Krista

I glimpsed then realized it was like 2ish in the morning and I was up like four hours past my bed time. Knowing work is going to swamp me tomorrow, I needed to behave. I have mothering and wifey duties too. Can't be slacking... but... how big of an apology we talking? You keep mentioning it and warning me, whilst also nudging me towards the inevitable. I saw enough to think this isn't going to go well for you, but you don't care because you're not scared of me like you ought to be. Yeah, I don't think it would be in Percy's overall character to be put off by a dildo, especially of Five's making. He wasn't too into the sex overall initially, but got massaged and well you wrote so you know... into the idea. Him passing right back out afterwards hinted that maybe Five was a bit pushy with the sex. They are young adult males though, they found a way. And, Five was excited about the present. 800.00 for a penis though, my goodness me, is that the market value for those things? It was 800, right, I'm not imagining? lol And I can hear my husband now.. "I can make that damn thing myself a lot cheaper..." but he mostly says that at stores like Hobby Lobby, so. But then you said something interesting... "Five going back to Bethany and the Five's dildo being..." maybe it won't be Five who torches the Dildo, it might be Percy. The fight about Ethan was explosive. Five babe, you can't be doing this. You can catch feelings and expect expectations when your own intentions aren't point blank, laid bare, and clear. He has his own house to clean, it is getting more messy by the day. They will be separating at the end of Christmas. If they decide to try long-distance, then Bethany has to be fixed - because that's not fair. Rules have to be discussed... and all that boring, but very important stuff. Are we about to see an implosion? They did so much foundational work not so long ago and now I think they've slid backwards.

The gay bars here are boring, mostly. Some of them you don't even realize they are gay bars if you're not looking closely. It's getting slightly worse... and better here? If that makes sense. If I were to be in a bar and looked over to see full on sex stuff though, I'd have to leave. My brain is not equipped to handle public sex stuff... lol Yeah, I wasn't thinking too deep on the Daddy and bruises thing. I'm sure you have a more clever twisty version of how Ethan got his bruises. Although after reading the next chapter, it could just be his personality that gets him bruises... who knows. Also, there was a hint about someone getting worked over in that shop.. so there's that. And yeah, there was still a bit of underlying possessiveness with both of them. I probably shouldn't say Possessive, because that has a negative blanket on the word usually. But yeah, this whole... "He's mine..." thing coming up right when the person talking makes their intentions known, seems more possessive than it does protective. But I'm not saying it's a negative dynamic either, it is just 'there.'

It was me, I'm the unnamed person. And I'm proud of myself. I'm sorry you're feeling the blues, my dear. I don't like this time of year, I never have. I don't like looking at the cold dead things, the early darkness, the stillness, and over all dormancy of life. When I do become down and in a blanket of sadness that isn't directly caused by something/someone I settle in and I watch a comfort show. Something that's not going to require a lot of thinking. Something that I've possibly watched already, so that I know what is waiting for me. I want to turn my mind off, because when I'm down my brain works against me to keep me there. So turning it off, relaxing, just slowing down and remembering to hydrate and breathe. It is a bit mopey, but if the blanket is soft, my brain is nestled into a show that's safe and cozy, it is a nice escape from a bad mood that I know will pass. My Comfort show is Hallmark's, "When Calls the Heart," mostly. It has a lot of seasons, so I can binge a few and jump around. --- I also try to just be present in the room where people I love are as well. I might be more of a listener, but just feeling their presence can uplift my sour mood. -- Feel better my dear. We're nearing mid-January, all this cold dormancy can't last forever.

Yeah, I saw the mutual pangs of jealousy and questions coming from Five this chapter. Mostly because I spoke too soon about it in the last one. Ethan has a difficult life - seemingly. That doesn't give him the right to spread his little conniving ass all over the place. They do need to talk about it, since it does bother Five and to let Percy know what he's up against. If they allow someone like that to fester then that just allows the dude more power to do so. Nip that in the ass as soon as possible. The gift was filthy, but thoughtful. Mostly filthy. It was kind of cute that Five got a little jealous of his own penis in dildo form... he won't admit it, but I see him melting that little fucker if Percy gets more attached to it. They're becoming more settled into the relationship, but they're still calling it a pretend one. Five is thinking long-term, but Bethany's name is still popping up in the periphery. Mind you, someone you're in a "real" relationship with, shouldn't be popping up in the periphery, but this is a mess of their own making so it was going to happen.

I'm glad you liked the story and are working your way through my other works post, Learned to Lie. Some of my earlier works are rather scary... but this little mystery/ghost story as cute for me to write.

They could stumble into one another later on when they're both more settled. I didn't leave that as an impossibility. It would be rather jarring for Asher for a little while with the whole doppelganger thing, or whatever they're called. He didn't know Elias that long, and he knew him as something unearthly and supernatural. It probably should have been a bit more thought-driven on Asher's part to know he probably wasn't going to ever keep Elias in his life that long as unknown to all of it as all this was.

Well... that was quite the experience. All those flashy clothes to show up and show off, just to chase all the fish the bait caught right off... The possessive Percy is something we've seen for a few chapters now. Although they had that more settled talk, there's still this bit of distance and unwanted thoughts and decisions looming in their immediate future. Percy wants it so badly to work. I'm not sure Five does as he seems far more casual than what the prior talk may have suggested. Unless he's testing Percy. Ethan got smacked around by Daddy, I'm guessing... sucks to live with that cold, rigid, and unforgiving of a person. I hope he can step out on his own, especially after learning the trade and possibly use that to make more of a pathway for himself. Or at least a nest egg to get by on until something better comes along. He seems lost in this world... moving too fast, very clumsy, and already a chip on his shoulder due to bad experiences in his limited experiences to begin with. Seemingly, anyway... The gay bar atmosphere was overwhelming, but it just seemed like a distraction for them. They go out and dress up, just to fall completely into themselves. Which, fine they probably should after that talk they had. Even if they are ignoring the flaws of their thinking.

I've forgotten what you should have apologized for, so prepare yourself for that outcome.

I should've known. You did not disappoint. And, back in my earlier years on GA, I was known for being blunt, bitchy, and unapologetic. I did not care or filter my words. I doubt I would've been that easy to get along with either. I'm still blunt at times, but I do choose my words better now. But yeah, I ate people alive whenever they crossed me because I was young and 'knew' things... when I really didn't. I hope that has changed at least... might be a close vote. Now.. I wish I effing knew where I left off with Frosted Hearts before the holidays, getting sick, writing, being swamped at work, and real life smacked me in the face.. you probably have five+ chapters posted ahead of me by now.

You're correct in that I would only see the flaws. The parts my eyes landed on whilst I scrolled to the comments threatened to put me over the edge and that was just having mostly to do with sentence and paragraph structure. I can't remember the fondness I had for it organically as I wrote it. I can't remember who Charlie was at the core of him. Based on comments he got in his own way a lot, was rather mouthy at times, and made poor decisions. And how am I more crazy now!? "That other story..." as you called it... is far more tame than this one, surely?

I am banning myself from ever using another C name in any writing. I can't be doing this.. still. And Cindy is repetitive with me, my goodness. It is a force that can't be stopped, I'm thinking.

Oh goodness.. there's a Cindy here too? Is there a Gavin? I know there's a Derek... so goes to show that my repetitive name game is still rather strong.

I would never think about rereading this. But the ending statement of, "it would drive you further around the twist than you already are..." if I was a cat, I'd be down a whole life. Because I don't know what you mean by that entirely. I know I was a bit... awful with this story and how I treated the characters. I don't think I held back very many punches. If that's what you mean, and you wish for me not to be so diabolical, I think that ship sank after I became a wife and mother and realized what love really felt like... I can't just throw things at lives to throw them at them anymore, fictional or otherwise.

Well you got through it. lol. I did, I made him a walking punching bag of loss, shortcomings, sacrifice, and poor decisions. I drove him crazy and I don't think he could function well by the end of the story... and I don't even know what all I did to him, I'm just basing it off y'all's comments.. lol. And knowing I didn't title it, "Good Guys Finish Last," for a happy story... but I've lied with titles in the past... I suck at titles as you well know. I didn't remember the selling of the house until you said it, then I remembered doing that. Yeah, his mother should have known the damage done there and left all that alone. Although, I don't know how Charlie could've kept the house? I have no idea if I set him up financially for anything.. if I killed his dog, I doubt it.. lol. I was brutal, I'm thinking.

Okay... a lot to unpack here. 😮 Goodness me. I really liked the talk between Sky and his father. The 'I'll always be the rock that formed the foundation of you...' sentiment I got from him was lovely. Fathers should be that foundational strength. It wasn't overstated like a bulldozer, but it was still there. Pointing to his mother being the one that can and 'lives' for these crisis fixes was a good nod. That whole dynamic of the three of them was lovely, it brought the family together in a more pristine picture for me. I hope it comes out in the wash how they color coordinated with Ryan down to the same fabric in their vests and clothing though. For him to fall seamlessly into blue. Unless Sloane somehow got the details of what both Ryan and Madison planned to wear to the dance, or if it was somehow just common knowledge. Lex being absent again, is the guy really that horny? I always knew Madison never had it in her. Sloane on the other hand is criminal, pure criminal. Was the phone conversations AI? Were they real? I'm sure that will also come out in the next chapter. Madison seemed to think they were completely fake and AI, which would be a rather dismissive and shaky explanation for such a thing. Or was Sloane involved with the person, to get true and honest betrayal. She may be showing to have too many connections, but someone plotting the downfall of someone else, thorough as it seemed to be... I could see her putting pieces into place for months, if not years. She may not have wanted this crown, but Madison will not be getting Prom Queen after all this. I almost felt sorry for Madison. Maybe I've gone soft. That was a beefy shove from her though to put Sky right on his ass. But she folded too quickly, again. It was telling. I did not like Gabriel coming in to explain the whole thing. I think that was more than a couple of steps too far. There was so much raw and organic chemistry just hovering in the air between Ryan and Skylar in that moment. I even took a breath and prepared myself for it. Then Gabe steps around and not only explains the whole thing, but sort of speaks 'for' Skylar and left no option for Skylar, but to prove the words honest and correct. By nodding at first, then showing him a picture and name from his phone. Gabe took his voice from him in that moment and I didn't care for it, it put me off him. Part of Skylar's journey is finding the strength in his own words and he wasn't given the opportunity to do that. Ryan heard Gabriel when he should've been hearing Skylar. So, with that said... the paranoid author in me thinks that Gabriel coming around the corner, tracking them down yet again... forcing another wall between them... words vs. actions in my brain not falling in line makes me think that like Sloane, he's playing a very long game.

That would be the golden scenario, wouldn't it? I honestly can't remember if that's how I do writing or not... I don't think it is...

Sighs... just... sigh.

It would be interesting. I find deleted scenes and further discussions fascinating, as we get to see the creative paths you took. Your mindset with the cuts, additional writing, content, etc. But yeah, I'd keep it differentiated from the original and allow the original to continue to stand alone. The Footnote and links, making the story more -- well the word slipped right out of my brain mid sentence -- more... interactive? For a lack of a better word.. could be interesting as well.

You could've just read Ridley and already been done. But noooo. Also, chapter titles.. they scare me. Are you sure you're not angling for early content? I'm sure you can come up with catchy titles, you seem adept with your own writing.

Also, some people may find it a fault for their minds to be challenged when something is concretely established and then you start posting conflicting information, that may change or muddle that a bit. You may also just add them as: Deleted Scene 1: Explain where it falls within the story, why it was cut. Deleted Scene 2: --- etc. Within the same document. Give them a fair chance to make up their own minds if they want that information or not.

Yeah that didn't take long, did it?

For me, if it is so important that it changes established character arcs, plot, pacing, or large sections of known and accepted knowledge then it is better implemented from the beginning. If added later, there can be some confusion. At least if posted within the same chapter/created document. Maybe as side-prompts with explanations as to why they were all cut from the original could work. I personally wouldn't slot them into the same document in the off-chance it does cause confusion. You will see that I did that with a story you're currently reading and it infuriated people and caused a lot of unnecessary confusion. Not that the writing in that story did that throughout the whole thing, mind you.

Yeah tell 'em! Hold your ground. lol

Oh my goodness me... Not even going to look for the .gif. lol but that both made me laugh and clutch my pearls.

I am strong willed and stubborn enough to balk at every one of those. If I were in the mood to be spiteful @Okiegrad's 2026 Christmas present would be coming rather early. In glorious sex-filled awkward butt-stuff passion of a trainwreck... But the story is completed and there isn't any sex in the next chapter.