Blue Sun Room FICTION - ROMANCE
Something To Think On: Epilogue
Thursday, January 28, 2010
M/I. Post-BDM. In which your author gives you a glimmer of hope.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 3945 RATING: 10.0 (PG13) SERIES: FIREFLY
Something To Think On
by
Epilogue
Any other time, he’d’ve been disappointed with the anticlimax that was their trip back to Beylix, back to Serenity. Any other time, he’d’ve been the slightest bit upset that there were no near-misses, no gun-play, no death-defying mid-air heroics. Whether this trip was different, or he was different, wasn’t no matter: what mattered was that something was different, and every hour that passed by with no news, he counted another blessing.
He’d slept some (a blessed relief) but spent the rest of the time sitting beside her, watching her chest rise and fall. But where before he’d watched with fear, terror, that each movement would be her last, now he watched rejoicing over those to come. Not enough of them, to be sure, but some, and he’d savor each breath she took, for as long as he could.
“She didn’t want you to leave her. ‘Not leaving you; don’t you dare leave me.’ You understand, don’t you?”
He turned his head toward the infirmary hatch, where she stood like a dancer, feet turned outward like she was about to plié, left arm rounded down toward her hip, head tilted to the side, long hair draped over her shoulders. He shook his head. “Scares me how much you see, sometimes.”
Again, her voice up a notch, a little desperate: “You understand, don’t you?”
A nod. “I understand. And I conjure you know better than anyone how grateful I am.”
“You didn’t want to leave her.”
“And I don’t ever want to.” (His voice low and fierce.)
Her eyes, on his, like she was trying to see into his soul. “No. Never.”
***
A day later, and they were home. Would he have been able to say that if she weren’t there? He wondered, and would from time to time in months to come. Could the caverns of his boat still be home without her?
Simon had kept her sedated through most of the trip, to help her through the p
Comments
Thursday, 28 January 2010 17:23
It would have been so easy to end with Inara dying, yet all the time I was hoping there could be a happy ending, or as happy as they get. And here it is, albeit with the possibility of civil war hanging over them again. Is there more to come? Hope so.
Thursday, 28 January 2010 21:22
when your series started i struggled with my unwelcome interest in mal and inara kissing and having feelings and so forth (icky!); by around ch. 9 i cursed your for not updating daily and fumbled with my own fic (clio-lite); and here, with the epilogue, i frown a happy frown.
i was really hoping you'd take at least a month or two to finish the epilogue. that way, my favorite series would still be in play. but now that its over, alas and damnit. granted, a strangely satisfying ending, but an ending all the same. maybe now i can go back to being a normal human being, instead of a hopeless fic'er.
thanks again for all the effort you put into this! it was a fantastic read, and i look forward to whatever you come up with next (so long as it isn't silence). i suppose there's nothing left to do but read the entire series once through in a sitting (something i've looked forward to for a while).
i was really hoping you'd take at least a month or two to finish the epilogue. that way, my favorite series would still be in play. but now that its over, alas and damnit. granted, a strangely satisfying ending, but an ending all the same. maybe now i can go back to being a normal human being, instead of a hopeless fic'er.
thanks again for all the effort you put into this! it was a fantastic read, and i look forward to whatever you come up with next (so long as it isn't silence). i suppose there's nothing left to do but read the entire series once through in a sitting (something i've looked forward to for a while).
Thursday, 28 January 2010 22:31
Hopefully going back through will be a bit more satisfying now – I've gone back and cleaned up the beginning a fair amount! Of course one sitting will probably show off all my inconsistencies. :-)
Anyway, I for one am very proud to have made you into a romantic. Here, here!
Anyway, I for one am very proud to have made you into a romantic. Here, here!
Friday, 29 January 2010 00:57
I don't think I left a review here yet, but every time you updated my heart beat a little faster ;) This was a fantastic story...and now I can't wait to see what you have coming up next!
Friday, 29 January 2010 02:43
Could Gabriel have found something in the end, a cure, something if he joined up with the right crowd going up against Blue Sun before he died? Hmmm... :)
The beautiful bittersweet tone from the last chapter carried right into this one. I think this is the only way this could have ended, and now I wonder if maybe this is the way Joss himself would do it. I have no doubt that he could make it all as grim and miserable as possible, but if there were to be any hope, I think it would be this.
The beautiful bittersweet tone from the last chapter carried right into this one. I think this is the only way this could have ended, and now I wonder if maybe this is the way Joss himself would do it. I have no doubt that he could make it all as grim and miserable as possible, but if there were to be any hope, I think it would be this.
Friday, 29 January 2010 03:32
Agree with Byte on Joss's possible intentions with their love story. It would have been a slow reveal, a mystery unfolding each week, and a beautiful thing to watch, as far as character development, as you've done here.
The tears of joy they shed for their healthy baby, that will only know joy in living and a reason for Mal to think of a future, even when she’s gone...just perfect in its simplicity.
I like how you included a healthier more focused River doing research with her brother, definitely something I could see happening in the future, she is after all a genius.
I think I’ll go back and reread, too, maybe watch the series one more time, read the comics again, and put in the movie DVD again… it will give me something to think on:)
I'm curious also, as to what Gabriel Tam left behind.
Thanks for writing. I do hope you find time to visit this verse again
The tears of joy they shed for their healthy baby, that will only know joy in living and a reason for Mal to think of a future, even when she’s gone...just perfect in its simplicity.
I like how you included a healthier more focused River doing research with her brother, definitely something I could see happening in the future, she is after all a genius.
I think I’ll go back and reread, too, maybe watch the series one more time, read the comics again, and put in the movie DVD again… it will give me something to think on:)
I'm curious also, as to what Gabriel Tam left behind.
Thanks for writing. I do hope you find time to visit this verse again
Friday, 29 January 2010 03:51
I never commented before because I skimmed your first few stories and did not enjoy your portrayal of Mal as so hostile. At the time I needed a "feel good" story after a very long day. So many stories have dark endings, and some days that is just fine and a true piece of art, and some days not so much. Times are a little easier now so I have the emotional reserves to read it, especially since I know that it has a fairly happy ending. So thanks for writing, and thanks for persevering with it and thanks so much for sharing.
Friday, 29 January 2010 06:56
FTBM: Thanks so much for letting me know! I'm really glad you've been enjoying. And, though I'm not sure I'll have any great flashes of inspiration, I can promise that if I DO have a burning idea, it probably will get written down. :-)
BM (and Platonist): That description of the Core, and the idea that Gabriel might have survived the Ariel incident and actually attempted to redeem himself were kind of last-minute ideas. Seemed like I'd brought GT into the story with the intention of doing more with him than I had, and that Simon's sadness in his telling of him didn't fully mesh with the hazy image we'd gotten – Platonist's comments last chapter, which conveyed a certain disappointment with him and his behavior, drove that home. So in the end, I decided to signal redemption, and to let this mysterious information of Simon's come from him. I'm glad it didn't seem to forced.
KF: Thanks for giving my story a try. No pressure, of course – it IS a bit of a slog, and so I completely understand (of course!) if you don't make it through – but I appreciate that you're thinking about giving it another try. :-)
BM (and Platonist): That description of the Core, and the idea that Gabriel might have survived the Ariel incident and actually attempted to redeem himself were kind of last-minute ideas. Seemed like I'd brought GT into the story with the intention of doing more with him than I had, and that Simon's sadness in his telling of him didn't fully mesh with the hazy image we'd gotten – Platonist's comments last chapter, which conveyed a certain disappointment with him and his behavior, drove that home. So in the end, I decided to signal redemption, and to let this mysterious information of Simon's come from him. I'm glad it didn't seem to forced.
KF: Thanks for giving my story a try. No pressure, of course – it IS a bit of a slog, and so I completely understand (of course!) if you don't make it through – but I appreciate that you're thinking about giving it another try. :-)
Friday, 29 January 2010 17:20
When we consider reoccurring themes in Joss's work, I'm glad you decided to redeem Gabriel Tam. IMHO, Serenity is a story essentially about redemption, recognizing wrong doings, taking responsibility, and attempting to rectify those wrong doings, by being honest and setting the record straight, as best you can.
There are a number of things I find exceptionally executed in your fic, the narrative reflection on Mal’s part, the dire subject matter of Inara’s secret, author’s tone (which I’ll admit, made me cringe at times, too) the universal and timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
And, my most favorite thing, if there is such a thing, is you gave all the characters their fallible human moments and no one gets punished for being emotionally fragile, and tragically flawed, at the expense of another character’s feelings or ideology, which I find is rampant in this fandom, as far as fic goes, but ironically, not present in canon.
An A+ for this exercise!
There are a number of things I find exceptionally executed in your fic, the narrative reflection on Mal’s part, the dire subject matter of Inara’s secret, author’s tone (which I’ll admit, made me cringe at times, too) the universal and timeless themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
And, my most favorite thing, if there is such a thing, is you gave all the characters their fallible human moments and no one gets punished for being emotionally fragile, and tragically flawed, at the expense of another character’s feelings or ideology, which I find is rampant in this fandom, as far as fic goes, but ironically, not present in canon.
An A+ for this exercise!
Friday, 29 January 2010 20:44
Oh, honey, this is just gorgeous. Written with such shining love for all the characters, it's a beautiful wrap-up to your series. There are so many things I love: first of all, Mal's startling reference to what "we" deserve; him acknowledging the beauty and rightness of what they have together; Zoe's theatrical yawn/sigh...I would love to know what she whispered to Inara; the sexy but soul-first delicacy with which you treat their first night together; Simon's "we'll see." And it's so touching to me that River made many of the leaps that will give the baby more of a chance at life - a wonderful link to Simon's dream in Better Days, and another echo of River's "My turn" moment in the movie. Her turn to use her gifts for her sister, it's making me tear up even now :) As is the moment Mal and then Inara find out their baby need not endure what Inara and her mother did.
And I will hold on to this glimmer of hope, that what Gabriel Tam sent (and maybe died for?) can give Inara more than another two years. It's an intriguing bit of mystery, what the nature of the contents are that have Simon thinking over them for weeks...
Thank you so much!
And I will hold on to this glimmer of hope, that what Gabriel Tam sent (and maybe died for?) can give Inara more than another two years. It's an intriguing bit of mystery, what the nature of the contents are that have Simon thinking over them for weeks...
Thank you so much!
Saturday, 30 January 2010 00:48
>And, my most favorite thing, if there is such a thing, is you gave all the characters their fallible
>human moments and no one gets punished for being emotionally fragile, and tragically
>flawed, at the expense of another character’s feelings or ideology, which I find is rampant in
>this fandom, as far as fic goes, but ironically, not present in canon.
I think that often happens in fandom when an author for whatever reason just doesn't like a character. A lot of people seem to feel that way about Inara. Or it happens when people are exceptionally drawn to a single character – a lot of people feel that way about River. I think the beauty of Firefly is how beautifully the ensemble works – which is part of the reason I tried my best to include good Wash moments, even though it's a BDM story – though poor Book got a pretty short shrift! I have trouble with River, so she probably got slighted a bit, too, but not for want of trying. Of course it's super Mal-centric, but I tried my best to pull everyone in in a real way.
>human moments and no one gets punished for being emotionally fragile, and tragically
>flawed, at the expense of another character’s feelings or ideology, which I find is rampant in
>this fandom, as far as fic goes, but ironically, not present in canon.
I think that often happens in fandom when an author for whatever reason just doesn't like a character. A lot of people seem to feel that way about Inara. Or it happens when people are exceptionally drawn to a single character – a lot of people feel that way about River. I think the beauty of Firefly is how beautifully the ensemble works – which is part of the reason I tried my best to include good Wash moments, even though it's a BDM story – though poor Book got a pretty short shrift! I have trouble with River, so she probably got slighted a bit, too, but not for want of trying. Of course it's super Mal-centric, but I tried my best to pull everyone in in a real way.
Saturday, 30 January 2010 18:07
...whatever reason just doesn't like a character. A lot of people seem to feel that way about Inara.
Oh, definitely agree on that. Inara is the most misunderstood and under appreciate woman of the verse. She's emotionally strong, confident, but she's also compassionate, nurturing, and dignified.
And she is the only person in the verse who Mal is truly fearful off. She owns him, which gives her incredible power in my estimation;) You need to be an old soul or just plain old to get her and that’s why she’s my favorite lady of the verse.
Focusing on favorite characters over an ensemble; I can understand this, in a way, because it’s hard to include everyone and get all the voices down and include character growth, in a plausible plot. And I think there may be an element of Marysueness as far as romantic pairings, wanting to embody that person and pair them up with your favorite ship, which is okay, because we all need a little fantasy in our lives and after all, isn’t that what fanfic is for?
Oh, definitely agree on that. Inara is the most misunderstood and under appreciate woman of the verse. She's emotionally strong, confident, but she's also compassionate, nurturing, and dignified.
And she is the only person in the verse who Mal is truly fearful off. She owns him, which gives her incredible power in my estimation;) You need to be an old soul or just plain old to get her and that’s why she’s my favorite lady of the verse.
Focusing on favorite characters over an ensemble; I can understand this, in a way, because it’s hard to include everyone and get all the voices down and include character growth, in a plausible plot. And I think there may be an element of Marysueness as far as romantic pairings, wanting to embody that person and pair them up with your favorite ship, which is okay, because we all need a little fantasy in our lives and after all, isn’t that what fanfic is for?
Saturday, 30 January 2010 19:32
> because we all need a little fantasy in our lives and after all, isn’t that what fanfic is for?
Truer words, truer words... :-)
Truer words, truer words... :-)
Tuesday, 07 August 2012 00:40
I loved how you ended this but would have liked to have seen what Gabriel had left for Simon and that he showed Mal. Why he hesitated to show Mal makes me wonder was it good news or not and why not let us in on it? Apart from that I was so happy that Mal and Inara finally got some good news with the baby she is carrying not having the gene that carries what ails Inara. Can only hope in my own fantasy that Inara does recover and they live out a long and happy (but not uneventful life) with their 'family' on Serenity. Thank you for a great story, it was an emotional journey. Ali D :~)
"You can't take the sky from me!"
"You can't take the sky from me!"
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