My Bodie and Doyle are pretty close to yours, especially the being regular blokes and not being cut off from their emotions. And, yes, lots of self-confidence! And while there are those exceptions where I can truly love a story where Bodie and Doyle aren't "my" Bodie and Doyle, on the whole I prefer those stories where they're closer to my own vision of them. I don't want them neurotic or, even worse, psychotic. I suppose it comes down to being able to admire them.

Yet in an AU I can accept a certain amount of change in that, though I prefer them as close as possible to the original. Something along the lines of "Harlequin Airs." But as long as it is supposed to be Bodie and Doyle I can go with just about anything...as long as it's decently written. Really, my ability to buy a B/D story stops when it's no longer Bodie and Doyle. Like when it's Cade or Deed or whoever. I've never understood the attraction of those stories. Sort of the ultimate AUs.