I always want to just go "VECCHIO!" when I talk about him

[schmerica]

Watched a couple episodes of due South with the baby sister yesterday -- Dead Man Running, Spy vs. Spy, a little bit of Asylum. I've seen them all many many times, obviously, so I was reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants at the same time, but I was still paying a decent amount of attention.

For some reason, what really stuck out for me this time was this dialogue from Spy vs Spy:

Pike: Three years ago the Bureau O.C. Division started tracking a Mob lieutenant in Las Vegas known as Armando 'the Bookman' Langoustini. Turns out Ray Vecchio is a dead ringer for Langoustini. So what do they do? They start grooming him. And then, what do you know? What do you know happens? Car crash. Car crash, the Bookman's killed. Was it an accident? You be the judge. Anyway, this opens up a window of opportunity, so the Feds slide in Ray Vecchio as the Bookman. But this is a fragile cover, so they need to cover the cover. They need a new Ray Vecchio to slide in there at Division 27, Chicago P.D. They pick you.

Because, um, hey! How did I never once notice the implications there before? It's ambiguous, but there's definitely room for the implication that the Feds have been "grooming" Ray Vecchio for a long time, close to that three years. Which would mean it was going on pretty much the entire time of the first two seasons and his entire friendship with Fraser.

Seriously, has anyone written fic dealing with this? Or even made any attempt to have that theory make any sort of sense at all?

(Hmm. Why is this the only Vecchio icon I have?)

Comments

[shayheyred.livejournal.com]

I think I have read stories that touch on Ray V's double life, or at least his secret preparations while partnered with Fraser. But I'm damned if I can remember the authors or the titles.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Dude, isn't that always the way it goes?

[zeplum.livejournal.com]

I noticed that too. But usually handwaved it due to massive Pike induced giggling. What can I say, I'm simple.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Hee. That's totally understandable! Plus, you know, Fraser and especially Ray are at very very high hotness levels in that episode. And Fraser is practically at his highest snark setting. There are distractions everywhere.

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

I've definitely read a fic (or two maybe) where when Vecchio returns he admits that he was preparing for the job for a few years before he left. I can't think of them right now, but if I find them, I'll link you.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about something that actually goes into it indepth like, like in the period it's going on. Hmmm.

[moosesal.livejournal.com]

Haven't read any of those, but I haven't reach much Vecchio fic. The story I'm thinking of he talks about it pretty extensively after, but it's probably not as indepth as you're wanting.

[sprat.livejournal.com]

Have you read Kat Allison's story Scars ()? It's about Vecchio being groomed for the undercover role, but I think over weeks rather than years. Great story, though.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Oooh, yes, indeed. Gah, I don't think Kat *can* write a story that's not brilliant.

[axiom_of_stripe]

dude, i'd love to see a story like that. why don't you write one? ;)

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

*snicker* Like, write something with a plot? That needs a good Vecchio voice? But that'd be, like, work.

[norah.livejournal.com]

VECCHIO!

I haven't seen that story, but I'd SO read it.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Totally.

(VECCHIO!)

[doyle_sb4.livejournal.com]

and there wasn't a lot of Vecchio fic to be had, certainly nothing complicated and plotty.

Yeah, I remember that. I loved Vecchio. Absolutely adored him and was very much OMGFraser/RayV4eva. I'm ashamed to say I've only seen maybe two episodes with Ray Kowalski (sp?) in, because I despondently stopped watching.

I kind of want to watch the DVDs now, but I don't think they're even out in region 2.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I have the crazy OTP thing going on with F/K, but the more I watch Vecchio, the more I totally adore him. He's an awesome character. (The Deal! *swoon*)

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Well, but, there are plenty of other lines that have been mined for every detail and implication all through the last five plus years, you know? And there really are a bunch of us now who like F/K and still appreciate Vecchio.

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

You know, you've left messages like this in my journal before, and I totally understand that you have a lot of frustration and annoyances with late season due South -- I mean, I loved Smallville for a long time and I can't even think about it for too long now. But from my point of view it's really kind of frustrating to get comments like these, because it really does come across like you're just waltzing into my journal and spitting on the things I enjoy, even if that's not what you intend.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

God, I'm so very sorry! I truly didn't mean it as a waltz-and-spit! I just thought I was discussing! I will stop immediately!

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to make you feel bad or anything -- I'm sorry if it came across that way. You really didn't have to delete the comments and everything.

[teenygozer.livejournal.com]

Hey, pearl-o; I'm truly sorry for harshing your fannish mellow with my posts. I totally mis-read the tenor of your LJ. Your slap in the face made me realize that a lot of the baggage DS fandom heaped on me lo these many years ago that I thought I was over was still with me, and self-knowledge can be a painful thing. But unfortunately I was, in fact, acutely embarrassed and mortified, and that made me feel I had to delete my posts and walk away.

Be well, and thanks.

[aerye.livejournal.com]

Holy moly!

Y'know, this could feed nicely too into the season two changes in Vecchio--the whole idea that Vecchio starts blending in a bit more with his own background.

Hmm. Interesting stuff. Cool story ideas. Thanks!

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

It's totally fascinating to think about, isn't it? *ponders*

[ngaio]

I've just reread a series (is two stories a series?) which is set post-MotB but has Vecchio discussing the fact that he was being groomed for ages, from before Fraser turned up actually.

It's actually a good couple of stories and there's meant to be a third one to complete the set sometime but last time I asked the author she had a lot of RL going on.

The first in the series is Vecchio going to find Fraser in Canada for advice on his marriage to Stella and finding RayK there too. It's amazing (to me) because for the majority of the story Fraser and RayK aren't in the same vicinity or able to talk to or about each other (there is a reason for this!) but it's still a very good story about their relationship with each other and some very hot sex!

The second is set in Chicago and is sorta the 'coming out' story, with random mob involvement and Frank Zucco too! It's also got a good look at Vecchio and the man he is behind all the masks he's worn.

I could see if I could find a link if these appeal. (Incidentally, sorry, that was a very long comment!)

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about Denise Raymond's All the Comforts of Home and Chicago Tales? I read both of those a while back, but I didn't remember that aspect of them -- I'll have to look at them again.

[ngaio]

Those are the ones! (I wasn't *totally* sure about the titles which us why I did't say!)

I'm wandering through dueSouth fic at the mo' so I'll keep an eye out for you.

Sideways note: there should be more Vecchio fic, even if Kowalski is prettier!