Day Eight - about time we branched out

[aruan]

I love Liz's photos. Never having been to a concert myself, they provide a beautiful slide show of the boys in their element, better than most professionally staged photo shoots. Little moments like this - Lance's eyes are almost closed as he listens to JC do what he was, as so many sources would attest, born to do.

I don't know the source, but I heard a story a little while ago. An interviewer had asked Lance who he would be if he could be anyone for a day. Lance said JC, so he could know what it was like to sing "like that." I imagine him thinking that as he's listening here. He obviously has a lot of love but also respect for the man who would pen his theme song. *g* I could see him having aspired to be like JC in the beginning, someone already so talented and coordinated to learn from. Maybe quietly hero worship, just a little, for being perfect yet perfectly accepting of Lance even at the start of their progression to brotherhood.

As much as I'd like to, it would be really tacky to rec myself, huh? Eh, link at the bottom anyway. Today, Lance shows remarkable focus despite being presented with his wildest dream.

Not A Big Lie by Calico (part three of a series)

"You tell me something first," Lance said, concentrating on not concentrating on the flex of JC's chest beneath his hand, the melting of sighs into quick panicked panting as Lance's words sank in. "Deal?"

"Okay," JC repeated, worn-leather voice, hand coming to cover Lance's fingers against his chest, and Lance slid his hand sideways, back onto the nice safe sheets, not ready to trust JC quite yet. "Deal."

Deal, Lance thought, as JC grinned knowingly and replaced his arm round Lance's neck, then realised with a sinking feeling that it was a deal, that his brain had decided that it was justified, okay, doing whatever JC wanted, just as long as it was a fact-finding mission, a chance to get the raw information from JC when JC wasn't concentrating on his words.

He almost smiled. He'd known he'd only need a minute or so to come up with a convincing excuse.

AU fic makes my toes curl, and this was just absolutely delicious to read. I give such mad, mad props to Lance for holding it together as well as he does given the circumstances. Exploiting a man's known weakness isn't fair play, but then, I doubt Sirens even know the concept exists.

Wherein there's a lot less sex, a lot more maudlin introspection, and that second-person POV everyone loves so much - All That Matters.

Comments

[beatpropx.livejournal.com]

Please forgive the following crappy feedback, I'm just so trashed from finishing up this semester /and/ moving, but I loved All That Matters. The whole 'get rid of Lance' part of the greater NSYNC story is my favorite. The banding together and defying the suits gets me smiling fondly at them and believing the we are brothers line they spout at the drop of a hat. Normally I balk at crying boy-fic, it's usually a heavy handed, non-believable vehicle used to jump start hurt-comfort vibes, but this was done nicely and I liked his reticence to just let go. Guys don't cry often, but if we do, it's either a solitary tear or just a total gusher-breakdown. Great JC dialogue, wonderful hints of brotherly Joey action, coming to terms with himself and situation!Lance, it was a damn fine piece of work. I hope to read more from you!

Coop

[gjstruthseeker.livejournal.com]

Dude, you've completely made my day and half right there. Thank you. I loved writing it, the maddening two days it came down to at the end that were spent sitting/eating/barely sleeping/typing exclusively on my family's sofa to get it done in time (if not on time, exactly). It changed a lot as I wrote it (not using outlines has its drawbacks) and, as with everything popslash related, couldn't be entirely JoLa-free, but I really do love it...most of the time, as it is with all authors and their work, I'd imagine.

I was so worried about the crying thing, having the same issues as you. But the label's ultimatum combined with all the hard work he'd already put in, the bonds they'd already formed, the idea that it would be because of him that everything could fall apart - suffice it to say it made me gasp and cry yet a little more after Papa Fatone wrecked me earlier in the show. I could just see him blaming himself for not being objective or strong enough in the beginning to say no, not realizing that as desperate as they were, the other guys wouldn't have agreed to sign him if they didn't believe he would be what they needed. JC's so smart. *g*

Hope your relocation was mostly painless! I know the hassle of semester end quite well, too, but really, you were movingly eloquent as far as I'm concerned. Thanks again.