This, but mostly more of that.
Jul. 30th, 2003 05:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakKerfuffle. The English language, which is not my own, remains endlessly fascinating to me. And then there is "taking leave of one's senses", which implies bows and curtseys and other courtly behaviour. Or, on the other hand, "common sense" which evokes an assumption of democratic rationality. Hmmmm.
Meanwhile, Londo and G'kar haven't stopped talking, and they've cajoled a Vir muse to whisper in my ear as well. I hope.
It was Vir who gave Londo the ideal face-saving excuse. They went over the inevitable and ever growing list of supplicants, complaints and requests from Centauri Prime which had only grown during Londo's sickness, and Londo distracted himself from the ever growing certainty that his life as the Emperor would consist of more, not less of these annoyances by muttering something about G'kar's new-found zeal as a missionary.
"He has an entire planet of eager converts to choose from," Londo said, looked around for some brivari to drink and noticed, not for the first time, that Vir must have confiscated the entire lot. Dr. Franklin had much to answer for. Or maybe Mr. Allen had, pretending to look for more poison. Yes, Zack Allen was the most likely suspect. Garibaldi would never have done this to Londo. Garibaldi knew that sometimes, a man needed his drink. Garibaldi should never have stopped being Chief of Security.
"Why me? Why not enlighten other Narn? He wouldn't even have to leave the station. Sometimes I believe the entire scaly race has decided to settle down here."
It was only a mild exaggeration, these days. Even during the Narn/Centauri war, when Babylon 5 had been flooded with refugees, there had been places, no, entire levels which a Centauri could stroll through without encountering them. They had been desperate then, desperate and angry; now, they had taken to awed mutterings in G'kar's general proximity and seemed to be multiplying by the minute. They dogged G'kar's every footstep, and since G'kar was apparently to determined to practice his newly found prophetic skills on Londo, this meant Londo was constantly tripping over them as well. It was not a pleasant experience. They knew very well who he was, and what he had done. Whenever G'kar ambushed him, they withdrew a bit, puzzlement, hurt and silent accusations in their eyes.
Vir's puckish face wore a frown.
"I think," he said, carefully, "I think that is the problem, Londo. I think maybe he's lonely. I mean," he made a vague diagonal movement with his left hand through the air, as if to grab the explanation he was looking for, "he's not… he doesn't like being treated as a god."
"Well, who does?" Londo said irritably. They looked at each other and the memory came back, the memory of Cartagia, whom they had conspired to kill together, before Cartagia could turn Centauri Prime into a pyre. Cartagia, whose death had robbed Vir of the innocence which he had miraculously maintained until then. Londo sighed. He had not meant to remind Vir; it had been necessary, heroic, even, but Vir had never been able to accept this as a complete justification for murder.
"Very well," Londo continued, hastily, "he doesn't like it. So why not stop handing out his wisdom altogether? No offer, no buyers - simple, yes?"
Vir looked grateful, or maybe he had not thought about Cartagia at all. For all his deceptive simplicity, Vir sometimes managed to surprise Londo. And in his own way, he was as tenacious as G'kar when he had started with a subject that interested him.
"He wants them to find wisdom," Vir said doggedly, "but not because they just do what he tells them to. But you don't treat him this way. You don't… well, worship him."
Londo snorted, and opened his mouth to deliver a scathing remark about G'kar's utter lack of divinity, when the idea hit him.
"Of course!" he cried, and slapped Vir on the back. "Great Maker, it's so obvious."
For the first time in this conversation, Vir was the one who looked confused. "Never mind, Vir," Londo said, his mood having improved infinitely. "But there are some things you'll have to do for me, once we're finished with this", he looked at the list of petitioners flashing on the computer screen, and distaste crept up in his voice again, "this list of imbeciles whose family trees haven't managed to produce a single functioning brain cell in over a century…"
The light in G'kar's rooms, with it's reddish glow and eternal duskiness, would have normally reminded Londo of Narn and why he never wanted to see the planet again. As it was, the anticipated pleasure at the results his idea was going to produce carried him over the murky ground of his memories like a wave. He even managed to ignore the other Narn who radiated distaste and hatred from every pore. Some hissed as he entered in his most boisterous fashion; others grew silent as the unforgiving stone of their homeworld.
"G'kar!" Londo exclaimed, beaming, and was thrilled to see G'kar looking somewhat confused for the first time in years. "My dear friend G'kar! I've reconsidered."
"Indeed", G'kar said flatly.
"Of course I have. You want me to meditate and rethink my life? Well, why not. Never let it be said that Londo Mollari isn't open to new experiences. I've already made reservations."
"Reservations", G'kar repeated, and narrowed his eyes. Apparantly, he started to catch on.
"You know, for a writer you are dreadfully monosyllabic, G'kar. But never mind. Yes. Reservations. A table at the Wa'tia'ru, tonight", Londo concluded, waiting for the realisation to hit as he named one of Babylon 5's most infamous night clubs. They still held the record of having been shut down by Security for the violation of virtually every station rule there was no less than six times. The Zocalo was a pristine haven of respectability in comparison.
The other Narn stared at G'kar. G'kar stared at Londo, with a flinty gaze. His face might as well have been set in granite.
"You found enlightenment in a dungeon, did you not? Are you telling me a night club is so much worse?"
Now the other Narn began to watch them with a certain expectation. They knew, they had to know, that G'kar had been tortured on Centauri Prime. Surely, they were convinced that to talk of such a time frivolously, to show such disrespect would cause G'kar to turn his back on Londo for good.
"The first time I found enlightenment", G'kar replied, very slowly, very precisely, "was actually in your suite."
It was something they had never, ever talked about. Abruptly, Londo felt cold, despite the Narn-type-temperature in the room which was higher than a Centauri could stomach for very long. His smile didn't leave his face; he was too well trained for it to be otherwise. What had happened then had been far worse than G'kar using his superior physical strength to exact revenge, to vent some of the hatred Londo's actions in the war had caused. The bruises, cuts and broken bones had healed in a short time. But G'kar had taken Dust before coming to Londo's suite, the drug which enabled even non-telepaths to assault another's mind, to tear it to pieces. Londo had expected G'kar to kill him that day, and sometimes his survival on this particular occasion still mystified him. The whole affair had ended with him in Medlab and G'kar in one of Garibaldi's cells for some weeks; in retrospect, it was true that G'kar had begun to change then.
It still didn't bear thinking about. Londo had felt helpless on other occasions, true, but the memory of the utter violation, of having every bit of his mind turned inside out still horrified him more than anything else. To live with a mind you could no longer claim as your own, to have even this last refuge, which on Centauri Prime even the worst criminals were entitled to, taken away - what fate could be worse?
He hadn't expected G'kar to remind him, surely not now, with all his newly gained saintliness. It just went to show one should never underestimate G'kar. But Londo did not intend to; and besides, he could never resist following an idea through to its logical conclusion once it had occurred to him.
"Yes, yes", he said briskly, and stepped closer, "quite true. Then a night club should be simple in comparison, shouldn't it? Much less distraction."
G'kar said nothing. The edges around his eyes and mouth crinkled, though it was impossible to tell whether in indignation or amusement. Shrugging, Londo dropped his voice and hoped Vir had been right with his estimation. "Of course", he continued, sounding slightly bored, "if you want to remain here, with your estimable followers..."
He gestured at the disapproving Narn around them, and G'kar followed his gaze. Their hungry eagerness, only slightly repressed under their hatred for Londo and their stiff endurance of his presence, leapt at him; one could feel it, Londo thought, even without the slightest bit of telepathy. He almost shuddered in sympathy. At least this was something he himself would be permanently safe from.
"I'll come with you, Mollari", G'kar replied at last, voice rumbling, and if you didn't know him very well, it would be possible to miss the relief beneath the condescension. Londo tried not to grin. As they stepped out of the room, G'kar added, very low: "But if you think I'm letting you turn this into a joke, you are mistaken. You will change your life."
Leave it to G'kar to turn a dinner invitation into a threat.
Meanwhile, Londo and G'kar haven't stopped talking, and they've cajoled a Vir muse to whisper in my ear as well. I hope.
It was Vir who gave Londo the ideal face-saving excuse. They went over the inevitable and ever growing list of supplicants, complaints and requests from Centauri Prime which had only grown during Londo's sickness, and Londo distracted himself from the ever growing certainty that his life as the Emperor would consist of more, not less of these annoyances by muttering something about G'kar's new-found zeal as a missionary.
"He has an entire planet of eager converts to choose from," Londo said, looked around for some brivari to drink and noticed, not for the first time, that Vir must have confiscated the entire lot. Dr. Franklin had much to answer for. Or maybe Mr. Allen had, pretending to look for more poison. Yes, Zack Allen was the most likely suspect. Garibaldi would never have done this to Londo. Garibaldi knew that sometimes, a man needed his drink. Garibaldi should never have stopped being Chief of Security.
"Why me? Why not enlighten other Narn? He wouldn't even have to leave the station. Sometimes I believe the entire scaly race has decided to settle down here."
It was only a mild exaggeration, these days. Even during the Narn/Centauri war, when Babylon 5 had been flooded with refugees, there had been places, no, entire levels which a Centauri could stroll through without encountering them. They had been desperate then, desperate and angry; now, they had taken to awed mutterings in G'kar's general proximity and seemed to be multiplying by the minute. They dogged G'kar's every footstep, and since G'kar was apparently to determined to practice his newly found prophetic skills on Londo, this meant Londo was constantly tripping over them as well. It was not a pleasant experience. They knew very well who he was, and what he had done. Whenever G'kar ambushed him, they withdrew a bit, puzzlement, hurt and silent accusations in their eyes.
Vir's puckish face wore a frown.
"I think," he said, carefully, "I think that is the problem, Londo. I think maybe he's lonely. I mean," he made a vague diagonal movement with his left hand through the air, as if to grab the explanation he was looking for, "he's not… he doesn't like being treated as a god."
"Well, who does?" Londo said irritably. They looked at each other and the memory came back, the memory of Cartagia, whom they had conspired to kill together, before Cartagia could turn Centauri Prime into a pyre. Cartagia, whose death had robbed Vir of the innocence which he had miraculously maintained until then. Londo sighed. He had not meant to remind Vir; it had been necessary, heroic, even, but Vir had never been able to accept this as a complete justification for murder.
"Very well," Londo continued, hastily, "he doesn't like it. So why not stop handing out his wisdom altogether? No offer, no buyers - simple, yes?"
Vir looked grateful, or maybe he had not thought about Cartagia at all. For all his deceptive simplicity, Vir sometimes managed to surprise Londo. And in his own way, he was as tenacious as G'kar when he had started with a subject that interested him.
"He wants them to find wisdom," Vir said doggedly, "but not because they just do what he tells them to. But you don't treat him this way. You don't… well, worship him."
Londo snorted, and opened his mouth to deliver a scathing remark about G'kar's utter lack of divinity, when the idea hit him.
"Of course!" he cried, and slapped Vir on the back. "Great Maker, it's so obvious."
For the first time in this conversation, Vir was the one who looked confused. "Never mind, Vir," Londo said, his mood having improved infinitely. "But there are some things you'll have to do for me, once we're finished with this", he looked at the list of petitioners flashing on the computer screen, and distaste crept up in his voice again, "this list of imbeciles whose family trees haven't managed to produce a single functioning brain cell in over a century…"
The light in G'kar's rooms, with it's reddish glow and eternal duskiness, would have normally reminded Londo of Narn and why he never wanted to see the planet again. As it was, the anticipated pleasure at the results his idea was going to produce carried him over the murky ground of his memories like a wave. He even managed to ignore the other Narn who radiated distaste and hatred from every pore. Some hissed as he entered in his most boisterous fashion; others grew silent as the unforgiving stone of their homeworld.
"G'kar!" Londo exclaimed, beaming, and was thrilled to see G'kar looking somewhat confused for the first time in years. "My dear friend G'kar! I've reconsidered."
"Indeed", G'kar said flatly.
"Of course I have. You want me to meditate and rethink my life? Well, why not. Never let it be said that Londo Mollari isn't open to new experiences. I've already made reservations."
"Reservations", G'kar repeated, and narrowed his eyes. Apparantly, he started to catch on.
"You know, for a writer you are dreadfully monosyllabic, G'kar. But never mind. Yes. Reservations. A table at the Wa'tia'ru, tonight", Londo concluded, waiting for the realisation to hit as he named one of Babylon 5's most infamous night clubs. They still held the record of having been shut down by Security for the violation of virtually every station rule there was no less than six times. The Zocalo was a pristine haven of respectability in comparison.
The other Narn stared at G'kar. G'kar stared at Londo, with a flinty gaze. His face might as well have been set in granite.
"You found enlightenment in a dungeon, did you not? Are you telling me a night club is so much worse?"
Now the other Narn began to watch them with a certain expectation. They knew, they had to know, that G'kar had been tortured on Centauri Prime. Surely, they were convinced that to talk of such a time frivolously, to show such disrespect would cause G'kar to turn his back on Londo for good.
"The first time I found enlightenment", G'kar replied, very slowly, very precisely, "was actually in your suite."
It was something they had never, ever talked about. Abruptly, Londo felt cold, despite the Narn-type-temperature in the room which was higher than a Centauri could stomach for very long. His smile didn't leave his face; he was too well trained for it to be otherwise. What had happened then had been far worse than G'kar using his superior physical strength to exact revenge, to vent some of the hatred Londo's actions in the war had caused. The bruises, cuts and broken bones had healed in a short time. But G'kar had taken Dust before coming to Londo's suite, the drug which enabled even non-telepaths to assault another's mind, to tear it to pieces. Londo had expected G'kar to kill him that day, and sometimes his survival on this particular occasion still mystified him. The whole affair had ended with him in Medlab and G'kar in one of Garibaldi's cells for some weeks; in retrospect, it was true that G'kar had begun to change then.
It still didn't bear thinking about. Londo had felt helpless on other occasions, true, but the memory of the utter violation, of having every bit of his mind turned inside out still horrified him more than anything else. To live with a mind you could no longer claim as your own, to have even this last refuge, which on Centauri Prime even the worst criminals were entitled to, taken away - what fate could be worse?
He hadn't expected G'kar to remind him, surely not now, with all his newly gained saintliness. It just went to show one should never underestimate G'kar. But Londo did not intend to; and besides, he could never resist following an idea through to its logical conclusion once it had occurred to him.
"Yes, yes", he said briskly, and stepped closer, "quite true. Then a night club should be simple in comparison, shouldn't it? Much less distraction."
G'kar said nothing. The edges around his eyes and mouth crinkled, though it was impossible to tell whether in indignation or amusement. Shrugging, Londo dropped his voice and hoped Vir had been right with his estimation. "Of course", he continued, sounding slightly bored, "if you want to remain here, with your estimable followers..."
He gestured at the disapproving Narn around them, and G'kar followed his gaze. Their hungry eagerness, only slightly repressed under their hatred for Londo and their stiff endurance of his presence, leapt at him; one could feel it, Londo thought, even without the slightest bit of telepathy. He almost shuddered in sympathy. At least this was something he himself would be permanently safe from.
"I'll come with you, Mollari", G'kar replied at last, voice rumbling, and if you didn't know him very well, it would be possible to miss the relief beneath the condescension. Londo tried not to grin. As they stepped out of the room, G'kar added, very low: "But if you think I'm letting you turn this into a joke, you are mistaken. You will change your life."
Leave it to G'kar to turn a dinner invitation into a threat.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-07-29 08:46 pm (UTC)I really hope the muses don't stop whispering to you. This is good stuff and there is very little good B5 fic out there and very little of that is about Londo.
Lack of Londo...
Date: 2003-07-30 02:52 am (UTC)I'm not sure when I'll be able to post the next bit, though. I need to rewatch some episodes for the timeline, and in the next seven days, there won't be any time to do so (RL again.)
no subject
Date: 2003-07-29 10:28 pm (UTC)It's amazing the almost-telepathic cinnection between Londo and G'kar, and how well G'kar manages to understand Londo. I was just thinking how it's a counterpoint to the way Delenn never tells Sheridan about her role in the near-genocide of humans...G'kar knows worse stuff (or at least stuff that's just as bad) about Londo and manages to love him anyway.
Anyway, definitely looking forward to more. And it's nice to see Vir. He's always so sensible.
Well, Londo and G'kar...
Date: 2003-07-30 02:51 am (UTC)All of which doesn't mean Delenn shouldn't have told Sheridan, btw., but emotionally I can understand why she didn't, at first at least.
Plus of course Londo and G'kar aren't married. Or are they? There was that Minbari ceremony in season 1, plus Mariel's quip to G'kar in "Soul Mates"... fear not, gentle reader, all will be revealed!
Re: Well, Londo and G'kar...
Date: 2003-07-30 10:17 am (UTC)And then there are those very cute moments when they wake up in the morning - and there's one bed in the room...
Not that I actually think they were slashy. I don't really see sexual chamistry between them. Although it's not impossible, and I wouldn't mind seeing them slashed. But I think they were married, in some sense. That 'where you go, I go' certainly sounds like a marriage vow.
(It also reminds me of Ruth's promise to Naomi - wherever you go, I will go. And Moab and Israel were ancient enemies who had attampted genocide on each other. But don't mind me, I see Biblical references everywhere.)
And I'm not saying Delenn should have told Sheridan. I don't think she could have. Actually, I think that's what happens in the aftermath of the Lennier betrayal scene - when Delenn asks Sheridan, if Lennier were to come back and say that he had regretted his actions and that the reason he had returned was to try to undo what he had done, could Sheridan believe him and forgive him? Sheridan says no, that after what was done there must be consequences and a price must be paid. Delenn says that she knows this, and so does Lennier. And I think that's the moment she knows she can never tell Sheridan the full truth about her past, because he would have never been fully able to forgive.
And not that I entirely blame him.
But Londo and G'kar are really operating on another level here. They know everything there is to know about each other from the beginning.
Really, an astounding relationship. I'm so glad you're writing it.
Delenn
Date: 2003-07-31 12:53 am (UTC)Re: Delenn
Date: 2003-07-31 08:37 am (UTC)The reason I think that - after Delenn has that last conversation with Lennier, in which he says he's going off to atone, and then says that she should remember him and be happy for his sake, Sheridan asks her if she's ok, and she says, yes, for the first time she thinks she might be. Now, all through the series she's said a few times that she doesn't think she could live without Lennier. So why is she now OK? And why is this the *first* time that she is ok? I think because on some level she understands that Lennier has taken from her the greatest burden of her life.
When I had Lennier say in my story that Delenn didn't think his service would destroy him, I think Lennier was, as usual, unable to ascribe any but the best possible motivations to Delenn. I think Delenn's feelings and intentions towards Lennier were rather complex and ambiguous. On the one hand, she was training him as her successor, as Dukhat trained her. On the other, she knows what her love for Dukhat did to her, and she can't help hoping/fearing/expecting that something similar will happen to Lennier. And on the third hand, she desperately needs him to be in love with her, and encourages it every chance she gets (to the point of doing some very cruel things). Which I can't really blame her for, just becuase I see how desperately she needs his love, and how lost she thinks she would be without it.
Anyway, that's why I had to write that they get together in the end, and it's as much (or more) for her sake as for his. Strangely, I think he could manage without her better than she could without him.
P.S. Also:
Date: 2003-07-31 08:08 am (UTC)Slashiness or lack of same: I don't think they have sexual chemistry, either, but that wouldn't have stopped fans from slashing them if they weren't two middle-aged pouchy aliens but played by pretty boys. They go through virtually every slash cliché there is in canon (mortal enemies, being trapped in emergency situations, quasi-mind rape, allies because of a mutal enemy, heck, even the bodyguard thing - if I had a coin for every time that contrivance turns up in a slash story...).
Having said I don't see sexual chemistry, I have to add I do see the potential for mind-messing on a grand scale. See my latest effort.
Re: P.S. Also:
Date: 2003-07-31 08:19 am (UTC)(Obviously he'd much prefer G'kar to be with Londo ;) )
Does he ever!
Date: 2003-08-01 05:35 am (UTC)Re: Does he ever!
Date: 2003-08-01 09:13 am (UTC)(This script wouldn't happen to be posted anywhere, would it? I'd love to see it!)
Yes way!
Date: 2003-08-01 09:22 am (UTC)However, I just posted the finale of my story, and, well...
Ooh!
Date: 2003-07-30 01:19 am (UTC)Where are you going to post it when you've finished?
I despaired of the same thing...
Date: 2003-07-30 01:59 am (UTC)But really, in years and years it seemed to me there was virtually only John/Delenn and Marcus/Ivanova fic out there, with an interesting Psi Corps story every now and then, but nothing about my favourite three. However, check out Deborah's superb Lennier story which I recced some entries earlier, complete with link.
I don't know where I'm going to post it yet. FFN, I suppose, since I posted my Jossverse and SW stuff there as well.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 02:37 am (UTC)Hmm, everybody's talking about their favorite pairings. I'm probably whistling in the wind, but are there any Steven/Susan/MichaelG buddy stories out there? Yes, Susan was cute with Marcus, but she could be rowdy with Garibaldi. I do like romantic fanfic, but sometimes straightforward buddyfic is better in characterization.
Well yes...
Date: 2003-07-30 11:37 am (UTC)Wonderfully phrased, and quite true. *g*
You're right about buddyfic, but alas I can't think of any Steven/Susan/MichaelG stories. I think there is some Ivanova/Garibaldi - usually post-Talia mourning sex - but nothing centring on the friendship, and poor Steven Franklin gets totally ignored in what fanfic I've read.
Prime heresy: I never liked Marcus as much as when he died. Yes, the white knight thing was cute, but the death made it real, and I don't think I'd have believed an actual romance between these two.
Re: Well yes...
Date: 2003-07-30 08:05 pm (UTC)Marcus would have had to become just a ~little~ more aggressive not to be totally eclipsed by Susan. My opinion.
no subject
Date: 2003-07-30 03:37 am (UTC)I'm really enjoying this. You've caught the characters voices wonderfully and the complex relationship between Londo and G'Kar is always intriguing. Adding sweet and (maybe not so) innocent Vir to the mix is a definite bonus. Hoping to read more when you have the time.
Kathy