The Bar AU
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| Fraser/Kowalski Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Bar AU |
| Author(s): | Starfish |
| Date(s): | 2004 |
| Length: | |
| Genre: | slash |
| Fandom: | due South |
| External Links: | |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Bar AU is a Fraser/Kowalski universe, a series of three stories by Starfish.
It is the author who has titled her series: "...what I've been referring to as "the Bar AU" universe." [1]
The Stories
Reactions and Reviews
While writing these reviews, I've discovered a new kink: dark!Fraser. Amazing that I hadn't figured it out before; apparently self-enlightenment is a bonus to writing recs. Fraser is dark indeed in this AU: torn with guilt and throwing himself into destructive sexual behavior, he wanders into a bar after being fired from his latest job (working on a fishing boat) and propositions the bar's owner, Ray Kowalski. As AUs go, this one is particularly clever: most of Fraser and Ray's backstory is identical to canon, but the two changes Starfish made have significant impact on the characters lives. Fraser, having killed Gerrard (his father's killer) in the episode Bird in Hand rather than injuring him as he did in canon, resigned from the RCMP and hit the road. Ray, seriously injured in the line of duty, started a PI business and also runs a bar. He's a lot calmer than in canon, and Fraser's a lot more desperate and the two of them have a dynamic that is very different from typical DS fic and yet, at the same time, is perfectly in character. It's a fine line and Starfish does an admirable job of telling the tale of two men who click instantly, but who still take the time to get to know each other before running headlong into a romantic relationship. A beautiful trilogy. [2]
I squealed in an embarrassing manner when I realized that this trilogy hadn't been recced yet. It's one of my favorites by Starfish and definitely worth a look, even if you're just a casual DS fan.This AU series has only made a couple of changes from canon, but they had big consequences. After killing Gerard (rather than injuring him as he did in canon), Fraser resigned from the RCMP and started eking out a hard, minimal existance working on fishing boats. Meanwhile, Ray K is severely injured in the line of duty and never takes over for Ray V. Instead, he opens a bar. Guess who walks in.
Intriguing backstories, spot-on characterization, and clean writing elevate this trilogy above the common AU. If nothing else, read it for the dark (but still completely in character) Fraser. [3]