Who is Harry? Brian frequently sneaks out to meet him or talks to him on the phone. He is very affectionate with him but also talks to him about Justin too.
I love the story but this is very confusing.
Author's Response:
Hi, I’m so glad you took the time to express how much you love the story as well as noted your concerns with the Harry thing. And, please in advance, forgive my longwinded essay response. but I'm trying to address every possible question here any reader would have with Brian and Harry's relationship. But you probably can just read the very first three or four paragraphs and get an overall understanding of my meaning.
I know the thing with Harry is probably a bit nerve wrecking (for some readers), but he is introduced into the story in a certain way for a certain reason. The reason is that in many ways the plot of this story is somewhat built around the mystery regarding Harry. Therefore, his character has to be gradually weaved into the story with a lot of ambiguity associated with him. There is a sound reason for that; and if I didn’t do it that way, this story just might not work. Readers might not see that right now but by story end if I’ve done it effectively they will.
However, I wish for the reader to get as much enjoyment as possible out of the story as it develops. The relationship between Brian and Harold is not meant to be confusing but mysterious. So be patience and the rush the plot and just enjoy as it develops because it will eventually make a whole lot of sense when it finally reveal who Harry is.
It might help the reader to take the terms mysterious and ambiguity literally. A lot regard Harry is not what it seems, readers have to read between the lines and not take everything at face value when it come to Brian and Harry’s interactions with each other (so much is not as it seems) but there is plenty of clues throughout every scenes involving the two men that helps the reader gradually get there (if she reads carefully between the lines).
However, that is not done to confuse the readers, but for the readers be able to see the story through the main characters’ eyes to better understand why the characters act the way in which they do.
For instance, take the incident with Cary and how innocent that was. But Justin allowed his imagination to run with it, and in term that gave Michael the power to manipulate the situation the way he did.
In many circumstances in this story the readers will see that each characters’ own insecurities and personality flaws causes himself to be his own worst enemy. Unfortunately, it gives his external enemies the power and ammunition to manipulate him in ways they might not have otherwise been able to.
Another way of expressing it is that the characters in this story lives are not simple but complex and unfortunately most of those complexities they bring on themselves.
Take for instance, the agreement that Justin made Brian adhere to, as well as Brian’s major trust issues – all this contribute immensely to all the unnecessary problems and grief that the couple constantly endures.
It was because of that agreement and those trust issues that Justin didn’t initially confronted his husband head-on about the matter regarding Cary. Now, for those same reasons Justin isn’t confronting Brian about Harold. However, it would make life a lot easier for this couple if he just would.
And, that’s the basis of this story: How crazy does things get because somebody’s husband (simply just won’t ask the ultimate important question): Who’s Harry! In fact, I kind of regret I didn’t name it that, lol!
Now addressing the second half of your comment: Brian being sneaky in his dealings with Harold… IS he really?
First consider this: Brian had no idea that Justin saw him with Cary, and therefore might have never mentioned it to him in casual conversation (why open up an unnecessary can of worms). But just imagine how much worst the outcome of that incident might have been had Brian not been insistent and forced Justin to confront him with whatever it that was bothering him. As a result of Brian forcing it to the surface, it ended with good sex instead of an ongoing down hill battle. See what a big difference just a little communication can make.
Now a similar thing is happening with the Harold situation. Justin just needs to come out and ask Brian about him. But why isn’t he? Because that dangerous (so called simple) agreement he proposed is crippling his mind and his marriage in ways he can’t even imagine.
However, as Readers we would get the most out of this story if we try avoiding being guilty of what the characters are guilty of. Readers can best accomplish that by being more objective than the characters and reading more carefully between the lines. Again, a lot of what goes on between Brian and Harold is not what it seems (even the dialogue). However, a keen reader doesn’t have to wait until the mystery is completely unfolded to figure it out. There will be so many hints and clues, and even a pattern develops along the way.
For instance, you said Brian is sneaking around meeting Harold. But is he really… or does it only looks that way if you view it only through Justin’s eyes, or through readers’ first impressions?
For instance the night Brian’s at computer. Did Brian get Justin high and attempt to fuck him into a coma so he could sneak out and meet Harold? No. He did that to catch up on some office work. He wasn’t even sure that Harold would call that night? Brian did mention to Harold that his husband was out like a light. But was that of any real significance to Harold or could it have just simply been casual conversation in the way of Brian just telling Harold that it was no inconvenience to him or his husband that he come over and meet him. The same could’ve be the case when Brian was with Harold and told him that he would stick around for a little while longer on the account his husband is home sleeping soundly.
Also, if readers looked at it more objectively that might conclude that Brian’s not even aware that Harold is constantly on his husband’s mind and that he feels threatened by him. And, therefore, Brian isn’t sneaking around because he’s not even aware that there is an issue. Think about it, how can Brian possibly know what his husband Justin is struggling with, if Justin hasn’t expressed that to him.
Here are a few more things to consider and keep in mind when figuring out Brian and Harold’s relationship:
Telephone conversations between Brian and Harold are one-sided. Readers hear what Brian’s saying but they don’t hear [or even see] what’s going-on on the other end of the line. (There are some clues there) as well as readers can pick up on a pattern, which reveals a lot. Do every phone call begins and ends the same…. Most of them ends with Brian saying things like Hi there, sweetheart… I love you… I’m in love with you… Bye. But they all don’t end that way… why not? Why is it that some calls end that way but some don’t? [There are clues there… as well as a pattern. Brian saying that might be a FAR cry from what you think… but there are clues!]
Other hints and clues: Where do Brian and Harold meet and what do they particularly do when they meet?
Sometimes it will be spelled out to us, and at other times it won’t. It was quite obvious that Brian was inside Harold’s home when he cut his hair. However, are they always inside Harold’s home? Where are they when it’s restricted or prohibited cell phone usage, pay phones and clocks on the wall? Were they in Harold’s home when: Harold woke Brian and told him to get out of that bed… what bed… whose bed… where is this bed… and then Brian asks Harold what time is it… Harold doesn’t know but then he spots a clock on the wall and points to it…huh… what is that all about? (There are plenty of clues there).
And, Brian’s not bipolar, so why the sudden 180’s especially when he leaves Harold briefly (like when he goes to the toilet) and then when he returns to him… does something changes each time… and if so… what?
Last of all: Is Brian being secretive?
Again, readers have to read between the lines for an answer to that question and consider the following:
Is Brian discrete or careful of what he says when he takes Harold’s calls? No.
Does he suddenly jerk or rush off the phone when someone walks in on him when he’s on the phone with Harry? No.
Does he rush to delete Harry’s messages and texts from his cell? No.
Has anyone REALLY outright asked Brian about Harry and he refused to answer? Kind of… but not really OUTRIGHT.
It was that incident in his office when Ted asked him about Harold and Brian told him to mind his business… but isn’t that Brian’s overall persona at work there, or was he being evasive? If Brian wanted to be secretive, would he even have taken the call while Ted was there?
The only time Justin really asked Brian outright about Harold was that time they were spread out across the love blanket in the front of the fireplace at Britin, and Brian simply said Harold was someone that shouldn’t be calling him while on his honeymoon. Was Brian necessarily being elusive then (at that particular point in the story)?
And, on the last night of Justin and Brian’s honeymoon when Justin asked Brian where he been all day was Brian being nonchalant or evasive in his answer? Keep in mind that Brian was already high off his mix. That could have very well influenced how he answered Justin. This story really requires some reasonable deductions; readers can’t necessarily take everything at face value.
Last of all, think about Brian's overall personality. Hint: Referencing and drawing from the original QAF series when is it that Brian won't talk about what he does? For instance when he paid for the ads to bring Stockwell down was he quick to tell anyone? When he got Stockwell off Ted's back did he tell anyone? When he glued the Judge Killer Ray Roy (or whatever the eff his name was) to the toilet seat, did he ever tell anyone?
