Mel and Ali review Calm by Psychopant as our inaugural review:
4 1/2 stars
by Psychopant (obscuredmemory on LJ)
Main Characters: Dr. Spencer Reid / Aaron Hotchner
Genre: Crime / Romance
Rating: M
Status: WIP
Type: Multi-chapter
Summary: Something had changed in the BAU. Dr. Spencer Reid could tell. He didn't know, however, just how much things were going to change because of one case file. Hotch/Reid, MC.
Warnings: Profanity, slash (man-on-man sex), sexual situations (mostly consensual, one non-con, no explicit details for the non-con), adult content, violence, frightening situations, descriptive details of torture, etc.
This story is a Case fic mixed with romance with bits of humor thrown in.
by Psychopant (obscuredmemory on LJ)
Main Characters: Dr. Spencer Reid / Aaron Hotchner
Genre: Crime / Romance
Rating: M
Status: WIP
Type: Multi-chapter
Summary: Something had changed in the BAU. Dr. Spencer Reid could tell. He didn't know, however, just how much things were going to change because of one case file. Hotch/Reid, MC.
Warnings: Profanity, slash (man-on-man sex), sexual situations (mostly consensual, one non-con, no explicit details for the non-con), adult content, violence, frightening situations, descriptive details of torture, etc.
This story is a Case fic mixed with romance with bits of humor thrown in.
Mel: I like the fact that the author pays lots of attention to the details and facts. The story itself has been well thought out and planned. Ali: I am in love with this story and the detail that Psychopant has given each and every facet of information that is required to tell this tale.
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/**/*/*/
Dr. Spencer Reid is the target of a serial killer who is taunting him by sending notes, puzzles, and clues addressed to "Doc" as he is killing off young men who look like and have similarities to Reid. Somehow, in this unsub’s twisted psyche, he views them as competition for Reid. The sick bastard tortures, rapes and murders the victims. The team believes it is someone who knew Spencer from his Las Vegas high school.
The unsub also keeps making references to a relationship between Reid and Hotch. All the while, Reid is struggling internally with his feelings of attraction for his Unit Chief, freaked out by the fact that this “someone” knows too many intimate details of his life. Though everyone around him seems to point it out, Reid is in denial of his sexual attraction for Aaron for some time before coming to grips and finally admitting to himself that he is, in fact, interested in his boss.
Taking on the role of protector, Hotch is there always hovering over Spencer’s shoulder. He tells him early-on that he will never leave him alone, and he doesn’t. From Chapter 2 where they are forced to share a room AND a bed, you see a mutual attraction from Hotch, as well. It’s a natural progression that Psychopant has brilliantly put together.
Then, not only do we get to come a long for the ride of this adventure with Dr. Reid as he is being stalked by an unknown subject from his past, we also get glimpses of the more recent tortures and cases gone wrong in which Spencer has been hurt or nearly died. References to being captured and shot by a team member or bound by plasticuffs come into play as Spencer reveals his strengths and weaknesses. The intermingling of the past and present is done cleverly.
Mel:
One of my fav lines: He went from Neapolitan ice cream-happy to dilaudid withdrawal-depressed.
Fav paragraph: Oh how Reid wished he could wake up. Figuratively. He knew this wasn't a dream. In dreams you don't fly to Vegas, sleep next to your boss, or find a dead and bloodied body in your bathtub. At least, not all in the same dream. Separate dreams, maybe. This dream also included death threats, innocence-breaking confessions, and a psycho matching Reid up with his boss, with a nice side of torture, rape and murder. No, even Reid going through withdrawal couldn't have dreamt something like this up.
Ali:
For me, my fave parts were the cuddling on the couch: (excerpt)
... He removed his hand quickly from Hotch's right hip and gently untangled their legs. They had to have been hugging for Reid's hands to end up where they were. Still, it could have been worse. His hand could have been on Hotch's crotch. Reid elbowed Hotch purposely in the side, watching as the older man slowly woke up.
And, also, the scene where Hotch meets Diana Reid: (excerpt)
... "All right. He is tall, dark, professional, and ruggedly handsome. This must be the famous Agent Hotchner, am I correct?"
Reid blushed a brilliant scarlet. "Mom!"
/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/**/*/*/
Dr. Spencer Reid is the target of a serial killer who is taunting him by sending notes, puzzles, and clues addressed to "Doc" as he is killing off young men who look like and have similarities to Reid. Somehow, in this unsub’s twisted psyche, he views them as competition for Reid. The sick bastard tortures, rapes and murders the victims. The team believes it is someone who knew Spencer from his Las Vegas high school.
The unsub also keeps making references to a relationship between Reid and Hotch. All the while, Reid is struggling internally with his feelings of attraction for his Unit Chief, freaked out by the fact that this “someone” knows too many intimate details of his life. Though everyone around him seems to point it out, Reid is in denial of his sexual attraction for Aaron for some time before coming to grips and finally admitting to himself that he is, in fact, interested in his boss.
Taking on the role of protector, Hotch is there always hovering over Spencer’s shoulder. He tells him early-on that he will never leave him alone, and he doesn’t. From Chapter 2 where they are forced to share a room AND a bed, you see a mutual attraction from Hotch, as well. It’s a natural progression that Psychopant has brilliantly put together.
Then, not only do we get to come a long for the ride of this adventure with Dr. Reid as he is being stalked by an unknown subject from his past, we also get glimpses of the more recent tortures and cases gone wrong in which Spencer has been hurt or nearly died. References to being captured and shot by a team member or bound by plasticuffs come into play as Spencer reveals his strengths and weaknesses. The intermingling of the past and present is done cleverly.
Mel:
One of my fav lines: He went from Neapolitan ice cream-happy to dilaudid withdrawal-depressed.
Fav paragraph: Oh how Reid wished he could wake up. Figuratively. He knew this wasn't a dream. In dreams you don't fly to Vegas, sleep next to your boss, or find a dead and bloodied body in your bathtub. At least, not all in the same dream. Separate dreams, maybe. This dream also included death threats, innocence-breaking confessions, and a psycho matching Reid up with his boss, with a nice side of torture, rape and murder. No, even Reid going through withdrawal couldn't have dreamt something like this up.
Ali:
For me, my fave parts were the cuddling on the couch: (excerpt)
... He removed his hand quickly from Hotch's right hip and gently untangled their legs. They had to have been hugging for Reid's hands to end up where they were. Still, it could have been worse. His hand could have been on Hotch's crotch. Reid elbowed Hotch purposely in the side, watching as the older man slowly woke up.
And, also, the scene where Hotch meets Diana Reid: (excerpt)
... "All right. He is tall, dark, professional, and ruggedly handsome. This must be the famous Agent Hotchner, am I correct?"
Reid blushed a brilliant scarlet. "Mom!"
Completely meaningless, of course, but it seemed like Gibson was the only cast member to comment on MGG's worrisome spider bite.
ReplyDeleteGibsonthomas: RT @GUBLERNATION Doctor says I will be A OK---but you're weren't A OK before...!