impunity

What's confusing, though, is why Alex would be ok with (pure, virginal) Wade's having sex with another man. Unless he just agreed so as to have access to Matt?

I don't think this complex works unless you keep the "wife" and "mistress" apart (or at least in the dark about each other).

Alex met two hot American guys in London. I don't think it was random that he fell in love with (and pedestalized) the one whose social status was, while maybe not equal, at least comparable to his own. He chose the one who would fit seamlessly into his social circle, whom he could introduce to the current heir to the throne (and his cuter brother) without fear of embarrassment, who was a suitable potential long-term partner (at least until he was compelled to procreate). It's true Matt had a sluttier past than Wade, but Alex would have no way of knowing this, at least not in the beginning. It was class that led to Wade's being designated the Madonna, and Matt's the whore. Added as an afterthought: I also don't think Alex would select anyone of his own class as the whore, unless s/he had a considerably damaged reputation (à la Great-Great-Great-... Aunt Caroline). With regard to your question above, I vote for fucked up. I kind of feel sorry for him. And his ex-girlfriend (no doubt the previous Madonna, who now doesn't even get to become a countess--and eventually a duchess--as consolation for her shitty sex life).

I really liked the Madonna-whore complex explanation. It makes a lot of sense, and I still think the class issue is playing into it. Poor Wade really got the raw end of the deal, although I can see Matt's getting tired of the subservient slut role pretty quickly. I also enjoyed the casual Google stock reference. Jesus-y Zach was both sad and creepy. However, you really lost me when Matt put his tongue at the source of all those (incredibly infectious) gastrointestinal viruses. I know this is fiction and there probably won't be any consequences (unless it serves the plot to have Matt sick for the next chapter), but that was insanely stupid on Matt's part.

That's exactly what I was wondering! Matt's would be the evil (also sexier and gayer) one.

Sweet chapter with an intriguing ending. Completely (well, mostly) unrelated to the chapter, I am enjoying your food descriptions. I think I'm getting a pretty good sense of what you like to eat.

Awww, I like these guys. Really hope they can get their schedules synced. Also, EW! You have to wonder if he planned that (buy a large, female dog; prevent pregnancies; etc).

I think it has to be a class thing, at least on some level. Alex is treating Wade with the respect due a potential "wife." (There are some things one just doesn't ask a partner of breeding to do.) But Matt is, as a Brit would put it, a "bit of rough," so is fair game for the dirty stuff. Yes, I know Matt's got family credentials and knows which is the salad fork but, from Alex's perspective, he's just another commoner.

This is a seriously fucked up, creepy story. I hope you plan to finish it.

Certainly easier than continuously having to justify Wade's actions in the forum.

It seems like this chapter, with Wade so conflicted, would have been a difficult one to write. I loved the ending!

Yes, either Western Blot or IFA (immunofluorescent assay). But most people will have heard of the Western Blot.

Actually, after further research, I am going to have to retract this. PCR-based tests for HIV were available in 2002, but they were approved by the FDA only for quantitative monitoring of viral levels in the blood (to guide decisions about treatment), not for diagnostic testing. Sorry about that. I do know that some academic centers were using PCR as a confirmatory test at the time. The University of Chicago was one of these. False positives with the screening and confirmatory tests commonly used at the time were rare.

That noneditable review site drives me crazy. I was glad you'd quoted the section of my review that wasn't missing a word. My point was that this is the sort of card one can only play once. Having issued this ultimatum, George has now committed to feeding the Elgins (presumably they will elect to take advantage of his generosity) for the duration of the voyage. He has, in effect, made them dependent on his largesse (which I suppose they would have been even if this disagreement had not occurred). Once they are at sea (with no available stores to purchase), and they inevitably misbehave, he can't turn around and refuse to let them share his table or he will end up making them a burden on the Wardroom or letting them starve. Even when they stop somewhere where supplies are available, making them stock their own meals at that point would simply appear churlish. I'm curious, though, if they had bought their own supplies, would George's chef have been responsible for preparing separate meals for them? Or would they have been expected to have a chef among their retinue?

So, that conversation between George and Caroline was...intense. I almost felt the need apologize for some unrecognized indiscretion, myself (Ha! I'm sure I could come up with something). I worry about that governess; she clearly has no qualms about disregarding George's instructions, and it seems likely that she overheard their conversation. Maybe a source of trouble in the future? I thought George's tactic (the pantry ultimatum) with the Elgins was interesting and apparently successful, at least in the short term. However, I can't help but think that it might have been a bit short sighted, and that he may have ultimately done himself a disservice here. It's going to be a very long voyage and he can't very well refuse to feed them if (when?) they prove recalcitrant to his wishes. Maybe a better approach would have been to assert his authority as captain from the start ("If you're not onboard by [insert stupidly early hour] am, and the tide has turned, we won't leave until the next day.") rather than threatening to rescind his offer of hospitality. Of course, that would have made for a rather more dull narrative.

Screening tests (which look for antibodies) are designed to maximize sensitivity, which means there will always be false positives. However, molecular (PCR-based) confirmatory tests, which were widely available in 2002, make it extremely unlikely that a false positive would not be detected as such within a few days.

Of all your characters, I love Will's POV best. He's just so engaging! Actually, I've been noticing how well you've managed to differentiate the "voices" of the different characters in this story; as an example, only Brad says 'sleuthiness'. Well, this certainly changes the whole "fresh start" dynamic for Matt. I thought it was interesting that in a story that is primarily Matt's, we learn of his major crisis through Will. And I believe we will see it from Wade's perspective next. Apparently chapter 38 is the hip, hot, happinin' place to be this summer. I'm looking forward to it!

Sorry I haven't been reviewing regularly, but I am enjoying the story's progression. Thanks for another entertaining chapter.

I'm not disputing that saliva can carry pathogens, just not HIV. As an example, meningococcal disease is spread through saliva. So is rabies. I was going to reference the CDC, but Daddydavek beat me to it (above).

Fake Burberry was very popular among football 'hooligans' in the UK in the early 2000s, to the extent that the clothing was banned in bars. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/leicestershire/3583900.stm http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/burberry-shown-the-door-as-bars-ban-the-thugs-uniform-1.102961

SideTrack was definitely popular in 2002. Not sure how Mark is defining "interesting" though. About halfway between Boystown and Evanston is Big Chicks. Now that's a fun bar!

A severe tongue lashing, I believe.

Well, I don't really have firsthand experience of either.

I don't really see the point of overt patriotism, but I'll take my CAP fix wherever I can get it. *smile* Honestly, I think the single bar references (especially when Will is being cheeky) work really well as a recurring joke. I lived right outside Boystown in 2002, but I wasn't hanging out in the bars and I couldn't tell you which were interesting. Actually, I'm not even sure if I can remember them at this point. Haha! I do know of a couple of bathouses, though. And one very dodgy bookstore, if you're aiming for sleaze.

Couldn't resist, huh? Nationalism be damned! I enjoyed this chapter! Matt and Will are fun together. Although, at some point they're going to have to figure out that there's more than one gay bar in Boystown.