One of my absolute favourite QAF fanfics and my favourite reunion fiction. In fact, is the story that made me fall in love with fictions that have Brian and Justin reunite after a period of time in which they have both had the time to mature on their own, realize that they still really want each other and can do so because they're equal from every point of view, including life experience. Any fiction with strong, confident Justin and self-aware, emotionally ready Brian is my dream fiction.
2. What do you make of her description of Brian?
Brian has grown older, as it was realistically bound to happen. The beauty of this story is that - with a few cosmetic adjustments! - we're told and shown that he's also accepted it, and grown wiser in the process.
3. Justin: what did he learn and take from Brian when he moved to LA?
To be fully independent and to work hard for his success. To be the best (homosexual, man, person) he can be. But I like that he's also mantained his own sense of self, such as the desire to have a committed relationship and his own brand of emotional openness.
4. Dominque...a wannabe Daphne?
Not really. More like a secondary, original character, a bit annoying, to be perfectly honest.
5. Mark: was he good for Justin? What similarities do you see in Mark in regards to Justin? To Brian?
Yes, he was good for Justin and, aside from his undertstandable resistance at being dumped, he's still good by the of the story, since he and Justin manage to maintain a good working partnership. I feel a little sorry at the way Justin leaves him, although he's never lied to the man about who is the true love of his life.
But Mark was good because he allowed Justin to have what he wanted, a committed relationship, a partnership, while also maintaining enough emotional distance to still love Brian inside his own heart. I like that while dumping him as a boyfriend Justin doesn't cut him out of his life and that he in fact he admits he stil cares for him.
I don't see much of either Justin or Brian in Mark, I think he's a truly well-defined original character.
6. Mikey: Help or hindrance to Brian?
Brian's best friend, just as in canon. This sums it perfectly, in my opinion:
He called Michael from the terrace in the middle of a snowstorm to tell him that he was high as hell, and he missed him, and that Justin couldn't be Lois Lane to his Superman, because that's what best friends were for, right? Michael agreed, saying that Superman was fucking Lex Luthor, or Batman, or both--then hypothesizing huge superhero orgies with extra-strong condoms to contain the superhero spooge
Brian and Michael's friendship is this beautiful combination of support, devotion, child-like behaviour, a shared past and a language all of their own. But they've also grown into adults who are there for each other to celebrate the birth of Michael's new child and discuss Gus' meltdown.
7. A room at the hotel? Discuss your feelings
I'm not sure I understand what you want us to discuss. I love the scene of Justin and Brian's "reunion" at the hotel, immensely. I also undertsand why it happens there: because Justin is still uncertain as to what he can expect from Brian, whether Brian is ready/willing to move beyond a memorable fuck. He wants to keep enough of a distance (the setting) to be able to walk away not completely broken, if needed.
If you're asking about the fact that Justin takes his tricks to hotel rooms, I think it's fabulous. I've always bee convinced that, being two different people, Brian and Justin would naturally have different tricking styles. In canon we see it quite clearly in S4 (but also many times before and after), when Justin "seduces" the doctor, while Brian, well, just goes at it without finesse.
Given the opportunity to grow up and have experiences apart from Brian, Justin would understand what kind of casual sex he prefers: one, for example, that wouldn't necessarily be anonymous and consummated in dark backrooms. This doesn't make it any less casual, but better suited to Justin's style, to who he is.