travlbug

Poor Davey: His family members have been tortured and killed (in the opening salvo of war by the Chinese). His mother has migrated farther down the path of her wacko, all-consuming hatred and has disowned him. He has been thrown out of his own home. And through Sean, he has just found out that his Brian was killed in the prior timeline. Any one of these issues could be disabling, but all of them together? Further, I agree with other readers that the Brian from this timeline is unlikely to be the loving partner he needs to be his bulwark. As for Sean, he has seen his Brandon killed; been stuffed into a garbage can by the new, Neanderthal Brandon; and sent to a crazy farm by insane parents. Is it just me, or does this timeline appear doomed? (Sorry, but Dad's improved personality does not make up for the train wreck occurring right before our eyes.) Further, with the inventor of the time machine killed (before the machine is even invented), how can Davey and Sean save the world this time around? Sean was just an assistant to the mad scientist: Does he really have sufficient knowledge (from memory, no less) to build such a complex machine? Honestly, while the author may use this approach (Occam's razor), I'd love to see a government-assembled scientific consortium addressing the issue, perhaps using Sean's insights, with new methods of time travel produced. (I think that, with the government knowing that time travel is possible, it would be odd if it didn't engage in a time-travel project.) We'll just have to wait and see.

"Don’t the Chinese understand that this is an act of war?" By killing Americans on American soil, the Chinese have changed the rules of the game. (Rather than using their knowledge of the future to help their country diplomatically or technologically, the Chinese have tipped their hand that they intend to use their knowledge to go to war; and the failure of their present mission does not negate their intent.) The gloves have come off, and I wonder if we are now going to see a lifting of the tacit agreement against assassinating each other's political leaders. Regardless, I think we have just witnessed the first act of WW III.

"Dad had been doing speaking engagements around the country...and he earned good money doing that. I hadn’t had to pay a household bill in nearly eighteen months." So much for Davey's holding the purse strings. 🤗 At first, the chapter seems a discussion of how the area has grown over the last two years, with a few slice-of-life episodes thrown into the bargain. However, "Sandcastle" shatters the peace that we have been (skillfully) lulled into and suggests that the fight has been brought to Davey's own doorstep. Davey's gun is the perfect symbol/embodiment of just how dangerous the situation might be. And of course, the chapter ends on a cliffie! 😱

"Villains didn’t have it good in most shows, although they did have good hair, and that was where this Sebastian character seemed to excel." Yep, with his keen insights, Kai will be dead by the end of the day. 😂 (At least he's right about being in a BL story! 😂😂😂) Sebastian, on the other hand, seems to be full of himself, not to mention guided by self preservation, and I have no doubt that he'll fit right in with modern society!

Another body-switching story! I'm in! So Kai is good-hearted and clueless, while Sebastian is an entitled, and powerful, ass, with both needing to learn a few lessons about life. Oh, the possibilities! Do we ever learn how the switch was enabled?

Shame on the author for giving the impression that David Sr. had passed away. Very sneaky (and well done). I presume that the funeral was actually Uncle Rich's, with the recent focus on the AIDS quarantine center, though there would be less reason for Davey to have attended this time around. Hmmm. The vice president is actually at fault for the apparent conspiracy in government: He aggressively promotes his own agenda; and when Reagan fires him as his running mate, the VP decides to confront the President and run on his own. (So much for bringing the man to justice. ) "You're not my son." Sure, Mom, Davey is entirely responsible for David's shooting and is obviously a demon. (Her hatred for Davey continues to grow with no basis in fact. It's interesting to see that that his improving relationship with Dad is being offset by deteriorating relations with Mom, but I would have preferred that the deterioration were more logic based.)

First, Davey is kidnapped and tortured by elements in our own government, with the President himself unaware at the time. Now, Dr. Grayson makes clear that the CDC opposes the AIDS quarantine centers, so that "Either the President had lied to me [Davey], or he'd been lied to by his aides, again." A portion of the government is acting behind the President's back, though the depth of the conspiracy is presently unclear.

I love how Dad turns the tables on Ms. Flores: As she tries to change Chris from victim to victimizer, he has her arrested for inappropriate use of the AIDS laws (as a bludgeon to intimidate Davey). Way to go, Dad! Davey points out to his family that Chris should not be considered gay because of his victimization by a pedophile. The surprise, however, is that his father picks up the ball and runs with it: Dad is clearly more reasonable in the present timeline (he is becoming a better person). Sadly, even after reading a pamphlet on how AIDS is passed, Mom demonstrates her preference to believe in fear-mongering over science. She wishes to prevent Davey from visiting the AIDS center, but again, Dad rides to the rescue: "It's important for him to see things like this, and to learn how to express compassion and Christian love to those who need it more than anyone else." By now, I'm sure Davey is thinking, "So where is my real Dad, and who is this person who's replaced him! (While obstensively about Chris, this chapter focuses in large part on the evolution of Dad's character: It's a Dad chapter in disguise!)

Mom's ability to hold her anger is not-so-nicely established in this chapter. (She's being a pill.) Davey's character is also more thoroughly explored: He comes to Mike's defense regarding the mix-up over the President's call, and he insists that Chris acknowledge his ongoing molestation. His innate sense of fairness/right and wrong is showcased.

"Sometimes I got called for fouls if the referee was especially sharp, but I also got away with it more than half the time." I have always admired Davey's moral, upright character, so I am appalled to discover this side of him. A little later, in juxtaposition, Davey tells his father, "The only choice involved is whether I'm going to be honest about who I am or if I'm going to lie about it." I guess that honesty applies only outside of the basketball court. (I'll pretend I didn't read that first paragraph because I way prefer the Davey in this one.) I love the Q&A session, where Davey finally enlightens his friends as to the Do Over. When he tells his friends, "Sixty years of experiences and I'd never really mastered the art of dribbling a basketball," David's response is profound: "You still haven't."

"They [people with AIDS] deserve the very best from this country if we are going to violate their civil rights to protect others." An internment camp by any other name.... As the president himself points out, his plan violates basic civil rights, so it should be vulnerable to an immediate court challenge. I love the ending, with the three eavesdroppers caught red handed. (Davey, next time you take a call from the president, maybe you should consider closing the door.... 🙄 I can't wait to hear what you're going to tell them. )

If Dad continues to let Davey pay for everything, he's likely to find out the truth behind the adage, "he who holds the purse strings...." Davey is "staying faithful to the idea of Brian," but he needs to make concrete plans to get Brian back. (Yes, I'm beating a dead horse. Enough said.) Davey's deft handling of the twins' attempt to masturbate him cements their friendship and underscores his actual level of maturity.

Calculus at 12. Goading a bully. Decimating same bully. Becoming numbers 1, 2, and 3 on Dr. Bitner's shit list. So much for Davey's keeping a low profile. Sad to see how Davey has convinced himself not to pursue Brian after all--at least not for the next several years. Why do I feel that this is a tragic mistake? "All in all, though, life in Eureka Nevada was proving to be pretty damn good." Ok, Davey, you are now thoroughly jinxed!

Oops. Please ignore this post. Sorry!

I'm impressed that Dad runs with Davey in the mornings. Again, it's a sign that he is trying to better himself. So, Derek has beautiful eyes. (Come on, Davey, figure out a path back to Brian!) The only good thing I have to say about Dr. Bitner is that, despite being humiliated (his own fault), he still gives Davey the best academic courses that the school can provide. However, he also arranges for Davey--at 12--to take P.E. with the high school boys, which may constitute his attempt at revenge.

Other than the incident with Grimes, this timeline is starting out well (with Dad in the loop [which will allow Davey more latitude in his actions], with Dad showing better behavior, and with a better/improving father-son relationship). The next several years should prove relatively stable (i.e., until the appearance of the foreign agents); so barring an unforeseeable crisis, Davey may now be able to engineer his (re)connection to Brian.

Once again, Grimes' incompetence shines through with the pretend move. Further, he crosses a line and tortures Davey with hunger, thirst, sensory deprivation (hood over head), heat, cold, stress positioning/bondage, and nudity (why use one torture when you can use several?). Now, presuming that Grimes is not completely stupid, he had to feel that the brass who appointed him would accept, agree to, and protect him from from any backlash regarding, these measures: while Grimes is led off in handcuffs, I'm actually more concerned about Grimes' bosses and whether they'll try to coerce/co-opt Davey in the future. Of course, the Admiral must know who appointed Grimes, so I trust an appropriate investigation will be performed to prevent such an issue. Wow, Dad is becoming a better person, possibly fueled in part by his new church--a situation which has got to have improved his self esteem: It also provides a reason for him to strive for greater integrity. (Davey's "do over" gives Dad a chance to "do over" as well, and he seems to be embracing the opportunity.) Another "wow": Dad has figured out that Davey is gay. While uncomfortable with the situation, he still tells his son that he loves him (he came to his rescue, after all); and it's nice to see that the family is healing/better off in this timeline.

Hmmm. I wonder if there is a schism in the government itself on how to treat Davey. It might be interesting to see him rescued by yet another faction of the government which understands that it needs his voluntary assistance. (The marines are coming! 😉)

Agilmar says that he will get the royal guards to search for Ida, but Giselle interprets this--or is told by Agilmar--that he has ordered Edwin “not to get involved." Do Agilmar and Giselle know more about Ida's disappearance than they're letting on? Certainly, Giselle is not forthcoming about Reiff: She admits to knowing him only after lying about him--her confession prompted by the threat of violence--so anything she says is suspect. As for Florian/Lothar, Edwin has been scammed--and badly! Just whom has he invited into his bedroom, and what is he after?

Dr. Grimes is a slimeball who seems ill-suited to the role of bad-guy interrogator. I wonder who actually appointed him--how far up the chain of command the rot actually goes. That said, Dr. Grimes' relative incompetence would suggest that someone lower on the scale (government worker or spy) is trying to pull a fast one to obtain improper knowledge of the future. Presupposing that the government is willing to kidnap Davey, then the question arises as to its willingness to allow torture and, considering these illegal interventions, if it has any intentions of ever letting him go...alive.... Escape, if possible, may be the only solution, and this solution would likely require outside help.

Dad has no problem spending Davey's money. Surprise! Actually, Dad is more reasonable than I thought he'd be, considering Davey's revelations. He is even considering Davey's advice, which means that he may be growing as a person.

The father is more intuitive about Davey's situation than I thought he would be. Hopefully, he won't cause any future issues. Is "light fingers" Mike being set up as a rival to Brian? Somehow, I can't imagine Davey giving up on Brian under any circumstances. That said, he has--with a blush--already extended an invitation to Mike to sleep with him on his waterbed. Hmmm.

So far, so good, excepting for Mr. Burns: His problem with Davey is not clear (he wouldn't even shake his hand), so I wonder if he'll make trouble in the future. I love the scene with Ronald Reagan, but it was obviously inaccurate: No jelly beans! 😂

I read Do Over in 2015, almost immediately after joining Gay Authors: I did not leave any feedback at that time (I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving comments for years [retrospectively, I have no idea why]), and I'm happy for another opportunity with the retelling. I loved the older story, and I hope that Davey' future works out out better than he anticipates. That said, his character comes through loud and clear in that he is willing to give up happiness for duty.

Edwin's backstory sounds mysterious. What could he possibly have done to ruin his sister and earn exile? Florian the florist: I'm sure we'll hear more about him later! Ida's disappearance is certainly confounding! I appreciate Edwin's determination to find her, but how can he even know where to start looking?