M*A*S*H: Losing Streak

[skew_whiff]

Title: Losing Streak
Author: skew_whiff
Fandom: M*A*S*H
Pairing/characters: George Weston; a little speculative Hawkeye/Trapper
Rating: PG for medical goriness
Disclaimer: Not my property, not for profit.
Prompt: M*A*S*H (TV'verse), Private George Weston, the idea of going back to his unit, knowing that they know, is terrifying. The idea of not going back is

Comments

[dinahqueen]

This is really quite amazing. I'm not usually a fan of first person narrative, but this was spot on. Well-written and well described, and perfect tone of voice for all of the characters. Thank you so much for sharing.

[skew_whiff]

Thank you very much! I prefer third person to first person too, if I can help it, but I often find in stories where there's a lot of introspection and not much action that it becomes easier to write in first. It's whatever goes with the tone, I suppose, and I'm really happy you enjoyed this story.

[dinahqueen]

You're welcome. I agree with what you said though, but I suck at first person narrative! Either way, fantastic piece, a very great read.

[skew_whiff]

Wow, that's a quick reply! Now I feel bad for taking three days to get round to this. While we're here, can I just compliment you on your username? I adore Black Canary (and Ollie, the loudmouthed fool. Oh, now I'm thinking, him and Hawkeye would get on horribly well... *makes note*).

[kellychambliss]

I love the voice and backstory you've given to Weston, and the "speculative Hawkeye/Trapper" makes a lot of sense. The love they share, independent of any possible sex -- it's there in canon, and you make it real here. Love that poignant moment of Hawkeye watching the pick-up game.

Also, you're so right about Hawkeye's campiness; much more than Klinger, really. Great job on creating the terse, matter-of-fact compassion of the hospital, too.

[skew_whiff]

George was a surprisingly tricky bugger to write, so I'm glad you liked my interpretation. And as for Hawk and Trap, well, whatever was intended (and I imagine it was almost certainly platonic), the fact that those guys love each other is canon, and I can only think that anyone with even a hint of gaydar capabilities might wonder at just how close they are. Goodness only knows if there was a TV hero like Hawkeye created today he wouldn't get away with behaving the way he does without characters speculating - which is kind of a shame, actually, as I love that Hawkeye is completely at ease with his feminine side and theatrical tendencies and nobody else thinks he's any less of a man for it, either.

[rubygirl29]

Very nice! I love the ending and crusty old Hawkeye. Of course, he wouldn't forget. Alan Alda always played the part with the nonchalance you've captured so well, and yet you also included his deep compassion, which is what made the show worth watching for 11 years.

Now, if they could just jettison DADT ...

[skew_whiff]

Well, Hawkeye's a sentimental old fool, and I like to think he'd remember a lot of his patients. He's a great character to write - all kinds of messy contradictions, and I love his smartassery and clever turns of phrase.

And don't even get me started on DADT and how it's a shame this story couldn't have as happy an ending as I would've liked... oh well. I'm with Hawkeye, things will change eventually.

[chicafrom3]

Wonderful! I love the backstory you've created for George and how much you've fleshed him out, and your Hawkeye voice is right on.

What kind of a place is this? I make one cocksucking joke and my entire company hates me, but here there's guardsmen in frocks and doctors flirting with one another and nobody cares.

I love this line. <3

Fantastic job!

[skew_whiff]

Thanks! I found this prompt harder than I was expecting - on rewatching I realised George wasn't so much a character as a plot device, and a heck of a lot had to be made up on the fly. I'm glad people like my interpretation of what his background might've been like. And Hawkeye's always a joy to write, as is the rather surreal atmosphere of the 4077th. Glad you liked it.

[the_summoning_d]

I utterly love this. Your character voices are spot on, and I'm a sucker for seeing the 4077th from an outsider POV...from anything resembling a normal military viewpoint it could only seem utterly insane. You've got Hawkeye down particularly well (I believe his strategy is refuge in audacity: being so utterly and unashamedly camp as to cause gaydar overload and shutdown)

[skew_whiff]

If anything, I'm amazed most of the 'outsider' characters take to the 4077th as well as they usually do, though now I think about it, that's usually because they're crazy as well. It's when you try and fit a camp running on sitcom logic within the reality of the war and the 50s in general that its weirdness really gets you.

As for Hawkeye, I'm inclined to agree that his behaviour's a case of hiding in plain sight. I've never got used it yet but I've always wanted to have a bit in a story where someone like Frank speculates on Hawkeye's sexuality and concludes that somebody who was really homosexual wouldn't be so obvious about it; not realising that it's Hawkeye, who's incapable of subtlety.

But anyway. Enough rambling. I'm glad you liked it.