Age

[octopussy]

Also, do we have any solids on the ages of the crew members (aside from River)? I read a pretty decent fic in which Jayne seemed to be a decade younger than Mal. Considering I saw Baldwin first in 1987's Full Metal Jacket, it's a lot for me to naturally accept such a difference in their ages. I could, of course, with some backstory, but I simply

Comments

[thepurpleswitch]

See, I like the idea that they're relatively close in age--within two or three years. Y'know, close enough that who's older or younger doesn't really matter. That two men, both raised in the same timeframe in the border planets or whatever we're calling them, could turn out so different psychologically/emotionally--very interesting. To me, anyway. And I find power dynamics between people of similar age somewhat more full of tension, less obvious.

Plus, a smaller age gap begs that age-old question: what the hell was Jayne doing during the war and why doesn't anybody talk about it? Which is technically two questions, but still.

[octopussy]

I do agree with you -- I suppose I do tend to imagine them to be around the same age. Baldwin has a knack for maintaining a certain youth or just for battling age. Damn men.

The interpretations of the Verse's scope seem to vary a lot according to whichever fic you're looking at. Sometimes it seems quite small, others it seems as if there are countless tiny little planets at the edges and tucked away in the corners of the Rim that no one cares too much about. Sure, they mention that things are getting tighter during the time of Firefly, but maybe during the war there were a lot more of those where Jayne could've been working.

A small-time criminal, a bodyguard, a bouncer... maybe he was locked away serving time.

For some reason I can't for the life of me see him in that war. Ow. My head hurts. Thanks.

[thepurpleswitch]

Aw, sorry. Hee.

Yeah, Serenity tried to tell/show the size of the system, but it's still really fuzzy. On purpose, I'm sure. Damn you, Joss.

I like to think he was in prison somewhere, 'cause I can't see him fighting either (soldiering don't pay too well), and I don't think one could really escape the war completely.

[octopussy]

Maybe if he was serving some local big wig on some Alliance-friendly Rim planet, like a judge or something. But I think it's safe to say that he wasn't on either side.