Mister Arioch: Blog

So, I'm finishing up Chapter 26 of "Listening to Jack". Which is probably the darkest chapter of the story that I've written so far. By way of warning:

1) It contains virtually nothing involving sex, save a few passing descriptions
2) Things in it are pretty bleak
3) Bad things happen to one particular character
4) For anyone hoping for a relatively happy ending to this meandering saga, this should be the dead giveaway that none is forthcoming.

I expect that this chapter will probably piss off some fans of the series. To them, I offer my apologies. All I can say is that I'd planned this chapter since I started writing this story over six years ago. It's the chapter I always thought was missing in all of the epic "teen genius enslaves family & friends & classmates into being his sex slaves with mind control" stories I've read over the years. Of the ones I've read, they all manage to either find their way to a happy ending, which is fine, but always seemed kind of ridiculous to me, or to just sort of end abruptly without acknowledging that if something like this ever really happened ... there would be consequences. BIG consequences. And things would not really be too happy for most of the characters.

Part of this comes from my original idea for "Jack", which I've stated before in previous posts - I wanted to read a story like this, but set in a sort-of-plausible world, if not a particularly realistic one. And to be true to that, that means the darker ending that I've always had in mind. Part of this is also influenced by a hentai artist/writer named ShindoL, who creates some of the hottest yet most seriously dark and disturbing stories I've ever read, and whose work has certainly been an influence on me over the past few years. For those familiar with his work, I don't plan on things getting nearly quite as dark as they are in his stories ... but the ending of "Jack" will be dark, that's for sure.

The rest of the story will not all be like this chapter. I expect things to go back to the way they were for awhile. (Sexy times, they are a-comin' back soon!) But this is the warning, of sorts, so the rug's not completely pulled out on everyone when everything finally comes to an end.

And things will also not be bleak for everyone. Some characters - not many, but some - will be getting a happy ending (har-de-fucking-har, not that kind, keep your minds out of the gutter). But some are going to wind up in bad, ugly places.

Again, my apologies to the readers of this series. If you've come along this far on the ride that is "Jack" and you're saying "hey, I just wanted the smutty stuff, and I didn't sign up for this shit" - I don't blame you. No offense if you decide to stop reading and ditch the story. I just hope a few of you decide to stick around while I take things down the final stretch, and as "Jack" heads towards its final installments.

Chapter 5 of "Playing Ball with Mom" should now be available for reading. For followers of this story, I apologize for the wait, and hope it was worth it. For new readers, enjoy this and the previous chapters.

A note of caution - although it's in the story tags and I've previously blogged this warning, Chapter 5 (this chapter!) finally features a scene prominently involving one of the more 'extreme' tags - namely, water sports. If you really don't like this subject matter, then I suggest that this story may not be for you (or at least this chapter), don't be surprised by its presence, and you may wish to find some other story to your liking instead.

(FWIW, water sports will not be prominently featured in most of of this story's chapters; most of them don't and won't feature it at all. (However, this is one of them, as are two other future chapters to be posted at some point, one hopefully in the not-too-distant-future.)

Had a couple of days in a row where I'm feeling okay - a rarity, these days.

New chapter of "Listening to Jack" is up. I'm trying to get the next chapter of "Playing Ball with Mom" and another "Jack" chapter done this coming week. If more can be done, great, but these productive and healthy spells don't usually last too long.

... which means another writing hiatus. Considering most of the feedback I've been getting regarding my writing of late has been plummeting story scores, I guess that won't be the worst thing in the world.

Hope to be back again in a couple of weeks.

For readers of "Listening to Jack" - would a published Cast of Characters list be helpful? If so, let me know.

I don't think "Jack" is approaching "Lord of the Tingd" or "A Game of Thrones" sized character rosters yet, but it's starting to creep up there.