Thank you for tackling this topic! I spend more time angsting about what the characters would do vs what I want them to do that the actual telling of a story (or lack of story, if PWP is attempted) gets lost.
Since my wonderful Beta isn't in the dS fandom, I rely on friends (hugs primroseburrows) to proof the betaed draft and let me know where voice or characterization falters.
The grey area for me around keeping the boys in character is with future fic or pre-series fic. What little information we get from canon about their past lives (or what we extrapolate from canon to use as fodder for future fic character growth) has to be carefully pondered and processed: yes, I agree that Fraser is not a puppy-kicker, but is there anything from canon that could be used as a precursor for him becoming one? At the time, I am sure his stated inability to help the mugging victim in VS II was seen, initially as very OOC for Fraser; it is only after careful consideration of his past and 'current' relationship with Victoria that her destruction of Fraser sense of self and responsibility would lead him to that point of helplessness, where he can't save himself, nor help the victim. (Not that I am encouraging a story where we see Fraser having become a puppy-kicker, but I've read a fair amount of fic where Fraser has done things that I personally couldn't see him doing/succumbing to based on canon and analysis of text/subtext).
no subject
Since my wonderful Beta isn't in the dS fandom, I rely on friends (hugs
The grey area for me around keeping the boys in character is with future fic or pre-series fic. What little information we get from canon about their past lives (or what we extrapolate from canon to use as fodder for future fic character growth) has to be carefully pondered and processed: yes, I agree that Fraser is not a puppy-kicker, but is there anything from canon that could be used as a precursor for him becoming one? At the time, I am sure his stated inability to help the mugging victim in VS II was seen, initially as very OOC for Fraser; it is only after careful consideration of his past and 'current' relationship with Victoria that her destruction of Fraser sense of self and responsibility would lead him to that point of helplessness, where he can't save himself, nor help the victim.
(Not that I am encouraging a story where we see Fraser having become a puppy-kicker, but I've read a fair amount of fic where Fraser has done things that I personally couldn't see him doing/succumbing to based on canon and analysis of text/subtext).
A very helpful essay!