gpsh 4640. thanks for the fun game

Was very excited to see this! Great chapter.

This chapter really is about grief in a way, as it is about trying to make sense of things. Carlos is left grieving over losing Hakim, and as much as Xochitol is trying to make him feel better- what happened to them all is a tragedy. There is no going around it. A wondrous tale perhaps...but still a tragedy. And as much as he seems happier and trying to move on, a part of me wonders if he's just trying to drown in pleasure to keep going forward. And it shows just how sinister Luna can be. That there are multiple werewolves who have lost their rationality for good- that is chilling. And then there's Mullins and Pete. Mullins definitely crossed a line in what he said, but he isn't wrong. Pete is not taking the human authorities seriously, and seems to just think that he can just run off and start again elsewhere- the fact that he sees human things as not something to worry about I feel is going to come back to haunt him (as it should). Precincts will definitely talk, and if they attempt the same strategies as before to lure in mondjugen they will get found out. It isn't a matter of if- it's a matter of when. And Barb doesn't seem the type to take bribes or the like- she's definitely keeping tabs on them. On the other hand Mullins absolutely was not taking precautions and literally has managed to get Zach's cousins killed and on top of that Zach himself is in the hands of Toddson- who is basically an abusive nutcase. He needs to realize he screwed up uproriously, and Pete seems to be conveying that to him- let's hope it sticks. And then there's Tom and Yousef. Yosuef I feel is at a bit of a crossroads- worried about Frank and what he can do right now. His dream is definitely a portent- but if there's one thing about dreams that is common to know- it's that they can be read many different ways- some of which may not be true. Tom obviously reads this as Yousef's god leading him to Luna, but it can equally be read that the straight path encompasses the moon- and the moon- Luna itself- is subservient to it's maker- because Yousef likely knows well the moon did not simply come out of nowhere (if he were to go deeper into theology, he'd likely also know that the moon itself does prostrations to god by islamic theology). One of the major things Yousef is likely aware of as he speaks is how the straight path going crooked is not a good omen- by that view it could be said Luna is leading him away from god- a means by which the straight path is crooked. However, dream reading is a difficult thing. I could see Yousef doing istikhara regarding this- typically a prayer is read and one hopes for a dream to gain clarity on a situation- if one does not have a dream, then one goes for what they believe is the best choice that does not cause them distress- it may involve dream reading, but it may also not. Of course, some things Yosuef knows he now belongs to- the pack, the hunt, and the intimacy of the pack. He can't deny these parts of him- they are there. As Tom puts it- they are what makes the werewolves free. This is no falsehood. And Yousef understands this. They are a part of him, so how can he deny it? One could argue that in order to keep himself emotionally healthy and safe, he should engage in them- theologically, if he needs this to help with his emotional well being and not doing so will harm him then he can partake in it- the only stipulation there theoretically would be to avoid engaging in anything that harms himself or others. This of course opens up an interesting conundrum with the monjdugen- he didn't want to be one, and was fine being human- is it right he makes other mondjugen weres? Is that making them more true to themselves, or forcing something on them? And if he can accept that, where does he draw the line? Evidently, Yousef seems to be drawing the line such that if it's not were buisness and somebody is getting mind turned like this- it is unacceptable- because they didn't want it, or that such can be determined. Tom is good in telling Yousef he must look out for Frank though- that is a good thing to do. He is trying the best he can to honor his faith and his new state of being, and there is something admirable in that. That Yosuef clearly resists seeing Frank's situation as fine is a sign that he still remembers his humanity and how a human would relate to a situation like this. Granted, werewolf law and rituals are different- they simply are- but for Yousef to remember how he was shows how he doesn't simply just go along with what has happened to Frank- he clearly detests it- but wants to do right by him as well. That shows his strength of character. The thing is, the idea that Tom is putting forth I think he genuinely means to make Yousef feel better- but they are very insidious in their own way. The idea that somehow autonomy and independence don't matter because they are not human or not quantifiable is rather eerie- and from a theological perspective alone if Yousef if aware wouldn't even work in the first place considering the jinns. On the other hand, werewolves inherently are different- pack, intimacy, the hunt and the like are important- and so in their own ways are different than humans and so Yousef has come to accept and even find wholeness in that- which is fair to do. But it seems to a degree Tom is drinking the kool aid a little by saying that Luna's acceptance is completely wonderful despite what it cost him- he can't even see his kids. Tom is right to say that Yousef can't go back, and that he does love being a werewolf- I don't even think Yousef can argue that. But to say that Frank is somehow okay now despite having his mind warped a bit and you should be alright with it? That's something else. The way I see it- Yousef is being faced with a test of ease- he has power and pleasure and now a familiar- what is he going to do with all of that? Shall he abuse it? Will he see Frank as somebody he has been entrusted with and care for the best he can? The last line he muses over is very chilling- because if he does come to see those concepts as toys- there is nothing stopping him from becoming like Toddson. Tom is right that some things fade, but some things are important and stay- Yousef needs to figure out what he wants to keep. The fact that Tom saw giving up one's humanity as akin to giving up a teddy bear makes a bit of sense- but is eerie in it's own way. And Tom is wrong about other things- independence may be less important for weres than being part of a pack...but is being part of a pack so important that you'd even take going to an awful one like Toddsons? Zach didn't have a choice in any of that and got tossed around like a sacrifice- there was no freedom in this. And then there's the FBI agent snooping around- he's probably going to figure something out- a part of me kinds of roots for him to not get outwitted by the weres. And what happened to Larry? Larry seems distrustful of humans, but clearly was one at some point- a good swimmer to. Something clearly happened to keep him wary, and it doesn't seem like he remembers- his memories are fuzzy. So there's a mystery to consider. Evidently, he was on good terms with those at the YMCA and otherwise- but clearly distrusts humans. So something happened with people that left him with that distrust. I am curious to see how this unfolds in the long run.

Anymore chapters?

Woooo I'm a huge fan of your work, so seeing a new chapter or story from you is always super exciting! Welcome back! You have a fantastic knack for getting into the mindset of your characters, and I always enjoy reading whatever you come up with.

This is a pretty solid foundation. I cant wait to rrad more.

Extremely happy to see you return to this!

Absolutely beautiful 🖤

Oh my God so excited!

Can’t wait for more