On 13 Feb 2001 as I do recall, Natasa Tucev wrote:
I agree completely - the original world of B7 series is much more stoical, much less is spoken directly and much more is just intimated or remains hidden inside, than in fanfic. When direct speech carries so much weight of explicit emotional content, the story may become very pathetic as a result. An example:
"I think you feel so guilty about what happened to your brother that you can't face it and you have to find someone else to blame. I think you settled for Avon because he's the handiest target, and because, after the way he greeted you, you could tell how much your rejection would hurt. He has nothing left. I don't know how it happened, but he needs you more than he needs life. Right now he's planning to go out and get caught--because he knows they'll kill him and because that's easier than living with what you did to him just now. I believe in your Cause, Blake. I only just realized it. But I won't fight at your side it you don't make peace with Avon. I couldn't."
<sick noises> <sick noises>
Can you imagine: a) Vila saying this to Blake? b) Vila saying this at all?
Without knowing the context, this is incredibly difficult, and I'll inevitably make the wrong assumptions about the surrounding plot... but here's my attempt at a more plausible re-rendering, from Vila's point of view. I'm guessing that we're post-Star One here, probably on Gauda Prime.
~~~~~~ He let Blake's voice run on, as the words slid over him in all their persuasive familiarity; neither of them really listening any more. They'd been through this so many times before, so long ago - and now, suddenly, it was no longer the same.
As if for the first time, he heard the edge of defensive bluster in Blake's voice -- or maybe it had always been there. Maybe he had just never cared enough to notice before. When had he somehow started believing in Blake's 'better world'? When had Blake stopped?
He looked up, into Blake's face. "Avon's gone, you know."
Blake broke off in mid-flow, staring at him. "What do you mean?"
"What did you think was going to happen, after that?" The queer, blind look on Avon's face as Blake had turned on him. Nothing left, behind the brittle facade. They'd all pinned too many hopes on finding Blake. Too much weight on Avon's shoulders. And Blake had flung it all back in his face.
Blake's eyes locked with Vila's for a moment as he drew breath -- whether for justification or denial, Vila no longer cared. He held the other man's gaze, glimpsing the same hard-edged strain he'd come to know so well in Avon over the past year, recognising the cause and refusing pity.
"It wasn't about Avon at all, was it?" Vila couldn't believe he was doing this. Couldn't believe he was defending Avon, of all people. Didn't want to face what he'd read in Blake's flickering glance. They needed Blake, needed him to play the part of hero and leader, needed him to be the image and not the man -- now of all times -- and Avon, most of all. "Even I know it wasn't Avon who got your brother --"
The words dried abruptly in his throat as he caught the brief blaze of fire in Blake's eyes, and he shrank back. "Look, we won't talk about it, all right? But someone's got to go after Avon. He's not thinking straight. He's not like he used to be. And he won't get half a mile out there before they catch him --"
"Avon has a remarkable talent for self-preservation." Blake's face was as stubbornly shuttered now as Avon's own.
"Yes -- when he wants."
There was a moment's blank silence before Vila's meaning finally sank in. Blake's lips parted on the verge of an unspoken question; but they both knew the answer. His mouth tightened, and he turned abruptly for the door, Vila at his heels. "Come on!"
~~~~~~
Admittedly, it's very hard to please me when it comes to fanfic. My ideal fanfic would be a mixture of adventure and angst focusing on Blake.
Oh yes!