Part One
I'm so excited because this is probably my all time favorite fic! You did a great job putting this together Ellen!!! I can't wait to read what everyone else has to say about this story.
I don't actually think of this story as being angsty. I've spent a lot of time thinking about why, because normally the idea of them being apart IS angst to me. What it comes down to is the feeling of inevitability that I get the entire time I read this story. There is no question that they will end up together- that they can't avoid it.
I love:
That we see Justin succeeding on his own, but then when they find each other again we see how much better they are together.
That Brian seems so bored in his life, which is interesting because he went to NYC for the excitement of it. His time away from Justin and Pittsburgh opened him up to Justin so much more in the long run though I'm not sure he is aware of it.
That Justin is strong, independent and driven. He chooses the opportunity to further his career over Ethan (which is especially interesting because we know Brian would never attempt to hold Justin back from any opportunity). As badly as he was hurt in the past, he doesn't close himself off to Brian (his attempts are half hearted at most).
OK, I will try to discuss to some of the talking points...
I don't think Justin is really that different from canon Justin. The only major difference is that he isn't chasing after Brian. Which in part has to do with his fear of going through that same pain again, but is mostly due to the fact that he doesn't have to chase after Brian this time around.
I don't think Brian is consciously pursuing more than a friendship with Justin. I always thought that canon Brian gave Justin a chance past the first fuck not only because Justin is so unbelievably beautiful but because he liked him as a person as well. I think initially Brian is just happy to have someone worth talking to and spending time with. I can't put my finger on the exact second that turns in the fic because I think it is sort of a slow transition from unconscious to conscious...
I think Justin is protecting himself a bit from the pain he felt when Brian left. But honestly I don't think he really did much to separate himself. He tells himself he is going to more then he actually does.
It has been so long since the first time I read this fic, I have no idea how long it took me to figure out what was going on. But I do love the way the author did that and how easily she gave us all the information we needed without all kinds of explanations at the beginning.
More than anything I think Justin is holding his own feelings at arms length. All of his attempts at keeping away from Brian seem half hearted at best. It seems clear how he feels... but he doesn't let himself admit it for awhile.
Inevitability is the most important theme in this whole story for me. It comes through in every word!
The fact that they don't have sex is one of the major reasons I don't think Brian is actively pursuing Justin. Honestly I think they both know that having sex would force they issue of their relationship before they are ready. Also they both have plenty of sex. They are getting something else from their friendship. Only in the long run we all know how sexually attracted they are to each other. I think this is one of the strongest ways we see that they will get back together- not having sex.