Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

[northeto]

Title: Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down
Author: northeto 
Rating: K+
Spoilers: Revelations (4.10)
Original fic link: Of Dark and Dismal Fate
Word Count: 300
Summary of lyrics used as a prompt: Yet I weep/Not for the fallen/But for the unforgiven. (Diaspora Oratorio)
Disclaimer: I do not own BSG and make no money from this. I also do not own Pirates of Penzance,

Comments

[bugsfic]

So much nicer to see Bill and Laura together after finding Earth, even if it's angsty.

Eyes fixed firmly on the horizon, he reaches out and takes her ice-cold hand in both of his. There is nothing else to do.

Very loving without being sappy. A subtle touch.

...the sound as loud and harsh as if Galatica herself were being torn apart.

Very intriguing comparison. Bill's obsession is this tangible, touchable object, the Galactica and Laura's in her believes. They both crumble during this period, but her faith survives in the end.

[northeto]

Very loving without being sappy.

Thank you!

Very intriguing comparison. Bill's obsession is this tangible, touchable object, the Galactica and Laura's in her believes.

In a similar fashion, one could say Bill represents the hope of finding a solid planet, a physical place to call home; and that Laura represents the spiritual/religious aspects of that search, the belief that there is a higher power or powers, or at least a greater purpose that is guiding them to the promised land. Finding Earth damages both the tangible and intangible aspects of this dream.

[bsg_aussiegirl]

My shippy heart loves how he holds her hand and him comforting her in the end of this.

My more sensible writer self loves all your descriptions here. They stand side by side, numbed by the crushing onslaught of emotions too numerous and hopelessly tangled with one another to separate and name. and Suddenly, in one swift moment she rips the page from it’s binding and crumples it in her fist, the sound as loud and harsh as if Galatica herself were being torn apart. especially.

[northeto]

Thank you! The description of Laura tearing out the page gave me particular trouble, so I'm pleased you liked it.

One day I will write something full of sugary, sweet, shippiness, without boatloads of angst to accompany it.

[frakcancer]

“I know,” he murmurs. “I know.”

When there is nothing else to do, what do you do? Hold hands on the way down, hoping the crash won't hurt too badly? Offer empty comfort?

There are no new words to say when all your words taunt you, when your tongues shrivel with the weight of all the innocent lies and worthless promises. All that's left are old words and harsh sounds.

[sln1]

This is so much closer to what I imagined than the outcome we saw on screen in the aftermath of Earth. Their devastating grief and guilt was inevitable but I never imagined that having finally made the choice to love him openly and accept his love for her, Laura would push Bill away so completely and that he would let her. They had always been so good about passing the baton of fortitude back and forth between them as the situation demanded and on that occasion when neither of them held onto it they so nearly took The Fleet down with them.

Your effective word choice helps create a very vivid scene both on the planet and in their quarters and the weight of emotion is palpable as is the connection between them in the way he takes her hand, the way he holds her and the words which pass between them - so few but so loaded with meaning, all the things implicitly understood and defying articulation. No pointless platitudes because this is just too big.

Brilliant. Thank you.

[northeto]

I never imagined that having finally made the choice to love him openly and accept his love for her, Laura would push Bill away so completely and that he would let her.

I agree, and I think you put it very well. I do think they earned the right to a little privacy to deal with everything they've lost and wallow, but there's a line and the show crossed it, in my opinion. That scene where Bill comes in on Laura burning the scrolls- I get why he left her alone, but it made me sad that they had come to that.

I'm positively glowing from your review. You mentioned everything that I could have hoped a reader would get out of this. Thank you, as always for your thoughtful and thought-provoking review.

[twilight_sad]

“That was Earth,” she whispers, barely audible.

“I know,” he murmurs. “I know.”

gut-wrenchingly desperate, and thus a perfect continuation from the scenes in revelations, which is a great feat - kudos!

[northeto]

Thank you!