Part II
The campaign had started so deviously that Richard hadn't realised at first
exactly what was happening. It was startling enough that Andrews had wanted a
sexual relationship and begun their clandestine affair on what seemed like whim.
It was another thing entirely to suck Richard gradually into the everyday social
interactions of the company of trainees.
Alexander Andrews was an absolute magnet. Everyone wanted to be around the
kid...in class, in mess hall and in practical exercises. Alexander, however,
went out of his way to linger in Richard's shadow. Richard Sharpe picked up a
following by default but he held them on his own merit. It simply took a little
exposure and a few strategic pushes from Alexander for the rest of the group to
see past Sharpe's reserved personality. The quiet blonde had a wealth of honour
and integrity. He honestly deserved his unofficial position as their leader.
Still, sometimes his new popularity was more bother than it was worth. The
companionship had grown almost claustrophobic this evening. Richard simply had
to escape the surfeit of good fellowship. That's why he found himself standing
out in the darkness of the base firing range soaked to the skin by the rain. The
evening around him had refreshingly still quality. Weather and distance muted
most of the sounds and lights from the camp.
A faint splash of water that could have been any number of things was all the
warning Richard got. Solid weight tackled him at the waist knocking him forward
into the mud. Adrenaline kicked in and Sharpe turned on his attacker with a
snarl. With the kid making only a minimal effort at putting up a defence Richard
quickly found himself straddling Alexander Andrews. The young man lay flat in a
half inch of cold water grinning up at the winner of their impromptu wrestling
match.
"Bloody fool." Sharpe snapped, resisting the urge to shake the
other until his teeth rattled. "Yer gonna get one of us killed fucking
around like that."
"I trust you Dickin, me Darlin." Alexander lay quietly, not
provoking any further violence.
"What do you want, Xander?" Richard considered climbing off Andrews
but the indecent heat of the prone body was seductive in the chill drizzle of
the night. "I came out here for some privacy."
"You had privacy." Fingers reached up to twist into the fabric of
Sharpe's soaked jacket. "It wasn't making you happy. I'm what you
want." Alex announced arrogantly. His hips tipped up to dig into his lover.
"Otherwise you wouldn't be sitting on me. You would've walked away by now,
me Darlin."
"I'm sitting on you to keep you in yer place." Richard swatted
Andrew's clutching hand away. "You belong under me. I'm your better,
Kid."
"You top me 'cause I let you, Dickin. Don't get it into your lovely head
that there's any other reason you're able to best me on the field or in the
classroom." Alexander squirmed slightly. "However we've your tender
ego to consider, don't we me Lover?"
"What a load of crap." Richard pressed his weight harder, laying a
hand on the younger man's chest to emphasise his point. "I come out first
every time."
"I let you win, me Darlin." He teased. "I've simply no reason
to try and take first place away from you Handsome... not so long as you're
giving me what I need."
"You couldn't take me if you tried, Kid." Richard persisted. He
was, after all, perched atop the other.
"Bet me." Alexander's husky whisper was thick with excitement and
his eyes glittered in the dull moonlight. "Promise me a forfeit and I'll
pin you right now." He boasted.
Sharpe's head cocked to one side as he studied the smirk aimed at him. As
much as he'd like to think that the brat was simply blowing smoke the first two
weeks of Andrew's participation in the training course came to mind. The kid had
been stiff competition. "What kind of forfeit?" Richard wanted to know
if Alexander was pulling his punches but not at an unreasonable cost.
The smirk expanded to an absolutely evil leer. Alexander reached, threading
his fingers together behind Richard's neck and dragging his lover down on top of
him. "I want to fuck you Dickin." He arched, seeking more contact.
"If I can take you in a fair fight will you let me do you?"
Sharpe resisted the pull downward but he didn't break away. They hadn't even
discussed the possibility of reversing their usual roles before this. Up to now
their longer encounters had almost always ended with Alexander being screwed no
matter the preliminaries they indulged in. Their quickies tended to be a bit
more equal opportunity. "I haven't done that in a long time." Richard
finally responded. "And I didn't much like it back then." So many
power issues were tangled into the act. Hinging consent on the results of a bet
only compounded the situation.
"Come on Dickin. It's a win-win situation. You find out if I'm faking... and
even if I take you... " Alexander coaxed, flicking the tip of his tongue
across his teeth. "I'll rim you out so well, Dickin Lover, by the time I
slip in you'll be spreading your legs and hungry for it."
"Shut up." Richard snapped, pressing down harder.
The younger man let out an encouraging groan response to the maltreatment.
"What will you do, Dickin? Hit me? Hold me down and slap me stupid? As much
as I'd like , you can't, unless I let you."
"Lying sod." The accusation wasn't forceful.
"Bet me and find out." Alexander dared. His body was writhing under
Sharpe's in a blatantly lascivious come-on. "I'll give you anything you
want if you win. Anything." His tone was thick with desire. "Tell me
what you want, Gorgeous."
Richard puffed out a disgusted breath and climbed off the younger man.
"I want a woman." Take that, Sharpe thought, attempting to gain
control. It disturbed Richard that Andrews, a trained soldier and grown man, was
proving almost sluttish in his desires but what bothered him even more than the
kid's whore-like attitude was that Alexander's fawning attentions seemed to
arouse Sharpe more every time they clashed.
Alex sat up, heedless of the muddy water running down his back. "I can
do that." He announced brightly. "I can get you a woman as a forfeit
if I lose." Black bangs were shoved back out of wide green eyes.
"Yer full of crap." The elder turned to walk away. When had this
ridiculous association escaped his control? He feared the loss had come within
moments of their first tryst.
Alexander surged to his feet and seized his lover's arm. "I can do it. I
can get you our ethics instructor. I swear to God. She's been hitting on me
since I first got here." He blurted out. "When I kept turning her down
she switched to offering me whatever kink I wanted. I could ask for a threesome... or
the chance to watch you do her, although I'd prefer the first myself." Dark
brows lifted inquisitively. "What's the matter, Handsome? Don't you think
you can handle me in a fight?"
Richard didn't give the other man a chance to prepare himself but instead he
whirled into an attack, toppling Alexander back down into the cold mud. He hoped
to pin the smart-mouthed brat quickly just to shut him up.
Alex, slippery with muck, eeled out of Sharpe's grip and backwards two feet.
"So do we have a bet, me Darlin?" He persisted.
Richard inched closer only to have his opponent back the same distance away.
"Yeah, okay, you little bastard." Sharpe grabbed again and got a
satisfying handful of jacket, which Alexander promptly squirmed out of.
The wrestling match that ensued surprised Richard on a number of levels. He
had no idea that Alex was proficient at so many dirty tricks. The younger man
had a counter for every nasty, street-learned tactic that Sharpe's hard
childhood had taught him. Even more annoying was the fact that Alexander's feral
smile barely wavered despite mouthfuls of mud and the breath that Richard was
attempting to knock out of him. The kid seemed to delight in the gutter-level
brawl as much as did in their bouts of careless sex. A solid backhand across
Alex's face earned a noise frighteningly similar to a groan of erotic pleasure.
"Pervert!" Richard accused between gasps for air. He was tiring
fast due to struggling in the sucking mud. Too quickly Sharpe found himself
fighting a defensive strategy at the lowest level, grabbing at the kid's hair
and attempting to use his slightly heavier frame to overpower Andrews. Luckily
the kid was a few years his junior and didn't have his full growth yet or even
that wouldn't work. Alexander's body type suggested he was eventually going to
age into thicker set man than Richard was.
He didn't even recognise the pattern of attack that Andrews was using. It was
nothing the younger man could have learned in the British armed forces but there
was a definite technique to the movements.
Ten minutes later Alexander was sitting on the small of Richard's back
hitching the blonde's arm up to the edge of breaking it. "I win Dickin, me
lovely." Alex purred, twisting his lover's arm once for emphasis. His Irish
accent, which tended to fluctuate in strength depending on his mood, was at its
lowest ebb on the next few words. "I've been fantasising about this."
Alexander released his hold and his body slid flat to spread delicious heat all
along Richard's back. Sharpe's collar was yanked down and burning kisses were
pressed to his nape as if the skin wasn't smeared with a thin layer of mud.
"I want you so bad it keeps me awake nights." Mumbled out.
"No way. You can't be meaning to do this now. Here." Richard turned
his mouth to keep it out of a puddle. "Shite Xander. We're filthy. I'm
soaked. We'll freeze our balls off."
"The rain isn't that cold." Alexander climbed to his feet, pulling
the older man up after him. "It'll wash us."
Richard stood still against the light tug on his shoulder so the kid simply
moved around him until they stood face to face. Alex kissed his lips first then
moved to Richard's cheeks, nose and ears when the blonde refused to open his
mouth. During the course of the brief affair the younger man was constantly
pushing for signs of affection. He was like a love-starved teenager, Sharpe
thought harshly, trying to fan his own hostility even higher. No male he'd been
with before had ever wanted kisses and hugs like this one. What really bothered
Richard about the quirk was each time they clashed those secondary touches
became not only easier to give but there was also a unique pleasure in them.
"Stubborn son of a bitch." Andrews accused. "I know if I don't
take my prize now you'll find some excuse to deny me." Hands slid around
the elder man, pulling their bodies together. "You don't understand me,
Dickin. I don't want to hurt or humiliate you." Sharp teeth brushed across
Richard's ear. "I want you to like it so much you'll be willing to do it
again and again. This isn't about power. It's about pleasure." Alexander's
erection dug into Sharpe's hip. His breath was hot and rasping. "Mercy
Dickin. When you're fucking me it feels so good that sometimes I think I'll die
from the bliss of it. I want to give you that sensation back again."
"You're a liar." Sharpe repeated his earlier accusation.
"Yeah, I suppose I am, but not about this." Alex pressed gently to
make his partner back up. One of his hands ran absent circles over Richard's
upper chest. "I've experience enough." Alexander actually sounded a
bit despondent as he said that but his tone immediately brightened. "You
are the first man I've ever been with that I've chosen for the sheer physical
gratification of touching your body... to have YOU touching ME with no other
motive than that is such a heady rush, Dickin, handsome, strong Dickin."
They continued to slowly move until Sharpe's back hit a net of camouflage.
Alexander seemed intent on keeping only the minimal amount of space between
their bodies. He stole another kiss, pressing for an extended open-mouthed
exploration that only broke off when Richard turned his face to one side.
"Don't. It's too cold tonight." Sharpe swatted away the fingers
pulling at his jacket zipper.
"Wimp." Alexander accused. "Just half-way." His mouth
pressed to the little bit of skin he could reach by pulling the neckline of
Richard's clothing down. Teeth threatened but he knew better than to bite and
leave a mark. "I'll keep you warm." Their fully clothed bodies rubbed
together as Alex's knees bent and straightened. Alex's hand dropped and the palm
pressed to Richard's erection, massaging it into growing even harder. "As
much as I adore this lovely package." His voice took on the honeyed gravel
quality that cut Sharpe to the core. Alexander's fingers skidded back and forth
across a olive-drab covered hip. "Another part of you deserves some worship
as well, Darlin." The younger man allowed a narrow distance to form between
them. "Turn around Dickin. I swear by all that's holy, you're gonna love
this."
Even as Sharpe's head shook in denial his body gave into the subtle push
Andrews was using and turned to face the tattered camouflage netting. So far
every time Alex had lapsed into that breathy, barely accented tone Richard had
completely enjoyed whatever activity followed.
Alexander's mouth pressed to the skin just behind Richard's left ear.
"Grab a couple handfuls of net, Dickin, then close your eyes and just
feel." Alex's breath was blistering. His arms reached around to allow his
fingers to skate across Sharpe's ribs, stomach and chest. He pressed hard to
make sure his lover experienced every caress. "You are such a fine piece of
work, me Darlin. Lean and strong." Alexander nibbled at Richard's ear.
"I can't be thinking of a living soul that I'd rather be laying hands
on." His body rocked sensuously against the blonde's back blanketing away
the chill that the sopping wet clothes had provoked. "Even watching you
strip and clean a rifle gets me hard. You fuck like a dream." One hand
reached down to cup Richard's growing erection once more, coaxing. "I adore
your cock."
"Key-rist, Xander. You've got a mouth like a whore." The complaint
lacked sincerity since Sharpe was bucking into the kid's hand as he voiced it.
"The taste of it." Alexander continued. "The feel of it... in
my hand... inside me." He was practically purring. As he spoke Alex expertly
flicked open the button then the fly on Sharpe's trousers. "Every time you
shove this beauty into me I have to bite my tongue to keep from screaming out
how much I love it." Cool fingers encircled Richard's cock. "And it's
so fucking big."
"Jesus!" The older man shuddered. "The way you talk... "
"No, the way you talk." Alexander countered. He was peeling wet
fabric away with a slow, steady pull. "I wish you would talk more while
you're fucking me. I adore the sound of your voice, Dickin. It's like somebody
pouring warm oil down my back. It gives me the shivers and feels so good."
The whispered declarations trailed off as Alex sank, dragging his body down
Sharpe's spine.
Richard stifled a protest. It wouldn't do for the brat to realise how
seductive Richard found the breathless proclamations of desire. For that matter
it wouldn't do for the kid to clue into how thoroughly he had the older man
entrapped. Alexander's mouth had finally reached another patch of bared skin. He
nuzzled at the base of Sharpe's spine. The heat of his mouth was a remarkable
contrast to the chill of Alex's nose and the air about them. Richard thought the
kid might still be talking by the feel of vibrations against his tailbone but
he, regretfully, couldn't hear the words. Without even thinking about what he
was doing Sharpe followed Alexander's suggestion. In the darkness behind closed
eyes it was impossible not to completely appreciate every sensation. The kid's
hands had warmed quickly and they felt good stroking over his balls and up his
rod. A draft of cooler air touching his backside made Richard straighten
slightly. Considering where the kid's nose was and that both his hands were
busy, Alex must have dragged Sharpe's pants down with his teeth. Richard spread
his legs, partly to keep his trousers from falling to his ankles and partly to
enjoy the feel of Andrews' mouth pressing into ass. Richard's head fell forward
to rest against the ratty fabric in front of him. One of Alex's hands journeyed
over Sharpe's hip and around to his behind. The fingers tipped sideways and slid
into the crease. His fingernails flicked across the entrance to Richard's body
brief then settled to hold the way open. Alexander's tongue followed quickly
sneaking inside after only a few damp presses.
"Jeez... God damn." Despite how many times the kid had done this to
him it still reduced him to babbling within seconds every time. "Xander... fuck!"
Richard's arms had to take up some of the slack as his legs grew weaker. He bent
further forward to allow the small intruder even more access.
Alexander actually laughed. It was a devastating sensation that shut down all
of Sharpe's higher brain functions. Only a few simple thoughts like 'MORE' and
essential reminders such as 'keep breathing' remained.
A brief pain in the area of his balls stalled off an orgasm he hadn't even
realised was coming. "Shite!" Richard's fists clenched tight,
whitening his knuckles. "I hate that." He objected, already knowing
what the other's response would be if Alex bothered to answer. Waiting only made
it better. Mercifully, Andrews let it slide this time. A loud groan escaped
Richard when the kid's tongue withdrew only to be replaced by two fingers slick
with Sharpe's own pre-cum. "Bastard!"
Alex was lifting off his knees. His smoky chuckle ended just as his mouth
reached Sharpe's shoulders. "Could be." The kid admitted.
Wet fabric still rubbed against Richard's exposed skin. Alexander hadn't
dropped his own trousers yet. Alex's fingers wiggled and Sharpe gasped as a
flash of stimulation resulted.
"That's why I like it." The kid whispered as if imparting a secret.
"Enough friction right there... " He brushed the spot again. "... will
have you seeing God, Darlin."
Richard didn't even try to verbally respond to the tease. He simply sagged
into the supporting camo-screen. Sharpe didn't recall his few long ago
encounters feeling anything like this. Those had hurt, damn it. This felt like
his insides were melting.
Alexander bit into the muddy back of Sharpe's light jacket harder than he
usually dared. Bruises could be explained, teeth marks couldn't. When his teeth
released their hold the kid slid down once more, dragging his cheek along the
curve of Richard's spine and down to his ass. Alex's fingers withdrew only to
return slicker and wider. His other hand squeezed at Richard's cock to provide a
distraction.
Sharpe unconsciously widened his stance to ease the twinge of discomfort he
briefly felt. Christ. If anyone wandered up at this point he couldn't imagine
himself telling the kid to stop, although he'd most likely kill the intruder by
dawn. Richard Sharpe didn't want the image of himself pumping against Andrews'
hand remaining in anyone's brain but his own. He even resented that Alex was a
witness to his loss of self-control. Gutter learned profanities were hissing out
through clenched teeth. Sharpe's back arched as Alex shoved his fingers in as
far as they would go while at the same time pulling Richard's balls back again.
"Not yet." Alexander insisted loudly enough for his lover to hear.
Both hands withdrew suddenly leaving Richard exposed to what felt like Arctic
air. Andrews cursed and fumbled at Sharpe's back a moment before his touch
returned. An arm curved forward to encircle Richard while a warm hand settled on
the chilly flesh of his hip. "Ready?"
"Jest do it." Came the gasping response. He sucked in a deep
breath, imitating Alexander's behaviour in the same situation. As the kid rocked
against him Richard let the air escape in a long hiss. It didn't hurt so much as
feel terribly odd when Alex's flesh invaded him. True to the kid's promise it
was an excruciatingly slow push with a long pause as their bodies drew flush to
each other.
Some jumbled exclamation, heavy with consonants, whispered out of Alexander
but Richard didn't recognise any of the words. It was followed by something near
a whimper. "Mercy Dickin. You feel so good."
The arm around Richard tightened, pulling the older man up from his bent-over
position. Alex's right hand slipped forward to resume teasing along Sharpe's
erection. He offered just enough pressure to distract without giving the blonde
anything rhythmic enough to get off on.
"Nothing in life matters more than this." Alexander declared right
by his lover's ear. A shiveringly smooth pull and push accompanied the
statement. "The heat of your body next to mine. Christ Dickin." As he
spoke Alex's fingers worked over Richard's skin. The hand on Sharpe's stomach
burrowed up under clothing to caress his smooth, bare chest, lifting him more.
The slight change in angle Richard stood at was sufficient to drive the kid's
thrusts right across his prostate.
"God. Damn. Bloody. Hell." Sharpe shuddered uncontrollably. If
Andrews weren't holding him in place his spine would have snapped into a bow.
The kid had the gall to actually laugh. "You like it." Alexander
pronounced arrogantly. The movement of his hips gained speed with each shove.
Eased by a flow of pre-cum Alex's hand matched the quicker movement.
"You're so fucking fabulous." His voice was growing even rougher than
normal with gasps punctuating his words. "I'm gonna take you to bed when we
get out of this place and keep you there all weekend." Alexander predicted.
"I want us to mark each other up, Gorgeous. I want you to dig your fingers
into my hips while you're fucking me so hard I wear the bruises for weeks. You
want that, Dickin?" His body suddenly stilled. Only his lips, pressed to
the fine pale hair at the nape of Sharpe's neck, continued to move. "We can
screw around until we're too tired to reach any further than the phone... to
order food. Would you give me a weekend like that Dickin?" Teeth rubbed
sensitive skin. "You wanna see me crawl naked across the floor with your
leash around my neck? I'll do it for you. I'll do anything you want if you'll
just be with me."
"Right. Fine. Whatever." Richard promised absently. He'd grown
accustomed to the kid spouting nonsense during sex. "Jest mind what yer
doing, Xander."
Alex emitted a low sigh of pleasure then he began to move again. His hand
slid down and out from under Richard's shirt to circle around to the small of
Sharpe's back. The older man found himself bent forward once again and
Alexander's strokes deepened.
"Now, Dickin." Desperation was tainting his voice now. "Come
on Gorgeous." Andrews began jerking his partner off in earnest as his own
thrusting sped up. "Let yourself go."
Richard was dragging at the camo-net hard enough he was surprised it didn't
tear down under the assault. The burn hit him from two different directions at
once, a tidal wave of ecstasy. The rush of vivid sensation from his ass and
groin was staggering, but expected. However the lances of pleasure that were
sparking up the base of neck and smashing into his brain... those surprised him.
"Son. Of. A. Bitch." The words practically shredded his throat as he
uttered them.
Alexander had been reduced to simply gasping his appreciation as Richard
spurted over his hand. After only a few rabbit quick jolts Andrews collapsed
against his lover's back.
Something that might have been a declaration of love murmured out of
Alexander but it was quiet enough that Richard could pretend he didn't hear it.
As long as it wasn't repeated it could be ignored.
As soon as the chill of the night started raising goose flesh on the skin
Alex wasn't covering Sharpe roused into action. "Get off me." His
shoulders heaved.
The kid dared another quick kiss behind the older man's ear then he carefully
pulled out and away. Richard had to concentrate to un-knot his fingers from the
tattered fabric they were tangled in. His palms and fingers were marked with
indents because his grip had been so intense.
"Let me help." Eager fingers began tugging at Richard's underwear
and trousers, trying to lift and tuck things away.
"Piss off already." Sharpe batted the brat's hands away but not
before he was decently covered.
"Not yet." Alexander ducked around to pop up between his lover and
the camouflage netting. "Do you have to throw your shields back up so
quickly Dickin, me Darlin?" His mouth pressed in, demanding a kiss, while
Alex traced across the line of Sharpe's shoulders with his palms.
In the dark silence Richard allowed himself to give in for a brief time to
the comfort of simply kissing his lover. Wrapping his arms around the younger
man and holding him close earned a sigh of delight. Sharpe pulled out of the
kiss and backed off a few inches so he could see Andrews' face. The moonlight
made the kid look even younger that his twenty-two years. "It's a strange
thing to say about a guy, but you really are quite beautiful, Xander."
Richard remarked, reaching up to stroke his knuckles along the other's cheek.
"Thank you, Dickin." Alexander leaned eagerly into the gesture of
affection. A smile curved his lips. "For everything."
"Yeah, well... " Sharpe backed away with a brief shake to settle
himself. "Don't start expecting flowers or any of that girlie shite."
He coughed.
"I know." Alex scraped a hand back through his hair in a vain
attempt to tidy it. "You don't even like me." He had repeated the
statement Sharpe had made after their first encounter often enough to turn it
into a private joke.
"If anybody asks... " Richard double-checked to make sure he was all
put away then zipped and buttoned up his pants.
"Nobody will say anything." Alexander assured his lover. "It
just looks like we were brawling and nobody's of a mind to get us in trouble so
they'll all let it slide." Alex sounded confident. "I mean look at us.
I can feel a bruise the shape of your fist forming on my jaw and you've got a
cut above your eye. We both look like we've been dragged face first through a
marsh."
"I get it." Richard held up a silencing hand.
The kid grinned. "You still want that woman, Dickin? I'll trade you a
shot at her in exchange for our first free Saturday night spent in a
hotel."
"I'm going for a shower, Xander." The elder said wearily. "I
want a ten minute head start 'cause I don't need you underfoot while I'm
cleaning up. You understand?"
"Anything you want, me Darlin. You know that." Alex let himself
fall back into the support of the sagging camouflage cover. A contented smirk
crooked his mouth. "It's probably best I wait 'cause the cold has never has
much bothered me and besides, if I saw you standing in the shower... " He
laughed. "Well, it'd undo this nice sense of satisfaction I've got going
for me right now."
Sharpe opened his mouth to begin a reprimand but then decided to let it go.
Instead he closed the distance to offer one more fleeting kiss and a sentiment
he didn't dare voice inside the barracks. "Goodnight my Xander. Sweet
dreams."
Alexander's breath hitched at the indication of tenderness and his smug
expression slipped away to reveal a disturbing flash of naked need. Wide eyes
dropped shut and the kid turned his face away, hiding. "G'night Dickin.
Take your time. I've some thoughts I've been meaning to sift through and the
sky's nice and clear now. I might be a while."
Even as a part of his conscience was screaming that he stay, Richard turned
and headed back towards the buildings. He was going to have to give the kid the
weekend he was asking for but they were going to talk, Sharpe promised himself.
Okay, they'd probably have sex too... completely mind-blowing sex if the last few
weeks were a fair sample, but they would talk. Sooner or later they were going
to have to deal with those three frighteningly faint words that Sharpe was still
pretending not to hear but Alexander was whispering more loudly every time they
collided.
Sharpe's Scoundrel
Playing in Puddles
It was amazing the difference that just a few weeks could make. A mail call
in the barracks during the first couple weeks of training used to be an annoying
ritual. Letters and packages would be handed out to almost all the men. Those
few who didn't receive anything would be drawn to those who did and everyone
would be sharing treats or stories from home. Everyone except Richard Sharpe, of
course. The default leader of the group never received so much as a note. He had
no family left and his casual friends weren't of the sort to be sending him
letters. Having distanced himself from his classmates by skill and manner
Richard wasn't invited into the shared warmth of the other soldiers' parcels
either. At least that had been the situation over the first month. Then
Alexander Andrews had taken it upon himself to completely alter the group's
dynamic.
