The Kingswood Complication - Chapter 20
Added 2024-10-04 16:00:03 +0000 UTCTuesday 20 December 2022
Comments
Also I was dieing when Mikey started his internal "you're a bitch, you're a lover, you're a child, you're a lover" so random but somehow so Mikey.
Brandon Hardesty
2024-10-06 17:18:53 +0000 UTCTo me the most obvious candidates for Locky are Gray and Mikey. My current theory is that Mikey coached Gray about the facilities in the Underground and set up the situation for Gray to be the actual person in the room with Nicky.
Rutabaga
2024-10-06 00:16:55 +0000 UTC@Rutabaga Thanks for your thoughts, always good to hear what you're experiencing. Chris and Owen are certainly a very different dynamic. It was really fun to explore that relationship alongside Danny and Mr Rudd, as they look similar on the surface but are quite different underneath. For the Christmas story, it will be posted as seven separate chapters, titled 'A Kingswood Family Christmas'. It's set over seven days, but also has a different story element in them to make them stand out as distinct from regular chapters. I really hope you enjoy. @Johnny Sorry to hear part of the story makes you uncomfortable, but also... kind of not sorry. Exploring this sort of risky/taboo stuff in a world of fiction is great as we can do so without anyone ever actually being at risk of harm. The student/teacher stuff is never really there purely for the purpose of titllation, but like you said, it's Kingswood. This stuff happens. Sometimes not everything that happens at Kingswood is good...
Matthew Smith
2024-10-05 17:00:05 +0000 UTC@John Interesting thoughts on Nicky's intentions and interests with the Locky information. Very insightful as always! As for who it actually is... no comment lol Danny always deals with his issues eventually, but maybe this time he'll just need a little extra help. Thankfully, he's in a place where there is help galore. Everything will work out in the end! @Deneb Interesting guesses, I knew having a msytery like this would keep you all intrigued! It's an new dynamic for Nicky, and a slightly surprising one. You're right about him avoiding confrontations, but he's also an absolute control freak, so repeatedly and willingly putting himself in a situation where he has none is a way bigger step than Nicky even realises himself. It's a kind of therapy without him even realising it.
Matthew Smith
2024-10-05 16:56:08 +0000 UTCHi Johnny, thanks for the comment. Really glad you're enjoying it. the teen drama and angst is very fun to write, and the next book is just full of it! But still plenty more to enjoy during this one! Josh and Mark, there are definite feelings, but will they act on it? And if so, when? Only time will tell (because I'm not!!) Mark's family situation is definitely discussed during the Christmas story, but in a really nice way. As for Stage Fright... yeah, creative differences can pull apart even the greatest bands. I mean, look at the Beatles.
Matthew Smith
2024-10-05 16:52:26 +0000 UTCHonestly I'm not that comfortable with this "Chris-Owen" relationship, as well as "Danny-Rudd" one. I'm sure it's not because (adult)teacher-(minor)student sex. For Chris maybe it's because in the previous chapters I felt Chris pranked Owen a bit too over, and Danny-Rudd is even more strange, given in book 3 Rudd felt so guilty doing things with Josh to help him, and Danny didn't approve it either when Josh opened up to talk with Danny… But I guess they all serve a reason in Kingswood saga. I think there are much more teacher-student relationship in Kingswood… in his long history.
Johnny Kape
2024-10-05 15:21:36 +0000 UTCHmmm. Just had a wild thought. Matt has been very explicit that Finn's straight. What would be his reaction to Beth?
Robbie
2024-10-05 14:35:31 +0000 UTCI'm late to the conversation and can only say that I was pleased by the overall upbeat tenor of this chapter. The previous commenters have generally touched on whatever I would have to say, although interestingly nobody mentioned Chris and Owen. That seems like quite an unusual pairing. Kind of a complement to Danny and Mr. Rudd. Will the Christmas break be set out in a separate series?
Rutabaga
2024-10-05 13:39:06 +0000 UTCI agree with John that Locky should not be Gray, being too obvious of a choice. But Adrian? I just couldn't fit them well. The characteristics of Locky is more like Gray, not Adrian: He knows Nicky (well); he's considerate and somewhat naughty (lock Nicky in the first place!). I put my chips (I don't have much, mind you) on someone older, year 11/12/13, not younger (I don't think younger boys would act like that). But anyway, as I have said myself, I RARELY guessed right about story plots. *shrug*
Johnny Kape
2024-10-05 09:11:37 +0000 UTCI agree with you on Locky most probably not being Gray. His relationship with Nicky is already developing nicely in another line of action (which applies to every member of their dorm, for that matter). So my guess is some of the other known characters of year 10 (Adrian, Kyle, …) or year 9 (Angel, Froggie, …). And I also agree that knowing Locky's identity would spoil some of Nicky's fun by being confronted with reality outside of his escapism (and we know how hard he has tried to evade confrontations!). If Matt is aiming to tantalise Nicky and us readers to the maximum (and we've learnt to know by now he always is) it would be a nice plot twist if Locky turns out to be Adrian. So it would / could be up to Nicky to take steps against the slut-shaming… But time (and Matt) will tell!
Deneb
2024-10-05 06:33:44 +0000 UTCFinn is certainly part of my equation as he is the most mysterious sibling of the Smith family. Then there is still Milo who is most likely to provoke another scene while trying to satisfy his newly-awakened sexual urges (Will he make a pass at Finn? Or even at Aidan and Cian? If so, then he is not only facing Rob's wrath, but also Chris's!). But honestly, I'm also looking forward to Beth's quips when confronted with all that teenage boy drama. Maybe she is the one to put things back in proportion…
Deneb
2024-10-05 06:11:58 +0000 UTCI have a feeling Nicky won't want to hear what Mikey has found out. I think part of his fascination is the mystery of "who"! And for some reason my vote is not on Gray, he seems too obvious of a choice. But leave it to Matt to go with the obvious just to fuck with us all. I know Danny is working on a lot of issues and he really should talk to Chris and soon...but I think he needs to talk to Adrian. At least from the written narrative, it seems like Adrian is the most guilty of slut-shaming Danny. Danny needs to let Adrian know this is an issue for him. Easier said than done, but Danny is pretty damn good at confronting the issues, well he had been until this term.
John Warren
2024-10-05 03:30:17 +0000 UTCWow, so many things I'd like to share about this chapter. It's so many that Patreon has difficulties keeping the story and comment area stable. Heehee. First, I love reading these moody teenagers fall out and then talk to make the air clear and make up. This is one thing I definitely love in Kingswood saga. Then, I want to say, "I knew it!! Mark and Josh!!" Well, Matt already gave some hints in previous chapters like Mark's reaction hearing Josh's name, heh. And I wonder the device Josh used to write journal would AUTOMATICALLY make "FUCKING" all capital! Haha! He has to go back editing it, doesn't he? LOL BTW, having all their families to have Christmas in Kingswood would mean... they'll know about Mark's family status. I guess that would make Mark uncomfortable, but relieve at the same time I think. It looks like Stage Fright would fall apart eventually...
Johnny Kape
2024-10-05 02:12:40 +0000 UTCI guess, for how much I know about Matt, there will be more drama between Rob and Milo. But I guess, Josh is here this time!
Johnny Kape
2024-10-05 02:04:36 +0000 UTCAre you thinking of Finn? That's my favorite sibling outside our main boys.
Rich
2024-10-04 23:43:57 +0000 UTCGray and Nicky are so fun to write. I'm so happy to hear you're enjoying them. As for Josh, admitting it to himself and admitting it to anyone else are two very different things. And hey, I'm sure nothing could possibly go wrong over Christmas...
Matthew Smith
2024-10-04 23:41:06 +0000 UTCAww, I'm really glad you appreciate the characters. Gray was definitely a fun one to create and develop. As for whether or not he's Locky... time will tell (or Mikey will!) Rob and Danny made up quickly largely because that's just how Danny works. Unfortunately, when it's the two Wilson siblings, things may not be quite as smooth! As for the Christmas break, I don't know about best one ever, but it's certainly going to be memorable!
Matthew Smith
2024-10-04 23:39:56 +0000 UTCDrama? At Christmas? Would I really do that? Okay, yes, I would and I have! I hope you enjoy. As for Locky... no spoilers hehehe
Matthew Smith
2024-10-04 23:38:08 +0000 UTCHappy to see Danny and Rob back to normal. Loving the interaction between Gray and Nicky in this one. So Josh finally admits he thinks he's in love with Mark. That would be an ideal couple, just like Danny and Chris. Great chapter!
Rich
2024-10-04 21:26:11 +0000 UTCI think Mikey saying Nicky would rather know sooner than later hints at Locky being Gray! If he tells him now, Nicky could confront Gray about it before he leaves for break! Idk maybe I'm just being hopeful, I really like Gray and Nicky. It's crazy how Matt can develop all these relationships so well, and with these two so fast, and it seems so realistic! Ok Danny and Rob are settled that just leaves Milo. I wonder if Milo will accept an apology from Rob, or will he be stubborn about it. This is gonna be the best Christmas break ever! I hope this means Finn is coming to visit too!
Brandon Hardesty
2024-10-04 20:53:57 +0000 UTCSo, SOME issues are finally solved… but with all the families at Kingswood over Christmas could there POSSIBLY be some other drama in store? Just thinking of some siblings of our heroes who might want to interact in some way or another… And who is Locky? I'm guessing somebody out of years 10 or 9.
Deneb
2024-10-04 18:43:34 +0000 UTC
