ColumbusGuy

Okay, more intriguing information. We now know David is a closet case, Marvin I am unsure of, but I think he is also...and Mikhail? I have known several people who just always seem to be 'on', with no 'off' switch...so I'm wondering if under all that, he is hiding something very deep or damaged? More please!

I like the story so far, Ken! I know prologues are usually short, but you chose such a good point to end it. Soon as I'm finished with this, I'm off to read the first chapter. Forgive me if I come across as ignorant, but language and idiom have always fascinated me; the US has so many issues with history and political correctness that we are afraid to speak about anything relating to 'sensitive' topics now...but curiosity is driving me crazy! My knowledge of 'street talk' and modern slang is hopelessly inadequate, but I'll venture this anyway: when you use the word 'nigga', is that in the sense of showing familiarity among similar friends? It doesn't sound like an insult or derogatory thing in the dialogue, but you also used it I think in normal text. I ask because in the US such a word is essentially forbidden for whites to use, although Africain-Americans can use it freely--things are so twisted here that if a black person uses a term for whites which is derogatory, a white man would be crucified by his own people for taking exception to it--common respect and decency is subverted to correctness now. My knowledge of street slang pretty much stopped after the 70s because that's when my speech patterns were finalized when I left my teens. 'Man', and 'Dude', and 'keen' and 'cool' were the last words I adopted into everyday speech...so you can see what a dinosaur I am!

***Sextus and Philon talk of families: Sextus has no desire for a wife or children, though he admits to having had several women lovers claim he fathered children with them. He admits to having slept with several women, and many men since he was 14. Philon learns Sextus is 27, and Sextus tells him that he could find love only with a man--Philon, if he would agree to it.*** As he listened to Sextus Manlius talk of his past...the many men--and women too--Philandros couldn't help showing his

It's nice to learn more about JJ as things progress; it was also a surprise to see JJ setting his own interests aside for the tour of Boston--he is obviously taken with Alex, but even so, he didn't make a big issue out of subordinating his likes to accomodate Alex's plans. I found it funny how he kept trying to control his 'responses' to Alex--other teenager know that is pretty much impossible, but JJ is just learning that I think. Well, centex pretty much nailed what was running through my head too--I could also see Alex fitting JJ into the application for Madonna/Prinicess. Even so, I am still uneasy about the idea of the two of them together, but I'll let Alex have his chance. I also have to confess, that for a long while now, I have been thinking that JJ is younger than Will, based primarily on Will's more mature growth rate, and the fact that JJ seemed to be acting so childish most of the time; it came as a bit of a shock to learn otherwise! Taking that into consideration, I am slightly less concerned with him and Alex being together. On a final note, JJ keeps ratcheting up my scale of approval, but for the moment, Alex is holding steady somewhere slightly above Kevin--who is at the very bottom. Keep the good word coming, Mark!

This is still about two months since we started writing the story together, so the other writers tended to keep their parts shorter. Since the action could move from one location at the site to another (like from the Villa to Phil's domus) I did tend to recap slightly when I wrote the next post. Most posts were replied to the next day, so they showed up on the daily update fairly isolated and easy to find--now, you can still go back and check those dates, but it is harder--I have been following by checking post dates in each thread of the story board--hoping not to miss one.

I loved this Krista--it captured the agony of shyness very well! It also brought back bittersweet memories of times I could have had, had I the courage to make a move. As Tim said, a sequel would be great, but it works as a short story as well.

Wow, Dmitri had such a hard life in Russia, but he found a way to turn the negative into a positive thing with the help of one caring teacher. I admire him for being able to do that, rather than sink into the depths as his father did. Now, we just have to find out how he got to Iceland, and just how Siggi's father ties into this, since he seems to be the 'anonymous source' the press is using. Keep up the good work, James!

The tension is building...seems reporters are the same all over the world, alas!

Thanks Cia and joann. I am not overly active in forums, but I review and comment on stories frequently--nearly every chapter I read gets reviewed and liked. Forums tend to be too long on discussion of stories which I'd rather be reading and reviewing chapters in, and it also tends to spoil the 'surprise effect' when I read said stories. I have only two stories up, but those contain multiple chapters, so I think that should count as more than two submissions...events keep me from writing every day, but this weekend I had a binge and submitted a total of four new chapters; one of these stories 'Miscellany', contains, so far, my writings at another site which is an interactive writing one--I have been very careful to link only to my own writing there, and never post anything which was done by other writers in the group which cross into my character's story--if such posts appear between my own, I summarize them giving only the highlights which impact my story, never quoting content at all. I realize also, that you may have been burned in the past by plagiarists, but as Cia said..it can occurr outside the submissions queue, so damning everyone for the faults of a few unscrupulous characters is a bit draconian. Many factors need to be considered such as total writing experience, age and maturity not least among these. In the past ten years while writing at Ancient Worlds, I have a total of about eleven characters in various stories, and in not one of them have I ever tried to pass off another's work as my own. I can give you the names and links to posts by these other avatars' posts, although checking them all would be a herculean task since the total number of posts is probably over 1500 by now. I can also give you email addresses of other writers there who will substantiate that I do not plagiarize. Caution is a virtue, but I can swear by any gods you wish that you will not be burned by me, now or in future. Thank you for the swift response.

I know I haven't been writing here long, but I've been reading for over a year...so I don't want my question to seem impertinent, but here it is: I only have 35 reputation points, and it seems to take forever to get any--it seems to depend on the whims of readers as to whether they check you out, rather than on one's writing. It will be years it seems, before I can get out of the pink 'Moderator' approved stage, and I'm wondering if there is any way to bypass this early? I had only one real glitch getting my first thing posted, and now have it down pat; I also am a mature man of sound judgment and strict adherence to rules and guidelines, so this long wait to reach the next level of getting to 'Peer Review' is chafing and frustrating. I have had ten years experience writing gay-themed fiction at another site with similar and more stringent guidelines but no waiting period to post. I'm not asking to be made a Promising or Signature Author--just trying to get past the newbie leagues. Thank you for reading my question, and taking a moment to consider it!

Great chapter, pm...I hope this project will bring the two boys together--but I know it's never that easy in fiction! Yearning for the next chapter!

***Sextus gets Philon to stop crying, saying it isn’t grown-up. Philon asks Sextus what Arrius means to him; Sextus says they are friends only, and Philon then asks if he has a chance with Sextus; Sextus says there will be time for that later. Arrius and Sextus talk before going to sleep, Arrius admitting he brought Philon for Sextus to make a relationship with since they both realize that they can only be friends since Arrius has no interest in men.*** Philan

The journey was taking much longer than he had planned...with the cart, they had had to take the road around Herculaneum, since wagons were banned during the day...riding Bucephalus, Philandros could have been at Pompeii in two hours at a nice walk...with the laden cart, it would be afternoon. Having cleared the tombs outside the Pompeian Gate of Herculaniensis, Philandros settled in for a slow ride...exchanging comments with Tellus and Corinna occasionally. No, I've not seen the house....I

Phil is young, though a man by his society's standards...he hasn't had broad experiences yet, but he is developing a character that will be honorable.The links lead to his posts at the role site, but if you follow his, then you have to read those of the other writers who he interacts with...quite often we would read each others posts, and reply with our own that day or a day later...so it was easy then to see what was next...now, you have to check the dates and get clues to what thread the next reply will be in. I am trying to post ones of mine which are consecutive or don't require too much editing to make sense--so far they have been consecutive. More to come!

There is a fair amount we don't know...but the graffiti in Pompeii and elsewhere indicate that the issue with same sex relations between Roman men and others was that the person who was dominant was alright--it was the on the bottom that was looked down upon, but not for religious reasons--purely from a social power standpoint.The Greeks were more open about these things, Solon's issues are with family continuation rather than moral issues.

Thanks, AC! Philandros is Greek, and doesn't have a problem with any same sex relationship, but his grandfather has past issues as will be seen, and wants his family line to continue--so he had to distance himself from Philon.Things may work out better in future.

I'm glad that Ezer Malk's plans were foiled! Also, glad to see that Jeff and Lest have come together...just wish there was one more chapter or another adventure with the whole crew. Great story, Dolores.

This is such a wonderful story--you capture all the emotions perfectly! I really hope that you will continue it; Tanner and Derrick have so much more to discover, and we need a resolution to Johnson's issues...and it would be nice to see Chris find his own love in Mitch so that he and Derrick can finally feel like friends. I can't wait for the next installment! Be well!

A great story Krista, with wonderful characters! I am sad to see it end so soon, just when it looked like things were going to head into a great senior year. Please let there be a sequel!

You did it again Mark--just when things seemed great, you found a way to make them even better! I now have much firmer assurances that Zach really does love Will, and that they will make it through; they both just need to think back on this moment when things get rough. I am worried though that Zach will re-injure his ankle by trying too soon to play again. I just hope that he won't be that stupid to risk his career on stubbornness. Maarten will HATE this chapter since it's all Will.

Yet another wonderful entry, Sasha! I just wish there was some way the boys could spend even a couple hours together in the same form--or Oli could get over his hangup about Boris being a wolf--his situation is different from that of his father! Boris is no dumb animal, but a rational caring person who is clearly trying to make it work with them. Oli ought to understand now that most all of what his father did to train him was wrong.

Another great story Nightowl...but then, that's to be expected from you. I especially liked Big Gina--I hope Malcolm got the hint and disappeared for good!

Nightowl, so far, I have yet to find anything by you which I don't like--at least this one hasn't made me cry--yet. I haven't reviewed all the chapters because I am too anxious to get to the next one for my own good. I love the characters a lot, and the conversations between them are a hoot! Can't wait to read more! Please tell me you are writing the next chapter--I don't like it when such good writers disappear without trace in the middle of a story; I hope nothing is going on to prevent you--like ill health or family crises--this summer hasn't been one of my best, so I can sympathise if that is the case. Take care, and be well!

Thanks for the new chapter dacey! I like Grandma more and more as the story goes on...I only hope that Jay can eventually begin to trust her. The concern over Scott and Devon continues--things seem to hint at Scott being gay, but the bits of information we hear about Devon put his 'straightness' in doubt for me. Is Dani just a good friend for camouflage against his father? As before, can't wait for the next bit! Be well!

Thanks for the chapter, James! I'm dismayed that I will have to wait for so long for the next chapters in my two stories by you. I get impatient and involved with the characters, and it would probably help if I read slower, but when I find a good story, I do it right straight through and tend to catch up to the author's posting schedule fairly quickly. I consider it to be the author's fault though, for writing such an engaging story! I can't recall if you've said, but I'm trying to place where this story is set--England, right? Some parts sound like UK schools, others like US or Canadian...sorry if I'm missing something! Eagerly and anxiously awaiting events in this and Orchestra!