Mark Arbour

I knew UCSB was a party school, but never really knew much more beyond that. Your comments were enlightening. As far as Will's degree, it's too soon to tell (which means I haven't figured it out yet ). He has a passion for the ocean, so a degree in marine biology would be reasonable, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll major in that for his undergrad studies. If the sciences are his thing, he could just as easily major in biology. The real work in his field wouldn't start until he got to grad school. Study abroad programs are designed to expose students to other cultures (aka, broaden their horizons). While Will can certainly travel around and see whatever he wants to, I think that what he may get out of it is the cultural immersion. Actually living somewhere for a semester is significantly different than spending a couple of weeks there in the summer.

I've got a few editing delays, but I'll try to finish up this battle sequence as quickly as I can.

I'm so glad you're enjoying the series, and that I can create that feeling of immersion for you. I remember when I first read the Hornblower series: I felt as if I was there.

You're right. Things have been turning out really well. Everything's been going along perfectly fine. No problems at all. Muhahahaha.

That's too funny. It's reminiscent of the CAP series, where every time Stef shows up with a hot guy they think he's slept with him. Granger hasn't been capture yet, though. Hmm...a dungeon scene.

I'm trying to rework how I handle these sequences. I'm glad you liked it.

I think that is one of Granger's greatest strengths: his ability to think quickly, during a crisis. Calvert is evolving in the way he thinks and the way he commands: he's maturing. Ponder that these guys are in their early 20s, the same age as most guys now who are just starting careers and figuring things out.

So glad you liked it! I'll try to keep your nails trimmed.

Study abroad is a probably option for Will, but out of the question for Matt. There's no way he'd leave Wade, and hockey, to go off to another country to study for a semester. And his parents are smart enough to know better than to lobby for that. It would be like them trying to drive a wedge between Matt and Wade, something the Carrswolds certainly wouldn't do. I mean, if their son has to be gay, at least he's picked a boyfriend from a good family. Actually, the only person I currently see potentially going to the University of Chicago is Matt. UOC is to finance as Mecca is to Muslims. But for Grad school, there really is only one school for marine biology: Scripps. Another option for undergrad studies is Cal. Berkeley has a good program, one that's considered to provide an excellent foundation for grad schools. Not bad for a second rate university. *ducks*

Well, we're not ending yet. I have chapter 95 written, and there's probably two more after that. I think.

Some thoughts: 1. I'm not sure exactly how I'll do the next story. The options are almost unlimited, but as MJ noted, change merely for the sake of change isn't necessarily a good thing. CAP has been written almost exclusively in first-person (with the exception of The Box), and I like that because it makes it feel, IMHO, more personal. I wasn't entirely happy with the way dual narration worked in Poor Man's Son, but I'm much more satisfied with how it's played out in Paternity. So I just don't know yet, and I probably won't until I have at least the first part of it sketched out in my brain. Hell, I haven't even finished this one yet, so speculation about the next one is a bit premature. 2. I didn't necessarily plan for Marcel to become a major player. His character gave me an opportunity to move the story and the family forward during a period when I didn't have other compelling narrators, and there were important historical events I wanted to hit on. 3. We have no idea how JJ will ultimately react to the molestation he received at the hands of his coach. I've been doing some reading on this, and it seems that there isn't ONE way that guys react to this; rather, they're individuals, and they deal with it in their own unique way. I can see JJ being largely asexual, at least until the true hormonal urges hit him, but I'm not sure I see him being wrapped in a sexual straightjacket. Perhaps he will be. I just don't know.

Thanks guys! I can't quite see Granger outfitting an entire squadron in the Pacific, but he does need to deal with the Spanish ship-of-the-line. Something to note: When a captured ship was formally taken into the Royal Navy, it was a pretty lengthy and complicated process.

Well, with the frigate outside the harbor and hove-to next to Bacchante, I think we can call that a done deal.

We will most definitely have a 9-11 story. I suspect that will be next, although I haven't entirely decided how that would flow.

October, 1797 Granger looked at the dead major and gently closed his eyes. “A brave man,” he said, to no one in particular. He stood up and faced the Spanish soldiers. “Put down your weapons. You will be treated humanely.” He wondered if they would actually surrender, but they were evidently so stunned by the actions of their leader, and his death, that they did as he asked. He reverted to English and spoke to Eastwyck. “Secure the prisoners.” “Aye aye, my lord.” He

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It amazes me how you pick up the subtexts of these chapters, things I subconsciously wrote in and didn't realize until you pointed them out.

You don't have much faith in me. You don't think I can do as well with the next story? Bitch, you just wait and see. :-)

Ponder this: there was this horrible, evil thing, lurking in the background, eating away at everyone in the family, and destroying their relationships. Now that it's been identified, the healing can begin. It's kind of like you've been feeling like shit for a while now, and you discover that there's a bunch of mold in your house causing your problems. There's still a lot of work to do to repair the problem, but at least you know what it is, and you can start to fix things.

Come on big guy, we're on the downhill slope on this story. It's time for some happy endings. Then again, I still have a few chapters to go. :-)

You raised an interesting thought in my mind: I wonder who is more ruthless, JP or Brad?

I think you're right, and that Will deserves a lot of credit for restoring relationships throughout the family, just as I think it's fair to drop some of the blame for those problems on him. In his mind, he's been in a fight literally for his life, because controlling his own destiny really is that important to him. Now that he's done that, I think his more nurturing side can come out. Mark is not happy with the outcome of the SuperBowl.

Just to clarify, what probably happened was that Jeanine and Michael were whining to each other about how horrible and evil Will was, and Michael told her he took the pictures. She probably never saw them, and she certainly never saw the pictures of JJ. I wrote that part about the santa hat, and found myself giggling as I did, visualizing that Christmas where Darius, Will, and JJ kept walking by Robbie saying "ho ho ho", embarrassing the shit out of him.

You make a good point on the complexities of that age. I don't think that Robbie and Brad's lack of involvement had much, if anything, to do with JJ's relationship with his coach, but even if it did, you're right that Will's objective wasn't to moralize to Robbie. His goal was to try and repair their relationship, and to try and throw Robbie an emotional lifeline. It must have been blatantly obvious to Will that Robbie was beating the shit out of himself over that.

I won't have one of those unless the 49ers win tomorrow. :-)