Pros fic rec - Daring the Sea by Bistokidsfan

[byslantedlight]

I know I've recced this before, elsewhere, but it came up while I was randoming at Circuit Archive over coffee, and I still like it alot... *g*

Daring the Sea by Bistokidsfan

I love that it's a story for grown-ups too - Bistokidsfan doesn't tell us anything, she shows us all the way, and although it doesn't get into complexities we know that everyone concerned is dealing with proper, grown-up situations and emotions and psyches...

Comments

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec. I liked this when it was first posted, and it gets better with re-reading.

I enjoy:
- the way Tommy and Murphy are there and at the end they become a four man fireteam taking their injured comrade to safety.
- the minimal exposition - reader has to work it out herself

How do you read "Not the first couple of times" and the wrist bandage? For me it reads like Bodie tried to escape once, then tried to kill himself (the bandage). And when Ray and the others find him he's considering a second attempt at suicide, but Ray draws him back with love.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Yes, I thought about the wrist bandage too - and that's what he used the scissors for, that he was clutching... but then he did manage to escape, and the lads find him... Maybe he saw his chance when he'd only cut one wrist, and that's why it's only one? Ah, but I just want to hug 'em all... *g*

I also love Bistokidsfan's Careful Cultivation - I must go back and re-read some of her other fic, actually!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the rec! I hadn't read this. I could (and to myself will *g*) quibble about errors and typos and a bit too much telling in places that (for me) deflates the intensity, but I agree entirely that it deals with adult situations and emotions, which is wonderfully refreshing. It's real when you read it, and that's the sign of a successful story, isn't it? It also leaves you with complex emotions--there are no easy answers; there's damage here, but the lads' connection trumps all. Very nice!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I could (and to myself will *g*) quibble about errors and typos and a bit too much telling in places that (for me) deflates the intensity
Ah, but you've said it out loud to us now as well, so please do explain where you reckon it does this - always interesting to chat about fic!

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

I remember reading this before but it was great to read it again, so thank you! I just love that Tommy is in it, and the spare style is just my cuppa :)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I keep reading this one, it's got gorgeous life to it somehow... *g*

[cloudless-9193.livejournal.com]

I like the style and the way some things are left to the reader to interpret, like the wrist bandage and the scissors. Thanks for the rec!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Me too! I miss Bistokidsfan writing for Pros! And she did some fab vids too...

[cornishcat.livejournal.com]

It's never too late to comment is it?

This story really draws you in. I have read it before and enjoyed it just as much, if not more, this time around.

How tragic it is to see Bodie so lost and broken but then Doyle, who overcomes his fears, calmly manages to bring him back from the brink.

But ... never once did I consider that Bodie had self-harmed! As he admitted to being tied down, I presumed he injured his wrists trying to escape and that he only succeeded the third time because he managed to get hold of the surgical shears.

Oh, I can be so naive. *g*

I'll just have to read it again with this interpretation in mind.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Never ever too late to comment! *g* (Though I am off to bed in a bit, but that's a different kind of late... *g*)

I didn't read it as self-harming for certain, and I'm not at all convinced that's what happened - it occurred to me, but - as you say it could have been something else to do with his escape attempt. It does sound as if his wrist is carefully bandaged, as if someone else did it for him and so it didn't happen on this occasion, but I could be wrong about that... Definitely not naive not to jump to the most complex explanation, though! It's almost a much bigger jump to assume that he tried to slit his wrists to escape that way, though - maybe the bandages were where he'd been injected continuously with drugs or summat? (Is that medically possible?) Cos Doyle did say they pumped him full of all sorts which is why he's confused... I like the way it's left open to interpretation though - it's not ambiguous enough that it takes away from the story in general, cos it's not the point of the story. Something sinister happened, and the wrist-thing is tightly bound up with that, but the story is actually about what's going on now that he's got away, so... I like it! *g*