Finish-a-thon story: The Hand of Friendship

[vilakins]

Here's my finish-a-thon story; many thanks to astrogirl2 for her excellent beta-reading.

Each writer provided a selection of unwritten stories for people to vote for; here's mine:

When Blake's base is retaken by rebels, Jenna and Blake are appalled to find that Vila was tortured for the location of Orac. He needs help to recover and Avon volunteers. (Gen, rating PG)

The Hand of Friendship

Comments

[entropy-house.livejournal.com]

Lovely story! I found it amusing that even though we had no contact, each of us wound up with a few elements in common- like the beginning of a possible Tarrant/Jenna interest.

They would make cute babies... twin terrors, probably.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes, I noticed that too! I doubt either would stay on the ground though.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Really love this. Will comment at more length when cat not clamouring for food. Love Soolin's rationale for blaming oneself - in fact all the motivation - Blake having needed a "second chance" was inspired.

Is there a word missing from "Cally had said to him more than after Blake left that he'd lost his sense of purpose"

More than once?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I needed him to have a reason to give Avon another chance, and I read once that badly-treated children often use that rationale.

Yes, it should be 'once'. Thanks for telling me! I don't know how that happened, since I copied that block of text from a b7fiday story. It's fixed now.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Proof errors happen to me more often when I copy and paste than any other time - you don't always highlight as much as you think...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I highlighted the whole block. I must have decided to alter that sentence then changed my mind and not undone enough.

[kerravonsen]

Lovely! Yay!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

That was a good story, thank you!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[alinewrites.livejournal.com]

I love your stories so much!
A wonderful fic, this one. Your Vila and Avon are so very good and they make a perfect pair!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I do like their relationship; they have a lot in common under all the differences.

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Remarkable how much easier it is to read without a cat climbing on to your lap... just wanted to add I also loved the bit where Avon tests how soon Vila can crack the lock. Great characterisation all the way through.

If you want one more tiny bit of proofing (how closely I was reading it was indicative of how much it had me hooked), I think you have the wrong "to" in "Blake ordered him too?".

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That scene was one of the several I already had in mind when I offered the story for voting.

I read about half my books and on-line fiction with a cat on my lap (Tessa).

Ouch. Fixed.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

And even I can proof occasionally. then produced a chessboard from his page How do you take a chessboard from a page?

I tend to regard "Blake forgives Avon" as a McGuffin to get to the real point of the story in many PGP's but you have come up with something believable there. Another enjoyable read.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Bag. Fixed.

I just don't see Blake (or his people) easily forgiving Avon for shooting an unarmed man three times, so he needed a good, strong reason.

[snowgrouse.livejournal.com]

It's lovely. As usual. I love the characterisation, the little details, and OUCH at Vila's hands. That was a piece of genius cruelty.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I know. But if I'm mean, I always make it up to him by the end.

Thank you very much!

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Very glad you finished this. A typically Vilakins story, which is no bad thing.

Gina

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I did offer some other less obvious plots (Dayna and Og!) but this is the one that was way out in front with the votes.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Will you forgive me if I say I loved the Avon-Blake best? I did love it all, though...

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry there wasn't more Blake (he did have his story too) but it would have got far too long.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Hey I do understand (mine's turning into an Avon-Deva-Orac talkfest while Blake lies there and looks pale and - well, unconscious:) And your Vila is always very good - I can't do Vila suffering, I'm jealous.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

If I make him suffer, I always make it right for him by the end. "That makes it all worthwhile." I can't bear to read stories where people hurt him (or any of them) and don't give him anything in return, as he's the most vulnerable of them all. Even my Blake in this story is damaged but he gets an Avon and Vila back who are well on the way to being their old selves and will surely help him too.

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

As usual, very well written. Strong plotting and some deft touches with the sly references to a growing relationship between Vila and Soolin. The depth to which you've worked out Vila and Avon's friendship is quite incredible. I was impressed too, with the fully developed community on the base, including the growing divisions in the 'ranks', and the explanation for Blake's physical damage.

And now I want a B7 chess set. Hand carved of course.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, so would I! :-) And thank you very much for those comments; you made my day.

sly references to a growing relationship between Vila and Soolin

Yay, someone picked that up!

[Reposted because I just noticed I posted this in the wrong place. :-P]

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

A bit late but excelent Avon/Vila interaction. I liked this enormously

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yay, welcome back! :-D I'm so pleased people liked it. It was probably the last one I'd have chosen from that list, so I'm glad people voted for it and made me write it!

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

You know I have been so busy devouring new fic that I didn't even look at the author or the titles so I can't call it by it's name. I do know which one I'm talking about though Avon gives Vila physio and cures his own ills as well. I had no idea until you replied that you wrote this fic.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's mine!