Old War Horses 10

[lit_gal]

Comments

[anxiety_junkie]

I have to say, I'm not a Mal/Jayne shipper unless Simon's involved, but this is a great fic; I absolutely loved how Blair got Mal turned all around.

If Jayne were to take a liking to me, I'm afraid I'd have to castrate him. Hee! Gotta love Zoe.

[lit_gal]

I'm so glad that you enjoyed Blair's manipulations. He's not a safe man to have on board, that's for sure. And Zoe would not stand for Jayne coming after her. I do love Zoe.

Old War Horses Part 10

[ladyivy]

Now see, I read this chapter, and the first thing I think of when I hit this:

"Jayne?" Mal could hear his own voice, and it was on the verge of breaking like a teenaged boy.

"Well... yeah." Now Blair looked confused.

"Jayne?" Mal repeated it louder.

"Shiong mao niao," Blair cursed softly. "Oh man, I'm sorry. I just thought-"Was to wonder how good an actor Blair was. Because while I can see Blair picking up on Jayne lusting after Mal (esp with the whole if Jayne is a merc what the heck are you paying him bit), I would have thought Blair would also have picked up on the fact that Mal was oblivious. Because he is so blindsided by the thought it is clear he was totally oblivious, even if Zoe had seen it too. And I would have thought Blair would have seen that as clearly as he saw Jayne's attraction

Re: Old War Horses Part 10

[lit_gal]

Mal did make the comment that he suspected Blair is a good liar/actor, and I tend to side with Mal on this one. Yes, Blair picked up on Jayne's lust, but I also think he picked up on Mal's cluelessness. However, war horses are big, powerful animals that don't like to be told where to go, so he's just making the path clear without looking like he's intentionally trying to force Mal down it. This Blair is different from canon. I'm trying to keep the personality similar, but the fact is that he's had a harder life. He's been through a civil war, raised by a companion with extensive training in reading people, and studied to be a psychiatrist. He's also had to live a lie inside the Institute, so he has the equivalent of covert ops background. In short, I think this Blair is MUCH more effective at his manipulations.

[fingers]

Uh uh.

You've captured their voices so well - I can really hear them!

And well I hadn't seen the slash until now *g* ! Another good part.

[lit_gal]

Thank you so very much, and I'm glad that I could get you to see the Mal/Jayne slash here.

[mistress_tien]

So, begging and on his knees, Jayne is appealing... I can see that!

I love how Blair makes a point--it takes a long time and most people are more confused at the end, but he plants the seed.

Great work writing these characters. I enjoy it!

Thanks for sharing.

[lit_gal]

I think Jayne would be very pretty begging on his knees. Yeah, Mal may not want to be a bottom, but there are all kinds of ways to be sly, and the seeds that Blair planted are starting to find some fertile soil for their roots.

[anonymous]

Whee! I think we have just had our very first really good look at the terrifying possibilities of Blair + Companion upbringing.

That was just about the most beautifully set up manipulation I've ever seen. The way he follows Mal's lead to start talking about Jim (which totally serves his wider purpose regardless), letting Mal think they're falling into their already expected relationship parameters, and then winding it around to Jayne via thinking about people differently and confounding expectations? Hee! Delightful!

[lit_gal]

EXACTLY! Companions are all about helping people overcome their own fears and insecurities, and if that takes a little manipulation, it's all for a good cause. Plus, Blair is a psychiatrist here, so he had additional training. Poor Mal absolutely never had a chance.