Jump to content

Stories

    • Fiction
    • FanFiction
    • Poetry
      • 2024 - Seasons
      • 2023- Exploration -Poetry
      • 2015 Poetry Anthology: Remember
      • 2014 Poetry Anthology: A Storm Is Coming
      • 2013 Poetry Anthology: Whispers in the Dark
      • 2012 Poetry Anthology: Cracks of Time
      • 2011 Poetry Anthology: Into the Unknown
    • Fiction - Gay Authors Anthologies
      • 2024 - Long May You Run
      • 2023 - Leap of Faith
      • 2022 - Anniversary
      • 2021 - Spring - On The Road
      • 2021 - Spring - Potluck 2021
      • 2021 - Fall - A Winding Path
      • 2021 - Fall - An Unconventional Gift
      • 2021 - Fall - Potluck
      • 2020 - Spring - Full Moon
      • 2020 - Spring - The Storm
      • 2020 - Fall - Bridges
      • 2020 - Fall - Shadows
      • 2019 - Spring - Into the Stars
      • 2019 - Spring - Snapped
      • 2019 - Fall - Fall From Grace
      • 2019 - Fall - Raincheck
      • 2018 - Spring - Now or Never
      • 2018 - Spring - Encounters
      • 2018 - Fall - Fight Back
      • 2018 - Fall - Good Intentions
      • 2017 - Spring - Unintended Consequences & Jagged Edges
      • 2017 - Fall - The Fallout and Secret Spaces
      • 2016 - Spring - Crossing the Line
      • 2016 - Summer - Wicked Games
      • 2016 - Fall - Blindsided / The Forgotten
      • 2016 - Winter - Rewind: Pre-2016 Themes
      • 2015 - Spring - Full Circle
      • 2015 - Summer - Road Trip
      • 2015 - Fall - Blurred Edges
      • 2015 - Winter - Blackout
      • 2014 - Spring - Nature's Wrath
      • 2014 - Summer - The Backup Plan
      • 2014 - Fall - Scars
      • 2014 - Winter - Chain Reaction
      • 2013 - Spring - A Night To Remember
      • 2013 - Summer - Roll the Dice
      • 2013 - Fall - Pandora's Box
      • 2013 - Winter - Recipe for Disaster
      • 2012 - Spring - It Wasn't Me
      • 2012 - Summer - Choices
      • 2012 - Fall - Friends & Enemies
      • 2012 - Winter - Desperate Ends
      • 2012 - Special - Mayan Tribute: End of the World
      • 2012 - Anniversary - Secrets Can Kill
      • 2011 - Spring - People Are Strange
      • 2011 - Summer - Walk on the Wild Side
      • 2011 - Fall - Legends
      • 2011 - Winter - Aftermath
      • 2010 - Spring - I'd Never Do That
      • 2010 - Summer - Out of this World
      • 2010 - Fall - No Going Back
      • 2010 - Winter - Haunted
      • 2009 - Spring - Oops
      • 2009 - Summer - Carpe Diem
      • 2009 - Fall - Something Unexpected
      • 2009 - Winter - Deceptions
      • 2008 - Annual - It's Just a Game, Right?
      • 2008 - Spring - Living in the Shadows
      • 2008 - Summer - Escape
      • 2008 - Fall - Anniversary
      • 2008 - Winter - Ghosts
      • 2007 - Annual - The Road Not Taken
      • 2007 - Spring - Fairy Tales
      • 2007 - Summer - Ending and Beginnings
      • 2007 - Fall - The Rainy Day
      • 2007 - Winter - Worth Fighting For
      • 2006 - Winter - Blizzard
      • 2006 - Fall - Halloween
      • 2006 - Summer - Going on Vacation
      • 2006 - Spring - Day of Silence
      • 2004 - Winter - Christmas
    • Fiction - Story Contests
      • 2017- Halloween
      • 2017- April Fool's
      • 2016 - Secret Admirer Short Story
      • 2015 - Secret Santa Short Story
      • 2011 - Novella Contest
      • 2009 - Novella Contest
    • Non-Fiction
      • Writing Tips
    • Letters
    • Screenplays
    • World Building
     or 
  • With:
    • Action/Adventure
      • Action Fiction
      • Adventure
      • Disaster
      • Historical Adventure
      • Martial Arts
      • Nautical
      • Spy
      • Spy-Fi
      • Super Hero
      • Swashbuckler
    • Comedy
      • Buddy Comedy
      • Comedy Modern
      • Comic Fantasy
      • Comic Sci-Fi
      • Comic Horror
      • Dark Comedy
      • Fish Out of Water
      • Satire
      • Surreal Comedy
      • Tall Tale
    • Fantasy
      • Alternate History
      • Anthropomorphic Fantasy
      • Arcanepunk
      • Arthurian
      • Assassin
      • Crossworlds/Portals
      • Dragon Fantasy
      • Fairy Tales
      • Flintlock
      • Gaslamp
      • General Fantasy
      • Grimdark
      • High/Epic Fantasy
      • Historical Fantasy
      • Lost World
      • Low Fantasy
      • Magical Realism
      • Medieval Fantasy
      • Mythic Fantasy
      • Science Fantasy
      • Sword and Planet
      • Sword and Sandal
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Wuxia
    • General Fiction
      • Coming of Age
      • Drama
      • Experimental
      • Family Drama
      • Prompt
      • Rich Boy
    • Historical
      • Alternate
      • Ancient Greco-Roman
      • Ancient Orient
      • Cold War
      • Historical Drama
      • Historical Thriller
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Medieval
      • Non-Contemporary
      • Victorian
      • Western
      • World Wars
    • Horror
      • Body Snatcher
      • Gothic
      • Haunted House Horror
      • Horror - Modern
      • Monster
      • Psychological
      • Splatterpunk
      • Weird Science
      • Zombie
    • Literary Fiction
      • Bildungsroman
      • Contemporary Literary
      • Cultural
      • Epistolary
      • Family Saga
      • Historical Literary
      • Slice of Life
    • Mystery
      • Amateur Sleuth
      • Caper
      • Classic Mystery
      • Cozy Mystery
      • Detective
      • Historical Mystery
      • Light Mystery
      • Locked Room Mystery
      • Noir/Hard-Boiled
      • Police Procedural
      • Psychological Mystery
    • Non-Fiction
      • Autobiography
      • Biography
      • Creative Non-Fic
      • Letter
      • Reference
    • Poetry
      • Ballad
      • Blank Verse
      • Cinquain
      • Confessional
      • Ekphrastic Poetry
      • Epic Poetry
      • Free-Verse
      • Ghazal
      • Haiku
      • Limerick
      • Lyric
      • Mixed Forms
      • Rhyming
      • Sonnet
      • Translation
    • Paranormal
      • Cryptid
      • Cursed Objects
      • Paranormal Mystery
      • Romantic Paranormal
      • Shifters
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves
    • Romance
      • Contemporary Romance
      • General Romance
      • Historical Romance
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Regency Romance
      • Rock Star Romance
      • Romantasy
      • Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com)
      • Romantic Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Western
      • Sports Star Romance
    • Science Fiction
      • Apocalyptic and Post-apocalyptic
      • Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
      • Dystopian
      • Hard Science Fiction
      • Libertarian Sci-Fi
      • Military Sci-Fi
      • Science Fantasy
      • Soft Sci-Fi
      • Space Opera
      • Space Western
      • Steampunk
      • Utopian
    • Thriller/Suspense
      • Environmental Thriller
      • Espionage
      • Historical Thriller
      • Legal Thriller
      • Medical Thriller
      • Military Thriller
      • Political Thriller
      • Psychological Thriller
      • Supernatural Thriller
      • Suspense
      • Techno Thriller
    • Western
      • Western - Alternative History
      • Crime Western
      • Outlaws and Bandits
      • Weird West
      • Western Historical
      • Western Modern
      • Western Romance
      • Western Sci-Fi
    • World Building
      • Fantasy World Building
      • General Fiction World Builder
      • Science Fiction World Building
      • Paranormal World Building
     or 
  • Without:
    • Action/Adventure
      • Action Fiction
      • Adventure
      • Disaster
      • Historical Adventure
      • Martial Arts
      • Nautical
      • Spy
      • Spy-Fi
      • Super Hero
      • Swashbuckler
    • Comedy
      • Buddy Comedy
      • Comedy Modern
      • Comic Fantasy
      • Comic Sci-Fi
      • Comic Horror
      • Dark Comedy
      • Fish Out of Water
      • Satire
      • Surreal Comedy
      • Tall Tale
    • Fantasy
      • Alternate History
      • Anthropomorphic Fantasy
      • Arcanepunk
      • Arthurian
      • Assassin
      • Crossworlds/Portals
      • Dragon Fantasy
      • Fairy Tales
      • Flintlock
      • Gaslamp
      • General Fantasy
      • Grimdark
      • High/Epic Fantasy
      • Historical Fantasy
      • Lost World
      • Low Fantasy
      • Magical Realism
      • Medieval Fantasy
      • Mythic Fantasy
      • Science Fantasy
      • Sword and Planet
      • Sword and Sandal
      • Urban Fantasy
      • Wuxia
    • General Fiction
      • Coming of Age
      • Drama
      • Experimental
      • Family Drama
      • Prompt
      • Rich Boy
    • Historical
      • Alternate
      • Ancient Greco-Roman
      • Ancient Orient
      • Cold War
      • Historical Drama
      • Historical Thriller
      • Industrial Revolution
      • Medieval
      • Non-Contemporary
      • Victorian
      • Western
      • World Wars
    • Horror
      • Body Snatcher
      • Gothic
      • Haunted House Horror
      • Horror - Modern
      • Monster
      • Psychological
      • Splatterpunk
      • Weird Science
      • Zombie
    • Literary Fiction
      • Bildungsroman
      • Contemporary Literary
      • Cultural
      • Epistolary
      • Family Saga
      • Historical Literary
      • Slice of Life
    • Mystery
      • Amateur Sleuth
      • Caper
      • Classic Mystery
      • Cozy Mystery
      • Detective
      • Historical Mystery
      • Light Mystery
      • Locked Room Mystery
      • Noir/Hard-Boiled
      • Police Procedural
      • Psychological Mystery
    • Non-Fiction
      • Autobiography
      • Biography
      • Creative Non-Fic
      • Letter
      • Reference
    • Poetry
      • Ballad
      • Blank Verse
      • Cinquain
      • Confessional
      • Ekphrastic Poetry
      • Epic Poetry
      • Free-Verse
      • Ghazal
      • Haiku
      • Limerick
      • Lyric
      • Mixed Forms
      • Rhyming
      • Sonnet
      • Translation
    • Paranormal
      • Cryptid
      • Cursed Objects
      • Paranormal Mystery
      • Romantic Paranormal
      • Shifters
      • Vampires
      • Werewolves
    • Romance
      • Contemporary Romance
      • General Romance
      • Historical Romance
      • Paranormal Romance
      • Regency Romance
      • Rock Star Romance
      • Romantasy
      • Romantic Comedy (Rom-Com)
      • Romantic Sci-Fi
      • Romantic Western
      • Sports Star Romance
    • Science Fiction
      • Apocalyptic and Post-apocalyptic
      • Cyberpunk/Tech Noir
      • Dystopian
      • Hard Science Fiction
      • Libertarian Sci-Fi
      • Military Sci-Fi
      • Science Fantasy
      • Soft Sci-Fi
      • Space Opera
      • Space Western
      • Steampunk
      • Utopian
    • Thriller/Suspense
      • Environmental Thriller
      • Espionage
      • Historical Thriller
      • Legal Thriller
      • Medical Thriller
      • Military Thriller
      • Political Thriller
      • Psychological Thriller
      • Supernatural Thriller
      • Suspense
      • Techno Thriller
    • Western
      • Western - Alternative History
      • Crime Western
      • Outlaws and Bandits
      • Weird West
      • Western Historical
      • Western Modern
      • Western Romance
      • Western Sci-Fi
    • World Building
      • Fantasy World Building
      • General Fiction World Builder
      • Science Fiction World Building
      • Paranormal World Building
  • Match By:
  • With:
    • 19 Days
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Avatar
    • Avatar (The Last Airbender)
    • Batman
      • Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
      • Tim Drake (Robin)
      • Dick Greyson (Robin)
      • Jason Todd (Robin)
      • Bruce Wayne (Batman)
      • Damien Wayne (Robin)
    • Ben 10
    • Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Angel
    • Celebrities
    • Charmed
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • DC Universe
    • Death Note
    • Dexter
    • Dom Luka
    • Dragonriders of Pern
    • Dr Who
    • Elder Scrolls
    • EVE Online
    • Final Fantasy
    • Forgotten Realms
    • Game of Thrones
    • General Hospital
    • Glee
    • Gone From Daylight
    • Grimm
    • Half-Life / Portal
    • Halloween
    • Hardy Boys
    • Harry Potter
      • Sirius Black
      • Hermione Granger
      • Neville Longbottom
      • Remus Lupin
      • Draco Malfoy
      • Lucius Malfoy
      • Scorpius Malfoy
      • Albus Potter
      • Harry Potter
      • HP- Original Character
      • Severus Snape
      • Fred Weasley
      • George Weasley
      • Ron Weasley
    • Heaven Official's Blessing
    • Highlights
    • It
    • Known Space
    • Marvel Comics
    • MetaWolf
    • Pathfinder Kingmaker
    • Percy Jackson
      • Nico di Angelo
      • Jason Grace
      • Percy Jackson
      • Will Solace
      • Leo Valdez
    • Power Rangers
    • Project Zomboid
    • Quantum Leap
    • Queer as Folk (US)
    • Resident Evil
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Spider-Man
      • Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
      • Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
    • Star Trek
    • Star Wars
    • Superman
      • Clark Kent (Superman)
      • Conner Kent (Superboy)
      • Jonathan Kent (Superboy)
    • Supernatural
    • Torchwood
    • Twilight
      • Jacob Black
      • Seth Clearwater
      • Edward Cullen
      • Jasper Hale
    • Uncategorized
    • Voltron
    • Valdemar
    • Warhammer 40K
    • World Made By Hand
    • The Witcher
    • X-Men
    • Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • Yuri!! On Ice
     or 
  • Without:
    • 19 Days
    • AI (Artificial Intelligence)
    • Avatar
    • Avatar (The Last Airbender)
    • Batman
      • Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow)
      • Tim Drake (Robin)
      • Dick Greyson (Robin)
      • Jason Todd (Robin)
      • Bruce Wayne (Batman)
      • Damien Wayne (Robin)
    • Ben 10
    • Buffy The Vampire Slayer / Angel
    • Celebrities
    • Charmed
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • DC Universe
    • Death Note
    • Dexter
    • Dom Luka
    • Dragonriders of Pern
    • Dr Who
    • Elder Scrolls
    • EVE Online
    • Final Fantasy
    • Forgotten Realms
    • Game of Thrones
    • General Hospital
    • Glee
    • Gone From Daylight
    • Grimm
    • Half-Life / Portal
    • Halloween
    • Hardy Boys
    • Harry Potter
      • Sirius Black
      • Hermione Granger
      • Neville Longbottom
      • Remus Lupin
      • Draco Malfoy
      • Lucius Malfoy
      • Scorpius Malfoy
      • Albus Potter
      • Harry Potter
      • HP- Original Character
      • Severus Snape
      • Fred Weasley
      • George Weasley
      • Ron Weasley
    • Heaven Official's Blessing
    • Highlights
    • It
    • Known Space
    • Marvel Comics
    • MetaWolf
    • Pathfinder Kingmaker
    • Percy Jackson
      • Nico di Angelo
      • Jason Grace
      • Percy Jackson
      • Will Solace
      • Leo Valdez
    • Power Rangers
    • Project Zomboid
    • Quantum Leap
    • Queer as Folk (US)
    • Resident Evil
    • Sherlock Holmes
    • Spider-Man
      • Peter Parker (Spider-Man)
      • Miles Morales (Miles Morales)
    • Star Trek
    • Star Wars
    • Superman
      • Clark Kent (Superman)
      • Conner Kent (Superboy)
      • Jonathan Kent (Superboy)
    • Supernatural
    • Torchwood
    • Twilight
      • Jacob Black
      • Seth Clearwater
      • Edward Cullen
      • Jasper Hale
    • Uncategorized
    • Voltron
    • Valdemar
    • Warhammer 40K
    • World Made By Hand
    • The Witcher
    • X-Men
    • Yu-Gi-Oh!
    • Yuri!! On Ice
  • Match By:
  • Between and
    Leave empty to search all.
  • Between and
    Leave empty to search all.
    • Complete
    • In Process
    • Temporary Hold
    • Long-Term Hold
    • Abandoned
    • Author Passed Away
     or 
    • Mature
    • Teen
    • Everyone
    • Mature - Member Only
     or 

  • Is story part of a series?

  • Is story part of a world?

  • Is story premium?
  1. The Truce 3. The Alliance Series Long-Term Hold

    By VVesley, in Fiction. 07/03/2018 (Updated: 10/07/2020)

    Genres: Fantasy, Action/Adventure, Romance
    Sub-genres: Adventure, General Fantasy, General Romance
    • teen
    • young adult
    • gay
    • alternate earth
    • war
    • first time
    • dark
    • fighting

    Book 3 of The Alliance series. The final book!

    • 24 Chapters
    • 104,686 Words
    • 31,636 Views
    • 154 Comments
    • 3 Recommendations
    • Mature
  2. Not My Brother Complete

    By Sasha Distan, in Fiction. 05/29/2014 (Updated: 06/10/2014)

    Genres: Romance
    Sub-genres: General Romance
    • teen
    • adult
    • north america
    • first time
    • coming out
    • brothers

    Damien's mom has fallen in love, and the side affect of this is that he is now being forced to spend an eight hour drive, and the rest of his life, with a stepbrother who he cannot stand. Dallas is everything he hates, and everything he wants. Dallas is NOT his brother, but sometimes Damien wishes that he could be something much more than that.

    • 3 Chapters
    • 14,617 Words
    • 31,602 Views
    • 69 Comments
    • Mature
  3. Crossroads: Tales from the Heartland Complete

    By Altimexis, in Fiction. 04/19/2021 (Updated: 06/09/2021)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, General Fiction, Romance
    Sub-genres: Adventure, Comedy Modern, Drama, General Romance
    • child
    • teen
    • coming out
    • religion
    • abuse

    A series of coming of age stories based in Indiana, the Crossroads of America. Controversy is the rule as the series explores topics such as abuse, homelessness, pedophilia, three-way relationships, aging out of foster care and gay teens dealing with a disability.

    • 14 Chapters
    • 172,321 Words
    • 31,567 Views
    • 33 Comments
    • 6 Recommendations
    • Mature
  4. Black Blood Complete

    By LieLocks, in Fiction. 10/29/2013 (Updated: 09/10/2014)

    Genres: Fantasy, Comedy, Horror, Romance
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, General Fantasy, Horror - Modern, General Romance
    • young adult
    • magic
    • witchcraft
    • vampire
    • bisexual
    • gay

    Skylar is a witch that swore off magic. She keeps it hidden, and just goes to college like normal. But now a girl from another dimension needs her help with a vampire epidemic and she won't make it easy for Skylar to decline. Young adult modern fantasy story, action, romance. Reviews returned.

    • 28 Chapters
    • 92,440 Words
    • 31,536 Views
    • 23 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Teen
  5. Halos and Heroes In Process

    By JJQuinn, in Fiction. 03/27/2024 (Updated: 09/10/2024)

    Genres: General Fiction, Romance, Literary Fiction
    Sub-genres: Drama, General Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary Literary, Family Drama, Family Saga
    • mature adult
    • adult
    • gay
    • anal
    • oral
    • military
    • religion
    • love

    Former Delta Operative, Sam Trammel’s entire world has just collapsed and with no other option, he returns to Florida to bury his twin and his past. Ben Santiago is an Episcopal priest, a man with a checkered past, and a close friend of Sam's family. After a chance meeting brings them together, the two men navigate the tangled web of regret and forgiveness as friendship turns into love despite the obstacle of Sam's PTSD, and his reluctance to move toward Ben instead of away. Family and new friendships help Sam to rebuild and realize that sometimes the path to healing and finding home, is by confronting your past head-on.

    • 18 Chapters
    • 282,361 Words
    • 31,528 Views
    • 410 Comments
    • 20 Recommendations
    • Mature
  6. I Will Sing for You Complete

    By Arran, in Fiction. 11/02/2019 (Updated: 12/11/2019)

    Genres: Romance
    Sub-genres: General Romance
    • young adult
    • gay
    • urban
    • anal
    • oral
    • coming out
    • serious
    • modern

    Chris is a nineteen-year-old community college student and part-time bartender who lives at home with his parents. Callan is a 23-year-old post-graduate student living on his own, 1,200 miles from where he grew up, who discovers while working on his Ph.D. that he has become an inspiration for the younger Chris. Both are aspiring musicians.

    The story begins as Callan seats himself at the bar at the Saguaro Grill where Chris works, and before the evening ends Chris has offered to help him land a gig as the Grill’s musical entertainment a couple of nights a week, an arrangement that works out well for both of them.

    /applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

    • 11 Chapters
    • 31,814 Words
    • 31,494 Views
    • 104 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Mature
  7. Barnegat Bay Complete

    By RichEisbrouch, in Fiction. 09/27/2019 (Updated: 04/27/2020)

    Genres: Comedy, General Fiction, Romance
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Drama, General Romance
    • rural
    • urban
    • vacation
    • north america
    • light-hearted
    • serious
    • parents
    • love

    Barnegat Bay is a romance, which starts on the Jersey shore in the summer of 1932. It focuses on its narrator, Doc, and his friends Mike, Larry, Al, and Spence, summer lifeguards soon headed into their senior year at CCNY -- the City College of New York. This is in the uncertain times and job market of the still early years of the Great Depression, just before Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected. Joining the guys are Mary and Claire, local to the area but no less ambitious for their lives, and in fairly close by New York City, Doc's parents.

    It may initially seem an odd book for this site, but, believe me, it's not.

    • 29 Chapters
    • 72,406 Words
    • 31,010 Views
    • 46 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Everyone
  8. The Tull Unification Complete

    By Dabeagle, in Fiction. 12/18/2014 (Updated: 01/03/2015)

    Genres: Comedy, General Fiction, Romance
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Drama, General Romance
    • teen
    • adult
    • adopt
    • fostering
    • parents
    • friendship

    This story follows teens as they navigate friends, the foster care system and finding out who they are. There may or may not be a supernatural element at play. The series does feature references to the band Jethro Tull, a recurring theme.

    • 8 Chapters
    • 61,890 Words
    • 30,923 Views
    • 104 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Teen
  9. Just a Chance at Love Complete

    By Yanks13, in Fiction. 11/26/2012 (Updated: 05/25/2013)

    Genres: General Fiction, Romance
    Sub-genres: Coming of Age, Contemporary Romance
    • teen
    • coming of age
    • modern
    • love

    Chance is struggling with himself and his best friend isn't helping matters. But when Chance gets a rose for Valetine's Day, will he be willing to give love a shot?

    • 7 Chapters
    • 28,541 Words
    • 30,875 Views
    • 30 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Teen
  10. A Knight To Remember Long-Term Hold

    By chessdude, in Fiction. 05/23/2019 (Updated: 10/26/2019)

    Genres: Comedy, General Fiction, Romance
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Drama, General Romance
    • teen
    • gay
    • under 18
    • north america
    • first time
    • coming of age
    • love
    • high school

    For Ian Ferri, getting the boy of his dreams required more than dumb luck. It required planning. Preparation. Patience. And a willingness to do whatever necessary, in order to win over a boy he didn't even know. His journey is one of perseverance, courage, and - most of all - love.

    • 9 Chapters
    • 54,044 Words
    • 30,863 Views
    • 90 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Mature
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Our Privacy Policy can be found here: Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue..