These Things Do Not Remember You
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | These Things Do Not Remember You |
| Author(s): | Gwyneth Rhys |
| Date(s): | 1997 |
| Length: | |
| Genre(s): | slash |
| Fandom(s): | The Professionals |
| Relationship(s): | |
| External Links: | These Things Do Not Remember You |
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These Things Do Not Remember You is a slash Professionals story by Gwyneth Rhys.
It was published in Guilty Pleasures and was online.
Summary
"Doyle is barely hanging on after Bodie's death, and putting himself in danger in the line of duty. Is he suicidal, as his colleagues think, or simply unable to function without Bodie, his other half? Can he survive the pull his memories have on him?"
Reactions and Reviews
1997
STORY: Bodie was killed in the course of a case. Living on at his flat afterwards, Doyle can't bear to touch his things, can't get his life back together. Cowley is sympathetic but troubled. Others think Doyle is taking risks because he's suicidal, but he feels that his judgement is gone -- because Bodie was half of himself, and half his mind is now gone with Bodie. Finally Doyle himself is caught in an explosion.
I loved this one - a first class death story, a first class love story. Doyle's confusion and frustration were very clear, and the heroic spirit -- oh, yes, this one hit all my kinks straight on and did it with a beautiful use of language and structure. Not only did I love the story here, I loved the way it was told, the use of word and movement and image.
And it isn't a simple story; there are numerous themes interwoven, of the relationship and how it worked, the things they said and did and (in some cases more significant) the things they didn't do or say -- and what these things meant to Doyle.
A dominant image of the story is the bracelet Bodie gave Doyle, which is used to tie the story together. It reminded me, in that, of Chris Power's "Endgame", although in some ways it's the opposite effect - the bracelet is a symbol of Bodie's absence, not his presence, after death.
All in all, this was a powerful and beautiful story. [1]
2005
I'm not usually big on deathfic but there are a handful I have to admit to being unable to stay away from. This story is at the top of that list. I don't think I've ever read a story quite so beautiful yet heartbreaking at the same time. The juxtaposition of Doyle's happy remembrances of Bodie against the grief that has left him disjointed and out-of-kilter is devastating. And it doesn't matter how many times I read the story, it leaves my emotions in tatters. Odd little sidenote; I had already planned on reccing the story when someone asked about it on a group. Guess it was meant to be...There are plenty of death stories out there that don't affect me anywhere near what this one does. The words at the end, especially, get me every time. [2]
2008
I know many people have a horror of death stories, but I like them, if they're well written and not sentimental. And with B/D I never see them living happily ever after or even making old bones, poor sods. I think they'll die young - and most likely violently.I see TTDNRY and the next fic I'm going to rec, Endgame by Tarot, as sort of bookends and mostly read them one after the other. Both deal with the death of one partner and how the surviving one does - or rather doesn't - cope and finally dies, too. Very depressing, you might say, but I find a sort of dark satisfaction and even comfort in the fact that they're not able to exist on their own.
And both writers manage a beautifully fitting character portrait in their respective stories. I love them both to death. ;) [3]
Thank you very much for that posting!TTDNRY was quite on top of my list and already printed. Now I can throw it away.
No death story for me! Reality is real enough!
- and how can it be 'not sentimental'? [4]
You're talking about my two fav death stories in this fandom. I've read them both, and while they break my heart, I've also reread them. I agree that these serve well as bookends, and would recommend them, as you do. [5]