Project QAF - 103
++SCENES++
I am so in LOVE with this episode. Back when I first watched QAF US, it was marathon-like, all the episodes blending together into some kind of blur. But this one stood out. I was (and still am) a huge QAF UK fan and this was the first episode where the US version deviated from its original. But I must admit that, knowing Stuart Alan Jones (the British Brian Kinney), I was shocked when I first saw Justin lure Brian’s tricks away. I actually screamed (out loud): THIS WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED TO STUART!!! And it wouldn’t have. But that’s exactly what makes me love this episode. This is where the US version stepped forth and claimed a storyline of their own (B/J romantic relationship). This was where the dynamics changed. Because the British version is all about exploring the ‘best friends becoming something more’ while the American version took a different path (and what a path it turned out to be!!). I loved ballsy Justin. Did you notice his almost gleeful smirk when he dances with Brian at the end while Mikey watches?
There are so many more great scenes in this ep:
The podiatrist at the bris was hilarious!
Emmett and the male prostitute who doesn’t speak a word of English, unless he is required to order his food at the diner was also incredibly funny.
You know what’s funny? Mel and Lindsay’s parties tend to encourage flashbacks. In this ep, Michael says ‘Let’s go back an hour’ and we see how it came to be that Brian wasn’t there. In season three, we’ll see Michael being knocked out by Brian before having a flashback again, telling us the backstory.
Did you notice, at the end of the episode, where Michael is standing on the balcony, the screens behind him showing Brian and Justin dancing - the railing is visibly shaking. He can’t really lean on it. (This has no meaning whatsoever, just random observations.)
++PICS++
++QUOTES++
MICHAEL
Look, it's not for them. It's for your son.
BRIAN
My son. He's only my son when they want my money.
MICHAEL
Well, I was just about to say I think you should... rise to the occasion. You know, be... bigger than they are. That is if you can take your hand and your mind off your dick long enough. Jesus!
EMMETT
I was talking to Dungeon Master Don who wants to mummify me. Have you noticed that the world's getting weirder?
EMMETT
How does he do it? What does he say?
MICHAEL
We'll never know. But whatever it is, he says it for all of us.
I never got this one. It’s a direct quote from the British original and even then it didn’t make any sense to me.
++DEBBIE’S SHIRTS++
Deb’s shirt reads “GOT LUBE?”
++MUSIC++
Did you think I was going to choose Let’s Hear It For the Boy?
Nope, that one has been listened to death. I like: The Music (Razor N’ Guido Club Mix) by Orang'e.
Can be downloaded by clicking here.
++FICTION++
Fic: Lessons Learned
The thumpa-thumpa was blaring, the beat ricocheting off the walls and Justin could feel the vibrations from the floor run through his body. The heat was indescribable - the sweltering hotness from hundreds of half-naked men, moving against each other, gyrating to the ever-present rhythm of Babylon’s night life. Upon entering the club, Justin felt as though he had run head-first into a wall of sound, heat, and smell. Taking a look around, he realized how out of place he felt here. He’d never be comfortable in surroundings like these. Brian could have his pick in this sea of men; what on earth made Justin ever think he could compete? He was just an inexperienced high school boy. He turned to Daphne and, with an effort to keep his voice level, asked, “You wanna go?”
She sent a huge smile in his direction, taking in the on goings on the dance floor once more, and answered, “We just got here.”
Justin tried hard not to look unsure but hesitated, biting his bottom lip, before making a decision. “All right. Come on.” He grabbed her hand and made his way through the dancing crowd and towards the stairs.
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Brian was getting impatient. He already lost the hot trick twice tonight and his dick was in serious need of some attention. His eyes scanned the crowd restlessly as he leaned against the railing of the balcony. He ran over the available prospects in his mind. Had him. Ugly. Had him. Had him. When did they start letting in carpet munchers? Everything’s going to shit. Had him. Small dick. Don’t fuck queens in drag. Had him. Hot - bingo!
Brian straightened up and made for the stairs after muttering, “He’s not getting away this time.” He wasn’t aware of the pair of blue eyes following his every step. Though he probably wouldn’t have cared even if he had been.
Justin could only stare as Brian walked up to the more than willing trick and started to dance. Daphne said something but he was too busy taking in the beautiful form of Brian. His eyes almost popped out however when he watched Brian motion to a heavily muscled guy to come closer. He wouldn’t, would he? Justin watched in astonishment as the second guy moved to join Brian and his trick. Brian whispered something to the new arrival and Justin wondered what it could be that Brian was promising the trick. His overly active, artistic mind conjured up several settings and possibilities all of which had the potential to turn his cheeks red.
Michael had told him about Brian’s reputation. Justin had thought Michael was exaggerating to scare him away. But it had been the truth. Brian could and did have anyone he liked. And why the hell not? Nobody ever refused him, apparently. How the fuck was he doing it, Justin wondered? Sure, Brian looked hot (hotter than most of them, Justin admitted) but a lot of guys did. Justin focused his attention on Brian again. The way he moved, the way he talked, the expression on his face, the almost bored look in his eyes. His appearance was screaming, ‘You know you want me!’
It was this over the top confidence more than anything else that made him so desirable to his prey, Justin came to understand. The ‘I don’t give a fuck what you think or who you are’ kind of way he was treating his trick de jour. He could have anyone he liked because he never let on that he wanted someone. Instead, he made the other one want him, making them think Christmas had come early because they were lucky to have him.
As he continued to watch Brian with his two tricks, Justin felt as though Brian had unwittingly just taught him another valuable lesson. And just as he had the night before, Justin vowed again to prove himself to be an eager student. He may not have the experience to capture Brian’s interest, nor was he the tall, dark, muscled guy Brian seemed to prefer. But he had his youth and all the recklessness that ran with it and he planned to use it to his advantage. Brian went after what he wanted, and so would Justin. He would use Brian’s own weapons against him because what Justin wanted, more than anything else in his life, was this man. And fuck what Michael said, or Brian for that matter! If Brian could do it, so could he. He had the hubris of youth on his side. He could do anything he liked. Who the fuck was going to stop him?
“Is he gonna do it with both of them?” Daphne exclaimed, pulling him out of his thoughts.
“He can do anything he wants,” Justin replied and with newfound confidence descended the stairs, shedding his shirt in the process.
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Michael stood at the balcony, unmoving, watching the spectacle unfold itself. He had watched Brian pick up a trick hundreds, if not thousands, of times. He knew Brian would be successful; he always was. He still liked the show, sometimes imagining himself in the place of the trick, his body aching with desire that he struggled to squelch. As he stood there, his eyes following his best friend’s every move, he couldn’t help but ask himself wistfully what it would be like. He’d love to know. Just once, he’d love to experience the great Brian Kinney. What he wouldn’t give to know what it was that Brian whispered into the trick’s ear. But those were fleeting thoughts. He reminded himself that, even though these guys would get to know a part of Brian that he would never have access to, he, Michael, was the one - the only one - who Brian would decorate with the term ‘friend.’ Michael prided himself on the fact that he was the most important part of Brian’s inner circle of closest friends. His position in Brian’s life was unparalleled; unlike those tricks’ who would be forgotten even before they made it out the loft door. In his generous heart, he even pitied those guys. A little.
His attention was suddenly diverted by a familiar blond. The boy was dancing up a storm, throwing inviting looks at Brian’s tricks and Michael snorted at the boy’s audacity. He couldn’t completely hide the glee as he thought the boy was about to learn an important lesson: He was yesterday’s fuck, he was history. It was time that the annoying brat realized the facts.
His whole body petrified as he kept on watching, following the tricks’ path as they sandwiched the blond pain in the ass. He boiled with rage. Emmett’s astonished „What’s that boy doing?“ agitated him even more. This was unprecedented. How dare he?! Michael would have thrown a fit if he hadn’t been secretly relieved. He understood what the whole scenario could mean for Brian’s reputation - a teenage boy challenging and defeating Brian Kinney on his own turf - but at least the boy wouldn’t be around much longer. Michael was confident that Brian would put the teen stalker back in his place any minute.
For a moment, he honestly considered something might be terribly wrong with his eyesight as he watched Brian claim the boy for himself again. Brian could have done a number of things to get rid of this annoying little shit - but here was the catch: He didn’t want to. What was it that he had said back at Woody’s? He’s all right. He’s kinda sweet. Brian could have prevented all that was to come from happening. But Michael suspected Brian was curious to see how it would play out. A deep resignation settled in when Michael realized that Justin wouldn’t be gone from their lives. He was here to stay. And things were never going to be the same again.
The End.
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