"Life is..." by Marlowe (PG-13)

[franciskerst.livejournal.com]

Fandom: THE MAN FROM UNCLE
Pairing: Napoleon/Illya
Author on LJ: Unknown
Author Website: http://www.angelfire.com/darkside/pips
Why this must be read:

This is a little gem. Difficult to label. Though it was archived in the slash section of File 40, you can hardly speak of a pairing, in the slash sense of the word. Is there any mention of a special relationship, outside the usual partnership? No. Not even a hint; everything is suggested with the lightest touch, featherlike. There is no action, only half faded memories of failures and pains. Nothing is said. Only the background (places, casual gestures, people: indifferent witnesses from the outer world) is described with a sharp accuracy. There is no plot and no topic, as it may seem.

So, what is it all about? Well, as the title indicates, it's about life, and what life is when your assigned path is not the common one; it's about loss, death, memory, loneliness and hope.

And it's beautifully written, with the utmost economy of words.

Life is...