Questions about Mal and Wash for fanfic. by jetflair

BLUE SUN ROOM

Questions about Mal and Wash for fanfic.

POSTED BY: JETFLAIR
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 13:03
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VIEWED: 5191
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Monday, February 6, 2006 12:34 AM

The background: I'm writing a fanfic called The Losing Side about the period of time between the end of the war and Mal's purchase of Serenity. I am trying to make this a very "realistic" story as far as following whatever canon material I can and trying to stay as true to Firefly as possible.

It starts out with Mal and Zoe ending up in an Alliance internment camp. Here's where the problem arises: the way I'm writing it, Mal ends up meeting Wash in the camp. However, I recently posted the meeting between them and got a couple of protests because of the fact that in Out of Gas, Mal doesn't appear to know Wash.

My view of how my story fits into canon is this: The way I see it, Out of Gas shows pretty clearly that this is Zoe's first meeting of Wash, but for Mal it's only implied. Mal knows enough about Wash to be telling Zoe how much in demand he is, etc. So to me it seems credible that they know each other.

My story of them meeting as prisoners would explain the mystery of just why this acclaimed and pretty respectable pilot would choose to fly for Mal on his rattletrap when there are better jobs to be found. It would also fit in kind of cleverly with Alan's DVD commentarty where he says that he imagined that Wash flew one mission in the war, was shot down, and spent the rest of the war in a POW camp entertaining with shadow puppets.

But I'm troubled by the comments that seem to indicate that some don't find this storyline believable. I don't want my readers going "Hey- wait - that couldn't have happened!" So, your opinions please! Is it believable? Does it fit? I really hope so, because I like the story.

_______________________________________________

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

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Monday, February 6, 2006 1:35 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.

Quote:
Originally posted by jetflair:

My view of how my story fits into canon is this: The way I see it, Out of Gas shows pretty clearly that this is Zoe's first meeting of Wash, but for Mal it's only implied. Mal knows enough about Wash to be telling Zoe how much in demand he is, etc. So to me it seems credible that they know each other.

Not how I would have interpreted things but credible enough for me to read you fic without too many qualms i think.

I'll be interested to see your take on things, and your characterisation of Mal whom you are always gushing over.

Hehe I like him too - wanna see if other people see him the same way as me.

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Monday, February 6, 2006 1:41 AM

JETFLAIR

I hope it's credible...I really want my story to work!

I actually have the first 10 chapters in the Blue Sun Room if you want to read 'em. Also on my website here: http://www.serenityverse.com/losingside1.php I think people have a lot of different ways of seeing Mal:)

___________________________________________________

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

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Monday, February 6, 2006 3:39 AM

KPO

Sometimes you own the libs. Sometimes, the libs own you.

Quote:
Originally posted by jetflair:
I think people have a lot of different ways of seeing Mal:)

They do, but I suspect those of us that particularly like him have a similar view of him.

Just read chapter 3 - ouch!!! Didn't you say some time ago that you were squeamish?

Anyway, I'm not (especially), and I'm enjoying it so far.

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Monday, February 6, 2006 3:46 AM

JETFLAIR

Yep, I can't watch torture scenes, and War Stories reduces me to a quivering wreck every time I see it. It mades me incredibly sad to see Mal get hurt, and I question how I wound up writing a chapter that would break my heart if they showed it on Firefly. Plus I feel like a bit of a creep now:(

So how the heck did I end up writing it??? Not exactly sure. Mostly, I wrote myself into a corner that really had only one exit. I think it turned out well, and provides some compelling material for the rest of the story. But...um...ugh.

_______________________________________________

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

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Monday, February 6, 2006 4:49 AM

MAL4PREZ

Fellow Mal abuser here. I also felt bad about what I put the guy through in Fish Job, but I figure it's part of the depth of the character. All the hard times he's gone through, and how he copes with it. It makes him interesting.

Re the Wash question, I think it is a little bit of a stretch to have Mal meet Wash, but hey - it's fanfic! Do what you want! And it's not completely unbelievable, as you explained above.

Maybe it'll help combat your nay-sayers if you acknowledge somewhere, like in commentary or something: Ok folks, I know this a stretch but go with me, okay?

I for one have no problem going along with you because I think the interaction between Mal and Wash could be highly entertaining. And that's the point of fanfic right?

You've got a great story, keep on it!
m4p

Ask Dr. Science ... he knows more than you do.
"I have a Master's degree ... in science!"

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Monday, February 6, 2006 9:23 PM

MIR

The beauty of fan fic is that you can create whatever you wish. One of the challenges though is writing it in such a way that when people read it they sit up and say "OH! So that's how it all falls together!!" I can absolutely see how Mal would be roughly aquainted with Wash before Mal purchases Serenity (Now, that you've explained it). Before I would likely have said na, they didn't know each other. Now, I'm still not sure about a deep friendship but then, it's up to you to make us believe. If it's writen well, and makes sense, then it'll work fine.

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Sunday, February 12, 2006 5:35 PM

NOSADSEVEN

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Fellow Mal abuser here. I also felt bad about what I put the guy through in Fish Job, but I figure it's part of the depth of the character. All the hard times he's gone through, and how he copes with it. It makes him interesting.

Yeah, that's it. Depth of character... makes him interesting... Geez, I hope so. Then I don't have to wonder if there's something wrong with me when I read your description of Mal's treatment in The Fish Job, and immediately go "Oooh...I gotta go read that one...!" Maybe we should open up a chapter of Mal-Abusers Anonymous...

As for the Mal and Wash thing...

Jetflair, I'm not up-to-date on your fic (I usually read the first few chapters to determine if I'm going to read the rest, then I try and wait for completion), but I do recall having a knee-jerk "but they didn't know each other" reaction to the first hints of Wash and Mal's previous aquaintance. However, I do agree that their not knowing each other before the OoG flashback is only implied, and considering that Mal certainly knew of Wash, it's not all that far fetched to suggest that he actually knew him as well (though I am a little wary about how well). Perhaps, as Mal4Prez suggested, including an "author's note" might quell the naysayers without disrupting your original story.

One of the things I like about reading fanfic is that it opens up possibilities that I might never have thought of, and allows me to reexamine my own ideas and understandings of the characters. (Sometimes that means I'm impressed with the author's insight; sometimes that means I'm impressed with the author's lack of insight. The latter forces me to define why I feel that way, helping to clarify my own perceptions.)

I don't recommend that you shy away from a storyline that rings true to you, because, well, it's just fanfic. It's a labor of love. Rather than be concerned with those who don't share your vision, think of the connection with those who do. I mean, some people can't get past the whole spaceships and horses thing...

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't. We. Just.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 5:33 AM

MAL4PREZ

Quote:
Originally posted by nosadseven:
Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Fellow Mal abuser here. I also felt bad about what I put the guy through in Fish Job, but I figure it's part of the depth of the character. All the hard times he's gone through, and how he copes with it. It makes him interesting.
Yeah, that's it. Depth of character... makes him interesting... Geez, I hope so. Then I don't have to wonder if there's something wrong with me when I read your description of Mal's treatment in The Fish Job, and immediately go "Oooh...I gotta go read that one...!" Maybe we should open up a chapter of Mal-Abusers Anonymous...

Not to hijack the thread but...

I feel I should explain that I wasn't saying it's just - oh look at Mal get beat up, isn't that fun? It's more about his ability to get through hard times and still have a sense of humor and the ability to care about people.

It also shows the depth of the people around him, that they'll go to great lengths to help him out through even though he's a bit damaged and not really the nicest guy.

In real life it doesn't always work this way. Too often damaged people are ostracized instead of cared for, sadly. We've all seen it or done it or been there, right?

Besides, tall dark brooding men are so sexy (in stories, less so in real life!)

m4p

Ask Dr. Science ... he knows more than you do.
"I have a Master's degree ... in science!"

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 5:44 AM

CORNCOBB

When I saw Wash's intro scene in out of gas I wondered where Mal found him, and how he knew so much about him. So your story would work well I think.
Although I don't think mal and Wash were any more than acquintances before Wash joined Serenity. I just didn't get a 'buddys' vibe off of them. I guess thats why people assumed they didnt know each other - because they usually seem more relaxed with each other.

"Gorramit Mal... I've forgotten my line."

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Tuesday, February 14, 2006 8:02 PM

NOSADSEVEN

Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Not to hijack the thread but...

I feel I should explain that I wasn't saying it's just - oh look at Mal get beat up, isn't that fun? It's more about his ability to get through hard times and still have a sense of humor and the ability to care about people. ...

Oh, I got that, and appreciated your articulation of why those types of storylines attract me, despite their unpleasant nature.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ain't. We. Just.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006 1:45 AM

JETFLAIR

Wow....I should never underestimate the power of Firefly fans to feel exactly the way I do about things. I'm so used to that never happening in real life.

This discussion about storylines that abuse Mal has been really reassuring for me to read. You see, they appeal to me too. That fact has been making me feel really wierd about myself. I love this guy...I care about him, I feel for him, and in light of that the fact that I am drawn to storylines where he gets tortured, imprisoned, and what have you has seemed downright sadistic. I really questioned what writing that scene in The Losing Side said about me, and the fact that I love stories like War Stories, Truthsome, The Fish Job.

Even odder.....I HATE torture scenes in movies. I can't watch them. They horrify me, and usually leave me pretty disturbed for a while after watching them. It's not so much that I'm squeamish, its that torture to me seems like the most ruthless and horrifying form of violence.

So why on earth should I be drawn to these stories when it comes to the fictional character I care more about that any I've ever seen?

I think part of it is that I like stories that move me emotionally, and since I genuinely care about Mal, hurting him is a pretty sure way to get that to happen. It's not that I enjoy seeing/reading about Mal getting beat up....War Stories has made me cry on more than one occasion, and I usually can't bring myself to actually watch the torture scenes all the way through without looking away. But it's also one of my very favorite episodes.

It's what you guys have said. The whole reason I care about him so much is what all the hard times have shown about him.....his loyalty, his heart, his love of Serenity and his crew, the courage and strength it takes to bounce back from everything that he's been through. Since he's not the sort of guy who walks around all emotional and outgoing, it takes the tough times to get all those walls down enough to show what we love about him. He's a truly exceptional guy, but not in that disconnected, unbelievable typical action-hero-tough-guy way.....it's his humanity and the fact that he acts like a real person that makes him real.

So.....I still feel a little creepy. But at least I'm in good company:)

________________________________________________

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006 5:07 AM

MAL4PREZ

cool! If the thread starter follows my hijack then I'm not hijacking!

I'm right there with you jetflair. Something I'll note about Losing Side and Fish Job is that both stories are really into the healing process. That's not creepy, right?

Ask Dr. Science ... he knows more than you do.
"I have a Master's degree ... in science!"

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006 1:03 PM

JETFLAIR

I'll go with that theory:)

________________________________________________________

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

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