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Post by simonuk on Jan 15, 2018 15:15:22 GMT -5
What a treat! I always liked Elliot from our first meeting and this just re-affirms my opinion. Colby however.. well he's a bit of a dick isn't he !?
And Elliot and Nate I never saw that coming but I suppose it could work in much the same way as Devyn and Griffin's relationship, shared experiences and all that!
What strikes me most is Elliot's pragmatism in the face of adversity especially considering the prevailing opinion of him is that he's a bit 'away with the fairies' Not going away to school is a massive decision to make but ultimately the right one I feel. And it means we get more of him and Nate when the other guys go away to school. Maybe a Nate POV story would be a good follow up (pretty please!!) to explore he and Elliot's burgeoning relationship.
Thanks so much for the update Dave
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Post by Dabeagle on Jan 15, 2018 23:55:31 GMT -5
Simon, Firstly, thank you so much. Secondly I didn't really want Colby to be a dick, per se, but he definitely didn't come out looking good here. One of Ryan's personality tics was covering up anything and everything with 'privacy' or 'that's private'. It's something I choose to keep alive in his characters, where it is practical and fits the story/character. It's never easy to break a couple and someone always comes off looking worse. I think Elliot ends up making good choices because he spends the time thinking about things. I've always liked that about him. A Nate POV story, huh? You like my boy Nate?  |
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silentreader-forgot.password
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Post by silentreader-forgot.password on Jan 16, 2018 0:48:24 GMT -5
It has been too long since I have gone back and re-read any Sanitaria Springs tales. The thoughtful new piece about Elliot and Nate and the rest of the found family warmed my heart tonight. I went back and re-read Little Bit just now, too.
Thank you to Dave and to the other authors. I feel like this may sound so trite, but during some upheavals the past few years, reading the Sanitaria Springs stories brought me some genuine feelings of comfort. Thank you.
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Post by DavidAMorse1701 on Jan 16, 2018 3:03:41 GMT -5
First, I loved the story. We haven't had a lot with Elliot and Colby was a real dick. So sad about Elliot's dad. Although its not a happy turn of events he does not have to give up his music. A career in music can take many forms.
I too would enjoy an episode focused on Nate and his POV of Elliot's new friendship.
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Post by simonuk on Jan 16, 2018 9:38:31 GMT -5
Simon, Firstly, thank you so much. Secondly I didn't really want Colby to be a dick, per se, but he definitely didn't come out looking good here. One of Ryan's personality tics was covering up anything and everything with 'privacy' or 'that's private'. It's something I choose to keep alive in his characters, where it is practical and fits the story/character. It's never easy to break a couple and someone always comes off looking worse. I think Elliot ends up making good choices because he spends the time thinking about things. I've always liked that about him. A Nate POV story, huh? You like my boy Nate? Yep I love Nate - seems as though I'm not the only one; Niki, Phillip, Dylan and now Elliot have all had designs on him at some point or another! The kid must have something! !! 😅 |
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Post by PaulR5 on Jan 16, 2018 17:08:24 GMT -5
There was something which bothered me, Dave, about the story. When Elliot knows sign language, even if not as well as Griffin or Sean or Teddy or Teddy's brother, why was Devyn using his boogie board for communication with him when they were in Devyn's room?
Elliot obviously has a good memory. Nearly all decent and good pianists have a good to great memory. Now, they can get distracted, like the rest of us, but I bet he remembers 95% of the sign language he learned.
And I liked the interplay Nathan and Elliot while Elliot was playing the piano, reminiscent of "Found Family Camp" as follows:
Colby and Elliot were stretched out, sun tan lotion spread and soaking in the sun. They were close enough to keep up a low conversation and Colby was speaking.
“You were turning on the little freshie, El,” he said, teasing.
“It's my finger muscles,” Elliot replied, flexing his hands. “It gets all the boys excited. Honestly, it's why I play piano.”
“Yes, I'm sure that's it,” Colby teased. “Your fingers will have all the freshman boys jealous. They'll start rumors about your grip!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Elliot said, chuckling.
Overall, a very good and enjoyable story, in spite of the seriousness of some of the subject matter.
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Post by Dabeagle on Jan 16, 2018 17:24:09 GMT -5
Paul,
Elliot learned a few items but I don't think he continued to learn after he and Devyn broke up. It's questionable how much he learned to begin with. There is also the fact that many of us have the 'use it or lose it' kind of situation. If we don't use things we've learned, they may atrophy.
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Post by Steve T. on Jan 16, 2018 19:49:37 GMT -5
Thanks for a new SS story, Dave! I never tire of reading about any of the guys in SS. There definitely seems to be room for another part to this one. Thanks again.
Steve T.
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bobby
Young Hound
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Post by bobby on Jan 17, 2018 18:03:33 GMT -5
Great story Dave... any new SS story is good  |
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Post by Nelson on Jan 23, 2018 15:33:57 GMT -5
I disagree with some of the comments about Colby. He didn’t handle the situation well, but he’s young and confused. He was worried about his future and figuring out what he really wanted to do with his life. He didn’t give enough thought to the stress his boyfriend was going through and the changes that were coming into Elliot’s life, but he was stressed out about his future path too. I have a niece totally stressed about graduation and whatever that means for her future, and I see how it colors her reactions to events in her life and that is Mott even taking into consideration a breakup. I have to say, Dave, that this is one of the things I like best about your writing. The incredible ability you have to write so realistically that your readers feel involved and connected to your characters, and as such care for them deeply. Well done.
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Post by baddius on Jan 26, 2018 10:08:50 GMT -5
Great Story, Dave! I've been reading what others have been saying about Colby being a dick, but I don't really think he was. I think its more that he was very protective of Elliot and more of a lone wolf than Elliot than anything. From Colby's perspective, this so-called found family had no business butting in on Elliot's tragedy. They just wanted to eat up the drama and would just hurt Elliot in the end when they lost interest and moved on to the next big thing, leaving Elliot to pick up the shattered pieces. As far as Colby is concerned this found family thing is a load of crock and its HIS job to take care of Elliot in his hour of need. After all, his first meeting with Elliot was saving him after he sprained his ankle in the woods! He was the one who cared, NOT this fake found family!
Colby comes across as a dick because he doesn't trust Elliot to make this decision and he may actually have a valid reason for feeling this way. Perhaps something happened at Scouts and his leaving was less voluntarily taking a stand and more fleeing from a situation in which those he thought were his found family turned on him? He never really went into detail about that, just said he left because of their treatment of gays... doesn't really reveal much and makes him look somewhat heroic, but is it the whole truth? I don't know, but maybe Colby feels he has more experience in this matter and that Elliot is making a HUGE mistake.
There is also the matter of his "betrayal" of Elliot in applying to Syracuse instead of NYU. While that was kind of a dick move, lets be realistic here. How many people outside of fictional stories actually stay with their high school boyfriend or girlfriends for life? The reality is that most people didn't even keep in touch with them until Myspace and Facebook. So, while in the realm of fantasy, this is a HUGE faux pas, in reality it is completely forgivable.
I might be reading into this too much, though. I have a tendency to psychoanalyze all characters and try and find possible motivation for what they do as humans rather than as plot devices.
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Post by PaulR5 on Jan 28, 2018 14:07:23 GMT -5
I think Colby was being more realistic in one way, He realized that he and Elliot were going to break up before Elliot did. However, he did not want to do it right then.
Differing people react differently at being part of a group. My spouse would keep up with almost everyone known over the years. I try to keep up with about 20 people in my past, including my old girlfriend. She is married to a wonderful guy who is better for her than I would ever have been. I see here maybe once every two years, if I run into her while I visit my old home town. But I hear from her 12 times a year, when she send me a check for the house she was buying from my mother, and I inherited the payments when Mom died.
Who knows? Maybe Colby will show up on a passing basis somewhere else. At this point, I don't think he is likely to have a story line by himself, but I might be wrong.
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Post by sy on Feb 3, 2018 20:00:06 GMT -5
Elliot was placed in a situation where he had to grow up very quickly. He manages with amazing grace.
If he's staying in SS, does that mean he's likely to be a more prominent character in these stories? You have mentioned (as i recall) preferring the stories be geographically centered as opposed to character centered.
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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 4, 2018 10:08:33 GMT -5
Elliot was placed in a situation where he had to grow up very quickly. He manages with amazing grace. If he's staying in SS, does that mean he's likely to be a more prominent character in these stories? You have mentioned (as i recall) preferring the stories be geographically centered as opposed to character centered. He will be available, so it's possible. |
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