Reviewer: SunshineSally (Signed) · Date: May 14, 2015 02:57 AM · On: Everywhere
Aw Debbie is so proud of him - Brian offering to get Junter a tutor was adorable. It really shows what a beautiful person he really is. It was there and Justin just helped him find it.
Loved the smut as always :p
Reviewer: Kitty_Ballou (Signed) · Date: February 21, 2010 07:13 PM · On: Everywhere
Hi + sooooooo sorry for waiting so long for go on reading! *hugs* I am a little bit busy at the moment - but that's another story... *gg*
But this chapter hooks me again! It's so sweet + charming and I am so proud of Brian + Justin! *sighs happily* And now I have to grab the following chapters! ;-)
Reviewer: Marny (Signed) · Date: February 20, 2010 01:23 AM · On: Everywhere
I'm glad to be back from vacation, I was missing this story.
Wonderful chapter as always, thanks.
* runs to the next chapter *
Reviewer: veglogic (Anonymous) · Date: February 18, 2010 02:17 AM · On: Everywhere
My favorite thing about this chapter was how Brian showed the gang "Beautiful" and how much he had grown/changed/learned without any prodding from Justin. I know that Justin's unwavering support made it possible and all this together created a beautiful moment. I think everyone's reactions were right on point as well. Hot ending too! More soon please.
Author's Response: That's a great point. Brian was basically ready on his own. Justin supported him when it got a little awkward, but he never had to direct him to be "Beautiful" or to be open, or whatever. That was his own volition. I'm excited that the various characters seemed IC, and that you liked the last scene!! :)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Anonymous) · Date: February 17, 2010 11:30 AM · On: Everywhere
Great chapter, I love how open Brian is. He has always been shy so that vulnerability together with his new found "humble confidence" ( for lack of a better word?) madre this a very touching chapter.
Author's Response: Thanks so much -- I think your description is perfect! :) I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Reviewer: Anonymous (Anonymous) · Date: February 17, 2010 05:00 AM · On: Everywhere
When will this end .....................................................
Author's Response: Umm, two more chapters, if you keep reading. You are also not obligated to continue a story that you started. Certainly not for 56 chapters and almost 200,000 words.... you could have ended it at any intervening point, just so you know for next time that you find yourself unhappy with a story.
Reviewer: BluvsJ (Anonymous) · Date: February 17, 2010 02:20 AM · On: Everywhere
You shouldn't be nervous... the chapter was a glimpse of "Beautiful" that was shown to the people that matter most in Brian's life... besides Justin... the way everyone reacted...showed that they accepted.. that this is who Brian is and will always be ... and I agree with Justin there is no reason they have to tell anyone about... Beautiful and Sunshine... it is private and personal and there is no need for them to know....
Author's Response: *grins* I'm always nervous!!!
But I was especially nervous about this chapter because so many issues needed to be balanced within that scene, and so many people. I'm so glad that it turned out as you say -- that it demonstrated their acceptance of him.
Their D/s relationship is so private I almost feel bad writing it at times! (j/k). No, seriously... I know Brian is pretty open about his sex life, but to reveal so much about his emotional life would be so difficult for him, and I'm not sure if it could be worth it. As long as he can be Beautiful in public, then he's going to be okay. :)
Thanks so much for your support!
Reviewer: TrinTiff (Signed) · Date: February 16, 2010 08:43 PM · On: Everywhere
I thought the balance was just right. I'm so glad you didn't make anyone (like Michael) into a cliche' asshole and say stupid shit to Brian that real people would never say to each other. What Mel said was appropriately teasing and she didn't take it over the top.
I like that you're keeping it private between them. They certainly aren't ready for a public D/s display; it's way too new to the two of them and are just beginning to understand it; they wouldn't have a clue how to explain it to anyone else.
Maybe when it becomes second nature to them, going public will be a natural progression but that'll be a while yet ... like you said, maybe in a future one-shot. (Although! Maybe they could visit a BDSM club for, you know, research!) :-D
Anyway, great update! Brian's made a lot of progress! And, I loved the hot scene at the end!! Nice!!
Hugs, Cindy
Author's Response: I'm glad that the characterizations worked -- I figured they could all afford to be more mature, like 15 months post 513. Plus, I think they sort of knew Brian was going through a lot lately, so even Mel was relatively gentle with him.
Right now, yeah, it's far too private. I don't know if it's ever something they will share, in the greater arc of this story... Maybe... I'll have to think about it...
Thanks so much for the feedback -- and I'm glad you liked the last scene! Brian and Justin really enjoyed it, too! :)
Hugs back!,
Tiffany
Reviewer: Minoloushe (Anonymous) · Date: February 16, 2010 08:28 PM · On: Everywhere
First of all, I very much liked Brian’s uncertainty and difficulty in articulating his emotions prior to going to Debbie’s. Especially the line that he still doesn’t find it easy to identify emotions. It’s not that submission or therapy have magically “fixed” Brian or wiped the slate clean. The difference, however, is his willingness to try and express that uncertainty to Justin and that he initiates their communication by sitting in the chair. For some reason I keep thinking back to chapter 4 where Justin had to hide in the bathroom before Brian was even willing to try and talk to him (!)Such a transition from the Brian we have in this chapter. Yet it seems completely natural at the same time (which is down to your skill as a writer).
Justin’s support and respect for Brian’s needs really shine through in this chapter too. The statement that it’s not whether the family identify Brian as Beautiful but whether they “feel” Beautiful in Brian is just *sighs* That’s perfect. It’s clear from their reactions that the family do see Beautiful *smiles* I thought the dinner scene worked really well too and that the separate reactions / pov of the different characters were nicely nuanced. It would have been easy with this chapter to have the family behave in a much more confrontational or caricatured way – after all, on the surface Beautiful is very different from the Brian they know and his new emotional openness must be quite shocking. Instead we see a group of thirty-something friends behaving as such. I think Lindsay’s pov is perhaps the most insightful, because she’s able to see “Beautiful” as something that’s always been present in “Brian”.
Author's Response: It's true -- and he doesn't exactly name what he feels, but he does come up with a question that Justin can address...putting it into words, which is closer.
I haven't thought about that chapter in a while -- it's so true though. Brian had to be in another room, with ambient noise and activities to distract/separate them in some way, or the closeness was too much. Now when he goes to the chair, he's asking for Justin's proximity (in the closest way) and for his undivided attention... *sighs*
I think the group was helped into their acceptance of Beautiful by writing their entries for the birthday book -- between that and sort of hearing that Brian had been "going through some things" I think perhaps the suspected some sort of change, though I am certain this was still a shock to them. Fortunately, as you say, a year and a few months post 513 and they can be more mature. :)
I loved writing Lindsey's part for that reason -- she sort of had that access to him more than anyone. :)
Thanks so much for the review -- thought-provoking as ever! :)
Reviewer: edom (Signed) · Date: February 16, 2010 08:25 PM · On: Everywhere
I can just imagine the unease Brian would feel before that dinner, coming out like that is nerve wrecking.
He handled it so well, and I'm glad Mel was the only one who couldn't keep her big mouth shut, and Brian's answer was so great.
The sex after they came home was HOT!!! and I think it's great that Justin has a place on Brian's shoulder that is his :D
Author's Response: I know -- Brian was nervous, and at least he realized that Justin would be there to help him once he knew what was wrong.
And I loved writing his answer to Mel -- meeting her sarcasm with sincerity...
I'm glad it was hot -- was surprised to find something they hadn't done together yet (in the story at least!)! And yep, that's his little Brian spot! :)
Reviewer: sjmpets3 (Signed) · Date: February 16, 2010 02:15 PM · On: Everywhere
i'm glad everyone was a bit shocked at the new brian but accepted him anyway. that he was honest in his response to mel says alot.
nice reward justin gave him.
Author's Response: I'm excited that their reactions were okay -- it was hard to decide, but I figured at this point, they all sort of knew something was going on with Brian and they'd all been thinking about the "Beautiful" side of him, so this wouldn't be something that they'd challenge too much. Even Mel wasn't nasty, and Brian handled her with some disarming honesty... :)
I think Brian enjoyed his reward, too! :)
Reviewer: templeton_ma (Anonymous) · Date: February 16, 2010 01:45 PM · On: Everywhere
Brian was very brave at the gathering. Held himself up well, especially towards Mel. It's like opening up a pearl shell and you finally see clearly the jewel inside.
The gangs's reaction was great. Didn't make a big fuss, except Mel. I love Linds's comparison of Brian's behavior with the times when he was with Gus. It shows that the gentle Brian has always been there but now Brian has let others to see it as well.
Although... I gotta say, I kind of miss the sacastic asshole-ish comments. Ha Ha.
Author's Response: I sort of miss the snide comments, too, but I guess I have only myself to blame for writing it like this!
I'm so glad that Lindsey's thoughts resonated. They definitely did for me, to. And I love your metaphor about the pearl -- so true!
Reviewer: MissMoe (Anonymous) · Date: February 16, 2010 01:35 PM · On: Everywhere
“You know -- I wanted to thank everyone for that birthday book… it’s really helped me see how…” Brian paused for a moment and Justin leaned in and kissed his cheek -- “how I don’t have to be…” He stopped, hesitating, searching for words. “How I can be better. And yeah, Mel…that’s what I’m trying to be… What I want to be.”
OMG!Okay, I don't usually fangirl over fics. I swear, haha. Yet, after reading that I totally had a 'yay' moment and was waay excited! It was just like...a moment of everything just kind of coming together at this point. FINALLY. I loved it. I also like the fact that you didn't have Brian and Justin come to dinner and announce/label there relationship changes(the D/s involved specifically). I like that you kept some things private, but was still able to highlight Brian's changes. I liked that. The POV changes were great. Usually I get annoyed with changes of POV so swiftly one after another after another, but I really liked this one. This chapter was wonderfully executed.
*sniff* This fic is almost done?! What?! :'( I've enjoyed following this fic, a lot!! I haven't had a good WIP to read in a long while. I also haven't had as much interest in following the reviews in a while...until I found your fic!!The other reviewers definitley make me stop and go "Omg, I didn't see it that way!! So interesting, I'm gonna have to read this again!yay!" Your fic has fascinated me and I'm sure I'll be reading it over and over again for time to come. Dang it, I left a reeeeally long review. O well, I can't make it any shorter. haha. *hugs* Hope your Valentine's Day went well!! Mine wasn't too dandy but QAFfanfics have been brigtening up my days very well!!
Author's Response: **awww** I'm glad you liked that line. It does demonstrate so much about Brian's growth and his ability to stand up for it. I'm also relieved that the POV changes weren't too crazy. I wanted to make it clear that everyone noticed what was going on with him, and this was the fastest way to do that.
It was a tough chapter, so I really appreciate the feedback on it! Maybe I balanced everything okay after all!
I know, don't I have the best reviewers!?! I really, really do... you all make the stories and the writing so much better thanks to your feedback and support!
Now *clears throat*... as for WIPs... I do have "Heartbreaker" which will go on for several more chapters. Then I'm planning on a new long story (though probably not as long as this one has been!).
I'll miss everyone and the story, too... *sniffles*
My Valentine's Day was entirely uneventful, but thanks for asking! Glad the fics could cheer you! :)
Reviewer: Anonymous (Anonymous) · Date: February 16, 2010 01:31 PM · On: Everywhere
I was impressed that Brian stuck with it despite melanie's being melanie. really enjoyed this chapter, and I do like that they are, for now, keeping their d/s relationship private.
Author's Response: Thanks! Keeping it private seemed like the right choice, especially considering it's hardly been a week since they started!
Thanks for the review!
Reviewer: Cait (Anonymous) · Date: February 16, 2010 12:46 PM · On: Everywhere
Yeah! I've been waiting for this update eagerly and excitedly and I think it was absolutely lovely. I am going to be so depressed when this story is done. It always brightens my week. Thanks for being so thoughtful about it and writing it so beautifully. :)
Author's Response: Thanks so much -- I'm thrilled that you're still enjoying the story! I'm going to be sad when it ends, too... I'm planning another big story to follow sometime afterward (aside from "Heartbreaker", I mean).
*blushes from the kind words!*
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