Lucas North Fan Fiction

The FanstRAvaganza continues! See yesterday’s post for a list of participating blogs. And check out the index CDoart has created of FanstRAv posts from all blogs taking part.

Image credit: RichardArmitageNet

Although I have not read much in the way of fan fiction myself, I am intrigued by the fanfic phenomenon that has engulfed the Robin Hood villain Sir Guy of Gisborne, one of Richard Armitage’s most popular roles. Some writers who have taken part in this endeavour have even gone on to become published authors in their own right. It is truly remarkable that one man and one character could inspire such creativity and in some cases a whole new career!

But what of Lucas North fan fiction? It does not seem to have reached the same dizzying heights as those fics centered on dear Gisborne. I am presuming of course that Lucas North fanfics are out there? I don’t know, I haven’t really looked! Do you know of a few? If you are aware of some decent Lucas North fan fics lurking on the interwebs, this is your opportunity to tell me and your fellow Spooks Fan Blog readers about them (please comment with links below).

I can’t help but wonder what drives one to write fan fiction based on a particular Richard Armitage role. Obviously the character must be compelling enough to engage the writer – but given that Richard Armitage is the one who embodies and portrays the character, I envisage that writing fan fiction is also an imaginary opportunity to direct Richard’s acting talent to one’s will, and perhaps also to evoke the character of desire that he so eloquently represents. Fan fiction appears to capture an intersection between a fan’s intrigue with a character and their affection towards the actor who portrays it. I wonder which one of these two fanfic writing facets takes precedence?

In my own case I was driven to write a fanfic while in the grip on a hypomanic OCD-like writing compulsion that afflicts me every once in a while. In the usual course of my writing life I never write fiction! In honour of the FanstRAvaganza I am squeamishly publishing an excerpt from the Spooks fanfic/script I began to pen while in this state. Although initially based on Zoe and Danny (bless!) it eventually morphed into a tale of Lucas North reconnecting with a close long lost friend and MI-5 colleague “Raquel” (my own invention – incidentally a fictitious name I give to any bloke who tries to pick me up!). It is loosely set post series seven, pre-series nine. Silliness abounds!

Excerpt from ‘The Dead Spook’
RAQUEL’S RESIDENCE – DAY 2, NIGHT

The quiet evening in Raquel’s old apartment was imbued with a charmed sense of de ja vu. A Thai take out buffet camouflaged her quaint makeshift coffee table. Sprawled out on the couch, while an old television flickered on mute, the two friends relaxed and enjoyed a playful verbal exchange. Historically, Raquel and Lucas were not adverse to taking the mickey and pushing each other’s buttons. This element of their repartee however had received only a muted resurrection thus far. It had been such a long time between Thai take outs – boundaries and sensitivities had to be re-learned and adjusted before this age old tradition could be confidently reestablished.

Once upon a time Raquel would have ribbed Lucas about his solitary nature. This hardly seemed appropriate now, given his involuntary isolation at the hands of their Russian foes. Still, a little jab here and there about his penchant for William Blake would remain fair game. How a man who worshiped one of the fore runners to anarchism, ended up in a profession whose primary task was, essentially, to maintain the status quo, was one of the delicious ironies in her friend’s complex character that she found endlessly fascinating. Not to mention irresistible material for the occasional jeer as well. One thing was for sure, they were never short of things to talk and argue over. Their discourse was known to become quite heated at times, which observers often misinterpreted as adversarial, but it was all in good fun. Lucas especially relished their peculiar brand of verbal stoush. Raquel’s mind was mercilessly sharp, and she had the tongue to match; it kept him on his toes. He liked that she challenged him. Lucas understood that it was only through the reflection of critical mirror that one could obtain meaningful personal growth.

As the evening descended into night their meandering conversation inevitably became immersed in the old days on the grid, catching up on old gossip mostly, which was more Raquel’s forte. In contrast to the past nine years, the grid was one of the last places, besides Moscow, where they shared a common experience on common ground.

RAQUEL: I dated Colin for a little while.
LUCAS: The gadget geek?
RAQUEL: Yes.
LUCAS: You and Colin?
RAQUEL: Yes… What?
LUCAS: He’s not even remotely your type!
RAQUEL: And what type is that?
LUCAS: Oh I don’t know, a woman?
RAQUEL: That was only one time!

Upon hearing this dishonest protest, Lucas immediately paused shoveling noodles into his mouth, and with chopsticks poised, looked up to direct a piercing gaze at Raquel that spoke of his all knowing eminence. Raquel was forced to retreat from her beguiling omission. “Two times” she corrected, or so she thought. Still completely paused, Lucas raised one of his perfectly formed eyebrows to indicate his dissatisfaction with Raquel’s naive charade; he could not release her from his impertinent gaze, just yet. “Gosh, was it three?” queried Raquel, struggling to remember her third stroke of lady luck. Signaling that this was the correct figure, Lucas stabbed the air with his chopsticks and proceeded to devour the noodle strands that had been dangling from his sautéed lips. Raquel sat back in her seat, somewhat bemused by what had just transpired. “I didn’t realise you kept score, Lucas” she stated, with a seductive air that reminded him of Ros. Lucas paused once again, briefly this time, and flashed Raquel a cursory look of innocence that he hoped would mask his sheepish interior. Raquel was intrigued, but let her transient curiosity pass without the scrutiny it may have warranted.

“So, tell me about Colin, then” Lucas inquired, strategically diverting the conversation back to less perilous territory. “There’s not much to tell, really” Raquel insisted. Lucas was surprised by this odd paring, his foxy feline friend and the banal brainiac from the grid’s resident nerd herd. Raquel had only brought up the subject of Colin to provide Lucas with the bait necessary for him to beset her. They had to talk about something. It was either grid gossip or FSB interrogation techniques. Lucas was right, he wasn’t her type. But in the months after Lucas was arrested Raquel felt bereaved and lonely. Colin, although a little bewildered by her sudden interest, responded positively to her proposition: Colin, how’d you like to be part of a radical experiment – You. Me. On a date?

LUCAS: I can’t imagine Malcolm would have been too pleased about that.
RAQUEL: Why not?
LUCAS: You know..
RAQUEL: Know what? … Malcolm and Colin?
LUCAS: No! Didn’t he fancy you?
RAQUEL: Me? Malcolm? No! No, Malcolm had a thing for Zoe.
LUCAS: Zoe? The blonde girl?
RAQUEL: No.. maybe you’d already left by then.
LUCAS: Colin! (laughs)
RAQUEL: Leave it, North, I’d be happy to reel off your checkered history if you like.
LUCAS: Ergh, please don’t.
RAQUEL: And spare you the humiliation, why should I?
LUCAS: Because you are my friend, and, I paid for this meal.
RAQUEL: Fair enough. Pass me the soy and I won’t.

Lucas promptly dispatched some soy satchels to Raquel.

LUCAS: Saved by soy!

Remember to visit the participating FanstRAvaganza blogs and please comment below with your favourite Lucas North fan fics!