This was a great chapter lots of drama, and it doesn't feel cliché at all in the least. I love hoe you depict the emotion from the characters and after going thought your story, I have seen how you have gone such a long way in your writing (queue Celestia's Ballad ) This is one of the best romance story that I have seen that feel more genuine and you have managed to keep it so engaging. So who did you start writing this anyway?

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Thank you for the kind words, Mix-Up! If you're asking why I started writing it, it's mostly because I wanted to tell a different kind of story, one that more closely reflects my own experiences with adult relationships and the challenges they can face. There are a lot of romance stories on here that boil down to "Character is awkward love interest. Character admits love for love interest. Love interest says, 'I've secretly loved you the whole time, too.' Happily ever after." There's certainly a place for those kinds of stories, but many have already been written, and I don't find them entirely realistic, and I wanted to offer a story that's a little more complex.

The other side of it is presenting homosexual relationships as a normal thing. So many stories are about coming out and dealing with homophobia. Again, those stories are important, but that isn't the only part of being LGBT that's important. I was much more interested in characters after they'd become comfortable with who they are, and there weren't many of those stories available, at least in the M/M space. Being queer is an important part of who someone is, but it's not the only part, and I wanted to write about that.

I hope I've been able to deliver on these two themes. If you have any other questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Neko-Me is the same guy who made the cover art for Appledashery, right?

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Hey there, Starlight! I'm not really sure about that. I'd recommend looking up that story and seeing if they've linked to the artist (or said who it is in the description).

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This really is the reason I'm glad I stumbled upon this story. I can't begin to tell how many other stories I toss to the side, simply because they are all the same kind of stories with no unique qualities about them. Not to mention, the more I read this story, the more I realise I've also had to deal with these types of issues. I've personally been on both sides of the spectrum, though on Soarin' side is a different story.

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I'm glad you're able to relate to these two. Like you alluded to, that's been my goal, and I'm happy I can serve a different niche than a lot of the other stories on here. Whatever your life experiences have been, I hope you've found a way to heal and grow from them.

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I don't feel anybody can not grow from an experience. It's when we shut themselves off to possibilities and reality that we find ourselves in a world of trouble. It seems that Soarin' has learned his lesson and is recounting the story so that he can, not only show his burdens, but also come to a better undeestanding.

I'm sure there is a possibility that he has told this to others, (though it may have been noted earlier in the interview and I forgot) but it seems like him telling, essentially, the entire world is allowing him to truly figure out what went wrong and where.

The obvious is already out there. He has baggage and dumped it on Braeburn, but he is also acknowledging the smaller issues. The red flags,for example, his trying to look at things in a different way and see the better reasoning behind his unethical treatments.

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I don't feel anybody can not grow from an experience. It's when we shut themselves off to possibilities and reality that we find ourselves in a world of trouble.

Wise words.

And I really like your interpretation of what's happening with Soarin' (and I agree with what you're saying). Talking can be very therapeutic.

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Of course I'm not. Soarin' is.

Though I am glad someone caught the reference.

Such a good story. I've always liked Soarin and the rest of the Wonderbolts, and you give him and all of these other minor characters so much depth and that's what makes it so great. I can't wait to read the next chapter. :)

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Thanks, Amdazzler! I'm in the same boat: I can't wait to post it.

Wow, it took me forever to get to this. Just got super busy with school and visiting family. It also didn't help that by the time I got time to sit down and read everything, I had 19 unread chapters for various fics.

Damn, I knew this relationship had problems, but I didn't realize just how bad things are. This chapter reminds me a bit from the show Bojack Horseman. "When you look at someone through rose colored glasses, all the red flags just look like flags". Really seems appropriate. I'm looking forward to Soarin's next move.

shit man is that a good cliffhanger.
I'm just about in tears too. Even if you expect it, it doesn't make it any easier to take.

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That is a marvelous quote, and it's really appropriate, too. I love Bojack.

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Thanks, Shellybox. I'll do my best with the next chapter especially. I hope to have it done in the near future.

Finally I caught up. Excellent story.

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Glad you're enjoying it, Grekoy. Happy to hear from you again.

any updates on an update :)

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How about this: new chapter on Saturday!

7879106 Hooray!!

I was going to make some silly remark about how the coffee could’ve been spiked, but that reveal was.... A lot worse than I thought it was gonna be. Just... wow.