andy cannon

This chapter is only 2 or 3 away from when I realized that I couldn't maintain scrupulous fidelity to the era and arrive at anything like a happy conclusion. You are correct that these events take place some 75 years before there was even a term for same-sex attraction as an orientation, so I operate under the illusion that the lack of an appropriate label would affect how the other characters react to them. Certainly there was a coterie of rather mincing, fashion-obsessed men around the Prince of Wales, later the Prince Regent, that any self-respecting thirteen year old today would deride as "gaaaay" but were nevertheless impregnating every woman in sight from duchesses to milk maids. Other times, other customs. I hope that the compromises I make will satisfy everyone.

The Reckoning at Midday The Deck—-14:00 The Caribbean sun hung heavy overhead, turning the deck into a kiln. The sails groaned above like slumbering beasts, shifting in the slow wind. The Absolute plowed on toward some unknown port, her course hinted at only by the dense humidity and the dark, hazy promise of land on the horizon. Jamie Blake had kept his distance these last days, stalking the edges of Lieutenant Pitt’s line of sight like a wolf circling its prey, warily, de

Hmmmm... Troy is in quite a pickle vis-a-vis the mysterious Theo.

This is beautiful writing: "It’s so suffocating, this feeling. I’m genuinely terrified—terrified of my own heart, and also terrified of his feelings. I’m afraid that I might actually end up liking him. I mean… being one-sidedly infatuated with him is bad enough, but what if I end up loving him even more than this? What would happen then? Wouldn’t my heart just burst and kill me even more painfully? And what about his feelings? If he finds out I like him, but he doesn’t feel anything for me at all—aside from me facing humiliation, heartbreak, my knees buckling, my spirit breaking, and complete confusion—he himself would probably feel awful: shocked, sad, angry. Or worse still, would he end up hating me? And if he genuinely feels that way, I’d be hurt even more—face humiliated, heart broken, knees shattered, self utterly confused, magnified a hundredfold, plus getting wasted, ruining my grades, quitting sports, and even losing friends on top of it all."

Poor Noah! Cheating sux (and cheaters, too)!

Another great chapter awash in emotions and hormones. Jonah continues to be a delight. Noah is threatening to work my last nerve. “What about Spring Break? Or summer?” I asked. “What are you going to do then?” “I’ll figure it out,” he said softly. “Don’t tell anyone. Please. Don’t tell Mr. G. Don’t ruin this.” This is a heavy burden to lay on someone!

A great chapter exploring family dynamics. Jay makes me both happy and sad I don't have a younger brother!

This is a very well written story that has my attention. The guys' disproportionate reaction to the quip was surprising, as was the subsequent exploration of a budding foot fetish? And humiliation kink? Not my jam, but I am on board to see where this goes.

Great chapter! Very erotic.

This is a very helpful discussion since that level of awareness and acceptance was not my intention at all. I was trying to show her support for traits of empathy and compassion that were making him a good leader. I appreciate the close reading and the comments!

Great story! Interesting twist(s),

That conversation with Jack is heartbreaking. A powerful story!

Another fantastic chapter that brings back memories for those of us around in those days.

I like the vivid way you develop Slav, and your decision on how to present his speech is spot on!

Great chapter, with some honest, gritty conversation.

Great story! I also vote for a continuation!

Great story!

I thought that was heading in the direction of the roofers going to lunch and taking the cards with them, never to be seen again. The true story was worse!

Well, it's official. Draven is a wank stain, and I would tell him to his face.

But for this moment, Eddie and Charles stood on the cusp of uncharted territory—years of professional trust now infused with a raw, unspoken longing. And Harry, caught between the two of them, would soon step into the steam of his own truth, where all their secret lines of attraction might finally converge. This sounds VERY exciting,

Great work. So much going on here, with a lot of possibilities.

A wonderful chapter. The characters are all vivid and unique.

I like the way Leo stepped up here! Good story!

Oh, that is something to think about. I was trying for a mother comforting a son who feels very deeply and wears his heart on his sleeve with what she sees as a case of hero worship. Now I can see how it could be read as her perception and acceptance of his sexuality. I studied Melville under a great scholar of his writing, and she steadfastly denied any queer subtext in Billy Budd, in spite of passages such as Claggart's "violet eyes suffused with desire" or him tapping Billy on he seat of his trousers with a rattan swagger stick. Couldn't be more obvious to me, but she was oblivious. Shooting for the same naive trust, I missed the mark on this one. Thanks for the input!

This Quiet Hunger ### Officers' Wardroom— Evening It was two days after the drill when the wardroom turned sour. Lt. Vane, who had been foul-tempered since the drills, arrived at the door to the wardroom at the same time as Midshipman Blake and Lt. Morris. Morris blocked Blake from entering the room with a elaborate gesture to Vane. “Rank before roses,” he intoned solemnly. Several officers chuckled, but Vane only snarled, “I am the ranking officer!” glaring at Blake as though he