The Vivian Johnstone Higginsbottom Affair by RAC (R)

[susan-peri.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Solo/Kuryakin
Author on LJ: unknown
Author Website: Rari's List

Napoleon is engaged to be married to Vivian, who used to date Mark Slate. She wants her wedding dress to be a Vanya original but Vanya is refusing to comply.

Mark is still in love with Vivian. She is probably still in love with Mark, and Solo’s realized that he's not in love with Vivian. Now Napoleon spends his nights sitting in the dark, drinking and listening to jazz records, telling Vivian that he is putting old ghosts to rest.

Vivian can sense that Solo is yearning for someone from his past and she is determined to find out who it was, even though Napoleon isn't revealing anything. And she's going to find it out by asking Illya, no matter how many times the Russian refuses to talk to her. After all, she's a Johnstone Higginsbottom. No one hangs up on a Johnstone Higginsbottom. Well, no one except for Kuryakin.


Rari is very good at fleshing out her characters and giving them realistic, strong emotions while remaining faithful to the series. Mix it together with some humor, some angst and some sex and you have a satisfying read.

The story takes place only four years after the end of the television series and ignores the movie, but it doesn’t matter at all. This is a tale about the partners and their bond, not about a mission.

Read an excerpt
[Vivian] "Is he still in love with someone?"

Mark shook his head. "No. He hasn't been serious about anyone for a long time."

Her expensively manicured nails beat out a tattoo on the table. "It's got to be an old girlfriend." She took a sip of iced tea, gazing down at the remains of her salad. "Don't you think? I mean what else could it be? He must still be in love with someone."

Mark scrunched his face up. "Excuse me, luv, for being so blunt, but aren't these questions you might have discussed with him before you agreed to marry him?"

"How was I supposed to know after the clock struck midnight that he'd turn into a moody drunk?"

Mark frowned. "I'd hardly call him that."

She waved off his defense of Napoleon. "Who was she? Who was his last girlfriend?"

Mark's eyebrows rose. "I have no idea. He went through them like water through a sieve."

"He must have had someone special, someone who broke his heart, someone he's still pining after."

Mark thought about it for a minute. "Sorry, luv. I have no idea. Probably the only person who would know is Illya."

Her lips formed a small pout. Mark loved her pouts. "What is an Illya?"



http://www.dwordslist.net/higgins01.html

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Lovely story and great rec. It's important to know that the title character, while originally coming across as spoiled, arrogant and unpleasant, is actually a wonderful catalyst for our OTP.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I love all of RAC's stories; thanks for rec'ing this one and giving me an excuse to reread one of them. ;-)

[susan-peri.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the addition to my review. I started chopping things out last night because I didn't want to fill up people's flists, but I totally missed that point. I was focusing more on Illya at the time, and how he holds onto Napoleon. I love that scene.

Hopefully your comment will inspire more people to read the story.

[susan-peri.livejournal.com]

When I first discovered RAC I devoured all of her stories in about 48 hours. I ended up sending her feedback for about five stories at once. She must have been overwhelmed. :)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

There are a wonderful story from her about "nightmares come true" and the ineluctability of fate (thwarted at the end); very worthy of a rec.

[dinahmt.livejournal.com]

I love all Rari's stories. Maybe all those LOCs will give her an incentive to write some more!

[elmey.livejournal.com]

The correct link for this story is now:

http://www.visionsofprettyboys.com/MFU/TheVivianJohnstoneHigginsbottomsAffair.htm