Homeless AU poll

[turps]

I'm planning the end to this right now, and am interested in how people would like to see this resolved. Not saying I'll go with the majority but I am interested in the realism V happy thing.



[Poll #258350]

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bettina_/]

For me it doesn't need a sex scene, but I wouldn't be disappointed if there is one *g*. As for the ending; a realistic ending doesn't mean it can't be a happy one :-).

[castalie.livejournal.com]

I wanted to take the poll, because I'm following the series like all the others, but realized the answers were a little too restrictive for me lol I mean, sometime I would choose 'a little of both', or it would need more explanation from me, and even though you included a space to give suggestions, I'm not sure it would fit mine lol

Yeah, I know, I didn't help- sorry *g*

[turps33.livejournal.com]

That's the feeling I'm getting too. The story just doesn't seem sexual, doesn't mean it can't become that way though ;)

As for the ending; a realistic ending doesn't mean it can't be a happy one :-).

I agree.

Thanks :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

LOL, no worries sis.

You can tell me off LJ if you like, you know I love to hear your theories :)

[paperdollkisses.livejournal.com]

OK, I couldn't answer the poll. I suck. But I alsways did like essay questions better.

1: It's not my story to say happy ending or not. I love the way you've written it so far. I'll read regardless of what you do with it.

2: If a happy ending then I think not necessarily all together. I would like to see Justin and Lance mature and secure in their love. Able to afford hot chocolate and marshmallows and maybe more. Not stuck in a dead end job for lack of education. I would like to see Chris and JC together and never wanting for anything ever again. Where JC could have walls and walls of his art rather than a cardboard box for a canvas. Joey. I think he would love to stay with Chris and JC but it's only because he always seems to be the fifth wheel would I want him to have a life of his own, a love... memories.

3: His hand LOL. I like that idea. Maybe with the babies peeking in.

4: I like the anticipation

5: No, I don't think it needs one. I think that the snuggling and cuddling says more than the sex ever could.

Thanks for asking.

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

I totally can't do this in ticky boxes, for I am verbose!girl. Fear me.

#1 - realistic but happy - 'and then Chris got spotted by a scout and they got a mansion and happly ever after the end' would be a huge dispapointment for me as a reader, in terms of breaking the terms of your universe. IMO. Could be them still on the streets but doing ok, could be J and L going home, could be some or all of them finding homes [I know Big Issue do a lot of work with helping people into accomidation, and there's a fair amount out there on how hard that can be for people to adjust to - and of course Lance needing to keep his underage lover secret would make it complicated for him to go to anyone for help, but I can totaly see Joey finally getting to the head of the waiting list and then waiting about 12 seconds after the official people had gone away and left him in some tiny little appartment before finding the others and persuading them that they should be there too. /tangent. Although - sign of a good story, that it's spinning out it's own threads in your reader's minds - so be proud of yourself!]

#2 - Depends on the circumstances of L and J going home - if it's anything other than Justin being picked up and dragged back kicking and screaming to his parents as an underage run away, and Lance following back to face the music becuase he won;t leave him, then I'd like to think that L and J wouldn't just pack up and abandon the others without a backwards glance. Have L or J been keeping in any kind of contact with home? Postcards? Is there something like the Young Persons Phoneline in your city, which transfers messages annonymously from runaway kids to their families. Back in contact with their families, but living in the city with parental support, mebe? Lance in the city and Justin visiting on weekends? Seeing as both sets of parents love their kids, and it's the hometown situation that's the problem? Although if they've been totaly out of all contact for months their parents must be frantic, and more likely to lash out and blame the other boy / these scary freaks that kept their kids on the streat, no? [Lance's parents help him out with rent / finding a job and he has Joey move in as a roommate and Justin visits on weekends? And you just know that they'd do whatever to help out C and JC as well, because you've painted them as a close linked group. I can't see any of them leaving without giving the others a hand up as well, unless the others [for some reason in my mind, Chris] refuses to let them ruin their own chances by 'dragging them down']

#3 JDDT. But in this story? I'm not sure how realistic it would feel to introduce another new character into this close group, given how tough it is to maintain close relationships of any sort under these sort of conditions, and I'm having trouble seeing casual sex being that far up his list of priorities when things are hard. I guess you could go back and add a little *more* to Joey flirting with the girl at the diner, suggest that there's an occasional more-than-flirt going on there, but - that would make a previously really sympathetic charactere less so, at least to me, because why isn't she helping him out more if they're even casually a couple? Rent boy Joey so doesn't suit this story. [tangent : Does rent boy Joey exist? Can it please?] I guess that leaves us with clicky box 4 or clicky box 1, and really it's got to be what suits the story, right? If you have them all settling down for the night at some point, it's one of the things Chris overhears?

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

#4 - I want the long drawn out struggle that gets them to *somewhere* out of this mess and pain, via all the complications of their unconventional relationships, the age issue, dealing with health services and therefore officialdom, the boy's parents, and everything else. Possibly something happening *to* Justin - a near miss that he can't ignore - And a pony with a ribbon, please Terri. ;p

#5 - not sure. On general principles, yes, but - it's got to serve a purpose in the story - Chris and JC reclaiming each other, would make sense, or luxuriating in having space of their own [either pairing] or promising something to each other with their bodies [thinking lambs if they decide to face their parents togehter or something, but could work for TrickC too] OTOH, this story feels to me like it's all about the relationships, which would really not be hurt by fade-to-black, and the mentions that creat their physical relationships 'off stage' as it were are working really well so far. The other thing is the basic practicalities - lack of space, lack of privacy, lack of easy clean up, the cold, where are they picking up condoms from if they're using them, what if anything are they using for lube, etc etc. Which I'd actually really like to see, not least becauase I'm pretty sure I can't write gritty realistic sex.

Um - and I seem to have flipped into edity / crit / brainstorm mode, which may well be utterly innaproriate for how well we know each other and everything, so if I'm out of line, please do thwap me and tell me?

#5 - you're doing a fantastic job!

[Dude! - verbose!girl is right - that was too long to post as a single comment. *boggles*]

[patchworkdragon.livejournal.com]

I go along with the comments about getting them there the hard way; this story is too realisitc to have a fairy tale ending. But they should all get to a place where they have job. And I need the couples to stay together, so I don't have to cry.
I like the idea of solo!Joey with someone evesdropping. Hotness, yet emphisizing the lack of privacy.
The way this story is going, any sex scene that got too explicit would be jarring, but something subtle would be good. Some mention of someone overhearing someone else, or some basking in the afterglow.
I'd like to see somethign happen to Justin, break that innocence he has. But then, I don't like the cocky little bvastard, running away so Chris gets stabbed.

[ravenbat.livejournal.com]

You may have noticed I didn't answer these two in the poll, here's why...

If happy ending, would you rather --

I'd like to see the Lambs go home (to maybe Lynn) yet still have them able to keep in contact with the other three guys who are off the streets now and living together someplace safe and happy.

Should Joey get some?

I'm always in favor of Joey getting some love, doesn't matter the gender, Joey deserves love too.

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

Arrg. I know I had ideas about this, and now I can't remember them...

lol, I meant to keep TrickC sex & change Joey to "no", but of course "JDDT & It's All About the TrickC" are my mottos, so no surprises there. *g*

The story hasn't been sexual so far, and does not need to be, but it might be nice to see, either TrickC making it work, despite their conditions, or perhaps =finally= being able to consumate once they have a home, or even Chris overhearing Joey & his hand (*g*) and guilt tripping about the lack of privacy, worrying about the others, as is his wont.

Personally, I don't see them escaping the streets as automatically unrealstic. Maybe I'm naive, but I think it could be accomplished, within the text of the story, without feeling forced. Just sayin'. *grin*

You do whatever you want, Ter, I'm afraid my poll may be disappointing, but your story is fantastic, we'll still love it regardless!

[seiyaharris.livejournal.com]

So, yes, I answered the poll, but I wanted to say (now I've been out and back and you've probably written it already and everything lol)

Yes. Sex is good, but not a necessity in this story.
A happy ending is good, but a fairy tale one is probably too much of a pipe dream/unrealistic (as much as it pains me to say ;o). Other stories could get away with fairy tale ending, but you've just done so much with this story, with <their story, and kind of had so much to say that I feel it needs to end realistically, in my mind. A solid roof over their head would be fantastic, but it doesn't necessarily have to be a 50,000 dollar one *g*
I'm sure whatever you decide to do, it'll be fine, and great, and heartbreaking and wonderful :o)
**smooches**

[turps33.livejournal.com]

This story hasn't got a sexual feel to me at all. It's all hugging and kissing and sure they have to have sex, at least JC and Chris would but it doesn't seem as important to show that.

You're right with the ending too, and believe me it pains me to know they won't get their penthouse. ( In my own version they live like kings in the end )

I'm leaning toward a roof being a good thing, but who's under the roof is the problem.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Your answers aren't a disappointment at all. It's been cool to see what people think.

I don't think the story's sexual either, I like the hugging and kissing, but I also like the idea of overhearing poor Joey.

Oh, I think they will escape the streets, but maybe not to the extent I'd want them too, ie no winning the lottery and living in splendor.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Thanks for expanding your answers.

Still not sure how to end this, but they will be safe, all of them.

And yeah, Joey does deserve love, but it may be a bit late to bring in an OC now. Poor guy, I'll make it up to him on the Joey challenge.

[ravenbat.livejournal.com]

if they are somewhere safe, there's no reason why Joey couldn't find love after they are safe. Or maybe have him wanting to look up someone from his past once he's safe again.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's no chance of the couples breaking up, that's one thing I do know. So no crying!

I think solo!Joey is taking the lead, which in a way is a shame but if he had someone I'd need to introduce a OC and I think I've gone past the point where that's a logical thing to do.

Subtle sex is the way to go I think. This is never going to be a red hot fic, but it can be loving.

You dislike Justin too? I really didn't think so many people would. He's a baby you know? ;)

Thanks for telling me what you think.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

No problem, I'm loving reading all these opinions :)

(1) Thank you! You're a sweetheart.

(2) I love what you say here, especially about Joey. I think he would stay with Chris and JC but he is a man, and he does deserve his own life.

(3)LOL, people seem to like that idea, and the babies seeing/hearing has been mentioned a lot.

(4) I'm glad you trust me.

(5) A popular viewpoint.

Thanks for replying!

[ninjetti75.livejournal.com]

lol

I knew I phrased that totally wrong. *kicks data-thing limiting comment size* What I meant was my responses to the poll for =MY= AU may be disappointing... ..but we'll see *evil!grin*

And yaaaaaay, Off the Streets! That's the happy ending right there, as far as I'm concerned. I loved the idea of Chris &/or JC being discovered, but it probably would ring as unrealistic no matter how it was handled, so just a home is more than good enough for me! *happy!smile*

[seiyaharris.livejournal.com]

Wel hon, I've only ever written sex twice lol (and quite possibly both times, at least inpart, for you, it's a conspiracy, I know lol) 'cause I don't really write fics that are about the sex. And this AU isn't about the sex, so it isn't really required. It's about their 'ships with each other and how they're surviving on the street, not about how much sex they have lol Don't feel bad if they get now sex on screen as it were *g*

They'll live like kings in all our minds hon, but we'll still be happy and satsified with however you write the end.

lol Who's under the roof is always a problem. I want them to stay together, but if say, Justin and Lance go home to Lynne, also god. As long as they're happy, can't please everyone all the time or something lol

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Wel hon, I've only ever written sex twice lol (and quite possibly both times, at least inpart, for you, it's a conspiracy, I know lol)

I'm so proud! Both of those stories were wonderful, especially the kilt one. I'm glad to take the blame this time!

[seiyaharris.livejournal.com]

lol I'd never blame you for anything I wasn't really thanking you for. You inspire nothing but good lol And yes mmmmm, kilt!sex lol nummies

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I like long, so go ahead :)

(1) I agree with you. I'd love nothing more than a fairytale ending, singing contract, JC with his own studio but it's not going to happen. I was having similar ideas about Joey getting out, he seems the most likely at the moment to get off the streets. He's proved he can keep a steady, if unpaid, job. I've dropped hints that he may get a flat through the charity ( I'll credit you for that btw when I'm done, because you gave me the idea )and at this moment a happy ending is him with his own place.

(2) This is the situation that's making me think right now. I agree they won't split up willingly, and Lance would help the others. I doubt he'd go back home even if he was found. Things won't have changed there, so he would have to move out and I can see Diane letting him stay in the city. ( She let him join Nsync afterall, which I know is a totally different situation but it does show she trusts him ) I'm leaning toward Diane and Lyn finding out where the lambs are, coming to the city, getting their sons and going crazy at the others. Screaming at them about keeping their babies. Much angst for them all until Lance talks her round. I like the idea of Lance in his own flat, maybe Lynn and Justin could move to the city. Not sure, that could be too pat.

(3) I agree again. It's too late for a convincing OC and it would be jarring having one anyway. I feel sorry for Joey, but around the groups he's going to have to get none. I mentioned he had sex in the last part, so I like to imagine he's got someone he sees on a regular basis, but off screen as it where.

Moving onto next comment :)

[turps33.livejournal.com]

And on I go, with a break for a coffee *g*

(4)Hmm, well I may have skimmed over the health service thing, but I am planning a big thing with the parents. You want some fantastic things, I wish I was good enough to give them to you ;) I could maybe swing the pony *g*

(5) I pussied out and went to fade to black, it didn't feel right doing a lambs sex scene, plus with it being in Chris' POV he's have had to sit and watch, and that's just creepy.

No worries at all about these comments, I love to know how people are seeing what I write and you've shown me I'm not being as detailed as I should be. That's something I want to fix once this rough draft is done, smooth things over but add details, like do they send postcards to the parents etc. I'm much rather you sent a comment with crit than a general YAY comment, not that I don't love those, I do. Just it helps me more to get the first kind.

You helped a lot, I'm just sorry it took so long to reply because I've been thinking about some of your points since I read them.

Thank you!