Hermetically Sealed

No doubt, and the fact that there is so much going on, it's not like they can just stop and deal with it. Brad has to deal with Amphion and Nick, etc., Robbie can't really do anything to win him over while stuck at the house and Brad stuck dealing with work. I imagine both are near their breaking point.

Yeah, those two have no business really casting judgment on anyone about relationship problems. lol What I find odd, or at least telling about Brad's treatment of Robbie (the jabs of his appearance and comments to stop being so insecure and needy, not the anger of the Carson sit.) is the fact that Robbie is not just a survivor of one abusive situation, but multiple ones. It's like Brad seems to think that he's been in therapy for a while, therefore he should be fixed by now, or at least since it's been so long ago he should just get over it. The fact is, most people start developing their identities as independent individuals during their teens and early twenties. It is then that we truly learn to cope on our own and establish our sense of self confidence. Unfortunately for Robbie, during the main part of that process, he was being raped by his cousins, in a public area (the school), and the authority figures that should have helped him, instead reinforced that it was all his fault. Then there was his own mother's fundamentalism that came into play to further shame him. Yeah, Brad and family gave him a couple of years break, but then he went off to college and started dating Neil. There it was another handful of years being mentally and sexually abused. Being submissive and insecure is just an ingrained property of Robbie's personality, and not something which he can just "get over it." Hell, even that wasn't all, as he ended up getting raped again while in prison. I think it is that history that just makes the Carson situation just so evil, certainly more so than the corporate espionage at Stef and Brad's company. Lark, and to a lesser extent Dan, knew all about Robbie's past and had the full info on helping Carson tailor his act to play off those insecurities. They may have been going after Brad's ego, but they made a direct attack on Robbie's mental health to do it.

Not really indicative of a scene, nor time period appropriate, but this song really seemed to sum up Brad and Robbie's relationship. in this story.

I think they are both bi-polar, I swear. One minute they're on the same page, the next they are both whiny and self absorbed. Quite frankly, the more Brad and Stefan throw the whole "we control more of the movie company together and can fire you," the more they come off as bullies. Not to mention that Brad seems to throw Neil in Robbie's face a lot, forgetting that Robbie was actually dating Neil, not him, and it was Brad trying to break them up. True Neil was being sexually and emotionally abusive, but it was still Brad trying to do the breaking up. Then, in both Bloodlines and the Box Brad was constantly making fun of Robbie's weight and hair loss, is it any wonder that Robbie has no real self esteem and that Carson was so easy to sweep in and manipulate him? I don't think Brad consciously means to hit at his esteem (at least in the past), but it was very clear that Robbie wasn't taking his ribbing well, and if Brad hadn't been so self involved he'd have realized that Robbie wasn't having fun with it. I seriously hope that Robbie quits the movie company, sells off his shares and uses the money to start a smaller independent company. I think getting out from under Brad and Stefan's yolk, and Greg's shadow, and accomplishing something wholly his would do more for his self esteem than half the counseling he's getting. Not to mention might actually earn him more respect. Glad to see the Amphion deal getting closer to a climax.

I have a very difficult time seeing any child, teen or not, being that detached about the situation involving their parents. Children very much think that who their parents sleep with are their business. Even when divorced parents get grief from their children not accepting their new spouses, that's just the nature of the beast that is a family unit. While Brad and Robbie aren't the natural parents for half the kids, they were raised from toddler/baby to now with them as parent figures, so I really can't see them being that analytical and unemotional about. Whether it's right for them to feel that way really isn't an issue, as most children their own age aren't even going to be that rational about it.

Have to agree that the pseudo-incestuous part isn't the issue, especially with the family. Look at it this way: You find out your father has a son from a previous marriage. He's several years older, and you only find out about him when he shows up one day when you're thirteen. Everyone welcomes him in as part of the family, even your mom. He fits in perfectly in the family and you grow to admire him. Then one day, your parents have a fight, enough to separate, but not divorce. Then you find out your new brother slept with mom. Would you honestly think "Oh well, he's only a half brother, and he does look like dad?" Yeah, the boys are Brad's adopted kids, except for Will, but they were raised with Brad AND Robbie as their dad's. That is their reality, adopted or not. To have your Dad sleep with Pop's son just because things are rough between the two isn't going to be a minor issue to those boys. Darius loves Robbie and as Brad said, is closer to his "pop." JJ for certain looks up to Matt and to have him come between his parents isn't going to endear him. Will is obviously a daddy's boy, but I doubt he would relish something coming between the two fathers he has always known.

"While I really enjoy seeing the drama between Brad and Robbie play out, I really get annoyed when Robbie gets thrown under the bus. He has been almost as 'honorable' as one can be in a situation where his emotions are going six ways to Sunday. He didn't consummate anything until he was honest with his partner. His partner has now boffed a handful of people and is headed for "the big one" with Matt. Which I think (if it happens) will lead to major drama. All great for the story. I've just always been extremely fond of Robbie and while he's nowhere near perfect, I see him as really trying to do the right thing and be a good, honorable man. Brad, not so much." Yeah, I agree in full here. One minute Brad sees that Robbie "gets it", then the next Robbie doesn't understand. Robbie does something to take charge, and Brad only acknowledges until he finds an opportunity to milk sympathy. I get that he was hurt in all this, but he's starting to take the "poor me" syndrome beyond what was earned. It'd be nice if he at least once acknowledged that Robbie did finally realize what he'd done(as he saw for himself in David's), or that Robbie is taking his suggestion to "step up" in decision making (like with getting Carson arrested). Really just pointing more and more that Brad is a solipsist. As for the rest of the chapter, loved the Tonto dream (read: nightmare). Leave it to Tonto to haunt her scions. lol I so cannot wait for Brandon to get his, and I hope Grace gets a front row seat when he gets it. >

Why no option for Victory for Both? Both realize their past mistakes, agree to be more open to each other and reach a mutually agreeable decision. If only one side 'wins', then neither honestly do.

Yeah, I can't see not reading any further if they do hook up. I just won't be able to sympathize with either of them. It's like Jake, Sam and Greg; I just couldn't be bothered to care about them after their continued self centered actions.

Yeah, but how often does that "one time only" ever really stay secret? lol And sure, in a really creepy sorta way, that would be a good way to hurt Robbie, but like I said, this isn't really a heat of the moment thing, it's a plotting thing, and consideration of the fallout should/when it gets out I would think would at least pop up once or twice in that several week period. I get the being hurt. I'm not inhuman, I have been hurt, a lot by people I love in the past. However, no matter what I have considered, or done, none of it was something that would ever come back to hurt those I cared about, just me. Now stuff i did in the heat of the moment, well, yeah, no thought went very far into that. lol

Don't get me wrong. I'm enjoying the story. So much so that i find my self checking multiple times a day to check for updates. lol I just feel disappointed in the both of them.

Oh no doubt about the reasons for the attraction. I'm sure Matt reminds Brad of a younger version of Robbie. And I agree that lust can override logic, usually in the heat of the moment, but this has been spread over several instances where they've had time to sit back and think. I just think Brad is proving more and more that he is a solipsist. His family only seems real to him when he can somehow use them to guilt others or justify his own feelings. I can't recall him ever thinking in this whole Matt business "hmm, how would my children feel about me, or Matt even, if we did this?" Instead, the only real deterrent to him acting on his lust is "what if I get caught?" Matt, I can almost get acting like this. he's a teen and stupid. But I would think after everything he went through with the family, he would have more . . . I guess, respect? But even then, the impression that Bloodlines left me about his thinking, if he still spent anytime at all with the boys, he'd at least be considering how they would fit into the picture as well. Maybe I just gave them too much credit from their previous stories.

Iono, this whole Matt/Brad thing is starting to make me detest the characters, and up til now, the two have been my favorites of the narrators. I guess they really are nothing more than walking dicks, which is sad.

I sincerely hope they don't do anything. If Brad does sleep with him, after all these lectures to Robbie about hurting the family, then Brad is nothing but a solipsistic hypocrite.

While I agree she has an axe to grind with the boys, I think she knows enough about the family to know what a horrible idea it would be to act against them like that. She knows they can ruin her if she does. Still, it's an interesting proposition.

"Threesomes can be quite a bit of fun, but it gets confusing if you start getting more than a fivesome!" Hah! You should try a sevensome. ETA: So, at what point does it stop being a "-some" and become an orgy?

Hmmm, why do i have a feeling something is going to come to a head between Jeanine and Brad. Like, she's going to bitch him out someday . . . soon. lol

Brad will recover, I think. Remember, this is all only a few weeks worth of events. That's a lot of different things going awry in his life in a very short time, and let's face it, even JP didn't always handle things well. As for Escorial, I doubt Stef would have a hard time finding reasons for Brandon to not come around. Besides, even if he does show up, Robbie has a reason to be there because of family, and with the way things seem to be between the two, I don't think it would be hard for them to pretend animosity or at least tension.

It's kinda expected. lol Brad has always been prone to letting his emotions cloud his reasoning. I think he's right in feeling that Robbie has to prove himself, but he shouldn't be punished for the rest of their relationship, nor put into a position that would just make him resent being in the relationship.

Hmmm, I think Brad might be taking things a step too far now. Here Robbie confessed the root of his problems being how he feels he is the inferior sub in the pairing, Brad tells him to grow a spine and take charge, then wants to permanently enshrine Robbie's position on the leash. Yeah, that wasn't well thought out. Not sure why JP didn't spell it out clearer that this was a bad idea, unless he was afraid that Brad was already too emotional to reason with at the moment. Hopefully Robbie starts to take initiative, and Brad uses the time to get his own head on straight .

I would like them to stay together, even if just to see more lasting relationships.

I wouldn't say that they are they only ones, there is just a long established precedence for Hayes boys to be unstable (of which their shared trauma seems to be at fault). I think Robbie was doing pretty good up until Matt showed up, at least he appeared from the other narrators' perspective to be getting stronger after taking control over the company. But ever since Bloodlines he appears to be getting more, I don't know, emotional? Not sure if that is the word I am looking for. I think that having Matt show up brought out a lot of internalized guilt in him. Guilt of not being there as a father, for putting his ex girlfriend in that position, add on the shame he felt over what his cousins did . . . and his mother. . . and Neil (both being manipulated by and then killing him), even with therapy that is a lot of baggage he's carrying around with him. I just don't see him surviving the growing amount of it. I hope he does, as Brad and Robbie were my first pair to read about in the series and hold a special place in my heart.

I have a feeling that Robbie is either going to fall into a deep depression over this, or unmitigated rage.

Interesting that Dan and Lark never got along in school, but are now bf's. And considering Dan was Ace's friend, wonder how Ace is going to feel once he hears about what Dan and Lark have done to hurt his family? Ace does have that temper.

While straight sex scenes are icky (Eeek! Lady bits! ), I wouldn't think it right to not be shown in a story with a straight character. I'd just skip em and go with the rest of the story.