Stories

Former policeman Dan and art critic Vaughan’s relationship has an unfortunate start, but second time around they find that life has something different in store for them. Amidst interfering family members and lively friends, their relationship develops. But then Dan’s employer, Francis Heyward starts to take an interest. Heyward is seemingly stupendously rich, a giver of notorious parties and the possessor of an enviable art collection. There’s a question of whether a line should be crossed, and whether Heyward can even be trusted at all.

As the end of his first term in college draws to an end, Mason is struggling with a bit of disappointment. No boyfriends, no gay club at school.... He's begun to think maybe he just doesn't fit anywhere. On this night he ends up going to a party with the people he met on the electrical crew for the theater department - and perhaps college might work out after all.

When a dramatic event hits, how do you react? Do you stay composed? Or will your instincts dictate that you flight, fight or freeze?

My name is Todd. As a college dropout with a minimum-wage job, I just live in the moment with aspirations of becoming an artist one day. That was until Barrett, my older brother's sexy best friend and a paramedic, walks into a gay bar I frequent. And guess what, he's also a homophobe who crushed my interest in him during my teen years. What's he doing here? And I keep seeing him. At my job, at my dad's cookout, and at the bar again. No way is he going to convince me that he's a better man now who can steal my heart away...and possibly break it in return.

Alec spends a day shadowing a county social worker, both gaining insight ionto how to do the job he's studying for and his own foster son's mind.

In the aftermath of losing his beloved husband Ethan, Jeremy has become a heartless business tycoon devoid of love and warmth. But when fate introduces Carter, a mysterious stranger, into Jeremy's life, a whirlwind of mystery, drama, and romance ensues. As secrets unravel and passions ignite, will Jeremy be forced to confront his past and rediscover the true meaning of love? Will he get a second chance at love or is his heart frozen forever?

It's springtime in the mighty Andiol Empire. Despite the apparent tranquillity and prosperity, all is not well in the realm. There is a never-ending war on the eastern border, the power-hungry Shadow Cross is plotting, and the emperor has not been seen in public for years. And something far more dangerous is quietly gathering strength.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Josel and his friends are leading normal young lives in their hometown Paidos, in the peaceful south of Andiol. But a dark shadow hangs over the town, and strange secrets creep into Josel's life. Suddenly, Paidos is no longer a safe place to live, and Josel finds himself on the run.

Eric has done well in his life. Born at the right time. Invested at the right time. Walked in on his boyfriend at the right time. To find him cheating. His plans for a world sailing trip vanished and he decides to take a few weeks to sail to Hawaii. Once again. At the right time.

This is the third segment in the world Volvo Tales. You should read the first two before this one.

Prompt #385 –

Brendan Nelson had a tough week at work. He is a Project Manager at a small software company. Nothing went well on his current project. The last delivery to QA (Quality Assurance) was a total failure, the techs couldn't even install it. Add to that, a serious problem in the development of a new feature arose. Finally, on top of that, the customer was screaming about a bug that hadn't been fixed for months, and now it apparently crashed the system. As if things weren't bad at work, he had to come home to a surprise.