Hello, all! Since I have internet access this Labor Day weekend, I'm stepping in, and you all get another rec from me. :)

Title: The Modern Man I Sing and Sing My Body Electric
Author: Lady Gray
Fandom: Numb3rs
Pairing: Charlie/Colby
Categories: Romance, Drama, Angst, BDSM
Length: long
Warnings: BDSM, self-harm, violent sex
Author on LJ: ladygray99
Author Website: n/a

Review:
Okay, I admit: I am a total wuss when it comes to BDSM. It makes me extremely uncomfortable, no matter how mild, and not even the most loving of relationships is usually enough to get me past that personal discomfort. That being said, you know that Lady Gray’s Whitman ‘verse has to be something worth checking if it can get me reccing it. So even if you’re not a fan of BDSM, I encourage you to at least check it out. Also, for those of you not into Eppescest: *points at pairing*

Okay, onto the ‘verse itself. In a nutshell, Charlie is a masochist, but Colby is not a sadist. The stories follow the evolution of their relationship, and the reader really gets the chance to see how it begins and how it deepens. Colby’s struggle in his role as the physically dominant partner I found particularly poignant. Charlie, through Colby’s eyes, is utterly fascinating – he lights up the story with his presence, but at the same time is so very screwed up. That’s another thing that I like: Charlie’s masochism is part-and-parcel of his genius. He’s not forcing a kink on Colby as some first-time BDSM stories seem to: he genuinely needs pain to function normally. It seems that Numb3rs usually ignores the psychological difficulties of genius and it’s nice to see an author take on that challenge. Nor does Lady Gray focus on the internal relationship and ignore the outside ramifications: the rest of FBI team and family Eppes are very much a part of the story, cases at the FBI continue to be a part events, and we even get medical check-ups (thank goodness! If you’re dealing with injuries, no matter if they’re sexual or not, you really shouldn’t ignore possible consequences).

A beautiful and romantic story that handles BDSM in a sensitive enough manner to convince even the most squeamish.

Whitman ‘verse Master Post
The Modern Man I Sing
Sing My Body Electric