Charles26

I agree with the second part; and of course the great storytelling. I don't think Cian wants to dominate people in the sense of crushing their personalities; unlike Nolan, it seems. But I fear that Evan did allow himself to be and was dominated by Nolan ("The words Nolan had made small, the wanting made ridiculous before it left Evan’s mouth" ). He is still fighting to come out of that: "Evan typed, Sunday. Two o’clock. He sent it before warmth could attach itself. No apology. No hope you’re well. No explanation about work or Bray..."

Brilliantly written. To produce a convincing telephone sex scene requires skill. To place such a scene so that it fits as a necessary element in the development of an equally convincing relationship is a real achievement, so congratulations @Kevin Snell. I'm impressed. To list all the good things about the chapter would require a comment almost as long as the chapter itself, so I won't try. But I'll mention one thing that I think is so exactly right: "He could take the fear out of one part and leave Cian the rest to decide. And the moment he said it, the room would change. Cian would no longer be a man sitting at his own table with a decision. He would be a man Evan could afford." Of course Evan wants to help. Fortunately he can see the damage it could cause. A real problem. And meanwhile Nolan, whom we haven't even seen yet in person, is behaving as the total shit he must have been all the time he and Evan were together. Horrible man.

"I love you because I am Christopher." Marco stared at him. "And that is what I can give you." It is probably all Christopher can give Marco; but "perhaps that is all anyone ever has". I think that may very well be true. There is, after all, no certainty in life other than death at the end; and there is nothing more valuable any of us can give another than unconditional love. So perhaps, just perhaps, this won't so much break as dissolve the curse. I hope so - and we shall no doubt learn more. Meanwhile, congratulations to @andy cannon for another enchanting chapter.

Yes. At last. If Richard can't break the Nicholas addiction on his own, he now has two (or three) people who care enough for him to help him break it. He still needs a proper boyfriend...

Extremely moving and oh, so very sad. All the wrong things done for reasons which, if not right, were understandable and indeed excusable in the light of human frailty and human love. Perhaps Maelor is now at rest, released by Christopher's compassion and forgiveness from the impact of the ritual he enacted and the curse that it became. I hope so. And if so, then the pattern truly is changing. What impact this will have on Christopher and Marco I don't know. I hope it will be kind to them. A fairly short chapter, but pivotal and very effective. Good job @andy cannon

I take your point @Summerabbacat, but I fear that that programme would require a complete character reconstruction 🙃. Richard bis might well be more effective than the original Richard but would he be the same person ? Meanwhile, Mrs Hansen should be pleased, if no-one else !

Um. Well. I really don't think Nicholas is the one for him. Apparently Stu isn't either. But at least this time he is thoroughly, viscerally furious. That's progress of a sort, perhaps ?

At a guess, it might be the difference between a choice made without understanding the consequences and an informed choice made knowing what may result. Another quotation: "the truth will set you free" could be relevant here. Christopher has chosen Marco - again - but this time he understands what it means. They are coming to see that it has to mean that to be whole they have to accept that there will be an end as well as a beginning.

Well, it could, I suppose, but I don't think that's quite @Mark Ponyboy Peters's usual style😇. A great chapter - again - with intriguing developments all round. Casey seems to have been silenced, if only for the while. And Levi is learning a lot about his Dads, both as people in the present and as people with a past history that he hasn't known about. All good. Even some possible progress in selling the house; while his taking responsibility for it, or at least the garden, and recognising that he has moved on - "it looked smaller than Levi remembered" - both speak to his own growth as a person. Basically a pleasure to read, so thanks, Mark.

It's exactly the kind of bullshit that is used all the time to provide a fig leaf of cover for prejudice; more often from the hard right than the left but by no means always so. It's barely even a parody - it could easily be a quote from some real-world comment (though it probably isn't).

If this isn't the crisis, I don't know what the crisis will be. They know the current situation, they know the history and they believe they understand it. But that's a gamble. They still have to decide and believe that their choices are right - and perhaps pray that the outcome will free them, and free them in such a way that they can be happy. I wish them entirely well. Another excellent chapter.

Ah, wonderful. "I'm gay." "Yes, I know." At least that's one hurdle over and out of the way. But he still has to find a worthwhile boyfriend and there is nothing to suggest that Nicholas is the one.

It has been said that the only way to keep something that you value is to be willing to let it go and then have faith. The context is obviously different, but the New Testament has a number of verses along the lines of "for whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it." I think something analogous may be applicable here. No doubt the next chapter (or so) will make things clearer.

Certainly a new twist to the story but for the moment the mysterious newcomer doesn't seem to be especially friendly to the ranch or its people. We shall see, no doubt.

Right. A way forward. Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Which of course has nothing to do with straight ! And so at last there is an understanding of the nature of the curse which offers some possibility of cutting through it. But the way is difficult to find and hard to follow. Still, Christopher has partially achieved his side of it; or it seems he has. He has chosen Marco in the present, freely and aware of at least some of the possible consequences. What will Marco be able to do ? What exactly does he have to do ? But at least the fog of uncertainty is clearing a little. Another strong chapter in a compelling story..