Fic: Dreams - G

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Title: Dreams
Pairing: Vaguely Lister/Rimmer
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I don't own Red Dwarf or make any money.
Spoilers: This is set post-Blue, so spoilers for anything up to and including that episode.
Notes: This is for kahvi, for cheering up purposes. I tried my best to write a Lister story - it's short but, hopefully, sweet. It even features Kochanski, who I normally cannot stand but I know kahvi likes :)


“You know, I used to have a thing for Rimmer – our Rimmer – back before the accident.” Kochanski had the same far-off look in her eyes which she always got when talking about “her” dimension.

Lister didn't know why he'd chosen her to talk to about this. Actually, he did know why. It was because the only real alternative was Kryten, and the mechanoid's reaction last time had been a little... intense.

“Get outta town. You never had a thing fer Rimmer.”

She gave him a look which said “you're not my Dave, and you don't know anything about me.” He was getting very used to this look.

He shook his head, still disbelieving. “Not even Rimmer liked Rimmer. What was there to like?”

“He's a good looking man.”

Lister snorted. This was just too funny. “Are we talking about the same bloke?”

“He is. Underneath all the ridiculous clothes and that god-awful side parting, he wasn't in bad shape. Just look at Ace.”

Lister thought back to the psi-moon. He knew exactly what was under those ridiculous clothes. Hmm. Maybe Kris kind of had a point there. Kind of. Maybe.

“Alright, he was in pretty good shape – I'll give you that.”

“And he was funny, in a sarcastic kind of way.”

“He was funny all right.”

“Not like that, you know what I mean.”

Lister frowned. This was just too weird. “Did he hypnotise you or somethin'?”

She sighed in exasperation and stood to leave. “I think that somewhere, deep down, he was an alright guy. And I think that somewhere, deep down, you know that. You can call me crazy, but I'm not the one dreaming about him.”

“Yeah, well maybe we're both crazy.”

She smiled at him, a smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. This, too, was a look he was getting used to. “Just think about it Dave.”


But what was there to think about? This was Rimmer. All flared nostrils and hang-ups and cowardice. All bicycle shorts and telegraph poles and smegging risk stories.

He knew Kris had been lying, trying to make him feel better. Because really, who could like Arnold Judas Rimmer? Someone who'd spent far longer alone in space than she had, that was for sure.

Comments

[kahvi.livejournal.com]

*is touched* Thank you! That was incredibly sweet of you!

I love the way you get across the (lack of)chemistry between the two of them, and the little hints at Kochanski's character - the far-off look in her eyes and the smile not meeting them... That's the key to her, right there, IMO.

Not even Rimmer liked Rimmer. What was there to like?” and
Maybe Kris kind of had a point there. Kind of. Maybe.
You say you don't know Lister? That's him, right there!

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thanks, hope it made you smile!

I'm glad I got Lister right to some extent. I like Lister a lot but the way he thinks (and acts) sometimes baffles me.

I think Kochanski is growing on me - if I keep repeating to myself that she isn't "our" Kochanski then it's ok. I keep comparing her to the original, but I suppose that's what it must be like for her - constantly being compared to someone else. I like the contrast between her relationship with Lister and Rimmer's relationship with Lister. She's just as annoying as Rimmer, imo, but Lister doesn't get annoyed by her so much. She doesn't seem to have the ability to get under his skin in the same way. As you say, no chemistry.

[amy-wolf.livejournal.com]

This is cute, and does a nice job of keeping all the various story complications (different Kris, Ace, etc.) in mind. That adds a nice feel of depth.

[smaych.livejournal.com]

Thank you! VII is a season which upsets me, precisely because of those complications. But they do force out some interesting issues (like the awesome Blue snog!).