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crack_van2009-03-01 01:14 am
frolicndetour.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2009-03-01 01:14 am
Entry tags:
Nemesis by Rose Griffes, (PG-13)
Hi, I'm Allie and I'll be your BSG driver for the month of March. :)
Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Jean Barolay, Leoben Connoy
Length: about 4,600 words
Author on LJ:![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
rose_griffes
Author Website: other fic listed here
Why this must be read:
This story is set immediately after the near destruction of Caprica, and imagines a long encounter between future Resistance fighter Jean Barolay and a mysterious stranger who likes to talk about rivers and streams and has a particular skill with machines. It's not only a compelling fleshing-out of Jean Barolay and an appropriately chilling-but-compelling depiction of Leoben, Nemesis also delves into some deeper questions, such as what it takes to turn someone in to an instrument of vengeance, and if she can ever change back. I particularly love this fic because I'm fascinated by the mythological underpinnings of the show, and Rose weaves together mythology, colonial religion and symbolism to illustrate Jean's transformation. It's one of those stories you have to read more than once to fully appreciate. And although this was written before season four had begun, the end of the story takes on a new significance given more recent developments.
Excerpt:
He was bleeding from the shots to his stomach and shoulder. Fatal wounds for any human, though she didn't know about him. He watched her, eyes clear as she stepped towards him. "Nemesis," he said. "I was expecting you."
He walked over to where she was sitting. "Are you Nemesis now?"
"Nemesis?" It took her a moment to remember the reference. "Wasn't she a goddess of war or something?"
"Goddess of justice and equilibrium. You don't know your own gods." He looked amused. "She was in charge of human affairs, keeping balance. In the stories, though, she was also concerned with matters of love. Sometimes she’s holding a sword in paintings," he finished, pointing to the knife. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "So I take it you've never prayed to Nemesis."
"No, but maybe I should."
He dropped his teasing manner. "Careful not to get pulled under the surface. She swallows you up."
"What?"
"Revenge. It's the current that will pull you under and drown you."
“Shouldn’t I be more worried about getting cut?” she asked, brandishing the knife.
He didn’t acknowledge her attempt at levity. “There are more things in life than you dream of. The patterns are swirling past you in the stream…”
She interrupted him. "Would you shut the frak up?! I'm tired of hearing about patterns and currents. Gods!" She expected sulking; instead he laughed, looking at her like she’d said something witty. He pulled her up from the ground then leaned his hand on her shoulder for a moment as they walked in the cabin.
The first door in her dream was open when she walked past it. She looked; it was outside--the room was a forest, bright green with sunlight filtering through the leaves. A small crib was sitting a few feet away from the door. The noise she'd heard before--a baby was standing up in the crib, holding onto the railing and whimpering. It was dressed in white, robes flaring in the light. She squinted as she looked at it. Strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes--they made eye contact and Jean looked down. She backed away and the green forest shifted, changed into gray walls with a pulsing red light.
She closed the door and stood in the hallway. She put her right hand to her chest, feeling her heartbeat. Her left hand was holding the knife; she opened the door at the end of the hallway and used it on him.
Nemesis
Fandom: BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (NEW)
Pairing: Jean Barolay, Leoben Connoy
Length: about 4,600 words
Author on LJ:
rose_griffesAuthor Website: other fic listed here
Why this must be read:
This story is set immediately after the near destruction of Caprica, and imagines a long encounter between future Resistance fighter Jean Barolay and a mysterious stranger who likes to talk about rivers and streams and has a particular skill with machines. It's not only a compelling fleshing-out of Jean Barolay and an appropriately chilling-but-compelling depiction of Leoben, Nemesis also delves into some deeper questions, such as what it takes to turn someone in to an instrument of vengeance, and if she can ever change back. I particularly love this fic because I'm fascinated by the mythological underpinnings of the show, and Rose weaves together mythology, colonial religion and symbolism to illustrate Jean's transformation. It's one of those stories you have to read more than once to fully appreciate. And although this was written before season four had begun, the end of the story takes on a new significance given more recent developments.
Excerpt:
He was bleeding from the shots to his stomach and shoulder. Fatal wounds for any human, though she didn't know about him. He watched her, eyes clear as she stepped towards him. "Nemesis," he said. "I was expecting you."
He walked over to where she was sitting. "Are you Nemesis now?"
"Nemesis?" It took her a moment to remember the reference. "Wasn't she a goddess of war or something?"
"Goddess of justice and equilibrium. You don't know your own gods." He looked amused. "She was in charge of human affairs, keeping balance. In the stories, though, she was also concerned with matters of love. Sometimes she’s holding a sword in paintings," he finished, pointing to the knife. She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "So I take it you've never prayed to Nemesis."
"No, but maybe I should."
He dropped his teasing manner. "Careful not to get pulled under the surface. She swallows you up."
"What?"
"Revenge. It's the current that will pull you under and drown you."
“Shouldn’t I be more worried about getting cut?” she asked, brandishing the knife.
He didn’t acknowledge her attempt at levity. “There are more things in life than you dream of. The patterns are swirling past you in the stream…”
She interrupted him. "Would you shut the frak up?! I'm tired of hearing about patterns and currents. Gods!" She expected sulking; instead he laughed, looking at her like she’d said something witty. He pulled her up from the ground then leaned his hand on her shoulder for a moment as they walked in the cabin.
The first door in her dream was open when she walked past it. She looked; it was outside--the room was a forest, bright green with sunlight filtering through the leaves. A small crib was sitting a few feet away from the door. The noise she'd heard before--a baby was standing up in the crib, holding onto the railing and whimpering. It was dressed in white, robes flaring in the light. She squinted as she looked at it. Strawberry-blonde hair and blue eyes--they made eye contact and Jean looked down. She backed away and the green forest shifted, changed into gray walls with a pulsing red light.
She closed the door and stood in the hallway. She put her right hand to her chest, feeling her heartbeat. Her left hand was holding the knife; she opened the door at the end of the hallway and used it on him.
Nemesis
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