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crack_van2010-11-30 03:51 pm
aprilvalentine.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2010-11-30 03:51 pm
Entry tags:
Practice Makes Perfect by Rosemary (NC-17)
Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: long, novella length
Author on LJ:![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tiranog
Author Website: http://m.www.tiranog.southroad.com
Why this must be read:
Once again, I'm reccing a classic. This one, by Rosemary, was originally published in the zine, Primal Instincts, Volume 3. This came out years ago and thus doesn't suffer from the kind of fanon influence so many stories have today (aside from the use of the 'big guy' nickname, which is employed by the author in... ahem... context). It begins early in the relationship, set a couple of months into the series, and progress past the "Attraction" episode, in which Jim's pheromones overwhelm him and he begins a relationship with a woman involved in criminal activities. Along the way, we are given an unusual entree into the slash relationship, inevitable problems due to the woman, Laura McCarthy and resolution with a happy ending.
The story opens from Jim's pov, as he returns home after a tough several days on an assignment to find that Blair has made a wreck of the loft. He is so tired that he is near zoning and the mess makes him angry. He yells at Blair, telling him that he wants him out of the loft by the end of the week. Despite this, Blair talks Jim out of a zone-out moments later when he becomes so enthralled watching eggs scramble that they burn. Ellison can't fathom how Blair can still be that nice to him after his tirade and after more reflection, tells Blair he doesn't want him to move out.
Switching to Blair's pov, Rosemary paints an expert picture of Jim through Blair's eyes. He sees Jim's physical beauty as sheer perfection and through his observations, begins to have more understanding of his character as well, that there is much more behind Jim's tough exterior.
From the outside, Detective James Ellison looked like the most together person you could encounter. Only now was Blair beginning to see the desperate loneliness of the wounded soul that lived within that outer veneer of perfection.
Jim returns home from a date early, tense and irritable. After some questioning, he painfully admits to Blair that while trying to make love to his date, he zoned out at a critical moment. As this was the first time he's attempted to have sex with a woman since his senses came online, Blair asks what Jim does not to zone when having sex by himself. A mortified Jim admits he hasn't been able to do that either.
Desperate to help, Blair states that, just as he's helped Jim with his senses other ways, he can assist Jim this time too. At first, his suggestion is that Jim try to masturbate while Blair sits by, ostensibly not paying attention: after all, he reminds Jim, although the Sentinel knows when Blair is whacking off, he pretends he doesn't know. When this doesn't work due to Jim being too uncomfortable, Blair proposes another idea. He offers to give Jim a hand job.
Although this is met with initial resistance from straight!Jim, Blair tells him it's his only choice, other than living like a monk. It can be "anybody's hand" he tells Jim, while assuring him the act won't have an adverse affect on their friendship. Finally, a desperate Jim agrees.
Blair sets out, but again Jim zones at a critical moment. Blair assures him they had to see how and when it happened to figure out how to fix it. He starts again, this time coming up with the idea of having Jim split his concentration between the physical pleasure and listening to Blair's heartbeat. Fortunately, the idea works and Jim finally orgasms. But, Blair tells him, it will take more "practice" before he can manage the situation on his own.
Thus, a one-sided relationship develops, with Blair "helping" Jim two or three times a week, and eventually, there is more contact between them than just Blair's hand. The writing is erotic and believable. Blair has been with men before and is falling in love with Jim. Jim is more open-minded than expected. Finally, he no longer wants their practice to be one-sided and he wants to reciprocate. Though they embark on a relationship, he doesn't want to tie Blair down and states they can have an open relationship.
Enter Laura McCarthy, the woman who drove Jim's pheromoes wild. Blair is jealous hurt and concerned, especially when it turns out she's a criminal, but all is resolved in the end.
Jim realizes that there is more to what he has with Blair than just a physical attraction and tells a disbelieving Blair:
"I love you. I'm not settling on you, or hiding from the rest of the world. I'm not besotted with gratitude or using you as an easy lay. I am in love with you. That feeling is exclusive and I'm not about to pretend that it's not."
Jim doesn't even have the qualms Blair imagines he would about guys at the police station thinking they are lovers.
Rosemary takes the characters through this scenario at a pace that makes it all believable and most enjoyable. Her writing has lovely descriptions of both characters, believable dialogue
that captures the lightness of their banter and a scenario that still seems fresh after all these years.
Practice Makes Perfect
Pairing: Jim/Blair
Length: long, novella length
Author on LJ:
tiranogAuthor Website: http://m.www.tiranog.southroad.com
Why this must be read:
Once again, I'm reccing a classic. This one, by Rosemary, was originally published in the zine, Primal Instincts, Volume 3. This came out years ago and thus doesn't suffer from the kind of fanon influence so many stories have today (aside from the use of the 'big guy' nickname, which is employed by the author in... ahem... context). It begins early in the relationship, set a couple of months into the series, and progress past the "Attraction" episode, in which Jim's pheromones overwhelm him and he begins a relationship with a woman involved in criminal activities. Along the way, we are given an unusual entree into the slash relationship, inevitable problems due to the woman, Laura McCarthy and resolution with a happy ending.
The story opens from Jim's pov, as he returns home after a tough several days on an assignment to find that Blair has made a wreck of the loft. He is so tired that he is near zoning and the mess makes him angry. He yells at Blair, telling him that he wants him out of the loft by the end of the week. Despite this, Blair talks Jim out of a zone-out moments later when he becomes so enthralled watching eggs scramble that they burn. Ellison can't fathom how Blair can still be that nice to him after his tirade and after more reflection, tells Blair he doesn't want him to move out.
Switching to Blair's pov, Rosemary paints an expert picture of Jim through Blair's eyes. He sees Jim's physical beauty as sheer perfection and through his observations, begins to have more understanding of his character as well, that there is much more behind Jim's tough exterior.
From the outside, Detective James Ellison looked like the most together person you could encounter. Only now was Blair beginning to see the desperate loneliness of the wounded soul that lived within that outer veneer of perfection.
Jim returns home from a date early, tense and irritable. After some questioning, he painfully admits to Blair that while trying to make love to his date, he zoned out at a critical moment. As this was the first time he's attempted to have sex with a woman since his senses came online, Blair asks what Jim does not to zone when having sex by himself. A mortified Jim admits he hasn't been able to do that either.
Desperate to help, Blair states that, just as he's helped Jim with his senses other ways, he can assist Jim this time too. At first, his suggestion is that Jim try to masturbate while Blair sits by, ostensibly not paying attention: after all, he reminds Jim, although the Sentinel knows when Blair is whacking off, he pretends he doesn't know. When this doesn't work due to Jim being too uncomfortable, Blair proposes another idea. He offers to give Jim a hand job.
Although this is met with initial resistance from straight!Jim, Blair tells him it's his only choice, other than living like a monk. It can be "anybody's hand" he tells Jim, while assuring him the act won't have an adverse affect on their friendship. Finally, a desperate Jim agrees.
Blair sets out, but again Jim zones at a critical moment. Blair assures him they had to see how and when it happened to figure out how to fix it. He starts again, this time coming up with the idea of having Jim split his concentration between the physical pleasure and listening to Blair's heartbeat. Fortunately, the idea works and Jim finally orgasms. But, Blair tells him, it will take more "practice" before he can manage the situation on his own.
Thus, a one-sided relationship develops, with Blair "helping" Jim two or three times a week, and eventually, there is more contact between them than just Blair's hand. The writing is erotic and believable. Blair has been with men before and is falling in love with Jim. Jim is more open-minded than expected. Finally, he no longer wants their practice to be one-sided and he wants to reciprocate. Though they embark on a relationship, he doesn't want to tie Blair down and states they can have an open relationship.
Enter Laura McCarthy, the woman who drove Jim's pheromoes wild. Blair is jealous hurt and concerned, especially when it turns out she's a criminal, but all is resolved in the end.
Jim realizes that there is more to what he has with Blair than just a physical attraction and tells a disbelieving Blair:
"I love you. I'm not settling on you, or hiding from the rest of the world. I'm not besotted with gratitude or using you as an easy lay. I am in love with you. That feeling is exclusive and I'm not about to pretend that it's not."
Jim doesn't even have the qualms Blair imagines he would about guys at the police station thinking they are lovers.
Rosemary takes the characters through this scenario at a pace that makes it all believable and most enjoyable. Her writing has lovely descriptions of both characters, believable dialogue
that captures the lightness of their banter and a scenario that still seems fresh after all these years.
Practice Makes Perfect