MFU fic: Sand Trap, 2/2

[xparrot]

[Read it on AOOO]

Comments

[jessebee.livejournal.com]

Oh, very nice. Loved the use of the wine to tie things in at the end, and love Napoleon telling his imagination to go to hell. Very evocative in your use of imagery. And I think I'll go have me a glass of water now. ;-)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it - hey, if it made you thirsty, my version of the desert did its job! ^^

[ravens-rising.livejournal.com]

This was FANTASTIC! Classic Napoleon and Illya. <3

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it! They're lots of fun to write ^^

Sand Trap

[jx-walker.livejournal.com]

Another wonderful MFU story. Thank you. The boys are lovely.

Re: Sand Trap

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you - they are lovely, aren't they? ^^

[leethet.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed this. I like mission stories with some "I'm not leaving without you, dummy" H/C attached.

A very minor quibble - do you care that the Coleridge quote isn't quite accurate? I know people often say it that way, so it's not like it's out of character for a person who's not a total pedant to get it wrong, but if you care, it's "water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink." :-)

Thanks for sharing this!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

H/c's my weakness, especially the not-leaving-you part ^^

Heh - if Illya had been quoting the line, I would've made certain it was accurate, but with Napoleon, I figured he'd go for the more populist version...

[leaper182.livejournal.com]

Even if this fic might not be slash, it's still one that I'm keeping on my LJ memories. The fact that Napoleon refuses to leave Illya rings very true, as well as Illya passing off a broken leg as, oh, just twisted his ankle a bit. Yeah, Illya doesn't take care of himself. *pets him*

I really did like the two hallucinations. That felt like something that would've happened on the show, and that's very awesome to see in fic.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, I'm so glad you enjoyed it, even if it wasn't slash! (really, it's bordering on pre-slash, to my mind...and it's definitely love, whatever its nature...) Happy the hallucinations worked for you, I had a lot of fun with that bit...

[xjestx.livejournal.com]

Great Story! The part where Illya turned the gun on himself was fabulous. I'm so glad you are writing MFU.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Yay, so glad you liked that bit with the gun, it was one of the first scenes I came up - "Napoleon, please don't make me shoot myself in the head!"

(Your icon = XDDDD! Oh, Bertie...)

[xjestx.livejournal.com]

My paid account expired so now I'm all Bertie all the time.

I friended you - I hope you're okay with random fangirls hanging around. :)

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, I love finding new fangirls to hang with - the more the merrier, welcome, make yourself at home! ^_^

[tanndell.livejournal.com]

More MFU fic from you, I'm so very glad. In my head it's most definitely pre-slash, who knows where things could go after that first bottle of wine? You write Napolean so well, and Illya is the perfect mixture of arrogance and vulnerability. The Angelique and Waverly voices were fantastic (I wonder if Angelique is the aliens-made-them-do-it trope for MFU. She could be!). Is it greedy and demanding if I ask you for more already?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, it was pretty much pre-slash in my head as well...very glad you enjoyed it! (Angelique would do well in AMTDI, wouldn't she? Oddly enough, one of my first ideas for MFU was THRUSH makes them do it, though it's stalled out...maybe for the best, as it would've been seriously angsty...)

It's not greedy to ask for more when I'm all excited about getting to write more - I'm just happy to know someone will be there to read it! :D

[gritsinmisery.livejournal.com]

Another brilliant xparrot fic! It works either as "just" a case or pre-slash; and either way's alright by me.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

It's rather both in my mind, so I'm glad it worked thusly for you! ^_^

Thanks!

[tgabrielle.livejournal.com]

The characterizations ring true, even the twin mirages (and I liked how Napoleon argues with them even knowing they are hallucinations.) This would have made a fine episode, a little like "Deadly Quest," which pared down to brass tacks NS and IK's friendship, a theme that underscores many of their missions. You use evocative turns of the phrase, so that you could almost feel the heat of the sun and the thirst. I had been complaining there is nothing long and satisfying anymore--in MFU fic--what did you think I meant? Thank you for this. It's excellent and I'm a sucker for HC too!

Re: Thanks!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I am so glad you enjoyed it! (Man, how much would I give for an episode of this? That you'd like to see one as well is a fine compliment indeed!) Good to know I'm not the only h/c addict about ^__^

[theladyrose.livejournal.com]

Beautifully plotted and characterized - they really do need each other to make it through, in a totally unclichéd way. The hallucinations were a brilliant touch.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Eee, thanks, so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I love how they rely on each other...

[tristen84.livejournal.com]

This was wonderful! And I've never even seen one episode of Man from U.N.C.L.E.! It was very descriptive, especially the sweltering heat of the desert. I actually had to pull off my sweater as I was reading ;o)

Anyway, I was kind of wondering, since you're obviously an H/C fan like me, if you could, maybe, recommend any good H/C episodes of the show that I could get started with? Preferably with Napoleon taking care of Illya, but I'm not too picky :o) I know there's never going to be as much H/C in tv shows as we would like, but just a few moments here and there are enough to set my whumper's heart a-flutter ;o)

Thanks in advance!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, so glad you enjoyed it!

To be honest, the show doesn't have that much in the way of h/c - quite a bit of hurt (mostly in the form of really wacky bondage) but almost no comfort. Which isn't to say the show isn't adorable in its own way, but it's inspiring me to write because it's not giving me exactly what I want to see~!

There are a few eps with some h/c. Illya gets bashed around a bit in s1'a "See Paris-and-Die," "Girls of Nazarone," and "Gazebo in the Maze". In s2 "Children's Day" has one moment of Napoleon comforting Illya in a cell, that's very brief, but some of the most outright h/c in the show. Also "Bat Cave" has wacky Illya-whump (with vampire bats) and "Arabian" has an injured Illya, who is absolutely goooorgeous, even if Napoleon's not around. There's outright Illya-torture in s3 "Concrete Overcoat". And s4 has the most (s4 is more serious in tone, but not as fun...but it's got quite a bit of fangirl bait...) - Napoleon has to save Illya in "Master's Touch" and "Deadly Quest". Also "Gurnius" is Napoleon-torture but shouldn't be missed (and it's emotional torture for Illya...)

(all these eps are really called "The __ Affair" but as per standard MUNCLE fandom rules I'm leaving out the Affairs in these titles.)

That should get you started - hope you enjoy the show! *all happy about introducing new fangirls to the wonder that is Illya* ^^

(also be sure to check out gnine's new vid, for an idea of what you're getting into! ^^)

[tristen84.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! (And sorry for the late reply - RL's been a major pain in the butt.) I managed to watch a couple of the eps you mentioned, and I have to agree with you: the show's absolutely adorable! A little silly sometimes, especially compared to some of the tv-shows we get nowadays, but oh so adorable! And Illya! Oh my, he is gorgeous, and cute, and I adore his wry, sarcastic sense of humour!

And Napoleon ain't bad either. I kinda like his happy-go-lucky charm. ;o)

Actually, gnine's vids are what got me curious about the show in the first place ;o) Then I read your fic and I REALLY wanted to get to know these characters :o)

Yeah, I kinda already figured there wouldn't be much h/c in it, given that old shows are often far more about the whump than about the comfort. Especially when it concerns two males. Still, in the eps I've watched so far, I like how it's usually Napoleon asking Illya how he's doing and that alone makes my heart beat a little faster ;o) The lack of any real comfort is disappointing, but I guess that's what fanfic's for ;o) Speaking of which, are there any good MUNCLE fics you could rec? Gen or slash, I'm not picky ;o)

Thanks again for the ep-recs and for introducing me to the fandom! :oD And I'm looking forward to more of your fics ;o)

[tristen84.livejournal.com]

Oh, oops! Nevermind about the fic recs, I just discovered your recs on Delicious.com. WEEEE! I feel like I've just stumbled upon a treasure chest! :oD Thank you!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you found the Delicious, there's a lot of great fic there - and I'm still reading, so more to come ^^ The advantage of such an old fandom is that there's decades of fic out there...

And heee, isn't the show much fun? So adorable! And silly, yes - s3 especially was influenced by the popularity of Batman and goes totally camp, not quite successfully (it's why s4 went serious, as backlash). (Also, if you do slash, you must watch s3's "Suburbia Affair", which is, well...they play house together. No really!) But still - the cast and crew of MUNCLE, they weren't trying to make art or drama, they were just trying to be entertaining, in which they succeed admirably, and had a blast in the doing...a lot of modern shows don't have quite that sense of anything-goes fun.

Much as my heart is given to Illya, I do love Napoleon, too...the way he can smirk his way through anything amuses me. They're perfect partners! ^^

[epicycles.livejournal.com]

Ah, that hit the spot. There's nothing like good h/c fic in the morning. :)

Terrific fic! I particularly love the hallucinations and Illya holding himself hostage. And the ending, hee!

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, so glad you enjoyed it! Illya holding himself hostage was too good a thought to pass up, once the scene came to mind ^^

[snarkydame.livejournal.com]

\o/ Brilliant. You deal just as well with sand as you do with snow, you know?

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee~, so glad it works for you, snow or sand ! ^_^

[shayera.livejournal.com]

I know next to nothing about these characters, but it turned out I still enjoyed this immensely. I love your brand of h/c! ^__^

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Hee, glad to know it jumped the bounds of canon to be h/c-accessible to all ^_^

[suchthefangirl.livejournal.com]

This is the second story of yours I've read in the last week or so. I enjoyed both of them very much and just wanted to thank you.

So, thank you. I can't wait until I have the time to check out more of your work.

It makes me happy to see the boys taking care of each other. If it's ok with you, I will chose to think of this as pre-slash, as that will make me even happier.

Again, I really liked this, thank you.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

So glad you've enjoyed the stories, and I hope you like the others, when you get a chance to read them!

Go ahead and think of this (or the others) as pre-slash! ^^ To be honest I rather thought this particular story was slashy myself. I like to toe the gen-slash line - as far as I'm concerned, these guys love each other; whether that love is friendship or romantic doesn't interest me as much as just proving it's there!

[crashtestskater.livejournal.com]

Loved it, very cute. Made me smile. Here are a few comments along with some more medical info on heat related illnesses.

Heat fatigue – should be heat exhaustion (since it in MUNCLE and set in the past you can also use heat prostration)

Jouncing??? Bouncing rough ride?

I love the loony tunes reference with the anvil. Big smiles.

Thank you for not removing his boot. You see it all the time in movies, on TV, or in books. Only when you can stay off the injury can you take it off or if the boot in impeding circulation.

Hee, yes, Canada can be harsh place. You should see the mosquitoes.

The layman tern for a sprain is a twist.

“his head was throbbing dully, in time with the rapid beating of his pulse.”

To be able to feel your pulse that your blood pressure must be high, with heatstroke your PB drops. Your body tries to cool itself by thinning the blood.


Heat Cramps
- red hot sweaty skin
- pulse fast and strong
- painful cramps in the large muscles, most commonly abs and legs

Heat Exhaustion (life threatening, immediate medical help needed)
- very hot red skin
- dizziness
- labored breathing
- nausea

Heatstroke – used to be called sun stroke (life threatening, immediate medical help needed)
- headache
- dizziness
- decrease levels of consciousness
- heart rate, fast weak irregular
- breathing, fast shallow
- other signs of shock, pale cool clammy skin
- in classic heatstroke the casualty will have dry skin (they are so dehydrated that they can’t produce sweet), but in exertional heatstroke since they were sweaty they will be wet.
- Nausea/vomiting
- Convulsions
- unconsciousness

Once the casualty vomits they will not be able to take any more fluids orally. This is a very serious situation and they need to be in a hospital to get an IV.

Over all I think your medical info is sound, save for the one main mention above. Just realize that heatstroke can develop very quickly. Napoleon, for example should have been very ill even in the morning. Most people will start to get dehydrated is the night before they only had alcohol. But creative, heroic, licenses are permitted, and I think you got a nice balance between reality and excitement for fiction.

FYI – First Aid procedures

In any heat related illness, stop activity, get into the shade or AC. Drink plain water (not salted) in small slow sips to prevent vomiting. Remove excess clothes (so many wonderful possibilities with that for fic). Cool the casualty by fanning them, sponging with cool (not cold) water, or covering them with a damp sheet. Call for an ambulance if 1. They vomit, 2. They are cool/cold to the touch (signs of shock) 3. Go unconscious.

If there’s anything else you’d like to know, just ask.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed the story (even with the few medical irregularities ^^) And thanks for the heatstroke/etc info! I found most of it on Wiki, but it didn't register that low BP would mean you wouldn't feel it...oops! ^^; (Though really, I wasn't too worried, since this was MUNCLE fic, and we all know human physiology worked differently in the '60s - you could knock people out by tapping them on their shoulders, after all! XP)

(And yup, jounce means bounce, pretty much.)

See you in a couple days!

[tresa-cho.livejournal.com]

Oh this was brilliant.

[xparrot.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed it! ^_^