#fraser/victoria

[gjdraws]

this boy had a hole in his heart and ray really really had his hands full huh

[gayvecchio]

due South - 1.20 Victoria's Secret pt. 1 || 4.12 Call of the Wild pt. 1

[eaion]

DUE SOUTH 1x20: Victoria's Secret (Part 1)

[pigtailedgirl]

So I spent all day writing Victoria's Secret AUs...it could have been worse edition.

I have an angst problem yo.

Victoria is a ghost

When you are lonely and feel guilty, the mind can offer all kinds of refuges.

Fraser hadn't left his apartment in three days, huddled in like the memory of before, he and Victoria. Except for that brief phone call the consulate had for him, that call that-- No matter, for the roses had appeared that afternoon, in sympathy and get well and provided the perfect reason to go back. The Forget Me Nots. Sick leave he had in abundance after all, so he returned to Victoria's embrace.

Until that night, well past midnight, Ray knocked on the door. Whether it was sleep deprivation or worry Ray too would leave, he made the mistake of inviting him in. “Do you wanna meet her?” and though he'd hestitated, Ray did cross the threshold, like an unseen hand had given him push.

And looked around a disheveled and empty apartment.

“Fraser?”

There was no woman in sight. To his eyes anyways. To Fraser, Victoria sat draped in his bed, an icy smile now gracing her features, as if more proof his guilt was earned eternally.

He leaned against the partition of his bedroom, looking between them both, and as he cracked like the thaw of ice in a pass, laughter bubbling to tears, sinking him into the cold as he sank to the floor despite Ray's efforts to try and catch him in grip, he knew.

“I'm sorry to inform you Constable, a Miss Victoria Metcalfe was killed in an auto crash two months after her release from prison. Her will requested you be informed in case of her death.”

Fraser and Victoria go to Texas

It shouldn't be so easy. Maybe it isn't. Maybe the sun of Austin won't be bright or will burn him out faster than here. But she doesn't care, and he, he can't say no. He'd asked for the transfer, entirely prepared to resign if they'd said no. Moffat had given him an odd look, like pity, but also considering his general problematic work, he was approved. He would use his sick time as leave in interim.

There was hardly anything to pack. His father's trunk, which Victoria assured would fit in a small rented U-Haul. All that was needed for them. Dief could stay in there as well. They'd stop during intervals to check on him. He seemed so displeased, Fraser half considered leaving him here, maybe with Willie?, but couldn't voice it anymore than he could say he'd prefer Dief in the car with them. Yet, Dief was loyal, so he watched and was going along silently, perhaps caged just like his master.

That left Ray. Something, and someone owed alot more than Fraser knew he could ever give.

It had ended as it should have if he'd truly been as cowardly or stupid as when he'd first come to Chicago. As it could've when he'd first left but hadn't really wanted to say goodbye.

A phone call from a payphone, outside the limits of town. Yes, your money is with Mr. Mustafi Ray. I'm sorry, you see, I have to go. I can't let her go. You friendship has meant so much to me. I know it doesn't seem it but...my regrets... I have to...I'll try to keep in touch. Of course, as a friend.

No forwarding address or number ever came.

Victoria and Dief killed by Jolly

The gunshot echoes in the night air. And the second.

He's already winded from chasing Ray, so he doesn't have much head start. The stairs and climb are daunting.

The door is wide open. Dief lays in his pool of blood near the cupboards, near the window leading to the fire escape, also thrown wide.

Victoria's crumpled by the bed, and the ransacked trunk, like she'd made a last ditch effort to retrieve his fire-arm within.

He doesn't bother to check Dief because it doesn't matter does it.

She's clearly dead.

Victoria's lawyer sucks and she goes back to prison

She'd been granted bail on the condition of being watched by two officers of the law. She'd languished in his little hell hole apartment for months untils trial. She'd followed the lawyers advice and dressed demurely and acted contrite and frightened for her life.

She saved her remaining rage for Benton in private. And though it still binds them, it wasn't enough. She's doesn't feel guilty like him.

She'd still refused to say where her portion of the money Jolly was stalking her for went. Root of all her evils, it damns her again.

The sentence is only five years. This time.

Fraser's eyes as he stares at her in shock as she's lead from the court in cuffs, after she'd turned from the verdict to pound his chest, or was it to go for his friend Ray's side arm and end this ... Well, 5 years isn't worth it, but at least he's getting the life sentence.

So damn him and his plea deals.

Fraser doesn't find the key at Ray's house in time

IA had taken ten minutes to get from the station to the Vecchio home. They didn't bother to think on the why of the anonymous call or record it so there will be no way to trace it as evidence later. Perhaps guilty conscious explains why he told on himself. No one will bother to remember it was a call from a woman.

Welsh, Huey and Louey were only two minutes behind. Ray Vecchio flagged by a rookie, who was radio-ed by Elaine, won't even make it to the scene, won't get to see or understand because he'll be redirected. He'll be once again staring at Fraser, blocked by glass, from the other side of the holding cells phones. Fraser won't pick up the receiver to answer him.

So Ray won't know the loss and what little it will be to what could've. Fraser's versus his own imprisonment or loss of bail and home. It's all Fraser feels he can do, but of course Ray doesn't understand him. Fraser doesn't want him to. But still Ray Vecchio sees the sad and forlorn and determined after confession, and refuses anything else.

That full confession makes easy conviction. What IA walking in saw.

A manic faced man amongst the ruins of the Vecchio's house. Rooms upheaved in mad search. A man who seemed caught frozen on the stairwell, phone left dangling over the bannister. Who greeted them with odd, flat words as if spoke to the air;

“I couldn't...I can't find the key.”

And the long poignant pause, his mask slipping on as Welsh stepped through the torn front door, as he finally registered them and added “The key, which I had previously planted. I would like to confess to the murder of Jolly Roberts for money from a former robbery, and attempted framing of my work colleague Ray Vecchio before I could flee with my portion of the cash. I believe cuffs are in order gentlemen.”

He paused again as he stepped through threshold and said to the three former friends standing agape "Can you tell Ray... I'm sorry about the mess."

[preetsramblings]

FERAL PTERODACTYL SCREECH

you hit this on the head! I do love how Victoria is associated with the snow. The cold. The way she chills and isolates Fraser from the world. How he withdraws, even slightly, from Ray v. Makes stupid choices. And he thinks he's warm. And who wouldn't. A bucket of ice water on your head shocks you with the cold- a slow snowfall, rising ever so incrimentally.....

Well. Frogs and boiling water I suppose.

Victoria doesn't touch him immediately when they meet. It's a slow- slow collision. Hand holding. Cheek kisses. And then when he's just acclimated, they fall into each other.

Not unlike a man suffering hypothermia (and oh don't get me started on fraser finding death via avalanche and hypothermia relaxing or ill be here ALL DAY)

She's impossible to know. Poker face on top of poker face. Every expression an act. How far does Fraser want to dig to find her?

He lights candles and can't feel their heat. Keeps lighting more and more till there's none left. They flicker. Sputter. Eat up oxygen in their haste. His emergency supply used up just hoping to change something-

Hopeless man, trying to light a fire while his limbs freeze to stone.

And then Ray k. His first episode is front to back flames. He's gold where Victoria was dark. Embracing Fraser in a hug the moment they meet. Doesn't let Fraser back away, or get distance. Fraser is confused and lost but he has Ray k's arm over his shoulder, holding him close. Ray let's Fraser take his finger prints and his nose size and his teeth mold!!!! And doesn't fight him! Let's Fraser manhandle him like a sack of potatoes- inner thigh and calf notwithstanding. Go ahead Benton-Buddy

He doesn't have candles. But his apartment is warm. Cozy. Cluttered. Not Frasers vast empty floor with only a bed or cot. He's got books and vinyls and a nice kitchenette with matching dishes (i see your only one cup and plate there fraser). He's got a turtle (with its own uv lamp most likely), a pet that needs warmth to survive. That can't manage the cold. His parent live in Arizona most of the time. His anger burns hot and cools quick- a firework of light and rage.

He loves so hard. And so deep. Divorced and still loves stella. Slow. So slow to move on. To the point he stalks her (not good ray!!) And yet when theyve moved on they still care about each other. Childhood friends. Lives entangled. Runs when she screams, even though he doesnt move for anything more. His parents, 8 years apart. And he still calls his mom regularly. He's awkward with his father. But he loves him. Despite the silence.

The family gto. A labor of love. Black as a the night. Soaking up the sun.

Warm.

He's open with his heart. You can read everything on his face. There'd nowhere and nothing he can hide. Only deflect and hope Fraser doesn't push. Pulls Fraser into the world. Forces him to INTERACT. to feel. To respond!

There's chili pepper fairy lights on his wall. Red. Constant.

Warm.

Warmth so schorching, the ice around Fraser's heart has no chance.

Hey, everybody, I'm currently going a little feral how snow/cold symbolizes Victoria and fire/heat symbolizes RayK. You know, with Fraser lighting candles and everything to help rid of the darkness in Victoria's heart... interesting, interesting...

[sammaggs]

Horse to Water | A Fraser/Kowalski Vid

But I remember you dancing in autumn when we met You won't believe I saw it then so many years ago There was something about you I struggled to forget My blood was rushing down to you

for @syrupmap // inspired by @gjdraws' piece here

[variousqueerthings]

me like: and what if i think constable benton fraser is probably more like his mother than his father, but she died too early in his life for him to realise this fact and so in many ways he's actually ill-suited to the kind of toxic macho ideas that seem to surround mounties as a Lifestyle and he doesn't need to impress his father's ghost who ultimately didn't give him much of anything to properly hang onto other than his diaries and an idealised version of masculinity that ben/benny/benton seems to embody more authentically than he did (despite feeling as if he's not good enough much of the time)... and that it's because of all the traits he inherited from his mother

[hwaetnot]

Haven't seen this mentioned before (do tell me if you have!), but I'm sure this is visual symbolism:

There is no water in the water fountain.

Fraser and Frannie didn't have sex. 🚫 💦

(By contrast, he goes over a waterfall for Victoria...)

[inconclusionray]

new(ish) due South fic, anyone? In ascending order of spice, we have Strawberry Jelly, written as a gift fic for @cro-mignonette back when we were both on the tumblrs, on the stresses that can lead to alcohol abuse in remote areas, on Ray moving to the middle of nowhere and being undiagnosed ADHD starting to get bored out of his gourd, but mostly about... fruit preservation. As it were. Ahem. Rated T for teen because there are allusions to canon-typical violence between our beloved duo. Then there's Know I'll stay beside that telephone line, which wasn't directly responsible for the change in relationship status between me and @hereeatthiskitten but also wasn't not, so. Kept private because sometimes things are just too precious to be public for a while; she gave me permission to post it years ago, nonetheless, but did I? Look, it's there now, isn't it? Anyway, it's about longing, and repression, and how challenging it can be to change the shape of a relationship, even when you both know the other knows you want to. Talking is awkward, okay, sometimes it's easier in a chat box over the telephone. Rated M, because there is sex, but it's mostly alluded to, not described. Finally, we have the fully smut rated Book, Book, Duck, which if I recall correctly was just me trying to prove to @hereeatthiskitten that Fraser and Duck could so do the deed (ish), what that would look like, and what Ray's reaction would be. It's about... libraries? and alleys? okay it's about dopplegangers and public-ish sex and jealousy and desire. Explicit, no question, though once again, the point is the feelings. Please leave comments on this, it took me over seven years to finish, I crave the validation. That's it! Enjoy! Feel free to use this to promote your new-ish old fandom creations, too! Fic, art, gifs, meta, squees, literally any engagement with this cheesy buddy cop show that is way too good for being as absurd as it is!

[systematic-and-somehow-tragic]

hi there! I was so excited to find out about the 30 Below Fest! I'd like to contribute a due south fanvid for @ds30below

I hope yall like it :)

Song: The Night We Met by Lord Huron Episodes: Victoria's Secret Parts 1 and 2 (clips pulled from DueSouthHD on youtube)

[catboymoses]

the nausea before the game

[gayvecchio]

I understand that sometimes you can love someone so much that you are willing to do almost anything for them. The power of a love like that can be very frightening.

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[juniperpomegranate]

#beanz rambles#do I believe Fraser is a very enthusiastic lover and he should be cherished at all cost?#absolutely#do i think Victoria is a complex character?#no doubt#but I do find this funny#also sad because Fraser was being vulnerable with her and maybe she'd take the time to learn with him but that's tears for another day#due south

Generally I think the night with Victoria was definitely Fraser's first time with a woman, and while I generally follow his canon-established Being Good At Most Things-ness, I agree that this would be funny.

I love Victoria but her deciding to fuck that man after a decade and getting mediocre virgin sex for her trouble is indeed very funny. But also T-T nooo Fraser has been pining and feeling guilty....

(That said you know the oral sex was worth the wait. Fraser's a fast learner and eager to please.)

One of the things I really appreciate about Fraser's character is that you can read him as a virgin up until Victoria's Secret (or when they met if you interpret it that way). It's just nice to have a reading there that has a (presenting) man who is shown to be attractive and desirable but has never had sex until he is well into adulthood. Nice subversive trope for a male character

[sammaggs]

1x21 Victoria’s Secret Part 2 | Loose

Victoria’s loose morals are even worse than we thought.

When Ben is frantically searching for anyone in the city who may have seen Victoria (to prove that she’s not dead and he’s not crazy and Ray’s not a criminal), he can’t. And one of the people he knows for SURE saw her—their waiter at the restaurant—can’t be reached.

CLOSED DUE TO DEATH IN THE FAMILY, reads the sign.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

But what’s the one thing we know for certain about Victoria?

She leaves nothing to chance.

I think the death in the family is their waiter. And he’s dead because Victoria made certain that he was.

After all, we know she’s perfectly capable of manipulating a crime scene to her own benefit. Why not do so while killing a man you know saw you, and make it look like it wasn’t a homicide?

Benny… you got played from the start.

Has she always been this way? Did her ten years in prison make her even worse? We’ll never know. Because Ben never knows the truth of her, either.

[variousqueerthings]

if there's one thing that makes me whoop and holler it's every time that silly canadian goose tastes or smells another unknown substance like a weird little Creature. behold this beautiful man pressing his whole face against contaminated horsemeat.