dustyryder's recs

Fandom: Firefly 
Title: Like Describing The Alphabet
Author: Mosca (mosca)
Genre: Slash, (Non-Explicit) FemSlash, (Non-Explicit) Het, Friendship, Angst, First Time, Romance, Humor, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort
Pairings/Characters: Mal/Jayne, Kaylee/Inara, Zoe/Wash, the crew of Serenity
Rating: NC17
Warnings: None
Spoilers:  Very minor spoilers for parts of the series.

Notes: So I was trying to get into the mood for writing my slashfest Firefly fic, by reading some Mal/Jayne.  I figured it would be an easy way to work my way into the characterizations - that and watching a few episodes.  A form of painless mood adjustment.  (I'd just finished an NCIS fic and an X-Files fic, so I thought I could use a chance to get into the right mindset.)  I almost didn't read this one, because I recognized it when I started it, and thought I'd put it in the wrong favorites folder - Firefly Fics To Be Read vs Firefly Fics I've Already Read.  But I noticed Mosca mentioned that she'd written one version of the first scene for a ficathon, but that this was the fic that really needed to be written instead of that first version, so I kept reading.  Boy, am I glad I did.

It's not a short fic - took me most of the night to read - but it was well worth it.  This is much more than just a Mal/Jayne fic with sex...although there is a lot of nice, hot sex - no doubt about that.  But this is a story of the whole crew, revolving around Mal and Jayne, it's true, but they are all represented, and well done.  Every character is examined in their own way, and Mosca offers insight into each character with the same care she affords the two main characters.  And there is much insight, there.  I kept finding myself saying things like: "Now, why didn't I think of that?" and "Oooh, that's such a fascinating way of looking at this character's behavior."

And the feel of the series is kept intact.  The narrative style is similar to Mal and Jayne's cadences and inflections, but each character (and his/her voice) is well rounded, and they are all represented accurately, and with much care.  It's not an easy story - there are bumps and roadblocks and the story winds it's way along through them, until it finds it's resolution in the end, and despite the fact that things aren't perfect - you're satisfied that it works, and it all makes sense in the end.  There's not really much chance for a happily-ever-after in the Firefly 'verse, but this fic comes mighty close for me. 

Although I've only read this one once, so far, I am so positive that this one's a keeper, that I'm willing to rec it with only one reading under my belt.  If I wasn't so tired, and didn't really, really need to work on my fic today, I'd probably start reading this one again, right now.  I figure it will have to wait until the New Year, since I've still got about 6 holiday fic to write in the next 3 or 4 weeks, but I'll be reading this one again in January.  And I'll be glad of it.


Excerpt:
( Turning in early, Jayne said. Don't wanna miss the show. )


I rate this fic:  Pretty Damn Good