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ci5hqIn the spirit of my own challenge, to rec an author who hadn’t been recced before at ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ci5hq, I chose “Learning Trust” by Russ:
http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/8/learningtrust.html
http://hatstand.slashcity.net/russ/learning.html
Then did a bit of a doubletake when I saw the fic header “Learning to Trust” atthe_safehouse. This is in fact new fic by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
liriel1810, a good read too, and of course the title is a bit different. But it is surely no coincidence that both fics are set right at the beginning of the partnership. Russ’s “Learning Trust” is positively prehistoric, as DC Doyle and SAS Sgt Bodie cross paths.
“Learning Trust” is so true to the episodes that I could see it as the pilot episode for Pros – the plot, the docklands setting, the shooting-up action scene in a warehouse and quieter closing scene in the police station, setting up very plausibly how each came to join CI5... Both are in character, sexy, tough and very effective, especially Doyle. Bodie seems rather more vulnerable and aimless (but isn’t that also part of his character too?).
The lads’ relationship has a refreshingly unusual trajectory too. They make friends and are in bed together within hours of first setting eyes on each other, establishing their mutual attraction, but the morning after they are more concerned about their careers, and their mutual distrust prevails.
But even my very favourite fics have their flaws. Here it’s:
(1) Doyle: “I’m with the Met, not Scotland Yard”. *headdesk* All the more annoying for being a completely unnecessary remark.
(2) If Bodie is serving with the SAS, how does he manage to spend so much time in London? Shouldn’t he be in barracks? It is, of course, possible that he takes leave to be in London whenever he has to make a payment (say, monthly?), and he just happens to have a pied-a-terre in the East End…
(3) The big squick: What happened to the slash? They fancied each other enough that first night but… In the warehouse Doyle kisses Bodie, but he does it as a trap, which works because Bodie is seduced by it. And at the end, Doyle, in a position of dominance, can only glare at Bodie, albeit with a rather artificially-written “strange undertone of affection in his glance”, then walk away, no doubt giving his partner-to-be the full Doyle-arse treatment.
In this universe, is Doyle always going to use sexual attraction as a tool to manipulate Bodie?
And two more questions for the cognoscenti:
(1) Does anyone know anything about Russ? Thus fic is dated 1996.
(2) The pub on which the fic centres is improbably called “The Gunslinger”. The setting seems to be inspired by Maurice Richard’s pub in “Hunted/Hunted”. I seem to recall there is a pub in Pros called something like “The Gun” – but I checked “Hunter/Hunted” and it isn’t that one. Am I imagining this, doctor?
ci5hq, I chose “Learning Trust” by Russ: http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/8/learningtrust.html
http://hatstand.slashcity.net/russ/learning.html
Then did a bit of a doubletake when I saw the fic header “Learning to Trust” at
the_safehouse. This is in fact new fic by liriel1810, a good read too, and of course the title is a bit different. But it is surely no coincidence that both fics are set right at the beginning of the partnership. Russ’s “Learning Trust” is positively prehistoric, as DC Doyle and SAS Sgt Bodie cross paths. “Learning Trust” is so true to the episodes that I could see it as the pilot episode for Pros – the plot, the docklands setting, the shooting-up action scene in a warehouse and quieter closing scene in the police station, setting up very plausibly how each came to join CI5... Both are in character, sexy, tough and very effective, especially Doyle. Bodie seems rather more vulnerable and aimless (but isn’t that also part of his character too?).
The lads’ relationship has a refreshingly unusual trajectory too. They make friends and are in bed together within hours of first setting eyes on each other, establishing their mutual attraction, but the morning after they are more concerned about their careers, and their mutual distrust prevails.
But even my very favourite fics have their flaws. Here it’s:
(1) Doyle: “I’m with the Met, not Scotland Yard”. *headdesk* All the more annoying for being a completely unnecessary remark.
(2) If Bodie is serving with the SAS, how does he manage to spend so much time in London? Shouldn’t he be in barracks? It is, of course, possible that he takes leave to be in London whenever he has to make a payment (say, monthly?), and he just happens to have a pied-a-terre in the East End…
(3) The big squick: What happened to the slash? They fancied each other enough that first night but… In the warehouse Doyle kisses Bodie, but he does it as a trap, which works because Bodie is seduced by it. And at the end, Doyle, in a position of dominance, can only glare at Bodie, albeit with a rather artificially-written “strange undertone of affection in his glance”, then walk away, no doubt giving his partner-to-be the full Doyle-arse treatment.
In this universe, is Doyle always going to use sexual attraction as a tool to manipulate Bodie?
And two more questions for the cognoscenti:
(1) Does anyone know anything about Russ? Thus fic is dated 1996.
(2) The pub on which the fic centres is improbably called “The Gunslinger”. The setting seems to be inspired by Maurice Richard’s pub in “Hunted/Hunted”. I seem to recall there is a pub in Pros called something like “The Gun” – but I checked “Hunter/Hunted” and it isn’t that one. Am I imagining this, doctor?
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Date: 2010-03-25 07:35 pm (UTC)No, you're not! Maurice Richards' pub was indeed 'The Gun'. Can't remember if we actually saw the name of the pub in the ep, but that's the one that was used in the filming.
Nowadays it's one of London's foremost gastropubs (and I suspect that the price of a pint will be slightly more expensive than it was in good old Maurice's day!)
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Date: 2010-03-25 08:47 pm (UTC)And I was being unfair to Russ lifting the setting from "Hunter/Hunted", in fact there is a direct ref to it: Doyle says:
"I've a friend wants to buy a pub not far from there, and it looks nothing like that place." Maurice had been driven out of the Met...
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Date: 2010-03-25 09:15 pm (UTC)I'm sure I managed to track her down a few years ago and I think she was a university teacher but when I've tried to google her just now (and tried to follow the link at The Circuit Archive) I got blocked either by a 'fobidden page' thing or Firefox can't connect me thing, but she seems to write in loads of fandoms.
Yeah, I liked this story and the beginning set the scene very nicely, thank you. I could really see all those broken-nosed heavies and the sawdust on the floor, Doyle being goosed in the loo and the saloon doors swinging in the wind and then.... (Sergio Leone music..) just in the nick of time, Bodie coming to the rescue. (Sorry, I think I'm finally displaying my long hidden bias.) No, seriously, I liked this story and I'm sure I've seen it described as pre-slash but if this is a typical example of that genre (and I'm not 100% sure that it is because there are strong sexual vibes here and they do end up discussing the possibilities of some kind of sexual relationship, not forgetting the fact that they end up in bed together with Bodie administering what seems like a full body massage) then I'd like some more, please.
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Date: 2010-03-25 09:39 pm (UTC)Bodie coming to the rescue. Pretty damned hot indeed - or maybe cool fits his appearance here better.
Pre-slash - I wondered about that, but as I said, one thing that appeals to me about this fic is that it's partly in reverse order - they-as-good-as-fuck the first time they meet, then part and only meet again by chance, as unwilling associates.
they do end up discussing the possibilities of some kind of sexual relationship They do? I find the ending almost completely lacking in sexual overtones. Although re-reading the end, I wonder if the next (unwritten) scene, is Bodie doing a quick WTF?, then following and catching up with Doyle, as he does at the end of some eps, and them going off together...
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Date: 2010-03-25 09:54 pm (UTC)Yeah, I was using end up more as a figure of speech and linking it to my point about sexual vibes rather than to the actual ending. I thought scenes like this were about the possibility of sex between them but maybe I was wrong (or too optimistic!):
When the hands had worked out all the aches from Doyle's torso, they moved down to his buttocks and began a movement that clearly bordered on the sexual. Uneasily, Doyle pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Bodie . .
The hands stilled. "Not your scene, is it?"
Doyle turned his head to meet blue eyes that seemed strangely vulnerable. "It isn't that," he said awkwardly. "'S just -- guess I got kicked in the balls one time too many, that's all."
"Oh." Bodie sat back. "Yeah, I suppose that must hurt."
Doyle nodded. "Don't particularly want to increase the sensitivity down there just now. But . . . maybe some other time?
I think 'some other time' is a telling phrase and then:
"I've been thinking," Bodie said slowly.
Doyle looked up, alerted by the tone. He had heard this speech before -- had delivered it himself, more than a few times.
"I don't think this would work," Bodie mumbled to his plate. "If my boss finds out -- well, I don't want to lose my job."
I took this to imply that they were discussing some kind of sexual relationship.
I wonder if the next (unwritten) scene, is Bodie doing a quick WTF?, then following and catching up with Doyle, as he does at the end of some eps, and them going off together...
Oh, yes! Definitely.
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Date: 2010-03-25 10:29 pm (UTC)My heart sank when they didn't exchange phone numbers. But I guess Doyle knew where Bodie lived. And also Doyle didn't regard himself as being attracted to men, so he would want to hold back, presumably, while he sorts out his feelings.
Hence maybe the 'pre-slash' label. At the very end, it's as though the relationship is really starting there and then, and it's not sexual at this stage.
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Date: 2010-03-27 09:27 am (UTC)I don't think that the label is important, but I could imagine that for someone who doesn't like slash, there is enough in that story! :-) I think that even the lightest hint of a sexual attraction spoils it for some people...
And for slashers there is enough as well!
"Bodie's eyes, he realised with a thrill, were a subtle dark shade of blue, not obvious at first glance but quite stunning on closer inspection. Doyle shivered again and looked away hastily.... they moved down to his buttocks and began a movement that clearly bordered on the sexual. Uneasily, Doyle pushed himself up onto his elbows. "Bodie . . . "
The hands stilled. "Not your scene, is it?" ..."'S just -- guess I got kicked in the balls one time too many, that's all."
Enough! :-)
Some stories you can read both ways if you want to, but IMO not this one.
"...and the saloon doors swinging in the wind and then.... (Sergio Leone music..) just in the nick of time, Bodie coming to the rescue. (Sorry, I think I'm finally displaying my long hidden bias.)"
*grins*
I like your 'long hidden bias'! You really should write! :-)
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Date: 2010-03-27 12:46 pm (UTC)Thank you! I wish I could......
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Date: 2010-03-27 01:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-26 07:43 am (UTC)I didn’t pick up the lack of slash when I first read the story because most of the early partnership stories I’ve read were mostly pre-slash. The majority of these stories seem to have the lads in a stable working partnership first before moving into a physical relationship.
One interesting thing I do remember was that this was the first story that I had read which made the connection between the nickname “sunshine” with “a drop of sun” and Doyle’s name. Love “The Sound of Music” reference *grin*
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Date: 2010-03-26 02:34 pm (UTC)the early partnership stories I’ve read were mostly pre-slash I've never gone out looking for them, but what a good idea, to compare them.
Have you read “Four Things That Never Happened to Ray Doyle – And One That Did” by Aerye (in DiaLJ December 2006)? One of the five vignettes there is a similar premise to "Learning Trust", with PC Doyle and SAS Sgt Bodie in London (guess it's a situation that appeals to me *g*).
I suppose most Pros fic involves the relationship beginning when they're paired, as workmates, and the sexual relationship building over time (at least 8 years later in many cases, which I always find improbable). On the other hand, there is a lot of fic mileage to be had from them meeting pre-CI5, having a sexual relationship of some sort, then unexpectedly finding themselves both in CI5 later - how will they react?
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Date: 2010-03-26 06:44 pm (UTC)One of my favourites in the DiaLJ, and I loved her follow-up story to PC Doyle and SAS Sgt Bodie as well.
I suppose most Pros fic involves the relationship beginning when they're paired, as workmates, and the sexual relationship building over time (at least 8 years later in many cases, which I always find improbable).
Fire Held High And Far Away by Miriam Heddy is really well written and where the lads waited for a long time (actually Doyle waited a long time for an oblivious Bodie) *g*
There are lots of stories of the lads meeting before CI5, and its always interesting in reading the lads reactions when they realise they are going be partners in CI5. I wonder if there is a list online somewhere listing all the pre-CI5 stories, similar to the Older Lads list compiled by
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Date: 2010-03-27 09:53 am (UTC)I love those stories too! Maybe we could start that list? I've checkes BSL's Palelyloitering and the Hatstand, but there is nothing like that up until now.
I once made a request in 'Prosfinder':
http://community.livejournal.com/prosfinder/11356.html
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Date: 2010-03-27 12:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-27 01:27 pm (UTC)Do you remember? That was the time when I couldn't imagine to like Arabian Nights... :-)
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Date: 2010-03-27 01:32 pm (UTC)I do remember! Ah, how time flies....and I wish I hadn't read Arabian Nights about 4 times already and had it to look forward to for the first time, I love that story!
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Date: 2010-03-28 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-28 11:30 am (UTC)http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1309733/Bardicvoice
(you might know her already).
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Date: 2010-03-27 12:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-27 01:28 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-27 01:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-27 01:56 pm (UTC)*shakes head*
Do you think we should do a list of all the lists...? :-)
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Date: 2010-03-27 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-28 12:37 am (UTC)One that is definitely not pre-slash is Undercover by Elessar. Can you guess what Doyle went undercover as? *g*
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Date: 2010-03-27 09:40 am (UTC)I like the Brian Clemens story - but it's really nothing special...
And you're right, I wouldn't chose it either as the official 'how the lads could join CI5' story!
But for me 'slash' doesn't mean that they necessarily 'move into a physical relationship'.
I think the 'possibility' is enough - at least to allow the story to be archived in our slash archives... :-P
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Date: 2010-03-27 12:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-27 02:06 pm (UTC)Not everybody can convince me within 10 pages like Callisto was able to do in last weeks fic.
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Date: 2010-03-27 09:08 am (UTC)I love that line! :-) I love the whole part with the fight in the alley.
- the whole story is very good! One of my first Pros stories ever, and I've read it quite often since then.
There is some attraction between them from the first moment on (- otherwise Bodie would have helped him but then he could have gone), but Russ doesn't pretend that there was a glorious 'love at first sight' moment. There is a 'could be', and an 'under other circumstances'. They are 'passing strangers' in the first part (stolen from Marillion's Misplaced Childhood, and I had to use it... :-))
And the second part shows how well they work, and finally 'learn to trust' each other.
BTW - I think that the action parts are very well written. No needless 'case development'! :-)
You feel that every sentence is focused on the relationship between Bodie and Doyle! Exactly the way I like it.
Flaws? No flaws for me.
(1) + (2)? *shrugs*
"(3) The big squick: What happened to the slash? hey fancied each other enough that first night but… In the warehouse Doyle kisses Bodie, but he does it as a trap, which works because Bodie is seduced by it. And at the end, Doyle, in a position of dominance, can only glare at Bodie, albeit with a rather artificially-written “strange undertone of affection in his glance”, then walk away, no doubt giving his partner-to-be the full Doyle-arse treatment.
In this universe, is Doyle always going to use sexual attraction as a tool to manipulate Bodie?
How do you mean that? Not enough slash? Or too much for a 'first encounter'?
I think it's all believable and 'just them'. They are attracted, there is probably more to come, but at the moment a job is very important for both. For me it's a perfect pre-episodes story - and there really could be more!
Thank you for that rec!
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Date: 2010-03-28 12:55 am (UTC)RE (3) It looked as though there was a genuine attraction before, but I felt the way Doyle kissed Bodie in the warehouse was utter manipulation - and how could he do that if he liked him? Then back at the police station, Doyle is quite distant, just polite... then he strolls off down the corridor. Poor Bodie! This Doyle is indeed a "nasty little sod" - but still in character, imho.
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Date: 2010-03-27 07:06 pm (UTC)The dialog is so-so. Not exactly the lads but not so bad it spoils it.
I could see this as a first meeting for them -- I think this says it well:
I think the 'possibility' of mutual sexual attraction often makes for a better (and more plausible) read than a story which has them jumping into bed immediately.....I love the anticipation of things to come as they gradually find out about each other.
I hadn't read this before, so it was fun to read a longish story that was new to me.
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Date: 2010-03-28 12:59 am (UTC)...a story which has them jumping into bed immediately But this one does have them jumping into bed immediately - and then out of it when they think better of it. I like that unusual approach!
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Date: 2010-03-28 01:38 pm (UTC)That’s a good point because they *do* go to bed, don’t they? Again, I think I was using the term figuratively, as in an all-embracing way to describe what happens in so many stories, where they undergo some kind of epiphany about their true feelings for each other, jump into bed, have full-on sex, everyone ends up happily ever after and there are no more question marks for the reader, no more anticipation......but I feel this jumping into bed isn’t quite like that. Bodie takes Doyle home partly because Doyle doesn’t want to go to hospital and obviously needs some kind of help and Doyle goes with Bodie partly for that reason and partly to find out a bit more about Bodie. Bodie deals with him ‘brusquely’, Doyle’s asleep even before Bodie gets into bed and then they both go their separate ways leaving the reader to anticipate (look forward to!) what is going to happen next......
but I felt the way Doyle kissed Bodie in the warehouse was utter manipulation - and how could he do that if he liked him?
And/or sheer survival? In fairness to Doyle, he does give Bodie the chance to slip away but he still doesn’t trust him (blames him for the op being blown) and maybe he's right to withhold that trust as Bodie only comes clean towards the end when he has no choice:
"Bodie . . . that fellow Derek. He was blackmailing you, wasn't he?"
Bodie tensed. "Nah, I just owed him some money, like you said."
"Yeah, right. You know Franks had already called your unit's captain before I persuaded the super to let you go?"
Bodie groaned and slumped back into his chair. "Bloody hell." That was it; the whole story would come out now.
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Date: 2010-03-28 11:18 pm (UTC)In fact, Doyle had already spotted Bodie at the pub and got a report on him before the night when they actually met, so he knew he was SAS from the start (although he could still have been crooked, of course).
this jumping into bed isn’t quite like that you've made a good point about the 'partly' reasons for them being in Bodie's bed. It is pleasingly complex - human kindness (a bit of h/c!), Doyle investigating Bodie, latent and illicit sexual attraction - it's all there.
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Date: 2010-03-29 01:18 pm (UTC)In fact, Doyle had already spotted Bodie at the pub and got a report on him before the night when they actually met, so he knew he was SAS from the start (although he could still have been crooked, of course).
I wasn't necessarily thinking about the drugs but more about Doyle’s unease and suspicion over Bodie’s association with Derek, that on its own is enough to trouble him..... but seeing as you've brought it up(!), I wouldn’t say Doyle is wholly satisfied over the question of Bodie’s role in the drugs operation, either. Yes, he knows early on in the story that Bodie is SAS and isn’t supposed to be involved but in the warehouse he expresses doubt more than once:
"You've been dealing with Derek," Doyle pointed out. "Giving him money. I couldn't be sure -- still can't be sure -- that you aren't in on this deal."
Bodie's jaw dropped at this injustice. "Well, if you had warned me what you were about --"
"Didn't know if I could trust you, did I?" Doyle interrupted. "I still don't, come to that. You just stay over there, mate, where I can keep an eye on you."
So I wonder if the author is deliberately making Doyle real and conflicted because 'real' people often are (and simply reflecting his confusion re Bodie) e.g. one minute he’s taking Bodie’s gun and expressing doubt about Bodie’s part in the operation and then the next minute he’s giving Bodie a gun (at least I think he is, I’m getting confused) and advising him to get out while he can. Or.... is the author guilty of inconsistency in her characterisation of Doyle? And......am I asking too many questions.........
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Date: 2010-03-28 03:51 pm (UTC)Yes, it's a close call -- and it brings up the interesting dilemma of whether a first time counts if they don't care about each other? Sexual attraction is not the same thing. Especially here where they back away, although the backing away is not for the reasons of not wanting to spoil the partnership or denial of sexuality. I like the choices Russ makes. It did feel like this was the start of a series fo fics or a longer fic.
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Date: 2010-03-28 07:15 pm (UTC)Interesting question and would probably include a fair number of stories which have them as (occasional) sexual partners before they come to realise that they're more than that.
I like the choices Russ makes. It did feel like this was the start of a series fo fics or a longer fic.
When I first started rereading the story I thought it was quite straightforward and uncontroversial but the more it's discussed and dissected, the more I realise it's *not* and I think that's the great thing about discussions!
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Date: 2010-03-28 11:11 pm (UTC)I would so like to see these two in a sequel to see how the mutual attraction develops once they know they can trust each other because they're on the same side. There are plenty of question marks left.
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Date: 2010-03-28 07:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-28 11:07 pm (UTC)Didn't I? I thought I did too. *g*
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Date: 2010-03-29 03:32 pm (UTC)I liked it - but just wanted to add my bit to the comment in the introduction about the flaws. As well as the Met/Yard thing (which, as you rightly said wasn't even necessary) I was irritated by aspects of the pub. And again, they are unnecessary things, intended to set the scene but actually detracting from it. To begin with I have never heard of a UK pub called The Gunslinger though there are lots and lots of Guns. It simply isn't a Brit word. Then what's with the 'liquor'?? Something as opposed to the beer on tap. Hmm. Brit beer that isn't on tap tends to come in bottles, in pubs, and is never referred to as liquor. Ever. And News of the World? Was it a Sunday? Were we told? I wish writers would leave details out if they can't get them right.
However, I liked the story, and often I prefer 'pre-slash', if that's what this is, to more explicit pieces. It would make a wonderful pilot ep!!
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Date: 2010-03-29 08:07 pm (UTC)Especially to agree with me (*g*) about the inaccurate details - you picked up a lot more too.