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itslmdee · 7 years

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Leverage: Reading Parker as Asexual

This meta is a brief overview on Parker from "Leverage" and why I think she can be read as asexual. Admittedly, I didn't think about it too much until after the show was over, being more concerned that Parker's developing relationship with Hardison didn't detract from her overall screen time or characterisation. I need not have worried on that front, and I'll mention their romance again shortly. Afterwards though, I started to think that Parker can be easily read as being on the asexual spectrum.

I want first to address my one concern about reading her as asexual; Parker is not what most people would describe as "normal". Her thought processes and reactions to events are not what would be expected under most circumstances.

Sophie: Parker, you do know that normal people just don't walk off a twenty-foot fall, right? Parker: So, all those times I pushed Hardison off a building and he was all "Ahhh!", he wasn't just being funny?

She has not had a stable upbringing having been raised in the foster system, she doesn't even have another name, merely being "Parker", she is a thief by profession, and her social skills are awkward or eccentric depending on your viewpoint. Eliot often expresses his frustration with Parker as "What's wrong with you?!" (To be fair, she doesn't take offence and he does care for her; there's a familial bond between Parker, Eliot, and Hardison, in particular). The last thing asexuals need or want are characters who represent any of the stigmas or stereotypes around the orientation such as being "broken".

However, I'm not too concerned because Parker is awesome. Her team love her, she comes to love and trust them, she is clever, agile, loyal, and, ultimately takes the place of Nate as leader of the Leverage team in the finale episode. Possibly because of her own upbringing she's sensitive to the needs of children. She's well liked by fans (I've never seen hate for her, your mileage may vary):

Fan reaction to her is largely positive, often because of her nontraditional femininity and her unusual socialization. Many fans choose to read her as asexual, non-neurotypical, or a survivor of abuse to account for various aspects of her characterization on the show.

Overall, Parker is portrayed as quirky and eccentric rather than damaged. Her atyptical approach to life is often played as light-hearted, with her casual attitudes to things like falling from heights being contrasted with more usual reactions:

-PARKER: (to Eliot) Really? How’d you get over [your claustrophobia]? -ELIOT: I locked myself in a woodshed behind my house for a couple nights. After that, I was fine. -PARKER: That is so funny. I was scared of the dark and did exactly the same thing! (Flashback showing Parker as a kid being buried alive) (Sophie, Eliot and Hardison stare at her) -ELIOT: That’s not the same thing…What’s wrong with you?

All of the team, in fact, have their own baggage, and so Parker isn't held up as a broken person needing to be saved by their friends. They are a team and they support each other.

Sex is neither a large part of the show, nor is it ignored. There's a heterosexual on-off relationship between Nate and Sophia, Nate's ex-wife appears in several episodes, and Eliot has a few "girlfriend of the week" episodes. Parker doesn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend in her past, and when Hardison has an episode in which he flirts with a woman, she experiences some jealousy, the first sign that she is experiencing romantic affection.

In "The First David Job"/"The Second David Job", the team are trying to replace a famous statue with a fake. At one point, Parker kisses Hardison, pressing him against an alarmed door to cover up the real reason for the alarm. This improvised affection stuns Hardison, who has been giving her admiring glances for a while, but Parker shrugs it off the moment the kiss is over and the job is back on.

Hardison continues to develop feelings for Parker, but she seems not to notice – part of her social skills limitations – and it was debatable at this stage if she would or could develop romantic feelings for him in return.

As the series progresses, Parker becomes more emotionally aware and more in touch with her teammates. However it's only when she sees Hardison potentially romantically involved with another woman ("The Double-Blind Job") that she starts to realise her feelings for him.

I love that the episode featured Parker exploring the feeling of jealousy. Hardison flirting and working with Ashley was clearly driving Parker crazy, but she had no idea why. Further, at the end, Hardison clearly figured out that she was jealous, but warmly gave her space to come to terms with her feelings for him. - x

In fact Hardison handles things so well that the Parker/Hardison relationship, regardless of Parker's actual orientation, deserves meta of its own, as does the subtextual OT3 of Parker/Hardison/Eliot. At no point does Hardison ever demand or expect anything of Parker, letting her find her way in her own time, and ensuring their relationship is based on their wants and needs, not societal expectations.

PARKER: “you realize this isn’t going to be normal, right?” HARDISON: “you know, my nana used to say that what’s normal is whatever works for you.”

Up until "The Double Blind Job", Parker has shown no interest in dating, romance, or sex. Even when Parker and Hardison begin dating – which is really more hanging out as a couple instead of hanging out with the whole team – their focus is on a variety of activities they find pleasurable, rather than on sex. The season five opener, "The Very Big Bird Job" confirms their new relationship status:

Sophie: Yeah. We're moving to Portland. No warning. Anything else? Parker: Mm, Hardison and I are dating. Hardison: Yeah. We just got back from a 'round-the-world trip. It was different, like, it's new, and we working it out. [Flashback] (various scenes of Parker and Hardison repelling down the side of buildings)

In the episode "The First Contact Job", Hardison plans a rather more traditionally romantic evening:

(Hardison shows Parker the wording of the warrant ‘CANDLELIGHT PICNIC UNDER THE STARS) Parker: Ooh. Fire. I do like fire.

When the picnic is rained off, Parker is disappointed, but Hardison has a backup plan, an indoor picnic with electronic stars. Clearly Parker appreciates the thoughtfulness.

As such, I'd read Parker as hetero-romantic and/or demi-romantic, since she didn't develop feelings immediately. We never see her show any interest in women, though it could be argued she might be demi-romantic and bi-romantic, and we just never got the chance to explore that angle. I'd also argue, given her lack of interest around sexuality in general, she can be read on the asexual spectrum, possibly grey-asexual or demi-sexual, or asexual willing to have sex to please a partner.

It's been mentioned in previous discussions with my f-list, than Parker clearly loves the adrenaline rush she gets from her favourite hobbies, like bungee jumping. As such, orgasms could be seen as just another way to get a rush, and it's not unlikely that she's willing to masturbate and/or have sex in order to experience the pleasurable high. She certainly doesn't have any hangups about sex as bad or immoral; it just doesn't seem to interest her the way money or planning a heist does.

We never (to my knowledge, at least) get confirmation that "dating" involves sex. It's usually assumed that a romantic relationship will at some point become sexual, because our culture places a high value on sexual experiences. We can only guess, unless told otherwise, that sex does take place. However, given Hardison's deep affection and respect and overall patience, he would never demand or expect a sexual component to the relationship, and any sex that did happen would be undertaken at Parker's pace and with a great deal of attention paid to ensuring her consent.

However, once committed to a sexual relationship, I think Parker would be an enthusiastic participant. It wouldn’t beat the thrill of base jumping or breaking into a bank, but as a fun way to spend time with Hardison, who she loves deeply, she would give it her all.

(notes and references under the ‘read more’

References

http://www.tv.com/m/shows/leverage/the-gimme-a-k-street-job-2485197/trivia/

http://leverage.wikia.com/wiki/Parker

http://leverage.wikia.com/wiki/Alec_Hardison

http://fanlore.org/wiki/Parker_%28Leverage%29

http://hellyeahleverage.tumblr.com/post/471483586/iikrisii-elenitahb-sophie-its-a-good-job

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Leverage_episodes

http://www.tvfanatic.com/2010/07/leverage-review-the-double-blind-job/

http://fuckyeahparkerhardison.tumblr.com/post/28191931967/touchingmetouchingyou-ships-i-sail-parker

http://leverage.whendarknessfalls.net/transcripts/5x03-the-first-contact-job.html

http://leverage.whendarknessfalls.net/transcripts/5x01-the-very-big-bird-job.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2012/08/catching_up_with_leverage_the.html

Note: This is an unedited repost to this blog of a meta I posted to a personal blog for Asexual Awareness Week 2014 and at my Wordpress account in May 2015.

#asexual awareness week #leverageedit #leverage #asexual headcanons #parker #my articles

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becbibliophile · 5 years

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I don’t know about you, but I love a great Cowboy Romance. There is just something about these rugged men and the strong women who support them. Whether it’s in the historic Wild West, or on a present-day ranch in Texas, a good cowboy romance is hard to resist. And this coming fall, Berkley has three fantastic new stories (and cowboys) for you to fall in love with!

THE DEVIL ON THE SADDLE by Julia London

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Julia London brings readers a charming, sexy contemporary western, where a Texas princess learns that love may burn brightest for the devil who steps in your path…

No one cheats on a Prince and gets away with it. And Hallie–Texas socialite, would-be ballerina, and the only daughter of Cimarron County’s renowned Prince family–is ready to give her two-timing fiancée a piece of her mind. But fate plants hot, sexy ranch hand and ex-Army Ranger Rafael Fontana quite literally in her way. Her childhood friend is all grown up. He’s sexy, he’s handsome, and suddenly, after all these years, Hallie is taking notice.

Rafe has been in love with Hallie since they were kids, but he was always the help–and she was glamorous and popular, seemingly off-limits to a lowly cowboy. But now he’s back at Three Rivers Ranch to help his family and Hallie is there too–and she needs his support. Of course, Rafe agrees, but soon long-buried feelings boil to the surface, and the desire between them is hot and palpable and undeniable. Rafe realizes he wants Hallie for keeps… he just has to convince her to give true love another shot.

Series Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/255046-princes-of-texas

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books | Kobo

This book is up next for me! I haven’t had a chance to read it but I can’t wait!

SPUN OUT by Lorilei James

New York Times bestselling author Lorelei James returns for another wild ride in Wyoming with a new Blacktop Cowboys® novel.

Years in the Army equipped Bailey Masterson for many things: target shooting, rappelling off cliffs, dodging grenades. She’s lived through horrors that still give her nightmares. But nothing in Bailey’s life-or-death training prepared her for caring for the tiny terror that is five-year-old Olivia Hale. Or how to control her raging attraction to Olivia’s father, Streeter, the rugged, green-eyed cattle rancher who undermines her every move even when he stars in her dreams.

Streeter Hale has room for only two things in his life: his daughter and his job. He doesn’t date. He doesn’t get attached. Not anymore. So not only is Streeter stunned by Olivia’s improved behavior after just a few days with Bailey, he’s downright floored by his immediate attraction to the woman. But with secrets in her eyes and a body that doesn’t quit, Streeter begins to worry that Bailey Masterson might just be the one woman to heal his fractured family and broken heart.

One thing’s for sure–these two wrecked souls are spinning out of control as they desperately try not to fall in love…

SERIES GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/series/47701-blacktop-cowboys

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books | Kobo

BOOK EXCERPT

He’d hoped she’d fall asleep in the car, but the girl was wired. And she asked questions that even Google couldn’t answer.

If dinosaurs were the biggest animals, what scared them?

Who got to pick the names for all colors? What if blue should really be called orange?

Why do people skip rocks across the lake?

She asked him what he’d do if he saw a magical fairy in the forest (his answer to leave it be earned him a heavy sigh) and then she gave an explicit explanation of what she’d do: learn how to do its magic and become the queen of the world.

It was good to have goals.

By the time he’d unbuckled her from her car seat, she was asleep. Then she nestled her head on his shoulder as he carried her toward their trailer.

He loved these quiet times with her because they were becoming rare. Pretty soon she’d be too big to carry, or worse . . . she wouldn’t want to be carried.

That would break his heart.

He’d stopped to dig his keys out of his pocket when he heard a door close. He glanced down the walkway to see Bailey leaving her trailer with a duffel bag.

Was she headed to the gym this late?

Maybe she’d gotten a booty call.

No surprise she’d have no trouble finding a hookup.

Knock it off, perv.

Bailey paused when she reached him. “Do you need help?”

“Nah, I got it. But thanks.” He turned the key in the lock before looking at her again. “You’re out late.” Way to sound accusatory.

“I missed my workout this morning.” She gave him a once-over. “You’re out late yourself.”

“We had supper with my brother and his family. That’s why we left the pool, uh . . . like we did.”

She cocked her head. “Really? You suddenly remembered you had dinner plans during the middle of our conversation?”

They studied each other for a moment.

Somehow he found the guts to say, “No.”

“Okay. That’s progress. Tell me . . . did I say something to offend you?”

“Nope. I just . . .” Don’t know how to act around you.

“You just . . . what? My friendliness annoyed you because you have enough friends?”

“God, no. That’s not it. Not even close.”

“Then what?”

He leaned in. “This right here is what it is. Surely you’ve noticed I’m no good at small talk.” He shifted Olivia higher. “I ain’t so hot at big talk either.”

She laughed softly. “I know you’re not trying to be funny, but—”

“But you’re laughin’ at me.”

“Not at you, Streeter. I’m laughing because usually I’m the one who’s awkward.”

“I doubt that.”

“You’ve probably noticed that I tend to come on strong.”

“You? Nah.”

She laughed again. “Maybe you’re just out of practice with small talk.”

“Yeah, well, cattle ain’t much on talkin’ back.”

“See? You are funny.”

Her grin widened and he saw she had a tiny dimple on the right side of her smile. How hadn’t he noticed that sexy little divot before now?

When she continued to smile without speaking, he said, “What?”

“Nothing. I just like seeing you like this.”

“Like what? Fumblin’ my words like a tongue-tied fool?”

“No, I like that you’re not trying to get away from me.”

He blinked at her and kept his mouth shut.

“Plus, you’re cute when you’re flustered.”

Cute? “Jesus. No one has called me cute since junior high.”

“Then maybe it’s past time you heard it. You’re very cute, Streeter Hale, and I’m crushing on you big-time.”

His jaw might’ve hit the top of Olivia’s head when it dropped.

“I’m not good at small talk either. I’m more a cut-to-the-chase kinda chick.”

“Good to know.”

She bumped him with her hip as she walked past. “Sweet dreams, cutie. See ya around.”

MY THOUGHTS

Streeter Hale is just trying to survive. It’s been almost 5 years since his wife died. Trying to raise a child who witnessed her mother’s death even though she was really too young to remember and has detachment issues, isn’t the easiest life. So when Seargent Bailey Masterson moves into the trailer next to him and ends up running a boot camp at the ranch for all the employee’s kids, he doesn’t know what to think of her at first. That is except she is sexy as hell and he doesn’t know how to approach her.

Street hasn’t been in a relationship in years. And before that, he was only with one woman. So his experience is pretty much nil. Bailey is trying to figure out what’s next in her life. She’s spending the summer helping out her sister and keeping some secrets of her own. But after meeting the sexy Street Hale – she doesn’t see why she can’t lose herself in the sexy cowboy for the summer. Since that’s all she can commit too.

This book is super steamy and sexy. The storyline is one that will tug at your heart. Single Dad who is just trying to make it the best way he knows how and love a little girl who’s been damaged by a mother she doesn’t even know. Bailey is the right fit for both Street and his daughter but can she forgive her own past in order to have a future with Street.

LOVE THIS BOOK! And this entire series is one of my all-time favorites.

BOUND FOR GLORY by Tess Lesue

Coming December 3rd

An unwilling legend and the woman who made him one face off in this epic conclusion to the Frontiers of the Heart series.

He has many names. They call him Deathrider, White Wolf, The Plague of the West. He’s the ice-eyed killer of the plains; the ghost of the trail; the restless spirit who haunts the frontier from California to Missouri, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. They say he seeks vengeance for his murdered people; they say he never sleeps; they say he moves silently through the night and changes form to run with the wolves. And that he is as beautiful as Lucifer.

At least, so they say. Ava Archer wouldn’t know; she’s never seen him. But that doesn’t stop her from writing about him. The Plague of the West is her bread and butter, and after more than a dozen dime novels, she thinks she probably knows Deathrider better than he knows himself, even if she wouldn’t recognize him on the street. If only rumors of his death would stop getting in the way of a good story….

Those damn stories make Nathaniel Rides With Death’s life an absolute misery. Thanks to his unwanted notoriety, he’s hunted like an animal by an endless stream of gunslingers looking to make a name for themselves. When someone close to Nate is shot by one of the gunslingers, Nate decides it’s time to hunt down the novelist at the root of all his troubles. He has a plan to end this farce once and for all….

SERIES GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/series/221992-frontiers-of-the-heart

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Apple Books | Kobo

BOOK EXCERPT

There was a naked man in the desert.

Ava Archer knew trouble when she saw it, and this was trouble with a capital T. She was alone in the desert, her horse was played out, her canteen was bone-dry, and she was out of bullets. This was no time to be running into natives. Even a solitary one. If she had any sense at all, she would turn right around and run in the other direction . . . but Kennedy Voss was in the other direction, and Kennedy Voss was a mean son of a bitch. Besides, she was desperate for water, and maybe this Indian had some.

She’d thought she’d known thirst before—but this was something else again. She felt made of grit and sand, her every pore a desert in miniature, her tongue thick and swollen in her cottony mouth; even her eyes and nose had dried out. And every thud of her horse’s hooves on the ground made a drumbeat: Water. Water. Water. Water.

So Ava kept on toward the man, pulled by the hope of water. As she plodded closer, she reassured herself that at least there was only one of him, and from what she could see, he was in bad shape: he was squatting under the screamingly bright September sun, naked from the waist up, his body a patchwork of bruises, and both of his eyes swollen shut. Ava doubted he could see her. But he knew she was there, because he rose to his feet at the sound of her tired horse dragging his way.

Oh dear. He wasn’t mostly naked, she saw as he stood: he was completely naked. He was also tall, wide, and terrifyingly powerful. A warrior. He was the color of rosewood, his muscles as hard as if he’d been carved from a tree. And he was covered in tattoos, including a sprawling, intricate pattern in the shape of a bird, which stretched its wings the breadth of his thickly muscled chest. His hair was long, loose, and coated in dust; it fell down his back in tangles to his shoulder blades. He was bruised all over, she realized as her gaze drifted down, wincing as she took in the black blotches on his legs. There was a particularly nasty one on his hip, right next to . . .

Ava tore her gaze away. Hell. She was alone in the desert with a naked man. A big, powerful, wounded naked man. And she was heat struck and ill with thirst, barely able to think straight.

She couldn’t have stumbled onto a little old lady instead? Or a nice family, with a pack of kids? A pack of kids and an icy-cold barrel of water . . .

Ava rubbed her hand across her dry mouth. She felt skin flakes come away on her fingers and winced. She needed to get hold of herself. She was growing delirious. This here was just an injured man. Probably an Apache, considering she was somewhere near the Apacheria. Probably. Maybe. Who knew where the hell she was, to be honest. Purgatory seemed likely. Little old ladies and nice families didn’t go wandering around Purgatory—this was the best she could hope for. She should have been grateful that he was just one beat-up Apache and not a whole party. And at least he wasn’t Kennedy Voss. Without even realizing she was doing it, she glanced over her shoulder, as though thinking about Voss might summon him. That man gave her the willies. Voss was likely to be somewhere nearby (she hadn’t had that much of a head start on him), and here she was about to die of thirst right in his path. She didn’t have time to be distracted by naked strangers.

Make sure to add these beauties to your TBR list!

A Cowboy Romance Roundup - @BerkleyRomance My Review of Spun Out by @LoreleiJames Plus Books from @JuliaFLondon and @TessLesue I don't know about you, but I love a great Cowboy Romance. There is just something about these rugged men and the strong women who support them.

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