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'.