Round Three Reviews - Part 11
Today's Featured Reviews Include:
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Absit Omen by efflorescencia
Category: WIP
Fandom: New Who
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Tenth Doctor, OC, many other characters in more minor roles
Rating: NC17
Details: Nine chapters posted of a projected 13-chapter fic; DW/TW crossover
Why It Rocks:
Post-Journey’s End, Jack’s back in Cardiff overseeing clear-up - well, he’s really overseeing Gwen and Ianto, who are doing the clear-up. Gwen’s just said goodnight and gone home to Rhys, while Ianto is dismantling a Dalek... when suddenly he’s imagining that Gwen’s saying goodnight to him a second time:
Perhaps this was his unique body's way of telling him that he needed a nap. He had been to the other end of the universe and back, after all. That was a big week, even considering what his weeks normally looked like.
But, no, she’s still there. He’s not dreaming.
The Gwen that stood before him now was as real as the one he'd spoken to only moments earlier, he was certain of it. She was, if possible, even more animated. Reacting to him, and he was looking at her like she had just sprouted a second head.
“What's wrong, Jack?”
“Nothing,” he said, slowly, “just déjà vu.”
But it’s not déjà vu. It’s not hallucination, either. He really did see Gwen leave twice. He really does see, a little bit later, several Iantos, and he becomes determined not to lose track of the Ianto who walked in his time line.
Something very strange is going on, and the Rift seems to be part of it. As it worsens, they then see Owen, and Toshiko, and even Suzie wandering around the Hub, interacting with other versions of their one-time colleagues. How disorienting - and emotionally wracking - that must be! efflorescencia shows, not tells, the impact on Jack beautifully:
Owen and Tosh alive. Owen, actually alive.
Jack turned from the screen, of two minds to walk over to the autopsy room, to know for certain that this was just a glitch in the system, and his deceased teammates weren't actually down there. He was stopped by Ianto, who had come up beside him, quietly placing a hand on his arm.
And there’s no-one who can help - until Ianto suggests using the subwave network to call the Doctor. And the Doctor, in the meantime, is already discovering that something’s wrong; he winds up in Cardiff at various points in the past hundred or so years, aware that the Rift is going crazy, yet can’t get back to Jack’s present. There’s a lovely, and amusing, exchange with Torchwood’s Gerald Carter in 1940, in which Gerald indicates that he has worked out who the Doctor is by offering to pass on the Doctor’s regards to Jack, and the Doctor responds:
“Where is Jack now?” the Doctor asked, attempting to sound merely curious.
“Deployed to London. He's been granted clearance to fly with the RAF.”
“Again? How many versions of himself does he think can fight a war at the same time, I wonder? If that man weren't incredibly lucky when it comes to paradoxes, I'd have to lock him up, except he might like that a bit.”
and Gerald’s response is really quite touching:
“But I think you should know, that were I to see Jack again, I would tell him of this conversation without hesitation.”
“Would you?” the Doctor asked, quietly.
“He's been looking for you for such a long time.” Gerald nodded.
“Then you really are one of the good ones.”
The plot thickens, and the adventure deepens. When Jack and Ianto get pulled onto the TARDIS, it’s to be told that:
“...Cardiff has been erased from all points in time.”
What’s happened to cause it? We don’t know, other than that it has something to do with the events of Journey’s End. In Jack’s timeline, this all started mere hours after he left the TARDIS and returned to the hub, although in the Doctor’s timeline this is more than six months later.
Excellent pacing creates a sense of spiralling tension, relieved just occasionally by touches of wry humour:
“That's right, no idea. Not a clue. Totally in the dark - no pun intended. Does that count as a pun? I've always hated that expression.” The Doctor made a face. “Not as bad as when someone says pun intended, though, is it?”
or, later, when Jack’s frantic over a worrying development and the Doctor tries to help:
“Would it make you feel better if I said you could shoot something?”
While on the TARDIS in early parts of the story, Jack and the Doctor get time to catch up, which goes about as well as might be expected, and efflorescencia also manages to create - again showing rather than telling - an awkward atmosphere between Ianto and the Doctor, with Jack simply bemused by it all:
Jack rolled his eyes.
“He likes to let the human open the doors.”
“Right,” Ianto glanced between the two of them, “and I'm the only human here.”
“I'm sorry, is intergalactic time travel not a big deal to you people anymore? Not exciting enough?” The Doctor scowled, tapping one trainer-clad foot impatiently.
“It's a lot to take in,” Ianto justified himself. “I'll let you know when I've worked through bigger on the inside.”
The Doctor is also disconcerted, in a later chapter, by Ianto’s perception:
“Jack was right,” Ianto shook his head. “You really don't like to be tied down to anything.”
These brilliant character moments are just part of a story rich in atmosphere and tension as they travel from one Rift city to another, in some ways reminiscent of a film noir where it’s hard to shake off the feeling that something terrible is just around the corner. What’s happened to Cardiff? Is the Earth safe? Is the universe safe? What’s happened to Gwen, and will Jack and Ianto ever see her or Martha again? Does the Doctor really know what he’s doing, or is he - as is so often the case - just guessing? And, later, what’s happened to Ianto? Who is Nobody, and did the Doctor make a huge mistake by kissing him?
Little details, as well, such as Ianto understanding Latin, add a real richness to the story. There is the occasional minor spelling error - vile for vial, for example - but the story itself is so compelling that these don’t detract.
The story gets all the more fascinating, with a version of UNIT and familiar characters who aren’t. Gingerbread houses lend additional tension; Rose isn’t the only person who can’t stay away when she meets an alternative version of someone she loves. And yet more fascinating insights:
"Jack needed to remember where and how he started out, who exactly he's trying to save. Ianto needed to know that he can't ever go back to who he was. His old life isn't waiting for him, not anywhere. Even if he makes it home, it won't be the same.”
“What about me, then?” The Doctor smacked the top of the monitor hard with his palm and it burst to flickery life, an image of the Vortex spinning outside visible despite the many cracks now splitting the screen.
“Knowing that there's a woman out here that you can see and speak to and touch without fear of destroying her, it's like a weight has been lifted. In part, anyway.”
Absit Omen has so many twists and turns, unexpected developments, moments of terrifying danger and jaw-dropping revelations that I could honestly carry on for another 3000 words. Instead, I’ll just recommend that you go and read it for yourself, and then beg the author to post the final four chapters as soon as humanly possible, because you’ll want to know how it ends as badly as I do.
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Ducks In a Row by kayliemalinza
Category: Jack Harkness
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating: PG
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Details: A one-shot with some metaphorical meat. Just over 1500 words.
Why it Rocks:
Torchwood is funny. I mean, it's also angsty, but it's pretty funny, too. At times it's the show's saving grace. There's no shortage of funny fic in the fandom, either. Just like there's no shortage of angsty fic. But there's something about this fic. It's hard to put my finger on it. It made me laugh and it made my heart twinge in the best way possible.
At the surface, it's simple premise: Ianto and Jack take a walk by a lakeside and encounter some ducklings who follow them home. But it's not quite that simple. Or it is, but Jack refuses to let it be. He sees it as a metaphor for his team. Ianto sees it as a way for Jack to angst.
I think what's really solid about this fic is the dynamic between Jack and Ianto - they're comfortable together, like they fit -- puzzle pieces that just click together. Jack mopes, Ianto gently prods. Ianto pouts, Jack pulls him out of his sulk. It's a give-and-take relationship that is a good guess of what the relationship might be like post-Season Two.
I can't quote the whole fic for you, though I would like to, again, but here's a piece of the heart-warming writing that I found myself smiling about days later.
"I've heard this species is fairly adaptable," Ianto says and bends down to steer one of the ducks away from the door. The entire brood is dancing around, scraping their beaks against the plastic linings and nipping at the cuffs of Jack's trousers.
"Adaptable to alien pathogens?" Jack asks, voice growing more forceful. "Residual Rift energy? I'm sure Janet would love to have them as a snack."
"I'm not sure Weevils eat fowl," Ianto muses. "They seem to prefer bovine."
Jack shoots a quick glare at Ianto and steamrolls on: "I'm exposing them to insane dangers but I can't possibly convince them to stop following me, can I? They won't listen."
Ianto sighs and puts his hand on the edge of the door. "Jack," he says sternly. "They're ducks. Not metaphors."
"That's the beauty of metaphors, Ianto," Jack drawls and leans down to rub his thumb against the beak of the yellowest duckling. "They can be literally one thing and yet at the same time stand in for another." His grin holds just the hint of an edge. "Neato, huh?"
I don't like to use “cute” when describing stories - it seems condescending sometimes. But if I believed in it, that's the word I would use for this. It's excellent writing. It's solid characterization - it's a premise that's layered and yet fun. Give this fic a read - give it a vote. It's beautiful in its simplicity and maybe it will touch your heart.
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Daytripping by lilacfree Link goes to Teaspoon
Category: Classic Fic
Fandom: Classic Who
Characters: Fifth Doctor, Tegan Jovanka
Rating: All Ages
Details: Two chapters, complete; standalone fic within the author’s Walkabout AU series, which is mostly canon-compliant. This story and its immediate predecessor is set after Resurrection of the Daleks, but this can stand alone.
Why It Rocks:
Through all her time with the Doctor, Tegan wanted nothing more than to go home. Well, mostly. Yes, she kept demanding that he take her back to Heathrow, and yes, he kept failing - but there’s no doubt that she enjoyed a lot of her time with him and at least some of the time she was ambivalent about leaving. Then came Resurrection of the Daleks and she’d had enough. Or had she? The Doctor takes her back to London - getting the date wrong again - and Tegan says goodbye and walks away... but then turns around, perhaps changing her mind, but it’s too late. The TARDIS has gone.
It’s just one of many goodbyes for the Doctor, and for some it felt unsatisfying. In Daytripping and its immediate prequel Valentine’s Day After, Lilacfree gives us an alternative farewell for Tegan: the Doctor takes her to her grandfather’s home to recover from the injury she got to her head during the first Dalek attack, and they have an opportunity for a longer, gentler, private goodbye. It’s not necessary to read Valentine’s Day After to understand this story; just know that the Doctor kept watch over Tegan for much of the night to be sure that she wasn’t concussed.
The next day, Tegan tells him that she’s not coming with him when he and Turlough - who’s off in the nearest village - leave.
“I’ve got to find a way to live with the memories. Maybe dashing off to the next thing works for you, but I felt like I was going under.” She wondered how much sense that made, but she wasn’t good with words and she didn’t want to hurt him.
It’s not a surprise to the Doctor; after all, Tegan’s been saying that she wants to leave for a long time. Tegan also shows how well she knows him - or thinks she knows him - when she adds:
“If you’re gone in the morning, I’ll understand, Doctor. I know you hate saying good-bye.”
But he isn’t gone in the morning. As Tegan leaves the house, intending to go for a long walk, she sees the Doctor standing at the crest of a hill, looking into the distance. And here Lilacfree gives us a beautiful description of the Doctor through Tegan’s eyes:
Except for the wind ruffling his hair and making his coat tails flap like disguised wings, he was perfectly still. Not of this world; just stepped through a doorway in space and time; trailing glory, hands tucked in his trouser pockets.
Although she tries to sneak past him, unsure of what she’d say to him now that they’re parting and afraid that she might say something stupid, the Doctor sees her and catches up with her. They walk together and, in the knowledge that these are probably the last couple of hours they’ll ever spend together, they talk more freely than ever in their past. In saying goodbye, they’re both able to say and even do things they would never dream - or dare - of doing if Tegan were continuing to travel with him. For instance, the Doctor has a headache and Tegan offers a scalp massage:
After a bit of maneuvering, the Doctor’s head came to rest on her thigh. She gently smoothed his hair back from his forehead and started to stroke very soft circles at his temples. His eyes closed.
And Tegan begins reflecting on the man - the alien - she has lying on her lap. How alone he is (and this is even before Gallifrey was destroyed) and how apart he seems from everyone else around him. Of course, the Fifth Doctor, while much younger in appearance than either of his immediate predecessors, is very much more formal and distant, like a throwback to an Edwardian gentleman, and this troubles Tegan:
She should do it, before he left. Just hug him, because no matter how little Time Lords might be interested in sex, a kiss from her was different than a kiss from Nyssa. Hug him, because who would care enough to and have the nerve to do it if she didn’t?
She doesn’t hug him. But they still manage to say goodbye in a very - to Tegan - unexpected way, and it’s beautifully bittersweet and gorgeously-written.
Lovely though this farewell is, it’s not the best thing about Daytripping. That’s the sharply-observed characterisation of both Tegan and the Doctor, with some clever insights into both along the way. Tegan, for example, finds it:
much easier to argue with the Doctor than be attracted to him. For one thing, she had a much better chance of winning an argument.
(She does, in fact, win an argument in this story, as even the Doctor concedes, though he doesn’t seem at all upset by it.) Tegan also reflects on her time away from Earth, a perception that probably everyone who has travelled with the Doctor would agree with:
TARDIS travel made a mockery of the rule of calendars. The perception of time was inconstant. Sometimes she had felt as if her journey had lasted decades, at least, but now that it was over it felt like time spent in a dream.
And is this observation by the Doctor a metaphor for Tegan’s approach to life?
“You’re headed in a specific direction, but not following a path. When you veer away from your heading because of obstacles, you return to the original course.”
Daytripping is a lovely, gentle story, with plenty of in-character Doctor and Tegan arguing along the way before we get to moments of comfort which are very welcome after Resurrection of the Daleks, yet we would never see on-screen. For some readers - myself included - this is a far more palatable, and kinder, farewell to Tegan than her televised departure. That, and the fact that you’ll have to find out how the Doctor’s celery gets broken, is a very good reason to read this story, if you haven’t already. Read it, and you’ll see why it deserves its nomination, and why Tegan and Five were such a great team.
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Out of Pocket by goodbye2pisces
Category:
Fandom: New Who
Characters: Donna, Doctor
Rating: R
Details: One-shot, Doctor/Donna established relationship.
Why It Rocks:
There's this moment, in all relationships of a sexual or about-to-be-sexual nature, in which the issue of protection comes up. (Or should.) This is no different when one of you is an alien.
“Donna do you have any idea what the odds of a Time Lord actually impregnating a human being even are?”
It's a reasonable question, though, and let's face it - Donna is a reasonable woman. Which is why she responds to the Doctor's logical reply with her own logical answer:
“What were the odds that you and I would meet each other twice in one lifetime?”
(Note to self: if, ever on a bed making out with a certain Time Lord, do not ask this question. Because, unfortunately, it works, and thus begins the hunt for a condom.)
The hunt for a condom ends up being more of a walk through the Doctor's history, in the form of physicality (with previous companions, that is, of which there was only one casee: but she was President at the time, so it was more like an Executive Order) and physically - in the form of his pockets.
Oh, those pockets. Before too long, the Doctor has covered the bed with the contents of his pockets, and he's not near to done. And he'll keep going, too - for the days or years that he says it might take, all in the attempt to find Donna a condom.
Which, if you think about it, is serious dedication, considering there's a shop in the lobby. Well, serious dedication, or just a distracted Time Lord.
Luckily for Donna - she's not a distracted Time Lord.
In short, vote for Out of Pocket. It's funny and sweet and will present you with more possibilities for pockets than previously thought possible. It has dimensionally transcendental pockets, a teeny tiny bit of angst, and an ending that will leave you grinning. It started out life as a drabble gone long, but it's not a long-shot to see that it very much deserves your vote.
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Smooth Transitions by hllangel
Category: Crossover
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Barack Obama, Various Other Random Democrats
Rating: PG
Details: One-part real-person fanfic.
Why It Rocks:
First, a disclaimer: I do not normally read RPF (real-person fanfic), at least not when the real people involved are still alive. But this one I just had to see - I mean, really. Jack in a room with Barack Obama? This was going to be too good to miss.
And I'm very glad I didn't miss it. Hllangel has given us a very honest, very funny view of what Obama might do if confronted by one Captain Jack Harkness. I mean, really - think about it. You've just been elected President. You're receiving your first actual factual PDB (Presidential Daily Briefing, when you get to learn all the sooper sekrit stuff that the FBI and CIA and NSA have been getting up to. And there, on the very last page.....
There was only one word, printed dead center on the paper.
Congratulations.
The bottom was signed "Captain Jack Harkness" in slanted, neat writing.
I mean, you'd be intrigued, wouldn't you? Not to mention somewhat taken aback, to learn it's an organization whose sole purpose is to protect you against - of all things - alien invasion. Oh, and they're British.
To someone just elected to what he thought was Leader of the Free World, that cannot be a happy surprise. And Obama is absolutely not amused.
This Captain Harkness seemed to be something else entirely. Not only had he gotten his hands on Barack's personal email address, which was only given out to his staff, but he'd used it multiple times, and was emailing Barack like he was an old friend.
This is probably what I found most refreshing about the story. It's difficult to tell if Hllangel is a Democrat or a Republican - which really is a good thing, because the portrait she gives us of Obama is neither entirely positive or entirely negative. He's busy, he's somewhat short-tempered, he's under a great deal of stress. When confronted by the far-too-familiar-for-his-liking Captain Jack Harkness, Obama's immediate reaction is to ignore him, followed quickly by to put on as much bluster and self-importance as humanly possible. And yet, Obama doesn't come off as a jerk (as he might if written by a Republican), or as a entirely kind and understanding soul (as he might if written by a Democrat). He comes off as...well, human, confronted by something he doesn't quite understand in a stressful time of his life, when he has got a zillion other things on his mind.
Now, there's no way to really know if the portrayal of Obama that we see is correct. But it's pretty much on target with what we know. (And another disclaimer: I live in the Washington, D.C., area. We've already started getting the Obama parody radio commercials. Frankly, this story does a better job.)
But there is one character who you absolutely know is right on target:
Barack watched Jack use a different sort of arsenal, taking Michelle's hand and kissing it, meeting her eyes with a sly smile and a wink before disappearing out the door.
"Who was that?" Michelle asked him. She was still staring at the door Jack had left through.
Hmm. Wonder what else Michelle did while in London last month? *grin*
In short, vote for Smooth Transitions. If you're new to RPF, I can't imagine a better way to start than this fic. If you're old to RPF, you'll have another fun little ficlet to enjoy. And if you're just into Obama-mania....well, you've already read it, and are agreeing with everything I say, and you will absolutely agree that this absolutely deserves your vote.
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The Orchid Thief by leviathan Link goes to Teaspoon
Categories: Multi-Era; Crossover
Fandom: New Who
Characters: Archie Goodwin, Delgado!Master, Jo Grant, Martha Jones, Nero Wolfe, Third Doctor, Tenth Doctor
Rating: All Ages
Details: Crossover with Nero Wolfe. 15,292 words.
Why It Rocks:
Disclaimer The reviewer has never actually read the Nero Wolfe novels. She has only seen the A&E television series with Timothy Hutton.
From the note by Archie Goodwin that begins this tale, I suspected that the story was going to be wibbly-wobbly-timey-whimey in nature. When the titular orchid first appears in Nero Wolfe's sanctuary, I guessed that the Doctor was leaving it as a thank you gift; except that the Doctor had messed up the timeline and was leaving the thank you gift *before* Wolfe had done something for the Doctor. (Given how much the Doctor's driving sucks, this is entirely within the realm of possibility.) This writer, however, has created an even *more* complicated, time-warping plot than I could have imagined.
The author has an engaging narrative style, which, importantly, helps to keep the Doctor Who fan's attention, since it is a long time before any Whoniverse characters appear--unless, of course, you count the TARDIS as a "character," since she is both seen and heard early on in this fanfic. I adore the description of the sound the TARDIS makes, from the point of view of an outsider, who's never heard her before:
“Yeah, I heard it. Siren?” I gave that some thought. “I suppose it could have been. It seemed a bit wheezy for that. I expect a siren to be able to catch its breath.”
Leviathan doesn't slack off once the Tenth Doctor and Martha arrive, and he continues to absorb the reader with his wry tone:
“Ah, yeah!” the tall man's accent was English, his voice enthusiastic, “lovely morning, really, just lovely! You're Archie Goodwin!”
“Thanks,” I told him. “I wasn't sure.”
He grinned even more broadly, looking over between me and the black girl. “See, Martha, what did I tell you? The wit, the wit, the looks-- Not so much the charm, yet, but you have to like the wit!”
Leviathan also makes the brave authorial decision to keep Archie's and Wolfe's language appropriate for their time period, even when the word choice can be uncomfortable for contemporary readers, especially in regards to Martha:
The woman was black - apparently “colored” is no longer the acceptable term . . .
or
She was a beautiful girl, and while I hadn't yet had an occasion to miscegenate, I wasn't opposed to the idea . . .
Ultimately, the Nero Wolfe series make for an excellent crossover with and parallel to Doctor Who. After all, they are stories about an arrogant, occasionally obnoxious, one-of-a-kind genius and his dogged, faithful companion.
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Today's Reviews were written by:
wendymr: Absit Omen; Daytripping
ladychi: Ducks in a Row
azriona: Out of Pocket; Smooth Transitions
gwynevere1: The Orchid Thief
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Absit Omen by efflorescencia
Category: WIP
Fandom: New Who
Characters: Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Tenth Doctor, OC, many other characters in more minor roles
Rating: NC17
Details: Nine chapters posted of a projected 13-chapter fic; DW/TW crossover
Why It Rocks:
Post-Journey’s End, Jack’s back in Cardiff overseeing clear-up - well, he’s really overseeing Gwen and Ianto, who are doing the clear-up. Gwen’s just said goodnight and gone home to Rhys, while Ianto is dismantling a Dalek... when suddenly he’s imagining that Gwen’s saying goodnight to him a second time:
Perhaps this was his unique body's way of telling him that he needed a nap. He had been to the other end of the universe and back, after all. That was a big week, even considering what his weeks normally looked like.
But, no, she’s still there. He’s not dreaming.
The Gwen that stood before him now was as real as the one he'd spoken to only moments earlier, he was certain of it. She was, if possible, even more animated. Reacting to him, and he was looking at her like she had just sprouted a second head.
“What's wrong, Jack?”
“Nothing,” he said, slowly, “just déjà vu.”
But it’s not déjà vu. It’s not hallucination, either. He really did see Gwen leave twice. He really does see, a little bit later, several Iantos, and he becomes determined not to lose track of the Ianto who walked in his time line.
Something very strange is going on, and the Rift seems to be part of it. As it worsens, they then see Owen, and Toshiko, and even Suzie wandering around the Hub, interacting with other versions of their one-time colleagues. How disorienting - and emotionally wracking - that must be! efflorescencia shows, not tells, the impact on Jack beautifully:
Owen and Tosh alive. Owen, actually alive.
Jack turned from the screen, of two minds to walk over to the autopsy room, to know for certain that this was just a glitch in the system, and his deceased teammates weren't actually down there. He was stopped by Ianto, who had come up beside him, quietly placing a hand on his arm.
And there’s no-one who can help - until Ianto suggests using the subwave network to call the Doctor. And the Doctor, in the meantime, is already discovering that something’s wrong; he winds up in Cardiff at various points in the past hundred or so years, aware that the Rift is going crazy, yet can’t get back to Jack’s present. There’s a lovely, and amusing, exchange with Torchwood’s Gerald Carter in 1940, in which Gerald indicates that he has worked out who the Doctor is by offering to pass on the Doctor’s regards to Jack, and the Doctor responds:
“Where is Jack now?” the Doctor asked, attempting to sound merely curious.
“Deployed to London. He's been granted clearance to fly with the RAF.”
“Again? How many versions of himself does he think can fight a war at the same time, I wonder? If that man weren't incredibly lucky when it comes to paradoxes, I'd have to lock him up, except he might like that a bit.”
and Gerald’s response is really quite touching:
“But I think you should know, that were I to see Jack again, I would tell him of this conversation without hesitation.”
“Would you?” the Doctor asked, quietly.
“He's been looking for you for such a long time.” Gerald nodded.
“Then you really are one of the good ones.”
The plot thickens, and the adventure deepens. When Jack and Ianto get pulled onto the TARDIS, it’s to be told that:
“...Cardiff has been erased from all points in time.”
What’s happened to cause it? We don’t know, other than that it has something to do with the events of Journey’s End. In Jack’s timeline, this all started mere hours after he left the TARDIS and returned to the hub, although in the Doctor’s timeline this is more than six months later.
Excellent pacing creates a sense of spiralling tension, relieved just occasionally by touches of wry humour:
“That's right, no idea. Not a clue. Totally in the dark - no pun intended. Does that count as a pun? I've always hated that expression.” The Doctor made a face. “Not as bad as when someone says pun intended, though, is it?”
or, later, when Jack’s frantic over a worrying development and the Doctor tries to help:
“Would it make you feel better if I said you could shoot something?”
While on the TARDIS in early parts of the story, Jack and the Doctor get time to catch up, which goes about as well as might be expected, and efflorescencia also manages to create - again showing rather than telling - an awkward atmosphere between Ianto and the Doctor, with Jack simply bemused by it all:
Jack rolled his eyes.
“He likes to let the human open the doors.”
“Right,” Ianto glanced between the two of them, “and I'm the only human here.”
“I'm sorry, is intergalactic time travel not a big deal to you people anymore? Not exciting enough?” The Doctor scowled, tapping one trainer-clad foot impatiently.
“It's a lot to take in,” Ianto justified himself. “I'll let you know when I've worked through bigger on the inside.”
The Doctor is also disconcerted, in a later chapter, by Ianto’s perception:
“Jack was right,” Ianto shook his head. “You really don't like to be tied down to anything.”
These brilliant character moments are just part of a story rich in atmosphere and tension as they travel from one Rift city to another, in some ways reminiscent of a film noir where it’s hard to shake off the feeling that something terrible is just around the corner. What’s happened to Cardiff? Is the Earth safe? Is the universe safe? What’s happened to Gwen, and will Jack and Ianto ever see her or Martha again? Does the Doctor really know what he’s doing, or is he - as is so often the case - just guessing? And, later, what’s happened to Ianto? Who is Nobody, and did the Doctor make a huge mistake by kissing him?
Little details, as well, such as Ianto understanding Latin, add a real richness to the story. There is the occasional minor spelling error - vile for vial, for example - but the story itself is so compelling that these don’t detract.
The story gets all the more fascinating, with a version of UNIT and familiar characters who aren’t. Gingerbread houses lend additional tension; Rose isn’t the only person who can’t stay away when she meets an alternative version of someone she loves. And yet more fascinating insights:
"Jack needed to remember where and how he started out, who exactly he's trying to save. Ianto needed to know that he can't ever go back to who he was. His old life isn't waiting for him, not anywhere. Even if he makes it home, it won't be the same.”
“What about me, then?” The Doctor smacked the top of the monitor hard with his palm and it burst to flickery life, an image of the Vortex spinning outside visible despite the many cracks now splitting the screen.
“Knowing that there's a woman out here that you can see and speak to and touch without fear of destroying her, it's like a weight has been lifted. In part, anyway.”
Absit Omen has so many twists and turns, unexpected developments, moments of terrifying danger and jaw-dropping revelations that I could honestly carry on for another 3000 words. Instead, I’ll just recommend that you go and read it for yourself, and then beg the author to post the final four chapters as soon as humanly possible, because you’ll want to know how it ends as badly as I do.
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Ducks In a Row by kayliemalinza
Category: Jack Harkness
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating: PG
Characters: Jack, Ianto
Details: A one-shot with some metaphorical meat. Just over 1500 words.
Why it Rocks:
Torchwood is funny. I mean, it's also angsty, but it's pretty funny, too. At times it's the show's saving grace. There's no shortage of funny fic in the fandom, either. Just like there's no shortage of angsty fic. But there's something about this fic. It's hard to put my finger on it. It made me laugh and it made my heart twinge in the best way possible.
At the surface, it's simple premise: Ianto and Jack take a walk by a lakeside and encounter some ducklings who follow them home. But it's not quite that simple. Or it is, but Jack refuses to let it be. He sees it as a metaphor for his team. Ianto sees it as a way for Jack to angst.
I think what's really solid about this fic is the dynamic between Jack and Ianto - they're comfortable together, like they fit -- puzzle pieces that just click together. Jack mopes, Ianto gently prods. Ianto pouts, Jack pulls him out of his sulk. It's a give-and-take relationship that is a good guess of what the relationship might be like post-Season Two.
I can't quote the whole fic for you, though I would like to, again, but here's a piece of the heart-warming writing that I found myself smiling about days later.
"I've heard this species is fairly adaptable," Ianto says and bends down to steer one of the ducks away from the door. The entire brood is dancing around, scraping their beaks against the plastic linings and nipping at the cuffs of Jack's trousers.
"Adaptable to alien pathogens?" Jack asks, voice growing more forceful. "Residual Rift energy? I'm sure Janet would love to have them as a snack."
"I'm not sure Weevils eat fowl," Ianto muses. "They seem to prefer bovine."
Jack shoots a quick glare at Ianto and steamrolls on: "I'm exposing them to insane dangers but I can't possibly convince them to stop following me, can I? They won't listen."
Ianto sighs and puts his hand on the edge of the door. "Jack," he says sternly. "They're ducks. Not metaphors."
"That's the beauty of metaphors, Ianto," Jack drawls and leans down to rub his thumb against the beak of the yellowest duckling. "They can be literally one thing and yet at the same time stand in for another." His grin holds just the hint of an edge. "Neato, huh?"
I don't like to use “cute” when describing stories - it seems condescending sometimes. But if I believed in it, that's the word I would use for this. It's excellent writing. It's solid characterization - it's a premise that's layered and yet fun. Give this fic a read - give it a vote. It's beautiful in its simplicity and maybe it will touch your heart.
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Daytripping by lilacfree Link goes to Teaspoon
Category: Classic Fic
Fandom: Classic Who
Characters: Fifth Doctor, Tegan Jovanka
Rating: All Ages
Details: Two chapters, complete; standalone fic within the author’s Walkabout AU series, which is mostly canon-compliant. This story and its immediate predecessor is set after Resurrection of the Daleks, but this can stand alone.
Why It Rocks:
Through all her time with the Doctor, Tegan wanted nothing more than to go home. Well, mostly. Yes, she kept demanding that he take her back to Heathrow, and yes, he kept failing - but there’s no doubt that she enjoyed a lot of her time with him and at least some of the time she was ambivalent about leaving. Then came Resurrection of the Daleks and she’d had enough. Or had she? The Doctor takes her back to London - getting the date wrong again - and Tegan says goodbye and walks away... but then turns around, perhaps changing her mind, but it’s too late. The TARDIS has gone.
It’s just one of many goodbyes for the Doctor, and for some it felt unsatisfying. In Daytripping and its immediate prequel Valentine’s Day After, Lilacfree gives us an alternative farewell for Tegan: the Doctor takes her to her grandfather’s home to recover from the injury she got to her head during the first Dalek attack, and they have an opportunity for a longer, gentler, private goodbye. It’s not necessary to read Valentine’s Day After to understand this story; just know that the Doctor kept watch over Tegan for much of the night to be sure that she wasn’t concussed.
The next day, Tegan tells him that she’s not coming with him when he and Turlough - who’s off in the nearest village - leave.
“I’ve got to find a way to live with the memories. Maybe dashing off to the next thing works for you, but I felt like I was going under.” She wondered how much sense that made, but she wasn’t good with words and she didn’t want to hurt him.
It’s not a surprise to the Doctor; after all, Tegan’s been saying that she wants to leave for a long time. Tegan also shows how well she knows him - or thinks she knows him - when she adds:
“If you’re gone in the morning, I’ll understand, Doctor. I know you hate saying good-bye.”
But he isn’t gone in the morning. As Tegan leaves the house, intending to go for a long walk, she sees the Doctor standing at the crest of a hill, looking into the distance. And here Lilacfree gives us a beautiful description of the Doctor through Tegan’s eyes:
Except for the wind ruffling his hair and making his coat tails flap like disguised wings, he was perfectly still. Not of this world; just stepped through a doorway in space and time; trailing glory, hands tucked in his trouser pockets.
Although she tries to sneak past him, unsure of what she’d say to him now that they’re parting and afraid that she might say something stupid, the Doctor sees her and catches up with her. They walk together and, in the knowledge that these are probably the last couple of hours they’ll ever spend together, they talk more freely than ever in their past. In saying goodbye, they’re both able to say and even do things they would never dream - or dare - of doing if Tegan were continuing to travel with him. For instance, the Doctor has a headache and Tegan offers a scalp massage:
After a bit of maneuvering, the Doctor’s head came to rest on her thigh. She gently smoothed his hair back from his forehead and started to stroke very soft circles at his temples. His eyes closed.
And Tegan begins reflecting on the man - the alien - she has lying on her lap. How alone he is (and this is even before Gallifrey was destroyed) and how apart he seems from everyone else around him. Of course, the Fifth Doctor, while much younger in appearance than either of his immediate predecessors, is very much more formal and distant, like a throwback to an Edwardian gentleman, and this troubles Tegan:
She should do it, before he left. Just hug him, because no matter how little Time Lords might be interested in sex, a kiss from her was different than a kiss from Nyssa. Hug him, because who would care enough to and have the nerve to do it if she didn’t?
She doesn’t hug him. But they still manage to say goodbye in a very - to Tegan - unexpected way, and it’s beautifully bittersweet and gorgeously-written.
Lovely though this farewell is, it’s not the best thing about Daytripping. That’s the sharply-observed characterisation of both Tegan and the Doctor, with some clever insights into both along the way. Tegan, for example, finds it:
much easier to argue with the Doctor than be attracted to him. For one thing, she had a much better chance of winning an argument.
(She does, in fact, win an argument in this story, as even the Doctor concedes, though he doesn’t seem at all upset by it.) Tegan also reflects on her time away from Earth, a perception that probably everyone who has travelled with the Doctor would agree with:
TARDIS travel made a mockery of the rule of calendars. The perception of time was inconstant. Sometimes she had felt as if her journey had lasted decades, at least, but now that it was over it felt like time spent in a dream.
And is this observation by the Doctor a metaphor for Tegan’s approach to life?
“You’re headed in a specific direction, but not following a path. When you veer away from your heading because of obstacles, you return to the original course.”
Daytripping is a lovely, gentle story, with plenty of in-character Doctor and Tegan arguing along the way before we get to moments of comfort which are very welcome after Resurrection of the Daleks, yet we would never see on-screen. For some readers - myself included - this is a far more palatable, and kinder, farewell to Tegan than her televised departure. That, and the fact that you’ll have to find out how the Doctor’s celery gets broken, is a very good reason to read this story, if you haven’t already. Read it, and you’ll see why it deserves its nomination, and why Tegan and Five were such a great team.
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Out of Pocket by goodbye2pisces
Category:
Fandom: New Who
Characters: Donna, Doctor
Rating: R
Details: One-shot, Doctor/Donna established relationship.
Why It Rocks:
There's this moment, in all relationships of a sexual or about-to-be-sexual nature, in which the issue of protection comes up. (Or should.) This is no different when one of you is an alien.
“Donna do you have any idea what the odds of a Time Lord actually impregnating a human being even are?”
It's a reasonable question, though, and let's face it - Donna is a reasonable woman. Which is why she responds to the Doctor's logical reply with her own logical answer:
“What were the odds that you and I would meet each other twice in one lifetime?”
(Note to self: if, ever on a bed making out with a certain Time Lord, do not ask this question. Because, unfortunately, it works, and thus begins the hunt for a condom.)
The hunt for a condom ends up being more of a walk through the Doctor's history, in the form of physicality (with previous companions, that is, of which there was only one casee: but she was President at the time, so it was more like an Executive Order) and physically - in the form of his pockets.
Oh, those pockets. Before too long, the Doctor has covered the bed with the contents of his pockets, and he's not near to done. And he'll keep going, too - for the days or years that he says it might take, all in the attempt to find Donna a condom.
Which, if you think about it, is serious dedication, considering there's a shop in the lobby. Well, serious dedication, or just a distracted Time Lord.
Luckily for Donna - she's not a distracted Time Lord.
In short, vote for Out of Pocket. It's funny and sweet and will present you with more possibilities for pockets than previously thought possible. It has dimensionally transcendental pockets, a teeny tiny bit of angst, and an ending that will leave you grinning. It started out life as a drabble gone long, but it's not a long-shot to see that it very much deserves your vote.
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Smooth Transitions by hllangel
Category: Crossover
Fandom: Torchwood
Characters: Jack, Barack Obama, Various Other Random Democrats
Rating: PG
Details: One-part real-person fanfic.
Why It Rocks:
First, a disclaimer: I do not normally read RPF (real-person fanfic), at least not when the real people involved are still alive. But this one I just had to see - I mean, really. Jack in a room with Barack Obama? This was going to be too good to miss.
And I'm very glad I didn't miss it. Hllangel has given us a very honest, very funny view of what Obama might do if confronted by one Captain Jack Harkness. I mean, really - think about it. You've just been elected President. You're receiving your first actual factual PDB (Presidential Daily Briefing, when you get to learn all the sooper sekrit stuff that the FBI and CIA and NSA have been getting up to. And there, on the very last page.....
There was only one word, printed dead center on the paper.
Congratulations.
The bottom was signed "Captain Jack Harkness" in slanted, neat writing.
I mean, you'd be intrigued, wouldn't you? Not to mention somewhat taken aback, to learn it's an organization whose sole purpose is to protect you against - of all things - alien invasion. Oh, and they're British.
To someone just elected to what he thought was Leader of the Free World, that cannot be a happy surprise. And Obama is absolutely not amused.
This Captain Harkness seemed to be something else entirely. Not only had he gotten his hands on Barack's personal email address, which was only given out to his staff, but he'd used it multiple times, and was emailing Barack like he was an old friend.
This is probably what I found most refreshing about the story. It's difficult to tell if Hllangel is a Democrat or a Republican - which really is a good thing, because the portrait she gives us of Obama is neither entirely positive or entirely negative. He's busy, he's somewhat short-tempered, he's under a great deal of stress. When confronted by the far-too-familiar-for-his-liking Captain Jack Harkness, Obama's immediate reaction is to ignore him, followed quickly by to put on as much bluster and self-importance as humanly possible. And yet, Obama doesn't come off as a jerk (as he might if written by a Republican), or as a entirely kind and understanding soul (as he might if written by a Democrat). He comes off as...well, human, confronted by something he doesn't quite understand in a stressful time of his life, when he has got a zillion other things on his mind.
Now, there's no way to really know if the portrayal of Obama that we see is correct. But it's pretty much on target with what we know. (And another disclaimer: I live in the Washington, D.C., area. We've already started getting the Obama parody radio commercials. Frankly, this story does a better job.)
But there is one character who you absolutely know is right on target:
Barack watched Jack use a different sort of arsenal, taking Michelle's hand and kissing it, meeting her eyes with a sly smile and a wink before disappearing out the door.
"Who was that?" Michelle asked him. She was still staring at the door Jack had left through.
Hmm. Wonder what else Michelle did while in London last month? *grin*
In short, vote for Smooth Transitions. If you're new to RPF, I can't imagine a better way to start than this fic. If you're old to RPF, you'll have another fun little ficlet to enjoy. And if you're just into Obama-mania....well, you've already read it, and are agreeing with everything I say, and you will absolutely agree that this absolutely deserves your vote.
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The Orchid Thief by leviathan Link goes to Teaspoon
Categories: Multi-Era; Crossover
Fandom: New Who
Characters: Archie Goodwin, Delgado!Master, Jo Grant, Martha Jones, Nero Wolfe, Third Doctor, Tenth Doctor
Rating: All Ages
Details: Crossover with Nero Wolfe. 15,292 words.
Why It Rocks:
Disclaimer The reviewer has never actually read the Nero Wolfe novels. She has only seen the A&E television series with Timothy Hutton.
From the note by Archie Goodwin that begins this tale, I suspected that the story was going to be wibbly-wobbly-timey-whimey in nature. When the titular orchid first appears in Nero Wolfe's sanctuary, I guessed that the Doctor was leaving it as a thank you gift; except that the Doctor had messed up the timeline and was leaving the thank you gift *before* Wolfe had done something for the Doctor. (Given how much the Doctor's driving sucks, this is entirely within the realm of possibility.) This writer, however, has created an even *more* complicated, time-warping plot than I could have imagined.
The author has an engaging narrative style, which, importantly, helps to keep the Doctor Who fan's attention, since it is a long time before any Whoniverse characters appear--unless, of course, you count the TARDIS as a "character," since she is both seen and heard early on in this fanfic. I adore the description of the sound the TARDIS makes, from the point of view of an outsider, who's never heard her before:
“Yeah, I heard it. Siren?” I gave that some thought. “I suppose it could have been. It seemed a bit wheezy for that. I expect a siren to be able to catch its breath.”
Leviathan doesn't slack off once the Tenth Doctor and Martha arrive, and he continues to absorb the reader with his wry tone:
“Ah, yeah!” the tall man's accent was English, his voice enthusiastic, “lovely morning, really, just lovely! You're Archie Goodwin!”
“Thanks,” I told him. “I wasn't sure.”
He grinned even more broadly, looking over between me and the black girl. “See, Martha, what did I tell you? The wit, the wit, the looks-- Not so much the charm, yet, but you have to like the wit!”
Leviathan also makes the brave authorial decision to keep Archie's and Wolfe's language appropriate for their time period, even when the word choice can be uncomfortable for contemporary readers, especially in regards to Martha:
The woman was black - apparently “colored” is no longer the acceptable term . . .
or
She was a beautiful girl, and while I hadn't yet had an occasion to miscegenate, I wasn't opposed to the idea . . .
Ultimately, the Nero Wolfe series make for an excellent crossover with and parallel to Doctor Who. After all, they are stories about an arrogant, occasionally obnoxious, one-of-a-kind genius and his dogged, faithful companion.
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Today's Reviews were written by:
wendymr: Absit Omen; Daytripping
ladychi: Ducks in a Row
azriona: Out of Pocket; Smooth Transitions
gwynevere1: The Orchid Thief