Reading Room - Theme IV: Week 2 - Older Lads - angelCI5´s "iLads"

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Title: iLads
Author: AngelCI5
Link to story or zine/ProsLib info: iLads by AngelCI5
Pairing: Bodie & Doyle



iLads is a funtastic Happy Older Lads fic, really a "banter" story, short and sweet and very strenuous on the midriff. *g*

It´s set from 31st of December 2007 9.41 and sadly already ends a few hours later.
AngelCI5 got the lad´s voices and wording and interacting so right, it´s like watching them on screen.
She added some background informations, which made me wanna read more about the years between then and now, how did they get along, what happened - and it all sounds just like things that would happen to them.
She´s really got a way with words, watch out for the word play, it´s hilarious.


Oh, an watch out again, extreme spoilers ahead.

The thing that really, really cracks me up everytime I read this fantastic fic, is the appendix on Bodies mails: "Sent from my iPhone!"
I know  that this is set by default, but including it in the fic is such a little fun detail and makes me laugh again and again.
Wouldn´t it be just like Bodie to include it on purpose, telling everybody: "Hey, I´ve got an iPhone, I am able to sent mails from whereever I am!"?

Another thing is the cream...tells just so much about them!
I wouldn´t mind getting an insight of the things mentioned during their conversation which will happen later on.*g*

I wonder if the mail addies would get answers? 
(It´s these details which make the reader part of their life, it´s like spying on them...)

Then there´s the mentioning of the Washington incident. Somebody said she would like to know more about that, and I gotta back her up to the fullest: What exactly did Bodie write? 
And that´s although the one point that nags me in this story: Doyle retelling so much about that incident.
They both know what happened, so it´s just for the benefit of the reader, it doesn´t go with the flow of their conversation and it cuts off the sense of looking at them.
It´s like the scene at the beginning of "The Rack", after Doyle hands Bodie the phone when Parker calls and Bodie tells him "Informer". It´s needless and it really needles me.


Honesty now please: How many of you DID go to Twitter and/or Facebook to check out Philip Andrews and Dave Bentley?

I´ll leave it for now, even though I could go on for hours praising this story. It would be more like a re-narration, however, and there wouldn´t be anything left to be added in the comments.

Comments

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

I hadn't read this one before and I loved it. You're right, the author has the lads banter down perfectly. I could see them having these conversations/e-mails!
I love the 'predictive text' issue (having been a victim of it myself - although NOT with their particular words! *g*)
I didn't mind Ray's re-telling the Washington story - I'm nosy enough to have wanted to know what they were joking about.
I hadn't noticed that Bodie's messages all end with "sent from my iphone" - I can see him doing that - and can picture the look on his face as he does it!
Thanks for the rec - this one was fun!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Glad you like it, though I´d say it would be hard not to like it. Hee!
And aren´t I lucky to be the one who introduced you to this piece of fluff.

Thank you for the comment!!

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

This is a fun read, the exchange typical lad’s banter and very nicely done. I agree that the Washington story had too much detail though, it’s distracting. They wouldn’t be repeating all those details if they were actually talking to each other and the concept of the email exchange is a conversation. And, there’s nothing wrong with leaving the details to the reader’s imagination;) But, other than that it's an enjoyble little look at the lads in cyberspace.

Thanks for the rec:)

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

I´m glad that I´m not the only one who thinks the Washington incident is too detailed. *g*

Thanks for the comment!

iLads

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Not much to add except I pretty much agree with the above! *g* It's light and fun, sweet without being cloying. There are a couple of sentences to do with the Washington scene that sound a bit forced, and could have been left out or trimmed down a little - it could have left slightly more to the reader's imagination and still worked, as we would get what they were on about without their spelling it out quite so much.

But honestly, Bodie cooking dinner for twelve people - single-handed? Now that I'm not so sure about. He'd have made sure he had back-up!

Re: iLads

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

But honestly, Bodie cooking dinner for twelve people - single-handed? Now that I'm not so sure about. He'd have made sure he had back-up!
Heee - in my head, he's only doing it cos Doyle bet him he couldn't, and now he has to prove it... Or else he made the rash offer one day in the rest room, expecting Doyle would bail him out, but Doyle refused to... Or... *g*

Re: iLads

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's it! He's backed himself into a corner, and has no option but to come through now (all those reminders about the cream, and never thinking to say what kind *bg*). In fact he's so determined to get this right that he's stopped trying to find porn on his iPhone, just for the occasion, and is hunting for recipe advice instead *g*

Re: iLads

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Hee, so glad you agree! *g*
You don´t believe in Bodie´s cooking? I wouldn´t wanna see the kitchen after, but I´m sure there would be something edible.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I've got a slightly stressy day coming up I suspect, so I re-read this for a happy over coffee this morning - yeay! And I agree, this is one of my favourite little fics, and I always look forward to new stories from angel_ci5 too...

I love the way Angel leads us into other stories in our imagination with the simplest lines - And for God’s sake don’t email the PM (or anyone else for that matter) from that thing by mistake, make sure you use your work one. I immediately thought of Heroes, when Bodie was ranting away whilst the R/Ts were open - and the expression on his face afterwards! At the same time I was imagining something quite new and different - Doyle's face 30 years later when Bodie sends an email - Sent from my iPhone! to the PM by mistake! *g* It's a good story that can do more than one thing with a sentence, I think.

Adam worries me - there's alot of backstory in there that I wish Angel would write for us, though I'm not sure I like the idea of either of them having children... it's entirely realistic, mind you, considering the number of girlfriends they get through.

Love Doyle's sarcasm: Good idea about taking some saucy photos...I’m sure the risk of someone finding explicit pictures of the directors of CI5 and sticking them all over the internet is minimal. Can so see him saying/thinking that!

Interesting to see that others weren't convinced about the Washington story - I actually thought that was very natural - they're emailing each other after all, for comfort etc whilst they're separated, to me it's perfectly natural that a nostalgic story like that would creep in. I've absolutely heard people tell stories to each other like that, face to face, about things they were both involved in. It's sort of reminiscence and sharing and reminding each other of shared past... It fits in with the way Doyle's writing the rest of his emails too - he's being wordy and jokey and writing about things he has no need to write about, all an excuse for contact... Oh, he even says: Don’t know why I’m bothering to send this when you’re going to be here any minute.

I really like the idea of these older lads - they've kept up with technology, they're comfortable with it and with their world the way it is now, and they're absolutely together the whole way... Just my kind of happily ever after!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

So it was a good decision to post it kinda early...*g*

It's a good story that can do more than one thing with a sentence, I think.
That´s exactly what I love about this one. About all of her stories. angel_ci5 got the triple think like Cowley!

You put my thoughts about Adam and them having children perfectly down on "paper"! Thanks!

I do like the way Doyle goes over the top with most the things he writes, but still, the Washington incident was out of - well, at a loss for words - character?, not really his style?...
Anyways, I do love this story to pieces!!

Thanks for your comment! *g*

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I particularly enjoy stories told through exchanging letters, emails, notes on the fridge and so on, so I was bound to enjoy this. The tricky bit is to make them sound different in writing. I know that's a problem with dialogue too, but I think there's something different about doing it when your characters are writing rather than speaking.

I like the way Bodie's punctuation and capitalisation improves all the way through, and that in the message at 1147 he got everything right except for capitalising Ray's name. Of all the things to get wrong!

I am so used to unconsciously correcting typos in what I read or receive that I didn't notice the "bloosy" typo the first time. So the "bloody^Wbloosy" joke sailed straight over my head.

The Washington story didn't strike me as forced; I could imagine him retelling that in person. "Yeah, right, so while _I_ was hard at work, _you_ were doing this, and this, and this.." in the way people drag "And _another_ thing.." in when they're letting off steam.

A minor thing perhaps, but I love the title, too! It fits its story perfectly.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, the title is just perfect!! Thanks for mentioning that!

You´re great! I didn´t get the bloosy joke before you mentioned it here.
And I kinda realized that his writing improved, but not the thing about missing to capitalize Ray´s name! Thanks a ton for pointing it out!

And isn´t that just exactly what makes stories by angel_ci5 so wonderful? They sound like she puts thoughts in every word. Or at least in every sentence.

I think it´s great that even in such a short story poeple find things on which their opinions differ!

Thanks for your comment!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I thought the focus of this story on new technology was a brilliant idea and might even help to explain the survival of Pros as one of the oldest fandoms i.e. its ability to adapt to changing circumstances - a bit like the British Conservative party (hah! OK, before you all jerk your knees in response, I'm joking, I'm joking....), but there, thankfully, is where the similarity ends.

Another thing is the cream.....tells just so much about them!

Having a type of dialogue-only story allows our imaginations to run riot e.g. And I had to queue for 20 minutes, God knows what people thought of me standing there in leathers with a basket full of cream. I love that bit and the mental picture it conjures up of me queuing behind Doyle in Waitrose looking like something out of Village People. (Doyle, not me.) In fact I think it’s one of the funniest things I’ve read for a long time so either I’ve got a great imagination or the writing is very good and I’m sure it’s the latter.

AngelCI5 got the lad´s voices and wording and interacting so right, it´s like watching them on screen.

I agree. The banter was spot-on.

it doesn´t go with the flow of their conversation and it cuts off the sense of looking at them.

I thought it was fine and didn’t jar with me at all.

An excellent choice! Thank you for the rec.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

In fact I think it’s one of the funniest things I’ve read for a long time so either I’ve got a great imagination or the writing is very good and I’m sure it’s the latter.
I´m sure it´s both!! Just the thought of meeting Bodie and/or Doyle ANYWHERE...*goosebumps*

Glad you didn´t falter at Doyles retelling!

Thank you for the comment!!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I love this one! I like the idea of them totally into modern technology but unable to remember about the predictive text... I don't find the Washington reminiscences too much - I agree with a couple of other commenters that they would be reliving it because of the 'cockring' thing. I love the idea of Bodie cooking for twelve... and I'd love to know what he wants the cream for! I did wonder why, if they were so into emailing/texting, and doing it so easily in the course of the day, they didn't use more 'textese' but maybe Ray doesn't approve...!! Thanks for the rec - it's nice to re-read old favourites!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Who ever remembers predictive text all the time? Not me for sure...*g*

I´m glad that loads of poeple don´t mind the reminiscences at all!

So sorry, but you lost me with the ´textese´ - what´s that?
Maybe there´s usually not enough time to mail back and forth? Bodie´s first message is so short...

Thank you for the comment! It´s great to know that so many poeple have the same favourites!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Textese: sample sentence...
Ray y x u get cream on way plz x forget.
The idea is to condense long texts for two reasons - to make typing on a tiny keyboard less laborious and to reduce the number of letters so that the text isn't too big to send in one go. I try not to use it but for anything as long as some of the ones Bodie was sending...

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, sounds like a totally new language...*g*
Guess they´re still kind of old school types, stick to the "real" thing...
The long way.
Thanks for letting me know!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I love it as well!

But am I right that Doyle is terribly moody at the beginning? - but as always Bodie is able to cheer him up! :-)

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Nah, I don´t think you´re right about his moodiness. *g*

That´s the way banter goes all over the world. Get reminded by somebody about something twice or three or four times and you´ll react like that, too!

Your doing right loving it!!
Thanks for letting me know!! *g*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"Nah, I don´t think you´re right about his moodiness. *g*
That´s the way banter goes all over the world. Get reminded by somebody about something twice or three or four times and you´ll react like that, too!"
No, no, no! Ray's first answer is moody!
"You do realise your punctuation is seriously lacking, don’t you? (I could mention a few other areas you’re lacking in..."

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

That´s love!!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

"That´s love!!"
:-)

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

I loved this right away as I read it the first time. And it's still special. Thank you for reccing it. :-)

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Thank you for letting me know!

[potztausend.livejournal.com]

A great rec, thank you. I knew the story already but it was fun to read it again!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot! Isn´t rereading one of the best things about stories?
At least the really good ones.
Or the funny ones.
Or just about all...*g*

[siskiou.livejournal.com]

I remembered this one from before, but had fun refreshing my memory! :)
They sounded just right, and I can just see Bodie going a little overboard with the gadgets, facebook, twitter etc.
And Doyle would go on at length, even when texting. *g*
Thanks for rec'cing!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the lovely comment!

[starlite876.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favourite Older Lads story — so full of fun and the banter between the lads is just so them!

I never thought about why Bodie was cooking until reading about byslantedlight and heliophile_oxon comments. I like the idea that perhaps Bodie lost a bet to Ray — and is cooking because of it. Maybe we should try and bribe angel_ci5 to write a prequel…

This story always bring a smile to my face when I read it.

Thank you for reccing this.

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, angel_ci5 will be so very busy writing every request, do you know how to bribe her? *g*

Thanks for the comment!