Fortress Of Summer

Title: Crystalline-Cold (1/1)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: Benny/Ray V., Dief
Fandom: Due South
Genres: Fluff, Humor, Romance
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: On a freezing cold night in Benny’s apartment, he and Ray cuddle.
Date Of Completion: January 31, 2021
Date Of Posting: February 27, 2021
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Atlantic Alliance does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 697
Feedback welcome and appreciated.

( Ray looked at the frosty etchings on the kitchen window. He briefly touched it with his long fingers and could feel the cold pushing in on the glass. )

This story can also be read on AO3

Title: Terror In The Woods (3/3)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Benny/Ray V.
Fandom: Due South
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: During a camping trip, Benny and Ray encounter something strange.
Chapter Summary: Another thunderstorm brings trouble.
Date Of Completion: June 28, 2020
Date Of Posting: September 16, 2020
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Atlantic Alliance does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1202
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All chapters can be found here.

( The day grew dark as another storm approached. Benny and Ray reached their campsite, glad of beating the storm. Ray reluctantly admitted to himself that trying to drive out of here now could be dangerous. The wind was whipping around, blowing ashes from the campfire. Benny put the frying pan, cups and plates inside the truck they had rented for the rough terrain. They took the cooler inside the tent and watched the rain come down. )

This chapter can also be read on AO3.

Title: Terror In The Woods (1/3)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Benny/Ray V.
Fandom: Due South
Genres: Drama, Mystery, Suspense
Rating (this chapter): G
Warnings (this chapter): None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: During a camping trip, Benny and Ray encounter something strange.
Chapter Summary: Benny and Ray are camping out.
Date Of Completion: June 20, 2020
Date Of Posting: September 8, 2020
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Atlantic Alliance does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1141
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
All chapters can be found here.

( They lingered over breakfast and finally cleaned up. Benny suggested a hike and Ray groaned but went along with his partner. )

Title: Je Ne Sais Quoi (1/1)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: Benny/Ray V.
Fandom: Due South
Genres: Fluff, Humor, Romance
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Ray and Benny ask each other important questions.
Date Of Completion: July 2, 2017
Date Of Posting: July 13, 2017
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Atlantic Alliance does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 371
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Hi, luvs! After my Due South works were imported to AO3, I read through a bunch of them and was inspired to write something new for our favorite Canadian/American couple. Enjoy! :)

( When did you realize that you were first in love with me? )

Happy Canada Day to all of our friends up North! :)

My paternal grandmother was born on Prince Edward Island, so I've got some Canadian in me! ;)

I've also been on a Canadian kick since the Due South Archive was transferred to AO3 and I've been going through 154 records to reformat where I can, add tags, and break up the stories into chapters. I've been rereading the old stories and poems (I wrote a LOT of DS poetry!) and remembering the friends I made in that fandom, many of whom I'm still in contact with today.

The show aired on American TV from 1994-1996 and was revived for a 1998-1999 run. The show was quirky with subtle humor in the first two seasons, poking fun at Canadian and American stereotypes, and it became a hot fandom with the Benton Fraser/Ray Vecchio slash pairing. The show's subtext sometimes was more text! Ray bringing Benny home to meet his mother in the Pilot? Ray the only one to call him 'Benny'? Meeting in a closet at the Chicago Precinct to discuss strategy? Riiiight! Saving each other's lives? Dief (short for Diefenbaker), a deaf wolf who had saved Benny in the Yukon, welcoming Ray into the pack right away? I could go on and on! :)

The revival went on without David Marciano (Ray Vecchio), who was no longer available, so Callum Keith Rennie played Ray Kowalski as the new partner. Paul Gross (Benton Fraser) was given complete control (never give an actor complete control!). He wrote the scripts, starred in the show, and produced. The show's humor went from subtle to broad, and the tone was completely different. Kind of reminded me of the old '70s British SF series, Space: 1999, with Seasons 1 and 2 drastically different. Anyway, there are a lot of Fraser/Kowalski fans out there, but there are still Benny/Ray V. fans carrying the torch. The episodes, including the Pilot, can be found on YouTube.

Due South was one of the first fandoms to successfully straddle zines and on-line archives. During the show's first run, dozens of zines were published, not only in the U.S. but also Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. Hundreds of stories were being uploaded to Hexwood (the old name for the DS Archive), and the show stayed hot for several years. I wrote the first Benny/Ray V. slash story (as Jeannie Marie) that appeared in a zine, The Straight And Narrow (the story title, not the zine title). :) In addition to the 154 stories and poems that I uploaded to Hexwood, I wrote dozens more for zines. A great creative time! :)

I also went to the DS con, RCW 139, in Toronto in '97, '98, and '99. I was the DMOB (David Marciano Oestregen Brigade) liaison to David Marciano in '98, and let me tell you, I've never seen more gorgeous green eyes! :) I continued DMOB duties in '99, but David was not a guest that year. I did bring Ray Doll in '98 and David got a big kick out of the knitted doll. :)

In '98, the Toronto Daily Mail published a story on slash fiction with Benny and Ray V. excerpts. I can only imagine what David thought reading the paper with his morning eggs! ;) But he's a very cool guy. Very courteous to the fans and a good sport, too.

I've finished 140 records and have 14 more to go! Whoo hoo! :)

Title: A Cat, A Bat, And A Reporter I: The Spotted Dick (2/2)
Author: BradyGirl
Pairings/Characters (this chapter): Selina/Lois/Kathy, Benny/Ray V. (cameos from Due South)
Genres: Drama, Humor
Rating (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
General Summary: Selina, Kathy, and Lois visit Toronto.
Chapter Summary: The ladies stroll around Toronto and find an interesting pub.
Date Of Completion: November 30, 2008
Date Of Posting: December 7, 2008
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC and Alliance Atlantis do, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 913
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Notes: Written for my LJ Second Anniversary Fic Request Meme for schnuffichen. Pairing: Selina/Lois/Kathy. Prompt: Toronto.
The entire series can be found here.

( The CN Tower is so Freudian )

Happy Canada Day slightly early! :) To all those on my flist who live to the North, share the Canadian heritage, and to all those who admire and respect Canada, have a happy day!




BTW, the Mounties are a national symbol of Canada, and look what they export to us:


(Paul Gross as Benton 'Benny' Fraser of Due South)

Sigh. Dontcha just
Canada? ;)


Ray (David Marciano) just loves his Benny! ;)