Hi, I see you made it *(-: I've friended you, hope you don't mind, but we seem to have many similar interests. (oh, by the by, you should post a link to your Sam-in-jacket drawing, its lovely and I'm sure the community would like it).
I agree with your interpretation of a potential gay Gene, it's pretty well the same one I base my own viewpoint for Gene when I write him. Gene is very determined outwardly, but I think as far as his own sexuality is concerned he might feel a bit vulnerable, and Sam Tyler could give lessons on vulnerable.
Anyhow, welcome, and I hope you do write that story!
Oh shiny, I get to use my new icon! :D Although on second thought, for a friending icon it's a bit darkish and sad, isn't it. Lol. Anyway, no, I don't mind being friended. I hope you don't mind being friended back :).
Thanks for the comment on my drawing! I might post it at the comm, but not right now - don't want to flood the comm with entries on my first day, lol ;). Glad you like it, though!
I needed to figure out a way Gene could be gay, even if it was only gay for Sam, because I find it hard to write slash fanfic without having a solid characterisation that justifies the gay tendencies of characters that are on the show displayed as being straight. Sam's not really a problem there ;) - but Gene was, until I thought about it for a while.
I'll probably write that story, or I will at least start it. I have a habit of leaving fic unfinished ;). But I hope I'll be able to finish this one.
Looks like he's asking his car (-: That's a very Gene thing to do...
I generally work my way through the situation logically when I first start to write, then once I'm in a comfortable spot, I hit the fic. I wrote one story called "The New Year and its Resolution" where I did a sort of background history to Gene, to explain to myself who he was and how to got to be where he was in the story. It worked well for me.
I generally work my way through the situation logically Yup, I do the same thing. It keeps me from writing OOC and getting stuck because I realize somewhere in the middle that my fic makes no sense, lol.
Actually, that is pretty much the premise of my whole "Undercover" series. The next 'chapter', "Appearances" (still being written) deals with this issue more directly than previous chapters have, particularly Gene's reaction to the modern 'gay rights' movement which Sam, of course, supports and Gene thinks is short of insane
( ... )
Oh, you've done some research too, eh? Cool. I generally don't read WIPs (it's just a habit of mine), but I'll be looking forward to reading your fic once you're done :).
Your second paragraph, that's real life canon, right? Not your fic fanon? Because that would be good to know if I'm actually going to write that fic I was talking about.
I will have to check out that fic, Signals. I don't want to rewrite something that's already been written in this fandom :).
No problem! It wasn't originally designed as a WIP, but it turned out that way, although this chapter is certainly going to be the last (it's an exhausting series).
Yes, the second paragraph is real life 1970s Manchester, based on research and contacts I have in the queer community there. I also grew up in the queer community in the 70s and 80s so some of my 'research' for my fic is just based on people I knew. LOL!
Oh, shiny, you actually know people in Manchester! Lol. That's always the best way to do research. Sadly, I don't know anyone up there, all my UK contacts gather in the south for some reason ;).
Gene cannot be gay because he must be with Alex. :( My little heart desires it. But being in the closet would explain why he hasn't done anything even though he's had 9 zillion chances.
I don't know if you've seen Ashes to Ashes yet. If not, disregard this comment.
P.S. Life on Mars DVDs will soon be owned by me. I must have John Simm at my fingertips (mmmm) so I can easily share him and an amazing show.
Gene cannot be gay because he must be with Alex. :(
Not mutually exclusive at all.
If these shows are all in Sam's and Alex's heads, as the writers have previously claimed, the LoM!Gene and Ashes!Gene are two different characters. LoM!Gene would represent some aspect of Sam's psyche and Ashes!Gene of Alex's. Or who knows, Gene might go both ways.
Alternately, fic in general, and slash especially, are all about finding believable different interpretations of subtext than the canon one. Slash!Gene and Het!Gene can both exist perfectly well in fic.
My feeling is that, if Gene is queer, his outward homophobia make him not all that worthy of sexual pleasure. I mean, if a married closeted coworker made a pass at me, I'd be pissed, as would most out queers. The hypocrisy would piss Sam off, and Gene making a pass is assuming that Sam is cool with adding even more skeletons to that closet. (pun not intended.)
Sam's not out, of course, but I find the idea of him being in the closet harder to buy and from Gene. It's one thing to simply not be out, and another to have an asshole persona for cover-up.
Stuff to chew on, but Sam isn't the king of healthy relationships so there's some leway in any pairing :)
As I said, my first thought about the Gene/Sam pairing was 'no way, Gene can't be gay'. But then I read about gay society in 1973, and consider this: Gene's what, say, 43 in 1973. That means he was born in 1930. He might have discovered the truth about his sexuality in 1950. That means he's been gay for 23 years in 1973. Homosexuality wasn't even legalized until '67. Gene's a cop - and even today, homophobia is a popular past time on the police force. So outing himself would be the death of Gene, not only for his career, but it might actually get him killed. I don't think Sam would be pissed off as much as feel sorry for Gene if he found out.
I don't think that Sam was necessarily in the closet in 2006. But I do think that he has sense enough not to out himself in 1973 on top of being the weird guy who hears voices and talks to TVs. And since he's apparently bi, he doesn't have to out himself to have the chance to be in a happy relationship.
I mean Sam would be pissed at Gene about the pass itself, not for being gay but because Gene would basically be coercing Sam into a less healthy situation when Sam has the option of being with a woman openly.
Well, I wouldn't have Gene making a pass at Sam. That would be rather impossible in 1973, a gay man making a pass at a co-worker without knowing with 100% certainty and a written statement that the other person is gay, too.
It'd be more that Sam would find out by coincidence (he for example observes Gene visiting a gay bar or something), and would then confront Gene about it. Maybe he would actually try to play the holier-than-thou moral guide at first, but Gene would pretty quickly open his eyes about how the 1973 world looks from a gay perspective. And then Sam would be the one initiating a relationship, wanting to prove to Gene that what he's doing isn't wrong or a dirty secret.
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I agree with your interpretation of a potential gay Gene, it's pretty well the same one I base my own viewpoint for Gene when I write him. Gene is very determined outwardly, but I think as far as his own sexuality is concerned he might feel a bit vulnerable, and Sam Tyler could give lessons on vulnerable.
Anyhow, welcome, and I hope you do write that story!
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Thanks for the comment on my drawing! I might post it at the comm, but not right now - don't want to flood the comm with entries on my first day, lol ;). Glad you like it, though!
I needed to figure out a way Gene could be gay, even if it was only gay for Sam, because I find it hard to write slash fanfic without having a solid characterisation that justifies the gay tendencies of characters that are on the show displayed as being straight. Sam's not really a problem there ;) - but Gene was, until I thought about it for a while.
I'll probably write that story, or I will at least start it. I have a habit of leaving fic unfinished ;). But I hope I'll be able to finish this one.
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I generally work my way through the situation logically when I first start to write, then once I'm in a comfortable spot, I hit the fic. I wrote one story called "The New Year and its Resolution" where I did a sort of background history to Gene, to explain to myself who he was and how to got to be where he was in the story. It worked well for me.
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Yup, I do the same thing. It keeps me from writing OOC and getting stuck because I realize somewhere in the middle that my fic makes no sense, lol.
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Never mind me, I'm just trying to keep track. :-)
Oh, and your justification sounds good to me. Admitedly I only watched... how many eps? 4 or so, but still, it sounds like it could fit Gene.
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Hee, glad to hear it :). It sounded logical to me last night. I'll have to reread the entry to see if that's still so, lol ;).
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Your second paragraph, that's real life canon, right? Not your fic fanon? Because that would be good to know if I'm actually going to write that fic I was talking about.
I will have to check out that fic, Signals. I don't want to rewrite something that's already been written in this fandom :).
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Yes, the second paragraph is real life 1970s Manchester, based on research and contacts I have in the queer community there. I also grew up in the queer community in the 70s and 80s so some of my 'research' for my fic is just based on people I knew. LOL!
I don't think Signals crosses with your idea at all:
Signals, part 1
Signals, part 2
Enjoy!
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Thanks for the links! I'm sure I'll enjoy it :).
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I don't know if you've seen Ashes to Ashes yet. If not, disregard this comment.
P.S. Life on Mars DVDs will soon be owned by me. I must have John Simm at my fingertips (mmmm) so I can easily share him and an amazing show.
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I have both series on DVD. This is so weird. I never buy boxsets, usually. Lol xD.
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Not mutually exclusive at all.
If these shows are all in Sam's and Alex's heads, as the writers have previously claimed, the LoM!Gene and Ashes!Gene are two different characters. LoM!Gene would represent some aspect of Sam's psyche and Ashes!Gene of Alex's. Or who knows, Gene might go both ways.
Alternately, fic in general, and slash especially, are all about finding believable different interpretations of subtext than the canon one. Slash!Gene and Het!Gene can both exist perfectly well in fic.
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Sam's not out, of course, but I find the idea of him being in the closet harder to buy and from Gene. It's one thing to simply not be out, and another to have an asshole persona for cover-up.
Stuff to chew on, but Sam isn't the king of healthy relationships so there's some leway in any pairing :)
Reply
As I said, my first thought about the Gene/Sam pairing was 'no way, Gene can't be gay'. But then I read about gay society in 1973, and consider this: Gene's what, say, 43 in 1973. That means he was born in 1930. He might have discovered the truth about his sexuality in 1950. That means he's been gay for 23 years in 1973. Homosexuality wasn't even legalized until '67. Gene's a cop - and even today, homophobia is a popular past time on the police force. So outing himself would be the death of Gene, not only for his career, but it might actually get him killed. I don't think Sam would be pissed off as much as feel sorry for Gene if he found out.
I don't think that Sam was necessarily in the closet in 2006. But I do think that he has sense enough not to out himself in 1973 on top of being the weird guy who hears voices and talks to TVs. And since he's apparently bi, he doesn't have to out himself to have the chance to be in a happy relationship.
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It'd be more that Sam would find out by coincidence (he for example observes Gene visiting a gay bar or something), and would then confront Gene about it. Maybe he would actually try to play the holier-than-thou moral guide at first, but Gene would pretty quickly open his eyes about how the 1973 world looks from a gay perspective. And then Sam would be the one initiating a relationship, wanting to prove to Gene that what he's doing isn't wrong or a dirty secret.
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