The Reading Room; Theme IV: Partners' meeting

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Title: You and Me against the World
Author: Brenda K.
Archive: The Circuit Archive
Pairing: Bodie & Doyle


First time stories of any kind (but especially those about a “first meeting” of the partners) and “Getting to know you” stories are clearly my favourites. “You and me against the world” by Brenda K. is both. So there is everything to please me. Anyway, I like all of Brenda K’s work, her style and manner, her grip on the characters and voices, her realistic touch and sharp wit.

This is a first person narrative, where Doyle is remembering the beginning of his partnership with Bodie and its - rather arduous - development, through successive confrontations, clashes, taunting gibes, dubious jokes and misunderstandings, from mutual distrust and defiance to complete trust and easy cooperation. Actually it doesn’t take so long after their first mission had revealed how perfectly they complement each other, as Cowley had rightly guessed.

But, to say it didn’t start too well would be emphatically understated. Doyle’s first assessment of his future partner, in Cowley’s office is so worded: “Bodie, William, Arthur, Philip; cross between Ape Man and Casanova.” And he adds sourly : “So, we are supposed to work together; it doesn’t mean we have to like each other.”

To tell the truth, the mistrust and prejudices seem to be more on Doyle’s side than Bodie’s and we have a feeling that, with a less prickly companion, Murphy for example, Bodie would have behaved more agreeably. When, some time later, they attempt to “talk” about their communication failures, it translates into: “He says I’m a boring, self-centred, temperamental prat and I call him an arrogant, careless, food-obsessed hedonist.” Bodie’s reply is strangely serious: “You only got one thing wrong, Doyle. I’m not careless.”

The story is short and almost eventless but the author manages to give her readers the feel of a slow and smooth transition, by taking them along through the changing moods and opinions that cross Doyle’s mind like clouds and shadows.

So, let's follow the stream:
You and Me against the World

Comments

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

The URL doesn't work for me...

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

You were too speedy; I mended it almost at once.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

ooops ... now you mention it I had a look at the time. Seems I am very eager reading about a rec for a good Pro Story... ;-)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I am late. I wrote a short introduction for a short story and it was done yesterday night already but this morning I forgot my flash drive with the text at home and now there is not much time left for discussion.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

I just read the story. It's interesting - you decribed it as "short and almost eventless". It is and it is so much more. I can *see* them acting like this in some first episodes, it is realistic with Doyle as a narrator who doesn't praise himself. Everything makes sense. Such a short story, it seems to float on the surface, but there is so much meaning in it. I like your rec!

Brenda K.? She wrote "Matters in Hand", didn't she? Ahhh ... the hottest threesome I ever read, so much coolness, so much emotions...

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

"Matters in Hand" was one of the first "Pros" stories I happened to read, a little by chance, while surfing on crack_van years ago; I don't like threesomes usually but I was hooked by the author's style and cleverness.

Everything makes sense

Though prejudiced against the man, Doyle is a good observer and his descriptions of Bodie are spot on. I couldn't quote too many passages from such a short text but it was hard for me to restrain myself.

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Very good! But then I like almost all of her writing, especially the two Hannah Stories!
"...her realistic touch and sharp wit."
Yes I agree! I always have problems with so called funny stories, but this one makes me smile all the time because it's so much them, and I can see them bantering/testing each other that way!

Thanks! :-)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I am ashamed to admit I've never read the Hannah stories. what are they about?

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Doyle first, then Bodie through the eyes of a very clever and caring middle aged woman.

"I find myself wishing I had a Bodie of my own."

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

And so would I!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Clever and beautifully written - you are right in all the things you say about it. No criticisms, but it isn't what I normally look for in fanfic - I want long episodes and convoluted psychological explorations (though I like the occasional drabble...) so I probably wouldn't have read this without the rec, so thanks! I will certainly look out for her longer stories now that I know and admire her writing skills.

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

"Matters in Hand" ;-)

http://hatstand.slashcity.net/brenda/matters.html

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Found, downloaded, converted for Kindle. Thanks! :) It looks good!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

There is a companion piece to it.
http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/1/observation.html

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Have downloaded that now too.

I have just been trying to reorganise my folders and files of Pros fic I've saved for re-reading, and they are extremely full. Probably too full. So it's interesting to come across authors I don't know and who clearly write well!

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

My tastes are about the same but once in a while I find a pearl in the oyster...

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Wonderful banter and the lads spot on.

I think I will be able to forgive her the "Arthur". *g*

Thanks for reccing, ot was a fun read!

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

I think I will be able to forgive her the "Arthur". *g*

Yes, I was wondering where that came from. Why Arthur?