TEAM ANGST: Day 13, "The Longest Distance"

[sageness]

Title: The Longest Distance
Author: berty_bertle
Team: Angst
Prompt: "That's because you're not pushing hard enough."
Pairing(s): F/K
Length: 9100 words
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Impending character deaths (end of the world fic).
Author's Notes: Beta thanks to nos4a2no9 for encouragement and hand-holding, to secretlybronte for chats and americanisms and to aukestrel for letting me learn from

Comments

[hyzenthlay26]

This was so incredibly heartbreaking because of the circumstance, but at the same time so full of last-minute redemption, which is in itself such achingly bittresweet satisfaction when hope just isn't an option.

I also love the concept of including a Last Night-type device as further tribute to DS 6 degrees. The descriptions of both Ray and Fraser's individual experiences in the impending end of time, their decisions, just adds so much to a beautifully rich characterisation as well as a rather harrowing mood build-up (the countdown motif...gah!). Even though this an angst entry, I find the incremental reflection by each character on the relationship, culminating in the kiss (finally), terrifically romantic.

This is such a great piece. With all the small details, it reminds me of this lovely but very angsty apocalypse book I read a while back, The Last Ship.

[bertybertle]

Oh, what a wonderful feedback. Thank you so much. I love Last Night and I've been wanting to play with it for ages, so when my first fic went South (har-de-not-very-ha), I thought I'd give it a whirl. But my angst was obviously broken - and I'm not even in the same country as my ds_team_angst brethren - they are just ruthless!

So who was this book by - and if I order it, will I curse your name through my tears or love you forever for pointing it out?

And thank you so much for your fantastic comments. I really appreciate them.

[tahariel]

Ow and wow. Fantastic, lyrical, heartrending.

[bertybertle]

Thank you very much indeed. :-)

[kaj_22]

You broke me with your heart-wrenching Team-Angsty ways! I almost made it to the end without crying but then Dief left and they made that little pile of belongings and that was it. It is a fabulous story though. *sniffles*

[bertybertle]

*mops you* Thank you very much. Well done for holding out to the final scene! :-)

[mergatrude]

Great apocafic! The ending was sweetly romantic, about which I have no complaints, but it made me mark you down a notch or two in the "how well does this fic fit the team genre" box. :-) Beautifully realised and described.

[bertybertle]

Yes, I know. I fail at bringing the angst... but.... but.... the boys!!!!!

Thank you for your kind comments. *hugs you*

[mlyn]

The premise seems so obvious and so unique at the same time-that is, I would have thought that "last three days on earth" fic would be an old chestnut by now, but I've never read one before. You did an excellent, excellent job with this, staying true to the characters, wringing out all the regret and longing and acceptance built into a situation like this. Heart-wrenching and beautiful.

[bertybertle]

I've read a couple - those dS girls do like a bit of angst - but most were crossovers or not Last Night inspired. Thank you so much for your delicious comments, it's so kind of you.