Brian and Justin in character (for Queer As Folk purists everywhere)

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

(I tried to find a similar post but there is no such tag. The closest thing was somebody asking if some specific fanfics are in character and this is what actually gave me the idea to file such request.)

There are many fanfics out there - epic in proportions, well-written, with great plots. But I have to admit that many of them, even those considered must reads and classics - give me a feeling of OOC-ness. There's Brian - nice and affectionate in a schmoopy way, not afraid of commitment. There's Justin - pliant and a completely damsel in distress-like, letting others abuse and manipulate him. There's evil and plotting Michael that actively tries to break Justin and Brian up... No matter that according to canon!Brian, there's nothing to break up. There's even more evil Ethan, Mel and Lindsay being such bad mothers that their children have to be taken away and even though all of those plots are fun to play with, they're not very much true to the characters from the show.

So I was thinking about compiling a list of stories and authors, that could be considered QAF purists when it comes to characterization. No matter if it's a gap-filler, or an AU story, I just need something to sooth my QAF withdrawal, something that will really feel like the show.

I trust your judgement, even though I'm aware that people can feel very differently about some stories. It doesn't matter, I still want your opinion! (After a while, I'll compile your recs into a nice list and put it in this post, under the cut).

Here are all authors and stories mentioned in the comments. I personally do not choose from them, leaving it to you to decide if you think they write in character or don't:

myrna1_2_3 (with caution that the author herself does not consider her portrayal of Brian as being in character, but it is perceived that way by some readers)
ragingpixie (see her site)
vamphile
suzvoy
justvisiting (visitingagain)
bdeviled (especially her A Love That Will Never Grow Old)
Jealous Lover by kinwad
Not My Boyfriend by lindtti
The Break-Up by moonbrightnites
kachelofen
Only Time series by xie_xie_xie (which include Plans, Decisions, Desires, Risks, Famlies, Bieliefs and Directions)
justinlovesart
besame_bj (and beyond_besame, semi-locked, to read some fics you have to be added to the community or friended at the main journal)
severina (especially her Gold and Silver Shines)
netfics (locked, requires being friended)
yoursweater (her stories can be found at queerasfandom, which is locked)
Glowing Rooms by ohmyjetsabel
not-yet-defined
jule1122
testdog65
luceononuro (see her memories; unfortunately, her stories are f-locked)
bigboobedcanuck see her memories
adoringaudience
Sesto's Aria by seperis
darksylvia (see her memories)
In Paris by scoobygang8
Work Inside Out by Keewick
Metamorphosis bynightvision55
So We'll Go No More A Roving by... Author unknown! (If you do know who wrote that one, please, comment below and I'll edit this link.)
windtossed
gradiva
The Untitled Straight!Brian Fic or Conviction by alantie
ellyrianna
burnitbackwards
josselin (see her site, thanks to the Wayback Machine)
xhaleslowly (also known as Ethan, who has his own site)
Brian Like Me by sweetestdrain
flashfly (especially her Catching Fire, Live Action Short and Reliquary; more can be found in her memories)

And my contribution:

soundczech (see her site, thanks to the Wayback Machine)
etharei at rei_of_writing
mojokid (see her tags)
throughadoor (see her site)
sakesushimaki
museme87

Hopefully, to be continued!

Comments

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

Now, I agree with you on authorial intent, but I disagree with you on Brian in tumor!fic. I really don't think it feels like canon-Brian to me. I still love that story, but I have to agree with Myrna, not because she is the author, but because when I read the fic, he sounds and feels different to me.

[moonbrightnites.livejournal.com]

It was the very first fic that I read and I haven't re-read it so it will be interesting to go back and do so at some point. I've re-watched the series since and read some meta and plenty of other fics so I'm sure the experience -- and my reaction to her Brian -- will be different.

Although now that I think about it, the chapters where he felt most IC were from other characters' POVs. His own felt the least IC, but I find that in most fic -- the more the writer has Brian saying and thinking, the less he feels like canon-Brian to me. In his particular case, usually less is usually more.

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

That's why I don't like "what they were thinking during that scene" fic. I let my characters narrate when I write in the first person (which I don't usually do anymore, for a number of reasons), but I try not to let them say more "in their heads" than they normally said out loud during the show.

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

LOL, I remembered I'd written a post about characterization a few years ago, and I went back and found it, and discovered I'd broken it down like this:

There are three definitions that are being used:

1. "Out of character" would be something that character wouldn't do -- that's how Justin used it in 314.

2. "Out of character" would mean the character doesn't sound/move/feel like the character -- the "voice" is off, the dialogue is off, whatever.

3. "In character" includes a different characterization as long as it's explained -- "That's how Justin would have turned out if he were abandoned as a child and raised by wolves."

[rockie2010.livejournal.com]

adoringaudience (http://adoringaudience.livejournal.com/47369.html#cutid1)

[sandraj60.livejournal.com]

Sesto's Aria:

http://seperis.illuminatedtext.com/other/sestosaria.html

It was rec'd to me by MissTeaCakes. If that story isn't canon, I don't know what is.

[kat-us.livejournal.com]

thank you for the rec. She is a fabulous writer and will be ranked with the best of them. I normally avoid WIP's but I was hooked after one chapter, but she posts frequently and there are only 2 more chapters to go.

This fandom has the best damn writers anywhere. *nods head*

[sungaizing85.livejournal.com]

You're welcome!

nooooooo, just 2 more??? I told her 200!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

(drops dead in agony and grief...lol)

So true, this fandom rocks forever and ever!!!!!!! As does QAF!

Ciao,
Lee

[xie-xie-xie.livejournal.com]

darksylvia

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=darksylvia&keyword=QAF%20fic%20by%20me&filter=all

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

That was so good I can't even *____* Seriously, no words, other than: THANK YOU FOR RECCING IT.

[sungaizing85.livejournal.com]

wasn't it? I know, i tottaly understand...it's just HOLY TWAAAAT AAAAAAMAZING! I am just drooling over each word as I read again and again...I die...blown away. (siiiiiigh)

You are very, very welcome!

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I do recognize these authors but I don't think I've actually got to reading their stuff.

Ah, bigboobedcanuck! I read her Veronica Mars fics, once upon a time :) She was one of my favourites authors in that fandom, to be quite honest. I've read some of her QAF one-shots, I think, and I liked them.

Hee, so much reading! Thank you very much!

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I haven't read anything this author wrote :)

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

If that story isn't canon, I don't know what is.

Truer words, never spoken. My first Ethan-centered fic and the best one, I fic. It really does justice to his character, doesn't bash him and provides a great outside POV for Justin and Brian's relationship.

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

I love her stuff! Domestic Tranquility is pure love (Hunter is my major kink, if a whole character even can be a kink, but whatever), but the other fics are great, too :)

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

Basically, she had me at this:

Justin stays in the bathroom for longer than necessary. He takes a piss and massages his hand, pushes the ball of his thumb into the flat of his palm, watches it spasm and shake when he tries to flex, before pushing it into his pocket.

Everyone has their pockets.

Genius.

[sungaizing85.livejournal.com]

Jesus Christ, me too...the pocket things...pure freaking poetry!

She has all the muses in her pockets!

Brilliant!!!!!!

[sandraj60.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it. I forgot to add that missteacakes wrote an excellent Ethan-centered fic that got me begging for more of the same. Her fic is also very canon and extremely well written called Dream Boy. You won't regret that one either:

http://missteacakes.livejournal.com/183872.html#cutid1

Oops, I think you meant you've already read Sesto's Aria. Still, I'm glad you liked it. LOL.

[sarahdipity221.livejournal.com]

I have a livejournal but I hardly ever post on it. I've tried but I'm just too ADD to keep up with it. I got my livejournal mainly so I could friend and read different fanfics. I find one of the biggest reasons for people wanting to be friended is so they can make sure you're of legal age if they have nc-17 stuff on their pages. So I have a very basic page explaining that I only have it to be able to read fanfiction. And my birthday is listed in my profile.

[sungaizing85.livejournal.com]

OMG, I just remembered this one from my fave QAF fic list

In Paris by scoobygang8 (http://scoobygang8.livejournal.com/tag/in%20paris)

Only one part is missing in action...dunno if it's ever gonna be posted...does anyone know? or know the author? I think she kind of dissapeared? Maybe?

I love it so much, I think it's pretty IC but Brian has just finished his cancer ordeal and is a bit softer...I LOVE IT TO PIECES!!!!!!!

[wouldbedorothy.livejournal.com]

Ooh YES. AU, B/J meeting post-cancer. LOVE. Sadly I'm pretty sure Jules has left fandom and I doubt we'll ever get the last part out of her. But it ends in a good place, IIRC?

[sungaizing85.livejournal.com]

noooooo, really? Well, I am super glad she is okay. I was worried maybe she had big problems or something in RL. It does end in a pretty awesome place. In my head they are back in the States doing the horizontal tango forevaaaaa'. hahahahhah YAAAAAAAAY for my pervert mind
Thank you!

[sungaizing85.livejournal.com]

Oh, is it just me or nobody mentioned Keewick?

Tsk tsk tsk...what kind of readers are we? If this isn't IC for Brian and Justin, I don't what is to quote Sandra. Here is the link to the one, the only Keewick's Work Inside Out. Keewick surrpassed Cowlip in portrayl of Brian as Justin travels back in time to the day when he lost his virginity to Brian (in my humble opinion). It's so sad, so funny and soooo brilliant and so shocking (I am not gonna say which three things will blow your freaking mind...mwhahahaha)!!!

WORK INSIDE OUT by Keewick (http://web.archive.org/web/20080605004108/http://www.queereyes.net/workinsideout_01.html)

Have a blast! tehehe

[nightvision55.livejournal.com]

I guess I'll pimp one of my own that I'm very fond of ... it's not set in any particular season, although it's post-Ethan. I think it's pretty much in character, and it's Metamorphosis, here:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5457725/1/Metamorphosis

[fictionbycereza.livejournal.com]

Added! :)