Pick a partner for Eliot in Finding Home

[shade_shifter]

I've closed the poll and made my decisions. Despite votes for Neal being overwhelming, i'm not going in that direction since there are issues with the relationship I can't reconcile. Instead, I will be going with Eliot/Hannibal and Neal/Henry Morgan (from Forever).

Poll If I don't pick Neal, I'm contemplating pairing Neal with Cory Raines, because two

Comments

[moonbeamsfanfic]

I went with Hannibal because he's basically a mix of Parker's crazy with Hardison's wit and smarts, and Eliot/Hardison/Parker are my forever Leverage OT3. ;D

I don't see him being a good mix with Neal, imho, though I get why everyone crosses Leverage with White Collar. Eliot's just too down to earth for someone as (pretendingly) high-class as Neal. I can't picture Neal in his ridiculous three piece suits and fancy hats relaxing over a homecooked meal with Eliot in his jeans and cowboy boots, even if the meal is gourmet.

[shade_shifter]

My OTPs are Tony/Steve and Methos/Eliot (because even my OTPs have to be crossovers :p ). I'm also leaning heavily toward Hannibal, with a side of Duke, who's also full of attitude, but mostly tries to do the right thing... when he isn't thoroughly enjoying doing the wrong thing. Hmm... maybe I should try my first threesome.

I don't really see Neal and Eliot either, but a lot of people were interested, and I changed my mind about who to pair with Lindsey, so I figured I'd give everyone a chance at changing my mind. My biggest issue with Neal is the same reason I have trouble writing Eliot and Sophie scenes, he never seems to fully trust grifters. With the con and the team, sure, but I never really felt like they clicked the same way he did with the others.

Also Dark Angel FTW!

[kliqzangel]

I see Neal is winning, but Duke would be a serious stroke of genius!! I LOOOOVE Duke Crocker!!

[shade_shifter]

It's mostly to gauge preferences. Doesn't mean I'll weight it the same as my own when I'm writing :p
And I have a feeling Neal's winning because most people are as familiar with the others. Plus, Duke is awesome.

[volleyballwolf]

I do agree that both Duke and Hannibal would fit better with Eliot than either Neal or Vic in my mind. However, I went with Hannibal for two reasons: he also operates outside the law most of the time, and also because every time I look at Duke, I see Jesse from BtVS. So when I picture him in a crossover pairing, in my mind it always ends up being Xander.

[shade_shifter]

That's the direction I'm leaning in, too. I keep forgetting he was in Buffy.

[longbca]

I've read some great Neal/Eliot fics- so it has to be that choice for me! Maybe have Neal as knowing Eliot before they were criminals...maybe at one point witsec had Neal where Eliot and Lindsey grew up and maybe that look Methos gave to Eliot means he also knows Neal...maybe he taught them a little something...

[shade_shifter]

Do you have some recs? Most of the Neal/Eliot fics I've read were short encounters after which they go their separate ways. Which I could totally see. It's the longterm thing I'm not sure I could get behind with them.

Methos recognises Eliot (as more than just Lindsey's twin) because Kronos is a very naughty boy and Methos likes to keep track of what he's up to.

[longbca]

http://archiveofourown.org/works/166044

http://archiveofourown.org/works/738430

these are the best- if you do want to bring Neal in then maybe make them a past pairing to satisfy those who like the pairing- and they parted on good terms- maybe Kronos taught them both...liked the pair being opposites...or something...

[shade_shifter]

Since Eliot's got blood relatives he can't be Immortal and given White Collar canon, I'm not to sure I could swing Neal as anything other than pre-Immortal or newly Immortal.

If I could swing that Eliot knew Neal before he became Neal Caffrey - conman extraordinaire, then I might be able to write it. My biggest issue isn't the small things like their differences in philosophies, which actually aren't all that different, it's that Eliot only trusts people who are honest with him on a personal level and Neal isn't very honest about much, not even to himself, I'd wager.

Although, it would be thoroughly amusing to make him Kronos' new student. Especially if he was involved with Eliot.

[wisedame]

I chose Neal because I see them as complementary personalities. Eliot works in a violent field (he is the hitter on the team). He would respect someone who chooses not to use violence and for all that Neal is non-violent, he does have dark side, look how he went after Fowler because of Kate. Also, while we always see Neal in a three-piece suit, he did not come from money so he would be comfortable in a more down to earth setting and while he was with Kate, he wasn't always so well put together. But I think it is also because he was in prison where he did not have a choice that he now surrounds himself with good things so as to put distance between those two parts of his life, if that makes sense. Sorry that this dragged on, hope it helps.

[shade_shifter]

I'd figure they were actually fairly similar in their views on violence - limited violence applied to solve the problem. Neal may not apply that violence himself, but he's not shy about letting the FBI do it. I also agree that Neal has a dark side that can be just as ruthless as Eliot and that they probably came from similar backgrounds. I don't even have an issue with Neal's sophistication vs Eliot's down-to-earth-ness. The issue I have with writing them is more fundamental, I think. Neal lies and Eliot doesn't, not in personal relationships. If someone could offer a solution to that hurdle, I'd happily write them. :D