Danners

Lip service is just another perk of my undying devotion, doubly so when it’s readily earned.

You said it best, Wes. How can I not follow such save advice?

Uh, as I said before, mine are live performances. Silly. (We’re getting a double chapter. Don’t question me.)

That was yours without from the first time Kendall watched Michael play pool and only deepened as a despondent Chase was roused from sleep by Cindy’s call. I’ll gladly continue to worship at your fingertips if this is the caliber of story you write. 🥰

Woohoo! State your terms, Gary. I’ll give whatever I can as long as you promise to stick it in your donation box.

Hell, I might do it for another double. At the very least, I’d be convinced to offer a donation.

Insert Cave-In joke here . . . . . . is what Cave-In’s tramp stamp says above a downward facing arrow.

What if Gary agrees to post another chapter before Monday?

Link the video and we’ll let you know.

Ten is generally more than enough unless you’re a size queen among size queens.

Anyone not think that’s a euphemism?

Prunescape?

Mine were live performances and mostly for my Not Husbands, who most likely didn’t record anything. They were gay married and lived one state over. We weren’t married though, so they were . . . not husbands. I was pretty proud of that turn of phrase at the time. The only possible recording that could’ve ended up online involved my best friend and her former roommate, with each of us being handled for whoever was watching. I don’t remember much of it to be honest. Too much tequila.

Urban Dictionary?

The only thing poor about Cave-In is his Uber rating. No matter what he says, he already knows how to drive a stick shift and no, that wasn’t the parking brake he was setting.

World of Warcraft?

This cackle is for you, hon. Is it wrong that I can picture Cave-In skipping the usual handshake between friends and going straight for nose-to-ass?

Just be glad your free phase happened before webcams became popular. Not that I’m admitting to anything . . . Nope, just an example. Mm-hmm.

Back to bragging, are we?

Aw, I don’t blame Hank for what lead up to the proposal or the proposal itself. As much as I want to, I can’t even blame him for how he acted that night. His behavior after that, however . . . You make great points. If I have to agree to disagree with someone, I’m glad it’s you.

I tend to agree. Cave-In got burned bad and ended up with an unhealthy outlook on love. Since John cheated on him — on him! — everyone was a cheater, they just haven’t acted on it yet. He wanted Hank to think the same way so they’d find solace only in each other, but he underestimated the strength of Chase’s love.

That’s mostly what I meant. Hank thought Chase was better off than he was and didn’t realize the implications of proposing after Christine’s death. He thought he had it covered by waiting. He thought he was doing the right thing for Chase but in reality it was Christine he was doing right by, not Chase. Chase needed a chance to share their engagement with Christine or at least the news of it, and not getting that set off a chain reaction that ended with Chase being kissed by another guy. Hank did the wrong thing for the right reason: he put a dying woman’s wishes ahead of his lover’s happiness. I think he’s getting a sense of that. He can make it up to Chase. Himself too.

You know, I don’t think he did. I think he set out to never get hurt again and saw in Hank a chance to not only get over John but to put himself in a position where he’d have enough control over all aspects of their relationship that there’d be no chance of him getting hurt. The fact he got to rub Chase’s nose in it was icing on the cock — er, cake. S’why I think Hank blindsided Cave-In by putting their relationship on hold, if not calling it off entirely. As time goes by, Hank will come to notice the little ways in which he was manipulated and how he was used. Cave-In almost succeeded in convincing Hank to have nothing to do with Chase and that, in the end, will bite him in the ass more than anything else.

The only card on his table is one listing his gaping cavern as the site of a National Speleological Society sponsored event.

Yes, things between Chase and Hank are forever changed and it’s up to each of them to decide if it’s for better or for worse. I’d say for better, myself. Despite his heartache that Hank tripped and fell cock-first into Cave-In, he confirmed a most valuable truth he’d only recently uncovered: Hank is only human. Hank is flawed too and he is capable of making mistakes even when he has the best intentions (like following Christine’s wishes). He’s also learning to hold himself accountable and can offer compromise instead of stubbornly burying his head in the sand. Hank proved that by acknowledging Chase might’ve been right about his mom. This time Hank needs Chase’s forgiveness and Chase is the one feeling betrayed. Hank is likewise learning how damaged Chase was after Christine’s death and how long lasting the effects were. More importantly, Hank has been made aware just how blind he was to Chase’s devastation. MOST importantly, Chase is proving how much stronger he is now than when they were together, that he can and will stand up for himself and is capable of handling his own problems, of staying strong. He truly isn’t that guy anymore — he’s so much more. Moreover, while he doesn’t need Hank anymore, Chase never stopped wanting Hank. Instead of bemoaning how he doesn’t want Chase, it’s time for Hank to confess how much he needs him in his life. Charles shouldn’t see his efforts as a failure. He may not have succeeded in the way he expected but succeed he did. He armed the boys with facts they didn’t have before and allowed them to touch in subjects they wouldn’t have otherwise. He gave them the strength to admit each was wrong for reacting a certain way and even got them to share small moments of tenderness. I don’t think Christine could’ve asked for more. She’d be proud of him. It was a great chapter to fall asleep thinking about. Dawson’s spin-off could make it better though. Oh, and if you posted that on Thursdays while keeping to Endings on Mondays, that’s almost like posting the same story twice a week without actually doing so. Loophole!