Sand is Another Word for "Grit" By Marian Mendez (PG-13)

[lady-smith.livejournal.com]

I'm a bad, bad, bad little reviewer whose life got away with her for a few weeks. Mea Culpa. As punishment, I will not be able to post all the stories I planned, but if you lot will forgive a very little bit of spamming, I'll get as many of them in as I can. Never fear, I won't post any back-to-back.

Fandom: BLAKES7
Pairing: Vila/Soolin
Author on LJ: entropy_house
Author Website: Marian's Text-Only Fics
Why this must be read:

Marian is well known in the fandom for her brilliant, short, outrageously funny humour pieces - and her gift for crackfic. While I could have nominated any one of a dozen of those beautiful gems, I chose this because it's something she's not as known for - a deadly serious, quiet, and heartfelt character piece.

This fic takes place after "Sand" - a rather bleak, emotionally charged episode, in which (in addition to Tarrant and Servalan being manipulated into screwing) Vila nearly dies and no one much seems to care. It's a significant episode for Tarrant, and many people have speculated on his aftermath, but "Grit" takes a look at Vila's state of mind in the midst of the bleakest season of the series.

I freely admit I'm a sucker for Vila, and he's at his best here, but this fic also contributes to my growing love for Soolin - not a character I had much time for in my original run through the series, but one which talented ficcers like Marian (and vilakins, who first brought this pairing to my attention) have fostered a deep love for.

Soolin observed people with the dispassionate fascination of a scientist, and at the moment, Vila had aroused her curiosity. When they reached Xenon base and scattered to their quarters to rest, she took a bottle of wine and went to satisfy it.

“Vila.”

Vila’s door opened immediately, and he looked at Soolin. “Soolin. What’s wrong? Don’t tell me, Avon’s decided Scorpio needs her glycolene ballast chambers cleaned out again because of the sand. You can tell him even a whole bottle won’t do it this time.”

Soolin handed Vila the bottle. “Avon didn’t send me. The wine’s not a bribe, Vila. I just want to talk to you.”

“Yeah, right.” Vila accepted the bottle and went back into cabin. He fished two glasses out from a cabinet and poured a little wine in each. “Come on in, and get on with whatever it is, then.” He held a glass out to Soolin.

“You’re very cynical suddenly.” Soolin entered and took the wine. She sipped it and smiled at Vila.

Vila looked very tired. He sat down on the bed with his glass of wine and drank it slowly, putting it down while half still remained. “It’s very good wine,” he admitted. “Tell me what you want, and I’ll see you get your money’s worth.”

“Vila…” Soolin hesitated. This tired, unsmiling man was a stranger to her all over again, just when she thought she’d got him neatly labeled and pinned to a card in her private museum. “Vila, tell me about Cally.”

And it just gets better from there. So go, read, and find out the true meaning of "Sand".

Sand is Another Word for ‘Grit’