Sigh. I love, love, love the different dynamics here, the very particular and different relationships you built between each pair. Brendon's characterization in particular as anything BUT the chaste and innocent Mormon boy was wonderful. And man, I have been looking for fic about the bottling incident for *forever*; I'd given up finding any eventually, so it was even more awesome to suddenly have it be a cataclysmic event here.
Author's Response: OMG, when I first joined this fandom, you have no idea, I literally angsted all over the place about the lack of bottling fic. I totes feel you. Thanks!!
Wow...I'm at a loss of words. Seriously, that was awesome. I love how you didn't make Brent a total asshole like most people do. You made him a person and yea...its awesome. And the whole group dynamic, and everything and they way Ryan is with Spencer and they just...and Jon, and Jon and Ryan, and Brendon and Spencer, and the love, and the sleeping around, and EVERYTHING IN THIS STORY IS GOLD!!! GOLD I TELL YOU!!! Uhh, seriously, you're an amazing writer! Great job.
P.S. If it was possible to give you like a...100 for the rating I totally would, but alas, they don't allow it.
P.P.S. I just read over my review thing and wow. You officially have the ability to turn me into a blubering 13 year old girl...which yea. I'm not 13. But still, your amazing.
Author's Response: *hugs* Thank you so much. This was so sweet and nice to come home to and read and feel kind of loved.
This is 100% full of awesome. Long and complicated and lots of understated H/C, which I think pretty much makes you my new favorite person.
Author's Response: Well, I NEVER turn down being someone's favorite. *g* Thanks.
I love the complexity of this, the struggle to get to where's right. It's real, and I love discovering more and more facets of this fandom. This was amazing. Absolutely amazing.
Did I mention it was amazing?
Author's Response: *giggles* Hi! Welcome back! Glad you enjoyed. *g*
*big, deep, sigh*
I was looking for 'bottled at Reading' fic and was linked to this. I know I'd meant to read it after I read Greatest American Novel and just lost track of it.
It. Is. Gorgeous. I love how well you planted the seeds of the poly love so early on, that it was just simmering (boiling at times) during the whole thing. I love their progression from virginal failboats to tiny men with big needs. Spencer's friendship with Ryan was beautiful. And the way Brendon seemed to just hurt so often. And Jon's willingness to 'just BE' with them - yet he's still a little sarcastic and silly. Oh, he's my FAVORITE.
Ugh - thank you for this. Seriously, thank you. You own the best portrayal of this whole idea. Others have come close, but not quite this perfect.
Author's Response: *squeezes you to bits* I'm glad that it was what you were looking for, and that it satisfied the itch. Thank you!
I TOTALLY HAD A REALLY COHERENT REVIEW PLANNED BUT I JUST LOST THE WHOLE THING. /o BUT, UM. THIS MADE ME FLAIL A LOT. MORE THE USUAL. SOMETIMES I SQUEAK A LITTLE, BUT THAT IS MOSTLY IT. THIS HAD ME DANCING WHEN I GOT UP TO GO GET WATER AND SUSTENANCE EARLIER, AND JUST. THIS WHOLE FIC MADE ME RIDICULOUS, LIKE, IN THE REALM OF HOW RIDICULOUS MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME HAVE MADE ME---WHICH IS. YEAH. DID NOT REALLY EXPECT THAT FROM, UH. ---THERE IS ALWAYS THAT UNDERLYING THOUGHT OF "IT'S JUST FANFICTION." BUT THERE IS NOTHING "JUST"
ABOUT THIS.
IN A SINGLE SENTENCE: YOU WIN, FOREVER.
Author's Response: *giggles* HI!!!! I THINK THIS WAS WAY BETTER THAN COHERENCY. THANK YOU.
This was amazing. I have read it through 3 times already, and it makes me all weepy and sentimental every time. These boys are my life, and the fact that you portray them in such loving and layered detail is kind of heartbreakingly beautiful. I am truly a fan of yours. PLEASE never stop writing...
~Katie (songchik92@netscape.net)
Author's Response: I suspect I probably never will stop writing, it makes me too selfishly happy. I'm glad this got at you in a good way.
I think this nearly destroyed me by the time I got to the end.
It was wonderfully done, and you never cease to amaze me.
Author's Response: You're so sweet! I'm glad I don't disappoint.
Oh, my god, wow.
This was amazing and brilliant and peferct, and ow, fuck, my heart.
I love this huge colossal misunderstanding, how they're all too honorable to get what they want.
Chirst. You rule, hard.
Author's Response: I would like to think that my rule is a benevolent one, not a hard one. *g* Thank you!
Damn, that took me a long time to read, but oh, oh, it was worth it! For one, you got me to sympathize with and really truly like Ryan Ross for the first time, uh, possibly ever? Which is saying something, although I am quite new to bandom. He was the only member of the band that didn't immediately get my love but instead has had to grow on me. This fic somehow helped a lot?
Also, I'm usually a Brendon/Spencer fan, sometimes Jon/Spencer, so for you to make me so badly want Ryan/Spencer was new and wonderful, and for it work that all four of them get together eventually -- well, that just rocks. I like how this progressed and your characterization in general. Thanks.
*wanders off in search of other fics by you*
Author's Response: I'm a Ryan girl, first and foremost, so always glad to bring someone over. Thanks for letting me know that you liked the fic!