Plum fleshed out why Brian couldn't follow Justin to NYC. And, it was brilliant. I buy it to the point that now I can't even consider him following Justin. The PTSD was fleshed out - which was necessary b/c their symptoms were reflected in canon but never explained - and then Plum began to heal them.

I'm not crazy about this getting married every year. I felt it was a but shmoopy for B/J. But, given the gift of healing she gave them AND me, I'll live with the over-the-top shmoopiness.

I appreciated this more and more and more as I read further on. Plumsuede never trashed Michael. There were one or two sentences where it was understood that Brian was friends with him. Michael made an "off camera" appearance when Brian told Justin about the family conf with Gus over Skype. AND THAT WAS IT. I loved it so much. Michael wasn't even at the Christmas party. His absence was delightful. Given that Justin was gone for six years and just returning it would've been understandable if Michael had a larger presence in Brian's life. But, good on Plum. Plum made sure that we knew that Michael was essentially of the past.

OMG - that car and the kitchen???? Where did Plum come up with it?? And the fridge was the master mind??? And Brian's rivalry with Anderson Cooper??? And the top secret Apple gift basket from George Clooney???

And, then, the angst. I adored them hashing their sh--- out. B/J laying? lying? on the hardwood floor in The Regency watching imaginary movies. Justin tells Brian their relationship can't be all about sex.

MAN!! I just want to wring his neck sometimes!!

So, Brian answered for me. Something like - Justin, would I be lying? laying? on a hardwood floor in the middle of NYC staring at a ceiling while watching a movie from your imagination so you can communicate with me how you feel??

I was like - YOU GO, BRIAN!!! When is Justin EVER going to accept that you love him more than anybody's ever loved anybody on this planet and the sex is just a part of that love????????

So, when an author can make Brian seem like he's in character even when he's OOC it's a work of art. Frayach had me believing that Brian was hysterically crying. Fray's a genius.

But, Plum...she's the next level. She actually had Brian's PTSD so close to the surface he was having disassociative breaks, fainting, vomiting, and crying - and it WASN'T OOC. Frayach made me believe. With Plum, I didn't have to "believe." (Is Plum female? I keep referring to Plum as she/her.) She fleshed out their canon characters so thoroughly, accurately, and dimensionally that both Brian and Justin - as crazy/shmoopy/cruel as they got - remained canon. Plum's got me crying as I write this. How did she do that? I know it took 9 years - but somebody could work on this piece a lifetime and not accomplish what she did.

That's why I told you I changed my mind. The MPREG was delicious. I LOVED Brian in that story. And never for a moment did I Not believe Frayach's portrayal of him. But, I want to LIVE in Plum's. It wasn't canon diverse or AU. It was completely post 513 canon and she did what Cowlip should have done. Plum did the extraordinary writing for that grueling, essential leg work that had to happen in order for B/J to survive, much less stay together.

Severina was MY post 513 canon with "Gold and Silver Shines." I loved her Brian and her B/J. Sev is SUCH a good story teller. But what Plum did that Severina really didn't was address how deeply disturbed B/J were and the AIRING of it that needed to happen, followed by the grieving, then healing. And, again, Plum so brilliantly and logically built on canon Brian constantly telling Justin "don't think about it. just forget it." And she built on Justin's canon need to express that anger PLUS tip toe around Brian's brimming emotions. And, Plum convinced me that without that work B/J would never reach their potential if they would be able to stay together at all.

OMG - and I LOVED how Brian sat Gus down in the study at Christmas and told him to get over himself! Is it wrong that I found that hot? Gus had walked in on B/J having sex during his last visit and this time he saw B/J kissing in the kitchen with Brian's hand on Justin's a$$. So, here's Brian defending his relationship and saying he shouldn't feel uncomfortable in his own house. B/J have been married for 10 months. They're honeymooners!! M/L and Ben/M are stale, comfortable, old married couples. Why does that conversation get me so hot? OH! And when Brian heard Justin outside the door and asked him to come in. B/J are a team!! I always hated when canon left B or J out of scenes they should've been in together. Plum fixed that. B/J were a married couple forming a united front to talk to their son. YAY!!!

BTW - if Plum had them get married every year the way they originally did via Brian's c--k, to put it in his words, that would've been awesome. But I was already bored with the swapping, etc. Next year I'll plan it, The following year you'll plan it - OMG!! It was such an epic story. Why end it in such hetero-normative tedium??

I read Monogamy last night. I never should have done that. I should have left well enough alone with Embark and called it a night. I don't agree on her take on what Brian was going through in 512 and 513. For instance - the bed scene where B/J realize they won't be getting married she describes Brian as being bored which is why he's running his finger along the nightstand. HE WASN'T BORED. He was heart-broken and felt dread. Brian knew he had to throw Justin off that proverbial cliff. He started the cuddle thing to get the fight going. However, she informed us that Gale actually asked for the dialogue at the bachelor party to be cut out about the "ball and chain" b/c it sounded too harsh. So, I have to give her some credence, here. Brian weirded out when he was talking to Michael about the wedding and he weirded out at the bachelor party. Yet he told Justin regarding marrying Justin that he never meant anything more. So, which is it??? Resentment of the impending marriage or happiness in anticipation of it? STUPID COWLIP!!

But what really upset me was how she set up the sex scene where they realized that they loved each other too much and that they could still get married and then Justin could go to NYC. The one thing B/J need is more GD communicating!!! So, what does Fray do??? All of the important, life-changing discussion and decisions she puts in italics without quotes. I took this to mean it was UNSPOKEN and their bodies were speaking for them in this sex dance that they do. But, meantime, inane f---ing dribble like, roll over, here's the lube, harder, etc was in regular font and quotes. OK - SO FRAY, THEY CAN'T TELEPATHICALLY COMMUNICATE ABOUT SEX WHILE THEY'RE HAVING THIS MAGICAL SEX BUT THEY CAN COMMUNICATE ABOUT THEIR VERY FUTURES TELEPATHICALLY WHILE THEY'RE HAVING THIS MAGICAL SEX??? *sighs* Not a good fic for me.

So, what made that worse? Across the Hall. OMG. I live for the hashing out, the intimacy, the nitty gritty of it. OH, I hated this story. She made their relationship antiseptic. It was sterile. I know familiarity breeds contempt. SO WHAT??? Let them have contempt for each other and COMMUNICATE!! I think they're pretty familiar with each other at this point. But, she killed it for me. I need B/J to be near each other. They have their own gravitational pull to one another. I just can't see them living separate lives while they're married.

I was picturing the bond that Plum had them form and that she cultivated from canon while I was reading Across the Hall. I was disgusted. If that's what's to become of B/J after everything they went through then it's really not worth my angst.

I was trying to get my B/J post 513 fantasy out of my system when suddenly this whole scenario started to unfold on the page. I really wasn't writing it anymore. The story wrote itself. BUT...I now know how Brian put Kinnetik NYC on the map and where they're off to next.

...On this particular day they were having an early brunch with the gang, then straight to the airport to fly back to NYC. Brian and Justin already closed up the manor, put their suitcases in the car, and were ready to be back at the brownstone in about three hours including the drives to and from the airports. It was way earlier than they usually leave but they both had busy Mondays and they needed to recoup from their latest legendary marathon pool party/orgy that began Friday afternoon and ended only that morning. Brian and Ted decided having Gay Pittsburgh at these orgies was bad for Babylon's till so B/J tapped into the West Virginia bounty... or booty? B/J really liked West Virginia!!

Justin told Brian on the way to the diner that he was still a little drunk. Brian wasn't drunk but he was running on fumes. He wasn't 29 anymore. Brian could keep up while it was going on but as he got older the recuperation time got longer and more intense. They just wanted to get home, take nice, long, leisurely naps, have some teeth rattling sex, eat, rinse, repeat.

As they were saying good-bye to everybody Brian's phone rang. It was Cynthia and she seemed too excited to breathe. Brian stepped outside because this sounded important and there was a cacophony in the diner. Brian had been working steadily to bring in those moderate sized accounts. He wasn't panicking but it was getting to that point that Brian might have to borrow HQ revenue to sustain NYC for a bit. So, he was slightly concerned that she sounded so hyper. He definitely couldn't afford to LOSE one of those accounts right now. Is that why she was so worked up? Did he lose one?

Brian took a calming breath. "What's up?" Cynthia told Brian she left something at the office which is why she was there on a Sunday. There was a voice mail on the office phone and the message said they were really impressed with the catchy phrase Brian came up with so... she screamed, "WE GOT *WHAM HAM!!!" Brian couldn't believe it. It was that big league company Brian pitched. But he thought he'd never land it because the whole of Madison Avenue was courting them.

It's based in Chicago and Leo Brown got Brian in the door. Leo spoke of Brian's unorthodox ways like inviting himself into Leo's men's club and the folks at *Wham Ham were intrigued. Frankly, they were bored out of their minds by the inane Madison Avenue dribble. They wanted to be on the mind of every human being on earth. For that to happen they needed something simple but catchy that people would repeat without realizing it. So they gave Brian a shot.

During the initial Skype meeting they said they wanted it specifically NOT to be sexual so kids could repeat the slogan and wouldn't get in trouble. Though Brian was trying to be on his very best behavior he couldn't help himself. That damn right eyebrow went rogue, lifted way up, and sat there high above his eye while he pondered what they just said. *WHAAAAAM...HAAAAAAAM...not...sexual???? But, they just couldn't hear it or see it.

So, OK - he already lost Remson by sticking to his "sex sells" credo and he's not sorry for that. But, he couldn't afford to mess around here.

The fledgling NYC office had to build a reputation and opposing Wham Ham, Kinnetik NYC's first big account, was NOT the way to do it. Plus this was potentially a lot of money and Brian needed that right now for Kinnetik NYC to stay in the black. He had a responsibility to his NYC staff and the whole Kinnetik Corporation. Brian acquiesced. And, anyway, the name alone was so very, very sexual he didn't have to add anything to it.

Justin, Mr. It's not sexy, It's not edgy, It's not funny, totally agreed with Brian. And, man, did they have a belly laugh about *Wham Ham thinking their name was family friendly. So, Brian decided he'd go for simple and fun-to-say instead of sexy.

Brian's never quite sure how he comes up with these things but inspiration struck. He boarded a flight to Chicago (and this time Justin gave him a most excellent send off!!) and pitched them. He really didn't think anything would come of it. But, something did. Brian smirked to himself thinking, "New York, you're mine!! Fortune 500, here I come."

*Wham Ham canned ham was humungous. This wasn't just national it was global. If Brown was a $20 million account then *Wham Ham had to be $45 million, and that's a conservative estimate. (He owed Leo one Hell of a thank you gift.) This just put Kinnetik NYC on the map and brought a LOT of money to what was NYC's dwindling purse. Madison Avenue was very shortly going to know who Kinnetik NYC AND Brian were. With Brown and *Wham Ham, and all of the moderate accounts he was grooming???? Yup. The dam just burst. He was going to be using that extra floor and a half of office space sooner than he thought.

Brian sighed in relief. Then, he started to giggle. "C'mon, Cynthia, might as well say it with me. It's paying your bonus." And together they shouted, *"IF IT AIN'T WHAM IT AIN'T HAM!!" They laughed, said their good-byes, and hung up.

Justin was coming out of the diner. Brian swooped him up, hugged him and twirled him around. "I got the *Wham Ham account!" Justin gave an arm pump and an enthusiastic, "YES!" He knew Brian was gonna take over that city. "And, you're a beautiful success, as always!"

Brian said, "Glad you got your bags packed, Sunshine. We're going to Italy. We have to start looking around to see what city you want us to conquer next!!!" And, he plopped Justin on the sidewalk.

Justin said, "WHAT?? Brian, you and I are both gonna be insane tomorrow. That's why we're leaving here so early! And we don't even have our passports!"

Brian swooped Justin BACK up, hugged him, twirled him around and said, "TUESDAY!...TUESDAY, we're going to Italy!! We have to start looking around to see what city you want us to conquer next." Justin laughed.

Brian leaned in for a deep, wet, sloppy kiss. Justin kissed him right back. "I love you, Brian." Brian smiled and purred like a kitten. "Mmmmmmmmm...I love you, too."
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Since Justin called Kinnetik the Worldwide Headquarters of Kinnetik Inc in 403 Brian had been wondering where they could expand in the next 5 to 10 years. He knew Justin wanted to go to Italy to study the masters so he was thinking about Kinnetik ITA and `E Solo Il Momento. That's "It's Only Time" in Italian, the name of Justin's Gallery.

- - Since Brown was based in Chicago and had to fly to Kinnetik either way he chose to go to Kinnetik NYC b/c he preferred The Big Apple. Brian was keeping HQ and NYC revenues separate. Though Brown was huge Kinnetik NYC hadn't acquired him so Brian considered *Wham Ham NYC's first large account.

- - - Brian had a cold calling strategy that was outside the box b/c he was geographically in Madison Avenue's pocket and that whole Avenue was just advertisement-saturated. That's why he was soliciting medium-sized accts he would help grow so in 5-10 years he'd make the Fortune 500 (according to his plan).

- - - - Brian has only 1-1/2 floors of extra office space instead of 2 whole floors because half of the third floor contains a secret sexual oasis with completely soundproofed walls, floor, and ceiling. There's no visible entrance and it's accessible only by a coded elevator located in Brian's and Justin's private bathrooms. Employees don't even know it exists.

*Cite: Wham Ham and "If it Ain't Wham it Ain't Ham", Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, 1948, starring Myrna Loy, Cary Grant, written by Eric Hodgins and Norman Panama, directed by H. C. Potter

(And this is B/J's Brownstone and the 1923-ish kitchen...Their secret sex lair in the office doesn't have a kitchen b/c they don't go there to cook. They never spend the night in their secret place b/c they have this beautiful brownstone in the Village to come home to.)



They have another beautiful, perfectly restored, four-floor-brownstone-complete-with-a-backyard-and-garden love nest waiting for them to come home to every evening. And, this DOES have a kitchen. So, if Justin wants to get his cooking Ya Ya's out of his system he could do it there.

And what a stunning, huge old-fashioned kitchen it is, black and white with light green appliances and accents, and it looks right out into the garden. It even has a farmer's sink. The appliances are modern and of the highest end but they have enough money that they hired somebody who made them match the era of the room.

Justin's premium 6 burner stove with built-in grill looks like an authentic antique stove. His top of the line refrigerator looks like an ice box, and so on. The faucet had been custom designed just for Justin as a professional courtesy, and there's even a strategically placed washboard and clothes wringer for authenticity. So, stepping in there feels like stepping into 1923 or there abouts. It's amazing!!

Justin ADORES it. Brian loves that Justin adores it but Brian only appreciates it - for its aesthetic. It's not his aesthetic but he can appreciate it nonetheless. To be fair kitchens aren't his thing. And the only kitchen he really remembers is a sleek, metallic galley. Wispy memories waft into Brian's head about the loft. But, shockingly to him, every memory includes Justin. And, since Justin's next to him at this very moment there's really no need to miss the loft. Ah, this kitchen's starting to grow on him.

Every time Justin's in there cooking he puts on his best Edward G. Robinson voice and busts out with a bunch of "twenty-three skiddo," "you're the bees knees," "you're the cat's pajamas, see" "Aw, go chase yourself ya dumb Dora!" He was never into drag but this kitchen makes him want to put on a flapper dress and do the Charleston.

Sometimes when Brian's passing through Justin'll ask him how that bathtub gin's coming, then Justin'll wink at Brian and call him a "hotsy-totsy". Brian seriously thinks that kitchen's taking Justin's marbles one by one. But, Justin gets him really laughing because A) Justin's funny and B) it's obvious he's loving life in that room. Laughing with Justin are probably some of Brian's favorite moments. And, he's always made Brian laugh. Also, Brian definitely doesn't mind being called a "hotsy-totsy."

The rest of the brownstone is just awesome with all of the original wood floors, woodwork, and one of the most coveted things on the planet...original tin ceilings. Sometimes Brian finds Justin just standing there looking up. When Brian asks what's happening Justin starts to explain how the patterns are inspiring him for another painting. Brian shrugs. He thinks the ceilings look like the walls in Red Cape Comics but every time he voices that Justin gives him a back hand to the ribs. Brian can't help but bust Justin's chops because Justin's so awe-struck by everything in this house.

All kidding aside, though, Brian really digs this brownstone. And, Justin decorated with both his and Brian's tastes in mind so Brian's got his share of clean and sleek to stare at, as well. And, Brian gives all credit to Justin's artistic abilities in that he managed to incorporate Brian's aesthetic without it being terribly offensive or out of place in this early 20th century architecture.

Justin's secret sauce was his choosing a bunch of clean, sleek-lined ART DECO which he peppered amongst the other 1920's decor. Brian doesn't notice but THAT'S why it doesn't look out of place. Thus, Justin's balance and harmony welcome the eye in every direction. Brian knows art deco - he's highly intelligent and gay. But Justin fused the pieces so expertly they just flow and Brian's never stood back and really taken note.

Brian insisted they hire a decorator in the beginning of this process. After Justin was slightly offended he was grateful. The designer listened to exactly what Justin said and then, like magic, it appeared. Justin didn't have to do any of the grunt work. House completely decorated: check. Brian and Justin happy: check.


This is what the brownstone ceilings look like but they're not this nappy yellow: (the patterns vary from room to room at B/J's) (I used to have tin ceilings [I ADORE!!] in my Jersey apt. Once, I walked into my kitchen where I had silver tin & my friend was just standing there looking up. My inspiration for Justin: It really happened. LOL)




Some of the art deco that Justin peppered throughout the brownstone:














THEY HAD TO HAVE A VERY LARGE BAR:











JUSTIN COULDN'T RESIST THIS ONE. IT'S TAPPING INTO HIS FLAPPER FANTASY. HE ACTUALLY HUNG IT IN THE KITCHEN:




Justin's top of the line stove in 1920's disguise:




Justin's fridge disguised as an ice box:




Justin's farmer's sink:




Justin's custom-made faucet (his friend made this for him - kind of looks like a d--k, doesn't it? That's not accidental!)




Justin's clothes wringer for added authenticity:




AND, YOU, CREATED A MONSTER!! I CAN POST PICS!! WHOO HOO!!!

It's just the ending of the fantasy I spewed the other day. In the season one thread Daggi said she believes B followed J to NYC, too. It was like somebody hit me in the head. I just started getting my fantasy OUT of my head. It was great therapy. When you read it be sure to read my notes at the end, either before or afterwards. Since it's the ending there are things in there you won't understand unless you've read it all. The notes quickly explain all of it.

Plum (thanks, Deborah, AGAIN!!) helped me see the necessity of Justin making it big b/f Brian followed him to NYC so I let four years pass. I NEVER even address how they get back together or what it was like when they were apart.

(Except that Brian missed Justin so much when they weren't together that he was in constant dull pain that never left the entirety of their separation. If he felt it to the full extent while B/J were apart he'd break in two.

So, now that they were back together waves of that acute pain of missing Justin would roll over him. Almost as if his brain was releasing what it had been holding back for four years. Brian thought it was very strange to miss somebody who was standing right there but that's what it was. He was desperately and agonizingly missing Justin, the pain so great he'd almost double over.

During those times Brian held Justin in a vice like grip until it passed. Brian wasn't sure if Justin had any of this going on but he knew Justin understood. He let Brian hold him as long as Brian needed to and Justin always returned the vice grip so Brian felt cocooned. It was hug therapy. Brian was always shaky after the wave passed and before he totally let go he'd peer closely into Justin's eyes (ala 408 in the vette after kissing Justin the third time) just to make sure it was really Justin and Justin was really there with Brian - that it wasn't some sick trick his mind was playing on him.)

THAT'S ALL THE ANGST I BROUGHT TO MY FANTASY!! My B/J have been through enough and they're just ready to be successful in their lives, their careers and to never be apart again.

I have this weird thing about buildings and how I'd design my perfect home or office. My fantasy concentrated on the logistics of how they settled into their building, their businesses, their brownstone, and some orgies at the manor (no sex details). It would probably be boring for anybody else but I had fun writing about Justin in the brownstone kitchen. My aunt owned a four floor brownstone in the Village built in the early 20th century so I just made it Brian and Justin's. I can actually see Justin being silly like the way he was in the kitchen that was restored to look like it was 1923 or there abouts.


408, Brian is PEERING into Justin's eyes actually tracking Justin's head movements so he'd never lose sight of Justin's eyes. Brian was hoping for eye contact but as you can see RANDY was avoiding that:

The dead family members in purgatory?