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crack_van2012-02-24 10:52 am
laurie-ky.livejournal.com) wrote in crack_van2012-02-24 10:52 am
Entry tags:
Ariston by Elaine (Adult)
Fandom: THE SENTINEL
Pairing: Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Length:13,721 words
Author on LJ:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cross_stitchery
Author's website: Elaine's page at A Storage Room 3 (Sentinel Fanfic)
Why this must be read:
Summary
Detective Jim Ellison of the NYPD goes undercover in a gay bathhouse in 1903 AD.
This story is the last in a series of historical AUs Elaine wrote describing how the relationship between Jim and Blair, sentinel and guide, might have occurred over the ages. The series is Five Ways Jim and Bair Never Met In Past Lives. The first four stories range from the totally absurd but hysterically funny snippet where Caveman!Jim steals Mate!Blair, to stories set in ancient Sparta, Spain in the eleventh century, and the American Northwest coast in the 1800s.
Ariston is the crown jewel of the series. It's based on the first recorded police raid on a gay bathhouse in the USA which occurred at the Ariston Bathhouse on 21st Feb 1903. Elaine captures the feel of those times, from the descriptions of the clothing to the atmosphere of the bathhouse.
Jim is a lonely man who doesn't even realize the extent of his isolation. His senses are both acute and at times painful, and it's because of his good eyesight that his captain picks him for the distasteful job of pretending to be a patron of the bath house and gather information on the homosexual activities that happen there, in anticipation of an upcoming raid.
Jim's exposure to a lifestyle foreign to him has a seductive effect, reflected in his dreams, and when a young, vibrant, bohemian-looking fellow chooses him one night for a sexual encounter, he finds himself unwilling to tell him no.
Ultimately, this story is about finding the courage to change your life, and Jim reaching out to the man who had become so much more than an anonymous sex partner.
If it had been a normal bathhouse, Jim would have considered relaxing for a time in the hot pool, or even enjoying a massage. But even though it was early and the real action would not be happening for at least a couple of hours, he rejected that idea out of hand. There were other police officers here, some of whom he did not know, and he had no intention of taking the risk of being observed in any activity that was less than professional. Instead, he wandered through the various rooms, watching as the men, most of whom had their sheets draped casually around their shoulders, hiding nothing, flirted and teased in a desultory manner. They, too, were biding their time.
Slowly the bathhouse began to fill up. He saw Brooks from the 14th Precinct and they exchanged wary glances, each heading to another room. The atmosphere grew tense, but in an expectant rather than a hostile manner. It was time, and Jim strolled casually in the direction of the cooling room.
This was one of the most popular places for homosexual encounters, as such light that penetrated the room came from the gas lighting in the parlour next door. Most of the other officers avoided it, claiming it was too dark for them to make useful observations, however Jim had not experienced any such problem. He eased into one of the darker corners and prepared to watch unobtrusively.
It was some considerable time before Jim recognised any of the participants. That was not unusual, as most of the clientele came to the bathhouse only occasionally and the habitués tended to arrive later in the evening. However, he was stunned to realise that the young man of his dream was actually present in this shameful place, and completely naked too. He hadn't even bothered to bring his sheet.
Jim watched as the young man circulated through the room, smiling greetings from time to time, but not staying with anyone for very long. He cut an unusual figure, with his shoulder length curls - some kind of Bohemian, an artist perhaps - with all the decadence of his kind, no doubt. And now that his memory had been jogged, Jim remembered having seen the fellow before. He'd paired off only with the most perfectly developed and handsome of men, ignoring any lesser mortals. Jim curled his lip slightly and ignored both the heaviness of his heart and the stirring at his groin.
Tonight it seemed that the young man was particularly fastidious. He passed by several men who Jim would have considered eligible partners for him, smiling regretfully, but immediately moving on, his eyes searching the dim room. He came quite close to Jim before a spark of recognition lit his eyes and he smiled brilliantly. Another two steps and they were almost touching. Jim straightened from his casual lean against the wall, his heart hammering against his ribs. In all the time he'd been coming here, nobody had approached him and he was completely unprepared for such an eventuality.
The young man lifted a hand and laid it on Jim's chest, right over his pounding heart. The shock of that touch was almost more than he could bear. He caught the young man's wrist and whispered a harsh "No!"
Puzzlement showed on the beautiful face, but he made no attempt to free himself, or to speak. Jim swallowed, though his throat was painfully tight, and attempted to retrieve the situation. "Not here."
"Shy?" The young man smiled. "My name's Blair."
With that, he turned and with Jim still clasping his wrist, led the way through the room to the parlour. They were greeted with ironic cheers by some of the men lounging there, which Blair acknowledged with good humour. None of the men Jim could see were police officers - that he knew of - and he prayed briefly that it might remain so. He could not publicly repudiate Blair for fear of exposing himself, but he would have to find some way to end this once they were private.
Ariston by Elaine
Pairing: Jim Ellison/Blair Sandburg
Length:13,721 words
Author on LJ:
cross_stitcheryAuthor's website: Elaine's page at A Storage Room 3 (Sentinel Fanfic)
Why this must be read:
Summary
Detective Jim Ellison of the NYPD goes undercover in a gay bathhouse in 1903 AD.
This story is the last in a series of historical AUs Elaine wrote describing how the relationship between Jim and Blair, sentinel and guide, might have occurred over the ages. The series is Five Ways Jim and Bair Never Met In Past Lives. The first four stories range from the totally absurd but hysterically funny snippet where Caveman!Jim steals Mate!Blair, to stories set in ancient Sparta, Spain in the eleventh century, and the American Northwest coast in the 1800s.
Ariston is the crown jewel of the series. It's based on the first recorded police raid on a gay bathhouse in the USA which occurred at the Ariston Bathhouse on 21st Feb 1903. Elaine captures the feel of those times, from the descriptions of the clothing to the atmosphere of the bathhouse.
Jim is a lonely man who doesn't even realize the extent of his isolation. His senses are both acute and at times painful, and it's because of his good eyesight that his captain picks him for the distasteful job of pretending to be a patron of the bath house and gather information on the homosexual activities that happen there, in anticipation of an upcoming raid.
Jim's exposure to a lifestyle foreign to him has a seductive effect, reflected in his dreams, and when a young, vibrant, bohemian-looking fellow chooses him one night for a sexual encounter, he finds himself unwilling to tell him no.
Ultimately, this story is about finding the courage to change your life, and Jim reaching out to the man who had become so much more than an anonymous sex partner.
If it had been a normal bathhouse, Jim would have considered relaxing for a time in the hot pool, or even enjoying a massage. But even though it was early and the real action would not be happening for at least a couple of hours, he rejected that idea out of hand. There were other police officers here, some of whom he did not know, and he had no intention of taking the risk of being observed in any activity that was less than professional. Instead, he wandered through the various rooms, watching as the men, most of whom had their sheets draped casually around their shoulders, hiding nothing, flirted and teased in a desultory manner. They, too, were biding their time.
Slowly the bathhouse began to fill up. He saw Brooks from the 14th Precinct and they exchanged wary glances, each heading to another room. The atmosphere grew tense, but in an expectant rather than a hostile manner. It was time, and Jim strolled casually in the direction of the cooling room.
This was one of the most popular places for homosexual encounters, as such light that penetrated the room came from the gas lighting in the parlour next door. Most of the other officers avoided it, claiming it was too dark for them to make useful observations, however Jim had not experienced any such problem. He eased into one of the darker corners and prepared to watch unobtrusively.
It was some considerable time before Jim recognised any of the participants. That was not unusual, as most of the clientele came to the bathhouse only occasionally and the habitués tended to arrive later in the evening. However, he was stunned to realise that the young man of his dream was actually present in this shameful place, and completely naked too. He hadn't even bothered to bring his sheet.
Jim watched as the young man circulated through the room, smiling greetings from time to time, but not staying with anyone for very long. He cut an unusual figure, with his shoulder length curls - some kind of Bohemian, an artist perhaps - with all the decadence of his kind, no doubt. And now that his memory had been jogged, Jim remembered having seen the fellow before. He'd paired off only with the most perfectly developed and handsome of men, ignoring any lesser mortals. Jim curled his lip slightly and ignored both the heaviness of his heart and the stirring at his groin.
Tonight it seemed that the young man was particularly fastidious. He passed by several men who Jim would have considered eligible partners for him, smiling regretfully, but immediately moving on, his eyes searching the dim room. He came quite close to Jim before a spark of recognition lit his eyes and he smiled brilliantly. Another two steps and they were almost touching. Jim straightened from his casual lean against the wall, his heart hammering against his ribs. In all the time he'd been coming here, nobody had approached him and he was completely unprepared for such an eventuality.
The young man lifted a hand and laid it on Jim's chest, right over his pounding heart. The shock of that touch was almost more than he could bear. He caught the young man's wrist and whispered a harsh "No!"
Puzzlement showed on the beautiful face, but he made no attempt to free himself, or to speak. Jim swallowed, though his throat was painfully tight, and attempted to retrieve the situation. "Not here."
"Shy?" The young man smiled. "My name's Blair."
With that, he turned and with Jim still clasping his wrist, led the way through the room to the parlour. They were greeted with ironic cheers by some of the men lounging there, which Blair acknowledged with good humour. None of the men Jim could see were police officers - that he knew of - and he prayed briefly that it might remain so. He could not publicly repudiate Blair for fear of exposing himself, but he would have to find some way to end this once they were private.
Ariston by Elaine