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Post by Nick on Jun 3, 2020 21:58:14 GMT -5
Chapter 19. I'm still thinking MAGA grandpa is going to try and cart Cole off to a Pensian realignment institution. But bad as it got... teachers rule! Super, with an ending that offers us a crumb of hope.
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Post by Dabeagle on Jun 3, 2020 23:06:06 GMT -5
Yes. He's losing time when he overloads on the anger. That's not healthy. What about being so defiant and argumentative with Cole's dad to the point of getting doors slammed? I'm pretty sure the dad was being way too protective, or just paranoid. Especially if he purposefully forgot about things like prepaid phones and private numbers. Depending on the provider they should also have been able to disable the gps at the request of an account holder. Someone said Mr Petrakis was acting selfishly, but it feels like Cole's dad is being more selfish. Even not trusting other family members to help keep Cole safe. It might end up making Cole hate him, too. Then, again, Cole and Drew feel way too needy for each other. If they've gotten as far in their relationship as they are professing, they should have enough faith to know that you can trust and love someone even if you never physically see them anymore ... Moprgan Thomas is exhausted, running on stress, fear and adrenaline. He's not thinking of everything and is trying to stash his son where he'll be safe and Morgan can catch his breath and try to get a handle on things. Drew isn't letting him do that because he can't see Morgan's position or how much of a toll it's taken on him because of everything he's been through. Everyone is tired, stressed and wants some calm.
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Post by jnwrx1 on Jun 4, 2020 17:23:13 GMT -5
That's not healthy. What about being so defiant and argumentative with Cole's dad to the point of getting doors slammed? I'm pretty sure the dad was being way too protective, or just paranoid. Especially if he purposefully forgot about things like prepaid phones and private numbers. Depending on the provider they should also have been able to disable the gps at the request of an account holder. Someone said Mr Petrakis was acting selfishly, but it feels like Cole's dad is being more selfish. Even not trusting other family members to help keep Cole safe. It might end up making Cole hate him, too. Then, again, Cole and Drew feel way too needy for each other. If they've gotten as far in their relationship as they are professing, they should have enough faith to know that you can trust and love someone even if you never physically see them anymore ... Moprgan Thomas is exhausted, running on stress, fear and adrenaline. He's not thinking of everything and is trying to stash his son where he'll be safe and Morgan can catch his breath and try to get a handle on things. Drew isn't letting him do that because he can't see Morgan's position or how much of a toll it's taken on him because of everything he's been through. Everyone is tired, stressed and wants some calm. Everyone except Mr Happy Teo who gets to have his guy and keep him.
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Post by Nick on Jun 4, 2020 18:31:12 GMT -5
Chapter 20
In which Drew and Cole get back in touch - very sweet. In which MAGA man does MAGA man things and gets arrested... yet again!!! And Drew examines Teo's gift in detail before demolishing the bathroom. A good chapter!
Presently, Keith is right up there at the top of my favorite character list.
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Post by jnwrx1 on Jun 4, 2020 23:10:04 GMT -5
This might be a dabeagle first where the main character really is a genuine villain. He goes after everyone else and keeps blacking out in anger.
Forget about whatever abusive past he's had, there really is no excuse and it seems like what he really learned was how to become what his mother was.
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Post by Nick on Jun 5, 2020 6:14:00 GMT -5
This might be a dabeagle first where the main character really is a genuine villain. He goes after everyone else and keeps blacking out in anger. Forget about whatever abusive past he's had, there really is no excuse and it seems like what he really learned was how to become what his mother was. Yowch, but valid nonetheless. I'd go with completely fucked up and grasping for the first bit of comfort, rather than 'Villain.'
Some say we end up like our parents, so maybe you're right and Drew is an anti-hero.
It'd make it two in a row, because good though it was 'Corners' wasn't exactly a barrel of light hearted laughs.
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Post by Dabeagle on Jun 5, 2020 9:27:57 GMT -5
I don't view Drew as a villain. I think it's easy to see the path to take when we aren't on it, surrounded by the trees that obscure the larger view. It's why we think - and are right - that teens are selfish and such pricks, because they are still maturing and - we hope - gaining that perspective to see more than just what's right in front of them.
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Post by jnwrx1 on Jun 5, 2020 15:18:35 GMT -5
I don't view Drew as a villain. I think it's easy to see the path to take when we aren't on it, surrounded by the trees that obscure the larger view. It's why we think - and are right - that teens are selfish and such pricks, because they are still maturing and - we hope - gaining that perspective to see more than just what's right in front of them. Being a moody teenager is one thing. Blacking out from anger goes a bit beyond that and is a lot more deliberate. There was no need to provoke a fight. Calling the school security or police would have been enough. I just don't think that particular episode was done out of love. He did it deliberately and didn't step back even after being conscious of his anger and that it didn't feel right. Cole has already been afraid of him and he's not getting the message. That's also not occurring out of love. More like obsession and not a particularly constructive kind if he wants to build a real relationship. Morgan couldn't even walk through the door without getting a hostile tone from Drew seems like it goes beyond just teenage emotions and points to learned behavior that he's choosing.
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Post by Dabeagle on Jun 5, 2020 15:47:40 GMT -5
I don't view Drew as a villain. I think it's easy to see the path to take when we aren't on it, surrounded by the trees that obscure the larger view. It's why we think - and are right - that teens are selfish and such pricks, because they are still maturing and - we hope - gaining that perspective to see more than just what's right in front of them. Being a moody teenager is one thing. Blacking out from anger goes a bit beyond that and is a lot more deliberate. There was no need to provoke a fight. Calling the school security or police would have been enough. I just don't think that particular episode was done out of love. He did it deliberately and didn't step back even after being conscious of his anger and that it didn't feel right. Cole has already been afraid of him and he's not getting the message. That's also not occurring out of love. More like obsession and not a particularly constructive kind if he wants to build a real relationship. Morgan couldn't even walk through the door without getting a hostile tone from Drew seems like it goes beyond just teenage emotions and points to learned behavior that he's choosing. I would disagree. The black out isn't a conscious choice. He feels the anger, he feels angry and for the second time he doesn't know what happened afterward. He's been miserable, separated from the single most important person to him (remember how that felt as a teen?) and one of the reasons he can't have Cole close is standing in the parking lot, looking to take Cole. Also Drew doesn't have a history of being angry or out of control. This is new from the betrayal he feels from his mother and father. He's bound to be unstable for a time - I'd argue he wouldn't be human if he weren't.
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Post by Nick on Jun 5, 2020 19:05:49 GMT -5
Chapter 21 seemed to be a lull before the end (or denouement as some more literary types would say). Not that I have any idea how it'll conclude, but it seems to me that Cole's mom and grandfather will be a constant threat until he reaches his majority. Also, I don't see the grandfather forgetting Drew in a hurry. Either they'll be disowned, or...?
Roll on 22!
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Post by Nick on Jun 6, 2020 18:55:46 GMT -5
Chapter 22 - fin.
I'm kind of ambivalent about the ending. Not sure what to say, so best I go away and ponder.
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Post by Lugnutz on Jun 6, 2020 20:08:47 GMT -5
Nice ending. Now it up to the reader.
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Post by glh on Jun 6, 2020 23:36:46 GMT -5
I'm not wanting to finish so soon. I hope you have something equally engaging up your sleeve to follow. Awesome read, THANKS!
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Post by Dabeagle on Jun 6, 2020 23:53:20 GMT -5
I'm currently needing to apply the edit for the next SS story, Never Fall in Love which features Garrett French who was mentioned in Candy & Kisses. The sequel to Panic! is waiting on a plotting decision I have to make, and I'm also toying with reviving my Star Trek story. We'll see what holds my interest first.
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Post by Lugnutz on Jun 7, 2020 0:14:18 GMT -5
Star Trek story? I'm intrigued.
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