AFriendlyFace

Ok so I thought it might be fun to compare the 3 main characters from Dom's stories. Which one's your favorite and why? Who do you think's been through the most? Who do you get most frustrated with? Who has the most going for them? Who has the least? Basically who's the best and who's the worst? ************************************** And I'm not talking about writing or anything, I think all three are exquisitely written, and I'm crazy about them all, they're all very believable and human, and even likeable. Here's what I think. I have to say that as much as I love The Log Way (and I"m really crazy about it) and Desert Droppings (I have to know how it ends!), The Ordinary Us is my favorite, probably because it was the first story I read, and I could identify the most with Quinn, plus I think Judd's the sexiest, most likable, coolest boyfriend/love interest of all the stories. That said I've gotta say Quinn drives me crazy. He's definitely the most frustrating as far as I'm concerned. Basically he's had the least external drama but caused himself the most. I mean obviously Owen and Rory had to come to terms with their sexuality as well, but they were also dealing with: In the case of Owen the trama of a beating from his father, and a cold complicit mother, not to mention a bully, being outed at school, and having to handle a boyfriend's hostle mom. As for Rory he had to cope with the death of a mother he was very close to, moving to a new state with people he's never met, finding out everyone's lieing to him, and trying to develop a relationship with an absentee dad. As well as sorting out his feelings about his first kiss with a person he's highly suspicious of. As for Quinn he's got the least reason to be tramatized. I mean I admit some serious drama has gone down in his story, in fact I find it the toughest and most compelling to watch, I can also see how painfull all this stuff must be for him, but basically it's all self-imposed. He did all that to himself because he handled his coming out/coming to terms with himself so badly. And for no apparent reason. I mean sure it's bound to be fairly tramatic, but he actually had a lot going for him. He's obviously a popular kid, yet his friends truly seem loyal and caring. I mean he's actually surrounded by people trying to be supportive, and he really is leading a perfectly ordinary life, yet he just keeps causing himself all these problems, I think he's definitely the most frustrating character (though like I said I think I like his story best, it really is close with the other two too though, they're all so excellent, and TLW has the advantage of being finished) Rory can be pretty frustrating too though, but again I think we can cut the kid some slack. I actually I don't find Owen all that frustrating, he seems to react to most situations in a healthy way, he goes out of his way to help Dennis, he's an excellent boyfriend, and for the most part he does accept the love and kindness that his brothers, Aiden and friends offer. I'd have to say Owen is definitely my favorite of the three, he's got a lot of problems and issues to deal with too, but he's not totally fixated on himself like the other two, he actually goes out of his way to help other people (Aiden, Dennis, Reilly, Tony&Jake), he did some horrible stuff to Dan and Nicky and I really was screamin nasty words at him for some of that, but basically he made everything right with Nicky and realized it was all just a misunderstanding, as for Dan, well it's just horribly sad but I guess he couldn't love Dan like he needed (though I really think he coulda tried harder, or not led him on), but again at least he realized his mistakes and grew and made efforts to move past them. (ok I guess things are heavily slanted his favor since his story is complete) Anyway I'd have to say it's almost a toss up between Rory and Owen as far as who's been through the most, I guess that makes Rory look weaker by comparison, but he really does seem stronger than Quinn, plus he didn't have the same unconditional love and supporting environment Owen got with his brothers and eventually Aiden. Owen's story seemed to constantly reaffirm trust, Rory's story conversely seems to consistantly show deceit and lies. So one can't really criticise Owen for flourishing in his environment while Rory languishes in his own. As for poor Quinn, he's just trapped inside his head.

I'm excited about the new story too, but actually a little disappointed that it will focus on Dennis and Reilly, ok Dennis was interesting, but to be honest I found Reilly one of the least compelling and interesting characters in TLW (but hey maybe this spin off will change that), besides I was so into the other characters that I was hoping they'd get to play the lead. I mean Ryan, Lacy, Nicky, Adam, Ben, Leo? Those stories would have been so much fun. But I dunno perhaps Ryan and Lacy are best left as perfect supporting characters, I'm crazy about them already, maybe it's best if I don't see their flaws. Ben and Leo (and Owen's brothers) probably don't have enough issues to sustain the story (though i'm still dying to know more about the back story of Ben, Leo and Dennis, as well as looking forward to what WILL happen). Nicky or Adam would have been really fun to examin from the inside though. And I guess it would have been silly to do it from Aiden's point of view, we already had so much insight in TLW As far as seeing Owen from another perspective I'm kinda excited about it. Out of the two of them I found Owen much more physically attractive than Aiden, and I think I'd have enjoyed the steamy scenes more if they'd been from Aiden's point of view describing Owen. Another comment about Owen and Aiden, I thought they were both really excellent characters, and excellent human beings. They were both ALMOST equally mysterious, and dealing with a lot of issues. I really think the whole thing coulda easily worked from Aiden's point of view instead (no complaints though I did love being inside Owen's head it was such pleasent change from being trapped inside Quinn or Rory's head)

Well I finally got around to reading DD and I must say I'm really really enjoying it. It's a fantastic story and all the characters seem so complicated and read. With that said I really think they all need to be cut some serious slack. I won't go into a long defense for Rory (other than to say that yeah he is only 16 and his life has been turned upside down and inside out a few times recently), or Luke (he really does just seem to be honoring Eddie's wishes, and he did hint that Rory should go up to the attic), or Eddie (I mean come on Rory was a serious **bad word** to him when they first met, and hasn't really shown himself to be too understanding or accepting, and he definitely is dealing with fear of losing him, and the newness of the whole situation) or any of the other characters, EXCEPT: Grandma Alice, boy does everyone seem to have a bee in their bonnet about her. But I really don't think she's all that bad, I get this image of her as some sort of distant, omniscient gaurdian waiting for everyone to figure things out for themselves, knowing its better that way. And think about it, it's almost bound to turn out that it was in fact better this way if this story's going to have a happy ending. I mean Rory already admitted that he wouldn't have handled the letter well if it really had been given to him RIGHT after the funneral, I agree it seems like she could have given it to him before he moved, but she probably did think it would be better for Rory to come clean with his father and visa-versa than for them to hear it from a 3rd party, albiet Rory's mother. And in fact Rory has just said that he's made that he had to hear it from Aaron and not from the actual people, he also wants his father and friends to come clean with him and not have the easy out of the letter. Could it be that grandma Alice actually knows her grandson well enough to know that for him it's more important for people to tell him something like that themselves than for him to hear it 2nd hand. Besides I get the impression that grandma Alice is supposed to represent a kind of unbiased, neutrality. The fresh outsider perspective if you will. I mean yes she's not doing it the way I would have done it, but that doesn't mean her way isn't best, or in the very least what she thinks is best. Then there's Aaron, (yeah this is going to be long) So many people seem convinced he's nothing but pure evil, but I just don't think that's true. Let's back up, to the beginning and look at things from his perspective. He's living in a household that he's sure can't accept him as gay, and as such he has many insecurities and hang ups about it (think Quinn). Then along comes Luke, and Luke opens up to him, and trusts him, and almost certainly becomes very important to him. So yes he does a lot of very stupid, careless things possibly in an effort to impress Luke, and hide his own insecurities (yeah it's totally stupid but he was like 15 or 16 at the time, and I think everyone can remember doing stuff they knew was stupid to impress their friends when they were that age). Then oops they get busted. Well then one very basic and primal emotions kicks in. Fear! What's going to happen? Will his parents kill him? will he get thrown into jail with a bunch of rough convicts who might rough him up (especially if they learn he's gay). So his throughts immediately turn to self-preservation (not very noble, but painfully human) and he realizes "hey Eddie's a great lawyer, he can get Luke out of this bind (he was right by the way), and besides if Luke's really my friend he'll forgive me and know that things would be worse for me if I took the wrap (still remains to be seen, but I'm sure that he did try to justify it in a similar fasion)" Now the next phase for our poor friend, Aaron. His story more or less works, he gets out of trouble, but uh oh, he's lost his best friend (and perhaps the guy he was in love with). That's gotta hurt even if it is your fault (and he does admit that it was his fault), what's worse is that Luke was probably the only person who he really trusted and who really knew about him. So here his is still dealing with all the normal anguish he would be experiencing as a gay teen who's parents won't accept him, and to make matters worse he's just lost the only person he had a real relationship with (think Quinn on gay issues and Owen on lost my only real confident). But his problems and pain don't even end there. Now none of Luke's friends will have anything to do with him either (I'd assume that they had alot of the same friends to begin with, and also based on personalities that Luke was more popular in the first place). So now not only has he lost his best friend, but more or less all his other friends, and since Luke keeps telling people, he's even lost the chance to make new ones. What is the boy to do? He has tried apologizing and it didn't help, he has no friends and no chance of making new ones in his current situation, then along comes Rory. Once again he sees a chance to make a friend, and possibly a boyfriend. and they hit if off really well. Then Luke pulls that rug out from under him as well. This isn't the first time, and it's probably getting more and more frustrating, so yeah he becomes a little possessive and creepy, but I still believe most of those early "chance" encounters were by chance. So then he finally opens up to Rory, tells him flat out that he's attracted to him and wants to be with him, and just pleads with him to talk to him about it. And what happens Rory USES him to get around town, yells at him, tears him away from his lunch, drags him back to his house, and then kicks him out. When all the poor kid was trying to do for most of that was help Rory, be the voice of reason, and talk about their feelings for each other. I admit the kid isn't perfect, but he's far from evil. He's just human, and his growth is further evident by the fact that he ISN'T spewing all this stuff as his defense, he's just admitting that he made a mistake and what he did was wrong. He's tried to apologize to Luke, and he doesn't seem to hold it against Luke, far from it, he seems to still care about Luke (talking about what a nice guy Luke is, and how hot he is etc.). And he said he's changed, that he's grown up and matured, and yes I'd like to believe he has. (oh yeah I think the whole "outing everyone to Rory" is a total non-issue, he had every reason to believe Rory knew, ok he may have missed a few signs that Rory didn't know, but he was probably wrapped up in what he was saying and thinking and we still can't begin to compare that to how self-involved Rory's being this whole time.) Ok so that was fun playing devil's advocate, hope I didn't offend anyone, those are just my opinions on the matter. And as far as who I think should end up with who....well that's complicated. I obviously think Aaron needs and deserves someone, but I really can't find any fault with Luke whose reactions I think are all perfectly normal, and after a little soul-searching he even told Rory to make up his own mind about Aaron, (besides he must have been seriously hurt by the whole thing, I just hope he does forgive Aaron). So anyway I like both Aaron and Luke, and while I don't hold any of this stuff against Rory I kinda think he should just focus on his family issues right now anyway, besides Aaron and Luke have a past (even if not a romantic past they have a past). So yeah I guess I'd prefer to see them get back together, with maybe a new character introduced towards the end for Rory (at the very least I hope the one that of them that does get left out, finds SOMEONE). Anyway just my thoughts

I definitely would agree that Judd is more of a catch than Quinn, but Quinn isn't really so bad either. I mean he does seem to be a fairly nice person, reasonably intelligent, polite etc. Plus as Judd pointed out he's "real". He isn't really shallow or superficial. Besides in answering the question "what does Judd see in Quinn?" Another obvious question springs to mind "what does anyone see in anyone else?" I mean everyone's got their own flaws and good points. When choosing someone, rather for friendship or something more, you basically are guided by your instincts. There's just something about this person that you like. I think it's as simple as that. Judd like's SOMETHING about Quinn, and remember we're getting everything from Quinn's point of view. It's easy to see all the things Judd's got going for him, because Quinn keeps pointing them out. Perhaps if we were in Judd's head he'd be making little remarks about nice qualities Quinn has. (I still think Judd's a hotter and a better catch though)

I think Chris' choice of Judd was pretty good, though with a different hair cut. I get the impression Judd has medium/normal length hair in the back, and much longer hair in the front (I think it's a better look than the one in the pic too). Bree is good too, though I think she may look a little Asian, and also I'd pictured her with very green eyes. I don't like the first choice of Quinn either, the second's better, Jole's choice of Taylor is perfect. I think Mrs. Moore looks ok, though I was picturing her with darker hair like her children (didn't it say somewhere she looked almost identicle to Bree?) And I think Marissa should DEFINITELY be blonde.

I think you guys are right, this story does seem primarily to be about "coming out" and coming to terms with it. Also I do fear the story is wrapping up, but I'd still like to hope for another 10 chapters or so, so that we can really get a feel for how those closest to Quinn are reacting. And also because I'd love a little more time to see the Quinn/Judd relationship develop and continue. I mean we got to enjoy the Owen/Aiden relationship for like 20 chapters, and I know there is bound to be much less exposition after Quinn and Judd get together, but I'd still really enjoy seeing it take shape. (Judd always seemed much hotter than Aiden to me anyway). Besides there are still several things I'd like to see resolved. like: -The whole thing with Judd's parents -How his mom handles Quinn being gay, and then gay with a boyfriend -I also think a little more insight and development for Taylor and Trina would be good.

Ok so I noticed someone saying that they thought Brad and Bree will be ok with Quinn being gay (which I'm inclined to agree with), but then it said "Marrissa won't be ok with Quinn being gay." Which may indeed be the case, but am actually the only one who kinda got the impression Marrissa might be a closet case herself?? Let me explain first of all she'd been dating Quinn forever right, but she was just as comfortable not taking things to a very passionate level as he was. And then the one time he tried, she freaked out. And he made a point of saying that he could tell she didn't feel any great chemistry or attraction to him. Then there's the fact that the rumor about her and Trina was so upsetting to her, it was just another rumor, and pressumably she's subject to many of them, but this one really got under her skin (struck a nerve perhaps?), then there's the fact that she hates Trina so much in the first place (again could it be because she's envious of the way Trina's "out" and doing what she wants). Finally look at the fact that her NEW relationship with the guy after Quinn didn't last very long (perhaps he wasn't as comfortable as Quinn, regarding no passion). I dunno maybe I'm just reaching, but from the very beginning of the story I consistantly had the feeling that by the end of it Marrissa would turn out to be gay too. Of course maybe that's why I interpreted everything else that followed as further hints.

I think he'll lie somewhere between the two. He's already had too extreme a reaction to at least start out like a "Ryan", but on the other hand he'd grown up with Quinn, and had every reason to assume he was straight, it's more of a shock. Ryan hadn't known Owen that long, had never seen him dating girls, and already knew that he had a gay brother and friends. There's just less shock factor, and of course different backgrounds, Ryan had quite a few gay friends, presumably Brad doesn't have any. On the other hand it doesn't seem like Brad's had the same, closed-minded background which Adam seems to have had. And he's already said in a previous chapter that he didn't think Quinn could ever do something to make him hate him. So in all likelyhood, I'd have to say that he'll be closer to the Ryan end of the spectrum, but naturally have more adjusting to do.

Where is Chapter 14?

So where is Chapter 14? I don't see it posted?

I'd give this story a 10 My favorite characters were: Ryan, Owen, Aiden, Chris and Tony, Nicky, Lacy, Ben. Ryan because he's just a really cool accepting guy, he's straight but has no issues with gay people and is even openly affectionate with them and all of his friends, Owen because obviously he's the central character and after awhile you feel almost like you're becoming him, besides he did seem like a special guy the way he treated Aiden and Dennis, and his friends, Aiden because even though his phycial description never did sound like my type, he was really beautiful on the inside. Chris and Tony because they were such awesome brothers and I think everyone wishes they had people like them in their lives. Nicky, actually I'd have been fine if he never entered the story at all, it seemed rather sudden when we actually met him towards the end, but after hearing his story how could you not be touched and feel really bad for him after what he's been through? ("I guess I should have made you promise too" come on who could keep a dry eye?) Lacy, she sounds like such an awesome girl, very sexy and popular, but not big headed at all, she just seemed so cool and real, and like such an awesome friend too. Least favorite characters: none really, they all served a point, even the ones you were supposed to dislike and everyone had enough characterization that they all seemed relevant. Best moments: Well I'd say every chapter had several "best moments" I guess I really liked all the stuff at the beginning with his brothers when they were making him feel welcome and stuff. The conversation with Chris stands out, in which Chris told him about how he loved him and Tony no matter what unconditionally, and they talked about religion and stuff. It was a really good moment with Adam after the camping trip The first date with Aiden was really good His coming out to Ryan was good, as was his conversation with Lacy when she told him she knew. Really all the interaction with his brothers, Aiden, and Nicky, it was all marvelous. I already mentioned one unforgettable line with Nicky but I'd say another was the "You didn't have to be alone either" thing he said. The conversation with Dennis in which they told each other they weren't worthless was really great too. Other Dennis part of course being when he told Owen that you were as good as the people who cared about you. It also served to point out that he at least respected the people close to Owen. I think the absolute best moment though was the part where he and Aiden had sex for the first time, and no not because of the steamy sex story (which was also good), but because of the sweet way it all happened, I really liked that Aiden refused to do it fast, and was so tender with him, and that they were facing each other, and when it concluded with Aiden whispering "I love you owen" how could anyone not be touched? Loose Ends: I really don't get that the whole Dennis/Reilly thing is really such a loose end, Dennis has issues with his family, he meets Reilly's family, and naturally wants to get close to that, to get the affirmation he never got with his own. It's just logical, they're neighbors, and he just gets to see how nice Reilly's parents are. Of course he's going to be resonably nice to Reilly too, anyone can see that he's not a one-diminsonal bad guy, he's got a heart he's not just going to be evil to Reilly. No I think the biggest loose end, the one (probably the only one) I was screaming about was the one with Dennis and Ben/Leo. Dennis said he was "guilty" and showed remorse, I really wanted to see that get explored, I wanted to know if he'd set Ben up, or just not done anything about the attack, it really looked like he was sorry about the whole thing, and it really looked like Ben would have forgiven him if they'd ever had some discussion about it, I kinda wanted to see that. Also I felt like there should have been more detail about what happened after the attack, they said Ben was depressed and stuff, I just wanted to hear more about the whole thing. I guess I could have used a little more closure with Aiden's mom too. Did she quit drinking? well they eventually form some sort of working relationship? But the earlier comments about life have loose ends is true, I really can't complain about those couple, since all the others were wrapped up so nicely. Hey maybe in the sequal right? :-) Comments: I thought the story rocked and I loved it, and I really liked how all the characters finished up. I thought there was a shocking amount of sex in the story, but I was probably just shocked because I read TOU first, and it's been pretty sex-free so far. But I don't really take offense with it, Owen and Aiden's first time was one of the most beautiful parts of the whole story, and Owen's in a much different place in his life than Quinn, so I guess it makes sense that there'd be more sex here. I really like that TOU is PG though. One last comment/question though, and I'd really appreciate an answer if someone could give it. What does "The Log Way" mean?? Honestly I thought it was going to be about abunch of guys logging (cutting down trees). I almost didn't start reading the story in the first place because I didn't get the name and it didn't draw me in, it was just the opposite for "The Ordinary Us" whose name I love and started reading because I was intregued. I only did finally start reading TLW because TOU was so good. I'm so glad I did though. I just don't get what "The Log Way" means? Anyway awesome story, loved every word of it, looking forward to a possible sequal, I only hope it ends as happily.