Tarrant/Vila

Tarrant/Vila is a rareList of Tarrant/Vila fics in zines on Hermit.org (updated 2003) slash pairing in Blake's 7.
In the third series of the show, Tarrant and Vila had an often antagonistic relationship, with Tarrant (the self-appointed 'leader' of the Liberator crew) ordering Vila (whom he sees as his social inferior) into dangerous situations, or ignoring him completely. The former scenario is epitomised in the episode 'City at the Edge of the World'.
Notably Tarrant does apologise for his behaviour at the end of the episode. Notably Vila says he doesn't care. 
By series 4, Avon has assumed complete command of the crew, meaning that Tarrant and Vila are more equal than they were previously. The relationship becomes less antagonistic at this point.
==Fandom and Popular-ish Tropes==
In Manna's meta-y fic 'The Beginner's Guide to Blake's 7 Slash', Tarrant himself describes the pairing as follows:
This description does seem to be borne out by the fic, possibly because the pairing is often featured as the secondary pairing in a fic that is primarily about mega-angsty pairing Blake/Avon, so a) in comparison they look less angsty and b) they have usually got over their angst to be an established couple in the background. 
Other reoccurring tropes, include:
*Avon/Vila, often as the ultimate destiny (with Vila realising he belongs with Avon) or more rarely as a past relationship that Vila is now over. Often, even when Vila is not sleeping with Avon, Tarrant or other characters will assume that he is.
**Tarrant is often very jealous of Vila's (supposed or otherwise) relationship Avon.
*In opposition to the relationship depicted on the show, Vila often takes the initiative with Tarrant being the more reluctant partner. This is not always appreciated by readers:
Interestingly, the pairing seems to have been more popular in the zine age of fandom (before around 2000), with relatively few fics being available only on the internet.
===Fan Reaction===
From a fan in the 1994 print era: 
Most of the later fan reaction preserved on the internet is that of fans of other ships who have been brought into contact with Tarrant/Vila as part of a multi-ship zine. For example:
==Example Fanfiction==
*'All Work and No Play' by Mireille in Liberator Fantasies: a sweet, straightforward PWP that presents Tarrant and Vila as established lovers enjoying a little interlude while they are alone together on Scorpio. Both of them are charmingly in character.Sarah Thompson reviewing 'Liberator Fantasies' on Hermit.org
*'Path of Thorns' by Mitzi Tick and Felicia Adams: is the centerpiece of the zine-- which is saying a great deal, given the quality of the other stories. It has lots of adventure and SF neepery, but the heart of it is the thorny relationship between Tarrant and Vila. (There's also a brief A/Ta encounter, for you Avon fans.) PGP, Servalan turns Tarrant into a brainwashed sex slave by means of a new, special form of limiter. His friends rescue him, but that's only the beginning, as they then have to turn him back into himself. Highly recommended!Sarah Thompson reviewing 'Liberator Fantasies' on Hermit.org
*'Nothing I'd Rather Do' by Willa Shakespeare in Fire and Ice. Blake/Avon is (arguably) the main pairing of the fic to the extent that it was originally published in a B/A-only zine. 
*Two fics by Nova, which are primarily Blake/Avon (and other pairings, including Dayna/Soolin with T/V in the background): 'Songs of Innocence and Experience' and 'Unfinished Business'
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==Archives==
* An Avon/Tarrant Online Fiction Archive: contains a little T/V; founded by 1999
==References==
Category:Slash Pairings
Category:Blake's 7 Relationships