Pros Novel Read-Along - Painted Angels by Angelfish - Chapter Ten

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hello! *g*

Painted Angels by Angelfish.
Cover art by firlefanzine

Chapter Ten
Doyle is back in Derby, with Gabe, and as the chapter opens he's staring down his old street asking Gabe "uncertainly" which house was his. A boy on a bike shouts casual homophobia at them, and Doyle stops him sharply and tells him to watch his lip "you little shit". Gabe has already been called "the usual" racist names.

Doyle remembers his house then, but when Gabe tells him his mum still lives there, decides that he doesn't want to see her again. He's visited Gabe's mum, and his father's grave (he came across the Desiderata on someone else's grave, and decided he liked it and would have it on his wall one day), and he and Gabe have gone hiking as they did when they were much younger friends. Doyle talked endlessly about Bodie The way you talk when you're falling in love, he realised.

Doyle goes back to his B&B, and to bed - only to be woken by a knocking on the door. It's Gabe - Cowley has called his mum's house, trying to get hold of Doyle. Bodie has been involved in "an incident" and he's missing, presumed dead. Doyle doesn't believe it, says he'd know "in here", as sure as Gabe knows God. Gabe helps him hire a car and gives him money so that he can get back to London fast, and just before Doyle leaves, he kisses him "mouth, open wide in silent passion" on his lips.

So... what d'you think? *g*

Comments

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'd forgotten about that. Really, he knows Bodie is alive? I never buy that, in any story. I could see not wanted to think of them as dead, or holding in your mind that they have to still be alive. But not into mystical feelings.

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

It could be written, but I think it won't work in the last few paragraphs of Chapter 10.

The world of the story needs to make room for it. Maybe Bodie just KNEW where Doyle spent the night. Maybe they always know when one of them is outside the other one's door. Maybe Doyle used to know when Gabe was unhappy and when he was serene. I mean, we have psychic-bond-with-wolf stories. But this one hasn't made the room for this, or else I need a call-back to remember it so I'm thinking, "Aww!" instead of "Oh, come on!"

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

True. Just look at all K/S stories. It's just taken for granted. But there does need to be a backstory has to how and why the characters have the ability.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I think it's the whole soul-mate thing, isn't it - that when you're with the one you really love, you have an awareness of them that even extends to a distance, and their absence is like missing-limb syndrome. So if you don't feel like you're missing a limb, then they must be still alive...

I just don't think the author's set up that kind of relationship between them yet... they're getting there, but they're both still uncertain of each other - and in fact Doyle's just resigned from CI5, come to think of it!