CI5 hq

I'm a very bad student - I'm only halfway through the fic despite having had weeks of notice it was coming up.

The end of part 2 last night made a very nice point at which to turn in, I must say. Will try to read parts 3 and 4 tonight, and I will because I absolutely love it.

From:

sc-fossil.livejournal.com

I love this story. I love Ellis Ward. One of the things that made me giggle was the use of HG's story titles in it. Cute. I like when a writer gives a tip of the hat to things they love in stories even if nobody really gets the joke.

It's nice and creepy and scary. What fun.

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"I like when a writer gives a tip of the hat to things they love in stories even if nobody really gets the joke."
Me too! And there is no way that something like that remains undiscovered! :-)
Good job, agent!

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byslantedlight.livejournal.com

Yes! Loved it! And a shout out for Gay's the Word too, which is a real bookshop in London, with really nice staff - friendly and helpful and just... what bookshops should be!

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Interesting! I liked all the detaily stuff about Bodie getting around London that day.
But confess I skipped some very detaily paragraphs about how computers work.

I like the way that, even in an AU, Bodie and Doyle look and largely behave just as they do in the eps, and Bodie's still ex-Army.

Still only halfway through, but really love this fic.

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byslantedlight.livejournal.com

I like the way that, even in an AU, Bodie and Doyle look and largely behave just as they do in the eps
But... if they didn't look and behave as they do in the eps, then surely it would just be a piece of original fiction with the names changed (and some Pros AUs do seem to be just that!)

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What I meant, but didn't explain myself clearly enough at all, was really wardrobe-related. Ellis Ward is careful to describe them in outfits that could be straight out of the eps, which certainly helps one visualise them. There's a few allusions to them being pretty fit too (one notices these things, ahem).

I'm shallow, I like clothes, and it interests me, in terms of men's clothing, that about 10 years later than Pros they could still be wearing the same outfits and looking good (alright, bloody gorgeous). The silk shirts from M&S might be a nod to the 80s, I'll grant.

In remarking they look like Bodie and Doyle, I was contrasting I suppose with historical and SF AUs,where although they have to have the distinctive Bodie and Doyle characteristics (or, as you say, it would be original fiction) obviously they would dress a bit differently from their CI5 personas.

(sorry, gotta go now, or I'd happily stay here all day)

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I love it too!
There are for example a lot of good dialogues and very 'sweet' moments when they try to 'scan' each other. Like this one:
"Very softly, very intensely, Bodie said, "Be careful, Ray. I'm not easy, and I come with strings." or this one:
"Eyes riveted on Bodie's face, his anger supplanted by unwilling fascination, Doyle ventured, "Romance, love, and marriage?"
"Yes," Bodie said simply. He opened the car door and stepped onto the gravel verge."
And at the grave Bodie says "We will (come back)another time." as if he takes it for granted that they belong together... :-)

There is also a nice change for Bodie and Doyle to be so domestic(?) and to have a feeling ‘of belonging’.
Employing his key with a sense of belonging, Bodie caught sight of an archly observant Mrs. Barberino and, smiling sweetly, waved to her. Before she could recover from her surprise, he had entered the enclosed porch, and was standing on the front mat.”
I like that!
I don’t think that that means OOC, but it’s a new quality for them.
(Not that that would 'fit' in every story! I just like it now and then! :-))

(BTW - Mrs.Barberino could have been a good minor character for the story, maybe like a small running gag that she always observes what B+D are doing and that Bodie manages to charm her anyway.
There are very seldom good minor characters in Pros stories, like for example in Arabian Nights by Pamela Rose. Just a thought...)

And then of course there are the haunting parts of the story! *shivers* :-)

Yes, a story I will read again!
Thanks for the rec - whoever... ;-)

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RE your comment below, about how computer engineer and writer are convincing occupations for Bodie and Doyle

But what about the "everyone's gay" computer repair business? lol! I thought that was a bit unrealistic, but I presume the point was to avoid any entanglements for Bodie with his female colleagues.
And hooray for super competent female colleagues.

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Yes, I too stumbled a bit over the fact that also his employee had to be gay. But she and Bodie's partner were a couple once, so it's explainable. There was no 'fight for gay rights mood' in the story, so I don't believe that Bodie has deliberately built up a 'strictly gay company'.

From: (Anonymous)

Oh look, this one is letting me post. Yay. I hope nobody minds me leaving a comment, I'm pretty much gen, but love a good story and this is a very good story.

I read this, recommended by the lovely Lorraine and I was spellbound by the story and the excellent writing skills of Ellis Ward. I love her physical descriptions of Doyle (you were right Lorraine) and I really like how creepy and suspenseful the plot is.

It starts off very convincingly in how and why they meet and the suspense grows and grows until you just know something is going to explode and oh boy, does it ever. There are so many nice touches along the way.

I loved loved loved how Bodie let an exhausted Doyle sleep on his leg at the beginning.

**If the motion of the car afforded Raymond Doyle the respite he so desperately needed, then that was what he would have. In fact, if he must drive all night to keep Doyle at peace, Bodie would happily do so.**

Bodie being so thorough about checking all the paperwork and the house, his relationship with the catholic priest, how Doyle, being so fiercely independent was finally driven to seek help, were excellently scripted.

I really liked how the attacks got more and more intense the closer to his birthday and I liked how first Bodie did the rescue of Doyle and got him out the house and then later, Doyle did the same for Bodie. Double h/c. Perfect.

Only one thing puzzled me and that was at the end, with his father in the cellar. Did his dad have designs on his own son's body?

**His puppeteer stood behind him, an arm slung round Doyle's shoulders, the other moving suggestively beneath the smooth fabric at his waist

As he spoke, his hand stroked Doyle's chest beneath the dressing-gown, gliding lower toward his abdomen.

Keeping himself still by main force, Bodie growled, "I would not let you have him before; do you seriously think I will let you harm him now?"

"You have no choice." The arm circling Doyle's throat rose caressingly. "It is a pity, I agree, for he has become a pretty thing."**

If so, that's a hard thing for Doyle to accept isn't it? Blood and all that. But I can't think what else he may be trying to accomplish, and what he would have done, had Bodie not come into the cellar. It didn't seem to fit in with the rest of what we know about Timothy Doyle. But I may be just reading it wrong.

Ellis is very good at writing the care that they have for each other in a believable manner. At no time does it ever go overboard into mushiness and the gradual build up of affection is really quite beautifully done.

Yeah, I liked this one.

Jaicen (hoping I posted this all right, it's my first ever one).:)

From:

byslantedlight.livejournal.com

Firstly - welcome to

ci5hq! Non-lj-ers are absolutely welcome to comment here and participate in whatever way they like! The only thing you can't do is make a post of your own, which is a livejournal rule rather than ours, but if you ever would like to, you could contact one of the mods and we'll be happy to post something on your behalf. (Same is true over at

discoveredinalj, by the way, and I think also nowadays at

the_safehouse)

Only one thing puzzled me and that was at the end, with his father in the cellar. Did his dad have designs on his own son's body?
Yeah, I think that was the implication - that Timothy Doyle was evil, through and through, that even the thought of his own son couldn't redeem him because he'd just twist Ray to his own uses as well... And yes, all very hard for our Ray Doyle to accept - good job he's got Bodie to help him through it all! *g*

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Hello and welcome. Thanks so much for dropping by.

I'm not much into gen (*g*) but I'm delighted to have the opportunity to tell you how much I love your vids, you really bring out the lads' sex appeal.

I agree with all your 'highlights' of this fic. Very well said!

Edited Date: 2009-10-30 10:26 am (UTC)

From: (Anonymous)

Oh thank you for the welcome. I haven't done an LJ, well mainly as I didn't think I would really use one - my stuff is mainly gen, not a lot of traffic in that direction on here (*g*). However a good story is a good story, no matter what the genre, and I have some very favourite (mainly AU) slash ones as well as some very favourite gen ones.

Firlefanzine told me about this story being in the reading room and I wanted to give it the accolades it deserves, so I'm glad no one minds.

Oh and thanks also for liking my vids - I like experimenting with them, but have to admit that the ones bringing out their sex appeal are probably the easiest - since they both are, in quite a natural way, so incredibly sexy. *g*.

cheers
Jaicen. (hoping I didn't spoil the story for you, I thought everyone would have read it, sorry).

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"hoping I didn't spoil the story for you" - thanks, but please don't worry. You are quite right to assume that people have read the story before reading the comments (or that they don't mind knowing what happens in it), or else we couldn't discuss the fics freely at all.

Please do join us again - maybe even rec one of those favourite AU or gen ones?

From:

sc-fossil.livejournal.com

Hello, Jaicen. 'Bout time you showed up! *bg* Good seeing you here.

I do think Timothy Doyle was evil and would have abused Doyle.

Everything you said is true. Wonderful story. Ellis is a great writer. I do wish she'd venture back our way.

Keep hanging out. It's fun having you.

From: (Anonymous)

Gday sc fossil.

Thanks, actually it was your comment that made me give it a go, not all allow anon postings, so I was delighted this one did for this particular story.

**I do think Timothy Doyle was evil and would have abused Doyle.**

Heavens, what with? It was all falling to bits wasn't it? Eughh, not a nice ordeal for poor Ray, lucky Ellis stopped there, the imagination was probably sufficient for me, I have a very vivid imagination. (*g*)

But good writing too, for us to be soooo glad Bodie got there to stop it.

I've read a couple of Ellis's other stuff - lurk all over the place I do, but nothing has struck me as much as this one, she must have put considerable time and effort into it - I know how long a good fic takes to write. Be nice if she did wander back.

And its brought a bit of Halloween into my part of the world (which doesn't really have Halloween).

Jaicen.

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Hi Jaicen!
You gave me the tip to read this story some months ago, and I loved it from the beginning!
And there are so many lovely details in it that it was a pleasure to re-read it so soon.

"I loved loved loved how Bodie let an exhausted Doyle sleep on his leg at the beginning."
Yes! That's one of my favourite moments as well!

Nice to see you here! :-)

From:

callistosh65.livejournal.com

I'm another one who is a HUGE fan of this story. I adore Ellis Ward, and while I sometimes have a hard time with the paranormal in the world of CI5, this one works like a charm for me precisely because it's an AU, and because Doyle and Bodie are still completely recognisable as the Bodie and Doyle from the show. The ghost story is truly horrifying at times - she builds it up in true 'it's behind you!' style. And as a background to propelling the lads into each other's arms, it's perfect.

That's another thing I really enjoy in this, the central romance. She has a knack for nailing emotions without dramatics that I envy and love in about equal measure. I like the fact that both are gay in this, that their sexuality is not an issue, just their growing attraction, each for the other.

Despite the creepy chills, it's a genuinely warm and beautifully observed romance.

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"I like the fact that both are gay in this, that their sexuality is not an issue, just their growing attraction, each for the other.
Yes! And aren't these moments just great, when Bodie interrogates Ray about his sexual practices - just for the sake of his job of course! ;-)

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Well said! Thanks for your thoughts.

I wrote a rambly reply, then decided to post as my own comment, below.

(And this comment might now appear twice as the first attempt seems to have disappeared.)

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I wouldn't normally choose to read stories about the paranormal - ghosts and stuff - but seeing as this was a Bodie and Doyle story *and* by a favourite writer I thought I'd give it a go and, no real surprise there then, I really enjoyed it! Especially the way she wrote about their falling-in-love: the early interest, the vibes and the mutual fascination - their 'growing attraction' as

callistosh65 describes it above. I could have gone on and on just relishing that aspect of the story alone but I suppose that wouldn't have left much of a story.... Anyway, I thought she handled a potentially difficult subject with her usual expertise and I liked it a lot. Many thanks for the rec.

Edited Date: 2009-10-30 09:43 pm (UTC)

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"...the 'growing' attraction... ...I could have gone on and on just relishing that aspect of the story alone..."
I know what you mean! I kind of galloped through the paranormal parts of the story just to come back quickly to the Bodie/Doyle bits... :-)
BTW - I think that choice of jobs as computer expert and writer, is something I really could imagine as an 'after CI5' life for them! Don't you think so?

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BTW - I think that choice of jobs as computer expert and writer, is something I really could imagine as an 'after CI5' life for them! Don't you think so?

You mean when they've got arthritis and are too old to duck and dive? Hmmm....I dunno. I've been thinking about this and I can't imagine Bodie doing anything which would involve being office-bound all day. Even if he wasn't as fit as he once was I could still imagine him travelling and perhaps working in security.....consultant to an oil company or something? A maritime consultant? Advising foreign governments on piracy, landmines and things - work that you wouldn't get down the local job centre. And Doyle as a writer? Possibly, I think I could imagine him doing something like that more than I can Bodie, at least if not a writer then *something* creative. Or maybe buying some land together, perhaps somewhere in Ireland? I can envisage them being their own bosses after leaving CI5.

Edited Date: 2009-10-31 02:19 pm (UTC)

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"You mean when they've got arthritis and are too old to duck and dive?"
LOL! No, when they are tired of Cowleys triple-thinkings and his betrayals, for example after 'Blind Run' or after 'Operation Susie'... I'm always happy when they leave CI5 in a story - alive!
OK, that's a point with Bodie and being office-bound all day! The security job then!? - but that should involve Doyle too, otherwise they would be too often apart.
But why do you think, that they would be happy as 'shepherds' in Ireland? :-)

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Maybe not shepherds, exactly, I was thinking more along the lines of breeding horses or something....they seem to like horses - a stud farm?

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I always thought that Bodie is searching for the gearshift when I see him on a picture together with a horse. He's more the motorbike/technics type for me. That's why I like him as the computer expert here in this story.

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That's a good point. Yeah, maybe...

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