Choices (Blake's 7 story by Sonia)

Fanfiction
Title:	Choices
Author(s):	Sonia
Date(s):	1990
Length:	18 pages
Genre:
Fandom:	Blake's 7
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Choices is a Blake's 7 Avon/Jenna story by Sonia.

It was published in Southern Comfort #5.5.

Reactions and Reviews

Classic B/A plot repurposed for a different pairing - Avon has to pretend to be Jenna's love slave while they negotiate for some crystals on a matriarchal planet. There's an interesting (to me) bit where the narrative takes time to assure us we are indeed in the het version of this trope -

"I never got the impression you were interested. I always thought it was Blake you were after," Avon said softly.

"Funny, I thought the same thing about you," Jenna confessed.

"What?" Avon choked on his amazement. "You can't be serious."

...[Some discussion here of how both Jenna and Cally have been trying to get into Avon's pants from day 1]

Avon's look became introspective. "I shall have to pay more attention in the future. I must admit I have been rather preoccupied."

"Yes, with Blake. We've noticed."

"No. Well, yes, I suppose so, but not in that way. He fascinates me. I find trying to stay one step ahead of him and his rampant manipulations extremely stimulating," he explained.

"Umm. How can a mere woman hope to compete?" Jenna complained.

Avon laughed at the pilot's perturbed expression. "No need to worry, in any case. I have it on excellent authority that Blake is a confirmed heterosexual."

"What authority is that?"

"The horse's mouth. During those periods when we aren't verbally tearing each other to shreds, Blake, Vila, Gan and I occasionally indulge in what you and Cally would call man talk. Usually the discussion focuses on speculation as to how accommodating either of you would be if approached."

Ho hum. What's interesting about this fic (apart from how straight everyone is) is that Avon does still try and get the crystals for Blake, and obviously he and Jenna are talking about how they'd probably rather shag someone else even as they're going for it. Usually this trope is used for OTPs, etc, so when the choice is 'powerful OC who wants Avon for his own' or Avon's partner in the fic - it makes more sense that he'd ultimately choose his partner. But not this time - though Jenna does have a semi-interesting part to play in Avon's choice.

It has a rather nice bit at the beginning where Blake and the others all have flu, so Blake begins what he terms 'Operation Volunteer' to force Avon to go on the mission instead (which I guess works nicely with the manipulation charge that Avon levels at him above, whereas the Cally throwing herself at him really doesn't come out in the fic).

There's a bit where Avon has drugged anal sex with the princess, and then smugly gets himself out of the predicament by overturning their way of life. On the one hand, if you like the sort of fake relationship fic where Avon has to wear a thong for negotiations then this is a pretty good example of the same, but also... it has a rather unpleasant Ben Steedy-ness to its view of a planet ruled by women, the destruction of the same, and how Avon saves the day... not Jenna.