BSG FIC: Youth's Final Luxury (Part 4/6)

[lls_mutant]

Title: Youth's Final Luxury (Part 4/6)
Author: lls_mutant
Rating: PG-13-ish
Characters: Felix Gaeta and Tom Zarek
Pairings: Gaeta/Skulls, Gaeta/Baltar, unrequited Zarek/Roslin
Story Summary: Tom Zarek and Felix Gaeta didn't have much to do with each other, until they were both working for President Gaius Baltar.
Chapter Summary: The Cylon occupation begins.

Comments

[trovia]

Well it sure doesn't look like you were having trouble finishing before that self-imposed deadline. :)

I still love this. I like the pace in this chapter especially, the short scenes about Tom interlaced with the rest. I like Boomer a lot, that she knows Felix a bit and that she's nice to him. I've always liked Boomer a lot, so I'm glad she gets to have her moment. And that blowjob scene - well, ouch.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest :).

[lls_mutant]

Yeah, it's flowing and I'm trying to keep up! :)

Thanks so much- I was rather fond of this chapter. I like Boomer, too. The Eights are an interesting model line, very much ruled by their hearts. (Although one of my favorite Cylon lines is still "An Eight can be a passionate ally." "Until it sees something shiny.")

Glad you enjoyed it! :)

[a_windsor]

Still loving it. Excellent insight into Gaeta's "collaboration".

[lls_mutant]

Thanks so much! :)

[a_windsor]

Firefly! :)

[prophetkristy]

On the bus ride home from work today, I thought to myself, "I really hope someone has posted fic today, because I want some." Therefore, you WIN today! \o/

This is so very painful....and I love it. If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

Your characterization of Cavil is creepy. Just as is should be!

*wants to hug Felix and feed him chicken soup*

[lls_mutant]

Glad I could be of service!

This is so very painful....and I love it. If that's wrong, I don't want to be right.

Thanks :) I know the feeling. And apparently, so do they, because aside from the whole sex thing, most of the bad stuff that happens I didn't come up with! :)

Your characterization of Cavil is creepy. Just as is should be!

Thanks. He has such a distinct voice...

*wants to hug Felix and feed him chicken soup*

Heh. I'll put a bowl in front of him (homemade, even- I made some last week), but after feeding a baby and a toddler, he can feed himself! ;) (Or even better, help me feed the baby and the toddler. I'll even take help from fictional characters these days.)

[prophetkristy]

Wow...and still with time to write! I suppose I should shut up about all this class prep I'm doing, then...

[lls_mutant]

I stay home, though, and they nap at the same time. (Usually.) Plus, my husband travels, so there's actually a little time, every now and then.... ;)

[falafel_musings]

Hmn. This is a frakking great series, you know

[lls_mutant]

Thanks so much! (Oh, and THANK YOU for posting the summary of the deleted scenes on the other site. I am dying to see the one where they explain what happened to Gaeta!)

You can argue the toss about who's actions are more heroic and righteous, but the fact is that Gaeta's efforts are far more useful. I hope Zarek realises this in the end.

I suspect he will ;) I agree with you, and it's one of the interesting reversals, I think. Gaeta comes across and is touted as this big idealist, but he's the one who takes the ends-justify-the-means path and collaborates at least a bit, enough to get the information he needs. Tom, who's supposedly more of the ends-justify-the-means person, is the one who takes the idealistic stand and goes to prison. I kind of like the idea that they rubbed off on each other, but I think both of them had those qualities in their characters for a long time. (So can't wait to see what happens with them in Season 4.5...)

I kinda felt sorry for Gaius too, seeking comfort in Felix and not even realising how

[strangesicksad]

Another strong chapter. I'm really enjoying this. If I could pick one single plotline which I wish had been more fully explored on the show, it would be Felix's exploits during the Occupation, so I'm always interested in reading fiction set during that timeframe. One of the things I've often speculated upon is why the Cylons--who have never been anybody's fools--were letting Galactica's former tactical officer hang around Colonial One, thus giving him ample opportunity to pass vital information to the Resistance (as innocuous as Gaeta seems, they still would have identified him as a potential threat, and I somehow don't believe Gaeta's ability to fade into the background on the Galactica would work as well when dealing with the Cylons). I like the explanation you come up with here: that he's become a "huge joke" to the Cylons (wow, that blowjob scene was mortifying and crushing. Poor, poor Felix), which would naturally alleviate some of their suspicions/interest in him.

Great work. Bleak as all hell, but... so was New Caprica.

[lls_mutant]

Thanks :)

Yeah, Felix's plotline during Occupation is... tough. On the one hand, I guess there were a lot more people in Baltar's administration that could have gotten the information, given that the rebels can't seem to figure out that said tactical officer is the one that got the the jamming frequencies. (Anders at least didn't know Gaeta that well, but Chief and Tigh should have at least thought about that possibility. Come ON guys!) But then, there were very few faces we knew in the administration, and they went ahead and locked Tom up. It's very frustrating- I can understand why they kept it a quick look.

Plus, like you said, "fading into the background" wasn't going to work this time around. (And how do you fade into the background when you sit in meetings drawing doodles that even a 10-year-old could psychoanalyze as "die Cylon, die!"?) The only thing I can figure is the Cylons don't respect him at all, because he's not nearly as subtle as I think we're supposed to believe he is :)

Great work. Bleak as all hell, but

[strangesicksad]

The only thing I can figure is the Cylons don't respect him at all, because he's not nearly as subtle as I think we're supposed to believe he is :)Heh. See, personally I think the Cylons would get a kick out of having Gaeta around: he's smart, he's competent, he's quiet, he's deferential, he knows where all the files are kept, and he probably picks up coffee cups and empties ashtrays without being asked. Also, when he starts to become unraveled, he does it in a most entertaining way (see: the "die Cylon die!" doodles. Death wish much, Gaeta?). If I were an occupying Cylon, I'd probably keep him around as a mascot. That said, I'd also take steps to keep him far, far away from: a) vitally important strategic documents, and b) guns

[lls_mutant]

If I were an occupying Cylon, I'd probably keep him around as a mascot. That said, I'd also take steps to keep him far, far away from: a) vitally important strategic documents, and b) guns.

There's just something about that image that cracks me up. Felix Gaeta- Cylon/human relations mascot :) Poor guy.

I do wonder how he got his hands on some of those documents. The death list, okay, because he was copied on it, possibly even as a "this could happen to you" sort of message. But the jamming frequencies? (Although maybe he was able to work that out?) Security plans and coordinates make sense... but yeah. I'm also fast growing fond of the idea that Boomer vouched for him a lot, which fits well with her character and his.

Back to your writing, though: I should mention I also love your clueless and self-absorbed Baltar, who remains wholly oblivious to the harm he does.Thanks :) As much as I strongly dislike Baltar (in a good sort of way), I definitely think there are two big things about his brand of villainy: 1.) he abhors