday, 10 August 2008 02:41
This is excellent. Looking forward to the next part.
Saturday, 23 August 2008 05:31
I don't like how I was giggling along with that jack ass Will. But, damn if some of those lines weren't funny as hell.
Ready for more.
Joanna
Ready for more.
Joanna
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