Aditus

We have to respect your decision, I do it with sadness in my heart. I'm glad you'll still write.

Yep, I binge-read it. Just couldn't stop. Great story.

*sniffs* You smell different--but still good! Welcome back!

It's Dieter-points in our family because of an ancestor showing us how it's done. I have to admit 'grey-green slabs of roasted beast' has been a bit much though. I couldn't help but wonder which bacteria conquered it. Aaaaanyway, I loved the conclusion. And now I'm having fresh sesame rolls for breakfast.

Kris ran nervously about the room, opening drawers, the empty closet, and even went so far as to get down on his knees to look under the second bed to see if his last roommate had left anything dubious there. Not that he hadn’t already painstakingly cleaned the whole room yesterday, even scrubbed the walls. ‘Whatever the stains were that Cory had gotten on it…‘ Kris really didn’t want to know. He couldn’t believe what was going to happen: Noël Carmichael was becoming his roommate! Kris had had

Thank you!

Ah the ballade with an e! A tough challenge and you did so well! I saw struggling, and shame, but hope also. I didn't like the word fool, not you using it, but someone feeling like a fool for what they are or what they want. You showed me their conflict, well as I understood it. Okay, I stop rambling. Now I want more. Thank you, Parker!

Happy birthday!

'The souls need an alignment.' I really love this! I want to tell you so much right now, but I can't. Thank you for your comment, Def!

You're very welcome! I can see you emphasize with both, Diarmad and Noël. I find your ideas very interesting. Thank you for reading, and sharing your thoughts with us, TasteofHome!

I think I can say you're right without revealing too much of the plot. Thank you for your comment, jt!

That about sums up what Diarmad is depicting. Is the King showing his true feathers? It certainly looks that way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings, doughlas!

Nothing happened between Kris and Noël. If Noël decides to be someone else in the future, no one can blame him. I find it interesting that you're saying 'despite the bond' and 'help when necessary'. That would be an interesting future you're developing here. Thank you for your comment, LadyDe!

Diarmad certainly behaves diametrical to before. Is this his true self? Is he protecting Noël? I can't answer those questions, but I love reading them! When I see readers defending characters of my story, being loyal to one or the other, it's proof they connect to them, which is the greatest gift to me. Thank you for your comment, DragonFire!

Yes! After everything they went through...I felt actually really bad writing this.Of course I can't comment on your speculations, but I love reading what you think! Thank you so much, Puppi!

I talked with Cole the other day. We will definitely finish our stories. I'm glad you like Taranis and Fear. I hope to start writing again by the end of the year.

Happy birthday, Caz!

Thank you, AC! S. is Italian.

Gee, as you fully agree with what spikey said, please read my answer to his comment. There certainly is 'too long' when you take my slow writing speed into consideration. You would have to wait much longer for the next chapter. And no, Noël and Kris didn't have sex, they just drank too much and danced. Never forget everything around you while dancing? There is nothing bizarre to that IMO. Thank you for your comment, Geemeedee!

Let’s address the formal aspects first: Knocking on someone’s office door before coming in is only polite. You don’t simply barge into a room when you know the person inside could be working, being on the phone, concentrating on stuff. I do it when my mate [ ] is in his office, at least when the door is closed. The seating. Diarmad is certainly distancing himself from Noël by being this official. Why ? There could be several reasons I could think of, but I am sure you can come up with some, as avidreadr put it, he could just be a cold ass, or as you said wanting to treat Noël as a subordinate. And pointing at a chair isn’t giving permission to sit, merely showing where. Now to everyone’s behavior. We got to know Diarmad in The Holly and the Ivy when he was dying. And even after he meat Noël, he was still recovering. He was dependent on his advisors, his friends, listened to them because he had to and he trusted them. Simon mentioned he was more self-reliant or should I say kingly? – in the past, before he became ill. And that’s exactly it. Diarmad is king. Let’s imagine the President of the USA wanted a divorce. His advisors would be strongly against it, but in the end, it’s his decision to make. If Diarmad isn’t as friendly as he was before, doesn’t seek advice from Landyn, Simon, or his other former confidants?- it’s his call, because he is king. If they started to spy on him, as powerful as he is, that wouldn’t be healthy for them. And, as far as we know, no one can read the King’s mind. This isn’t a democracy, the council can advise, observe the law but they can’t do anything against the king, if the law hasn’t been broken. No one questions the king if he doesn’t want to be questioned. Do his friends worry? Of course. Will they try to solve this conundrum? Certainly. But they have to do this following their law, this isn't pussyfooting. This isn’t the Diarmad we know. The story will answer why. I liked the idea of a special Seraei version of laser tattoo removal. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us/me, spikey! I really appreciate this.

I hope it isn't too bad. I understand your feelings. Thank you for sharing your feelings, JT!

An interesting idea...has Diarmad done this before? I guess Landyn or Simon would have mentioned it if this were his usual MO. So, this is new. And we all agree, stupid, not worthy a king's behavior. I guess everyone is still coming to terms with Diarmad being so ooc.

Yes, Tim is right. Landyn and Simon know Luis's influence calms Noël down, otherwise there would have been a huge fight. Would it have been better if Noël would have gone in guns blazing? Who knows? Diarmad is very powerful, if he would notice someone is checking on him, he would become very angry, I guess. No one understands the king's behavior. They have to come to terms with it first to act. Thank you for your detailed comment, spikey!

I know, I know. I'm trying but somehow they're all either too short or too long. Maybe I update every two or three weeks, and then they be 4 to 5 k? Anyway, thanks, Tim! Yup, cold bastard sounds about right.

*hugs Timothy* Yes! Exactly.