[DomLuka] The Ordinary Us

[PrivateTim]

Am I the only one who wanted to put a bullet between Quinn's eyes and just take him out of his misery? I mean he managed to piss off anyone who cared about him, misinterpreted all their actions, misread every look, thought only the worst and almost never made a good decision, he was almost 100% wrong 100% of the time. I mean what are the odds?

[jackariah]

Anyone would think Quinn was a teenager...

[PrivateTim]

Anyone would think Quinn was a teenager...

 

No, Rory is a teen.... Quinn was a mess.

[Fishwings]

No, Rory is a teen.... Quinn was a mess.

 

Agreed.

[Linxe Termoil]

Of course Quinn was a mess, He was coming to grips with being a homosexual. something he denied for a very long time. Imagine being a straight boy and some hot blond gay boy goes and kisses you, photos are taken, and while the photos pissed you off, you didn't really know what to make of the kiss except, it wasn't all that bad.

 

He's a teenager, he's a mess, and in the end he dealt with it.

[Tiger]

No, Rory is a teen.... Quinn was a mess.

Apparently, you missed a lot of stuff about Rory. He was pretty messed up too. First, he was pissed at having to move to Arizona, and he didn't want to get to know his father. He missed the fact that he was in a "house of queers". The boy was totally clueless and stubborn. Oh, and remember his venture out into the wilderness where he got a thorn? Oh, and he didn't realize that he wanted to stay in Arizona until the last second.

 

Quinn was certainly a mess as well. He had a hard time accepting his sexuality, and he got drunk a bunch of times. It seemed to take him forever, and even when he started to accept it, he still had issues. In short, both of them were a mess.

[PrivateTim]

Apparently, you missed a lot of stuff about Rory. He was pretty messed up too. First, he was pissed at having to move to Arizona, and he didn't want to get to know his father. He missed the fact that he was in a "house of queers". The boy was totally clueless and stubborn. Oh, and remember his venture out into the wilderness where he got a thorn? Oh, and he didn't realize that he wanted to stay in Arizona until the last second.

 

Quinn was certainly a mess as well. He had a hard time accepting his sexuality, and he got drunk a bunch of times. It seemed to take him forever, and even when he started to accept it, he still had issues. In short, both of them were a mess.

 

Rory was more believable as a character, yes he made bad decisions, all teens, all people do. Quinn wasn't as believable because of the rapid shift in his character and behaviors. I loved Rory.... Quinn I wanted to put out of his misery....

[sat8997]

We're the exact opposites. I couldn't stand Rory, thought he was the whiniest character ever. But I love Quinn! He's my all time favorite of any Dom story.

[Drewbie]

We're the exact opposites. I couldn't stand Rory, thought he was the whiniest character ever. But I love Quinn! He's my all time favorite of any Dom story.

 

Hehe I liked Quinn as well as Rory though and another person was right as well rory was screwed up too. and I disagree Quinn was believable people do act like that, especially some who were in the closet or has a family like that. and quin wasn't exactly wrong, a his friend didn't exactly handle it well, at times yes you do hide it cause you are afraid, his mom didn't handle is well.

Edited March 19, 2010 by Drewbie

[Tiger]

I have to say I prefer Quinn. As for the "quick change", he was faced with a situation where he had to face his demons once and for all. He's not unbelievable. Quinn is just, as Comicality says, a shiny example of Dom's "flair for drama".

[DavyReader]

I have to say I prefer Quinn. As for the "quick change", he was faced with a situation where he had to face his demons once and for all. He's not unbelievable. Quinn is just, as Comicality says, a shiny example of Dom's "flair for drama".

The drama, Jude, and Quinn's coming out were just a dream when sleeping on his prescription.

[PrivateTim]

Hehe I liked Quinn as well as Rory though and another person was right as well rory was screwed up too. and I disagree Quinn was believable people do act like that, especially some who were in the closet or has a family like that. and quin wasn't exactly wrong, a his friend didn't exactly handle it well, at times yes you do hide it cause you are afraid, his mom didn't handle is well.

 

Eh... as if a bunch of people here haven't been in the closet... faced the same fears about family and friends.... faced the same rejections.... Taylor was more normal, purple hair and all, and more believable as a character..... but I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion of Quinn, just expressing my feelings about him.

[Tiger]

The drama, Jude, and Quinn's coming out were just a dream when sleeping on his prescription.

If that were the case, we would not have Hello Stupid.

[Wynter]

Rory was more believable as a character, yes he made bad decisions, all teens, all people do. Quinn wasn't as believable because of the rapid shift in his character and behaviors. I loved Rory.... Quinn I wanted to put out of his misery....

 

You don't find the idea of an intensely frustrated, frightened teenager struggling to come to grips with his sexuality and turning to prescription medicine to help him withdraw from his social group believable? Quinn is entirely believable, as someone who works with teenagers and was one not so long ago I can assure you of that. Your own experiences may not reflect Quinn's but that doesn't make them unrealistic. The fear and self loathing he displays is quite common amongst teens who grow up in homophobic environments.

 

As for Rory, I loved DD, I really did. But the 'House of Queers' was the least realistic thing Dom has ever written (except for that story about the dog ). It's a total fantasy situation. Rory's extreme self absorption is the only thing that could logically be pointed to as a reason for his not seeing it earlier.

[PrivateTim]

You don't find the idea of an intensely frustrated, frightened teenager struggling to come to grips with his sexuality and turning to prescription medicine to help him withdraw from his social group believable? Quinn is entirely believable, as someone who works with teenagers and was one not so long ago I can assure you of that. Your own experiences may not reflect Quinn's but that doesn't make them unrealistic. The fear and self loathing he displays is quite common amongst teens who grow up in homophobic environments.

 

As for Rory, I loved DD, I really did. But the 'House of Queers' was the least realistic thing Dom has ever written (except for that story about the dog ). It's a total fantasy situation. Rory's extreme self absorption is the only thing that could logically be pointed to as a reason for his not seeing it earlier.

 

As someone who has worked with teens a lot too, I can assure you, you are wrong.... there, does make my statement right or any more correct than your assurance to me?

 

Don't condescend or assume.

 

Rory's self absorption was far less than Quinn's. Quinn's unbelievability didn't rest in fear or self loathing, it rested in making bad decisions at every turn, not know when to back off and when to press forward. Not one, not two, but just about every decision.

 

Just because you don't know gay couples raising their gay offspring and/or gay cousins and gay nieces and nephews doesn't mean they are not out there. I know a good number of them actually. I also know a good number of gay couples raising their straight offspring in conjunction with either gay relatives or gay foster children.

 

If you were a teen "not so long ago", may I suggest it is your experience that is limited?

[Wynter]

As someone who has worked with teens a lot too, I can assure you, you are wrong.... there, does make my statement right or any more correct than your assurance to me?

 

Don't condescend or assume.

 

Rory's self absorption was far less than Quinn's. Quinn's unbelievability didn't rest in fear or self loathing, it rested in making bad decisions at every turn, not know when to back off and when to press forward. Not one, not two, but just about every decision.

 

Just because you don't know gay couples raising their gay offspring and/or gay cousins and gay nieces and nephews doesn't mean they are not out there. I know a good number of them actually. I also know a good number of gay couples raising their straight offspring in conjunction with either gay relatives or gay foster children.

 

If you were a teen "not so long ago", may I suggest it is your experience that is limited?

 

You can suggest all you like Good Sir, it's a free internet after all.

 

May I just say that when instructing others on the value of not being condescending it's best not to litter your own post with condescending assumptions. I don't mind being corrected if I've made an error but your tone really was unnecessarily rude.

 

I apologise for assuming you had no experience with teenagers. I'll agree my comment was condescending and presumptuous.

 

As to the argument, I still don't agree. I fail to see how Rory's sequence of stupid behaviours and childish reactions make him a better person than Quinn. He continually runs from conflict instead of resolving it, which is quite similar to what Quinn did really except Quinn ran inward and withdrew.

 

Regarding my 'house of queers' comments. In no way would I consider gay couples raising a child to be on par with Desert Dropping. What I considered unrealistic was the sheer luck that Rory experienced landing in a family as perfectly suited to him as theirs was. It's just too perfect for real life.

[Drewbie]

Eh... as if a bunch of people here haven't been in the closet... faced the same fears about family and friends.... faced the same rejections.... Taylor was more normal, purple hair and all, and more believable as a character..... but I'm not trying to change anyone's opinion of Quinn, just expressing my feelings about him.

 

True I do know gay pepole as well besides myself it does happen, and it's a story just have fun and read it, not everything is going to be so realistic. and I still disagree there are quinn's out there, gay people come out in many different ways and face it differently.

 

as for myself my cousin is bi, my uncle and great uncle is gay. way his friend treated him and his ex gf treated him and the girl wan't acceptable either, not sure if I would of handled way my mom acted either and she still at the end of the story still treated him crappy. people misjudge and some teens make a lot of them. and I'd say he made some good decisions and I don't' think he made about every bad decision at every turn. and everyone is going to have their own point of view from a story period. I find them both realistic, now is everything from a story going to be believable no. and dd is no exception either but I both fully enjoy them and I do still completely under stand quinn's anger.

Edited March 22, 2010 by Drewbie

[Former Member]

Believability? And characters being a mess.

 

Why yes Rory was a mess hell his mother just died anyone would be a mess after that,he was fighting with his grandmother,his father,etc. Having only read the first few chapters of Ordinary Us i would have to say Quinn is also a mess at the moment but of course he is his mother pretty much called gays and lesbians like a "those people". he's unsure of himself. Etc. His girlfriend sounds like a snotty cheerleader type.

 

Getting drunk and making out with guys. That was me every weekend at 15-16 i live in an area where gay isn't very accepted and it started as a dare by one of my friends and then i ended up getting a make out partner out of the dare, Get drunk and "honey hold my hair i'm going to be sick" go into bed and sleep it off. Never talk to this guy all week but on the weekends make out with him all the time. I was a mess. so yes i can really relate.

 

Dom of course writes believable characters. Hasn't everyone heard me go on and on about my Bailey & Brandy? After reading Dessert Dropping, somewhat fighting with my mother still and haven't lived with her since i was 16. She moved in with me and my aunt. Then my aunt moved out with her dog. And so i wanted a dog of my own. I ended up with Bailey my little Shih Tzu Bishon Frise. Hell i wanted to name my dog DOM. a couple months later i ended up with Brandy (Bailey's daughter). I named Bailey bailey because of his colors reminding me of Bailey's Irish Creme and i know dom has dogs named Whiskey & Zambuca... Speaking of the woman at the liqour store the other day asked me "How's your dog?" me " i have 2" "What's there names?" I tell her she goes "What's the next one going to be called Zambuca?" me "Well i know someone who does have a dog named that" My name is mattie and i'm a Domaholic

[PrivateTim]

May I just say that when instructing others on the value of not being condescending it's best not to litter your own post with condescending assumptions. I don't mind being corrected if I've made an error but your tone really was unnecessarily rude.

 

I apologise for assuming you had no experience with teenagers. I'll agree my comment was condescending and presumptuous.

 

As to the argument, I still don't agree. I fail to see how Rory's sequence of stupid behaviours and childish reactions make him a better person than Quinn. He continually runs from conflict instead of resolving it, which is quite similar to what Quinn did really except Quinn ran inward and withdrew.

 

Regarding my 'house of queers' comments. In no way would I consider gay couples raising a child to be on par with Desert Dropping. What I considered unrealistic was the sheer luck that Rory experienced landing in a family as perfectly suited to him as theirs was. It's just too perfect for real life.

 

My tone was deliberate because I figured you wouldn't like my tone any better than I had liked yours, I was making a point.

 

And Rory's landing in a family perfectly suited for him isn't unrealistic, I know three couples raising, or have raised, the offspring of one of the partners from either a previous marriage or a relationship. In one case it was almost identical to Rory's case except the mother who passed away wasn't all warm and fuzzy about her ex, she instead worked hard to keep her son away from his father as much as possible, but when she passed away the courts gave custody to the father. And even in a "perfectly suited family" life isn't easy as we saw with Rory and his father, teens are still teens and parents are still parents.

 

If you had just wanted to discuss why you thought Rory was more childish and immature than Quinn or more or less believable, that would have been fine. It is a great topic and I am sure many people have opinions. I still like Taylor more than Quinn and find his unrealistic living situation more believable and his character more believable.

[jackariah]

"Quinn's unbelievability didn't rest in fear or self loathing, it rested in making bad decisions at every turn, not know when to back off and when to press forward. Not one, not two, but just about every decision."

 

"Just because you don't know gay couples raising their gay offspring and/or gay cousins and gay nieces and nephews doesn't mean they are not out there."

 

Dare I say you may not know people who just make the wrong choice again and again? To me it's as likely as ending up in Rorys situation. I see Quinn as far more real to me than Rory, but that's based on my real life experiences and what I can relate to - just like you and Rory. Doesn't make either of us right or wrong to the other.

 

Oh and Tim please drop the antagonistic tone, it makes for uncomfortable reading - especially after he already apologized.

 

(Love the WWDD btw Mattie)

[zland666]

Agreed.

 

 

anybody have a link for this story?

[NaperVic]

Back in the LRITE forever thread , Dom wrote this about Rory....

 

 

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't like Rory, I just don't like him for Luke. I'm the one who wrote him to be self centered and completely naive. I was writing a far fetched story about a kid adjusting to a difficult time in his life, and in the end I tried to leave him happy with a new family and a boyfriend who could sit in the background and give him room to get used to his changed surroundings. But, everyone has their own interpretations/ feelings/opinions on the matter. And why not? Things get boring without them.

 

I added the bold for emphasis...

Edited March 22, 2010 by NaperVic

[PrivateTim]

"Quinn's unbelievability didn't rest in fear or self loathing, it rested in making bad decisions at every turn, not know when to back off and when to press forward. Not one, not two, but just about every decision."

 

"Just because you don't know gay couples raising their gay offspring and/or gay cousins and gay nieces and nephews doesn't mean they are not out there."

 

Dare I say you may not know people who just make the wrong choice again and again? To me it's as likely as ending up in Rorys situation. I see Quinn as far more real to me than Rory, but that's based on my real life experiences and what I can relate to - just like you and Rory. Doesn't make either of us right or wrong to the other.

 

Oh and Tim please drop the antagonistic tone, it makes for uncomfortable reading - especially after he already apologized.

 

(Love the WWDD btw Mattie)

 

Reading is in the ear of the beholder I guess. My first reply to him was in an antagonistic tone on purpose as I pointed out, the second was not. Did you choose to an hear antagonistic tone? Perhaps, maybe you hear an antagonistic tone in this? There isn't one.

 

And while he did apologize for the assumption that I didn't know or work with teens, I found his opening remark to have an antagonistic tone. Was I just predisposed to hear it? Again, perhaps.

 

I do know teens who make or have made the wrong choices again and again, but most of them are in the juvenile justice system.

 

I can relate to both Quinn's and Rory's situation because I have lived one of them and as we all tend to base our opinions on our life experiences, that is where my evaluation comes from. I think it was the assumption that my experience didn't exist, or if it did exist, wasn't a valid way of making a judgment that got my goat more than anything.

 

But I am better now.

[PrivateTim]

anybody have a link for this story?

 

A link to The Ordinary Us? If you go to Authors up top, click on that, you can scroll down to Dom Luka's Official Site and The Ordinary Us is there along with Dessert Dropping and the very excellent, but way too short Hello Stupid that ties together the two stories.

[NaperVic]

and the very excellent, but way too short Hello Stupid that ties together the two stories.

 

Hello Stupid is incomplete and if memory serves me correctly, there should be 4 more chapters .

 

Well...let me clarify -

 

- Chapters 1 & 2 were Part I of HS

- Chapters 3 & 4 were Part II of HS

 

Dom said that this would be a 4 parter, so that's where I get 4 more chapters.

 

 

 

However, Dom's not locked into any formula. This Domaholic wouldn't be dissappointed if Dom would make Parts III & IV each 30 chapters .