[fanfiction] "The Baddest Boy Scout In NYC" by Sinkwriter

[sinkwriter]

Just a little ficlet for a new fandom, because they slayed me emotionally with this week's episode and I couldn't let things go at that cliffhanger... I just couldn't.


Title: The Baddest Boy Scout In NYC

Author: sinkwriter

Fandom(s): White Collar

Character(s): Neal Caffrey, Mozzie

Rating: PG

Spoilers: White Collar, Seasons 1 and 2, up through the fall finale episode 2x09 "Point Blank." DO NOT read this if you haven't seen this week's episode and don't want to be spoiled!

Disclaimer: Characters owned by creator Jeff Eastin and USA Network, but made vivid by the talents of actors Matthew Bomer and Willie Garson.

Author's Notes: My first attempt at White Collar fic. My take on what happens not long after the cliffhanger end of this week's episode (one can only hope).

Written for whitecollar100, Prompt #004, Target. Went for the 300-word limit.

Feedback: I gratefully welcome your thoughts.

Summary: Among friends, not everything needs to be spoken to be understood.

The Baddest Boy Scout In NYC

Mozzie enters the room, his steps careful, his face pale.

Neal leads him to the table and sits him down, watching for signs of discomfort. Brings him tea from the gilded set Mozzie gave June after they bonded over kung fu films.

Neal collapses into the chair next to him. "I can't believe you were wearing a vest..."

Mozzie rolls his eyes. "Have I taught you nothing? Always come prepared, Neal."

"But you were bleeding. How could you possibly have--"

Moz salutes with his cup, speaking smugly between sips. "Strategically placed dye packs, my friend. Corn syrup, a little red, a little blue--" He pauses, considering. "You know, the trick is the thickener. Some people like flour, but that can get clumpy and ruin the effect."

Mozzie sounds fine, but he can't hide shaking hands. Neal watches, sucking in a breath.

He'd been sitting on that park bench, waiting for their contact to show, drinking tea when it had happened.

"Listen, Mozzie--"

I pulled you into this. It's my fault.

"I prefer using chocolate syrup. It makes the blood look authentic. Tastes good, too."

"Moz--"

I'm sorry.

His friend swallows, sets down the cup, points an accusing finger at him. "Just because a guy looks like he's put on some weight doesn't mean he's fat. He could be wearing a vest." He gives Neal a pointed look over the top of his thick glasses.

Neal exhales a shaky breath. "Right."

"I work out, you know." Mozzie offers the quirk of a smile.

Neal meets his eyes. Knots in his stomach untangle. "I know."

They sip in silence for a few minutes, until Neal can't hold it in any longer.

"Seriously, Moz. Dye packs?"

"It doesn't seem so stupid now, does it?"

Neal grips his arm and grins. "Welcome back, Moz."


end

Comments

[siapom.livejournal.com]

*huggles this* I need a Mozzie icon.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I need one, too! :D

Thanks for commenting on my very first White Collar fic! Even if it is only 300 words. *hugs you*

[china_shop]

Hee! This is my theory exactly (though I hadn't put so much thought into the detail)! *g*

Awesome! <3

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Heee. I'm glad we are of one mind!

Seriously, I could not get that final scene out of my mind. I woke up with this dialogue playing in my head, and it's my experience that when I wake up feeling the need to write, I should do it or the feeling will go away and the words will be lost. So... I took some time today and wrote it up.

Thank you so much for coming over here and commenting. It means a lot to me. I'm abundantly pleased that you liked it. :D

You know, I have some of your awesome fan vids saved on my computer -- I should give you feedback in exchange! I need to check out more of your work, but at this point I especially think "Bathwater" is brilliantly done, the way the scenes cut and shift around in squares like they do on the show and in the credits, and the way the scenes (and the mini trios of squares) are timed so perfectly to the music... it's all just so clever, fun, and very sexy. Well done!

P.S. Terrific Neal and Mozzie user pic! :)

[artxet.livejournal.com]

This is a wonderful, clean and in-character fic to read after the season finale. You got Mozzie spot on and I adore Neal's hesitance to say what he really want to.

Also, I made this icon just to have something from WhiCo. 8D

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! *beams proudly* I really appreciate your comments. I wanted this to be in-character, along with expressing what I hope to see in January (that Mozzie will be okay). It's eerie how much Mozzie's character voice was in my head this morning when I woke up. I felt compelled to write this in his honor. :) I am so, so pleased you liked it.

Your icon is gorgeous! I love the two of them, the expressions captured on their faces, and how it's in black and white. It's stellar. Nicely done! :D

[dragonfly (from livejournal.com)]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. ::breathes a sigh of relief:: This is exactly what happened.

And you got their voices perfect.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

This is exactly what happened.

That's what I say. *GRIN* Seriously, I imagine that his character will be fine, but I still can't help but worry a little. January is a long time away from now. I had to say something about what I want to see. I can't imagine the WC writers will go this route, but it amused me and soothed my sorrow and upset for poor Mozzie.

You are very welcome! :D

And thank you so much for the comment! It's always a goal of mine to get characters' voices as close as possible to the actual program.

Very cool of you to come over here all the way from Dreamwidth. Did you see my post on an LJ White Collar site?

[ladygray99]

This was great. I think you really nailed Mozzie's voice. I especially love the way he rambled on about fake blood, (I've had this discussion, chocolate works best) and how it held up against the emotional undertones. Very nice work. Welcome to the fandom and welcome to whitecollar100. I hope to see plenty more from you and you now have your own author tag at the com.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you, ladygray99! :D

I'm new to whitecollar100 but it just seemed like a fun group and potentially something to test me and help me improve my writing skills, too. I look forward to being a part of the comm and reading everyone else's works (yours, too -- I've seen your name on some of the posts!). By the way, I love the look of your comm. It's really gorgeous, with the choice of colors all over the site, and the choice of photos and the way they're laid out in the banner. Well done! It makes me happy to visit there, making for a positive experience browsing about. Thought you should know that! :)

And what a kick to have my own author tag! I've never had that anywhere before. Heee.

Thank you very much for the compliments and feedback on this piece. I'm honored, and so glad you liked it. :)

(And I think it's hilarious that you have knowledge of what makes the best fake blood. That's awesome. LOL. I had no idea about any of that until I looked it up online today (how to make fake blood) while trying to add a little something extra to this story, and I saw a mention about 'dry thickeners' versus 'wet thickeners' and I just had to throw that in there. It amused me so much. Chocolate... who knew?)

[vanillafluffy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the hope!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Anytime! It's a long wait till January -- I need the hope, and I'm glad if it brought you some too. ;D

Thanks for stopping by and reading my ficlet.

[sahiya.livejournal.com]

Oh God, I hope so! Liked this a lot.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I hope so, too. *smiles* Seriously, if something happens to Mozzie when they come back from break in January, this may be what I insist happened instead! At least, in my head. I adore Mozzie. I don't want them to diminish his part on this show.

I'm glad you liked it! Thank you!

P.S. Your icon is fun. "Team Awesome," indeed!

[dresden-doll-01.livejournal.com]

You write White Collar! More pls!
This was excellent. Short and to the point and completely believable.

And I gotta say I'm not sure how I want this to play out next season. On one hand I love Mozzie and want him around, but the morbid curiosity in me wants to see how Neal would be like if Mozzie didn't make it. I'm torn.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Yay! dresden_doll_01 is in the house! Heeeee.

Actually, it's my first time trying to write White Collar! You could say I was extra-inspired by that final scene with poor Mozzie. Just couldn't help myself. We'll see if anything else stirs up after this first attempt.

I'm beyond delighted that you liked it. I respect your opinion so much. *hugs*

You make an excellent point about the outcome for Mozzie. The larger part of me wants him to stay and be okay, but yes, most definitely, it's those traumatic events that make for richer, more intense character development (in this case, for Neal, most especially -- wow, would that be a head-spinning trip for him, after all he's already been through). So I wrote this to tell myself that Mozzie will be fine, but beyond that, all I can say is, I'm very curious for January so I can find out how the writers plan to handle it all! Should be interesting. :D

Thanks for the encouragement, Do! You are too cool, coming over here and commenting.

[blaidd-drwg.livejournal.com]

Yay! Your story made me happy. If the official WC writers skulk around LJ they should take note of how to resolve Mozzie's shooting like you have. Plus the frazzled Neal trying to apologize to Moz and Mozzie's handling of it was really nice.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the feedback! :)

While I'm sure the loss of Mozzie would make for intense storytelling for Neal's character, I don't think I'm ready to say goodbye to Mozzie yet. I really do hope that the WC writers aren't planning to get rid of him. I imagine not, but just in case... I felt the need to write this alternative. *GRIN* Glad it made you happy!

Thanks again for coming by to let me know what you thought. I appreciate it!

P.S. Your user pic is freaking me out. I think it's the Burke mustache. LOL.

[persuna.livejournal.com]

n
Please, let this be how 2.10 starts!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I hope so too! Thank you for coming by and reading my little White Collar ficlet. It was my first attempt at writing for this fandom, so I appreciate the support.

:)

P.S. Your Neal user pic is very, very pretty. ;)

[ashenblack.livejournal.com]

Can this please be what happened? D: Very nicely written, your Moz voice is wonderful.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I'm all for it. I don't know what the WC writers have planned for the next episode in January, but I just hope that he'll be alive and safe.

Thank you so much for the feedback! I couldn't seem to help but write this thing, just couldn't get Mozzie out of my head, which sounds bizarre and a bit psychotic, I suppose, but such is the life of an aspiring writer, LOL.

Regardless, I'm really pleased with how his voice turned out, and I'm so glad it worked for you. Thank you for stopping by and giving this thing a read-through. :)

[shelley6441.livejournal.com]

I can't wait to find out if this is true! Moz was stationed on that bench for a reason.

Cool fic - thank you!

*hugs Mozzie*

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Seriously, can't wait for January. I'm sure he'll be okay, but this was my 'just in case' scenario. *GRIN*

Thank you for the feedback! I'm glad you liked it, and I appreciate the support (especially since this was my first time writing any of the characters from White Collar).

*joins you in hugging Mozzie*

[riveroceansea.livejournal.com]

This is exactly what I think is going to happen. 'Cause Mozzie is sneaky like that.

Loved it!

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I think it would be wonderful (and very funny, in a Mozzie-like way) if this is how he survives being shot. Somehow I imagine the White Collar writers will approach it differently, but hopefully it will be interesting, no matter what.

Thank you for commenting! I'm delighted that you liked it. :D

P.S. Neal wearing glasses in your user pic = very sexy. ;)

[non_sequential.livejournal.com]

Welcome back, Moz, indeed!

Love this. :o)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it. :D

By the way, I think I noticed your name in the latest White Collar newsletter, yes? I'm going to have to hunt down your story and check it out! *GRIN* Everyone should get feedback. ;)

P.S. Your user pic makes me giggle.

[sirwynai.livejournal.com]

Yay! I firmly believe that Mozzie won't die, but I love the idea that he's wearing a vest and no one knows. Of course, it fits Mozzie's paranoia really well. :D This fic was love.

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

I feel fairly sure Mozzie will survive, too, but yes, I just felt such a need to figure out a way for it to be possible, just in case. Him wearing a vest amused me and seemed like a plausible thing for a guy like Mozzie. I'm so glad you liked the idea. :)

Thank you for the encouragement!

(And thank you for the sexy Matt Bomer user pic. "A tall glass of water," indeed! LOL.)

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, this would fix things nicely! *hopes*

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

*hopes right along with you*

In January, we'll find out what really happens! (Wow, that seems like forever away, doesn't it?)

Thanks for reading my ficlet! :)

P.S. That sunset in your user pic is gorgeous. Did you take that photo?

[chrystalj.livejournal.com]

This is the first WC fic I've read, and I'm not even sure how I got here, LOL. Anyway, I just wanted to say great job. Very smart dialogue. :)

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

This is the first WC fic I've read, and I'm not even sure how I got here, LOL.

LOL!

Well, let me first say I'm honored to be the first WC fic you've read. That's amazing. Especially considering this is the first WC fic I've ever written! So thanks for giving my little ficlet a chance.

How you got here? Hmmmm... *ponders* I'm only in a few different WC communities here on LiveJournal, but there are still a few ways you might have reached this entry. Could be one of the comms I'm part of, where I posted the story: whitecollar100 or whitecollarfic. Or, if you found the wcnewsletter which posts a collection of links to all the various fanfic, icons, fan vids, art, and other White Collar-related bits and pieces being posted to the 'net on a daily basis. Or perhaps you came across my entry while browsing someone's friends-list.

Or... nope. I'm out. Can't think of any other way that might have brought you here. Either way, though, I'm glad you stopped by! Thanks for that. :)

And thank you for the feedback! I'm really glad you liked it. And I'm super-glad you liked the dialogue. Oddly enough, I wrote that first and added the rest afterward.

I never used to be able to write dialogue -- most of the time I'd spend so much time on the descriptive stuff or the action of the piece and would barely even include dialogue -- but for some strange reason the last three things I've written for various fandoms, I've 'heard' the dialogue first! Wacky. Seriously, I woke up hearing Mozzie's dialogue in my head, and thought I'd better hurry up and write it down before I forgot it. *GRIN*

Anyway, I hope you enjoy browsing about and reading the WC fic out there (and let me know if you find anything excellent, because I am always looking for good fic!). Thank you again for coming here, reading my piece, and letting me know what you thought of it. That means a lot and helps me improve as a writer. :)

Have a great weekend!

P.S. Your user pic cracks me up. :D

[dotfic.livejournal.com]

That has to be what happened! \o/

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Here's hoping! We'll find out in... *counts*... three and a half months. Approximately. ARGH!

:D

Thank you for reading my story!

P.S. I love your Mozzie and Neal user pic. ♥

[crescent-gaia.livejournal.com]

Love. Oh my gosh, so much love. And something Moz would do too.

♥♥♥

[sinkwriter.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

:D

I wanted to write something in which Mozzie survives (since it's a long way to January, to see how the WC writers ultimately choose to approach it), and in thinking about it, a bulletproof vest really did seem like something Mozzie might wear under the circumstances. I imagine the writers will do something different, but this possibility tickled me. I couldn't get it out of my head. I seriously woke up with the dialogue already running around in my brain the next morning after that episode aired. It's my experience that I need to jump on that feeling, that need to write, when it hits me like that, or the words will be lost forever.

Are you a writer as well?

P.S. Your user name is very pretty.

Thanks again for coming over here and letting me know what you thought! I appreciate it very much. :)

[accordingtomel.livejournal.com]

ACK! This is brilliant Sherry! THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED!! You have given me hope :D. Also, you have the voices down perfectly! Great job! I love it. Also, I love the element of frailty you show in Mozzie, even though he tries to hide it with bravado and explanations about how brilliant he is. Loved this and now I can't wait to see what happens *bites nails* :D