Lest These Dark Days

[londonronnie.livejournal.com]

A couple of rather odd things have happened to me recently.

The first odd thing was that I actually read a Bodie/Cowley fic. I should explain that the very first Pros slash fic I ever read was a B/C, and I've avoided them like the plague ever since. But there, in my Circuit Library batch, was Jane Carnall and Ann Johnson's 'Lest These Dark Days', and as I have this little idiosyncracy whereby I never send a library story back unread I decided to take the plunge.

And that's when the second odd thing happened - I actually enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it very much.



I've always subscribed to the premise that George Cowley would never, ever indulge in a sexual relationship with any of his junior officers, male or female. I believed that it would be totally unthinkable for someone of his background, a man who has spent his life dedicated to the service of his country and all that that entailed. And yet from the very first moment that Bodie made his first advances to Cowley I found the whole thing completely believable.

Here we have two desperately lonely men. One - Bodie - who spends his life going from one one-night stand to another, never giving his real name to a lover, never allowing himself to develop any sort of relationship. And the other - Cowley - whose only means of sexual gratification is through the use of prostitutes. With each other they find a hitherto unknown level of contentment and fulfilment, and an intense emotional involvement that takes both of them by surprise.

There were a couple of things about this story which helped convert me to the B/C relationship as it's written here. Firstly, no graphic B/C sex - much as I admire the Controller of CI5, I do not wish to have to picture his dangly bits in my mind's eye. The most we see are a few kisses and one or two embraces - and very effective they are too. Secondly, there is no conflict with the friendship and working relationship between Bodie and Doyle. Their bond and their friendship is as strong as ever but that's as far as it goes. Doyle is terminally straight and Bodie, although openly gay, has absolutely no sexual attraction whatsoever to his partner. I have to say that if there had been the slightest hint of attraction or unrequited love on the part of either Bodie or Doyle to the other then I would have had to give up.


If, like me, you've always been completely averse to the concept of B/C then I urge you to give 'Lest These Dark Days' a chance. It can be found on the Circuit Archive here. I was also very pleased to learn that there are also two sequels to the story which, although not online as yet, I'm hoping to read soon.

OK - now I'm ready to duck incoming missiles...