Reviewer: aglaja5 Signed [Report This]
Date: Dec 11, 2019 4:46 pm Title: Chapter 21: All Along

Hi! you really don't have to apologize for being delayed with answering. I really appreciate the exchange with an author, but I don't expect it, especially since I'm only reading the story now and not during the progress. Thanks for the many explanations about the mental health system. Mental health sounds totally interesting. I'm working in a neurosurgery department. Since I've got a lot to do with the functionality of the motor brain system, I've always wondered why Justin's right hand motor skills are disturbed when he'd got bashed on the right side... I really would like to ask this the authors of qaf.

Yeah, I agree with you, I also don't like Justin in relationships with other men so much, but it isn't so painful to read. Brian's ability to love just feels different, more unique - if he loves, it means everything. You've let him explain this very well! Either way, these relationships with other men may have a short purpose, but in the end, they should find each other again - for me, they just belong together. And I also really like to read stories with relationship issues, but what I like about your story, among other things, is that it's very clear that they belong together and have more to deal with other issues.

"There are so many secrets on the show (Brian visiting Justin, Sapp's party, etc) so I always like to see how those get revealed in fics." - Yeah, there were many topics in the show which - in my opinion - they sadly left unfinished. I also like it very much, when somehow these things come up again in stories.

Wonderful chapter! Michael... I've told you before that I have mixed feelings about him. Most of the time I disliked him, his behavior, his selfishness... So, I really like what you've done with his character. As I wrote before, he really matured, he can admit his mistakes, he accepts Brian's and Justin's love and I think one of my favorite sentences is this "I couldn't remember laughing that much anytime recently." And he really tries to take care of Justin. I mean, yeah maybe it was a little too much, telling Justin about the scarfing, but for me, his care feels honest and he didn't know about Justin being misdiagnosed. So, what Michael still has to learn is, not always assuming or judging, but in his defense, one could say that Justin and Brian aren't very communicative either, but that's what I love about them and their whatever it is. None of their friends really have the slightest idea how the two are with each other when they are alone... That's why I love this last paragraph very much ... Michael witnessing their welcome to each other... and how he experiences their home.

"I'm sorry, that's exhausting, huh?" - "You're sorry about the wrong thing here." Oh, I just love Brian!

"So Brian gave us his blessing this time?" - I love them both so much!

Author's Response:

I had never thought of that - of course, it makes no sense for him to be bashed on the right side of his brain and have functional impairements on the same side. Oh CowLip, they definitely didn't do a good medical consultation for that one. 

I don't mind stories with relationship issues when the issues are along the lines of "how can we make this relationship work better?" Too much else is just not fun for me to read and that's why I'm here after all! 

The show left so many things unanswered or in secret. In this chapter there's another secret revealed, whatever Brian did with the scarf. In the show his motives weren't entirely clear so I left it a bit open-ended here too. 

Michael - he's the jealous monster who lives in all of us. He wants to be happy for Brian and I think he genuinely likes Justin, but part of him can never let go of that childhood crush and hero worship. Poor Ben, is what I always think. He must have had the patience of a saint. 

"None of their friends really have the slightest idea how the two are with each other when they are alone" - that sums up why my favorite fics are those that are lots of domesticity while maintaining their characters (Domesticity with Brian saying "I love you" every other line? No thank you.) Also, I think in too many fics Brian keeps his persona too well erected when he's alone with Justin. I imagine them together alone there's kindness and compassion as well as a humor that no one else gets to see. 

I'm glad you liked the "You're sorry about the wrong thing here" line. It's one of my favorites. 

Reviewer: mamab Signed [Report This]
Date: May 06, 2019 12:04 am Title: Chapter 21: All Along

Wonderful update.  It is nice when Mikey isn't a jerk or worse.  Fantastic writing. 

Author's Response:

Thank you so much! I’m not Mikey’s biggest fan but I also don’t see him as evil. Flawed like all of us. Very flawed ;)

Reviewer: YumYumPM Signed [Report This]
Date: May 03, 2019 6:15 am Title: Chapter 21: All Along

It's nice to see what Mikey thinks and not one that wants Justin to disappear.

Author's Response:

Thank you! Michael’s flawed like all of us.