So I logged on and looked at my flist for the first time in several weeks. As you can imagine it was a bit overwhelming so if there is a post you think I should see, please link me to it so I don't miss it. How is everyone? I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving.

I have some lovely holiday cards I bought last year, and I would love to send them out to all of you. If you would like a card from me, please comment with your address. Comments will be screened. Even if you gave me your address in the past, please comment here anyway so I know you want a card this year and so I have all the address together. Happy Holidays!

Yes, another person looking for a last minute beta. My fall challenge story is a few short snippets totally 500-700 words. If anyone had time to look it over, I'd be very grateful.

I signed up. Have you?



Seriously, I hope ALL of you sign up! I love this exchange so much because it really has something for everyone. Since it is open to both fic and graphics, there are lots of ways to participate and so many possibilities for requests. I have been amazed by the lovely gifts I've received, and had so much fun fulfilling my own requests.

I also think it is a great opportunity to request that fic or graphic you've always wanted, but wasn't sure anyone would create. And it allows us to step out of our comfort zone as artists if we choose to. I've written Ted/Blake, Brian preseries, and a PWP none of which I would have thought of on my own, but I am very fond of all three of those stories. Participating in the gift exchange has changed the way I write and think about writing.

So if you haven't signed up, go to qaf_giftxchnge right now and ask for something you really want and volunteer to create something fabulous for a fellow fan. Have fun! You won't regret it.

Bunny wanted to play, and since not_yet_defined made a wonderful post on icon etiquette, I thought a icon exchange might be fun. It's like a cookie exchange but with hot guys instead of extra calories:)

All you need to do is post 10 of your favorite shareable icons. If everyone does this we can all find new icons to love, new icon makers to stalk, and lots of fabulous tiny pictures to squee over. This is super easy. Everyone has at least 10 icons they love!

The only rule is every iconmaker must be credited!

ETA: Post your icons in your own journal (they are welcome in my comments too) and spread the icon love!

Here are 10 icons I love to start us off:


My default icon by viv_graphics. I love the way Brian and Justin are wrapped around each other here.

( More icons! )

I am in a major lurking mood at the moment, but I couldn't miss out on wishing 3 of my favorite people a Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday suze_y, qafmaniac, and kari77. I hope each of you had fabulous day and I wish you a year of love, laughter, joy, and fandom fun!!

And of course I love Brian and Justin too!

Both happier_bunny and michira_70 tagged me so blame them for being subjected to this:)

FIRST: If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own IJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.

SECOND: Tag eight sexy people. Even though I am way behind on commenting, I am reading all of these so if you see this and you have not done the meme yet, consider yourself tagged!

( Meme )

Does anyone have time to beta the very short ficlet I wrote for the Moving mini-challange? I work all day tomorrow so I won't be looking to post until tomorrow night.

I am in desperate need of prompts for the Season Six drabble theme. I think the idea of Season Six is just too broad for me since I have so many possible futures for all the characters. But I don't want to skip this challenge so please let me know what future you'd like a glimpse of. Give a character, a year, an event, anything to get me started please:)

For those of you who read my last qaf_challenges entry Tapestry, I have a question. As you know, I structured the story to resemble (as much as I was capable of)an episode of QAF. One of the best things about QAF was the use of music especially the song that led to the credits. So what song do you think should come at the end of Tapestry? I have one suggestion Nobody Else Will by The Cliks which you can listen to here: Nobody Else Will. What do you think of it or do you have another suggestion? I'd really love to know what you think!

Both fun_demented and notreallyme10 tagged me for the 3-5 reasons Etahn is bad for Justin. My answer will be a little unorganized because I have some conflicting feelings about Ethan

S2-In S2 I hated Ethan with a disturbing passion. I found him to be incredibly manipulative and I didn't trust him at all. He was clearly telling Justin what he wanted to hear. I don't believe Ethan fell madly in love with Justin and pursued him because he thought he could make Justin happy. he saw something he wanted and he did what he had to do to get it.

S3-I honestly didn't know what to expect from an actual relationship between Justin and Ethan. I went into S3 concerned because of how manipulative I believed Ethan to be. But for the most part, I see Ethan as a nonfactor in S3. Once Justin was with Ethan his feelings for him never seemed particular strong. I almost felt like Justin could see through the illusion Ethan presented but choose to be blind for a period of time until he couldn't any longer.

Some specific reasons Ethan is bad for Justin:

1. He plays on Justin's insecurities. Justin was in a lot of pain in late S2 and also not sure of where he stood with Brian. Ethan took advantage of that by promising to be everything Brian wasn't.

2. I find his behavior in the Dean's office when Justin goes to talk about tuition incredibly inappropriate. He shouldn't even be there. The way he speaks for and about Justin make me uncomfortable and his reaction to finding out Justin's tuition is paid for again not appropriate for the time or place.

3. He makes Justin doubt himself. Justin knew what he saw in Harrisburg, but Ethan (returning to his manipulative roots) convinces Justin that he is wrong. I hate that Justin ends up feeling bad for doubting him.

I think most people have done this, but if you are reading this and want to share your reasons Ethan is bad for Justin, consider yourself tagged:)

I'm bored tonight so I thought I'd post another set of my drabbles here. Amazingly enough, the next group of drabbles come from the rimming prompt! Enjoy,

( 313 Hustler!Justin drabble series )


( Cancer Arc double drabble )


( 6 assorted rimming drabbles )

Anyone able to beta a S3 drabble tonight?

PS: I've been wondering if maybe there should be a beta comm for these types of requests. Thre could also be beta profiles and maybe it could be a place for beta support? Either advice on how to handle tricky situations or sharing favorite grammar rules? Any thoughts.

Drop whatever you are doing and watch this video by qafmaniac. It is the most amazing video to a song I adore "A Question of Lust" by Depeche Mode. The video is sexy and desperate and full of love and did I mention PERFECT! I'm to fluster to make a fancy link so just click and watch.

http://qafmaniac.insanejournal.com/147500.html?view=1284140#t1284140

My darling happier_bunny issued the following challenge:

If you're all about Queer As Folk, all about teh love, all about Brian and Justin, post something in your IJ. It can be a picture, a quote, an icon, anything from the show.
My response is a little odd, but I didn't want to use something I've gushed about before so that left out the end of 202, the 308 reunion, etc. I thought about some of the S5 scenes, but when I really thought about what I miss about QAF, this is the scene that came to mind.




This scene never fails to give me chills. I love everything about it from the moment Just stands up and challenges Stockwell. The best parts: Justin calling his own name, Jennifer saying "My beautiful gay son," Debbie staring Stockwell down, Brian's carefully concealed reactions, Justin not backing down as Stockwell leaves. Everything I love about QAF is in this scene.

Tapestry is my final entry for the Clusterf#ck Challenge. This fic took over my life for a while. I spent a lot of time planning it and trying to decide if I could make it work. Than in my typical style, I wrote it at the last minute so I'm not sure it worked as well as it could have. Some of the people who left feedback for it, were kind enough to say it read like an episode. That was my goal so I'm thrilled to know I didn't completely miss the mark. I wrote this fic for people like me who in addition to missing Brian and Justin, miss Queer as Folk. I tried to think of stories that were true to each character, but also had some themes in common. Thank you so much to xie_xie_xie, notreallyme10, testdog65, and fansee for coming up with a fabulous challenge that allowed me to experiment with this type of story. I hope you enjoy it!

Title: Tapestry
Fandom and Pairing: QAF, various pairings
Theme: Written for the qaf_challenges's Clusterf#ck Challenge theme of Complications.
Summary: When lives are woven together, there are bound to be a few snags.
Rating: NC-17
Notes: While this fic features Brian and Justin, it is very much an ensemble piece, and all the canon characters have a storyline. It really took a village to bring this to you. Special thanks to noteverything for encouraging me to write it. Huge thanks to outlander and fun_demented for taking on the task of betaing for me. Any remaining mistakes are my own.

( Tapestry )

Title: Various
Fandom and Pairing: QAF, various pairings
Theme: Written for the qaf_challenges's Clusterf#ck Challenge theme of Opposites
Notes: Thank you noteverything for being my beta!

( Opposites )

The Clusterf#ck Challenge at qaf_challenges is the best thing ever! If yo have been there, run to the
Clusterf#ck Master List immediately. There are tons of fic and drabbles even some meta. Not to mention amazing vids and fabulous graphics and icons for every character and pairing. Go right now!

I have three entries in the challenge, two drabble sets and one full length fic.

Title: Tempt and Taunt Me
Fandom and Pairing: QAF, various pairings
Theme: Written for the qaf_challenges's Clusterf#ck Challenge theme of "It's All About Sex."
Notes: Five unrelated drabbles about sex organized loosely around the title which is from the Depeche Mode song "Chains." Thank you to noteverything for the beta.

( Tempt and Taunt Me )

Is there anyone available to do a quick beta of my challenge story? Comment here or email me at sololuminus @gamil.com.

Anyone free to beta a drabble for me?

I should be writing so I'm going to catch up on some crossposting instead. I am such a procrastinator. This is a little bit of comment porn I wrote for vl_redreign over the weekend. Unbetaed so read at your own risk.

( This Way for the Porn )