Title: It's All Fun and Games Until...
Author's LJ/DWJ: randomfreshink, randomfreshink 
Categories: Vala, Sam, humour, awesome women
Warnings: None
Author's Webpage/Fic list: No current fic list
Link to story: LJ
Why this should be read:

This fic features Sam and Vala out on a shopping trip off-world, with a bit of a twist at the end. It's got good description and the awesome characterization that Random's known for, but I particularly love her portrayal of Vala. Her voice is spot-on, from her ability to spin any situation to her advantage to her gleeful mangling of Earth culture. This is the Vala who survived on her own in a galaxy out to get her; who was taken as a host and then abandoned and still kept fighting. All in all, and excellent read.



She flipped the dull gray metal into the air--it was no bigger than her thumb, about half as thick. Urshambi snatched it with one hand. He glanced at it, then dragged the merchandise aside, and Vala could swear that was almost a growl from Samantha, so she bumped her elbow into lean ribs and kept smiling. One of Urshambi's thin hands vanished up the sleeve of his robes, and the rings activated a second time.

Vala swapped a long look with Samantha, and the message came back very clear with narrowed eyes and a nod. Samantha was still up for this, wasn't like to ruin anything--not until they were both ready to ruin everything. She linked her arm with Samantha's and gave the new goods the once-over with a connoisseur's discrimination. "Well, what do you think, darling?"