Hermetically Sealed

Said no parent ever. Seriously though, I don't know of any parent who lets their 13-14 y.o. have a co-say in family rules. 16-17 y.o., yes, but 14? I just cannot see it happening except by someone very permissive. And maybe that's the issue. Stefan was never a parent and certainly had no problem letting kids do anything they wanted, and JP was always content to let Isidore (I can't believe I had to look up her name >.<) raise the kids. Honestly, I just do not see how all these adults can sit there with straight faces and believe a 14 yo kid, much less one with a history of extreme over reactions and scorched earth vindictive tactics is mature enough to be emancipated. Will does not have a history of mature or good decisions. At this point I hope Brad just steps back and let's Will do it without any further contest. Just watch him fail and let him deal with the consequences all on his lonesome, maybe learn the lesson that all 14 y.o. learn; that he isn't as clever or mature as he wants to believe.

Going to have to agree with Tim (I know, Huge Surprise). I have dealt with a great number of 14-17 year olds over the last 10 years and not a single one has ever shown a consistent adeptness with good decision making. Not even the "mature for their age" types. I find it pretty odd that any rational adult would support this motion. A transfer of guardianship? Yes. Emancipation? Umm, no. I think whole thing with Michael also personifies why I don't see Brad and Robbie as being in character. Brad previously was willing to kill to protect his son and family, or at the least destroy their lives in some manner, but instead now he decides to play all nice? I could see dismissing him in a quiet manner as a front, and taking care of the problem through obfuscated means afterwards, but this just seems weird. Add in both Brad and Robbie's histories with physical and sexual abuse, and I just find this all so very bizarre. Add on that throughout this story Brad seems to not only be completely incapable of having a single rational discussion, but also incapable of controlling his temper. It's just feels like every choice made by him was just to give Will a reason to rebel. Sorry, just an opinion.

You know, I don't even think Brad's behavior (seen through Will's eyes) would have seemed too bizarre to me had these events happened in the beginning, or middle of Millennium. I think it's just because of the awakening he had about his own behavior in that story (and partly PMS) that has given me problems. Robbie gave me problems to start with, but not so much lately.

I can only speak for myself, so take this for what it is; just my opinion. I don't expect others to agree, nor do I expect Mark to change his stories to suit my expectations. It is merely me explaining where I am coming from. I didn't really start off disliking Will. In fact, before PMS I hoped he'd eventually become a narrator, but for me the way he seemed to usurp PMS, and for seemingly no reason other than to be Gathan's gay stand in, just left a bad taste in my mouth. Partly it was because of his age and felt it a bit exploitative (though I know that was not Mark's intention), and partly because his story felt completely separate from Gathan's so it was like watching one show, while someone else kept flipping to another during commercials. Then, that someone refused to flip back, and the original show was forgotten. (Not saying that is what happened, just how it felt to me.) Now while I didn't care for Will's story in PMS, but I didn't hate him. Not yet, at least. With Paternity, I think the dual narrator has flowed better; the stories mesh better (or maybe just intersect more often), and the switch seems smoother. So I don't really feel Will is an interloper like before. However, I just find his personality, and the reactions of other characters in this story to be repulsive. I don't see him so much as "mature for his age," as I feel that Brad and Robbie's characters have been sacrificed in order to manufacture drama for no purpose other than to make Will interesting. Will's excuses feel forced, and Brad's transformation doesn't make sense to me, even when factoring that we are seeing this from Will's point of view. It just seems artificial. It's like those teen stories where all the adults devolve into abusive, controlling morons, or are just utterly incompetent. Meanwhile, the kids, unfathomably, are always right and constantly schooling the adults on every issue. Even as a teenager I found such setups annoying. And it just feels like the character changes keep getting more extreme to the point that nothing can salvage them and yet be believable. Again, I know that isn't Mark's intention, it's just how Will's story has felt to me. I think part of my hatred for Will is fueled by my own frustration, as I have never felt like this about any of Mark's stories. What probably would normally just be a mild dislike for the character instead is amped up a bit more. I guess one thing I can say about Mark's stories, they always make me feel something. And I'll be honest, very few authors can make me this invested in their stories or characters.

There's always at least one Jerry in a crowd . . . . Interesting to see Wade stepping up into what (seemingly) has been his mom's position, and in doing so seems to be freeing up the rest of his father's staff to act more independently. I can't imagine that she is going to take that well. The release of the information about Riley looked as if it was emant more to trip Wade up, rather than his dad. Maybe hedging on him not handeling it right in an attempt to make him appear a liability? It's probably nothing, but something about David worries me. Probably the fact that Wade doesn't remember anything. Wonder if mom was somehow involved in that, and if something happened beyond just sex?

Not surprising about Ryan and Shiloh. Always seems that is the way it goes when a friend gets into a relationship, unless its with someone who is a member in the circle. Sorry, just not buying the changes in Brad. I know the excuse is the whole Omega deal, but he never behaved in anyway to suggest this weird indifference or freakish obsession with control. If anything he was moving towards the opposite; being extremely protective of Will (and the family in general) and overly worried about being too domineering. I could see him not wanting to discuss the issue, while having Michael taken out ala Brian and Carson, but really don't see how he changed this drastically in only a few months.

Yes and no. As far as any of the stories have portrayed, Brad didn't even realize what he was doing, or that he was even pissing Jeanine off. He was pretty oblivious, and it didn't seem as if Jeanine had even brotched the subject until Brad apologized for having done that and she thanked him for saying he'd try to be more inclusive in decisions. Will basically took advantage of the fact that he knew his dad would let him do what he wanted. Does that make him typical, I guess, but being typical doesn't mean he was good for doing it. Whether he was doing it intentionally or not, his actions where pretty dissmissive of her. LoL I don't think either one is a villain. Will is just a spoiled, entitled rich kid whom, for whatever bizarre reason, no adult seems to want to correct. Heck, the way all adults seem to become mentally vapid the second Will walks into the room makes me wonder if Mark isn't slightly going back on his statement of never including fantasical elements to the stories, and Will is beginning to manifest his mutant ability. Meanwhile Jeanine is suffering from severe mental breakdown, and really doesn't seem to be in control of herself. She's dangerous, to everyone and herself, but not because she's a bad person. It may take a while, but (hopefully) she will eventually go back to normal

I don't just ponder it, it has been my expressed opinion that Will is all kinds of wrong. Sure, there's the cop out that "well, this is just Will's point of view," but the acts of everyone around him continue to merely endorse this world view. I'm still waiting for someone to finally set him down and lead him through more than just a side comment on his actions. Someone who won't just leave it at a "you could have handled it better," then walking off expecting him to get it. Someone who would sit him down, say " you really want to understand why people don't trust you or take you seriously?" and lead him through his past actions, pointing out just how selfish, unreasonable and down right hurtful his exlosive, scortched earth policies tend to be. Heck, I think JP would do a stupendous job. I'd also wish someone would point out just how bad of a son he was to Jeanine long before this situation, and how it was him pitting her and his father against each other for years. Everytime he didn't want to do something he ran off to daddy and got his way, but yeah, he's not the one manipulating others. Then there's his bizarre and frankly laughable idea that somehow his last few weeks even remotely compares to what Brad's mother did to him. I don't remember if Brad has actually told him about he went through, but someone needs to correct that soon. It might even give him a good perspective on just how nice he's had it. Not that it would probably stop the little rat from manipulating Brad with it again, the way his ego is growing. Will has some justified anger, but the boy is 10 times more explosive than Brad ever was, and is less able to see shades of gray. So yeah, no pondering here.

I don't know if I can say it's his life anymore. I think others have successfully taken on the mantle. However, I really do enjoy his perspective. I think it's because I relate the best to him and Wade.

I would have to agree with this entire post, except for the last. JP will always be my King narrator, followed by a three-way tie of Brad/Wade/Matt, and Gathan in third. Stefan, while I loved the stories themselves, I find him to be too much of a pretencious ass. He seems to get off too much on putting others down, and just being a bit of a bully.

Yeah, that's where I am at. I don't relate to "Golden" characters. They come off as too contrived and Mary Sue'ish. To me, the only time Will seemed like a real character with an interesting story to tell was while he was at the river. I really wish his story had been more of that, and less of this sexed up Parker Lewis with family problems. Wade's story, on the other hand, is everything I have loved about the CAP story. Complex, witty and sexy but with still flawed and relateable characters.

I just do not get the direction Will's side of the story keeps taking. The characters just feel wrong. I also have never understood stories where 14-15 year old characters were always right and the adults a bunch of useless idiots and bad guys. It just isn't very believable to me.

I agree with this. I like Will when he was hanging with friends, and being a teen. this whole family feud (so to speak) just made me hate him, he's just become so two dimensional. Wade on the other hand has been a great narrator, not to mention shown to be a complex and interesting character. I don't know, I think Will needs a few more years before he should be a narrator again. His arrogance and constant temper tantrums are just tiring.

Historical fiction has never been of much interest to me, but Granger's stories have been pretty apt at reeling me in. Loved the scene with the delegates. I am also curious about the issue with Johnathan. I am assuming that his manner of dress is a hint.

I have a feeling that Will's "payback" is going to explode in his face.

Yay for more JP and Wade. Interesting to see how Wade navigates the political field in countering his mother. Its a shame that she is more concerned with winning than with possibly destroying her own family. A shame, but not surprising. Loved how Wade handled his sister (and indirectly his mother).

Hmmm, a moment of clarity, but then right back to being a douche. Sure hope something happens soon to get his head out of his own ass.

Yeah, what a shocker. 5 years, 5 white guys with guitars. Bleh.

Hmmm, not sure what to think about the Freddie/Davina situation. Freddie seems happy, and I am sure being cured will add to that, but I wonder what his true feelings are on the child? And what sort of secret is Cavendish sitting on?

Really hope Billy pulls his head out of his ass soon. He's getting a bit much to stomach.

Hmm, Jeff is getting a bit "Deke-ish." Let's hope it's not the same result.

This was a probably a time when Stefan should have best kept his thoughts to himself. I swear there must be a gene in the Schluter family that urges them to push things further than they should. But, seeming as Tonto was the same way, I think it more likely to be on her side of the family tree. I'm going to have to disagree a bit with Wade's comment to Robbie. Just because you weren't the reason someone ran away, doesn't somehow free you from any obligations to their safety when you know where they are (or know information that could lead to their safe return). I don't think he truly believed that himself, anyways, and was juts trying to redirect the conversation so as to not break his promise. Hmm, not sure what to make of Jeff's advances. I'm sure they weren't intended to, but they came off a bit creepy to me, almost a bit stalkerish. Hopefully I'm reading too much into the situation. Glad that Brad didn't ask anyone to proof his letter. I think it's pretty important for him to handle the situation as much on his own as possible, instead of appearing to be begging others for their help, or approval. While I feel the letter seemed more in line with Brad's character, I honestly thought all those epiphanies were the same ones he discovered back in Millennium. Seems odd that hes acting as if it's somehow all new. As for Will, not sure if inviting the taxi guy to stay was a particularly bright notion on his part. While I'm sure it'll probably wind up a nonevent, the guy just seemed a bit skeezy.

Meh. Once more Will is the Golden Child. "Oh Will you're so perfect! Oh Will, how mature you are, so wise beyond your years, you did everything right! Oh Will, we're so proud of you. Don't you worry about your evil nasty dads! They'll get everythig they deserve!" Maybe a little over the top, but I'm on percocet and it brings out my snark. Sorry. A few thoughts, I do find it interesting that Ryan did an about face. I wonder if he did so because Will took the heat for the alcohol, or if he might have been worried that part of Will running away had something to do with him (even if told different). I have to admit, I really wish Will 's story had focused more on this plot. It just feels more natural than playing Gathan's stunt cock, or the weird family drama. Going by the ending, I have a feeling that everyone has gone to find Will, while he will show up to an empty home. Will he use that for further contemplation, or as another excuse to emo out? On another note, I am curious as to Jeanine's reaction to all of this. Does she know what is going? Is she even lucid enough yet to understand?

I admit to being conflicted about this chapter. On the one hand, I find Brad and Robbie's mysterious amnesia over the events in M and PMS frustrating beyond belief, making it very hard to find the fight plot believable. Unfortunately, the damage is done, and I think this event is really going to make it difficult to ever have Brad as a narrator again, as inevitably any intelligent thing he does will be constantly compared to this nonsense. On the other hand, Brad's still amnesiac behavior aside, I thought the chapter was well written. Robbie seems to be regaining his memories and acting more like himself. Wade was his usually well thought out persona, and showed to be a reliable source of stability in an otherwise chaotic situation. I also agree that Wade wasn't betraying Will by helping to locate him. He kept his word to not use the e-mail to track Will down, and he didn't. But IIRC that was the extent of his promise, and I think he did it in an honorable enough way by not betraying the guy who provided the roofies and ID. I do admit to being curious as to what is going to happen with Martin. I think there is too much attention on the situation for a "Brian Solution."

It's seems to be true in any age that you always get more calls when in the bath. Interesting developments with Kerry and Sommers, though it will make for drama on the trip to the Indies. I wonder though, what happens if Arthur goes completely unhinged during the voyage? Are they just going to lock him in a room until they arrive? Or worse, if he kills himself, who will replace Bertie? Seems like a lot can go wrong on this particular voyage that has nothing to do with disease or opposing countries. A well written chapter, all in all.