Project QAF - 109
++SCENES++
Brian has this cute smirk that he can’t suppress in the short scene at Woody’s in the beginning of the episode. ‘Cause he sooooo likes Justin. It’s adorable. And he helps Justin with his homework. So cute.
As you will see below, I went a little nuts with 'Brian pics' today (could have filled the entire post just with pics of him). Because the whole storyline with Emmett’s online persona was a little bit too schizo for me. And also because Brian/Gale is just too good-looking in this episode. Or maybe because 109 broke my heart when it comes to Brian.
His complicated relationship with his dad is painful to watch. So well-acted, it’s amazing. The tension between Brian and his father when Brian goes to visit him in this shabby bar is palpable. And Brian looks so vulnerable here - like he still can’t let go of his need to be loved. And when his hopes are squashed again, you hurt with him. I wonder if he really was abused. Physically, I mean. About the other one, there really can be no question. I guess he was, judging by what he tells Justin. And he still goes to see his dad. And he brings him money. He’s still this little kid who longs for approval from his parents. It’s heartbreaking. And then he cries! And I’m sobbing with him on the inside. And the weirdest thing? I kinda like Jack.
Lindsay - I don’t hate her. But what a bitch! She can’t decide what she wants. When Brian so readily agrees to sign away his rights to Gus, she actually looks not pleased. But when he decides to not give them up, she’s pissed. Make up your mind already!
The snobbish education of Mikey begins! He’s making it really, really hard for me to like him.
++PICS++
++QUOTES++
BRIAN
What are you doing here? I thought it was a school night.
JUSTIN
You're here.
BRIAN
I'm a grown-up.
JUSTIN
Barely.
BRIAN
You know, it’s really not worth crying about.
JUSTIN
I wasn’t crying. It’s just my allergies.
BRIAN
Not even six months old, and already my kid's a drama queen.
TED
Well, at least you know he's yours.
TED
Just be yourself. You won't have anything to worry about.
MICHAEL
I just know somehow, somewhere I am going to fuck up.
BRIAN
That's what he means - be yourself.
JUSTIN
Your father must have loved you. He probably just… He didn't know how to show it.
BRIAN
Yeah, he knew how to show it, alright, especially after he'd had a few.
JACK
You know, you and me, we’re a lot alike.
BRIAN
We are?
JACK
We weren’t meant to settle down. Sometimes, goddamn it, I look in the mirror and say, “Jack Kinney, you dumb son of a bitch, you should never have been a family man.”
BRIAN
Why did you? Why did you marry mom? Why’d you have me?
JACK
Jesus, you're a smart kid, you never figured it out?
++SHIRTS++
Debbie doesn’t appear in this episode, but Emmett wears a T-shirt that says “Plays well with others”.
++MUSIC++
There was only one track I liked in this episode: N-Trance feat. Rod Stewart - Do You Think I'm Sexy.
++FIC++
Title: Homework
Emmett’s POV
Apart from Michael, whose status as best friend granted him some additional access while at the same time denied him certain other ones, one wasn’t invited into Brian’s loft very often. Unless you were a trick, of course, in which case the invitation was never extended to a second visit. Long story short, it didn’t happen every day that the whole gang got invited into Brian Fucking Kinney’s loft. I believe it had to do with a number of reasons. First, Brian liked his place neat and tidy and a bunch of over-excited fags such as ourselves tended to mess up his perfect organizing system. Secondly, most of the time he was either busy with work or fucking. And lastly, he had the annoying tendency to throw the harsh truth in your face with no respect for one’s tender sensibilities and no patience for small talk or polite pleasantries - character traits which made for a rather awkward host.
What I’m trying to say is, we were all somewhat giddy with excitement, though maybe for different reasons, when Brian suggested to meet at his place after gym: Michael because he was about to receive a lesson in snobbish dinner behavior; Teddy because every trip to Brian’s loft was like an educational field trip for him. And me - well I was just curious to see the rumor confirmed with my own eyes. Brian was letting a twink stay at his place. Admittedly, a particularly delicious and juicy one, but I was dying to see how it was working out. And maybe offer my support and advice to the youngest member of our circle of colorful friends of which I, of course, was the brightest.
The blond baby was sitting at the kitchen counter when we all walked in, books and various papers strewn all around him in an indescribable mess. I was sure Brian would flip but he ignored him completely. It was worse than I thought - he didn’t even deem him worthy of a greeting! I was about to send my compassionate and sympathetic smile in the young boy’s direction but noticed that he was completely unfazed by old grumpy’s antics. While we others were busy setting up the table behind which Michael had taken a seat, I noticed Brian walking repeatedly past where Justin sat studying. First he grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge, next he got something from the cabinet under the sink, then he pretended to search the drawer next to it. It was funny how every time as he passed Justin he would glance over the boy’s shoulder in what I’m sure he thought to be an inconspicuous manner. Finally Justin took a pity on him and said, “It’s calculus. I’m studying for an exam tomorrow.”
“What made you think I would want to know?” Brian replied in his sarcastic voice.
“You were making me dizzy with your walking back and forth, spinning circles around me.” Justin answered with a smug grin.
“Have you been smoking my shit again?”
Justin’s grin grew only sunnier and almost outshone my colorful light. But I was happy to share my bright spot with this delightful blond. And I was more than happy to discover he didn’t need my help. Or anyone else’s for that matter. I came here ready to explain to him how to read Brian’s caustic remarks and to not be affected by his cold and dismissive behavior. After all, I knew that Brian could go to great lengths to make it look like he didn’t care. We all knew that it was just a show, but Justin was new and he was so young. I honestly thought he’d need my help dealing with the big bad. As it turned out, he didn’t. Even though the whole time we were there, Brian ignored the boy completely (except for the few times when he addressed him to insist he continued with his studies), it was clear that he was just keeping up an act. Who he was trying to kid - whether it was us all or Justin - I wasn’t sure.
When I returned to the loft five minutes after we all left to pick up my shawl and mittens which I forgot there, a very disheveled and annoyed Brian - chest bare, jeans already undone - opened the door. A trail of clothes that looked suspiciously like Justin’s shaped a path leading up to Brian’s bedroom. It seemed to be time for another sort of lesson now.
The End.
Comments are very welcome.
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