Other People's Sandboxes

Title: Hands
Fandom: Babylon 5
Characters: John/Delenn
Word Count: 205
Rating: G
Spoilers/Warnings: None, fluff?
Notes: Your comment about enjoying people doing things with their hands inspired this. Hope you like it!
Written for prettybird's 2010 fandom_stocking
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John was fascinated by Delenn's hands. They were rarely still, except when she was deep in meditation. And even then, he thought he could see them twitch occasionally, longing to do -- something.

They could be precise, when she was tapping something out on a keyboard, inputting commands into the ship's navigational computer, or when she was recording something in the quick, sharp strokes of the written Minbari language.

They could be stately and elegant, when preforming a ritual or arguing passionately for her position.

And though she hated to use them as such, they could be deadly as well. John would never forget the time he walked in to find Delenn absolutely schooling Marcus with his own denn'bok. When he asked where a member of the religious caste possibly learned to fight like that, Delenn had merely smiled sweetly and pointed out that it wouldn't do for Ranger One to be less trained than her people. John decided right then that Delenn had been spending far too much time with Ivonova.

But what John loved most about Delenn's hands was how they felt when she held his, such an Earthly gesture that meant so much to him.

Fandom: Lackey's Valdemar/Babylon 5 crossover
Characters: Kerowyn & Susan Ivanova
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Kero tugged at the collar of her uniform in annoyance and tried once again to do something with her hair that both looked professional and kept it out of the way.

"Whatever man decided that these uniforms needed a highneck stiff collar obviously never had to brush the snarls out from the hair at the base of his neck," came a sardonic voice from the doorway.

Kero paused with her hands above her head and gave a quick nod of acknowledgment. "Commander."

"Captain."

"Is there something I can help you with, Susan?" Kero asked around a mouth full of hair pins.

"I just came to see if you needed any help getting ready. Delenn had to help me into this monstrosity, so I thought you might need some help yourself," Susan said with a distasteful look at her own elaborate uniform.

"Well, it's not quite as bad as some of the high court gear I've had to wear at times, but it was certainly a challenge. Did you manage to get anyone to explain to you why they're dressing us up like dolls for this. . . ceremony?" Kero asked, practically spitting out the last word.

Susan sighed and made a face. "Diplomatics. The Iffali are extraordinarily grateful for our assistance and wish to show it. Therefore it would be 'impolitic, impolite and a damned bad idea' not to let them show their gratitude."

"A direct quote from Captain Sheridan, I take it?"

"Of course." Then Susan gave a wicked grin, one of the few true smiles Kero had seen from the other woman. "But I think we get our revenge - if you think our uniforms are bad, you should see what they're making the men wear. Delenn said John was trying to figure out which end was up on his when she left. And -"

"And?"

"Part of the ceremony involves a mock sword-fight between the Captain and the Iffali leader."

Kero's eyes sparkled. Suddenly this ceremony didn't seem quite so bad.

"I think it's about time we showed the gentlemen what a proper entrance looks like, don't you?"

Fandom: Babylon 5
Characters: Sinclair/Sheridan/Delenn (sorta)
Warning: A wee bit cracky; spoilers for War Without End (both parts)
Written for azarsuerte 's 2009 fandom_stocking

They hung in a timeless void. Part of her mind shrieked at the lack of breathable gases, but as soon as the thought registered, it was muffled, blanketed by a soft fog so as not to disturb her.

"I was," said the man to her right. (But how can sound travel in a void? the traitorous part of her mind asked. Again she felt the soft, enveloping fog. Never mind, it didn't matter.)

"I am," she replied.

"I shall be," concluded the man to her left.

She smiled as they joined hands, forming a circle of One-ness. For the first time she was complete. For the first time she was whole.

Yes, the man on her right agreed gravely, and she realized their thoughts were now (had always been? Would ever be?) joined.

? . . . ! She felt the confusion from the man on her left, and then acceptance and surprise. Then the warm laughter, warm like caramel (caramel? Ah, an Earth confection) resonated through her being.

I feel I should apologize, Delenn. A lady of your stature deserves better than to be stuck with two old soldiers like us.

Am I not, too, a soldier, in my own way, Jeffrey?

Stronger than either of us, Jeff, that's for sure.

They all smiled and reveled in their One-ness. Then she felt a faint tugging.

We must return, John, she said sadly. They would not be complete again for a very long time.

She let go of the man on her right, but clung to the one on her left.

"We will miss you, Jeff. We're not complete without you."

"I know. But it must be. I am the past. You two are the present and future."

"And in the void of the stars, where time has no meaning, we are One forever," she said confidently.

They hung there in the void, two-and-one-but-still-One, and all was well.