The Kingswood Amelioration - Chapter 21
Added 2025-12-05 17:00:04 +0000 UTCComments
The Rob and Mikey pairing really crept up on me. Originally, it only began because Rob needed a reality check to get through his issues and Mikey is a walking reality check! It's been wonderful developing them from there though. Milo and Avery are so sweet. Everyone should have a Milo in their life! Yeah, good points about Danny and Finn. Regardless of the drama and the sex, those two really are just exceptionally close friends. Though I don't really have room (or cause) to show it often, they text each other quite a lot and sometimes watch football matches together online. They're another one of those pairs that could so easily have their own story (calm down, this isn't a spinoff announcement lol)
Matthew Smith
2025-12-18 22:29:44 +0000 UTCYeah, changing the date just because it's past midnight just gets a bit confusing. I'm definitely more interested in readability than semantics 😊 You're spot on with Mikey and what he was checking. Delusions can be dangerous because sometimes they can become really deep-rooted before anyone else even has a chance to catch on. Checking on Rob was a good way to show where his mind's at, but also show that his friends are still his anchor. I really like Jorge and Nicky's storyline. It's not some big dramatic thing, but it's nice to show Jorge settling in to his temporary home, all while allowing the Joneses a bit of healing bu having another family member - not a replacement for Matt, but at least a little more life and love in the household! Josh's actions do hopefully show how immaturely he is handling things. It really shows the dichotomy of how he's grown up - forced to handle very adult situations, but at the same time very stunted in the way he handles typical teenage issues. Growing up is about much more than how you handle the big things life throws at you, and Josh still has some catching up to do. Tyler and David is another one of those quieter little storylines that really helps them to grow and develop without some big drama. It's really nice to be able to give David that sort of support and connection. Finn and Danny are such a wonderful pairing. It's a relationship that I never really envisaged up front, but very quickly became apparent just how special it was. It's going to be fun seeing them both as they mature and grow.
Matthew Smith
2025-12-18 22:25:13 +0000 UTCNightmare, thinking he's protecting Josh from being harmed(killed), I think.
Johnny Kape
2025-12-07 03:15:36 +0000 UTCI see Matt (the writer, not the character) showed some restraint by not using the fact that 1 am is technically already the next day to write "Saturday 23 December 2023" before the last half page of the chapter. In another reply, I talked about what Mark did to Chris as a result of his night terrors is very concerning, including to himself, so let's cover the rest. The other worrying situation is some of Mikey's thoughts. I think he remembers parents he hated before last year and parents he likes now, and he's having trouble reconciling the two. Maybe he subconsciously doesn't want to believe what he experienced for most of his life was a lie, so his brain imagines some kind of parents replacement that would allow for his past experience and his current one to both be true. And when, before that, he tells Rob “Now I really know you’re actually you!”, I think he was checking if Rob was also replaced, It looks like Jorge wants to buy presents for everyone, as part of showing his gratitude for them taking him in. But he then says he almost forgot someone and it got me thinking about who could he care enough about to buy a present for, but still have a chance of forgetting them. The story then reminded us of Matt immediately after and it got me wondering if he was the one Jorge forgot, a present to put on Matt's grave. “Yeah, you beg for forgiveness bitch and take my dick" Yeah...Josh wondering towards this train of thought about an ex-boyfriend while wanking is extremely unhealthy. And maybe his mood because of the breakup is what's contributing to Josh having more negative thoughts about other stuff. Josh thinks he played a part in his father dying, but him being born probably even gave him a few extra years to live. And just because other things in Josh life went badly doesn't mean the same will happen between him and his dad, but it's normal to think that way when so much already went wrong. Someone remind David to never play poker against Tyler, he knows all their tells. It's sweet how much Tyler cares about David to the point of doing research on what he's going through, he's exactly who David needs to help them fight the voyeurism urges. Good on David that they admitted they still have a copy and on wanting to delete it, but I'll believe they'll go through with it when the story tells me it was deleted, not that they're going to do it. Finn, my favourite character outside of the main group, especially when paired with Danny. The reason isn't the sex with a straight guy, those two have a special bond. Bottoming being a one time thing for him makes sense, he was curious to try it, but he is straight and that's not something most straight guys like. I wonder if, after things calm down a bit, Danny and Finn showing up together in probably not many clothes will make anyone realise straight Finn had sex with a guy.
Davide
2025-12-06 18:15:58 +0000 UTCWhat's wrong with Mark? Chris is his friend... I hope this doesn't destroy their holidays as a whole
Mr Luigi
2025-12-06 13:27:08 +0000 UTCI said this: "maybe him missing Josh weeks after the break-up is making Mark think more about him and is intensifying his trauma about what happened back then." Nevermind that, what's probably intensifying Mark's trauma, resulting in night terrors, is the approach of Christmas and, with it, a reminder of what he did last Christmas.
Davide
2025-12-06 13:10:17 +0000 UTCLooks like Mark will be miserable during the whole Christmas holiday, and probably a few more months or years. Matt really likes to torture the boys and the readers... 😔
Johnny Kape
2025-12-06 04:10:53 +0000 UTCYou think they'd notice Finn. But I think almost everyone has seen Danny naked by now.
Rich
2025-12-06 03:04:07 +0000 UTCSo Danny and Finn ran into Chris’s room still naked and nobody noticed?
Rutabaga
2025-12-06 02:28:45 +0000 UTCThere is so much going on in this chapter that is concerning. Davide has done a great job focusing on that, and I'm looking forward to his further comments on those situations. I'll briefly comment here on two or three other things that were highlights for me. First, the scene in bed with Mikey and Rob. It was beautiful seeing the two of them beginning to realize that maybe there are more feelings there than friendship. Rob especially seeing Mikey the way he did made me happy. Second, Rob's comment about Milo wanting to ask Avery to marry him. Totally adorable - as are Milo and Avery themselves. Finally, FINN! Totally my favorite of Chris's siblings, followed by the twins and Blane. I love that Danny can get Finn to open up, not only sexually, but about all that goes on in his life. I know both of them enjoy the sex with each other, but I love that they can just be friends on a deep level as well.
Rich
2025-12-05 23:04:59 +0000 UTCThat ending, FUCK! What Mark almost did was scary as hell for Chris, and also for anyone else who will sleep next to Mark, because what if another night terror cause it to happen again. But thinking about what could have happened is also super scary for Mark, it will be another trauma to add to the stuff that's already causing him night terrors. Mark was having one of the night terrors they mentioned before, although Danny doesn't really know about them because Chris intentionally made it look like not a big deal by calling them bad dreams. He was obviously thinking of Josh's brother, probably specifically at what happened last Christmas. But Mark seemed to have things more or less under control in regards to that until this chapter, maybe him missing Josh weeks after the break-up is making Mark think more about him and is intensifying his trauma about what happened back then. Mikey is also worrying me, specifically in regards to his schizophrenia, but I don't even know how to interpret what's going on in his head right now. I'll try to figure out what to say later, probably tomorrow, and also address the rest of the chapter.
Davide
2025-12-05 19:02:29 +0000 UTC
