Topher Lydon

A known variable with the Merricks (in the story) Alistair is established as abusing both Tarquin and Oliver, it stands to reason he did Orel as well. We know about Tarquin on top of that... Orel is really resilient in the fact of all of that. He's quiet, he's damaged, sure, but he's a tough little cookie. Getting Finn back has motivated him in a way all of Tarquin and Alistair's abuse never could.

And now you know what Ms. Patel is up to. Trying to keep Tarquin's hands squarely off of Orel. Go her!

Orel's got a license to Brew, and you know he's going straight for the stir sticks!

Chapter Twelve: The Anti-Pixie Protocol The Theory of Structured Pandemonium Orel Merrick had developed a Theory of Structured Pandemonium. It went like this: all systems—mechanical, social, caffeinated—tended toward chaos. Entropy was the default state. But within that chaos, there existed patterns. Fractals of order. The trick wasn't to fight the chaos, but to identify the fractals and build your shelter within them. He was testing this theory at 7:15 AM on a T

Lisa would have a nice long chat with Mrs. Wexler, who we know, Chaddy boy here, would lose badly in divorce court to.

I've been reviewing and studying Caleb for the past hour, trying to understand him better (and totally not procrastinating and poking an AI for character studies instead of writing) *ahem* shurrup I am wrapped in a blanket waiting for a coffee delivery. I'm allowed to be distracted. This book is very much Papa Will, somewhere he's changed again on me. He's putting out Dad energy in huge waves, and it's a good look on him. The way he treats Caleb as one of his sons, and tends to him without hesitation shows, to me, character growth on Will's part. He can be, as a venerable character now, slow to shift, and very predictable to write... this book, however, shows me he has some surprises. Caleb is a character I wrote as a villain and just... enjoyed. Having him pulled into that orbit that Will just generates, where people want to do right by him. It's an odd little quirk of Will's. He's a sanctimonious ass at times, but he does make the characters around him want to be better. Though the thought of him shredding Wexler is a fun one.

ahem, whomever sent me this : (#JxT) you get a cookie

Now before ANYONE says "Um But actually" I am aware that the ISU championships in 2024 were held in Montreal, however due to annexation, I have moved them to Boston (the same site for the 2025 ones) It just seemed more practical than trying to have them in a politically charged occupation zone, in FRENCH Canada, which would... yeah that would NOT go well in the story as you will see.

I want them to have one. They're 15 at the time of this chapter, they'll be 17-18 for the Olympics. The plan has always been for me to do a book about them. I had wanted to do a road trip book of them in the mustang... but that has kind of been rendered impossible after Carter's Run... so them abroad might work a lot better. I am currently writing about the Boston World Championships, I was going to skip it in the text because they happen so quickly after the Ohio ones that it's two Tommy bits right on top of each other. But the response this morning has convinced me that I need to put it in. That my love for Tommy is shared, so, I will add the World's to the next chapter. And try to make it worth it.

Well Tommy does two things here, he completes two of the checklist goals to being on Team USA for the Olympics. And is set up to earn Team USA one of it's THREE required qualifying points for the Olympics. (A country must score three points in order to qualify. Tommy winning the World's will give Team USA it's first Qualifying point, a MAJOR win for Tommy, and will cement his spot in Team USA for Milan 2026) I would add that the Milan games cannot be covered in the scope of this book as it only runs til November 2024. So the Worlds are about as high as we can get Tommy in this one. So I wanted to give him an arc that counts, and this path seemed the best way to do it. A future book will get there, I am sure. Tommy's had an arc of his own since Carter's Order, and I am glad it's starting to pay off in some fun writing for me, and I hope, good reading for you. The Prince of Ice, I like that @drpaladin going to steal that.

I wanted something that fit the theme and the message. That you can't beat winter, but you can endure.

Graves is going to regret getting what he wants.

Peter's been through enough training West to kiss properly! Hockey boys, :: sigh :: all mashing and hands... no... finesse. :: ahem :: sorry

Tomorrow : Andrew vs THE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL OF WAR

Oh and *STILL* Not a Toad ! 🐸+👑 = 🍁❄️

Originally it was Will up with Jacob, as you can tell from the slightly more formal language in that scene. But it just didn't work, you are right, I needed him away, to let Tommy do his thing, this was his chapter and it needed to be about him.

there is an over abundance of penguin gifs.. yuck just for that:

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE EDGE OF THE BLADE Location: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio. Time: January 28, 2024. 19:30 EST. Status: The U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Men’s Free Skate. The ice was not merely a surface. It was a geography of consequence, a sacrificial plane frozen at twenty-four degrees Fahrenheit, waiting to be inscribed with triumph or failure. Under the pitiless glare of television lights, its whiteness held a surgical quality, promising a magnified, high-definition a

Ms Patel will see action tomorrow, I have added a scene to explain what she is doing.

While it is damning evidence on it's own, it is not a silver bullet. Waiting until the Gala, like they plan, is their best play.

I can assure, Tarquin has NO idea who Uncle Andrew is. Technically Finn doesn't either, that comes later

Peter has always been described as short, blonde with stunning blue eyes just a size too big. he a also been written as having an ageless look to him, somewhere caught in that perpetual lucky spot some guys fall into where they just don't seem to age. Devastating because as Peter gets older he grows more beautiful... not hot, not handsome... some people just hold a true beauty to them. It's hidden beneath cardigans, a mop of blonde hair, and a scowl for anyone that gets in his way... but he's always had that appeal. West strongly believes he is a lucky, lucky man... and resilient to all that poking. Peter can be incandescent with rage at points. And we all joke, but that boy is Loyal as hell to his West. I don't know who to worry about more, the man who touches Peter, or the man who touches West... cause Peter maybe about as tactically formidable as a kitten wearing mittens... but I am sure you'd wake up to find him over you with your dangly bits in his hand, and a wicked smile "See, didn't need to punch ya, just needed to wait"

Eyes on the prize for our boy