A Bargain at Any Price
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | A Bargain at Any Price |
| Author(s): | Rosemary C |
| Date(s): | 1989 |
| Length: | 8,891 words |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | Starsky & Hutch |
| External Links: | A Bargain at Any Price |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
A Bargain at Any Price is an explicit Starsky/Hutch story by Rosemary C..
It has a sequel called Balance Due.
The stories were originally published in The Fix #7 and #8, respectively, and were later posted online.
Reactions and Reviews
1997
Miscommunication - Probably top of my kink list! They both love each other, but they each don't think the other is as interested/interested in the same way as the other. Someone's trying to 'protect' someone else and if they just sat down and talked about it, they'd save a lot of pain--but it wouldn't be near as much fun for me! Best example of this: "A Fine Storm" by Suzan Lovett (CODE 7 4; S/H). *sigh* It makes me so happy. Also in S/H, "A Bargain at Any Price" by [Rosemary C]. [1]
I totally loved... "A Bargain at Any Price". The whole thing is wrapped around the idea that Hutch has come to Starsky after Gillian's death and wants to know what it feels like to make love with someone he *knows* loves him and asks Starsky to do the deed. He's more than a little drunk and has no idea that Starsky is really in love with him. Starsky is incredibly torn and against his better judgement, he caves. The 'morning after' scene is a really great pinger for my 'miscommunication' kink. [2]
2003
...the first "best" sex scene that comes to mind is Rosemary's "A Bargain At Any Price" and "Balance Due". There's something about Ro's writing that just flows so smoothly and so effortlessly...including and "especially" the sex scenes, which never leave me with that clinical feeling that some sex scenes do. [3]
2004
Why this must be read: Because Rosemary wrote it. It should be as simple as that. If you need a further explanation, it is a wonderful hurt/comfort piece set right after the episode, "Gillian" where Hutch comes to Starsky hurting, desperately wanting love. He seeks out that loving with Starsky. They have just one night together. However, both want more, but the next morning are unwilling to admit that. The story then moves from hurt/comfort to angsty and it ends there.
But, don't fear, Rosemary doesn't leave the reader hanging, there is a sequel. The sequel to me is better then the first story, but that's because I like a Jealous!Starsky. The story, Balance Due is set years later, Hutch and Starsky have never mentioned that night again and they are still friends. However, Huggy shows up to Starsky's place one night with some risque photos -- Huggy thinks it's Hutch and Starsky in the photos, making love on the beach in front of Hutch's Venice Place apartment -- but what Huggy doesn't realize is the man in the photo with Hutch isn't Starsky! No, it's just someone who looks like him.
The next scene is Starsky waiting for Hutch to come home from a date, seething with jealously and rage that Hutch let another man touch him, when all these years Starsky has been longing for another night with his blond. The confrontation scene is hot, hot, hot and all gets worked out in the end. What else can you ask for?
Both stories are truly a satisfying read, created by an author whose talents have graced many other fandoms such as: Star Trek, Professionals, Man From Uncle, Harry Potter, and Due South. [4]
2012
The basic premise [of the two stories]: Starsky, who is secretly in love with Hutch, and has sex with Hutch one night. In the sequel some years later, things finally get resolved. Rosemary writes some of the best relationship angst - heartbreaking enough to really tug at your emotions but not so overwhelming that you lose the satisfaction and credibility of a fluffy happy ending. Bargain at Any Price and Balance Due are classic pining stories, gorgeous and deft in their execution. Told from Starsky's point of view, the stories do a marvelous job of demonstrating his longing but simultaneously leave you in little doubt that Hutch is in much the same position. Starsky does go through some mental rationalizations that make you want to smack him (and Hutch) upside the head but while it's clear to the reader what's going on, Starsky's obliviousness is not unbelievable either. Rosemary walks a fine balance in that regard but pulls it off with graceful ease. Angsty, sweet, and plenty schmoopy at the end. A favorite of mine in the pining genre." [5]
References
- ^ December 6, 1997, Michelle Christian at Virgule-L, quoted with permission
- ^ December 26, 1997, Michelle Christian at Virgule-L, quoted with permission
- ^ quoted anonymously from The Pits Mailing List (July 7, 2003)
- ^ a 2004 comment at Crack Van
- ^ from Epic Recs, posted August 27, 2009, accessed March 21, 2012