Danners

All these delicious layers; I’m positively giddy. It’s a treat to watch Nate discover the conviction hidden beneath what he thought was dependence. Caleb’s been holding back almost as much as his father and the irony is how he hesitated out of self-preservation while Nate acted in desperation. Who’s the weak one here? For all that he’s caught in the crossfire, I can’t help but suspect Ryan put himself there. What I’m curious about is if it’s self-sabotage or genuine jealousy. Is his new family too much of a good thing or does he feel he isn’t good enough for his new family? You never fail to impress!

Assuming she died at the bottom of the stairs. Maybe just bedridden or locked in the basement. That could work, right?

Frank’s got a little devil in him after all. The way he plays up his innocence and leans into his family’s image of him as a simpleton. What a manipulative little chit. Good boy! Let them underestimate you. It’s too bad Alice doesn’t see the brilliant mind inside Frank. Not that he’d let her, ‘cause he doesn’t want her to leave either. Maybe once he finds out what his sister gave up for him. I kinda feel bad for Blaise. The sadness in his eyes seeing Alice seeking comfort with Dante instead of coming to him, that was rough. I get the impression he knows a thing or two about missed opportunities and this … this was another one. (Hey, at least he has … Tom.) On the other hand, look at Dante breaking down walls. He’s closer than ever with Frank (and his fellow slaves) and, I guess, morals be damned, but that was making love. I can understand the mixed emotions warring inside him — his morality, of course, but also his loyalty to Alice vs this growing intimacy between the two men. His lust too, naturally, since Frank gives rise to certain parts of him in a way others haven’t. This was a full chapter — a great chapter!

Why was his dick still hard? Girl, you ain’t the only one. This is gonna be fun.

To me the problem isn’t whether the brothers still love one another or how much stronger that feeling is for one of them. It seems to me it’s the nature of their love that is in question. Maurice loved the comfort and stability he found in his older brother. Them having sex — I think part of him sought control over some aspect of his circumstances and their “off screen” incest allowed that. His quiet rebellion. And now that he has relative autonomy, Remy doesn’t have room in his life for Anduin. Meanwhile Anduin’s love is possessive, a claim he staked — stakes, present tense — on his younger brother. His brother. His lover. His special person. (His hole.) His. It doesn’t surprise me he’s selfish and inconsiderate of Remy’s feelings, they don’t occur to him. So it’s easy for him to slip back into this dynamic. The one nice thing I’ll say about Anduin is he sincerely seems to feel responsible for Remy in the past. Maybe that balances out his raw need — like, if he’s going to have Remy, he has to take care of him. Ooh, or if he’s going to take care of his brother, he gets to have him. Anyway, Remy’s acquiescence says enough about their relationship for me. Him feeling obligated to love his brother, to let Anduin sake his lust — makes me sad … for them both, honestly. That isn’t love. Pretty powerful stuff here. I wonder how long he’ll put up with it. Pretty soon his feelings are bound to leak out and somebody’s going to notice. Hopefully Bella but probably Therese.

No wonder Alice reacted as she did to what went down between Tom and Dante and why she wasn’t a fan of her slave even pretending to befriend him. She watched his character change firsthand but Dante was like, “Nah, I got this.” Young Tom makes me loathe adult Tom even more. Whatever changed his status from free man to slave didn’t change his attitude: he treats the other slaves as if he were still free and to hell with their consent. For some reason randy Alice gives me the giggles. She’s almost as self-assured at 11 as she was just a couple years before the present. Me likey!

I wonder if Anduin took Keira up on her offer. Not sure his remark to Cain was offhand. Their pillow talk could certainly push the girl to seek out Remy’s side of whatever story she was told. Do you suppose Claire would notice if her fresh water came out of the toilet?

Suddenly we pan to Marcus watching Alex and Jacques through the — unbeknownst to them — two-way mirror. Annoying legal contracts, my rear end. (Just kidding.) The slow burn sensuality of this scene is what makes it so perfect. It’s almost like Jacques gave himself permission to act on urges and feelings he’s probably had for a long time now but refused to admit. It never ceases being reverent but the longer he explores Alex’s body, the more fervent he becomes. From that first touch, Jacques is the man he wants to be and not what someone else told him to be, maybe for the first time. I love his take on Alex’s transformation. How empowering for a man who spent much, if not all, of his life ill to hear that this isn’t the new you, it’s who you’ve always been. Other people diminished you, yet you remained strong at your core — and this is it realized. “The problem wasn’t you, Alex” essentially. Beautiful!

Is he better or worse than he was when they were younger is what I want to know. Remy’s depiction so far isn’t stellar, being gentle with him … most of the time. I’m riveted whatever the case. I gotta know how self-serving Anduin is, if at all.

I’m with them: Anduin can’t be trusted. There’s no reason he wouldn’t resent Maurice for leaving. He could be lying about the real Remy’s death for all we know. Whatever it takes to reel his little brother in. I want to believe him so that our Remy gets his big brother back and has a pillar of strength and protection to lean on. It’s just that Anduin’s attitude in the kitchen was self-centered and maybe a little callous, not what I’d expect from a slave. Almost like a freed man or a slave used to having his own way. Should we expect love bombing next or trying to make our Remy jealous?

You’ll see. 😆

Another piece of the puzzle but the full picture looks uglier by the minute. Not just about Maurice and Anduin either. My thoughts about how his brother changed are disturbing, downright horrific if this place is what I think it is.

I’d hope for mutual destruction? Buried out back with the sweet blossoms.

Of the twists I thought were coming, identity theft was not one of them. You surprised the heck out of me! Bravo! Anduin, you big dummy. You’re thinking with the wrong head if that was your approach. Pretty telling, all things considered. His affection is most likely genuine but it comes with conditions. Expectations. Keira’s growing on me. She’s a sweetheart so far. I hope she’s as good a listener as she claims and Remy takes her up on her offer. Unless he is willing to confide in Cain, she’s the next best choice. Bella could offer her shoulder but somehow I can’t see Remy violating the sanctity of their private time. Oh Remy. My heart goes out to him. To go through what he must have and then be reminded of it regularly because of dirty laundry or seafood, that’s one thing. His older brother is a living, breathing, constant reminder and one he can’t control. The mixed feelings of anguish and security … Ugh.

Shh, don’t say that so loud. You’ll scare off the one dimwit who hasn’t heard about her yet.

Every slave who came to Harlaney House had their share of baggage, but no one was forced to talk about it. Yes, indeed, my earlier questions/theories answered themselves. I see how the slaves can be simultaneously affectionate and standoffish. The exchange between Remy and Cain carries so much weight. Ellen is as compassionate as the Red Menace — Bethany, was it? — was monstrous. The implications of Remy’s trauma are troubling to say the least. If Amaya was responsible for more than dying in front of him, then I hope she’s burning eternally. Clearly Claire is the problem child here. You can almost smell her entitlement — and this is digital text. So, when Bella, groggy upon waking, stumbles into Joy and knocks her down a flight of the stairs, I’d like to imagine Claire halfway up it. I guess we’ll learn what we need to learn about Anduin when he has an opportunity to speak to Remy. While the sweet summer child in the back of my mind whispers that he could be remorseful, maybe even apologetic, my instincts are screaming at me that he’ll want to pick up where the two left off. My brain is awhirl with ideas about their past.

Hasn’t Dante suffered enough?!

A motley crew for sure. Joy sounds like anything but. Maybe Bella will sleepily knock her down a flight of stairs. The second she mentioned consent I knew I liked Therese. Along with the moratorium on toys — a courtesy especially important to Remy — this proves she cares for her slaves. She seems like a woman who commands and rewards respect. Ellen — what a hoot. I’m going to enjoy her sense of humor and how it plays off of the Matriarch’s dry wit. I have questions/theories about Flavius and Marc. Yes, already. I’ll wait and see if they answer themselves as we learn more about them. Oop, Cain too!

Danica with the sapphire jewelry, huh. If my hunch is true, and this is the world she inhabited, maybe things turned out for the best. Better than being Belinda’s latest snack anyway. I’m guessing blood is another shade of red she revels in. Of the three, Jess seemed the most human. Or, I don’t know, moral. Maybe just reluctant. At the very least she showed restraint and a not complete lack of sympathy. Remy’s evening sure started off with a bang. Ended with one too. I like past Remy. I’m intrigued by all he’s left unsaid and how that, along with the intervening years, inform the man we meet as a fully formed adult.

That was quite the savory dessert to digest after dinner. I’m positively stuffed! The Horners and the Stones are right out of a soap opera. Such entanglement is almost incestuous, maybe literally. I shall heretofore refer to it as The Dark Farm ‘cause there is something hinky going on over there. Alice sure dodged a bullet there! Er… no offense to Matthew shooting blanks — y’know, allegedly. It’s really too bad they can’t marry Bratney (not a typo) off to Victor; she’d fit right in as a resident of The Dark Farm. Now, closer to home, methinks Alice might be going the extra mile in order to give Dante more reasons to stay. With her, that is — and with good reason! Their banter alone is worth all the chapstick, body wash, and condoms on the continent. Also for Frank’s benefit, I think, which makes me like her even more … like I remind you every chapter. Hehe. Frank and Dante do have something special and I’m so glad she’s encouraging them to become better friends. As we saw before Lucia’s unhappy birthday, Frank is more amenable to his confidant’s suggestions, just as their quiet moment in the kitchen illustrated just how comfortable he is with Dante. Can we have more scenes between Alice, Dante, and Frank, please? I think that was the most adult and simultaneously juvenile Frank has ever acted — maybe he is becoming a teenager! — and their sibling bickering was priceless. That scene in the kitchen, by the way — omigod. “I’m so glad you’re here” and the hug from behind. My heart! Also reinforced in the kitchen: my ever increasing loathing of B*tchney (not a typo either.) Another reason to Victor Stone her. Moving on to the other member of Dante’s work crew, it sort of tickles me that Tom of all people tried to convince Frank that kissing girls is great but just not his cup of tea. Schmuck. His invitation to Dante did seem sincere though — not that that’s saying much. For a second, I thought he was asking Dante downstairs to play with him and Blaise. I enjoyed Alice’s response about what goes on between her father and the former free man, with a nod to Tom and Dante’s relationship. The distinction only matters to those involved and their motives are their own. The rebuke was subtle but still got her point across. She was a bit more direct with her sister about choosing to be with a free man but similarly alluded to consent. I’m sure there’s more but hey, like the saga of The Dark Farm, this is already disjointed enough. EDIT: Sugar Blossom. Snort

They are so cute! This return to the shy plush dragon we all fell in love with was most pleasing. I swear I’d morph into Elmyra Duff if Finley and I me in real life — I just want to hug him and squeeze him and hold him tight. Despite their previous and disastrous “not” date at the park, this meal definitely gave first vibes. Their mutual nervousness was endearing and only made me root for them more. There was tension between them, sure, but their dynamic has changed since the tussle with Tigger — in a positive way. (I really want to say they’re grrrrreat!) I’m so glad it ended on a high note. The fact that Finley handicapped himself with perfume sort of worked out in his favor. He doesn’t often find himself unable to taste/scent his (boy)friend’s emotions and even though he may have considered it a mistake, I think it helped him to give a more honest impression of himself to Emmett. Our not-so-little dragon would’ve acted differently and possibly chosen is words more carefully — or less carefully for that matter. The subject of Steven, for example: would he have had the courage to admit what he did about their confrontation if he could taste his date’s response? Emmett is a smart cookie but, from what we’ve scene, he sometimes can’t see the forest for the trees. He is highly intuitive, however, and exceptionally sensitive to others. Where Finley is concerned, it seems like much of his focus or blindness is a subconscious decision based on fear. At least before his meltdown and subsequent soul-searching; his decision to see what this is. By lifting the wool from his own eyes, all these puzzle pieces and tidbits of information are slowly starting to come together. And he’s acting accordingly. The peach-heavy meal — to me — is incredibly thoughtful. It’s Emmett demonstrating both his insight and his affection: “You’re probably as nervous as I am and I remembered how much you love peaches. Hopefully it makes you happy and helps keep you calm while we get to know each other because I know you don’t like to talk about yourself.” When Emmett excused himself and Finley thought he seemed a little confused, my theory is because he was. Between his empathy and his questions, he got most of the answers he was looking for and I absolutely believe the conclusion he drew wasn’t as shocking as the fact that his date being a dragon didn’t change his feelings for the man. Which is partially why he held Finley’s hand on the walk from the car and all the little touches before and after revealing his true form. Don’t think I didn’t clock that. Can’t blame him for needing to know if the dragon’s heart was true. (He may have also been trying to pinpoint where the man’s feelings ended and the literal dragon’s feelings began because who wants to be a possession?) Anyway, yeah, let’s call this date a success. What a lovely chapter. Absolutely charming.

Even before your mention of Schrödinger’s cat, that was my first thought about Marie’s explanation of magic. The second — about the stones — was that they were broken apart and each magic user housed a shard of one or more inside them, lending to how they cast magic and where their affinities lay. The kinky ole butler nixed that one but I had a very strong argument about the imbalances between Alex and Jacques and how their symmetry created a perfect balance. I cackled at Marie’s presentation, especially that she predicted who would ask which question when and ordered the slides accordingly. If only HR reps doing new employee orientation had her talents. And speaking of Marie, I couldn’t help being reminded of Lucy Liu’s character in Charlie’s Angels when she did her dominatrix employee presentation. I kept hearing her riding crop whenever Marie flicked her wooden pointer. Oh, and with magic’s similarities to Physics, I love that a probably long-lived character like Marie would have problems with modern technology. It touches on entropy and the progression of chaos and unpredictability over time. Also, I used to play White Wolf’s Mage: the Ascension and this scene perfectly represented the game’s system of paradox.

Having returned to the end of this chapter, I keep forgetting that Alice isn’t as strong as she wants everyone to believe. Her giving Dante what could essentially be a parting gift, and her momentary lapse in confidence, reminded me how lonely she must have been before his purchase. How much his loyalty — true loyalty, not the kind bred into other slaves — means to her. Also how much she’s warmed up to him since then. Her sharing this book shows a level of trust and affection I don’t think she’s shown with anyone other than her fiancé and maybe Frank. She’s showing him her vulnerability, and what that must mean for a woman to do with her male slave. I don’t know if you meant for that scene have so many layers or to be that quietly powerful but it was!

I empathize with Frank a great deal; Tom too, damn it. I was incredibly young when I discovered my sexuality and, honestly, I wasn’t emotionally cognizant of the emotions I felt. While many acts can be sexualized, when you’re young (physically and/or emotionally), they are truly innocent. Holding or cuddling with a friend or your first kiss. Frank holds a special place in my here. He is physically an adult and is beholden to adult reactions, physical or otherwise, but mentally he is immature. Emotionally, I’m not so sure. He is perceptive but sheltered, and I honestly think he’ll be able to grasp the significance of his actions. Really, that’s what I’m looking forward to with Frank. Since his accident, and before (I’m guessing), he wasn’t taken seriously. He’s a man, after all. I think he’s far more capable than he’s been led to believe he is. Tom is another story. Damn it, I never thought I would sympathize with him! But I can understand where his behavior comes from. He was a free man and then found himself being Blaise’s plaything. To say that would be emasculating is an understatement. Of course he used his physicality to dominate his peers. Of course he crafted toys that allowed Blaise an edge. Still I don’t trust Tom, not until he proves his feelings for Dante are true. Honestly, Tom and Frank are the two I’d envision as romantic parters for Dante, but I think Tom has the more precarious path. Frank only needs to prove his emotional intelligence while Tom has infinitely more to prove. I’d trust Alice at this point. If no one else, she has Dante’s best interests at heart.

Damn it! How dare you make me love Alice more than I already did — and after I said she was a f*ck up! She is a princess. Thank goodness Dante “broke up” with Tom. Although, I’m beginning to wonder if Tom’s feelings weren’t genuine. I understand that Tom’s original behavior and subsequent actions were quite possibly the result of him being used by Blaise — topping probably unwilling bottoms and becoming the “alpha” slave — but he will need to prove to Dante that he wasn’t just playing him. I feel for Dante and Frank. Dante, being the “adult” in this situation, and coming from his background, has got to feel conflicted in this situation. He’s attracted to Frank but he feels incredibly protective of him, and Frank exploring his sexuality with Dante has got to vex him. Frank hugging Dante and saying how good he smells broke me, honestly. I understand that Frank didn’t mean it in the way another owner would say it — he isn’t overtly sexual — but, to Dante, that simple sentence bust have been heartbreaking. I can only imagine the times a slave would have heard “you smell nice” before being assaulted. Having said that, I’m glad that Dante felt safe and protected in Frank’s arms. He understood Frank wouldn’t hurt him and, in fact, trusted him with with emotional honesty. Frank feels safe with Dante and so Dante can feel safe with Frank. This chapter holds so much subtext, @Celian . The weight of these characters’ actions … You’re a genius.