New F/K Story: Edge of Snow

[arrow00]

Title: Edge of Snow
Author: arrow00
Pairing: Fraser/RayK
Rating: NC-17
Wordcount: 9,388
Warnings: Angstier than is really forgiveable.
See bottom for full warning.
Post CoTW, First-time.

UPDATE: Now in podfic format thanks to the multi-talented nos4a2no9

Comments

[nos4a2no9]

Oh wow.

WowI...I'm going to have to build up to this, I think. Because what you've given us here in this story is so new and fragile and unexpected, and I'm having trouble articulating myself. I haven't read a Fraser quite like this before, and I've certainly never read any story that tackles his inexperience with sex and intimacy in quite this way. Your Fraser voice is perfect: honest and forthright one moment, in deep denial the next. He's utterly unable to express internal shifts and realignments; he doesn't even have the vocabulary necessary to explain to himself what's going on with Ray, with Steve, with the new state of his life. And that is amazing - Fraser is an unreliable narrator because of his inexperience, his innocence. It's at the core of the character and I don't think I've ever seen it properly captured and expressed in a fic

[arrow00]

Inarticulate you are most definitely not. Your note is beautiful and your thoughts so interesting. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me your insight.

>He's utterly unable to express internal shifts and realignments<

Spot on. Yes, I think this Fraser would have run screaming from intimacy after his experiences with Steve, and only the enforced closeness with Victoria during the blizzard could break through that reserve. I think this Fraser might tell himself he is just different and feels no attraction toward people.

Of course, our Ray would have the persistence and audacity to tackle that lie head on, and the necessary flexibility to roll with Fraser's hot-and-cold confusion.

And yes, I think it takes time and patience to heal, no matter how much love there is. I am as guilty of enjoying the "sex as magic wand" approach as the next fan girl, but I like to see realistic portrayals as well.

I'm blabbering. You have made me such a gift with your note. Thank you so much.

[utterfrivolity]

Well, I'm an emo angst whore, so I don't think there's any need for forgiveness on that end (and really any story that ends with good sex can't be too angsty, right?). I loved Fraser realizing that he needs to talk because Ray always does, and then Ray physically pushing Fraser to meet him halfway with the "And me." Also, "total obsessiveness" is one of the best phrases I've seen in a while. Ray understanding Fraser when Fraser can barely figure himself out makes me very happy, so thanks!

PS: missing a quotation mark: "Hey," he says. Don't tense up like that."

[arrow00]

Oh, thank you kindly. And for the typo fix. Hate those.

Ray is the definition of pushy, I love that about him.

Thank for the lovely words.

[grey853]

I love stories that give history to the characters. This was very well done, not to mention, hot.

[arrow00]

Thank you! We strive for hotness. :)

[pearl_o]

Oh, wow, this is just beautifully done.

[arrow00]

Thank you most kindly.

[tealc_spoo]

Like nos4a2no9 I'm going to have to gather my thoughts enough to coment, because the wonder of this fic has scattered them all over.

Holy love of all that's subtle! This Fraser POV you having going has got a softness to him that I've never seen before, and yet I find it totally in character. Especially when you pull out the Steve backstory, the pain just meldes into any previous ideas about Fraser and turns preconcived notions on end.

They way you told the Steve thing was just right, again it was a subtler kind of plotline, not one you expect to see with that kind of material. And Fraser getting to stand up to his past became so important in the view of his potential relationship with Ray.

I love the straight talk Ray, always doing what he could to make it easier on Fraser without giving up on him. And Fraser needing a little bit of a push to open up (little like a bulldozer kind of push) but his trust in Ray was so moving.

i'm sure there's so much more i could go on about but my head only wants to go back and re-read it.

[arrow00]

Hey TS:

Thank you so much. I'm glad you could share my vision of Fraser. I always thought there had to be something behind his stilted sexuality. And it was a pleasure having him stand up to Steve.

Than you for your wonderful note.