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babylon5_loveMy turn!
Waking up my dormant muse has been a challenge, but I do have three segments of my current work-in-progress to offer for your perusal:
*****
Two
Vir spotted Morden sitting alone in the Zocalo and was sorely tempted to flee in the other direction. It would be so easy - so simple. If Vir turned and walked away right now, he could single-handedly stop a war before it has even started.
Or perhaps not. Vir didn’t believe in fate – he had tried to tell Londo that much – but he did believe Londo meant it when he threatened to find Morden himself. If Vir returned to Londo’s quarters alone, what would happen then? Londo would proceed regardless, and Vir would be hustled onto the next transport bound for Centauri Prime.
And though he couldn’t put his finger on why yet, Vir knew he had to stay.
When Vir’s shadow fell across his table, Morden looked up, and a grin spread across his handsome features. “Ah, Mr. Cotto,” he said without one ounce of surprise. “How may I help you?”
You can leave this station and never return. Grim, Vir pressed forward. “Ambassador Mollari wishes to see you. It’s about Quadrant 14.” The words tasted like ashes in his mouth.
*****
Four
“Leave me.”
That was all Londo said, and those two simple words contained a warning so dangerous and unmistakable that Vir knew Londo was offering him no choice. And so Vir ignored his screaming instincts and obeyed.
At least, he obeyed for a while.
For several hours, Vir wore down the carpet in his quarters, a ball of frustration growing ever larger between his hearts until, at last, he could no longer bear it, and he knew he had to go back to Londo to offer whatever pitiful comfort he had it in him to provide.
The last person Vir wished to see in the corridor outside Londo’s quarters was Morden.
Vir could offer no rational explanation why, but when the medical team wheeled Adira’s body out of that transport, he had thought, fleetingly, that Morden may have had something to do with her death. Seeing the glimmer of satisfaction in Morden’s eyes now, Vir was suddenly certain his suspicions were correct.
“What are you doing here?” Vir demanded hotly, his hands tightening into fists at his side.
“I merely came to offer my condolences to the ambassador… and, perhaps, to offer my… assistance during his period of mourning,” Morden replied. “That is what friends do, is it not, Vir?”
“You’re not his friend!”
Morden smirked, and Vir swallowed, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea. “That doesn’t appear to be Mollari’s opinion.”
“What do you mean?” Then Vir thought about it - really thought about it - and the possibility that emerged horrified him. “No…” he whispered.
“It seems Mollari has seen his error,” Morden continued, “and has decided to renew our previous working relationship.”
A mix of despair and rage hit Vir with the force of a sledgehammer. “That’s why, isn’t it?” Vir asked, and he inwardly cringed at the tremor in his voice. “That’s why you killed her. You wanted him to come back to you.”
“A fascinating theory, Vir - one that someone in your position will never be able to prove. And as for Mollari, well… I think he’s beyond listening. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must see to certain… arrangements the ambassador has requested.” With that, Morden turned and began to walk down the hall to the nearest transport tube.
Lightheaded, Vir sat down hard on the floor and wrapped his arms around his knees to quell their trembling. How could he? Vir thought, and he knew it wasn’t Morden who had so profoundly disappointed him. Then it struck Vir as strange that even now – even after everything – such an emotion was still possible where his friend was concerned.
Tears welled, but they didn’t fall. In truth, Vir was far too angry to cry.
*****
Five
“Going somewhere?”
Over the past few years, Vir had come to believe that smug self-assurance was the only emotion in Morden’s repertoire. When Vir stepped onto the aircar bound for Selini and took down the hood of his traveling cloak, however, he discovered he’d been wrong, and the realization filled him, momentarily, with a sense of dark satisfaction.
“Londo has a proposal. If I were you, I’d hear it out.”
“And if we refuse?”
The palace guards at Vir’s right and left then removed their own cloaks and trained their weapons on Morden’s chest. “Something tells me the consequences would be unfortunate.”
Unaccountably, Morden smiled. “Interesting. I didn’t know you had it in you. Empty threats seem more your style.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. Or Londo, for that matter.”
“I see. So now I suppose you will lay the blame for all of this at our feet? We were the tools, Vir Cotto. Mollari was the hand.”
Sadness rushed in on Vir like a wave. “I know.” Then he took a deep breath and mustered his courage. “But you did misjudge him in the end, didn’t you? Promises of glory weren’t enough.”
At Vir’s signal, two guards seized hold of Morden’s arms.
*****
I'd welcome any suggestions on how I can flesh this story out!
Waking up my dormant muse has been a challenge, but I do have three segments of my current work-in-progress to offer for your perusal:
*****
Two
Vir spotted Morden sitting alone in the Zocalo and was sorely tempted to flee in the other direction. It would be so easy - so simple. If Vir turned and walked away right now, he could single-handedly stop a war before it has even started.
Or perhaps not. Vir didn’t believe in fate – he had tried to tell Londo that much – but he did believe Londo meant it when he threatened to find Morden himself. If Vir returned to Londo’s quarters alone, what would happen then? Londo would proceed regardless, and Vir would be hustled onto the next transport bound for Centauri Prime.
And though he couldn’t put his finger on why yet, Vir knew he had to stay.
When Vir’s shadow fell across his table, Morden looked up, and a grin spread across his handsome features. “Ah, Mr. Cotto,” he said without one ounce of surprise. “How may I help you?”
You can leave this station and never return. Grim, Vir pressed forward. “Ambassador Mollari wishes to see you. It’s about Quadrant 14.” The words tasted like ashes in his mouth.
*****
Four
“Leave me.”
That was all Londo said, and those two simple words contained a warning so dangerous and unmistakable that Vir knew Londo was offering him no choice. And so Vir ignored his screaming instincts and obeyed.
At least, he obeyed for a while.
For several hours, Vir wore down the carpet in his quarters, a ball of frustration growing ever larger between his hearts until, at last, he could no longer bear it, and he knew he had to go back to Londo to offer whatever pitiful comfort he had it in him to provide.
The last person Vir wished to see in the corridor outside Londo’s quarters was Morden.
Vir could offer no rational explanation why, but when the medical team wheeled Adira’s body out of that transport, he had thought, fleetingly, that Morden may have had something to do with her death. Seeing the glimmer of satisfaction in Morden’s eyes now, Vir was suddenly certain his suspicions were correct.
“What are you doing here?” Vir demanded hotly, his hands tightening into fists at his side.
“I merely came to offer my condolences to the ambassador… and, perhaps, to offer my… assistance during his period of mourning,” Morden replied. “That is what friends do, is it not, Vir?”
“You’re not his friend!”
Morden smirked, and Vir swallowed, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea. “That doesn’t appear to be Mollari’s opinion.”
“What do you mean?” Then Vir thought about it - really thought about it - and the possibility that emerged horrified him. “No…” he whispered.
“It seems Mollari has seen his error,” Morden continued, “and has decided to renew our previous working relationship.”
A mix of despair and rage hit Vir with the force of a sledgehammer. “That’s why, isn’t it?” Vir asked, and he inwardly cringed at the tremor in his voice. “That’s why you killed her. You wanted him to come back to you.”
“A fascinating theory, Vir - one that someone in your position will never be able to prove. And as for Mollari, well… I think he’s beyond listening. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must see to certain… arrangements the ambassador has requested.” With that, Morden turned and began to walk down the hall to the nearest transport tube.
Lightheaded, Vir sat down hard on the floor and wrapped his arms around his knees to quell their trembling. How could he? Vir thought, and he knew it wasn’t Morden who had so profoundly disappointed him. Then it struck Vir as strange that even now – even after everything – such an emotion was still possible where his friend was concerned.
Tears welled, but they didn’t fall. In truth, Vir was far too angry to cry.
*****
Five
“Going somewhere?”
Over the past few years, Vir had come to believe that smug self-assurance was the only emotion in Morden’s repertoire. When Vir stepped onto the aircar bound for Selini and took down the hood of his traveling cloak, however, he discovered he’d been wrong, and the realization filled him, momentarily, with a sense of dark satisfaction.
“Londo has a proposal. If I were you, I’d hear it out.”
“And if we refuse?”
The palace guards at Vir’s right and left then removed their own cloaks and trained their weapons on Morden’s chest. “Something tells me the consequences would be unfortunate.”
Unaccountably, Morden smiled. “Interesting. I didn’t know you had it in you. Empty threats seem more your style.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me. Or Londo, for that matter.”
“I see. So now I suppose you will lay the blame for all of this at our feet? We were the tools, Vir Cotto. Mollari was the hand.”
Sadness rushed in on Vir like a wave. “I know.” Then he took a deep breath and mustered his courage. “But you did misjudge him in the end, didn’t you? Promises of glory weren’t enough.”
At Vir’s signal, two guards seized hold of Morden’s arms.
*****
I'd welcome any suggestions on how I can flesh this story out!
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no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 12:24 am (UTC)I have no concrete suggestions, but for some reason the line 'Vir didn't believe in fate' jumped out at me. He says he doesn't, but why doesn't he? The Centauri foresee their own deaths, that's a kind of ultimate fate right there. Did he ever learn to believe in it? Or believe that it could be thwarted or that you could turn aside from destiny?
In any case, I hope your muse returns and you get to finish it. Thanks for sharing this portion.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 02:18 am (UTC)Good question - but I have an answer. :) (F34R my ability to obsess over these matters!)
I've never been under the impression that all Centauri are the same where their pre-cog abilities are concerned. (Otherwise, Emperor Cartagia would've known about Vir.) I believe their abilities fall on a spectrum analogous to the psi-scale. Some Centauri are pre-cog P1's; all they get is hazy premonitions if they get anything at all. Others are P12's; those would be the female seers like Lady Morella. Londo is a P9 or P10; his pre-cognition is such that he sees his own future very clearly and can occasionally catch a glimpse at the futures of others (he sort of sees Sheridan's future in The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari, for example). Vir, on the other hand, is a P1; he may even be completely pre-cog blind. Thus, the future has less of a hold on him.
The other thing to keep in mind is this: Londo's dream came true in every particular because he never questioned it. I believe that Lady Morella's prophecy indicates that Centauri death dreams are not set in stone. When she mentions that Londo has three more chances to alter his current track, she implies that the future is - for the Centauri as for everyone else - at least somewhat mutable. Based on this, I suspect there are some Centauri who have seen their death dreams evolve over time. Perhaps Vir knows one of these Centauri. Who's to say?
Re: Vir's darker emotions, I always keep in mind that Vir once wished for Morden's head on a pike - and was pleased when his wish was granted. He is good-natured and humble and many other wonderful, lovable things, but he is still Centauri. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 01:28 pm (UTC)Lady Morella's prophecy has launched a thousand explanations all by itself. Did Turhan know he was going to die on B5? Perhaps the means or time or place of their death is set, but the circumstances leading up to it, and its meaning, can change. For example, I think we are meant to believe that G'Kar kills Londo out of hatred when we first see his dream, but by the end it seems to be pity that moves him. A change of perspective.
I wonder if there's a booming business in fortune-telling on Centauri Prime? Seers are sought out by the court...maybe there are peasant versions or fakes who'll foretell your death for a ducat or two.
I can never forget Vir in Parliament of Dreams where he gleefully describes the extermination of the xon. It's a throwaway bit early on, but telling.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 07:38 pm (UTC)I think Vir learns about Londo's dream eventually. The bond of trust those two share is just too strong to discount the possibility. As for what Vir thinks about it, well, I suspect what Londo's mental version of Vir says in The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari reflects reality.
Hmm. That's a conversation that should probably be handled in a separate fic, me thinks.
Did Turhan know he was going to die on B5?
Actually, I think he did. After all, he was so very eager to see a Vorlon. Perhaps his death dream accounts for some of that desire.
Perhaps the means or time or place of their death is set, but the circumstances leading up to it, and its meaning, can change. For example, I think we are meant to believe that G'Kar kills Londo out of hatred when we first see his dream, but by the end it seems to be pity that moves him. A change of perspective.
I think what we are initially led to believe regarding Londo's dream mirrors what Londo thinks, not the reality. I think G'Kar was always supposed to kill Londo out of pity (assuming, of course, that Londo never changed course), but Londo didn't understand that personally until the very end. And I think that highlights just how difficult it is to be entirely certain about the meaning of prophetic dreams. I'm guessing Vir pointed that out during one of his private conversations with Londo. :)
I wonder if there's a booming business in fortune-telling on Centauri Prime? Seers are sought out by the court...maybe there are peasant versions or fakes who'll foretell your death for a ducat or two.
Hell, yes, there certainly is money to be made in fortune telling in the Centauri Republic! I've never doubted that. :)
I can never forget Vir in Parliament of Dreams where he gleefully describes the extermination of the xon.
That, I think, reflects his upbringing. The extermination of the Xon happened in the very distant past, and since then, every Centauri has been told that this genocide was necessary to keep their civilization alive. And I don't think Vir has ever been given a reason to question that narrative. Indeed, historical records may be so fragmentary and so obscured by Centauri legend that there's no way Vir could be given a reason to question it.
This is turning into a very interesting conversation. Thank you. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 11:34 pm (UTC)And yes, Londo figures G'Kar is in it for the rage and interprets the dream that way, but then, if G'Kar had known, he would have agreed with that interpretation. When did Londo figure it out, do you think? Was it a light-bulb moment or a gradual realization?
True confession. My first watch through I thought something had happened to turn G'Kar back against Londo (the missing eye kinda misled me). I didn't think it was pity at all.
It's interesting to think of the comparison with the Hyach and Hyach-Do from whatever episode that was. Franklin was a total jerk in that one and I wonder if he would have been as judgmental of the Centauri. There is also a nice parallel with Lyndisti's blood-thirstiness. Of course she's directly involved with killing Narns, and it's happening in the present, but I wonder if Vir ever thought of the Xon later once his sympathies for the Narn were awoken. And I wonder what happened to Lyndisti.
"This is turning into a very interesting conversation."
Thanks, I'm enjoying it too. But you really shouldn't encourage me ;)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 02:24 am (UTC)I don't think Londo figured it out until the last days of his life. Yes, G'Kar did forgive him, but PK (post-Keeper), Londo probably assumed the Drakh would one day force him to do something terrible to G'Kar (or to the Narn) that would ultimately shatter the relationship he and G'Kar managed to build during their last year on Babylon 5. (After all, just look at what the Drakh forced Londo to do to Sheridan and Delenn.)
...but I wonder if Vir ever thought of the Xon later once his sympathies for the Narn were awoken.
I certainly don't think it's impossible that Vir reconsidered the commonly accepted story regarding the Xon as he got older.
And I wonder what happened to Lyndisti.
Obviously, she never married Vir. :) Beyond that, I don't know; in truth, that's something I haven't thought about much. That might be another interesting question to explore in a fic, though.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 10:39 am (UTC)I do wonder about the first time that Vir talks to Morden in person--does Londo introduce them? Does he meet Morden outside Londo's quarters and recognize him from the brief convo they had in Chrysalis?
Anyway. VIR! Awesomely slightly vicious and goodhearted Vir.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-19 07:19 pm (UTC)I'm hoping section one of this fic will answer that question in a satisfying way -- assuming I can kick my muse into gear. :)
no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-08-20 12:40 am (UTC)Fleshing the story out further? It wouldn't be in character for Vir
to taunt Morten while he was imprisoned, and I don't think he would have been present for the beheading. How much more contact did the
two men have? Morten wasn't welcomed on B5 so I don't think he visited Londo to frequently.
Can't make any suggestions, only express my thanks for these.
Good luck and looking forward to the others.
no subject
Date: 2010-08-23 12:27 am (UTC)