Power Play (Professionals story)

Fanfiction
Title:	Power Play
Author(s):	Stuartsky
Date(s):	late 1980 or early 1981
Length:
Genre(s):
Fandom(s):	The Professionals
Relationship(s):
External Links:
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The first UK Pros slash circuit story may be the 7-page story "Power Play" by Stuartsky.

first page of the story

Note: in some indexes and as recounted by some early fans, the story is listed or remembered as "Powerplay," Power Play," and "Powergame."

The Earliest Known Pros Stories

• Aftermath by PD
• Coldwater Morning by Stuartsky
• Consequences by Tarot and AN Other
• Death Games (sequel to Power Games) by SJ
• The End of an Illusion by Stuartsky
• Painting the Clouds by Calliope
• The Poofessionals by Dirk Grapple
• Power Games (aka Powerplay) by Stuartsky
• Remember Angola by Anne Lewis
• Two Crazy Lovers by Stuartsky

Power Play or Consequences?

Some fans have assumed that Consequences was the first B/D story because it is the most well-known of the very earliest stories. Compare discussion at this thread at blueamaranthe's livejournal; comments from Felicity Parkinson quoted by metabolick that "Powerplay as the first Hatstand (B/D) story written and its sequel Deathgame. Both were by Stuartsky", comments here on thread by metabolick and msmoat's comment here that she had always been told that O. Yardley wrote the first Pros slash story.

Reactions and Reviews

2009

The author claims that this was the first Pros slash story ever. Certainly, it was one of the first. It’s interesting to see which tropes in the fandom were begun at this early stage: two seemingly straight guys get together in an act of violence and discover that they turn each other on sexually is one....This and its sequel were actually not as badly written as I was expecting. The author claims that this was the first Pros slash story ever. Certainly, it was one of the first. It’s interesting to see which tropes in the fandom were begun at this early stage: two seemingly straight guys get together in an act of violence and discover that they turn each other on sexually is one. Also, we have Doyle’s “fallen angel features” and his propensity for malapropisms (he says harry-carry instead of hara-kiri, which B corrects). This and its sequel were actually not as badly written as I was expecting.

As possibly one of the first stories in the fandom, I'm sure that any story was considered welcome. This story felt pre-show as they were still setting partner rules. The idea that Bodie is a butch fella trying to dominant his partner in all way seems so far-fetched to me to truly enjoy fic. Power sex and claming that if Doyle got off he liked it - and Doyle believing it was off character. Then again, for me the whole fic was off character. Yet I am glad I read it. I would have loved to be in the conversations that birthed these ideas.

I thought this was an interesting premise but was left essentially unexplored. However, this may be the closest we can come to narrowing down what might be the very first circulated story in Prosdom, and for that alone I find it fascinating. the power dynamic between these two tough alpha males -- both used to being the sexual aggressor and dominating partner -- was of curiosity right from the first, just as you'd expect. Alas, I had no sense of the voice or personalities of the lads!"