The Baker on the First Floor
Stigma
「 Summary: In the dark alleys of this city, there's no hope for trash like Sehyun. Having sex with strangers in the cramped stall behind a bar is just a typical Thursday night. But after a chance encounter with the brash and violent Boris, Sehyun begins to dream of living a normal life and an end to his restless nights. Boris is unlike any other man he's encountered. After a life spent bound by thorns, can time truly heal all scars? 」 I love how Boris was Sehyun's saviour! These stories of salvation, unconditional love and newfound hope for a better future always get me! And, if they have a realistic feel and they're well-written and impressive like this one, also in terms of art and everything else, I'm really totally captivated! Stigma also has many of my favourite elements, from the setting and the plot to the characters and their interaction and dynamics, so I loved it so much from the very beginning! And, in the end, I was so glad that, after so many hardships, Sehyun finally found peace thanks to Boris and strated a new happy life together with him! > Lastly but not least, the message of the story is very important, because it's so easy to judge things as they appear without even knowing what lies behind a facade / a situation, or turn away from something which doesn't have anything to do with us and seems so distant from us! But Boris learnt the lesson in first person (when he witnessed his friends raping a girl but didn't do anything to help, he simply turned away, and then the girl, Tracy, ultimately jumped in front of his car and died), that we can't always remain indifferent and turn a blind eye to such bad things happening in front of our eyes! We have to do something...and that's how Boris saved Sehyun from that living hell! Just thinking about how Sehyun would have had to continue to "live" like that if Boris hadn't come into his life, it makes me so sad! At the end, Sehyun's words in front of Tracy's grave sent shivers down my spine: "If it weren't for you, Boris might have left that restroom without noticing me. He wouldn't have had a reason to follow me to Michael's house...or roll around in the snow because of me, either. So, I...owe my life to you." > Btw, that "slutty uke" tag should be removed! > (Ch. 31-32 - Their first time together) # Uke with tattoos, Seme with tattoos and piercings (lobe piercings, eyebrow piercing, helix and nostril)
Dark Heaven
"It was dark, but they had nothing to fear. For they found heaven, even in darkness." Well-crafted and unique! - Apart from the great music opening scene that I loved, the whole plot is so interesting, and with that thrilling vibe one can't help being engrossed into the story! The writing style is great: the non-linear story telling was so well-executed and some parallelisms between some present and past moments were truly brilliant! It's heavy indeed, but beautiful. An intense and rewarding reading! > Personally, what I loved the most is when we see through flashback (from ch. 7) how their relationship began when they were kids! Because at the story's present moment they already broke up and the band disbanded and Simon is soloist; then in flashback of the dark heaven days we see they were in a relationship, but that relationship started way before as kids. I love it in BL when we see the progression of the characters together with the development of their relationship from kids to adults! Above all, I was looking forward so much to their reunion! • Ch. 25-26 - Reunion after half a year from their break-up! Then the story goes back again and we're back at their reunion time in ch. 45. >> Ahhh my poor boys, how many hardships they had to go through!! But their love was so pure and it moved me deeply! I loved how they knew each other so well, understood each other completely and were simply each other's everything...they were really as one! Such a moving unconditional and equal love, with such a deep understanding and irresistible chemistry! In fact, I appreciated how they both took and give to each other so much in all senses, and about this I also liked how the author made them a reversible couple, a charismatic power couple at that, being truly equal in everything in their relationship. >> One of my favourite moments is the one of their long-awaited reunion, when Conor went to Simon's apartment and waited for him and then Simon arrived and saw Conor asleep: that was so sweet and emotional! Then, in general, I liked all the moments where they were taking care of each other and simply being there for each other, like when Conor would hug Simon and comfort him and viceversa. And of course I loved the ending, with my boys finally married and happy together! And going back to play again on stage together as well...the future they always dreamt for is finally here in their hands! Such a beautiful happy ending! [The author said Simon's voice should be kinda like that from Sick Puppies' vocalist!] [While the story presents a sort of american / european ambient, it's not set in any real, specific country but in a fictitious place called Van Tescosa] # Traumatic Past, Unconditional Love, Violence, Racism, Homophobia, Discrimination, Dark Ambience, Drugs, Bullying, Americanish|Europeanish Ambient, Childhood Love, First Love, First Kiss, Breakup, Ex-Couple Back Together, Adult Couple, Flashbacks, Music Band, Mutual Pining, Non-Linear Storytelling, Past Plays a Big Role, Interracial Couple, Framed, Trial, Marriage Proposal, Gay Marriage, My favourite Duo|Couple Spin-off: Guardians of the Lamb - Gale, Simon's step-brother from Dark Heaven, is a character of this story.
Pian Pian