Triple Hankie Challenge: Politics of X; This is the story I tell myself

[vsee.livejournal.com]

I know some readers have a great fondness for those stories that wreck them and make them cry. I have never been one of those people. I'm usually in it for the escapism, in one form or another...a world where generally pleasant things eventually happen, even when the road does not run smoothly, and universe bending sex is had by all. I couldn't resist responding to this challenge, because my recs will be stories that are so worthy of being read, that they are the Triple Hankie stories for people who don't like hankie warnings on their fic.

Title: The Politics of X
Author: Zen&nancy (lj not known, website is here .)
Pairing: F/K
Rating: NC17
Length: "139K" or about 22,000 words
Why I'm reccing this fic: This fic is my ultimate, glowing, break glass in case of emergency story. I've only read it three times, ever, because it is that good and that potent for me, but I only rarely have any need or desire to inflict that kind of pain on myself. Maybe a better analogy would be...this is perhaps the durian fruit of F/K fanfic. It's huge, it's rare and of great value, it's very exotic, but you should know what you're getting in return for your large investment before you sink your teeth into it, because it has a very, very strong flavor.

The author warns a little extra for smutiness, which is apt, and in the plus column, in my mind. But the author also warns rather casually for drugs, non-con, and "gobs of angst." Also all true, but understated. This story is great but it has drugs as a central theme, non-con is kind of the entire point, and "gobs of angst" is hardly beginning to state the matter. This is the most painful Due South story I've ever read.

Also note that this is an older fic, and has a bit of an "old school slash" flavor, including some slight Ray K dialect. It's not enough to bug me, but you might notice it.

Briefly, this story is about what happens when Fraser and Ray go undercover in a bar, and Fraser is slipped a dose of Ecstasy by a stranger. Ray must deal with the aftermath, and sees a whole new side to Fraser and their relationship. It is both incredibly poignant and complete train wreck.

Link to the story: The Politics of X

( (A brief excerpt) )

Title: This Is The Story I Tell Myself
Author: spuffyduds
Pairing: F/K
Rating: R
Length: ~3000 words.
Why I'm reccing this fic: I read this story exactly once, without seeing the headers or warnings first, because of the way the lj cut took me to the top of the story. Spuff usually writes tight, funny, emotionally-dead-accurate stuff, but watch out. When she decides to use her powers not-for-the-good, she's scary. My original feedback in the story included me calling her a "mean bitch" which she fortunately read as the adoring compliment it was intended as.

The reason I both love and loathe this story is that Spuffy can make me believe in the fragility of all the things I love the best about Fraser and Ray K together. I was FRIGHTENED by the story in the sense that I was afraid that she would make me stop believing in their love. If you liked katallison's The End of the Road , you will like this.

I can hardly withstand either, but I think they are both brilliant.

This fic is also available as a podfic , recorded by luzula

Link to the story: This Is The Story That I Tell Myself

( (Brief excerpt) )

Triple Hankie Challenge - Gods Says Nothing Back, Exposures, Ordinary Days

[akamine_chan]

Title: God Says Nothing Back (Five Times Fraser's Heart Was Broken)
Author: simplystars
Pairing: Fraser-centric, Fraser/RayK
Rating: PG13
Length: shortish
Why I'm reccing this fic:Because it should be rated A for Angst. This is the story that made me fall in love with simplystars. It's spare, elegant, beautiful, and it hurts so very, very much. Five moments in Fraser's life. Five things that can't be undone.

( A brief excerpt )

God Says Nothing Back (Five Times Fraser's Heart Was Broken

Title: Exposures
Author: dsudis
Pairing: Fraser/RayK
Rating: NC17
Length: longish
Why I'm reccing this fic: This was the first deathfic I'd ever read and it hit me so hard that I sat around for days thinking about it. It wasn't until the second reading that I fell in love with it. This is life in the Arctic - dangerous, often deadly. This is the story of Fraser and Ray on their adventure and 24 brief moments in time told by 24 pictures. It's Fraser and Ray living. And dying.

( A brief excerpt )

Exposures

Title: Ordinary Days
Author: busaikko
Pairing: Fraser, RayK
Rating: R
Length: medium
Why I'm reccing this fic: Because I love the heartbreaking ordinary-ness of this story. As the days slide by Ray lives each day for itself, and for Fraser and there's no amount of glue that will ever fix this. And that's how it is sometimes.

( A brief excerpt )

Ordinary Days

Faux Phallus Challenge

[dessert-first.livejournal.com]

Okay, kids, dry your eyes and put away the hankies. The Triple Hankie Challenge is now officially closed. But don't cry if you missed the deadline! Save up those recs for Amnesty Week, and we'll be delighted to read them. Thanks to vsee and akamine_chan for sharing their fantastic recs of angst and woe.

Meanwhile, what better to cheer us up post-weeping than a little Pegging Fic? 'Cause who doesn't love that? In fact, I'm feeling a yen for faux phallus fic in general, so bring on your favorite stories where the characters whip out the strap-ons, the vibrators, the dildo collections. You have my every faith. You also have until next Monday. Happy reccing!