Conner

Great great chapter! Well, Brian got his just desserts, I suppose. It's just that it didn't happen on its own. Matt decided that there should be payback. Matt, of course, was making himself feel better, taking his revenge on both Brian and Cody. Mind you, Justin played along willingly. So I must declare that there was no bad guy in this chapter. They are all victims of each other. I was most impressed with Matt's insight into Cody's behaviour. So was Cody! I'm not buying Matt's "I almost fell in love with you" line to Cody. Relief was in fact his most honest emotion in talking with Cody. Then there was the sweet scene between Matt and Robbie, I just loved that scene. So, yeah, I find Matt kind of confusing right now. :wacko:

Congrats, Mark! Actually, I was stunned reading your post. You have accomplished so much in only a year. Truly amazing! What I want to know is are you ever going to let Sharon take a holiday!

What a coincidence that this poll should appear. I was watching the movie "Australia" last night. Let me first say that Hugh Jackman is the only reason for watching this movie. It has no other redeeming qualities. There's a scene early in the movie where Hugh bears his chest....his beautiful hairy chest. <gulps for hair> Need I say more.

Ahem <clears throat> Point of order here! Being an ardent baseball fan, I must insist the the story be re-titled "Curve Balls". As in baseball, life throws curve balls, not curved balls. No need to thank me.

Groan. The upside is I get to practice "patience" which I really suck at. It's clear to me that you want to get the story "right" and I admire that.

Brad's been my fave character ever since he narrated one of the stories. Don't ask me which one.

I must admit that I'm hoping Bertie is good as well. Mark has set it up pretty tight though. We'll see if Mark can weasal his way out of it. I'm sure this is one instance where Georgie would love to be wrong.

Quite an ingenious plot really, given the war with the French. Bertie may well walk away from all this, although he will never be able to look George in the eye again. I wonder if George will speak of Bertie's treachery to their father. I think not. George would want to save his father that disappointment and sorrow. Oh to see Wilcox's face when Granger shows up with the Rattlesnake, her crew and having sunk the Bon Frere! Ah! But the greatest news in that chapter was indeed that Calvert is back...with his back to Granger this time! Excellent chapter, Mark!

Mark wouldn't mislead us, would he? If there's been any misdirection, then it's been that Matt and Cody won't be together in a romantic relationship. They definitely connected, but as friends, maybe even as great friends....with benefits. Cody just got out of a relationship with Brian. The distance between them proved too much. Brian fell in love with someone else. Cody's not about to start the same kind of long distance relationship with an 18 year old. As for Matt, I just don't get that he wants a relationship right now. He's still got to deal with the kidney thing, mind you that's looking pretty good right now with Robbie being so cool. Actually, we should all be wondering if Matt will let go of his JP - Stefan thing. I mean he is focusing on his "education" right now, isn't he. Matt's going to be living at Escorial. What about Brian and his boyfriend? A Matt - Cody thing could happen down the road, maybe the next story in this saga. Or maybe 2 stories from now.

I cannot argue with your amazingness. It's just that the ending sucked.

Granger shows us even more cunning! Barney's help was invaluable in this instance that's for sure. So the young French midshipman didn't want to hang from his own yard arm? No surprise there. Although, that may well be his fate anyway...hanging that is. I'm hoping it's Wilcox who's in cahoots with the French privateers. But Bertie would have to have known about it as well with French ships right there in Madras. Wilcozzzx and Bertie working together would seem an oddity given their family "feud". Mind you, next to lust, greed is a very motivating factor...two of my favourite deadly sins. Did Wilcox already know that the Rattlesnake had been captured or had he guessed at its fate. I'm just hoping Bertie didn't send his brother off to a would be slaughter. Maybe we'll see Wilcox and Bertie hang together.

That was an excellent chapter! A lot of things got sorted out, and yeah, it felt really comfortable....which, of course, makes me think Mark is definitely setting us up. So Cody can't read Matt. That's interesting. It was sweet how Matt got Cody talking about his relationship with Brian. Cody and Matt will be good for each other, not on a romantic level, just good for each other. There's a lot to look forward to.

That chapter was everything I thought it was going to be. I think you could write 24 pages and I'd still find it short. I know I didn't want this chapter to end. But end it must. Robbie is still in "stunned" mode right now. Who wouldn't be! I'm looking forward to seeing how his relationship with Matt develops. Matt was cool during the whole conversation. Not once did he throw out an apology for his ever-so-slutty behaviour. Nor did he expect apologies from anyone else. Of course, we still have to deal with the issue of, "Oh, btw, dad, could I have one of your kidneys?" Well, Matt's now "family" with all the rights and priveledges of being in the JP-Stefan clan. Actually, no gay boy could asked for better.

At chapter 21 and with only a couple of chapters to go, I would have thought you'd slow down the pace a little. :wacko: No, not you. Let's get those fingernails right down to the quick. Turns out the really bad guys haven't even shown up yet! Marc's a sweetheart! Needless to say, I'm hoping he can pull this off. Great chapter, Neph!

Scary place that. Lots of wierd images. So Hamon is Gabriel. :wacko: Obviously, he didn't get the promotion he was looking for. Watch out for Lady...in the kimona. She's nasty. Alex doesn't look so good right about now.

Thank you again for your birthday wishes.

Thank you for starting the thread, mon vieux Robert!

Practice makes perfect, n'est-ce pas?

I am older, not old! Thanks for the kisses and buncjes of rainbows, Michael will be pleased.!

Thank you all for your best wishes. Yes, I'm older than I was before. I can live with that. Next year is the big one! 60! Soixante, comme on dit en francais. Therefore, I'm still young...and still laughing. Thanks so much again.

Bathing in oil? :wacko: What are we talking about here, canola oil? It's back to the politics with this chapter. Enter yet another Wilcox a-hole. It was good seeing Bertie again. Touching moment for him in getting his father's signet ring. The scene between Howard and Flagg was great!

There's certainly a case to be made for involuntary incest. I'm ever so curious (read as downright anxious) how Mark will play the scene out. But, frankly, it's going to be scrumptious no matter how it happens. I'm thinking Brad will laugh the longest and hardess. I'm just hoping Robbie sees the lighter side of all this sooner rather than later.

There may not be as many questions, but there's still a lot of fun to come. Particularly having Matt meet Robbie...and the looks on Stef's and JP's faces are going to be priceless when they realize that they had sex with Robbie's son. That's going to be a hoot. Nice seeing Fred again, too! I love it when people don't go and change on you. You've set this all up nicely, Mark!

I believe the most compeling aspect of this story, and its saving grace, were the principal characters. I was quite taken with Caleb right from the get go. He had a passion within him, a singularity of purpose, a fearsomeness that was quite admirable Thanks, Chase.