From: jadelennox (jadelennox@suberic.net)
Date: 01/11/2008 |
this is really very good. It's more than just a recapping of canon events through another lens -- it's a really fascinating insight into both Ray and an extremely minor character. All of the events of canon through the eyes of somebody with such a different perspective, not cop but a priest, a family priest who watches the kids grow up. Nice.
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From: Nos4a2no9
Date: 01/10/2008 |
Oh Keerawa, this was heartbreaking and so very fresh and vital. I don't think I've read anything in the fandom that makes such an effective use of a third-party observer, and Father Behan was a brilliant choice for this examination of poor Ray Vecchio's life. You perfectly articulated his struggles and heartbreaks and disappointment, and I loved the way you examined the importance of Vecchio's spiritualism (and Behan's unwavering faith) in the context of events with which we're already familiar. This story looked at Vecchio's Catholicism as a source of strength and also a tremendous source of guilt, and it was interesting to see you play with the two, filtered always through Behan's perspective. Wonderful job, m'dear, and it was a true pleasure to read.
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From: Luzula (luzulae@gmail.com)
Date: 01/10/2008 |
This moved me so much more than I expected it to. I loved the outsider's perspective on the Vecchios, and you weave all the canon backstory together so well. Father B was a great character in his own right, too, the story grabbed me from the beginning with his experiences on Hawaii. I like how he's struggling with the issues raised by the Zuko family. I also like how you handled the F/V.
I loved the glimpses of Francesca. I sometimes have trouble connecting with her because she's so different from me, but here I really felt for her. I would have liked to learn more about her. But that's just me being greedy--this story is wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Great job!
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From: mergatrude (mergatrude@gmail.com)
Date: 01/09/2008 |
This was wonderful. It hit many of my Catholic buttons, but so gently and thoughtfully I didn't notice until I fell apart. Wonderful POV, wonderful look at Ray and his family.
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From: SDWolfpup
Date: 01/09/2008 |
Very beautiful, and painful, story. This image is staying with me: Serge's brother took off after the Mass. Raymond was the only male at the graveside service, his head and shoulders standing out above the crowd of black-clad women he was now responsible for.
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From: Iggy (ignazwisdom@gmail.com)
Date: 01/08/2008 |
This is an amazing story. Beautiful work and terrific insight into the history of the Vecchios.
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From: brigantine1
Date: 01/03/2008 |
I really like your Father Behan. Poor fellow, it seems he's permanently in a state of damage control, where his faith has to be enough for everybody to hang onto. And oh, Ray, all the emotional grinder he has to go through - and Frannie, and Ma... *snuggles the Vecchios*
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From: malnpudl (malnpudl@livejournal.com)
Date: 01/02/2008 |
Oh, wow. This is full of so much painful beauty. You broke my heart half a dozen times, had me in tears more than once, and I love you for it.
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From: vienna_waits (v.waits@gmail.com)
Date: 12/31/2007 |
I knew it! It was you, keerawa! I had a feeling, plus you said something about intricate research that most people wouldn't catch anyway in your journal.
This is still one of my absolute favorites!
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From: Zebra (zebra363@livejournal.com)
Date: 12/31/2007 |
Very well written!
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From: akite (akite68163@aol.com)
Date: 12/31/2007 |
What an awesome, amazing story! It fits very well with my own interpretations of Due South canon, though, I would have never thought to use this particular POV. Bravo!
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From: rosiespark (rosiespark@hotmail.com)
Date: 12/30/2007 |
This is a LOVELY fic, and using Father Behan's pov was an inspired choice. Really really great!
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From: sage
Date: 12/29/2007 |
This was AMAZING! So beautifully done.
*loves and loves*
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From: anon
Date: 12/29/2007 |
Wow, this was beautifully done. I loved it!
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From: J S Cavalcante
Date: 12/28/2007 |
Fabulous story. It's so cool to see the important events in the history of the Vecchio family from this outside-but-intimate viewpoint. I especially loved the explanation for why Ray said yes to the Vegas gig. I had this "Aha!" moment...I do believe it could have been a conscious act of expiation, just like that. The story brought tears to my eyes at one point, made me laugh at another (adding another Vecchio to the list, hee!). Throughout, Father Behan emerges as a fully realized character in his own right, and he's fascinating. The end is sobering. I'm glad the story doesn't reveal anything Ray had to do undercover. It's eerie enough just to know how he felt about it. Well done.
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From: llassah (llassah@gmail.com)
Date: 12/27/2007 |
This was beautiful- you made me cry *sniffles*. I love secondary character stories, because when done well, they act as such an insight into canon and into the character. In this story it was done beautifully, flawlessly, seeing Ray growing up, and seeing how his faith gave him a refuge (and in some ways a problem- you handled that bit so so well; I would have chickened out and just not mentioned the possibility of a RayV/Benny thing) and a means of reconciling himself with what has happened. Every confession he made wrenched me, and I love the way each time father behan (sp) advises him, and how different the advice might be from a secular source- catholicism is almost a character in itself, here *g*. The parallels between Vietnam and Ireland and Chicago are stunning- subtly written and they really open up so many possibilities. (and oh! RayV dropping to the ground is such an amazing detail) This is just such a wonderful story, I can't wait for the reveal! *g*
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From: exeterlinden (exeterlinden@hotmail.com)
Date: 12/26/2007 |
Wow, thank you so much Seekrit Santa :)
I really enjoyed this. I am such a sucker for backstories, and having it told from this POV was a treat: to explore RayV's Catholic background and what it might mean for his perception of the things that happen to him in canon - and in fanon (I love that you had Vecchio/Fraser in there as well). I really like how you showed, through Father Bethan, Ray's complex and complicated relationship to his religion.
Favourite parts, also: Ray's shame at not being able to have children with Angie, his confession about the Marco incident (one of my all-time favourite canon backstories, and beautifully done here), and his confession of being in love with Fraser (I may have squeed out loud *g*).
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From: bluebrocade
Date: 12/25/2007 |
Terrific Vecchio piece. Very interesting.
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From: springwoof
Date: 12/25/2007 |
beautiful work! Seeing RayV from an outsider's POV, especially *this* outsider, is very poignant. I love the parallels between Fr.Behan and Fraser in the beginning. But I also love how Fraser appears here as a character in *Ray's* story, and disappears off the radar with no comment by the end, because his part of Ray's story is over...
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From: vienna_waits (v.waits@gmail.com)
Date: 12/25/2007 |
This was so beautiful and moving, it actually made me tear up at the end. I also think I know who wrote this (heh). What a fantastic story. Just glorius.
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From: viciouscats (viciouscats@gmail.com)
Date: 12/25/2007 |
I really liked this. Very interesting outsider pov.
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From: Isis (isiscolo@gmail.com)
Date: 12/24/2007 |
This was beautiful. I have a real love for stories told through the eyes of an original character, and the narrator here is compelling and interesting. By his unique perspective, he breathes life into what could have been a dull retelling of what we know from canon. I enjoyed it a lot, and now I am a little misty-eyed!
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