The Councils of Despair by Parhelion (R)

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

Fandom: VORKOSIGAN UNIVERSE
Pairings: Aral Vorkosigan/Simon Illyan; Aral/Cordelia
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: Site Index--click on the Cirrus and Sundogs page

Why this must be read:
This is the only Aral/Illyan slash story that I know of, probably for the very good reason that it's not an easy task to get them together without ignoring their canon back stories and without twisting their characters beyond recognition. But Parhelion manages to make it believable, and it's a good "friendship" slash story.
Please note: mild spoilers for Shards of Honor.

The Councils of Despair

Comments

[gardendoor.livejournal.com]

Oh man, this one really did me in. Illyan's choices and feelings were so quiet and understated, so perfectly *him*. And she fleshes out his life in such a believable manner; I felt like I understood him so much better after this. It's probably one of the more painful slash pairings I've read in a long time, and I mean that in a good way.

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I thought parts were melancholy (Aral being in such bad shape, for one thing). But I saw it more as "a good guy helping a friend through a rough patch" rather than outright painful.

But yeah, I was rather sad for Simon, because he deserves to find that Special Someone.

[keerawa.livejournal.com]

Bitter-sweet and believable. Both men were utterly in character. I'm reminded that Miles inheirits his tendency to black moods from his father.

In "Mirror Dance", Cordelia tells Aral, "I think Simon Illyan would still turn himself inside out for you after you were dead and buried, love." This is the story of that Simon.