Freedom in High Fidelity (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sperrywink) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crack_van2005-06-10 03:51 pm
sperrywink) wrote in crack_van2005-06-10 03:51 pm
Sekrit Code by Mercutio (PG)
Fandom: POPSLASH
Pairing: Howie Dorough/AJ McLean, Howie Dorough/Nick Carter
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bard_mercutio
Author Website: Mercutio's Stories
Why this must be read:
A sweet little story that riffs off the question, "How do you protect a pretty, young boy from 'bad touches' when the job calls for choreographers, stylists, photographers and who-all else to touch them all the time?" The Boys then expand their solution to cover a multitude of situations where private conversations need to be held in public. I love the idea of a secret code and love how the idea of it plays into their early years when they are all mostly teenagers and are at just that age where this kind of stuff is loved and can grow a life of its own. It is like puns. Something you grow out of, but can love to death at the right age. Stories which can highlight their youth without overplaying immaturity are fantastic.
On a Boys note, I like how even though this is a short story and most of the boys are shown only in brief cameos, the author manages a distinct characterization for each one which is playful and doesn't fall into overblown caricature.
Finally, since I am a sappy fool, the ending works wonderfully for me as the secret code shifts yet again to cover new, deeper feelings.
Brian inadvertently started the present-day incarnation of the code when he saw Nick head off by himself right before a show and, Nick already half-out the door, asked where he was going.
AJ grinned wickedly and hummed "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely."
Brian gave him a blank look.
Nick let the door shut and came back across the room to punch AJ in the arm. "Shut up. I am not."
"I don't get it," Brian said.
"And neither does Nicky," AJ said, dancing back away from Nick. "He's on his way to go to jerk off."
"So... oh, ew. That's a nice song. It doesn't mean that."
Sekrit Code by Mercutio
Pairing: Howie Dorough/AJ McLean, Howie Dorough/Nick Carter
Author on LJ:
bard_mercutio Author Website: Mercutio's Stories
Why this must be read:
A sweet little story that riffs off the question, "How do you protect a pretty, young boy from 'bad touches' when the job calls for choreographers, stylists, photographers and who-all else to touch them all the time?" The Boys then expand their solution to cover a multitude of situations where private conversations need to be held in public. I love the idea of a secret code and love how the idea of it plays into their early years when they are all mostly teenagers and are at just that age where this kind of stuff is loved and can grow a life of its own. It is like puns. Something you grow out of, but can love to death at the right age. Stories which can highlight their youth without overplaying immaturity are fantastic.
On a Boys note, I like how even though this is a short story and most of the boys are shown only in brief cameos, the author manages a distinct characterization for each one which is playful and doesn't fall into overblown caricature.
Finally, since I am a sappy fool, the ending works wonderfully for me as the secret code shifts yet again to cover new, deeper feelings.
Brian inadvertently started the present-day incarnation of the code when he saw Nick head off by himself right before a show and, Nick already half-out the door, asked where he was going.
AJ grinned wickedly and hummed "Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely."
Brian gave him a blank look.
Nick let the door shut and came back across the room to punch AJ in the arm. "Shut up. I am not."
"I don't get it," Brian said.
"And neither does Nicky," AJ said, dancing back away from Nick. "He's on his way to go to jerk off."
"So... oh, ew. That's a nice song. It doesn't mean that."
Sekrit Code by Mercutio