Story 2: What does it feel like to kiss Spooky Jones?

Who do you ship more? :)

Alex Woolfson

totally ship this couple ;). But I also ship Tsunami and Amanda...

Freya Thurell

Well, Happy Birthday then, my friend. :)

Alex Woolfson

Something I must share; even though I didn't have access to it at the time, this came out on my birthday. :{P

Very glad you liked this one too, GOT. :) As for Kyle, at this moment, you know more than he does. Or at least did before he came out to his friends.

Alex Woolfson

So that was an absolute delight and I look forward to seeing more of Amanda and Spooky's *ahem* interactions in the future. But it just leaves me wondering more about why Kyle felt so uncomfortable coming out to his friends? Clearly neither Amanda or Spooky or straight and we know Mitch isn't either.

Passthecass

Dang, Chris, you said that so well! I am green with admiration!

What Chris Said, ditto! ^

Donald

"DEMONS" (warning TL:DR) Awwwww, Alex, I couldn't have enjoyed this more. It is so much MORE than a story about 'Spooky's First Kiss'... much more... to your credit. Thank you for the PDF. That really helped me. And I like having it on my iPad, as a hopefully growing augmentation of my Yaoi911 library (Hey, I've got Artifice on there also... sky is the limit. LOL) Anyone who writes would think it would be 'easier' to start, as you do, with characters who are grounded in our reader's sensibilities (he says smiling guiltily) as I did, but I'm not sure now. I'm so impressed by the fact that almost every detail seems to deepen our understanding of the characters we already know, without conflicting with our personal 'sense' of them. One that's been evolving since TYP started. So kudos to you for giving us so much more than was expected, but not leaving us feeling befuddled. Hard to do I think, crossing forms this way. Given that you know how much I want Spooky to be (well something Bi-ish) then you know that's a sincere compliment. Well done. [ALERT: SPOILER WARNING. READ STORY FIRST! ALERT! HIC DRACONIS!] V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V--V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V-V First of all (having worked on erotic writing myself), I must say that writing good erotica is HARD (no pun intended). Keeping erotic acts and feelings grounded in emotional motivation is TOUGH. 'First times' are DIFFICULT. Now add on top of that psychic interaction and feed-back, magic (erotic) healing, the occult, young characters and characters getting over trauma? Yikes. Getting words for private body parts just right, to avoid feeling clinical or, conversely, too smutty, is just a whole lot of work and rewriting until you get as close to the feeling you're hoping for. All I can do is jump up and down and say that anything I might question would be a quibble. You pulled all that off and still left us with OUR friends (Amanda & Spooky) at the end... and a future to look forward to in your AU. I don't think you get to ask more of yourself as a (self-proclaimed) 'new writer of prose'. Actually it's that you 'know' your characters so well that shines through. You've so clearly thought this out. You achieved so much in these two Spooky stories. I love the sense of Spooky's shifting age between the damaged boy he had been... and the strong man who is approaching. That's something we could have only observed through Amanda's eyes. That shows clearly and believably. For ME there was not a bit of ick or ewwww factor with his youth or his trauma... you made me feel that SPOOKY was okay. And so, as reader, I was too. Very well done. I knew it was Amanda... how could it not be? I loved you using her as the narrator. She's so much more 'reliable' as an observer at this age. So, I BELIEVE what she see's in Spooky. I also trust her self-understanding. In addition, you created this 'feed-back' loop, which makes her POV even more credible. So I'm -- IN THE SCENE -- with them. So important. It's so clear -- in the bonus comic -- that no one but AMANDA has a honest emotional bond with Spooky at 'this' age. Further, I've always felt like Amanda and Spooky embody the fluidity of 'preference' that we're happily seeing so much more of in our present day. When I was in my teens, those concepts were locked boxes full of bad things... and once you picked your box open, you could never change. That said, I love that I've always felt like you could have either of these two characters fall in love with any sex and, if the emotion is there, it would feel right. Not an easy thing to do. So, wow, nicely done. Okay, I love the mystery of Anaado. I hope it's not just a past-tragedy, but more of one that maybe these two can team up and solve/rescue someday. Too too interesting a character to be gone forever. So, I'll live in hope. I also love how graciously and lovingly that embodiment speaks to Spooky's fluidly loving nature. It doesn't require a "label." For once, it's there in his occult reality. Amanda sees it. Thus on one level it's very real. I love that. More to know in future stories. I love that for both of them their futures are wide-open, and this story leaves us with the feeling that they may fall in love... with each other perhaps... and yet again maybe with someone else entirely, but they'll always be who they are to each other -- loving friends. And that's not saying I couldn't see them as a classic adult love-story. However, if they both found other partners, I could happily see them double dating at either's house to drink beer and have movie night, like we do in life. We all change so very much as humans, in our teens, and again in our twenties, that I think it's very tricky to expect relationships in those early years to evolve exactly in lock-step together (as the movies have often have tried to make us believe). So, I think you've nicely left yourself open to a myriad of futures for them. You are so good at leaving yourself story choices… and that is SO great for us. And finally, so so funny... love so many lines of dialog! ------------------ "But I'll tell you it took three cans of Lysol to kill it." "Something dead and animated by demonic magic scratched you with its fingernails. Yeah, let's roll the dice with that." "She usually had to have repeated discussions about her likes and dislikes with her lovers. She always had to have repeated discussions about her likes and dislikes with her lovers." ------------------ So many funny funny lines. Just as I would expect of them and you. I love it when writers don't separate sex (erotica) and humor. Sex is one of the funnest and often funniest things we all can and do partake in. Love that you make this scene an intermingling of both things. Thanks so much for this Alex. Writing happy lurve is fun, isn't it? It sure seems like you had fun and I know I did reading... and given the comments we're not alone. APPLAUSE. Now... MOAR please! Voraciously yours, -- ChristopherD

Chris Dangerfield

Thank you so much, Cindy! I'm so glad you're enjoying my first efforts with prose fiction. And if you're feeling "spoiled" then I think that's awesome—I want Patrons to feel the love I have for y'all!

Alex Woolfson

Alex, that was wonderful. Intimate, erotic and, like Danish said, the things we learned about them. Great twist ending! Write some more. Please. We're supporting you but with all these extras (the stories being the best of the best), I feel like you are truly spoiling us.

GG Powers

This is basically exactly what I was about to say. That story was unexpectedly intense in more ways than one. :D

Someonelse

So, "asking good questions", but not getting straight answers, eh? You're such a tease, Alex! :)

Someonelse

You baited me!!! Well written and tasteful, but not what I was expecting.

joancotilla

Thank you, Hannah, for sharing such a great and detailed reaction. And for such kind words. So much fun for me to read. You've put a big grin on my face. :) You're asking good questions about Spooky's relationship to cold. And Spooky does indeed like to cuddle. ;) (Oh, and I've heard of Reiki but never experienced it. The effects described in the story were just a logical consequence of the way Spooky's powers work. Glad it felt real to you, though!) And very glad you're enjoying my foray into writing prose fiction! It's new to me, but I'm having fun!

Alex Woolfson

Wow. Just...wow. POSSIBLE SPOILERS! I know exactly what the two of them felt here - about intimacy being more important than sex. When you're really, really close to someone, the sex might be the cherry that tops everything off, but just being close and intimate with each other (not necessarily in a sexual way) can be even more intense and important than sex. The healing energy also sound familiar. Do you know Reiki? When it flows strongly, it feels almost just like what Amanda described. Not quite as arousing, but like you should purr and roll around like a cat in the sun. If I treat my best friend too extensively, she gets high on it. Woops. And, chocolate almond milk? Spooky and I obviously share some tastes! Fortunately, my easily getting cold has nothing to do with any demons...I wonder, is he cold because the demons inside him crave heat, did he adapt to heat in hell (if it was hot in there), or does the magic he generates use up more body warmth than is good for him? Hm, can't really be the last, can it, because then, he should be even more cold after a fight because he had to generate even more magic... Of course, now I want to wrap Spooky in hand-knitted blankets, put him in front of an oven, and supply him with as much almond flavoured hot chocolate as he could ever drink. And cuddle with him. I would totally be open to check if kissing him would be as awesome for me as it was for Amanda, but first and foremost, I want to keep him warm and cuddle with him. Alex, this story was a gem. Please, please, please keep writing prose. Especially if it is about our all-time favourite demon hunter! :D

Thank you, Amanda! Glad to hear you like the questions that were raised (and good to know that the PDF format is useful. I'll keep using it.) Oh, and I'm also very glad to hear you think I'm doing your namesake justice. She's a lot of fun for me to write. :) Thank you for all your kind words!

Alex Woolfson

Thank you, J. I look forward to sharing more!

Alex Woolfson

Yay! Glad to hear it, Cydney! :)

Alex Woolfson

Wow... Just wow... I've read some amazing short stories, but that was something else! Now I'm uber-curious about... well... everything!

GlitchyComic

That was epic. And now I really want to know what happened next. But, all on your own time.

Ohhhh myyyyyyyy! Now that was certainly a wonderful diversion, and makes me want to know EVERYTHING about all three characters! In due time, of course -- I'm quite happy to be left with driving, maddening, delightful questions for now :) The PDF format is definitely better than Patreon's limited publishing format. Thank you for making both stories available to us this way. Definitely convenient, especially going back for (many) re-readings. Also, I have never been happier to share a name with a fictional character... Impressed with how well you write the female POV in an erotic context. Just fantastic across the board!

Goodyear

no time on my hands to read it right now but a glimpse on the comments tells me it will be awesome so thanks in advance Alex :)

Nadin Brokop

NUUUU I NEED MOAR!

Harriet Condé

This gives me hope for the current story line: "Her strategy had paid off, but it was his ability to improvise that saved their lives when the evil wizard recklessly ripped open the Dark Gate."

Harriet Condé

1) Yay! 2) No. 3) Thank you so much. And if there's interest, there's more to tell there. :) 4) That makes me very happy to hear.

Alex Woolfson

1) Must. Know. More! 2) Does Amanda always do what's right? 3) Great story.Definitely wasn't expecting that little twist. I hope we learn more about that. 4) Did I say: Must. Know. More?

Admiral Jane

Thank you, Hours! :)

Alex Woolfson

Ah, this is so great! AMAZING job Alex!!! :D

Hours Left

Thank you so much, Carolyn! I'm really glad you liked the story! And thank you also for letting me know that this makes Spooky more intriguing, and not less. We're finding out a lot about both him and Amanda here, and I'd wondered if I was giving away too much. But what I included felt right to me and I'm glad to hear that it leaves you wanting more, not less. :)

Alex Woolfson

Ok, now that I've cooled down enough to comment: It's official Alex, you must continue to write prose. We need our pretty pictures, I don't dispute that, we love Adam too. But the nuances, the hints and embellishments here are, in some ways, better than all the illustrations that the comic provides. As always with good fiction learning more about Spooky makes him more intriguing not less. Great job.

Thank you, Boris! And yes, possibly so. :)

Alex Woolfson

Very well written! I'm intrigued an curios about the many questions left open by this, so I hope we will have a sequel. For now I won't specify anything more because I don't want to spoil this for anyone, but I'm speculating about a certain character and the "surprise" that caricature was involved with (maybe is a character that we who supported the Kickstarter have already seen once?).

Raistlinsama

woa...

Annie K

Thank you, Charles, for those amazingly kind words! Yep, prose is new to me. But I'm finding I'm really loving writing it. A lot more than I thought I would. There does tend to be a lot connections between everything I write that takes place in one world: foreshadowing, themes, motifs, etc. How that will exactly play out with our current storyline, well, we'll just have to see. ;) And it really makes me happy to hear you're glad to be a Patron! That's what I want most of all. To make being a Patron feel special and fun. You all are helping me live a life-long dream, and I feel very grateful to all of you. (And glad you found a good use for that chart! It's important to have a good reference! :D)

Alex Woolfson

WOW, sir. Wow. That was excellent. You say you're new to prose? Because that was well plotted, well constructed, well written... I loved this. Any chance that this story represents some foreshadowing to the current comic story arc? That it will come down to Spooky and Commander, and maybe the rest of the team, and their closeness/intimacy being the key to resolving... whatever is coming? So glad I became a patron! It was also fun reading this story with the NSFW size chart open for, y'know, reference. (Heh.)

Oh, I forgot any mention of Cassidy. I like her so far. After story one I had a small theory that Spooky's secretary could have been Sircea in disquise, but that theory seems to have flown right out the window now :)

DanishWolf

I LOVE this story! A++ for Awesome and Amazing writing. I was pretty sure it would be those two, but the 'extra' part of this I was not expecting. How interesting and intriguing. It sure was steamy, and I had to go get a cold soda halfway through, but what I loved most about the steamy side about it was the tenderness in it. It's not even the erotic side I liked best (and I like that part sooo much). No' it's what else we get to learn about them: Their friendship/relationship and personal stuff about each of them. From the KS art I already pretty much knew about about Amanda, but guess that's confirmed now. Not just experimenting with a schoolmate ;) Spooky.. oh my dear, gentle, cute and sexy Spooky. We got the reason for the hat in story one, and I guess the reason for the clothes here. Whether Spooky is truly 'confirmed' or not now.. hmm. At first I was gonna say yes, but I'm actually still uncertain thinking it through. I'm trying not to give to many spoilers via this comment by being a tad cryptical (not sure it works), so I won't specify why just yet. Maybe when more people have read it. I can now say more than ever that I want some of Spooky's magical healing :3 SPOILER: An extra thing (you've mentioned this fact before somewhere in the comments) about the vanilla. Including Spooky, two of my favorite fictional characters smell like this. I find that a little funny.

DanishWolf

Heh. Very glad you liked the balance I struck here. Thank you, Sal! Amanda and Spooky are not officially dating during the ETE arc. As for their current status? Well, there will be more about that in some upcoming comics pages. :)

Alex Woolfson

Thank you so much for your very kind words, Clio! Because prose is new to me, I'm still rather nervous when I post these stories up. I'm so glad to hear you're enjoying them. :) And yes, it really is about the intimacy. I like sex as much as the next guy, but it's intimacy and connection that really interest me as a creator. And with these two, there's definitely lots to explore there...

Alex Woolfson

LOL. :)

Alex Woolfson

Thank you, Mik! :D

Alex Woolfson

You're very welcome! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And will there be a sequel? If there's interest, I could definitely see that happening. :)

Alex Woolfson

Oh wow, that was steamy. And tasteful. Well done indeed. There's a lot of erotic (fan)fiction out there, but not many stories pull off being so intensely erotic without becoming pornographic. Now I want to be able to mindmeld during intimacy... Alex: Word of God please: are Amanda and Spooks officially dating during the ETE arc? If not, what's their status like?

Sal Wolffs

Oh Alex. Words are escaping me right now. I haven't enjoyed myself with written words like that in a long, long time. I could have read a thousand pages of that story in one sitting, food and water be damned! I will probably reread this another dozen times tonight. And it wasn't about the sex. It was about the intimacy. These two really took you places, didn't they? Thank you so much for going along for the ride, and having the presence of mind to write it down for us to enjoy. Now I really want to read more of your prose, much as I love your comics. I sincerely hope you share much more with us, and soon.

Clio Henry

I'm SO glad I didn't read that at work! I'm here at home fanning myself.

Incredible! I love the fact that not only have you done an accidental gestalt (where two or more Talented characters develop new Talents when together; "accidental" in that they are not related by blood), you have actually given it a separate identity and form. Fantastic!

Mik McAllister

Wow! That was awesome, Alex, thank you. Does that last line indicate a possible sequel? :-D