Bravo! Bravo!

I hear often about how brillantly you write Jarod and Miss Parker. Let me say that I'm astounded by how on-the-nose Lyle also is. Masterfully done, Mirage.

Your voice is powerful and your writing is stunning. Your prose is rich and moving. You leave me fascinated and in awe.

Thank you. More please? I'm more intringued than I can express.

Until next time, Mirage...

Ciao!!

Bravo, young lady! You've outdone yourself again. Not too young, I hope? I worry about things like that.

Is Faraijii truly a baddie? I'm curious to know if this story is set in our timeline. I want to believe it is. 

Jarod's indignation is tempered with relief that Parker and Sydney are safe with his father, but Parker clearly isn't safe. I know she was actively and intentionally avoiding Jarod during the first several chapters following his capture, and he finally found her in the previous chapter. She's still avoiding him then, allowing him to believe she left.

It stands to reason he will be back at full indignation when he discovers she's very much in danger and still inside the Centre.

Will he seek her again? I want to know what that looks like. I'm very eager to to see what it looks like and plead that you go that route.

Those two back at the Centre at the same time while both in danger .. is something that I think many fans would crave. I know they've both been at the Centre at the same time to rescue Broots (Darkness Fallling) and to close the Centre down in your stories (also Darkness Falling) but to both be back essentially as prisoners...wow. What will that look like?

Show me please!

I love it. I love you.

I love this! More please?

Until next time Mirage,

Ciao!

Hello there dear, this is spectacular. They do teach to drop straight down and all of the attackers either grab the victim over both arms or either under both arms. They don't advise when the attacker has one arm over the victim's arm and the other arm under the victim's arm. 

Jarod would know how to counter the defenses and shut it down and not let his prey escape. Fortunetly for Praker he's on her side. It was hard to watch.. or read.. I actually see what you write as I read so it's like watching. It was hard to watch her fight to escape, to feel so frustrated and defeated and trapped. Jarod knows how that feels. You wrote that and I'm glad you included that. You show that Jarod isn't doing anything that hasn't been done to him. He even taught Sam to feel that way, to feel the same way he felt so that he could succeed in trapping Parker.

I almost expected some comedy in this but it never turned to comedy. Jarod's "I will" [let her go} "when you lose consciousness" is really sincere and he's trying to assure her that he will obey. You lean into that seriousness. They were the most painful moments already . Doubt clawing his mind the way she clawed at his flesh. 

I've never seen something like this written out so eloquently. It does seem graphic but nothing obscene happens. It's just Jarod bieng Jarod only this time he's being Jarod with Parker and I think I understand how difficult it is to write something like this. I know what you mean with your warnings. I appreciate your sincerity. 

I feel excitement now, like I'm waiting for the next episode of The Pretender. 

Please update when you can. Until next time Mirage, 

Ciao!

You've outdone yourself again. This is edgy and outstanding work. I'm pleased to see that another chapter has alread been posted.

Exquisite as always, Mirage.

"Mr. Woozy." "Patchwork" of horrors. Those are references to the Wizard of Oz works, aren't they? I love that you included them, a little nod and homage, and it fit in so subtly and naturally. Now I'm wondering what other Easter eggs I've missed over the years. I also love that you pay homage to canon and provide continuity. You reminded me of the picnic scene that I'd honestly almost forgotten. Little Parker said she hopes the man she loves makes her lightheaded too. Now she's hanging out with Jarod and is experiencing vertigo but her mom is suggesting it's not just the boat causing it. I love your insights into the inner sense and how it works and how Parker is sitting there while Jarod cooks but her mind is engaged elsewhere. Jarod senses she doesn't feel well and that something else is going on and cooks her dry toast without drawing attention to it. I hope she hasn't been impregnated the way Catherine was, and thank you so much for this stand Parker has taken to not forgive and finally realize that her father basically raped Catherine to impregnate her with Ethan. It was always strange that Parker would shrug off something that traumatic and tragic and keep trying to please her father after that ultimate betrayal. This is real character growth and I agree with everything you said about lines being crossed, the taboo of estrangement. It's funny that this is considered a family show but it's centered around a dysfunctional family that is killing Parker. The writing is real and raw and I think maybe you can relate in some way. I can relate too. You really know the characters and where to put them. Please continue.

Ciao!

Exquisite. You continue to out-do yourself. Appointment in Samarra feels. Very very Miss Parkeresque, like all of her other thoughts. She's come close to losing Broots already with his health issues that are related to working for the Centre. I too want to see him get out of the mess alive. It's probable that there would be a time that this would happen, and cannon because in the past she's been protective of Broots. The closeness Jarod and Parker shared wasn't expected. You're not a shipper but you also know the chemistry and cannon. She's important to his world and they both had some flashbacks of kissing each other during the television series and they did almost kiss in Carthis. Actually I think they did kiss and Ocee walked in and we weren't allowed to see that they kissed. All of that mouth wiping of Jarod's makes me wonder. Apothecary and card catalog ahhh a woman after my own heart. I can smell that library. Books. Lightly scented oak from pervious fire place fires. Pancakes. You caress all of the senses including auditory with Bach. The feel of books. Records. Polished wood. Jarod's gothic trifecta achieved was brilliant. A real stroke of genius. He's restoring an observatory, and he's rather observant. I think he meant "first step" exactly the way Parker thought he did and I think she probably had to conceal the alarm. Your writing is transportive, illustrative. It feels like I'm there. If Parker COULD could allow things to happen, one first kiss as adults, take that first step there's no telling where it'll take them. We all want it.

Your response to my previous review and check in was really vague, Mirage. "Priorities that could't be back-burnered." You're not actually Miss Parker, are you? That sounds like some quick stock reply. As a matter of face you replied to another reviewer with that same reply. I hope you're really well and taking care of yourself. Until next time.

Ciao!

Bravo! This, like everything you write, is exquisite. Miss Parker would find it difficult to be indebted to Jarod. I can understand the concerns she has. I can understand her feelings of sadness too when she saw the envelope and knew Broots was already on his way to safety. I love the realization that Jarod was keeping her close, using the guise of helping her help Broots.Jarod could have done everything alone. Keeping Parker out of her own way is important and you obviously know how intelligent and capable Jarod is proving again that you don't hate Jarod. I apologize again for ever thinking you hated Jarod.

Magnificent work. Thank you and congratulations!

Until next time

Ciao!

Don't stop. It's so fascinating. Strange bedfellows, indeed.

This is well plotted and written and I like the topic and appreciate the need for more stories like this. Please continue.

Bravo! I .

Bravo! This could be the continue of The Pretender, picking up where it was canceled with Asphyxia.

You have extraordinary insight into the characters and a deep understanding of writing and grammar that grips me each time I read you.

I understand what you're saying about the warnings. No warning is warranted for this story, and....... yet....... there's something dark here, something insidious, but beautiful, and also horrific. You recongize that and I do as well.

I think the PG13 is sufficient. 

I think a P for everyone is fine, too.

I would understand also if you raised the warning to R or XXX.

I understand any confliction you might have about the rating.

The spider stabbing and penetrating Miss Parker's hand parallels her belief in the previous part of the series, Asphyxia, that Lyle raped her as well. She died believing it. Jarod brought her back from death but I think that the belief she died with remains in her mind.

The stabbing represents rape, too. The spider is basically Lyle. He raped his victims. He was going to rape Miss Parker. Not only that, but Lyle used a knife to affix Miss Parker to the floor in Asphyxia.

I also see the similarities between silk spun by spider and suture silk, a more innocent view.

It's subjective. I think depending on perspective the reader will form their own idea and either find it too dark to be read or a day in the life of a weird dream.

I applaud you for this. I hope Jarod will help Miss Parker. I hope Miss Parker will let Jarod help her.

This could be the turning point for them.

It's brilliant, in short. Beyond brilliant even.

Until next time...

Ciao!

Bravo! You continue to fascinate me young lady and I'm not easily fascinated. Your characterizations will always be the most stunning aspect of your abilities, along with character placement, descriptive work, dialog, and transition work. Who am I kidding here? Everything about your writing reaches in and grabs.

You know exactly what you're doing, and I hope you'll continue doing it.

I'm grateful for all you've written, and looking forward to more.

As always.

Until next time.

Ciao!

Checking in. I do hope you'll update soon or write anything.

Mostly and of immediacy, I hope you'll check in too. I recall that you were in the path of Hurricane Michael. I don't know where you are in the world. I think you're from outside of the United States but I've heard that you are in a long term relationship with a U.S. Marine. You are a woman. He is a man. You're straight. You must travel back and forth between homes and bases?? My point is that I'm worried that you were or ARE in Helene's path. You have so much going on already and your partner is disabled as a result of his service. You have something wrong with your jaw? I hope you're healthy as can be. I hope everything is well. Let someone know something. You have no social media... I'm worried. 

Until you respond, I wish you and yours well. I miss you. Please be well.

Ciao!