BOY is Brian particularly cruel here! I could really see and feel Curt's shock and horror and disbelief over what he was hearing. Yikes.

Just wanted to weigh in re the reasons for the breakup/Curt's inability to get the songs right in this scene. I too didn't really understand this from the film (I love VG, but it's certainly flawed). But I never assumed that the reason was that Curt was back using. I see him screwing up in the recordings just due to his being a messed up individual in general, ie one can imagine that all of his pre-Brian recordings featured dozens and dozens of F-ups and takes, perhaps some of which end up on the final recordings (I can't see Curt as anything nearing a perfectionist). Yet now he finds himself in a more 'professional' outfit, and the expectations are much higher than he's used to. And also just because it's Curt being Curt- his spontaneity, his 'in the moment/damn the torpedoes' way of being, his impulsiveness/instinctiveness, and how none of this is really jiving in this more cold, clinical environment he's finding himself in. He can't be anything but himself really, and is such a screwed up damaged loose cannon that when he senses & sees that Brian is turning his back on him, literally and figuratively, not supporting him, (perhaps especially as everyone watches), he instinctively understands what this means on a larger scale, (ie that he's not going to be allowed to finish the record and that he & B are likely finished- it's too great a betrayal for him), and he flips out. His reaction is completely over the top, but that is poor, screwed up, damaged Curt for ya.

hmm...
don't get me wrong, i love the story...it's totally plausible, but i just dont see it happening that way...
or maybe im just daft...
ANNYHOW!! I loved it anyway. it was passionate and bitter and angsty good sustenance. YAY!!
great work..

Wow. Your description of Curt and his brother was pretty... Wow. Strong.

This story is really well written, and though (like another reviewer) I don't think Curt was back on heroin, it's a very plausible situation. You did a really good job of getting Brian "lost in the lie" of Maxwell Demon. I like blaming the break-up on Brian (because I don't like Brian, and really like Curt...) but I guess it had to be his fault too. Really well done!
~Amber

Oh my God...

...you are my new favorite thing.

Frigging hell. This brought tears to my eyes, just like za's piece! I actually read this cos za said it was rlly good (in one of their stories). And I agree. Totally. This is FANTASTIC. Don't give up writing!

...

This is the best 'break-up-scene' fic I've ever read...wow!

The emotions were...incredible. So real. I could actually sort of feel what Curt was feeling (actually made me feel a bit sick...in a good 'you really made me *feel* the characters' way). And as for Brian...Bastard! (Curt's my favourite character...and he hurt Curt, so...bastard!)

Have to go now, but...really wow!

Excellent, as ever :-D Very accurate characterisation, but although it may just be my Brian-hatred showing, I've always seen the breakup as solely his fault, rather than Curt's. Brian's unnerving mutation into career-crazy Maxwell Demon during the argument was excellently written. This completely seemed to define what Mandy meant by 'lost in the lie'. So, yeah... wonderfully written, with perfect emotional insight.

I *love* this. You use a lot of dialogue, which I don't usually appreciate, and Brian says a ** a bit more than I would expect, but overall the characters are true to the film and easy to believe. Curt, especially, is easy to believe during this emotional time.

I find Brian's reasons for breaking up thei relationship realistic, true, and the description of his emotions as likely as any others. I also like the way you portray Mandy - she's just this removed individual, completely noninvolved, and I like that.

Layout wise, I think you could use a little work separating scenes and such (but that's not a big deal).

The only problem I see in this is my own personal beliefs - I don't necessarily believe that Curt was back on junk - but that's just me. If you want to argue it out with me, let me know. ;)

Overall, great piece here.