Wayne Gray

Thanks, rick for the nice comment. Yeah, I'll just do better.

Cute. 🙂 Feel better, Thorn!

Thanks, Mike.

Thanks, Reader. I wasn't given a hard time over the comment, or made to feel badly about it. I do though, and I need to. It will help me do better down the line.

Oh man. I love the bitchiness in the morning from Louis! That's so so very human when our partner doesn't have to get up while we do, bleary, tired, and cranky. Then there was the good, but hard conversation Louis had with Don. About how much Louis has had to give up for Don, every time he asks. Louis might grouse a bit internally, but he always comes around and does what Don needs. Frankly, Don needed to hear that. Nice chapter, tim.

I hate watching people tear down others for simply living their lives. You'd think that within the LGBTQ community we'd have figured out how hurtful and damaging it is to do this to one another, but we've still such a long way to go. Some of it is so very subtle. People who are pushed to the fringes of an already marginalized community have it the worst. They get used to little jabs, "good-natured" fun at their expense. Usually these come from the people who they depend on to understand the most - those under the LGBTQ umbrella. It's like, since we're different from the larger society that we have tacit permission to give those different from ourselves a hard time. When I was getting to know some of my friends here on GA, I listened to some of their struggles. I heard of scorn and judgment passed due to the lives they live - just being who they are. As I did, the following thoughts passed through my mind. "How could they do that to my friend? Can't they see that they're a part of the damn problems that our larger community deals with?!" It's so easy to look at the actions of others, judge them, and then skip any sort of self-reflection. I can't possibly be guilty. I'm good, I care. I can't be guilty of the very thing I despise. Right? No. Nope, I too am a part of the problem. In my last blog entry, in one of the comments I jokingly referred to a Dom as "Sir". I'm not a sub. I don't have the right. There's self-reflection, work, effort, natural inclination, and more involved in being a sub. There's a shared experience that I don't possess. It was an overstep. One I knew better than to take. It was something that showed a lack of respect to a piece that's integral to who he is - that belittled something important to him. I thought about removing it, but I won't. It's a mistake, and I want it there to remind me to just do better. I've already apologized to the people who matter. The only reason I put this entry here, now, is because I don't want people to see what I did and think it's okay. It's not. You don't play with certain things - not if you call yourself a friend.

This story is so very different. It's biblical without preaching, sweet but not cloying, well-researched without waxing pedantic. Give it a read. It's good, and worth your time.

As a friend said once, "this chapter needed a 'bus warning'." Well, for me it'd be an at work warning, but same thing. Nice, hot, sweet, chapter. It's not so complicated right now, but I can see that changing sometime soon.

Good title, and good chapter. A lot has already been said, since I'm coming to this so late - but I too enjoy these little vignettes showing life with just the two of them. The proposal was nice icing on the cake, and it was time. Change is coming. Will they be ready? Luckily, I will find out soon.

Harsh terms ... no more Italian sausage. Okay. Chicken apple sausage, and I'll just add a bit of red pepper flake to kick it up a little. Thank you again. And thanks for the link!

Thanks for the great and thoughtful comment. The name "Gray" really is a misrepresentation of how I do just about everything, unfortunately. I'm either black or white - pretty awful at moderation. I know that I have to try. I love eggs, dairy, and red meat. Denying them all the time isn't the answer, and I know that, but it's very hard for me to strike a balance. Once I visit our dietitian I'll have a better idea of where "center" should be, and I can throw myself at her recommended plan. Till then, I'm eating a lot of lentils, Greek yogurt (surprisingly low in cholesterol!), sweet potato, nuts, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables. Sunlight here is pretty tough to come by. It's often cloudy and rainy in our part of the world, particularly right now. I don't have a windowed office either, so I'll have to make an active attempt to get light during the day. Your advice is a good reminder. Between my father's death of a heart attack and my lipid panel numbers my provider was fairly concerned. He's allowing me to try and lower my numbers before medication, and I'm thankful for the shot. I don't want to screw it up. I'll work at the not-panicking.

You got it, Mike. Thanks again for the support.

I’m not sure what you mean, eh?

Ah, it's real now. Louis, Max and Don are all dealing with the situation as it comes, and Louis is even thinking about quitting his job to care for Max. It's a big sacrifice, and his willingness to explore it shows a lot about his character. Nice chapter, tim.

Great first chapter, tim. Nicely done. I know it had to be a real slug in the gut for Louis to hear of Max. It'd be hard not to feel plotted against in his shoes, and I'm glad the guys just told him when he asked. If they hadn't, it'd have been a lot worse, I think. I'm looking forward to the next one. 🙂

Great chapter, Thorn. I'm rationing this one. I'll be back tomorrow. 🙂

I think you're forgetting something. I'm in no way obligated to keep Elias safe. 😈

Hehe. Yep, plots are thickening and swirling all around that sculpture, and the boy who created it. We'll have to see if the guys are able to protect their charge when they're not even sure if there's a risk to him. Thanks for commenting! Thanks, Dave. Well put, I think. The Costa are not a friendly bunch. It remains to be seen if they will be a problem. I'm happy it inspired emotion in you. Thanks for commenting, Chris. We'll see, won't we? Elias is probably in the best spot he could hope to be in. So he's got that going for him.

Thanks, Tom. Progress, yes. There's a possible way to save the Raven Project, and Elias' name is out there as a real talent now. Though, as we can see, that may carry a risk along with it too.

Thanks, Danilo. Nope, they're all critically-minded guys, but particularly the two ex-cops with 40+ years of combined experience. Harlan and Gary ... yeah, I liked that scene too. I'm glad it impacted you. 🙂 They're talking theirs, and have no idea what the boys might be up to. They're likely to find out!

I have one word. "Tease."

Heh. Thanks, Parker. There's a lot happening, and a lot yet to occur. I'm glad you're here to see it.

Thanks, Fae. Yes, I couldn't put it better. Minds are plotting while lives go on heedless of those plots.

Thank you. I'm happy you're along for the ride and more, that you're enjoying it. We'll just have to see how the drama with Elias unfolds. If his watchful guardians have any say then he'll be fine. Stay tuned. 🙂

Of course! I'm so happy that you liked it. You're very welcome.