Paladin

Thanks to Mirriam-Webster I could add that the use of lavatorium in Medieval Latin (again from lavare) suggests that even in Medieval Rome they used a euphemism for the room.

My understanding is that the origin of lavatory is from Latin lavare "to wash"

Even without books

Many linguists argue that there is one room in a house that has no name in English. Every name we give it, historically and now, is a euphemism. A common modern euphemism for the room is "rest room". I'm amused when such rooms are called bathrooms even when they don't have a bath.

@empath

We find out about another gay couple in the school. They certainly aren't the only gays in the school but knowing who some of the others are can be comforting, even if it doesn't change the school attitude to gays. This is a test for Dallas. Will he be comfortable telling two other students that he's gay and JJ's boyfriend?

We have three very non-ordinary humans who have been brought together to save, not only, Ryder and his pack but also Theodore. For couples we have Ryder and Danny, and Theo and Jack. Now who needs a guardian? Meyrl is a likely candidate.

Thanks @Summerabbacat. Olivia is what Joshua needs in a girlfriend. Yes Joshua is the straight brother in between two gay brothers, however it doesn't worry him. He still has a straight sister.

Thanks @Ticklishboy30 I like imagining that scene, although I think that it is more likely that it will be Kevin and Daniel doing the discovering.

It may not only be Joshua who wants a road trip to use the house in Stingray Heads.

Thanks @Philippe

An enjoyably happy story. Carlos may have lusted a bit over Andy in trying to return his phone, he found long term love with Willie. I wouldn't worry too much about fate being involved with the phone. With Carlos and Willie frequenting the same gar bar, it would only be a matter of time before they found each other anyway.

Well JJ and Dallas' friendship wasn't "beyond salvation" and is now even stronger than it was before their break up, especially with the "new" JJ. There are still problems on the horizon currently obscuring a glorious sunset. I'm sure that together JJ and Dallas will overcome them. I can't help feeling that there is still a role for the two unnamed guys in the toilet.

At last Jamie and Hearst admit they "like" each other and are boyfriends destined to live together. No more hiding. Angus doesn't deserve to have enough left to own even an old civic. Despite Hearst's reassurance, I think Wen is too bitter and twisted for “He’ll find a way. He always does.” to turn out well for him or anyone else. His desire to find out who was on the inside bringing LiveFeed down isn't to congratulate them.

Yes @VBlew Olivia is being very supportive of Josh and wants their relationship to be long term. You're right, Kevin and Daniel don't have much time together before Kevin returns to Stingray Heads.

Yes @Flip-Flop Olivia and Joshua are using their time together to understand each other and Olivia is being very supportive. More on Kevin and Daniel soon.

Thanks @RoyKing, and hopefully the next chapter will be posted soon.

You're welcome @Lynx003. You will find out more about the four youngsters soon.

Oliver has been returned to his own story More on Daniel and Kevin soon.

A friendship is certainly developing. More in the next chapter.

Thanks @Mark Ponyboy Peters. Corrected now. Oliver obviously snuck from another story, as has another character.

Inside the house Joshua pointed out Kevin’s room to him and took Olivia’s bag into her room. He dropped the bag on the bed and turned around only to be pulled into a hug and kissed. “I’ve been so looking forward to being with you again. It’s so good being here.” She released Joshua and looked around. “This house is like wow. And you live here. Can you show me around?” “I’d appreciate a tour of the house as well, came from the door behind them. Joshua didn’t need urging and started with

Along with this @Zombie,

OK @Bill W, I did not realise that the word trope had such a long history. It certainly gets a lot of use now, although not just in literature. I notice its use has spread to internet with reference to common themes and devices such as internet memes on social media such as TicTok and X.

I agree with other readers regarding Angelica. The connection is there, She was suddenly glad her husband hadn’t been at the hospital to witness Devon’s nephew crying over his precious heir. He would have –, for her to conclude he would have killed both of them. That understanding, both of them, is important because both of them, not just Walter, have been targeted. The question is what will she do with this realisation? Hopefully her love of her children will outweigh her concern for her husband. Walter Samson III's obsession with family name, wealth and reputation has become pathological. It is the reverse prism through which everything is reduced to one outcome. An outcome that justifies the means. I believe that the resulting tunnel vision will result in him making more mistakes and his world unraveling. Another excellently written chapter. Welcome back.