Paladin

Jamie is moving towards settling down both physically and emotionally. Moving from place to place has lost its appeal and he is looking to be a couple. Hearst is fully committed to Jamie, even if he is holding back for an undisclosed reason. We will see if Jamie and Hearst can come up with, and implement, a plan to overturn the shitheads at LiveFeed. Wen is someone else that Jamie and Hearst need to put back in his corner. Still a lot to be disclosed, including Jamie's real name. Has Jamie been running from something?

Ready and at hand and quickly. Why am I thinking what I'm thinking?

First up I was really concerned when it looked like you were stir frying avocado, but was saved by your parenthetical elaboration. But come on can I believe that some mid 1990s Sydney suburban place called Cafe Brontosaurus was vegetarian? Well given that Brontosaurus was a herbivore and lived in North America before McDonalds, I suppose I can. I had fried tofu in a Chinese Restaurant in Eastwood on Wednesday. It was excellent.

Quote: Maybe all’s not lost after all, I thought, . I for one,certainly hope that is the case. Quote: I have a feeling that things are about to change for me. I just spent a few hours thinking about everything that is going on and I’m starting to feel like the old me again.’ My overall impression from this chapter is that Tony is experiencing the town, its environs and his friends pulling him back. Importantly he is not fighting it. He is coming closer to answering Tim's question about what happens if he and Aaron get back together. I know what I would like that answer to be. Now, what are Scott and Matt "cooking up"? Loved this chapter.

This story reminds me of Day of the Triffids with the toxic cloud killing people rather than triffids and a few people surviving because of a particular circumstance. I'm enjoying the story and the comments. Please keep both continuing. Especially love the "fact checking" of fiction.

Ahh, now lax (not the airport) means without much care, attention, or control. I'm not familiar with lacrosse but I gather that you cannot be lax or even exhibit laxity while playing.

Here we have a word that you need to be careful and not confuse it with laxative. Laxity in attention could result is taking a laxative instead of your pain medication. The problem is that when you do that shit happens.

A very full chapter @Mark Ponyboy Peters. The meeting, which in a way was ambushing Aaron, did not go as Tony had planned, and the song I though of was "The first Cut is the Deepest". Both Tony and Aaron are supported by their friends who all want them back together. It is Tim who asks the most significant question. What is Tony going to do if he gets together with Aaron? Tony hasn't though that far ahead but has to decide and it would be unacceptably unfair to Aaron to reunite and then piss off again. I agree @Ivor Slipper. Tony has to be very careful in how he uses his wealth (and fame) and he definitely has to avoid appearing to buy Aaron's affection.

There is also the term coiled spring which carries with it not only the idea of the spring being a coil of metal but also there being tension that is ready to be be released, often explosively. A person can be referred to as being like a coiled spring because they will be quick to get pissed off, tell you off or respond aggressively. In other words, that they are ready to do something at any moment and without hesitation.

Kieran and Charlie are giving each other a very significant Christmas present. ❤️ Having spent time in small country towns in my youth I think I've attended that midnight Mass although I'm don't think the priest was as accepting as Father Costas. ☹️ No matter how the extended family react to them being gay, Kieran and Charlie will still have each other. A beautiful chapter.

I'm suspecting that Cassandra's clairvoyance is partly correct and that Ryder has to break the spell on Pembrooke, but not because he is Ryder's fated mate but for another, so far, undisclosed reason. I can see Jack's ability as assisting Ryder, probable without Jack fully realizing it.

Tony is reaching out to Aaron both emotionally and physically (offered handshake). The problem, as I see it, is that Tony has been planning for this meeting with Aaron and knew he would meet Aaron at the house. Aaron on the other hand doesn't even know Tony is in town and for him this meeting is a major surprise and unplanned for. Not a good combination. While I would hope that this meeting goes well I suspect otherwise. Tony's mates are on side for a reconciliation so even if this meeting fails, there could, with their help, still be a chance.

Quote: "As my boyfriend, I'd expect nothing from you. What I mean by that is I hope that you will say what you mean and mean what you say, especially about being monogamous. I hope that you won't abuse or disrespect me physically, mentally, or emotionally because I've already been through that with my previous boyfriend. He was abusive and cheated on me. That's not to say I'm looking for perfection. I know there are arguments and fights in any relationship, and sometimes, with two men, things can unintentionally get a little physical when testosterone and jealousy run high. However, there's a huge difference between that and constant abuse." This is beautiful and the basis for a meaningful wedding oath. We certainly have another loving couple in this story. For now, like Levie and Greg, we have to be patient and wait to find out what the news will be.

Some interesting revelations in this chapter. The bitchy Mitches joining with Angus to show Jamie in a bad light is not surprising. Finding out that Hearst's and Wen's father was a failure in 'the business' (presumably journalism) was a surprise, along with their father regarding truth as important. Wen is even more unpleasant than I believed earlier. So his infatuation with Jamie isn't about being a jilted lover, but we still have to discover what it is about. Jamie is going to need Hearst's comfort and support even more now. Of course he will be very willing to provide both.

Tony has admitted that he still loves Aaron and his reaction on hearing Aaron's voice confirms that he is truthful. Like others I have concerns about this little plan going to plan. Hopefully even if it goes badly, Tony's love will not let him give up and his mates will still help.

Off course we also have gaff (same word, slightly different spelling) tape with it's multiple uses. There is always that DYI rule that if it doesn't move when it should, use a hammer and if it moves when it shouldn't use gaff tape.

It is that closeness to the truth that makes them comedic fodder.

I know they are stereotypes @Summerabbacat and they can still be fun to work with if not taken seriously. Kingswood Country and Kath and Kim were all stereotypes but still fun. It's only a problem when people take the stereotypes seriously and believe them to be real.

@Summerabbacat,I love the characters you have described and will keep them in mind for other stories, especially the surfie chick and Troy the plumber. They sound like a hoot. I hope, for Tony's sake, that Anne Rummery is none of the above.

Very interesting @drpaladin. My search on the Free Dictionary (a resource for scrabble players) turned up 20 words containing angst (including angst itself). Most were around the words gangster and wangster

So Thompsonville has changed and apparently is more prosperous than when Tony left. Guy is attributing that to Tony's novel which should mean the town will be welcoming. Tony's love for the place is re-emerging as he soaks in the atmosphere. But importantly he is tying his love of the place to memories of Aaron. He is even rekindling his fondness for the writers group which hopefully will make his event there interesting, and what will Anne Rummery really be like?

Thanks @CincyKris, she's certainly on board regarding Patrick continuing the investigation, otherwise you'll need to wait and see.

When a word that is not commonly used in speech or writing (and then not necessarily correctly) turns up twice in the example sentences it could be a hint that @Myr could include existential as a future word of the day.

Yes, Jordan's research did turn up Patrick as the perfect person for this investigation. Patrick is determined to be involved in this investigation, even while he has to all in support from the AFP. Thanks for your comments.