The Reading Room - "Join The Queue" (Lizzie)

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

 My rec is "Join The Queue" by Lizzie. The story is soft and warm and funny and touching and light – uh, quite a lot.  At least for me...

www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/13/jointhe.html

Comments

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Lizzie is such a good writer. This is sweet and light and warm and touching, just like you said. Nice pick.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I think, It is a good example for a slash-story without describing the sex. Everything is in there, the love, the friendship, the mockery, and a hint for a wonderful future.

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's a lovely little story. Haven't we all been in that queue at some time!

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

I had to laugh about the situation in the post office - it seems to be the same in every country. The choice of the title is really interesting - first I understood it because of the post office situation. But in the end I realized it was really cunning - some sort of closed loop from the beginning to the end.

[tango65.livejournal.com]

Next time I'm stuck in a queue, I want the lads there to keep me company.....

Lovely story, a nice bit of fluff to keep me warm on a cold autumn night.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

Uhh - today the german weather seems to be like a cold autumn day *g*. - I am glad you liked the story.

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

I love this story, and the closing scene I just adore. Like you said, soft and warm and funny and touching and light!

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

The story is one of my favourites, I read it at least 5 times. Or more :-)

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

There was so much to enjoy about this fic. The image of big tough CI5 agent Bodie being intimidated by a Post Office clerk made me smile. And Bodie's thoughts were very in-character, too; It wasn't like that when Bodie was a boy, either, but he didn't imagine his memories were as fond as the old man's, so he just nodded silently, instead, hoping it would discourage him from hobbling down memory lane as fast as his arthritis would let him.
And a sweet, sweet ending. Lovely fic, thanks for the rec.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

For me both men were in-character, both have occasionally something soft and a gentleness. Lizzie just saw and described it. Of course "just" is an understatement - it is a gift for a writer first to see what is plausible and then to write it in emotional touching words. (My nightmare is a Bodie weeping for hours - there are some things I can't imagine)

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

My nightmare is a Bodie weeping for hours
Unless it's under the influence of some mood-altering drug, no, no and NO!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Last week I was sitting in the waiting room of my dentist and was dreaming a bit... What if Bodie and Doyle would come in? Would they wait patiently? Or would they try a kind of 'Mercedes-driver-attempt' of queue-jumping...? Would they be quiet and nice, or would they walk nervously around?
I mean - are they suitable for daily use??? :-)

LOL! This story gives the answer! Above all Bodie is a 'nice guy'! Sigh...

And I think it is indeed very interesting which picture Doyle puts into the package!

That was a very nice story, thanks for the rec!

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

It *is* interesting to think of the lads doing ordinary everyday things, and why and how they would come to be doing them, and how you could work it into fic.

Their lives in the eps are constant action and glamour, it is fun to fill in the other stuff.

At the dentist, I'm sure they would be busy chatting up the receptionist/the dental nurse/the dentist. Also I'm sure I read a fic once where Bodie had a fear of the dentist - or is it canon?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

That was Stakeout with the blonde dentist helper - the 'lousy hooker'! :-)

To be true, I'm absolutely sure that Bodie and Doyle would make of each situation something special! I know such a man... It is exciting but very straining! ;-)

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

suitable for daily use? Of course - only one day a week. exciting but very straining

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

So those air hostesses in Pros were indeed very clever girls! :-)

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

My pleasure!

(Öhm - your pic with "The Persuaders" - is it o.k. if I use it too and add a "thank you"? Or don't you agree to other people borrowing them?)
(Please don't be "nice", but rather honest)

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

No I really don't mind! But look here:
http://zeroambi.livejournal.com/49303.html
I nearly couldn't decide...

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

Wonderful - I made my decision.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

Just as lovely and warm and cosy as I hoped and expected!

When did we start queuing in those single queues at the bank and post office? I suppose it could have been by around 1980, and big city banks and post offices would be ahead of where I was living then.
Doesn't matter, it is certainly an all too familiar and painful experience, especially in December.

I'm interested too in the little subplot about homosexuality - Doyle's cousin thinks her son is gay, so he sends them a photo of him with the man he obviously loves - to show them that it is okay? What do you think is going on there?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"Doyle's cousin thinks her son is gay, so he sends them a photo of him with the man he obviously loves - to show them that it is okay? What do you think is going on there?"
Or - to show that it isn't always the way it appears - although it is... ;-)

Maybe 'weishful thinking', or Freud...???

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

I am sure Doyle wrote her about his love to Bodie and added a photo. Eventually it is a slash story! I am glad you liked it.

[miwahni.livejournal.com]

I like to think that he 'fessed up when his cousin broached the subject of her son - as reassurance for her that it's NOT the end of the world, and that it makes no difference to who he is, and here, have a piccy of the guy I'm besotted with!

Queueing

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Sweet and touching, with enough ghastly queuing and Murphy snoring and the like to make it feel just real enough rather than plasticised. "Would it be so awful to tell me?" - I can just see Doyle letting his affection shine through there, just beginning to let Bodie in on the secret that he knows - knows how Bodie feels even if Bodie doesn't quite - and that he returns those feelings without hesitation. This is a fic to warm you up on a cold day, and I'm very fond of it.

Re: Queueing

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

*sigh* You are just right about everything. The situation with "Would it be so awful to tell me?" is so wonderful and tender...

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

This is certainly a feel good fic - and that's what it made me do ... feel good:)

Thanks for the rec.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - it makes the heart go wide - I don't know if this expression is known in english, but it means heart melting, heart warming *sigh*

[smirra.livejournal.com]

I like plots where the feelings of one of the lads only gets out in the open by chance. That's always an interesting setting. (Story from Heliophile - "Picture this" come to mind)
Well done here without much drama, but to the point and in character including the snoring Murphy.
Thanks for the rec!

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

Oh I am delighted so much people here like it :-). The "by chance" setting has a lot of potential to write something different than the conventional story.

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

Hi. I just wanted to say, 'Thank you', potztausend, for reccing my story. I'm really pleased that you and the others here seem to like it. :-)

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

Oh - I didn't know you are on lj... what a surprise :-). You wrote your story in a way I seldom read - most "sweet" and emotional stories are soppy, with a whole bunch of weeping and talking and drama and more talking... and the lads are not in character.

In your story both act authentic, every action or sentence they do or say is possible for their character. It is also something like a "slow" story - you just show some situations, you don't accelerate the story, instead there is something like a "tender suspense". You made some of the best effects with a simple language: "Would it be so awful to tell me?" A great and touching line - it has everything in it: a soft and happy Doyle who knows everything and a Bodie being terribly afraid.

Sometimes authors think they make a wonderful expression on the readers by using dramatic language in a situation - you show it is not necessary, you are able to show emotions in a such simple way it can be heartbraking.

Grmpf - so difficult to explain it in english, I am much more talented to praise something in german language *g*.

By the way - you have a wonderful userpic with an elephant and a book - may I use it? You wrote it is from xjessica_faithx, and she does not have it any more. Of course I would write a "thank you" aside. And please tell me honest (must look up the difference between "honest" and "honestly" *ties a knot in her tissue to remember*) if you don't want it - it has nothing to do with my opinion about your story :-).

[caffyolay.livejournal.com]

Thank you for so many lovely kind words about my story. I can see we're on the same wavelength about how to portray Bodie and Doyle. I really dislike over sentimentalising them because men just *don't* agonise and talk endlessly about their feelings. I much prefer small hints.

Yes... please do help yourself to the elephant icon. I like it too and have had that one on my user pics for a long time.