Thanks very much for the fb! Yeah, there really are many potential interpretations of Joe/Billy, all equally viable (and enjoyable). Depends on your style -- &/or your fetish. I have a huge angst fetish, triggered best by inherently angsty pairings or moments, so Joe & Billy are ready-made for me!

But I wanted to push past my comfort zone and go somewhere beyond angst. Though I see angst as a primary Joe/Billy ingredient, there is also much more going on -- and I don't see their entire past history together being as angsty as the "present" (the time of the movie).

I'm really looking forward to the HCL Fic Exchange stories!