Such Friendly People/Partners by Linda Cornett (NC-17)

[lyrebird.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Illya Kuryakin/OFC
Author on LJ: lcorn
Author Website: Observations

Why this must be read:
An entertaining and incisive take on the U.N.C.L.E. universe from the viewpoint of a female agent. She and Napoleon are posing as a swinging jetset couple on vacation, while Illya accompanies them as back-up. Surely every fan's dream...or is it? Napoleon is charming and flirtatious yet doesn't trust her with the nitty-gritty espionage work, but he's a welcome relief to Illya's impenetrable aloofness.

However, an embarrassing mix-up results in Illya being mistaken for the 'husband.' Is Illya capable of swinging? Our female agent has doubts, but Napoleon is cheerfully upbeat about Illya's ability to deliver. Even so, can a convincing chemistry be manufactured in time to fool the enemy? And what to do with it when the assignment is over?

Readers worried about Mary Sue traits should relax - Bev proves to be a character with wit and insight, but not annoyingly so. Her observations about being a female in a male-dominated profession has resonance today, and her gradual awareness of Illya's considerable appeal will be heartening to the Illya fans out there. The depiction of the friendship between Napoleon and Illya is an added bonus - though it's not the main theme, it's a reassuring anchor to canon.

Such Friendly People/Partners

Comments

Swinging

[tgabrielle.livejournal.com]

Linda Cornett often writes from the POV of an outsider, in this case a brittle female UNCLE agent who is key to the assignment but also an afterthought to it. While this is not a slash story, said agent, Bev, can't quite get between Napoleon and Illya. One of the (many) things I enjoyed was how confident Napoleon is about Illya's abilities when they are forced to switch roles. Bev and Napoleon are cut from the same cloth and they both observe Illya--Peter Pan at the orgy. Illya is at once sweet and distant, so fun to watch.

Re: Swinging

[lyrebird.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's really nice to see that closeness between Napoleon and Illya from her pov. To her, as an outsider, it must be very isolating...only compounding her own insecurity as a female agent. As a slash fan, I enjoyed such touches, yet I could also relate to Bev's feelings. It's a very clever way of bypassing the 'Mary Sue' bias many readers have towards original female characters.

I also loved how she showed Illya's technique on the dancefloor - straight out of "Birds and Bees," with that same direct kiss shown in "Deadly Toys." It was a great touch of canon.