“Lifestyle Changes” is a short story published in the collection Small Victories in 2020. Alex adjusts to living with Lorelei and Rachel.
Warning[]
“Lifestyle Changes” contains graphic sex, rampant profanity, polyamory, mushy conversations, fantasy depictions of demonic and divine beings bearing little or no resemblance to established religious canon, sex in private, kitchen sex, teasing, lingerie, expletives, lust, descriptive nudity, even more explicit sex, and a casual disregard for traditional Western family values.
Synopsis[]
A series of vignettes centered around Alex adjusting to living with Lorelei and Rachel, and the reactions from his friends. Alex’s friends teased him about his girlfriends, which caused Rachel and Alex to discuss the semantics of “fucking every possible minute”. Lorelei delayed Alex’s departure for work. Alex aborted his gaming session in order to help Rachel. They found fault in the design of the kitchen counters. Alex and his friends discussed relationships in the pool hall.
Appearances[]
Characters[]
- Alex
- Carrie (online only)
- Robbie (online only)
- Chang (online only)
- Nicole (online only)
- Drew
- Jason
- Rachel
- Lorelei
- Taylor
- Wade
- Amanda (mentioned only)
- Eric (mentioned only)
- Fallon (unnamed, mentioned only)
- Britney and Brittany (mentioned only)
Locations & organizations[]
- Suite 1705
- Ahmed Kovac’s pool hall
- The conservatory (mentioned only)
Continuity[]
“Lifestyle Changes” is set in late September, after Good Intentions and “Live Like This”.
Theories[]
The story contains references to Amanda’s and Eric’s return and how it impacted Jason’s breakup with Britney and Brittany.[1] The breakup is discussed by several members of the Crew, with Alex present, but Alex is later asking in late October about how they are doing.[2] Some possible reasons why Alex asked might be:
- Alex is presented as not very aware of his surroundings at the time, due to insomnia and possibly also his poor mental health at the time, due to his post-traumatic reincarnation disorder.
- The breakup of was not instant, but they kept the relation going for another week or two.
Trivia[]
In Personal Demons, Rachel says she usually ghosts through the wall to home, leaving all the water outside in an angel-shaped stain.[3] In this story she ghosts through the balcony door and drips on the doormat inside, bringing some of the water with her.
Publication history[]
“Lifestyle Changes” was first published on Elliott Kay’s Patreon in May 2019. It was re-published in Small Victories in 2020.
References[]
- ↑ Days of High Adventure
- ↑ Natural Consequences, chapter 1
- ↑ Personal Demons, chapter 1