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babylon5_loveSo the icons below are taken from In the Begining, The Gathering & Season 1. I fear it shows who my favourites are, but I tried to give some attention to other characters. With anything I do, the focus is likely to be on Delenn, Lennier, G'Kar, Na'Toth, Susan & Stephen - and of course with S1 I also got to indulge in missing Sinclair...)
A little preview:
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
Uploading these has screwed with my naming notes and I'm not in the mood to type them all up. But if you do have any questions, feel free to ask. Also, you're welcome to use these, of course. Just as long as you're okay with the idea that I may well be using them too. - Also, feel free to fiddle with them as you see fit. Some of these pretty much are just bases you can still play with a lot.
--- Just in case you were wondering... I find Atonement more suited to Dukhat&Delenn icon scenes than In the Beginning.
Title: Calling of the Heart
Author: Sys
Pairing: Mild hints on Delenn/Mayan? They're "too young to know anything about anything" (1.07). So nothing you couldn't do with a best friend.
Rating: T
Spoilers: Uh. Yes? But mostly mild ones. I mean unless you managed to miss what happened to Dukhat.
Summary: A few glimpses at Delenn's earlier life?
Warning: Canon compliant character death
Please note: This is actually a first chapter, but since it eventually heads to one of my favourite somewhat rarer OT3s (although that's set post-Sleeping, so it's a lot later), I think you might be better off pretending that this is all there is. - Also, this is written in drabble form as it is one of my favorite writing styles. We've got Delenn as focalizer.
Calling of the Heart
Father interlocks their fingers once he has lifted her to his shoulders much the same way he always does as he carries her to temple. It is one of the best moments of the day. Just father and her and her city, her beloved beautiful Yedor.
There is something strange in father’s eyes as he sets her down, but he just rests his fingers against her face. “Promise me that you will always follow your heart, my daughter, wherever it leads you.”
“Yes, father.”
“Will you remember as the years pass? Will you remember that you are loved?”
She nods.
~
“How did you get up there?” She stares into the tree. Father would not approve. You introduce yourself first. And wait for the other one to offer their name. Bow...
“I climbed.”
“How?”
The girl jumps down from the tree as she sometimes did from father’s shoulders. Effortlessly.
For a few moments the tree is forgotten as she looks into the girl’s eyes. Then she remembers her manners.
“Delenn of Mir.”
“Mayan of Taure.”
They bow, and Mayan gestures to the tree.
“First you find a firm grip. Like this, see?”
“Are your feet uncovered?”
“Easier to climb that way.”
~
“This is Mayan.”
Father smiles at her friend as he introduces himself. Offers his first name to be used as is custom for those dear to the heart, acknowledging their friendship and his approval of his daughter’s choice.
They bow.
“You are welcome to my house, Mayan.”
It is time then, of course, to have tea. And she feels Mayan’s hand grasp hers.
“Your house is so beautiful.”
Wait till you see my room, she wants to say. But that would spoil the surprise. No, patience. Just the tea. And then she will await the stunned silence.
Worth the wait...
~
When they are taught to write Valen’s name, the teacher suggests that they should draw a picture beneath the word, showing those closest to them. So she draws father and herself and Mayan, fingers interlocked. Glances at Mayan’s drawing. And gestures to the third person standing beside Mayan.
“Who is that?”
“My mother.”
Oh. There are children who know what their mother looks like. She tries to remember. They have met once, on the day she got lost. But her face is hazy, as that of the kind man in temple.
She draws mother with a hood, hiding her face.
~
“Laughter is good for the soul,” Mayan repeats the teacher’s words. Her intonation is perfect. But that does not excuse her manners. It is almost like hanging from a tree, feeling Mayan’s fingers torment her. But it is hardly laughter if she giggles breathlessly.
She considers using the teacher’s tone to admonish Mayan. Only that she is no more allowed to imitate the teacher than Mayan is. So instead she rolls them over and traps Mayan’s hands.
“You will regret challenging one of the House of Mir, Mayan of Taure.”
Mayan looks like she is not sorry in the least.
~
“You look beautiful when you sleep,” Mayan says her voice casual, her eyes not. “Ethereal.”
“Show me,” she says, gesturing to where she knows Mayan’s sketchbook is carefully hidden from those who do not know how to search a room properly.
She is beautiful. At least when Mayan is the one to look at her. Even with her eyes closed, when her eyes are the most beautiful part of her body. More expressive than her lips, at least Mayan thinks so.
“Have you continued your lyric?”
“I will read it when it is done, Delenn.”
“You can show me now.”
~
“It is the calling of my heart,” she repeats, desperately, fingers seeking Mayan’s face only to be denied. It hurts, that rejection. Though not as much as the look in her dearest friend’s eyes.
“Then you will have to follow it.”
“I care for you more than I care for any other.”
“But you will still join the Council.”
“The teacher said my potential would be wasted if...”
“The teacher said, Delenn? The teacher told you the calling of your heart?”
“You will be away travelling... it does not...”
“You could come with us.”
“I have to follow my heart.”
~
She regrets the choice. It is wrong, regretting to be one of the Grey Council’s Acolytes. But Mayan’s silence hurts... messages exchanged with the outside world are infrequent, but they are permitted, both to write and receive. Father makes use of that whenever he can.
Even mother has offered a congratulatory note on her wise choice once. Mother... the woman she has seen once in her life.
And yet she is like her, in a way. Putting her own calling above being with those closest to her. Perhaps if she explained it to Mayan like that... could that soften her?
~
As Dukhat’s aide her days are too busy to miss Mayan. To miss anyone, really. Being with Dukhat, listening to his wisdom, it heals the pain in her heart and soul. Perhaps one day, when she has learned from him as much as an aide can learn, perhaps then she might be wise enough to find the words to apologize. To reach out and beg Mayan’s forgiveness. When she can explain better than she could now, how important her path has become.
That it is her true calling to be an Acolyte and to eventually become Satai to the Council.
~
On the darkest of days she receives what she has wanted for years. And then everything is ripped to shreds. Suddenly Satai, so holy a title turns hollow. What does it mean, Satai? Her Master is dead before he could see Z’Ha’Dum.
The greatest of souls, fleeing from the Shak Tot. Lost to all Minbari. To her.
He cannot smile. Cannot guide her steps. And if she could give back the honor of being one of the nine... if she could leave the Council to restore her Master...
No pleas, no tears can return him.
But there are other options...
Yes I know where that quote is from and who she actually tells that. *hisses at Objects at Rest*
Just bookkeeping
A little preview:
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
Uploading these has screwed with my naming notes and I'm not in the mood to type them all up. But if you do have any questions, feel free to ask. Also, you're welcome to use these, of course. Just as long as you're okay with the idea that I may well be using them too. - Also, feel free to fiddle with them as you see fit. Some of these pretty much are just bases you can still play with a lot.
--- Just in case you were wondering... I find Atonement more suited to Dukhat&Delenn icon scenes than In the Beginning.
Title: Calling of the Heart
Author: Sys
Pairing: Mild hints on Delenn/Mayan? They're "too young to know anything about anything" (1.07). So nothing you couldn't do with a best friend.
Rating: T
Spoilers: Uh. Yes? But mostly mild ones. I mean unless you managed to miss what happened to Dukhat.
Summary: A few glimpses at Delenn's earlier life?
Warning: Canon compliant character death
Please note: This is actually a first chapter, but since it eventually heads to one of my favourite somewhat rarer OT3s (although that's set post-Sleeping, so it's a lot later), I think you might be better off pretending that this is all there is. - Also, this is written in drabble form as it is one of my favorite writing styles. We've got Delenn as focalizer.
Calling of the Heart
Father interlocks their fingers once he has lifted her to his shoulders much the same way he always does as he carries her to temple. It is one of the best moments of the day. Just father and her and her city, her beloved beautiful Yedor.
There is something strange in father’s eyes as he sets her down, but he just rests his fingers against her face. “Promise me that you will always follow your heart, my daughter, wherever it leads you.”
“Yes, father.”
“Will you remember as the years pass? Will you remember that you are loved?”
She nods.
~
“How did you get up there?” She stares into the tree. Father would not approve. You introduce yourself first. And wait for the other one to offer their name. Bow...
“I climbed.”
“How?”
The girl jumps down from the tree as she sometimes did from father’s shoulders. Effortlessly.
For a few moments the tree is forgotten as she looks into the girl’s eyes. Then she remembers her manners.
“Delenn of Mir.”
“Mayan of Taure.”
They bow, and Mayan gestures to the tree.
“First you find a firm grip. Like this, see?”
“Are your feet uncovered?”
“Easier to climb that way.”
~
“This is Mayan.”
Father smiles at her friend as he introduces himself. Offers his first name to be used as is custom for those dear to the heart, acknowledging their friendship and his approval of his daughter’s choice.
They bow.
“You are welcome to my house, Mayan.”
It is time then, of course, to have tea. And she feels Mayan’s hand grasp hers.
“Your house is so beautiful.”
Wait till you see my room, she wants to say. But that would spoil the surprise. No, patience. Just the tea. And then she will await the stunned silence.
Worth the wait...
~
When they are taught to write Valen’s name, the teacher suggests that they should draw a picture beneath the word, showing those closest to them. So she draws father and herself and Mayan, fingers interlocked. Glances at Mayan’s drawing. And gestures to the third person standing beside Mayan.
“Who is that?”
“My mother.”
Oh. There are children who know what their mother looks like. She tries to remember. They have met once, on the day she got lost. But her face is hazy, as that of the kind man in temple.
She draws mother with a hood, hiding her face.
~
“Laughter is good for the soul,” Mayan repeats the teacher’s words. Her intonation is perfect. But that does not excuse her manners. It is almost like hanging from a tree, feeling Mayan’s fingers torment her. But it is hardly laughter if she giggles breathlessly.
She considers using the teacher’s tone to admonish Mayan. Only that she is no more allowed to imitate the teacher than Mayan is. So instead she rolls them over and traps Mayan’s hands.
“You will regret challenging one of the House of Mir, Mayan of Taure.”
Mayan looks like she is not sorry in the least.
~
“You look beautiful when you sleep,” Mayan says her voice casual, her eyes not. “Ethereal.”
“Show me,” she says, gesturing to where she knows Mayan’s sketchbook is carefully hidden from those who do not know how to search a room properly.
She is beautiful. At least when Mayan is the one to look at her. Even with her eyes closed, when her eyes are the most beautiful part of her body. More expressive than her lips, at least Mayan thinks so.
“Have you continued your lyric?”
“I will read it when it is done, Delenn.”
“You can show me now.”
~
“It is the calling of my heart,” she repeats, desperately, fingers seeking Mayan’s face only to be denied. It hurts, that rejection. Though not as much as the look in her dearest friend’s eyes.
“Then you will have to follow it.”
“I care for you more than I care for any other.”
“But you will still join the Council.”
“The teacher said my potential would be wasted if...”
“The teacher said, Delenn? The teacher told you the calling of your heart?”
“You will be away travelling... it does not...”
“You could come with us.”
“I have to follow my heart.”
~
She regrets the choice. It is wrong, regretting to be one of the Grey Council’s Acolytes. But Mayan’s silence hurts... messages exchanged with the outside world are infrequent, but they are permitted, both to write and receive. Father makes use of that whenever he can.
Even mother has offered a congratulatory note on her wise choice once. Mother... the woman she has seen once in her life.
And yet she is like her, in a way. Putting her own calling above being with those closest to her. Perhaps if she explained it to Mayan like that... could that soften her?
~
As Dukhat’s aide her days are too busy to miss Mayan. To miss anyone, really. Being with Dukhat, listening to his wisdom, it heals the pain in her heart and soul. Perhaps one day, when she has learned from him as much as an aide can learn, perhaps then she might be wise enough to find the words to apologize. To reach out and beg Mayan’s forgiveness. When she can explain better than she could now, how important her path has become.
That it is her true calling to be an Acolyte and to eventually become Satai to the Council.
~
On the darkest of days she receives what she has wanted for years. And then everything is ripped to shreds. Suddenly Satai, so holy a title turns hollow. What does it mean, Satai? Her Master is dead before he could see Z’Ha’Dum.
The greatest of souls, fleeing from the Shak Tot. Lost to all Minbari. To her.
He cannot smile. Cannot guide her steps. And if she could give back the honor of being one of the nine... if she could leave the Council to restore her Master...
No pleas, no tears can return him.
But there are other options...
Yes I know where that quote is from and who she actually tells that. *hisses at Objects at Rest*
Just bookkeeping
no subject
Date: 2019-02-07 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-02-08 04:32 pm (UTC)I fear the font won't help you on "One Man's Lunatic". It's Sinclair, so it's Century Gothic (italics, in this case) - but I used two -three?- effects on this, and it can't be the ones in my notes because if I reuse them I get a different result. Sorry. :(
no subject
Date: 2019-02-08 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-02-08 04:34 pm (UTC)Thank you so very much for your lovely comment! <3
no subject
Date: 2019-02-08 06:15 pm (UTC)in re: fic, these were some wonderful drabbles! The Delenn/Mayan moments were my absolutely favourites, I love them together so so much. And I know it's Delenn-focused but there's a lot of lovely character exploration on Mayan which I really appreciate! I love the parallelism, just as Delenn's mother made her choice to her calling (and in so doing cut herself away from the lives of the people who loved her), so too does Delenn. When Delenn's mother writes her commending her on her choice it makes it delightfully bittersweet. </3
Oh. There are children who know what their mother looks like. She tries to remember. They have met once, on the day she got lost. But her face is hazy, as that of the kind man in temple.
She draws mother with a hood, hiding her face. -- I loved this part so much.
wonderful work!!!
no subject
Date: 2019-02-08 07:13 pm (UTC)Well to be fair, my working title for this was "mayan_delenn drabbles". So let's just say, originally this was more focused on them. But alas. I was also trying to focus on the "calling of the heart" thing. So I obviously couldn't only focus on them. And it's worse in the chapters that follow because with B5 canon it's near impossible to write Mayan in as much as I'd like to. And *post* B5 canon. Let's just say I'm _really_ confused by how that turned out and will likely need to rework that. As it completely screwed with my original intentions.
When Delenn's mother writes her commending her on her choice it makes it delightfully bittersweet.
Well I expected that she would get in touch somehow. Once in a bluemoon. With events important enough. But yes. Delenn & her mom do not necessarily have the easiest relationship in this... (And of course 3.19 tells us that she has met her mom twice, not once. So y'know... there had to be a little contact. Beyond the temple story from Confessions and Lamentations.)
... She draws mother with a hood, hiding her face. -- I loved this part so much.
Thank you! I couldn't not go there and while I loved writing Mayan a lot, that's actually my favorite bit, too. I have a collection of Delenn screen shots with her different hoods.
no subject
Date: 2019-02-18 09:05 am (UTC)Really beautiful.
no subject
Date: 2019-02-18 03:23 pm (UTC)Thank you so much for your comment, it was much appreciated. :)