(no subject)

[brenk.livejournal.com]

First, huge thanks to byslantedlight and empty_mirrors for all the fun - and empty_mirrors gets another round of applause for doing the beta for 'So here it is'.

So, um, here it is:

A shortish slash story: "So here it is, Merry Christmas"

A little, more thoughtful thing: "No Candle"

Hope you enjoy :)

Comments

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh I liked both of these, the fun of the first one, and the lovely melancholy of the second, with Bodie there at the end, of course. Thank you so much - and happy happy birthday!

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed 'em.

And go on, sing it. You know you want to.

Bwahahahaha

[myrebelcat.livejournal.com]

Two stories! These were a treat - I liked them both. The order worked very well, too, with the fun first and the more thoughtful bits second.

Actually, I think the second is probably my favorite just because it's such a nice tight little look into Doyle's mind after an op. I can believe this is how he'd react, and the hints we got of Bodie were nice, too. Especially Doyle wondering how he can just compartmentalize and move on, and then Bodie's concern for him after.

These two stories left me smiling. Thank you!

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks - I'm really glad you enjoyed them. It was fun to write a bit as well, so a lot of the thanks go to those who prodded and betad respectively, i.e. those who run the place :)

[izzie7.livejournal.com]

These complemented each other perfectly. I really enjoyed the first one, and now I've got the wretched song about lonely goatherds going round in my head too (one point off for that ). Very believable, and some fun images, especially when it gets to ribbons & tinsel...

But, like Rebel, I think I would give "No Candle" the edge. You created a poignant mood here, and it worked beautifully. That moment when the little boy pretends to shoot the little girl - very vivid, very real, & Doyle's reaction felt spot on. I'm glad Bodie was there at the end.

Thanks for both of these :)

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

I nearly didn't post 'No Candle'. I mean, quite apart from the fact it's not slashy *g*, it seemed a bit melancholy for Christmas, and (ahem) never got as far as a beta as I was still fiddling with it last night.

So I'm *hugely* glad you and Rebel liked it.

Sorry about the goatherds. Well, a bit ;)

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I enjoyed these. Like some of the others "No Candle" mood was especially effective. I think melancholy and Christmas do go together, especially when Bodie turns up at the end--that hint of hope, really. I love the idea of him following Doyle, after being rebuffed. They both suffer in their own ways, but they can make it together. *g*

Anyway, thanks! Also for the image of Doyle (and Bodie, later) tied with ribbons and, um, writhing.... ;-)

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you, too. And yeah, I find Christmas very melancholy but tend to think I'm the only one ;)

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Both of these were just wonderful. I loved, loved, loved the breathless pace to the dialogue in the first one. The most wonderful, snappy banter - and the references - The Sound of music, Slade, Gary Glitter. I loved the grumbling Doyle that you worte, he had me chuckling constantly!

And I'll echo what everyone says about No Candle. Wistful, melancholy, but that lovely note of hope and cheer, too. And all wonderfully understated in the brief exchange at the end.

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Why thank you. It's really all a sekrit plot to get everybody yodelling ;)

Glad you liked No Candle - one of those weird things that just creeps into your mind and won't go away. Memories of the descant in Hark the Herald in my mis-spent youth, perhaps :)

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Heeeee - fancy finding you on Pros gen, eh? Have added you and feel free do do likewise.

Um - the story wot I just posted will go up on DIMT eventually in another manifestation (i.e. a slashy version), but not yet as it was unplanned so will go up when I'm already off on my travels again). So if it seems familiar... *g*.

Wheeeee. Gotta love Pros, and stumbling on people like that!

[empty-mirrors.livejournal.com]

You know I like the first story, but the second is lovely too. Nothing like a bit of Doyle pain to set the heart strings singing.

Thanks for sharing. :D

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Christmas stories are all about the mushy at times, right? Heh. And Doyle does the moody bastard so well (says the moody old biddy who wrote it).

[rosie55.livejournal.com]

Two lovely stories but I too particularly liked No Candle. How interesting that you almost didn't post it, I'm so glad you did.
I think you conveyed so well that sense of being slightly out of kilter when you go into a church which has different traditions to your own. I was the opposite - brought up as a Methodist, for many years going into a church which had candles (and bells and smells and, gosh - stations of the cross and confessionals - a whole different world!) made me feel slightly out of place, and I think you capture that very skilfully, especially when it concerns someone who thinks they have put something behind them and then finds the expectations have never quite gone away!
Loved the young choristers - again, you're spot on - watching youngsters having fun and yet putting their hearts into singing moments later is beautiful. Made me remember my years in the church choir and my daughter's!
And our Bodie, with his usual devotion and unexpected sensitivity, there for his Ray when he needs him. And Ray, imagining lighting a candle for his father - so poignant and yet he goes away with his love by his side - happy sigh!
Thank you!

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for that. In fact, I'm the same as you in that I was brought up CofE but a very 'low' one, so no candles either - and I just love candles anywhere, churches or elsewhere. We did have a choir, mind - *and* choir robes, and they let girls in (including me).

So it's a pretty personal story in a lot of ways, which is probably why I hesitated to post. Lots of nostalgia for England, carols, and times when I was less cynical!

[alicambs.livejournal.com]

I had fun with the first one, and thought the second one was moody, reflective and ultimately reassuring, a bit like Doyle I suppose. *g*

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Ali. When I write Doyle, I tend to make him uncomfortably like me (the moody, reflective and irritable part anyway). Glad you enjoyed them :)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

As usual, lovely writing from you in both stories. Thanks very much for sharing them.

[brenk.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, and thanks for saying so - hugely appreciated.

[elizabethoshea.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these. I'm very glad you posted them both; I enjoyed the change of mood. Have to say that I'm with the majority in especially enjoying number two (why is melancholy so attractive at Christmas?). Of course Bodie followed him. And I loved his opening line about swearing in church "apparently" *g*.

I've even resisted the curse of 'The Lonely Goatherd', so that's a bonus!

Is that your cat in your icon? If so, I'm very jealous *g*.

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for commenting. And yeah, I'm definitely a fan of a little Doyle-melancholy although I did think it was probably a bit too much so, and that people would prefer light and fluffy at Christmas.

And yup, that's one of the four moggies. He's a huge softie - a Somali-without-pedigree.

I re-read Voice Over recently, btw, and nice to discover you're here and have an LJ. I *love* that story so permit me a brief gush :)

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

Loved them both, but I think I need to jump on the Doyle angst bandwagon. I thought you nicely caught the mood of the church and I like the idea of Bodie keeping watch. Makes you think someone else might be keeping watch as well. ;-) These were lovely gifts. Thanks so much.

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks. As I've said to other people it was almost too personal in some ways to post in terms of thoughts about church and religion. But I'm clearly not completely disillusioned and gone astray yet - writing it made me think a lot.

So many, many thanks again for commenting. It's always great to know thinks strike a chord.

No Candle

[golligirl4-5.livejournal.com]

This story reminds me somewhat of Doyle in "No Stone" although it's obvious that the recently deceased agent wasn't the friend that Cooke was. Perhaps that's worse in a way. How do you give such news to a stranger without sounding like a cliche or one of those preachers who is hired to do a funeral but knows nothing about the deceased?

I liked the reference to Jax as well. I've always felt that Doyle and Jax are much alike in that aspect. Perhaps that's why Jax preferred to work alone for the most part.

Perhaps the scene in the church with the children was a bit cliched (but at least there were no spirits of Christmas)however, I can see that Doyle would respond to the children. That's one of the reasons that Bodie is so important to him -- he has the knack of taking him out of himself (or into himself at times) when he needs it. It's not easy being Ray Doyle and a CI5 agent I suspect, but there are things that make it worthwhile, including a partner who cares enough to follow him.

Re: No Candle

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that (and no, no elves, no angels, no spirits - I have my limits ;)). The church was, in fact, very personal in terms of memories: I used to sing in a church choir - and angelic we were *not*.

But yes, Bodie 'gets' Doyle, which is - basically - what works for me with them as a pair.. because I think it also goes both ways. Bodie knows when to follow, when to keep out of it... for a while. Well, I think so.

Again, thanks and good to hear from you!

[bistokidsfan77.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed both stories. Most fun was Bodie singing 'Sound of Music'. *grumps - what so bad about The Sound of Music anyway* ;D

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

I have a sort of soft spot for the Sound of Music too, if I'm honest. Although the yodelling and the Edelweiss song tend to remind me of all that's tacky (must be something to do with living in Switzerland although I know SoM is Austria...).

[paris7am.livejournal.com]

Thank you for these wonderful stories - I enjoyed both very much. It's a special treat to read your work.

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Thank you... it's a wonderful treat to get feedback too :)

[brenk.livejournal.com]

Heeeeee - thanks!

And yes, farting references among men seem sort of natural. Maybe it's the company I keep but I find that blokes tend to discuss that (and sex, of course) more than many other things *g*. One of the perks of working in a mostly-male environment - and it can be hilarious :)

Glad you enjoyed it, and again ta for commenting.