Hieroglyfics Recs

32-minute podfic, 22MB. I started reading the (text version of the) story once, but it either didn’t impress me enough to finish, or I didn’t like it enough to leave a comment. I was being fairly picky about what I was reading at the time which probably had something to do with it. But also, I think that I’m more likely to enjoy a story if I listen to it, rather than read it - provided it’s presented well, which this one is.

This is an angsty story about what being undercover means to Ray K. The insights about how Ray prepares himself for being someone else are wonderful; I tend to forget that Ray is undercover as Vecchio, canonically, and that the way he approaches Fraser must be colored by this. I also really like the ending, which is not precisely happy, but (as I keep meaning to post about) I enjoy endings which are not precisely happy.

The reading is very well done. Keerawa has a pleasant voice, reads slowly, and infuses each line with meaning and energy. The individual characters come across clearly, including Ray-as-Ray and Ray-as-Gary both. The porn is quite sexy, and perhaps listening to this story while grocery shopping was not the smartest idea I’ve ever had.

Ray Kowalski/Geoffrey Tennant. This is a wonderful due South/Slings & Arrows crossover in which Ray and Geoffrey meet in an airport during a snowstorm. This is my favorite type of crossover (and actually reminds me quite a bit of my own dS/Wilby crossover Islands), in which the actor-identity aspect is exploited for the story, with the real pairing behind the scenes clearly Ray/Fraser, and the imagined intersection of the characters seems very true. Funny, sweet and sad, with a satisfying ending.

RayK/Turnbull, implied RayK/Fraser. Ray turns up drunk at the Consulate, looking for Fraser - but he finds Turnbull instead. Turnbull is so goofy and earnest and sweet: “Oh, you needn’t apologize, Detective — Ray,” Turnbull said warmly. “You can kiss me any time you feel it’s necessary.” I wasn’t a fan of the ending, which sort of leaves things in an uncomfortable place that doesn’t really fit with the rest of the story.

Crossover with Good Omens, RayK/Crowley. A crackfic riff on the replacement of Ray V by Ray K. And I guess you could consider this wingfic, too!