drsawzall

All I can imagine in this scenario is...and look...who's out of the korner???

Loved the way the tension ratcheted up in this chapter and like every one else can't wait this Saturday... Oh look #44 as I write this @weinerdog and @kbois...Bingo or is it Yahtzee!!!

So frigging true... Zdain made no reply. He merely glanced at Josel and said icily, "You're the most childish sixteen-year-old I've ever met." Then he turned and started to walk away.

Early days here and in some respects, there are still many ways this could/would go sideways...just sayin...interesting that part of this story in this chapter takes place in my old stomping grounds...

In a way, this was a very powerful chapter filled with the highs and lows: Phil is walking and a bit further each day, Stanley will get help, then we have Susan and the issues with the divorce and Dwight dying from AIDS. It would seem that Phil has managed to avoid catching it, I feel/hope there is a bit more to this part of the story to tell. A very good friend of mine had hemophilia and required frequent blood transfusions and this was back in the late 80's early 90's. What he went thru from a tainted transfusion I would not wish on anyone. This was at a time when the powers that be thought it to be a "gay disease" and sadly there was little to no effort to understand this insidious disease, it was thought the 'gay plague' was God's answer to homosexuality. It took the deaths of several well-known personalities...both gay and straight... and the friends of Dorothy to crack open officialdom's eyes. The ignorance and bigotry of the religious right condemned thousands of folks to death, such a sad juxtaposition... I digress and the seeds for several problems have germinated in this chapter, and one hopes they grow and bear fruit!!!

I get the feeling a posse may be needed...

And our boys learn the importance of talking to each other, not at or past each other, honest communication in any relationship prevents issues that may fester/linger!!

Mincemeat...I just love a man who brings mincemeat pies to the table...platonically that is...

Except the part where forces known and unknown decide to use them as yo-yo's...punching bags...tire stops...crash test dummies...parachute testers...what could possibly happen?????

When the good lord was handing out brains, she heard 'grits'....

Foreshadowing, portents, ill omens, a bucket full of fusterclucks, a puddle of craptastic...what could this possibly mean??? Mark nodded, seemingly acknowledging the contradiction. “That’s the paradox, isn’t it? I believe Chronos and some others might not fully align with the Constructs’ agenda, or perhaps he sees an advantage in us being together that we haven’t realized yet. My experience in Ginnungagap made it clear—they fear what we might become, yet they can’t control all the variables. My return was not planned by them; it was a direct defiance of their intent.” “And I sent him away,” I said. “Well, he was lying. Certifiably so,” Dave said. “True. But maybe that was a misunderstanding. Was it? Oh god, I don’t know.” “The Constructs tried to kill me to disrupt the Triad, seeing us as a significant threat to their dominance. This wasn’t the plan they wanted, but it’s the reality they inadvertently created,” Mark added, his voice firm with resolve. “Yet, they let you live. They let Dave live. They concocted a weird plan of keeping us all apart, but never attempted to kill one of us until Labirinthoset,” I said. Fiona looked from Grey to Mark, trying to keep up with the revelations. “So, what do we do with this knowledge? How do we move forward?”

Well...with well-meaning friends this these two have, what else could possibly go wrong/right??? Granpa is ill and Grandma wants a chat in the morning...nothing to worry about...right...

But of course, prior proper planning wasn't used...

With an author like this one, could anyone expect sunshine and roses???

Fingers crossed the trap they set works!!!

A calm chapter, as others noted I was curious about offspring for our boys... “Not only that,” Devin added, “but I think my dad and grandfathers wanted me to remember what the cookout was like so I’d want to do the same thing when my son was growing up.”

Oscar has hit a bit of luck here and Toby is quite the entrepeneur....

Thank you for taking the time to entertain us with your craft, it is very much appreciated!!

The plot thickens and we are left wondering what was found...and how did the A-Hole know Ghil went to the printer??? The hole in the roof...happens every day...

Is Abernathy being hunted? What about Croosen, she's becoming what he loathes...

I still think the cure is in the dimension from which they and the daemon came from....will they get there in time or will Rabiah prove to be an obstacle???

You always hurt the one you love the most... The weight of despair upon Nathan lightened for the moment, and he smiled inwardly at his luck to have Brohm by his side. Knowing their time together was coming to an end, however, renewed the anguish within him. He considered telling Brohm what the doctor had revealed, but to what end? Once again, Nathan found himself torn between the truth and their happiness. The knowledge that he would abandon Brohm broke his heart. Why sully their short time left together? Nathan cared so deeply for him that the mere thought of hurting him stayed his tongue. He contemplated had their roles been reversed, would he be angry at Brohm for not revealing such a terrible truth? It was a pointless question. Without a doubt, he would’ve felt betrayed to not be told, but that didn’t change his mind. Even though it was the wrong choice for Nathan to make, he decided Brohm’s happiness overruled common sense. He blindly reached out and took the big man’s hand. It was sweaty from the heat, but Nathan didn’t care.

From the last chapter I had the following thought... Many undertones in this chapter and several revolving around Suki and Francis Heyward, then there was the 'Tax Scandal' revolving around the disposition of paintings...dodgy wealthy folks... And I feel that @CincyKris just might have picked up the subplot(s)..... And as @Cane23 noted... This has left me wondering if the "art critic for hire" just might find himself being asked to vet/verify the provenance of 'suspect' art works/forgeries... Is Paola T a money laundering front??? And I think just for the heck of it the following should be checked out/investigated...🫢 There was something suggestive about Ercole’s manner, certainly he was charming, and interested, but something more? Was his legs-wide-apart stance when sitting just the normal straight-boy stance or was he showing of a neat package. He noticed me noticing, and he smiled,

What a fantastic tribute to one of the best to ever grace these pages. Please take the time to read this, it is so well done.

I agree with all the comments above, sadly I came to know Carlos' stories shortly before he passed on. What you have done is a fantastic tribute and it is appreciated. While I don't know Carlos as many others do, I get the sense that he would be appreciative if you were to continue this. Whether you choose to or not, please know it stands on its own very well. Thank you for this!