Masquerade by Slidellra and Omphale23 (NC-17)

[eledhwenlin]

Fandom: due South
Pairing: Fraser/Ray Kowalski
Length: 37k
Author on LJ: slidellra and omphale23
Author Website: Slidellra’s fic index and Omphale23’s fic index
Why this must be read:

This was written for the ds_harlequin challenge, which turned out a lot of very good fic. It’s a due South remake of the movie Charade with Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. But even if you don’t know the movie, the story works.

Ray, clueless and twice as belligerent because of that, is written believable and, for those who care, this story also features a very, very nice Ray/Volpe scene. Fraser is wonderfully intransparent and for a long time you’re wondering whether he is friend or foe. I’ve been better entertained by this than by many mainstream thrillers. Slidellra and Omphale have managed to sustain the suspence over the whole 37,000 words and they have written a couple of very hot and lovely sex scenes, to boot.



As he made his way toward the exit, he ran into a familiar face, one he was pretty sure he'd glimpsed up in the stands. "Hey, Bob! Benton! You following me?"

Benton looked startled, craning his neck around like Ray was talking to someone else. He shook himself and smiled cautiously. It wasn't a bad look for him. "No! I mean, of course not. But I am delighted to see you."

Ray leered a little. What the hell. He'd had a bad day. "Yeah, it's delightful seeing you, too."

The innuendo, flirtation, whatever, sailed right over the poor schmuck's head. Painfully sincere, he asked, "How are you, Ray?"

He stuffed his hands in his pockets. He did not want to have a heart to heart at Johnny's. "You know, the usual. Boyfriend got murdered, cops think I did it, the world is full of pain and suffering. You?"

"Nothing so dire." Benton licked his lip. It was a lovely sight. "Perhaps you need a distraction from the agonies of the world?"


Masquerade

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Comments

[nos4a2no9.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, GREAT rec! I love this story to itty bitty pieces. You're exactly right when you point out that it's a better thriller than most pro writers could turn out, and that all of the characterizations are superb. RayK in particular here is excellent, and I'm still amazed how well the authors were able to blend the film into the world of dS (and vice versa). Thanks for the rec - it's going to fun to revisit this story!

[eledhwenlin]

*beams* I had such a hard time picking out an excerpt because - the entire thing is so good! (I may be slightly biased, though. Do we care?) And it's hard picking out a sample out of a long fic, since some things only make sense in the long run.