MIllennium

[methodwriter85]

Sending Will to Virginia Tech? That's a pretty good idea!

Edited October 20, 2010 by methodwriter85

[Conner]

My Brad an exhibitionist??? Never.

 

Lots of great stuff in this chapter! Thanks, Mark!

[Mark M]

" I was pushing him hard, trying to make him snap. That finally did it.

[methodwriter85]

Aww, Will suffered his first teenaged heartbreak. It kinda stood to reason they wouldn't last- most high school/middle school relationships I remember seeing never worked out well. I liked Robbie and Brad acknowledging that Will and JJ are going to be much, much harder to raise than Darius.

 

I like that Will has apparently been taken under Wade's wing. So Matt has taken to JJ, while Wade has taken to Will. Cute as hell, don't you think?

Edited October 24, 2010 by methodwriter85

[Mark Arbour]

My Brad an exhibitionist??? Never.

 

Lots of great stuff in this chapter! Thanks, Mark!

 

 

Glad you liked it! I guess if I had Brad's equipment, I'd show it off too.

 

" I was pushing him hard, trying to make him snap. That finally did it. "It's easy for you to say crap like that. I feel like I aided and abetted a mass murderer. First he outed Matt at Thanksgiving, and then he tried to mess up Wade's election to the GLBT presidency, and now he's working on breaking you and Stef." "

 

Breaking you and sef??? shoouldn't that be Robbie???

 

Anyway GREAT Chapter

 

Not breaking "UP" Brad and Stef, but breaking them, as in ruining them.

 

Glad you liked it.

[mmike1969]

I just love the way Brad freaks out more then usual when he realized how stupid it was having sex with Kevin and Cody w/o a condom in the latest chapter but it did not bother him as much before...

 

Not that I am wishing anyone with AIDS, I can't help wondering why this would be brought up in the story at least 4 times now, by Brad, and he STILL forgets to use a condom...

 

And seriously, Cody and his pills? Really? Yeah I am not part of the Hollywood "A" crowd or "B" crowd let alone the Jersey Shore crowd and I don't doubt these drugs are a large part of it. But Cody has dropped a notch or two in my mind...

[B1ue]

Brad has been with Robbie exclusively for how long? And before he met Robbie, AIDS wasn't yet an issue. Of course condoms aren't on the top of his mind.

 

Now, Cody and Kevin have much less reason to forget them, so each of them gets a black mark. The E actually doesn't bother me, at least not more than the pot does. All the same to me, and apparently to them.

 

I did like this chapter, Mark. It's perhaps inevitable that the Drew tangent ended like it did, but I'd have liked to see him one mroe time before he departed. Leaving a note like that is kind of lame. He should have let Jeanine and Will drive him to his parent's house, so they could make sure he was okay.

[Mark Arbour]

I just love the way Brad freaks out more then usual when he realized how stupid it was having sex with Kevin and Cody w/o a condom in the latest chapter but it did not bother him as much before...

 

Not that I am wishing anyone with AIDS, I can't help wondering why this would be brought up in the story at least 4 times now, by Brad, and he STILL forgets to use a condom...

 

And seriously, Cody and his pills? Really? Yeah I am not part of the Hollywood "A" crowd or "B" crowd let alone the Jersey Shore crowd and I don't doubt these drugs are a large part of it. But Cody has dropped a notch or two in my mind...

 

Ah, if only guys thought logically and not with their dicks. It seemed the ideal time for them to forget about condoms, getting caught up in the heat of the moment.

 

I don't diss anyone for drug use unless it's a addictive problem. I've done E a few times. It was fun. I'd do it again under the right circumstances. That being said, if I did it more than once every two years or so, that would be a lot.

 

 

Brad has been with Robbie exclusively for how long? And before he met Robbie, AIDS wasn't yet an issue. Of course condoms aren't on the top of his mind.

 

Now, Cody and Kevin have much less reason to forget them, so each of them gets a black mark. The E actually doesn't bother me, at least not more than the pot does. All the same to me, and apparently to them.

 

I did like this chapter, Mark. It's perhaps inevitable that the Drew tangent ended like it did, but I'd have liked to see him one mroe time before he departed. Leaving a note like that is kind of lame. He should have let Jeanine and Will drive him to his parent's house, so they could make sure he was okay.

 

You're probably right, but I doubt Drew's parents want to meet Brad et al, so it was probably in their mind just to get him back and try to forget the whole thing. Drew probably did all he could do, considering the pressure he got from his parents and his normal weenieness at facing a really wrenching emotional scene.

[centexhairysub]

This was a great chapter. The tension is starting to get at everyone. I hated that Will had his first hearbreak at such a young age but was probably more than Drew could deal with going back home and not wanting any extra pressure from Will or anyone else. I thought the scene between JP and Brad was really well done. I do think that Brad is going to really rip Brian to shreds and although JP will have some desire to save him, I don't think he will this time. After Brad destroys him, Brian can maybe remake himself and JP can then try and help him out.

 

Like Mark, the use the X just isn't a major deal to me, I know that for me was never a big problem. I would put it on the same level as pot as well. With the jobs that all of these guys have, I doubt that any of them have any type of real drug issues, they wouldn't be able to hide it and function at the level they all seem to do.

 

The condoms is a bigger deal for me, I don't care how caught up in the moment you are, I can't see forgetting the condom. I know in the previous chapters there was no mention of them using one, but I sort of added that in my own mind for everyone except Max and Cody.

 

I hope that the kids become more involved in the stories and I would love to have Claire as the narrator for one of the stories. She has alwasy seem to me to be the strongest one in the family for her generation.

 

Keep up the good work, and keep them coming...LOL

 

 

[rjo]

I guess I don't understand JP's reaction to all this. How can Brian be a mass murderer and someone who should be saved? I am also surprised that Brad pulled out all the stops on this one. He was pretty hard on JP. JP has made mistakes in the past but nobody is perfect not Brad, Stef or JP. Hopefully, after the dust settles things will work out. Maybe this was the only way to get JP back on track. The love and respect both Brad and JP have for each other should bring them together hopefully. Mark if Brad and Robbie are positive this is not going to be your happy ending.

[Mark Arbour]

This was a great chapter. The tension is starting to get at everyone. I hated that Will had his first hearbreak at such a young age but was probably more than Drew could deal with going back home and not wanting any extra pressure from Will or anyone else. I thought the scene between JP and Brad was really well done. I do think that Brad is going to really rip Brian to shreds and although JP will have some desire to save him, I don't think he will this time. After Brad destroys him, Brian can maybe remake himself and JP can then try and help him out.

 

Like Mark, the use the X just isn't a major deal to me, I know that for me was never a big problem. I would put it on the same level as pot as well. With the jobs that all of these guys have, I doubt that any of them have any type of real drug issues, they wouldn't be able to hide it and function at the level they all seem to do.

 

The condoms is a bigger deal for me, I don't care how caught up in the moment you are, I can't see forgetting the condom. I know in the previous chapters there was no mention of them using one, but I sort of added that in my own mind for everyone except Max and Cody.

 

I hope that the kids become more involved in the stories and I would love to have Claire as the narrator for one of the stories. She has alwasy seem to me to be the strongest one in the family for her generation.

 

Keep up the good work, and keep them coming...LOL

 

 

 

 

 

Regarding condoms, not everyone is perfect 100% of the time. I suspect that Brad figured that Cody was safe and didn't really think about Kevin. This is probably where drug issues come in. They definitely can lower your inhibitions.

 

Claire as a narrator would be interesting, but I'm not sure the sex scenes would be compatible with this demographic.

 

I guess I don't understand JP's reaction to all this. How can Brian be a mass murderer and someone who should be saved? I am also surprised that Brad pulled out all the stops on this one. He was pretty hard on JP. JP has made mistakes in the past but nobody is perfect not Brad, Stef or JP. Hopefully, after the dust settles things will work out. Maybe this was the only way to get JP back on track. The love and respect both Brad and JP have for each other should bring them together hopefully. Mark if Brad and Robbie are positive this is not going to be your happy ending.

 

JP gets a bad rap for being a hard-ass, but he really is a soft touch for family members. He views people like Brian as family members you're saddled with for better or worse. Brad has no such qualms. I think that probably stems from how they both became part of "the family." JP was born into it, Brad was absorbed into it.

[methodwriter85]

I hope that the kids become more involved in the stories and I would love to have Claire as the narrator for one of the stories. She has alwasy seem to me to be the strongest one in the family for her generation.

 

I'm sure that's going to happen- but again, JJ and Will are currently in middle school/junior high. I don't think anyone really wants to read about the sexual exploits of a bunch of 7th graders, so Mark's easing them into the story as background characters until they're old enough to really take part in the story. That would be about when CAP saga hits around 2004 and they're about 17/18 years old. Mark's done a good job at portending what the characters will be dealing with as they get older- JJ's going to have the stress of the competitve figure skating world, as well as eventually finding out the truth about his paternity and how he was concieved. Will's going to have to balance his academic interests and surfing interests, and his angst will be more about that kind of stuff than having to deal with the coming-out issues that Brad faced in high school. They're going to witness some interesting things as they come-of-age in the 2000's- Bush vs. Gore, 9/11, the Iraq War, gay marriage in Massachusetts, John Kerry vs. Bush, the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Virginia Tech massacre(this is one that is going to hit them hard, I think), the financial meltdown, and Obama's election.

 

We've also gotten some good hints about how this group of kids will be different from the Be Rad crowd. They're not going to be as whitebread preppy, and they're going to be going to parties in high school were the only thing playing will be hip-hop. Will's a little more impulsive than Brad is, and he's not a clotheshorse. Darius, JJ, and Will have a much tighter bond than Brad, Ace, and Billy did, and I think it'd take a lot for them to having a falling out like what happened to Brad and Billy in Be Rad. And I don't think Will's going to have his own corresponding Hayes boy because I think that might be a bit creepy for him. LOL.

 

Which is a good thing. I wouldn't mind seeing some echoes of Be Rad, and the boys having some things in common with their fathers, but I'd hate for Malibu High Circa 2004 to be just a re-tread of Gunn High School circa 1980. I really like how Mark's making sure that when it's their turn, we're not going to see a Be Rad, Redux.

Edited October 25, 2010 by methodwriter85

[Mark Arbour]

I'm sure that's going to happen- but again, JJ and Will are currently in middle school/junior high. I don't think anyone really wants to read about the sexual exploits of a bunch of 7th graders, so Mark's easing them into the story as background characters until they're old enough to really take part in the story. That would be about when CAP saga hits around 2004 and they're about 17/18 years old. Mark's done a good job at portending what the characters will be dealing with as they get older- JJ's going to have the stress of the competitve figure skating world, as well as eventually finding out the truth about his paternity and how he was concieved. Will's going to have to balance his academic interests and surfing interests, and his angst will be more about that kind of stuff than having to deal with the coming-out issues that Brad faced in high school. They're going to witness some interesting things as they come-of-age in the 2000's- Bush vs. Gore, 9/11, the Iraq War, gay marriage in Massachusetts, John Kerry vs. Bush, the Asian tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, the Virginia Tech massacre(this is one that is going to hit them hard, I think), the financial meltdown, and Obama's election.

 

We've also gotten some good hints about how this group of kids will be different from the Be Rad crowd. They're not going to be as whitebread preppy, and they're going to be going to parties in high school were the only thing playing will be hip-hop. Will's a little more impulsive than Brad is, and he's not a clotheshorse. Darius, JJ, and Will have a much tighter bond than Brad, Ace, and Billy did, and I think it'd take a lot for them to having a falling out like what happened to Brad and Billy in Be Rad. And I don't think Will's going to have his own corresponding Hayes boy because I think that might be a bit creepy for him. LOL.

 

Which is a good thing. I wouldn't mind seeing some echoes of Be Rad, and the boys having some things in common with their fathers, but I'd hate for Malibu High Circa 2004 to be just a re-tread of Gunn High School circa 1980. I really like how Mark's making sure that when it's their turn, we're not going to see a Be Rad, Redux.

 

I find your evaluations intriguing, since I haven't gotten there myself. I'm not sure that your conclusions will turn out to be what happens; these guys are still awfully young to have hardened personalities. Brad's a lot different than he was as a kid, and in high school. Who's to say what those guys will be like when they hit 16 or 17? I'm keeping the canvas blank; makes it more fun to write.

[methodwriter85]

I find your evaluations intriguing, since I haven't gotten there myself. I'm not sure that your conclusions will turn out to be what happens; these guys are still awfully young to have hardened personalities. Brad's a lot different than he was as a kid, and in high school. Who's to say what those guys will be like when they hit 16 or 17? I'm keeping the canvas blank; makes it more fun to write.

 

Right. You're giving us hints, without setting in stone what they're like. JJ might totally burn out on figure skating and find something else. Darius might really buckle down in college and get himself into Harvard Law. Will could get maimed in a shark attack and never surf again, or he could become a totally snobby jerk. Still, I think there are some traits that are pretty evident in people at a young age and never quite go away. The ones I see so far is that JJ is a fun-loving, cheerful guy who tries to remain optimistic, and likes to be playful. (Although the skating has taken away some of that playfulness.) Darius is a total smooth-talker who can argue his way into anything. Will's a bit more shy, and a little more serious than either of his brothers. Those traits have been pretty evident ever since the kids could start to talk in the series, I think.

 

It's like how even as Brad, Ace, and Claire have changed and evolved ever since Be Rad, there are still some things evident. Brad and Ace are still hot-headed, although they've mellowed out somewhat with age. Ace still tends to be the reactive one who jumps the gun and is still somewhat judgemental. Claire remains the glue that holds the siblings together.

 

You've given your characters some traits that remain evident throughout their lives, but you haven't set their personalities into stone. That's a great way to keep your characters from becoming stagnant while also creating some good character integrity.

[B1ue]

Claire as a narrator would be interesting, but I'm not sure the sex scenes would be compatible with this demographic.

 

I don't know. I'm sure many of us would be willing to get behind a naked Dr. Hobart.

 

I agree that Drew's parents would not be thrilled to see Brad or Robbie, or to be honest Will. And by not thrilled I mean they'd have to be restrained from attacking on sight. Jeanine would have confused them long enough to catch them off guard, imo, and she bore the brunt of his stay there anyways. If anyone from that household had a right to pointed questions, and to assure Drew her door would always be open, it was Jeanine.

 

I do wonder if this will have further reprecussions. As a plot device, I feel Drew was kind of unnecessary, but if he turns up later in some way, I might change my mind.

 

...I suppose I should explain what I mean by that. Drew coming to stay with Brad served, as I see it, three purposes. The first was to give Fr. Tim reason to keep checking in on Brad, and a tie back to the mission that would make the place real for the rest of the Cramptons. Second was to reintroduce Jeanine and her role in Brad's life to the story, as well as introduce the problems she has with Brad. Third was to bring Will sexuality out into the open. While it is somewhat tidy to have all these things examined with one element, they were all due to arrive on their own anyways, and hardly needed that nudge.

[rjo]

I was sad by Drew's leaving but Mark often has characters leave and return later. Max and Brian are two I think of. I hope he comes back.

[mmike1969]

I was sad by Drew's leaving but Mark often has characters leave and return later. Max and Brian are two I think of. I hope he comes back.

 

Not so sure Drew left willingly... What if his so-called parents forced him and sent him to a re-education camp the right thinks it really works?

 

And back to the condoms... If Brad/Robbie was exclusive for so long, why then Brad finds it necessary to keep them in stock in his bathroom? I believe the quote was "there are always condoms in my bathroom..."

[B1ue]

Hmm, not sure. Possibly paranoia, which would undermine my reading of him. Possibly because he shares housing (nominally) with Cody and Stef, and they keep it stocked. Possibly because he shares a house with Darius, and Robbie keeps it stocked.

[gjtravel2a]

I suppose I should apologize for my next comment for I have been unable to get into my sanctimonious mood and feel totally scandalized by the sex scene between the four boys sans condom. Instead, I keep coming back to "Damn, that was a hot scene! " Thanks Mark! Had it been between four who did not have a history and some level of trust, I suppose it would be easier to be 'upset', but there is a level of trust and knowledge between the four, but yes, there is a level on which it was unsafe....Still, it is a story and as I said above.....Damn!

 

 

[Hoskins]

Or maybe for uh, hygienic reasons?

 

 

Hmm, not sure. Possibly paranoia, which would undermine my reading of him. Possibly because he shares housing (nominally) with Cody and Stef, and they keep it stocked. Possibly because he shares a house with Darius, and Robbie keeps it stocked.

 

[centexhairysub]

Claire as a narrator would be interesting, but I'm not sure the sex scenes would be compatible with this demographic.

 

Mark Arbour

 

 

Like someone else mentioned as well, I might put up with a few hetero sex scenes to get the goods on Jack.... :devil: I can honestly say that I do not read these stories for the sex scenes. While there are some very good sex scenes in all of the CAP stories, I honestly read them because they are very well written and fully enjoyable. I think most of the readers of this series are adult enough that any hetero sex scenes in a story with Claire as the narrator would be dealt with on an adult level. I would hope that the average reader of the CAP series was more mature and had a level of development that they could deal with that...

[Mark Arbour]

I don't know. I'm sure many of us would be willing to get behind a naked Dr. Hobart.

 

I agree that Drew's parents would not be thrilled to see Brad or Robbie, or to be honest Will. And by not thrilled I mean they'd have to be restrained from attacking on sight. Jeanine would have confused them long enough to catch them off guard, imo, and she bore the brunt of his stay there anyways. If anyone from that household had a right to pointed questions, and to assure Drew her door would always be open, it was Jeanine.

 

I do wonder if this will have further reprecussions. As a plot device, I feel Drew was kind of unnecessary, but if he turns up later in some way, I might change my mind.

 

...I suppose I should explain what I mean by that. Drew coming to stay with Brad served, as I see it, three purposes. The first was to give Fr. Tim reason to keep checking in on Brad, and a tie back to the mission that would make the place real for the rest of the Cramptons. Second was to reintroduce Jeanine and her role in Brad's life to the story, as well as introduce the problems she has with Brad. Third was to bring Will sexuality out into the open. While it is somewhat tidy to have all these things examined with one element, they were all due to arrive on their own anyways, and hardly needed that nudge.

 

I thought he served his purpose to bring those three points out into the open pretty well. Besides, I'm not F. Scott Fitzgerald.

 

 

Not so sure Drew left willingly... What if his so-called parents forced him and sent him to a re-education camp the right thinks it really works?

 

And back to the condoms... If Brad/Robbie was exclusive for so long, why then Brad finds it necessary to keep them in stock in his bathroom? I believe the quote was "there are always condoms in my bathroom..."

 

Wow. That's a really good question.

 

Hmm, not sure. Possibly paranoia, which would undermine my reading of him. Possibly because he shares housing (nominally) with Cody and Stef, and they keep it stocked. Possibly because he shares a house with Darius, and Robbie keeps it stocked.

 

And that's a really good answer. Thanks for having my back on that one.

 

I suppose I should apologize for my next comment for I have been unable to get into my sanctimonious mood and feel totally scandalized by the sex scene between the four boys sans condom. Instead, I keep coming back to "Damn, that was a hot scene! " Thanks Mark! Had it been between four who did not have a history and some level of trust, I suppose it would be easier to be 'upset', but there is a level of trust and knowledge between the four, but yes, there is a level on which it was unsafe....Still, it is a story and as I said above.....Damn!

 

 

 

I'm one of those people who thinks that 100% of anything is usually unobtainable. I think these guys have done pretty well, considering they're hot, gay, and rich. I'm not gunning for perfect, so I think a mistake like that, a flaw, is realistic.

 

Claire as a narrator would be interesting, but I'm not sure the sex scenes would be compatible with this demographic.

 

Mark Arbour

 

 

Like someone else mentioned as well, I might put up with a few hetero sex scenes to get the goods on Jack.... :devil: I can honestly say that I do not read these stories for the sex scenes. While there are some very good sex scenes in all of the CAP stories, I honestly read them because they are very well written and fully enjoyable. I think most of the readers of this series are adult enough that any hetero sex scenes in a story with Claire as the narrator would be dealt with on an adult level. I would hope that the average reader of the CAP series was more mature and had a level of development that they could deal with that...

 

Interesting concept. Not sure I can get into Claire's head, but it bears consideration.

[gjtravel2a]

I thought he served his purpose to bring those three points out into the open pretty well. Besides, I'm not F. Scott Fitzgerald.

 

 

 

 

Wow. That's a really good question.

 

 

 

And that's a really good answer. Thanks for having my back on that one.

 

 

 

I'm one of those people who thinks that 100% of anything is usually unobtainable. I think these guys have done pretty well, considering they're hot, gay, and rich. I'm not gunning for perfect, so I think a mistake like that, a flaw, is realistic.

 

 

 

Interesting concept. Not sure I can get into Claire's head, but it bears consideration.

 

[gjtravel2a]

The ability of Mark to make a story compelling from Claire's point of view is not in doubt, nor would, I venture to guess, the ability of the CAP reader to 'deal' with is not the question.........I would venture it is more the desire. I must admit, no matter how compelling the story line may be, I would far prefer the stories remain told from the men in the family. It is not just a matter of interest/sex, but I find these stories compelling on a personal level that a female narrator would not provide. Yes, even though it might get us details about Jack, still not worth it.....

[rjo]

Chapter 39 was one of the best chapters ever. It was great on so many levels. We got to see the new stronger improved Brad. We saw Brad and Robbie more solid, more loving more caring that ever. We got to see Will and Brad for the first time interacting being father and son. We got to see how strong their relationship is. How they can read each other minds. Then we got to see Brad and JP. They have been pushing each other for over twenty years. I believe they have both grown because of it. At first I thought maybe Brad has gone to far. But no. That is what they do. Their bond is stronger more solid than that. This is the reason we came back again and again, These guys, these characters are more than just words on a page. They are people we would like to know, People we could be friends with even people we love. There are two things that make this saga great. These characters their passion for life and love of each other. The second is family. JP or Brad never thought they would have a family. They did not go out to build one. But now neither of them could live with out their families. This family these people are not the normal family that the world thinks of. No but they work, they love, they care and they would fight for each other. It shows us that no matter who we are we can build a family too. I think Mark never thought that this story about a lonely shy college grad student could become what it is today. Certianly, It took a great writer to work the magic. Mark you did it. That's why we wait for the next chapter. Hoping it will be there.