ColumbusGuy

Seems I missed this too, but I'm glad it tied Leryn in with his uncles, while giving us a glimpse into the life of a Herald. I think the future for the three will be a lot better, though Edgehold will be in for some rough times. My regret now is this: knowing that Jonne and Vanyel don't get back together, and Jonne is a very minor character in the real Valdemar series--do I want to read the books now? Also, knowing that gay couples, even without sex scenes, seem to be minor also...which means this is just another fantasy series with just enough of that to draw in a potential new fan base from the gay community. I don't know if I want to take the time on another series after 'religiously' following the stories by Modesitt set in Recluce, Candar and Hamor.... I had hoped this author would weave some gay bonds into her work like my favorite Marion Zimmer Bradley did with he sci-fi series 'Darkover'...in that one there are major characters who are gay or bisexual, and that figures prominently in the series in both good and bad roles. Without reading, Valdemar's use seems like a ploy to draw readers in, then disappoint them by relegating it toa minor status with no real part in the stories. Tim, please write more of these guys and their future, and if I'm wrong about the Valdemar books, point me to the one(s) which gave you the inspiration for these stories. Since I have to read them online now, maybe I can find editions via Kindle?

Thanks Def! I've always liked raw carrots, even before hearing about their erotic possibilities. I wasn't sure how to approach this part of their relationship, which is one reason it took so long. I knew each would have his own take on things, but how to mesh them together? Both have their romantic and practical sides, but for me/Mikey, the dreamer usually won out, so I opted for Jay, who could also be sappily romantic, to be the slightly more practical one this time. If Mikey saw things as an Arabian Nights adventure, then how would Jay...his vision of their truck project came to mind right away, and it just seemed to click. I'm glad other people liked it too.

About the only books I read with gay characters were Marion Zimmer Bradley's 'Darkover' books...and i read all of them and the ones by other writers she lit in. Did Ms. Lackey write there--it sounds possible now? I'm starting your 'Companion' story now...once again out of order. *sigh* I won't bitch about leaving us hanging, because I just did it myself with JM, and I am working on a Tales chapter too--and looked back only to realize it's been a freakin' YEAR...so, I'm a very bad boy myself.

I haven't read the other story of yours, or any Valdemar stuff...so are these your characters in that world, or do they have more life in the series? You make me want to learn more about these people, but I don't want to invest time in a series if it's a typical sword/sorcery type thing...harder to read now, and need to write myself. You can't leave us hanging, min ven!

Well, I'm assuming they may make a go of it, or there wouldn't be a story, right?

Good job! Andy deserved the tongue-lashing Adam gave him...he was far from the ideal 'companion' for Eric, disregarding the man for his own vision of how things should go. If he can't wrap his head around what he did wrong, then he ought to find another career for himself. I hope Eric will give Andy another chance, but that depends on how sincere the apology is. Eric's view is already tinged with suspicion, so that has to be factored in. More please!

Speaking from experience, since Mikey is/was me...I can only think of a quote from a comedy movie I saw--wish I could remember the title, but it was teen oriented. "Boy, that would be a giant hard-off!"

I wish we could give more than one reaction to a review--I went with 'love' though 'wow' was damn close behind. What made this chapter so hard to write was the subject; anal sex and the associated preparations are so intimate and potentially messy that I've always been a bit squeamish about it. Oral is no problem at all, nor is all the fore-play, but this aspect of gay life was scary even though my first time was with a good friend who took his time and made sure I would enjoy it, both receiving and giving. All my partners were versatile and gentle, so maybe my hesitancy came from some left-over fastidiousness? It's going to be really difficult when Jay and Mikey get to the real thing because I'm not sure how to go about it for them--the other guys will be easy because I can distance myself from the scene a bit--but Jay...well, this is where Mikey being me may cause problems. The first times with all my partners, I was the receiver because I wasn't overly aggressive, though I did return the favor too, if not as often. Did that mean I was a 'bottom'? I don't think so because I enjoyed doing it to my partner just as much...again, Kevin was the exception as he wanted to receive a bit more than give, so I had to do 'top' more than I normally would have. Still, it's all labels and not really how my relationships worked--if love and respect and equality weren't there, then nothing would happen at all. Jay is such a charmer whether he realizes it or not...in a way I wish I'd not insisted that Mikey make love to him first...too late now, so I'll find a way to get there.

Okay, you better find that story soon! It's been too long since we heard from your fertile brain. I figured since this was still part of their 'anniversary', it should be all about them...plus they're starting to explore new ground for their future love life. That aspect was hard to get right because it was a big step for me as their 'far' too. Guess you'll have to go to a bakery for your cake fix...or pull out a cook-book and utensils! Maybe I'll do a no-no and get myself one for my birthday on the 6th....

Boo! I'm gonna pretend I didn't read that! On their trip to the mall, the boys already had the gold talk when Mikey pointed out the only gold he liked was the color of Jay's hair. In jewelry, he far prefers silver...hence the pendants' make up.

Thanks Sweetlion--Mikey is reaping the rewards of the chance I passed up in real life...it took a good while for me to even come close to what he's found so early. It's a surprise Mikkel didn't do that, with his thoroughness gene, but I guess he had to consider postage rates from Canada.

Thanks Ivor--you brought something to mind just now with that parsnip comment. It's from one of my favorite Blackadder episodes where he's trying to get on the good side of some rich relatives who are very conservative and only eat turnips. One he serves looks just like a guy's 'thingie' and gives rise to so many obvious jokes. I hadn't thought of that episode in ages! I guess the best thing about carrots is that they get thicker near the top, so maybe they'll find one or two that will match the size needed, thus reducing veggie fears when they visit the produce section next time!

Hmm...do I sense a craving for carrots coming on? I wonder if Jay did have a can opener in that bag, and wisely thought better of producing it?

Thanks glenn! You pegged the boys' concern spot on...now that they've found each other in such a small town, it's frightening to think of winding up alone again. It's easier today with a little more open society and portable phones, but the heart doesn't know anything about technology, so it still struggles with desires and reality.

Sorry for delaying your beauty sleep, Geron! And for solving the riddle of the perennially low stock of greens at the store! The next one will be faster, but I hope it will still be special....By all means, read the others!

Thanks Wesley...this one took so long because of some real life stuff, but also because this was a new area for the boys, and it had to feel just right. I think I finally pinned it down in JM fashion.

POV: Mikey, Jay I was a wreck…but a happy one, despite the tears Jay brushed from my cheeks. Not for the first time, I wondered how long he’d do that before he got tired of it, but I couldn’t stop myself. Until just a few months ago, I’d been used to keeping up a cool and collected façade…my kæreste brought an end to all that with his gentle caring and not-so-subtle efforts to draw me out of my inner prison. I’d cried more in the past month with him than I had in years…more t

I'm so glad Adam is out of that den of hypocrisy! I think he'll look great in skinny jeans, too...though it may be a few days before he can wear them comfortably. I do have one concern with the comments so far: everyone seems to think his father will get retribution in prison--I know the theory is that child molesters/abusers get the worst from fellow inmates, but is that true if the kid is gay? With most of the backgrounds there, wouldn't that be considered acceptable punishment for the kid? I don't know if any studies have been done on this...anybody know?

About translators--Difris has learned English, and knows countless other languages from his programming by necessity, and Nyg and Brik, being subsets of him, must possess that knowledge also--hence they are essentially translators. All the explorers need do would be to take another Nyf with them on their adventures. I would be surprised, however, if the Builders didn't have augments designed to do this for themselves...maybe as part of the enviro-suits? It would be relatively simple for a 'Nyf' to learn the language of the 'monkey men' should they encounter them again, as Difris did English. I think the boys and Mike are too savvy to spread word on the Doors, as he told the boys at the start--never give out too much information to anyone with authority. With luck, if the guys don't act unusual, they should be safe.

YES!! In '77 I was in my last year of high school, and had had fantasies about some guys on tv and in movies for years. Need I say that Dirk Benedict fueled many fun sessions? I particularly liked a few of the scenes when he was playing 'trigon' wearing pretty much padding and briefs.... Besides the obvious, I thought the sets and props were a lot more thrilling than those of the remake, and have the series on my pc even now! I had more than a few bad dreams featuring those roving red eyes and the gravelly 'By your command' line The show also had some great guest stars...wasn't Fred Astaire one who played Starbuck's alleged father? As for the 1980 follow up, no one in it had the chemistry of the original Apollo and Starbuck, and when a Cylon landed on Earth and was done in by a microwave oven, I stopped watching altogether.

The one voice I wish would remain silent is my own--reminding me mentally of all the things I could/should have done better...or left undone. Sometimes you know this as soon as it's too late to undo, other times you take longer to figure itout--but the time has passed. Words once said cannot be un-said, however much we may wish...and if in time forgiveness is given, things are still tainted with echoes. As we grow older, the longed-for voices diminish due to the passage of time, while those of annoyances remain or increase; I have my answering machine to take all calls--I won't pick up unless it's someone I know. I have no desire, however lonely I may be, to listen to pollsters, salesmen or wanna-be knee-breaking institutions wanting to be given their pound of flesh when funds are late. I shame-facedly confess to my own being one of those silent voices...I will email rather than take the time to indulge in a far more personal telephone call. Gary well knows my penchant for chat when he'd call me when I was in rehab after my surgeries...he probably had to take out a loan to call me weekly to raise my spirits and keep me involved in the antics of friends here. We'd agree to talk no longer than a half hour, but I think the shortest we got away with was two and a half. Sadly, some voices are silent not due to passing, but to not accepting us for who we are--my father was one of those; I didn't hear from him for his last thirteen years after he found out my sexuality. My mother, on the other hand, pretty much knew and didn't care...and we talked daily. Indeed, I spent her last week by her hospital bedside, though the last two she no longer knew who was there. That's one of the two voices I will miss 'til my last day. Don't be a 'silent voice' if the listener is still available....

I wonder if we'll hear more of these guys...I only read one gay mystery novel years back...Aldyne was either the author or detective, can't remember now. I'll stick with my MC Beaton and Rita Mae Brown. Agatha Christie never really appealed to me, though some of the great actresses who played Miss Marple were wonderful. Of course, I don't have a dog now, being in a city with only a small yard compared to the full acre I had in the country--there I had a German Shepherd until after high school, then a Harlequin Great Dane. One of my sisters once had a chihuahua--nasty piece of crap only good for sneak biting, yapping insanely and peeing on the floor. Give me a cat for city life any day.

Me, button push? Only because I don't have Rosie to do it for me, so I'm doomed to a throbbingly over-used finger like Jane Jetson. I was torn between SG-1 and Sliders...the former had some truly fun episodes like the parody of 'Wormhole Extreme', but too often it got bogged down in politics with the guy who tried to shut them down--the VP? Sliders, of course, had some truly terrible concept worlds, and that was never truer than when the character Rickman came in...and the Kromags devolved into a stock piece to try to boost the show's ratings. Quinn was hot, though. I must be the only person who disliked the re-working of the original Battlestar Galactica--none of the characters drew me in, and I always felt they were cutting the sci-fi aspect down by making the worlds look a lot like modern day LA, and humanoid Cylons. I did enjoy Caprica more, but that was very short-lived. For the original, it may have been 'camp', but I loved the actors and tech effects--good for 1977! As for the sequel, Galactica 1980...let's leave that to molder in the trashcan of cinema!

Okay, Spielberg did some great things in earlier movies, so maybe it's his television that sucked? The only one you mention I haven't seen is Amisted, but the others were very good...though Close Encounters could have been shortened a bit--the whole 'build a mountain' bit was too long and over-acted for me. I would have loved George Pal to film your stories--or Harryhausen! Kubrick doesn't fit for me--you know how my boys felt about his 2001!

It appalls me that you mention Spielberg--not my cup of tea at all unless you want a long miniseries that devolves into soap opera and ridiculous devices like The Stand...all I can say is you didn't want George Lucas! Difris would wind up sounding like Jar-Jar Binks, the most franchise-killing and annoying being in the galaxy in any era. Darth...you used the Death Star on the wrong planet! I've got my visual strip and biological detector sense tuned for another story!