An odd little ficlet...
Jun. 2nd, 2004 08:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
calic0cat(Originally posted May 31)
Well, this is a rather odd little ficlet inspired by the GW500 "Security" challenge. I only wrote it because the idea wouldn't go away and let me concentrate on something else. I haven't posted it over there since the community rules say "no character bashing" and while I don't consider what I've done to Relena in this to be "bashing", I know that not everyone may agree on that.
Personally, I think this is one valid direction for Relena's character to go. At certain points in the series, she shows definite tendencies towards an inflated sense of self-importance along with a rather narrow worldview. Yes, it's possible that she might outgrow that as she matures. But it's equally possible that she would become even more self-centred, especially if she was in a position of power.
This also gave me a chance to toss out my own theories on how Heero would react to an attempt to blackmail him into an unwanted relationship. I've read a number of takes on that situation and - regardless of the fact that some of those fics were extremely good - I still find it hard to buy the idea that he would go along with such a thing even briefly. He's a highly skilled computer hacker with a background as an assassin, folks, *and* he's already helped kick one batch of corrupt, self-important aristocrats out of the government! He's not going to trust a blackmailer and he's not going to leave someone that corrupt in a position of power; he's much more likely to "terminate with extreme prejudice".
And now that my notes are almost as long as the ficlet...
Title: False
Author: Calic0cat
Pairing: Unrequited R+1, 1+2+1
Rating: PG
Warnings: Shonen ai/yaoi, language, nasty Relena (note: I do not consider this Relena-bashing but rather one particular way that her character *could* turn out based on observed behaviour during the series), death (not Heero or Duo!).
Challenge: #23 Security
Words: 534
"You will break off all association with Maxwell immediately," Relena stated imperiously. "You will give your notice at Preventers within the month and our engagement will be announced immediately thereafter. By the end of the summer, we will be wed. Is that clear?"
Glaring at the young woman's smug expression, Heero gritted, "Perfectly."
"You understand the consequences if you defy me?"
"Yes." He did. He understood her none-too-subtle speculations regarding what a shame it would be should it be discovered that a Sweeper ship carrying a particular crewmember was - purportedly unknowingly - carrying contraband along with its legitimate cargo. And regarding a host of other disasters that could befall Heero's closest friends, especially one individual.
Content with his response, Relena lowered the privacy partition and directed Pargan to drive on to the location of her next meeting. She settled back into her seat, a self-satisfied look on her patrician face.
Outwardly implacable, inwardly Heero raged. Gradually, the rage coalesced into calculated fury.
Power corrupted and absolute power corrupted absolutely. Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian-Peacecraft was living proof of that adage. Over the years since she'd taken her adoptive father's title, she'd gradually reclaimed her royal heritage while gathering more political power to the ministerial position that was once little more than a courtesy title. Now, she considered herself a law unto herself, entitled to anything - or anyone - she wanted.
Heero disagreed. Strongly. He hadn't fought and killed just to put another arrogant, power-hungry aristocrat in control of Earth and the colonies. And he would *not* tolerate any kind of threat to his friends, particularly Duo. Despite the fact that he and Duo did not - yet - share the kind of relationship that Relena seemed to believe that they did. He and Duo were long past due for that particular conversation and Heero intended to remedy that oversight shortly. Just as soon as he dealt with a certain blonde bitch with delusions of grandeur - and one hell of a false sense of security.
***
Two weeks later, influential L4 businessman Quatre Winner was appointed Vice Foreign Minister by popular acclaim mere days after the former Minister was tragically bitten by a rare and deadly species of spider. The arachnid was believed to have entered her residence along with several exotic plants imported from its country of origin. Ironically, proper inspection and quarantine procedures had been waived at the Minister's express request; she'd wanted the flowering plants delivered while still in bloom.
They made a lovely funerary arrangement.
The next day, a fast-spreading virus swept through computer systems across the Earth Sphere. It left in its wake extensive documentation revealing corruption at the highest levels of government, especially in the person of the now-deceased Darlian-Peacecraft. Appalled politicians and public alike rallied in support of Vice Foreign Minister Winner's call for reform.
Suicide rates amongst the accused, particularly the staff of the disgraced former Minister Darlian-Peacecraft, were exceptionally high.
Later that summer, Minister Winner hosted the wedding of two of his closest friends. Following their honeymoon, the Maxwell-Yuys would be joining his already-formidable security staff and working to make it even better. There was always room for improvement; it wouldn't do to be lulled into a false sense of security.
*******
Told you it was odd...
Archivists, please don't nab this just yet. I'm not entirely satisfied with it and it may undergo a few revisions... Or maybe just get trashed... *frowns at weird ficlet*
EDIT: Okay, I've decided to basically leave this as-is (only changed one or two words and they've been fixed above). So archivists can help themselves. I'll post this in the usual places later on. And I guess I'll go post a link over at the challenge responsible for this since I'm not the only one who doesn't consider this Relena-bashing...
Well, this is a rather odd little ficlet inspired by the GW500 "Security" challenge. I only wrote it because the idea wouldn't go away and let me concentrate on something else. I haven't posted it over there since the community rules say "no character bashing" and while I don't consider what I've done to Relena in this to be "bashing", I know that not everyone may agree on that.
Personally, I think this is one valid direction for Relena's character to go. At certain points in the series, she shows definite tendencies towards an inflated sense of self-importance along with a rather narrow worldview. Yes, it's possible that she might outgrow that as she matures. But it's equally possible that she would become even more self-centred, especially if she was in a position of power.
This also gave me a chance to toss out my own theories on how Heero would react to an attempt to blackmail him into an unwanted relationship. I've read a number of takes on that situation and - regardless of the fact that some of those fics were extremely good - I still find it hard to buy the idea that he would go along with such a thing even briefly. He's a highly skilled computer hacker with a background as an assassin, folks, *and* he's already helped kick one batch of corrupt, self-important aristocrats out of the government! He's not going to trust a blackmailer and he's not going to leave someone that corrupt in a position of power; he's much more likely to "terminate with extreme prejudice".
And now that my notes are almost as long as the ficlet...
Title: False
Author: Calic0cat
Pairing: Unrequited R+1, 1+2+1
Rating: PG
Warnings: Shonen ai/yaoi, language, nasty Relena (note: I do not consider this Relena-bashing but rather one particular way that her character *could* turn out based on observed behaviour during the series), death (not Heero or Duo!).
Challenge: #23 Security
Words: 534
"You will break off all association with Maxwell immediately," Relena stated imperiously. "You will give your notice at Preventers within the month and our engagement will be announced immediately thereafter. By the end of the summer, we will be wed. Is that clear?"
Glaring at the young woman's smug expression, Heero gritted, "Perfectly."
"You understand the consequences if you defy me?"
"Yes." He did. He understood her none-too-subtle speculations regarding what a shame it would be should it be discovered that a Sweeper ship carrying a particular crewmember was - purportedly unknowingly - carrying contraband along with its legitimate cargo. And regarding a host of other disasters that could befall Heero's closest friends, especially one individual.
Content with his response, Relena lowered the privacy partition and directed Pargan to drive on to the location of her next meeting. She settled back into her seat, a self-satisfied look on her patrician face.
Outwardly implacable, inwardly Heero raged. Gradually, the rage coalesced into calculated fury.
Power corrupted and absolute power corrupted absolutely. Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian-Peacecraft was living proof of that adage. Over the years since she'd taken her adoptive father's title, she'd gradually reclaimed her royal heritage while gathering more political power to the ministerial position that was once little more than a courtesy title. Now, she considered herself a law unto herself, entitled to anything - or anyone - she wanted.
Heero disagreed. Strongly. He hadn't fought and killed just to put another arrogant, power-hungry aristocrat in control of Earth and the colonies. And he would *not* tolerate any kind of threat to his friends, particularly Duo. Despite the fact that he and Duo did not - yet - share the kind of relationship that Relena seemed to believe that they did. He and Duo were long past due for that particular conversation and Heero intended to remedy that oversight shortly. Just as soon as he dealt with a certain blonde bitch with delusions of grandeur - and one hell of a false sense of security.
***
Two weeks later, influential L4 businessman Quatre Winner was appointed Vice Foreign Minister by popular acclaim mere days after the former Minister was tragically bitten by a rare and deadly species of spider. The arachnid was believed to have entered her residence along with several exotic plants imported from its country of origin. Ironically, proper inspection and quarantine procedures had been waived at the Minister's express request; she'd wanted the flowering plants delivered while still in bloom.
They made a lovely funerary arrangement.
The next day, a fast-spreading virus swept through computer systems across the Earth Sphere. It left in its wake extensive documentation revealing corruption at the highest levels of government, especially in the person of the now-deceased Darlian-Peacecraft. Appalled politicians and public alike rallied in support of Vice Foreign Minister Winner's call for reform.
Suicide rates amongst the accused, particularly the staff of the disgraced former Minister Darlian-Peacecraft, were exceptionally high.
Later that summer, Minister Winner hosted the wedding of two of his closest friends. Following their honeymoon, the Maxwell-Yuys would be joining his already-formidable security staff and working to make it even better. There was always room for improvement; it wouldn't do to be lulled into a false sense of security.
*******
Told you it was odd...
Archivists, please don't nab this just yet. I'm not entirely satisfied with it and it may undergo a few revisions... Or maybe just get trashed... *frowns at weird ficlet*
EDIT: Okay, I've decided to basically leave this as-is (only changed one or two words and they've been fixed above). So archivists can help themselves. I'll post this in the usual places later on. And I guess I'll go post a link over at the challenge responsible for this since I'm not the only one who doesn't consider this Relena-bashing...
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
Bashing what?
Date: 2004-05-31 03:44 am (UTC)By the way, you also bashed a few stereotypes about Heero.
Good work
Morgaine
Re: Bashing what?
Date: 2004-05-31 06:27 pm (UTC)Thanks. I know that some people interpret "bashing" pretty loosely; as far as I'm concerned, I haven't ever written anything that really "bashes" a character though I've definitely written fics that portray certain characters in a less-than-positive light.
Glad you enjoyed this odd little piece. Thanks for the feedback!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 05:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 06:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 05:57 am (UTC)More please?!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 06:40 pm (UTC)Some of the ideas behind this have been floating around in my plot bunny file for a long time without being developed. So I doubt that I'm too likely to turn this into something longer. Though, muses being the fickle creatures that they are, you never know...
Glad you liked the story!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 09:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 10:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 06:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 07:21 pm (UTC)Ah, this is a real change for you, ne? You're definitely known for your extra long fics and I can see you working on this to make it much much much longer than it is. Filling in all the details and such. *g*
I have been keeping up with the fics you're posting at the ML but *gomen nasai!!!* for not giving any feedback. *hangs head* I just have finals week to get through before summer vacation. Then I'll be able to comment on your lovely ficcage. *grin*
And finally. (1) Don't you DARE trash it or I shall go through it and find it. (2) It's not weird at all! (No frowning at the ficlet! lol) I find it incredibly humorous. ^_~
no subject
Date: 2004-06-02 09:07 pm (UTC)Don't count on it! I've got so many projects on-the-go now that I'm not about to add another one to the list...
I have been keeping up with the fics you're posting at the ML but *gomen nasai!!!* for not giving any feedback.
That's quite understandable. I haven't even been reading very many fics, let alone sending any feedback. I just don't have the time if I want to write...
Glad you liked this little ficlet, though!
no subject
Date: 2004-05-31 10:05 pm (UTC)2. Not odd. Interesting.
I liked it.
I am not a fan of bastardized Relena, but I truly believe she could turn out this way; a bit jaded and or with an overdevelop sense of self importance.
I also liked that you didn't have Heero just up and agree with it. Damned straight he wouldn't lay down for that kind of crap, especially not if confronted by it so bluntly.
Please don't trash it. It was good and valid.
no subject
Date: 2004-06-02 09:20 pm (UTC)I also liked that you didn't have Heero just up and agree with it.
There have been quite a few fics that I've read that *do* have Heero just meekly go along with whatever Relena's demands may be and while I've found some of those to be very enjoyable reads, I've never been really convinced that he would do that. It just doesn't fit his background or character.
it's a keeper!
Date: 2004-06-01 07:08 pm (UTC)Re: it's a keeper!
Date: 2004-06-02 09:25 pm (UTC)Agreed. Some of the ones I've read have been quite well-written and I've enjoyed them - but they do require that initial suspension of disbelief in order to accept that Heero couldn't find an alternative.
we know how assassins and Gundam Pilots handle ... "problems"...
Yup! Very efficiently and - well, *permanently*.