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crack_van2004-08-03 11:52 am
fbf.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2004-08-03 11:52 am
Crucible by scrubschick (NC-17)
Fandom: FARSCAPE
Pairing: John/Aeryn and other assorted pairings
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
scrubschick
Author Website: Bunny Board
Why this must be read:
Farscape is not your father's scifi show. It shows real characters acting and reacting to situations. It shows character growth and change and most of all it does not skimp on pain it inflicts on its characters. When you have actors this good, doing pain do well, is it no wonder writers like to torture the characters. It's canon folks.
This story takes place near the end of S4 and has assorted spoilers for things that happened before, so I will put the rest of this review/recc behind a cut tag for those new to the fandom.
Crucible is Aeryn's version of torture at Scarran hands. I was surprised that no one wrote what kind of things she experienced when she was being pumped for information from the Scarrans. It seemed like a perfect thing for fic writers to gravitate toward. scrubschick stepped up to the plate and gave us this.
Some of the dialogue is a bit off and melodramatic but one can hand wave that away by saying Aeryn is delusional. It is twisted and wrong and shows Aeryn's fears manifest. At times you can't help but laugh at what you are reading because it is funny in a dark and twisted way, but then you wince a minute later because of Aeryn's pain. There is a moment near the end that is a lovely retelling of TalynJohn's death from IP:IA that will just twist your heart as Aeryn loses the man she loves again.
Excerpt:
“I am sorry for you, my dear,” the old woman said, finally addressing Aeryn over Chiana’s shoulder. “It would have been better had you been farther along the path to recovery before discovering this particular truth. But now that you know, healing can begin. You will simply have to move on.”
“Move on? I don’t know what you’ve done to him, witch, but I’ll move on when I have your hide decorating the wall in my quarters!”
“Hey!” John stepped quickly in front of Noranti, fists clenched, anger flashing in his eyes. “Look, Aeryn, I know you’re upset, but if you keep talking like that about the woman I love you’ll be off Moya at the first commerce planet! And if you harm a single hair on her beautiful head I’ll space you! Is that understood?”
“Shut the frell up, Crichton!” shouted Chiana, the tiny Nebari protecting Aeryn again by shifting her body to plant herself stubbornly in front of Crichton. “You aren’t the captain! You do not get to decide who goes or stays on Moya! D’Argo and Pilot would never... would never let you kick Aeryn off and you know it! Now quit threatening her!”
Crichton glared down at the slender girl standing before him shielding the ex-Peacekeeper from his anger. “It wasn’t a threat, Chiana,” he told her with a fierce intensity. “It was a statement of fact: if Aeryn hurts Noranti I will kill her, immediately and without warning and with as much regret as if I were putting down a rabid dog.” He angled his head to look directly into Aeryn’s eyes and repeated, “It’s a promise!” He took Noranti by the hand, kissed her forehead, careful to avoid her eye, and led her out of the room. “C’mon, Babe. We’re not wanted here.” He grinned down into her three-eyed gaze. “And I got a couple of ideas for passing the time until Third Meal.”
Crucible
Pairing: John/Aeryn and other assorted pairings
Author on LJ:
scrubschickAuthor Website: Bunny Board
Why this must be read:
Farscape is not your father's scifi show. It shows real characters acting and reacting to situations. It shows character growth and change and most of all it does not skimp on pain it inflicts on its characters. When you have actors this good, doing pain do well, is it no wonder writers like to torture the characters. It's canon folks.
This story takes place near the end of S4 and has assorted spoilers for things that happened before, so I will put the rest of this review/recc behind a cut tag for those new to the fandom.
Crucible is Aeryn's version of torture at Scarran hands. I was surprised that no one wrote what kind of things she experienced when she was being pumped for information from the Scarrans. It seemed like a perfect thing for fic writers to gravitate toward. scrubschick stepped up to the plate and gave us this.
Some of the dialogue is a bit off and melodramatic but one can hand wave that away by saying Aeryn is delusional. It is twisted and wrong and shows Aeryn's fears manifest. At times you can't help but laugh at what you are reading because it is funny in a dark and twisted way, but then you wince a minute later because of Aeryn's pain. There is a moment near the end that is a lovely retelling of TalynJohn's death from IP:IA that will just twist your heart as Aeryn loses the man she loves again.
Excerpt:
“I am sorry for you, my dear,” the old woman said, finally addressing Aeryn over Chiana’s shoulder. “It would have been better had you been farther along the path to recovery before discovering this particular truth. But now that you know, healing can begin. You will simply have to move on.”
“Move on? I don’t know what you’ve done to him, witch, but I’ll move on when I have your hide decorating the wall in my quarters!”
“Hey!” John stepped quickly in front of Noranti, fists clenched, anger flashing in his eyes. “Look, Aeryn, I know you’re upset, but if you keep talking like that about the woman I love you’ll be off Moya at the first commerce planet! And if you harm a single hair on her beautiful head I’ll space you! Is that understood?”
“Shut the frell up, Crichton!” shouted Chiana, the tiny Nebari protecting Aeryn again by shifting her body to plant herself stubbornly in front of Crichton. “You aren’t the captain! You do not get to decide who goes or stays on Moya! D’Argo and Pilot would never... would never let you kick Aeryn off and you know it! Now quit threatening her!”
Crichton glared down at the slender girl standing before him shielding the ex-Peacekeeper from his anger. “It wasn’t a threat, Chiana,” he told her with a fierce intensity. “It was a statement of fact: if Aeryn hurts Noranti I will kill her, immediately and without warning and with as much regret as if I were putting down a rabid dog.” He angled his head to look directly into Aeryn’s eyes and repeated, “It’s a promise!” He took Noranti by the hand, kissed her forehead, careful to avoid her eye, and led her out of the room. “C’mon, Babe. We’re not wanted here.” He grinned down into her three-eyed gaze. “And I got a couple of ideas for passing the time until Third Meal.”
Crucible