Suitable Gravity

Fanfiction
Title:	Suitable Gravity
Author(s):	DVS
Date(s):	1993, 2006
Length:	270K, 49,450 words
Genre(s):	slash, Bodie/Doyle
Fandom(s):	The Professionals
Relationship(s):	Bodie/Doyle
External Links:	The Circuit Archive The Hatstand
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"Suitable Gravity" is a The Professionals story written by DVS. It is a slash story with the pairing of Bodie/Doyle. This is an AU set in outer space.

It was originally published in Lovers #5 from Chained-to-the-Typewriter Press in 1993. It was posted to The Circuit Archive on September 22, 2006.

The story sometimes appears on fans' Desert Island lists.

Summaries

In 2000, two fans Cassie Ingaben and Dagger compiled an index of many of the circuit stories. They also wrote brief summaries:

Set in the future. Protector (policeman) D has been stood up by Anne on their wedding day. As he goes to give away his honeymoon tickets, he bumps into B, CI5 agent on the run. To help him, they leave for the Martian honeymoon, pretending to be the wedded couple. B is immediately attracted by D and candidly says he will try and get him -- D is ambivalent, struggling still with his fiasco with Anne -- they progress to sex (initiation of D to gay sex), and D is falling in love: at the same time they have to fight against the people who are after B, and run into many dangers. They eventually make it, even if D is shell-shocked by having had to kill to save B (the future society is very regulated and violence really beyond the pale). Plus, D finds out B was wired to record everything for the CI5 files, and feels betrayed and spied upon. They get back to Earth and go their separate ways, but D can't shake his love off, and B reappears, determined to woo D, who on his part is more than ready to be wooed. All is well.

Reactions and Reviews

Unknown Date

Time for another AU! This one is TERRIFIC. It's the future. And Ray Doyle is a Protector, a kind of unarmed policeman. As violent crime has largely been eradicated, his job isn't so much chasing down bad guys with a gun in his hand, as making sure citizens are traveling safely on the slipwalk. Despondent over being dumped by his Higher match-to-be, Ann, Doyle heads off to turn in tickets to Mars he had purchased for their honeymoon. Little does he know he'll be seeing the red planet after all, in the company of a mysterious, scarred man named Bodie. It turns out that in this world, as in canon, CI5 exists, and Bodie is an agent, on the run from vicious villains trying to keep him from testifying in a case that would bring down their empire. Together, the lads must keep Bodie alive and one step ahead of those wanting to silence him forever. This is a thrill ride filled with biting dialogue, action, romance, and some very satisfying resolution for the lads and their relationship. DVS creates a very complete, compelling world. I can't recommend this one highly enough.

1994

One science-fictiony/fantasy Pros story I really did enjoy is the one by DVS in Lovers 5 (can't remember the title, *think* this is the write number of Lovers, but it's out on loan in Tucson...). It was one of those

stories that just hit me the right way, was well done, and I actually went back and reread it.

2006

This story is amazingly good.

I started reading it, and thought - oh well, because it's in this zine I've bought, I'd better read it. But my plan was to sell it because the other story I wasnt bothered about. Changed my mind, didnt I?

The premise is this: Doyle is a Pro, about to get married (or matched, as they call it) to Ann Holly who is a Higher, but AH calls the match off, just as they are supposed to leave on their honeymoon to Mars. Yep, it's sort-of sci-fi. Bear with me.

He decides to try and sell his other ticket, and go on his own. Unfortunately, to him anyway, he meets up with a bloke called Bodie, who turns out to be ex-Army, AND works for George Cowley in CI5...not the organisation we know and love, per se. Bodie is running from some men who work for Con Coogan. They get chatting in the queue for the shuttle to Mars, and it basically ends up them 'matching' in order for Bodie to escape the clutches of the henchmen.

But along the way, Bodie confesses his attraction to Doyle and although reluctant at first, eventually Doyle gives in ('all matched couples are expected to behave like this at first'), and they have sex. Eventually it does turn into love, but not without much thought and worry, and a dash of trouble from other quarters.

It's a wonderful story and one I completely expected to hate. Not that I hate DVS's stories, because I dont - I just dont usually like very AU/sci-fi based fic. But I sat and read it all tonight, straight through.

Now I just want to read it again...very unusual for me. But it just caught my attention and held it, and I would say to anyone who is wavering to give it a chance.

It's one of my favourite top 5 Pros stories, because it's SO complete, so true to the characters, even if an AU version of them, and so balanced, in plot, emotions, hotness...I adore it :D and yes, I re-read it regularly, and always with the same pleasure :D

I just got this zine in the mail recently, and was a little dismayed, like you, because AU/sci-fi stories usually leave me cold. But I read it, and was drawn into the story and it was terrific, just as you say. I have no intention of parting with this zine, especially since the first story is by Ellis Ward and is likewise unexpected and very very good.

I really loved this story too, much to my surprise. I wasn't all that excited when I started - but I ended up reading it three times in a row (plus about three more times when I scanned and proofread it!), and ... I can't explain it; I just loved it! So hot, and yet sweet, and so satisfying ... really one of her best, I think!

I almost *almost* didn't read it, because I thought it wasn't going to be my thing, but boy am I glad I did.

I too was enthralled by SG - a wonderful wonderful read. Pros SciFi AUs seem too improbable to me before I begin them, but our authors are so good, they end up being some of the best stories ever. Thank you for recommending, Probodie and Justacat for putting it up at the Circuit. There's another very sleepy but ecstatic Pros fan out in the world today...

I've read and re-read this zine ever since I got it last month. My favorite parts (and I include the bar scene you're quoting here) are the first time Doyle falls asleep in Bodie's arms, while they are passing through Jump; the almost manic happiness that Bodie has, whenever Doyle slides food across the table to him ("You do love me!"); and the sequence when Bodie follows Doyle home on the slipways after the bar sequence, and only belatedly does Doyle realize that he's going home. But the whole is fantastic.

I've been waiting, and hoping, for this to make it online -- it's one of my all-time favorite Pros AUs. It's a science fiction novel, blending a lot of canon elements into a new universe, where Doyle is a Protector (the equivalent of a policeman) and Bodie is in CI5, working for Cowley. All of the characters are a little different from canon because their background and experience are parallel but different, but they're all completely recognizable. Watching this Bodie and Doyle get to know each other under fairly trying circumstances in very close quarters, working their way from strangers to eventual lovers, is hugely fun -- and the case plot carries throughout, as well. Great stuff!

2009

I did find the world a bit too perfect since most of the problems of humanity have apparently been solved, but that was very minor to me. Just ignore the American spellings and enjoy the flight to Mars and back with the lads.

I love that DVS has managed to both build her world of the future, and keep it feeling both science-fiction-y and yet also realistic, and has also stayed very true to our (well, my *g*) Bodie and Doyle. I can picture both of them, from the eps, very clearly in this! There's a lovely atmosphere to it too, perhaps because we're so close to Doyle and his thoughts all the way through, and we can feel the way he likes Bodie, and is attracted to him, no matter how many times he says he's het. Oh and there's plot, there's plot as well - and it's beautifully balanced with the relationship stuff, and the humour, and... well, everything. One of my favourite fics!

I feel that as "far out" as this AU is, DVS kept the lads closer to canon than a lot of CI5 stories. She did a great job and I felt she gave me Bodie and Doyle, and a fun story.

She's tailored the AU so that it fits canon beautifully - and I never feel that she's had to stretch or scrunch up anything to do so. *g*

It’s an enjoyable reading from start to finish. I esp. like the beginning. The ‘Doyle helps Bodie without asking too many questions’ part.

And Bodies teasing is very funny. He seems to be so sure that he would convince Ray of his qualities! :-)

I privatly am a bit sad that Bodie is wearing that privacy collar most of the time. But of course it’s part of the story. It makes Bodie for Doyle desirable and doubtable at the same time.

This is one of my absolute favourites too - B&D both seem very consistent and satisfyingly characterised to me, with skilful use of a well-built world. For exampe, Doyle being so devastated by having to kill to save Bodie and himself is nicely accentuated by having this be a world where killing is so rare - the world-building and the character-building dovetail perfectly together. Same goes for Doyle's background as a "Pro" and Bodie's as a former Soldier; I feel that DVS has created an AU world that fits them both extremely well. The world is fully detailed without it feeling clunky and over-described, imo, so that although there is plenty of information about slipways and spaceships and match ribbons etc. it all slips down very smoothly. The plot is exciting, and the relationship grows and develops in a more than satisfying way too - with Bodie going from merely fancying the Pro he has stumbled across at a crucial moment to appreciating his skills and courage to falling in love with him, while Doyle goes from finding Bodie irritating and arrogant to finding him attractive to discovering that he is willing to do anything to save him. It rings true, though, that Doyle would be so outraged by Cowley (and the surveillance device) that he walks away - and of course for the reader it makes the final scene all the sweeter, where Bodie saving Doyle from humiliation and discomfiting Doyle's former prospective match is the icing on the cake. I love this story - just about everything about it except getting to the end and having no more of it to read!

DVS did indeed give us an entire universe without spending pages and pages of text on descriptions. I felt it was concise and well presented when compared to some other stories that tend to go off into long explanations of whatever world the writer is trying to show us. This story melded it all so well that you gained the information while you move through the story. I never felt as if I was being given too much or too little information. Also the pacing was great. I didn't find myself skipping any lines or paragraphs, let alone pages. I wanted to read every word, and reading it again was just as satisfying as the first time.

My absolute fave Pros AU. Bodie’s confident and unabashed coming on to a resistant Ray is just *so* Bodie. All the little details of living on a spaceship (including the sex scene in zero G!) are wonderful. An example is the hoods over the food tables to secure the food if gravity were to fail. And their banter is spot on:

Bodie picked up a shrimp-shaped bit of vegiform. "Open wide, my petal," he teased, and brought it towards Doyle's mouth.

"Only," Doyle told him, sotto voce, "if you want me to bite off your fingers."

I deeply admire this author’s ability to set the lads in a sci-fi universe, keep them in character, and tell an interesting case story at the same time. Great rec!

It's possible for me to enjoy a story "without" the lads but if I want Pros, it has to be a really good story to distract me. I often use Larton as an example. I don't see any lads in it, but it's a wonderful story.

This is one of my favourite AU's. The lads are soooooo in-character and the story is funny and interesting. I don't get bored by all the descriptions and stuff - it grabs me and I want to know more. It's smooth.

I love the trip and all the space stuff too, and the "complicated" relationship between B&D in this story. I kinda like how Doyle complains a lot, and how Bodie just try and get Doyle to go with the flow... almost. *grin*

It's nice that you don't get to see so much of the bad guys and that they break up - because of Cowley and Doyle's feelings - and then get together again in that cute last scene with Ann. *giggle*

This universe is soooo much better than "The Cook and the Warehouseman" - another space AU we had here not long ago - because this AU is made for them. The canon B&D. Bodie's background is perfect and so is Doyle's. You can see them in this AU - and you just couldn't do that in TCatW. This is everything an AU is supposed to be. *happy*

I didn't have to struggle to read this story at all. The other story you mentioned was painful for me to try an read. I didn't like either character. They didn't make me love them, feel for them, want to know more about them, or care about them. I really cared about the lads here. But I love the canon characters and I really appreciate the talent it takes to put our lads into such a different world. This is what I consider my type of AU. There are no pod people masquerading as our boys.

I almost stopped reading when I reached the word ‘Mars’. I realised I’d had a go at this story before and stopped because it just seemed too incongruous to me at the time. I generally don’t read AUs for that reason and I rarely find one that I consider believable. However, I’d cut my teeth on sci-fi and although I don’t read much now, I decided to press on and give Suitable Gravity a go. After all, if I loved Pros and enjoyed sci-fi, then there was a good chance that I’d like SG on some level.

As I progressed I wondered whose universe she was using; had she made her own or was she using someone else’s? I discarded Bradbury’s Martin Chronicles and Cherryh’s Merchanteer universe. I wondered about Heinlein but didn’t know his Mars stories well enough. After reading the previous comments and finding out that DVS created this world herself, I am truly impressed. It is rich, interesting, different but just familiar enough to feel comfortable. I struggled with a few of the terms at first but quickly picked them up without DVS having to go to great lengths explaining. Immersing the reader in her world is very skilfully done.

The characters of Bodie and Doyle were quickly recognizable both in their actions and their familiar banter. As others have said, DVS’s characterisations are close to perfect and far better than some non-AU fic.

The plot is a perfect vehicle for them and they are at home in their roles which have a familiarity for the reader whilst still being different. Whilst she uses a couple of cliched plot devices such as B&D having to pose as a couple, she makes it believable with her skilful world building and exciting story.

The sex scenes, ahem…yes, hot, umm, hot, ahh…nuff said! I’m sure the jump sex idea came from somewhere else and I seem to recall reading something similar in my dim, dark, nerdy youth but who cares….it was hot!

The calibre of the writing is superb…I can’t say any more than that. I’d happily read more of her work if it is all of this quality.

All in all it’s hard to find a single fault with the story. The ending is a little contrived for me, but I could forgive that because I was so caught up in the fantasy and was waiting for the happy ending.

Does anyone know the writing history of the fic? How long did it take her and where did she get her inspiration?

I love this story because it's two of my favorite tropes in one: They have to go undercover as a couple--in space! But it's so much more than that, as well. It's a nice blend of action and romance, and the lads really shine through in all their bantering, occasionally-stroppy glory. I loved how easy it was to sink into this universe, too. The transportation, the cultural details, everything just kind of immersed me in the story. Slipwalks and match ribbons and Jump-sex--yes, please! I've read this fic before, but I was glad to have an excuse to do it again.

OK, so I adore this! ...

The story has everything I enjoy. It was sci-fi, which I love, ‘hard’ sci-fi that could easily have come form the pen of a Hal Clements or a C..J.Cherryh. ‘Our’ lads in this AU were completely themselves and in character and even their speech patterns were‘right’. Their jobs/roles were believable and this was an ‘episode’ fic with the baddies getting caught (one even killed) at the end whilst the general population, as well as the pair themselves, were protected from all evil. Pervading all this was the hot ‘first time’ sex, always furthering plot, character development or description of place or conditions like the Jump. There was angst in abundance, humour, sweetness, and even an exploration of what it means to kill. The angst arose from the situation as well as from their own feelings and that made it real. There was the initial distress of breaking up with Ann (also well-portrayed) echoed by the possible break-up with Bodie, and the joy of the first Jump echoed by the confusion of the second contrasting neatly with the two consecutive relationships. Tangled and intriguing, like Doyles’ reactions! And there were so many meanings assigned to the words of the title! The ending wasn’t so much ‘happy ever after’ as giving us the sense that they were at the beginning of a lifetime of exploration.

There were flaws, too, but I hardly noticed them on first or even second reading, a sure sign that a fic has really ‘hooked’ me. There a number of typos (though no more than in e.g. Robin Hobbs’ latest published trilogy), a few formatting glitches (line breaks that should not be there), and an overabundance of commas. Doyle’s job as a Pro is sometimes capitalised and sometimes not, and he remembers a kiss at the matching ceremony that didn’t appear in the text. I should also note that ‘illude’ is not, to my knowledge an English word on either side of the Atlantic (though I know the author must be American from his/her use of ‘off of’). I know, I’m fussy, but so often errors like this throw me out of a story. They didn’t here, which just highlights the excellence of the general writing and plot.

It was one of the first AU Pros stories I read, and I remember being thrilled. I also remember rainbow colours in the Jump and I notice there are actually only red and yellow so maybe I was in a cloud of euphoria? Some fics can do that!! This one did.

Inventive SF AU novella of a future Earth in which Doyle is a Pro(tector), something like a policeman, and Bodie works for CI5. They meet after Ann Holly jilts Doyle. Bodie and Doyle go to Mars together on Doyle's "match trip"--since he already had the tickets to go with Ann and it suits Bodie's purposes to escape Earth for a time--where they end up having far more adventures than Doyle ever expected. The story has great alt but recognisable characterisation and interactions between them along with a nicely textured world and some exciting off-Earth action scenes--and, naturally, much focus on their evolving relationship.

2010

Have I mentioned lately how much I adore this story? Doesn't matter when I read it, it leaves me all warm and happy for the lads at the end... *is fuzzy* It's found in lots of places, and all those other people have said fab things about it too, in case there's anyone out there who's not read it yet...It's one of those ones you can pick up almost any time, and it just takes you to a good mood... *sighs happily again*

Yep, definitely on my all-time fave lists of Prosfic as well as of sex scenes (the one in zero-G).

I think it's one of my all time favourites in any fandom! It hits all my buttons and is so beautifully written. Yes, it's recced in lots of places but you're very wise to tell people again just in case anyone missed it!

2011

We continue our journey through Professionals AU in Science Fiction with DVS's wonderful story "Suitable Gravity".

Here's a story taking elements from the Professionals and transporting them not only into the future, but off planet as well. Our lads are easily recognisible (gotta love 'em) and the story is full of action, angst, hurt, comfort, betrayal, pain, love and plenty of time behind closed doors, doing what young virile lads do....... Other characters from the Pros also make an appearance, in very appropriate circumstances, but there is also a large cast of new faces to engage and intrigue.

In this AU, Doyle is a Protector (Pro for short - gotta love that), the cop of the future, doing his job as the responsible, dutiful peacekeeper he is. And he's just been jilted. On the day he is to be 'matched' and take off on his honeymoon, Ann (who else), decides that she's not for him and with little ceremony, dumps him.

Despondent, he goes to the spaceport to try and get at least some of his money back from their honeymoon tickets to Mars and that's where the fun begins. Of course, that's where he bumps into the other hero in our saga....

The man four spaces in front of him gave his space to the pregnant woman standing behind him, earning a polite smile and a warm glance. It was only when the gentleman yielded his place to a stout businessman as well that Doyle focused on him.

Handsome man, in spite of the drab tunic of grey and brown he wore. Or was he? Doyle looked again. The man wore a privacy collar, and his features were gently distorted. It didn't flatter his smooth cap of dark hair or his blue eyes. The tunic was cut in the loose style favored by those who had a few pounds to hide. In spite of that, Doyle had the impression that this man had muscles under the tunic instead of softness.

Before he knows it, Doyle has reluctantly taken CI5 operative Bodie into his protection, on their trips to Mars, fleeing from operatives of Edwin Coogan, who are after Bodie to stop him from testifying at a case to take Coogan down. Of course, that protection means they have to 'match' and act like the married couple that they are far from being.

It doesn't take Bodie long to work his charms on Doyle and the 'match', starts to become real. But as you would expect, the course of true love does not run smooth and all sorts of mayhem, bedroom fun (in zero gravity in particular is fun), action, trouble and more trouble follows them, on the moon and then on Mars and back again.

The story weaves beautifully around their burgeoning relationship and all the barriers thrown up by Doyle's inexperience, Bodie's perceived arrogance and all the tricks and trouble of their opponents. DVS keeps the story moving along well and brings it all to a glorious conclusion, with plenty of angst along the way.

I particularly love the ending, after the job has concluded and Doyle is back at his Pro's job and comes across Ann. You can't help but take particular glee in that moment - but you'll have to read and enjoy it for yourself.

Even if you don't like science-fiction normally, the lads in this sci-fi AU are so true to fanon, that I really believe you will enjoy it. And if you do like sci-fi, you'll love it.

So what did you think of the story? What was your favourite part? Did you think the whole sci-fi AU was believable? Would love to know if you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Why this story must be read: Oh, it's just such fun. *g* For me, it's a perfect comfort read. Indeed, partly because it came originally in a very plain-looking zine, it was the default choice for me to take with me on airplane trips. I could munch on airline snacks (those were the days) and lose myself in this AU/SF-world, romantic story. It was also one of the first stories I put on my e-reader. The lads are in character, the world they inhabit is interesting, the sex is hot, and the romance is just what you'd expect.

The plot is a typical romantic entanglement: boy meets boy, due to circumstances they have to pretend to be married, shenanigans ensue, there's heartbreak, but you know it will turn out all right. *g* In this case, its set in a unspecified future time after civilization on Earth went through some sort of convulsion. Society is peaceful now, with strict rules of behavior, but there are criminal elements at work. Doyle is a sort of policeman (a "pro"), who has just broken up with his fiancee. On the way to sell or cancel the ticket for their honeymoon trip to Mars, he meets Bodie, who is an agent working for CI5. Bodie is being chased by thugs from the Coogan gang, and because he holds a key piece of evidence against Coogan, he needs to play least-in-sight for a while, but can't stay in CI5. Enter Doyle and his honeymoon trip, and, after he pretends Bodie is his fiancee to get them both on board a shuttle to the moon, a request from Cowley that they actually get married and take the months-long honeymoon trip. ("You will be able to un-match at the end of three months time, and will receive a separation settlement.") Being a good copper, and wanting to see Coogan's gang destroyed, and also not wanting to go back to work when everyone expects him to be gone, Doyle agrees. The bad guys chase them all the way to Mars, and there are various attempts on their lives. Bodie and Doyle banter their way through it all and, naturally, fall in love. Here, have an excerpt:

[On the way to the moon]

"Bad thought?" Bodie asked, carelessly.

Doyle considered how much to tell him. "Yes. About Ann."

"She the one supposed to be sitting beside you?" Bodie wanted to know.

"She decided she'd rather not."

"Ah. Had a bad fever, did she? Blow to the head?"

"What?" Doyle didn't understand.

"You have secrets, vices, bad breath?"

Doyle sighed. "Is this your way of asking why she changed her mind?"

"In a word, yes. You look like a personable lad." Bodie straightened up, clearly interested in Doyle's background.

"She didn't say, really. Only that she realized we wouldn't suit. Came from a Higher family, Ann did. She had a literary job, and was working her way up as well. I think she realized the climb would take longer matched to me. Or maybe her father...he's something to look into, I suspect. He didn't like me. Maybe it was me, and maybe he just didn't want a Pro in the family."

"Not everyone's cup of tea," Bodie agreed. "Speaking of tea," he said, looking longingly, at the digital on the door, "I wish we would land so that we could have some!" The juice was served to keep the passengers from getting dehydrated, but other food and drink was banned on shuttle flights. All too often, the gravity failed, and it was hard enough to keep the passengers under control, much less the flotsam of drifting food.

"Impatient?" Doyle asked.

"Upon occasion. Not always, though. I know what's worth waiting for," Bodie said.

Doyle didn't ask the obvious question, partly because he knew Bodie wanted him to do so.

"Unlike Ann," Bodie added.

"Oh, Ann probably knows what she wants," Doyle managed to say, covering his surprise. Surely the man did not mean to imply....

"So do I," Bodie said, and got up to join the line for the relief station.

Doyle was left pondering his words, turning them over and over in his mind. "I'm het," he said to Bodie as the other returned.

"How disappointing. I'm not," said Bodie, and closed his eyes as if to sleep some more.

Doyle poked him. "Bi?" he asked.

"Quite." Bodie opened his eyes again. "Don't let it worry you. I never go where I'm not invited. Best you should know, though, since we're playing at being matched."

"As long as you remember it's just playing."

"I don't suppose you'll let me forget it. Wake me in an hour, will you, Sunshine?"

"Just before I chuck you out the airlock," Doyle assured him. "Wait. It was my turn to sleep," he remembered. But he did not press the point. Too much to think about. Ann who didn't want him. This stranger who implied he did. Not that the two things could be compared. This man probably only wanted a few turns in the sheets. Except that was all Ann apparently had wanted, too.

Need a good summer read? You can't go wrong with this one!

I re-read Suitable Gravity not that long ago, when I was in need of one of my favourite fics to read... *g* I think DVS did a brilliant job in building this world, without sacrificing characterisation of the lads. She managed to update them to the language of "matches" and "Pros" (*g*) without losing anything that makes them them, somehow - at least to me. I winced once at the "grape" flavoured drinks, cos we don't have them over here, and I know they're a big US thing - but then we didn't have cranberry juice everywhere ten years ago either, and it's all over the place here now, cos things do spread and change, so it's back to that interesting question of mixing the "old" and "new" into whatever your vision or hopes for the future are, I guess!

My favourite part, hmmn... it might have to be Jump, where it all turns so dreamy and somehow lazy and sultry feeling - and we get to see for the first time what the lads are really thinking about each other, whether they admit it to themselves or not... And they're so caught in it, from then on... actually I love all those scenes then, where they're discovering each other and enjoying each other...

I don't mind the ending, but I didn't think it was necessary - revenge on Ann Holly! I've never thought that ep-Ann Holly was particularly manipulative or badly-intentioned towards Doyle - when she said she thought he'd change, it seems to me that Doyle had portrayed himself that way to her in the ep, very much CI5-isn't-who-I-am-you-know. Only of course it was, and only Ann was honest enough to admit it at the end. It was Doyle led her on, rather than the other way around - people do tend to blame the woman when a bloke they like gets hurt, but it's not always that way around! So I do think Ann Holly was mis-characterised in this fic, but it's a common mischaracterisation, so...

So yes - I love this fic! *g*

Yes, this is one of my favorite comfort reads. Before the days of e-readers, it was my go-to zine to bring with me on the plane. The original zine was slim (only two stories in it) and no, er, compromising illustrations or cover. *g* It's also a story that never fails to draw me in or leave me feeling satisfied. I can poke holes in it, or see where editing might have helped, but...I love it anyway. *g* It is, of course, an old-fashioned romance story plot--one we're all familiar with. But then, that's partly why it is such a great comfort read!

I also really like the way DVS built this world and described it to us. She's deep in Doyle's pov, so there is no explanation of what happened, or why the world seems to be confined to one big city and the moon, but we're given enough to fill in the blanks with our own imaginations. And I like the idea of the slip walks and all this slightly strange, slightly familiar culture. I like it that it's not over-explained to us, yet we understand it.

And, finally, I just really enjoy the B/D relationship here. They just click--as they would *g*--and you can see the changes (for the better) that they both experience because of that. So, yeah, all in all, one of my favorite comfort reads. *g*

I'm another one who enjoys this fic a great deal - in fact it's one of my long list of favourites *g*. It works for me because the world-building is solid and consistent (even Cowley, who makes a rather brief appearance, is very much himself - not actually callous, but certainly ruthlessly pragmatic and demanding for the sake of a crucial objective, in the way he steamrollers right over Doyle's objections and plays on his sense of duty). DVS does a good job with her OCs, who all seem different and real even though we may only glimpse them (such as the pilot Littlepony).

Most of all, though, of course it's the characterisation of B&D themselves that makes this story work so well. Yes, Bodie is brash, self-confident and borderline arrogant - but he has the competence to justify it, and he's also able to appreciate Doyle's skills, competence and courage even though he didn't really expect them. He's a Bodie capable of love, and not afraid of loving though he is more than half-expecting to be rejected in the end.

And DVS rather cleverly uses her world-building to help us appreciate Ray's conscience; in a world where murder has been all but eliminated, it rings true for Ray to be so profoundly affected by the fact that yes, when it came to protecting Bodie he was capable of killing.

And the growing attraction, open on Bodie's part and initially fought-against on Ray's - well, there she does a cracking job. It's fun, the action and plot work really well, the lads start out accidentally faking marriage and end up together for real - what's not to love!

There are one or two odd USA-isms (which obviously didn't jar, since I can't even remember now what they were!) and while I do agree with bsl that there may be shades here of the fanon temptation to denigrate female characters in order to build up the lads the Holly bit made a useful final scene, rounding off Ray's story arc by reminding us how much his horizons have changed.

Overall, a cracking fic I'm always happy to re-read!

The first time I came across Suitable Gravity on the Circuit Archive I was not able to finish the story as I was totally not interested in reading any AUs. It was only months later, after I had read the excellent The Christmas Story and A Different Game from DVS that I thought I should re-try Suitable Gravity. By then I had managed to finish reading several historical / Regency AUs and was more open to reading stories where the lads are not in the CI5 universe. It also helped that by the time I wanted to re-read Suitable Gravity that I had a copy of the zine Lovers 5 and was able to read the story offline (with long stories I prefer to read the printed copies instead of reading them online).

I liked this story because DVS manages to introduce to the reader a believable new world with its own language ("Protector", "matches", "Con" ), and written B/D in such a way that you can still see the lads in character.

I also liked the fact that the relationship between B/D is developed slowly throughout the story. The ending is perfect (I'm not referring to the Ann Holly revenge part), when Doyle realises that he loves and misses Bodie and then Bodie turns up and they declare their love at Doyle's home.

Most of all I liked the story because it had a plot, and not used just as an excuse to have lots of *hot* scenes.

Ever since I first read it, ages and ages ago, this has been my very favourite Pros story.

While I was re-reading it yet again (and feeling grateful for the excuse to put it on my e-reader and curl up with it)I was trying to think why. It has a lot of typos etc. which I probably notice more now, which hardly drew my usually critical eye first time around. The story is mesmerising, and is still gripping after a few reads so that you lose yourself in it and stop noticing the writing. The only 'error' I always notice is the idea of naming someone, even a minor character, Paul Anal...

The sci-fi is superbly done, with just enough fascinating detail to let us enter a 'different' world but no drawn-out descriptions or info-dumps. The world, and the story, let us take a fresh look at an old institution - marriage, and also at a few other aspects of life we take for granted, like police, soldiers, plastic surgery, and the difference in private and public behaviour. Interesting and thought-provoking.

The story is exciting even without the romance element - typical cloak and dagger, with a plastic weapon rather than a dagger, but there are mentions of cloaks - but well thought out and well paced. The romance and sex are hot but interspersed with lots of banter and action so that there's plenty of time just to enjoy the plot.

Doyle and Bodie are our Doyle and Bodie, always in character and smoothly transported into whatever century it is. Their voices are accurate and so are their physical descriptions - Ray is no weakling in this! We see how their personalities react faced with the culture in general and the criminal investigation specifically. Because the story is written from Ray's p.o.v. and Ray is the more introspective character, we get the chance to question things like attitudes to killing and to privacy.

I enjoy the ending and don't mind the author mistreating Ann Holly for the sake of the story. Cowley and Murphy are somewhat cardboard characters but their names add some canon depth to the fic. Ann is a little less cardboard but I'm not sure we're meant to see her as the canon Ann Holly, just as someone whose loss hurt Doyle with the name of someone whose loss hurt him in canon. An original character who backed out of the match at the last minute and then spent her honeymoon in a garbage dump wouldn't have had the same impact.

I am always amazed that there is actually very little in the story about the Jump sex and there are very few colours mentioned. I have this hazy notion of pages and pages of sex with rainbow mists and have to re-read to get a dose of reality... I also misremember the rescue when Doyle drags Bodie back through the airlock - in my memory it takes far longer and every time I am holding my breath wondering if they'll make it in time. DVS has obviously created a whole world in my head and that's good writing!

Yey, even though it's an AU, this is a story about my lads. Their characters are spot on and, importantly, equally matched ... I'm never keen when one is portrayed weaker than the other. DVS has done a brilliant job of pacing the intrigue, banter, action and sex so that my interest was consistently held to the very end.

I love this story too, sci-fi and Pros is always a winner with me, especially in this universe which I think was well thought out making it very believable. It's one I haven't read for years so the story was lovely to re-read as I only had a vague memory of the plot, thanks for suggesting it! Got to love beautiful Bodie in this, just how he should be.

I totally utterly whole heartedly love this fic~ *so much love*

What was your favourite part?

Yeah, I happily admit it, my favourite part was definitely the sex in space. C'mon! Bodie and Doyle getting it on! In SPACE! *lol* How often do you read about that! (And extra bonus points from me for bottom!Bodie. Me lurve bottom!Bodie.)

But yeah, I also like that the lads are pretty much themselves even with the drastically different histories and location. That's the make or break factor for me in regards to AU, staying true to their character.

I love it! It got angry!Doyle, superior!Bodie and sex in zero gravity, which are just about half the fun.

I really like the way how a trip to Mars seems quite difficult, especially since this happens in the future, the details DVS gives to walking and breathing and moving on a strange planet and how she wove the time part into the plot!! Some of the names she´s given her secondary characters were a bit distracting, using ligatures almost every time and mixing them with more common names and even using figurative ones.... but she so does make up by getting the lads into trouble and most important: Out again!

Making Doyle "walk" alone back on planet and reuniting them quite late but at just the right time was an absolutely perfect way of hightening the tension.

And my favourite part: Quite soppy, but I just adore her way of writing it: "This is the way I looked before. You don't like it? You can look at this face and honestly say you see a need for adjustment?" Bodie teased. But then he looked at Doyle and added, in an oddly humble way, "If you don't like it, I suppose I could make a few changes." Oh dear, smug!Bodie turning insecure and humiliating himself! *thud*

All in all a WONDERFUL fic, and you made fantastic introductions! I was about to read it all week now, but there were more "important" (NOT!) things to do instead, but after your post I just couldn´t resist anymore.

There are loads more very great things that should be said and mentioned, but I ran out of words and time, ´cause I´ll just go and reread it again. *g*

2013

A SF AU with enough similarities to the original to keep me intrigued. Seen from Doyle's pov and showing us a delightfully teasing and flirty Bodie.