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crack_van2004-04-27 09:10 am
kraken-wakes.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2004-04-27 09:10 am
Entry tags:
Billy's Best by Lemur (NC-17)
Fandom: Lotrips
Author: Lemur
Author website: Characters In Bloom
Pairing: Billy/Orlando
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read:
It occurs to me (now, nearly at the end of my month of Lotrips recs) that the overwhelming theme for this month appears to have been Denial and as a study in denial, this fic pretty takes the cake.
Every now and again you come across a fic which makes you rush around going ohmigod and pimp it to all of your friends - including the ones who'd rather walk across broken glass than read in that fandom. When one of my friends mentioned that they 'shipped Billy/Orlando, this was the fic that I pimped my little heart out over - only to find that she'd read it already and was actually, pimping back at me.
This is the kind of sublime first time fic that most writers try and fail to write. If I had to catagorise it, I'd say it was fluff dipped in angst with a soft, gooey centre, a wrapping of sheer, sparkling humour which left an after taste of lust, obsession and, oddly enough, true friendship.
Told from Billy's point of view, the story leisurely (technically, I suppose this is a WIP but all of the stories stand alone and it's very regularly updated) maps out the gradual changes in the relationship between Billy and Orlando. What I absolutely adore about this story, and one of the things which makes me read it over and over again, is the complete and total besotted denial that colours all of Billy's thinking.
Without portraying him as an idiot, Lemur creates this mental block in Billy's head which totally prevents him from understanding what the reader can understand. As a literary device, it rocks. Not only does it make the reader hang on desparately but it's also a constant source of gentle humour which somehow doesn't become overused or lose its freshness.
I could (and have) go on about this series for ages but I'm terrified of spoiling it for you so I'll leave you with an extract.
If you read only one Lotrips fic this year - make it this one.
Sean kindly brought two beers from the bar and set them down in front of Orlando and Billy. “What are you guys out doing?”
Orlando took a swig of beer. “We’re on a date.”
Billy laughed at Dom and Sean’s amused expressions and furthered the joke by putting his arm around Orlando’s shoulders. “I’m a lucky lad. Orli’s a great date.” Orlando smiled demurely, playing along, and Billy decided that he really hadn’t faired too badly: Orlando was prettier than Eva anyway. And though it wasn’t a conscious effort, that was the last time Eva even crossed his mind.
“So when’s the wedding?”
“Jesus, Dom, it’s our first date.” Orlando did a remarkable impression of playing the blushing coquette, but Dom naturally found the one flaw in his performance.
“You totally fucked that up by saying ‘Jesus.’”
“Yeah, I know. I didn’t even think to do it until halfway through the sentence. Fuck off.”
Orlando laughed into his beer as he took another drink. Billy removed his arm from Orlando’s shoulders to take sip of his own beer.
“How’s the date going?” Sean asked distractedly, frowning at his shoes which were now wet from the pool of rainwater beneath the table.
“Oh, it’s great.” Orlando shifted on the bench and glanced apologetically at the bartender when a fresh stream of water was rung from his shirt with the movement. “I haven’t paid for anything tonight - Drinks on me, by the way, Billy - You guys really need to find yourselves a couple of good men.”
Dom nodded. “So that’s how the other half lives.”
“Yep. Very cheaply.”
Sean interrupted the conversation with a long, irrepressible yawn. “Sorry, sorry,” he said,
his jaw still agape. “I think I’m gonna go. You guys enjoy the rest of your date, though.”
“Night, Sean.”
Even after Dom left with Sean, Orlando and Billy sat together, talking, on the same side of the booth. Billy knew that in other circumstances he would have moved to the other side, but both the water and the warmth kept him still. As it was they were forming arse-shaped water stains on the bench; there was no reason to inflict that on two sides of the booth; and then it felt good to be sitting close to Orlando because, whether or not he admitted it, this had started to feel a little like a date. It felt like those really fantastic dates you only got with a lass once you’d been dating her for a year, when you were comfortable with her. Billy decided Orlando must have felt the same way because within the half hour, he yawned, stretched and casually draped his arm over Billy’s shoulders and what Billy found so instantly hilarious was that Orlando only realized what he’d done seconds after Billy had.
They both burst out laughing.
The link goes to Lemur's personal author page at the Characters In Bloom archive which she maintains. Incidentally, there's a lot of good fic on the site and it's worth checking out.
Billy's Best by Lemur
Author: Lemur
Author website: Characters In Bloom
Pairing: Billy/Orlando
Rating: NC-17
Why this must be read:
It occurs to me (now, nearly at the end of my month of Lotrips recs) that the overwhelming theme for this month appears to have been Denial and as a study in denial, this fic pretty takes the cake.
Every now and again you come across a fic which makes you rush around going ohmigod and pimp it to all of your friends - including the ones who'd rather walk across broken glass than read in that fandom. When one of my friends mentioned that they 'shipped Billy/Orlando, this was the fic that I pimped my little heart out over - only to find that she'd read it already and was actually, pimping back at me.
This is the kind of sublime first time fic that most writers try and fail to write. If I had to catagorise it, I'd say it was fluff dipped in angst with a soft, gooey centre, a wrapping of sheer, sparkling humour which left an after taste of lust, obsession and, oddly enough, true friendship.
Told from Billy's point of view, the story leisurely (technically, I suppose this is a WIP but all of the stories stand alone and it's very regularly updated) maps out the gradual changes in the relationship between Billy and Orlando. What I absolutely adore about this story, and one of the things which makes me read it over and over again, is the complete and total besotted denial that colours all of Billy's thinking.
Without portraying him as an idiot, Lemur creates this mental block in Billy's head which totally prevents him from understanding what the reader can understand. As a literary device, it rocks. Not only does it make the reader hang on desparately but it's also a constant source of gentle humour which somehow doesn't become overused or lose its freshness.
I could (and have) go on about this series for ages but I'm terrified of spoiling it for you so I'll leave you with an extract.
If you read only one Lotrips fic this year - make it this one.
Sean kindly brought two beers from the bar and set them down in front of Orlando and Billy. “What are you guys out doing?”
Orlando took a swig of beer. “We’re on a date.”
Billy laughed at Dom and Sean’s amused expressions and furthered the joke by putting his arm around Orlando’s shoulders. “I’m a lucky lad. Orli’s a great date.” Orlando smiled demurely, playing along, and Billy decided that he really hadn’t faired too badly: Orlando was prettier than Eva anyway. And though it wasn’t a conscious effort, that was the last time Eva even crossed his mind.
“So when’s the wedding?”
“Jesus, Dom, it’s our first date.” Orlando did a remarkable impression of playing the blushing coquette, but Dom naturally found the one flaw in his performance.
“You totally fucked that up by saying ‘Jesus.’”
“Yeah, I know. I didn’t even think to do it until halfway through the sentence. Fuck off.”
Orlando laughed into his beer as he took another drink. Billy removed his arm from Orlando’s shoulders to take sip of his own beer.
“How’s the date going?” Sean asked distractedly, frowning at his shoes which were now wet from the pool of rainwater beneath the table.
“Oh, it’s great.” Orlando shifted on the bench and glanced apologetically at the bartender when a fresh stream of water was rung from his shirt with the movement. “I haven’t paid for anything tonight - Drinks on me, by the way, Billy - You guys really need to find yourselves a couple of good men.”
Dom nodded. “So that’s how the other half lives.”
“Yep. Very cheaply.”
Sean interrupted the conversation with a long, irrepressible yawn. “Sorry, sorry,” he said,
his jaw still agape. “I think I’m gonna go. You guys enjoy the rest of your date, though.”
“Night, Sean.”
Even after Dom left with Sean, Orlando and Billy sat together, talking, on the same side of the booth. Billy knew that in other circumstances he would have moved to the other side, but both the water and the warmth kept him still. As it was they were forming arse-shaped water stains on the bench; there was no reason to inflict that on two sides of the booth; and then it felt good to be sitting close to Orlando because, whether or not he admitted it, this had started to feel a little like a date. It felt like those really fantastic dates you only got with a lass once you’d been dating her for a year, when you were comfortable with her. Billy decided Orlando must have felt the same way because within the half hour, he yawned, stretched and casually draped his arm over Billy’s shoulders and what Billy found so instantly hilarious was that Orlando only realized what he’d done seconds after Billy had.
They both burst out laughing.
The link goes to Lemur's personal author page at the Characters In Bloom archive which she maintains. Incidentally, there's a lot of good fic on the site and it's worth checking out.
Billy's Best by Lemur