Ficlet - A Maiden Over

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Okay, I grabbed the next spot and hope no one else had picked that spot. I wrote this snippet, whilst listening to the Ashes (which I love) and tried to temper down my knowledge of cricket with Doyle's lack of same. Hope you like it, and sorry if I have done wrong.



Imagine a hot summer’s day. The sky as blue and as clear as the Mediterranean ocean, with the odd dot of white drifting lazily across.

Imagine a hint of a breeze tickling gently at the leaves on the trees.

Imagine the sun, a white-hot shimmering ball casting its spell over everything and everybody, turning once empty fields and beaches into a myriad of colour and noise as people flock to take advantage.

Imagine flashes of white and the sound of cork on willow as the cricketers, as English as fish and chips, chase around after runs or catches.

Imagine a picnic basket, filled to the brim with all sorts of goodies. Ham and tomato sandwiches, crisps, pork pies and sausage rolls lying alongside a couple of bottles of white wine - one empty - and the ubiquitous Swiss roll.

Imagine Doyle lazily sprawled across the tartan blanket that always seems to accompany picnic baskets. He is on his side, one arm supporting his head, and he is watching the cricket despite the fact he doesn’t understand the game.

He is here for one reason and one reason only.

Bodie.

His dark haired partner who loves cricket almost as much as he loves Doyle. He is on strike at the moment. Poised, bat carefully placed, watching as the bowler takes his run up and…

Doyle holds his breath as Bodie swings the willow, the crack of cork on it loud as a gunshot, as Bodie whips it up and over the fielders.

Bodie has the luck of the devil, Doyle decides, as the ball falls just behind the fielder on the border and goes for… Doyle thinks it is a four but he isn’t sure. He looks to the scoreboard for confirmation. He has no idea what the numbers mean, but he knows it goes from 123-3 to 127-3. Four runs then. Or is it overs?

He catches sight of Bodie glancing over before the next ball, and waves. He is rewarded by a Bodie-special smile. Something to tide him over until either the game ends or Bodie gets out. He smiles to himself. Somehow he is picking up some of the lingo.

Another flash of white as the bowler runs towards the batsmen, another crack and a loud yell of something that sounds like ‘OWZAT’, and the referee at the end of the pitch… No, he thinks to himself, he isn’t a ref. That’s football. Umpire! Got it. The Umpire is sticking one finger up. In any other culture or game, he’d be thumped for doing that, Doyle thinks. As it happens, his partner is now walking to him, bat under his arm, sullen expression on his face.

He must be out, thinks Doyle.

‘Thank Christ’, his mind yells happily.

“What a shame, you were doing really well too, Bodie,” he says, his eyes conveying all the love he feels.

Bodie slumps down besides him and reaches straight for the Swiss roll. Typical Bodie. He is disappointed though, and Doyle knows this.

“Never mind, love, you did get 127 overs,” he hazards.

Bodie grins then. “Runs, Doyle. Not overs. There are six balls in an over…”

Doyle interrupts. “And I have two of them. Fancy having an over?”

Without hesitation, the Swiss roll is downed in one; the food is thrown haphazardly into the basket and swept up under one arm, the bat dangling from his other hand.

“Come on then Doyle; let’s go teach you the finer points of cricket and of bowling a maiden over.”


Title: A Maiden Over
Author: probodie
Slash: yes but PG13
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Yes
Disclaimer: Sadly the boys don’t belong to me; I just like to play with them occasionally.
Notes: This was written for the DIALJ Test Match 2009 challenge. The first word had to be ‘imagine’. Sadly no beta as I think everyone is offline at the moment! Some of my flist on Facebook responded but *cough* have no idea what Pros or slash is *g* Any concrit is gratefully received as I wasnt sure about the POV, if it was correct or not.

Comments

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I'm here! (Saw your other post just now.) I liked it. I like the idea that Bodie is happy Doyle's there, but as soon as Doyle suggests a private session, Bodie's ready and willing. Nice offering.

Without hesitation, the Swiss roll is downed in one; the food is thrown haphazardly into the basket and swept up under one arm, the bat dangling from his other hand.

Great last line. And off they go, to the races. Oops, wrong sport. *g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

*g* Thank you.

Hmm, I suppose having a long, love-in may constitute going to the races, in some peoples' worlds!! LOL

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hey it all works for me - love the dreamy start of Imagine, and then there's our Doyle sprawled on the picnic blanket, and Bodie all disappointed when he was out, could just see it! Ah, lazy summer afternoons... *vbg* Great stuff, thank you!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I did try for a dreamy start, glad it worked for you. And Doyle just had to sprawl, that's his forte I think *g*

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Oh, nice. Just the ticket for the kind of day we're having here--hot and sunny, but not so hot that you don't want to be outside. You set the tone very nicely (and your pov is fine--an omniscient that goes into Doyle's head--very clean). And I like the idea of Doyle lazing there, watching Bodie, more or less following what's happening--and willing to chance it and make a guess when Bodie comes back all downhearted. *g* Thank you!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Phew, thank you re: POV. I did try hard to keep it the same, but I wasnt entirely sure LOL

It's true love, I think, when you try hard to like something you dont particularly have an interest in, and support your partner in it.

Anyway, thanks for commenting, and I'm glad you enjoyed my small offering.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

I hoped 'imagine' might be a helpful prompt. I nearly ended with '...he could think of.', then realised 'of' would be a difficult word for the next person to start with. I'm so glad you took up the challenge. This is perfect, very summery and dreamy. And I do love this cricketing fic.

Bother, would have loved to beta this if I hadn't been cooking tea. My geography is stronger than my cricket - the first line should be 'the Mediterranean sea'.

Oh, thanks again for your clever cricketing icon. : )

[probodie.livejournal.com]

D'OH! Of course you are correct - only one Med isnt there? LOL Have changed it. Shame everybody had things to do other than beta my fic!!! ROFL

Phew, glad you didnt end with 'of'...that would have been interesting *g*

Glad you enjoyed it, and glad you like the icon too *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Well, I can honestly say I loved everything about this and thought it was a delight to read. I loved the early repetition of 'Imagine' which set the scene and concentrated the mind so that I could easily picture the lovely summer's day. I loved the tense deployed, the easy, sexy, languid atmosphere and the way the whole story radiated the writer's love for her subjects and them for each other:

He is here for one reason and one reason only.
Bodie.
His dark haired partner who loves cricket almost as much as he loves Doyle.
Doyle holds his breath as Bodie swings the willow

And just in case you're in any doubt, I *really* liked this! Thanks.

[probodie.livejournal.com]

*gg* Thank you very much! I'm thrilled you enjoyed it, and I love your comments. I tried hard to make it so you could picture the typical British summer's day...although this year, maybe I should have made it rainy and horrid!! LOL

Thank you again :-)

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Oh, you're welcome. I thought the fact that I could picture the scene instantly was a strong feature of the writing and this is from someone who knows absolutely nothing about cricket! Thanks, again.

[greengerbil.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is lovely. All dreamy and summery and relaxed... and I love that picture of Ray sprawled on the grass watching Bodie play cricket, and enjoying it even though he doesn't understand the game because he loves Bodie - sign of true love, that is!

Really nice. Thank you!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I tried to make it all dreamy and summery so I'm glad it worked for you that way. Ray makes a good vision of sprawlfullness (is that even a word?? LOL) doesnt he?

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

This was lovely, all sexy and sensual and sunny skies .... and yes, that is the only reason in the world Doyle would watch cricket! Bodie wasn't downhearted for long, then (blimey, 127 and Doyle waiting for him? Lucky lad! *g*)
Thank you!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

You did notice the one bottle of wine already empty?? *g* But thank you for your lovely comments. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

I love your description of a sun-warmed Doyle lying all sprawled and relaxed on the blanket - can't blame Bodie for wanting to get him home as soon as possible. Sensible lad *g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked that part, and yes, dont blame Bodie at all heheh

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

OK - I'll be next bat - this was terrific and summery and wonderful. I'm going to try for a follow-on.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent! You're up! *g*

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed it.

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

Bodie grins then. “Runs, Doyle. Not overs. There are six balls in an over…”
Doyle interrupts. “And I have two of them. Fancy having an over?” Wicked.*g* You got a great play on cricket-y words throughout - well done!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

*g* thank you, glad it worked for you. I did try to drop a few cricket-y words in.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

You made me giggle, taste the picnic, and sigh with pleasure. Thank you!

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your lovely comment, glad you liked my little offering.

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Catching up on old posts here (I am once more very behind) but didn't want to read and run off without letting you know that I really enjoyed this. loved the images and thought this was great.

[probodie.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks hon, glad you enjoyed it :D