More Firefly/Serenity Recs
Here's another round of recommendations I did last November for crack_van. I think we're past the point of spoiler warnings for the Big Damn Movie, yes?
Paid in Full by Bookworm10. (PG-13)
As far as I can tell, Bookworm10 wrote only three FIREFLY stories, which is a pity--I would have loved to read more by this author, who demonstrated a complete and brilliant understanding of the show and the characters. So this is really more of an author rec, and don't be concerned that I'm sending you to FF.NET.
"Paid in Full" reads like an exceptional episode, in which the crew of Serenity meets up with a captain who's more than a match for Mal, who must take on a job he doesn't want, in order to do right by his crew--and others. The story serves as a perfect stepping-stone between the end of the series and the time prior to SERENITY.
Mal burst into Simon's quarters, grabbed River by an arm and pulled her around to face him. He looked into vacant eyes.
And then he saw stars and bounced off the wall before slumping to the floor. He shook his head and looked up to see Simon glaring down at him. The doctor's fist was clenched and ready for another blow should the captain dare to stand up.
Mal put his hands up in surrender. "Stand down, Doctor. I was too rough, an' I apologize. I'm feelin' a mite frantic right now."
The sincerity in the captain's tone was unmistakable. Simon lowered his fist. "What's wrong?"
"Kaylee musta worked her magic. The other ship took off, but Kaylee and Jayne are still aboard."
Simon wrestled with the implications. "And . . . you blame River?"
Mal rubbed his jaw. "No. 'Course not. But she, she listens. I woulda thought she'd know this was gonna happen."
"That's crazy," Simon objected.
"Well, that's your sister," Mal retorted. "Look, I just need to talk to her. Can I get up now, or are you feeling a need to create demand for your surgical prowess?"
"Uh . . . of course. Just, you know, don't get grabby."
And be sure to try Bookworm's other stories,
Cat and Mouse, and An Earful. "Cat and Mouse" tackles the time just after "Objects in Space," with equally serious and whimsical moments, while "An Earful" is a chilling coda to "War Stories."
******
Inevitable Decline by budclare (PG)
I heart budclare. She's snarky, occasionally evil, and has a gift for saying a lot with very few words. This was written for the 90th ff_friday, 100 to 1000 words about gravity. It's the perfect drabble: 100 words, features my OTP, and it never fails to make me laugh.
******
Broken Toys by sharelle (PG)
I had put together a list of potential recs a few weeks before I was scheduled to start, and had a good idea what I wanted to to include, but then I stumbled across a new story that blew me away. It features what had become really familiar ground very quickly last October--SERENITY aftermath fic--but with wonderful style. The first-person Mal voice works very well, and the whole "what's going to happen to Zoe?" plot is meaningful and sweet without being overly angsty. The imagery applied to the theme of what's broken and what's not gives the whole story a very real feeling.
It was sort of like that these days, flying this beautiful heap of rough-edged metal for the first time - full-time - in a long while. It was shaky and unfamiliar and awkward, but there was enough muscle memory to guide me through. You never really forget. Even if it had been years since I'd had to pilot my own ship.
There is a noticeable difference, of course, from the way it was before: not as smooth, not as responsive, not as much maneuverability resulting from my touch. Not that anyone mentions it directly to me. We're all trying our best here. Though sometimes it's as if Serenity herself is just putting up with me, but only temporarily. As though she's biding her time and keeping her patience until her real master comes back.
You're not doing too bad, Captain Reynolds, but let me know when Wash's behind the wheel again.
I wonder sometimes how she'd take it if she knew. Besides Zoë, Serenity had been the other lady in Wash's life. I wonder sometimes if maybe she did know; if she knew before the rest of us did; if she'd felt him go. She'd been the one to stay with him, after all, when none of us could. Maybe, in her awkward handling, Serenity was still working out her own grief.
******
Good Vibrations by liquidize (NC-17)
Why read this? Because Kaylee had the best "Oh-my-God-did-she-really-just-say-that??" line in the whole Big Damn Movie. Because Liq is one of the two most...devoted Simon/Kaylee fans I know. Because it's naughty and hot and sneakily funny. No real spoilers for the movie, as such, since this technically takes place between it and the series. In the journal-entry version there are some warnings, just in case some people find it a bit ewwwie, although the title should clue you in...
******
Picnic by azuremonkey (PG-13)
I like this story because not everything would be gloom and doom after the events of the movie, even with the crew dynamic so drastically altered. It's a great ensemble piece, with all the voices perfectly done. The author's own description: "Jayne’s getting some and Mal’s having none of it."
He didn’t think it was Inara. She’d never service the crew. And if she did - which she didn’t, but if she did - it would be in her shuttle. She would never go into Jayne’s quarters. Not that it mattered. She’d never service the crew.
“You whoring with Jayne?”
“Come in, Mal. Make yourself welcome. Am I what?”
Her cheeks were flushed. He wondered what she’d been thinking of when he stormed in.
“Jayne. And you.”
“Why, yes, yes, as a matter of fact, we are. Right here on the rug. Sometimes twice if he begs nicely. Did you want details?”
******
Enjoy! Be sure to leave comments for the authors!
Paid in Full by Bookworm10. (PG-13)
As far as I can tell, Bookworm10 wrote only three FIREFLY stories, which is a pity--I would have loved to read more by this author, who demonstrated a complete and brilliant understanding of the show and the characters. So this is really more of an author rec, and don't be concerned that I'm sending you to FF.NET.
"Paid in Full" reads like an exceptional episode, in which the crew of Serenity meets up with a captain who's more than a match for Mal, who must take on a job he doesn't want, in order to do right by his crew--and others. The story serves as a perfect stepping-stone between the end of the series and the time prior to SERENITY.
Mal burst into Simon's quarters, grabbed River by an arm and pulled her around to face him. He looked into vacant eyes.
And then he saw stars and bounced off the wall before slumping to the floor. He shook his head and looked up to see Simon glaring down at him. The doctor's fist was clenched and ready for another blow should the captain dare to stand up.
Mal put his hands up in surrender. "Stand down, Doctor. I was too rough, an' I apologize. I'm feelin' a mite frantic right now."
The sincerity in the captain's tone was unmistakable. Simon lowered his fist. "What's wrong?"
"Kaylee musta worked her magic. The other ship took off, but Kaylee and Jayne are still aboard."
Simon wrestled with the implications. "And . . . you blame River?"
Mal rubbed his jaw. "No. 'Course not. But she, she listens. I woulda thought she'd know this was gonna happen."
"That's crazy," Simon objected.
"Well, that's your sister," Mal retorted. "Look, I just need to talk to her. Can I get up now, or are you feeling a need to create demand for your surgical prowess?"
"Uh . . . of course. Just, you know, don't get grabby."
And be sure to try Bookworm's other stories,
Cat and Mouse, and An Earful. "Cat and Mouse" tackles the time just after "Objects in Space," with equally serious and whimsical moments, while "An Earful" is a chilling coda to "War Stories."
******
Inevitable Decline by budclare (PG)
I heart budclare. She's snarky, occasionally evil, and has a gift for saying a lot with very few words. This was written for the 90th ff_friday, 100 to 1000 words about gravity. It's the perfect drabble: 100 words, features my OTP, and it never fails to make me laugh.
******
Broken Toys by sharelle (PG)
I had put together a list of potential recs a few weeks before I was scheduled to start, and had a good idea what I wanted to to include, but then I stumbled across a new story that blew me away. It features what had become really familiar ground very quickly last October--SERENITY aftermath fic--but with wonderful style. The first-person Mal voice works very well, and the whole "what's going to happen to Zoe?" plot is meaningful and sweet without being overly angsty. The imagery applied to the theme of what's broken and what's not gives the whole story a very real feeling.
It was sort of like that these days, flying this beautiful heap of rough-edged metal for the first time - full-time - in a long while. It was shaky and unfamiliar and awkward, but there was enough muscle memory to guide me through. You never really forget. Even if it had been years since I'd had to pilot my own ship.
There is a noticeable difference, of course, from the way it was before: not as smooth, not as responsive, not as much maneuverability resulting from my touch. Not that anyone mentions it directly to me. We're all trying our best here. Though sometimes it's as if Serenity herself is just putting up with me, but only temporarily. As though she's biding her time and keeping her patience until her real master comes back.
You're not doing too bad, Captain Reynolds, but let me know when Wash's behind the wheel again.
I wonder sometimes how she'd take it if she knew. Besides Zoë, Serenity had been the other lady in Wash's life. I wonder sometimes if maybe she did know; if she knew before the rest of us did; if she'd felt him go. She'd been the one to stay with him, after all, when none of us could. Maybe, in her awkward handling, Serenity was still working out her own grief.
******
Good Vibrations by liquidize (NC-17)
Why read this? Because Kaylee had the best "Oh-my-God-did-she-really-just-say-that??" line in the whole Big Damn Movie. Because Liq is one of the two most...devoted Simon/Kaylee fans I know. Because it's naughty and hot and sneakily funny. No real spoilers for the movie, as such, since this technically takes place between it and the series. In the journal-entry version there are some warnings, just in case some people find it a bit ewwwie, although the title should clue you in...
******
Picnic by azuremonkey (PG-13)
I like this story because not everything would be gloom and doom after the events of the movie, even with the crew dynamic so drastically altered. It's a great ensemble piece, with all the voices perfectly done. The author's own description: "Jayne’s getting some and Mal’s having none of it."
He didn’t think it was Inara. She’d never service the crew. And if she did - which she didn’t, but if she did - it would be in her shuttle. She would never go into Jayne’s quarters. Not that it mattered. She’d never service the crew.
“You whoring with Jayne?”
“Come in, Mal. Make yourself welcome. Am I what?”
Her cheeks were flushed. He wondered what she’d been thinking of when he stormed in.
“Jayne. And you.”
“Why, yes, yes, as a matter of fact, we are. Right here on the rug. Sometimes twice if he begs nicely. Did you want details?”
******
Enjoy! Be sure to leave comments for the authors!