The Reading Room - Learning To Fly

[scherwood]

Hi guys!
I wanna thank you for nice and interesting fics, even though I haven't been able to participate. My school is trying to make me burn out and die, but that's another story. I also wanna give a big "thank you" to jaycat92 for helping me out before, much appreciated. *hugs*

Learning To Fly by LilyK

I think alot of you have noticed by now that I don't really read fics that are too angsty, deathfics and similar things. It just gives me a major headache, and I don't like it so... *shrug* So unfortunately for you who likes those kind of fics you'll have to read yet another "they will live happily ever after" fic. Well, almost... *g*

I do love this fic in every way, because I love to read about one of the lads getting hurt. And even though this story isn't so much about h/c you can still feel a current of something floating just between the words. An interesting thing about this fic is that it's written in first person singular, always interesting when an author manages to do this really good.

The hand on my arm made me start, and I felt myself jerk in surprise. My eyes flew open. I was feeling a bit dodgy so I blurted out the one word I'd refused to utter for weeks. The one name that was always lurking in my brain. That wouldn't go away no matter how much I tried to convince myself that it didn't matter...

"Bodie?"

Is this fic too fluffy (out of character) for you guys? Or do you -- like me -- love to see the boys getting together and see a little h/c between them?

Have fun discussing!
I'll hopefully drop by later in the day. *cross my fingers*

Comments

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Fluffy isn't the word I'd use *at all*. And I'm worse than you, because I like the lads to be together for the whole fic and any angst to come from the situation (being shot at, that sort of thing). LilyK is a tease because at the start I thought deathfic, but kept reading because you'd recced it - and then slowly it is revealed that Bodie isn't dead, just sort of misplaced due to Doyle's stubborn pride and masculine inability to communicate.
I didn't find Doyle feverishly jumping out of bed with his IV still in and collapsing on the floor "fluffy" either - very gripping though.
So it's a nice happy ending, with Doyle all warm and cosy, and Bodie gets to tell him what a prat he's been.

I can't imagine why I haven't read this before, so i'm really glad you recced it.

[scherwood]

Fluffy isn't the word I'd use *at all*.
- Yeah, sorry... I wouldn't have used it either, if I'd been concious when I wrote this. *g* I really do hate mornings. But I hope you get what I mean even if the word is wrong. :P

And I'm worse than you, because I like the lads to be together for the whole fic and any angst to come from the situation
- Yeah, probably. But I like what you said the most too, because I have a REALLY hard time reading about the boys being to angsty (in whatever way). *shudder* It gives me the creeps and I have trouble functioning if I do read them. That's why I only read like one hard on the nerves fic every other month or so.

LilyK is a tease
- A great tease. *g* I love this story slowly building into something warm and fuzzy. *happy sigh*

just sort of misplaced
- *got water up my nose and over my computer*

I can't imagine why I haven't read this before, so i'm really glad you recced it.
- I'm really glad you liked it! *hugs*

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't have used it either, if I'd been conscious when I wrote this. LOL!

I meant (gets tangled up here) it's not 'fluffy' in the derogatory way that people often use to mean light-weight and sentimental. Which this isn't. But the ending is 'fluffy' as in warm and cosy.

[scherwood]

*totally agrees with you and goes somewhere to bury myself* +_+

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Is this fic too fluffy (out of character) for you guys?

Not too fluffy for me, no! In fact I don’t think it’s fluffy at all. Or out of character. I enjoyed this story on the first read and even more the second time round. I felt there was something different going on here – different to the usual kind of ci5 story, perhaps because of the setting and the fact that it was written in the first person which made me privy to Doyle’s thoughts, his quiet desperation and regret over something which shouldn’t have happened. So, through the writing I was able to feel for Doyle a lot, to emphasise with him and not feel irritation at what had happened and at the same time I could feel for Bodie, too.

Some lovely writing and phrases:

Was drowning in my own idiocy........

And writing which really moved me (not easy at this stage of my Pros reading):

I miss Bodie.

There. I thought it. Now I'll say it.

"I miss Bodie."

I felt my throat tighten and my eyes prickle.

That one, simple admission made me want to cry......

And the bit when Bodie comes back had me on the edge of my seat shouting with Doyle: Bodie, don’t go!

And I liked the way the writer explains away an ‘Americanism’:

What's that American saying? Piss or get off the pot? Heard that from some FBI blokes who showed up during an investigation a few years back. The phrase makes a lot of sense to me now.

So, a lovely rec with writing which has the power to move me! What more is there? Thanks!

[scherwood]

A lot of editing going on there for you. *g* *hugs*

Not too fluffy for me, no! In fact I don’t think it’s fluffy at all. Or out of character.
- *breathe out* I'm glad, because when I've recced before people have complained about that so... *shrug* I thought I'd try a fic I love very much without the fluffness. :P

I enjoyed this story on the first read and even more the second time round.
- I'm so glad you liked it. *going back for another read, humming*

I felt there was something different going on here – different to the usual kind of ci5 story,
- Jep, that's what keeps me coming back to this one. I would frame it if I could. *g*

So, through the writing I was able to feel for Doyle a lot, to emphasise with him and not feel irritation at what had happened and at the same time I could feel for Bodie, too.
- Yeah, the feelings in this fic is very close and personal I think, and they get to me every time I read it. *happy sigh*

That one, simple admission made me want to cry......
- I think it read as something very human to do. That choked up feeling in your throat, maybe making it impossible to speak, and then those small tears that just want to fall. *sniff*

And the bit when Bodie comes back had me on the edge of my seat shouting with Doyle: Bodie, don’t go!
- LoL, me too! I was shouting too! ;D *g*

So, a lovely rec with writing which has the power to move me! What more is there? Thanks!
- I'm so happy you liked it! You're welcome! *hugs*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

A lot of editing going on there for you. *g* *hugs*

Bugger! Now everyone will know I'm not perfic. (It's those damn HTML codes, they get me every time).

[scherwood]

aww~ *hugs* I'm sorry.
And I know the feeling, it's like; la la la writing, click, send, crap, edit, fix the code, send, check the spelling, AAAHH!, edit again, then sending for hopefully the last time -- but NOOOO I forgot a dot here or a whatever there, edit again, and then you get stuck in this circle forever it feels like... because the more stuff you find to edit, the more times you have to do it. *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Phew! I'm glad I'm not the only one! And it's funny, it's only when I actually see the post on the page that I realise all the mistakes I've made....

[scherwood]

Same here... *groan*

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

I've been lurking around here for awhile, picking up on some wonderful fics. I hope you don't mind if I join in with a comment.

I enjoyed this story. It carries the reader along nicely and Doyle's thought processes come across as real and believable. The ending is feel good without being too sentimental, you can imagine the guys speaking the dialogue. I didn't find it fluffy, just pleasantly romantic:) A very nice read.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

I didn't find it fluffy, just pleasantly romantic:) A very nice read.

I agree with that, a good way to describe it.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Welcome!

Thank you:)

I agree with that, a good way to describe it.

Thank you again! I do think this is the kind of story you can return to again and again with the same enjoyment.

[scherwood]

Hi! *hugs*
I don't mind at all. :)

Thank you so much, and I'm very happy you liked it.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thank you for rec'ing it!

*hugs* returned:)

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"The idea of staying unaware - staying away - seemed to be just the ticket. Why did my body insist on waking up? Why was this happening to me?"
Doyle tired of life. Normally I would guess that he would take his gun..., or would start to 'become careless' doing his job.
But in combination with the DIAG shooting, that refusing of food, that 'fading away'... is a scenario I can buy! It's not for fun that he had obviously sessions with Dr.Ross.

And I don't think that you can call such a situation 'fluffy'! And surely not Doyle's feelings.

Cowley using all his interrogation tricks, Doyle thinking sarky as usual – although not acting that way,
And he knows exactly what's wrong with him.
"But no, I was too fucking arrogant. Too stupid. Too busy being tough and manly. Macho, that's the word. What an arse I was. Still am, it seems."

Then comes the "He was here.", and what is Doyle doing??? Pushing Bodie away – again...
What a fool! Double fool...

No! That's not fluffy!
IMO a very touching story. And I really enjoyed it!
Thanks for the rec!

[scherwood]

Doyle tired of life. Normally I would guess that he would take his gun..., or would start to 'become careless' doing his job.
But in combination with the DIAG shooting, that refusing of food, that 'fading away'... is a scenario I can buy! It's not for fun that he had obviously sessions with Dr.Ross.
- I agree with this. Doyle's acting in this way because of the shooting, Bodie, and depression, but in other situations he would act differently. But that interesting. How do they act in different situations. It's fascinating.

And I don't think that you can call such a situation 'fluffy'!
- No, I guess not. (see comments above)

IMO a very touching story. And I really enjoyed it! Thanks for the rec!
- It's one of my absolute favs. Thank you so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed it! :D *hugs*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

But in combination with the DIAG shooting, that refusing of food, that 'fading away'... is a scenario I can buy!

Definitely. Maybe I've been too influenced by some of the stories I've read but Doyle doesn't seem to be the kind of person who is that interested in food at the best of times (but happy to cook it for others) and if he'd lost Bodie I could see him growing depressed and listless with food being the last thing on his mind.

flying

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

I did enjoy this, though with some reservations - I felt that Doyle's reaction to Bodie's departure was somewhat OOC, even if in a good cause - the cause of letting us enjoy their reconciliation, that is! Mainly because although the reader may legitimately suspect initially that Bodie is dead - in which case Doyle's reaction would be perfectly understandable - Doyle actually knows perfectly well that he isn't; he's just had enough after being rejected and buggered off to Brian (well, I don't mean that literally of course! And I do see Bodie's behaviour as well within possibilities). I just don't see Doyle every being so passive about Bodie's departure, no matter how much - and with what justification - he sees it as his own fault. Still, given his current physical condition I think Doyle's depression is perfectly coherent - it's just the initial set-up where he gets into that situation in the first place.

After that the interaction with Cowley and the encounter with Bodie when he pisses him off again and then when he drags his i.v. across the room (ow!!!!!) all work well, I think, and I did like pretty much everything else - I just got stuck on the wilting-flower scenario at the beginning. Oh and despite the visiting-FBI clause I confess I found the "piss or get off the pot" annoying, because I couldn't see Doyle thinking like that at a time like this - it felt a bit shoe-horned in. I'm being a bit nit-picky I know, and probably sounding more negative than I feel - I did enjoy it .... just with a few reservations, that's all!

Thanks for the rec; I love seeing different opinions and appreciating that we don't all see exactly the same things when we read, of course!

Oh, and I particularly liked several of the dialogue exchanges - especially this one:
"You're grinning like a moron," Bodie said. "All I said was I'd stay."

"And I said that's not what I meant."

He reached out and gave my arm a squeeze. "The answer is still yes."

The answer is still yes!

Re: flying

[scherwood]

I see what you're saying, but I don't fully agree. But I guess we can't agree on everything, and you did say you liked the text so... *shrug* :)

Thanks for the rec
- You're welcome. I'm glad you thought it good enough to read and enjoy (with a few reservations)! *g*

The answer is still yes!
- The answer is always YES! *very happy fangirl*

[jgraeme2007.livejournal.com]

Trying to catch up belatedly on the RR posts! The last weeks have been insane.

This has lots of what I love in it -- it's post DiaG (practically a Pros subgenre in itself) and I always think that DiaG stories offer some of the best possible plot and character dynamics for exploration. Also considerable opportunities for h/c. I do see it as a very natural turning point for the lads' relationship.

It's a nice romantic story -- I certainly don't think that tough guys can't have a tender side, and a little emotionalism on Doyle's part is understandable given his injuries and the drugs, etc. *g*

I like that LilyK doesn't rush us through the story. I was interested in the idea that Doyle was getting burned out and careless before he left the door unlocked. Nice touch.

[scherwood]

Glad you could join us. Better late than never, right? :D

I do see it as a very natural turning point for the lads' relationship.
- I totally agree with you on this.

It's a nice romantic story
- Yeah, I think so too. And like you said, even tough guys can have a softer side. And I really like how you read from Doyle's POV, and get too "see" his thoughs playing out in front of you.

I like that LilyK doesn't rush us through the story. I was interested in the idea that Doyle was getting burned out and careless before he left the door unlocked. Nice touch.
- That's one of the many reasons I love this text, it takes it's time and gives us "another" view on what caused the carelessness. And it's so believable somehow, because I know hitting that will is easy to do if you don't take care of yourself.

Thanks for contributing. I'm glad you liked it! :) *hugs*