Honestly, I'm not sure that I even think of them that way anymore.
To me they've joined the ranks of characters that are so "real" that they have an existence that transcends their original context. Kind of like Hamlet. Or Long John Silver. If that makes any sense at all.
I almost wish that I hadn't seen the last two seasons. From the violence Justin displays towards Brian in the Pink Posse arc onwards, there is so much I'd like to scrub from my brain.
Of course there are some good bits too. (I love the 'mon amour' scene, for instance - or at least most of it.)
But yes, I do believe that they share a bond. Mainly because I believe that they have a lot more in common than most people want to believe. I've never particularly seen Justin as "sweet little Justin" - all romance and sweetness and light. I think in some ways he has an even darker side than Brian (and who can wonder at it), and he's certainly, I believe, more ruthless. I think he's capable of cold-bloodedly doing things that would quite literally drive Brian to drink if Brian were to force himself to do them (or at least to his early self-loathing pain management techniques).
Contrast the scene in S1 where Brian was ready to leave for NY and Justin was weeping on his shoulder with the one in S5 when Justin was leaving Brian to move in with Michael. Brian was leaving because he was afraid he'd never be able to give Justin what he really needed; Justin was leaving because he wasn't getting what he wanted. My point is that Brian wouldn't have been able to do that. Certainly not by then. Or if he did, it would have been accompanied by his usual self-destructive blow outs. Justin just did it and got quietyly on with his life. He's tougher than Brian in some ways.
I think that's one of the things that makes their relationship work. Brian knows Justin is tough. He trusts in his strength and in knowing that he doesn't have to carry the weight of Justin's pain and disappointment in the way that he would have if he'd ever been foolish enough to get involved with Michael. It's the fact that Justin's strong enough to love him and leave him that allows Brian to relax in the relationship. Which probably doesn't make any sense at all outside my head. Sorry.
Anyway, glad to share some thoughts with someone as addicted to this pair as I still am.
Fictional, indeed. *she snorts in a very unladylike way*
Love this story. I have just recently discovered QAF and have been trying to find a way to remove all of S5 from my memory. This story is a great help!
It's always nice to welcome new people into the joys of BJ fandom.
I'm glad you're enjoying "Experiment". I have to admit that I have a particular fondness for it myself; partly because it was my first long fic. But I suspect mostly because it was written immediately post S3, so it is "uncontaminated" (LOL) with thoughts of the last two seasons. Brian has not been scarred by cancer, Vic is still alive, and there have been no Pink Posses or LA excursions and most of all, no S5 with all its OOC moments.
Anyway, glad you're enjoying and welcome on board!
Honestly, I'm not sure that I even think of them that way anymore.
To me they've joined the ranks of characters that are so "real" that they have an existence that transcends their original context. Kind of like Hamlet. Or Long John Silver. If that makes any sense at all.
I almost wish that I hadn't seen the last two seasons. From the violence Justin displays towards Brian in the Pink Posse arc onwards, there is so much I'd like to scrub from my brain.
Of course there are some good bits too. (I love the 'mon amour' scene, for instance - or at least most of it.)
But yes, I do believe that they share a bond. Mainly because I believe that they have a lot more in common than most people want to believe. I've never particularly seen Justin as "sweet little Justin" - all romance and sweetness and light. I think in some ways he has an even darker side than Brian (and who can wonder at it), and he's certainly, I believe, more ruthless. I think he's capable of cold-bloodedly doing things that would quite literally drive Brian to drink if Brian were to force himself to do them (or at least to his early self-loathing pain management techniques).
Contrast the scene in S1 where Brian was ready to leave for NY and Justin was weeping on his shoulder with the one in S5 when Justin was leaving Brian to move in with Michael. Brian was leaving because he was afraid he'd never be able to give Justin what he really needed; Justin was leaving because he wasn't getting what he wanted. My point is that Brian wouldn't have been able to do that. Certainly not by then. Or if he did, it would have been accompanied by his usual self-destructive blow outs. Justin just did it and got quietyly on with his life. He's tougher than Brian in some ways.
I think that's one of the things that makes their relationship work. Brian knows Justin is tough. He trusts in his strength and in knowing that he doesn't have to carry the weight of Justin's pain and disappointment in the way that he would have if he'd ever been foolish enough to get involved with Michael. It's the fact that Justin's strong enough to love him and leave him that allows Brian to relax in the relationship. Which probably doesn't make any sense at all outside my head. Sorry.
Anyway, glad to share some thoughts with someone as addicted to this pair as I still am.
Fictional, indeed. *she snorts in a very unladylike way*
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It's always nice to welcome new people into the joys of BJ fandom.
I'm glad you're enjoying "Experiment". I have to admit that I have a particular fondness for it myself; partly because it was my first long fic. But I suspect mostly because it was written immediately post S3, so it is "uncontaminated" (LOL) with thoughts of the last two seasons. Brian has not been scarred by cancer, Vic is still alive, and there have been no Pink Posses or LA excursions and most of all, no S5 with all its OOC moments.
Anyway, glad you're enjoying and welcome on board!
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