ealgylden | Federal agents need sex too!

carolinecrane has posted her first Without a Trace fic (with a CSI cameo, which is nice), Circumspect, and of course it's good, full of pretty guys with bad communication skills and longing in their hearts (and other places). But it got me thinking. I rarely check ratings (they're much less important to me than pairings), so it didn't really hit me that this story is NC-17. So I was reading along, la la la, when hey... sex scene! It was a surprise, and it was also a surprise that it was a surprise (if that makes sense). The overall paucity of WaT fic of any sort had completely distracted me from the fact that this is one of the most PG fandoms I've ever been involved in. It's very... chaste.

I think that I do partially understand why it's such a small fandom, slash-or-any-otherwise, despite being a relatively popular show. Like the thirty-six flavors of Law & Order, and like CSI (the somewhat soapy Season Three notwithstanding), WaT is a plot-driven drama without mountains of character folderol. The character moments are there, yes, but they normally aren't allowed to drown out the main action of the episode (unlike on ER, NYPD Blue, etc.). Also, there tend not to be huge plot holes that cry out to be plugged by fic- while there are places where a "missing scene" story would be effective (I'm a sucker for "missing scene" fic, I admit), it isn't usually a case of "the canonical characterization/acting/dialogue/whatever makes no sense to me without this fic," as sometimes happens in other fandoms.

It doesn’t help that it's a contemporary cop show, not a scifi/fantasy show, which means no playing in a rich universe of Slayers, kryptomutants, elves and kings, angels and demons, golden-hearted space pirates, or any variation of folks with swords. It lacks the constant character intensity of family dramas like Everwood and the snappy workplace banter of the Sorkinverse. It's just people doing a tough job without grandstanding (much. Jack's a bit of a showpony), and while that's eminently watchable, it's not necessarily fic-inspiring. And in terms of "notice this!" character moments, it's tapas rather than a steak and potatoes.

And maybe all that's part of the reason for the PG-ness of the fandom. Since there are so few writers playing with these characters, there isn't the breadth of choice you see in bigger fandoms. So partially it's coincidental- the majority of the authors who've been drawn to the show tend not to write Strong R/ NC-17 fic in general. But I think it's partially a factor of the show itself. There really aren't mountains of subtext to play with. Sure, I see it, and so do some of you guys, but it's not an easy sell like, say, The Sentinel or Highlander. Martin and Danny will flirt madly in one episode and then barely have a scene together for the next three. And while one can posit (as this one is happy to do) that Danny's hair is so ruffled because he and Martin spent their lunch break somewhere other than the local deli, the casual touches, ambiguous lines and wandering eyes that provide the meat of so many slash fandoms are in short supply. Martin and Danny have a vibe (mileage varies, as ever), but it's a subtle one.

There's also the Eric Close factor, and that's definitely a YMMV situation. I think he's lovely. I have ever since I saw him in one of the original Hercules TV movies years ago (before Herc headed off on his Legendary Journeys). But I tend to agree with

declineandfall in that he doesn't necessarily have an overtly sexual presence on-screen. His acting as Martin is understated, intelligent and effective, but it doesn't exactly scream "must have sex!". Not to me, anyway. I'd need to rumple him up a bit before I dragged him off to my lair.

Enrique Murciano, on the other hand, gives Danny a pretty obvious sex-drive; there's an undercurrent of sensuality throughout much of his performance, and Danny flirts with every woman, man and lamppost that crosses his path. Martin is a bit passive, flirtation-wise, and I find it tougher to imagine him making the first move than Danny. He needs to be seduced (and suddenly I have Danny-as-Clark-Gable in my brain telling Martin, "You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how." Note to self- get more sleep). And while I can see Martin responding very positively to a good seduction [points to Caroline's fic again- like that!], I understand that the pretty-but-passive element of Close's portrayal (and Close himself, even) is a sticking point for some. A friend of mine called Martin a Ken doll, glossy but not anatomically correct. I'm sure she's not the only person who sees him that way, either.

Still, I'm starting to feel bad for the boys. They're young! They're healthy! They need sex! And all they get are sweet, romantic kisses before the screen fades to black. There's a definite shortage of smut** in this wee little corner of fandom (thank the volcano gods for Caroline). Hopefully next season will slurp in more writers with a wider variety of styles, and we’ll get to read everything from chaste cuddles to rimming and more (hi again, Mom!), and there will big, complex, plot-driven epics alongside the fluffy, slice-of-life vignettes. Fingers crossed.

** To which statement the traditional response would be, "So why don't you write it, if you want to see it so badly?" Except that the last time I wrote fiction I was in junior high, and those muscles have pretty well atrophied. Ah well.

Anyway, tonight we get Nick vs. bats on CSI (I thought the case was ooky but Nicky was very cute), followed by "Kam Li," one of my least favorite episodes of WaT. It's not bad, just uninspired (though an uninspired WaT is still better than most of what's out there). No real Danny/Martin goodness that I remember, but we do get some background/character development on Martin, so all is not lost. Plus, Winston Zeddemore and Holland Manners are in it.

And now I'd better eat something before I pass out. How did it get to be so late already? The day has just vanished.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Your reasoning, of course, is spot-on, as we have had this conversation before. And funnily enough, all the things you point to as reasons why people aren't writing in this fandom are the reasons that I am. I purposely avoided this show for the entire first season because I knew that I would slash it as soon as I watched it. Much like Enterprise, which I stopped slashing when the show became unwatchable, and CSI, which I avoided until finally Nick and Greg wouldn't let me ignore them anymore.

I love shows that don't beat you over the head with the characters' personal lives, because that leaves so much more room for fanon interpretation. Why doesn't Danny drink? What was life in foster care like? Does Martin's father know he's in the closet? What finally made him run from the family seat to seek out his freedom? There are endless questions to be answered, via fic, and that's what attracts me to this fandom.

Still, I'm starting to feel bad for the boys. They're young! They're healthy! They need sex!

Oh, don't worry. They'll be getting it now. I can certainly write a lovely, romantic PG13 fade-to-black, but I tend to delve into the deep end of the rating pool with both guns blazing. The main reason is because I don't like writing dialogue very much (partly because men don't communicate with words that well), but there's also the fact that sex can be just as much about plot/character/relationship development as a good, long conversation, as long as you know what you're doing.

There's also the Eric Close factor

Eric doesn't exude the same sexuality as Enrique, no. One could argue about Latinos and passion, but I won't generalize. The fact is that the way Eric plays Martin -- repressed, painfully intelligent, out to prove himself -- lends itself very well to my designs on him as an angsty, extremely closeted gay man. I can easily see Danny swinging both ways, but Martin? With him, women are all for show, and that has a lot to do with his father. I'm excited for tonight's episode mainly because I'll finally get to see Martin's father and watch them interact.

I could go on and on, but I won't. You've brought up some really interesting points, as usual, though. I just hope there's room in the WaT community for some good, solid smut fic. Thanks for the plug, I appreciate it.

Yeah, I've been talking this over a lot recently with you and a couple of others, so I thought it might be a good time to organize my thoughts a bit.

And funnily enough, all the things you point to as reasons why people aren't writing in this fandom are the reasons that I am.

Same here, actually. But then I, like you it seems, have a weakness for rare fandoms (cops and detectives in particular, in my case). Not that there's anything wrong with the standard "genre show with blatant subtext" fandom- lord knows I've been involved in enough of those. But I like subtle hints. I like having to look for my subtext. I like being rewarded for paying attention. I do like the barely-sub subtext of Wesley/Angel, Duncan/Methos, Jim/Blair and whoever, but not as a steady diet. There's not enough challenge to it after a while. Besides, I really love the characters in some of my rarer fandoms, which more than makes up for the lack of all those obvious details handed to the fans on a silver platter.

there's also the fact that sex can be just as much about plot/character/relationship development as a good, long conversation, as long as you know what you're doing.

Yes, yes, yes. I love soft-focus romances, don't get me wrong, but it sometimes seems that sex scenes, both as sex (hey, it's a good thing) and as a means of communication, get short shrift in some of fannish circles, and I've never been sure why. I guess I can understand it if a writer doesn't think that s/he will be able to write a sex scene convincingly- there are a lot of elements of comfort, familiarity, creativity, whatever that come into play. But it always seems a bit odd to me when two characters (two men, no less) who are ostensibly in love just talk for page after page, story after story, about all the passion and love they have for each other, and never touch. Why should all communication and emotion be verbally expressed? Why overlook what the characters can say with their bodies, with contact and connection? (And even odder are the folks who say, "A and B talk and hold hands and make coweyes at each other, but never sleep together, because their love is so pure and important." What the hell?!)

The fact is that the way Eric plays Martin -- repressed, painfully intelligent, out to prove himself -- lends itself very well to my designs on him as an angsty, extremely closeted gay man.

Again, we're sharing a brain on this. I don't think that Eric is quite as... sparky as Enrique, but I also think that's a perfect character choice for Martin. His choice of career and what little we know of his family, his quiet personality and his rather distant, formal flirting tactics (he normally bickers with Sam, unless it's "ask her out again" day, when he retreats behind a shy smile and a cup of coffee), all work so well for the theory he's so far in the closet he's in Narnia. To me, he really only seems comfortable around Viv, the comfortable, non-sexual friend, and Danny (once they stopped the young buck headbutting, which happened really quickly). He can be himself with them, not what other people want or expect him to be. Which, of course, is perfect for 'shipping purposes, mwa ha ha. Plus he's just the sort of filled-with-hidden-pain, scared-to-break-free (usually closeted) character I always fall for (see also Boromir, Simon Tam, Malcolm Reed, etc etc etc). Poorly concealed angst always gets me.

Can you tell Danny and Martin were my favorite new pairing of the past season? :)

Of course there's nothing wrong with the blatantly slashy (and someday I am actually going to catch some of the Methos episodes of Highlander so I can see the slash for myself), but when you have to work for it it's more rewarding to get it right, you know? Also, rarer fandoms appeal to me because there's not as much nonsense surrounding the fannish experience. Mostly it's just people looking for decent fic, and that's what I'm all about.

I love Martin's repression so much, I think that's the reason I've gone so crazy for this fandom in the past week. Of course I have you to thank for that; you recced all those fics, which I never would have sought out on my own. Once I started reading that was it. So thanks for the new fandom! It's actually one I'm grateful for instead of being dragged into kicking and screaming by the characters.

I just hope there's room in the WaT community for some good, solid smut fic.

Oh my, indeed! *fanning self vigorously*

Nice. Very nice. And very hot. Thanks!!

And there's definitely room for good, solid smut fic. It's my favorite kind. :-)

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. There should always be room for smut, shouldn't there?

Most definitely! Smut reminds us we're alive. :-)

Federal agents need sex too!

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Oh, my!

Re: Oh, my!

Re: Oh, my!