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crack_van2005-02-28 04:51 pm
justacat.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2005-02-28 04:51 pm
Entry tags:
Permanent Change, by Jane Mailander (PG)
Fandom: THE PROFESSIONALS
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: No
Author Website: No
Why this must be read:
When Permanent Change begins, Ray is being held hostage in Ireland by a group of Sinn Fein wannabees, who send Bodie a dreaded box in the mail. The box, as Bodie and Cowley fear, contains a piece of Doyle - but not any of the sorts of pieces they might have expected from real Irish terrorists. No, it's (possibly) even worse: the criminals, it turns out, have cut off Doyle's hair, and after the rescue Bodie must deal with a snarly, furious, humiliated, frightened (not that he'd ever admit it), and to top it off, badly-shorn partner. Ultimately, the loss of Ray's hair, and the near loss of Ray, turn out to be the impetus for a long-desired change in their relationship.
It's a lighter, less serious twist on the standard hurt-in-the-line-of-duty premise for bringing the two of them together, but no less ultimately moving and meaningful for that. In fact, the tone of the story in a sense parallels the tone of Bodie and Doyle's relationship - all snark and banter on the surface, but with deep affection and devotion and need beneath. The author uses a light hand, yet still gives us glimpses into the "real" Bodie and Doyle, lets us see the depth of their affection, the vulnerability to which neither is willing to admit outright: Bodie's seemingly hopeless, tightly suppressed longing and his fear of losing Ray; Ray's reciprocal longing, his awareness of Bodie's feelings and patience in the face of Bodie's seeming unwillingness to acknowledge them, and his fear that those feelings might have changed.
It's a funny, snarky, satisfying, and surprisingly - but very understatedly - sweet read.
Permanent Change
(Originally published in Priority A-3!, IDP Press, 1999)
Pairing: Bodie/Doyle
Author on LJ: No
Author Website: No
Why this must be read:
When Permanent Change begins, Ray is being held hostage in Ireland by a group of Sinn Fein wannabees, who send Bodie a dreaded box in the mail. The box, as Bodie and Cowley fear, contains a piece of Doyle - but not any of the sorts of pieces they might have expected from real Irish terrorists. No, it's (possibly) even worse: the criminals, it turns out, have cut off Doyle's hair, and after the rescue Bodie must deal with a snarly, furious, humiliated, frightened (not that he'd ever admit it), and to top it off, badly-shorn partner. Ultimately, the loss of Ray's hair, and the near loss of Ray, turn out to be the impetus for a long-desired change in their relationship.
It's a lighter, less serious twist on the standard hurt-in-the-line-of-duty premise for bringing the two of them together, but no less ultimately moving and meaningful for that. In fact, the tone of the story in a sense parallels the tone of Bodie and Doyle's relationship - all snark and banter on the surface, but with deep affection and devotion and need beneath. The author uses a light hand, yet still gives us glimpses into the "real" Bodie and Doyle, lets us see the depth of their affection, the vulnerability to which neither is willing to admit outright: Bodie's seemingly hopeless, tightly suppressed longing and his fear of losing Ray; Ray's reciprocal longing, his awareness of Bodie's feelings and patience in the face of Bodie's seeming unwillingness to acknowledge them, and his fear that those feelings might have changed.
It's a funny, snarky, satisfying, and surprisingly - but very understatedly - sweet read.
Permanent Change
(Originally published in Priority A-3!, IDP Press, 1999)
::snort::
JC, you are the best reccer I know. You have such a way with words in describing a story, and I almost always agree with everything you say. I guess we have similar tastes. Ta very!
Re: ::snort::
And yes, the snide comments, and poor snarky shorn Ray: "sod off, Anson." You could just imagine Ray so darn *pissed off* and cranky about this, but also humiliated and sad. *sniff* But then at least he has Bodie to stroke his head ....
(Love that icon, btw!)
Re: ::snort::