redwood

@James Carnarvon, I was expecting drama in this chapter but was pleasantly surprised. Reading it at bedtime, I was dreading a nasty cliffhanger to stew on while trying to fall asleep. Much better to have sunshine and rainbows on Dani's birthday!

I can feel Dani's joy from a mile away. Speaking as someone who spent some formative years as a social outcast, it's a hugely validating experience to be accepted into a peer group for the first time. Especially so at Dani's age. Having older friends like Toto can't substitute for that experience. As much as I love the vicarious travel, as @Lorenzo46said, the dark side is watching Dani and Giacomo do crazy things in precarious places. When they hopped up on that crash barrier, I was like, "NO NO, get back down!" That is a hard pass for me. But I do admire the fearless attitude.

Just to circle back on this point, @James Carnarvon, I think you're doing a great job portraying Dani as a 12-year-old. Yes, he's precocious and adult-like in some ways, but he clearly comes across as believable for his age. I was noticing this in how he chats with Giaco (more colloquial), the superhero fantasies, and the crying episodes when he gets overwhelmed.

For now Dani seems to be flying under the radar, but he's sure taking a lot of risks. I was dreading that Filippo would grab Dani by the scruff of the neck and interrogate him, like that Lord of the Rings scene where Gandalf finds Samwise eavesdropping from the hedges. At some point, Dani will get in over his head... which means it's key that Toto and Michele already know the outlines of the criminal scheme. They'll have bread crumbs to follow if Dani gets abducted or attacked. As an aside, I enjoyed the Italian words you peppered in. You could have translated them, but that would cut out the local color. And it's a fun challenge to pop them into Google Translate.

You're welcome! Now that you jogged my memory, I do recall writing that. What I've seen of coastal Italy (not the Amalfi coast, unfortunately) is beautiful, and it's satisfying to see a writer do justice to the landscape. And good writing is good writing, whether gay-themed or not.

James, I'm so happy to see a new story from you. So happy! Thanks for your comment above on the challenges of writing this one. I appreciate the transparency on your writing process. On the descriptions of Ravello's setting, they don't get old for me, especially with the change of season to early spring. I could honestly read a whole story of yours with no characterization, just a travelogue by someone wandering the valley. But it's more dynamic, of course, with some characters too. Dani's situation as a lonely boy who lives a sort of vicarious social life by listening in his classmates is also compelling. Kids that age are often cruel and indifferent when it comes to classmates who don't conform. It can also be hard to fit in when moving to a new school with existing social cliques, even though Dani's been in town a few years. I hope the little moment with Giacomo foreshadows a change here.

A valid point. I was one of those adult-like only children, despite being really immature in less obvious ways. Thanks for helping me understand myself better!

@James Carnarvon, I'm so happy you revisited Ravello this year after Summer of the Firefly, which is one of my all-time favorites. The Villa Cimbrone, the cathedral square, all the foot paths, these places feel like old friends now. This story was a fun read too. Based on the premise, I guessed Toto would meet a summer tourist and get over his Michele fixation. You had me fooled! But in retrospect the narrative arc is realistic. Lots of people struggle for years to figure out their sexuality. And the jealousy of those, like Toto, who already know exactly what they want -- that's real too, in my experience. I also like how you describe the tension between the beauty of the Amalfi Coast and the downsides of living there, like the limited job prospects. Ravello might seem idyllic as a tourist, but it could get too small if you don't want to sell all those lemon-related products or run a restaurant or hotel. The choice to spend the last chapter on Dani's rescue, instead of Toto and Michele's relationship, was interesting. It broadens the focus to Toto's growth as a person, including all his relationships. And I hope it sets up a Dani sequel. I'll keep reading your stories, gay-themed or not. Go for the children's novel! If I can give a bit of constructive criticism for future writing, I think the teenage characters come across as a little too adult-like at times. At least, that's my take as an American. Maybe Italian teens tend to be more mature! You could add a dash of slang, inside jokes, some stroppy behavior if appropriate to the age and character. This is really a minor quibble... I love everything you write.

A thrilling chapter, and a really memorable story. Thanks, DavidJ!

A real mystery here. We have some prospects but no serious leads. Is Clodia or her entourage involved? Something tells me you didn't introduce her character just to be a laughing stock.

For some reason, I assumed that adultery wasn't a big deal in the Roman Empire. So I was curious how Pericles hooking up with Iulia (if true) could inspire murder. Some ancient societies allowed men to be with multiple women, whether having wives, concubines, or slaves taken in conquest. A male prerogative, ya know? Wikipedia says marriage was "strictly monogomous" in ancient Rome. In fact, this influenced the Christian ideal of a faithful marriage. Adultery was illegal, except with a "permissible partner" like a prostitute or slave. Roman legal records seem to be more concerned with punishing a wife who commits adultery, not a husband who does so. Adultery was normally a private matter to resolve in the family, not in the courts. Maybe someone was taking justice into their own hands in killing Pericles?

Not usually a fan of threesomes, but I second this motion! Etalos is adorable. Chris and Victor could show him the ropes -- an initiation into gay sex. I'd sign up for that! A night trading body fluids with them should increase his power!

If it's a choice between "arrogant prick" and gifted but humble, I'll take humble. There's far too many pricks in this world who think they're way smarter than they are (looking at my president). Tough love from gramps and great-gramps! Chris was due for this, as he steps into his official role as Ambassador.

I vote for a murder mystery. Peris accidentally falling out a fifth-floor window doesn't pass the smell test. If there's a murderer, I wonder if Phillip becomes the next target. He seems to attract drama! The idea of eating while lying on your left side is hilarious. I had to look it up. According to Norwegian medics, this relieves pressure on the "antrum," the lower part of the stomach, while lying on your right side increases the pressure. "Maybe this is just what the old Romans were doing during their food orgies," one doctor said.

So glad to see this story continue! I love historical fiction that really immerses you in the life of past societies. I'll give Phillip a pass for nearly drowning, but he needs a refresher on geography. Rome was (and still is) an inland city on the Tiber River. (Ostia was Rome's major harbor by the sea, where ships would dock.) No wonder the medics were laughing!