due South snippet: "Justice"

[luzula]

Title: Justice
Characters: Fraser gen
Rating: PG
Prompt: trial
Length: 270
Notes: This is an AU of Victoria's Secret. Rather angsty. Thanks to keerawa for beta reading.


The verdict at the trial is quick, ruthless, and--as Fraser knows but the jury does not--entirely unjust. Given the amount of evidence against him, Fraser doesn't blame them. Ray never ceases to believe that he is innocent, but one man's trust isn't enough to save him.

He ends up where Victoria has planned, but still, he can't bring himself to hate her. There is too much symmetry in their fates for that.

Life can survive almost anywhere: in the deep seas, in the cold ice, and in the hot, dry desert. It is possible in prison, as well. His new life is smaller, bounded by four walls, a floor and a ceiling, and by a precisely determined schedule of meals and exercise. Wolves are not allowed here, and Fraser feels a measure of relief at this. At least he won't drag Diefenbaker down with him.

As the years pass him by, Fraser's behavior earns him more and more freedom, within strictly defined limits. He learns ancient Greek and reads Homer and the Greek playwrights in their original language. With the help of literature, he becomes quite an expert on hoverflies, and natural history museums send him difficult specimens to examine.

There are times, in the darkest hours of the night, when he wonders if he will have the energy to rise in the morning. But no matter the difficulty, he always does it.

Most difficult of all, though, is to retain his belief in justice. The red of the uniform he wore seems like the sort of simple, primary color a child would use.

Perhaps that is what she intended.

Comments

[2corbies]

Ouch! Wonderfully painful and believable. I don't know whether to smile or cringe at the idea of Fraser learning ancient Greek and reading Homer. I've studied classical Greek-- Fraser is studious, but that's an awfully vivid image of a very active man with a lot of free time on his hands. That and the entomology. The details of this are beautifully evocative.

I also love the way you say "most difficult . . . is to mantain his belief in justice," and leave it up to the reader to decide whether or not he succeeds. A lot packed into a little snippet here.

[luzula]

Thank you!

Uh, is it wrong to say ancient Greek? Should it be classical Greek instead? Anyway, I've never studied it, but I thought it might be something Fraser might take up if he needed to make the time pass. Although I may possibly be into hoverflies at the moment. Ahem.

I'm so glad those last lines worked!

[2corbies]

Uh, is it wrong to say ancient Greek?

Not at all-- people know what you mean. Classical (think Sophocles) Greek and Homeric Greek are different enough that a person who's studied one can't automatically read the other. Its kind of like a non-native English speaker reading Shakespeare or Chaucer. But most people don't know that, so you gave exactly the right level of detail for this piece. I just didn't want to imply I could read Homer, because I can't!

[luzula]

Oh thanks, I didn't know that! And if you say the snippet is all right as is, I won't edit.

[2corbies]

It's lovely, and don't you dare :-D Always glad to spread the classics geekdom around!

[petra]

Augh, my *heart.* Oh, Fraser, *nooo.* But I believe it as a possibility.

[luzula]

Yeah, this snippet chilled my heart when I wrote it, too. It's the last part that gets to me, really, the bit about how he could lose his faith in justice.

And thanks!

[omens]

Ah! Heartbreaking! So chilly! Loved it, though. At least he won't drag Diefenbaker down with him. *sniff*

[luzula]

Thank you kindly! I'm glad you liked it.

[akamine_chan]

Oh, Luzula. That's heartbreaking. And it makes me wonder what kind of man will leave that prison cell...

[luzula]

Yes, I wonder that, too. I don't think I want to write it, actually (which probably means I will write it when I'm in the mood for something particularly angsty). Thank you!

[lucifuge-5.livejournal.com]

Ok, luzula, I honestly cannot pick just one quote because this AU snippet is mind-boggling awesome!

Fraser behind bars is an absolutely heartbreaking image. I was relieved to see that he got some measure of peace. Thank you for that as I can be rather ridiculous about angst when it comes to due South fic. /Luce\

Once again, great snippet, Luz! :)

[luzula]

Oh wow, what a response. : )

This snippet is what came to me after five minutes contemplation of the prompts. I mean, there are any number of stories about Fraser running away with Victoria, but I can't remember any about Fraser ending up in jail instead. And heartbreaking, yes.

That's a lovely icon.

[dodgegirl22.livejournal.com]

Ok when I got to the part that Benton was behind bars, I all most couldn't finish reading it, but it did.
Great job!

[luzula]

Thanks! And yeah, I got rather broken-hearted about it myself.

[thursdaynext-27.livejournal.com]

This is an amazing snippet (and I couldn't handle a Fraser-in-prison fic if it were longer).

The red of the uniform he wore seems like the sort of simple, primary color a child would use.

[luzula]

Thank you. Yeah, I wouldn't want to write a full-length version of this, I think.

[akite.livejournal.com]

Poor Fraser! To have his faith in justice shaken is the worse punishment of all. Great snippet.

[luzula]

Thank you! I know, that was the part that got to me, too.

[exbex.livejournal.com]

whoa *shivers* This is so brilliant.

[luzula]

Thank you, I'm glad you think so.

[mamaffy.livejournal.com]

Wow, heartbreaking. Every sentence is great, Dief and the books. Those last few sentences are incredibly sad.

[luzula]

I feel like this is one of the angstiest things I've written, actually. And thank you!

[love-jackianto.livejournal.com]

'Most difficult of all, though, is to retain his belief in justice. The red of the uniform he wore seems like the sort of simple, primary color a child would use '
Love that line.

[luzula]

Thank you! I wasn't sure the line with the uniform worked; I'm glad it did.

[china_shop]

Oh wow. O.O

This is brilliant!

[luzula]

Hey, thank you!

[plotbunniofdoom]

Oh! I just love this! :)

It's just perfect. I kind of want more, but I'm not sure where else this could go.

[luzula]

Thank you kindly! I'm not sure I want to write more of this (but I'll think about it).

[vermin-disciple.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous. And horrible. Though of course I mean that in a good way. :)

Most difficult of all, though, is to retain his belief in justice. The red of the uniform he wore seems like the sort of simple, primary color a child would use.

This line is so perfect and sad.

[luzula]

Thank you! I'm glad that it moved you.

[andeincascade.livejournal.com]

You made me weep uncontrollably, Luz. I don't think I can bear this future for Fraser. Breathtakingly written, though. *sob*

[luzula]

Hey, I hope you didn't go into it unprepared--I did warn for angst. And yeah, I wouldn't want to write a full-length version of this. I mean, I didn't even go into how he would interact with the other inmates--partly because of ignorance of what prison is like, but partly because it would be so angsty. Talk about having his idealism broken down.

But anyway, thank you.