White Collar Ficlet - Joy In The Morning

[elrhiarhodan]

I wrote this a few months ago for the lovely photoash , for her prompt "Late Morning."  The new title is shamelessly borrowed from Betty Smith's mid-century novel.

Joy In The Morning

Neal finds perfection in the morning light that streams into his apartment. It's a rare thing for Peter to sleep in, particularly here in his bed, but Elizabeth's visiting her sister and there's no reason for either of them to rush to get up. Except for the light.

It streams through the skylights, pouring across Peter's skin, turning him into a gilded, recumbent god of love and justice and Neal reaches for his sketchpad and a box of pastels.

Swiftly, before Peter wakes, Neal lays down lines of flowing color, capturing the dormant power of muscle and bone, the tight curve of ass and hips and waist, the formidable strength of Peter's broad shoulders and arms - all highlighted by the filtered light of the late morning sun.

Comments

[ladygray99]

:-) Nice.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you...I think this is the shortest fic I've ever published.

[ladygray99]

Short is good. We run the drabble com, remember. ;-)

[elrhiarhodan]

Yeah...we do, don't we!

[usakeh.livejournal.com]

That is lovely.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you, sweetheart

[daria234.livejournal.com]

Mmm... felt like watching great cinematography.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you for the lovely feedback.

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

Beautiful.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

[shea.livejournal.com]

Lovely atmosphere. It really captures the way Neal, as an artist, views the world.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you! That's just what I was trying to say.

[shea.livejournal.com]

Cool because I love that part of Neal, how he sees things from a different perspective, one that Peter has yet to fully understand. Just like Peter's life –college, jog, marriage– is alien to Neal. Their difference allow us, as fanfic writers, to extrapolate a lot about their histories, and draws the two of them together, because they both love to solve mysteries.

Neal never finished high school? I really flippin' curious to know how some with his obvious intelligence bypassed they system.

[elrhiarhodan]

I think one of the things that makes the relationship between Peter and Neal (canon and otherwise) so appealing is that these are two highly intelligent men who come from two completely different worlds, and they are perversely attracted to what the other has/represents.

As much as Neal longs for the Burke's white picket fence existence, Peter clearly envies Neal's ability to get it done - without worrying about the niceities of warrant law, 4th amendment rights and criminal procedure. This is why we see Peter really using Neal's status as a CI this season, instead of just an adjunct and an extra brain.

And as for Neal not graduating...I'm sad (because it borked a really good fic I was writing), but not surprised. I think he was bored in school and one day, just walked out and got on a train to NYC. Never looked back.

BWT - as much as I'm really enjoying your Die Hard fic (the last one was smokin' hot), I really am looking forward to the day that you're back on the White Collar team.

[shea.livejournal.com]

Fuck, ways it you whom I mentioned to that there's been a distinct lack of tension between Peter and Neal this season? A lot of fans are complaining about that, but to me it just means a shift in the fanfic.

Pardon me for saying so if you don't agree, but Neal seems much more feminine to me this season. He's almost like another aspect of El, especially since she's been gone so much, and Peter is treating him so gently, because he knows how sensitive he is and how much he's lost.

I have this vision of Peter making love to Neal, long, slow gentle love to show him how much he's appreciated and adored– Peter solidifying their trust – just as he would to El if she lost a close loved one. Show him that he's not alone, and knowing what Peter does know, or suspects about Neal's past.

You like my Die Hard fic? *grins* You know I got an awesome Die Hard writier onto White Collar? Fic expected shortly.

I really love the DH fandom because of the fic more then the movie. The season is never going to continue so writers can take it where ever they want it to go.

[elrhiarhodan]

No - 'twasn't me complaining about the lack of P-N tension. I've noticed that there's been a lot of good natured back-and-forth about Neal's status as a CI - his arrest, his parole. It started in the vault room at the end of Withdrawal - the mock argument, then again at the end of Copycat Caffrey. The only time I've seen Neal get the least bit upset was when Peter pointed out that he comes with a GPS too in Tuesday's ep.

It doesn't bother me - in fact, it seems a bit more realistic (as much as WC can be called such). Neal's status as Peter's "partner" last season always kind of freaked me out.

I think there is a definite feminine edge to Neal - which I didn't notice until you just pointed it out. And I love the idea you've just tossed me. I am always more comfortable writing romantic sex scenes than hard play...so I may just have to write that!

[shea.livejournal.com]

Please do write that. I remember how beautifully you wrote El as a "sex fairy." Your "New York, New York, It's a Hellva Town" fic is still my favorite of yours. It's tender and sweet and just pure sexy without any hard play. The risks all existed in their three way relationship, and it was divine!

I can't remember the name of the episode, but it was S1 where Peter was staying with Neal because his electricy was out, but I believe since then that they've been letting more of Bomer's personality inform the character. He's a sweet, gentle loving man (references your icon), and to lose the love of his life, gay or straight, he would need someone to comfort him and Peter's it, since Mozzy is so obviously his equal and friend. Peter is the one to keep him grounded. He's the one he can learn a better way from.

This show seems to say "fuck you" to gender roles so I will too. Peter loves Neal like he loves Elizabeth. Peter likes Mozzy. He adores Diana, but he loves Neal, loves the beauty and the emotions and the mystery of him. Wants to protect him.

What was it said in that last episode, "If it was you wife in danger of being kidnapped, wouldn't you keep her close?"

El's safe on the green screen in San Francisco, but Neal's the one whose life was saved by Peter because Peter's love made him hesitate to get on that plane. That has to be powerful stuff to Peter. I can't see Peter not making love to him as if he were a cherished loved one whom Peter needs to tie to him to keep him safe.

Peter's an intelligent but simple man. Simple not in a stupid way, but straigth forward. He's very masculine. He protects what he loves with everything that he's got.

Fuck I love this show!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you so much for loving New York, New York - your comments were one of the reasons why I ended up finishing it (although technically, they still have plenty of opportunities to get the seksi on between the Park and Riverside Drive).

You're thinking of Home Invasion - and I have to agree. HI wasn't my favorite episode - the writing was choppy, but the canon it provided was breathtaking. Particularly the way Peter keeps pushing at Neal's personal boundaries. A lot of fic has Neal as the needy seducer - which is hot...but I get really, really (ahem) excited when it's Peter that's making the running. (I probably should save this exegesis for my reply to your posting).

You're right about Peter - his wants and needs are simple. He's unconflicted - Neal's his to love and protect, and god forgive anyone who gets in his way (there's a great interview with Tim @ ComicCon about what Peter would do if someone tried to take Neal from him - UNF is pretty much the only word for it).

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

This is just lovely. The number of words is sparse, but the emotions they convey are vast.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you. Before this and a few other pieces, I worried that I'd never be able to write anything less than a thousand words.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

Hey, hun. This is gorgeous. RL has kept me from commenting on things for a while, but this is sure a wonderful fic to come back in on. I love the sensuality of the description - I can practically feel the sun heating up ... heating up... erm, sorry, of course Neal couldn't resist. Who could?

The Tim DeKay T-shirt pic is so stunning. Mind telling us where it came from?

[elrhiarhodan]

I've missed you - I hope everything is good (like you've escaped Paris with the rest of the Parisians).

I'll be happy to send you the link to the Tim t-shirt picture...the cleaned up one is on my home PC. Will send you a PM later tonight.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

I escaped a little bit - to London for the Proms. Third time this summer, and the fourth and last time is next week. It's the work backlog in between trips that's the problem. Re pic: oooh!

[elrhiarhodan]

The Proms...oh you lucky woman.

Here is the source picture for the icon on the main post and the one on this reply (feel free to head on over to my user pics and gank 'em if you want 'em.)

This terrific picture (with a distracting background) was posted on Tuesday, and sort of got lost amongst the awesomeness of the Tim and Matty prom pose pic they did just before the Today Show appearance.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

Ahhh. That's made my day; my whole weekend, even. Thanks!

[daniel-shadow.livejournal.com]

Just perfect!!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

[dawnie1970.livejournal.com]

Truly lovely, intimate. ♥

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

[jrosemary.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!

[elrhiarhodan]

Thank you!

[shelley6441.livejournal.com]

Mm. What a lovely image.

Thank you!