centexhairysub

Ah, the power of youth; so hard to resist even when you know that is the right thing to do... I do find it funny how much this parallels what JP and Stef went through all those years ago. I have to admit the idea of JP being in the Tonto role was more than a little funny...

What is it about this family that keeps them adopting French youths that seem to be in trouble... LOL... Stef is looking back before he can look forward; something that is often so hard that some cannot do it sucessfully.

Family can be more difficult to deal with in business than almost anything else. JP will back Isidore and so will Stefin the end. Isidore has proven to be a smart business woman and Stef has proven to be a genius at it. JP will try to find a way to keep everyone in the fold but sometimes that just isn't possible.

Peter is too wishy washy for anyone especially someone like Stef. I am not sure how Roger is going to work out at least at this point. You could already tell there was drama ahead there.

It is a horrible thing to say but sometimes you just have to cut your loses with family and do what you can to survive them. So glad to see Tonto again, even if it was way to brief... She was always the best person in this saga other than JP...

Ugh, the things you have to do to make it sometimes... I don't think until this chapter that I ever realized how weak Sam was in some ways. JP and Stef both realize that they care for each other more deeply than either of them wants to admit openly. One has to wonder how long it will take to resolve matters.

Even though it seemed minor, this was when if you were paying attention that you knew Sam and JP would never last. Sam just could never be the one that JP could count on. Stef is proving that he is much more than he seems to be...

You could tell from the moment you meet up with him that Roger was going to be important. There was just something about how Mark wrote him even in this first chapter that introduced him. Jason is back... He is the kind of person that is great as long as he doesn't have to have any responsibility...

This isn't the first time that JP has been ruthless but it does amaze me that someone like him can do that and compartmentalize it so that he can function as if nothing has happened. If only Stef was as smart in love as he is in business...

Sort of sad that in some ways nothing has really changed; in Hollywood and other places it is still hard to be out and be taken seriously. There have been cracks as some have come out and continue to be successful but so many hide or deny why they are to keep the faith with those that follow them...

It is so cool that Stef has Brad, JP has Ace, and Sam has Billy; plus it seems that everyone has Claire... Nice that they all have someone they can turn to when they need it, plus it is obvious that everyone is loved and cared for.

A first look at a mature Stef that has all the poise and sex appeal he had when younger but with brains and drive... He will be an unstoppable force of nature...

Damn, I just hate when Sharon is wrong; I mean she is almost perfect so it really pains me... Obviously Santa Clarita is a blessed ship and was able to accomplish all that it did without anyone really being in charge... I think they should consult the Pope or at the very least the Archbishop of Canterbury

WOW, this chapter was just weird to me... I really enjoyed the writing for the scene with Erik, I thought it was just perfect. I could really see them acting just the way it was described. I think Will has a great deal of compassion in dealing with those that have been hurt or those that he feels have been mistreated in some way and Erik falls into that category for him. I have to believe that Will is going to figure out that Kyle and Ferris were sleeping together, probably with some help from Marie, and that Ferris is who Kyle got the genital warts from. He is going to make sure that is something they all regret. I thought that the scene with Will and Stef should were Will still needs to work on growing up some. He just doesn't seem to be able to control his anger with those that he cares about the most. I have to think there is a deeper issue at work here but haven't been able to get to it yet. Will seems to go from okay to furious with those he cares about most whenever he feels they are not acting in an appropriate manner. Part of this maybe the fact that Brad has always been like this and Will may have simply taken this up as a learned behaviour but I have to believe there is something more going on. Darius gave the perfect advice. Nothing will drive Marie and Ferris crazy like not having the brilliance of their scheme acknowledged; Will simply choosing to ignore them and their behaviour will hit every button that either of them has. My only question is with Will's temperment allow him to keep that facade in place. I think it will be harder for Will in dealing with Noah, who may or may not be involved, and or John, his involvment would really hurt Will much more than anything else. That first day or two of school will be a master class in intrigue, betrayal, revenge, and family dynamics; I can't wait... I really don't understand what is driving Maire; this has to be more than just the fact that Will came into her sandbox and made a big splash. This just seems so out of place for the way her character was described in the early mentions of her. I have a sinking feeling that JP is going to be involved in a lot more teen drama than he ever wanted or imagined...

Whenever anyone mentions Jennifer Lopez, the song that always comes to my mind is " Who Let the Dogs Out "... I really think she has mediocre talent as a singer, no talent as an actress, but she does have a big butt and can dance really well... That being said, your pic of "I'm Real" works perfectly for that moment...

Darius's advice is just perfect. Nothing will drive Marie and Ferris crazy more than Will not even paying attention to their plots and intrigue. I just don't understand how anyone in this family could be so disloyal to another member of the family. I am really starting to believe Marie needs massive amounts of therapy and a good military school. It sounds like she needs to learn to plan out her strategy a little better and pick better allies... I really like how Will handled everything with Erik. I thought the writing for that whole scene was just perfect. I would think because of what Erik told Will that Kyle probably got the warts from Ferris. There have been a couple of other mentions of how much he sleeps around plus we know he is a total bottom so it would make sense that Kyle was sleeping with him... I have a feeling that JP is going to have to get way more involved in the teen drama than he ever wants to be...

Blah, Bleck, Ugh; the sounds of me vomiting.....

This was a really sad chapter for me to read. Granger is the type of man that truly cares for those that he commands and that serve him; this means he will hate losing the ship but he will be horrified at how the men were lost. Humphreys died a hero instead of the man that lost his second ship. His death will give him a cover that life could not have; although the fleet lost a truly good captain. Fitzwilliams lost his true first love, but much like Granger when Travers died he will have to move on with his life and career. Santa Clarita arrived just in time and was able to save the silver, Weston, and the rest of the men... They got the stores and water needed to reach at least an area of safety. I hope they are able to retrieve Eastwyck, Kingsdale, Andrews, and those men from Goree. Not sure how much of a battery would be there, but the corvette would pose no problem. Even if they have to part with a little silver, Granger will expect them to get the men back. I really felt the writing was just first rate in this chapter. I felt the men fall, especially Humphreys death, and the loss of the ship. Outstanding work on this one, Mark... Keep them coming...

This was a truly sad chapter for me to read; Humphreys dead, the ship destroyed, and so many of the men dead... Glad the Santa Clarita was able to show up in time to rescue Weston and the rest of the crew. Granger will be saddened at the loss of the ship but will be horrified at the loss of the men. Granger is one of those rare breeds that truly cares about those that serve under him. I hope they don't forget about Eastwyck, Kingsdale, and Andrews... Not sure what type of battery would be at Goree but the corvette would not be able to stand against the Santa Clarita. Humphreys died a hero instead of the man that ran his ship aground. Fitzwilliam will mourn him deeply but hopefully move on with his life, just as Granger had to do when Travers past. Losing those you loved in a time of war was something you had to deal with especially back in that era. Great chapter....

Damn, sometimes I feel like I am in an s/m relationship with Mark and these stories; hmmm... I wonder if that is why I am so addicted to them???

For most horny teens, they would have freaked out said something horrible, made Erik feel worse about himself, and then left him feeling abandoned and alone. Will let him know that he wasn't alone, was still desirable, and just needed to play safe to stay in the game. A good therapist could not have done much more for Erik than Will did in those few mintues after he found out Erik's secret. That he got laid as part of doing what was right was just a bonus point...

Okay, the suspense is killing me, I need at least a hint on if Granger got on the Leander or not.... Bad Mark, Bad Mark....

Okay, I am going to start by simply reposting the first paragraph of my review... I am really suprised at how unaware Will is at how he is viewed by others within the framework of the closed societies that he generally operates. Within the environs that he lives and goes to school; someone in his position would be at the apex irregardless of if he wanted that position or not. He is physically mature for his age, good looking, smart, multi-lingual, independent, wealthy, and his family is powerful in the movie business, real estate, construction, politics, charity, wine and vinyards, Silicon Valley, higher education, and well just in general; this covers just about every area that might might a 14/15 year old boy interesting not just to his friends and family but all those that are around him... I mean with the exception of oil/energy, manufacturing, and the legal profession; Will's family is at the apex of almost every important industry in California. His peers parents probably care more about that then his peers do, but to his peers he is this ridiculiously good looking, wealthy, independent kid that can live his own life without parental inteference; I have no idea why teenagers would find that intriguing?!?!? I would never have thought Will was this naive! Being a little lazy this morning and did not want to have to rewrite or remember all my points... If Marie is going to the extent of dating a guy she doesn't even like just to get back at Will what level will she go to in order to get back at him. Is John being honest with Will? Is John aware that Marie went straight to Erik and told him about Will and Kyle and that is why he acted so weird when it was brought up or were he and Marie really talking about it and he just assumed someone overheard them? I think that Will would be way more hurt by John lying to him than anything Marie has done up to this point. I agree up to a point with Tim about Claire. I would think she would be more aware because of everything that has gone on the last couple of months that Marie is now dating the person that she wanted excluded from the party and would be asking why??? On the other hand, even involved parents don't always know who their child is seeing. If Marie is on the lockdown that she appears to be how is she even seeing Noah? Do we see a boarding or military school on the East coast or Europe in Marie's future? I thought the scene with Stef and Will was just perfect, enough said. Will handled the situation with Erik and his revelations with a level of maturity and kindness that most men twice his age would not have been able to manage. I do have to wonder how the next part of this discussion is going to go. Will was just tested a couple of weeks ago for HIV and all STD's so we know that he isn't the one that gave it to Kyle and then had it passed to Erik. I wonder if that person is going to turn out to be someone interesting??? While I do agree with most of Tim's post above, I do think that Kitt is right overall on the issue of consequences. While Mark hasn't shown many consequences up until now with Will and his sex life, in past stories there have been several. In 1968, JP got gonorrhea from Jeff; in the Land Whore both Stef and Greg got STD's from people a couple of times, this percipitated them making the decision to limit who they slept with; starting with Be Rad and Armaund's death to those that followed including Roger, Mouse, Sam and other from AIDS; as well as several unplanned pregnancies or questions on who the father's were, Mark has shown their are consequences to sex. I think maybe Mark decided to lay off the issue with Will somewhat for whatever reason but there have been plenty of examples in the past that sex has consequences not only for those directly involved but others as well. Appreciating what is here but dreading what is coming.....

Had never heard the song or seen the video for Popular by Nada Surf, but it really fit the moment well. I totally understand why the last scene made you feel what it did, even if you didn't understand it yet... Really like the song by Blink 182; I actually thought they were one of the best bands of this era... The Marilyn Manson fits as well but I was never as big of a fan of his...

I am really suprised at how unaware Will is at how he is viewed by others within the framework of the closed societies that he generally operates. Within the environs that he lives and goes to school; someone in his position would be at the apex irregardless of if he wanted that position or not. He is physically mature for his age, good looking, smart, multi-lingual, independent, wealthy, and his family is powerful in the movie business, real estate, construction, politics, charity, wine and vinyards, Silicon Valley, higher education, and well just in general; this covers just about every area that might might a 14/15 year old boy interesting not just to his friends and family but all those that are around him... I mean with the exception of oil/energy, manufacturing, and the legal profession; Will's family is at the apex of almost every important industry in California. His peers parents probably care more about that then his peers do, but to his peers he is this ridiculiously good looking, wealthy, independent kid that can live his own life without parental inteference; I have no idea why teenagers would find that intriguing?!?!? I would never have thought Will was this naive! The first thing that popped into my head when Erik told Will that Marie and told him face to face about Will and Kyle was John... If John knew that Marie told Kyle why did he partially cover for her? Was this why John looking and acted so strange when this all came out or were he and Marie really discussing Will and he just assumed that Erik or someone else overheard the conversation? I think finding out John deliberately lied to him would really hurt Will. Will handled the revelations about the genital warts with a level of maturity and kindness that would be exceptional in those decades older than he is now... I can't wait to see the end of this conversation. The scene with Will and Stef was just perfectly done. It was so believeable and true to life that I felt as if I was watching it unfold before me. The depth of feeling that your writing can transmit from off the page into my being is remarkable, well done Mr. Arbour... Do I see an European boarding school in Marie's future???