Reading Room XI - Stories with Notable Minor Characters – Fly On The Wall by Lezlie Conch

[murphybabe]

Title: Fly on the Wall
Author: Lezlie Conch
Pairing: B/D
Rating: explicit
Link: Fly On The Wall

I need to confess right at the start. Although most of the CI5 agents we know feature in this story, and some we’ve never heard of, we perhaps have a stronger glance at Murphy’s character than any of the others. So if you can forgive me that, I’ll continue.

The basis to this story is that of a surveillance operation. Doyle is chosen as the rent boy, various CI5 agents pick him up on a regular basis while the others observe from a window across the street. Bodie is selected for a very cushy job and spends a lovely couple of days in luxury, and comes back to find that the situation he left has changed dramatically. “What a difference two days made.

The care-free siren was gone, replaced by a wary, cornered panther with--Bodie zoomed in--a definite facial tic. Doyle's shirt, usually open to the navel, was done up to the last button, and while the jeans were still tight, the goodies were [not] discreetly covered by shirt tails.“

The operation is set up with pairs of agents, one to observe and the other to pick up Doyle. The op is boring, so there is banter and discussion, and then Murphy – a bit of an unknown quantity – bets McCabe that he can pick up anyone. McCabe is suckered into picking up Doyle for real. In order that no one cheats, McCabe is bugged. He fails, naturally. Bodie finds the whole thing amusing and disappears to escort Cowley to Paris. When he returns, all off duty agents are in on the bet and there is a lot of money riding on the outcome. Bodie is panicked because he knows Doyle will blame him. Inevitably, it’s Bodie’s turn to pick Doyle up and greatly to his surprise, Doyle is desperate to see him – and desperate also for his body. Bodie has a lot of swift decisions to make. Knowing that he is bugged, he tries to dissuade Doyle, but then his focus changes to enjoying the moment while thinking desperately of how to carry it off when all the other agents can hear what they are doing through the bug.

We don’t learn much about the surveillance operation, which is incidental to this whole story. What we do see is a set of cameos of the agents. Thus we see McCabe as not perhaps the brightest of the bunch, level-headed Anson with a wry sense of humour, Lake described as ‘always the weakest link’ etc.

There are some interesting insights on Bodie and Doyle – Bodie is depicted as not terribly bright, and Doyle as a sharp-tongued complainer. Here’s a description of Murphy, “Murphy was an unknown quantity, too new for Bodie to know if the middle-class affectations were real--in which case he could continue ignoring him with a clear conscience--or if they merely masked the mild psychosis that guaranteed social success with CI5.“

The character of Murphy is developed further than any of the others. He is portrayed as quiet, clever and cunning. His serious attempt to seduce Doyle nearly succeeds, and is what makes Bodie follow through with his own response to Doyle’s seduction and stiffens his resolve, as it were *g* Murphy’s anguish at Bodie’s confession at the end of the story is wonderful, as is Bodie’s explanation of his triple think.

The whole thing is salted with humour throughout, and although I found myself wanting to quote every other sentence, I haven’t because – well, you need to read the whole thing.

I did have a couple of minor issues. For me, the non-Britishisms grated slightly, so I would have preferred native alternatives to ‘trash’, ‘candy’ and ‘Rod Serling’ – I guess this is a reference to the Twilight Zone? Anyway, this is still one of my favourite stories so it obviously doesn’t bother me that much.

The other slight discomfort is the portrayal of our heroes. Bodie is really quite dim in this fic. And he knows it. And Doyle – bitching, moaning and complaining all the time. It’s funny, but they are not my Bodie and Doyle from the episodes.

Questions, then:

1. Did you enjoy the story? If you did, what appealed most? If you didn’t, what was it that you didn’t like?
2. Were the minor characters developed enough for you? Who stood out most?
3. What did you think of Murphy in this fic?
4. Did you like the portrayal of Bodie and Doyle? What are your thoughts on the way their characters are developed here?

Comments

[bodiecuddle.livejournal.com]

well well..... ;)

[murphybabe]

*g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

1. I do like this story - despite so many things! But it's got a kind of joy to it - it wants people to be amused, so I find myself smiling along, every time... *g*

2. The minor characters were fine, though they were all Americans, and I'm not sure any of them were really individuals with their own quirks, no matter what we were told. They were more about the wisecracks than being actual characters, I think... Murphy, of course, was the best-drawn, a bit shy, diffident... I do wonder if we were supposed to recognise him as middle class because he'd brought a table, chair and books with him though! Not quite... *g* I can see him as the quiet-ish one, though, from what we do see in the eps.

3. Ha - sorry, see above, question two... *g*

4. I did like Bodie and Doyle, both of them - I thought they were well done. I don't agree with you that Bodie's not supposed to be very clever though - I think our first impressions of him are that he is clever, far more so than the other agents: Life would be so much easier if Doyle was as cack-handed as McCabe who couldn't go under the covers of his own bed without looking conspicuous... Okay, technically that's telling us how good Doyle is at his job, but it's the fact that Bodie's the only person who recgonises and values that, which sets him apart... The moment when they're in the flat and Doyle's giving him a blow-job, and then Doyle tells him he's clever and Bodie lights up - to me that's always been not because Bodie's stupid, but because he's a bit insecure, and he wants Doyle to admire (ie, lurve) him. And now Doyle does! And Bodie wants an excuse to let Doyle keep going, and that's a perfectly good one to his subconscious, so... *g* And Bodie's all pleased about how "clever" he suddenly is not cos he's actually stupid, but because it means that he's the one who's got Doyle... *g* Oh, and Bodie's "menace" is intact... *g*

Doyle whinging and moaning - again, this didn't strike me as too overdone. Okay, they say he has a reputation for it, but then in the eps I don't think Doyle does suffer fools gladly (though he's very mate-y with the other agents, contrary to some fic!), and I can see that as being translated by the less brighter wits of CI5 as "moaning"... and he doesn't actually moan in the story, he reacts as I'd expect him to react. He tells McCabe off, when McCabe is being useless, he snaps at Murphy - he beats off all the other agents, including Murphy (though I like that they've got him all jumpy, too... though heee for his interpretation of why! *g*) and he's clearly considered chancey to cross, even if behind his back half of them might be wondering about him - and I like that the potential of that "wondering" annoys Bodie too, and gets his protective hackles up... I like that Shell has shown us that Bodie's got protective instincts about Doyle, but in a bloke-who-wouldn't-do-anything-about-it-unless-the-other-bloke-really-couldn't-handle-himself kind of way.

I don't remember wincing hugely at the Americanisms when I first read this, being caught up in giggling at it, but they don't hold up to re-reading, and this time I also noticed that in the second line "Bodie rolled his eyes, not bothering to comment" and then immediately says "Give it a rest" - commenting! Beta?! Otherwise though, it's not just words, but twists of non-Brit phrases in the mouths of our lads that make me cringe - "You sure are running hot and cold (Betsy-Lou)..." But it's odd, because some of it is in language you wouldn't blink at (that's not American, as far as I've ever heard) and you'd think that whoever could have written/Brit-picked that could have done the rest. But hey-ho - this is one of the few Pros stories I'll read (mostly) happily anyway! *g*

[murphybabe]

Ooh, great discussion - thanks!

I particularly liked Anson as he was drawn - clever, laid-back but one of the lads. I love the way Murphy is shown and the fact that Bodie does a double-take at some of his quiet comments.

I read your comment and thought 'great! disagreement!' because I was about to defend my vision of Bodie as being slightly dim. And I read the whole thing again with your comments in mind and... perhaps I have to change my mind. I think I was enjoying the slick comments and the humour in most sentences, and perhaps was taken in by Bodie's thought-processes as well, but... okay, he isn't really shown as thick. He observes a lot, and I hadn't spotted the insecurity, but you might be right there *g*

Doyle still complains too much for me, though. Don't get me wrong - I like it, and I find it very funny, and I love the way Bodie reacts to it. There were two sentences that made me laugh out loud (well, there were a lot more, but these relate to Doyle):

'Bodie stopped listening. Once the moaning started, McCabe could be hit by a truck and Doyle wouldn't notice.'

'Since Doyle's threshold for pain was nonexistent--he said ouch before getting hit just to save time--'

These fit with what I see in the episodes - Doyle is very focused when he is complaining and he suffers so beautifully when he is hurt *g*

Anyway, glad it's a re-read for you too!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - Anson was pretty good, and as I could imagine him from the eps (the little we see of him in either case! *g*) I'm always surprised that people stick with Murphy as the "extra agent" in fic, because there were other noteworthy agents, some of whom I think we saw more as individual characters too - Benny and Stuart, for instance, and Anson as you've said. Matthiessen and King, actually. We see a bit of Jax, enough to squeeze some character out, I think... oh, and Lucas and McCabe of course... But Benny's in several episodes, and is quite well-drawn as a character, I think, and he's rarely in stories... Actually, he's not in this one, I don't think, is he?!

I'm trying to think of Doyle in the eps... I don't think he does complain, does he - at least no more than Bodie - and yet he's often accused of it... but then he's also accused of being tight (and yet we see him paying for many more meals/drinks than Bodie does!), of being grumpy and bad tempered (yet he's also often quite silly and jokey in the eps), and in some fics of being disliked/Bodie being the sociable one (yet I'm sure we see many more hints that Doyle is friends with most of the agents, than we actually see Bodie is). I think maybe Doyle's more extravagant in his gestures etc - when he does complain about something we know about it! For instance, it's Bodie who knows to the day that their payrise is overdue, but Doyle reacts loudly about it and is the one who's generally painted as being tight over money/pay/etc!)

I love those lines you've quoted too! *vbg*

Actually now I'm trying to think about the way we see Murphy in the eps, and what character we see to him... I know that I heard him in one ep as sounding very received-English, but in later eps he seemed to relax that and speak relatively "normally" (*g*)... We see him on the motorbike (but I kind of assume that all the agents would probably ride bikes, it's a very active-bloke type thing to do, and they're all active blokes by definition...). We see him smoking... Erm... oh, as a climber, of course! What else?

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I've always enjoyed this story. It makes me laugh. I was entertained so that's what counts. Thanks.

[murphybabe]

You're welcome! It's always good to laugh and be entertained *g*

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

This is a very enjoyable story (and a good review!) I love seeing Doyle getting more and more stressed (and ratty) as the pick-ups go on and on. I found Bodie adorable - the whole scene where he's bugged and Doyle is giving him a blow job - priceless! I liked Murphy here, quiet, a bit mysterious. Yeah, I can see that. I was good with the lads portrayal - I agree with you, maybe Doyle's complaining was a little on the heavy side, but it went with the situation he found himself in.

I see from your comment to byslantedlight that you were looking for someone to argue with (*g*). I'm sorry - on this story, I think we agree!
Thanks for the review!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Lol - I'm not arguing, I'm discussing!

[murphybabe]

Thanks - glad you like the story! I wasn't exactly looking for an argument *g* but it seems that the last couple of things I have reviewed everyone has liked. I must try and find something more controversial next time.

Yes, I liked seeing the change in Doyle, and Bodie's thought processes throughout are wonderful!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Ahem... I really don't like the story! Are you pleased now? :-)

I think Bodie is actually quite unlikeable and macho.

And the humour is often over the top, exaggerated. (Someone called it 'slapstick'.)
And then the 'joke' repeats itself on and on. I think, the idea would have made at most a good short story.
Well, I really like it more subtle. Just have a look at Tea For Two by Alexandra. It's not a so called funny story,
but IMO it's written with a twinkling eye! :-)
That's the way I love it.

But your review is very good!
Thank you!

[murphybabe]

Aha! I think Bodie is quite reserved and he thinks a lot, but I'd be interested to know how you see him as macho? Is it because of the initial thoughts about a natural-fibre wardrobe etc?

I can agree with you that the humour is exaggerated, but to me, this is what makes it so funny! I guess we'll just have to agree to differ *g*

I really like Alexandra's Tea For Two as well, but I agree that it is a much gentler story.

Thanks for commenting!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

Well, you've asked for it... :-P