Strangetown: Chapter Twenty-Five - part three

[strangetomato]

Warnings: language, sexual situations



Chapter Twenty-Five

Part Three




"So, what actually happened?"

"What do you mean?"




"Well, how did he end up kissing you?"

"Is that what he told you? That he kissed me?"

"Well, yes. You did kiss, didn't you? You said so..."




"Yes, we did... We kissed, Johnny, but I was was the one who kissed him." Johnny was dead silent. "I made the move. He told me he wanted to kiss me, and then I just did it. I don't know if I even really gave it any more thought than that."

"So, you thought that was a good idea?"

"I didn't think about it. I just... felt it. Didn't I just say that?"




"Even hasty, irrational decisions are still decisions. You chose to kiss him. Did you even think about how that would make me feel?"

"Well, actually... I did. I thought about you the whole time."

"Yet you never thought that maybe it would be best to, I don't know, NOT kiss him?" There was a long pause, as she stepped out of the bathtub, and he followed her, tying a towel around his waist.




"I'm sorry," she finally said.

"No, you're not." Johnny was surprised by how angry he sounded. "You're glad. You have everything you want now. You have me, right where you want me, and you have Ripp too. Mr. Back Up."

"Johnny, that's not -"

"Not WHAT?! I'm just telling you how it is! It's not my fault you can't see it, Phi! You're the one who did this."




"Johnny..."

"Don't 'Johnny' me. I think I have a right to be angry." Ophelia said nothing more, but her face twisted horribly, as tears poured down her cheeks, silent and endless, until she let out one mournful sob.




"Don't cry, Phi... Please, don't cry."




"I - I didn't DO this, Johnny. Whatever this is... it just crept up on me. I didn't - didn't mean to ruin everything."

"I know you didn't mean it."

"I AM sorry... I hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. I love you."




"Ophelia..." He took her hands in his. They felt cold, remote. They were so small.




"Ophelia, I love you too."




He pulled her close, and hummed her a song. Something silly and out of tune. She shuddered as a small giggle broke it's way through her tears. "It's okay. We're stronger than this. We can make it through."

Johnny held her, and thought about how unavoidable it had all been, really, looking back. Ophelia and Ripp. And him.




Johnny's vision of the future had always included Ripp, but what exactly did he mean by that? Was Ripp meant to stay there, as some sort of troublesome uncle figure, but remain completely sexless and neutered? It wasn't realistic to expect that. He was well aware of Ripp's nature. Had Johnny really believed that this wouldn't happen eventually? Or had he suspected it all along? Yes, he had suspected it, many times, but yet... he still wanted Ripp to be there. He felt uneasy when Ripp was away, and always felt a little betrayed by Ripp's constant need to find satisfaction elsewhere.




It didn't make sense. Would he prefer Ripp to find his satisfaction there? With his own girlfriend?

It was becoming clear that Ripp wanted that. Ophelia wanted it too. Why wouldn't she? She was the one who would have the most to gain. Ripp had something to gain too, obviously, but what about him? He would have to share. He would lose something he already had. Wouldn't he? Or would he still have it? Love was complicated. There wasn't a set quantity of love, that would be divided and weakened if Ripp was allowed to love her too. Johnny had no doubt that Ripp loved her. That was why it was shaking him up so badly. How could he deny Ripp the love that he so badly wanted and needed? He wanted Ripp to be happy. He loved him.




There it was. That was the real problem. It would be a simple love triangle, if only he didn't love Ripp too. It made perfect sense. It wasn't the same as the way he loved Phi, but there wasn't as much difference as one might think. Like she had said... isn't it much the same? He loved Ripp like a brother, but more than a brother. There was something desperate about it. Wanting to hold Ripp close to him, but also wanting to exert a force of will over him. To push him, and have him push back. He needed Ripp to be there, as a challenge, as someone who challenged him. Someone who did that, and yet would overlook even the severest of injuries. Someone who offered a blind devotion. He thought of Ripp's pleading voice, coming up from the floorboards.

"John... Johnny Smith. No, Johnny, please..."

He needed Ripp, just as Ripp needed him.




"So now what?" he found himself saying, "What do we do about Ripp?"

"Well, what do you want?" The question was spare, simple. It had a lot of implications.

"Honestly?"

"Yes, of course."

"I don't want anything to change. We used to be happy... we can be happy, I think. I don't want that to change. I want things to stay the same."

"Could they?"

"I don't know."






"Ripp, there are two types of people in the world. Those with easy lives and those with hard lives." Her eyes hardened and, for a brief moment, she seemed much older than she really was. "And the people with easy lives could never fucking understand what it's like to be us."




He took another gulp of the whiskey. It was already working its way through him. He felt pleasantly warm and happy, almost estatic, and Jaxy only added to it by grouping him into her "us against the world" sentiment.




"They don't know what it's like to be alone, or to be poor, or to be neglected. To be looked down on. They don't know what it's like to be despised, to be hurt, by the people that are supposed to love and support you."




She was just getting started.




"They don't know what it's like to have to fend for themselves. They've never been homeless. They've never been forced to choose between protecting someone or saving themselves. Or had to defend themselves against an angry drunk who thought it was every bit his right to kick you around, like a worthless empty can."

"Jaxy..."




"Fuck!"

"My god. That's..."

"It's fucking SHIT, that's what it is, Ripp!"




"I didn't know."

"Nobody knows. Well, Zoe does... not that it matters."

"It does matter. That's terrible."




"I don't need anyone's fucking sympathy, okay? I'm a big girl. I can handle myself, and all that shit."

"I know that, but still..."




"I'm sorry." Jaxy let him hug her, but not for long.

"I want you to cut off all my hair."

"What? Really?"

"Yeah. Fuck hair."




Jaxy took Ripp's hand and led him to the bathroom. They were already weaving back and forth as they walked, touching the wall for leverage as they went. Jaxy placed the scissors in Ripp's hand.

"Here. Go nuts."

"Are you sure? I don't have a very delicate touch."

"I know. I've seen you after your attempts to fucking shave. Explains why you never do it." Ripp continued to look concerned. "Look - as long as you don't cut my scalp off, I really don't fucking give a shit. The hair has to go."




So Ripp started cutting. Slowly, carefully, steadying his shaking hands, and then, before he knew it, he was done.




"Not bad. A bit bland, but I can fix that up with some gel. Go get us another round, honey. I'll just be a couple of minutes and then we can hit the bar."




Ripp sauntered to the kitchen and returned with more drinks.




"Maybe you should cut mine too." He handed her a drink.

"Would you let me?"




"Yeah, why not? What the fuck am I growing it out for now?"

"Oh, honey, no... I wouldn't be able to to do that. You'll just regret it."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Besides, I'll bet your ears would look fucking huge if they were open to the world."




"Are my ears big?" He hadn't even considered that as an option for obsessing over.

"I don't know. Maybe. All guys have hideously big parts to me. You're just grotesque, compared to a woman."




"Well, I can't argue with you there." He rubbed her small ear between his fingers, and sighed. "Such pretty little things..."

"Keep it up and just see just how long you live, okay?" Ripp tried not to laugh too much, since he knew he was pushing it. "I'm going to call the cab, you asshole."

"I'll win you to our side yet."

"You'll win yourself a free neutering, and that's about it."






Tank placed his ramen noodles into the microwave and pressed the buttons. As the familiar whir of the mircowave picked up, he turned his thoughts back to Frances.






He hadn't been able to go back there for days. He hadn't even been able to call. Frances must have assumed that he was hiding out at Kendal's place, but since he hadn't even given him the number, there was no way to track him down. That had been a relief, at first, but now it became obvious that Tank would have to be the one to make the first move, if there was to be one, and that was more than a little daunting.




He'd have to go back eventually. All of his belongings were there. There was that obvious necessity, but there was something else. He wanted to speak to Frances. Since he had left, he realized that. He needed to speak to him. With each passing day, he felt more and more like he might actually be able to do that.




Tank had given it a lot of thought. How was Frances any different today than he had been just a couple of days ago, before he had told him that he was gay? Did that one detail define his entire personality? It was just who he was attracted to, and who can really explain that? It was a mystery of sim nature. And was being gay really such a bad thing?




Maybe his father had been wrong. It was the person that mattered, wasn't it? Frances was a nice guy. Tank had learned a lot by living there and being his friend. Simple things, like having a real conversation, and elaborate things, like the proper way to set a formal dining table. That was Frances. Like Tank, he was unsure of himself, and trying to live up to what had come before him. Tank could relate to him.




God. Formal table settings. How the hell had he not known that Frances was gay?

Then again, his own brother was interested in things like that too, and Tank was pretty sure that he wasn't gay. Maybe that's why he couldn't see it. Frances was like Buck, so Tank didn't think anything of it. Poor Buck. The General had always worried that Buck was too soft for a boy. Of course, "soft" was just another word for homosexual in that context. As a result, Tank had worried about that too, since his father had made it seem like the worst possible fate for a man.




Ripp hadn't thought so. Stupid, shit-disturbing Ripp. Buying Buck a dollhouse, and otherwise fanning the flames of his interest in feminine things. Ripp didn't see a problem with it, but Ripp was reckless and defiant, and he always coloured outside of the lines. In Tank's colouring book. Without asking. And then the General had thrown the book in the trash because Tank shouldn't waste his time on that worthless shit anyway.




Tank wondered if Buck had really forgiven him for destroying his dollhouse. That had been a terrible thing for him to do, but he had been upset at the time, and he really had thought that it was for the best. By some twisted logic, he had thought he was doing Buck a favour. How stupid he was. The dollhouse wasn't hurting anyone, especially not Buck.

He had been stupid about Frances too.




Tank decided that he should go back and apologize to Frances. He could go there right that minute, and just say that he was sorry. It wouldn't be that hard. He was capable of an apology, surely, and he really was sorry. Sorry that hadn't noticed sooner. Sorry that he had reacted so badly. Sorry that he couldn't return his interest.




He stood back from the sink, dried his hands, collected his courage, and turned to leave.




Ripp and Jaxy had reached the bar, and were already inconceivably drunk.
















"Johnny, where were you last night?"

He didn't say anything.

"Johnny?"

Again, silence.

"It's not like you do be gone like that."




"I was abducted."

"What?"

"I was abducted." He said it again, like he was aknowledging it to himself.

"No..."

"Yes."




"Why did they do it? I mean, was it just a random thing?"

"No. It was definitely not random. They want me... they want me to..." He felt tears welling up in his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He wasn't going to cry. What good would that do?




"Johnny, whatever it is, you can tell me."

"You don't want to know about that."




"Yes, I do. I love you, Johnny." She took his hand. "You can tell me. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You always do that. You just freeze up, and try to go it alone. You have to share with me. You have to let me in."




So he did.






Frances sat alone in his bedroom, thinking of every stupid thing he had done in his life. There were many, and he remembered every one of them with perfect clarity.

He often stayed awake at night, replaying embarrassing social situations in his mind. It was funny how time and distance could take the sting out of those events to the point of complete erasure from his memory, but then it only took a moment to bring them back, sharper than ever.




Like his very first embarrassing admission of his desires, to Guy Wrightley, his supposed friend. Friends only because they were forced together through circumstance and family connections, left along together on many a family visit. Unlike Frances, Guy took to his birthright like a fish to water, and he thought that his parents were more or less infallible, so any true friendship between them was significantly halted by this. Still, Frances considered him a friend. He didn't expect him to betray his trust.




Guy might not have thought much of it, and casually mentioned it to his mother, or maybe he had thought that Frances was sick and needed help. Frances tried to believe that Guy's actions had not been vindictive, but part of him, the part that recognized the truth, knew that Guy had attempt to ruin him. Guy saw Frances as a rival, and he had hoped to knock him out of the picture.




Frances could never forget how upset his mother had been, and how it had caused him to instantly deny the claims made by Guy. To vehemently deny his true nature. To insist that he too thought it was awful, and that he was upset to have been falsely accused of something so shameful.




His tears had been real enough, a product of his deep sorrow at the realization that he was going to be completely alone in the world, and so he had convinced her. His mother had believed him, at least on the surface, and that was the last he'd had to see of Guy for some time. They maintained a working family friendship, but it was mostly for show.




After that, his mother had gone on one of her episodes, and then went into rehab shortly after.




His mother obviously knew the truth.




Frances was lifted from his thoughts by noises coming from downstairs. The door opened and closed and footsteps went into the kitchen and ran the tap. It had to be Tank. Washing his hands, just like he always did. Frances could hear him moving around the kitchen, with that familiar heavy step. It was undeniably his way of walking.




Frances took a deep breath and headed downstairs.

He stopped when he reached the kitchen. He had been mistaken. There was a Grunt in his kitchen, but it wasn't Tank.




It was Ripp.

"Oh, Tank... It's okay if I eat these chips right?" Frances didn't know what to say. Ripp didn't turn around. It was obvious from the way he was swaying back and forth, and his slurred speech, that he was quite drunk. "Tank? Stop being a fucking prick and answer me... I'm just going to eat them."

"Tank isn't here."

"Oh... Worthington... Frank... Hi. Where's Tank?"




"He's not here."

"He's... not? Where is he?"

"He left. He was - I made him angry."




"What happened?" Frances didn't say anything. He didn't need to. "No... you didn't do THAT, did you? You told him?"

"I did more than that."

"What... how much more?" Frances frowned, and Ripp furrowed his brow. "Not... not that?"

Frances nodded. "I just... I didn't think. He was so angry."

"He didn't... hurt you, did he?"




"No..." Frances felt the tears coming, even though he struggled to hold them in. He couldn't help himself. It wasn't true. Tank really had hurt him, just not the way that Ripp meant it.

"Did he... hit you?"

"No, he just pushed me."

"God, Frances."

"I know. Just rub it in."

"What?"




"You were right, so you might as well rub it in."

"What? I'm not going to... what made you think..."

"God, I'm so stupid."

"Frances..."




"I just feel so worthless."

"You're not worthless, okay?"

"I am. I'm worthless."




In Ripp's mind, the words echoed back from a day long since past, but never forgotten.

"Why do you waste your time on this worthless shit? Is that what you want to be, Ripp? Worthless? Why can't you ever do anything right?"

It was such a horrible word. Worthless. Frances wasn't worthless. Ripp wasn't worthless. This could be him, here, laying his heart out, and having it crushed. This was him.

"You aren't worthless."

"I... I am."




Ripp spun Frances around and kissed him, just a little. Gently, but firmly, as if to suck the sorrow right out of him. He did it without really thinking, and then he realized what he was doing, and stopped.

He stepped back, stunned.




Frances was equally stunned.

"Ripp?" Ripp didn't answer him. He just stood there, looking like a deer in the headlights.

Frances looked at him. He wasn't Tank, but he could see a lot of the same qualities in their faces. Their eyes were exactly the same colour. They had the same smell.




Frances pulled Ripp to him and kissed him harder, and deeper. The taste of alcohol and desperation in Ripp's mouth was a potent mix. Frances couldn't contain his hunger. It had been so long, so very very long, since he had kissed a man like that. It was awakening something inside him that had all but dried up completely. It felt really good to kiss Ripp. He wasn't Tank, but he would do.

Ripp didn't resist him, and began to kiss him back. Just a little, at first, but then more and more. As hazy as it was, his mind was racing.




Questions flooded Ripp's brain. What was he doing? Why was he kissing Frances Worthington? He hadn't intended to do this, but here he was, kissing Frances and his soft lips. It was just kissing, right? It didn't mean anything. It didn't make any difference if Frances was a man. A gay man. It was just a kiss. Nothing at all. Everyone was the same from the neck up, anyway, right?

Right?








Ripp kept running that very same line of reasoning in his head, until he was on the couch with Frances, pressed up against the length of his body, and touching things that were most definitely below the neck.






Then Tank came home.
















"What the fuck!" Tank slammed his fist into the wall. "What the fuck is wrong with him?! Why is he - why is he like this?" Tank stood there, shaking, cradling himself in his arms. He was clenched, tight like a fist, holding back everything that wanted to break out of him. "Why does he do these things? Why can't he just be normal?"

Frances felt himself bristle at the last word. He was tired of being told that he wasn't normal, and that's exactly what Tank had implied. Frances was normal. Even if he had to argue that point for the rest of his life, it didn't make it any less true. And Ripp was normal too, though obviously far less defined.

Frances could have just taken it, accepted it, as he often did, but this time he couldn't. He wouldn't let it go.




Tank's body had the tension of a bear trap that was set, waiting for its victim. Frances knew that, but he could also see the real desperation in him: the desire to be consoled somehow.

Frances knew that he was risking his limbs, and maybe his life, but he didn't care. He reached his hand out and rested it on Tank's shoulder. He waited for the shock of the impact, but Tank didn't hit him. He didn't explode with rage. Tank's shoulder's slumped, and he seemed to soften instead.

"He - he is normal, Tank," Frances said. His voice was even and clear, and almost confident. "He's just confused... he's lonely."

"How... how dare you?"

"Tank, I..."




"How could you do this?"

"I don't know." It had been surprisingly easy, really. "I wasn't thinking."

"I can't begin to tell you how angry this makes me."




"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have taken advantage of him like that, but I just wasn't thinking." He lowered his head. "I understand if you hate me."

"I don't hate you." Tank turned around.




"I wouldn't have come back here tonight if I hated you."

It wasn't much, but that was a start. "Thank you."

"You've been a good friend to me, and that's not something I want to just toss away." Tank's eyes revealed that vulnerability in him that he never let out. "I'm not perfect either. People make mistakes. I understand that, but I'm having a hard time understanding all of this. This is just a bit much to deal with."

"I know. I'm sorry. It's all my fault." Frances looked at Tank, wondering how best to mend this tear in their relationship. "I'm going to go away for a while, okay? Stay with Edie. You can stay here... if you still want to, that is."

"Yeah, okay. That's probably a good idea."








Ripp stumbled up the stairs, until he reached the door to Ophelia's bedroom. He put his hand on the doorknob, then stopped, and leaned his head against the door. He knew that he couldn't go in there, but he wanted to so badly he could taste it.






It was so unfair that he had been able to reach out and touch what he wanted, only to have it taken away again. That was what happened when you let someone into your heart. When you really gave yourself over to someone, they would just end up hurting you. Nothing was forever, and nobody would ever be there for him like that. It would never be good enough. It would never be enough.




He was a fool if he thought that opening his heart to Ophelia had been a good idea. Johnny was right. He was out of his mind. Why would Johnny want to share with him? If he were in Johnny's place, would he want to? Or would he hoard her away all to himself? That would be the first instinct, maybe, but why couldn't they share? Then nobody would be left with the terrifying task of being everything to one person. There would always be someone to love her.




Ophelia should be loved as much as possible. She couldn't be loved enough. She needed all of that love to push the sadness from her. To fill her with happiness instead. To fill her completely.

They could both love her.

They could share her.




Why couldn't they just let him in?

He could just do it. He could go in there, and then seek forgiveness instead of permission. Yes. What was left for him to lose?




Then his stomach turned over, and the room spun around him with an intensity that demanded respect.




He found his way to the toilet, where the smell and sight of the bowl that he was supposed to clean over a week ago did the rest.




His retching woke Johnny, who asked Ophelia to stay in bed. He got up, and said that he would go see to Ripp by himself.




Then he stood in the dark bathroom, silently observing the mess that his friend was in. His best friend. Even then, after everything, there was no doubt that Ripp would always be that.




Ripp noticed him standing there, but couldn't look at him. He felt so ashamed, and his guts compelled him to continue. He'd have to vomit there, with Johnny coldly observing him. Johnny could look and see what a complete fucking mess of a person he had become. He could judge him, and find him to be a failure. Always a failure. Something worthless. A burden.

His whole body shook with the shame and the embarrassment, as he purged his stomach, eyes, nose, everything.






Then Johnny stepped forward, kneeled beside him, and held back his hair.




"It's okay, Ripp. Just let it all out."

"John." He choked out the words between coughing and sobbing. "I just wanted... I love. I want... I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I have you. It's going to be okay." He held him until he was finished throwing up, then held him until he stopped crying, and then held him some more. He held him tightly, like something that could easily slip away.




"Please don't do this anymore, Ripp." Johnny's eyes were filled with worry. He gripped tightly to Ripp's shoulders, and shook him a little with each point of emphasis.

"Okay."




"I don't want to see you like this ever again. You can't do this. What if I can't keep saving you? If anything happened to you..." He trailed off, unable to speak the words. It was too terrible to even think. "Just promise me you'll stop hurting yourself like this. Don't be an idiot."

"Okay, John."

"You'll be okay, alright? WE will be okay. We can deal with this... all of it."

"Johnny?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."




"Yeah, I love you too."

Ripp didn't know much, but he knew that he could do that for Johnny. If Johnny needed him to straighten up and fly right, he could do that. For Johnny, he would do anything.

The next morning, Ripp didn't really remember much about it. Parts of his memory were completely blacked out.




He woke up feeling completely destroyed, but he remembered fragments of how Johnny had taken care of him.

Johnny had cleaned him up, made him drink some water, helped him to brush his teeth, and put him to bed, making sure that he slept on his side.










Johnny had forgiven him.




They would be okay.

Comments

[hidden-kitten.livejournal.com]

:O LOLED SO HARD WHEN RIPP KISSED FRANCES!! Then Tank walked in and I couldn't stop laughing. Omg. such a sweet little ending with three in a bed. Love where you're taking this story, makes me want to read the beginning when they were all little innocent teens.

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

Hahahha, I was thinking, "Oh, SHIT, Tanks's gonna walk in, Tank's gonna walk in..."

[simfulacts.livejournal.com]

Wow!

That was certainly the steamiest episode yet. Poor, Ripp he's so conflicted! :( Everyone had their heart broken in someway. :( But there is hope!

Oh man, I don't know if I can take another long break between episodes!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yes. *pumps fist* The steaminess has reached a high point. I've been sitting on that photo of the trio together in bed for a while now, knowing that it would eventually make its way into Ripp's thoughts. It can be hard to get those shots to look right, but that bird's eye view really worked there. My favourite part of the whole image is how Johnny seems to have his hand placed on Ripp's hip. I can just imagine that being the erotic focal point of the fantasy, despite the more obvious factor of him having Ophelia.

It was easy to get good material from Ripp and Frances too. They're very good sim actors. It amazes me how I can continue to see new things in the same animations. The make out animations just seem to keep on giving. If you switch the angle and the sim who initiates it, you can get a lot of different effects. I wish, wish, wish (yes, that much) that EAxis would include some new romantic socials in the next EP. A new kiss or hug or flirt. I need MOAR. *snicker* The smooth talk was nice, but its such a big, cartoony romantic gesture. It has limited aplication in a story. I want something like one sim holding another sims face while they kiss... something like that.

You're right. A lot of hearts are taking a beating in this one, but almost everyone gets something out of it. It might be a smack in the face, at first, but its a catalyst for change.

I won't disappear from updating for several weeks like I did earlier this month. I'm already itching to get the next chapter started, and I've written some of it already. If nothing else, I get to give Frances his new haircut. Haircuts for all! :D

[amaryssobellus.livejournal.com]

Wow, wow, wow.

Wow.

LOL. I know I don't say much but I honestly can't think of anyting else to add.

The kiss between Frances and Ripp? Had me buggin out! I jumped out of my chair yelling "NO WAY!"

Great job. :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy that the kiss between Ripp and Frances came as a surprise. When the idea first ocurred to me, way back when Frances first expressed his desire for the other Grunt brother in a burst of hearts, I thought it would be a great, slightly unpredictable twist to throw in there. It does make sense, especially in that moment, for both of their confusions to collide in that way. I was a little worried that it would be too much, but it seemed just messy enough to work. I'm glad it did.

Thank you.

[zepheera.livejournal.com]

Wow, just... wow

This chapter was very powerful, and extremely well written, I felt like I was in the room watching the story play itself out.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's quite a compliment for you to say that you felt like you were in the room with the characters.

[abbycat900.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. This was one of my favorite updates. I loved it when Ripp kissed Frances.... and I loved how you blurred the pictures for when Ripp was drunk.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thanks. The kiss scene seems to have worked out just as I hoped it would. I'm glad the blurred images worked too. I don't often think to make the images from the viewpoint of a character, but it seemed appropriate for that moment, and it's fun to get inside a drunken head. I've been there before, so I have a bit of an idea that that's like. ;)

[ikichi.livejournal.com]

You know, these 2 parts have been really hard for me to comment on. It's just been so sad and moving nothing felt right, you know.

I love how the trio have finally started thinking about how they love and need each other. Francis felt bad for using him, but Ripp was using, too.

I bet Tank was surprised at how much it hurt seeing Francis with Ripp. Even though Tank doesn't like him that way, it must have still been a bit of deja vu.

I just feel so sad and full of love for all of them, even Johnny, who I usually want to smack a little.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad you did comment. It's nice to hear that it moved you.

The trio have made it through the worst of their conflict. That's not to say that things are going to be easy to work out, but they see that they have something there, and they need to work it through, in whatever form that might take. They have a lot of talking to do, I'm sure.

Oh, there is no doubt that Ripp was using Frances too, like a bandage for his wounds, and as a way of acting out on some of his more hidden desires (Frances being a "safe" target, at least at that moment). Ripp was hardly thinking about it that much, though. He was just feeding off the emotion of the moment. They were both equally weakened by their states - Ripp's drunkeness and both of them feeling very lonely and desperate.

Definitely. Tank has been in a similar situation before, but a lot of the variable were different this time. A lot of old emotions must have come up again in a really muddled way. It's not like Ripp was taking something he wanted, exactly, but he was still there, as always, getting into Tank's business. Tank had gotten his head around the gay thing with Frances, but having it hit so close to home, with his own brother, is another thing entirely.

*snicker* Even Johnny. Well, he's learning not to be so stubborn and self-absorbed, isn't he? Everyone has had a chance to grow a little here. Making mistakes can be a good thing, at least for the eventual growth it can bring.

[akanwa.livejournal.com]

Whoa. Intense.

Awesome.

It's really nice how Tank and Johnny are coming to terms with the guys who love them.

Ripp and Frances wouldn't work out in the long run but they'd have a short hot fling if they dared try it. But that might mess Frances's heart up too much. Ripp could handle it okay, I bet, but it wouldn't really help since he loves Ophelia so much.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :)

"...coming to terms with the guys who love them."

I like the way you've worded that, since it applies to both situations, even though they're quite different.

I briefly considered how a Ripp/Frances fling might play out (I could only just maybe see it happening, and never more than just a fling), and I even wrote a couple of short snippets of scenes that I imagined, but they won't see the light of day. I don't think they'd go that far with it. This was really a one-shot thing, and I don't think it would have happened at all if they hadn't been in the right (wrong?) place at the right time, with all of those factors.

[dothesmustle.livejournal.com]

OH MY. OH MY. OH MY. I wanted a Frances and Ripp hug, but OH MAN THIS WAS SO MUCH BETTER I THINK I LOVE YOU. When Tank walked in, my mouth literally dropped. Great Scene!

Poor, baby Ripp. He's so confused, and that whole Frances thing, it didn't make it any better. I'm glad that he's finally being helped out. Ripp, Johnny, and Phi are slowly trying to work everything out.

Wow, Jaxy's really went through some tough crap, hasn't she? It would explain why she's as tough as nails.

I'd like to mention, I made the spazziest face when I first saw Frances relaxing on the bed. I don't even know, I scrolled down, then *spazzy face, glee, dorky smile*

I love reading more into Frances' backstory, it's very interesting. Guy Wrightly, I love it. The prestigious little rich kid has cornrows. Why does this amuse me so much?

Ah, this update is a great way to end my night.

This is going to be a little off topic, but I had this nightmare, yes NIGHTMARE, about your Circe (she had the same outfit and hair atleast).

She held my family hostage, so I had to give her some potion or she'd kill my family. I didn't even know what kind of potion she wanted, she just called it. "The Potion." I ended up getting some remote control she had her in hand(which looked like one of those car finder keychains), and calling the bomb squad to deactivate the bomb.

What was weird was that we were all human looking except for Circe, she was a sim.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

When you said that about wanting Frances to hug Ripp, I had to bite my tongue to avoid giving it away beforehand, but you know that I really wanted to say something. I was giggling away, thinking about how awesome it would be when you realized that he was getting much more than just a hug. *snicker* I'm so glad it went over well. It just seemed like it would play into all of those separate issues all at once, and it was funny too.

Yeah, Ripp is a mess. When I get to thinking about Ripp, he really is just someone who thinks with his body. Almost everyone who is close to him becomes a target of his sexuality. What he needs more than that is intimacy, which he has replaced by sexual contact. He's mixing that into his relationship with Johnny and Ophelia now too, but they all have the real intimacy to back it up, so they have a chance to work through it all.

Jaxy started out as a character without much of a backstory, but that just started to creep in over time. Her street smarts come from experience.

*grin* Love the Frances love. There's a lot of room for growth with the Frances backstory. He's really grown from a supporting character to one of the more central figures, even though his connection to Strangetown proper is still a little remote at this point. I hate to bluntly ignore the Maxis "canon", so I had to include some reference to Guy as a friend to Frances. (And yeah, he looks a little "street" to be a rich kid.)

That was a great nightmare. I wish I would have more dreams about my sims. Dreams that I remember, at least. I suspect that I think about these characters so much while I'm awake that I don't see the difference between that and any potential dreams I might have. I love that she wants "the potion". Circe is always up to some mysterious dirty dealings, isn't she?

It's awesome how she was a sim and everyone else was a real person. It reminds me of Roger Rabbit.

[simplode.livejournal.com]

You know how you keep yelling at the movie screen, "Don't go in the basement!" but they always do?

Yeah.

Ripp and Francis. And Tank. Wow. Saw that train wreck coming and couldn't stop it. Maybe now that the worst has happened (in many directions) it'll get better. Catharsis, sort of.

Very cool update. Love the pics not needing any captions too. Good job!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I figured it would be sort of like a train wreck, and that it would seem somewhat obvious in its intentions once Ripp appeared in the kitchen.

I like to think that change will develop in a positive way from all of this. Like you said, it will act as catharsis.

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

Oh... My... God... I wasn't expecting THAT!
Well, my mind is a bit fuzzy since it's late and I'm tired, but I definitely will have a lot to say when I re-read this tomorrow, that's for sure! :P

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

Wow- Longest comment I've ever written? I think it's safe to say yes. You've been warned. :P

I admit, giggled like crazy last night when I read this for the first time. I was just so giddy and excited for some strange reason. It woke my mother up, lol. Funny what staying up extremely late and waking up early the next morning for days can do to your brain.

Okay, so... Since basically the beginning was the continuing of the last part and left me having the same thoughts, I shall go to the next scene with Jaxy and Ripp.

I'm glad Jaxy realized (well, she was drunk and rambling, but still) that she's able to find another close friend that she could pour all of her anger and emotions out to. I was suspecting that she had a terrible life like that, as it was hinted in a previous chapter. I like how you had Ripp cut her hair, and used the messy one and then had her fix it up to the other one that everybody liked. That was great.

And I loved those few lines where Jaxy said that all men have big and disgusting features to her, and then Ripp said "I'll win you to our side yet." It must be really hard being close friends with a really cute girl like Jaxy only for her to have no interest in him whatsoever. And if he did ever make any advances, she's sure to beat him up! (And I bet she could) :P

Next, we have Tank. I actually agree with what another person said about him: He definitely is the Grunt brother that has done the most growing up. It took a while, but it's good to see that he no longer shares his father's opinions.

Hey, it's Guy! I had a really big and stupid smile when I saw him. As a teen no less! It's nice to see them that way again, they were so cute. (who made them both teens first, hmm? Or did you have that little thing in mind prior to me doing that in my extras post and I was reading your mind? *snicker*) It just makes sense by reading his profile that says his grandfather was the one that founded the fraternity, and that he starts out the game being friends with Frances, that they would have known eachother because of their rich parents.

But of course my smile quickly faded when I read what Guy did. To be honest, I cannot see him being like that with his over-abundance of nice points. I was like, this is not MY Guy that was so nice that he let an overheated teenager that was a complete stranger sleep in his bed- I still can't get over how wrong that sounds! Hahaha.

Back to what I was saying, it did make sense that something like that would happen to Frances for him to be so in denial to his parents like that. I have a feeling this won't be the last time he comes into the story, huh? You wouldn't introduce him like that if that was the case.

OF COURSE, the "Oh my God" that I had in my previous comment was for what happened next! Shit, could the hole that Ripp dug for himself get any deeper?! Well, you said that Frances' role in the next chapter was going to be interesting, and indeed it was! But those makeout pictures... Those were HOT!

But poor Frances, he must be so confused. Ripp too of course, but Frances... You know, Jill and him should make a club. I could see some very awkward moments between those two since they both have kissed two Grunt boys. And that reminds me of what Tank said about Buck earlier. I wonder what would happen if Frances and Buck met? He would definitely think he was gay unless somebody told him otherwise before he met him.

And then Tank walked in on them- I was expecting that. Like others said before me, I laughed too. Their expressions were priceless! What made it even funnier is how you made it look like poor drunk Ripp run down the block so fast! I imagined a video going in fast forward like in those old comedies. It's good to see Tank punching a wall instead of somebody else though. That guy definitely needs some anger management classes.

I thought that the last few pictures were really great. I especially loved how you made the images through Ripp's eyes were all blurry. Aww, they said they loved eachother! :) I also like how Johnny and Ophelia climbed into bed with him. That was so sweet. Though I could imagine Ripp waking up the next morning thinking they did something more. :P He will definitely have a lot to think about then!

[akanwa.livejournal.com]

I just had to re-read this. The last section...my gosh, my heart is breaking for poor Ripp. I'm glad Johnny was able to forgive him and take him back into their triad.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

The fact that you were interested enough to reread it is a wonderful compliment. :)

This just proves what Johnny was thinking about the strength of his relationship with Ripp. They challenge each other, but can forgive even the severest of injuries. Johnny knows that Ripp is a mess, sees his own role in it, and decides to help him to overcome it all.

[orikes13.livejournal.com]

I don't think there could be a 'Strangetown, here we come!' that could be less than wonderful, but this one was just.. Wow. Very nice cap to the three part chapter.

I'm always amazed by your pictures. There's something about the angles you get that makes them feel even more intimate than the words already make them. They're simple, clean, but they bring home the story with perfect pitch. And that's not even getting into some of the amazing, unorthodox things you do with the animations and poses. Occasionally I can figure out what you used to get something, but other times, I'm at a loss.

(Actually, on a technical note, I do wonder how you avoid the weird way sims snap around when you use the move objects/snap objects to grid cheats to get them close to one another. Very often, I end up with one sim standing on another's hands, or suspended in mid-air on their side. Like that picture of Johnny, Ripp and Ophelia kissing together...)

I do have to say I'm somewhat relieved to see Johnny still with his other two thirds (can't call them halves if there's three of them) even after learning some of the truth from the aliens. Hopefully we'll get to know what he was told too. I know it's supposed to be pretty big, but still... I don't want the trio to break up.

And Tank and Frances... That was some pretty potent stuff too. Poor Frances. I do hope he finds some happiness. Or maybe just some hot nookie that doesn't involve a Grunt. It's interesting, but I think of all the Grunt brothers, Tank has probably grown the most.

I could babble on some more, but .. well.. Update again soon? :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That's very nice of you to say.

The photos are something I always strive to improve, so thank you for that feedback. The camera mod has been helpful in allowing me to get the angles more precises. Other than that, I spend a lot of time just hovering around a scene with the camera, and I often take any really nice expressions and poses/animations from a number of angle before I get the right one. I used the new Free Time animation box a lot for this update. It has a lot of nice, subtle poses that worked well here (like Jaxy holding the bridge of her nose, and Johnny with his arms wrapped around himself - both are FT animations).

I do get that issue where the sims overlap and end up on top of each other, but I just keep moving them around to get it to work. Sometimes it will work if you approach from a different angle, or move the other sim. It's not a precise thing at all. I really just have to feel it out, and it doesn't always work the way I want it to.

That's sort of interesting. To say that, as a trio, they are each one third of a whole person, would make them each that much more empty if they were to break apart and go it alone.

Johnny is still torn about the thing with the aliens, but deep down, he knows what he wants, and for now, that's all that matters to him. He might have to worry about the alien thing, but for now, he's going to push it out of his mind.

Frances has reached a major turning point, and to do a couple of reckless things like that will ultimately be very good for him, I think. I won't give it away, but things will start to pick up for him, and soon.

I'm glad you think that Tank has grown the most. I really think he's come a long way. Like Ripp, he still has a way to go, but it's a lot of progress.

I'll try my best. :)

[mjo5oh.livejournal.com]

I'm going to bed and I promise I will read this tomorrow, but I just had to say...


LUCKY MAN BY THE VERVE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS EVER.

:D :D :D

I haven't listened to it in a while, thanks for reminding me.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

It's a great song. That whole album is one of my favourites.

[muslemura.livejournal.com]

*sound of mind imploding and jaw hitting floor*

Wow.

This was...incredible :)

So touching. So embarrasing. So funny. So good :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) I especially like the "so embarrassing" comment, since I really do think that this is true about some of these moments, like the scene with Ripp, Frances, and Tank.

[melody-curious.livejournal.com]

Those last images left me in tears....

They need each other so much, and now they have realised....*sighs*

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see it had an impact on you. They really do need each other, in many ways which are hard for them to define, but they've started to really look more closely at it.

[fafy-goldie.livejournal.com]

Wow.Oh.My.God....

This is my face when i end reading this Chapter O-O"
This was an enthusiasmantic and romantic chapter. I lovelovelove your orgy (^ç^ XD) image. It was really realistic. Now i wanna know much about Circe and Vidcund.... I hope you update soon

P.s. Again: Sorry for my crappy english ^_^"

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :) I'm glad it made an impact on you. There were a lot of feelings brought out in this chapter, weren't there? At first, I was wondering "what orgy?", but then I clued in that you meant Ripp's thoughts about the three of them together. I like how that pics turned out. There's something really sweet about it to me.

I'll try to get some more of Circe and Vidcund in the next chapter. I'm due to take another look at them now that this whole thing is out of the way.

[simgarooop.livejournal.com]

Oh shit... this update was awesome!

Yeah, it was so awesome that you had me almost screaming at my poor computer monitor in the last scene! When Ripp was really lost, all alone, heavily drunk and found himself against Ophelia's closed door, I was sure he'd do something stupid and harmful to himself. Or get pretty sick from all that alcohol :(. Man, I felt so bad for him. He really felt he had nothing to go in his life anymore. No love, no friends, he felt worthless and now he was going to have more troubles with his brother!

I'm glad to see that despite everything (including that awful fight with Johnny), he still has his friends. They still want to be together although they all know that things have really changed between them. I'm looking forward to see how will things develop from this point in the story. You weren't kidding when you said that this update marked a "point of no return" in your story.

And that's not the only change! Johnny and Phi got "together" (although the conditions/reasons for that were less than romantic. It seemed like Johnny did it out of desperation or maybe revenge on Ripp?) and there's the stuff about the aliens (which Ophelia already knows and seems to have at least accepted, for she was still with Johnny in the last pic).

Oh, and Ripp said he was going to straighten up for Johnny. Good! It's about time he stops hurting himself like that!

I also enjoyed reading about Tank's thought about Frances. Poor guy, he really misses his friend and is willing to get over his prejudices and the ideas his father taught him. He's willing "to draw outside the lines" as he said, but at a slower pace of course. I guess Ripp's encounter with Frances didn't help at all, though, but it was amazing how Tank handled everything and how he's learned to manage his anger. I agree that he's the Grunt who has grown up the most. I like him a lot :).

It was overall a very touching update. Lots of nice details like the blurring in the last pics (for a moment I though I was too tired to see them clearly :P) and the angles.

I really enjoyed this :)

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

This was the BEST UPDATE EVER!!!! Seriously!! It was so well done, from the comedic scene with Tank finding Ripp with Frances (I couldn't help giggling even though I felt so bad for Frances and Ripp, lol) to the blurred "seeing through drunk eyes," to how Johnny is finally starting to accept his feelings for both Ripp and Ophelia. :)

And I didn't miss that Johnny told Ophelia what happened when he was abducted, but we still don't know yet! Oh the anticipation!

I know I've said it before, but you are the master. I might be able to write things and make the sims say what I want, but in this story, you've brought out what THEY want to say. I love that.

I think Frances deserved that grope on the couch with a drunk Ripp. Yes indeed. And I hope Ripp won't regret it *too* much. :P

Oh my, you captured the OHSHIT! expression on Ripp's face when caught by Tank perfectly!

Love the "threesome" scenes! :P

And oh! They all three ended up in bed together... *dies from the sweet!*

Incredible update! Thank you!

[sofieamalien.livejournal.com]

My eyes are all teary now... I read the first part of the chapter this morning, ibut had to catch the bus to go to work, so I've been dying to read the ending! It's amazing!!!!!!!

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It's a very nice compliment to know that you were that moved by it.

[indigoleo.livejournal.com]

I first read this last night but since that was going on 3am I didn't comment then as I felt I wouldn't be able to me more coherent then,"GAHSHTLKSAJFPOWIEJGLBIHERPOETUJKL VFOPU8WIO!"
So I waited until this morning to post a comment. Now I only have to figure out where to start.

Jaxy's comment about being a big girl and not needing any help...most people that say that need the most TLC. They just won't except it most of the time.

It was just kissing, right? It didn't mean anything. It didn't make any difference if Frances was a man. A gay man. It was just a kiss. Nothing at all. LOL!
You just keep telling yourself that, Ripp. Denial is a wonderful thing! It was looking a like a whole lot more then "kissing" from here. :D And all this is going on and I know Tank is on his way.
I've always said you get some of the best facial expressions but Tank's and Ripp's at the confrontation are Perfect!
Ripp's 'oh shit I'm gonna Die!' look is just beautiful! And then the view of him running down the street. Love it, love it, love it!

And kudos to Frances for not running off like a scared rabbit (although I don't think I'd have blamed him. Angry Tank is scary) and to Tank for not tearing everything apart in his anger since he has done that kind of thing before. Maybe they're both growing up just a little bit?

Poor Ripp really went through the wringer but maybe things will be better now. I love the little three-some! The last picture is so sweet. Johnny is realizing how much he really cares about Ripp, too. Maybe his abduction had something to do with all this, too?

Great! Wonderful and worth waiting for.
I wish I could print all this out in book form or something. It's just been such a great story.

[xel-squirgle-ox.livejournal.com]

"I first read this last night but since that was going on 3am I didn't comment then as I felt I wouldn't be able to me more coherent then,"GAHSHTLKSAJFPOWIEJGLBIHERPOETUJKL VFOPU8WIO!"
LMAO! I DID THE SAME EXACT THING! Sometimes I feel like it's camping overnight in line for being the first one to get a hold of a game you've been dying to get. And when the time finally comes, you're not ready to get the first comment because you're dead tired from waiting.

[simsbarbie.livejournal.com]

Absolutely shocking and fasinating.

I love Ripp's empathy for others, and when he was on his knees at Phi's door with thoughts of self pity and worthlessness coursing through his very being! The dialog between him a Jaxy was quite interesting. I mean, you just knew how she felt deep inside about herself and the world!

The scenes with the the guys sharing Phi...was luscious,... I am infactuated with your Johnny and Ripp. They are beautiful in their own spectacular way. I wouldn't know whom to choose either, if I was her. I anticipate how they will wake up the following morning.

Such an emotional, but wild chapter. Very well written and awesome pictures.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it.

It is Ripp's empathy for others that gets him into some of those situations, isn't it? That's exactly what was happening with the scene between him and Frances. He empathized with Frances and saw his own pain reflected in him. Ripp has a lot of unresolved issues, and part of that is the need to have someone approve of him and validate his existence.

Jaxy has had a hard life, no doubt. She's generally able to keep her head up and move forward, but she's also in the habit of using altered states to ease her pain, much like Ripp does, except with Jaxy it's even worse.

Luscious... that's such a good word. I was very happy with those photos, and I think they really reveal the nature of Ripp's desires quite well. It's a sexual thing, in many ways, but it's about intimacy above all. I wanted to portray that feeling in those shots. I think they came out as rather gentle, which was what I wanted.

It's nice to hear that you find both Johnny and Ripp appealing in their own way. I feel the same way about them. I can see how Ophelia would want to choose, and who knows? Maybe there is some way for them to share. None of them wants to break up their friendship and separate.

Thank you again. :)

[hviw.livejournal.com]

I was wondering will we be hearing about nervous any time soon? How about Jill and Buck?

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

There will be some Jill and Buck in the next chapter, for sure, and I have a chapter coming up that will be told entirely from Nervous Subject's point of view, so you'll see more of him soon. He's not up to a whole lot, so he's not really one to just check in on briefly. It will be better to get into his head for a while.

I had this major drama here with the college kids, so I decided to focus in on that, to reduce confusion, but I'll pull the camera back and include more of the characters in the new chapter.

Re: :o

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Johnny, Ripp, and Ophelia have a lot to think about now. They want to stay together as one unit, but they'll need to negotiate the new situation, and all the feelings that are out in the open now. They're going to have a pretty long chat about it all, I would say.

As for what the aliens told Johnny, I'll get around to talking about that eventually. It's one of those things I just need to keep secret from the reader for a little while longer.

I do a bit of both for the photos, but this chapter was almost entirely written before the photos were added. I probably made some adjustments to the writing in reaction to what I was able to get with the photos, but it was mostly pre-written, since I've had a lot of it planned out for a while.

Thank you. That's very nice to hear. I hope to get the next installment out sometime this week.

[music-simbol.livejournal.com]

Ok, so read this late last night, but was too tired and shocked to comment. Just re-read it, so here it comes.

These three heading towards a PAP type situation? They could be JOR, or ROJ, or ORJ, as if short for ORGY!! :P

I don't think that type of arrangement is going to work in the long rung. Mostly because with PAP, all three love each other equally in the same romantic sense. While here, I don't think that type of love exists could exist between Johnny and Ripp. Yes, they do love each other as brothers and best friends, but I don't think there is any romantic feeling there. If they were to try it, I think it would be highly possible that jealousy would develop, which would quickly turn into anger and hate. I could be wrong, especially with Ripp showing that he could be falling in the bi world, but I do think that eventually, a choice will be made, which has Phi either with only one of them, or neither of them.

I do love Jaxy's new do. (I voted for that one!) She's going thru some shit herself, since it seems like she was right about Zoe only being gay in college. Her anger is highly justified. Perhaps with the new haircut, she wanted to get rid of the emotional baggage she had when dealing with Zoe?

The more we see of Frances' upbringing, the more I want to give him a big ol' hug! For all the crap he's gone thru, I'm surprised he's come out as decent as he is. Knowing his father was the hardass, I had hoped for something of an ally in his mother, but nope. No wonder he's so attached to Edie. Those two got so close because they could relate to each other and truly be themselves.

I was extremely surprised to see Ripp kiss Frances. I can't help but wonder that it was because of the alcohol. Sober, would the thought ever cross his mind to do that? Maybe Ripp saw that Frances was going thru the same struggle he is, in love with someone who you can't have. So, Ripp kissed Frances so that they'd each have something to cling to. Something that would at least temporarily fill the void they each had.

I'm sure seeing Frances and Ripp making out was the last thing Tank expected to see. (If Tank didn't come in, I wonder how far things would've gone?) Ripp looked very panicked, like this was something he may regret. I'm pretty sure he'll be avoiding Tank like the plague. I am happy that Tank realized that he shouldn't cut Frances out of his life just because he's gay. I'm also glad that he realized he was quite oblivious in not noticing earlier. I feel like once he has some time to internalize everything, he'll come out okay. And so will Frances.

I'll just say that I have no idea where you're going with all this. You keep me guessing, but in a good way. If this was a movie, I'd be on the edge of my seat, shoving popcorn down my throat. :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Things might be heading towards a non-conventional relationship for these three. It really wasn't my original intention, but between audience feedback and those crazy sims themselves, it worked its way into my brain.

Or maybe I just like copying Madame. *snicker* I won't deny that it's partly inspired by her work, though the situation is quite different. She even suggested the possibility of this happening with J/R/O herself, early on, and helped to plant the seed in my brain. I didn't consciously decide to have some sort of three-way relationship just to be like Madame, but her story did make me more aware of that as an option. It's not the only thing I've borrowed from Madame. She was the first sim writer to make Frances gay, and to portray Gunnar as a douchebag... among other things. I'm always borrowing/stealing little details and ideas like that from her. I don't think she minds, since it's not the same story or characters (of course, she's welcome to come forward with a cease and desist if I'm ever stepping on her toes).

This situation grew out of my original plans for them. I always intended the three of them to be very intertwined in this way, with Ripp and Johnny competing for Ophelia's affections, at the very least. That's been there since chapter one.

You do realize that not all menage a trois and polyamorous relationships are perfectly triangular, right? It could be a vee, with the two boys both having a sexual relationship with Ophelia, but not with each other. They need not make sexual contact with out other at all, unless they are all involved sexually at the same time, and even then, their contact could be minimal (though any three-way sexual encounter has some homoerotic content, by its very nature, even if no outright contact is made).

Do you really think that even in PAP's relationship, they all love each other equally? It's pretty rare to find two people that love each other equally, let alone three, in all possible combinations. People vary in their intensity and their feelings. Each of those individual relationships would have their own dynamic, and the intensity of each probably comes and goes. For example, with Peculiar, I think that Percy/Albert was much stronger than both Percy/Pascal or Albert/Pascal for a time.

I completely agree that these things are difficult to run in the long term (as most two-way relationships are), but it's not impossible. If they do end up that way, I wouldn't imagine it's going to be completely easy all the time, but it could still work. Difficulties make for an interesting story, I think. Everyone has them.

Kissing Frances is the sort of thing that Ripp would need alcohol to allow him to do, for sure. It's like the permission/excuse for things like that a lot of the time. I'd imagine a lot of people kiss someone of the same sex for the first time when they're drunk.

I think you're right about Tank and Frances. The extra strain of that situation is even good, in a way, because it really pushed the limits of Tank's acceptance, and if he's still okay with Frances, then they've made it through their conflict.

Well, that's good to hear. I like to be able to keep you guessing. Even I don't know where this is going half the time. ;) Maybe that's why.

[smjoshsims.livejournal.com]

I am just so shocked by this chapter. I must say the Ripp/Frances action was completely out of nowhere, though I find it makes sense. Like you said, they were vulnerable, and they were there for one another. Still though, wow.
As for Johnny and Ophelia and Ripp... I really want to see what happens. They all need one another in this weird desperate way, and its so amazing (yet I don't think it could be very healthy) the way you capture this strange relationship the three of them share... This was just really amazing.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was pretty out of nowhere... just the way I wanted it. It's fun to throw in a shocker like that (though I admit to being a little nervous about it too - wondering if it might all be a bit too much). I'm glad I did keep it there, since it really does provide a nice turning point in both of their situations, with the collision of their loneliness.

It really is a strange relationship, isn't it? I think it must seem strange when two close friends fall in love, but to have three friends who are all tangled up like this is even more unusual for all of them. There is something desperate about it. They're all desperate to have that connection, like a family. Yeah, it's probably not the healthiest thing, in some ways, but if they can work it through and understand what's really going on, they'll probably be okay.