Lux Apollo

A bad feeling about what's to come? No way! Everything is peaches and oranges! Rain is the Estonian form of the germanic name Rainer. Spoken by an Estonian, it doesn't really sound like the English prom citation of those characters. It has a bit of a lilt to it that I find beautiful. The name means 'strong counselor'.

David was caught in a bad place when he was fired. He loved working for Globestar - until Steve started, that is. Even then, it was only this one person he disliked. He trusted the people at the company enough at the outset that his firing would indeed be temporary, but we can see that changed as time went on and new contracts kept coming in paying much less hour-per-hour than what he made before. But how much of David's focus on Steve with regards to his firing is realistic? Is Steve just a target for his bitterness? The one thing about labour laws is that unless the people being victimized are reporting, laws can't really do anything about it. David talked Santosh into filing that first complaint with Globestar's HR in the first place. Santosh was just someone who liked to keep his head low and do his job well, but even he had a breaking point. The whole bungled affair about the interview was absolutely baffling for me too when pen hit paper and it started to come out. It was not my intention to write the scene like that when I first started outlining the story, but I have my reasons as always. Some of the why's will come out of the woodwork soon, because as you said that interview was beyond unprofessional on the part of Alec and Laleh. As always, perspective is important in this story. We've seen before that David can be wrapped up in himself and can have trouble seeing others' perspectives without prompting. We'll get a bit of Mike's perspective on what happened next chapter, although I'm not sure people are going to like how that turns out...

Poor David indeed.

Love it. Sweet release followed by big problems.

I awoke, surrounded by warmth. His arm was around my waist and I could feel his breath faintly on the back of my neck. Opening my eyes, I couldn’t help but smile at the soft glow of the sunlight coming through the window. “Hey,” he murmured, the hand at my waist sliding gently up my abs to my chest to stroke through the light patch of hair between my pecs. I turned in his embrace and gazed into his smiling chestnut-brown eyes. He leaned in towards me and I closed my eyes and-

Great second chapter. We have an antagonist appearing, and Clint continuing to be perhaps his own worst enemy. Looking forward to the next disaster.

Amazing chapter, Skinny. I think we all knew something was going to break today between Erik and Twoey. I'm glad he is wanting to pay more attention to what's happening to him now, but I can only hope it isn't a case of too little, too late. Why do we not educate our children well enough that physical assault is NEVER harmless in a relationship, and sets a dangerous precedent. Of course, Twoey isn't going to tell Ginny about this... I'm scared for what is going to happen to him on Saturday (let alone the rest of the week!). David made substantial progress today, even if a lot of that progress is further steps down the pathway to personal hell. It is incredibly disturbing that Keating is leaving at this juncture. I really do hope that David is able to respond well to whomever he is sent to (please!), and that he really will be able to run to Ginny if he is in desperate need. I'm glad David is at least able to admit that the physical symptoms he's already shown are exactly the kinds of things that Keating was talking about. I guess now the question becomes what things will emerge, and when? David has a series of tests tomorrow, and even if he is a great student it is still a stressor. What will happen when he sees Twoey tomorrow in math? With the guys at lunch? Wonderful, awful tension.

AAaaaaaaaahhhh!! This was a great chapter. So much happening. I'm glad that Kellar was able to save Adelin. Being able to use Tobyn's energy to help him was a very interesting twist. I guess the question is whether or not Tobyn is special in that regard, or if anyone who's aura is strong can help Kellar out if needed. As always so many questions going forward... Adelin had cancer, but it isn't the malaise itself, is it? Perhaps just a side effect of the weakening of the shifter body? Hmm. And there you go as always teasing us with the boys' relationship. Kellar may be frustrated, but I can't even imagine how Tobyn is going to feel waking up tomorrow.

A happy chapter. Seems you felt obligated to address a few things your readers have been bringing up here and there.

August 24, 2021 What. The. Fucking. Hell. Okay, so staff meeting this morning, right? Apparently, the guy who’s been teaching the juniors business decided to take off, too, a couple weeks ago. The French-Canadian guy teaching economics and the flying class apparently already has too many classes and there was no one else around who had enough specialty to teach the senior courses. I guess Emma had to pull some strings to get a new teacher in time for classes.

Nice chapter, and progress with Gary and Toph and the portfolio. I still can't get over how very unique, singular and consistent you are with Toph's voice in this story, because his manner of thought feels somewhat idiomatic. Well done!

Nice chapter, if on the short side. The next one is sure to be a doozy!

Aaaaaaaannnnnnnddddddd the other side of the coin. Alex really doesn't see himself, does he? He's just as bad as Devin, in the end. The fact of the matter is that no matter how much Alex cared for Devin and helped him with his problems back in the day, he didn't understand him. Not really. Screaming and punching and these sorts of things seem cathartic at first, but often are just as hollow as anything else in the end. Alex has a helluva lot of growing up to do. Good that he can see he needs to focus on the future, but he also needs to not neglect himself in the present. He has a lot of immediate issues that need attention. Also, I forgot to add in my last chapter review... Are things between Devin and his father always going to remain so uncomfortable and detached? It's like they keep just occupying the same spaces, but their interactions are barely interactions. I know after everything that happened last year Devin's dad can't be anything but uncomfortable and confused, but he also doesn't seem to be making much of an effort with a son who has clearly been put through the ringer.

Interesting chapter. So, a confrontation with Alex in the mall, eh? Hmm. I wasn't quite expecting this here, but good. Devin's befuddlement is typical, but at least now he's starting to contextualize things for himself. Clearly Alex has a long way to go. Good stuff, Hunter.

Oh Twoey... So passive. No wonder he didn't fight for David if he truly loved and wanted him like the dreams told him to... or was that Ginny? I can't even remember now, it's been so long. Tomorrow is going to be a shit day for him, and he can't even seem to see/admit that spending all his time with Erik and only Erik is how all this harassment was initiated. I'm glad David has Donny there, but it's a bitch of a thing to drop all of your security onto one person. When someone is depressed/psychologically torn the way David is, that isolation from former friends is a common thing that happens (regardless of whether they have red Demian or not!). David needs to come to terms with the fact that people are talking about him because they have the best of intentions and they want him to be okay. I have a feeling it's going to be an uphill battle for him to realize that, especially regarding Ginny. Maybe? I don't know. Tomorrow's appointment will be interesting.

Another chapter to set us smiling and happy for our gentlemen and their progressing romance. Tomorrow will be the first of many difficult days for Kye.

Solid chapter, through and through. It did everything needed at this point in the story. Jason's going to struggle like hell to keep a lid on things.

Not much to say other than if I were canine, my tail would be wagging something fierce right now. 'Thank fuck' indeed.

YES! NEW CYNUS STORY!!! Love, love love the dad. This is a great beginning, and a very different start from the usual high school story. You've got a hook in me, now to reel me in.

Hmm. An interesting ending to Part 4. David has made some progress with himself, getting that stuff out into the open with Alex and breaking it off with her. It will be interesting to see future interactions with her and Randy. David is avoiding a conversation he should have once again - this time with Grandpa. And then Donny... I am glad that David was able to communicate that he is in a very confused place and isn't up for anything deep with Donny, not at present. I am also glad that David admits to himself that he still has those buried, dormant feelings for Twoey. David realizes the enormity of what he has to talk about with Keating, but what is he going to focus on tomorrow? Will he give Keating a brief outline before they dive into something? The head pains would perhaps be a good place to start. Will Keating insist on some emergency sessions? Probably not; David doesn't seem like an immediate suicide risk. Though, in a mind as confused, conflicted and weighed down as David's, that can change in an instant when the dam breaks. The end of David's monologue is certainly troubling. I am glad that Mike is smarter than David and Twoey's other friends and has pulled Ginny into the loop, even if just a little. They need some Mom power as backup, although how effective that would be remains to be seen. Twoey has pulled away from her so much. I guess we are finally going to start seeing the depth of Erik's true colours. I have a feeling most readers are having doubts that Erik will go along with a trip to Syracuse on the weekend. Mike's none-too-subtle threat to Erik is... well, I don't know how serious he is about it since we know so little about him. After discovering that Gary and his family - and now Mel's too? - have some not-so-legal involvements, I can't help but feel more trepidation. David's ignorance to Mel's family's wealth or whatever is just another sign of how little he seems to know about so many of his friends. Why did David and Gary become friends? Why can't David remember that? Why isn't he going to his sister for some more clues? So many questions, so many loose ends.

I think David really doesn't know what more he himself can do to help ease the situation. We haven't really had an intimate glance at how Mike behaves when he comes home from one of his extended days at the office, nor how David behaves. David has told us that Mike was acting pretty disconnected, grouchy, and dismissive of intimacy before their talk post-dinner with Mitch and Emily. Was David in some way provoking those reactions? Vicky is someone who, as you might have gathered, is perhaps not as grown up as she should be at this stage in her life. I'm sure she has her reasons. I think most of us have friends who have given us bad advice or fed into our insecurities at one point or another; it's just a fact of life. She's definitely right that David needs to get some other things in his life to draw some of his attention and time. Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Yeah, the update system did something weird with this one. I think I know why. Hopefully this problem won't happen again. Thanks for checking back and giving this a read - the next chapter doesn't make as much sense without reading this first. This will be an interesting new journey for John. I think he we all know there will be a lot more than just a job to keep John on his toes.

I think you are right that at the current moment the buck stops with David, his perceptions and his reactions. The question becomes what will David choose to do in response to his worries?

Thanks Tim! David definitely seems to have a low level of resilience right now. His complaints are centered around wanting stability - he's lost his father, his best friend (sort of), and his job all in recent times. It seems he has become dependent on Mike for his happiness to one extent or another. Good observation.

David definitely seems to have a problem that goes beyond just Mike's work situation. Vicky has the best of intentions, even if she doesn't see that she's just feeding David's worries.