due south snippet
21/10/04 20:47![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
schmericaAnd now the second part of the tiny bit of writing I got done on my trip.
750 words of F/K, taking place in the same universe as How Many Ways, as per the request of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
_aerye_ and reginagiraffe.
*****
When Ray picked her up from school, Carrie insisted on walking apart from him, but after a block or so she changed her mind, taking one of his hands to hold and handing him a pile of papers to hold in the other.
"Did you miss me while I was at school?" Carrie said, tugging at him.
"I was counting the minutes you were gone," Ray said.
Carrie nodded. "Did Dief miss me?"
"He was out with Dad today, working. You'll have to ask Dad when he gets home."
She mulled this over for a few steps, then said, "Are you and Dad mad at each other?"
"Why do you want to know?" Ray said, glancing down at her.
"Dief said you had a fight."
Ray snorted. "You don't have to listen to everything he says, you know."
"Are you going to get a divorce?" Carrie's voice sounded more curious than concerned.
"No," Ray said firmly.
"Magda's parents used to fight and then her parents got a divorce and her dad moved to Winnipeg."
"When you got mad at Dief for eating all your birthday cake, did we make him move to Winnipeg?"
"No," Carrie said thoughtfully.
"Nobody's going anywhere," Ray said. They were almost back to the house. He stopped and squatted down to Carrie's level, and she looked back at him with wide eyes. "Look, Carrie, there are things that are grown-up business and things that are kid business. And things that are grown-up business mean your dad and I worry about them and we take care of them. So you don't have to worry about them. When there's stuff for you to worry about, we'll tell you. Okay?"
Carrie nodded, and Ray smiled at her and yanked her pigtails before he stood up and they started walking again.
*****
"Your wolf's been spreading rumors again," Ray said, resting his hip against the kitchen counter.
"Strictly speaking, he's not *my* wolf," Fraser said from the pantry. He emerged from it, carrying an armful of potatoes and onions, which he dumped on the counter.
"Whatever. The point is, I got your daughter asking me this afternoon if we're getting a divorce," Ray said. He scowled. "What kind of name is Magda, anyway?"
"Northern European, I believe." Fraser scrubbed firmly at the potatoes, not looking over at Ray. "And that's silly, Ray. We're not technically married."
"Bzzzt!" Ray said. "Wrong answer."
Fraser frowned to himself and moved onto cutting the potatoes into tiny even slices. "You know, I have my doubts that she is actually in communication with Diefenbaker. I'm inclined to think what's behind her claims is more a combination of imitation of the two of us and the same urge that leads children of her age to imaginary friends."
"Us? I don't talk to Dief."
Fraser still didn't look over at him, but Ray could see him roll his eyes. "Fine, then. Imitation of me."
"Besides which," Ray said, moving around the counter to stand closer to him, "you are missing the point here, Fraser. The point is that--"
"I understand the point perfectly well, thank you," Fraser said. He scooped up the pile of potatoes and dumped them into a bowl, moving onto the onions. "Perhaps you should consider trying to keep your voice down a little during our late-night discussions, then."
"Me? *Ha*," Ray said. Which wasn't very eloquent, maybe, but got the point across.
"I don't believe *I'm* the one in the habit of -- Oh." Fraser set his knife down and looked over at Ray at last, blinking rapidly as his eyes welled up with painful looking tears.
"Christ," Ray said, shaking his head. "You speak five languages, you can make a freaking radio out of gum, but put an onion in front of you and you're toast. Move it." He pushed Fraser out of the way and started chopping.
"Slices," Fraser said after a minute. He'd washed his hands off, and moved to the corner of the room, pressing a clean dish towel to his eyes.
Ray shook his head. "Carrie decided she doesn't like onions, she'll pick slices out. It's gross. Chop them up and she won't even notice." He finished the first onion and picked up the second, turning on the faucet to peel the skin off under the water.
"You," Fraser said slowly, "are a very aggravating man."
"That's why you love me," Ray said.
"Among the reasons," Fraser muttered from behind him. Ray heard another cabinet pop open, and Fraser said, "And what the hell have you done with the thyme?"
750 words of F/K, taking place in the same universe as How Many Ways, as per the request of
_aerye_ and reginagiraffe.*****
When Ray picked her up from school, Carrie insisted on walking apart from him, but after a block or so she changed her mind, taking one of his hands to hold and handing him a pile of papers to hold in the other.
"Did you miss me while I was at school?" Carrie said, tugging at him.
"I was counting the minutes you were gone," Ray said.
Carrie nodded. "Did Dief miss me?"
"He was out with Dad today, working. You'll have to ask Dad when he gets home."
She mulled this over for a few steps, then said, "Are you and Dad mad at each other?"
"Why do you want to know?" Ray said, glancing down at her.
"Dief said you had a fight."
Ray snorted. "You don't have to listen to everything he says, you know."
"Are you going to get a divorce?" Carrie's voice sounded more curious than concerned.
"No," Ray said firmly.
"Magda's parents used to fight and then her parents got a divorce and her dad moved to Winnipeg."
"When you got mad at Dief for eating all your birthday cake, did we make him move to Winnipeg?"
"No," Carrie said thoughtfully.
"Nobody's going anywhere," Ray said. They were almost back to the house. He stopped and squatted down to Carrie's level, and she looked back at him with wide eyes. "Look, Carrie, there are things that are grown-up business and things that are kid business. And things that are grown-up business mean your dad and I worry about them and we take care of them. So you don't have to worry about them. When there's stuff for you to worry about, we'll tell you. Okay?"
Carrie nodded, and Ray smiled at her and yanked her pigtails before he stood up and they started walking again.
*****
"Your wolf's been spreading rumors again," Ray said, resting his hip against the kitchen counter.
"Strictly speaking, he's not *my* wolf," Fraser said from the pantry. He emerged from it, carrying an armful of potatoes and onions, which he dumped on the counter.
"Whatever. The point is, I got your daughter asking me this afternoon if we're getting a divorce," Ray said. He scowled. "What kind of name is Magda, anyway?"
"Northern European, I believe." Fraser scrubbed firmly at the potatoes, not looking over at Ray. "And that's silly, Ray. We're not technically married."
"Bzzzt!" Ray said. "Wrong answer."
Fraser frowned to himself and moved onto cutting the potatoes into tiny even slices. "You know, I have my doubts that she is actually in communication with Diefenbaker. I'm inclined to think what's behind her claims is more a combination of imitation of the two of us and the same urge that leads children of her age to imaginary friends."
"Us? I don't talk to Dief."
Fraser still didn't look over at him, but Ray could see him roll his eyes. "Fine, then. Imitation of me."
"Besides which," Ray said, moving around the counter to stand closer to him, "you are missing the point here, Fraser. The point is that--"
"I understand the point perfectly well, thank you," Fraser said. He scooped up the pile of potatoes and dumped them into a bowl, moving onto the onions. "Perhaps you should consider trying to keep your voice down a little during our late-night discussions, then."
"Me? *Ha*," Ray said. Which wasn't very eloquent, maybe, but got the point across.
"I don't believe *I'm* the one in the habit of -- Oh." Fraser set his knife down and looked over at Ray at last, blinking rapidly as his eyes welled up with painful looking tears.
"Christ," Ray said, shaking his head. "You speak five languages, you can make a freaking radio out of gum, but put an onion in front of you and you're toast. Move it." He pushed Fraser out of the way and started chopping.
"Slices," Fraser said after a minute. He'd washed his hands off, and moved to the corner of the room, pressing a clean dish towel to his eyes.
Ray shook his head. "Carrie decided she doesn't like onions, she'll pick slices out. It's gross. Chop them up and she won't even notice." He finished the first onion and picked up the second, turning on the faucet to peel the skin off under the water.
"You," Fraser said slowly, "are a very aggravating man."
"That's why you love me," Ray said.
"Among the reasons," Fraser muttered from behind him. Ray heard another cabinet pop open, and Fraser said, "And what the hell have you done with the thyme?"
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(no subject)
21/10/04 20:58 (UTC)I particularly like the way you show, so eloquently, exactly what is going on through their dialogue, like here:
"Christ," Ray said, shaking his head. "You speak five languages, you can make a freaking radio out of gum, but put an onion in front of you and you're toast. Move it." He pushed Fraser out of the way and started chopping.
"Slices," Fraser said after a minute. He'd washed his hands off, and moved to the corner of the room, pressing a clean dish towel to his eyes.
Ray shook his head. "Carrie decided she doesn't like onions, she'll pick slices out. It's gross. Chop them up and she won't even notice." He finished the first onion and picked up the second, turning on the faucet to peel the skin off under the water.
Lovely. and I really love Ray and Fraser as parents. More than I ever thought I would.
(no subject)
22/10/04 13:08 (UTC)(no subject)
21/10/04 21:07 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 13:09 (UTC)(no subject)
21/10/04 21:14 (UTC)"Christ," Ray said, shaking his head. "You speak five languages, you can make a freaking radio out of gum, but put an onion in front of you and you're toast. Move it."
...is a perfect, perfect Ray voice. I adore these brief little moments- so eloquently written that plot doesn't even factor. It's just pure character voyeurism and somehow, it says more than a lot of more complicated observations can. Wonderful job!
(no subject)
22/10/04 13:09 (UTC)Heh, that's good to hear -- since, um, plot is a no-go. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed!
(no subject)
21/10/04 21:32 (UTC)"No," Carrie said thoughtfully.
*adores you*
(no subject)
22/10/04 13:10 (UTC)(no subject)
21/10/04 21:34 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 13:10 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 04:48 (UTC)You tell 'im, Ray!
That said, I love this so very much. They'll tell her when to worry! Nobody's going anywhere! Onions make Fraser cry! Ray misplaced the thyme (probably not for the first time, either)!
::heart:: ::heart:: ::heart::
(no subject)
22/10/04 13:11 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 06:10 (UTC)Carrie nodded, and Ray smiled at her and yanked her pigtails before he stood up and they started walking again.
I love this because I can totally SEE Ray being like, a big kid, even when he's a dad. You're the best!
*twirls you*
(And yes, I'll be around today. Even though your message on IM sounded THREATENING, DAMMIT...)
(no subject)
22/10/04 13:11 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 07:16 (UTC)"When you got mad at Dief for eating all your birthday cake, did we make him move to Winnipeg?"
"No," Carrie said thoughtfully.
Because there's some fucking logic I can work with. And this:
"Your wolf's been spreading rumors again," Ray said, resting his hip against the kitchen counter.
Because I can *picture* it so perfectly: Ray's position and the look in his eye and the tone in his voice and *everything*. And this:
"And that's silly, Ray. We're not technically married."
"Bzzzt!" Ray said. "Wrong answer."
Because TOTALLY WRONG ANSWER FRASER YOU DINK! And of course this:
"Christ," Ray said, shaking his head. "You speak five languages, you can make a freaking radio out of gum, but put an onion in front of you and you're toast. Move it." He pushed Fraser out of the way and started chopping.
Because *heart* ♥ ♥ ♥
I love this and I love them and I love you. *glomps*
(no subject)
22/10/04 13:12 (UTC)*glomps you*
Also, uh, did you just discover how to do those little hearts?
Because TOTALLY WRONG ANSWER FRASER YOU DINK!
*snickers*
(no subject)
22/10/04 10:04 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 13:13 (UTC)(no subject)
22/10/04 16:57 (UTC)It's good stuff. I love it. Thank you.
(no subject)
22/10/04 20:43 (UTC)It's almost convincing.
Thank you for your comment -- I'm glad you liked it.
(no subject)
23/10/04 06:24 (UTC)EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
*smooches you*
Thank you! This was fabulous! Just a lovely little slice-of-life that shows just how much a family they are ana how much they all care about each other. Lovely!
(no subject)
23/10/04 08:32 (UTC)(no subject)
27/10/04 06:45 (UTC)