sakura_no_miko

Title: The Course (AO3 mirror)

Author: Bone & Aristide

Fandom: Due South

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Ray/Benton

Warnings: explicit sex (gay)–and lots of it, angst

Other notes: case fic, undercover, school/university, get together, seduction, post-series

Length: 32k

Summary: Randomness. Inevitability. Smut.

Can’t remember why I didn’t do this one last month. I’ve certainly re-read this one the most.

But I do have a particular point to write about today. This is what I’d consider a case fic, that is, a fic that revolves around solving some sort of crime or mystery. As you can imagine, a case fic can be hard to write–more mystery novel and tightly-plotted thriller than romantic porn. Even fics for shows that are basically police procedurals, there don’t tend to be a lot of case fics.

Some of the best case fics I’ve read have been from Phoenix Wright, oddly enough (see here and here)–actually, maybe not oddly, given that the logic in Phoenix Wright is a bit suspect, and thus easier to write a story around.

I would actually say this story is an example of a case fic that’s been done…okay. Most of the story is dedicated to the two main characters working undercover, but this is more flavoring and setting than anything else. The true core of this story is the relationship, and this becomes pretty apparent towards the end, where most of the story descends into porn, only to be briefly interrupted by the minor league drug dealer getting arrested because of his own stupidity. I have to admit, on my first read, I was a bit surprised–they keep saying, “we can’t find this guy, the students don’t trust us,” and then the guy just shows up, makes some threats and stupidly confesses. It’s a fairly short ending to the case side of the fic. (That said, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that most tv shows–and, indeed, Due South–have exactly this sort of easy wrap-up at the end of the episode, so this is actually pretty faithful to canon.) Now, the authors mentioned that this was a case of a PWP gaining a plot, so, from that perspective, there’s actually a good amount of detail put into the investigation, but you can still tell it was tacked on.

I’ve had issues in my own writing where a subplot or a minor character’s story didn’t really fully form. Sometimes things sort of fade off into the background. It takes effort to bring them back, and, really, I’ve seen more stories where they just end up going nowhere. Sometimes you just end up having to end things suddenly.

At the same time, holy hell, the porn is–amazing, all-encompassing, so wonderfully distracting you barely even think about the case. Fraser plays with being seductive and innocent, and Ray, while desperately trying to resist, is suckered right in. This is definitely porn, both in how explicit it is and how much wish-fulfillment there is. Romantic porn, but definitely porn. Despite Ray’s resistance, I wouldn’t call this a really angsty fic–you know from the start that Fraser is determined, and you know Ray really does want him, and once he sees Fraser wants him back everything will be okay. The angst is based on something we, as the readers, know is untrue. Once the porn starts, you know Ray is lost.

I’m reminded of The Payment. Both fics play with the idea of how flattering it is to have someone so ‘young’ and so eager wanting you, but in this fic it’s both acknowledged as a cliche, and sort of justified, whereas in The Payment is takes a somewhat darker, more cynical twist.

I’m emphasizing the case fic side of this, but that’s not to detract from all the other amazing aspects–I love the journal entries at the beginning, rife with all these lovely sensory details; I love Ray’s monologues; I love that Fraser turns into a sexy, seductive monster. Like I said, I re-read this fic so, so many times. It’s just happy and sexy and lifts my mood.

(Looking for more fic recs?)
Originally posted on tumblr on 04/02/13