skinnydragon

You're tough Val! I have complete faith in you. xxoo

I loved the poems, Parker my friend! I particularly liked the rhyme scheme, with its cyclical nature. The cycle so befits Heat Wave, which conjures up a dome of corn sweat over the Midwest states. But wait! That's a high pressure dome, an anticyclone!! Can one have an anti-cyclical rhyme scheme?! Parker, you're hurting my brain! I'll go back to enjoying your poetry for what it says, not how it says.

I had somehow missed the previous postings, MrM! But I've found your tale and am now caught up. And it is a very interesting tale, indeed! I'll be waiting for updates with anticipation! Thanks for this story!

OK, we finally have a real love triangle in 18 Weeks! -- Donny-David-Twoey It only took 112 chapters to get one! Now the problem is what to do with the extra boy. I've sort of worked that out already, no matter who David chooses, but I'm always open to suggestions. And no, he hasn't told me yet.

A good chapter, Hunter, because Bryce is beginning to see what Devin's concerns were and Devin could see the attack wasn't Bryce's fault. It was also good seeing the college taking things seriously. A little bonus for Devin, in all of this, is seeing Vincente with different eyes. And the reverse is probably true too. I guess one problem remaining about the attack is the fact the perps might realize what a threat Devin could be to them. And that would make Devin extremely unsafe.

Thanks so much for the kind words, AC. It was difficult to write that painting's description. It needed to be relatively brief, but with enough detail so the reader could visualize the emotions of the boys, whom we had previously met. Of course, we knew the back story, but the TALON crew didn't. I won't comment about Gary's names.

Thanks, CG! Yes, I think you hit on it, with "emotional growth." That seems to be the foremost advance, even though a lot was going on in the chapter. The grief too, while unfortunate, will give him another emotion to deal with. One he seems to have never dealt with before.

Thanks, tim! Isn't he though? In so many ways, too. He's still a touch stand-offish but has certainly gained a lot of self-confidence. The love's nice also

Thanks, jess! Yes, Luke seems to be taking on a father role with Toph. And speaking of families, You've hit on what could be very important. Charles is the only family member to see Toph in his New Glory. That could make him an important 'ambassador' for his skittish brother.

Thank You, Parker! Toph is surely making great headway. Of course, we only have his POV ...hehe I don't think he's quite finished yet, but this is certainly not the boy we met in chapter one!

Thanks, jt! That "dark funk" you referred to certainly kept him away from deep feelings. I'm not sure it's completely gone yet, but he does seem to be appreciating the love (not to mention the sex).

Thanks, Graeme! Toph is certainly warming and becoming more human, but I think the naïveté you refer to has very much to do with his inability to connect well. His insight is improving, but it still seems he's awkward in personal relationships.

Thanks, lux! Yes, it does seem Gary and Toph are slowly worming their way into each other's hearts. Gary hasn't said, "I love you" yet and Toph hasn't called him a bf yet, so there is still a distance yet to go.

You’re telling them the current truth.... Truth is an artifact of the present. It’s time that changes. The Bend of the World - Jacob Bacharach *** I hardly slept at all last night. My best friend was telling me my boyfriend was trying to isolate me and would ultimately become abusive. And he did hit me, even though I might have driven him to snapping. And he has been sorta physically pushing me and steering me ...a little. Mike told me David saw it too. But the worst thing

Naughty tim, naughty. I loved it!

Insight. It came to me, for the first time in my life, that I was gaining insight. May Day was on a Wednesday this year. I was surprised to discover Luke did intend to premier the show on that day. I’m sure I had previously explained that the gallery, along with most businesses, closed on Wednesdays in our little town. Since there was no competition from extrinsic chain stores, they were able to retain this small gesture of gentility. To have Luke open on Wednesday, featuring my show, revealed

Thank you, jess! I think Erik must have been getting overconfident. He didn't size up the Syracuse boys well at all. Know your enemies, somebody must have once said somewhere at sometime. Isn't David/Donny just so perfect? [That was for the Team Donny crew] Don't you wonder how David would have acted with Donny's advances back in September, when he ran away from Twoey? I guess timing is everything as someone no doubt said somewhere at sometime, If not, I just did.

Another perfect chapter, Carl! You usually put such great words into Geoff's mind, but this chapter was a gold mine. I’m teaching myself to read Sanskrit, too, but I’m not that sad Boyfriends just go find another dick looking for a friend If I was going to kill myself, why have abs? he needed someone to sleep with him. Maybe that’s why he stole Mr. Crowley. Great story, Carl!

I was debating, but I think I have to agree with Graeme that it was a positive chapter. I was debating, because you could read some negative stuff into it, as some of the reviewers have. But Leo clearly goes back a long way with Dorian, and I'm pretty sure wasn't giving him a snow job. He knows what he wants (for the campaign) and was pretty up-front with Dorian. They both know exactly what's at stake. It was interesting that the presidential candidate wasn't in the gay-bashing camp. That actually gives Daddy a second good reason to come around. So maybe it'll work out. Maybe Dorian will have a bargaining chip. Stranger things have happened in politics. This whole thing sort of resembles Dick Cheney in a way.

At first, we wonder what's up with Chase! Then we wonder if Joey and Chase have been playing this little game. After all, Chase must have played it before and Joey is his 'only' friend. So now we wonder if one or both are in the closet. Both would make sense but be totally weird. The rules seem to indicate one of the two is not. The possibility Joey is gay and Chase is not seems remote, but deliciously pregnant with possibilities. Great chapter, Milos--and nicely described!

Great soundtrack! Fits the feeling of the story like it was written for it. Thanks for the link.

Thanks CG! You would think with having his arm almost dislocated, getting warnings shouted to him, and then old friends Mike and Alan explaining stuff to him, that Twoey would get the message. But I can tell you know him pretty well if you suggest backsliding. The draw of the only boyfriend he thinks he can have is pretty strong. We'll have to hope Ginny puts some sense into his head. And David! What will he do when he finds out Twoey has been hit by Erik?

Thanks spikey! I thought it was my JOB to piss you off! Donny is a good guy and is good for David, especially right now. Can you imagine the crap David would have talked himself into Saturday if Donny didn't get him away from everything to have some fun? I think Donny might have realized that on Friday night, hence the shopping plan. Erik was no surprise. Hunter mentioned he may have gone on the attack so early because he knew Mike was the REAL friend he had to shed since the Daleville boys are very recent. He might be on to something there. In fairness to everyone in Daleville, they never saw Erik do anything and only guessed at what he was up to. I don't think any of them saw him as an imminent threat. (Maybe Randy) Even Ginny only saw the one instance of Twoey being pushed out of the house, and there are pushes guys do and pushes guys do. It might not have appeared ominous to her, although Twoey started to put the pattern together but, of course, kept it to himself.

Thanks Def! Gary got a wake-up call when David was attacked. He's never going to make that mistake again. He sure went into attack mode with Uncle John to make sure David's enemies were all erased. He seems to be taking over as the Daleville point-man for Twoey, also. David/Donny/singleTwoey does sound like a slight headache brewing.

Thank you Parker! I think witnessing Erik in action made all the difference. Up to that moment, all we had was speculation. Let's hope Twoey can break out of the spell he seems to be in. Even David admitted he had a rare and wonderful day. It sounded like lots of fun, too. Did it come too late for him? He has a lot to work through, and he hasn't yet heard about Twoey being hit by Erik.