Krista

Well then, good for Gabriel, because sudden heel turns is a big and massively used trope. So, he was spared from that fall from grace, at least. Now he's just the boring, but hot, 'never really a choice' trope. And I say boring compared to the sunshine and storms that Ryan is by comparison. Not that he's boring, boring. I don't know which is worse.

Excuse you sir, I played no part in the derailment of this topic. I innocently logged in one evening and sex was everywhere. Just everywhere.

I saw the twins inclusion. And I was thinking... Don't do that full on orgy... But also, I know the most consistent and really endearing thing about Percy is that he doesn't share. He may look, think about, weigh the options, but at the end of every thought he knows he doesn't share. Then Five comes right into that line of thinking as well. But still... the rating on that scene would reach filth heights I would be afraid to imagine.

They were so puppy dog innocent and cute this chapter... my goodness me. Madison finally landed a blow, and it stung. Good for her, finally stepping into the shoes she's been trying to get on for 10 chapters. But Sloan threw her into the trash like a fruitcake on Christmas morning though. If this was completely Sloane's ambitions and she is caught out, she is flirting with being expelled entirely. If pushing is zero tolerance, then digital bullying and everything that entails would likely hold just as high and strict no tolerance rules. She may be finishing her year home schooled... I wonder if she did it. Lex shows up, without Steve he shows himself to give good advice. Madison's stock in the school has to have fallen. Even with people seemingly scrambling to clear her and point fingers elsewhere. She was bested by Sloane, her rival. Then told off by three people "far beneath" her. How many falls is she going to take before she can't get up off the ground? This sort of felt like an ending. Ryan and Skylar wrapped up their relationship and formulated concrete terms and left little on the table as far as feelings and expectations are concerned. What they've set out to do will be difficult, but Madison should already know, she has to. She's already 75% there, she's just banking on Ryan not playing the same type of ball Skylar is, but even then, it was Ryan that broke up with her and lacked support for her, she's self-absorbed, sure, and that could be the only saving grace the two of them have. Gabriel must've really just been a Lassie type dude. Huh. Is this where you prove me wrong, when I am finally no longer squinting all twitchy in his direction?

Yes, they finally got all their words right, out in the open, laid bare, and all that. Some people need smacked in the face by everything in order to get there. Apparently some people need to be plowed like a field in early spring. --- I do have an out of pocket guess as to who is hovering over Five as well. That very grateful dude with the injured kidney could've healed up enough to come waltzing through the front door. If it isn't Ethan. I guess most people lean Ethan, because Ethan seemed to want to mess up Five's attempts with Percy in the writing and it kind of fell through. Scorned, jilted, and bested... who knows. If I am correct then you've thrown one hell of a curveball. Is Percy Baby good at throwing curveballs? 😮 I actually forgot what position he plays... --- If Bethany will never pawn a gift from Five, then she is rather accepting of consequences. But, she did send him out to stud up Percy for a month to see where his feelings were. Maybe she is that selfless. I'm saying this still in possession of an engagement ring given to me by the one person that broke my heart and nearly wrecked me for over a year, so. Apparently I am not the pawning sort either. --- I know I've weighed their relationship against how I approach relationships and that's where most of my ranting comes from. Aside from interesting characters giving me fits. If I was looking at this without those shaders on, I would see all of them more fluid. A lot of wiggle room, so to speak, than I would allow my characters in most circumstances in my writing. Like I said, that's what makes them fun. I'll just rant though.

Dislike is a bit of a strong word. I've maintained that I've felt Five is the only one holding every card in this game they played from the beginning. When the stakes were raised, he kept playing knowing he was no longer just playing the game. I was critical of Percy, but unlike Five, Percy's involvement was more self-indulgent, until it also wasn't. They both lived and breathed in miscommunications and not telling the truth. A fault I find with all three of them, really. Five stood to hurt two people, he has hurt two people. Percy stood to hurt Five and himself, mostly himself as he kept shunning the idea that Five would choose or want him, and his assertion that he didn't want or need anything but Baseball. There is this confidence disconnect with him. And it is a triangle. It is a triangle of Five's making, it's just the parts doesn't fit together at the angles. Five wanted them to, he's said as much. Bethany is the type that has these... ideas, but in practice, she wouldn't like them. She would enjoy the sex with the two guys, but as soon as feelings were involved, I don't think she would be able to accept 'watching' the deeper romantic affection Five would show Percy and whatever. She'd be on constant alert to see if Five is being just as appreciative and affectionate with and to her, or that's how I see it. What also makes it a triangle is that Percy considers Bethany's feelings at times. Other times he disregards them, mostly when he's ass up and face down, but afterwards the thoughts came. Post orgasm clarity? Maybe? I write these drawn out rants on your characters because they have fascinated me. I wish I could write characters such as these, but it is not in my wheelhouse. They're messy, funny, there's some puppy-dog cute, sexy, and the creative cleverness throughout kept me here. It wasn't the filth. Sorry if that bursts any bubbles.

First, should've known it was just the sounds of filth being filthed in the next room over. Second, I was beginning to accept that the rest of it was a misdirection. That Five was a bit of a pervert with the soiled and pilfered underwear. Third, choose the next bits of writing very carefully. I may have ran Five through the coals throughout most of the latter half of this story. But, I like the guy. I just wouldn't date him. Although, no loss for him as he's firmly team Percy wrecking his ass for him. But... Oh, Bethany should just pawn that bracelet.

Sex is a tool, like any other device in writing. It can set the tone of the moment, the story entirely, or be nothing more than a fade to black. I do not write sex well, but I give it a good try in most of my longer stories as I've always felt with my slow-ish burn romances, they give me ample time to build up to them. So, I've felt mostly pressed to give the writing sex. Living where I have been for decades, in coming of age "first timers" it gives me an out to make sex clumsy, the characters unsure about what they're doing. Foals on new legs, so to speak. If it reads awkward, I say it is on purpose because they're not stepping onto paths they've walked before. But yeah, I'd say it also reads awkward, because I'm awkwardly writing it in general. I would be interested in seeing what GA authors come up with as writing guides to sex scenes though. Would they make me blush? Would I have to put it down, clutch my pearls, and say.. "No I'm a lady, I shouldn't read this..." I'm sure it will be educational, regardless... surely. We've gotten completely off topic, but this one is a better one anyway.

All the more reason to read both stories from start to finish.

And we are to believe grabby little hands didn't pilfer that laptop to begin with? Don't let the stickers fool you, odds on favorite that Brad has 'misplaced' his laptop.

All three of them have done my head in. And now there's a mystery that I paid no attention to that I must now think about. I thought we were done with Ethan. How can one person be so sneaky, codes, cameras? Don't these people believe in changing the codes every now and then to keep people like Ethan from re-entry? So if this is Ethan involvement of any kind, I wouldn't know how any one person could be so sneaky and messed up. Apparently Gramps needs to invest in extra security measures if the Ethan theories prove themselves out. But my guess is that the sound he never heard before would be Percy having some sort of medical episode in the shower and everything else is coincidence or red herrings. The headaches, drinking too much, and all that. His career in baseball may end up being over before he gets into the new year if he keeps this up. --- Anyway all this is criminal. --- Percy and Bethany irked me more than Five this chapter. So, gold star to Five, I guess. Why Five feels the need to prove anything to Percy, prove what exactly? He's still freakin waffling. He's still making statements like, "I wish I could have you both..." this goes beyond not wanting to hurt one over the other. It points to a continued indecision. Mind you, we're not even a day out from the argument, so yeah, that indecision is very real and very understandable. But it would be more helpful to all involved if Five convinces himself, first. As Percy already laid it bare. He won't share. Bethany seems like she is hurt, but also would feel open to a polyamorous relationship as long as BOTH dudes were willing to play and be with her. Since Percy is not, then she wants Five. But, she is showing a bit of guarded selflessness and leaving it in Five's corner. Still think that guarded selflessness is forced though, she had to know this could happen. She said as much. Her letting him walk out that door, board that flight, and be up there should have led her to where we are now being a possibility worth preparing for, at least as far as her heart and mind are concerned. I do not like Five pressing Percy to come out. Percy has every right to come out the way he chooses to. The whole point of being closeted is to protect oneself from hurt, harm, and prejudices that the person cannot overcome or handle 'at the moment.' There is a fine-line between being closeted to protect yourself and what you're ready to feel. And, to be closeted because you're diminished by that fear and it is threatening to overtake your wants, dreams, and desires. Five feels that Percy has become the Deer in the headlights, too scared to move. But like I said, fine line. It is also a wee bit selfish for Five to demand that Percy be out, when Five doesn't even know who the hell he wants. Why does Percy have to declare himself, when Five is still waffling to do the same? Percy legitimately can be out to whomever he wants, it is no one's business. It won't completely hinder any relationship he'd have with Five. They can't kiss in public, hold hands, etc... but they can still love one another. Five has years in Florida as well, their lives aren't as settled for any hard line out and proud declaration demands right now. -- Edited to add: Percy is also in college. We've not really discussed his sports balls much, but there are doors that can close for any number of personal reasons. Get caught doping, even if it was baseline elevated blood panels. Could close a door. Percy's drinking could close doors. And, sadly, even in 2026 doors can close for gay men in some professional sports. Any player is an investment based on performance. Any baggage could weigh against them. It would be smarter for Percy to prove himself worth the investment, so that he has leverage enough to keep doors open and not closed.

Michael's whole apology and communicating was so off key. So Five and Percy were "the right stock of gay," that he respected. He was astonished to meet them and made the comment that leaned into that. Or at least that's how I read the words. It was so condescending in tone that I rolled my eyes. Percy and Five aren't ambassadors. But if Michael leaves having some lessons learned, he's better for it, but good lord he just crawls around so insufferable that I wouldn't be able to manage it. I hope he makes everyone involved rich, if not then I he's lost a lot of friends and coworkers in the process of making a fool and an ass of himself. They know him better than we do, we saw a driven by science, money, hope, and a little greed Michael, but yeah, there was defense of him from the others this chapter. Not a lot, but it was there. They made some excuses for him at least. I do not like the saying, "He's really not like this..." because that always falls short with me. If he wasn't like that, then he wouldn't have shown himself to act the way that he has the entire time he was there. So obviously he is like that and they've become numb or apologetic to that side of him. At least some of them, anyway. Krista wouldn't put up with Seb smoking, by the way. The very hint of it on his fingers, breath, or clothes and she'd give him an ultimatum. Smoking or her. Percy didn't want to listen to Krista. Shame. Because she proved her point not five paragraphs later. Maybe Percy should've listened instead of balked. Five is a coward. I'm sorry, but I can't with him. He is a liar and a coward. He doesn't deserve Bethany, although she seems duplicitous but even then, there is ample evidence that Five wasn't honest with her either. This was never a fishing expedition to see how he feels, he kind of already knew that. So he's lied to her as well. He doesn't deserve Percy. Percy may even tire of him, people who cannot make up their minds, want you to fall in line with their waffling - they're exhausting to be around. Even when pushed he couldn't make his mind up. His declarations of love cannot be trusted. Heat of the moment, the near miss of loss it can make people unpredictable in their feelings. I think that's a little bit of it, but the rest of Five's words and plans just makes me think that the boy's balls have fled to his abdomen. Until they come back, he cannot be relied upon to give any kind of real and honest truth. Percy needs to apologize for his part in all this too at this point. I still see him as a partial victim in all this though. Willing, but partial. Bethany and Percy seem to be living in Five's world. If they respect themselves they won't settle for the parts he wants them to play.

I probably shouldn't say this, since you're always looking for ways to get the upper hand on me. I may have fumbled your attempts by not having shoe laces in any of my shoes. But, I have zero tolerance for peppers or spicy food. I'm slightly allergic, to begin with. The itchy throat, lips, tongue, and sinuses. But no, people look at me funny when I say that I think some of the ketchup, salad dressings, and bland mild salsas are spicy and won't eat it. So, I'm sure you did really well with your tinkering today whilst you hid, it is Monday, so no fault there in the least. I'd be one of your most boring customers, I'm thinking.

Cassie is a professional in everything. You sir, are a professional in filth.

Its role in medicine is rather limited, thankfully. An algorithm can help create a database and likelihood of a person developing cancer or auto-immune diseases, etc. The rest of your statement is dangerously wrong, I'm afraid. AI can help plot, write, edit, character designing/character sheets, and you follow that up and say that it cannot replace the author? When an author is using it to do those things, even on a small scale they are replacing themselves. Those are all important techniques, tools, and functions of writing. To allow AI to touch any of that, even with the author giving it numerous prompts and ironing them out, it has taken away organic creativity. The difference is, some will not see it that way. Some will see that AI is simply a functioning tool to work alongside the writer. And it most definitely can replace an author. What AI does is adapt to what you're asking it to do. That's the entire draw to the advancement. Eventually you can make it understand exactly what you want. Like I said, I've already seen it done in the digital artist, coding, video game art, character development, and digital animation fields. One person through a series of prompts was able to eliminate what used to take entire development teams months to do. Was it a groundbreaking game? Not really, but that doesn't mean that with the adapting functionality that AI continuously can achieve, that we won't see it happen soon. What it cannot do is take ownership. If it eliminates 80% of the work, then who actually owns the end product though? If all you're doing is tweaking the prompt to fit a vision, who owns it? The organic person or the program that did the majority of the work? Your work is forever an algorithm, whether you think it is or not, doesn't matter. Like I said in my earlier post, we're already seeing these arguments being made. I personally will not stand next to someone that uses AI to do the majority of the work for them. Editing, sure. But the shit you listed above, no, I will not budge on that, sorry. It is an Author's job to create their character, their world, their plot, their story, etc. If you're in constant command of AI to do it for you, you've lost me and I'll not respect the work. I spent two decades fumbling to write what I have written. Anyone that has toiled for months to work out a character or story should open their eyes to the fact that AI isn't the answer to those issues. The moment it replaces your ability to function within your own creative world, you'll hopefully feel differently, but right now think about all of the digital artists, programmers, video game developers, computer animators, character artists, music technicians that are, I'd say, one to two years from being completely erased. Not just their jobs, but their creative respect within their fields.

or Mass Effect, if you're into video gaming.. 😮

Cleaning up your work isn't the issue I have with AI at all. I would never use it, I like @wildone just fine, no need to put him out in the back forty. At least not for this reason. So you're not disagreeing with me, or me you. Some people cannot edit their own work that seamlessly. I would argue that if you're wanting to publish, then a living breathing editor will probably appreciate 'not' wondering if your writing is heavily edited via AI, but I don't know I've never done it. What I have an issue with is that you can use a prompt, then mass produce a series of images that say a Digital artist would take a month or so to swatch out, mock-up, and then give back to you. So it displaces their entire function as a creative person. I have sat and watched one person create an entire story board, character sheet, physical artwork, backdrop artwork, and some working code for a video game using AI. That eliminates numerous living and breathing creators in the process. And, after minor tweaks everything looked clean. That was years ago, AI has grown in capability and functionality since then. What I'm afraid we're going to continue to see as we've seen it already, is that we're going to forego organic creation and accept the already muddy boundaries AI presents. There are already arguments in creative spheres on whether or not a finished product, born of AI is at the end of it, could still be considered organic because the creator edited, tweaked, and rearranged/restructured the original prompt. The argument being that they used AI, but essentially created a full puzzle out of the unconnected pieces. AI is a tool. But it has become so refined that it can be a stand-alone creator as long as someone presses "Go." Some people want attention without the work. If they can prompt out a dozen poems in fifteen minutes, post them for attention and get away with it. They're going to do it. Same with songs, short stories, and maybe even novels.

I absolutely hate AI in creative spaces. Digital artists, songwriters, people who do digital advertisments, even digital marketing have all been greatly impacted. We're starting to see it bleed into digital painting, video game development, film/television, writing, and music. It saddens me that organic people are being phased out. That we're losing creative people like dead skin cells for optimism and algorithms. Teachers are crashing out because they have to automatically suspect that anything written and submitted by their students could be generated by AI. They have fail safes, catching programs, etc. So they're having to double their work just to make sure the student isn't cheating. When we first started looking at AI, you could tell. AI like others have said can get context wrong and it go haywire. Although you can just tweak the prompt and get correct results in mere seconds to minutes. There's patterns to spot if you're looking for it. And it mostly reads similar. But, AI is constantly being tweaked. It is getting better in its mimicry. People like attention, if they can use tools to make gaining attention easier, I can see people doing it. I hope it isn't that big of an issue here. I will never use it, if I can't create something I have no business playing pretend. Letting the heavy lifting be done in moments and not months of dedication and work. It disgusts me.

What's this slander? I'm on topic ALL the time. What are we talking about?

You'll get it there. Last chapters are hard bittersweet pills at times. I need to jump into where I left off, I can't remember which chapter that was. I know I'm still needing to forgive Five for all his nonsense. I hope life will slow down and allow me to read again.

Picked it just for you, sweetie. Enjoy. Also, I tried the video version and I won't be signing up for a free 3-day trial. Not even if I'm curious to see if it could pull of my character Joel's first horse riding lesson scene in the 6 second clip.

You're both guilty. and, The blond in the sci-fi has "bend me over" energy. Sorry for saying it, but he does.

Suck it up, buttercup.

Yeah, I don't think it is going to work for me. I wanted to do a period piece, but I've noticed that I've already messed up the language a few times. Implemented some things that I'd have to research. It felt sort of head-talking between the two characters. I'm so used to only being inside one head, so I could have that character notice things more. But yes, I like the idea. This is supposed to be a flashback as well. Someone is about to interrupt this scene. I don't know about writing between time, back and forth. I think it should feel more like a flashback, maybe it will be too jarring otherwise. But anyway, I have a different idea that is also a period piece that will be easier to write in mind than this one. I'll do it in first, comfort zones. The plus side though, in third I pay attention to tense more. Not in the writing of it, obviously, but when I read it back I see the sudden swapping of it that makes the sentence read funny.

Fun thought I had: Wanted to do that Prompt from a few months back. In a writing slump, any time to try to get out of it, this is it. Talked a big game about writers needing to practice outside their comfort zones with POV. So, decided to practice in third. Two pages in and I'm ready to toss it. Comfort zones are comfortable, I'm finding that I like comfortable things. And riverside conversations between characters, but that's a questionable thing. I do like guys that like to get wet too, apparently. ****************** Washing up in the river, Will sat back on his britches held together by loose stitching, patchwork, and a belt of baling twine. Spring was in full bloom, he’d been working the pair of mules to get the garden spot plowed and ready for seeding. He wasn’t looking forward to being hunched over in the sun picking up unearthed rocks, too large to ignore. He’d have his sisters helping him fill wagons of rocks, it felt like more were being unearthed every year. Seeding the garden came after. Then lambs. Work never stopped breaking down a body out here, it seemed more came every year. Cupping his hand into the cool water, he reached and let the water drop along his naked shoulders. Sighing he massaged his fingers along the back of his sun burned neck, thinking it was too early to feel this worn. The birds hadn’t even finished their nests. Alone, too far away to hear his younger siblings squabbles, or the bray of the mules, just as tired and worked as he was. He watched the water, constant in the gentle flow, swelled by the spring rains and melting snow. By August the river will be no more than a couple of inches deep, he could see the bottom and cross it with ease unless the rains came strangely and kept it swollen. What he wanted was a train ticket out of here, jobs were for the taking up north. No farming, no mines. Good honest work in the factories making everything a person could imagine, from automobiles to clothes. Rumors of the war taking more men were whispering along the hollers, mostly scared mothers thinking they were about to lose sons they birthed and raised or young wives with babes on their hips not wanting to be left alone or widowed. Out here alone, the faintest noise turned his attention from the river. Looking over his shoulder he expected his oldest sister, coming to fetch him for supper, or holding a bucket needing cool water for the evening milk to rest in all night. Smiling, he saw Jack Trigg dipping under a low-hanging limb of the young oak. Nestled under it a family of ferns, odd in their red colors that reminded him of autumn. “We got that run o’ liquor tonight,” Jack said, after glancing around for any sign of anyone else along the riverbank. “I done made my plans,” Will offered, looking away from Jack as he undone his overalls. Both of them were barefoot, their shoes had to last them all winter. Now that the nights held warmer with no frosts, shoes were forgotten by the front door next to wood for the fireplace. “It’s gonna be a hot spring,” Jack said as he pulled off his overalls, just wearing his white loose boxers Will watched him wade out up to his knees. The flow of the river, gentle as it seemed threatened to knock Jack off balance, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Better’n a cold one,” Will said, wanting to stand up and strip down. He wasn’t wearing anything under his jeans. Pulling at the baling twine, that would’ve embarrassed him if it was anyone else. He looked forward to a time where he didn’t have to worry about his feet growing too large for shoes that were supposed to last him a year. Jeans handed down by his pa, patched and stitched that never fit him because Samuel Slade was a broad shouldered man of well over six feet and he hadn’t grown up to fill out like him. “A cold one would hold off the garden, give us more time to run liquor,” Jack said, glancing over his shoulder. Will nodded his head as he watched Jack cup his hands and reach up and pour water over his head. The water ran along his face, washing the dirt of the day in streaks down his flushed face. Skin tanned from last summer, a dusting of black hair that had thickened on his chest and stomach from last year. Swallowing, Will forced a smile plucking a blade of grass brave enough to grow along the rocky river bank of the river. Twirling it in his fingers, his heart racing in his chest threatening to break him out in a sweat. The other reason he wanted to run away to the factories was to get away from Jack Trigg. “I’m expectin to be called for supper,” Will said as he reached for his shirt, balled up, dirt stained on the bank next to him. “Ol’ Ray tell you where we’re running tonight?” “Across the river at the Webber farmhouse, a truck’s waiting to take us into Rawlins,” Jack answered, his shoulders tensing before he turned to see Will sitting on the river bank. His brown eyes, the river reflected in them. “Rawlins?” Will said, dropping his shirt back to the damp earth beside him. “That’s askin’ to get caught. Ray has lost his sense, you ought to have told him no.” “You tell him no then he won’t let us run for him,” Jack countered, the cool river water up just past his knees no longer felt refreshing. He knew Will would balk like a stubborn mule over the idea of heading into Rawlins. It was a town big enough to hold a full time law man. Ray had promised Jack a smooth run, no bother and all they had to do was take the truck to Rawlins and park it behind an orchard with a high fence for cover and wait. Will had always trusted him to get the plans, they have been running illegal liquor and shine for Ray since fall time after planting. All through winter. The plan was to save up to get out before the farming set into their bones and broke them like it has their fathers, too stubborn to see it was no way of livin’ anymore, not the way they do it anyhow. “We ain’t got too many more runs to go before we get those tickets,” Will said, his voice falling to a sigh that made Jack smile and his heart ease. He needed Will, wanted him to be on that train come next month. The promise was, get the seeds started and the new lambs on the ground for their families and be gone for the factories. The early spring made him feel rushed, like all this was coming faster than he dreamed. There was a restlessness that clawed at him every night as his younger brother settled into bed next to him. Leaving was close and that’s the only thing he’s had on his mind since William Slade said he couldn’t settle down here another year.