A bit of self-promotion. (Firefly fans esp. welcome) - PPC Posting Board

Subject: A bit of self-promotion. (Firefly fans esp. welcome)
Author: Cassie
Posted on: 2013-02-06 10:07:00 UTC

So, I recently picked up a box set of the one-season series Firefly, along with its companion film Serenity, and wound up doing a marathon viewing* spread over the last three evenings. And I'm absolutely hooked. So I tried out a oneshot fic about Simon Tam.

Everything He Wants

I'd appreciate any feedback you guys care to offer. :D

*Do we have a technical term for that? Like "Canon Absorption Session"? :P

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A bit of self-promotion. (Firefly fans esp. welcome) by Cassie on 2013-02-06 10:07:00 UTC

Re: A bit of self-promotion. (Firefly fans esp. welcome) by Silken Dawn on 2013-02-06 22:32:00 UTC Reply

Nice fic! I like those short ones. They don't need to have a lot of action to be entertaining or enlightening.
It's also nice to see something about Simon. I really liked his character, and it seems like he didn't get enough screen time (something that I'm sure would have been remedied if... well, you know. *tear*)

Thanks. :3 by Cassie on 2013-02-07 01:15:00 UTC Reply

I seem to do okay with oneshots.

I have to admit, Simon was one of my favourite characters on the show (insofar as I could pick favourites XD) and I just wanted to hug him most of the time. *joins in tears of mourning for... well, you know*

Though I have heard quiet whispers of another season finally coming, in dark corners... nothing confirmable.

Re: A bit of self-promotion. (Firefly fans esp. welcome) by Moonbather on 2013-02-06 12:51:00 UTC Reply

Looks good! I think it captures River's moods well and Simon's protectiveness of her. It reads well too, fairly fast paced for a story which is really a shot of someone's thoughts over a small time frame!

Three thoughts/queries (only my opinion so please feel free to tell me where to put them!):

i) I'm assuming this is set early in the canon as the crew haven't discovered River's past or the fact that she is extremely dangerous in the wrong (or maybe right) situation?

ii) Simon was also very determined to protect his sister, even going to the point of breaking her out of an Alliance high security (and secret) facility. I'm not sure his determination and resourcefulness come across fully.

iii) I may be wrong (I haven't watched the series in years) but wasn't there a safe word to turn off River's violent outbursts? I think Simon knew the word and used it in Serenity(though feel free to correct me on this point if I'm wrong). If so I assume this is not the words Simon had to find to calm her when frightened or violent?

Hope that helps!

Thank you! by Cassie on 2013-02-06 18:07:00 UTC Reply

I'm glad you like it. :D Given I'm still very new when it comes to experiencing the canon I was hoping I'd captured them properly.

To answer your queries:

1. It's sort of indeterminately placed in the pre-film canon, on purpose - from what I understood the crew were more understanding as time went on, but they still weren't comfortable when River had an outburst. In the very last episode they were pretty edgy when Kaylee told them about her skill with a gun, even though they did rally around her in the end.

2. That's a fair point. I have to say I considered it, but this was sort of a free-flowing thoughts piece, and I couldn't figure out a way to get what you mentioned across without it feeling crowbarred in. I'll look the piece over some time and see if I can rewrite.

3. You're right. Simon knew a phrase that would send her to sleep and used it in Serenity, but in the TV series itself he just talked her down without it because he was trying to calm her down rather than make her fall asleep - I'm assuming he never thought the situation was so dangerous as to need that extreme.

Again, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. :D