Token expression of shame

[lizbee]

I am writing the worst fic ever.  It's about Romana and Benny getting really drunk and talking about Brax.  In the interests of truth in advertising, I have titled it "Failing the Bechdel Test", but I feel slightly bad.  Not bad enough to stop writing, though. 

I need to finish season 8 of Benny before I can post it, though, just in case I get jossed.  And then there's season 9, which doesn't have Brax, but I'm starting to be interested in Benny in her own right.  Don't tell anyone, though, because I always swore that spin-off companions were a step too far.  *eyedart*

Comments

[livii.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I said that too, man. The thing is they tend to be awesome.

Brax is spin-off himself, you know! So, you're already in good standing.

Edit: also, the title of that fic is AWESOME. Much as I hate stuff that fails the test generally. ;)

[palmetto.livejournal.com]

*points and LAUGHS*

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I had somehow managed to convince myself that Brax was canon. I don't know...

And yeah, I usually hate that sort of thing as well, so I figured I'd be upfront about it. Plus, maybe some proper characterisation will creep through in the edits?

[biichan.livejournal.com]

ME TOO. Well, I never said that out loud but that's what I thought. And then I ended up listening to those Hex and Evelyn audios for ficathon purposes and it was the beginning of the end...

[livii.livejournal.com]

They do mention the Braxiatel Collection in City o' Death, but otherwise, you are suffering from a severe condition here, young woman.

I'm currently giving Billy two days to research eBook readers before I just go ahead and buy one. So that I can read more EDAs and particularly Fitz and Anji. So...yeah. I just can't quit this fandom, man.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my approach to canon in this case seems a bit ... special. I think I may have subconsciously extended the phrase to refer to Virgin's Missing Adventures. I blame Gareth Roberts.

[taimdala.livejournal.com]

I love the title "Failing the Bechdel Test" and have followed Allison Bechdel's series from the start. The rule about having two women talk to each other about something other than a man...LOL funny, even if it does bring into focus how many of our conversations revolve around people.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

i still think it should end in Death By Collector's Item.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I am listening to "The Wake", and Brax is basically sulking because the Doctor met Benny first. HIS ISSUES ARE PROFOUND.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

profoundly pathetic.

oh brax.

[biichan.livejournal.com]

Hahahahahahah. Yes. Awesome.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

I've been gone all weekend and I come home to this. I WIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And am more excited than I care to say about the fact that I will now be able to reap the magnificent rewards of your surrender to the awesomeness that is Bernice Summerfield. I'm so happy I could cry.

PS. How fucked up was the wake? I have never been more creeped out by Brax than when he stopped Doggles from raping Benny. Which he clearly SET DOGGLES UP TO DO! That was...horrifying isn't a strong enough word.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to blog about this, but -- UM, CREEPY. Setting up Benny like that was far more unforgivable than killing Jason etc. (My priorities, they are skewed.)

Also, I was already skeeved out by the way Benny's always being threatened with indecent assault at the drop of a hat, but Brax was kind to her in Life During Wartime, so this turnaround ...

I keep telling myself that (a) it's the head!Pandora, just like that time Romana killed Andred -- I just skipped back to finish off Gallifrey before I go on with Benny, and I've come to the conclusion that Romana has a head!Pandora of her own by the time she declares herself imperiatrix, not that she was sane to begin with -- and (b) Brax thinks he's working for the betterment of the universe. Which rather makes me think it's a good thing the Time Lords have all those non-intervention rules, 'cos...

I am still confused about the timeline. Like Simon Guerrier said on the DWF, Brax seems to believe he's the last of his kind. But by the end of Gallifrey, he's sold off his entire Collection, and I'm pretty sure Benny would, um, notice something like that.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

I can't wrap my head around the timeline at ALL, so I am pretty much just hanging on and hoping it becomes clear at some point in the future.

Setting up Benny like that was far more unforgivable than killing Jason etc.

IT WAS SO GROSS. At first I thought he set her up in order to save her. That would be so utterly him. Wrong and disgusting and misguided in profound ways, but very him. But then we get to the part in the infirmary when he is pretty much telling her that he thinks she was just playing hard to get, despite the fact that Doggles was BEATING HER. I...don't even know what to say about that. It totally changed my perception of what Brax was trying to do there. If he wasn't manipulating that situation to come to her rescue, why do it?

Also, I was already skeeved out by the way Benny's always being threatened with indecent assault at the drop of a hat

Hmmmmmm. Give me some examples? I can't seem to think of any but the torture in Just War and that whole unbelievably sick and fucked up situation where the Draconians drilled a hole in her head, which I swear to fucking god I wish I could wipe from my mind. I want to throw up just thinking about it. Her screaming haunts me to this day. I'm sure there were more, but I can't think of them.

I've come to the conclusion that Romana has a head!Pandora of her own by the time she declares herself imperiatrix, not that she was sane to begin with

Yeah?! What makes you think that? Just her generally insanity?

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

I can't wrap my head around the timeline at ALL, so I am pretty much just hanging on and hoping it becomes clear at some point in the future.

I don't think it's going to get any clearer. For one thing, Gallifrey was Gary Russell's baby, and no one has any plans to revisit it now that he's moved on. Not that that prevents, say, Mary Tamm appearing in Benny, but it seems fanwanky, even for BF.

If he wasn't manipulating that situation to come to her rescue, why do it?

I can only think that he wanted her totally vulnerable and under his power. And also a little crazy, so any public allegations she might make about Hass, Brax and the destruction of the Mimsphere would be disregarded as the ravings of a hysterical (word chosen deliberately) woman.

Now, why he's so obsessed with Benny, to the point of wiping her potential children out of the timeline (but keeping Peter, the 'interesting' hybrid, and trying to keep him with the Collection -- oh, Brax) because they'll "distract" her -- that I'm not so sure about. Benny's all that and a slice of cake, sure, but the Doctor had a lot of extraordinary women as companions. And I do think this has something to do with the Doctor, and some kind of sibling rivalry -- he was not only close to Romana, but also Leela -- but this is Brax, so he also needs a pragmatic reason to hang on to Benny.

Give me some examples?

Actually, the only other one I can think of is the bit in Life During Wartime, but I also had the circumstances of Peter's conception in mind. Not Adrian's fault, of course, I just found it skeezy on general feminist grounds.

Yeah?! What makes you think that? Just her generally insanity?

Just that by the end of season 2, Pandora has enough control over Romana to possess her and use her body to kill Andred, and has her dreaming of the future. Okay, so it's probably not a head!Pandora in the way Brax has one, but either she's in Romana's head, or Romana just wanted an excuse to bump off her girlfriend's husband.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

I can only think that he wanted her totally vulnerable and under his power.

Oooooo. That makes a LOT of sense. He discredits her entirely so that she's not only distraught with grief over Jason's death and her son's guilt, but also either a rape victim or a liar or both. That's brilliant. Brilliantly evil, but brilliant. I guess it also gave him another excuse to keep her locked up and under his control.

Now, why he's so obsessed with Benny, to the point of wiping her potential children out of the timeline (but keeping Peter, the 'interesting' hybrid, and trying to keep him with the Collection -- oh, Brax) because they'll "distract" her -- that I'm not so sure about.

I'm pretty sure he's said on several occassions that she had a "role to play." I got the sense that it was more than just her having been a companion (though his jealousy on that point is clear and it probably plays a part). It seems like he has knowledge of some critical future event and he needs to groom her to fulfill her role. He keeps alluding to making her more like him, colder, more pragmatic. Then with the talk of needing her to not be distracted...I get the feeling that it's all gonna come down to Brax manipulating her into becoming his protege. His Romana replacement. Whatever it is, I can't imagine it's going to be good and will probably result in him (trying to) sacrifice her for some "higher purpose." If his long game is all about bringing back Gallifrey or continuing his race...could it be he wants her to mate with him? Her genes are already all fucked up, maybe at some point he discovered she could be used as a template for making tiembabies?

I'm brainstorming out my ass here right now, but there's gotta be more to it than simple jealousy. He definitely has a very specific use in mind for her.

I also had the circumstances of Peter's conception in mind.

Oh, yeah. Good god. And then there was the birth. I haven't been able to track down a copy of the Glass Prison yet, but supposedly it's horrific. What's done to her and what happens during Peter's birth. I gotta read it, but I know I'm gonna be traumatized.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

It seems like he has knowledge of some critical future event and he needs to groom her to fulfill her role.

Flipping the timeline a bit, what if he intends for her to fight the Time War? Not necessarily with Gallifrey, but protecting the Collection, which would surely be of interest to Davros? He does keep mentioning that she understands history, and she has a military background. Plus, it would parallel nicely with the Daleks' use of her father.

could it be he wants her to mate with him?

Oh Christ, I hope not.

I gotta read it, but I know I'm gonna be traumatized.

I will not seek out summaries when I should be going to work. I will not... *maintains control by a slim margin*

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

He does keep mentioning that she understands history, and she has a military background. Plus, it would parallel nicely with the Daleks' use of her father.

Ooooo. I like that! Especially if that's why he wants her to be colder and cut off from sentimental ties. If he knows that in order for her to be effective she needs to be willing to sacrifice anyone and everyone. Very nice.

Oh Christ, I hope not.

Me too. But he did react a bit oddly when Jason accused him of being in love with her so I worry.

I will not seek out summaries when I should be going to work.

Suuuuuuure you won't. Ha!

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

There's a small list of companions (other than Romana) who I suspect were involved in the Time War in one capacity or another -- Leela, Ace and Jack (don't ask. Unless you want to.).

But I am more than happy to add Benny to that list, especially as it makes more sense every time I think about it.

As for Brax's reaction to Jason's accusations re: romantic interest, I have to point out that Jason has suggested it twice. Narrative law dictates that if it's ever suggested a third time, it can be taken as true.

(But it made me turn into a batshit Romana/Brax shipper, and I got cranky that he didn't deny it enough. Then I had a nice lie down until sanity returned.)

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

Leela, Ace and Jack (don't ask. Unless you want to.)

I'm asking. I see Leela involved with no problem. Tell me your theories on Ace and Jack.

But it made me turn into a batshit Romana/Brax shipper, and I got cranky that he didn't deny it enough.

Awwwww, no! He can never love anyone in the way he loves Romana. That's a given. But that doesn't mean he doesn't love Benny like a pawn.

I was just, once again, trying to track down copies of The Glass Prison and Just War. I want to kill myself or the booksellers or SOMEONE. Copies of Just War are selling for more than $40. For a paperback. That is such fucking bullshit I could cry. I need to read that book in a way that is unholy.

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

Tell me your theories on Ace and Jack.

Ace, I think, took what the Doctor taught her and busied herself defending the races caught in the crossfire. She probably died, but that makes me sad, so I don't dwell on it.

As for Jack, the Time Agency was probably aware of some cataclysm affecting time and space, and Jack was part of a small team working to find out what it is/how to stop it/how to use it for their own benefit. That's what happened in the two years missing from his brain.

Awwwww, no! He can never love anyone in the way he loves Romana. That's a given.

I HOPE SO.

Hey, here's a creepy thought that hit me last night: if not for the coincidence of Narvin, Leela and K9 being in the bio-data vault at the time Brax timescooped it, the Gallifrey series would have ended with just Brax and Romana, alone on the Collection. Which is obviously how he'd planned it.

Is eBay no help with finding Big Finish books? You could keep pestering them to make them available for download as pdf. Even I'd pay for them if they did that.