Date: Feb 02, 2021 5:10 pm Title: Chapter 4
Hi there! Yeah, I've watched the Handmaid's tale in record time. don't know where I took the time... :-) First, I was just curious and then I couldn't stop. It really moved me... And surely, one can understand your story without watching it, but while reading it, I see all those characters and fates... I thought, Emily and her situation would have inspired this story mainly... I wondered if Emily would be back with her partner after her successful escape from Gilead... It wasn't really clear yet... But what has been made pretty clear is that it is by no means easy... So, even without Ethan the situation would be hard and not easy, but with Ethan... and Justin's feelings for both of them... as you wrote, an impossible situation... And as I wrote before, I also wondered about June, Luke and Nick - I was sure that they let Nick die in this fight in Chicago... (maybe this will happen in the next season???) because, in my opinion, they are also in an impossible situation - to be honest, I really like Nick (I often like those "bad" guys who have a good site deep inside), so I'm not sure, I would want to see June united with Luke again... but could there really be a future for June and Nick... an impossible situation...
This chapter and Justin's conversation with the doctor was already hard to read and painful. Just to imagine what Brian went through... and five years is a long long time... Your story and also Gilead reminds me so much of the Nazi time... torture, death, experiments... terrible. I wrote it before, I'm glad, that you started your story with Brian being free...
I like the way you let Justin and Gus talk. Through that we learned a little bit about their time in Gilead, the reasons for their escape and a little bit about what went wrong. And I think Justin behaved properly. It could have been that Brian woke up screaming, etc. It could have been that he couldn‘t allow any closeness or reacted with panic to a possibly too stormy greeting from Gus. Justin shows how much he cares about Gus and at the same time treats him with respect.
So yeah you are doing a great job! I'm looking forward to the next chapter! Warmest regards and stay healthy!
Author's Response:
I was actually surprised myself by how much I liked The Handmaid's Tale when I started watching it. That world immediately drew me in and wouldn't let me go even after a season had ended, which is why we now have a Brian/Justin story set in that world ;)
I get what you're saying about Emily's story and her inspiring this story, but I have to admit that this story has been a long time in the making already. By the time I came up with the idea, started fleshing out the storyline and started writing, I hadn't seen that part in Emily's storyline yet. So yeah, my idea for this story was totally based on the Nick/June/Luke triangle and what would happen if June and Luke were reunited: Could they just go back to their old relationship? After everything they have been through? Everything June has been through in Gilead? After everything she has shared with Nick? After everything Luke has been through in Canada?
It's funny how this story now actually mirrors Emily's story more, but when I came up with the idea, it was all about June and her two men ;)
I just knew that with how I wanted Brian's time in Gilead to go, I couldn't have him be the one in a relationship with someone else, so it had to be Justin. And generally speaking, I can't ever see Brian in a relationship with someone else than Justin. If another relationship is necessary for story purposes, it would always be Justin in that relationship... That's why he got to be with Ethan and got to move on/built a new life in Canada while Brian was stuck in Gilead.
You are right, it's important to remember that Brian is free now. The worst is behind him and he will be fine - I promise :)
I have to admit that Gilead always reminded me of the Nazi regime. So some things might be more German history than Handmaid's Tale really, though I am sure that Gilead wouldn't have been opposed to medical experiments and torture on people they considered lesser beings :/ I mean some of that was shown/hinted at in the show even...
Gus will see Brian in the next chapter - I promise! But I agree, I don't think Justin had any other choice. Without knowing what Brian's mental state was like, there was no way Gus as a 12-year old boy could be present when Brian first woke up. That could have ended in a disaster had Brian been severely traumatised... Even more than he obviously is.
I think Justin did the right thing by talking to Gus and explaining some of these things to him. Gus is only 12, might be too happy to have his Dad back to really understand why Brian might be more subdued than he remembers him... It just shows that Justin cares for Gus and wants him to be fine as well during this complicated time.
We will also find out more about their life and time in Gilead in upcoming chapters, just as we will find out what happened that night when they tried to flee to Canada. There's so much coming up :)
Thanks for your lovely comment. It's much appreciated :) More will be up tomorrow!
[Report This]Date: Feb 01, 2021 1:29 am Title: Chapter 4
Wonder what those Doctor's did to Brian. I don't think a shrink would help, not unless the shrink had gone through the same thing. Gus doesn't need talk, he needs to see his dad.
Author's Response:
We'll find out more about Brian's years in Gilead over the course of this story.
As for the therapist, I can't say I agree. I don't think your therapist needs to have gone through whatever you have been through to help you. That would mean a woman that has been raped can only be helped by a therapist that was also a rape victim, someone with depression could only be helped by a therapist who had been suffering from depression themselves... I think a therapist could help Brian even if they hadn't been in a concentration camp in Gilead themselves and wouldn't have suffered through what he has been through. That's just my opinion on therapy though :)
As for Gus, he's only 12. No one knew what condition Brian would be in when he woke up. I think Justin was right to sit down with Gus and have a talk about certain things he might not understand due to his age.
And he will get to see his dad, very soon :)
Thanks for your comment! More will be up soon :)