Trick or Treat

[eye_of_a_cat]

I have had SUCH AN ANNOYING couple of weeks at work, where we are a) trying to organise a big event while b) going through a hugely unsettling big structural shakeup that c) means everyone's worried about their jobs while d) we are also missing a lot of staff and e) aren't allowed to hire anyone until b) is sorted out. It's now at vaguely comedic levels. On top of this, both kids have been ill, and on top of that my mother-in-law is moving house and needs oh so much help with that.

On a related note, I have been part way through writing a trickortreatex recs post for ages - a fic exchange with a lot of spooky stories - and STILL HAVEN'T FINISHED, not least because I have still hardly read any of the ones I wanted to read due to ^ that. So most of that is still to come, but since we are now at the author reveals point already here are the two written for me, which I did get around to reading!

Moments of Transition, Moments of Revelation by cahn (Babylon 5, Delenn/Neroon, T) - is an absolutely wonderful, long, plotty, AU where Sheridan stays dead at Z'Ha'Dum and it's Delenn and Neroon with an arranged marriage to preserve political stability.

Superposition by kanadka (Babylon 5, Branmer, T) - a pivotal moment in Branmer's life, which is both complex worldbuilding backstory and also Branmer backstory specifically, and fits like an absolute jigsaw piece into canon without being the shape I would have expected at all.

(These two also make a wonderful set of the two things I always felt were missing in B5 fandom when I was really active in it about 15 years ago, which were Delenn/Neroon stories (I mean! that chemistry!) and anything about Branmer. And I am so so so pleased to see things like this being written now!)

And the ones I wrote:

Haunted in small ways (Babylon 5, G), for kalirush - Vir, Lennier, and a station full of ghosts.

Some say the world will end in fire (Babylon 5, M) for cahn - Delenn/Neroon, Warrior Caste festivals and political scheming.

And things that go bump in the night (Ghosts, G) for Small_Hobbit - how do you run a haunted house event in an actual haunted house?

Comments

[cahn]

If had you posted this before I haven't seen it! I love it, of course <3 (seriously, I love this AU, I suppose completely unsurprisingly :D and I love whatever bits and pieces you end up posting, it doesn't have to be finished)

I'm not entirely sure I have all the context -- Neroon stops it by going into the Starfire Wheel like in canon, but Lennier also does, but because he realizes what's going to happen beforehand, everyone ends up surviving? (I'm actually a little surprised that he's not angrier at her for deceiving him about what she was doing in the Starfire Wheel -- maybe this is just because I'm a Neroon stan, but I feel like he's the one who has the right to be angry here, not her... though maybe that's part of the point. But then also, see my note on the end, I then realized Delenn is in a non-canon situation and that's probably affecting some of her reactions as well, and Neroon can see that even if he doesn't know exactly what's going on with her.)

he had outmanoeuvred her and she knew it. And he would be lying if he pretended that wasn’t at all satisfying.

HAHAHAHA well Neroon at least you're self-aware about this. I would also be lying if I pretended it wasn't a bit satisfying to me

“And that agreement was met. Shakiri stepped out of the circle, and then so did you. Everything went as we planned. Really, Delenn, I thought you’d be happy.”

Somewhat petty. But it had been a very long and very awful few weeks, and she wasn’t helping.

ahhhhhh this is great

I also love that he calls her out on her sacrifice and is like "yeah, that was... kind of stupid politically!" Which is not something that occurred to me but also something she OUGHT to be called out about! But also that he does understand his own culpability in everything that's happening.

Nothing. Nothing, and he remembered the jarring emptiness he’d seen in her before after she’d returned from the station. “Delenn. We only have until morning to decide some sort of plan. We can’t fight the Shadows if things fall apart here. I can’t do this alone. Please.”

“And what do you suggest, Shai Alyt?” Still staring ahead of her, as if he was not even in the room at all, only a prickle of conscience whispering in her ear. “Stand before our world and promise we can work together?”

“Not exactly,” he said. “I have a suggestion. It’s - not ideal. But it’s better than burning to ashes in starfire.”

AHHHHH
I love the reminder that Delenn is under a lot of personal stressors in this AU that she isn't in canon, and that Neroon's willing to humble himself a bit to ask for Delenn's help, and realizes he can't in fact do it alone. (And also I'm imagining what Delenn thinks of his suggestion and, lol, wow, she is going to freak out, isn't she.)