Two Masters by Emily Veinglory (G)

[lyrebird.livejournal.com]

Fandom: MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.
Pairing: Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin
Author on LJ: not that I know of
Author Website: Veinglory's Slashphile

Why this must be read:

Illya is an UNCLE agent, but he still has strong ties to the Soviet Union. KGB agents closely watch him for any signs of 'attachment' to his new employer. When he and Napoleon make love one night, Illya finds the cost of juggling his conflicting loyalties may be higher than he can bear.

This is a lovely first person Illya story that does a brilliant job in depicting the difficulties of being a foreigner in a strange land. There is no use of Russian language; Illya's alien perspective shines in his dry observations of the US and Napoleon, and in the interesting use of "Old World" language and syntax.

And don't be fooled by the rating. Relationships form the emotional core of this story.

Two Masters

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Why have I never seen this before? What a great story. There are so few first-person fics written from Illya's POV and this one is riveting.

[lyrebird.livejournal.com]

Veinglory keeps her stories on her site, not on the main archives, so she's trickier to find. She also has several WIPs, but I think she's being distracted by original writing. :-/

I admire her writing style. It's very different and refreshing.

New link

[(Anonymous)]

The above link no longer works.
The story is now here:
http://www.veinglory.com/FANtwomasters.html

--Vaneye

Updated link

[elmey.livejournal.com]

The story can now be found via the WayBack Machine:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060317162729/http://www.veinglory.com/FANtwomasters.html

The opening page will connect to the story after a few seconds.