A Quarter to Midnight by Paranoidangel (G)

[aralias.livejournal.com]

Fandom: BLAKE'S 7
Pairing: Dayna/Tarrant or Dayna-Tarrant, if you'd prefer
Length: 1,048w
Author on LJ: paranoidangel42
Author Website: Angelic Paranoia, on Ao3
Why this must be read: Due to a change in rules and a massive increase in old fics uploaded to the archive (and new fics, but I'll talk about that on the 7th), Blake's 7 is no longer a Yuletide fandom! But it was in 2012, which is where this fic hails from.

Dayna/Tarrant is practically canon (thanks to an 'aliens made them do it' plot in series 3), but there is remarkably little fic. This great vignette about the two of them being trapped in a vault together is largely a character piece. In a very short space of time, we explore some of their strengths and weaknesses, see them react to each other and to their situation, and interestingly and effectively contrasts Tarrant's relationship with Dayna directly with his relationship with the rest of the crew (subtly showing us how much better he is to Dayna). I like how unflinchingly it shows Tarrant to be a bit of a tool, even as he is one of our heroes and quite nice in some ways. Great, crackly dialogue.

Excerpt:

"We're stuck," Dayna announced, as she gave up looking for concealed escape routes and sat down on an upturned box. It nearly tipped over as she did so, but she stayed upright.

Tarrant had long since stopped searching and was now leaning against the wall with an amused expression on his face. "Yes, I had worked that out."

She scowled at him. "And what else have you worked out?"

"Not a way to get out, if that's what you're getting at."

They both knew she was, so it wasn't worth replying to. "For once, I wish I was in here with Vila."

Link: A Quarter to Midnight

Comments

[paranoidangel]

Thank you so much for the rec!

[aralias.livejournal.com]

you are most welcome! i enjoy this fic very much.