interruption challenge by mizface
Nov. 11th, 2009 02:47 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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ds_flashfictionTitle: Scenes From an Italian Restaurant
Author: mizface
Fandom: due South
Pairing: F/K (implied)
Rating: G
Word Count: 940
A/N: Title from a Billy Joel song. And I did use the prompt, just in a blink and you’ll miss it kind of way
When Ray calls to ask Stella to lunch, she almost says no, out of habit. But she wants to tell him in person about her and her new Ray, even if it isn’t really news anymore. She hadn’t gotten the chance before, not with him staying in Canada, going off on some snowy adventure with the Mountie. But he’s back now, and she owes it to him, to the history they shared.
When she gets to the restaurant he’s already there, lounging on the bench by the door. He stands and grins as she walks up. She hugs him briefly and he kisses her cheek, then holds the door for her.
It’s all polite smiles as they get seated and order, and she can tell they’re both feeling the nervous tension. When she finally decides she needs to say something, she isn’t alone.
“Ray, I need to-”
“Listen, Stell-”
Ray smiles and nods toward her. “Ladies first.”
Okay, she can do this. “I’m getting married.”
He nods again. “Yeah, Mom told me. Congratulations.”
She eyes him warily. “You mean that, Ray?”
He blinks at that, and looks surprised. “Course I do. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy. And we both know that isn’t gonna happen with me.”
Which is unfortunately true, but to hear him say it throws her a little. “Did Barbara tell you who?”
“Yeah.” He frowns at that, but goes on before she can start her defense. “Listen, Vecchio’s a good guy and all and trust me, I know. I was him, after all.” He pauses then, as if unsure of how to tell her what’s bothering him.
“But…?”
Ray sighs and gently takes her hand. “He’s been undercover – deep under – and I know about that too. How hard it can be to come back from, especially the bad times.” He watches her, searching. “You ready for that, to help him through it?”
His tone is all concern, no reminders of how she hated doing just that when they’d been married. “Yeah, I am,” she replies seriously.
Ray studies her a few moments more, then nods. “Okay, then. But if I hear he isn’t good to you, he’s gonna have to answer to me.” He squeezes her hand once before letting go, and like that the mood lightens up again.
“Mom says you’re moving, too,” Ray comments as he settles back in his chair.
She shrugs. “Yeah. I think we could both use a fresh start. Ray has an uncle in Florida with a business proposition. If it doesn’t work out, I’m sure they need lawyers there.”
Ray snorts at that. “They need lawyers everywhere. You’ll be fine, golden girl.”
“What about you, Ray? Are you going back to the 27th?”
He shakes his head, and some of the tension is back. “You aren’t the only one looking for a fresh start. Gonna try my luck up north.”
And there was the reason he’d been nervous, she realizes. Not about her getting married, about telling her this. “You and Fraser are... together, then?” she asks, no judgment, just curiosity.
Ray chuckles at that. “What, Mom’s gossip train didn’t run both ways? Yeah, we are. And it’s a good thing, Stella, not some kind of post-undercover freakout.”
She thinks back on seeing them together, their close partnership. There had been a few rumors, but nothing concrete, and given his continued pursuit of her, Stella had dismissed them at the time. But now she wonders. “How long have you…?”
“The relationship part is pretty recent, but we’ve been dancing around it since day one.”
She smiles wryly. “You always did love to dance.”
He laughs at that, a clear, happy sound she hasn’t heard from him in a long time, and Stella remembers how easy it was to be in love with Ray Kowalski once upon a time.
“Looks like congratulations are in order for both of us, then.”
Ray takes her hand again, kissing the back of it lightly. “Thanks, Stell.”
The waiter arrives with their salads then, and the talk shifts to moves and packing, reminiscing about the early days of their marriage. It’s the first time in a long time Stella can remember being relaxed and comfortable around Ray, and she’s pretty sure he’s feeling the same way. She sighs. This Ray, she’ll miss. She’s missed him for years.
When lunch is over and Ray’s paid the check, despite her repeated attempts to get him to split the bill, Stella finds herself reluctant to leave. But there’s boxes waiting to be filled, and she and Ray, her new Ray, are supposed to have dinner with her parents tonight, so she has to go.
When they walk out he reaches for her and she moves easily into his arms for a long hug. When she finally pulls back, her eyes are a little damp. Ray smiles at her softly, then takes her hand and dances with her, humming and moving them across the sidewalk. He picks up the tempo after a minute, then twirls her out and pulls her back in until they’re face to face. He flashes her a quick grin, kisses the tip of her nose, and then dips her. She’s laughing as he brings her up, and she squeezes him tightly and kisses his cheek before letting go.
“You need anything, you call me,” he says as he hails a taxi and walks her to it. “Doesn’t matter when, doesn’t matter why. Okay?”
Stella smiles as she gets in. “Okay.” And it is, she thinks, watching him through the window as the cab pulls away. Finally, it really is.
Author: mizface
Fandom: due South
Pairing: F/K (implied)
Rating: G
Word Count: 940
A/N: Title from a Billy Joel song. And I did use the prompt, just in a blink and you’ll miss it kind of way
When Ray calls to ask Stella to lunch, she almost says no, out of habit. But she wants to tell him in person about her and her new Ray, even if it isn’t really news anymore. She hadn’t gotten the chance before, not with him staying in Canada, going off on some snowy adventure with the Mountie. But he’s back now, and she owes it to him, to the history they shared.
When she gets to the restaurant he’s already there, lounging on the bench by the door. He stands and grins as she walks up. She hugs him briefly and he kisses her cheek, then holds the door for her.
It’s all polite smiles as they get seated and order, and she can tell they’re both feeling the nervous tension. When she finally decides she needs to say something, she isn’t alone.
“Ray, I need to-”
“Listen, Stell-”
Ray smiles and nods toward her. “Ladies first.”
Okay, she can do this. “I’m getting married.”
He nods again. “Yeah, Mom told me. Congratulations.”
She eyes him warily. “You mean that, Ray?”
He blinks at that, and looks surprised. “Course I do. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be happy. And we both know that isn’t gonna happen with me.”
Which is unfortunately true, but to hear him say it throws her a little. “Did Barbara tell you who?”
“Yeah.” He frowns at that, but goes on before she can start her defense. “Listen, Vecchio’s a good guy and all and trust me, I know. I was him, after all.” He pauses then, as if unsure of how to tell her what’s bothering him.
“But…?”
Ray sighs and gently takes her hand. “He’s been undercover – deep under – and I know about that too. How hard it can be to come back from, especially the bad times.” He watches her, searching. “You ready for that, to help him through it?”
His tone is all concern, no reminders of how she hated doing just that when they’d been married. “Yeah, I am,” she replies seriously.
Ray studies her a few moments more, then nods. “Okay, then. But if I hear he isn’t good to you, he’s gonna have to answer to me.” He squeezes her hand once before letting go, and like that the mood lightens up again.
“Mom says you’re moving, too,” Ray comments as he settles back in his chair.
She shrugs. “Yeah. I think we could both use a fresh start. Ray has an uncle in Florida with a business proposition. If it doesn’t work out, I’m sure they need lawyers there.”
Ray snorts at that. “They need lawyers everywhere. You’ll be fine, golden girl.”
“What about you, Ray? Are you going back to the 27th?”
He shakes his head, and some of the tension is back. “You aren’t the only one looking for a fresh start. Gonna try my luck up north.”
And there was the reason he’d been nervous, she realizes. Not about her getting married, about telling her this. “You and Fraser are... together, then?” she asks, no judgment, just curiosity.
Ray chuckles at that. “What, Mom’s gossip train didn’t run both ways? Yeah, we are. And it’s a good thing, Stella, not some kind of post-undercover freakout.”
She thinks back on seeing them together, their close partnership. There had been a few rumors, but nothing concrete, and given his continued pursuit of her, Stella had dismissed them at the time. But now she wonders. “How long have you…?”
“The relationship part is pretty recent, but we’ve been dancing around it since day one.”
She smiles wryly. “You always did love to dance.”
He laughs at that, a clear, happy sound she hasn’t heard from him in a long time, and Stella remembers how easy it was to be in love with Ray Kowalski once upon a time.
“Looks like congratulations are in order for both of us, then.”
Ray takes her hand again, kissing the back of it lightly. “Thanks, Stell.”
The waiter arrives with their salads then, and the talk shifts to moves and packing, reminiscing about the early days of their marriage. It’s the first time in a long time Stella can remember being relaxed and comfortable around Ray, and she’s pretty sure he’s feeling the same way. She sighs. This Ray, she’ll miss. She’s missed him for years.
When lunch is over and Ray’s paid the check, despite her repeated attempts to get him to split the bill, Stella finds herself reluctant to leave. But there’s boxes waiting to be filled, and she and Ray, her new Ray, are supposed to have dinner with her parents tonight, so she has to go.
When they walk out he reaches for her and she moves easily into his arms for a long hug. When she finally pulls back, her eyes are a little damp. Ray smiles at her softly, then takes her hand and dances with her, humming and moving them across the sidewalk. He picks up the tempo after a minute, then twirls her out and pulls her back in until they’re face to face. He flashes her a quick grin, kisses the tip of her nose, and then dips her. She’s laughing as he brings her up, and she squeezes him tightly and kisses his cheek before letting go.
“You need anything, you call me,” he says as he hails a taxi and walks her to it. “Doesn’t matter when, doesn’t matter why. Okay?”
Stella smiles as she gets in. “Okay.” And it is, she thinks, watching him through the window as the cab pulls away. Finally, it really is.
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no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 08:33 pm (UTC)I love that line. I really like fics where Stalla and Ray end on good terms.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 08:49 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 08:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 09:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 09:01 pm (UTC)I composed this in my head before I saw that someone else had phrased it exactly the same way. Because, Awwwww!
I love this.
I love this line especially:
He laughs at that, a clear, happy sound she hasn’t heard from him in a long time, and Stella remembers how easy it was to be in love with Ray Kowalski once upon a time.
Ray dancing with Stella on the sidewalk after the true confessions is just perfect. And he totally would come running if she needed help. He'd bring Fraser and the wolf, too. :)
♥ ♥ ♥
no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 09:09 pm (UTC)Thank so much for reading, supercrazybusy artwoman.
And you picked my favorite line. *blows kisses*
I'm happy to hear the dancing worked. It's just so them, y'know? And yes, Ray would totally help, and make sure Fraser and Dief came along.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 12:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-11 11:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 12:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 12:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 02:17 am (UTC)And I'm glad the idea of Ray being more relaxed and himself once he's with Fraser worked for you!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 12:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 02:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 12:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 02:20 am (UTC)And welcome to the dS fandom! It is, without a doubt, one of the nicest, friendliest places you'll ever find.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 02:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 01:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 02:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 01:17 am (UTC)I love how light this feels despite the heavy things they're discussing. It feels right - fun and friendship and love.
I came to like Stella more through fanfic, too, because of stories with insights like these. :)
no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 02:27 am (UTC)I know their on-screen relationship was pretty combative, but I really wanted them to get back to being friends. It's so nice to find others wanting the same thing.
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Date: 2009-11-12 03:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 07:43 pm (UTC)Thank you for reading!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 11:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 07:46 pm (UTC)Oh I like that (and looooove dark chocolate) - thank you!
And Stella should be well-rounded - no one on that show came across as one-dimensional to me. I'm glad you enjoyed this - thanks!
and on an entirely different note, BP = YAY!!!!!!!!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 04:20 pm (UTC)I also thought it was pretty nifty that you show RayK caring for RayV and knowing what he must be going through. I liked how you had him warn Stella: Ray sighs and gently takes her hand. “He’s been undercover – deep under – and I know about that too. How hard it can be to come back from, especially the bad times.” He watches her, searching. “You ready for that, to help him through it?” His tone is all concern, no reminders of how she hated doing just that when they’d been married. It was a great line both because of that concern for a fellow officer, but also for that glimpse into their married life once upon a time, and the stresses that may have torn their marriage apart.
Really lovely fic!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 07:31 pm (UTC)I like the idea of them ending their relationship like this. I like the idea that everyone gets to be happy. With themselves and with each other.
This was very well written, the imagery is lovely, and they are both so very them.
Thank you for sharing.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-12 07:50 pm (UTC)Thank you so much!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-14 10:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-15 09:56 pm (UTC)Two quotes jumped at me while reading this:
She thinks back on seeing them together, their close partnership. There had been a few rumors, but nothing concrete, and given his continued pursuit of her, Stella had dismissed them at the time.
This to me rings very, very true. Especially because Fraser and RayK's partners could be read as unusually close considering Fraser is RayK's unofficial partner. Also, people looove to gossip and some of those rumours must have reached Stella's ears at one point or another.
AND
He laughs at that, a clear, happy sound she hasn’t heard from him in a long time, and Stella remembers how easy it was to be in love with Ray Kowalski once upon a time.
This is the moment when I went all AWWWW. It was the almost bittersweet tone in Stella's observation what got to me.
In truth, Stella and RayK being friends once again (post-divorce) is one of my bulletproof kinks (a little strange in itself since I've yet to warm up to The Stella) and I feel that this little ol' fic of yours embrace it.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-16 04:30 am (UTC)And yes, Fraser and Ray definitely *were* close partners, so the gossip made sense to me.
Glad I could make you awwww, and cool that I hit a kink (without even being in the kinkmeme)! Again, one of the reasons I love fanfic is to see characters expanded upon, and I'm glad I'm not the only one who'd like Stella and Ray to end up friends.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2009-11-16 03:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-16 04:32 am (UTC)Glad you enjoyed this!
no subject
Date: 2009-11-28 12:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-29 01:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-08 10:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-09 04:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-09 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-09 04:14 am (UTC)And I'm not so great with writing the angst, so boys together=happylove.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-09 12:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-09 04:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-12-11 09:41 pm (UTC)"He laughs at that, a clear, happy sound she hasn’t heard from him in a long time, and Stella remembers how easy it was to be in love with Ray Kowalski once upon a time."
Just a lovely line among many.
no subject
Date: 2009-12-12 03:53 am (UTC)And your Eric icon is yummy!
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Date: 2010-01-23 02:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-23 12:47 pm (UTC)