lawfulneutralmage

Thank you so much! Guilty as charged. This chapter contains a lot of heavy information. I hope you are okay! It is all the new job learning... Well, IQ 100 is an average. One of the role-playing games distinguishes between "Intelligence" i.e. pure cognitive ability, memory, logical deduction etc and "Wisdom" the ability to recognise how others feel and the world works. Can you elaborate on Jamie being obtuse a bit? Yes, the close contact came as bit of a surprise. I think Jamie is less worried about the entity than being able to have performed the act itself. Mike shows a lot of love. Would he actually be able to deal with these news any better than Jamie does? Yes, something has to happen.

More than me I am afraid to say. But I have a perfect excuse: I am just a foreigner.

(deleted after reading request)

Yes! Thank you!

Thank you! Yes, that is love!

Is that reference to something? Not getting it, sorry.

It took me going through every sentence and speaking in my mind what was written there.

Well, a lot of gay kids think that their parents would love them and accept them when they come out ... and they don't.

That is an excellent quote!

Stay tuned is all I say!

Ok, you wanted it, you get it. This is the original text I got back (unedited and unchecked):

Thank you! Yes, its complicated. Maybe he just wanted to forget and feel good for at least one evening, enjoy his being with Mike instead of always being reminded of lies. Maybe he is annoyed that is put out so very ... directly. Yes, he has a lot going for him, but he is Human after all, so he has flaws. I really dislike stories with MCs that are flawless. It is just not true. Do you really think that I am one for happy ends?

Yes! Thank you! I have tried keeping him "real".

Well, the "intellectual heavyweights" are otherwise occupied, so it comes down to Jamie and RMW. He had his days of clubbing on E and smoking pot. Mike's patience is tested, yes. Read it slowly and aloud. I had to.

Concur!

Yes, he is, but can you see why he does it? Thank you! I asked a Scottish friend to "translate". I sent him the dialog in plain English and asked him to imagine a middle-aged Argyll Highlander combat veteran. Believe me, this is the very toned down version. Yes, exactly. RMW is well aware of his options and limitations.

Yes, poor Jamie!

Politically, yes. His presence is based on favours. It is one thing asking someone to train knife fighting without asking many questions, but to go out and do something is another level of involvement, not only by the SAS sergeant, but the whole chain that got him there. It would take some convincing to involve those people with something that could fall back on them. Imagine the sergeant being injured or killed and the subsequent enquiry about that.

My hubby was watching Mrs Marple when I wrote this, and it fits very well

Yes! No frustrations! I just wonder that people pick up on little details like a bowl with bullets and cases missing, but then whole part of Jamie looking like Leon and me even providing a link in the first chapter, was seemingly ignored. That is a contrast I find fascinating!

This is fantastic discussion! When I gave my first draft to @Mikiesboy for editing, I had tons of descriptions and we had exactly that discussion. That is correct! I have checked books from authors I like, there are no tons of descriptions. There are hints! A lot of interpretation is available to make the MC the readers' "own". I had the Leon references in the original draft, too. And I wanted them because I had a story arc around the looks and resemblance. But I have cut out the descriptions of the character, apart from Mike and Jamie look into their respective blue eyes and their hair colours or them exploring each other during their first time. But the rest ... is gone ... with intent! Reading the descriptions (yes, @drsawzall, I like Pierce, too ) I love the reactions. For me, as first time author, I love these reactions. I am not frustrated at all! I see now exactly what @Mikiesboy was referring to! It is excellent seeing it in action! Yes, I am seeing that right now. Please keep the comments flowing!

Honestly, living in the UK for 15 years, I have not heard the term fringe to describe hair before. Since the 90 I have the same Nick Carter like middle-cut hairstyle, so longer bangs, but I can not remember these being referred to as fringes ... When I researched Leon's hair style (believe me there are whole threads about it (!?)) it was always "bangs". Yep!