Philippe

For a youth to have his entire life portrayed in the tears and pain from physical torture and mental abuse is unbelievable; yet, we hear of the deranged imprisonments and starvation of children by those that spawned them all too frequently. Ironically, it is easier to identify the more public animal abuse than abuse to the children hidden away by such sick and evil people. My opinion is Seth’s mental blocking has been has defensive sanctuary. But with his growing maturity, increasing survival and human needs, and with the anchoring provided by Noah, Seth is embracing the strength and confidence to open up; to trust and depend like never before. And Noah is finding Seth’s problems to be a catalyst in finding his own strength and determination; increasing his self confidence and self-worth. As the turmoil of their lives spins out of control, their bond of interdependence emotionally, gives us an onion of interwoven ying/yang relationships; this is the most heavily themed mental health story that has successfully blended the classic suspense, action, and romance that keeps the storyline from becoming weighed down theme. @Demiurge, what a wonderful and warming tale of this growing relationship, while addressing real life personal struggles, you give us the rollercoaster of Seth’s emotions with; the 😡 for his abused childhood, the 😭 of his ongoing struggles, the 🤞 that his journey of improving continues, the 😮 for the many mini-cliffhangers yet to be answered, the 😊 that the boys have again anchored themselves in shackles of mutual support, the ❤️ for the relationship the readers wish, but the character can’t yet recognize. So,…though dark and troublesome, this story is a unique, reversed tragic romance! Bravo 👏

And he is chasing a flighty, skittish young fox; it should never get boring!

Uhm, guys, my compass pointer…it only points to…., ahem,….well Jonathan. (Now cue ZZ Top’s Sharp Dressed Man!) 🤣

The boys are so bitten, aching for each other, loving time together, and hating times apart. We see them appreciating and sharing intimate fantasies or desires, but then Seth withdraws into his head and that puts Noah into his head; neither breaking that mind barrier keeping them apart. Though it’s a painful growth in their relationship they are now maybe seeing the flaws as they are; the more they learn the better equipped they’ll be to face the future. Not many would expose all their flaws and misgivings to a budding interest. They haven’t quite reached that point of total surrender to trust, but this latest step is a huge step for Seth; his admission leading to professional help and now confessing to Noah. That’s a very vulnerable position, especially for that very first time; the sister doesn’t even understand or get that level of exposure to the raw truths. @Demiurge, it was almost painful to read with all those tender innermost emotions, so you’ve succeeded again in bringing out those feelings our young couple have; with a tear, thanks for sharing this journey.

The biggest cliffhanger here is in the afterword note; that’s a significant impact multiplier. I suppose any further comments can be planned using the farmers almanac, as the next harvest season for ‘Into the Shadows’ is now 2022; that’s literally into the shadows of…Inactive Story. I guess it’s a subtle way of disclosing that Vinsy has a new affinity…invisibility.

The recovery is going well for Jake, both physically and emotionally; including his immediate support system and home environment,…not perfect but non threatening and promising growing acceptance. Cody’s is another story, as the stronger religious ties are evidenced in the parent’s conversation following Alan retrieving Cody from school. But more troubling is the summation found in Cody’s closing statement of great appreciation for Jake’s parents; which argues against history and expectations from Cody’s parents. The combined stresses propagating towards the boys’ futures promise rough waters at a time when they find themselves freshly seated in a canoe without skills. @James Matthewsthe angst here has me sharing in their fears.

Oh the frightful years of youth; where silence is the default, as speaking may make things worse and silence is safety. Poor Jake has had is long lived bond with Cody build to a level that now gets complicated with his sexual growth. To get the message that that bond will end die to an move beyond his control is bad enough, but to then learn that his emotions in the relationship are not only dismissed but then the relationship too seems to be lost as well…crushing, especially in young minds. Cody is no more experienced and doesn’t understand these emotions, the impact for the long and short of it, and how to be compassionate about it regardless where he stands. A series of unfortunate events…bring us these tears of shared agony.

I hate to say it, but yes I’ve been there. Not suffering the abuse Seth has but just being poor. I refused to accept my destiny of remaining in the lower caste and strived for goals I couldn’t really afford; but I worked my ass off trying make Tommy goals. I worked 33-50 hours a week as an engineering student. Without scholarships or help from home meant that at times we might be three weeks into the term before I could even afford my course subject textbook. The library or begging off on a fellow student until I could get my own textbook also meant some missing homework and the embarrassing “can I share your book” in class lectures where the professor would reference it for discussion. Even then, the desire to have some friends and satisfying social needs would still force the occasional outing for a party or class gathering. I couldn’t often take much or maybe not anything but yet the social pressures to participate where all too often unforgiving. The humiliation of others saying “hey no problem, I got this and you can pay me back later” now meant more pressure to bear and that too was like someone else spending money that I didn’t have; and it wouldn’t be paid back until I could make rent and utilities, and have basic pantry items. So gifting to friends or newly established partners of a different class has its own implications; a gift for one, may be a burden for the other. Now add in Seth’s drive to provide without fail, when he was a victim of such abuse and subject to suffer at the hands of a failed provider, it’s then added humiliation that he is failing and no better than his negligent abuser. Noah is a quick learner and will figure this out. He has already learned much of Seth’s social indicators and is getting their communications increased at each gathering. He’ll soon learn how not to let the little sister put him in the middle of Seth’s guardian decisions. @demiurge, powerful issues but very much a reflection of real life. Bravo

To heck with watching, this is a war of hormones vs humanity; stuff the tubes, launch the torpedoes! It’s not whether you win or lose but to enjoy the game…lol

I gave it the tear…of happiness for the heartwarming ending.

Margaret is a goner but then again she should not have been allowed back. Then there are the highly suspicious events and reasoning behind those events that just reek of more than just personal problems for her behavior and possibly the motivation for Jason’s adoption too. Hmmm 🤔 very curious…

Oh but cats love to play with that ball of yarn first, they may be more fun to sit back a watch!

Wow, the Electric Panda 🐼 is an energizer panda at that; he puts on this amazing but exhausting Mage Dance and even though given a friendly boost from McAlpha, he then goes Hybrid Alpha in a mating of patient passion, without any recovery mediation! 😯 And this is after a long and emotional social event in recognition of his inauguration…amazing, Kaplan had better be ready for some long nights. Kaplan is astonishing, to recognize the hidden desires and then deliver the parents of his Alpha is just a gift indeed; it was so nice that that moment was shared with their long estranged son. No doubts that Vinsy will be taking his observations to heart with a new goals and an even stronger drive to achieve them. @astone2292, I can hardly wait for next Wednesday…or sooner! It’s your own fault; you cook this crack now cook some more, quickly!

Kaplan would definitely agree that it was an emotional…ride; growling louder than his senses could comprehend! 😝 The Alpha gets rough and erratic? Oh, beyond the mating….gotcha! 😛 Well Stacy is taking this all very well but I believe if her desire goes for turning, then mating is given; if the dense lug can be lead to water!

What self centered, arrogant asses for parents that poor Hayden has. They are only seeking opportunity irregardless the damage to Hayden’s personal and emotional well being; they only seek custody of Hayden to better their selfish quest, then I’m sure it would be off to gay conversion training. Matt directly contributed to the essential life saving counseling and coaching of two resigned young men; maybe even single handedly connecting when all else was destined to fail. Matt has a Masters Degree from It’s a Cruel Life University. This is a perfect example of life skills that just can’t be learned from books written by those only vaguely familiar or from making theoretical applications with only hypothesis for a basis of logic. @Ronyx, such powerful words but nicely wrapped in this touching story full of raw emotions and fortitude for life.

I think most guys can understand “some push and pull because it’s hard” in most any context! Oops 😬

Perhaps Troy needs to design and gift Corbin a paint by numbers art kit; hmmm 🤔, would a heart ❤️ with only one number and color requirement be too hard to figure out? Argh 😠 human perception is so much easier as an observer.

I would say that Corbin’s dad is an Ass, but that is insulting as an ass actually has purpose; that guy is psycho beyond all reason, and he is a very dangerous person. I envision a loose gun on a swiveling turret; anyone and everyone is a possible victim in his presence. Corbin has a very strong willed new friend, as he invites himself into this dangerous relationship(s) surrounding Corbin; he definitely deserves respect and is worth getting to know and understand. Unfortunately, Corbin’s dad is a blight to the family and the community and is currently beyond self help; so either commitment by family or authorities is probably all that is left.

Buckle up boys, it’s gonna be a while before these two realize they’re scratching and sniffing the same patch, and that scent is hormonal surrender. Goodness @Laura S. Fox, this story is gonna require reclaimed water users to not only user fertilizers, and fungicides, but they may need it to add a strong spermicide. What a great buildup to discovery, hopefully by the time they finish polishing their own stones they will surely appreciate each other’s collection of family jewels.

Congratulations that your story is finished…ahem…as book 1 did get the Puritans their savior and cure, but hopefully you will revisit this storyline and your characters for book II as the Puritans are liberated by the AoE vaccine and the new AoE Life School Syllabus prepares them for the more open society; planetary and beyond, through strength and renewed confidence, but with a more respectful diplomacy to other worlds and races. Many open threads…and zippers need closure. After all, the straight boy brother gave it up as he chewed the humble life pie to reconnect with his brother and to man-up to the issues he wanted to correct in a life redo. Brandon still deserves to slap Sage good, perhaps top that arrogant top boy with some aggressive humble pie himself. I still see potential for those two to bond in friendship though they surely need to get many issues of their pasts worked out. Likewise, Castro’s move towards being more human in emotions, while retaining his intelligent logic, says he deserves to know and understand he is the son of heroes and the Consort of the Grand Master and Hero AoE. AoE and Castro are bonded in Love of each other, and through their connections to the fathers of Castro that also somewhat fathered Adam when he needed help and purpose in life. @James Matthews, this storyline is full of drama, adventure, suspense, and all in a wonderful sci-fi setting; please do allow this great story to be set adrift; as the Selsha regains prominence in the Puritan fleet, the heroes and champions deserve their tribute in the realization of a new Puritan Legacy. I could go on and on…as Purity could too! 😝

Adam of Earth needs to have a Grand Master name in mind. Grand Master Smith just seems…like a skilled laborer; blacksmith, gunsmith, etc. He also wants to pay homage to HIS Puritan champions but also to the Heros for the Puritan race and worlds. So maybe Grand Master Adam Skashek? Relshek? Skarel? Shekda? 😝 Then ironically Castro would be carrying his fathers’ names in a blended splicing much like the batter of Puritan creations. Brandon is an logical thinker and quite intelligent when unleashed. Good for him breaking the parental shackles and maturing into his own man. Ironically Brandon has a way with Sage and I could see them bonding in a kinda odd couple brotherhood friendship; each anchoring the other at critical moments of logic or action. Maybe Brandon can give Sage back a little passion for his own goals in life as he definitely seems intelligent, but he needs some confidence that he can still win some of his battles and that not all help come with a selfish price tag. The absence of the former Grand Master and the previous decisions of the Council are still unsettling; there seems to be too much mainstream policies in place of their previous policies; military limitations, turning over Adam, supporting the former Grand Master in irrational behavior, but then removing him without public review…this is too much to accept without a little paranoid skepticism. @James Matthews, this story is an addictive concoction of suspense, romance, sci-fi, and much more; please keep us fixed as we are definitely hooked! Thank you for creating and sharing this wonderful tale.

Hmmm 🤔, I’ve toted water from an outside well, to heat on the potbelly stove, to then bath in the #3 wash tub in the kitchen as it was the warmest for winter baths; summer baths were on the back porch, at least for rinsing. Yup, I burned my butt(ocks) while bending and bathing next to that stove…ouch! The use of the “honey pot, slop jar, porcelain pot, etc” was avoided unless the pain of dumping and cleaning was less than the cold run to the outhouse on a dark winter’s night…yuck 🤢 or double yuck 🤮 for a little tike. God forbid as a little tike you either fell back into or tumbled that small rimmed pot forward! Triple yuck 🤮 🤮 🤮 . My older brothers would hold the pot (and their breaths) to avoid the bedroom nuclear spills or late night #3 tub, toted water, baths. So as fond as my memories of country living are…I WOULD UPGRADE! 😝 Though I would keep the water well functioning and the city water/sewage usage at a minimum; fresh, cold, hearty well water with natural minerals is just irreplaceable. I’d personally keep the outhouse too but with a little modernization there also. Perhaps hand pumped water into a porcelain wash basin on the outer wall, that then drains(flushes) into the inside porcelain bowl via a spout; this outhouse can be connected to the septic or sewer to avoid having to relocate it or relocating the waste pit. Just reminiscing but also thinking simple semi-retro home engineering.

My, my, how things are changing. Adam-of-earth hopefully has a new protector in Commander Moorabak. If the commander were entrusted by Lord Relshek with the planning and contingency operation then he should be of the same quantities as Skada. Poor Commander Skada, he probably saved the whole Puritan race and did it ethically and with honor beyond question; The Puritans needed him for the challenges they face with the irrational Grand Master. The Grand Master left the military and the peoples of Purity exposed to this tragedy, but he will blame the protectors of Adam as handing him would have bought time…for the Puritans to continue in a race for extinction. Hopefully Castro is indeed safe, but if on Purity, hopefully he is not and won’t become a hostage to the Grand Master and his Council. But where is Lord Relshen? And how did he and Castro get separated from Adam, the most valuable person or asset the Puritans had and need? Poor Sage, battling his present self and himself as he was, but with the confusion of an altered mind and masked memories. Mind games are enough to freak out many, but I believe given some time to reflect Sage will be more approachable in their search for answers.

First and most important is that Marco needs to get a master carpenter out there to evaluate how to professionally craft this into this time capsule country mansion. He needs to best ways properly planned out to modernize the electrical switching and lighting, and then likewise for the plumbing. You don’t want a general plumber or electrician knocking and chopping holes just to install a functioning switch or faucet. That will be a disaster of modernization; much like tacking wiring and conduits to the walls just to bring the services in but with no regard for the craftsmanship desired or needed to make it look like it was originally planned those many decades ago. As to modernization with of all the comforts of present day, a well planned and matching design and material addition may be the best way to add the wet rooms and utility closets without sacrificing a room that was obviously not designed for those appliances; air conditioning air handler, water heater, boiler, and laundry are probably needed in addition to nice bathrooms. Even if staying time period appropriate standing tubs and standing sinks with time appropriate fixtures, the modern sizing, spacing, flooring and drainage could be better designed if an additional room can be fashioned into the exterior elevation and a convenient floor plan. This allows the original house to remain mostly intact but allows the modern materials necessary for good wet room construction and mold prevention to be incorporated into a matching design with proper lighting and windows for privacy. This could be a very exciting project to match the craftsmanship but with modern materials and comforts so mom…can flush!

As a teacher Cindzilla should understand basic physics and child psychology; they are very similar, as for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction. The problem for adults deal with kids however, is they fail to understand that the initial force applied may be assisted by the child themselves as it becomes their objective to demonstrate the excesses of your own controlling force. Again, we learned these lessons in older schoolyard games such as sling tail; where your own weight and momentum does more damage than just the forces of the opposing players. So Cindzilla doesn’t even realize that she may have just nominated Luke to volunteer as the GSA student sponsor! Who said Cindzilla couldn’t be a positive motivator, as she has probably solved the club sponsorship problem with her motivational skills! OMFG that itself would be classic revolt. @Krista, you capture these characters, their personalities, their quirks, and their anxieties so well. Please keep these kids and their story alive. Thanks for sharing your creative passion with us. ❤️