Convince me by PhoenixRose

BLUE SUN ROOM

Convince me

POSTED BY: PHOENIXROSE
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 11, 2006 08:59
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 11267
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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 1:16 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

I have a bit of a challenge for regular readers of fanfic.
I try to keep an open mind to all differnt types of shippers, and have found convincing fanfic for several that I wouldn't have ever considered. But there are a few ships that I just don't buy and haven't stumbled across good fanfic about. I mean, really good, well written stuff with a strong argument for the pairing. So I want everyone who can to list the most convincing shippy fanfic they've read; really any pairing, but particularly Jayne/Kaylee, Jayne/River, Inara/Simon, Kaylee/River, you know any unusual, really non-canon pairing, because I'm curious. I see the appeal of a few of them, but not all of them and I'd like to see it from all sides. Just because it's such a popular debate topic.
So, anyone?

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 5:32 AM

LEIASKY

I asked a similar question a few months ago asking people to explain to me why they thought the Jayne/Kaylee pairing would EVER happen. Got a lot of responses but none that were particularly convincing.

As for fic. The only Jayne/Kaylee fic that I've seen that has relatively believable characterization, are Jacqui's fics.

Simon/Inara, I can believe that pairing pre-Serenity (but absolutely not after it), and I think Wanmei has done a few of those. I've never read a convincing fic after they all board Serenity.

Jayne/River is much more believable to me. 'Next of Kin' is an excellent story about that pairing. The story is long and involved and is just a great all around fic.

here is a link: http://objects.instantgirl.org/viewstory.php?sid=86

I've read a lot of believable Jayne/River fic but 'Next of Kin' is at the top of my head at the moment.

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 2:00 PM

DIZ

I, too, do not really like non-canon pairings, though I have found a couple of fics that convince me. Had the show continued, there surely would've been break-ups and re-shuffles, so I don't get too worked up over the non-canon stuff. I just have my favorite ships, and they happen to be the canon ones.

One I found surprisingly convincing was Jacqui's Adam's Rib. It features Kaylee/River. It is sweet and believeble, and Jacqui is a wonderful writer.

http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=4485

---------------------------------
Welcome to Serenity - Joss Whedon

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Tuesday, May 16, 2006 10:00 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Well, Ima go check these out then. Thanks! Keep 'em coming.

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Wednesday, May 17, 2006 1:25 AM

BOOKADDICT

For believable Mal/River stories you can't go past the Temptation Series & Heaven and Hell by Amdobel.

I see others have already mentioned Jacqui for Jaylee other Jaylee stories try hisgoodgirl or Belasera, Slim as dimes was excellent!

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Thursday, May 18, 2006 6:32 AM

AGENTROUKA

For Inara/Simon on Serenity you might enjoy lunadatura:

"Overlap", "Offering" and "The Walk" are all beautifully, sensually written and really work for those two. Unless, you know, you go in prejudiced against the pairing, which is mostly the reason I personally don't read certain fics. :)

http://www.fanfiction.net/~lunadatura

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Thursday, May 18, 2006 6:23 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Awwww, Kaylee and River are pretty cute together, aren't they?
I'm trying to work through Amdobell's rather impressive body of work; though I have to say Serenity Now really made Mal/River work for me already.
Still not convinced of River/Jayne.
I'll try the Simon/Inara one suggested, too.
Thanks everyone!

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Thursday, May 18, 2006 11:35 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Hey, I found a fairly convincing River/Jayne! Djinn's "Downtime" and "Playing With Fire" addressed most of the issues I had with the pairing and made it make a certain sense! I am impressed.

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Wednesday, May 24, 2006 2:20 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Eeerrrrrrrmmmmm... So I read the suggested Simon/Inara stories. Thank you, but I'm not really buying it. There was never an indication on the show that they would have known each other before meeting on Serenity. They came from the same world, sure, but the Core is pretty big. Plus, personally, the writing style of lots of lush imagery and metaphors kind of wears on me. Tends to cut into the actual story.

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Thursday, May 25, 2006 10:07 AM

AGENTROUKA

Well, it was worth a try. :) Different tastes, no accounting for it.

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Thursday, May 25, 2006 10:45 AM

EMBERS

I'm w/Agenttrouka: everyone has different tastes,
personally I think it is silly for fan fic to be confined to canon (that is what we have the canon stuff for)
and actually w/Joss you can be sure that he'll hint at anything, he loves to shake things up w/inappropriate thoughts....

Personally I had thought that Jayne's crush on Kaylee in the pilot of Firefly WAS canon (his jealousy of Simon making him rude at dinner, and his protectiveness of Kaylee making him ready to kill the guy who shot her... and then his hanging outside the surgery worrying about her)

Adam Baldwin has said he likes to play Jayne as just being very appreciative of women:
he finds Zoe sexy (he'd chip in for the slinky dress) but respects the fact that she is strong.
he is protective to Kaylee but would love to hear more about the battery operated....
he has always thought River was cute, and although he has been afraid of her, and ready to exploit her, I think he also feels somewhat protective to her (when he tried to stop her when she'd been triggered in the bar: she was just trying to hold her arms, not hurt her)
and I know that Adam Baldwin said that he REALLY likes Inara, they haven't had scene together, but AB said he was playing it that Jayne really wants her....

But then I read the most adorable Jayne/Simon:
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=1515

But there is no way anyone can convince anyone else that a pairing is possible...you either are open to it or you aren't.

So long as Jayne is involved, I'm open to anything! LOL

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Thursday, May 25, 2006 10:50 AM

EMBERS

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Eeerrrrrrrmmmmm... So I read the suggested Simon/Inara stories. Thank you, but I'm not really buying it. There was never an indication on the show that they would have known each other before meeting on Serenity.

I agree that there was no reason to think they knew each other before (in fact every reason to assume they were strangers)
but Inara makes the joke to Mal that she was going to give the boy a free thrust since he wasn't long for this world...
so maybe she had a secret desire for Simon?

okay, probably not...but I wouldn't tell anyone else that they can't enjoy the pairing they want.

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Thursday, May 25, 2006 3:19 PM

SQUISH

For Mal/Zoe, you have to read Guildsister's Truthsome and The Blue Sun Job (the last is long 30+ chapters, but well worth it; although if you get to the end and are satisfied, don't read the epilogue, it is quite out of character for the rest of the fic, don't know why).

For Jayne/Simon, Belasera's Sharp Side of the Apple series is very convincing, I never would have seen them together before that.

Jaylee - yep, Jacqui is the queen, read ALL of her stuff! Belasera has two series that are wonderful, so definitely take a look. There is actually a lot of really good Jaylee out there, some people hate it and will tell you it all sucks, but it doesn't. (As someone else said if you're open to it, take a look, if not just pick another pairing and read about that).

For Jayne/River, Kaynara's long-running fic series Bedlam and Bed & Wine has the most convincing pairing (Next of Kin is also very good, it's located over at livejournal, but her River is a little immature for my tastes). Kaynara has captured it so well because she has taken the time to develop the relationship (almost a 2 year period).

For Zoe/Jayne try Mercenarysong's What I Want...What I Need; there are beginning to be a few more, but I can't think of them all right now.

Lots of Mal/Simon, Lvs2read is one author for that, many others too numerous to mention.

One good source for good non-canon fic is the Non-Canon category of the Strawberries: The Blue Sun Awards, here's the web address (sorry I'm bad at code, so you'll have to cut/paste): http://mysite.verizon.net/vzenvl6n/bsastrawberries/id17.html

Can you tell I love to read non-canon stuff? Sorry this was so long, hope it was helpful!

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Thursday, May 25, 2006 6:13 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Wow, thanks, squish!
Yes, I agree that Jacqui writes very convincing Jayne/Kaylee.
And there was an earlier thing about Jayne's crush being canon, and it was. But Kaylee's crush on Simon is also canon and IMO is something that should be addressed in Jaylee fic. I understand liking a particular pairing and just wanting to hear about them being together, I just think there tend to be issues needing to be addressed. Even with canon pairings (i.e. Mal/Inara) there are a few issues that need to be addressed before it can work. That's really all I'm after.
I can see Simon/Inara, as they are from the same kind of environment and all. I think her comment about a "free thrust" was to annoy Mal, but maybe it did indicate interest. But, again, her obvious affection for Mal would have to be addressed.
Anyway. I read "What I want, what I need" and I enjoyed it very much. I actually tend to enjoy Zoe/Jayne pairings in general because I can see it working. And of course most of them address the obvious issues and do so quite well.
I tried to read Next of Kin but didn't get into it. Characterization of River just didn't ring true, and I'm a huge River fan. Might be I'll try again sometime.
I will certainly read the other suggestions here; appreciate it!

*************************************************
One summer.
One mission.
One legion of Browncoats.

Starting June 23rd, we aim to misbehave.

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Thursday, May 25, 2006 7:33 PM

SQUISH

I agree completely with you about non-canon pairings, the change needs to be explained (i.e., Kaylee moving from Simon to Jayne, etc.). (Although not all fics are meant to address that, some begin with the relationship already intact, and as long as the voices ring true I can deal with that quite well, but that's a personal thing).

Now as far as Simon/Inara, like you, I have never read anything that wasn't pre-Firefly with them that was convincing. I think Inara could have (has had) thousands of men just like Simon and she didn't choose any of them, so she needs someone very different from that life (like Mal).

Well, I prattled on again, so I'll just say 'happy reading'!

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Tuesday, June 6, 2006 10:57 AM

MORDSITH

It's nifty to meet people who are open to all kinds of stuff. I think any story I would have listed for you to read has already been listed, but I hope you enjoy them.

These are stone killers, little man. They ain't cuddly like me.

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Thursday, June 29, 2006 7:20 AM

MRSU

Quote:
Originally posted by squish:
Now as far as Simon/Inara, like you, I have never read anything that wasn't pre-Firefly with them that was convincing. I think Inara could have (has had) thousands of men just like Simon and she didn't choose any of them

I saw a couple which were quite convincing.
The best on Simon/Inara is written by the old-time, pre-Serenity classic Inalasahl:

"Rescue and return": http://firefly.populli.org/archive/7/rescueand.shtml (that's my favorite)
It is followed by a silly and not so convincing, but funny smut: http://firefly.populli.org/archive/5/sincerestlaughter.shtml
And one more, a short piece with a twist in the end: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1631667/4/ (add "/" to the end of the link or it won't open).

All her stuff is great, by the way: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/499864/,
http://firefly.populli.org/cgi-bin/search.cgi?Author=inalasahl&NumToLi
st=0

And there's also a stunning piece (it is a 1-character-in-100-sentences challenge) by the_grynne & deepredbelle, "To travel a thousand seasons", which has a bit of S/I in it, along with canon: http://the-grynne.livejournal.com/188400.html

And another one which is pretty good and convincing post-BDM by everysingleway, "Normal is fallacy" , which has Mal/River and Simon/Inara:
http://community.livejournal.com/tehfiction/23861.html

As for Inara seeing thousand men like Simon - well, how many of those men gave up everything for someone they loved and stood up to the whole Alliance? Simon is a pretty remarkable guy. And I love me some well-written S/I. And no cultural barriers is a boon for long-term relationship, by the way. :)

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Thursday, June 29, 2006 9:16 AM

SAMEERTIA

I'm working on Simon/Inara for my project to write every possible pairing.
It's turning VERY dark and squicky, though, as is the Jayne/Inara.

Where I'm having the most problem with the project is actually Simon/Zoe. I cannot even concieve of how to begin that!

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Thursday, June 29, 2006 9:24 AM

SQUISH

MRSU, thanks for the recs, I will try them out. I'm pretty open to everything out there. I agree that S/I have no cultural barriers which makes their pairing (especially for the long-term) a real possibility, I just haven't read it realistically yet. As for Simon being a special guy, he definitely *is* that, but unlike Mal, I don't think all of Inara's clients are morons-or whatever, my brain is really not working right now-(if all she had were what we saw in the show, I would never believe she kept doing that job!!). So I think she's probably run into more than a few really wonderful men (and I like the fics which have her considering really exceptional clients).

But thanks for the info!

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Thursday, June 29, 2006 9:30 AM

SQUISH

Quote:
Originally posted by SameErtia:
I'm working on Simon/Inara for my project to write every possible pairing.
It's turning VERY dark and squicky, though, as is the Jayne/Inara.

Where I'm having the most problem with the project is actually Simon/Zoe. I cannot even concieve of how to begin that!

I have been eagerly awaiting more of your pairings! I loved the Z/J one that you did! And S/I dark sounds great; squicky...not so great, but I'm sure it will be fabulous. I'm actually quite liking the idea of J/I, and there are beginning to be a couple that are realistic, so I hope you can make that one work. S/Z - no way! A poll I did on LJ showed that most of my friends think that is the most unlikely pairing (well after Mal/Patience that is *g*).

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Thursday, June 29, 2006 7:36 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Ertia, I too am eagerly awaiting your new stories! I haven't seen any new ones in your blue sun room, and I have been sad.
I have a way to begin Simon/Zoe if you want my ideas.
I think it's pretty believable that Zoe would want to be looked after after her little tragedy, and might be attracted to the doctor who was caring for her. While I still love her with Jayne because they seem so alike, she might get something more nourishing from Simon if she could get past his awkwardness. I don't know how to unsnarl the possible Kaylee problem, though.

**********************************

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Friday, June 30, 2006 1:44 PM

MRSU

Vow, I'm jumping up and down here: I found an unknown fic by Shanna (the same Shanna who brought us Space pirates etc.) - and it is about growing friendship between Simon and Inara, and it comes with an essay from her where she explains how Simon/Inara could have been canon in the show if it were to continue: there were a lot of signs leading in that direction.
http://community.livejournal.com/civilizedrules/5151.html?view=10783

It's some heavy artillery here, people. :)

And another essay by Inalasahl:
http://community.livejournal.com/ship_manifesto/52896.html

And some more lovely fics on the subject:
"Hundred shades of blue",
http://inlovewithnight.livejournal.com/438735.html

"Small certainties", http://emungere.livejournal.com/180737.html

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006 8:59 AM

MORDSITH

Quote:

But there is no way anyone can convince anyone else that a pairing is possible...you either are open to it or you aren't.

Amen to that! I completely agree.

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