B5 fic: The Face of My Enemy

[sholio]

The Face of My Enemy (3618 words) by Sholio
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Babylon 5 (TV 1993)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Na'Toth (Babylon 5), G'Kar (Babylon 5), Londo Mollari
Additional Tags: Episode Tag, Episode: s5e10 A Tragedy of Telepaths, Friendship, Uneasy Allies
Summary: Post-ep for 5x10 A Tragedy of Telepaths. Missing scenes from the flight from Centauri Prime, or, Na'Toth gets offworld.

Comments

[sovay]

Summary: Post-ep for 5x10 A Tragedy of Telepaths. Missing scenes from the flight from Centauri Prime, or, Na'Toth gets offworld.

HOORAY.

[sholio]

It has been a while since I coredumped several thousand words of fic in an attempt to process something and flung it onto AO3 in its semi-edited state! (I keep editing the last lines anyway. Maybe I should have sat on it longer, but I had feelings that needed to get out!)

[sovay]

(I keep editing the last lines anyway. Maybe I should have sat on it longer, but I had feelings that needed to get out!)

So I won't quote the last lines, but the feelings are great!

[sholio]

Also, thank you! Your comment is lovely, and I am glad that so much of what I wanted to come through did come through, in spite of having basically dumped the contents of my brain into a document in the middle of the night. <3

[sholio]

Also!! One thing I wanted that the episode didn't really give me, that I may explore further in fic later, is more interaction between Londo and Na'Toth, because she's in the unique position of having known him back on B5 and then skipped his entire redemption arc, and she isn't emotionally compromised the way G'Kar clearly is (and was; even back when he hated him he wasn't exactly normal about it, whereas Na'Toth has a more reasonable set of feelings about Londo in general). So I find myself just really curious what she thinks about him, especially given the circumstances under which she meets him again.

[sovay]

One thing I wanted that the episode didn't really give me, that I may explore further in fic later, is more interaction between Londo and Na'Toth, because she's in the unique position of having known him back on B5 and then skipped his entire redemption arc, and she isn't emotionally compromised the way G'Kar clearly is (and was; even back when he hated him he wasn't exactly normal about it, whereas Na'Toth has a more reasonable set of feelings about Londo in general).

You should explore that! One of the things that is so fascinating about the show's reintroduction of Na'Toth even in this one-off fashion is how much of a time capsule she is—which does come through in your fic—not only in the sense of all the events she hasn't yet caught up on, but what she wakes up in G'Kar and Londo.

[sholio]

One of the things that is so fascinating about the show's reintroduction of Na'Toth even in this one-off fashion is how much of a time capsule she is—which does come through in your fic—not only in the sense of all the events she hasn't yet caught up on, but what she wakes up in G'Kar and Londo.

Yes! In particular, that fight in the cell is so interesting because they're both reverting, to a degree. Part of it is obviously that it's an incredibly tense situation and G'Kar is dealing with a major emotional mess, between finding out that his friend is alive and that she's in the condition she's in and that she's also possibly going to die if they can't rescue her. But also, they've both been knocked to some extent into an earlier version of their orbit, not in an out-of-character way (which was actually what I felt about "Day of the Dead", although placing it earlier in the season makes *way* more sense so I'm just gonna do that), but in a way that is perfectly in tune with the situation they're currently in.

There's also quite a lot about their uneven and bloody history that they really haven't processed fully, and now suddenly they're having to do it in a dungeon cell that is bringing up a lot of repressed trauma for both of them. They just went through an assassination attempt with G'Kar pushing Londo out of the way and yelling at him to run, and Londo trying to claw his way through a door to get back to him; now G'Kar is telling him very seriously that he's going to kill him if Londo doesn't find a way to get Na'Toth out of the cell that his people buried her in, and he means it, and it's completely in character. (It's also interesting to think that, if Londo walked away from this, then G'Kar probably *would* try to kill him, because he's not the man G'Kar believes he is. But instead he's become a person who won't walk away; he thinks about it until he finds a way to solve the problem, and very cleverly too.)

[sovay]

Part of it is obviously that it's an incredibly tense situation and G'Kar is dealing with a major emotional mess, between finding out that his friend is alive and that she's in the condition she's in and that she's also possibly going to die if they can't rescue her.

And her survival is the reality of the fiction that they used to lure Refa to Narn. G'Kar would never have consented to that plan had he believed that Na'Toth really lived, because he would have used his time to rescue her for real rather than feinting at it, and now it turns out it was true all along. So there's that kick in the head, too.

There's also quite a lot about their uneven and bloody history that they really haven't processed fully, and now suddenly they're having to do it in a dungeon cell that is bringing up a lot of repressed trauma for both of them

I think that's absolutely true. Londo's helplessly told story about how things just happen at the whims of empire which G'Kar regards as though Londo is telling him that every now and then the gravity just stops working on Centauri Prime. Not just Cartagia's uncountermandable shadow, but the whole system in which Londo is so starkly enmeshed and would be even if he hadn't set in motion the war machine that Na'Toth barely survived. In the same way we have been talking about Londo and G'Kar seeing one another as the faces of their respective peoples as well as their own selves, Na'Toth personalizes the destruction of Narn for G'Kar in a way we really haven't seen before, not even when he was there after the bombardment in the red dust of its fallout winter—and for Londo, too, since he has never before been confronted with one of its survivors, his victims. And for all that, I crack up just thinking about his delivery of "For my next trick, I shall fly around the room under my own power." It's so, so double-edged.

(It's also interesting to think that, if Londo walked away from this, then G'Kar probably *would* try to kill him, because he's not the man G'Kar believes he is. But instead he's become a person who won't walk away; he thinks about it until he finds a way to solve the problem, and very cleverly too.)

Yes![edit] Although even then, things don't just seal right back their new normal, because one of the points of this episode is that they can't, and therefore I love it.

[sholio]

Londo's helplessly told story about how things just happen at the whims of empire which G'Kar regards as though Londo is telling him that every now and then the gravity just stops working on Centauri Prime. Not just Cartagia's uncountermandable shadow, but the whole system in which Londo is so starkly enmeshed and would be even if he hadn't set in motion the war machine that Na'Toth barely survived.

Thinking about it in those terms also makes it a really interesting echo of the somewhat less serious fight in the B5 bomb shelter, because G'Kar (however fueled by spite, trauma, etc) nailed the exact problem with Londo that is the main problem here: he really does carry his shelter, his cage, around with him. In this case, Londo is so tangled up in Centauri hierarchy and politics that he can't even imagine any way of getting Na'Toth out of the cell other than by going through proper channels. "I can't," he says over and over again, because he knows his orders wouldn't be followed, and all he can think of that would get her out of the cell is giving an order to free her. "When I am Emperor ..." That's really the only solution he sees, getting to a high enough level that he can enact actual change. But G'Kar (and Na'Toth's own pitiable condition) does actually push him hard enough to break through some of those cage bars. I'm trying to think if he's ever done that before in quite this way, because yeah, he did plan Cartagia's assassination, which is not going through proper channels in the slightest, but it's also in some sense still following the way things are done on Centauri Prime. But this is not only thinking outside the box in a way he doesn't generally do, it's using the exact aspects of the system that boxed him in earlier as part of his solution, when he relies on the fact that Centauri simply ignore anything socially unacceptable happening in their vicinity.

It's actually quite a breakthrough for his overall, I guess, moral development, and it's really interesting to have it contrasted against the Bester plot happening in the other half of the episode, Bester being Bester with his usual inflexibility about following the part of the rules/his orders that he's there to follow.

I don't always get the feeling that the A and B plots in an episode are contrasting against each other, but I definitely feel that here because of how obviously the show cuts from the B5 characters discussing the importance of working together near the beginning of the episode, to Londo and G'Kar doing exactly that, and then it does the same thing in reverse at the end, talking about things falling apart, which they kind of did.

Although even then, things don't just seal right back their new normal, because one of the points of this episode is that they can't, and therefore I love it.

Yeah! I mean, I love and also hate it, because their trajectory for the last 10-15 episodes or so has tended to be falling more closely into alignment through the events of any given episode, not being pushed further apart. And this episode is pretty explicit that this *did* push them apart, going from G'Kar casually eating in Londo's quarters in their first scene, to refusing Londo's invitation to come eat with him at the end. But it really had to. There is a lot they've never talked about, a lot they *can't* talk about, and that's going to keep coming up for them. If the fight in the bomb shelter was their first actual fight (and resolution of a fight) as friends - at least that we've seen - then this is their first real, serious split over the extremely major things that have separated them for most of the show. And it doesn't seem to have driven a huge wedge between them - they're still talking, still reasonably friendly with each other, but they are going to have to process this.

(Edits once again) It also occurs to me that the final shot of the two of them on the Centauri cruiser through the window is a really well-done way to showcase that, because from outside the glass it's a really beautiful shot of them watching the stars and Na'Toth's ship together, and then once you pan inside and hear their conversation you can see how far apart they actually are, and then it pans out on G'Kar standing there alone. It's just really nicely done.

[sovay]

Thinking about it in those terms also makes it a really interesting echo of the somewhat less serious fight in the B5 bomb shelter, because G'Kar (however fueled by spite, trauma, etc) nailed the exact problem with Londo that is the main problem here: he really does carry his shelter, his cage, around with him.

Yes! His family obligations, his societal expectations which he failed out of without actually disencumbering himself of their mindset, or he wouldn't have flirted so disastrously with making himself over into a success at such detriment to his soul, his homeworld, the stability of the known universe . . . We keep talking about Londo's youth, but it keeps feeling important that at one point he was exactly what he was supposed to be, the fire-eating son of an ancient house, splendid and ambitious and arrogant. Vir by contrast never lived up to any of his society's standards, so may have been sooner able to start thinking outside of them.

I'm trying to think if he's ever done that before in quite this way, because yeah, he did plan Cartagia's assassination, which is not going through proper channels in the slightest, but it's also in some sense still following the way things are done on Centauri Prime. But this is not only thinking outside the box in a way he doesn't generally do, it's using the exact aspects of the system that boxed him in earlier as part of his solution, when he relies on the fact that Centauri simply ignore anything socially unacceptable happening in their vicinity.

That's an excellent point. And Cartagia's assassination fell within his previously defined parameters of good for Centauri Prime, for which cause he has been demonstrably willing—for better and worse—to stretch his moral limits. G'Kar's threat notwithstanding, Na'Toth's rescue has nothing to do with the well-being of Centauri Prime. It isn't being done openly, so its political value is nil, and in fact would probably be negative if discovered by the Royal Court. It is a small fragment of the devastation for which Londo is responsible which he can put partly right. And he is the person who ordered the freedom of Narn, but Na'Toth is his first chance to try to make amends personally to someone who isn't G'Kar and as you pointed out upthread, isn't going to feel toward him anything like G'Kar. He might get her offplanet and she might spit in his face. It's the right thing to do and it is outside his discomfort zone of redemption.

It's actually quite a breakthrough for his overall, I guess, moral development, and it's really interesting to have it contrasted against the Bester plot happening in the other half of the episode, Bester being Bester with his usual inflexibility about following the part of the rules/his orders that he's there to follow.

Yes! Bester can question individual orders, cf. the situation that drives him to seek out the B5 crew in "Ship of Tears," but the overall buy-in of the worldview that dictates his orders is intransigent. And it just struck me now that Londo confronted with a captive Na'Toth is almost exactly the situation we discussed with Bester and Carolyn on Mars: "Because I don't have that kind of authority." And there it stopped for Bester no matter how much he loved Carolyn, because he couldn't get outside of the Corps frame to think of what else he could do to save her. And it doesn't stop there for Londo, even if it takes him a couple of false starts to get beyond his official powerlessness. You're totally right about the double-tracking of plots in this episode, which especially impressive since Byron's telepaths really are a charisma void as far as I'm concerned.

If the fight in the bomb shelter was their first actual fight (and resolution of a fight) as friends - at least that we've seen - then this is their first real, serious split over the extremely major things that have separated them for most of the show. And it doesn't seem to have driven a huge wedge between them - they're still talking, still reasonably friendly with each other, but they are going to have to process this.

Yes. The necessity of the processing rather than the distance temporarily created is the part I love because it's real, not elided for narrative convenience: Na'Toth is a particularly sharp and brutal illustration, but there's a lot of blood in their bond and there's no stepping over it.

(Edits once again)

I don't mind! It's great stuff!

It also occurs to me that the final shot of the two of them on the Centauri cruiser through the window is a really well-done way to showcase that, because from outside the glass it's a really beautiful shot of them watching the stars and Na'Toth's ship together, and then once you pan inside and hear their conversation you can see how far apart they actually are, and then it pans out on G'Kar standing there alone. It's just really nicely done.

Yes. The trip back to Babylon 5 should be interesting for conversation. (Or maybe just individual processing, but at some point Londo's adrenaline high is going to wear off.)

[edit] I just really love that their mutual arc is beautifully crafted and full of ironies and parallels and half-rhymes and also glitches and hiccups and faceplants; it is not too neat. Being friends with people is inherently messy and Londo and G'Kar being—whatever they are to each other—is epically so.

[sholio]

Na'Toth is his first chance to try to make amends personally to someone who isn't G'Kar and as you pointed out upthread, isn't going to feel toward him anything like G'Kar. He might get her offplanet and she might spit in his face. It's the right thing to do and it is outside his discomfort zone of redemption.

Yes!! I love that in spite of G'Kar's threats, that's not why he does it; he does it because it's right. And I also love that he's not doing it for G'Kar. I think there's every reason to believe that he'd do whatever it took to save G'Kar by this point (trying to claw his way through a door with his bare hands rather than leave G'Kar alone in a hallway full of assassins that he can't really do much to help with anyway...) but this isn't about personal sentiment for Na'Toth, it's about doing the right thing and taking one small step towards fixing the terrible damage he's done.

And it just struck me now that Londo confronted with a captive Na'Toth is almost exactly the situation we discussed with Bester and Carolyn on Mars: "Because I don't have that kind of authority." And there it stopped for Bester no matter how much he loved Carolyn, because he couldn't get outside of the Corps frame to think of what else he could do to save her. And it doesn't stop there for Londo, even if it takes him a couple of false starts to get beyond his official powerlessness.

Oh, that's an excellent point, you're completely right! It really is the same thing, actually in a way even more of a moral test because he doesn't have the personal attachment to her that Bester has to Carolyn. And Londo does what Bester was far too mired in his own worldview to ever do, and finds a way.

especially impressive since Byron's telepaths really are a charisma void as far as I'm concerned.

Word.

The trip back to Babylon 5 should be interesting for conversation. (Or maybe just individual processing, but at some point Londo's adrenaline high is going to wear off.)

Yes, and I've now watched up through 5x12 (thoughts to come eventually) so it does look like some processing happened, since they seem much more relaxed and playful with each other when they show up again on B5. It was a bump in the road, but not an unrecoverable one. As you said in a comment somewhere, they are both going to run into these sudden pain points due to the history they have; it's inevitable. And they've now shown that they can get past a pretty major one. (Would definitely read fic about the conversations that happened on that flight. Or possibly write it.)

Being friends with people is inherently messy and Londo and G'Kar being—whatever they are to each other—is epically so.

Yes! And we get to see a lot of their messiness, and I love it. It's hard to believe it's been less than a season since they started talking to each other at all post-Cartagia, but every step of the way has been plausible.

[sovay]

I think there's every reason to believe that he'd do whatever it took to save G'Kar by this point (trying to claw his way through a door with his bare hands rather than leave G'Kar alone in a hallway full of assassins that he can't really do much to help with anyway...)

Technically he did run, just back toward G'Kar!

but this isn't about personal sentiment for Na'Toth, it's about doing the right thing and taking one small step towards fixing the terrible damage he's done.

Yes. And it's dramatically frictive that it's Na'Toth, but I don't think G'Kar would have let Londo leave anyone in that cell and at this point I don't think Londo would. He was told during his very long night: doesn't matter if it's your worst enemy or a total stranger. You don't just stand by.

actually in a way even more of a moral test because he doesn't have the personal attachment to her that Bester has to Carolyn.

Good point! Bit of an indictment of Bester, but what isn't? (I still love him.)

and I've now watched up through 5x12 (thoughts to come eventually)

Imagine me trying to look both non-pushy and enabling. In the same vein, would entirely read your fic about flight conversations.

It's hard to believe it's been less than a season since they started talking to each other at all post-Cartagia, but every step of the way has been plausible.

Whatever else goes off course about the fifth season, they aren't it.

[sholio]

Technically he did run, just back toward G'Kar!

That's such an excellent point I may need to point it out in fic.

And it's dramatically frictive that it's Na'Toth, but I don't think G'Kar would have let Londo leave anyone in that cell and at this point I don't think Londo would. He was told during his very long night: doesn't matter if it's your worst enemy or a total stranger. You don't just stand by.

Yes! And it's meaningful that it wasn't someone else telling him this, it was his conscience talking to him. He knew it all along, on some level, and now he knows it consciously, and he lives by it.

Imagine me trying to look both non-pushy and enabling.

It's up! Although I didn't have nearly as much to say about those episodes as the last few.

[sovay]

That's such an excellent point I may need to point it out in fic.

YAY.

Although I didn't have nearly as much to say about those episodes as the last few.

I mean, there's only so much one can say about Byron.