Pros Fic Rec - the Siren series, by Sebastian and Helen Raven

[byslantedlight]

By all rights, I should really dislike this series, and I definitely winced more reading this time than I ever have done before, but... there's still something about it that grabs me... something to do with the poetry of the writing, perhaps, the lovely lyrical, slightly melancholic feel to it - this is writing that makes you feel every breath the characters take, deep in their hearts...

It's made up of four parts: Siren by Sebastian, Bound to the Mast by Sebastian, Going for the Shore Part I and Going for the Shore Part II, both by Sebastian, and then Freezing by Helen Raven.

Actually I'm intrigued to see that Hatstand lists GftS II as "unfinished", and it's certainly got that feel to the final sentence - and is perhaps why the final part is by Helen Raven instead - does anyone know the story behind this?

Anyway, I do rather love these stories, although I think my love was formed when I had more tolerance for ever-so-damaged-Doyle and taking-charge-Bodie, which isn't a problem in itself, but I think fanfic writers may have grabbed it and run with it a bit - or maybe that was just the ever-so prolific Jane...

In any case - Doyle has clearly had a bad childhood (now that I'd like to read about!), and Bodie is clearly head over heels for him, and being treated badly as a result of Doyle's problems - but then Bodie has his own too, and Sebastian and HR do show us these actually, although because we're generally reading from Bodie's pov, they're less obvious than Doyle's because of course we're seeing Doyle through Bodie's own issues...

Mostly though, the poetry of the writing takes over for me - just sweeps me off into the stories, so that I can absolutely buy any little stretches in character (and I can see where they've come from, too, which helps, they're not taken too far from "my" B/D).

This series was a very early favourite of mine - I managed to print out Freezing way back when I was nannying, and I took it to Alaska with me as my only Pros fix when I'd only just re-discovered the lads, and wasn't even on lj yet! I remember huddling up with it in a basement flat in Fairbanks, before I had my cabin... And it was lovely then, and I'd definitely recommend it now too! *g*

ETA - My Pros Fic Rec List!

Comments

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I've always loved this series, very much for the reasons you've noted. The writing just can't be beat. And I hadn't thought about it but, like you, I read these stories as the beginning of my Pros mania. I find I don't have the same tolerance for oh-so-damaged Bodie and/or Doyle. In some stories, it's hard to imagine that they can function on a day to day level, much less do the job they do.

Still, for whatever reason, I can still read Sebastian's and, in the same vein, Kate Maclean's stories and still enjoy them very much. It seems to me Kate's have been toned down some, so Bodie and Doyle aren't quite so bad (or, as in her last story the craziness is being foisted on them.) Unfortunately, there aren't any new Sebastian stories.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

In some stories, it's hard to imagine that they can function on a day to day level, much less do the job they do.
Yes - exactly! I mean, I adore a bit of h/c, but sometimes... *g* But Sirens doesn't quite cross that boundary, and I can see how it works for both of them... I was fascinated by the idea of Doyle taking drugs voluntarily, mind (okay, made involuntary by emotional pressure?) but it wasn't made too much of, just the right amount of crises to get him to such an out-of-character thing, so...

The most recent Sebastian story was the Christmas one, a few years ago - definitely not quite the same thing... though really I should read that again anyway... *g* And no more Helen Raven either, whose stories I also adore, even at their harshest...

[helenraven.livejournal.com]

Actually I'm intrigued to see that Hatstand lists GftS II as "unfinished", and it's certainly got that feel to the final sentence - and is perhaps why the final part is by Helen Raven instead - does anyone know the story behind this?

Sebastian had intended to write more in the sequence. She did once (long after I'd written Freezing) show me the small amount she'd written - but her handwriting was such that I could barely make out a word!

Anyway... I'd long been haunted by the way that GftS II ended and so had Kate MacLean, and I promised her that I would write an ending for her as a birthday present. I was hoping that my story would give Kate closure but I didn't expect it to work for me, but it turned out that it did. Kate was happy for the story to be published more widely, and HG asked Sebastian for permission on my behalf (I didn't know Sebastian at that time), which she granted very graciously.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you! From the horse's mouth... *g* So I guess Sebastian just ran out of... inspiration/time/whatever... And while I'm here - thanks so much for finishing it off, and thank you Kate MacLean for prompting it, perhaps! *vbg*

[metabolick.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about this series. A few years back when in a discussion on lj of our desert island fics I listed this series as one of mine. I might not today, as I've read many more stories since then, but I still like it a lot. This is Sebastian at her best with the way she paints pictures with words. Here's one of my fave passages:

He met Doyle's eyes again, fierce and sad and desperate all at once, saw twin emotions in Doyle's absorbed, excited fallen-angel's face. Watching him all the time, Doyle lifted the back of one hand to his mouth, pink lips parting so Bodie heard him swallow, caught a glimpse of his flicking tongue, before it slipped out from beneath the chipped white tooth; and licked over the narrow wrist.

Bodie drew in a sharp, hissing breath, and nearly, so nearly, orgasmed there and then. Only the tight, almost painful hold he had on the corner of the desk served to distract his delirious, fiery delight at the wanton, erotic sight of Ray Doyle naked, perched in front of him, one knee casually drawn up; head tipped dreamily back as he savoured the taste of his own skin, that wrist still artistically pressed to the full mouth...

Oh, what a picture!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Sebastian can nearly be a bit too much for me sometimes - Doyle's face in your quote is apparently fierce and sad and desperate and absorbed and excited and evocative of a fallen angel... *g* But she doesn't quite tip over - or if perhaps she does, then she rescues herself with something gorgeous in the next line, so... *g* It's beautifully shown though, rather than "told", and that makes all the difference to me...