Big Bang 2012: Measuring Scars by Maddalia

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Title: Measuring Scars
Author: maddalia
Artist: nickygabriel
Archive to Pros Lib: Yes
Genre: Slash
Characters/Pairing: Bodie/Doyle, other m/m
Word count: 69907
Warnings (highlight to read): This fic contains occasional depictions of, and allusions to, consensual sexual acts between boys of 16 and under. This is mostly of the "public school experimentation" type, and does not include penetrative sex. The descriptions are brief and mildly graphic, such that might have an R or "Mature" rating if they depicted the same acts between adults. There are also allusions to, and recollections of, the sexual abuse of teenage boys. The recollections are told first by a boy of sixteen, and second by an adult male.

Summary: The death of Bodie's mother when he's only nine years old sets in motion a chain of events that eventually leads him to CI5, and Doyle. But when the lads are assigned to protect a volatile ex-KGB assassin, it seems that Bodie has not managed to escape his past as thoroughly as he'd thought. Now he needs Doyle's help to break a cycle of abuse and violence, and bring a happy ending to someone else's love story -- as well as trying to begin one of his own.

Notes: This fic is the longest I've written. It would not have been possible without the input and beta reading of moonlightmead. I also thank merentha13 for her encouragement, and the wonderful mods of CI5BOT for guiding this newbie through her first Big Bang! And of course, a massive thank you to nickygabriel for the lovely artwork.

Link to Fic: Fic Master Post

Link to Artwork: Artwork Master Post

Comments

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

Could I ask you to send me a copy (doc or txt) for Proslib when you have a minute? Copying or downloading anything of this length tends to be tricky.

Thanks

Frances
Proslib business: proslib at gmail dot com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proslib
http://www.livejournal.com/users/hagsrus/

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Will do!

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on posting! Gosh - it's a big one *g*

Can't wait to start reading...

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope you enjoy it :)

[lillianorchid.livejournal.com]

Congrats on posting! Wow, sounds like a really intense read! Can't wait to read it later on! :D *\o/*

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know you'll read - I hope you like it!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Congratulations and thanks so much for writing for the BB. *runs off to download*

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to find out what you think! Thanks for commenting.

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Really looking forward to this read and it's going straight on to my recentlyacquiredkindle! Thanks for your hard work in writing it.

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, I had a great time! Thanks for telling me you'll read the story - I hope you like it and I'll look forward to finding out what you think!

[msmoat.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! It's a very satisfying feeling, isn't it? Go, you! I haven't read the story yet--I'm kind of on hold in reading until I get my own done--but I will! I just wanted to register appreciation for all the work (and sweat and toil *g*). I hope you enjoyed the process!

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

It is very satisfying, and a relief! But I did enjoy it immensely. I can't wait to read yours!

[nickygabriel]

I'm sorry it took me so long to get online/post today. I couldn't upload it before I went to work in the morning :)
Here it is: Illos.

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, it's great - work interfered with me too, and time zones of course, or I'd have waited for you. I'll get that link up ASAP.

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on completing your first Big Bang! :D

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! :)

[saintvic.livejournal.com]

Congrats on posting, this looks absolutely fantastic and wow look at that word count. I am downloading as I type and am really looking forward to this.

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

I'll look forward to finding out what you think - I hope it lives up to expectations! Thanks so much for your comment.

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

This is a very beautiful love story (or two love stories *g*) and you should be very proud of yourself! You've created some wonderful "other characters" and their involvement with Bodie and Doyle is well done.

Everyone should read this - its truly special!

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks again for reading and for leaving such wonderful feedback! I'm so happy you enjoyed the story!

[krisserci5.livejournal.com]

I look forward to reading this fic. I'm so glad that you joined us.

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I appreciate that! I hope you enjoy the fic. :)

[sw33n3y.livejournal.com]

Ooh, it looks like the scene is set for a tumultuous affair.

Your first Big Bang story? ...Well done! :D

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much! Yes, very tumultuous *g*

[imachar.livejournal.com]

I lay down and read this last night, three hours, straight through and I was *riveted* the entire time. This is a wonderful, wonderful story. It's beautifully written, there isn't a single moment that feels out of time or place, which is really tricky to accomplish when you're writing in the 1950s and 1970s. Most of all you've created two OCs who are not only fully realized, wonderfully drawn characters, but you made me care about them as much as I did about Bodie and Doyle. And this is your first Big-bang? Well done, very, very, very well done....

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Wow - you made my day, this is the best feedback I could have hoped for! Thank you so, so much. I've really enjoyed weaving the lads into this world - and I am so happy to know that you believed in my OCs and cared about what happened to them.

[piskiedust.livejournal.com]

Congratulations and wow!

A great story, intriguing and easy to read, if a little rollercoaster-y with the emotions.

Thank-you

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

You're welcome, and thanks so much for your feedback. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. :D

[angel-ci5.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a whopper of a story, how wonderful!
This sounds really interesting, I've downloaded for my Kindle, and really look forward to reading it!
And what lovely art work, too!

Congratulations and thanks!

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

The art is great, isn't it? Nicky did a wonderful job.

Thanks for letting me know you'll take a look at the fic. I hope you enjoy it and I'll look forward to finding out what you think!

[murphybabe]

Yay, now mine is out of the way I can read everyone else's! I'm looking forward to this - you've been Kindled and I will come back once I have read it!

Thank you both for posting - wonderful!

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks heaps - I'll look forward to finding out what you think!

[przed.livejournal.com]

I've been grabbing every spare moment I could to read this the last few days. It's extraordinary, from the background you've created for Bodie (and Doyle), to your OCs. And your writing is exquisite. I'm just in the homestretch and hoping against hope that you give Draper and Hal a happy ending, as well as Bodie and Doyle, of course.

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm so happy you've enjoyed it so far, and I very much appreciate all your kind compliments. I hope you enjoy the end!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I knew this was a fairly long story and I kept it back until I had a bit more time, but I just wanted to say that even though I'm only at around the 25% mark (according to my kindle) I think I've actually fallen in love with it and all the characters I've met so far (and Bodie hasn't even met Doyle yet.....!). (And I was thrilled to see that you'd written a companion piece to it.)

This is yet *another* story which is presenting me with a real conundrum: I really don't want to finish it but I have to read on......

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I'm so pleased to know it's made a good impression. I hope you enjoy the rest - and the companion piece, eventually *g*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

What an original and wonderful read this was, one which I know will stay in my head for a long, long time. I think the thing I loved most about it was your characterisations of Haley and Draper. I loved their relationship, in fact – commiting heresy – I think I actually enjoyed it more than Bodie and Doyle’s which is saying something. I enjoyed seeing their relationship through Bodie’s eyes and then (God I’m so fickle) through the eyes of Doyle. I loved the young, never to be to forgotten or found again school friendships - young love. And I loved the way you showed us the different kinds of love people can experience. Maybe I’m getting old but I also liked the fact that you didn’t feel obliged to have a penetrative sex scene between any of the characters, the implied often being much more erotic and satisfying. This was one of the longest stories I’ve read in quite a while but I can honestly say not once did it drag and I enjoyed every word of it. Once again I feel both humbled and proud of our Pros writers! Thanks so much for a great read.

[maddalia.livejournal.com]

Your comment's made my day. I'm delighted you liked this so much. And that my OCs captured your imagination (they stepped up alongside Bodie and Doyle and refused to be background characters!) and that you enjoyed the 'different kinds of love' bit. You got what I hoped people would get from the story, and I couldn't ask for more. Thank you!!!

Must add (since you said you'd read "August 1970"): I'm glad you appreciate the relative lack of sex in "Scars" - yes, I think the closest I got was a discreet-ish summary. That was a conscious decision this time. My first companion fic kind of throws that out the window *g* - but that's one reason why it's separate: the mood and pace of the longer story lent itself more to, as you say, the implied. I'm glad you thought that worked, because my fics are usually a lot more explicit and I wanted to try a subtler tack this time round. Anyway, thanks again!