Islands, by Isis (isiscolo)

[isiscolo]

Title: Islands
Pairing: Fraser/Duck, Fraser/RayK, a hint of implied unrequited Duck/Buddy
Rating: NC17
Author: Isis (isiscolo)
Summary/Story notes: For an instant, in the starlight, he looked a bit like Ray. Takes place about 8 months after Call of the Wild, and pre-movie for Wilby Wonderful. La la la angst. 2700 words. Thanks to malnpudl for beta, and for

Comments

[mergatrude]

Grrrrr! Maybe I'm too invested in the HEAIACS, but stories like this just make me want to shake Fraser. All that mooning, and really, using his suppressed feelings and fear of a misunderstanding as an excuse to avoid taking a risk!

Umm. So, I guess this made me feel something, though I guess 'cranky' wasn't what you were aiming for. *g*

Great story.

[isiscolo]

What's HEAIACS?

And you know, I don't know if this characterization of Fraser comes from fanon or canon, really. I was working, a bit, from the quote pearl_o posted a while back where Fraser says, "it's easier to think you're in love than to admit you're alone." But in all the post-CotW happy stories where they admit their love for each other, I figured there was room for one where they never do manage to make the connection - or perhaps it is unrequited.

Anyway, sorry I made you cranky, and thanks for reading!

[mergatrude]

Hi! No, I'm sorry for being premenstrual all over your story. I really am.

I do get what you mean, and I think it's a valid characterisation, and a valid point that they may be emotionally crippled enough to not communicate with each other. I did like the story, even more, on rereading when I wasn't possessed by the Demon of Hormones.

HEAIACS = Happily Ever After In A Canadian Shack.

And I really am sorry.

[mergatrude]

And yes, that was me, being spectacularly clever. doh!

[malnpudl]

I've already told you how much I like this, love it, but one thing I forgot to mention is all the gorgeous, rich sensory detail. It struck me as I was initially reading it, and again just now. Lovely.

[isiscolo]

Aw, thanks so much - and thanks for your help in tweaking and twiddling. I had to keep reminding myself to deliberately put in the sensory detail because I know I am not so good with that!

[j_s_cavalcante]

Just beautiful. Every time I read something of yours I'm reminded all over again that you are such a damn good writer.

Here's one bit that I loved, loved, loved because it's so insightful and succinctly stated and perfect:

He couldn't help but envy the way Ray's emotions seemed to spill out of him, the way Ray hugged him, and laughed easily, and used the wrong words to say the right things.

What a perfect description of Ray! The wrong words to say the right things. Yeah. That is brilliant.

This piece is wistful and sad and brilliant, and I envision a happier sequel wherein Fraser goes back to Chicago to say what he'd feared to say before--or even only to tell Ray how much he misses him, and let Ray take it from there. But this story is perfect on its own as well.

[beledibabe]

Seconding the beauty and power of that one line -- writing at its very best!

And also seconding the desire for a sequel, simply because I love seeing Fraser *happy*.

::wistful sigh::

[isiscolo]

Aw, thank you very much.

I am declining to write a sequel because, as I said above to j_s_cavalcante, I love leaving readers with possibilities that make them imagine sequels in their heads. Writing a sequel pins down the butterfly and kills the color in its wings.

[isiscolo]

Aw, what a nice compliment. And you know, I also love that description of Ray and am proud that it tumbled out of my brain.

I have to admit that I am a big fan of endings that complete the story, yet make readers imagine sequels in their heads. I love the engagement that makes readers want to continue the story in a particular way - and in a way, isn't that what fanfiction is all about? We write what we like to imagine happened afterward, or in the interstices.

So I am disinclined to write a sequel, either happy or sad, because I'd rather have readers thinking about the story afterward and writing their own mental sequels.

[sam80853]

Ow that really really hurts! But it's beautifully written and heartbreaking nonetheless.

For God's sake, Fraser, go and ask Ray!

[isiscolo]

Aw, thank you. And an appropriate icon!

[bertybertle]

This was just heavenly. Reached right in and yanked my heart. The lonliness of the two men, of the setting and of the act itself was subtle and simple but stunningly done. Bravo.\o/

[isiscolo]

Thank you very much!