Reading Room: Transport Cafe
Jun. 21st, 2024 11:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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ci5hqAlas! I made the reading room post to my journal rather than to the comm. Two people replied there, and I've reproduced their contributions below. Sorry, everyone.
Welcome, finally, to the reading room discussion of Transport Cafe by fajdrako. I hope it will be fun despite the rocky start. Below is a recap of the story.
It is a dark and stormy night. Bodie and Doyle are driving back to London after an op in Sheffield, but when Bodie falls asleep at the wheel, they decide to stop at an all-night cafe beside the highway. Bodie is in a bad mood, and Doyle mulls over recent events, looking for the reason.
*
They were trying to apprehend a group of gangsters involved in a turf war. In the course of their investigation, they came across a henchman who had been fatally shot and was dying in a culvert. They received his last words: "Tell Lily..." Both were disturbed by this incident, but they justified it to themselves.
The next day they visited a club owned by Fordham, a senior gangster. Bodie flirted with Fordham's underage girlfriend Trina in order to get information. Things got physical and Bodie left with an erection, which did not subside after he and Doyle drove away. Doyle offered to help with it, and when Bodie did not refuse, Doyle gave him a hand job in the car. Doyle found it a moving experience, but they did not discuss it.
*
Back in the present, Bodie gets into a fight with several other patrons of the cafe after one of them tries to trip him. Doyle takes a knife away from one of them, but otherwise does not get involved. Bodie is in a somewhat better mood after the fight, but Doyle continues to reflect on recent events.
*
On the following day, Bodie and Doyle were caught in a shoot-out. Later, a combination of nearly being shot and the frustrations of the case overwhelmed Doyle and he began hitting a brick wall. Bodie offered to help him calm down using sex instead, seeming eager to do so. He asked if he could suck Doyle, and Doyle agreed. Bodie proved very skilled and Doyle was overwhelmed by the experience, but they were called back to the case immediately afterward and were busy for the rest of the day. Hence they did not discuss it.
The next day, Bodie was moody, and Doyle did not know how to bring up what they had done or the fact that Bodie must have done similar things before. They wrapped up the case by apprehending Fordham. As they were packing in their hotel room, Doyle proposed more sex, but Bodie rebuffed him. Before they could discuss it, Cowley called and sent them to pursue one more loose end.
This led to Bodie going undercover as an arms dealer to draw out one of Fordham's contacts. That night, Bodie and Doyle met in a parking garage to hand off information. Bodie was very conscious of the dangers of his role in the op, and when Doyle asked him what he wanted, he said that he wanted to fuck Doyle. Now. They did that, but they did not have time to discuss it before moving on to the next step in their plan.
This final part of the op was successful. The next day was filled with paperwork, and then Cowley ordered them back to London, where they were going when they stopped at the cafe.
*
At the cafe, Doyle is finally ready to ask what is bothering Bodie. It turns out it is their sexual interactions over the past few days. Bodie feels that Doyle is manipulating him into sex with unknown motives. Doyle, however, says that his only reason for wanting sex with Bodie is that he loves him. Bodie takes some time to process this but eventually shows through his looks and gestures that he loves Doyle, too.
How did you like this story? Did you find Bodie's suspicion of Doyle convincing? At what point in the story do you think Doyle realized he loved Bodie? Did the non-linear structure serve the plot well? What was your favorite sentence?
Welcome, finally, to the reading room discussion of Transport Cafe by fajdrako. I hope it will be fun despite the rocky start. Below is a recap of the story.
*
They were trying to apprehend a group of gangsters involved in a turf war. In the course of their investigation, they came across a henchman who had been fatally shot and was dying in a culvert. They received his last words: "Tell Lily..." Both were disturbed by this incident, but they justified it to themselves.
The next day they visited a club owned by Fordham, a senior gangster. Bodie flirted with Fordham's underage girlfriend Trina in order to get information. Things got physical and Bodie left with an erection, which did not subside after he and Doyle drove away. Doyle offered to help with it, and when Bodie did not refuse, Doyle gave him a hand job in the car. Doyle found it a moving experience, but they did not discuss it.
*
Back in the present, Bodie gets into a fight with several other patrons of the cafe after one of them tries to trip him. Doyle takes a knife away from one of them, but otherwise does not get involved. Bodie is in a somewhat better mood after the fight, but Doyle continues to reflect on recent events.
*
On the following day, Bodie and Doyle were caught in a shoot-out. Later, a combination of nearly being shot and the frustrations of the case overwhelmed Doyle and he began hitting a brick wall. Bodie offered to help him calm down using sex instead, seeming eager to do so. He asked if he could suck Doyle, and Doyle agreed. Bodie proved very skilled and Doyle was overwhelmed by the experience, but they were called back to the case immediately afterward and were busy for the rest of the day. Hence they did not discuss it.
The next day, Bodie was moody, and Doyle did not know how to bring up what they had done or the fact that Bodie must have done similar things before. They wrapped up the case by apprehending Fordham. As they were packing in their hotel room, Doyle proposed more sex, but Bodie rebuffed him. Before they could discuss it, Cowley called and sent them to pursue one more loose end.
This led to Bodie going undercover as an arms dealer to draw out one of Fordham's contacts. That night, Bodie and Doyle met in a parking garage to hand off information. Bodie was very conscious of the dangers of his role in the op, and when Doyle asked him what he wanted, he said that he wanted to fuck Doyle. Now. They did that, but they did not have time to discuss it before moving on to the next step in their plan.
This final part of the op was successful. The next day was filled with paperwork, and then Cowley ordered them back to London, where they were going when they stopped at the cafe.
*
At the cafe, Doyle is finally ready to ask what is bothering Bodie. It turns out it is their sexual interactions over the past few days. Bodie feels that Doyle is manipulating him into sex with unknown motives. Doyle, however, says that his only reason for wanting sex with Bodie is that he loves him. Bodie takes some time to process this but eventually shows through his looks and gestures that he loves Doyle, too.
How did you like this story? Did you find Bodie's suspicion of Doyle convincing? At what point in the story do you think Doyle realized he loved Bodie? Did the non-linear structure serve the plot well? What was your favorite sentence?
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no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 05:34 am (UTC)At the beginning of the story, I thought that Bodie and Doyle didn't sound particularly British, their syntax didn't sound quite right. I got used to this, because the author can craft a lovely phrase--I particularly liked when Bodie took Doyle against the red car. The flashbacks and establishment of them in the dreary cafe was effective in showing their exhaustion and slight disillusionment. Not my favorite story but the writer has a way with words. I had to laugh when the Beatles were singing Long and Winding Road but no-one was paying any attention.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 05:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 05:35 am (UTC)The story creates an atmosphere, you can feel it right from the start and stays in your mind and mood after finishing it.
That's what I would describe as a good story, a talented use of words.
I didn't expect the hand job, it came as a surprise. I was slightly struggling with this scenario, in spite of the talk before about watching.
Okay, I am used to using sex after an op to get the adrenaline out of the system but this scene was different, an usual way to get the lads physical for the first time.
Bodie's weak point is Doyle. So his reaction is absolutely convincing for me.
His wall had been fallen completely, although Doyle had already been through.
I like the structure of the story. You know a bad op could lead to a gloom, sombre mood. So, nothing unusual there. But we get first a hint and then more information with every day there's more to it.
It's a strong story. Both have something to deal with, they need to talk, to sort it out but don't have time to do so in an undramatic way.
My favourite sentence was in the car park:
"You're flotsam in the river and I'm another CI5 widow," said Doyle. " I know. Trust me Bodie."
That's the way of them how to cope with fear.
When did Doyle realise it is love ?
Maybe in the car park, the question "What do you want ?"
Interesting question and I am looking forward to reading comments about that point.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 05:36 am (UTC)And it's true that having sex after an op is a much more common set-up than having it in the middle of an op, as they do three times in this fic. :D
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 05:37 am (UTC)I said:
I enjoyed this fic while reading it. Then, when I was writing the summary, I found myself thinking, "Wait, is that all that happened? Bodie and Doyle had sex several times and didn't talk about it, and then they talked about it?" I think the tasty writing and nonlinear structure add a lot of appeal to what would otherwise not be much of a story.
I don't think Bodie's suspicion of Doyle was justified, as Bodie was the instigator of the sex on two out of three occasions. I can buy Bodie viewing his attraction to Doyle as something Doyle was doing, though. Men often seem to treat their attraction to women that way (with various nasty results), so there is precedent for it. I would be interested in a fic that explored that phenomenon more.
On reflection, I think Doyle must not have realized that he loved Bodie until he told him in the cafe. Otherwise, in a story told from Doyle's point of view, it should have come up before.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 12:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 04:39 pm (UTC)I hadn't thought of it when reading but agree with you on Bodie's attitude. I like when they talk rough to each other but belittling one another is a different thing.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 11:13 pm (UTC)Yes, the not talking was a little repetitive, though I didn't notice it until I looked back at the story.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 03:30 pm (UTC)While this is a harder edge Bodie and Doyle that I would want to follow in a long story, in this setting it worked.
I liked the contrast between the cafe and their work life. The past ruminations of Doyle told the story succinctly.
As the story was from Doyle's point of view, I didn't expect Bodie's thoughts, but Doyle was looking at him and yet I feel like I missed all that Bodie's face could reveal even while staring blankly. Doyle thought about everything else, why not that?
Even with her words "His face was stripped bare, stark, open." I wanted to know what with . . . fear, happiness, love? I'm sure she wanted me to assume but if I had that one little nugget I would put it in my reread pile.
Your questions:
Did you find Bodie's suspicion of Doyle convincing?
Yes, it fit this Bodie, who had lost ability to communicate.
At what point in the story do you think Doyle realized he loved Bodie?
At end of second story, was hoping Bodie returned it by end of third.
Did the non-linear structure serve the plot well?
Ye, I enjoyed that part of the storytelling.
What was your favorite sentence?
The one I didn't get.
I'm glad I read it, though, Thanks!
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 10:59 pm (UTC)Which things make the characterization harder edged than you prefer?
no subject
Date: 2024-06-22 11:46 pm (UTC)It is hard to describe — it's the just under thug impression some folk like to write —( this author writes very different lads depending on which story so it's not just her way of writing. ) It's just that impression, he's barely civilized.
I do understand that they have had a hard case, week, worklife, but his initial description is not how I see him.
The real joy of fanfic is that our lads can be represented so many ways, some we like more than other. . .your milage may vary.
no subject
Date: 2024-06-23 11:28 pm (UTC)'I can buy Bodie viewing his attraction to Doyle as something Doyle was doing, though. Men often seem to treat their attraction to women that way (with various nasty results), so there is precedent for it. I would be interested in a fic that explored that phenomenon more.'
Excellent observation! I hadn't thought of it in this manner, but you're absolutely right.
I didn't really love this story, mostly due to Bodie's presentation. I'm with Kat — 'Bodie had a nasty tongue. Bodie can be hard but I don't feel he's unnecessarily cruel, esp. to Doyle.' That kind of turned me off of the story... even with the happy ending.