MFU fic: Making Perfect

[xparrot]

Illya is my new beloved, the object of my latest obsession. So, naturally, this story is...all about Napoleon. Well, and Illya, of course, because, you know, two sides of the same coin and all that. But Napoleon Solo is like John Sheppard, in that to make sense of his character, you have to suspect there is some fascinating stuff going on inside his head.

It's a tag to "The Gurnius Affair" - I suspect one of dozens of tags written over the years of the fandom. Hundreds, maybe. This episode might well have induced the spontaneous invention of the very concept of a tag-fic in many a budding fangirl. (If you don't watch/don't remember, this is the ep where Illya goes undercover as a neo-Nazi and has to torture Napoleon to preserve his cover, and then there is absolutely ZERO RESOLUTION WHATSOEVER.)

So. Resolution. And angst. And no slash, except what you want to see. (It's gen the way most of my gen is gen.) And a dash of (unresolved) het, because really, this is Napoleon Solo we're talking about.

MFU: Making Perfect {~8,000 words}
PG; gen, angst; tag to 4x11 "The Gurnius Affair"
Four years is a long time. But this is not Napoleon's decision to make anyway.


Read it on AO3

Comments

[stitcher2ficcer.livejournal.com]

I just started catching up with LJ this evening, and didn't hit your previous post and this one until a little while ago. Haven't had a chance to read it yet. But I wanted to let you know that your dad is highly amused that you are now into Man from U.N.C.L.E. It was one of his all-time favorite shows when he was a kid. He saw every episode and still is quite fond of Robert Vaughn.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I am highly amused to be into a show from my father's teen years! But it's fun TV! (not exactly *good* TV, so much, but tremendously entertaining...) And hee, of course he liked Robert Vaughn - it seems all the boys liked Napoleon and all the girls liked Illya! (also if he still likes Robert Vaughn you definitely have to see Hustle, he's great in that, along with everyone else!)

(So he knows, this fic isn't slash but it still might be kind of, er, traumatic for Dad, as it's angst and thus takes the show wa~y too seriously ^^;)

[gnine.livejournal.com]

One of his favorite shows, heeee? That's hilarious! Also, neechan has now decided more than ever that I gotta do my vid, for Dad, if no one else :-p

[stitcher2ficcer.livejournal.com]

I thought Emilie was looking for a slash vid. That might totally traumatize him! I, on the other hand, am looking forward to it. **hehe**

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Actually I want a comedy vid more than slash, so it'd be played for laughs if there is any subtext (which there would be. 'cuz the show has a lot. Yay for goofy '60s TV! XD) And I think J-chan should keep it to a minimum and make the vid for Dad! ^^

...I admit to being terribly curious what Dad would think of my fic. Even if he'll probably find it absurd for taking the show so seriously...

[stitcher2ficcer.livejournal.com]

I haven't read this yet. Shall I pass it on to him when I do? Will it make sense without having seen the episode? Unlike Dad, I watched a limited amount of MUNCLE, I think in reruns. He watched it faithfully enough and often enough that if he saw a summary of the ep, he'd probably remember it. I'm planning to print this out soon for tonight's bedtime reading... although having been up since 5:30 and having put in a very long day, I likely won't make it through more than a paragraph without falling asleep. Sooooo tired.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how much sense it will make, though of course I'd love to know what you think! And Dad...ummm...I dunno? If he's curious, let him, but don't push it on him? ^^;

(also, if you haven't printed it up yet, make sure you copy this latest version, I've fixed a couple typos in the last day...)

[stitcher2ficcer.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, even after having watched probably no more than a dozen and a half eps of this show some forty-plus years ago (and I don't remember any of them, just the three main characters and the feel of their relationships), this is a very satisfying, happy-making fic. Makes me want to see the ep to which it's a tag; sounds like the kind of stuff that makes my fangirl heart sigh. I'm sure it was a squeeful, hug-inducing watch with your Saturday night group!

Well done yet again, M'Dear. I love Napolean's suave but somewhat regretful manner with the girl, but best of all his and Illya's tentativeness with each other after Gurnius, and their ultimate faith in and commitment to each other, expressed less in words and more in the wordless details of understanding you so very well captured. The allusions to their being married were great fun.

Welcome back to writing!! I hope the renewed drive will be long-lasting and the inspiration of this pair of partners committed forever leads you back to another pair from another time and galaxy so you can give them an equally satisfying and befitting conclusion. I'm still greatly looking forward to more on that.

**BIG HUGS**

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Heee, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! ^^ We'll have to show you the ep (it's not really that great an ep, except that one scene, which is, yes, fannish catnip!)

Are you going to be around today? We might try calling later, after people go home...