Mid Morning Break...

[sisabet]

Working for an insurance company during a hurricane is an interesting experience. There is a palpable "battening down the hatches" vibe right now as services are shifted, catastrophe teams called out, and the company just goes right into Prepare Mode. I do appreciate organization and while I often dislike my job, I find no fault with the company I work for, it has been very good to me over the years. The high intensity analness of an insurance company is comforting to me. I *like* knowing that everything is accounted and double-checked. Must be a security-craving.

Last night I was thinking about Justin (I know, surprise, surprise) and was finally able to re-watch the first draft of the Justin-vid. I know what needs to be done to it now and I'm just gonna let it sit at a slow simmer while I finish up "Last Stand." But thinking about Justin, I was trying to equate just what my feelings are baout his character - where does this intense protectiveness I feel toward him come from? And since this is me and I like correlations, I started thinking about how I feel about Brian the way I feel about Angel. I mean, differently for sure, but it comes from the same place. They both get to me at the same level and so I can easily classify them. But what about Justin? Cause I think I am at a point where I am more invested in his story than Brian's - which is strange and may just be a temporary reaction to some of the phenomenol Justin POV fics I've been reading lately (and if you are not already stalking seperis go. Stalk. Now. Trust me on this. Don't think. Just stalk). But it felt familiar, this Justin-love. And I don't love him like I love Xander. I don't love any fictional character the way I love Xander, hell - I love Xander as if he was real. He could be real. I love Xander the way I love S.

Then I realized, Justin is Buffy to me. The knee-jerk protectiveness and defensiveness I feel about Buffy, well it is the same as my current feelings about Justin.

So if Brian is Angel and Justin is Buffy, I guess this means I am a much bigger B/A shipper than I thought.

Comments

[sparkledark.livejournal.com]

Justin is what hooked me into the show. I watched the whole first season essentially for his story, and I feel a kind of unconditional love for the character. And also protectiveness, like you said. And all that is most like...Willow. I guess Justin is my Willow. Brian is like a bizarre amalgamation of my feelings for Angel and my feelings for Spike, which is just really frightening.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Yeah - my unconditional love for Justin is closest to my feelings for Buffy.

I thought I felt that way about Willow, but I was wrong. During "Grave" when she is torturing Giles, I remember thinking she was going to kill him. (aside - I was totally unspoiled for 2 to Go and Grave and man. That was an *extremely* emotional 2 hours for me). I was convinced Giles was gonna die. All during 2 to Go while Dawnm is making comments how Willow is past the point of return, I'm defending her. Then...Giles...gulp. I was yelling, "Bitch Needs to Die!!" So I guess my love for Willow is conditional upon her not killing Giles.

If Buffy or Justin killed Giles, I think I would be able to get past it.

Angel and Brian - I have unexpectational love. I expect nothing, just experience them.

Spike I cannot yet classify. Spike is an enigma to me, that poor deluded bastard.

[josselin.livejournal.com]

Justin was what hooked me on the show, too. Particularly the first season stuff with his parents and everything. And since I'm about the same age as him, I was totally like--and having all that happen while you're trying to get through your senior year?

I hope season four has good Justin plotlines. ::crosses fingers::

[sparkledark.livejournal.com]

See, yeah, now that I think about it, I sort of started loathing Willow during the last season. Mostly because her storyline and character arc were handled so very badly, I could barely stand to see her on screen. So I guess my Willow love was conditional on good writing. But I still think she comes the closest to Justin for me. I cry when they cry, I smile when they smile, and when they fuck up, I understand.

The extent of the protectiveness I have for Justin, though, I think is unparalleled. I don't generally get ruffled when people make negative comments about Willow, cause yeah, she can be irritating and yeah, her plotline got completely gangle-fucked, and I understand when people say they hate her. And Spike, I feel protective of Spike sometimes, but ya know, people have their reasons for disliking him and whatever. It's fine. But Justin negativity...I just can't handle it. When I see people slamming Justin, online or on the show, it's like watching puppies getting kicked.

[kita0610.livejournal.com]

So if Brian is Angel and Justin is Buffy, I guess this means I am a much bigger B/A shipper than I thought.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Snerk.

Which does nothing to explain your love of slash, however. Maybe Buffy is a guy.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Yes, because Justin is a puppy!!

But he is not always a little fluffy puppy, and that is one of the things that I adore about him. But yeah - harshing on the Justin is not cool.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Maybe Buffy is a guy.

Well, now that you mention it...(and this just goes to show that me being alone with my thoughts is just not of the good)...I thought of that. Most of my deep-abiding affection for characters is pretty much masculine-defined. The few female exceptions all seem to have the "women that kick ass" thing in common. So last night I was pondering this and worrying that I am so much more misogynistic than I thought and then I kind of had a relevation that it isn't so much that these women are manly, it is the traits we identify more with men in the media, such as confidence, bravery, awareness, and sexual self-possession - but these things are not strictly the domain (and I love that word) of men, so I like women that are cool, I like men that are cool and I like two men being cool together. I'm cool with that.

[grissecon.livejournal.com]

So if Brian is Angel and Justin is Buffy, I guess this means I am a much bigger B/A shipper than I thought.

...therefore, my Ethan issues. LOL

I friended you a little while back, but this is my first time commenting here, so, ::waves::

[emstardust.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Me too. I feel protective of Justin and of Buffy. They are both out to make the world better, don't you think? Angel and Brian are more jaded, and they love Justin/Buffy for the idealism, but they don't share it. Darn it, I wish Justin would learn kung fu.

See, this is why I dream of bad fic in which Justin and Buffy are cousins.

See- for me- Before I EVER saw an episode of QAF-

[viola69.livejournal.com]

I had been sent (coughorderedcough) to take the Which QAF character are you quiz by my Dionysia- Ashlyn. I got Justin- so from the start I identified with him- & upon renting the first half of S1- got pulled right in by the character & Randy's performance- & wowza- the combustion between Brian/Justin- chemistry between Gale/Randy.
This odd idenification was further entangled into my subconscious though- when Ashlyn & I would have looong phone conversations- in character. As "Brian" she would call me up & without pre-amble announce I needed to cut my hair, or chide me for 'outing' her to her Mom- all of which was confusing- until it just became 2nd nature when discussing the show with her- to talk as Justin- or as if I was describing an episode from my life, instead of about a storyline on a tv show. (yes, that fine line of distinction between obsessed/addicted/psychotic).
As much as I've been invested, addicted, obsessed with other shows/other fandoms- it's never been like Justin.

(can't wait to see this Justin vid!!)

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Hey!! Feel free to stop by and comment at will.

And yeah - Scott Hope Sucks

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Oh god - I would so read that.

[velena.livejournal.com]

I started watching QaF with the second season, so the Brian/Justin nurturing dynamic is what enthralled me. (I am such a hurt/comfort whore. Anyway.) The more I watched the first season (and granted I haven't seen all of it), the more I felt like I was regressing with Justin's character. There are moments when I like him, but oftentimes I feel this flash of irritation with him. He's so young and naive and immature and foolish. Sometimes, I feel like watching the first season taints Brian and Justin's relationship for me, because I find it hard to understand why Brian fell for him in the first place. Of course, there are plenty of moments where Justin transcends his youth, and it becomes so clear why Brian can't detach himself from this boy.

I don't remember what episode it was (nineteen, maybe), where Justin says to Brian, "I'm the most mature person you know." That is so true, but at the same time he's also the youngest person Brian knows. Justin can be impulsive, but he also has this amazing perceptiveness, particularly with Brian. He's able to bounce back from things, to excel in a way that none of the other character seem able to. But I think that's so much more evident in the second and third season.

I read an interview once with CowLip, and they said something like, "We'd like to see Justin accomplish things that the others aren't able to." I think that captures him so well. Justin is potential. He's the new model, with all the flaws cut away.

Wow, this turned into a huge Justin essay. Sorry for spamming your journal. :-P Will stop now.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

No - I agree with so much! And please, there can never be *too much* Justin talk. Ever.

[velena.livejournal.com]

This is true. And on a sidenote, Randy Harrison is HOT in season three.

[soundczech.livejournal.com]

It's so good to realise I'm not the only B/A shipper out there. Or, y'know. Once-upon-a-time B/A shipper, 'cos I'm not sure I want Angel as he is now goin' anywhere near my Buffy.

[kitkatbyte.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten into the QaF fandom online much yet, because, spoilers... but people actually are harsh toward Justin?! That's so evil!! Especially after what happened in 1x22, how could anyone be mean to him?! I mean... he's sunshine! Sure he's a bit naive, but he learns fast and he's brave...

Sorry, you know how I love Justin. Those people who say mean things about him are just *not cool*. ::runs away::