needs must
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| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | needs must |
| Author(s): | thatotherperv |
| Date(s): | Published: 2012-02-01, Completed: 2012-09-04 |
| Length: | 98695 |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | Suits |
| Relationship(s): | |
| External Links: | AO3 link |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
needs must is a Harvey/Mike BDSM AU by thatotherperv that, as of February 2, 2015, is the most kudos'ed and most viewed story in the Suits tag on AO3 (with 4336 Kudos and 158248 Hits).
Summary
When Grammy needs an upgrade in care, Mike knows that the usual one-off gig as a paid submissive won't be enough. He takes a job he's been refusing for a while - a long-term, full-time contract.
He expects his client to be a sadistic asshole. He expects not to like it. He's wrong on both counts.[1]
Before getting an actual summary, the fic was labelled "the one where Mike is a paid sub" with temporary summary of "this is, at heart, schmoopy hookerfic".
Author's Notes
The author asked that this fic be removed from Goodreads, saying "I am NOT comfortable with my work being on that site. please be courteous and do not add it or any of my other work back. Thanks!"
Regarding the choices characters made that put them in the situations the fic created:
I meant to only make Mike's life AU, but the idea of Louis as a pimp amused me too much and then stuff happened from there. I don't think Harvey would actually hire a hooker except...Reasons. Eventually.
Actually, I don't believe Mike would *be* a hooker either, but I have no excuses for that one. viva la deus ex machina.
The author continues to answer questions about the fic through their Tumblr ask box.[2]
Fanworks Inspired by the Fic
- Goodboy by sevenswells (see infobox)
- The compromise by pleasebekidding, a Damon/Alaric AU
- Carry On by TamrynEradani, a Dean/Castiel AU
Podfic
In 2013 dodificus recorded a podfic of needs must, which was compiled into an audiobook by cybel. The recording is over 11 hours long.
I love this story and I loved being able to record it. Everything I felt when reading it for the first time was amplified by the recording process, the anxiousness of certain chapters, the delights of others. I hope that comes through when you listen[3]
Fan Reactions and Reviews
While writing this up, I realized the story has never been recced here, and I have to say that thatotherperv builds a strong and complex relationship while not pulling back at all on kink. What I love about the podfic is that dodificus does a terrific job of voicing the highs and the lows, or as she says, "the anxiousness of certain chapters, the delights of others."
Mike takes a more serious and time intensive contract than he's ever taken before as a paid submissive. It amounts to basically living with Harvey, though he does have set times off for himself and to visit his grandmother. It's a bit of a pressure cooker situation, with both Mike and Harvey being influenced by unfortunate incidents in their past, but both of them being as understanding of one another as they're able. Things get more complicated when Mike takes on the dual role of Harvey's submissive some of the time and his paralegal at others.[4]
The fic is gorgeous and deals beautifully with kink negotiation and consent within the scope of the growing relationship between Mike and Harvey.[5]
As the author herself notes, all roads lead to canon even if the in this case the road is a little longer. These incarnations of Mike and Harvey definitely have a lot more issues to overcome than we are used to, starting with the fact that Mike is a prostitute that is not really sure about this whole submissive thing and Harvey as the client who, at first, doesn’t really care about that. Which is where the only real problem I had with this story comes in. There was a little too much humiliation in play between the two of them and I like these kinds of interactions to be a little more loving. Otherwise this is a well written and well plotted fic that will check many of your kink boxes.[6]
This fic is fabulously written and shows a really realistic and thoughtful D/s relationship. I loved the emotional development between Harvey and Mike and the sex is unbelievably hot. Everything I love about D/s in a really amazing fic.[7]
The whole last chapter with the reveal of the abusive client and the videotaping really came out of nowhere, I thought, and siderailed the resolution/HEA ending that had been developing.[8]
References
- ^ Author's summary
- ^ needs must tag on the author's tumblr page
- ^ Podfic post at AO3, accessed February 2, 2015
- ^ Rec post at Epic Recs community
- ^ Rec post, accessed February 2, 2015
- ^ rec post, accessed February 2, 2015
- ^ rec post, accessed February 2, 2015
- ^ anon comment at Fail Fandom Anon, accessed February 2, 2015