Consequences (Professionals story)

Consequences is a Professionals slash 19-page circuit story written by Tarot & AN Other in the 1980s. Many fans find the story troubling and offensive.
This story is responsible for creating The Game trope in Professionals fandom.
 
It is a significant story in the history of the fandom, because of the controversy it generated and because of the number of stories spawned directly from it or using the concept in one way or another. 
In 1992, Henry Jenkins wrote in Textual Poachers:
One fan said in 2009: 
==The First?==
Some fans assume that Consequences was the first B/D story because it is the most well-known of the very earliest stories. Compare discussion at this thread at blueamaranthe's livejournal; comments from Felicity Parkinson quoted by metabolick that "Powerplay as the first Hatstand (B/D) story written and its sequel Deathgame. Both were by Stuartsky", comments here on thread by metabolick and msmoat's comment here that she had always been told that O. Yardley wrote the first Pros slash story.
==Story Description==
The story's main premise is that Bodie's (canonical) mercenary background included a (decidedly non-canonical) "Game"—to relieve sexual tension, the mercenaries would fight each other, winner take all. This was the only way Bodie knew how to have m/m sexual relations, so in the story's present-day, when he finds himself unexpectedly attracted to a particularly vulnerable (drunk and maudlin) Doyle, he reverts to Game techniques, beats the crap out of Doyle, and rapes him. Later that night he realizes that perhaps that wasn't his best move, and attempts to mend fences with Doyle by seducing him, which works—sort of. Eventually they wind up in a relationship that's based on a struggle for emotional dominance, with each of them truly wanting the other but neither willing to admit to it, or to any softer feelings.
===The Story Behind The Story===
Tarot and AN Other were writing partners during Starsky and Hutch's heyday - (early to mid 80's) - writing both gen and slash. Tarot migrated into writing Professionals slash stories. AN Other, however, couldn't see any way Bodie and Doyle could ever have a sexual relationship unless it was rooted in violence and wrote "Consequences" to underscore that point. Tarot had a different view, and attempted to "salvage" the story by rewriting the ending, to allow for a potential happier ending.Comments during a discussion on Pros-Lit, April 2008. Accessed October 27, 2008.June 2010 Interview on The Hatstand.
In some ways, "Consequences" was a personal get'em. AN Other absolutely detested Pros. She was also unhappy that her writing partner was writing Pros, and in "Consequences," wished to show Bodie and Doyle could not be slashed. as per a conversation on Virgule-L in 1993, MPH's notes 
At the 1988 ZebraCon, AN Other explained her thinking behind writing "Consequences": She wrote as far as the scene where Bodie goes downstairs (after the rape) and has a sandwich, can't finish it and puts it on top of the fridge. She stopped writing after that scene, as the only probable response (and ending) to the story, was to have Doyle wake up, take up his gun and shoot Bodie - and she didn't see any point in finishing it. It is at the point that Tarot decided she had to 'fix' the story and she wrote the back half of it.Drawn from memory from a discussion on the CI5 List, 1996. Morgan Dawn.
===The Authors Comment===
In 1985, AN Other wrote about her thoughts regarding Bodie/Doyle: 
In 2010, Tarot commented on the story: 
==Fanworks It Influenced==
=== Sequels and Fix-its===
Other fans soon jumped on board and Consequences inspired several sequels, or fixits. With so many stories using The Game as a backdrop, it quickly became fanon.
In 1990, a fan explained how this story had become pretty much the property of all Pros fans: 
In alphabetical order:
 
* After Consequences, Truth by Billie Phillips on the Circuit Library CD (4 pages)
* Coldwater Morning by SJ 
* Consequences - The Musical Version by Mosby Singleton, Circuit Library
* Despite Consequences by Pamela Rose 
* The End of an Illusion by SJ 
* Game Theory by Dee 
* The Hidden Heart by Gena Fisher (Cold Fish and Stale Chips 9)
* Inescapable Consequences by Airelle in the zine On the Edge #2 
* Inconsequence by Catlixe, in the Hatstand Archive and in the zine On the Edge #2
* Input by HG on the Circuit Library CD (sequel to The Waiting Game) (5 pages) 
* Light of Day by Pamela Dale
* Reparations, by Susan Douglass, circuit library (21?) (13 pages)
* Rough Comfort by Anonymous (10 pages)
* Two Crazy Lovers by SJ (26 pages)
* Uncertainty, Pain, and Tears by Pegasus
* The Waiting Game by HG on the Circuit Library CD (sequel to After Consequences, Truth) (4 pages)
* Wrapped Around Your Finger by Lezlie Shell
===Its Starsky & Hutch Counterpart===
In 1982, Paula Smith wrote Surrender, which many fans felt to be the Starsky and Hutch version of "Consequences." 
Fandom lore states that the author took the subject/plot on as a challenge, and that done well, a good writer could make a troubling, and offensive, subject matter appealing.
==Reactions/Reviews/Fan Comments==
Over the years the reaction to Consequences has varied, ranging from sometimes approval, but much, much more often dubious to hostile.
===Unknown Date===
===1988===
===1989===
===1990===
===1991===
===1993===
 
===1994===
===1996===
===1999===
===2000===
===2008===
===2009===
===2012===
===2015===
===A 1993 Reaction In Prose Form===
In 1993, "Consequences" was being debated on the Virgule-L mailing list. Part of the discussion focused not on the story, but more on fandom's reaction to - and in some cases - acceptance of the concept of "I love my rapist" trope. Lynn C. wrote a short story to illustrate what CI5 would look like, years later, if the organization was as accepting as fandom of the concept. The scene involves Katherine Ross, the resident psychiatrist expressing concern to Cowley, the head of CI5, over the rash of partner killings. In fan fiction, Cowley would either turn a blind eye to Bodie and Doyle's relationship or would express avuncular approval. Like most of the 'sequels' to Consequences, the story had a point to make and it did it well.The story is reposted here with the author's approval.
==References==
Category:1980s
Category:Slash Fanfiction