Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies...

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thanks to sihayab and the_star_fish for giving this one their seal of approval.

Lies


"Yo. I'm Ray Vecchio."

Ray took another deep breath and retracted his hand and then offered it again, firmly, to the mirror. "I'm Ray Vecchio."

Vecchio. The rhythm was all wrong, after a lifetime of saying Kowalski.

"Nice to meetcha. I'm Ray Vecchio."

He narrowed his eyes at his reflection.

"What: you never seen a blond Italian before?" He smirked at himself. "Runs in the family. It's a rescuscitative gene."

Ray turned around and went back to the couch and tipped back another long slug of coffee. He flipped the binder open and scanned the top page again, then flipped it shut.

"I'm one of three kids. I got two sisters."

He looked over at the turtle. The turtle didn't say anything.

"I was raised Catholic. I was probably an altar boy. Jesus Christ," muttering to himself, "that's gotta be the only thing we have in common."

The binder was lying on the couch next to him. Was it his imagination, or had it grown thicker? So much crap to memorize.

"I'm not married anymore."

Suddenly this wasn't so much fun anymore. He wished like hell that line was a lie.

His skin itched. Ever since Stella kicked him out, he'd been wanting to get inked again. She'd used to think his tattoo was sexy, but the last year or two she'd kept telling him to cover it up, not to go out in wifebeaters anymore.

Christ, he wanted a new one. Something to hurt a little, to make him feel like he was still in his skin. Instead he was shedding it. Or covering it over, anyway. With somebody else

Ray flipped the binder open again and looked at the photo. No way was he wearing those clothes. Screw that shit: he was sticking with jeans.

"Angie and I split. We're on good terms, though." He took a deep breath. "Time heals all wounds, right?"

He wasn't sure if that was true or not. Ask again in three years, pal.

"Tomorrow I meet Constable Benton Fraser." The Mountie.

He had the story on how the Mountie got to Chicago, more or less, but there had to be something people weren't telling him. What exactly kind of best friends *were* they? All Frannie and Elaine would say was that the guy was "dreamy," which was not exactly helpful.

"I have no fucking idea what I'm getting myself into."

That was true enough. Ray wondered whether Vecchio would ever admit something like that out loud. He wondered whether he would, if there was anybody there besides the turtle to hear him.

His coffee cup was empty. Ray got up again, paced the apartment, wound up in front of the bathroom mirror again. The fluorescent lights were not flattering: there were bags under his eyes. It was almost two a.m. He needed some sleep.

He thought again about the photograph of the Mountie. About the names of everyone in the Vecchio family (he was pretty sure he had the family tree by heart). He looked himself in the sleepy eye.

"I can do this."

His reflection didn't look convinced.

"In fact, it gives me something to think about besides my ex." Saying the words still hurt, but was it his imagination that they were starting to sting a little less? "It might be kind of fun."

'Sure, Kowalski,' he thought. 'You just keep telling yourself that.' Ray yawned.

Ray brushed his teeth, yanked his clothes off and into a heap on the floor, and crawled into bed. He checked the alarm again. Tomorrow was a big day.

"I'm Ray Vecchio," he said again, aloud, to his dark bedroom.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, after all.

(614 words)

Comments

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome!

[thermidor.livejournal.com]

That's great! A wonderful little study of Kowalski trying on his new role. Excellent voice, Kass!

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly! It came to me in the car. I love it when the characters just start talking in my ear... :-)

[halimede.livejournal.com]

Gah, I'm so behind on reading the stories here, but I figured I could cope with 614 words. Glad I did. I like the lies you picked out. :)

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly! I'm glad you did, too.

[twistedchick]

I like him checking with the turtle on things.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thanks! The turtle amused me, too. :-)

[lmondegreen.livejournal.com]

This is great - Talk about a lie that's fundamental to the show!

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Well, to the latter seasons, anyway. :-) Glad you enjoyed!

[byob-kenobi.livejournal.com]

I love it! Of all the lies I've been trying to think of, this completely obvious one eluded me. Realistic and perfect.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

I'm just now starting to watch the early seasons (I started out with the pilot and with the Kowalski episodes) so I've got the whole Vecchio-Kowalski change on the brain. Presto: flashfiction! :-) Glad you enjoyed.

[akite.livejournal.com]

I could really see and hear this one, Kass. Great job.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly!

[lamardeuse.livejournal.com]

"What: you never seen a blond Italian before?" He smirked at himself. "Runs in the family. It's a rescuscitative gene."

You have such a great handle on Kowalski. Wonderful piece.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly! So glad you enjoyed.

And I do love that icon of yours... :-)

[ozsaur.livejournal.com]

Very real, I can see this happening. Great RayK POV.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[mergatrude.livejournal.com]

Funny and poignant.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

That's just what I was hoping for! Glad it worked. :-)

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

I'm always amused by the fact that RayK has a turtle, so I like to work it in wherever I can. :-) Glad you enjoyed!

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

Glad you took on the "big lie" of season 3. Nice work~

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

As I begin watching the Vecchio seasons, it occurs to me how much the two Rays both do, and don't, have in common. So this was fun to write.

Glad you enjoyed!

[brooklinegirl.livejournal.com]

Loved this look into quite the huge missing scene. I love the inbetween-times. Ray Vecchio not there, Ray Kowalski having not yet met the Mountie, all of it up in the air. And RayK finding himself, finding his footing in Vecchio's shoes...you write it so well!

The lies are so well done here. I think that's the best part of this challenge...making us readers think about what the lies hide, how they must hurt to say.

I love Ray looking at the turtle for support. Love the thoughts about wanting, needing, another tattoo (that makes sense to me). Love how it's not fun anymore, when the hurt over Stella comes back. Love Ray talking to himself in the night.

This was great, and a scene that is going to stick with me.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for your kind words! It's really good to know what in particular you liked about it -- that makes me really happy. :-)