Volume 1

Edition 3

Marty Deeks – The Music Man

by Gayle @ghartler

 Music is to the soul what words are to the mind. – Modest Mouse

This quote is a wonderful descriptor of the inner workings of our beloved Marty Deeks. In “Patriot Acts” (3×20) we learn Deeks played the violin growing up; in “Ravens and the Swans” (4×22) we further learn Deeks was “the front man and lead guitarist” for his teen rock band. While there has been no demonstration of these abilities (yet?!) and since both of these “confessions” were made to Kensi, we must believe he was telling the truth. (Other than forced undercover, he’d never lie to Kensi – out of both respect and fear.) So accepting these facts into evidence, how might music have become an integral part of Deeks?

The Guitar & the Rock Band

This most recent discovery is the simplest to consider and the most believable. A young (then & now) Deeks mind likely goes something like this: Teenage boy + Rock Band = Girls. In fact, Deeks confesses to this very basis of the bands existence. And then there’s the name of the band. “Touching Wood”?! Only a teenage boy would come up with this! Yet, more importantly, how/why was his old high school shirt in the Armory?! Hmm…

Based on the tiny example of Deeks’ singing (using that term very loosely), we can presume 1) either he is quite terrible, or 2) he was faking with Kensi in an effort to simply appease her and move off the topic. (BTW, if you want to actually catch ECO “singing”, check out his appearances on “Community”. Personally, I hope they never write something like this into NCISLA! Now a “Say Anything” moment serenading Kensi… that’s a whole different issue!)

Anyway, this is a plausible, and quite probable, piece of Deeks’ background. After all, it’s easier to learn a second instrument after you’ve learned the first….

The Violin

In a stunning revelation, Deeks admits he “grew up playing the violin”. As a musician myself I can, remarkably, picture this – even if it was completely unexpected. Knowing what we currently do about Deeks’ childhood, it is quite likely a teacher, neighbor, community center staffer, friend’s parent, etc. saw something in Deeks – a talent, a need, or an undiscovered ability.

Learning to read music and tackling an instrument, particularly one as challenging as the violin, requires focus. Perhaps this helped tamp down Deeks’ perceived ADHD? Perhaps he saw this as a challenge to overcome? Perhaps the person who introduced Deeks to the instrument served as a safe-haven mentor to escape his unhappy childhood environment?

While any and all of the posed situations could be true, the one this writer is betting on is true for just about anyone who has ever been a student of music. Music provides the opportunity to focus on what one is thinking or feeling, either by internalizing the emotion music produces or by expressing emotion through the generation of music. We can all probably agree the best music is that which congers feelings and emotions. (A prime examples is “Arms of a Ghost” from “Neighborhood Watch” (3×22). Or just consider your favorite Densi video!) Such an experience would have provided a young Deeks with a physical and mental escape from his painful childhood.

Further, this is the one thing he could completely control – when and how frequently he would play, what he would play, what emotion he could choose to express depending on the piece and his mood. In essence, this would serve as a place where Deeks could deal with his feelings and emotions in a healthy, yet individual way.

Back to the opening quote, “Music is to the soul what words are to the mind,” describes all the Deeks is. With rarely a filter, Deeks has no hesitation to speak his mind and work to connect with others through seemingly endless talking. In short, he regularly thinks out loud. The music, however, would be like an internal heartbeat, keeping him in focus and grounded. If the show ever expounds on this background trait, I personally hope they do it in a heart-felt and meaningful way. This would show us more of Deeks than we could ever likely imagine.

How/why do you think Deeks became a musician? 

We would like to welcome Gayle to Decidedly ‘Team” Deeks!   She will be a regular contributor to this feature!  For more on Deeks check out Gayle’s tumblr:  www.densiland.tumblr.com

 

Come on…Make us Laugh Caption Contest!

This week we launch a Caption Contest!  Add your caption to this picture and we’ll announce the winner next week.    For your caption, be fun, humorous, or real, but stay clean and keep it Deeks!

 

 

See you next Thursday at Decidedly Deeks  for a very special contest where you can win an autographed picture of Eric Christian Olsen!  Come back next week for more details!

Vol. 1

Edition 2

Welcome again to Decidedly Deeks!  This week we feature a mini fanfic by Phillydi written exclusive for DD.  We also started a new section where we will present a fan video or fanfic featuring Marty Deeks that we think you should check out (see below).

For now….sit back and enjoy….

Sweet Soul Violins

By Phillydi

“Anyone seen Deeks?”  Kensi called out as she entered the bullpen.

“Nope,” Callen looked up from his desk.

“Probably went surfing,” Sam grunted.

“I’ll kill him!” Kensi said in aggravation.  It had been a long day and Kensi wanted to finish her paperwork and go home.  The problem was Deeks was supposed to be working on the report with her and it was due on Hetty’s desk tomorrow.

“Check the boathouse,” Nell called out as she walked by. “He asked me for the new pass code before he left thirty minutes ago.”

“He better be working on that report, or he is one dead cop,” Kensi steamed and went in search of her wayward partner.

As she entered the boathouse, Kensi heard the strains of a soulful violin coming from inside.   Deeks must have NPR* on again, she thought.  Kensi took two more steps inside and was instead stunned to see him standing next to the center table with his foot propped up on one the chairs.  Deeks’ eyes were closed in deep concentration while the sweetest music came wafting out from the violin he was holding.

Kensi placed her hand over her heart as it raced faster in response to the music.  The veins in his hands stood out from exertion, which only added to the beauty of his playing as his fingers floated rapidly over the fret board.  She took one more step and the floor beneath her foot creaked loudly, disrupting Deek’s performance.  His eyes flew open when he realized someone else was standing in the room.

“You really can play the violin!” Kensi swooned. “That was beautiful, Deeks.”  She stepped in closer to look at the sheet music spread out over the table.

Sonata for Solo Violin, No 1 in G Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach

“I’m impressed,” she shook her head in disbelief. “I thought this was another one of your exaggerations. I’m sorry, I didn’t believe you.”

“There must be something wrong with my hearing, because I could have sworn Kensi Blye just said she was sorry?” Deeks smirked as he held his hand up to his ear.

“Ok, I deserved that,” Kensi said remorsefully.  “But what are you doing here?”

“I can’t practice at home, and I needed a quiet space to rehearse because if you must know…” Deeks stopped and looked down in embarrassment. “I wanted to serenade you after dinner one night as a surprise.”

Kensi opened her mouth in amazement.  “That is the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard,” she blushed. “I don’t know what to say.”

Kensi was speechless and desperately wished she could disappear behind one of the posts.

“I’m…going to go…now,” she stammered, stumbling backwards out of the room and tripping over the threshold as she left. She had totally forgotten about the report.

Deeks chuckled to himself, amazed at how Kensi had become totally undone by his little surprise.

An image suddenly popped up again on the flat screen against the far wall.

“No time to dillydally, Mr. Deeks,” Hetty scolded.  “We have a lot of work to do on this piece if you want to continue to impress Ms. Blye.  You were a bit flat in the third measure of the first movement. Let’s take it from the top, shall we?”

“Yes ma’am!” Deeks said as his bow touched the strings and the sweet music of Bach filled the air once more.

(Disclaimer: All these characters are owned by CBS and created by Shane Brennan and company. I’m just borrowing them for a little bit of fun.)

*National Public Radio

Next week we are going to explore Deeks’ music background written exclusive for DD by @ghartler.  

We invite everyone to submit your own mini fanfic of 500 words or less to Decided Deeks for publication.  If you are a seasoned fanfic writer, write for fun, or would like to try writing a Deeks-centric story for the first time, we would love to feature your creation.  If you have ever wanted to finish a special scene, or explore an area of Deeks life that was mentioned in the show, these one-shot fics should be no more than 500 words and complete when submitted.   Please send your mini fanfic to:  diane@ncislamagazine.com

Solus

by Sweet Lu

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7798925/1/Solus

This was the first story I read from this talented writer and fell in love with her portrayal of Deeks right away.  It’s hard to read just one of her fanfics, I promise you will go back for more. 

 

56 Reasons to Ship Deeks & Kensi

by ibroketheinternetxo

This video is so artfully done, and I enjoyed the way the scenes are cut and the music plays sweetly in the background.  Whether you are a shipper or not, this features the best of Deeks and Kensi on screen.

 

If you have any recommendations for a fanfic or video about Deeks that you would like to see featured on Decidedly Deeks, please submit them to diane@ncislamagazine.com.

                                                                                                                                                   Volume 1 Edition 1

Welcome!

Deeks aficionados unite!  Whether you are a fanatic, devotee, freak, addict, admirer, or enthusiast….this special section of NCISLA Magazine is for YOU!  Welcome to Decidedly Deeks! Like Callen’s Corner which specializes in the brilliant G Callen, we are here to talk about all things Deeks, all the time!  We thought it was about time that our favorite LAPD Detective was highlighted so his devoted fans would have a place where we could come and focus on what makes Marty Deeks such a wonderful addition to the NCIS team of agents.

We have a lot of fun items that we are going to begin posting and we want this to be as interactive as possible.  Besides thought provoking articles and discussions about the character, we will include contests, Deeks art, fanfics, trivia and word games…and who knows what else!   If you love Deeks become a part of Decidedly Deeks!  We know there are a lot of you out there!  So send us your creative works of art, articles, Deeks’ fanfics or just participate in the fun and games.  We want this to be a place you will enjoy coming back to week after week!

We thought we would kick off our first edition with a wonderful collage  from the season finale designed by the very talented DeeksFreak, who also creates the gorgeous calendars that you see each month on NCISLA Magazine.  Colleen’s attractive art work will be featured in Decidedly Deeks along with her other creative contributions.  We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!  Also in the weeks to come, Phillydi will explore and write about different areas of Deeks’ life including his childhood, relationship with Kensi, and his future with NCIS…and don’t forget our continuing roundtable discussions and contests.

We hope you enjoy Decidedly Deeks.  If you would like to become a part of the fun in this tribute to Deeks…please let us know.  Drop us a line at diane@ncislamagazine.com.  We are always on the lookout for new ideas and creative material.  Stay tuned for our first article and contest that will be coming up later in June!  See you then!!

Deeks in Season Finale: Descent              Created Exclusive for NCISLA Magazine by @DeeksFreak