TGIF!

[rusty_halo]

Queer as Folk fic doesn't seem to be working for me. Probably because most fic is a reflection of the genre of the show itself: schmoopy soapy goo, or melodramatic soapy goo. Ick. I don't like schmoop at all, and I like my angst violent and fucked-up, not melodramatic and ridiculous. *sigh*

The other problem is with pairing. I haven't found a single Brian & Michael friendship story that captured the characters, was written well, and was interesting. And when it comes to relationships, well, Brian/Justin is hot, but their relationship is completely uninteresting to me. And Brian/Michael is incredibly interesting, but not at all hot.

I've enjoyed a few stories, but entirely because the authors are so good that they can make anything work. And (big surprise) they're all authors I know from Buffy fandom, and have in fact archived on my website: Mint Witch, Valerie, Rachel Anton. They all write Brian well, which is great to read. But, alas, I'm just never going to be into the Brian/Justin thing.

The exception to all this is Chase's story. By moving Brian (and Michael, sort of) into the Angelverse, she has free reign to bring in all the violent and supernatural stuff that I love. Plus, she gets rid of Justin (yay!) and makes the angsty stuff about Brian/Michael (yay!). Plus it's also just a really good story; I've probably gotten more enjoyment out of it than I've gotten from the actual show.

So is there any other writers I should be reading? Anyone out there at all who writes dark/angsty/violent Brian/Michael, well?

*sigh*

Yeah, didn't think so.

(I'm such a picky reader. Years of reading almost literally every Spike fic I could find have left me with very little tolerance for bad writing. Misspelled word, cheesy line, too much exposition? Nope, sorry, not wasting my time by reading further. I probably close 90% of the stories I start after the first paragraph. Looking through general QaF archives has reminded me of how lucky we were in Spike fandom, and how much of the vast majority of fanfic sucks.)

Your Birthdate: June 29

Your birthday on the 29th adds a tone of idealism to your nature. You are imaginative and creative, but rather uncomfortable in the business world. You are very aware and sensitive, with outstanding intuitive skills and analytical abilities. The 29 reduces to 11, one of the master numbers which often produces much nervous tension. This is the birthday of the dreamer rather than the doer. You do, however, work very well with people.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

This could all be true, except that last line which is definitely bullshit. "Does not work well with others" is one of those defining Laura traits.

Tonight, jaydk and I are going to dinner and then seeing Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm looking forward to it, though it's gotten mixed reviews. The last time I read the book, I was probably no more than 12, so hopefully I won't remember enough to be disappointed at whatever's lacking.

Tomorrow I'm getting my hair cut. I'm thinking about maybe getting bangs. (I think the last time I had bangs, I was 9.) I feel the need for a change, though. Plus my hair currently looks terrible, the way it's grown out.

Then tomorrow I'm going to see Audioslave. I've never heard them; guess I ought to pick up a CD tonight. All I know is that Chris Cornell sings, and one of the great unresolved issues of my life is the fact that I never saw Soundgarden live. (They were one of my all-time favorite bands.) So I couldn't resist this opportunity, even if it's not really the same thing.

Comments

[fishsanwitt]

I watch 'QaF' on and off - I actually got hooked on the original British series (brilliant!) and I always found the US version a poor second cousin. Except, that 'Brian' is *so* amazing, he's reeled me in :)

I like Brian/Justin, but I find Justin very young. Brian/Michael is not hot for me at all, although I realize that this is probably the most important relationship in Brian's life. I find Michael so dull though - it's hard to stay interested.

I have no recommendations about fics - sorry!

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the ONLY thing genuinely worthwhile about QaF US is Brian. I wouldn't have lasted an episode if it wasn't for him.

I think Brian and Justin can be hot. Their first sex scene is amazing. But their relationship is pretty shallow--Justin himself is shallow. He's a sheltered suburban kid, and he needs to get out and experience life and other relationships. His infatuation with Brian is very childish.

Justin so obviously doesn't belong with Brian that I find it ridiculous that the show expects me to invest emotionally in the two of them. Especially because it's always playing with this idea that Brian really loves Justin and I (the audience) am supposed to get all excited when he shows it. And I don't, because it's sad, and it's boring, and it's not going to last, and it doesn't really bring out any interesting qualities in Brian--the last thing I want to see is him acting like a sappy romantic fool.

I liked Michael much better in the first season... later it seems that all he does is whine annoyingly. But there's that one scene where Brian mentally contrasts Ted and Michael, and you can see why Michael's innocence and enthusiasm is so appealing to Brian. I don't support them romantically partly because I don't find Michael hot, but mostly because Michael is a weak person--he's constantly listening to what everyone else tells him to do instead of thinking for himself and making his own decisions.

But the depth of their friendship, the way they know each other so incredibly well--that is beautiful, and powerful, and fascinating. (And can be very dark, too, in the hands of a good writer.) And it brings out such interesting qualities in Brian, much more so than his relationship with Justin.

So yeah, it's not so much that I'm watching for Michael, it's just that I like Michael much better than Justin, and I'm much more interested in the qualities that he brings out in Brian.

[fishsanwitt]

As little as I've watched, I have to agree with you about Justin. Yeah, they're hot together but he is *not* what Brian needs.

I think Brian 'saved' Justin, in spite of Justin's creepy mother, but I think Brian needs someone 'else' to 'save' him.

I find him incredibly damaged - maybe I missed flashbacks, where you see how Brian became who he is today. I'd like that backstory.

And I understand what you're saying about Michael - and what he brings out in Brian.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure to what extent I think Brian needs to be "saved."

I admire immensely his strength, independence, confidence, and ability to be himself no matter what anyone else thinks. I worry that in "saving" him people want to smooth away his rough edges, have him conform and settle down and be "normal" and all that boring bullshit.

But yes, he is also very emotionally damaged. Did you see the episodes with Brian's parents? I think those pretty much explain it. One of my favorite scenes in the series is the first time we see Brian cry, which is of course with Michael, after Brian visits his dad. All the stuff with Brian and his father is great, actually.

[fishsanwitt]

I wouldn't want Brian to change either :) Maybe 'saved' wasn't the right description.

I was talking more about his 'emotional' damage and needs, which you picked up on. And I missed the family episodes, so that's probably where I would have gotten my backstory on him.

I'm not sure I've ever read an interview with Gale Harold about his character. I'd be very interested in hearing what he thinks about 'Brian'.

[rockgoddes.livejournal.com]

Then tomorrow I'm going to see Audioslave. I've never heard them; guess I ought to pick up a CD tonight. All I know is that Chris Cornell sings, and one of the great unresolved issues of my life is the fact that I never saw Soundgarden live. (They were one of my all-time favorite bands.) So I couldn't resist this opportunity, even if it's not really the same thing.

I'm so JEALOUS. SO JEALOUS.

I adore Audioslave, they're so freakin' heavy. I wasn't a big Soundgarden fan...didn't mind some of their stuff but I saw them once and they were stunningly boring. Especially with Pearl Jam on right after them.

But I'm dying to see Audioslave...sigh...

Details! I want details!

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I saw them once and they were stunningly boring. Especially with Pearl Jam on right after them.

::gapes at you blankly::

::attempts to speak::

::gapes more::

You saw...

You...

You saw SOUNDGARDEN AND PEARL JAM TOGETHER AND YOU DIDN'T APPRECIATE IT!!!!????

::faints::

(Sorry. Those are two of my all time favorite life-changing personality-defining bands.)

Um, I'll let you know how Audioslave is. ;)

[rockgoddes.livejournal.com]

Pearl Jam were as awesomely incredible as I knew they'd be. Watching Eddie work himself into a tighter frenzy as the set went on was absolutely magical. And I'm not sure the other guys stood still for more than a second or so the entire set.

Soundgarden, by comparison, just stood there and didn't move. They had no energy, no vitality (snort! Get it?), seemingly no interest in being there. It was a really really noticeable contrast.

So Pearl Jam I loved; Soundgarden not so much.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Wow. When/where was this?

[rockgoddes.livejournal.com]

Um, let's see...

August 18, 1993, at Exhibition Stadium here in Toronto.

The complete lineup was Blues Traveller, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Neil Young.

Blues Traveller and Pearl Jam were amazing. Soundgarden not so much, and I left I think like three songs into Neil's set 'cause he's probably the worst singer on the planet.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

::so jealous::

I've never liked Blues Traveller. But Soundgarden and Pearl Jam... *sigh*

I never understood why Neil Young is popular; I never could stand his voice. But I'd have stayed, since I know that Eddie Vedder (for whatever reason) adores him, and they did a bunch of music together.

Of course, in 1993 I was 11. It took four more years before I attended my first concert. :(

I did see Pearl Jam in... 1998? I think. Yeah. Up front, because I had fan club tickets. With... my mom and my friend Danielle? Probably. It was pretty amazing. I wish I could remember it better, though. It was during that weird time in my life when so much was going on that what should've been a life-changing experience sort of got lost amongst the shuffle. But I do remember loving it. (I remember that and the fact that our car got towed while we were eating at a vegan restaurant in Philadelphia, so we spent several pre-concert hours retrieving it, and then my mom drove back to Philly later to take a picture of the misleading sign so that she wouldn't have to pay a ticket. Sadly I remember that more clearly than the concert.)

[aimeelicious]

I am green with envy over your Audioslave plans. Gah. Would love to see them in concert. Write a full report, plsthnx.

On USQaF I just...don't like Michael. I find the character really irritating. Which is too bad because I think there is a lot of room for fanfic to do interesting things with him, but...blerg. I just don't like him. *sigh*

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I think they usually write Michael pretty poorly. (Like, we never get why Hunter would want to stay with him... all he does is bitch and whine like a less funny version of Debbie).

But when they write Michael well, I love him. I love that scene in S1 where he and Brian are "broken up" and Brian is trying to hang out with Ted, but keeps fantasizing about what Michael would say if he was there instead of Ted. That sort of sweet/innocent/infectiously enthusiastic side of Michael really appeals to me, and brings out a side of Brian that I like.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Enjoy HHG:) I saw it two weeks ago and definitely enjoyed it.

*Tempts* to you New Who. I think you'd like the new Doctor and what Mr QAF's Russell T Davies is doing with it.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Where would I see the new Dr. Who? Is it airing anywhere in the U.S., or should I download it...?

I know nothing at all about the show... can I just start watching or do I need to find backstory somewhere...?

I'm totally clueless. I hear people talking about this but I don't really have a clue what it is.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Doctor Who is only being shown on the CBC so if you're a border community like Detroit is to Windsor then you can watch it. Otherwise you do have to download it.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

The new show's being writen that new viewers find out what they need to know along with Rose. It's not made it to the US yet, but I know a lot of pople are downloading it.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Then tomorrow I'm going to see Audioslave. I've never heard them; guess I ought to pick up a CD tonight. All I know is that Chris Cornell sings
You lucky thing! Audioslave is great and Chris Cornell is a rock god. Like a Stone is one of my favorite songs ever.

[soundingsea.livejournal.com]

And when it comes to relationships, well, Brian/Justin is hot, but their relationship is completely uninteresting to me. And Brian/Michael is incredibly interesting, but not at all hot.

You've articulated exactly my problem with the ships on that show! That's why I like Chase, I think... she brings the Brian/Michael angst and add her own brand of hotness.

Years of reading almost literally every Spike fic I could find have left me with very little tolerance for bad writing.

Heh. I just started reading just about all the Veronica Mars fanfic I could find (for vm_fic, and my oh my is there a lot of terrible fic out there. I start to see the pain.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

It's a weird progression, getting into fanfic, isn't it?

When I first get into something, I try everything I can my hands on... any pairing, any length, any authors, WIPs, whatever.

And then in the end I find that there's a short list of authors who I'll read, and only if the stories are finished, and only if they're about a certain character....

It's nice to be able to KNOW that you're not going to be wasting your time. But that initial stage is fun, too--you're so into something that you'll frantically consume anything in your quest for more. :)

I still remember, waaaaaaaay back in the day, some of the hideously bad Spuffy fics I read to fulfill my Spike cravings. Stuff I wouldn't touch now with a 10-foot pole. But it was fun at the time....

[chase820.livejournal.com]

I started The Man Who Wasn't There because I couldn't find any Brian/Michael I liked to read. So much of it was so badly written--mechanical problems, clunky dialogue, and worst of all, unbearably schmoopy plotlines.

I think if you don't try to capture the real darkness in the Michael/Brian relationship--the mind games and possessiveness and shocking co-dependency, you miss a great deal of what makes their relationship so interesting. They love each other almost to distraction, but there's so much else underneath the love, and so little of it is healthy.

Though I am of the opinion that without each other, they'd both be much worse off. Their neuroses mesh so perfectly that they give each other a greater measure of stability than either would have alone. I think this is particularly true in Brian's case. Without Brian, Michael would be a closeted semi-virgin living in his mother's basement. Without Michael, Brian would be dead.

Anyway, I'm glad TMWWT is working so well for you, hon. It's on a brief hiatus while I work out another plot bunny that seized me. But since the bunny in question is a Brian/Michael fic, you should enjoy it.

Thanks so much for the pimpage, by the way! This story is such a strange brew that without my readers reccing it to others, I'd have maybe ten people reading this.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I'm having the same problem finding decent Brian/Michael fic. And I'm so very sick of reading Brian/Justin.

I totally agree about the darkness of Brian/Michael. I guess part of my problem finding good fic is that I like darkness--it's part of life, it's real, it's interesting. I don't think the goal of every story out there should be to "fix" everything, get Brian to "talk about his feelings" and put him on Prozac and marry him off. Real life isn't so simple or easily resolved, and good stories can show real relationships that aren't perfect, real people with real problems that can't be resolved, but who still manage to live their lives anyway. And that's a hell of a lot more interesting than some perfect little fantasy.

And well, also, I like the angst, and when you get down to it, Brian/Michael is so angst-ridden. Like you said, the mind games and possessiveness and co-dependency. I probably wouldn't be interested if that's all there was, but combine that fucked-up-ness with the genuine love that's all mixed in and you get something so interesting and real.

I'm always more fascinated by beautiful things that arise in the midst of darkness, rather than just beautiful things on their own. Something about the contrast, or the realism, or that it's more of a struggle, I'm not sure. But I think the way that Brian and Michael connect so deeply, despite all their problems and issues, is really lovely to see.

Heh. And I do agree completely with how you imagine them apart--Michael in Deb's basement and Brian dead. (I'm astounded by how easily Brian/Justin writers just cluelessly dismiss the importance of those two to each other.)

[chase820.livejournal.com]

I don't think a relationship has to be between two normal, well-adjusted people to work, either. (As if anybody really knows what "normal" and "well-adjusted" means, anyway.)

Sometimes, a good relationship is all about two people's various neuroses meshing perfectly. Adults so rarely change their basic personalities after age 21, it's silly to become involved with someone simply for their potential to be what you want them to be.

A RL Brian would be moody, manipulative, and promiscuous all his life. A realistic person would deal with those traits and appreciate him for his other qualities--loyalty, generosity, intelligence, etc. From what I've seen, Michael accepts Brian as is much more than Justin ever did. Which is why in RL, Justin would fall by the wayside and Brian and Michael remain together until they really did become those two old queens sharing a bungalow in Miami Beach.

And whether they ever shagged or not wouldn't be of the least importance.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how closely we agree. :)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah and SQUEE! that you're working on a Brian/Michael fic bunny. :)