The Mystery of the Valet in the Night Time

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

A Jeeves and Wooster photo story in artsy historically accurate black and white. (It’s like Spindrift, but without those pesky words!). This is the first real photo story I've done with Bertie and Reginald, so I would totally love it if you would take a look, old chaps.

Title: The Mystery of the Valet in the Night Time

Synopsowhatsit: Why, exactly would one's valet appear in the bedchamber wearing not his usual valet-ish garb, but only his long and revelatory undergarments? In which a Rex West novel is hastily discarded, Jeeves smirks, and Bertie boggles.

Rating: PG. Since one would never bandy a gentleman’s personal gentleman’s name (or pictorial likeness), anything too unseemly is left subtly implied.


















* * *

And, without going into too much ungentlemanly detail, that is how the new arrangement between y.m. and valet came to be.





I say.

Notes.
Here is an early 20th-century union suit ad (art by the incomparable J.C. Leyendecker).
The main difference between photographing dolls and action figures, I find, is that it's really hard to get these little guys to show emotion. Stiff upper l. and all that. Anyway, in between flinging their hands and heads around, they finally got a little bit schmoopy and what have you.
The Jeeves doll action figure has a generic head that I modified slightly and repainted, and I'm reasonably happy with it, whereas the Bertie head is one of about 5 or 6 actual Hugh Laurie sculpts I have tried modifying and I'm still not convinced of its Bertie-osity (because the sculpts are all trying to be House they are all haggard and scruffy and scowley and it doesn't suit Bertie's sunny disposish). He sort of cooperated here. Usually he just looks like he wants to shout "it's not lupus!," which isn't cricket at all.
Also, it's a bit of a shame that the photos are black and white, because you can't tell that the pajamas are are a delightful heliotropish shade.

Comments

[haikitteh.livejournal.com]

This is so naughty and delightful that I feel like a bit of a perv peering in on their little rendezvous! Just terrific lighting and photography.

That Jeeves figure has quite the shapely bum, doesn't he? I want to reach out and fondle it a little. Rowr! While the Bertie sculpt is so distinctively Hugh that it's almost unnerving. You sculpted that yourself? It's quite an impressive likeness. (Your commentary about lupus just kills me!)

Thanks for sharing the Leyendecker pic, too, I'd never seen that one. It's really amazing what Leyendecker got away with. That illustration leaves little to the imagination. Guess Jeeves isn't the only one with the shapely bum!

So happy you posted this, it really made my day!

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words, old thing. If you feel like a perv, then I think my job is done :)
I did not sculpt Hugh myself -- he is the "Gregory Policeman" sculpt from Zyco toys, that I modified.

Very mysterious why he would have graduated from stealing policemen's helmets to the whole uniform, but anyway... He is the most youthful of all the action figure heads I have found, but still too badly shaven for Jeeves' liking.
Also, I must confess that, inspired by JCL, I did photoshop the Jeevsian bum a bit. I might actually modify this action figure body in that respect -- it's not like it fits into any clothes at all anyway.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

I am confused, but not displeased, by the existence of Police Officer Gregory (as in House, I presume?). Why does this exist? Where did it come from?

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

I do NOT know why he is a police officer. I mean, this is an unlicensed likeness, so they couldn't call it "Gregory House, MD, featuring the likeness of Hugh Laurie," but the police angle is still confusing (here (http://7-hobby.us/gallery/zc-world/zcwo-gregory/) are the official pics). I got the head by itself off ebay (since I have no need of tiny NYPD accoutrements), and so it is quite possibly a bootleg recasting of the unauthorized likeness.. bally confusing.

[cosmosmariner.livejournal.com]

Heavens... the Leyendecker ad is kinda erotic, in a very prim way. (The best kind, in my opinion.)

And I LOVE the details here - the book falling from Bertie's hand, the smirk on Jeeves' face. "Yeah, he's gonna see my good stuff." LOL I'm sorry, that's immediately what I thought. The chest is nice. Very nice. And I love the details on the books.

Fantastic job!!!

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

You are too kind!
I think you are exactly right about Jeeves' smirk :) And yes, Jeeves is probably reading Spinoza in bed, because you know he would.

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

I love this!

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

thank you, old thing :)

[heavenly-rain.livejournal.com]

Wow! Great work on the head sculpt... I didn't know there were House heads around.

I like Jeeves hair.
And that's some really nice buns he's got there ;D

Very nice outfits too! Especially the long undergarments :)

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

There are SO MANY House action figures (http://pinterest.com/enkidu2/house-md-and-friends-action-figures/)(most of them unlicensed). I have one (he has a walking stick and several little bottles of pills, which I think is hilarious).
I'm glad you like it -- I had to enhance the Jeevsian buttocks a bit -- I should modify the action figure body accordingly (a delightful weekend craft project!)

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

SQUEEEEE!!!!

*hrmmm*

I think they show ample emotion and verve and all that, old top.... Would it be terribly forward to link alos to the fanfic inspired by your ad?

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

:) Link away. If you want to borrow the Union suit pix to illustrate your fic on the topic, borrow away. I originally bought the white stretchy garment to do a "man on the bag" pose with Jeeves for that fic of yours and even made a little duffle bag, but the Jeeves action figure just looked all weird and awkward in said pose :(

We should collab on something, yes? Or just go on encouraging each other shamelessly, that would also be fine :)

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thank-you! I did put the image in the fic in question... but YES let's do collaborate. My friend suggested a Viking Jeeves v Trolls fic.

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

Viking Jeeves and trolls? Sounds intriguing!

[kei-rin.livejournal.com]

Cute.

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

Thanks :)

[storyfan.livejournal.com]

You've done so much for this fandom, and this photostory is just the giddy biscuit. Wonderful detail, great lighting, most excellent expressions — good job, old thing.

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

Thank you, you are too kind! I'm glad you liked it.

[wotwotleigh.livejournal.com]

This is awesome, and I especially love their teeny tiny books! So adorable! And I see what you did there with the Rex West cover . . . excellent use of stealth!Jeeves. XD

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

Thank you, old thing! I like the idea of Stealth!Jeeves ... he should sneak into our lives and leave little souvenirs of his visits.

[oct71952.livejournal.com]

Wow I love the dolls. Surely you can pose them in some really erotic positions XD

[laeticiav.livejournal.com]

:) You are right, I can, but then I feel like I am about 10 and playing inappropriately with my Barbies (or, more likely, Ken and a visiting GIJoe) like this...


I suppose it is pretty much the same thing we do when we write fanfic. More problematically, though, they are pretty awkward and bend oddly, so the less they are wearing, the harder it is (using camera angles, strategic drapery, photoshop) to make them look reasonable. Obviously I need actual male models for this purpose. Ahem.