River vs Love?

POSTED BY: OrangeHat
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 28, 2007 17:16
VIEWED: 22673
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ORANGEHAT

Wednesday, January 17, 2007 10:26 PM

Perhaps shes so jumbled by what everyone else around her feels or believes she doesn't know what her own feelings on the matter are.

That nerdy hat

INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:22 PM

It seems to me that River is not yet mature enough (for all the reasons people have stated) to fall in love. Post-BDM, however, I think she is just mature enough to... have a crush.

She's heading towards normal, right? She's starting to feel like maybe she can try to be a real person, right? And she has some safety and a home? So the next logical thing, developmentally speaking, is for her to do the (totally unconscious) practice-falling-in-love thing of having a crush on someone.

My bet is it would have been Wash (I'm assuming she's hetero based on nothing but current stats on sexual orientation, by the way. It's not like she's indicated it one way or another by behaviour). As things stand, I think she would develop a crush on Mal, and he would be kinda horrified.

Just my two cents,

Indigo S.

BROWNCOATSANDINISTA

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 2:52 AM

That would be an interesting dynamic. The Captain would probably be horrified at the thought of her being interested in him in that way. It may also push Simon and the Captain's relationship over the edge to great dramatic effect. And of course this would lead to her anger at both parties over their petty squabling over her. Imagine the looks of confusion and righteous - albeit odd - indignation on Simon and Mal's respective faces. Of course, then we have to factor in the rest of the Crew's reactions. Would Zoe pull another Our Mrs. Reynolds? What would happen between Mal and Inara? And Simon and Kaylee's relationship? The stress and hilarity would be incredible.

"I'm not going to say Serenity is the greatest SciFi movie ever; oh wait yes I am." - Orson Scott Card

INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Tuesday, January 30, 2007 5:56 PM

I think Inara and Zoe would both think it's kind of sweet. They wouldn't encourage it, by any means, but they'd also know that River would outgrow it soon. And Kaylee would take the stance of many a good girlfriend -- "Not my type, but hey, fantasizing never hurt anyone, right?"

I agree with you about the Mal-Simon dynamic. Simon would demand that Mal do something to put an end to it, and Mal's response would be, "Put an end to what?! Nothing's happening, and in any case I did _not_ do anything to make this nothing happen..."

And I could just see those two awkwardly trying to arrange for River to meet some boys... suitable boys... her own age. "I hear they're having some kind of a harvest dance near the main spaceport on Whitefall..."

Indigo S.

ORANGEHAT

Wednesday, January 31, 2007 8:13 PM

That would be an interesting development. I agree with the humour and other "problems" that would insue if she developed a crush on the cap'in. I (being in a very anti-love mood especially with valentines day approaching) would rather River stay single. Everyone in the ship has a some kinda craving to be with someone and I'd appreiciate the idea of someone who realizes they don't need another person to be complete. ~Going back to the Mal thing it would be HILARIOUS if she realizes she has the crush and has no idea what to do (being smart and but stupid at the same time which could also tie in with her age) and knowing it isn't really something the captain would be looking for (what with his hate of ship board couplings) and aware of what hes thinking. Heh would she become a preditor? Praying on Mal when she knew he was weak? That would be a new spin on the idea of River being semi-helpless.

That nerdy hat

INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Thursday, February 1, 2007 3:13 PM

I don't think River would be mean enough to do that to Mal if she had an actual crush on him but could also feel exactly how much he liked her but not in that way. I think she'd just suffer through it.

("It's a perfectly normal response for the young female of the species to be aware of the attractions of the alpha male. It would also be completely inappropriate for the alpha male to respond, given the kinship structure that has been adopted for shipboard relationships. It hurts.")

Hmm.

It does occur to me, though, that River would get some glee out of flirting with Jayne, as long as it was a matter of getting a biological rise (as it were) out of him, without actually hurting his feelings in any way. Plus, it would drive Simon crazy (even though he would know there was nothing in it), and I think she'd enjoy that, too.

Indigo S.

LEXAN

Friday, February 2, 2007 12:27 PM

I don't think River would ever develop a crush on Mal. He's too much of a father to her. Remember in 'Safe' when she said to Simon 'Daddy will come and take us home'. It was quite obvious she wasn't refering to her biological father, but Mal, who of course 'comes and takes them home'. This is indicative of the fact that River sort of sees Mal as her father.

I could imagine her having a crush on Jayne, far more than Mal. That would be way more hilarious and fitting to the character.

INDIGOSTARBLASTER

Friday, February 2, 2007 5:20 PM

Well, we're talking emotional response. There's that deleted scene from "Our Mrs. Reynolds" where she talks about marrying Simon, so I'm not sure she'd actually key in, emotionally, that one just doesn't have crushes on family.

The idea of her having a crush on Jayne, though, is intriguing. My first thought was that he's way too stupid and crude for her... but she can see into him in a way that most girls (and for that matter the audience) can't. So maybe she would see and be attracted to his straightforwardness, his work ethic, his respect for women, maybe even his intelligence (he isn't book smart, but there are other kinds. And it's not like River could hope to find her intellectual equal any time soon anyway).

He's too old for her, romantically speaking, but of course that's part of the point about crushes -- they are often inappropriate. And it would be funny to see him juggling that -- on the one hand, she seems to be willing, and she's pretty cute... on the other hand, she's crazy and just a kid... but getting older every day...

Actually, come to think of it, I would _love_ to see how he would handle the situation. I don't know whether he'd mess it up completely or impress the hell out of everyone. But it would be a great arc.

Indigo S.

MAL4PREZ

Friday, February 2, 2007 6:12 PM

OK, I can't stop myself anymore. I know it's lame to chat up my own fic, especially since I won't be ready to post it for a while, but I've played out these situations with River and her crushes. And I'm just saying, Indigo - it was fun as hell to write!

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

KALLYN

Friday, February 2, 2007 7:06 PM

I think that river would be elegable for a relationship, but only under circumstances that would call for it. There would need to someone who could love her unconditionally. Like Simon. But not Simon. It would be a very difficult thing to pull off, and keep true to her character, without making her character ark only about her relationship. Frankly I think that Joss would be the only one who could properly pull it off.

As for the relationship with Jayne, I resent the idea. It would be interesting to see the quirks, but it is just worong on so many levels. (as previously stated, it would be quite the experiance for her, to have a relationship, and Jayne has anything but respect for Woman. Wouldn't work.)

With Mal, I dont think it would work for a few resons. a) Mal is far too old. b) He is too much her father.

However, Joss can accomplish almost anthing in his writing. I would have been (and hope to be) intrigued by what he will do with her character.

My thoughts anyways.

-Kall ::everyone dies alone...::

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