Unromantic recs: Jojo

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Title: Love In a Cold Country/ The Scarsdale Pact
Author: JoJo
Link to story:http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/17/lovein.html
and http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/19/thescarsdale.html
Short review: Can't choose between the two, so I didn't. Jojo has them; the argy-bargy, the wit, the bite, the blokey-love.. she just HAS them. 'The Scarsdale Pact' is them on a cold night in Prague, it's Bodie with a busted rib ( just Doyle's handpat is enough.. read and see), kissing under King Wenceleslas and Bodie's Mars Bars wearing off..
In 'Love ın a Cold Country', it's Bodie in a farmhouse with a beard, it's Doyle rescuing him from barbed wire and snow, and it's this final scene in hospital observed through the eyes of a nurse.



'Love in a Cold Country'

He'd arrived in a car with his beardy, hypothermic mate and a limping Scotsman, a mismatched trio of men with soaked clothing and flinty eyes. They talked in low tones, keeping their words between themselves. And then he'd taken up position behind the curtains while they waited for a bed to become available on the ward.

Wondering if he'd finally got tired and left, Staff Nurse Wilson did another foray.

He was still there, shuffling his lovely bony bum on the seat, leaning one arm around the back of the pillow. And his mate was properly awake now.

"You called me love," Beardy was saying.

"I never."

"You did. I heard you."

"I called you a complete and utter bastard. The cold must have affected your hearing, mate."

"Pardon?"

The tall man clicked his tongue.

"You know, we could give this game up, become polar explorers."

"Nah."

"Why not?"

"'m allergic to penguins."

There was a distinct double snigger. The tall man extracted his hand from behind the pillow and paddled his fingers wonderingly in the beard, then he let the hand rest and they both remained very still. She could not see the look between them but she saw the bearded man tugging the other's head towards him with an end of tartan scarf and so she let the curtain fall back into place.

Comments

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I've only read the first story but I loved it. Good choice. (And maybe I should read the second one....)

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Thanks! And definitely try the second one, I'm sure you'll like it. It's an original premise - the lads on ajob in Prague and she has great fun with the whole 'fish-out-of-water idea. And it's Jojo, so they are so very, very canon in the way they interact with each other. Enjoy!

[smirra.livejournal.com]

Sounds highly intriguing! I'll give this a try soon. This recs are such a good thing.

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

These recs are a great idea, I always come across something that I haven't read before. And if the excerpt tickled your fancy, then try any and all of Jojo's. She's one of my favourite writers in fandom.

[intheyear2004.livejournal.com]

I had to re-read these two which I did last night and thank you for making me! I especially love her characterisation of Cowley "pleased with the spartan surroundings" and such. And also the people they encounter in Prague.

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Happy to force-feed you some fic there! She does a great job with her characterisations all round. If you haven't read it, try 'Proof'. Just about my favourite. For Doyle in cricket whites if nothing else..

[intheyear2004.livejournal.com]

I will, thank you! But now I just have to try 'Hunted by Devils', so 'Proof' may have to wait a bit... ;)