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. Skeletons of the Future 1. The Solar War Complete

    By Yanks13, in Fiction. 04/11/2013 (Updated: 08/12/2013)

    Genres: Romance, Science Fiction
    Sub-genres: General Romance, Soft Sci-Fi
    • teen
    • mind control
    • gay
    • under 18
    • off-planet
    • future

    An uneasy truce between two different space-faring colonies leaves Jupiter Station under a wary peace. Travis Hartwell and his brother Jesse are caught up in brewing tension in inner-station politics when all they want to do is survive. And Travis's discovery of a damaged bot adds more spice to an already volatile mix. Will Travis survive long enough for his missing parents to come home to both he and Jesse, if they do at all?

    • 11 Chapters
    • 51,069 Words
    • 26,367 Views
    • 30 Comments
    • Mature
  2. Adlai Complete

    By grahamsealby, in Fiction. 07/16/2017 (Updated: 07/25/2017)

    Genres: General Fiction, Romance, Historical
    Sub-genres: Drama, Non-Contemporary, General Romance
    • mature adult
    • europe
    • suspense
    • serious
    • religion
    • ancient times

    Adlai Ben Yusuf the son of a humble carpenter, grew up in the village of Nazareth in the troubled land called Palestine. With with his brother Tavi and cousin Cephas he enjoyed the usual escapades and misadventures of a normal teenage boy. Whereas Adlai was scholarly and introspective his brother Tavi was an extrovert. He was a warrior, an adventurer and a womaniser; trouble followed him relentlessly. Being popular and well-loved, he was his father Yusuf''s favourite. Then suddenly a simple mistake occurred which was to have tragic and far-reaching consequences; consequences that have endured to the present day.

    • 19 Chapters
    • 97,470 Words
    • 26,462 Views
    • 27 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Mature
  3. Summer Ended with a Storm Complete

    By Dans La Nuit, in Fiction. 01/21/2011 (Updated: 01/21/2011)

    Genres: Romance
    Sub-genres: General Romance

    Dylan Summers is sent to live with his grandfather in Meek, Oregon (not a real town). There he makes more friends than he's ever had in his life.

    • 11 Chapters
    • 24,606 Words
    • 26,506 Views
    • 14 Comments
    • 1 Recommendation
    • Mature
  4. Seb and Beau Long-Term Hold

    By Bndmetl, in Fiction. 07/01/2017 (Updated: 07/02/2017)

    Genres: Romance
    Sub-genres: General Romance
    • adult
    • gay
    • north america
    • light-hearted
    • love

    A quick side step from Williams Love of how Seb and Beau get together.

    • 2 Chapters
    • 6,324 Words
    • 26,513 Views
    • 16 Comments
    • Mature
  5. Same Love 8. Short Stories Complete

    By D.K. Daniels, in Fiction. 04/26/2020 (Updated: 05/02/2020)

    Genres: Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Soft Sci-Fi, Contemporary Romance
    • teen
    • mature adult
    • gay
    • light-hearted
    • transgender
    • friendship

    Escape the current world with heartfelt romance, comedy, and drama during this trying time with a collection of shorts to tide you over. Same Love is a compendium offered from us to all of you to enjoy during this pandemic. Each chapter will be a new author with exciting narratives on offer.

    (Stories by @AC Benus , @Brayon, @Comicality, @D.K. Daniels, @Mikiesboy, @Thorn Wilde, and @Wayne Gray) - New Stories Daily

    • 7 Chapters
    • 62,495 Words
    • 26,549 Views
    • 121 Comments
    • 5 Recommendations
    • Mature
  6. The Darkness Between Doors 3. Doorways Complete

    By Geron Kees, in Fiction. 04/24/2021 (Updated: 04/30/2021)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, General Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction
    Sub-genres: Adventure, Drama, Soft Sci-Fi, Light Mystery
    • teen
    • aliens
    • gay
    • off-planet
    • modern

    The Doors between worlds have presented Derry Hamlyn and his boyfriend Cally with a mystery: what happened to the advanced civilization that created them so long ago? In this third adventure through the Doors, Derry and Cally, along with Derry’s granddad, Mike Hamlyn, set out with the aid of Difris and Nyf, two artificial intelligences working to solve the mystery, to explore the Door system further in the hopes of learning more about the vanished builders...

    • 13 Chapters
    • 65,315 Words
    • 26,560 Views
    • 280 Comments
    • 9 Recommendations
    • Teen
  7. The Perks of Loving You Long-Term Hold

    By Camilo, in Fiction. 12/23/2010 (Updated: 01/08/2011)

    Genres: Comedy, Romance
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, General Romance
    • teen
    • young adult
    • gay
    • school
    • college
    • road-trip

    [IN PROGRESS]

    • 12 Chapters
    • 81,929 Words
    • 26,666 Views
    • 8 Comments
    • Mature
  8. Collections Complete

    By RichEisbrouch, in Non-Fiction. 01/10/2019 (Updated: 12/07/2022)

    Genres: Comedy, General Fiction
    Sub-genres: Comedy Modern, Drama
    • suburban
    • urban
    • north america
    • no sex
    • light-hearted
    • serious
    • 20th century
    • modern

    This is a collection of my short non-fiction pieces.

    It's mostly lightweight stuff, just written to make you smile or laugh.

    This collection parallels that of my short fiction on this site -- Circumstances. Also, pretty lightweight.

    Enjoy.

    • 27 Chapters
    • 37,135 Words
    • 26,671 Views
    • 8 Comments
    • Everyone
  9. Gods and Ancients 6. Werebears in America Long-Term Hold

    By Grumpy Bear, in Fiction. 08/10/2022 (Updated: 08/19/2023)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, Thriller/Suspense, Paranormal
    Sub-genres: Adventure, Werewolves, Shifters, Supernatural Thriller
    • mature adult
    • were-creatures
    • gay
    • africa
    • north america
    • anal
    • group sex
    • oral

    Bernhard Odinson, the human descendant of the Norse god Thor has begun the process of transforming from man to werebear. When he undergoes his first shift, he will become one with his bear, and will receive his full powers as a demigod. But the news of this has spread, and the African Lycan Council considers him a threat to all of were-kind. When the North American Lycan Council sends a peace delegation to Africa, Bernie's presence awakens an even more ancient force that poses the greatest threat of all. Can the two opposing factions come together to protect their existence, or will fear and hostility doom them all?

    • 12 Chapters
    • 54,956 Words
    • 26,696 Views
    • 114 Comments
    • 10 Recommendations
    • Mature
  10. Luz de Castilla - Summer of '22 Book IX 23. C. J. Boomers, Gen Xers, & Millenials Complete

    By Carlos Hazday, in Fiction. 04/21/2023 (Updated: 05/12/2023)

    Genres: Action/Adventure, General Fiction
    Sub-genres: Adventure, Drama, Nautical , Spy
    • young adult
    • travel
    • north america
    • serious
    • modern
    • politics

    When Owen Liston is invited to join a Nature Conservancy delegation traveling to Havana, his husband, CJ Abelló, tags along. He claims there was no chance he would pass up the opportunity to visit Cuba. He may be planning on spending his time sightseeing and day-drinking, but changes are coming to the land of his grandparents. and he will find himself in the middle of events. CJ and Owen will be popular with American and Cuban government officials by the time the dust settles..

    • 5 Chapters
    • 26,878 Words
    • 26,701 Views
    • 328 Comments
    • 16 Recommendations
    • Everyone
×
×
  • 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..