Lux Apollo

So much pain and heartache... we felt pAthos for Jason before, but the build-up around Shane is so moving and makes Jason's declarations of unqualified love all the more powerful. I am glad we finally understand who Nikolai really was and why Shane has reacted the way he did to discussions of his dead fiancé. We have dug deeper into the mystery surrounding Shane's attack... and now to find out what is still haunting (or hunting?) the boys. There is the mob, of course, but we have Thomas and Denise still floating about, and then there is that gun... Nikolai told Shane that there was no one left who new about the porn, but somehow I feel like that drive and it's contents may have gone to other places before everything was said and done...

I am glad to see more of Chuck and Carl's interaction, even if Carl kept bringing things back to what happened surrounding David - a fascinating subject, but not Chuck and his own exploits! I guess David does have that certain amount of intersectionality between each of Carl's brothers, since he occupied a special place in both their hearts. I sort of agree with Hunter about David sort-of abandoning Tom, but at the same time it's a supposition. He could easily have spent time with Tom, just away from that house that held so much trauma and bad memories. They were in school together for the past couple years and would likely see each other in the hallway every day, after all. While some of the others seem to be wanting more and more about David and Twoey - you've perhaps left us with even more mysteries and questions now than we had before - I am content to let them fade into the distance a bit more so we can see what's happening in the rest of the universe. To Chuck referring to Mark as having 'become straight' bothers me for some reason. I guess it implies that Chuck believes (or wants to believe) Mark is denying himself in some way, rather than the sexual antics of the past being what they perhaps were - experimentation with something that felt good, egged on by his insatiable older brother. You've definitely begun to set the stage for trials and conflict between Don and Chuck, just with describing the struggle they went through. Obviously they have grown a lot together over the course of their relationship, but consistent things that irritate close by are sometimes easier to smooth over than when they happen at a distance... Now why is Tom sobbing? Looking forward to what comes next, you dastardly plotter!

Haydn loved having fun with his music, that's for sure.

You jerked, you spoiled me way too much with Luca, Nikola and Dante! I was fidgeting with glee. That said, it was an interesting chapter at a slower pace than I had anticipated. Zane thinks about Clint deflecting seriousness and awkwardness with humour, but we see Zane being just as guilty with his rushes to kiss as a physical outlet to deal with uncomfortable emotions. Ugh, semen in pool water. Cool stuff. As always, looking forward to more!

Aaaaaaaaannnd so begins some more information on the cliff. :please I know Deke is upset right now, but he definitely is missing some signs with Park and Ritch. Or am I imagining something? Hmm. I am also developing a theory about a plot point, but I won't tell because I don't want to give anything away. I am glad Park seems to forgive Deke. They both need to be on the same page, given what is happening. Ugh, it just had to cut off right where it did! Sigh. Until next week...

Love it! Little Cory, oh my God so cute! Cuteness overload! This was definitely a nice interlude and a look into Cory's cute-bait properties. And unwittingly bisexualish kiddie Cory, ha ha ha! Looking forward to more of these, here and there, when you feel the inspiration for something outside the main EPIC storyline.

XD

Some difficult emotions to wrestle with here. I was very moved by Stranger.

Joplin was definitely a very cool guy, and someone who deserves much more respect from classical circles (and probably jazz as well!) because his style had a definite impact in music across genres and audiences. It is a common misconception among people that the Maple Leaf in the title of this one refers to Canada and not the bar. I'm not entirely sure where the heck it came from, but it's one I've heard at various times since elementary school but it was quashed in my mind quite early on by my first piano teacher - she was a Joplin fan, both Scott and Janis.

Oui. Outstanding attention and control of the timbres they were producing, using ones appropriate to the moment (and a particular concentration on 'clarino' type sound in the upper voices). Tight synchronicity, some very minor intonation problems in a few spots. Overall a wonderful performance - A+. As for the piece itself, the Kaiser is one of those pieces that if I was teaching a music history survey course I would hold up in front of the class and say THIS embodies the soul of the classical quartet (Beethoven doesn't count - he's mainly post-Classical/pre-Romantic and I will fight to the death anyone who insists otherwise!). The random musette that pops up in the middle of this movement always makes me smile.

Emma isn't someone to do things without reason. Hell, with good intentions, even, though there are a lot of people in the X-men universe who would strongly doubt that truth. She doesn't always get things right with her meddling, but I think she has a good record for getting results of one sort or another. I wonder how things will work out with this project?

Emma *always* has ulterior motives. John has flashes of seeing himself making a difference, but I doubt he's at a place yet where he can confront the goodness, worthiness and love that he has to give within himself. Sorry for not replying to these two reviews for so long; I was in a bad place and lost track of a lot of things. C'est la vie. I appreciate you sticking with me.

It was an interesting chapter of self-reflection. Interesting to me that he was able to do this, even through the pains from the injuries. I guess being laid up has given him a chance to take a moment to look at what he's been doing and see the value in it.

It was definitely a tough day for John. The next few chapters will definitely go through what John does to get through the initial phases of this new challenge. A confrontation? Hmm... I guess that is definitely a good question. The old John, the one before his time living with Dom in LA, would be full on confronting him... and things would probably have ended with Dom reduced to a pile of ash. But that isn't who John is anymore, I think. Or rather, that's not the person John is trying to be. This will definitely be an important factor in John's emotional journey.

Yeah, this chapter wasn't just Dom ripping the bandaid off the wound. It was tearing the stitches out before the wound had healed up at all. I think John has a lot of work ahead before he could be a person to admit he is flourishing, let alone let himself enjoy it. He's been burnt by life too many times and has internalized blame so much that it causes me pain in sympathy. We'll maybe see more about this when it's the holidays. Do I hate Dom? Well, no, I don't, but I know a lot more than you do at this point. But John, does he hate Dom? I'm glad you found the chapter interesting. I hope I can keep you interested as things progress.

There’s a road to nowhere In my heart And I’m not sure If there is a destination Will I care when I get there Or will I continue Unto my own Annihilation? Sometimes I am driving Along it In subtle animus Not recognizing my own actions The hills are not threatening The curves perhaps annoying But never dangerous It seems But shadow casts illusions Even in the pale moonlight And the soft glow of the Galactic plane Sliding through Inky blackness My headlights

Oh man, more conflicts thrown into Jackson's path. At least Drae and Charlie seem like good guys, and Charlie will hopefully be a good role model and sounding post for Jackson about himself and Luke. It's good to see Jackson feeling like he's at the beginning of something new, with a drive for reclamation. He's still got the temper, but I'm liking Jackson's progress. Now what will happen next with Luke...

Okay, here's my Canadian Thanksgiving Monday contribution: Scott Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag played on harpsichord. Ragtime is some serious fun to play on harpsichord. When my harpsichord teacher mentioned that as an option for my rep in the third year of my music degree, I asked what she thought about Golliwog's Cake-walk, a piece from Debussy's Children's Corner suite for piano. She told me to try it out that week, and I came back the next week and asked to do the entire suite instead! I only ended up playing the Cake-walk for my jury selections, but we had a lot of fun with it and I didn't have to do much adaptation to make it work on the harpsichord. I guess it's testament to the skill in Debussy's writing.

A nice, heartwarming chapter even if it was mostly just catching Elinor up on what the boys have already talked through. Looking forward to more!

I was born on Haydn's 250th birthday. I always hoped some of Papa Haydn's genius would make its way through the temporal aether to me, but alas... It was a saxy performance, that's for sure.

November 05, 2021 I can’t believe this. Dom is taking me to court. He’s taking me to goddamn court! The bastard is claiming palimony, something I didn’t even know existed. I had to look it up. It’s apparently the same as alimony, but for cohabiting unmarried couples that break up where one of them is basically a dependent. No, complete bullshit is what it is. It only exists in a few goddamn states because it’s an idiotic idea, and Cali-fucking-fornia is one of them. Fuck.

Thanks for reading, skinny. I'm glad you liked it.

Thanks Gary. It was something that took on various forms over a semester - and almost all quite dark. It finally settled into this one soon after I started dating my first boyfriend. I guess you could say a part of my own life was newly blossoming in many ways.

A positive chapter after the heartache. It hit me hard that the statue got smashed. I do really hope it can be fixed, in one form or another.