Topher Lydon

Poitr Vs Serafina "She drinks fairy spunk to stay pretty" Vale Round one... fight.

The town has them figured out, and their utter normalcy deflates all objections of the townsfolk. I've been reading a book about homosexuality in the West, it features a lot of letters by Walt Witman... and generally the attitude was that the more boring the couple, the more accepted they were. Hell it was highly common for men to share beds in guests houses to save money. "Save money" of course Mrs. Higgins.

This gave me the vibe of someone who knew it intimately. There's a power in that, and you convey that onto the page very well, keep going I am loving it.

This caused me to pause, but curiosity won out. The more I read, the more interested I became. I like a work that challenges me. This is worth the read.

This btw is a beautiful example of Wu Gong, which is the path of water that Erik/Ishan uses. An amazingly beautiful fighting style, we see some really good examples in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Things are about to get complicated. But yes to both.

My Surgeon, My Property... Allie is clinging on to Devon but not claiming him.

I got some good feedback. and I will explain this chapter. This was originally a cutting room floor chapter... But I added it back in because of the character work it does between Erik and Seb. I know there is a sudden time jump between them running from the River town, to suddenly arriving. But I didn't want to rehash what was, essentially, covered in several chapters. Horses, desert, running, dogs... rinse and repeat. I COULD AND SHOULD have transitioned it better. No excuse, just pushing myself a bit hard lately.

Ch05 The heavy, iron-wrought latch of the clinic door clicked shut, sealing the room off from the chaotic, raucous noise of the Lemon Saloon's main floor. Outside, the ragtime piano hammered away, a frantic, out-of-tune melody that clashed with the rowdy shouts of cowboys and the clinking of cheap beer glasses. Inside the back room, however, the air was still, smelling sharply of carbolic acid, lye soap, and the coppery tang of the traveler's blood that Devon was methodically scru

I don't do throuples well, that was a big gamble on my part. 13 Hearts had some structural problems, and it could have done with another pass (I get so little time to work on revision drafts) But the three main characters were something I liked.

Too true, their dynamic is one of the more unique ones I have written. Again Riley being the kind of character that I once described as : A Cockroach made of rubber, that Ben can't stamp on.

Problem is, Darien has to play nice. As does Baldwin. With Darien leaving the Levant and refusing the crown, even though he is Lord of Jaffa, Baldwin is waiting to step into the power vacuum that will be left behind. These two men LOATHE each other, but Baldwin needs the hand over to go smoothly. Darien needs to ensure his men are on those boats home without problems. He's got a massive treasure fleet in that port. So many things can go wrong. Historically Tancred holds Jaffa and remains behind. So this is where my story swerves to alternate history.

I think it was something that Ishan had earned. A lover that is completely his and devoted to him. Seb and Erik have an easy relationship to write, it's got a rhythm to it that makes it compelling to me as a writer. I sometimes worry as I write so many stories, that my characters blur together, so I try to give them each a dynamic an ddifferent approach to things. Will and Andrew and their fights but Iron loyalty to each other. Darien and Matt and their soft moments that are only for each other. (I mean a pan-galactic warlord, and a mildly stoned Immortal Emperor) Orel and Finn and their weird, utterly fierce trust in each other. Darien Haskal and Wylan, Wylan is quiet, almost shy at points, and Darien is the Boar... but when they are alone... Hah Ashot and Stephen - nuff said there Isaiah and Mickey - Patience and chaos. Steve and Kenny - too smart for his own good, but has met his match in calm, precise order. And here Erik and Seb - They are passionate, goofy for each other, and tease. Peter and West - Our little vibrating Mushroom of rage and his soldier. Poitr and Flynn - codependant as all get out, but they anchor each other utterly. Alvarez and Devon - Vanity meets frustration. (those two need their heads knocking together) I am working on something right now with John and Matt... and trying to find a voice that is unique is... It's something I like to figure out before going into a story... that was I don't fail with the story (And boy do I fail at times... I have stacks of abandoned chapters of stories that just... are flat. I don't like Flat... flat is... Characters first, story will come.)

That is easy, Darien is going to do this:

Now the trick is, Erik doesn't know Wylan exists, and Wylan is not actively looking. Wylan, Julian, Bran and Lloyd all play a part in this.

Darien looked RIGHT at Erik in this chapter. He has no idea, but remember he thinks Ishan is dead, he sees a Ginger Italian Sailor who sort of looks like Ishan with a bad haircut, he's not going to realize. Takes someone who isn't going to be fooled by sight.

Seb is very much an Erik fan, he's desperate to keep it under control because he's in that punch drunk, I got a sexy boyfriend, and all I want to do is mess around, phase. I mean, not that Erik is stopping him, but the distraction is going to get them into trouble.

Good Morning

The safe house was less of a sanctuary and more of a tomb for identities. It was a crumbling, salt-encrusted storeroom tucked into a narrow alleyway near the Jaffa docks, rented from a one-eyed Genoese harbor-master for the last of Lord Hugh’s silver. The air inside was thick with the scent of rotting fish, damp hemp, and the sharp, acrid bite of the potash soap Séb had spent the morning procuring. Through the single, high-shuttered window, the rhythmic thrum of the Mediterranean Sea beat agains

This chapter was not my best. I leaned too much into the texting and it didn't work. I kept going around in circles with it. But I wanted to capture Flynn at the Gala having his sickness being very prominant, so I needed to show his work. And Poitr, being Poitr, won't stop texting... those two are a bit co-dependent in a good way. Though good luck getting Poitr to admit that he's nuts about Flynn