Midnight Whispers
QAF Brian and Justin Fanfiction
Reviews For Why Not With Me
Reviewer: SunshineSally (Signed) · Date: May 12, 2015 02:10 AM · On: Come Together

Oh god, what will he be like when he gets home :(

Reviewer: JTSecrets (Signed) · Date: October 24, 2009 11:45 PM · On: Come Together

It's ok to let Michael off the hook. Fun read.



Author's Response:

Good -- I just didn't want to lose the focus of the fic and dissolve into a Mikey-focus!

Reviewer: Kitty_Ballou (Signed) · Date: August 23, 2009 10:26 PM · On: Come Together

Honesty?? I really think Justin + Michael would go on barking to each other! Both are very... thoughtfully in this chapter, very kind, very friendly. Maybe a little too friendly I don't know...

Reviewer: MissMoe (Anonymous) · Date: August 21, 2009 10:40 AM · On: Come Together

Seriously, the way you write, it's exactly what I've always hoped for in my perfect imagined fic. I like reading anti-mikey, and others, every now and then but I was really routing for there to be some kind of reconciliation between Justin and Mikey. Thanks for that, now *takes deep breath* I'm ready for the super-angst!...I think.



Author's Response:

***sigh*** ***so happy because of your sweet comments!!**** 


Thanks so much for your support of this chapter! 

*getting ready to post the super-angst* :) :) :) :) :) :)

Reviewer: Tiffani (Anonymous) · Date: August 21, 2009 10:11 AM · On: Come Together

Wow, this was great. I wasn't really feeling the whole Justin/Michael thing. I mean it just seemed as though Justin was taking the blame for the Brian Damage. I am completely in love with your writing and love the way you connect the dots.

I hope this will better everyone's relationship in order for Brian to get over this "hump" in his life. I think he will need his friend and his partner. It should be up to Brian which person he needs and when. For now I am going to bed I am dead tired, I hope this all made sense.

Happy Writing. Many hugs and kisses with best wishes to you!



Author's Response:

*big smile* I'm so glad you liked the chapter and the story so much! 

You make a great point -- Brian can choose who he wants to talk to about what. I think that's true in the series, and I'll try to work it into the story, too. Justin and Michael are very different people with different roles to play, but both wiill help Brian... together. *sighs happily  cuz she's such a sap.*

*hugs back!!* Thanks so much ! Get some rest! Then, later, enjoy chapter 25!! :) :) 

 

Reviewer: scrub13 (Signed) · Date: August 21, 2009 09:54 AM · On: Come Together

I'm conflited on my feelings with this chapter. The turn-around for Justin was just too fast for my mind to accept as real and that the situation had been dealt with by both Justin and Michael. But I understand your point that unity is more important sometimes the most important thing. And I trust you have an end game scenario that makes this necessaty.

But as a professional that deals with confidential circumstances and families, I have a serious problem with the Docs actions. I would run not walk from a therapist who called me about a friend/family member's therapy and my expeted involvement. I work in a field with less restrictions than a psychologist and I can't even verify a scheduled appointment to a blood or non blood relative without the consent of my client each time I want to make contact. The only exceptions are custodial parents of minors and those asserting a POA. To tattle to to Justin about Brian's therapy and drop hints about it's intensity would be viewed as a serious breach of ethics. The only time the Doc can share with Justin is during sesions where Brian has invited him to attend. Any other contact is not ok.

Yeah, I now it's a fictional story, so I need to zone that part out.

 



Author's Response:

I know you're totally right about the doctor and reality. I pretty much have to pretend that this isn't true. If I would've thought more about it, I could've gone around that but I think it would have caused me running in little circles trying to get Justin on the same sort of "page" as readers occassionally. That's the main problem I have -- it adds a lot of explanatory scenes, or "Justin's clueless" scenes if I can't give him any heads' up. Now, that would surely be way more realistic. However, it would also be really, really boring -- both to write and to read. It's sort of the same reason I have to gloss over Brian telling the doc things about his past that all QAF fans already know. I don't want to be covering the same ground too often, or have protracted "why are you upset" scenes that will detract from where I really want a chapter to go.  Especially with someone who has the communication problems that Brian has, it would really be...tough.

Anyway, I understand and appreciate where you're coming from on this, and I know exactly what you're referring to. I hope it might be easier to overlook now that I've given you the considerations on my side for why it becomes difficult to do in this story in particular. 

Now -- as for Justin. I think it could be a too-fast recovery. I think he really started to think it over with Ben, to think more calmly about his own role. And when he heard himself explain it to Ben and his own feelings of guilt/doubt, he realized he was wrong. 

The main reason that I wanted it out of the way and resolved is because I don't want anyone too distracted by that to pay any attention to upcoming chapters, particularly Chapter 25. So as for timing, that was a concern for me, because chapter 25 is sort of an apex to me and I didn't want anything to really detract from it. 

I really do want unity for the group as an end game sort of deal. I think they were headed in that direction post-bombing and I think that once some past errors/misjudgments/mistakes/etc. are pointed out and issues hashed out fairly, they will want to be together in a supporitve structure for one another. That's pretty much where I am with that. 

 

Thanks so very much for your honest thoughts and comments! I'm sorry my reply is so freaking long! :) I hope it made sense anyway. And I really hope you'll like Chapter 25! :)

Reviewer: Gina Marie (Signed) · Date: August 21, 2009 09:35 AM · On: Come Together

First, I want to say I really appreciated your response to my last comment. I hope you dont' take my comments as any kind of criticism, they are not.  Your story is so compelling it gets me thinking, and when I am commenting, I'm really just thinking out loud.  It's a compliment to you, because I don't comment in such detail to most story's, that is if I comment at all.

The way you wrote Justin in the last chapter fit perfectly. I didn't like him, but I don't think I was supposed to. It was your interpertation of what he would have done, and it worked perfectly for this story. Justin's always been a tad impulisive. I'm not surprised he hit  Michael.  I'm glad however that he's thinking more reasonably in this chapter.

As for Michael, I'm glad he's starting to realize what an enabler he has been over the years.  I have first hand experience of enablers. They truly love the person they are enableing, and dont' think they are hurting them, in fact they think they are helping. It's a very dysfunctional relationship.  YOu are showing us Brian and Michaels dysfunctionality now, and it's working.

Justin too has to come to terms with his culpability.  But as another commenter said, bottom line, only Brian is responsible for Brian.  Others can help, or hurt, but when all is said and done, Brian will have to heal himself.

You are doing a wonderful job with this story.   When people (like myself) comment on the characters in details, or show passion, it's validation that your writing is doing what any good writing does..evoke emotions.

I can't wait to see what the Doc wants to talk to Brian about!



Author's Response:

*smiles!* 

I didn't really think you meant it as criticism, but it did alarm me a little. First, because more than anything I do not want to write "anti-" anyone. So if it starts seeming that way, I want to know so I can sort of watch myself. Second, because I was worried that people might be getting distracted by Michael-related issues. Now, at any other point in the story I wouldn't have been as worried, but the next chapter is really, really the apex... sort of...where it starts to turn toward healing rather than pain. It's a big chapter for Brian, and I don't want anything detracting from that, from Brian's "big moment" so to speak. 

So when I read your comment, it just made me realize that I wanted to resolve the Michael/Justin rift before moving on. Chapter 25 is really important to me, and I guess I wanted to save Brian's big moment. *loves Brian and wants the spotlight on him so we can all be so proud of him!* 

The story is primarily Brian's; through this, a lot of other things and growth for other characters (most especially Justin) will happen. But I doubt that I will have time to address any issues that don't wind back centrally to Brian...

Thank you so much for your commitment to the story and for your compliments about my writing. This story means a very great deal to me for many reasons, and sharing it with readers has made a)the story way, way better, and b) the story a lot more meaningful. 

So thank you! 

I am very much looking forward to your thoughts on Chapter 25, which will be up in a couple hours. :) 

Reviewer: sjmpets3 (Signed) · Date: August 21, 2009 05:32 AM · On: Come Together

i think michael may hinder both justin and brian only because he'll want to be the one to handle things. if he only tells justin and not get physically involved it will be better for them all around.

i want to know why doctor stevenson is keeping brian longer and the real reason brian didn't tell justin to come with him. what more is he hiding?



Author's Response:

I think Michael will not be too nosey. I'm thinking Ben will help keep that all where it needs to be... 

*evil smile over concerns about Dr. Stevenson's office* I guess we'll just have to find out later! *even MORE evil smile* 

The next chapter, chapter 25, is the apex of the story in many ways (as I see it anyway).... we'll just have to see.

Reviewer: BlindDreamer (Signed) · Date: August 21, 2009 05:18 AM · On: Come Together

I completely understand where your coming from about the whole unity thing and I think u handled this chapter very well :)

That being said, I feel that Mikey got off pretty lightly about the whole issue. Maybe its just my general dislike of him as a character, but he seemed to be making excuses about why he didn't do anything. The way that everyone in their family treats Brian is a part the problem, a big part in my eyes. I guess I just like that u have Justin owning up to his part in it all and I want everyone to see that their just as culpable. Brian has been living with the reality of his faults as a person his whole life, thinking the worst of himself and having everyone else reinforce that. Brians been the family's scapegoat for so long that sometimes it seems that everyone else turns a blind eye 2 their own imperfections and harp on Brian about his. Everyone has been guilty of that at one point or another.

Everything aside, I am eagerly waiting 4 your next chapter, I love that u have Justin trying to create the support system that Brian has never had, that should help ease things for him when he is ready to accept help from everyone.



Author's Response:

*big grateful smile* Thanks so much! I'm glad the unity concept makes sense... 

The issue is not over, by a long shot, but I want to broaden it to how Brian is generally treated by others a lot of the time. I have at least two chapters that will focus on this, and it will be involving basically everyone *eyes widen at complexity of upcoming chapters. Swallows.*

While it will be, of necessity, somewhat confrontational, it will be more in a poignant way, aiming at changing things for the better and nothing other than that.  I think deep down they all care enough about Brian that they can and will become united around him. So -- in short, you're totally right in the idea of Brian's support system that will be awaiting him... 

The missing link from here to even close to there is what is in Chapter 25, so soon after that the rest of the healing can begin... 

Thanks again for your thoughts and support!

Reviewer: Minoloushe (Anonymous) · Date: August 21, 2009 04:45 AM · On: Come Together

This is a super quick response because I'm sooo late for work...Boss: "Why are you late?" Me:"Because I'm addicted to QAF fan fic! And you see I wrote this really long comment on a chapter where Justin confronts Michael about Brian's possible suicide attempt and was concerned because when I thought about it, the comment seemed excessively long...so I just had log on this morning" *big laugh*

Don't be anxious, this chapter was great and I don't feel the story is too pro / anti anyone. I don't even have a problem with Justin really, which you should take as a massive, massive compliment : ) I just enjoy taking what you've written and analysing it !! If I had to I could take everthing I wrote in my last comment and find just as much textual support for the exact opposite point of view (I'm a lawyer. I can argue anything). It's that very complexity which is fascinating about your story. I think I said this earlier, but I don't think Justin (or now Michael) is responsible for Brian. Only Brian can be responsible for Brian, no matter how f****d up he is - if others bought the image, well...Brian's the one who sold it to them. He's not a child. But it's oh so fun to wade into the morass of guilt and angst and play awhile...more please : ) I know that I'll continue to read and adore this story no matter where you take it. *even when I try to be short it turns out long*

*coffee, I need coffee...but no time....MUST LEAVE FOR WORK IMMEDIATELY*



Author's Response:

*is really touched that you took the time to comment* 

*really hopes you were not too too late for work* 

*worries about what will happen when work starts for her again in a couple weeks. uh oh. * 

*knows how much it sucks to go to work without coffee! So sorry!*

***GRINS at compliment that you approve of my Justin * ** 

 

Thanks so much -- I enjoy your analysis very much and it gives me many, many ideas. :) :)  I could support either side of it too, and I don't want really to support any side...


Anyway -- I am most looking foward to your thoughts on Chapter 25 and I hope you'll love it. 

 

 

Reviewer: BluvsJ (Anonymous) · Date: August 21, 2009 04:39 AM · On: Come Together

I think you have the right idea... Justin is stretched so thin he needs Mikey and Ben's help to keep extra eyes on Brian...I totally agree.... that being said.. that doesn't let Mikey off the hook... He still deserved to get punched... I could understand not telliing Justin because he was only 17 at the time.. but.. that shouldn't have stopped him from telling SOMEBODY else... or talking to Brian.. HIMSELF !!!!  



Author's Response:

I agree -- I mean, no one gets off the hook. There is plenty, plenty of blame to go around, and some frankly even falls on Brian on occassion for being so incommunicative. But... *sighs* I hate blaming people for character flaws that they can't really help. Seems to me like blaming people for their height or something.  Michael does feel bad about it, and I think he's going to be seeing things in a new light...in a united front with Justin. 

 

Anyway, I digress.  Thanks so much for your support! I hope you will love chapter 25... (which has me so ridiculously psyched it's crazy). :) :) :)

Reviewer: Tiffani (Anonymous) · Date: August 21, 2009 04:28 AM · On: Come Together

Please, never rush your story along to please the reader. We may not agree or like things but this is your baby. I am truly enjoying your story and I want all that you see it being. Not what others want or think you should be doing. If they want something specific they need to write it themselves, myself included.

Keep goinng with your vision for your story, you are doing a great job. I will read this chapter when I get homme tonight. The comment caught my attention and I just had to say something.

Happy writing!



Author's Response:

Thanks so much for being so supportive!  :) *hugs!* 

I was basically concerned that the Justin/Mikey division would detract from the next chapter, which I think personally is the whole apex of the story. 

You'll be glad to know that I didn't really "change" the story so much as "re-order" by a day or so, just as I said, to resolve things so that chapter 25 could be what I want it to be, and not have that clouded over. 

Thank you so much again, it really means a lot to me to have that support. *hugs again!* 

Let me know what you think of 25 too, please! :) :)

Reviewer: Michelle (Anonymous) · Date: August 21, 2009 04:26 AM · On: Come Together

I agree with the way you turned this... I can see Justin getting pissed off enough to hit Michael but he would never leave it like that. He'd definitely have to work it out afterwards, and apologize if doing so was called for.

Great continuation, and definitely stoked for the new chapter tonight. Your building it up is driving me insane! Haha =]



Author's Response:

I'm so glad that you liked how this came out. I had it planned for after Chapter 25, but don't want anything overshadowing chapter 25. (I am so damn obsessed with chapter 25 right now!) 

So Justin moved up his apology by a day to make sure that Brian got the attention he needs in chapter 25! 

Plus, if I'm putting them through all this angst, they do need a support group or I'm the cruellest person ever! :) *smiles!*

I'm really happy that you're excited about the next chapter ( I am so obsessed!). For me, it's the apex of the story. I hope you'll find it worth all the build up. :)

Reviewer: edom (Signed) · Date: August 21, 2009 03:38 AM · On: Come Together

This was great. I see where you're coming from, even if I don't like Michael, at all.

I'm worried about Brian not telling Justin that Dr- Stevenson wanting him at the session and the way the doctor told Justin that he should make sure to be home when Brian came home scares me.

I look forward to the next chapter.



Author's Response:

*relieved smile*

I just don't think any of the anti- anything is worth it. Just not worth it... and the more I thought about it being post-513, and how everyone was after the bombing, I thought - well, maybe some maturity could be thrown their way. They sure could use it to deal with all the issues! It's the least I could do to give them a little support group to get through it! :)

Dr. Stevenson is worried too...

*aware of pure evilness * :)

Sincerely, thank you so very much for reviewing. I was paranoid about posting this chapter. You are so reassuring and I appreciate it very much! :)

 

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