Re: Unfamiliar Territory
Thank you. I'm not sure you'll come back and see this, and it breaks my rule of not meta-ing my own fic, but it's something I've thought about a lot.
Normally, being the "only one who understands" someone is a dysfunctional co-dependent delusion. And we see it in QAF a bit, because there are ways in which Lindsay and Michael, at different times, demonstrate that kind of connection with Brian.
Justin is different, for a number of reasons. He sees Brian far more clearly than anyone else out of his own intelligence and perceptiveness, and also simply because he was very young when he met Brian, and Brian was much older, so Justin's assumption that Brian was more together than he really was actually worked to let him get past the image and to the man underneath -- NOT the wounded boy underneath, which is, I think, what Michael, Lindsay and somewhat Debbie respond to, but the man Brian was meant to be, the man underneath and beyond the wounded boy.
That allows Justin to be "understanding" of Brian without making it be co-dependent or unhealthy for Justin.
It also comes out of Justin's own inner balance and centerdness, which is key to his characterization. He doesn't enable Brian, he simply lives in the world with Brian and functions there naturally, without sacrificing who he is to accomodate Brian's neuroses. When Brian crosses a line, the adult Justin reacts appropriately, either with challenge ("Dr. Spin/Dr. Evil" "If only there were a real Rage...") or by leaving if all else fails. He's not a doormat, he's himself, and part of who Justin IS, is a man who loves Brian, both "Brian as he is" and "the best possible Brian."
I sometimes say I believe Brian and Justin are soul mates, and I do. I think that Justin is Brian's salvation, his way out of the dysfunctional trap of image vs reality in which Brian got caught. But that doesn't mean I think Justin has no path of his own, nor that I think saving Brian is Justin's purpose in life. I believe that Justin in pursuit of his own fulfillment also provides what Brian needs to become "the best homosexual he could possibly be." Be that love and support, or a kick in the ass.
I don't like characterizations of Justin where he is Brian's doormat. Brian wouldn't like that Justin, either. But to write a strong, self-actualized Justin who also loves Brian and by his very nature inspires Brian to be a better man... that's my happy place.