[personal profile] jule1122
Well, it only took me three months, but I finally finished my fic for [livejournal.com profile] rhiannonhero's Summer Title Challenge. I did make it before the first snow! My title is Sun Meltdown. For some reason I was inspired to write a rather odd conversation piece. There's no plot and really no point, just Brian and Justin talking. I was trying for the kind of meandering conversations you have with someone you know really well and are comfortable with. I'm not sure it worked.

I have to say for me it odd to have a title picked for me. Titles are very important to me and I never write without them. Sometimes the title is the entire inspiration for the fic and sometimes it just helps me refine an idea I'm already playing with. If you've noticed, all my titles are song lyrics. Most of the time, the way the line is sung and the music are as important to me as the actual words. This is the first time I haven't had that reference to work with.


Title: Sun Meltdown
Summary: Summer memories
Rating: Pg-13?
Spoilers: None
Warnings: None
Note: Takes place sometime in the future. In this future, Justin never went back to school, Brian never had cancer, and Rage was not a movie.

Thank you so much to philiflam for not only her beta work, but also for her encouragement!



Justin sat on the steps watching the sun sink into the horizon. He watched the play of colors as they changed and blended. The sight should have been relaxing and peaceful, but for some reason Justin felt restless, off center. He never heard the door open or footsteps approach him, but the smell of marijuana gave Brian away before he sat down one step above him. Justin settled against Brian’s chest, and they passed the joint back and forth between them; neither speaking.

Finally, Justin broke the silence. “I used to hate this time of year.” Brian’s fingers lightly stroking his neck encouraged him to continue. “The end of summer, it always meant the end of freedom, going back to school. No more sleeping late and hanging out with Daphne by the pool. It was back to living up to Dad’s expectations and dodging bullies.”

“And now?”

“It doesn’t mean anything. That still seems weird to me even though I should be used to it by now. Guess I really am an adult.”

Brian laughed softly and kissed the top of his head. “Do you regret it? Not going back?”

“No,” Justin answered, and he meant it. His not finishing PIFA had always bothered Brian more than it bothered him. “I assumed I’d get my degree because that’s just what you do, but I don’t think it matters now. I was never good at fitting into their idea of what an artist is anyway. I think they made that pretty clear.”

“It would look good on your resume, though.”

“Is that a hint? Do I need to worry about how my resume looks?” Justin tried to sound worried even though he knew Brian was just teasing him.

“No, your job is safe. At least until you get discovered and leave Kinnetik behind for endless gallery openings.”

“I think you may be stuck with me for a while. But if I do ever get famous, my lack of education could come in handy.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I was in school, we always had to memorize stupid facts about writers and artists. Then we had to match them with the right person. It was just pointless shit that had nothing to do with their work. You know, ‘What author planted six apple trees in his backyard?’ or ‘This artist always had yellow curtains.’ All this random crap. Someday some poor kid at St. James will read ‘Which twenty-first century artist was expelled from the Pittsburgh Institute of Fine Arts twice and never completed his education?’ and have to match it to Justin Taylor.”

“You are completely insane. You know that.”

Justin could feel Brian shaking his head, but he kept talking. “We had this one English teacher, Ms. Sommers. She was repressed as hell, but totally obsessed with literature. She used to tell us all kinds of stuff that wasn’t in the book especially about the Victorians. They were her favorites; probably because they were a kinky bunch. They were always going off on these retreats that were just big orgies. And half of them were sleeping with their cousins because their wives were nuts, and they had them locked up somewhere. My favorite was a story about some woman author. She was a big feminist, but decided to get married so everyone would leave her alone. She married some gay guy she knew, but then she comes on to him on their honeymoon. He jumps out the window and lands in water; I think they were in Venice so maybe it was the canals. Anyway, he catches pneumonia and dies. How crazy is that?” Once he stopped talking, Justin turned around and reached for the joint, but Brian held it out of his reach.

“No more for you. Pot makes you talk too much.”

“It also makes me horny so hand it over.”

Brian made a face, but gave in just like Justin knew he would. “Since when do you need help getting horny? I bet she masturbated while reading poetry.”

“Huh?” Justin was having trouble following the change in subject.

“Ms. Sommers. She’d probably lay in bed at night reading sonnets and getting all hot and bothered. Then she’d start touching herself.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Justin elbowed Brian in the ribs. “That is so sick. I don’t want to think about Ms. Sommers getting herself off. Christ, I’m completely traumatized.”

“Poor baby,” Brian laughed. “Well in Ms. Sommers honor, we need to come up with a more interesting fact about you. Getting kicked out of PIFA isn’t going to cut it.”

“What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. Something about all the hot gay sex you had with an extremely sexy, brilliant, handsome man.”

“Not bad, but a little too explicit. I think she would faint before saying ‘hot gay sex.’ If you can keep from freaking out on me every few years, we could go with something about my long term love affair with a very sexy and successful older man.”

“I’m not sure if I’m more offended by ‘love affair’ or ‘older.’”

“I said very sexy.”

“True, but ‘love affair still has to go.”

“Freak, would you prefer relationship?” Justin laughed when Brian smacked the back of his head. “I didn’t think so.”

“Shut up and give me my joint back.” Justin did as he asked and rested his head on Brian’s thigh when he stretched his legs out along side him. They finished the joint in silence just watching the sky fade. Eventually, Brian spoke again, “This was always my favorite time of year.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I couldn’t wait to get back to school. No more hiding from my dad if he wasn’t working which was most of the time or being dragged to church with my mother every day. School was a guaranteed eight hours out of the house, more if I could find after school activities that were free.”

Brian rarely shared much about his family, but Justin knew better than to comfort him. Instead he asked, “Tell me a good summer memory.”

“A good one.”

“Yeah, something fun you did or whatever.”

“OK.” After a slight pause, Brian told him, “The summer I was sixteen I was working at a gas station, and Mikey had a job at some ice cream place. It was hot as hell that summer, and I had a cheap piece of shit car. My mom had given up on me by then, and as long as I gave Dad money he left me alone. So I picked Mikey up from work one day and told him we were going to the gay Y.”

“I wasn’t aware there was a straight version,” Justin snickered.

“Pay attention. You’re the one who wanted a story. Anyway,” Brain dragged the last word out, “we drove down to Liberty Avenue. We’d been there before. Debbie was already working at the diner, but Mikey would never go anywhere else.”

“Wait a minute,” Justin interrupted, “there’s no Y on Liberty Avenue.”

“Exactly.”

“Oh my God, you took him to the baths!”

“I always knew you were a smart boy. You should have seen his face when he realized where we were. Vic had been down from New York the week before and had told us about the baths, but Mikey was too scared to go. I think he hid in a corner the whole time half staring and half trying to look away. Luckily no one approached him, or he probably would have had a heart attack on the spot.”

“God, I wish I could have been there.”

“It was fucking hilarious. He was terrified, but I loved it,” Brian’s voice took on a slightly wistful tone. “To quote Emmett, it was fabulous. Naked men everywhere, sucking and fucking. It was pure pleasure, sensation. I was in heaven. I’d never felt so free. There’s just nothing like the first time, Sunshine.”

“Tell me about it,” Justin sighed against his leg.

“Brat.”

“You were the one who was all ‘I want you to remember this every time you have sex.’ It’s not my fault you ruined me for other men. Serves you right to be stuck with me.”

“That was my plan all along, you know. All the hundreds of times I told you to fuck off were just a cover.”

Justin turned his head so he was looking up at Brian’s face. “I knew it, I knew it! You fell madly in love with me the moment you saw me. How sweet.” He laughed and batted his eyelashes at Brian.

“Enough already. Tell me a bad summer memory.”

“What?”

“Come on, that’s a lot more interesting than the Taylors do Disney or hearing about you and Daphne ogling ass at the Country Club.”

“You are so weird,” Justin sat up a little and shook his head. “Let’s see. I guess the summer after Molly was born. Mom was worried I’d feel neglected since she’d be busy with the baby, and we always spent a lot of time together. So she convinced my father he needed to bond with me or some shit. His answer was to sign me up for Little League.”

Brian let out a loud bark of laughter, “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“Unfortunately for all involved, I’m not. As you can imagine, it was a complete disaster. I hated every minute of it. I was hopeless so of course they stuck me out in the outfield somewhere. So in addition to being clueless, I was bored out of my mind. You can just imagine what happened.”

“No, please tell me more.”

“You’re not supposed to be enjoying this so much,” Justin turned slightly so he could see Brian’s face. The amusement he saw there annoyed him, but he continued, “I’m not sure what pissed my dad off more. The time I snuck a sketchbook and a pencil out with me, or the time I was distracted by watching a butterfly turned away from the field and was hit in the back by the one ball that came my way.”

“Priceless, absolutely priceless. Just how delusional is Craig? He couldn’t possibly have imagined you would be good at baseball,” Brian continued laughing.

“The worst part was he insisted I finish the season ‘like a man,’” Justin lowered his voice to sound like Craig’s, “even though I’m sure the coach would have paid me to quit. I begged him to let me quit, but he kept telling me not to be a sissy. He never said faggot or fairy, but he used the same tone so I knew what he meant. Mom felt really bad about the whole thing, and I never had to play again. When I realized I was gay, I thought back to that summer, and I knew my dad would never understand.”

Brian had stopped laughing and was lightly stroking Justin’s hair. “I bet you looked cute in your uniform. I’ll have to ask your mother for pictures next time we’re at her place.”

“No way. Not unless I get to see pictures of you as an alter boy.”

“I think my mother either burned them or they’re part of the shrine she prays to for my wicked soul.”

“Then no Little League pictures for you. I’ll just go back to forgetting it ever happened. Thank you very much,” Justin failed to keep all the bitterness out of his voice

Brian stood up and pulled on Justin’s hand. “Come inside. It’s dark now.” When Justin didn’t respond, he tugged again and kissed his wrist. “It’s getting cold,” he lowered his voice seductively. “Come in and let me warm you up.”

Justin looked at the stars just starting to appear for a moment before standing up to join Brian. He leaned his head on his shoulder, and Brian wrapped an arm around his waist. They headed inside, and Justin realized most of the restlessness had left him.

Date: 2004-08-29 02:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rhiannonhero.livejournal.com
Oh, wow! I really enjoyed this so much. I love fics where Brian opens up about his past, or Justin talks about his childhood. I love to see them sharing and living the way everyone does. I also like Justin's little jabs about 'relationship' and 'love affair'. Well done! Thank you so much for playing with me and doing the challenge!!

Date: 2004-08-29 04:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you liked this since was written for your challenge:) Seriously, thank you so much for the feedback.

I love to see them sharing and living the way everyone does.

That was really what I wanted to show. Just one of those normal conversations that tend to wander a bit. Nothing angsty or dramatic, just life. jule

Date: 2004-08-29 03:09 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] severina2001.livejournal.com
So lovely. Your character voices are just spot-on, and I love all the visual aspects. :)

Date: 2004-08-29 05:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you. I worry a lot about character voice especially when I'm mainly writing dialogue. I'm thrilled you think I got it right. jule

Date: 2004-08-29 03:37 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] teisfortiger.livejournal.com
Jule, as usual, truly wonderful.

Date: 2004-08-29 05:02 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Lucille, I think you were one of my first readers! I am so glad you are still reading and enjoying. It's great to hear from you. jule

Date: 2004-08-29 06:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sassy111.livejournal.com
Very good! I enjoyed this very much. Thank you for sharing.

Date: 2004-08-30 06:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you for reading! I appreciate it. jule

Date: 2004-08-30 03:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elimandjulian.livejournal.com
“I’m not sure if I’m more offended by ‘love affair’ or ‘older.’”

“I said very sexy.”

“True, but ‘love affair still has to go.”

“Freak, would you prefer relationship?” Justin laughed when Brian smacked the back of his head. “I didn’t think so.”



Bwah! This was all wondiferous, I loved this bit here especially, because I could hear the little laugh Justin does when he's needling Brian and I could so see Brian's cute little smirk. I miss that smirk sometimes.

In this beautiful piece, you answered one of my fondest wishes - that Justin and Brian just talk to each other for a bit. No drama, no posturing, no sex, just a good old-fashioned conversation. I loved their trading stories, (though picturing Mikey at the baths did frighten me a bit). I loved Justin's diatribe about school. I had teachers just like the ones he described, and, honestly, I prolly would be just like Ms. Sommers, but instead of the Victorian era, I'd be gushing about late-19th Century Russia.

Wonderful job, as per usual, my Juleness!



Date: 2004-08-30 04:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
It thrills me to no end that you read this since I know you've left QAF behind. I'm most comfortable writing conversations so I'm always looking for an excuse to make Brian and Justin talk. Seriously, they are both very intelligent so they would have to spend time talking to each other and since they are also a bit sarcastic I try to put a little banter into their conversation. I'm so glad it worked for you.

Ms. Sommers is actually based on one of my English professors. Once I understood her I loved her, but she wasn't always in touch with reality and took things a little too seriously. Thank you again for reading. jule

Date: 2004-08-31 03:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] beloved4always.livejournal.com
a lovely read. I really enjoyed this. I thought the contrasting reasons why each did or didn't like the time of year was clever and quite poignant. thank you!

Would you mind if I posted a link on the Refugee Board?

Date: 2004-08-31 04:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you very much. I started the story with the idea of Justin feeling a bit melancholy because of the time of year. The more I thought about it with his screwed up family, Brian probably would have looked forward to escaping to school. I'm glad it made sense to you.

Feel free to post a link anywhere you like! I'm flattered. And I love your icon, it's one of my favorite pictures of Gale. jule

Date: 2004-10-25 08:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kitkatbyte.livejournal.com
Awww, that is cute! I think you were successful in your goal of making them have a normal, comfortable conversation. I love how Justin's story tied into Justin's later conflicts with his father.

Date: 2004-10-26 06:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you! I hate writing sex so a nice conversation fic is a good way to avoid it.

I love how Justin's story tied into Justin's later conflicts with his father.

It's pretty clear that Justin knew what Craig's reaction would be so he must have given him some clues. I tried to think of summer disaters for Justin and once I came up with baseball it seemed like a good way for Craig to let his prejudices be known. jule

Date: 2007-03-02 02:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] epicallytired.livejournal.com
you nailed their voices perfectly. i know you wrote this two and a half years ago but it still holds up brilliantly.

Date: 2007-03-05 03:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you! What a wonderful compliment.

Date: 2007-03-02 02:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] testdog65.livejournal.com
I'm here by way of [livejournal.com profile] qaf_retread. This was a beautiful story. I can truly imagine Brian and Justin having just such a conversation. I really enjoyed reading this.

~Ellen

Date: 2007-03-05 03:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thanks so much. Also thank you for telling me how you found because now I have a new source for stories.

Date: 2007-03-02 02:59 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] court1429.livejournal.com
This is perfectly IC and I can see it and hear it. I adore "slice of life" fic, so this hit the spot. Thanks!

Date: 2007-03-05 03:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! It's nice to take a break form the drama and angst.

Date: 2007-03-02 04:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rosy5000.livejournal.com
I think you did a wonderful job getting the characters' voices right. I could really hear Brian and Justin talking like this. Especially loved Justin's little league memory. *grins*

Date: 2007-03-05 03:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! Poor Justin he just wasn't met for team sports.

Date: 2007-03-02 10:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] youbetterwiseup.livejournal.com
I liked this a lot. It was quiet and comfortable.

Thank you!

Date: 2007-03-05 03:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
That's just the mood I wanted. Thank you.

Date: 2007-03-02 12:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] am3lee.livejournal.com
one word : BEAUTIFUL!!

Date: 2007-03-05 03:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Date: 2007-03-02 01:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_alicesprings/
I don't think I'd ever read this before. It was wonderful! Thank you :)

Date: 2007-03-05 03:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Date: 2007-03-02 02:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kskitten.livejournal.com
That was really nice. Like the quiet conversation, felt really comfortable.

Date: 2007-03-05 03:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
That's how I wanted it to feel. Thank you.

Date: 2007-03-02 09:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] altsunthinkable.livejournal.com
Oooh, I love it when I get "new" fic through [livejournal.com profile] qaf_retread. This was a really, really nice read. It had such a calm, sort of mellow tone to it that was very pleasant to read. And I love it when Brian and Justin talk and stay IC. It's not always easy to do but you accomplished it here quite nicely. Thank you for such an enjoyable little fic.

Date: 2007-03-05 03:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! I love writing conversations, but that can be tricky with Brian and Justin. I'm glad you thought I got it right.

Date: 2007-03-03 05:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kylemorrison.livejournal.com
I came here from qaf_retread. I've never read this fic before and wow! This is really great. I liked that Brian actually opened up to Justin about his family. I rarely saw that in canon. Thanks.

Ana

Date: 2007-03-05 03:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you! I imagine they had to talk sometimes.

Date: 2008-09-17 01:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sjmpets.livejournal.com
oh how wonderful. just sitting around have a quiet conversation about this and that. very rarely are they shown like that. it was nice.

Date: 2008-09-22 01:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Date: 2008-09-17 04:00 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] herefordroad.livejournal.com
wonderful dialogue here...realistic and revealing. brian and mikey's first trip to the baths, justin's stint in little league.

my favorite:

..."we could go with something about my long term love affair with a very sexy and successful older man.”

“I’m not sure if I’m more offended by ‘love affair’ or ‘older.’”

“I said very sexy.”

“True, but ‘love affair still has to go.”

just what i'd expect from brian!

great fic.

jeannie

Date: 2008-09-22 01:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you so much!

Date: 2008-09-17 08:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] quirks4me.livejournal.com
This was completely new for me (thank God for qaf retread!), and greatly enjoyed it!

I loved getting a look at just an "everyday" for them-the voices were perfectly IC, and it just left me feeling very relaxed. Perfect scene to have in my head before I head off to bed. :)

Date: 2008-09-22 01:07 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you

Date: 2008-09-17 04:41 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] trsnb210.livejournal.com
Here via Re-Tread...This is so sweet and simple. Good IC dialogue is so hard to find. B & J truly are unique and any thing other than authentic voices are like nails on a chalk board...This was almost an auditory experience...I *heard* them, thank you!
teri

Date: 2008-09-18 04:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] not-yet-defined.livejournal.com
YAY for retread, this was great :D

Date: 2008-09-22 01:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you so much! I try to hear them when I writer so I'm thrilled you could hear them whike reading
(deleted comment)

Date: 2008-09-22 01:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jule1122.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Date: 2008-10-27 08:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lougenessis.livejournal.com
Simply beautiful. Thank you for the lovely story.
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