How to solve plot points
Jul. 24th, 2006 09:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bending_sickleBetween last night's half-asleep picturing in detail and with narrative voice-over of the pwp slash scene, and today's sudden revelation of just how much more Floyd the pimp can actually do to forward the plot, I must say:
The way to plan out fics is to be half asleep. Being stuck for an hour in the train helps. Of course, as I wasn't writing when I was picturing the delish slash, that's something I yet have to do.
But, about Floyd:
The gaping hole in my Jayne-fic was that I needed Jayne to be erroneously blamed for getting Villains on our characters' tail, and him being a) innocent yet b) the logical choice for the "who's the traitor" with, and this was the hard bit, actual evidence, or a good basis for suspicion.
Enter our fancy pimp Floyd, who dresses much nicer than pimps on Persephone should, especially those settled in the Eavesdocks. In fact, Floyd reminded Jayne of a somewhat more Universe-weary Simon (ie. Core-boy to the bone), rather than someone who'd grown up on the Rim.
One interesting thing about Floyd is how tight a ship he runs over at Bessie Mae's brothel The Red Barrel. Instead of the general rukus of a bar with buxom women wandering about propositioning, Flody keeps his ladies out back. When a customer comes in, after passing Floyd's once-over look, inquiries as to his monestary standing and a little chatting to, Flody brings out some six girls as per the customer's specs.
He's fixed up the place since Bessie left him in charge to go manage the new bar she'd set up, Moonshine. The brothel was now well-equipped with silk screens, wooden cupboards, fancy saki... The price has gone up too, but that's understandable, what with there being new girls, some aquainted with Companion tricks or even Companion drop-outs (or so he claims).
In fact, it's quite possible that Floyd is the head of the operations and knows a lot more than a Rim-boy should.
For example, suppose Floyd's whistling of "The Royal Hat of Londinium" is actually a signal to his girls. Suppose he and the girls check their customers over a lot more than a glance will do.
There's a lot to be had knowing what ship your customer came off of, what cargo he might have access to, or where he's heading. A brothel is an excellent place for contacts.
And then there's the matter of warrants, and the often hefty rewards that accompany them.
So suppose Floyd goes to visit Macaria, an ex-whore now barmaid at Moonshine, whom Jayne made the mistake of mentioning by name. Whores know lots of people, almost as much as barmaids.
There's so much Floyd could find out about Jayne in one night, if he put his mind to it.
Hell, Floyd and his contacts might even reach Badger; might find out what Jayne's next job is. Which is to say, his and the ship he rides on's whereabouts for the next few weeks.
I think I like Floyd a lot. He sure ain't no Rim-boy, or if he ever was, he's learnt a lot working at the docks.
I finally understood a line from Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn and find it perfect for a Universe where spaceships are an option:
I'd rather be with you than fly through space.
The way to plan out fics is to be half asleep. Being stuck for an hour in the train helps. Of course, as I wasn't writing when I was picturing the delish slash, that's something I yet have to do.
But, about Floyd:
The gaping hole in my Jayne-fic was that I needed Jayne to be erroneously blamed for getting Villains on our characters' tail, and him being a) innocent yet b) the logical choice for the "who's the traitor" with, and this was the hard bit, actual evidence, or a good basis for suspicion.
Enter our fancy pimp Floyd, who dresses much nicer than pimps on Persephone should, especially those settled in the Eavesdocks. In fact, Floyd reminded Jayne of a somewhat more Universe-weary Simon (ie. Core-boy to the bone), rather than someone who'd grown up on the Rim.
One interesting thing about Floyd is how tight a ship he runs over at Bessie Mae's brothel The Red Barrel. Instead of the general rukus of a bar with buxom women wandering about propositioning, Flody keeps his ladies out back. When a customer comes in, after passing Floyd's once-over look, inquiries as to his monestary standing and a little chatting to, Flody brings out some six girls as per the customer's specs.
He's fixed up the place since Bessie left him in charge to go manage the new bar she'd set up, Moonshine. The brothel was now well-equipped with silk screens, wooden cupboards, fancy saki... The price has gone up too, but that's understandable, what with there being new girls, some aquainted with Companion tricks or even Companion drop-outs (or so he claims).
In fact, it's quite possible that Floyd is the head of the operations and knows a lot more than a Rim-boy should.
For example, suppose Floyd's whistling of "The Royal Hat of Londinium" is actually a signal to his girls. Suppose he and the girls check their customers over a lot more than a glance will do.
There's a lot to be had knowing what ship your customer came off of, what cargo he might have access to, or where he's heading. A brothel is an excellent place for contacts.
And then there's the matter of warrants, and the often hefty rewards that accompany them.
So suppose Floyd goes to visit Macaria, an ex-whore now barmaid at Moonshine, whom Jayne made the mistake of mentioning by name. Whores know lots of people, almost as much as barmaids.
There's so much Floyd could find out about Jayne in one night, if he put his mind to it.
Hell, Floyd and his contacts might even reach Badger; might find out what Jayne's next job is. Which is to say, his and the ship he rides on's whereabouts for the next few weeks.
I think I like Floyd a lot. He sure ain't no Rim-boy, or if he ever was, he's learnt a lot working at the docks.
I finally understood a line from Mike Oldfield's Ommadawn and find it perfect for a Universe where spaceships are an option:
