Prosfic - A Crook In The Path

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, I know it's not May Day any more (although bank holiday Monday coming up - woohoo!), but it is still May, which is something...

Also I've been a bit sneaky, and I'm afraid this one turned out to be a sequel to Perfect Alignment, so it'll make more sense if you've read that first...

A Crook In The Path

Title: A Crook In The Path
Author: Slantedlight
Slash or Gen: Slash
Archive at ProsLib/Circuit: Certainly.
Disclaimer: Bodie, Doyle and the CI5 universe do not belong to me, and I certainly don't make any money out of them. I'm just borrowing them to play.

Comments

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Absolutely it's still May! And the gifts continue! *g* Thank you for this. It's a good sequel--I like Trevor, and I'm glad he came through in the end. And you gave us h/c, and action, and sparks between the lads (of a variety of types *g*). And, my favorite, you gave us an unforgiving Bodie where Doyle's safety is concerned. Really, way to hit the kinks! *g* It was great though, that Bodie let Trevor go at the end--just right. I loved your description of it, too: like a kid who’d done something bad, but knew he’d done it charmingly *g* Yes, see, that's Bodie. Well done, you!

[przed.livejournal.com]

It was great to see Purple Velvet back, and how very perfect to bring him back on May Day. And I adored protective Bodie. And the fact that Bodie let Trev go in the end. Brava!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I like that Bodie too, so he was good to write - and he had to let Purple Velvet go, cos he knew it was what his Ray wanted, really... *g*

And the best thing? Now I can go and read the other May Day stories - yeay!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It had to be Purple Velvet for May Day *g*, as soon as I thought about it the least little bit! Glad you liked - thank you!

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

That was wonderful, and Bodie letting Trevor go at the end, oh, he's just a great big softie! *g*
And I love this:

*He couldn’t see Bodie at all, but he could feel him, all around him, warm and hard and soft, and so, as he might on any morning, he tilted his head to reach the nearest skin, and kissed him. *

Just lovely! Thank you!

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

Yay, the sun's still shining ...well until the b/h of course :( and we still have treats! I always love the complexity of the interaction you give them, and the style of the dialogue is so natural and easy to read. And I love the way Doyle is so ... hum, what's the word .. *sensory* about Bodie *g* That really fits for me, that Doyle would be so alert to sounds and scents, and that Bodie is like a force of nature to him. Oh dear, the spring must really be getting to me .. Thank you for this, sequels are a *good thing*, especially when they're even better than the original!

[callistosh65.livejournal.com]

This was absolutely worth waiting an extra day or two for! I *love* the dialogue here. I hear MS and LC say every word, it's so spot on. Your protective, unforgiving, cynical Bodie is terrific. And then, God bless 'im, he let's Trevor go, which is also the Bodie that we - and Doyle- know and love. Brilliant. H/c, angst.. and humour too, of the deadpan kind, always my favourite:

“It’s May Day…”
“Oh, Christ…”
“Bodie!”
“Sorry! Sorry for breathing. But if this involves dancing around a maypole…”
Trevor shot him a withering look, and Doyle hid a smile.

And a second later..

Trevor explained, seeing their raised eyebrows. “It’s all about the spring, and fresh beginnings…”
“Shagging in the forest, more like!”
“Bodie!” Doyle growled again

Tee-hee!

I thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you for extending the spring frolics.*g*

[asymphototropic.livejournal.com]

“Stakeout. We’ve got the address of…och, that’ll be enough of that,” Cowley paused as they groaned in unison.

You got all three of them picture-framed in one perfect sentence. So very craft worthy.

Liked the rest of the fic as well. [heh]

Nice resolution. Ray steps aside to water the landscape. And meanwhile the Big Softie let's the minor miscreant escape. Tough but sympathetic.

Just right.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. I loved Perfect Alignment, so it was a double treat to get a May story with the Return of Trevor (for whom I somehow find myself feeling strangely sorry. Of course he didn't know about the kidnappings, and wouldn't be a party to them once he found out. I'm glad Bodie let him go (as rightly pointed out, it was what Ray wanted!) Maybe we'll see him again sometime?

I love how they are so fiercely protective of one another - so canonical - while at the same time focussing completely on the job. This is a great adventure!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Both stories were very good. I enjoyed your OC and how you worked him into the second story. I wasn't the least bit surprised at Bodie and what he did for Purple Trevor by the end. And I really liked your descriptions of them when they were stuck in that tiny little caravan in the first one. The way you had them interact when they were captured, and Bodie being so upset and irritated over Ray being hurt. Nice!

I've rather blended both stories together now since I read them one after the other! Sorry about they. They kind of melded in my brain.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

geez, I'm beta'ing myself. Sorry about that. Note to self: do not post early before work. Mind is not functioning.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Like all your stories, I enjoyed this one very much. It was beautifully written and I loved the intimacy you created between them with just the slightest hints of sensuality and sexual vibes; and it was written in such a way that I felt as though I was there with them, sharing their fear in this dark, tomb-like cellar. It was intriguing and kept me guessing throughout.

And, pitted against Doyle's voice of sweet reason, I loved your hard-nosed, (seemingly) implacable and complex Bodie; but a Bodie who can never hide his soft centre for Doyle:

When next he came round he was stiff all over, his legs were cold, and the only light this time came from the door above the stairs. He couldn’t see Bodie at all, but he could feel him, all around him, warm and hard and soft, and so, as he might on any morning, he tilted his head to reach the nearest skin, and kissed him.

And, I particularly loved the writing in the final two paragraphs of the story:

“I’m nobody’s queen, mate,” he growled, at the same time letting Bodie kiss him, pull their bodies close together. He let Bodie flick open his jeans too, run his hands around the waistband and push them down, insinuate his fingers between the cleft of his buttocks, and start a rhythm that was just theirs, that couldn’t be resisted. Well, maybe just this once…

And as they moved against the stone, breeze whispering across bare skin and hot breath, yet another blossom of white hawthorn loosened, and petals fell, and the sun rose palely higher above the horizon in the east.

That's poetry, that is!

Thanks so much for sharing.

[artconserv.livejournal.com]

Everyone else has said it much better than I ever could. This was just wonderful. :-) Beautiful, sensitively done story. Thank you so much!
XXXOOO
Lorraine

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

He is a great big softie, isn't he?! Glad you liked this - thank you!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I love the idea of Bodie as a force of nature to Doyle - everyday weather sometimes, that you just know and accept, and other times a storm across the sea... Mind you, it's usually Doyle compared to the changeable weather, isn't it? They are each other's weather... *g*

Glad you liked it - and interesting to hear you liked it more than the original too, cos I was a bit worried about this one! Thanks for the fb!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - thank you for being forgiving! And thank you for liking the fic and saying so, ever so glad it all seems to be in working order!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - thank you! I've got to admit that as soon as I had Cowley say "Stakeout" I could totally see how they'd react, and what Cowley'd say back to them... the eternal dance!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you, what a wonderful thing to say - This is a great adventure! I rather like Purple Velvet/Trevor too, and as soon as I realised it was May Day I realised it had to be him. I didn't mean to make him quite as gormless actually, but I'm thinking now that he was just so confused that his merry life had been forced off the rails that he reacted strangely and badly, and that even he knows that, and... yeah, there may be more Trevor!

[andreathelion.livejournal.com]

Just agree completely with all the others, that was wonderful to read. The lads spot on :)
Somehow I missed the first story O_o, so I killed two birds with one stone.
Thank you so much for sharing.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee! Oh, you should see some of the stuff I say early in the morning... (and there's another one - I really do "say" stuff that people see rather than hear nowadays... *having a sci-fi moment*... *g*

Glad you liked the stories - I like "Purple Trevor" actually, might have to pinch that if I write another one (if that's okay!). I like that they've melded in your brain too - I did wonder if they were a bit too different in feel/tone to go together really, but obviously not, if there's melding going on! Thank you!

Oh, and your icon is interesting - someone's been being artistic - is there a full-size version of it anywhere, that I'd love to see! And who's it by? (*gets all nosy and hopes you don't mind*)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

That's poetry, that is!
What a lovely thing to say - thank you! In fact your entire fb is a lovely thing to say, and I always love hearing the way you've read my stories, you've rather a neat turn of phrase yourself! *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah, thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

so I killed two birds with one stone
And there I thought you were vegetarian... *g*

Glad you liked them though - thank you!

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

Just finished reading Perfect Alignment and it's perfect indeed. I just love the way you build up the tension and even manage to come up with a plot. The interaction between the lads was marvellous and the sunset scene got me hooked all the way. And the end was just hothothothot *wipes sweat from brow* You got a great way with words, describing a scene so one can actually see it, almost be there. Not to talk about the smells... *wibble*

Oh, and I absolutely love the scene in the car when Bodie smacks Ray's ass. No way to escape the lure of the hypnotic buns of steel *drool*

Off to read A Crook In The Path now, so there'll be more feedback coming soon (after a cold shower I reckon...)

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

Damn, those plot bunnies really like you. That was a very nice twist indeed. Funny too.

It was a good job Doyle couldn’t hear a stream babbling merrily on its way, because then he’d really have to be sick.

That one had me in stitches, mainly as it sounds so much like me *snicker* Nope, I'm definitely not of the romantic persuasion but I still like your descriptions ;)

I keep wondering why it's always Doyle who gets hurt and Bodie to keep him alive. I mean it does fit but I can just as well imagine it the other way round. Though I must admit that Ray suffers so much more prettily than Bodie *GG*

Appreciated the end a lot. So Bodie did understand his partner and let the poor boy run. I like it when they both know exactly what to do at exactly the right time. As for the rest... Off to take that cold shower now, ta muchly!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Hey, Trevor's yours. Have at it. And the pic is by my friend Lupe. She did a wonderful cover for a zine of mine called Sacrifices and Miracles (Sentinel). http://www.lucidway.org/sentinel/artIndex.html The Pros pic is from 2001, but I don't see it on her website. I have most of her stuff in my files, and she kindly gave me permission to use it. No, I don't mind you asking me! I asked her as well and she was pleased to have it viewed since it's been in mothballs, so to speak.

[magenta-blue.livejournal.com]

Yay for Trevor! Nice to see him revisited and part of this story in such a believable way. And yay for sequels - never be afraid if one of your stories turns into a sequel! Your readers will be always delighted *G*

Really nice - love the title as well :)

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! I've been out of town the last couple of days with nary a moment to spare (trust me!), so I'm just getting caught up on my reading.

This was delightful. You know my deep and abiding love of protective Bodie and feisty yet vulnerable Doyle. This was terrific. I liked how I never really knew how it was all going to go and the way Bodie bowed to Doyle's wishes at the end, though you get the feeling he would deny everything if pressed.

Great interaction, great story. Thanks!

[myrebelcat.livejournal.com]

You know the best part of being late with my feedback is that it gives me an excuse to read the story again.

I really like the universe you're creating here. I like the interaction between Bodie and Doyle, and the consistency between the characters. And the child smuggling ring was a new twist to the usual. Nicely done!

I'm so glad you posted this. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - well you can't go wrong with a good smack on the bum, I reckon... *g* Thank you - I'm so glad you liked it!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I worried this one might have been a bit too twist-y, but it seems like it worked - phew!

Doyle does suffer incredibly beautifully, it has to be said - he's all agony, and I always imagine Bodie being very staunch and stone-y faced, which has it's own lure... But protective Doyle is lovely as well!

You'd better watch out with all these cold showers though - you'll go all wrinkly... *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh her artwork is lovely - she definitely needs to draw more Pros, I don't suppose she'll return to our lads now though... Ah well, if not we'll just have to adore this one! Thanks so much for all that!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yeay - thank you! Glad you said that, cos I'm feeling the need to redeem Trevor some time, he was never really meant to be an idiot...

And yeay for titles too - you always get my titles *g*

[schnuffi.livejournal.com]

LOL, yeah. Wrinkle, wrinkle little bum... *snort*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Know what you mean, I don't think I'm properly caught up on mine, and I've been here the whole time!

So glad you liked it - I've got to admit to a fondness for protective Bodie and feisty but pretty-when-he-hurts Doyle myself... *g* And yeay that it wasn't totally predictable as well, thank you - it's always good to know things like that!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hee - that's about where I'm up to as well, re-reading to catch up with my feedback - life is tough... *g*

I'm quite glad I posted it too - whee, made it - and I'm glad you're liking it!

Wonderful!

[(Anonymous)]

Protective Bodie, scrappy Doyle, clever clever dialogue and the return of Purple Velvet. Perfect. I'm glad Bodie let Trev go. I think he did it, yes, because Ray wanted it, but I think he saw a tiny bit of Doyle in the ill-advised, none too bright man. I would have paid good money to see Bodie dance around that May Pole though. Excellent story and I loved the prequel. Will Purple Velvet make a return engagement? ... MaDonna

Re: Wonderful!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you, MaDonna! (Nice to see you here too!) I'm so glad you liked it - as for the Maypole dance... well, maybe next year!

Wait - Doyle ill-advised and none too bright?! Eep!

I've got to admit that I feel like I need to redeem Purple Velvet a bit - I don't think of him as at all dim-witted, just a bit... naive? in some ways perhaps. Over-optimistic of people, even when he's pissed off with them enough to want revenge! So there could well be... *g*

Re: Wonderful!

[(Anonymous)]

(Wait - Doyle ill-advised and none too bright?! Eep!)

Cripes! No. Doyle? I love the dear, stubborn, snarky, clever, quick witted, beautiful-ugly man;) I read my comment again and, well, I didn't explain myself very well did I? What I meant was Bodie sees that part of Trev which Doyle shares, granted, to a minor extent - a moral code or consciousness. I think Doyle can relate to Purple Velvet - whereas Bodie thinks him a loon:) Clever Bodie. I dearly love the man and he's *so* deliciously *Bodie* in this story.

Re: Wonderful!

[(Anonymous)]

See, this is why I don't do LJ. I frig it up just posting a simple two liner. I forgot to sign my name.. Um... MaDonna