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Post by TeddyBower on Feb 5, 2019 20:30:14 GMT -5
Just want to thank Dave and Israfil for this storyline. I think I said before that it's one of my favorites and that viewpoint is only enhanced by the latest two stories posted in that story arc, Welcome to the Family and Final Exam.
I think the reason for that is due to the extreme dysfunction of Jon's family and what he is required to overcome in order to have a loving relationship. In no way do I mean to diminish other guys in the SS Universe like Asher or Griff or Nate, etc., there's just something about this story that especially touches me.
Thanks, Guys 😊
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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 5, 2019 23:50:12 GMT -5
This one is a unique story line, partly because we do get to see the dysfunction at length. While we know what Nate's father does, for instance, we don't see nearly as much of him. The same can be said for Asher and his birth family - and while we do see more of Royce, he still didn't get the kind of 'screen time' Richard and Geoff do. What's more is Jon wasn't intended, by Israfil, to head down this path. I'm afraid I talked him into it, somewhat. Out of the characters he brought to SS, Jon was the my favorite. Richard is locked into his role as fill-in-parent and Geoff, while tortured, was too difficult for me to relate to or empathize with. I do blame Israfil, though, because he teased the possibility of Jon and Jake being an item. He decided it would be all right if we could make Jon get there in a believable way. In some ways I don't really think Jon is gay, per se. I think he has a very passive/aggressive way of looking at himself - both feeling valuable and valueless at once. In Jake he found someone that values him, and challenges him. Jon did partly what he felt was expected of him, partly what came naturally, and partly what felt good. I think sex was a validation of worth and being desired. Jake sees past his outside to a complicated person that can still be lovable - and who demonstrates that by his loyalty, his caring and his desire to be a better man because Jake believes in him.
In the end, for Jon, I think love and desire culminated from complex feelings for Jake rather than the baser desire of lust. Lust is easy; love has twists and turns that make it more complex, and ultimately more worthwhile - which Jon discovered.
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Post by TeddyBower on Feb 6, 2019 1:47:36 GMT -5
I think, too, that in some ways, Jon's experience reminds me of my own, though we didn't experience exactly the same trauma's when we were young, we both had them in spades. It colors one's self perceptions. As a result, my empathy is strong with and for Jon.
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Post by Israfil on Feb 8, 2019 10:31:42 GMT -5
As Dabeagle pointed out - we see more of the dysfunction itself in addition to its effects and how the characters deal with it. As you can probably see, I enjoy showing where my characters are coming from. It makes the journey towards recovery seem that much tougher, more daunting, but I feel, ultimately has a better payoff for the story as a whole as well as the reader.
Instead of just saying Jon spent his formative years without his parents and raised by his brothers, it has more impact to show that family dynamic, making the effects it had on Jon as a person better understood.
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Post by PaulR5 on Feb 9, 2019 0:21:59 GMT -5
Actually, I think the first time we saw Jon was in the story by Cynus titled, "Newborn Baristas." He was in the accident that delayed Damon from getting to Cafe Perk-Me-Up and caused Derek to help out Seth and Grayson during the morning rush.
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Post by Israfil on Feb 9, 2019 7:18:32 GMT -5
Actually, I think the first time we saw Jon was in the story by Cynus titled, "Newborn Baristas." He was in the accident that delayed Damon from getting to Cafe Perk-Me-Up and caused Derek to help out Seth and Grayson during the morning rush. Yes, Cynus was kind enough to provide an introductory sequence for my characters  |
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Post by jnwrx1 on Mar 15, 2019 23:11:00 GMT -5
I think the series reveals Jon and Jake to be one of the most genuine and deepest of couples. With their histories, there's no way they can move forward without being anything but honest with each other. They are accustomed to being deceived or left alone, so I'm pretty sure it would be impossible for them to fake their love for each other.
It may have been slow to come around, but maybe being best friends first, and truly knowing each other helped them to be able to know that they could also truly love each other. For them, being friends first, being able to fight as friends first and understand each other was the best way to start a real relationship, because now if they fight, they know it's over what truly matters.
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