Blake/Avon

Although other pairings have been equally or at times more popular within Blake's 7 fandom, over time Blake/Avon has proved to be persistantly the most popular pairing within the fandom.Hermit's index of 'Slash and Adult Pairings' lists c500 known Blake/Avon fics, c350 known Avon/Vila, <100 Avon/Tarrant, <100 Avon/Cally. Archive of Our Own lists 250+ Blake/Avon to c35 Avon/Vila as of July 2013. It seems unlikely that much was written before 1983 when the first all-slash Blake's 7 zine E-Man-Uelle was published. By the late 1980s, more slash zines (including Blake/Avon, among other pairings such as Avon/Vila, Avon/Tarrant) were being published than het zines.Trends in Blake's 7 zines on Espresso Central Hermit Library's index of all known 'Slash and Adult Pairings' in Blake's 7 suggests that over time Blake/Avon came to dominate the fandom.
The pairing is a mix of buddyslash and enemyslash, with Avon taking the role of Blake’s second-in-command/most trusted friend,According the 1994 Blake’s 7 Magazine Winter Special “Blake was to be given the dying words; "Oh Avon, I didn't take any of them on trust... except you... You are my... only friend", but these were removed because Blake's ability to deliver them after the violence of his shooting stretched credibility.” So says Wikipedia. And, of course, his canonical final words to Avon before he disappears at the end of series 2 are: "Avon, for what it is worth, I have always trusted you, from the very beginning." (2x13 'Star One'). and that of his chief critic. The tension between the two is largely a result of opposing worldviews: Blake is motivated by wide humanitarian goals, namely bringing down the Federation so that “free men can think and speak”, while Avon maintains that “Wealth is the only reality”Both quotations from transcript of episode 1x2 ‘Space Fall’, Avon’s first episode, hosted on Hermit.org and would (so he claims) rather stay alive than help anyone else.
In some fics, this tension between them leads to hatesex. In others they love each other despite of (or because of) their differences. As Sally Manton points out, “[there] are indicators lightly sprinkled through the series that they do like each other, even as they vex and infuriate each other” and even as (at least) Avon denies it.‘Blake and Avon’ by Sally Manton on Hermit.org
The events of the show’s final episode both serve to further the pairing (with Blake greeting Avon with the words ‘Avon, I was waiting for you’Transcript of 4x13 ‘Blake’ on Hermit.org and Avon reacting in devastation to the idea that Blake has betrayed him), and potentially destroyed the pairing forever (since at least one half is probably dead by the credits, if not both). However, fandom being fandom, this episode has also inspired numerous Post-Gauda Prime fix-it fics, in which Blake and Avon survive their implied deaths. In such fics, they are then (sometimes) allowed to work out their differences. See Tropes/PGP Fics for more details.
==Is it Canon?==
It is highly unlikely that the relationship between the two main male characters in a 1970s/80s BBC action adventure drama is intended to be depicted as a romantic one, however, script editor Chris Boucher (who arguably understands the characters best) has made the following comments on the record.
 While Boucher certainly seems to believe that the two had a very close relationship (romantic or otherwise), Paul Darrow (Avon) seems to believe the opposite, despite his own performance strongly suggesting that Avon cares for Blake in some way. The following quotation (one of a number of similar quotations) is taken from his autobiography You're Him, Aren't You?
It is possible (perhaps even probable) that Darrow writes about Avon's relationship with Blake with some irony, but he sounds serious when he says on the bonus material for Big Finish full-cast audio Warship:
As Boucher says, "you pays your money and you takes your choice."
==Fandom History==
Blake's 7 zines had been available from 1977, but almost all were exclusively gen or het until c1983.Trends in Blake's 7 zines on Espresso Central The novella Mindfire (privately circulated/bootlegged from 1979, and "officially" published in 1998) is thought to be the earliest instance of the pairing, which is here presented as part of a Blake/Avon/Cally triad although Blake and Avon do agree they'd stay together even if Cally died.
Other contenders for the first Blake/Avon fic in a zine include E-Man-Uelle, the first all-slash zine and "A Fate Worse than Death" by Ann Johnson & Jane Carnall published in Touched #3 (1984), which is the earliest B/A fic listed in Hermit.org's list of all known A/B stories.
Notable anthology zines containing Blake/Avon fics include: Fire and Ice (all Blake/Avon), Oblaque, Resistance, Avon Calling and Southern Lights/Southern Comfort.
Blake's 7 fandom went online in 1992. The first mailing list was called Lysator and was named after the "Lysator Academic Computer Society", one of the first Internet-connected sites in Sweden. 
In 1995, Space City, a slash mailing list was spun off to allow discussion of slash and adult topics without controversy. This was superseded in 1999 by Freedom City.
The Hermit Library archive was founded in 2000 by Judith Proctor and has not been updated since c2008. It hosts around 150+ stories that feature Blake, Avon and a M/M pairing at least 'thinking about sex' with each other. Some fic was uploaded to Fanfiction.net from 2001 onwards, but mostly before the 'filter by character' option was available, so it is difficult to tell how much is Blake/Avon. Hip Deep in Heroes was founded in 2008 by Nicola Mody, Van Donovan and others - it closed in 2013.
Fandom moved onto Livejournal in 2003, although the lists and archives continued to be used. Within the year, communities such as b7_rpg were founded. There does not seem to have been a pairing-specific Blake/Avon community. Other homes on LJ for Blake/Avon fic include b7fic and B7 Friday.
Fans began uploading old and new Blake/Avon stories to Archive of Our Own in 2009. As of July 2013, Blake/Avon is the most popular Blake's 7 ship on AO3, with 267 fics (the next most popular is Avon/Vila with 32!).
=== Controversies ===
Slash (including Blake/Avon) was blamed for relations between BNFs and the actors 'imploding' in the 1980s. Although this connection was later disproved, it does seem that the actors were uncomfortable with their characters being slashed, with Paul Darrow reputedly asking, 'Why is Gareth [Thomas] always raping me?'
In the 1990s fans on B7 lists and newsgroups were forced to defend their slash-preferences against new fans so often that the Generic Slash Defence Form Letter was drawn up. See The Generic Slash Defense Letter for more information on this letter.
Also see the 'Slash Appears' on the main Blake's 7 page for more details.
==Fanfiction and Popular Tropes==
Given that Blake leaves the Liberator crew at the end of series 2 (meaning that he and Avon are separated), most Blake/Avon fics are set either in the first two series or Post-Gauda Prime after they have reunited.Much Blake's 7 fic is not labelled with its series, so it is difficult to cite this, however Hermit.org lists the following numbers of fic with Blake and Avon and a M/M pairing at least 'thinking about sex' with each other across the various categories: 5 pre series fics, 48 series 1, 68 series 2, 20 series 3, 22 series 4, 34 PGP. There is also further discussion about distribution of fics across series, referring to Blake/Avon, at the b7discussion comm on LJ. (For more info about PGP fics see below).
The way the pairing is portrayed varies enormous across the fandom, ranging from schmoop to darkfic, based partly on how the author views Blake and his motivations, and partly on personal preference. The dichotomy can be loosely expressed as Floods of TearsReferred to as a 'school' of thought in Predatrix's review of 'Fire & Ice' #2 on Hermit.org vs Oblaque.Sarah Thompson describes 'Hidden Facets' in 'Tales from Space City' as "rather like an Oblaque story"She also describes 'Firewalk' in 'Dark Fantasies' #6 as "an Oblaque-type A/B dealing with the sexual aftereffects of Blake's conditioning by the Federation".
'Floods of Tears' basically refers to the reaction Blake and Avon have to discovering the other's love for them/other emotional events in the fics within this school. These fics are likely to be PGP fics that take place in the wake of the Federation's downfall - thus allowing Blake and Avon to focus on their relationship. Blake is generally portrayed as a good-hearted hero.
* Careless Whispers by S Lewis. The definitive 'Floods of Tears' text.
* The Last Best Hope/The Long Way Back by Melody C.
* 'New Day Dawning' by Imajiru Mackenzie in Fire and Ice #3
Oblaque is a Blake's 7 slash zine, which generally focuses on darker characterisations and scenarios. CB writes "Undercurrents of power, domination both social and sexual, abuse and violence permeate the eroticism of many of these stories, and the tone is generally dark, not so much hurt/comfort as anguish, desperation and a little bit of comfort if you're very lucky. Suffering, whether emotional or physical, really means suffering. "CB reviews 'Oblaque' on Hermit.org In such stories, Blake is more likely to be manipulative and a relatively dark character. Tropes include BDSM and hatesex.
* Cat's Cradle P1 and P2 by Sebastian
* The Truth Will Out by M Fae Glasgow
* Flow Gently, Sweet Afton by Leigh Graham
* Code of Silence by shimere277. BDSM; not Oblaque
* 'Castle in the Air' by Phillipa Scott in Southern Comfort #6.5. With Blake/Jenna and Avon/Anna. BDSM; not Oblaque
Of course, many other fics fall somewhere between these two extremes!
===Tropes===
In her 2004 ship manifesto, Executrix identified the main tropes of Blake/Avon fic as follows:
The tropes identified by executrix (including cave stories, aphrodisiacs and Pretend Couple) are perhaps particularly popular in this ship because Blake and Avon have a naturally antagonistic relationship and presumably many reasons for not wanting to be in a relationship with each other. Avon canonically denies even liking Blake as a person, although his actions suggest otherwise. Tropes that force them to act on their feelings and/or talk about them are therefore very useful in engineering a first time.
====Amnesia/Mindwipe====
Blake's 7 is a fandom that canonically includes the possibility of mindwiping someone (in the first episode it is revealed that Blake, at least, has been mindwiped at least twice, and Vila numerous times). This theme can be explored for angst with Blake wondering who he really is during series 1 and 2.
* 'Continue to Continue' by Northwest Smith in Southern Comfort 6.5
* The Treatment by Bryn Lantry
Alternatively, amnesia or mindwipes can occur after Gauda Prime or otherwise during the show. Again, this use of the trope is likely to produce angsty fic, but it can be used to bring Blake and Avon together, since they no longer remember their difficult past together.
* Flow Gently, Sweet Afton by Leigh Graham
* The Ghosts of Gauda Prime by Natasha Solten in Fire & Ice #3
Perhaps the most common use of the mindwipe trope is in fics that posit that Blake and Avon knew each other before 'The Way Back', the first episode of the show (consequently such fics are sometimes called 'Pre Way Back' fics) and now no longer remember their 'relationship' (or only one of them remembers it). They may have known each other while working on the Aquatar Project togetherIn 1x3 'Cygnus Alpha' Blake and Avon exchange the following dialogue AVON	I handled the computer analysis for a research project into matter transmission. It was based on a new alloy.../BLAKE	Aquatar./AVON	That's right./BLAKE	Yes, I worked on that project too./AVON	Small world./BLAKE	Large project. Transcript hosted on Hermit.org or at meetings of Blake's political group 'The Freedom Party'.
* The Last Best Hope by Melody C.
* Urban Panter by Willa Shakespeare ('gay pulp novel' fic)
* Images by Linda Norman
====Aphrodisiacs====
Fairly self-explanatory.
* Automatic Reactions by Predatrix
* Three Times Daily by Julia Stamford
* The Biter Bit by Nova
====Avon's Incredible Beauty vs Blake's Force of Personality====
Despite him being played by a 40ish-year-old British actor on British television in the 1970s (and thus arguably not being conventionally attractive), Avon's physical beauty is often explicitly referred to in Blake's 7 fic, particularly Blake/Avon fic. In some cases, his beauty is even used as the instigator for the plot i.e. Avon's desirability makes him an ideal candidate to pretend to be Blake's hired 'companion', or Avon's beauty gets the crew into trouble/puts him into a compromising position i.e. he might be sold into sex slavery or captured and forced to work in a brothel.
* Gorgeous by R. Olivia Brown
Conversely, Blake's physical charms are usually more objectively appraised by the narrative and by Avon.
This is true even in extremely romantic and fluffy fics, with Anna S's review of 'Floods of Tears' classic Careless Whispers noting that:
However, there are a group of fics (reputedly produced and influenced by writer London Bates) that stand as an exception to this rule to this rule. Sarah Thompson identifies these fics as:
====Backrubs====
The episode 2x4 'Horizon' states categorically that Avon has a bad back and that the rest of the Liberator crew are suffering from severe stress. Since Blake's holiday plans are basically non-existent or lies, backrubs are often medically necessary...
* Someone to Watch Your Back by Belatrix Carter and its sequel Back-up Disc by Executrix
* 'Morning After' by Mistral (Blake/Avon/Cally)
====Blake's Child-Molesting Charges====
In the first episode, the Federation conspire to discredit Blake as a political figure by fabricating charges of child molesting. The children involved all have their memories modified so that they believe what happened really took place. The show never referred to these charges again, but fanfic mines it as a rich source of conflict. Many Blake/Avon fics explore Blake's horror and worry that there might be some truth in these charges and/or experiencing sexual disfunction, either as a result of his disgust or as a result of Federation conditioning to stop him 're-offending'. Other fics introduce the Liberator crew to the other people whose lives were affected by these charges.
* Rosetta Stone by M Fae Glasgow (posits the charges were based in reality, daddy games)
* 'As Easy as Falling Off a Bike' and 'Hot Tub' in Fire and Ice #7 by Helen Patrick (posits Blake has been conditioned)
* 'Though Memories Die, Love Remains' by Leah S in Fire and Ice #3 (one of Blake's 'victims' has fallen in love with him and has tracked him down)
* Things We Said Today by hafren (Blake is unable to have sex because he's so horrified by what happened to the children)
====Brothels====
While there are no brothels shown in canon, episode 2x11 'Gambit' is set in a place called 'Freedom City' ruled by a man called Krantor, who boasts: "Discretion and delicacy are the very watchwords of my organization. Just tell me your requirements and I will see that you are provided with the most sophisticated -- and subtle -- forms of satisfaction", while in another scene of the same episode Jenna (in part of a fake fight) calls Cally "a cheap little space tramp... a ten-credit touch".Script for 2x11 'Gambit' hosted at Hermit.org It therefore seems likely that there are brothels in this universe and that our heroes might come into contact with them.
Blake/Avon fics set in and around brothels can a) use it as a source of conflict (based on a past one of them would rather forget) b) use the brothel as a device to force the characters together, with either both of them being captured and forced to have sex for someone else's amusement, or one of them being captured only to be rescued (generally after a sex scene) by the other or c) used as a place to find someone to take their mind off the other i.e. Avon finds a man who looks like Blake or d) the two of them agree to share someone so they can be together.
* Something to Live For by Sean Charles (Avon captured)
* Avon at the Window by Nova (Avon's past)
* Freedom City Follies by Willa Shakespeare (Blake and Avon both captured, along with the rest of the crew)
* Against the Wall by M Fae Glasgow (Blake and Avon have sex with the same man)
===='London' Fic====
Blake and Avon (presumably) meet for the first time in episode 1x2 'Space Fall' on board a prison transfer ship called the 'London', which is on route to the planet Cygnus Alpha. Although the action of the episode seem to suggest otherwise, it is clearly stated that this trip will take eight months and thus, presumably, at least several months have passed with all the prisoners in close confinement before Blake, Avon and Jenna board the Liberator. Some fics posit that Blake and Avon became lovers during this period.
* Angels and Devils part of Bend Me, Shape Me by Nova
Other fics, such as Careless Whispers or Nova's 'To Tell the Truth', simply posit that Blake and Avon fell for each other during the journey, but chose not to act on their attraction.
====PGP Fics====
Post-Gauda Prime fic is a major genre within Blake's 7 fic.As of July 2013 Archive of Our Own has 109 stories tagged 'Post Gauda Prime', which is around 10% of the B7 fic hosted on that site. Hermit Library has 142 PGP fics out of a total of 600. Not all PGP fics posit that Blake and Avon both survived, but many Blake/Avon PGP fics do, for obvious reasons. The other characters in the tracking gallery may or may not have survived, with some fans extrapolating the possibility of life or death for characters based on which guns they were shot with, and others choosing to ignore the events depicted on screen and writing an active AU.
Hafren posits that the popularity of PGP fic:
This genre is so large that it has its own set of story tropes/reoccurring story elements.
=====Blake as President=====
In many fics, Blake becomes the new president of the Federation, often with Avon as his chief advisor. The two men may already have realised their feelings for each other as a result of the events of Gauda Prime (or earlier events), or may gradually realise their feelings while working together.
* Careless Whispers by S Lewis
* Gemini Rising by Suzann Lovett (gen)
* The Last Best Hope by Melody C. (pre-slash)
* Looking For Gold by hafren
=====Guilt and Remorse=====
Some writers attempt to excuse Avon's choice to shoot Blake by attributing it to an external influence (for example, Servalan conditioned him or otherwise began controlling him during 'Terminal').
* The Last Best Hope by Melody C. (pre-slash)
Other stories focus on themes of guilt, remorse and possible atonement, with Avon regretting his actions to the extent that he sometimes attempts to commit suicide and/or engages in 'floods of tears'. Blake is often depicted as intractable and vengeful:
* 'Finally Come Home' by Irish and 'New Day Dawning' by Imajiru Mackenzie, both in Fire & Ice #3.
* Several of Hafren's fics also deal with this idea. For example, Sentence (gen), which is part of the Atonement Cycle (also includes fics by Willa Shakespeare and Nova)
* Else the Universe by shimere277.
Blake can also be instantly forgiving:
* Body & Soul by Nova
* Nothing I'd Rather Do by Willa Shakespeare
=====Blake's Clone=====
In 2x3 'Weapon' it was revealed that Servalan had cloned Blake. The clone has some but not all of Blake's memories, and ends the episode alive and apparently in a romantic relationship with the ex-slave Rashel. In some PGP fics, it is revealed that the man Avon shot on Gauda Prime was actually the clone, rather than the real Blake. In others, Avon actively or accidentally encounters the clone and forms a new 'relationship' with him.
* Fealty by Bryn Lantry
* 'Avon, My Avon' by Vanessa Mullen, published in Fire & Ice #3
* Shane by Judith Proctor (gen)
* Doppelganger by Suzan Lovett (gen, and actually pre-Gauda Prime, but clearly informed by those events/set in around the same time-frame)
====Pretend Couple====
As Executrix says, this trope is usually excused as part of a plot in which Blake needs to convince some rebels/potential rebels to help the Liberator crew or otherwise join the fight against the Federation.
* Fire & Ice #3 has no fewer than four fics that use this trope (although 'Though Memories Die, Love Remains' by Leah S has Blake/Avon as the real relationship, and Blake/Jenna as the fake one). One of them is Gorgeous by R. Olivia Brown
* Five Easy Pieces by Nova
====Slave Fic====
Blake/Avon is a pairing about power dynamics and Blake canonically orders Avon around. Slavefic, much like BDSM, is a consequently popular as a way of extending/inverting this relationship.
* Retraining by hafren (gen. Avon is Blake's slave. Unusually his duties do not include sex).
* Nor Iron Bars a Cage by R. Olivia Brown (Avon is Blake's slave)
* 'Once More into the Breach' by Emily Ross in Powerplay #1 (gen. Blake is purchased by Avon. Picked as one of Sally and Jenny's 50 Favourite A-B Gen Stories)
* 'The Gift' by Pat Terra in Fire & Ice #3 (Blake is Avon's slave)
====Trapped in Rubble/Trapped on a Planet====
Otherwise known as cave stories. Typically a result of a mission going wrong.
* Fanatics by Bryn Lantry
* Frozen In Hell by Julia Stamford
* All Flannel and a Yard Wide by Willa Shakespeare and Blakefancier
===Interactions with Other Characters===
Many fans believe that Jenna is sexually or romantically interested in Blake in the series. Consequently, in stories where he pairs up with Avon, this can often lead to a trope known as Jealous Jenna. In some cases, this can be OOC, and Michelle M. has called 'really bad' examples 'misogynistic'.The Generic Slash Defense Form Letter
* Checkers by Pat Patera (gen)
* 'Take My Heart' by Irish in Southern Comfort #9.5
* Divide and Conquer by Willa Shakespeare
The Blake/Avon relationship is also often featured in the background of Avon/Vila fics, either as a past relationship that Avon is now glad to be rid of, or as a relationship he wishes he could be in while he is with Vila. Alternately, Vila's interest in Avon (or Blake) may lead to a threesome, which could potentially devolve Blake/Avon. Cally is also sometimes featured as the third corner of the triangle, but more rarely.
* Bittersweet by Sebastian (Blake/Avon/Vila, into Blake/Avon)
* 'Morning After' by Mistral in Southern Comfort #6.5 (Blake/Avon/Cally)
* Mindfire by Ermentrude Postlethwaite-Smythe (Blake/Avon/Cally)
Vila may also be portrayed as "the wise Delta - who sees all and knows all without being told".'The Endless Farce' reviewed by Sally Manton on Hermit.org
===Gen as Slash===
In addition to the fics where slash is implied or actively present, Blake's 7 fandom contains a great deal of gen fic that focuses on the intense relationship between Blake and Avon to the extent that, like the show itself, it can be read as slashy. Such fic is known as Blake-Avon or "A stories (smarm), which focus on an emotional but not explicitly sexual relationship between Avon and Blake",Sally and Jenny's 50 Favourite A-B Gen Stories rather than Blake/Avon. The Space City Blake/Avon recs list features several stories that are "actually gen, but are still picked as favourites by slash fans because of the intensity of the relationship and the quality of the writing."'Favourite Avon/Blake stories' (Space City recs list) on Hermit.org
Kindkit has commented:
The main resource for this genre is a list compiled by Sally Manton and Jenny Pausacker's epic list: Sally and Jenny's 50 Favourite A-B Gen Stories.
Examples include:
* Suzan Lovett's five A-B stories, particularly The Road to Hell, which includes such classic slash tropes as naked huddling for warmth and a variation on the Cave story (minus the cave, plus sewers).
* Checkers by Pat Patera
* Rogues by Teri White
* A Christmas Canto by Sally Manton
* Beloved Adversary by Sondra Sweigman
==Other Example Fanworks==
===Meta===
* ThreePursuitShip by Executrix for ship_manifesto (Sep 2004)
* Blake & Avon essay; copy by Sally MantonWayback Machine link.
* The Beginner's Guide to Blake's 7 Slash; copy by Manna (fic)
* Carnell Knowledge; copy: Carnell examines the Blake/Avon relationship to find out whether they were having sex.
* you complete me // you had me at 'is it true? have you betrayed us?' (a ship manifesto that focuses exclusively on Blake's feelings for Avon) by Aralias
* Romancing the Slash by Sarah Thompson
===Fanfiction Rec Lists===
* Space City rec list
* Sally & Jenny's 50 Favourite A-B Gen Stories (with 50 bonus extras)
* Blake's 7 recs at LJ community crack_van (not all B/A, but many are)
* Katy & Molly's 77+ Favourite A/B and A-B Fics
===Example Fanart Gallery===
File:Avoncalling3back.jpg|Suzan Lovett is one of the best-regarded Blake/Avon artists, known for highly detailed, idealised slash images (often in fantasy settings). This image, Sleeping Beauty, was originally published in Avon Calling #3 and features an unusually gentle portrayal of the relationship.
File:B7 FireIce2.jpg|Other fanart, such as this Fire & Ice #2 cover by Phoenix, depicts the more confrontational aspects.
File:B7 careless whispers interior by randy.jpg|Interior art by Randym for Careless Whispers shows the level of stylisation at the other end of the spectrum to Lovett.
File:Fireandice9art3.jpg|Manips became more prominent in the 2000s. This image is interior art by Pat Fenech is from Fire & Ice #9 published in 2005.
File:Fireandice6art2.jpg|NSFW. Some publishers refused to print sexually artwork. Fire & Ice #6 had a particularly high number of explicit images, including this one by Whitby27. Note: Marked as sexually explicit.
==Fan Comments==
==Other Resources==
* List of all known A/B stories. Last updated 2 February 2003.
* List of all known A-B stories. Last updated 2 June 2001.
* A/B Slash: A Chronological Listing by Nova (mirrored on DW). Last updated 2005.
==References==
Category:Slash Pairings
Category:Blake's 7 Relationships