The Reading Room - fic for this week

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Hi there! Pull up a chair, help yourself to the biscuits, and let us have your thoughts on

"Christmas Snow" by PFL:
http://hatstand.slashcity.net/pfl/snow.html
http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/7/christmassnow.html

And there's still time to have your say on the fic for 17 December here.

Comments

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

I adore this. I always remember and love it for the irrepressible Doyle she presnts us with. Yes, he's moody and upset at the beginning, but waking Bodie up for a snowball fight? Is beyond lovely. I love that he gives that simple reason for turning up, that he forgot to wish Bodie a 'Happy Christmas'. As always with PFL, the magic is in what they 'don't' say.

And the way Doyle disappears to go and get his toothbrush is somehow better than a dozen red roses and declarations.

Thank you, that was a terrific seasonal choice!

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Christmas fics were something it took me a long time to warm to. I don't know why. But I do love them now. Maybe it's the contrast between the season of love and the reality of the job they do. Maybe it's the innocence of the holidays and the nostalgia factor that brings out -- believably -- a side of them that we wouldn't otherwise see.

Whatever it is, a well done Christmas story captures all that and more -- and PFL has some of the best Christmas stories out there. I really enjoyed this.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

That's beautiful!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Blimey! Where did the week go?

I'm another one who felt (and still feels) a bit indifferent towards Christmas stories but Christmas Snow is one of *the* exceptions to my indifference because of writing like the following:

Bodie fumbled with the locks, got them inside, closed the door and reset the locks, then turned to look at his partner in the glow from the lamp in the lounge. Whatever spirit was inhabiting Doyle, it was still upon him. He saw it in glittering eyes, and the half-challenging stance, felt it in the palpable energy radiating from him. And, quite suddenly, Bodie could deny himself no longer. "Time for miracles, then," he said, latching onto Doyle's scarf. He pulled Doyle to him ....

I love the atmosphere typified in that particular scene. BUT, it's been a while since I've read this story so I'd better go and remind myself of the details....

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

oh yes, glad you raised the aspect of "whatever spirit was inhabiting Doyle" - Has he been out drinking? (there's no mention of his smelling of booze, though). Did he come to seduce Bodie or just to play in the snow? Does he know, or care?

I do like a "Wild Thing" Doyle.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

This was so enjoyable, but it ended too soon and I wanted MORE, NOW, so randomly picked "Master Gardener", and that was wonderful too, but now the two are a bit mixed up in my addled brain (it doesn't take much).

But yes, the snow fight, and the toothbrush - really delightful and memorable images.

Great humour in Bodie's reaction to the snowball hitting his window, and the hyperbole of: surrender didn't come easily to an ex-merc, ex-SAS, current CI5 agent, and neither did doomed nobility. In one fluid movement, Bodie sprang to his feet and charged.

But it's not all fun and games. This thought was intriguing,and better for not being explained:
Bloody fool that's what he was. Had been for four years now. He didn't see the future bringing any improvement to his condition.

And this:
He wouldn't hold him. He knew that. One night, then. One night when right was left and top was bottom and anything was possible. Should have known that--did know that. One night when Doyle came to him with all the carefree joyfulness that might have been his without CI5. Might have been his without the forces that had shaped him to the man he was. The man who needed Bodie's silence.

I'm not fond of Christmas, so I've yet to be fully won over to Christmas fics, but this one worked well for me because it is almost an anti-Christmas. From Cowley's deadpan, formal "Happy Christmas" to Bodie and Doyle having no plans for Christmas day, no food in, no presents, not even knowing they'd have the day off.
I find this completely convincing.

And a lovely happy ending.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

(I'm using my special Doyle 'wild thing' icon).

NOW, so randomly picked "Master Gardener", and that was wonderful too, but now the two are a bit mixed up in my addled brain (it doesn't take much).

Now there's a coincidence....I was on my way to Christmas Snow when I got sidetracked by Master Gardener:

The conversation died and Doyle found his eyes drawn to Bodie's hands as he drove and shifted and fidgeted. The clench and release of fingers; the movement of tendons under his skin. Capable hands, and Doyle remembered the feel of them on his body as his cock twitched and his breathing quickened. He noticed movement in Bodie's groin and he smile

...spoilt for choice with this writer. One of the things I love about her stories is what Nell Howell describes as 'PFL's visuals' (she applied this term to Christmas Snow) - the power to make me actually see her scenes - like an episode - I think I must have a very limited visual imagination (I've said this here before, I know) because I love it when a writer enables me to do this.

Right. Sorry. Back to the story in question......

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I've got to agree with everything you say above and that yes, it was far too short but what a lot of beautiful words, sentiments and images the writer managed to pack into the story despite its length. And I'd almost forgotten how beautiful the whole piece was.

Sorry, I'm too overcome by it all(!) to be sufficiently coherent or ordered in my thoughts, so I'll just pop down some of the things I noted in my reading:

I loved their childish delight in the snow and Doyle's wistful thoughts on the possibility of 'hot wiring' the capri; loved how their exhilaration for the snow was transferred to their exhilaration (and wonder) for each other (including the cold hands); loved how quickly 'Doyle' became 'Ray' for Bodie; loved the way the writer avoided the temptation to hint at or go into the history of their feelings for each other, instead just presenting us with what happened; I thought this line was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, Bodie rolled away from him, as a sleeper might, turning his back to give him freedom; and yes, loved the significance of the toothbrush.

And yes, I like your 'anti-Christmas' take on the story. And it's almost as if the presence of the snow acts as a kind of catalyst in Doyle, making him think 'yes! it's Christmas' let's at least have some fun in the snow......

Wonderful!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

"...I got sidetracked by Master Gardener" How cool is that for a coincidence?

Almost as cold as the lads' hands must've been after playing in the snow. *g*

snow

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Couldn't let this go by altogether without at least saying that it's a great favourite; irresistibly heartwarming while successfully avoiding any hint of mush. I can't not be touched by Bodie pretending to be asleep so that Ray can be free to leave, and I can't not be happy when Ray comes back with that toothbrush.

She's good at getting things to stand for more, she is.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

It's such a wonderful story. I'm always heartbroken for Bodie that Christmas morning as he washes up, trying to convince himself he's hungry. Then suddenly, Doyle's there, talking about his toothbrush as if it's the most normal thing to have it beside Bodie's. Such love and sweetness.

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Another lover of the unforgettable toothbrush!

[tears-of-nienna.livejournal.com]

I love Doyle waking Bodie up for the snowball fight. I love how it's an apology, and they're both aware of it, even as he's pelting Bodie with snow.

I've been hating the thirty-degree weather all week (I think that translates to just about zero, for y'all who are using Celsius), but I'm suddenly in the mood for a snowstorm. And maybe a Doyle to throw snowballs at my window, too... ;)