Painted Lady (Epilogue)

[icedteainthebag]

Oh, it's not over yet...

Title: Painted Lady (Epilogue)
Author: tjonesy and icedteainthebag
Word Count: 3,679
Rating: MA
Pairing: Roslin/Adama
Spoilers: S2, Final Cut through LDYB II, Unfinished Business
Summary: We survived the end of worlds and we still can't tell people how we really feel.
Notes: Thanks to our amazing betas somadanne and larsfarm77, both for their invaluable skills

Comments

[katamarann]

WUT?!?

[katamarann]

WHAT?!? I FUCKING KNEW IT.

/reading

[icedteainthebag]

bwahaaaaa!!!!

[tjonesy]

[frakcancer]

I think I love you both.

It felt like I hadn't been Laura for a really long time.

Considering that when she wasn't Laura Brooks she was Brooke playing at being Laura, who really was--no wonder she went a little nuts for a while.

[icedteainthebag]

I think it probably pretty much drove her nuts that she had to take on an entirely new identity... she really lost nearly everything and had to start a new life. So I think New Caprica, for her, was having to start a new life *again*... and I'm glad she could find some sort of peace in it.

Thanks for everything these past few weeks.

[frakcancer]

What I meant was that it must mess with your mind to pretend you're someone else who for a living pretends to be a woman with your own name. Trying to hide your identity and remember how to react when your own name is called, for example. Or when to turn in response to your name and when not to. She's both a ghost of Roslin and a ghost of her own former self.

And then add on similar types of lives/social strata, and the fact that neither had so useful a skill set that they could easily continue with life as usual (what would Roslin have done if Adama had refused to recognize the legimitacy of a civilian government? Taught school? If Adama had stood and fought, would there be schools to teach? If not, what could she have done to earn food and a rack?)

[tjonesy]

What I meant was that it must mess with your mind to pretend you're someone else who for a living pretends to be a woman with your own name. Trying to hide your identity and remember how to react when your own name is called, for example. Or when to turn in response to your name and when not to. She's both a ghost of Roslin and a ghost of her own former self.

She had to endure the mindfrak of all mindfraks, for sure. I think it's a testament to what a strong woman she is that she came out on the other end okay.

And then add on similar types of lives/social strata, and the fact that neither had so useful a skill set that they could easily continue with life as usual (what would Roslin have done if Adama had refused to recognize the legimitacy of a civilian government? Taught school? If Adama had stood and fought, would there be schools to teach? If not, what could she have done to earn food and a rack?)I would hope she could have found work as a teacher. I think she would have enjoyed playing that role again (we certainly saw

[icedteainthebag]

Okay so you can't steal the lake with the cabin from Laura Roslin!

I won't tell you who wrote that part... because neither of us wants to be pitchforked by an angry mob.

And in the end: he lost them all. He couldn't and shouldn't take anymore loss. So please let him know that Brooke is still alive.

This is an interesting perspective, and very true on Bill losing everybody. That's really sad, actually. I guess you can decide if he ever find out Brooke is alive. Or, maybe you could wait several months and see if he ever finds out.

:)

Edit: And btw, thanks for reading. It meant a lot to me that you hung out and commented the entire way through!

[tjonesy]

I won't tell you who wrote that part... because neither of us wants to be pitchforked by an angry mob.

I will! It was me so you can let poor icedteaingthebag off the hook for that one. 99% of this chapter is her, so you can blame me for the one shitty thing that's sitting in there.

Honestly, I did it so you'd know immediately which lake Brooke was talking about. I like the fact that you see that Roslin did take Adama there. Also, I thought the description Brooke used strengthened the similarities between her and Roslin. And, honestly, it's very painterly/artistic description Roslin uses in UB. I didn't think it would be that far off for Brooke to be thinking in those terms.

Aside from my obvious gaffe on that count, I'm glad you enjoyed the story and left us such amazing feedback along the way.

[katamarann]

See, I was going to write a review today of chapter 14 in which I laid out my extensive scenario to save Brooke Laura. One of which was that Ceasar had whisked her off Cloud 9 for a more personal relationship (because really, why introduce and give him any sort of background at ALL if he wasn't significant somehow). I should have fecking written it.

This is the chapter that has me crying. I'm weeping at my desk at work. FU.

And it's a good thing she never saw the 'stache.

[tjonesy]

See, I was going to write a review today of chapter 14 in which I laid out my extensive scenario to save Brooke Laura. One of which was that Ceasar had whisked her off Cloud 9 for a more personal relationship (because really, why introduce and give him any sort of background at ALL if he wasn't significant somehow). I should have fecking written it.

T and I both hated the ending of BSG. Did you really think we were going to deny a happy ending to a character that deserved one?

This is the chapter that has me crying. I'm weeping at my desk at work. FU.

Awww ((((Kat)))).

And it's a good thing she never saw the 'stache.

There's a reason why we made that scene dark. *winks*

[icedteainthebag]

Speak for yourself, hoar.

I'm pretty cool with the ending, except for the preachy 150,000-years later shit.

[tjonesy]

Oh, well then I take back everything I just said.

*clears throat*

I hated the BSG ending.

[tjonesy]

Well slap me thrice and hand me to me momma!

Can I just do the slapping part? I love slapping people.

You sneaky, sneaky women! *eyes you*

*looks innocent*

You had this planned all along, didn't you? Hmmm.

Yeah, we did. But we wanted you to sit with Bill's reality for a day because her death is very real to him and we wanted the readers to feel that.

Anyway, LOVE IT! I love that Booke seems to have found some happiness for herself too, even if the heartache isn't completely gone.

She deserved her happy ending.

Also, I hope Caesar's not a lousy lay anymore. ;)

I'm sure Brooke's taught him a thing or two since they got together.

Thank you for all your support on this along the way. We loved reading your comments on each chapter.

[icedteainthebag]

I'll let tjonesy slap you, that's what she does best.

Yes, we did have it planned, but I'm totally with her on the reasoning behind it. I'm so happy you liked the ending and acknowledged her heartache isn't completely gone. Caesar's not perfect; she'd made Bill perfect in her mind for awhile, and I think she still longs for that.

LOL on Brooke teaching Caesar a few things. I'm sure he was a very willing student. Rawr.

Thanks for reading and commenting!