Being Human: Like It Never Was [Rook & Hal]

[istne_pieklo]

Title: “Like It Never Was”
Author: Shaitanah
Rating: PG-13 [for mentions of attempted suicide and suicidal thoughts]
Timeline: post-Episode 5x03, “Pie and Prejudice”
Summary: A day after the first phone call, Hal calls Rook again.
Disclaimer: Being Human belongs to Toby Whithouse and the BBC.
A/N: This started out as a potential phone sex fic,

Comments

[shirogiku]

You've really got Rook down to an R <333

I've thoroughly enjoyed their angst & philosophy and the character study.

The pre-slash tidbits were gorgeous too *__* No one can resist Hal's voice!

[istne_pieklo]

Rook is kinda of like Eve: you play 'em, I steal 'em. XDDDD
Oooh, Hal's voooice! So much better than that sex line. XDDD
I'm super-happy you liked it! (Your turn. XDDDD)))

[non_canonical]

Aargh! I've been waiting since yesterday to find 5 free minutes, and now I've finally had a chance to read this! XD Well worth the wait.

So many lovely character moments, and perfect dialogue. <3 And somehow hotter than phone sex. You are the queen of UST. XD

I am so sorry that my comments are short lately. (Am on my mobile, so copying-pasting is a nightmare.) They honestly don't reflect how much I'm enjoying these stories. Rook is definitely the new star/muse of series 5.

Moar please?

[istne_pieklo]

Thank you, darling! <333 (I didn't know it was possible to copy-paste on the phone, see how advanced I am. XDDD But I appreciate your comments anyway, they brighten up my day.)
I really should joke less b/c all my latest fics start as cracky ideas. Shiro and I were discussing Rook's scenes in 5x03, and I said smth like: Do you think he actually did anything when talking to that woman on the sex line? XD She said she didn't think so, and I said: That's b/c he wasn't talking to Haaaal. XD Next thing I know... this! XD
I'm a little swamped right now but we'll see what plot bunnies the remaining eps will bring. For now, I feel like doing yet another semi-meta/semi-rambling post about his e-mails. XD

[istne_pieklo]

No one can deny they are charming though. ;)))
Tbh I resisted the temptation to have Rook retort: Did you hear yourself? Talk about off. XD
Parallel OCD should be the name for this pairing! XD
Sometimes, I get the impression Hal feels like he doesn't exist unless other people are acknowledging him and all his issues. Moreover, Rook doesn't exist outside of his own issues either! See how he keeps telling everybody about his job. XDDD In the absence of Cutler, these two are totally MFEO.
at least from what we've seen so far I want to see moooore but I'm afraid. I don't trust this series anymore. T_T
Stop it with those delicious parallels. I caaaan't! I ship it like burning. XD
If it gives him a hard-on. It gives both of them hard-ons. XD I mean, that scene in 5x01... *swoons*
I'm glad you've enjoyed this. <333 Thank you so much! I hope I can write proper slash for them eventually, so here's hoping the rest of the series doesn't screw Rook up. >_

[dune_master]

Perhaps this is the answer to his impending financial troubles. He should just charge Hal for every mess he helps to clean up.
Rook reveals an unexpected business mindset. I approve!

Sweeping big, scary secrets under the rug instead of trying to stop all those evil things from happening. How does that benefit humanity exactly?
That's what I'd like to know.

Lovely little details like Hal dropping the phone, Rook equating the sound of his breathing to the sound of the clock ticking, Tom's voice, Rook's pose. ^_^ All the lovely puzzle pieces to create a complex picture. I love it that it's strictly from Rook's POV too, so we can only perceive Hal through him. And their mind games ftw!

His heart beats so loudly that he wonders if Hal can hear it. If it gives Hal ideas. If it turns his eyes black.
Uh-huh. XPP

His chest feels tight and his skin uncomfortably hot as if he’d drunk too much hot tea too fast. His work was never personal. He never displayed any specific interest in his so-called tenants. But Hal, Hal is something different

[istne_pieklo]

That's what I'd like to know. Me too actually. XDDDD
LOL, business!Rook. XD
Hal dropping the phone is imho the highlight of this weirdness. I just felt like the tension had to be diffused but of course it wasn't b/c Dommy was imagining weirdness and experiencing feels. XD Physical feels. ;))))
someone is in over his head Oooh yessss! XD
Thank you for reading, luv! <333

[zoicite]

Oh, Hal. I love that you called Rook apparently just to chat, yet still accused him of being the one playing games.

No, but seriously, Hal and especially Rook are both perfect here.

This is why Rook abhors Type 2s. Always with the split personalities. A part of me did this, a part of me wants that. They have no integrity. Rook doesn’t like admitting it, but they have a lot in common. He uses the greater good as a crutch, much in the same way as Hal uses the monster within him.

I love this, and Hal's Leo reference, and Hal's response when Rook asks why he didn't kill himself. I love the parallels between them, and the implied attraction. And it ends just right.

[istne_pieklo]

Oh God, I suck for not replying so long! I'm so sorry! RL has been crazy and then LJ was crazy. >_<
I can safely say that I think 5x03 was the most godawful ep of the entire series, but I enjoyed the tiny Rook bits and hey, it gave me plot bunnies. XD
Thank you so much for reading! <333