Conner

Expect the unexpected only when the the unexpected is suspected.

This is what is called a "cliffhanger" post. It's only purpose is to cause the anxiety within us readers to swell beyond all proportion. I bet Mark is being paid by the manufacturers of "Red Bull", a drink laced with caffeine, so that we'll stand by our computers for the next 24 hours. We readers give you 12 hours only, Mark! :2hands:

Your father was a warrior, James. And you are a warrior's son and, in my eyes, a warrior in your own right.

It's all context really. In what circumstances, with what intent, was the "word" used. One of the finest qualities of humans is our ability to laugh at ourselves. Let's not lose that.

I can just see Philip rolling his eyes as his dad started talking about his lack of a piss pot. The pains of growing up and becoming responsible. Philip's doing well. It was great to see Philip and Jarred be there for their friends and do the peacemaker thing. Super dialogue in that chapter, Nick!

I don't think Matt's biological mother is anyone we know. I'm betting she's the woman Robbie bedded. Of course, Matt will still have to go through her to get to Robbie. She'll tell Matt about Robbie because of his kidney situation and Matt will track him down. Brad's an outside chance in all this. He slept with woman as well. We'll see I guess. I haven't done any of the math here. Too lazy! Poor Cam has a broken heart. Probably the first of many. But you never know. He and Matt could re-meet somewhere later in the story. Bit of a long shot, though. I'm anxious to see Robbie's reaction. Brad's too! Fantastic chapter, Mark!

I've changed my vote again! Krista has convinced me that she would make a lousy King of Cliffhangers. My vote now goes to Mark Arbour! Way to go, Mark!

This is an incredible story, Neph! Don't let the title of this thread fool you, folks, there are 20 chapters posted in efiction. All of them absolutely scrumptious. This story has a level of passion I haven't seen in a long time.

Eli's great! It's so much fun watching him stumble through all of this. Favourite line is from Hamon, "I'm so screwed..." Must be a prohibition against imbuing angelic powers into a human. Definitely looking forward to some dialogue between Hamon and his hardass boss (ex-boss?, Michael). So, tell me, Marco, which feather do we have to use for Eli and Alex to get it on? Keep writing!

hehehe There's a Conner in the story. He's a punk with a rich boy attitude. I can play that! Mind you, we may not get to see that part of him. He's arrived at Tom's place with his hat in his hand. Hopefully he'll pitch in and help Tom and the guys support the hospital. Learn some teamwork and a little selflessness. You know, that character building stuff. :2hands: Just loved the nickname for Tom - Prodigy His bro's nickname is Shrapnel.

I couldn't agree more!

Mr. Calvert is to be congratulated for taking good care of his captain! "Just this once, Fitzwilliam!" A slight crack in Sir Evelyn's armour. Interesting. It's easy to see, though, that Granger has Sir Evelyn's complete trust. So is Granger going to be credited for inventing "central air"? Or perhaps the technology that will be used in all those English coal mines?

Well before Matt makes it to Stanford, there is the small matter of a kidney. So if he goes on a donor list he'll have to wait a while and that means dialysis, which totally sucks. Standford, no doubt, has a medical center, probably one of the best. So if Robbie is Matt's biological father, will he donate one of his kidneys? The obvious answer is yes, but then you never know. We all tend to become quite attached to our organs, as it were. I want closure with Cam!

Cam blows. Ok, so who amongst the CAP family had sex with a woman and didn't know she got pregnant? We've already had the Bill Hendrickson connection in the last story, so I don't think we're going to have a repeat there. You know, been there, done that sort of thing. Wasn't it Robbie who in the last story casually mentioned he had had sex with a woman? Just what the world needs, another Hayes!!!

Before we go hooking Matt up with one of the family, I'd like to see this Matt and Cam thing play out a bit. Two hot jocks....let's not rush this. So I'm dying to ask, Mark. The name Cam Heely is awfully close to Cam Neely who was a professional hockey player, now retired. He played with the Canucks here in Vancouver years ago before settling in with the Bruins in Boston for most of his excellent career - he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005. I believe Cam Neely is still with the Boston organization in some capacity. So what gives, Mark?

Frankly, I believe that referring to a story such as this one as cliche is, in itself, becoming cliche. Simply put, this story has a message that needs to be told and re-told. As Neph alludes to in her post, where have all the mentors gone? Largely, they've been frightened off, ignored or put in a nursing home where they won't embarrass anyone with sayings like...a rolling stone gathers no moss. The price we pay for not living a cliched life seems to be that we must discard all the human wisdom that's been so painfully acquired over the ages. This sometimes results in authors trying to be so clever that they write stories that are, frankly, crap. But sadly, their readers, also wanting to be perceived as clever and reading the right authors, pat them on the back and make meaningless declarations like "...all of literature has never given us anything this brilliant!" It would be time to re-read the fairy tale, "The Emperor's New Clothes". But, alas, that would be cliche.

That's a rather fine distinction you're making. In my mind, a cliffhanger's purpose is to create a state of anxiety within the reader, which this premonition surely achieves. If, as the story develops, this premonition takes on an element of misdirection, it will nevertheless remain a cliffhanger. Your insight that this premonition is about Caleb's jealousy is brilliant!

It was clear to me what "bloodlines" were referring to in this chapter! Needless to say, a great opening chapter, Mark! Once again, Mark has demonstrated how useful sex can be in character development. Matt's decision not to let Cam get himself off is a case in point. How selfless was that! Looks like another hit, Mark!

More high seas adventure! Excellent stuff! Granger seems quite unfamiliar with the expression "the path of least resistance". :2hands: Sir Evelyn will be estatic!

Bite me! And in what dictionary did you find "monoglot"?

I have switched my vote from Shadowgod to Krista. I think that's more fair to Steve. We need more Queens around here anyways.

Ahem...point of order, Mr. Chairman, before anyone can say "the people have spoken", typically there is a vote first. :2hands:

There was a lot of action in that chapter! A lot of interesting developments too. Mel's become Dr. Florence Nightengale with a Terminator attitude, much to Hamon's shock. For an angel, he's quite the doubting Thomas. So Eli's mom won't be nominated for any Mother awards too soon, what with the drinking and porn. Eli had a sister? Some suppressed memories there. Hamon has a plan. It's about time!

Quelle insulte! Au Canada, on a deux langues officielles! :2hands:

An angel who only has basic first aid. For some strange reason, that totally broke me up. I suppose angels are expected to be much more conversant with the healing arts. Mind you, that didn't seem to hinder him from putting a feather directly into Mel's chest cavity. :wacko: An 8-foot black blob-like creature? :wacko: Hey! We've all seen Hellboy. Get with the program! :2hands: I don't imagine Hamon's going to show up just about now with one of his frisbees.