What Happens Next In CAP?

[Mark Arbour]

JP chained his students up and made them like it. Wade gives his mother a run for her money on cool-calculated revenge all out of proportion to the crime. And by his own standards, Marcel riding Brad during a moment when he clearly didn't know who he was screwing and then later spending a summer sleeping with JP probably was explosive.

 

Those are pretty persuasive arguments.

[methodwriter85]

It'd be interesting if/when we get to the Penn State scandal in CAP. I don't think it's likely any of these characters would go there, but I'm sure they'd have reactions, especially since we know at least Robbie likes college football and Zach seems destined for college ball.

 

People protested. In favor of Joe Paterno. From what I understand about Penn State, it's a party school where football is god and big business.

[methodwriter85]

So, I'm thinking now that Jeanine seems like she's likely blackballed from doing anything else with JJ's career, Claire will step up and be his chaperone at events. I think Tiffany will come to as many events as she can, but she does have a baby to take care of. Claire seems like a great candidate to accompany him to events for the rest of this season, as well as the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons.

 

Do people over 18 still get chaperones, Daisy? It kind of seems like a sport that protective over image would likely still have legal adults getting followed around.

Edited August 1, 2012 by methodwriter85

[B1ue]

Claire has kids of her own though. Such an arrangement would make more sense if JJ was moving into Claire's, rather than his brother.

 

Which might work, actually. As badly as Will needs to get out his big boys pants and learn to suck up having an imperfect life, JJ needs to get the hell out of Will, Brad, and Robbie's shadow. Will is actually a positive influence in his life, but we haven't seen either one act more than distantly fond of him in quite some time. Trading Will for John might not work out so hot, as John would be much less likely to put up with his shit, he didn't put up with Will's shit when actual sex was on the line, but trading his dads in for Jack, Claire, and Matt, not to mention Tiffany, might just. And Marie needs a minion; you know she'll be the type.

 

Actually, John might see some benefits to the situation as well. If they became friends, Will would never believe they weren't having sex, and winding him up on that topic would probably provide both boys with entertainment for years.

 

Edit: The more I think about this, the more I like it. If nothing else, a JJ viewpoint involving a move to Claire's would introduce the other NorCal cousins through the view of someone that would see them as equals. Will would work equally well, of course, but I don't think his character would expand as well under those circumstances. Whereas JJ would suddenly go from Will and Darius's less attractive little brother to an accomplished, competitive athlete who has seen the world and will be constantly popping off to see more of it.

Edited August 8, 2012 by B1ue

[methodwriter85]

Interesting hypothesis. The big problem with doing that would be whether or not JJ would be willing to leave his coach at El Segundo, which is possible, but with JJ as a junior on the verge of making it big- it doesn't really seem like he'd just up and leave this coach. He's been with this coach since around November/December 1999, and aside from his 13th place finish in Norway, his career has been going pretty well. I think for JJ to change coaches, he needs to hit a wall with his career, or there needs to be a coach at Cal that he really wants to work with.

 

As for Marie and needing a minion...I'm kinda hoping she's got more of a quirky personality as opposed to the Preppy Princess that Claire was(and is). John kind of fufills that Preppy Prince deal already. And we already know she's a Harry Potter fanatic from before the movies came out, which suggests she might be kinda nerdy. (I remember the Harry Potter fans pre-movie. Every one was kind of a nerd in some way who wanted to roleplay.) It'd be cool if she was that cute, pretty girl who was also kind of a nerd, like Emma Stone. We've seen Brad struggle with having a son that was so much like him; it'd be interesting for Claire to have a daughter that isn't really like her as a counter-balance to that.

 

Anyway, I kind of figured Claire could do it because at 13 and 14, John and Marie don't need to be looked after that much, and Jack's there anyway, plus there's always Isidore. It's a little different from Tiffany, who has a baby to bring up. Even with nannies and Wade's help, I can't see her jetting off for a culmulative total of 5 to 6 weeks in order to be with JJ at every event.

 

Maybe Isidore? I don't know. In any event, JJ needs a new guard, and he needs a new escort.

Edited August 8, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

So I was thinking about this last night while in sleepland...

 

I've joked before that I think Will is going to wind up having a threesome with Raine and whoever his life partner is, resulting in a baby and Will having his own family before his 25th birthday is reached, like with Brad and Robbie, and Matt and Wade. That assertion was based off of Will's attitude in Poor Man's Son about wanting a partner, and the opening chapters of this current one about how attached Will's gotten to Riley and how he's almost fatherly to him. And the fact that Will had sex with Raine and at least somewhat enjoyed it bolsters that theory.

 

But I was thinking...I think my opinion changed on that. I see Will taking a long time to get to the point where he wants to be a dad and a family man. Will would be currently almost 26 in present time, and I'm not sure I can see see him settled in a marriage by 26 the way I used to. Watching the way Brad and Robbie's relationship blew apart in Millennium would have to had some long-term effects on him, as well as the way his bubble was burst about "happily ever-after relationships" in Poor Man's Son. And his current troubles with Brad...I'm not sure he'd be jumping at the bit to go through having that with his own child.

 

What do you guys think?

 

Also, since Will's described as being like Tonto incarnate, there's gotta be a wealth of social/political/environmental issues that Will's going to involve himself in as the 2000's and 2010's unfold.

 

The biggie's going to be Prop 8- even if Will's not keen on marriage for himself, I can't see him not fighting for the right to have the choice to get married. I can see a conflict between Will and JJ, because JJ refuses to speak out openly against Prop 8 because he's worried about what his sponsors will think, and Will going through the roof because of that. I can also see Will getting involved with helping out Louisiana after the oil spill, to try and save marine and marsh life. Darfur can be another cause that Will gets himself involved in- that was big around 2007 or so.

 

It might be interesting if Will got involved in helping out Iraq War veterans, like fundraising for them or something. And since Will's going to be living in the Bay Area, it'd be funny if he wound up becoming a vegan. I ,mean, I'm from podunk Delaware, and I've met a lot of them. I feel like it'd be almost mandatory out in San Francisco.

Edited August 29, 2012 by methodwriter85

[mmike1969]

I want a Crampton or Hobart or Schulster to actually give up their wealth (or at least their easy access to it) and join the military.

 

Nah this is Fiction so we can't have that!

 

 

[PrivateTim]

I've joked before that I think Will is going to wind up having a threesome with Raine and whoever his life partner is, resulting in a baby and

 

Also, since Will's described as being like Tonto incarnate, there's gotta be a wealth of social/political/environmental issues that Will's going to involve himself in as the 2000's and 2010's unfold.

 

It might be interesting if Will got involved in helping out Iraq War veterans, like fundraising for them or something. And since Will's going to be living in the Bay Area, it'd be funny if he wound up becoming a vegan. I ,mean, I'm from podunk Delaware, and I've met a lot of them. I feel like it'd be almost mandatory out in San Francisco.

 

We still don't know if Raine is pregnant or not, Will could be a father before his 15th birthday.

 

If will is going to get involved in any issues it will be costal ones, Surfrider Foundation, Heal The Bay, that kind of stuff.

 

Please, you should have heard the howls from the Bay Area when the state banned foie gras. The SF area doesn't have 47 Michelin starred restaurants because the vegan culture is predominant. It is just a popular misconception. The hottest trends in LA include snot to tail restaurants. Pig's ear anyone?

[methodwriter85]

We still don't know if Raine is pregnant or not, Will could be a father before his 15th birthday.

I think Mark knows better than to pander to the trope of "let's punish the sexually active teenaged girl by making her pregnant!" that moralistic t.v. writers seem to love so much (Hi, The Secret Life of the American Teenager!), particularly since Raine was at least on birth control. And Mark already did the "teen pregnancy" storyline with Claire in Be Rad, and retroactively with Robbie's 1979 girlfirend Laura. Besides, if Raine did get pregnant she'd probably be likely to get an abortion- if I recall what you said once, parents who send their kids to a place like HW are very invested in their kids's success, and being a mother at 14 doesn't fit into it.

 

If will is going to get involved in any issues it will be costal ones, Surfrider Foundation, Heal The Bay, that kind of stuff.

It'd be funny if Will joined the celebs who came out to help Louisiana during the oil spill in 2010. Mark can hook Will up with Ian Somerhalder. LOL.

 

 

Of course, it would be a little weird since Jack Hobart is supposed to basically look exactly like Ian Somerhalder, but eh- I think Will would still hit that. And kinda be turned on by Ian's resemblance to Jack, frankly.

 

The main point though is that if Will's being set up as being like the second coming of Tonto, he's going to have to be interested in social/political/and/or environmental issues. Tonto was very much about trying to improve the world and fighting for social justice, and we're already seeing seeds of that in Will at 14. In this case, Will's going to be able to further his causes through the use of the internet.

 

Darfur was a pretty big cause circa 2007- even UD, which was ranked as one of the most politically apathetic campuses in the US, had some big fundraiser for that one.

 

Please, you should have heard the howls from the Bay Area when the state banned foie gras. The SF area doesn't have 47 Michelin starred restaurants because the vegan culture is predominant. It is just a popular misconception. The hottest trends in LA include snot to tail restaurants. Pig's ear anyone?

 

I'll give you that one. Although I still think that Will's going to have a few vegetarian/vegan friends. That was a part of going to high school in the 2000's, especially high school in a liberal area.

 

I want a Crampton or Hobart or Schulster to actually give up their wealth (or at least their easy access to it) and join the military.

Darius seems like the most likely one to do it. I can see 9/11 making Darius feel like he's got to prove he's more American than anyone, once he starts getting racial epithets thrown his way, and the military being a handy way to do that. It'd also be interesting, and a sign of the modern times, if Ella Hayes wound up joining a few of her cousins and Claremont friends to the military.

Edited August 29, 2012 by methodwriter85

[centexhairysub]

I could really see Will leaving with JP and Isidore and JJ living with Claire and Jack... It would bring the action back to the City, where it belongs...

[methodwriter85]

JJ would only move to Palo Alto if there was a coach that he wanted to work with. Considering that El Segundo seems like a pretty good figure skating club(Evan Lysacek arrives in 2003), I can't see him leaving. I also think he'd probably relish the opportunity to not be around Will in school, and no longer have to be in Will's shadow. I can see them as close brothers who skype regularly in 2012, but as teenagers the distance should be good for them.

Edited September 3, 2012 by methodwriter85

[naaz]

Will, new school, new friends, new intrigues........and probably some regrets on Ryan's part. Something with Gathan would be amusing too, but not Will and Tony, perhaps.

[chrisg02]

Some thoughts during the pause in the 'Paternity' instalments:

 

First, thanks to Mark for the strong CAP character-writing. Please give us some more of the same!

 

(I hope that Mark will not decide to draw CAP to an entire close right now. If he's tempted to do that, then I guess the only hope left would be, that the characters give him hell until he writes them again .... )

 

Next, I'm going to be greedy and hope Mark also decides to give us anyhow at least a few more chapters to sort out the Danfield part of 'Paternity'. (There's so much material & feeling in the story so far, it would probably be very difficult to condense it to a swift close without the denouement seeming artificially sudden. I dare to mention how puzzled I was on reading of Robbie's suddenly-reported 'supportive' attitude (ch.64) after Will's emancipation -- how did that fit with what Robbie said to Will at the end of chapter 61 & how he said it?)

 

Third, I'll stick my neck out and question what some of the guys have been saying in these forums -- about how Mark might cover the period of 9/11. I ask, why cover that period directly at all? Yes, it was world-shattering and shocking to the core: but its relevance to CAP is surely how the characters react and respond to the event and to all that followed it. We could just as well see the CAP folk dealing with all of the after-effects some time later. (FWIW, I'm sure that I'll find Will a more interesting character once he turns 18 in -- what will it be in CAP-time, 2004?)

 

Anyhow, enough rambling here, and thanks again Mark.

[methodwriter85]

Will turns 18 in 2004, correct. 2004 should be a pretty interesting year for Mark to cover- the bulk of that generation starts college, JJ might be wrestling with the decision to go to college or not go to college and just train to make Torino '06. Gathan and Tony should be finishing up college by then(although it would be a sigh of the times if they did 5th years), and evil Zach should be in the middle of his college football career. Then there's the election and the Asian tsunami. 2004 was a pretty eventful year- of course it helps that I was 18 then and more aware of what was going on in the world than I had been at 14 in 2000.

 

For the short term, it would make sense that the story shifts more to Wade's point-of-view, because other than settling down Will at Menlo School, Will's story arc is pretty much finished. He's gotten his parental freedom and as a result- he can't really go wild too much anymore, because he's not going to risk getting the emancipation revoked. Did you notice that Will turned down going to a college party? I think that's a portent of things to comes with Will. He can't be the crazy, carefree teenager who gets to go to crazy parties because he's responsible for himself now. If a party got raided by cops and he got caught underage drinking he'd be screwed.

Edited September 19, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Since it doesn't look like Riley and Maddy are going to be raised as siblings, it'd be cute and classic soap for them to end up childhood sweethearts. It would also drive Elizabeth Danfield absolutely bat-shit crazy if her first-born grandson was showing interest in the daughter of a crazy lesbian from some no-name New Jersey Italian-Catholic family and a circuiit boi slut from some no-name Wisconsin family.

 

Speaking of the latter...I wonder if these means that Will actually won't hook up with Cody like I'm assuming he's destined to once he hits 17 or 18. Will was okay with hooking up with a cousin, but I'm not sure his moral code would make it okay to hook up with his sister's father. That's kind of a murky line to try and cross.

 

It's also going to be interesting, in terms of Will, to see how the emancipation affects him. Will can't really be the carefree teenager with no real responsiblities like his high school friends would be, or have his main concern be about topping the high school social ladder like it was with High School Brad. Some unchartered territory there.

 

Anyway, to comment on the bit above...I'm glad Mark's giving the time and focus on letting the Danfield storyline play out, rather than trying to stick to the format of Wade/Will/Wade/Will chapters. I like Will as a narrator, but dayum that kid has burned through a hell of a lot of storylines. It's good for him to get some rest, because really- I'm not sure how much perspective Will could have on what is intensely a Danfield family issue.

Edited November 18, 2012 by methodwriter85

[methodwriter85]

Damn, Mark. 2012 is going to be one crazy year for you to cover. I can't believe all the crazy stuff that happened this year.

[methodwriter85]

  I'm wondering now if Will or JJ will have any friends who wind up joining the new start-up Facebook in 2004, considering that they have strong ties to Silicon Valley. It'd be great if Noah ended up being part of Facebook and became rich that way. We already know that Matt has a Google fortune coming his way.

 

    By the way Mark, have you watched the Social Network yet? It really does nail what the college experience was like for people during the circa 2003-2006 era.

 

Edited January 29, 2013 by methodwriter85

[PrivateTim]

Damn, Mark. 2012 is going to be one crazy year for you to cover. I can't believe all the crazy stuff that happened this year.

 

At the rate we are progressing I will die from rising seas due to global warming before the CAP gets to 2012.

[methodwriter85]

I don't think Mark's going to linger again in a year as much as he did for 2000- I thought the point of having three stories set in 2000 was the fact that he really wanted to set up a base for this new generation, and then build from there. I'm thinking 2001 is going to go by a lot faster, and i wouldn't be shocked if we skipped over 2002 and went straight to 2003 and the Iraq War. (And consequently, when Will and JJ are entering their last year of high school.)

[Zombie]

At the rate we are progressing I will die from rising seas due to global warming before the CAP gets to 2012.

 

So Tim's now a believer 

[methodwriter85]

   JJ watches the 2001 Junior Worlds in Bulgaria on his plasma TV...

 

 

 

   He'll start screaming at the top of his lungs, "I could have beat him! I could have beat him!", then throws something at his t.v. screen, breaking it.

 

   Forget about Shane Jackson- he'll be obsessed with beating Johnny Weir from that point on, I think.

[rjo]

I was thinking of the next book. It will be hard to follow Paternity Two thoughts arise. The first Narrators JP and Will. Very few people could stay calm on such a terrible day. The second is Brothers the story of sets of brothers Will, JJ, Jeff Ryan and maybe others. We had a story about fathers and sons now the interaction of brothers as they grow up. What are your thoughts?

Edited March 23, 2013 by rjo

[methodwriter85]

   I'd really like to see July 4th, 2001 at Claremont. Mainly because it's the last 4th of July before America is irrevocably changed, and mainly because I'm guessing that given Claremont's history of sending off kids to war, we'll see a pretty significant amount of Claremont youth going off to fight in The War on Terror.

 

    I'm also interested in seeing if the ambitious plans for Claremont are working. Maybe the 4th of July celebration can be in conjuction with the opening of the Shoppes At Claremont Factory?

Edited March 23, 2013 by methodwriter85

[centexhairysub]

Yes, I am all for a look see in at Claremont.  I always like the story when something is going on there.  It is a great place to visit, mind you I don't want to live there but....

[methodwriter85]

   All this gay marriage debating has me wondering about Will, and his place in the context of the push for gay marriage in the 2000's and 2010's. The gay marriage debate really heats up in 2004, with the legalization of gay marriage in Massachusetts and the Bush administration coming down hard on it...the 2004 election also coincides with Will's freshman year of college. I really can't see a scenario in which Will doesn't get involved with the political issues that were big in '04 like the possibility of a gay marriage ban consitutional amendment and the invasion of Iraq. I also also remember those propaganda commericals that were running with the possibility of the draft getting reinstated because of Dubya's War for Oill.

 

    I got why 2000 was kinda pushed off the sides, but there was a hell of a lot more bitterness by '04 (Iraq, the surplus that became a deficit, the NYC anti-Republican Party riots, the comparisons of Bush II to Hitler), and Will's 18 by the time that election comes around. 2003/2004 will be an incredibly interesting time period for Mark to write about. 'Cause if Will really is the Tonto Incarnate, I just can't see him standing back and not getting involved when issues that affect him like gay marriage bans start to come up.

 

     It'd be interesting if, even if Tony comes out of the closet, Tony still doesn't believe in allowing gay marriage because the Pope said not to. I had a gay conservative friend debate to me why marriage should remain between a man and a woman and that gays shouldn't adopt kids...it does happen.

 

    I can totally see Claire dropping out of the Republican Party and voting for Obama by the time '08 comes around, because of what a horrible president Bush Junior was, although I can see Ace remaining steadfastly loyal to the Dubya in chief until the very end.

 

    I can also see, when Prop 8 comes around, Will and JJ hitting some kind of major schism because Will wants JJ to pose in the "No H8" campaign, and JJ's reluctant to do so, because of his need to appeal to conservatives in order to maintain sponsorships. That could be a really interesting conflict.

Edited March 29, 2013 by methodwriter85