Ruckus

I'm sensing the introduction of some new characters imminent.

I'm betting this has something to do with the professor, the Louvre-digger, Jerome whatshisname, jilted from having lost Brad, and then losing Marcel. He's also the only character in this story with possible political pull. And, he'd been described as selfish enough and narcissistic enough to do something like this. He may have been the one who even brought Neil to France, if he's that well connected. In fact, I'm still speculating of how Neil could have found Robbie, halfway across the world. It wouldn't be possible without the assistance of someone well connected. Of course, I'll feel like a right idiot if all this turned out to be wrong.

Mark, just read chapter 8, and I think you've outdone yourself, again. I'm not much for kink, but having suspected that fisting was, indeed, the most likely kink you were exploring, I was prepared, so to speak. Suspecting and reading reading -- and therefore imagining it mentally -- are two different things, though. I did cringe as I read your rather graphic description of it, but the ending of the act itself, and its aftermath, was very sweet and romantic. So, I figure, anything that could make me cringe and yet aroused at the same time, and then make me go 'aww,' afterwards, has to be worth complimenting, at least. Hence, kudos. The ending of this chapter is certainly one of the most satisfying you've ever written, and I'm very curious as to what you would throw into the story, next. In MotM, you've given us one of the most satisfying, heartbreaking and also uplifting tale of 'coming of age,' and learning of oneself, which is very new with your stories. Your prior characters (JP and Stefan) went through events and 'stuff' through their lives, and your wrote them well, but they were already fully formed persons, by the time the stories begun, and they were mostly about characters handling what life throws at them. With Brad and Robbie in MotM, you've crafted a masterpiece tale about growing up and understanding oneself, and each other. If I were allowed to opine, you've found yourself a great niche, in this, an area that I think is very difficult to write. Hopefully, when this story is over, you'll consider writing another coming-of-age tale. And so, it seems, Dom Luka isn't the only master of writing coming-of-age tales on GA. Bows and gratitude to you, both. Can't wait to read more.

The funny thing is, it took me twenty-eight chapters to finally figure out the fact that the 'changing of lanes' is about Eric, and therefore, this isn't really a direct sequel to LtMP, as much as a different story featuring characters from LtMP. I remembered reading CJ's comment, some while ago, that this story received less feedback than LtMP. I can't speak for everyone, but when I started reading this story, the thing that crossed my mind was, 'okay, it's about those guys, again, great, the Scar's alive, yada, yada, yada, who cares.' My interest level wasn't all that high, and I read it simply because it was there, and I had nothing better to read. But in fact, this story is much better (both in the plots and in the style) than LtMP. The action is a lot tighter, and not too burdened with minutiae about the Scar setting up his secret labs, and the machinations required, before we know what the hell he was doing. In CL, the prelude to the action is actual action, not just descriptive details of how one might build a bomb. CJ, if you're still receiving too few feedback notes, I suggest changing the descriptors of the story, and tell people that it's not really about Brandon and Chase, but rather about Eric. This might pull in more readers, though at chapter 28, I think just about everyone will already know about this new story of yours. In the romance area, the 'is-he-is-he-not going to' of Eric is actually very exciting, and the little hit-and-miss mating dance he does with Jansen is actually very sweet, and more interesting to read. It certainly breaks away from your usual 'boy meets boy and falls deeply committed to each other, instantly.' While on the romance front, this story is more engaging than LtMP, on the action front, CL is *far* superior to LtMP. I went from being mildly interested to not being able to wait until the next chapter is released. Kudos on this story. What a fantastic follow-up to LtMP. In my humble opinion, you're growing in leaps and bounds as a writer, and I feel privileged to have watched it happen, from FtL, to LtMP, and finally CL. Once again, thank you for having written, and for sharing it with us in cyberspace. Keep it up, please. I can't wait to read more!

Well, if we're lucky, perhaps Mark will grace us with a little 'side story' about Brad (and maybe even of Robbie) in college, perhaps unrelated to the whole saga's continuity. When he has time, that is, and with plenty of encouragement of others, I imagine.

I don't know how you would top Be-Rad, since it's probably the best out of all your GA posted stories (in my opinion), but MiM is starting out great. You put the conflict early, and the AIDS scare/ condom use is putting a new spin in the story that was never present, before. And you seem to be using the device very effectively. Thank you for posting this one so soon after Be-Rad ended, and also for writing and sticking it out to the conclusions. I don't know where this story would end, yet, but from the many hints you've left in the first chapter, you seem to have prepared a lot of events and conflicts in this story, already. Can't wait to read the rest!

Mark, I wouldn't worry much about proper villains. There was enough conflict and emotional roller-coasters in Be-Rad to make it a great story. In fact, IMHO, this is perhaps the best story you've written out of these characters. The ending, though sad, is one of the best endings to a story I've ever read in a long time, and the uncertainity towards the future is always a good closer, at least for me. Thanks very much for writing it, for posting it in such a rapidfire fashion, and for the promise of another one, which hopefully will be equally rapidfire (wink, wink).