Ever After & Happy by Cesare (NC-17)

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

Fandom: QUEER AS FOLK: UK
Pairing: Vince/Aaron (OMC); Stuart/Malcolm (OMC)
Author on LJ: almostnever; fic journal: almoststories
Author Website: Cesare's Cabinet

Why this must be read:
This pair of stories is a take on what might have happened if Stuart left and Vince didn't go with him. "Ever After" made me feel wistful, but it's well-written and I smiled fondly at this new and improved Vince. I don't agree with Cesare that Vince didn't know Stuart (I think he knew him very well), but otherwise the detail in this story is delightful. If Vince's story is one to amuse, it's not a surprise that Stuart's journey is fraught with the uglier side of life. "Ever After" is a comforting, life-affirming story, but the companion piece, "Happy," is all about hard-won, painful maturity. (Wouldn't Stuart Alan Jones just have to do things the hard way?) I had an entirely different reaction to "Happy"--this story has all the acid bite that a Stuart POV story should have, and it also has some painful insight to Stuart's personality. A large part of me can believe the AU scenario laid out in this pair of stories, however unwilling I am to admit it. So I can't say I love these, but I do think every QaFUK fan and writer absolutely should read them.

Ever After
Happy