WC: Better Men

[bella_harvest]

White Collar -- Fanfiction

Disclaimer:
All recognizable characters are property of Jeff
Eastin and USA Network. 
No copyright infringement intended.

Title:  Better Men

• Rating: PG-13
• Category:  Episode Tag (S3 mid-season finale), Drama, Friendship, Alternate canon (with 99.999% certainty)
• Spoilers: Countdown, As You Were + various other references

Author's

Comments

[bella_harvest]

Thank you for all the compliments. I'm truly flattered. Maybe it's just me, but I sometimes think that Neal really wants to let his guard down with Peter. He drops off-handed remarks here and there (about his upbringing, about not having "hit bottom"), but as soon as Peter prods a little further, he backs off and the self-protective walls are back up. Neal is so wrapped up in running the con that his life has become that by the end of it no one will know who he truly is as a person--least of all himself. Perhaps that is one of his existential fears. And perhaps deep down there's a part of Neal that realizes that Peter is someone to whom he could "confess", in more than a criminal sense, because Peter would never use his weaknesses against him.

I think if I were to continue this story, that's the direction I would want to explore, provided that it can be done in a way that maintains the overall dense, angsty feel of this installment. Oh, but then I'd also want to include the h/c I enjoy writing, but it can't end in the completely unbelievable All-will-be-fine hugfest. Arrrghh. To quote Neal: "It's complicated."

Thanks for commenting.
B

[tj_teejay]

Oh yeah, Neal definitely wants to drop his guard when he's with Peter, or maybe create a situation where he's forced to. It's the very essence of their friendship, and the path that friendship has taken. Still, Neal has years of fending for himself without ever completely trusting anyone under his belt, and I think it's not easy for him to let that go. He's still completing that learning curve. I think we all secretly want Neal to fully trust Peter and vice versa, but it's like Tim DeKay keeps saying: The moment that there is complete trust between them, the show is over. That said, I think Neal has let his guard down with Peter more than he ever has with anyone, even if the carefully constructed walls are still up most of the time.

It sounds a little bit like you're saying you're a little too intimidated by the implications of a sequel to want to write it. And I think I know what you mean. I've certainly been there. I'm not good with spinning elaborate story plots because I tend to either get bored with them, they spin out of control and become unrealistic, or I can't move them forward quickly enough to get to the good parts (i.e. usually the h/c parts). But I have a few people I can run something like that by to shape it into something I can use and/or write. That helps a great deal. And if you need any advice, feel free to hit me up.

I just re-read the story this morning, and I still have so much love for it. In fact, I just recced it to someone who wanted links to post-Countdown stories. And I keep wishing you'd continue it.

[bella_harvest]

I absolutely agree with you (and TDK). As soon as the inherent distrust and tension in Peter and Neal's relationship is gone, the show loses all its appeal (beyond the purely visual appeal, let's be honest). That was probably the main reason I disliked much of S2.5. They need to fight for and earn every iota of trust they built between them. It feels wrong when the writers just give it to them.

That aside, the wheels in my head have geared up and I'm committed to continue the story. After all, no one is force to read it if they prefer the first chapter as a one-shot. The second chapter and much of a third is written and I know what the fourth and final chapter will look like. The revisions typically take a while (until I'm sick and tired of looking at it and my beta throws up her hands in defeat) but hopefully I'll have the next installment up in the near future.

Thanks for your input. And realistic story plots are overrated!
B

[tj_teejay]

Yay, you're writing a sequel. Yay!! \o/ That's the best news I've heard all day. Can't wait!

I'm torn between s2.5 and s3. I mainly dislike s3 for all the discord between Neal and Peter. I like them better when they're not constantly at odds with each other. I mean, I like the angsty potential, but not if it's angsty and awkward every darn episode. So I kinda hope that after the whole kidnapping caboodle, things will slowly fall back into a lighter rhythm. It doesn't have to be complete trust, but at least a certain level of trust needs to be maintained for Burke & Caffrey to work.

LOL on your last comment. Maybe they are overrated, but it goes against my nature to write something I already know is gonna be total bogus. I mean, yay for poetic license (God knows I resort to it often enough), but I have a certain standard to try the best I can, you know?

[bella_harvest]

Ooh, I *love* S3 for the non-stop head-butting of Peter and Neal. I also like that Neal doesn't always come across as the misguided but good-at-heart and likable character he's been in S1 and S2. Let's face it, he was a total ass to Peter in On Guard (and occasionally in later episodes), and I remember thinking that we finally meet the guy who has the guile and callousness to con people. The constant tension and deception in S3 makes me cringe, but in a good way ... so, NO, let's not resolve all of that with the kidnapping debacle.

As for the fic standards, I understand what you're saying. Then again, all is fair in Fanfic-Land and it's great that people can indulge their fantasies and put their favorite characters into any situation they please. I enjoy reading some of it and I occasionally write stuff just to entertain myself. For the web page I try to stick with what's at least plausible and in keeping with who I believe these characters to be. Of course, that prevents me from straying too far from the canon (Call it the "creative anklet"!), unless the fic predates what's shown on the show, then all speculation is fair. I figure I have until January to finish Better Men. I should probably skip dinner and write!

[bella_harvest]

Also, thanks for the rec.
B