Wayne Gray

Those authors ... you really just never know about them. First, a lack of impulse control, then plot twists out of left field. Tsk tsk. Thanks for the read and the comments. There's some necessary setup in this chapter, and I think it leads naturally to the next. You've already read the next one because SOMEONE couldn't wait. That author is now under control, so it'll be a few days before chapter four lands. I'm pretty sure. Fairly sure.

That gif ... wow. LOL

Right?! LOL. Well, more is coming. So just hold onto your hat. Thanks for reading and commenting!

I think the scene with Davis and Stanford is my favorite in this chapter. Lewis and Hardy jockey for position too, but the scene with Davis and Stanford barely wins out. I like it because they're not affected by the worm, yet they're choosing each other. At least for a night. They're adapting, trusting, and just learning to let go a bit. Yeah. I like it. It's sweet, and hot, and necessary. All fun stuff. Thanks for the comment and for reading, Chris. More to come.

Yep. You're right. I commented on this in a previous post, but yes. I agree. They found the worm in permafrost. This was inspired by a real situation. Scientists found a few worms in thawing permafrost last year, I think. They dated them to just over 30,000 years. Thawed them out. And the things began moving. Eating. Mating. So that part? Totally based in the real world. Nobody knows if the combined host/worm is immortal. There's likely a limit, but they've not been around long enough to see what that might be. Maybe they will be ... if John and Atticus succeed. Thanks for commenting and reading. I appreciate it.

You're right. It's antithetical to those institutions. When you can feel and take on the emotions of others, you cannot make those same people suffer. You can't do nothing and stand by while pain exists. John's plan is ambitious. But he and Atticus are smart and motivated. They have also had time to prepare. Well, John has. We'll have to see how things go for them. And we will. Thanks for reading and commenting. There's more on the way.

I've been thinking about it. About what would happen if this were real. If the government were required to be empathetic, understanding, and prioritize people's needs. What would happen if the government were forced to care? There's nothing inherently destructive in how the worm works. It doesn't seek to cause chaos or instability. But that would happen initially. As corrupt institutions began to change, there would undoubtedly be fluctuations and possibly even disruptions in systems, depending on the extent of that corruption. The worst would suffer most. Maybe even fall apart entirely. And you know what? Good. Thanks for reading and for the comment, Mike. When the next chapter drops, even I don't know. But it will. LOL

I don't know. I think you probably could come up with something. You're pretty creative. Thanks for reading and the comment!

Did you mean to sound like an android copying a human? Because "human curse" sorta sounds like something one would say in that attempt. LOL The "cartels" in this case are world governments. Though it still fits, unfortunately. I know for a fact that my government would do nearly the same thing as the EDF. There's no way they'd allow it. Happiness, health, a check on aggression? Wh... what? No. Don't make me feel stuff. I just want the nice things. Give me a big cock and the sexdrive of a horny teenager. But god ... wanting to take care of others because it's the right thing? Nope. Can't have that. BANNED. It'd be funny. Except ... that's how it'd happen.

Thanks, tim. Nature will break free from whatever constraints put on it. It may take time, but chains don't last forever. Unchained. Huh. That would have been a good chapter title for this one, too. See you next time.

ONLY? No. Is it a A reason? YES. 😛

They are on their way, aren't they? It's like cresting the hill of a rollercoaster. No changing your mind now- you're committed, and it's happening, no matter what. Yes. You're right about those needs. Lewis and Hardy found companionship, while Davis and Stanford tested the waters and each other. "Did you mean it? Did you want it? Will you let me?" Really fun questions to ask and even more fun to answer. Ah, Central. We'll get to see how Atticus and John prepare in the next chapter. And we'll see if it's enough. Thanks for reading and commenting. I really do like this chapter, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I'm weak! LOL You got it. No need for a "horny worm." People need connection. They need to be seen and heard. They need to know they matter to someone. And that's it, really. The overall theme here. It's pretty simple when you get down to it. Thanks for reading, commenting, and encouraging. See you next time, kbois!

The Tipping Point It had been two months since Dr. Thayer brought Dr. Marquez into his confidence. In that time, she had monitored him obsessively—weekly PET scans, neurochemical panels, behavioral assessments. What she found disturbed her: not because it proved him wrong, but because it proved him right. The worm changed the brain. Profoundly. But she wasn’t convinced it left the host unharmed, and to Thayer's frustration, had thus far refused to submit it for novel treatment review.

LOL. Wow. Explot a guy's weakness, eh? I see how you are. So far the parasite (if you can even call it that based on it's effects) seems to push the body of the host toward a healthy equilibrium. Most studies put the age at which the body begins to decline at around 25. The definition being more rapid cell death than cell growth. So it'd probably stop right around that point; the peak age for human physical health. Personally? Based on the information we have so far ... I want one. LOL

Unfortunately, I agree as well. Part of why I wrote this is because I heard a right-wing American politician say that "too much empathy" was the problem in our country. Yes. Really. Too much empathy. So I channeled my disappointment in our political leaders into gay erotica. Because, why wouldn't I? The next chapter is one of my favorites in the whole story. Chapter five is up there too, but three has so much going on. I can hardly wait for you all to read it. Thanks for reading and commenting! There's more to come. Probably somewhat soon.

Hello, molly. It’s lovely to see you.

If my writing can stir thinking, then I consider that a success! Thanks for spending time and energy on it here. I appreciate that.

LOL. I think that'd take a while, even for a worm-horny John. You're right. Many (most?) nations around the world would react pretty much how the EDF is. It's not far off the mark in that respect. Atticus and John, particularly Atticus, have some choices to make. We'll have to see how they proceed, and if my current pattern holds, we'll probably see that soon. LOL Thayer didn't know he was infected initially. So he infected Jake. He infected his primary care doctor. There may have been others, too, because he had no reason to be cautious. He just knew he was horny and that people were suddenly very willing to have sex with him. But now? Now that he knows, now that the worm is in his awareness, and now that he knows the changes in him are due to the worm, he wants it out in the world even more than he did before. Keep in mind that the worm does influence hosts. Just like any other organism, it wants to reproduce. To spread. And it's using him to do exactly that. Nudging him in small ways. Calming his fears. Encouraging him to cooperate with those who can help. It's not like the worm is pulling his strings, like a puppeteer, but more like inserting an overall desire in his mind. And allowing Thayer to work toward that desire-to achieve it, using whatever tools and people are available to him. Thanks for reading and for the comment. There will be more. Soon, no doubt. 😛

Thanks, Chris. John has yet to infect anyone. The worm does make him want to. It pushes him to. You saw this in action with Dr. Thayer, and John could easily seduce and infect soldiers, officers, and even Atticus if he allowed himself to. I suppose we'll see what the next step is in his plan, if he can convince Atticus to help him. More to come!

That scene was meant to be very technical. We don't necessarily have to understand all the terms, just realize they mean "Thayer is different, provable by science, and different in a way that is both profound and a bit scary (to someone who understands what they're seeing)." Hopefully that all came across. I actually struggled a bit with the "body snatcher" tag. Technically, it's correct as it is now. John has a parasite that controls certain aspects of his life. In that respect, he has been "bodysnatched." Is he still his own person? He seems to be. But I guess we don't know for sure, do we? And importantly, neither does Atticus. Thanks for reading and commenting. There's more to come. And if I know me, it'll be pretty soon. LOL

Write what ya know, eh? For the rest, research and learn to ask the right questions. 😏 Thanks for reading and commenting!

Uh oh. tim, if you have a worm you realize you need at least a donut a day in extra calories to feed it. I don’t make the rules, I’m just saying. Tell your Men. 😝 Thanks for the comments and for reading! Yes, ChatGPT helped a lot with the tech-heavy stuff. I do like how that scene came out thanks to its use. I did feel guilty, though. Shouldn’t I have to suffer to write? No? Oh. All right, then. Yay! Onward! 💚

I know! Ugh. To be fair, I have consumed a "happy fun time" gummie and a few adult beverages. So. My resistance to "but the chapter is ready. It's great. Don't you want to share it?" was significantly less than it otherwise would have been. And here we are. LOL Thanks for the read and comment, kbois!

Catalyst It wasn’t long before the changes became impossible to ignore. “Good morning, Dr. Thayer.” Jake, Thayer’s research assistant, greeted him as he entered the lab. Thayer smiled at the young man. “Good morning, Jake.” In the past, he had only just tolerated the fellow. Intelligent, yes—but impatient. Jake rushed procedures that demanded care. But lately, Thayer had begun to see him in a different light. He’s just excited. Dedicated. He wants to learn. That was admi