There’s a moment in the pilot of White Collar where Peter grumbles that he should send Neal back to prison, but Neal, Elizabeth and Peter’s dog all look up at him with puppy-dog eyes and you know he wouldn’t really do something so mean.
Well, there’s also some fast talking from Neal involved, but it’s a turning point. Up to then we’ve seen the characters being serious and angsty and witty, but in this scene with Satchmo we witness a vibe that’s more sweet and playful. In writing about these characters, I’ve found it helpful – even necessary – to bring in that element to balance out the angst.
Warning for spoilers for stories in the Caffrey Conversation AU.
In my story By the Book, holding a gun leaves Neal shaky, and in chapter 12 Peter decides to bring him home for dinner. When El arrives, it’s the first time she’s seen Neal. His suit jacket and tie are folded on the sofa, his shirt is untucked, his hair is mussed, and he’s on the floor laughing and wrestling with a dog who’s determined to lick Neal’s face. Playing with Satchmo brings about a transformation in Neal, and it’s something I turn to frequently when Neal’s angst level is too high.
One particularly notable instance is when Neal recovers his repressed memories and shares them for the first time, and he calls Satchmo over to sit by him for comfort. As Neal describes his experiences, we learn that as a child in a dangerous situation, he was protected by a German Shepherd.
In another example, when Neal recovers from a kidnapping and mind-altering experience designed by Azathoth in Silbrith’s The Woman in Blue, Satchmo is there to help Neal relax.
When we meet Peter’s parents in An Evening with Genji, Silbrith had the wisdom to give them a dog, too. Like Satchmo, Barclay is also a Labrador and loves to play. Recently in my Spring Break chapter of Caffrey Vignettes, I borrowed Barclay in my goal of giving Neal a fun, childlike experience.
I hope you’ve read Silbrith’s Visions from Beyond, in which she takes the AU characters and places them in a 1970s university setting. It’s fascinating reading, and as they deal with the monsters and visions of a Lovecraft-inspired world, naturally Satchmo is needed to keep them happy and grounded. I’m told that in future installments Mozzie will have a pet cat, and I’m looking forward to seeing if his cat is as unpredictable as Mozzie.
In canon, Neal’s landlady June had a Pug named Bugsy, and he has finally joined the AU in the Casual Day chapter of Caffrey Vignettes. Bugsy will offer comfort to June as she continues to grieve the loss of her husband, and he’s also there for Neal. In fact, in the April Fool chapter I'm publishing today, Bugsy will even comfort another character who might not readily admit that he needs help.
April Fool Chapter on FF.net
April Fool Chapter on AO3
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