zakynthos

It's amazing how much inner strength you have (even as a young kid) It's also amazing how good your writing skills truly are It's amazing how cruel and unseeing (and totally wrong) some parents can be Whats's also amazing - is the experience (and in this case - the witnessing) of the phenomenon of synchronicity Seeing drpaladin pull up a song inspired by your story comments and it just so happens to be a deeply significant connection to your school days and just trying to survive I feel like something very Cosmic just happened (which kind of fits in with a story about cosmic exploration) 💫🤩

Enjoyed your story quite a bit really The escape ending - seemed a bit too much of the Deus Ex Machina conclusion. Looking forward to see where you go with it

Peters thoughts - Maybe I should just ignore him and leave, but he hurt me, and I want to hurt him back. I want him to suffer as much as I did after he gave me hope and then squashed it like a bug. Then he tells Dan - "the heart wants what the heart wants" - but his previous thought can't be from the heart - I see no love in that sentiment. Immature anger maybe - Seems that he is lying to himself and maybe needs to find out more about what love really is - just a guess because I am no expert either 🤔 Another thought - He doesn't pull the Plug on himself because he doesn't want to hurt Dan. Isn't the caring and protectiveness he felt at this critical moment a much better indication of love ?

The thought of "tangled webs" jumps out at me You are probably going to be proven correct on this

Totally on board with your thoughts and had to laugh at the sociopath comment. 😄 Who knows - the mighty oak starts as an acorn. Maybe Dan and Peter can grow into something mighty together (or crash and burn - the jusry is obviously still out)

I'm in total agreement eexcept Pete is thinking things over - unfortunately for the both of them - He's thinking with his dick which often makes huge errors.

does anyone here really care about the immature spoiled rich kid in his lonely mansion - such a tragedy. He claims he loves Tyler but it so far seems to be a lot of lust mistakenly categorized as ssome deep emotional connection Right now it seems like Peter is getting off ( wrong term) lightly as Tyler has baggage even Peter's butler couldn't lift

This was a great little interaction Made me feel like I was sitting at the next table eavesdropping So Daniel and Peter seem really cool and interesting while Tyler comes off like a petulant whiner who thinks way too highly about the size of his appendage. Too bad he can't fuck himself - or can he ?? well - right now I am rooting for Daniel and Peter - although I have a feeling Tyler will get his way in the end ( Peter's end I guess) and have no idea what Luna's payout will be Thanks for a really entertaining chapter hope you can keep it up - no no I mean keep them coming - I mean oh never mind - I will just keep reading 😄

Intergalactic Star Fleet Command - Karens (Karens on steroids) are way too extremely scary. Seriously (or is it Sirius-ly) - I always thought the run of the mill HOA and Shopping Mall Karens on patrol were bad. I am definitely cancelling any outer space vacation travel plans - not worth the risk

Just wondering if Amazon carries any Protocal 7's online. Seems like we could use a few of those right about now This chapter was really brilliant or dare I say it - Genius !!!

Not sure why you posted the one video in existence where the Karen was actually in the right 😔 But the original Star Wars quote at the end "They'll be back and in greater numbers" was totally self redeeming 😁

I want us to make beautiful music together in the bowels of the ship while the stars streak by. It's romantic. I saw it in a historical historical-fiction vid once about a bald captain. That is what I want." Enjoyed the Humorous Star Trek homage/dig From various clues embedded in other stories - I have long suspected Topher was a closeted Trekkie. 🤩 May your interstellar humor - live long and prosper

a Kraken Karen is just too funny to even contemplate

But - who gets to wear the Darth Vader Helmet - Trump or Musk?

Thanks for sharing some insight into the "Artful Dodger" This is and has been my most favorite story on this site. I have often wondered how much of Robbie's experience is a reflection of the author's life experiences. I think you helped answer that question by maybe exposing more of yourself than you might really feel comfortable with - so thanks for sharing with us. One thing I've noticed from this quote is that both you and Robbie are fearless in your self criticism. Both of you look at your actions and assess them (maybe a bit too harshly) without protecting your egos. That is one of Robbie's characteristics that shows up over and over throughout the story. Even when he is engaging in his scheming manipulations - he is really honest with himself about it. I don't think he ever lies to himself to justify his actions. That's a really admirable trait that it appears you both seem to share. Just as a side note - Robbies quick witted asides really are an integral part of the story and way too fun read. You may not have had that skill as a kid but you certainly have it now and it is super generous of you to give Robbie the credit for it Thanks again for creating this great work and sharing a bit of the personal stuff. After so many chapter and so many years - I think I can say we all know (and love ) Robbie but it is also nice to get to know a little about the person holding the pen 😁

The fireworks metaphor was a nice touch. The ending seems far from happy to me. Richard's main dilemma throughout the story was - what was his role in his own story. He wondered who was the main character in his own life. He rightly assumed he was only playing a bit role. In the end - he chooses a supporting role character part - as now he will be the "good friend" supporting Stu and Nicholas. I guess Richard's life story could be titled ( in keeping with the Dickens theme) - Low Expectations.

That's a really interesting thought. Be kind of funny if it was Stu's handiwork. Stu seems too low key and up beat to engage in vindictive acts like that. I could see him leaving some graffitti - but not outing someone else. It would be even funnier if it turns out that the bathroom wall claim is not even true. The passionate make out session at the party may be all that has happened between Stu and Nicholas.

Wow - what a great chapter. the most amazing thing I think was that Richard actually read the entirety of David Copperfield. Current level of ADHD in school kids today makes that a gold medal olympic feat. Seems like everyone is hating Nicholas in a major way. True - Nicholas has violated all 3 vices listed - Mean Cruel and False - indicating he may be a total narcissitic asshole. That may be all there is to him - but it seems to me that we actually don't know that much about his motivations as to why he ghosted Richard in such a callous mean spirited way. We really don't know much about him other than the cruel way he treated a supposed close friend I can't help wondering if there is something more going on that we and Richard don't know We know he is super afraid of being outed ( his friend Darren's violent reaction seems to justify a healthy dose of fear) and extreme fear can exert an insanely strong influence

While Richard's final awakening and realization was shocking to him - but kind of needed. If it wasn't so sad (and mean) - I would be laughing at the comic turn of events - way out of the closet Stu publically snogging way way undercover Nicholas. How upside down can it get. Not sure who is suffering more - Richard or Nicholas - This story has become a real tragedy.

You have to really admire Richard's ability to be so so optimistic in the face of glaring reality I guess some people truly can't understand that the house is on fire until they are standing in the burnt out ashes. The good news is that he will be forced to wake up soon enough . He seems so accepting of everyone elses reality - just not his own The big question is will Nicholas wake up or is he beyond any salvation. As Joni Mitchell once wisely proclaimed - you dont know what you've got 'til it's gone

I thought he did come out to them - they just weren't listening doesn't that still count? Guess I need to go back and reread that chapter. The parents not being able to listen might explain why his sister is so loud

Reading your stories - for me - is is kind of like watching a magician perform. I ultimately am wondering - how does he do it. I sometimes suspect you may be a wizard waving a pen and creating these characters out of the ethers - but a sinister wizard because of the pied piper effect. read one chapter and I become entranced and can't not continue reading My big question however wasn't the elevator emergency override omission - no no no - the real strange bit fo me was Theo climbing into elevator. The only other person in the building that was a potential lifeline - entered into the danger zone without a lifeline. This does actually happen in real life emergency situations and both rescuer and victim perish as a result. Pretty sure that Theo's emergency response manual would not condone such an action I agree though - that such a dumb move is needed for the story to be good 😆

really awesome flipping of the script. totally fun !!! Pretty sure Richard's best laid plans will suffer the slings and arrows but there may be a silver lining waiting for him in the end. great chapter

Truly enjoying this crazy tale. Nothing much happened this chapter but the stage is being set for something explosive. The art teacher sees it. Richard has experienced so many shocking changes all in a way too short period of time. He is smart and perceptive, but that has been shut down as he tries to hang on to the one good thing in his life - Nicolas - by closing his eyes and embracing his boyfriends selfish manipulation. Problem is that he is chasing a bus that has already left town Will it all blow up in his face or will he blow up as he faces it? So many possibilities - both good and bad. Hey - it's never easy facing truths but he may find himself in the end

Have you ever been hit by a high velocity soccer ball? It can break bones (and has) That was a pretty cheap shot by Sandro - Seems like crying "bully" doesn't really apply