'Ships That Pass in the Night by AnonEHouse/Willa Shakespeare/Entropy House (NC-17)

[aralias.livejournal.com]

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Blake/Avon, with background Jenna/Cally and Dayna/Vila
Length: 6,811
Author on LJ: entropy_house
Author Website: b7fanfic_etc, on AO3 and on Hermit (as Willa Shakespeare and other pen names)
Why this must be read: Another fic from the writer I shall continue to call Willa Shakespeare, even though she'd abandoned that penname by this point - because she's one of the best, and so prolific! (hooray).

This fic (from 2007, so we're off the edge of the map of previous recs here) is one of my absolute favourites, although it's another slightly weird choice from the author's oeuvre. The premise is that, rather than finding himself on the Liberator in episode 2, Blake winds up on a ship controlled by the consciousness of the ex-Kerr Avon. In the vein of 'A New Machine', 'Ships' is a chance to compare Avon to an emotionless, logical machine and find him very human and very swayed by Blake's arguments. It does that very well. But what I particularly like about this fic (apart from the dialogue, the clever ways it re-works canon, and how much exasperated affection there always is between B & A in Willa's fics) is the ways that making Avon into a ship changes his relationship with Blake. The result sounds obvious, but in fact what's changed (and it's made clear by the fic summary) is that he's already got the things he claims he wants in the telly show - power, safety, wealth, independence. And so he meets Blake on very different terms, and so their relationship is different. In a way it's easier, actually, because Avon's got more to negotiate with, but how they interact is still based in who they are and the problems they had with each other in the show.

So 'Ships' is clever, and it's funny, and it makes me very happy.

Excerpt:

"I'm sure you're the richest, safest, most powerful ship in human space." Blake drinks more of his coffee. "But aren't you bored?"

"When I am, I play computer chess," I answer dryly.

He laughs, and ductless glands that I thought were long since dead send erotic messages to my brain. Damn him, I was perfectly content studying astral phenomenon and the occasional interesting ship. He makes me think of things I miss. I was always a hedonist. "Would you play with me?" The voice the aliens gave me is very good, so like my own I can't tell the difference in recordings. I am not particularly subtle in my invitation. Why should I be? If he's insulted let him say so and stop flirting with me. I won't be seduced into risking my life, but I wouldn't mind at all trying for sensation.

Blake is suddenly serious. "People are suffering and dying, Avon. I can't abandon them."

"I would keep you safe." Damn it, I'm almost begging.

"I know you would." He touches the monitor, stroking the face... my face. "But I can't rest until the Federation is destroyed, and men are free to think and speak."

"You can't win."

"Not alone." He smiles. "But I'm not alone, Avon. There are many who feel as I do, who are willing to fight for freedom."

"I'm already free, Blake. I won't be enslaved for your cause."

Blake sighs. "You're a slave to your fear, then. I don't blame you, it must have been terrible."

The last thing I want is pity from this doomed fool. I shut off the monitor and ignore him, instead calling up Blake's records, looking for ammunition to use against him in our next argument.

Link: 'Ships That Pass in the Night