Oh, this is so wonderful, and so you...I just love your subtle style. It packs a punch, as subtlety so often does. It's beyond perfect for a poker story, too.

I loved this description of Fraser's expression more than I can express:

Fraser was staring at him, head tilted, somewhere in between is-Ray-sick and what-the-funny-monkey-do.

Hee! I can "hear" Ray thinking it.

And I adored how Ray lost his train of thought, gradually and catastrophically, when the chance to take the leap and kiss Fraser became imminent.

Another tour de force...ho hum, you seem to turn them out regularly. I'm totally psyched that you haven't given up on writing DS fic. More, more!