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crack_van2011-10-07 12:18 pm
stars-inthe-sky.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2011-10-07 12:18 pm
"Brought to the Edge and Always Crossing the Lines" by edenbound (Teen)
Fandom: FIREFLY
Pairing: None
Length: ~19K words
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
edenbound
Author Website: edenbound at AO3
Why this must be read: Firefly gave us so little canon with so many possibilities. And given the specific chain of events that lead to one thing or another in the series, the possibilities for AUs are wide-ranging and full of potential. With "Brought to the Edge," edenbound fleshes out an obvious jump-off point--what if Simon couldn't rescue River?--into a tense, can't-put-it-down narrative of Simon's relationship with the resistance before and after his failed attempts. And of course, he ends up on Serenity anyway, but a different entrance with a different Simon ultimately generates different outcomes. This story is fascinating and haunting, and I'd highly recommend it.
There was another burst of talk -- someone tried to tell him they appreciated his viewpoint, but, but, but, while others wondered loudly about how he spent his time and why he might have been down in those poor areas, and one pointed out that it was alright for him to talk, but --
"What are your salaries?" Simon asked, suddenly, loud enough to interrupt them all. "I know I could spare the greatest part of mine, if I had to. Not that I want to, but if it would help other people...?"
"Very noble of you, I'm sure," someone said, and then they were interrupted and it all began again. Simon listened to it with his eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. River would have called it his look of righteous indignation, and perhaps teased him. She would have agreed, though, she would have said he was right. Perhaps she would have elbowed him -- she had such bony elbows -- and told him it was about time he saw it.
He always felt stupid and slow, beside River. Beside even the shadow of River he carried around in his head.
"There's nothing to be gained from this," one of the older doctors said, very loudly. "There's nothing we can do." His eyes pierced Simon. "You're a promising young doctor, Tam, but if I were you, I'd take care to stay... well, to stay out of politics."
"This isn't politics. This is human decency. Human rights."
"Are you saying that the Alliance isn't good enough for you, young man?"
Their eyes all stabbed into him at the same time. Simon clenched his hands in his pockets, crushing the letter from River, that incriminating innocent desperate letter. "No," he said, and it wasn't exactly a lie. The Alliance wasn't good enough for anybody. Not when it treated the lowest common denominator with such contempt. Not when his sister --
But he did, after all, keep his mouth shut after that. Because all thoughts led to River, and he knew that he needed money, he needed more time, he needed more luck... He needed more, and angering the Alliance and ending up on the run wouldn't help anyone.
Brought to the Edge and Always Crossing the Lines
Pairing: None
Length: ~19K words
Author on LJ:
edenboundAuthor Website: edenbound at AO3
Why this must be read: Firefly gave us so little canon with so many possibilities. And given the specific chain of events that lead to one thing or another in the series, the possibilities for AUs are wide-ranging and full of potential. With "Brought to the Edge," edenbound fleshes out an obvious jump-off point--what if Simon couldn't rescue River?--into a tense, can't-put-it-down narrative of Simon's relationship with the resistance before and after his failed attempts. And of course, he ends up on Serenity anyway, but a different entrance with a different Simon ultimately generates different outcomes. This story is fascinating and haunting, and I'd highly recommend it.
There was another burst of talk -- someone tried to tell him they appreciated his viewpoint, but, but, but, while others wondered loudly about how he spent his time and why he might have been down in those poor areas, and one pointed out that it was alright for him to talk, but --
"What are your salaries?" Simon asked, suddenly, loud enough to interrupt them all. "I know I could spare the greatest part of mine, if I had to. Not that I want to, but if it would help other people...?"
"Very noble of you, I'm sure," someone said, and then they were interrupted and it all began again. Simon listened to it with his eyes narrowed, jaw clenched. River would have called it his look of righteous indignation, and perhaps teased him. She would have agreed, though, she would have said he was right. Perhaps she would have elbowed him -- she had such bony elbows -- and told him it was about time he saw it.
He always felt stupid and slow, beside River. Beside even the shadow of River he carried around in his head.
"There's nothing to be gained from this," one of the older doctors said, very loudly. "There's nothing we can do." His eyes pierced Simon. "You're a promising young doctor, Tam, but if I were you, I'd take care to stay... well, to stay out of politics."
"This isn't politics. This is human decency. Human rights."
"Are you saying that the Alliance isn't good enough for you, young man?"
Their eyes all stabbed into him at the same time. Simon clenched his hands in his pockets, crushing the letter from River, that incriminating innocent desperate letter. "No," he said, and it wasn't exactly a lie. The Alliance wasn't good enough for anybody. Not when it treated the lowest common denominator with such contempt. Not when his sister --
But he did, after all, keep his mouth shut after that. Because all thoughts led to River, and he knew that he needed money, he needed more time, he needed more luck... He needed more, and angering the Alliance and ending up on the run wouldn't help anyone.
Brought to the Edge and Always Crossing the Lines