I have to admit that I am frequently a reader of fics where my reaction is 'ok, no way in *hell* those two (or three or four) are getting it on, but hey, that was still a fun read' [Witness the many Fraser/Ray V. fics, which I do not get at all]. I think what I like about Fraser/Ray K. is that I *do* think it could work.
First of all, a deep emotional connection between the two *is* canon. And there are plenty of hints in the series that that bond may not be entirely platonic, whether it was ever acted on or not. Forget the whole 'Do you find me attractive' scene (which I agree with you is hysterical) - you just need look at Bob Fraser's 'A partnership is like a marriage' speech. It doesn't get much more obvious than that.
Assuming they every manage to get past their individual insecurities to actually begin a romantic relationship, it's one that I honestly think would last. They have all the qualities needed for a successful marriage - a genuine understanding of and respect for the other (something I don't think Fraser and Ray V. ever had, despite their fondness for each other), loyalty, affection, complementary strengths, etc.
And, then of course, there's the one thing that eliminates tons of popular slash pairings from being realistic - the characters need to be people who would conceivably consider a same-sex relationship. In many cases, authors who do write slash fandom end up writing characters who bear only slight resemblance to the canon. But Fraser and Ray K. are two that I think really would be ok with it -- Fraser in a 'people are people no matter the shape' kind of way and Ray K. in a 'hey, I'll try anything once' kind of way.
And then of course there's the ending of the show -- they practically ride off into the sunset (ok, the icefields) together . . . the implication being that their 'partnership' however you wish to define it, is a lifelong thing.
Personally I find it not only believable, but likely, that given enforced close quarters and general isolation from the outside world inherent in their Quest, eventually one or the other is going to break and feelings will be admitted and then they can both settle down happily in the Northwest Areas [snark] somewhere where such things are more generally accepted and live happily ever after. Because I'm a romantic at heart.
Sorry, didn't mean for this to be a treatise *g*. It's just that Fraser and Ray K. are probably my favourite pairing, slash or traditional, in any fandom, so I can tend to wax poetic about it :)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2008-11-04 12:22 am (UTC)I have to admit that I am frequently a reader of fics where my reaction is 'ok, no way in *hell* those two (or three or four) are getting it on, but hey, that was still a fun read' [Witness the many Fraser/Ray V. fics, which I do not get at all]. I think what I like about Fraser/Ray K. is that I *do* think it could work.
First of all, a deep emotional connection between the two *is* canon. And there are plenty of hints in the series that that bond may not be entirely platonic, whether it was ever acted on or not. Forget the whole 'Do you find me attractive' scene (which I agree with you is hysterical) - you just need look at Bob Fraser's 'A partnership is like a marriage' speech. It doesn't get much more obvious than that.
Assuming they every manage to get past their individual insecurities to actually begin a romantic relationship, it's one that I honestly think would last. They have all the qualities needed for a successful marriage - a genuine understanding of and respect for the other (something I don't think Fraser and Ray V. ever had, despite their fondness for each other), loyalty, affection, complementary strengths, etc.
And, then of course, there's the one thing that eliminates tons of popular slash pairings from being realistic - the characters need to be people who would conceivably consider a same-sex relationship. In many cases, authors who do write slash fandom end up writing characters who bear only slight resemblance to the canon. But Fraser and Ray K. are two that I think really would be ok with it -- Fraser in a 'people are people no matter the shape' kind of way and Ray K. in a 'hey, I'll try anything once' kind of way.
And then of course there's the ending of the show -- they practically ride off into the sunset (ok, the icefields) together . . . the implication being that their 'partnership' however you wish to define it, is a lifelong thing.
Personally I find it not only believable, but likely, that given enforced close quarters and general isolation from the outside world inherent in their Quest, eventually one or the other is going to break and feelings will be admitted and then they can both settle down happily in the Northwest Areas [snark] somewhere where such things are more generally accepted and live happily ever after. Because I'm a romantic at heart.
Sorry, didn't mean for this to be a treatise *g*. It's just that Fraser and Ray K. are probably my favourite pairing, slash or traditional, in any fandom, so I can tend to wax poetic about it :)