Philippe

OMG, two freshly removed bachelors, now trying to manage a household of two abused adolescent boys, now marching in the shadows of an abused, outspoken, hyper, teenager,...we’re off the the rodeo as our new dads will need to hang on! LOL 😂 This is a real feel good chapter with just a sprinkle of abuser references in the discussion to build the family understanding and ties. I loved it!

OMG! Tears, tears, tears, and more tears; Tears empathy, tears of compassion, tears of love, and tears of heartbreak. Mom’s sacrifice and possible errors have given birth to new strength and determination. Fortunately, Butch has found aid and support before the harsh realities of life claimed another innocent soul.

Omg, we need two sets of the emoticons; one for Antonio and the other for Praveen. Ironic that Antonio’s best friend may actually be Praveen’s best friend and ally in this new life. Antonio is a spoiled brat, not without reason for emotions, but to not talk and to then plot against his own family and Praveen shows the flaws of his spoiled character. Unfortunately, his sister, Andrea, is encouraging the wilds of a beast to be unleashed against poor Praveen. The children hardly seem to be of the nature that the parents would have raised, as they seen to have elevated themselves to royalty without compassion and empathy. Emilia, mom, is not without guilt as the arranged marriage should have been known to Antonio, even if the partner was to be secret. Likewise, the compassion and understanding she feels should have been taught to the children in any case, but especially knowing the arrangement to be a family expectation. Love Praveen and even Ethan, but it’s a sad to hate for Antonio and Andrea.

Oh yeah, that was totally tongue in cheek. I Unfortunately understand the topic all too well. I went through the official training for adoption and mentoring in child protective services. Now I would not have been allowed to adopt; you’re too old...hmmm, I was only 51 and wasn’t looking to adopt a baby but an older adolescent or young teen. I likewise saw another rejection for the person being single?? How many kids have good single parent homes? Can the system really believe it better to keep a kid until aging out as being better than allowing the less than perfect: young, two parent, economically and financially secure couple (gays accepted but amazingly at much lower percentages). So I really knew I was just trying to mentor or be a big brother to a kid(s) needing someone to care beyond a job and a case file. So, Even the kids that are placed in government care, group homes, and foster care, it’s so sad to see the out of sight and beuricratic mentality for kids. The contracts on group homes are made for keeping occupancy and not finding placements. Job security and imposing that authority is again paramount while kids sit for years to time out at 18 years of age; totally unprepared and without even a license to make job opportunities realistic. So It’s no wonder the government kids wind up incarcerated or destitute in very high percentages; often >70%, good thing the government took them from the unsafe home environment. How sad that there are no follow up programs with realIstic metrics to place these kids. Now this leads to just why many kids would avoid “government help” in lieu of the streets. The street being more favorable than dismal stockyards of the group homes.

Please verify no changes to the provisions of your certificate of mental, physical, and financial well being...no changes? Thank you, please step forward for the retinal confirmation of your recertification. We’ll then be able to have the hormonal and neurological damper flash deactivated for the period requested and approved, at the expiration of your permit to bred certificate your horneu-damper will automatically reactivate until your next recertification. Thank you, next!

I was hoping that the prized necklace was not forgotten and found the beach scene was to finally answer my desire, but then you teased with the fake leg injury that made me doubt. Then much to my delight the real prick to the foot and joined investigation revealed the necklace wanting to be found. What wonderful symbolism that the necklace was discarded in the hate of the sacred but broken vows. Then after witnessing Luis’ love, the healing of Luis’ wounds, and with that their wounds of betrayal are fully exposed but starting to mend. We see that healing then move beyond the immediate family bonding with child, siblings, and the generations of parents. The beach scene brings us full circle to the original bonding of the two, and now, with the injury of broken vows finally healed they find themselves, their bonded souls, and the necklace unbroken. BEAUTIFUL! I love your expressionism and the passion of your story. I would rejoice to find a 15 year epilogue with the chaos of the kids coming of age and the spirit of Mang continuing to be a beacon of the kingdom.

This story seems to have plenty of twists and turns but I’m loving the way you’re developing the storyline with these characters; murder she wrote with characters we’re starting to love; great job, I’m eagerly awaiting the next twist! lol

Unless you’re trying to publicly pat yourself on the back for single handedly unearthing these jewels, or you believe yourself to be above us unlearned ruffians you’re trying to educate with a public shaming, a private message would achieve constructive criticism without having to display your credentials as a pedantic SOB. Many authors here work hard to bring forth a story to entertain us, balancing personal lives and livelihoods to post regularly without the reward of a mere thanks from many. To bare ones sole, their creations, and to accumulate a following that surely bears witness that their efforts as a minimum command enough respect to receive the common professional courtesy of a private submission for edits and administrative drivel. So, @Ken Ransom, you can tap on the messsge envelop at the top toolbar and address to @Laura S. Foxto submit edit type inputs with details that go beyond the spellchecker.

Butterfly effect???

Who was driving the bus??? 😂

Wow, what a roller coaster of a chapter. As we hoisted ourselves from the cliffhanger of Aidan’s declaration of war, to see his win in battle but yet refusal of the spoils of victory. This is hollow victory for Aidan as he still feels the lost of opportunity to known his biological family, yet the same family that took his parents also took his husband and family-in-law. This victory saved the people of the kingdom as Aidan’s compassion wouldn’t allow otherwise, but the victory could never replace the biological family. It seems the broken bonds of love, trust and marriage may also be too painful to repair; but then the little prince may be seen by all in a new light. Can Luis win his battle to rebuild the family trust? Maybe he can with a little help from a smart little prince that may educate the whole bunch. Great chapter!

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I’m glad to see Aidan get the story of his family’s sacrifice; gifts or not they gave Aidan the greatest gift they could a family. Luis and Aidan were unfortunately manipulated and their bonds of trust broken; one can never take back what has already been spoken. But Luis and Aidan have both been very pig headed about their feelings. Aidan should have been told after the reactionary emotions calmed that Luis did want to believe him. Aidan may not like the complications but Luis did deserve to know of his son. Now as fate would serve, the absence of Aidan his given extra confidence to the arrogant and evil lord, but this is also an advantage that Aidan can now know the intent before manipulation attempts by the warlocks or the evil lord himself; they are exposed.

I’m open to the interpretation on this one,. Does the burden fall to Kastan literally to relieve the emperor, and father of Rushi’s children, or is it more figuratively as Kastan may be burdened to arrange the act of removing that cancer. Either way, Kastan is then destined for more challenges with possibly another border war, with the kingdom of Rushi’s birth. The strained relations between their kingdoms were cause for her political marriage to the Emperor; now the rightful call for death of the Empress Rushi, following the recent execution of Lord Villes, the Empress’s father will bring the ere of Rusho’s brother and other powers to be in her native lands. This is even more complicated by the all to present maneuvers of the money purse and muscle of Lord Revi; was which was the very impetus for Jihan’s servitude to the empire by royal marriage. Oh what a wicked web we weave...

I’m glad to see you agree and are ready to damn those saddle sores, toss the saddle, and lasso a few of those wild and untamed loose ends! Thank you so much for sharing a peek at the first brush strokes of the masterful portrait and colorful world of Widderkin; I hope the supplies are adequate to see you paint the entire landscape and portraits for this great bunch of chosen friends, unyielding companions, and bearers of enlightenment to the greater Realms.

How cherished the memories of our loved ones passed. The gathering of the youth in mourning; so touched by this community grandma, is a powerful scene and is told with the full impact of a real loss. It was great to bring them together impromptu as many of their community family events were spontaneous yet filled with that sense of irreplaceable bonds. It’s great to see those bonds expanding even while suffering the losses of nature. Young Lukas seems to be the tie to the next generation of baiting and casting.

I think a hotel renovation with a nice restaurant front may be a better approach!

Just a rounding out chapter? We have Faire Lords and King dancing and laughing with nary a worry of the evil lord having conducted from a score of war. Now we entertain with floating blue orbs fueled of mystical white power (Glenda, the good witch of the north arrives in one on those), and we confirm the Lord of Chaos is not the wicked witch of the west! Kieran is capable of tossing powers of origins unknown, but yet still finds himself masking appearances of real with unreal toads. hmmm 🤔, your rounding out chapter shows us some characters in a new light but the growth of the companions remain somewhat veiled. ThIs chapter brings forth many images reminiscent of the Wizard of Oz; hahaha But then: "A researcher has discovered a section with references to portals which is intriguing but very hard to understand, and Uirebon is going to fly his Griffin to the study centre to see what he can figure but he suggests we might be able to help." This cliffhanger has the irresistible power and characteristic of a hidden wizard 🧙‍♂️ rumors abounds of such a Palantir, should this all powerful wizard let us discover the hidden origins of the Realms and then point out the simplest of solutions that was and/or is before us...where are those ruby slippers?

I’m liking how the relationship of Taran and Ronnie is building but the riff with Dad definitely needs some patches. Mom is focused in one direction, dad is focused in another, neither truly focused on Taran, or Taran as he exists outside their superhero assumption of shared goals. Maya can possibly understand if he lowers the blocks but it seems Ronnie is the only one Taran sees being able to understand him. Ronnie is quickly gaining full access and is the only one meeting the real a Taran. How true is Taran’s perception of the events surrounding his brother’s death? Are the superheroes in denial themselves?

I enjoy when the authors shared the character list, characteristics, relationships and abilities. As the story progresses the expanded traits should have chapter relevant spoiler alerts or perhaps the list and abilities can be expanded periodically within the chapter timeline by posting as an interlude ; of characters, back stories, or emphasis on relationships, or powers, that better support that character without bogging down the main storyline. Huh 🤔 mind vomit ... pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. Hahaha

I enjoyed your shared thought processes and explanations. Likewise, I’m enjoying the Syndicate and look forward to seeing how you craft this universe of mutants.

I wonderful chapter of establishing relationships as they should appear and learning them as they truly exists. The return of Kas to Silver Shore with the familiar “life saving” Consort should be smoother than most merged families. Hopefully, the Emperor and the prince will identity the threats before they become a problem.

Hmmm, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but perhaps when youthful tossing puts the apple under another tree the seedlings may confuse even those responsible for their placement. So if a fallen apple is moved beneath another tree, and no one is there to witness, did it fall not far from the tree? Sid knows more, as does Tom, how many possibilities are there for the emotions Tom holds for “do right by that child” when he doesn’t explain himself or his perspective; did he do right for himself or did he do right for someone else? In doing the right thing in his mind did Tom deny himself his destiny, yet he now wants Jett to do the same? Or is the bigger twist remaining veiled, as Tom is known to be Jett’s father. Tom’s emotions say Jett has to be with Carina as the mom is the traditional and natural place Jay should be; was Jett just as Jay, history repeated, requiring a man to do the right thing for that child, as a child needs a mom and a dad? I say some of this from my own knowledge of my father checking on and supporting a single mom and child, as a friend had been separated from his wife and fathered a child. My mom didn’t know the full story as dad wouldn’t talk bad about people, but mom knew there was some reason why the friend was no longer within dad’s circle. The friend had rejoined his family, my father tried to steer him to do right, but he refused any responsibility to the pregnant mother of his “taking a break” child. That resulted in my father of limited means trying to help the mother and basically no longer associating with a man previously known as a close friend. Ironically, after the passing of my father, the mother of that child paid respects to my mother and my father lying in wake. She explained the full story and thanked mom and dad for helping her keep her child when the father abandoned her. The lady’s son was then being encouraged by mom to make contact with his half siblings and their mother. He has now become part of the extended family that knew not of his existence until well after the passing of his absentee father. So my question to Tom is were you “Yourself” trying to “do the right thing” by that child, Jett, or for someone else that failed to step up as a man should? Are you now afraid the history repeats? The thinking is flawed by traditional thinking but is understandable from a historical perspective.

Major, Attention! About, face. Double time, MARCH! Farewell, SIR!

Nothing rebalances the equations like a brash little old lady 👵 speaking and commanding in words others are too afraid to speak and few are willing to challenge! 😂