Date: Feb 25, 2020 3:09 am Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
First off, I almost missed this one! The chapters are coming so fast, I thought for sure this was the one I read last night... until I started reading the comments, and realized this was a new one.
One of the things that always bothered me in canon was the fact that Justin really never had a "place of his own." He was always living as a guest or at someone else's whim. Once again, in canon, I know most people found the scene where Justin goes back to the loft after his argument with Ethan to be a difficult one for Brian. But I always felt it was just another humilation for Justin... the boy with no real home.
But you've taken that concept and ramped it up to the nth degree here. Justin really has no options. Nowhere to run except back into Ethan's clutches. Nothing left to give of himself. Very little left OF himself.
Brian's cameo here is important... even though I think Justin has to make the break from the cycle himself, perhaps the encounter will provide the little spark he needs. The tiny little tendril of a connection to the person he was before.
[Report This]Date: Feb 25, 2020 12:55 am Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
OMG, I hate that Ethan more and more. I just want to wrap my arms around Justin and hold him tight, but that is not the solution. Wonderful very emotional chapter for Justin. But, I think there is hope. At least I am hoping so. Fantastic writing.
Author's Response:
There's always hope... *wink* TAG
PS, this is not the chapter that I said would break you. That one, I will be posting tomorrow.
[Report This]Date: Feb 25, 2020 12:09 am Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
Couldn't help myself, straight back into reading the misery that is Justin's life. I must admit I was silently begging him to come clean with Brian, but of course that was not to be:-( I certainly am wishing for something dramatic, and hopefully painful, to befall Ethan when this finally reaches its crescendo! Brilliant as always.
Author's Response:
You're very brave to hang in there. We're almost to Justin's tipping point, and it will get better in the end, but it's still gonna be bad . . . Sorry. TAG
Date: Feb 24, 2020 8:09 pm Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
How do I destroy Ethan in the end. I’m open to suggestions...
Well, I TOLD you I was going to make a list... you left yourself wide open there...
Maybe he's running after Justin, and when he runs out into the street, the city bus runs him over.
If we want a little Fargo... we could grind him up in the wood chipper.
He doesn't realize he really allergic to bees, and he gets swarmed cutting through the park... major stings... and dies before help can arrive.
Ethan poisons a glass of wine when he realizes his gig with Justin is up, but ends up taking the wrong one.
He eats at a Japanese restruant and orders the Japanese deicacy- Fugu... and it doesn't get prepared properly: Fugu contains lethal amounts of the poison tetrodotoxin in its inner organs, especially the liver, the ovaries, eyes, and skin. The poison, a sodium channel blocker, paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious; the poisoned victim is unable to breathe, and eventually dies from asphyxiation.
THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT, TAG! This is all on your head. I couldn't sleep. This is the result. But, if I was to cast a vote... I really like the last one... with Justin being the beneficiary of his will.
Toodles!
Hahahaha! Great list! I smell a plot bunny for a story about how many ways you can kill someone... TAG
Author's Response:
Date: Feb 24, 2020 7:53 pm Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
I was so excited when Brian turned up at the bar. But no, you are going to torture us some more lol Pease don’t rush the ending, I love reading your stories and it may take a while for Justin to become his normal self, and back with Brian of course (hint, hint lol)
Cathy, I agree there needs to be a very public lynching of Ethan x
Thanks for posting the chapters so quickly x
[Report This]Date: Feb 24, 2020 7:37 pm Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
Five or six chapters - ONLY??? You can get Justin out of this mess, get him back to feeling close to himself again, back with Brian and the family, in those few chapters? WOW! I'm impressed!
I don't even lnow what to think anymore. I DO think we need to have a lynching - WHO'S ALL IN???
Is Ethan just that good... or is the guy a little schizophrenic?
I am curious about his money... inheritance? Or from other men he has used? Was the story about his grandfather even true? How did it come about that he owns the building and the dump he lives in? Lots of questions going through my mind.
The light at the end of the tunnel - or is it the chapter - now has Brian's psyche peaked. He's no dumby. He will know by Justin's parting shot that something is definitely wrong. So regardless, if Justin doesn't reach out for help, I believe Brian will get the ball rolling.
And when it's all over and done with... I HOPE you plan to have Justin's money - at LEAST $10,000 - six months, right - PLUS interest - PLUS a new computer like the one he purposely dropped - hand delivered to him.
(I'm exhausted!)
HUGS ~Cathy
[Report This]Date: Feb 24, 2020 6:30 pm Title: Chapter 21 - Eye Opening
Kudos for Justin for finally getting some information and asking Ethan for explanations. The fact that the evidence is destroyed doesn't make the situation disappear. I really hope Justin will ask for his paycheck to be sent to his account.
I was wondering if the "poster" episode will happen: yeah; it did and Brian saw that Justin was completely lost and not in a great shape, physically and mentally. Justin's answer about "real artist" should do the trick.
The cliffhanger is killing me: did Brian let Justin go or did he follow him and tried to get more information?
Author's Response:
I think you're right and this will get Brian thinking . . . Justin's still not completely out of the woods though. TAG