RIP Jonathan Hardy

[eve11]

We all remember that sorrowful time. It was the third phase of Stillwater and unseasonably cool, as if Hyneria held summer close to her chest in deference to our beloved Dominar's passing. We remember the summons, pealed across the Ten Worlds. We remember the squabbles that followed, as his heirs attempted to discern which among them had held Rygel the Sixteenth's final counsel, thus gaining his Empire's favor.

Give me another drink, and I'll tell you a secret. It was none of them.

You may wonder how someone of my breedpond would know this. I wasn't much more than a tadling then, and just a common tradesman. But my family has tended the Royal gardens for millennia, you see, and the birthpools and deathpools. I was there, repairing a temperature gauge behind a trellis a few kicks from Rygel's very pool. My hands shook with nerves, though the Dominar couldn't have noticed me. There was barely a breath of life in him.

My thoughts were only to serve his comfort and leave, but when the gate opened I froze. And I didn't look away, honor take me, which is why I can tell you this.

Dominar Rygel's final counsel was a whispering, scarred alien who disturbed not a droplet as he settled in the pool. He smiled, and the garden was infused with it. The deathpool was aglow, golden. He took Rygel's hand, and the Dominar sighed.

And I heard them, the last words Rygel uttered before surrendering to the currents.

"About time, you old lunatic."

===============


I know it's not the Dominar himself passing, but it is sad to hear of the death of Jonathan Hardy who gave Farscape's Rygel the Sixteenth such a wonderful character with his voice. I wrote the above six years ago now, in a flash ficlet for lizamanynames titled "Five times people told Stark he was loved, without saying those words." Ah, the dysfunctional Laurel and Hardy duo of Farscape: Stark and Rygel. It is a testament to the actors that we all saw the depths, potential, and life in these characters, especially the synthetic ones like Rygel and Pilot. Godspeed, Mr. Hardy. The Hallowed Realms have no idea what they're in for...

Comments

[dominar-action.livejournal.com]

Awww, how sad. I hadn't heard. :( Farscape wouldn't have been the same without him. Wish I had a more appropriate icon.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Oh. Oh. *sniffle* That's sad and lovely and so very appropriate to repost now.

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh. This is just. Oh.

This is just perfect.

[eve11]

Aw, it's Farscape, it's okay to include ribald jokes about bodily functions. I think Mr. Hardy would have approved ;)

[eve11]

Thanks. I wasn't sure whether to re-post but some others were looking for Rygel fic in light of the announcement. Man, reading Froon's comments about what they had to wade through before finding Rygel's voice... we were so, so lucky! It wouldn't have been the same without him.

[eve11]

Aw, thanks.

Man, now if they ever do a Farscape cartoon, Rygel's just gonna sound wrong :( Not that there is a giant chance they'd do one but still :(

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

Yeah....but I think you're right about the cartoon. You know, no matter what other shows I love and adore and even find perfect, nothing has ever matched the joy I get from Farscape. Simply the most amazing thing.

[lomer.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I met him over 10 years ago at a convention and he was lovely and wonderful and there are pictures somewhere of him doing a dramatic dip with me. He insisted on the pose. Sad day.

[eve11]

Aw, I have a picture of me and Jonathan Hardy and Anthony Simcoe where they are doing ridiculous finger-gun posings. I think it's from about 2003 :)