![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
gilda-elise.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ci5hqTitles: The Waiting Room Affair, Incident In a Stairwell, People Bending Broken Rules
Author: Debra Hicks
Pairing: B/D, N/I
Links to Stories: The Waiting Room Affair
Incident In a Stairwell
People Bending Broken Rules
I put off reading these three stories for quite some time when I first got into the Pros fandom. Even though I'd watched UNCLE during its original run, or maybe because I'd watched the original run at the tender age of eleven, I couldn't bring myself to think of Napoleon and Illya that way. But to not read even one Pros stories, as I tore through the archives, gorging myself on Bodie and Doyle, was impossible, so, finally, I sat down and read these three stories.
I'm very glad that I did.
The Waiting Room Affair
The first story in the trilogy is quite short, yet so much is revealed about the four men. Set in a hospital waiting room, it takes only seconds for Napoleon and Doyle to make a connection, seeing much of themselves in the other, as they wait for word about their partners. Finally, both are told that their partners are in recovery and doing well.
Neither set of men are lovers. Nothing is said about the partnerships being anything more than professional, even though one partnership is a couple of years old, the other almost two decades. As the brief story ends, we are given hope that, at least for Bodie and Doyle, that's about to change.
Incident In a Stairwell
As the second story opens, we discover that an another agency is interested in recruiting agents from CI5. But as Doyle leads the agency's representative up the stairs, there's a hail of gunfire.
Doyle is shot, as is the other agent. Down below, a worried Bodie and Cowley wait. With them is a MI6 agent, there with some of his men to escort Hoffman, a terrorist prisoner, away. Hoffman is now loose and armed. And it turns out the man with Doyle is Illya Kuryakin. Doyle has his RT, and is able to tell Cowley and Bodie about their injuries.
When Napoleon shows up, plans are made to help the two wounded men. Napoleon pretends to be a medic, so that Hoffman will allow him access to them. He finds that Doyle's injury, while severe, is not immediately life-threatening. Illya's, on the other hand, are.
A year has passed since Doyle and Napoleon's meeting, but Doyle recognizes him immediately. While Napoleon does what he can for both men's injuries, he and Doyle make a pact: each will look out for the other's partner.
Down below, Cowley continues to try to negotiate with Hoffman. But it's Illya who gives them a way out of their dilemma: he remembers that the lift doesn't work. It takes only seconds for Doyle to understand what he's trying to say and passes the information on to Bodie. Between Bodie and Napoleon, they succeed in taking down Hoffman.
Because the men are thrown into the middle of a situation almost immediately, there's little time to focus on their personal relationships. We do realize that nothing has changed between Bodie and Doyle, though, that, for whatever reason, they haven't taken their relationship to the next step.
People Bending Broken Rules
The last story takes place seven months after Doyle's shooting by May Li. He and Bodie have been given a baby sitting job, Doyle's first assignment since returning to work. They drive to a large country manor where they discover that they're baby sitting Napoleon, in his role as a sheik who's been getting death threats.
But while their work is smoothly done, there's a lot of tension in the air. Another two years have passed, and Bodie and Doyle are still not lovers, though both have implied a love for each other—just not to each other. The added stress of Doyle's shooting has left Bodie unbalanced, afraid of losing his partner but at the same time afraid of getting any closer. Doyle, being Doyle, shows his worry in anger at his partner's withdrawal.
Unfortunately, it's a situation well-known to Napoleon and Illya, as the author uses a deadly injury to Illya as a reason for Napoleon leaving UNCLE several years before. But all that takes a back seat when the manor is attacked. Their communication systems cut off, the four men must work to stay alive until back-up arrives.
Luckily, during a time between attacks, first Bodie and Doyle, and then Napoleon and Illya, find time to work out their differences. Each pair, with the help of the other, confront and accept their feelings. When the cavalry shows up in the form of more CI5 agents, everything is as it should be. All ends well.
For me, the best part of the stories is that all four men were very much as I see them. Yes, they're having problems, but it doesn't interfere with their work. They are first and foremost professionals. Which doesn't mean that their feelings aren't obvious. They are, though in ways that fit the character of each man. Through the entire affair, we never lose sight of the fact that each man cares deeply for his partner. And while I've never been crazy with Napoleon and Illya's fifteen year separation, the author even makes that work.
As she does the entire situation. I can easily see the four men working together, their styles easily meshing. The crossover of these two fandoms is a natural.
There have been other stories that bring these four men together, but these three remain my favorite.
For anyone wanting or needing further background, I heartily recommend![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
shayheyred's Ship Manifesto for the Napoleon/Illya pairing, In Praise of Spies.
Author: Debra Hicks
Pairing: B/D, N/I
Links to Stories: The Waiting Room Affair
Incident In a Stairwell
People Bending Broken Rules
I put off reading these three stories for quite some time when I first got into the Pros fandom. Even though I'd watched UNCLE during its original run, or maybe because I'd watched the original run at the tender age of eleven, I couldn't bring myself to think of Napoleon and Illya that way. But to not read even one Pros stories, as I tore through the archives, gorging myself on Bodie and Doyle, was impossible, so, finally, I sat down and read these three stories.
I'm very glad that I did.
The Waiting Room Affair
The first story in the trilogy is quite short, yet so much is revealed about the four men. Set in a hospital waiting room, it takes only seconds for Napoleon and Doyle to make a connection, seeing much of themselves in the other, as they wait for word about their partners. Finally, both are told that their partners are in recovery and doing well.
Neither set of men are lovers. Nothing is said about the partnerships being anything more than professional, even though one partnership is a couple of years old, the other almost two decades. As the brief story ends, we are given hope that, at least for Bodie and Doyle, that's about to change.
Incident In a Stairwell
As the second story opens, we discover that an another agency is interested in recruiting agents from CI5. But as Doyle leads the agency's representative up the stairs, there's a hail of gunfire.
Doyle is shot, as is the other agent. Down below, a worried Bodie and Cowley wait. With them is a MI6 agent, there with some of his men to escort Hoffman, a terrorist prisoner, away. Hoffman is now loose and armed. And it turns out the man with Doyle is Illya Kuryakin. Doyle has his RT, and is able to tell Cowley and Bodie about their injuries.
When Napoleon shows up, plans are made to help the two wounded men. Napoleon pretends to be a medic, so that Hoffman will allow him access to them. He finds that Doyle's injury, while severe, is not immediately life-threatening. Illya's, on the other hand, are.
A year has passed since Doyle and Napoleon's meeting, but Doyle recognizes him immediately. While Napoleon does what he can for both men's injuries, he and Doyle make a pact: each will look out for the other's partner.
Down below, Cowley continues to try to negotiate with Hoffman. But it's Illya who gives them a way out of their dilemma: he remembers that the lift doesn't work. It takes only seconds for Doyle to understand what he's trying to say and passes the information on to Bodie. Between Bodie and Napoleon, they succeed in taking down Hoffman.
Because the men are thrown into the middle of a situation almost immediately, there's little time to focus on their personal relationships. We do realize that nothing has changed between Bodie and Doyle, though, that, for whatever reason, they haven't taken their relationship to the next step.
People Bending Broken Rules
The last story takes place seven months after Doyle's shooting by May Li. He and Bodie have been given a baby sitting job, Doyle's first assignment since returning to work. They drive to a large country manor where they discover that they're baby sitting Napoleon, in his role as a sheik who's been getting death threats.
But while their work is smoothly done, there's a lot of tension in the air. Another two years have passed, and Bodie and Doyle are still not lovers, though both have implied a love for each other—just not to each other. The added stress of Doyle's shooting has left Bodie unbalanced, afraid of losing his partner but at the same time afraid of getting any closer. Doyle, being Doyle, shows his worry in anger at his partner's withdrawal.
Unfortunately, it's a situation well-known to Napoleon and Illya, as the author uses a deadly injury to Illya as a reason for Napoleon leaving UNCLE several years before. But all that takes a back seat when the manor is attacked. Their communication systems cut off, the four men must work to stay alive until back-up arrives.
Luckily, during a time between attacks, first Bodie and Doyle, and then Napoleon and Illya, find time to work out their differences. Each pair, with the help of the other, confront and accept their feelings. When the cavalry shows up in the form of more CI5 agents, everything is as it should be. All ends well.
For me, the best part of the stories is that all four men were very much as I see them. Yes, they're having problems, but it doesn't interfere with their work. They are first and foremost professionals. Which doesn't mean that their feelings aren't obvious. They are, though in ways that fit the character of each man. Through the entire affair, we never lose sight of the fact that each man cares deeply for his partner. And while I've never been crazy with Napoleon and Illya's fifteen year separation, the author even makes that work.
As she does the entire situation. I can easily see the four men working together, their styles easily meshing. The crossover of these two fandoms is a natural.
There have been other stories that bring these four men together, but these three remain my favorite.
For anyone wanting or needing further background, I heartily recommend
shayheyred's Ship Manifesto for the Napoleon/Illya pairing, In Praise of Spies.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 04:11 pm (UTC)As for me, I instantly paired (in the slash way, though I didn't know more the thing than the word, which didn't even exist at the time actually) NS and IK when I watched the eps in my teens. Curiously it's now I have some difficulties to see them in a sexual relationship: the friendship / partnership relation looks more interesting to me. For a long time I hoped it could be possible to reconcile passion and friendship, Greek style, without compromising the specific demands of a partnership. Now, having become more realistic, I doubt. It's slightly easier with Bodie and Doyle, I don't know why.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 11:52 pm (UTC)You're certainly not alone in finding the partnership relation more interesting, since UNCLE has a much larger gen fandom than does Pros. I do think the first two stories can be read either way.
It's slightly easier with Bodie and Doyle, I don't know why.
Perhaps because you prefer a different pairing in Pros. :-)
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 07:45 am (UTC)I rather think it's the other way round: I see B and D as essentially partners and friends, so the sexual love between them becomes difficult to introduce in the relationship, while there cannot be friendship between B and C (because friendship demands equality), so I am able to accept a (very special) kind of love between them.
However there are so many slash scenes in Pros that I can easily see the reason for the OTP position!
Though since they are as visible in MFU, if not more, my question remains; maybe Napoleon's character? Also I can see Illya as a non-sexual type and I rather like him so.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 10:54 am (UTC)I've never been one to think that Napoleon is over-sexed, or has had too many women (he's young, good-looking and single after all,) so that part of his character has never been a problem for me. But for argument's sake, say it is a problem. There's a K/S novel that posits Kirk's "extreme" love of the ladies (again, I don't find the numbers extreme,) as an overcompensation for latent homosexuality. A "Casanova complex," as it were. That's something I could easily buy with Napoleon, too.
Also I can see Illya as a non-sexual type and I rather like him so.
Oh, see, I've never been really comfortable with that label on anyone, even Spock. I prefer Napoleon, but I've always assumed Illya to have a healthy sex life.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 05:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 11:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 05:30 pm (UTC)I do see the slash in the UNCLE show, but then I can usually see slash in cop-or-spy buddy situations. Here, I was happy with the way things went for our lads but the relationship between Ilya and Napoleon didn't ring quite as true and I'm not sure why. I was also a bit unsure about the 'declarations' in front of the other pair, even if they had all been giving each other advice on their love lives during the gunfight. Still, it was a nice, almost fairytale ending!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 12:02 am (UTC)I know for myself, the fact that it would take so many years for the relationship to resolve itself is usually a problem. Even the three for Bodie and Doyle is a stretch. But because I could see the love between them, it was something I managed to overlook.
I was also a bit unsure about the 'declarations' in front of the other pair, even if they had all been giving each other advice on their love lives during the gunfight.
Now, that I didn't have a problem with. You figure they're pushing sixty. By that age, who cares what other people think? *g*
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 07:59 am (UTC)But I think it was also the idea that both relationships were solved at the same moment that seemed unlikely and belonged in an ending of the 'they all lived happily ever after' type - pleasing but artificial. And I don't think for either pair it would be such an immediate revelation.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 11:00 am (UTC)Would depend on your upbringing. :-) As someone pushing sixty, I'm becoming more and more of the mind that what I do is my own business and anyone who doesn't like it can go hang—of course, I've thought that for a long time. Time has only reaffirmed it. *g*
But I think it was also the idea that both relationships were solved at the same moment that seemed unlikely and belonged in an ending of the 'they all lived happily ever after' type - pleasing but artificial. And I don't think for either pair it would be such an immediate revelation.
To be honest, I wouldn't think it would take them so long! Not almost twenty years for Napoleon and Illya and over three for Bodie and Doyle (up to five years, depending on when they fell in love.) Again, I can only go by what I've experienced or seen.
But I see your point in that in the story the resolutions sort of turned on a dime.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 07:30 pm (UTC)Thanks for the recs!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 12:04 am (UTC)Very true. :-) I recently read a Highlander-Stargate crossover that I enjoyed a lot, even though I'm not all that familiar with Stargate. Still, I knew enough so not to be completely lost. *g*
Thanks for the recs!
You're very welcome!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 09:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 12:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-03 10:05 pm (UTC)Especially the first is perfect! It's very intense and it's great to watch one beloved character through the eyes of another of your favourite agents. I think there could be a strong connection between Doyle and Napoleon(more than between all the other possible combinations).
The second one is a good plot with a lot of partner caring.
But I have problems with the third one.
I never thought, I would say it - but for me it was tooo much h/c! Sooo many injuries...
And I don't think that first times can be connected with each and every plot line!
I think there should be either a very dangerous situation, OR deep conversations about the relationships of four men.
They all are professionals, and I can't believe that they risk such strong distractions.
Maybe I was too disappointed, but I don't like the last sentences either. IMO a quite weak ending.
And I think, that there are too many 'eye-contacts' in the story. (Just search for 'green' or 'blue').
"I can easily see the four men working together, their styles easily meshing. The crossover of these two fandoms is a natural.
....There have been other stories that bring these four men together, but these three remain my favorite."
I totallly agree! I haven't yet found another crossover with the two shows. Can you give me a hint?
Thank you for the rec!
And your summaries are very good! :-)
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 12:35 am (UTC)Especially the first is perfect! It's very intense and it's great to watch one beloved character through the eyes of another of your favourite agents. I think there could be a strong connection between Doyle and Napoleon(more than between all the other possible combinations).
I think so, too. Illya and Bodie are too different from each other, while Napoleon and Doyle, though seeming to be very different on the surface, both have a certain gentleness that could easily create a connection.
The second one is a good plot with a lot of partner caring.
But I have problems with the third one.
Lol, there seems to be a pattern.
I never thought, I would say it - but for me it was tooo much h/c! Sooo many injuries...
And I don't think that first times can be connected with each and every plot line!
I think there should be either a very dangerous situation, OR deep conversations about the relationships of four men.
They all are professionals, and I can't believe that they risk such strong distractions.
Maybe I was too disappointed, but I don't like the last sentences either. IMO a quite weak ending.
And I think, that there are too many 'eye-contacts' in the story. (Just search for 'green' or 'blue').
I didn't have a problem with there being both the situation and the conversations, but I do have to agree about the ending, if only because I would have preferred seeing more of each pair alone together.
"I can easily see the four men working together, their styles easily meshing. The crossover of these two fandoms is a natural.
....There have been other stories that bring these four men together, but these three remain my favorite."
I totallly agree! I haven't yet found another crossover with the two shows. Can you give me a hint?
There's the The Remember Me Affair (http://www.ravenslair.net/vault/ravenschild/index.html) by Ravenschild and "Angel In the Park" in Awakenings #7.
Thank you for the rec!
And your summaries are very good! :-)
Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 10:31 am (UTC)Thanks for the review - your summaries were great.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-04 11:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-06 09:39 am (UTC)I remember watching the original Man from Uncle series during the seventies and enjoying it very much. This has not, however, led to any attraction to that particular fandom. My memory (becoming more and more of a problem, lately *g*) is vague about specifics for both Illya and Napoleon, but on a totally superficial basis, these stories worked for me. The three plots/scenarios were well thought out and had enough action balanced with thoughtful scenes. Possibly because I’d not read any of them before, or that I read them one after the other, I didn’t feel distracted by the separation of the three stories. To me, they blended into each other really well. There was a bit of me which felt slightly unfulfilled by the ending as I thought there was scope for a more rounded (ie, happy!) ending, but that’s probably me being needy.
As with many other comments both generally about The Reading Room, and specifically about fusion/crossovers, I would probably not have read any of these crossover fics, but having done so, I have enjoyed them. I have read another MFU crossover “Discovered in a Congo Prison” which I enjoyed and which encouraged me to read this one. Perhaps I ought to offer to rec that one!!
Thanks for the rec!