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carlsdarling · 10 months

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I imagine that Carl would be horny alllll the time. Just whenever: Short shirt? Cleavage? Sweat? Bending over? It all gets him going. So what if the reader is gone on a week long trip and he just pounces on her when she’s back because the poor baby is desperate.

Fucking needy!!!

Carl is naughty and can't control himself after Y/N has been away for a while. Bit of a plot, then sex. Everyone is 18 or over.

WARNINGS: smut, nsfw

You had been dating Carl for about three months. You had liked him from the first time you saw him, right after you arrived in Alexandria. You had lost your previous group, and they had probably moved on without you. Carl, with his charming personality and his protectiveness, had immediately won your heart, and you didn't care about his injury at all, you were head over heels in love with him. Still, you had actually wanted to wait a while before sleeping with him; but it turned out to be impossible. Carl was so horny for you that after less than a week you ended up in bed together - or rather, in the back seat of his car.

It wasn't that Carl had pressured you into it, but with his constant groping, kissing, moaning and wailing, he had managed to get you just as hot for him and without hesitation had spread your legs for him, wet as the Colorado River. It had been wonderful, passionate and loving, and you had done it every day since.

Just everything got Carl going - if you bent over, tied your hair up, touched his arm, your shirt slid up exposing your belly, your cleavage (especially if it was sweaty) damn it, all you had to do was walk in front of him and he'd see your arse and he'd get horny, push you against the nearest tree or make you immediately ride him on the wooded soil. More than once you had been surprised by walkers during such actions, literally with your pants down. If Rick ever found out about it, you'd both have to write your testaments right now. He hadn't been thrilled with how fast your relationship was evolving anyway, but Carl was an adult and could do what he wanted.

But now you had been away for a week, accompanying Rosita, who was pregnant and had to go to Hilltop for a medical checkup. During your stay at Hilltop (although it was only for a week), you had thought of Carl constantly. The longing tension in your nether regions had been almost unbearable after only two days, no matter how often you touched yourself at night. Carl's horniness had somehow infected you. "You and Carl are downright addicted to each other," Rosita had stated, rolling her eyes meaningfully.

"We're not," you'd defended yourself, your face bright red.

"They are," Rosita said to Jesus, who was leaning against the door, grinning in amusement. "They literally can't keep their hands off each other. I bet Carl's right wrist is all sprained by the time we get back."

Jesus laughed. "You could have brought Carl," he wondered. "We have plenty of space at Hilltop."

"Oh, believe me Jesus, you don't wish that," Rosita replied. "They live in the house next to mine, and often they're so loud I can hear them. And it goes on all night."

"'Shut up", you commanded her, ashamed.

Now you were on your way back, and the gates of Alexandria appeared before you. Your stomach tingled; in a moment you would finally see Carl again.

Rosita hadn't finished parking the car when Carl already showed up, and when you got out, he immediately threw his arms around your neck and you could feel his massive boner. "I missed you so much," he murmured and kissed you deeply.

"Me too," you grabbed his butt. It would probably be best if you went to Carl's room right away and didn't come out until tomorrow so that Carl could pound into you until he was completely exhausted.

"There's a hole in the wall over here," Eugene objected.

Rick came over. "It needs fixing right away," he decided, "Carl, Y/N, it's a lucky thing you're here right now, we can use any helping hand we can get."

Carl looked pissed, he'd wanted to get the fuck out of here right now and rail you dizzy, your legs on his shoulders, and now he was forced to wait. Rick handed out tools. "There, plane off that metal and bend it so we can nail it up." You did your best, but were constantly interrupted by Carl, who, rather than concentrating on the work, kept fumbling you unobtrusively. "Carl," you scolded quietly as his hand tried to move back into your cleavage. ""Stop that!"

"But I can't control myself," he squealed and kissed your neck, leaving a hickey. Embarrassed, you looked around. Luckily Rick had just turned his back on you, but Daryl had seen everything and was grinning wickedly.

"Stop it now," you threatened, picking up a bolt from the ground. Big mistake: you'd been bending over. "Carl!" you hissed as he promptly grabbed your arse. "I mean it!"

"What's going on?" asked Rick, looking from one to the other in annoyance.

"Nothing," Daryl said hurriedly. "It's just something has fallen down." At that, Rick nodded and turned away again.

"It's more like something has risen," Carl whispered in your ear, taking your hand and guiding it to his hard one. He had long since dropped the screwdriver.

You withdrew your hand. "Carl, that's quite enough," you said sternly. "Get a grip on yourself. It can't be that everything gets you going and you can't control yourself for half an hour!" Carl was so desperate for your touch that you were afraid he was going to fuck you right here.

"Get away from here," Daryl said with a wink. "There's no sense in that. You two cannot focus on the work right now." Carl hastily grabbed your wrist and pulled you along with him so fast you almost stumbled.

"Where are you heading?" you asked, uncomprehending, because the house was in the other direction. He turned toward a section of land that was near the main gate and where a few old cars were rotting in the high grass. Carl grabbed you around the hips and unceremoniously sat you on the hood of an old Chevrolet, then positioned himself between your legs and impatiently slipped his jeans and boxers down to his knees. His cock was so hard it had to be painful for him; it twitched slightly, and the tip looked sore. "Honestly, Carl, how many times did you jerk off in that one week?" you asked tauntingly.

"I wasn't counting," Carl admitted bashfully. "Anyway, I could hardly stand it without you." He fiddled a condom out of the wrapper and put it on his cock. You eagerly embraced him and let him penetrate you; it wasn't like you weren't horny for him, too. He moaned lustfully as he buried his entire length into your slick folds, his breathing shallow and rapid, and he made short, quick thrusts - as he always did when he was being particularly needy. His mouth was open and his eyes closed, there were drops of sweat on his upper lip. You tenderly stroked his lean back, then grinded your fingers into his tight buttocks as you approached your climax. "Carl, I'm close," you whimpered.

"Me too," he moaned, only seconds before he began to moan very loudly and the movements of his hips became even faster and more intense as he cum and spilled his seed into the condom. Sweaty and exhausted, you sagged on the hot hood, the grass tickling your bare legs. "Don't ever leave me alone for so long again, Y/N," Carl pouted before embracing you and kissing you tenderly. „I can't stand it!“

#the walking dead #carl grimes x y/n #carl fanfiction #carl grimes smut #carl grimes imagines #carl grimes #carl grimes fanfiction #carl grimes x reader #twd

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vintagerpg · 10 months

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The more D&D stuff I read, the more I feel relief and maybe a little enthusiasm when I see Rick Swan’s name in the credits. He’s a reliable writer who almost always delivers solid material that lands squarely on the premise. Such is the case with Caravans (1994), the final box in the Al-Qadim line. The last handful of products strayed from the central theme of Arabian Nights-inspired adventure, but Caravans returns there for the curtain call.

There are multiple djinn, for instance — I might be forgetting some, but I think the last three boxes has one djinn appearance between them. One TOTAL. That’s not enough djinn! Further evidence that Caravans returns to the unusual source material: the first scenario is called “The Talking Tent” and another scenario involves a giant skeleton flying on the back of a giant skeletal roc. There is a fortune-telling carpet. It’s pretty great, even if it is still fairly events-based. It doesn’t really have an adventure frame, either, other than these all take place in caravan-friendly regions of the high desert. Which is a relief! Most of the latter box frames felt perfunctory anyway.

Karl Waller is on point as ever. His giant skeleton riding giant roc is one of the most ridiculous illustrations in the entire line but he somehow manages to give it the same weight as all his other work. Not feeling the Fred Fields cover though. Not entirely Fred’s fault — the banner and the djinn’s eye are just…I hate that overlap. It isn’t entirely NOT Fred’s fault either. That camel’s proportions seem…strange.

#rpg #d&d #dungeons & dragons #tabletop rpg #roleplaying game #ttrpg #Al-Qadim #Caravans

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jo-harrington · 3 months

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Get To Know Store Manager Verse Eddie

What story is he from? What kind of story is it (Fix-it fic, Older!Eddie, Rockstar!Eddie etc)? My Eddie I'm going with it my original Eddie from Store Manager Verse. It's a sort of EveryoneLives! NoUpsideDown! Amalgam where Eddie works at StarCourt Mall and he meets a New Romantic interest in the Claire's Store Manager.

What inspired you to write this Eddie? I've worked retail forever and the horrors but then I moved to corporate. New job, no customers. But corporate teams usually go into the field and help during Q4 and especially in the special...department I work in? Christmas 2022 really made me ask "what if little Store Manager Jo had an Eddie who worked at her mall and she had a crush on him" and SMVerse was born.

What are your favorite headcanons about him/share something you never shared in your story? In my story, he had friends in his first stint through high school/senior year that left him behind and broke up the band. Then Corroded Coffin 2.0 was born with Jeff, Gareth, and Unnamed Freak (who I named Dave). Now that he's approaching a potential graduation with Jeff and some of them aren't...he's worried about Jeff leaving first, but the others shortly after. And then his band will have broken up a second time and what will he do then?

What does he wear on a casual day? On a dressier day? What does he wear to bed? Casual Day: Jeans, T-shirt, Flannel optional based on the weather. Jacket/Vest combo if he's going out. Dressy Day: Bought a nicer button down from Montgomery Ward, sleeves are rolled up, a few buttons undone. He's got the least offensive graphic tee he owns underneath it. Leather Jacket on top, no vest. (There's a Regional Manager visiting Tape World. Kyle is wearing a suit. He also bought sunglasses for all the guys to wear inside secret service style.) Pajamas: Summer, underwear only. Spring/Fall, no shirt, and either flannel pj bottoms or there's a pair of sweats that he's cut into shorts. Winter: Hoodie, sweats, thick socks

Favorite foods? Mountain Dew, Zebra Cakes, Pizza, Watergate salad. End of story. He also likes how reader makes pasta.

Tell Us About His Family/Friends I intentionally left it vague. Mom dead dad in jail, the usual. In SMVerse, Reefer Rick was his mom’s boyfriend for a short amount of time. That’s when things were really looking up in his life. He had a father figure (aside from Wayne) who loved and cared about him with no familial obligations. Mom was working, Rick obviously selling, Wayne working either driving or at the plant. It’s a mutual aid situation. Then his mom dies and Wayne and Rick share as much responsibility as possible because neither of them can do it alone. Wayne and Rick are both Vietnam war veterans? I don’t history good. So they have the benefit of being from the same down and going through the same shit and then they need to raise a kid they both love more than life. And he in turn would do anything for them.

Yeah Yeah, he's a Metalhead. Tell Us MORE About His Taste in Music in your story Oh GOD. Listen. He’s a fucking asshole about his music but if you’re respectful, he’ll be respectful. (If you’re his friend though, it’s extra disrespect). Aside from metal, he does enjoy the classics. He has some rock, he’s got some blues. His mom’s favorite were the Monkees and he listens to that tape to be close to her.

Eddie and Store Manager are currently in my WIPs listening to music and getting high. Stay tuned.

What are his views on romance? On sex? Sex is casual to him. It’s nice to feel nice. He’s slept with a few people, at parties where he’s made sales. He had a “girlfriend” that he thought was a girlfriend who was actually trying to get close to his friend Mickey. Kind of made him a little jaded. All of that to say, that specific event made him hesitate with saying anything to Store Manager. She reminds him SUPERFICIALLY of someone who hurt him and it’s easier to pine and keep her at arms length as a friend than potentially get hurt.

Is he optimistic or pessimistic? Pessimist. Next.

Where or with whom is he most comfortable? He’s most comfortable in his van. Home is home but is it really home? Wayne’s rarely there. Rick’s would have been home if his mom was still alive. He likes being with his friends and he is mostly with them at school which…blah. Or in the van.

What are his views of his future? What are his hopes/dreams? Music!!! music music music. He would like to be a musician and SPOILER he’s gonna be. Just not the fantastical rockstar we would wish for him. But he’s also debating what his future looks like as it pertains to Tape World. He likes it there. He likes being part of a team. Working with them, working with Kyle…he’s very much questioning what he wants.

Anything else you'd like us to know about your Eddie/your story? He’s the softest Eddie I’m gonna write. With the nicest future I think. He’s been dealt the easiest card out of all of them. No Upside Down. Got to have the most ideal childhood given his circumstances. AASB Eddie is harder for obvious reasons. STFF is going to be hard in his own way. But SMV!Eddie is the sweet boy we all need. He’s the sweet boy I need.

#Store manager verse #Prompt game

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ultimaterickshowdown · 2 months

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just caught that at some point i started called regional manager rick district manager rick. which ig both are true but idk why district stuck in my head enough id mess it up. keeping it tho bc i made the mistake in round 1 too

#mod post #only noticed bc its correct on the graphics.... whatever

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randomvarious · 8 months

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Vengaboys - "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)" 1998 Eurodance / Eurohouse / Europop

The Vengaboys really struggled for a little bit to break out internationally before managing to basically become a co-ed Eurodance/Europop version of The Village People. Their first two singles, "Parada de Tettas" (which I guess translates to "Parade of Tits"?), and "To Brazil" both managed to chart in their home country of the Netherlands in 1997, but nowhere outside of the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), besides Hong Kong, did any label seem interested in picking up either song.

Sometime around 1998, though, the group's producers, Danski & Delmundo, figured it all out: they found that patented, trancey, fuzzy-buzzy, honking Vengaboys synth sound. And its arrival was marked by a song called "Up & Down," which, if you've never heard it, is remarkably similar to "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)"

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So, "Up & Down" represented the start of the Vengaboys' turn-of-the-millennium Euro-dominance. It would become the first single of theirs to really be picked up internationally, and it smashed, particularly in the UK, where it reached #4 on the singles chart and #1 on the dance chart. And in the US, while it didn't touch the Billboard Hot 100, it still topped the publication's dance chart too.

Now, here's where things can get a tad confusing, though: after the Vengaboys released "Up & Down," they followed it up in April of 1998 with their hard-to-find, Dutch-only debut album, Up & Down – The Party Album!, which is not to be confused with their *international* debut album, The Party Album!, which came out over a year later; both releases happen to have pretty different track lists, and the original Dutch-only album only has one song on it that actually uses what would end up becoming the group's famous synth.

In fact, while both the Dutch and international releases have a song on them called "We Like to Party," they are actually two completely different versions. The one that went stratospheric and got the Vengaboys to really break out in the US contains the synth sound, whereas the original version off the Dutch-only album doesn't. And instead, the one from the Dutch-only album is like a weird breakbeat-Eurotrance thing that sounds like it *might* be sampling Slick Rick's "we like to party" line from "La-Di-Da-Di"??? Give a listen to this rareness. It took me multiple YouTube searches to find it, and a 90s throwback DJ might find some use for it, to blend it with the far more popular version 👀.

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So, now, knowing about this particular track, here's what I think happened: Danski & Delmundo saw that their group had finally found success because of that trademark synth in "Up & Down," and they thought that they could earn another big hit if they had just used it again. So they constructed a pretty similar beat, repurposed the titular line from the original version of "We Like to Party," and then had group member Denise Post-Van Rijswijk sing some lyrics over it, which happened to include what would become one of the catchiest choruses of the entire decade. And voila, the Vengaboys then had an even bigger worldwide hit than "Up & Down" in "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)."

This version of the song not only ended up slaying in Europe, but because it had lyrics, it became the group's biggest American hit too, reaching #26 on the Hot 100. And then after that one came the group's third straight single to use the synth: "Boom Boom Boom Boom."

Now, if you actually doubted my comparison of the Vengaboys to the Village People before, here's two things: one, the art for The Party Album! literally has the two male members of the group drawn as a cowboy and a sailor; and two, the music video for "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)" has a short scene in it in which the Vengaboys run into a group of guys who are dressed as the Village People and are doing the "YMCA" dance; but the Vengaboys, who are a mix of bored and befuddled by their presence, end up pushing them aside, so as to say, "Out of the way, Village People! The new breed, The Vengaboys, are here!"

And as far as Europe goes, they weren't wrong. They'd never have another hit in the US after "Boom Boom Boom Boom," but they'd keep up the momentum with The Platinum Album, and now they're still beloved over there as a nostalgia act more than two decades later. And the Vengaboys would remain relevant in the US too, of course, with Six Flags appropriating "We Like to Party! (The Vengabus)" as its own theme song in 2004, which came with an iconic ad campaign that featured a dancing, besuited old man called Mr. Six, who, according to this credible Reddit comment I found, was actually just a 30-year old guy in prosthetic makeup?! 😲

Read more on Govindhtech.com

#Space Tech #MarsExploration #Ventures #SpaceTech #satellites #AI #Aerospace #NASA #technews #technology #govindhtech

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byneddiedingo · 9 months

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Shirley MacLaine and Jack Black in Bernie (Richard Linklater, 2011)

Cast: Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, Matthew McConaughey, Brady Coleman, Richard Robichaux, Rick Dial, Brandon Smith, Larry Jack Dotson. Screenplay: Richard Linklater, Skip Hollandsworth, based on a magazine article by Hollandsworth. Cinematography: Dick Pope. Production design: Bruce Curtis. Film editing: Sandra Adair. Music: Graham Reynolds.

Imagine Bernie without Jack Black, but with, say, Philip Seymour Hoffman in the title role. Hoffman would have played the hell out of the part, which is one of the reasons he is so sorely missed, but the tone of the film would have been very different. What Black brings to the role is a familiar image, that of a scamp, a mocking presence in almost all of his previous movies. But here he's cast against type, as a sweet-natured possibly gay man who manages to capture the hearts of a small East Texas town, and more particularly the shriveled heart and deep needs of a wealthy widow (Shirley MacLaine). It's the tension between the manic imp of his earlier films and the good-hearted (if naively lethal) Bernie that gives this movie its acerbic tone. Richard Linklater also directed School of Rock (2003), Black's first big hit in a starring role after stealing High Fidelity (Stephen Frears, 2000) out from under the nose of John Cusack. It's to Linklater's credit that he sees more in the actors he works with than others do. Small town East Texas is an easy target for satire, and I understand the critics who liken Bernie to Fargo (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 1996), which did similar things with the easily caricatured accents and mannerisms of the deep plains states. But anyone who has lived in the South knows a few Bernies: somewhat effeminate men who don't fit the good-ol'-boy stereotype of the region, but are tolerated by the good-ol'-boys and especially doted upon by their wives and mothers. Black captures the Bernies to perfection, perhaps because Texan Linklater and his co-scriptwriter Skip Hollandsworth, who wrote about Bernie Tiede first for Texas Monthly, know them well, and know how (as the Coens likewise did in Fargo) to transcend mere caricature for something more humane and interesting.

#Bernie #Richard Linklater #Shirley MacLaine #Jack Black

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ausetkmt · 9 months

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On a rainy morning in March, George Dawes Green, a seventy-year-old novelist and the founder of the storytelling nonprofit the Moth, arrived at Millstone Landing, about twenty miles north of Savannah, Georgia, on the South Carolina side of the Savannah River. He and thirteen others were preparing to look for remnants of a secret fortress built in the seventeen-eighties by Maroons—people who’d escaped slavery to live in the wilderness. (The term derives from the Spanish word “cimarrón,” which means “unruly” or “fierce.”) Maroons existed in the South from the beginning of slavery, and, according to historical accounts, the population of this encampment—around a hundred—dwarfed that of any other known group. The fortress was said to have been uniquely defended, with a wall, weapons, and sentries; its residents had lived there and in another nearby camp for years until white militias finally found the sites and burned them to the ground. Green had first read about the fortress decades ago; last year, he published “The Kingdoms of Savannah,” a thriller involving a search for its ruins. Early in writing the book, he began reaching out to scholars to turn the fictional search into a real one. Now archeologists, historians, and others were donning rain gear and wrestling with tall snake-proof boots in a parking lot by the Savannah River.

Rick Kanaski, a gray-goateed archeologist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, was part of the expedition. He warned that we were unlikely to find the fortress itself. Instead, he said, “We’ll get a sense of place”—an idea of what the Maroons’ life had been like. Archeology is slow work, Kanaski went on: “Eventually, we’ll be able to tell some life stories about these individuals who were essentially creating their own community, and reclaiming their own individuality, and their own personhood, and their own society, so to speak.” But the first step was to get the lay of the land.

We strapped on life jackets, climbed onto a boat, and headed north. South Carolina was on the east bank and Georgia on the west; the temperature was in the fifties, and gray clouds spat water in our faces. Brown water sprayed up behind the motors. We had a rough idea of where we were going. Running parallel to the river, about a mile to its west, was Bear Creek; historical documents indicated that the fortress had been near the creek, and about two miles north from a lower fork. Green’s research had pointed him toward a region just south of where Bear Creek jutted east and then west, creating a thumb-shaped area of land. His target zone covered maybe twenty acres.

If the ground were dry, the area would be about fifteen minutes’ walk from shore. But we soon encountered a small, winding creek that cut through the lush vegetation. We sloshed across, walked for another few minutes, then hit another creek. This one was waist-deep, and we halted at the impasse. I was shivering, and my fingers had turned blue from the damp and cold. If it were warmer, I knew, we’d be getting eaten alive by mosquitos.

“This actually helps as part of their defense,” Kanaski said, of the forbidding landscape.

I imagined living on this land for years, with scant supplies. What had life been like for the Maroons? How had they survived? How had they understood their own story? Answers to these questions had been lost, like the fortress, in the swamp.

Although Maroons existed wherever slavery did, they are often left out of U.S. history curricula. In her book “Slavery’s Exiles: The Story of the American Maroons,” from 2014, Sylviane A. Diouf, a historian and visiting scholar at Brown University, offers several explanations for this. American Maroon communities weren’t as large as their counterparts in Central and South America, she writes, and they didn’t wage wars against enslavers; their settlements weren’t well documented, and, whereas everyone has heard of the Underground Railroad, marronage “lacked the high drama of the escape to the North.” Diouf also argues that the Maroons’ “narrative of autonomous survival without benevolent white involvement” probably lacked mass appeal.

Nonetheless, Maroons lived at extremes. They faced the constant risk of capture, especially while sneaking supplies from plantations. Some Maroons built underground dens and lived in them for years, occasionally even filling them with furniture and stoves; children were born and raised in darkness. While reading archival documents, “I found examples of caves all over the South,” Diouf told me. “It’s just mind-boggling that that kind of life could exist.” If Maroons returned or were caught, Diouf writes, “severe whippings were the ‘mildest’ punishments.” They could be branded, castrated, dismembered, or executed. After hanging, their bodies might be decapitated, quartered, and displayed.

Diouf dedicates a chapter of her book to the Maroons of Bear Creek. (A 2009 volume called “Maroon Communities in South Carolina,” edited by the historian Timothy James Lockley, also contains many original records from the period.) The Bear Creek Maroons built their first settlement around 1780, at the southern end of the waterway. In 1786, the group swelled in size, and their plantation raids attracted negative attention. That October, the grand jury of Chatham County complained that “large gangs of runaway Negroes are allowed to remain quietly within a short distance of this town.” Militia members located the Maroons and attacked them. Several people on each side were injured, and the militiamen, low on ammunition, retreated. They returned with more men that evening, but were ambushed, and fled.

James Jackson, a Revolutionary War hero and future governor of Georgia, took over the effort to capture or kill the Maroons. A few days later, he brought in fresh soldiers, but by then the Maroons had evacuated. He destroyed what they’d left behind, including houses, about fifteen boats, and four acres of rice. That December, Jackson wrote to the governor of South Carolina, Thomas Pinckney: “Your Excellency may have heard of the daring banditti of slaves, who some weeks since, attacked two of my detachments, & were at last with difficulty dislodged from their camp.” He warned that some Maroons had relocated to South Carolina, across the river, where they were again raiding plantations for supplies.

The following March, Pinckney authorized a plantation owner to hire up to a hundred minutemen—volunteer soldiers who were ready on short notice—for a monthlong search. He sent supplies and offered bonuses of ten pounds per Maroon caught dead or alive. He also asked an associate to hire twenty members of the Catawba tribe—who knew the land and were skilled trackers—to join the search, offering the same reward. The Maroons, meanwhile, had regrouped at a new location, two miles north of the old one, and fortified it.

On April 21, 1787, a group of Maroons went out in boats, planning to collect family members and others who wanted to join them from a nearby plantation. They ran into a group of minutemen, and several Maroons were shot and killed. The militiamen now knew of the encampment’s general location; even so, it took them two more weeks to locate it in the swamp. Finally, on the morning of May 6th, they killed a sentry and rushed through an opening in the fortress’s defensive wall. The Maroons fired a few shots before running away, leaving behind an enclosed area that covered seventeen acres and contained rice and potato fields and twenty-one houses. The attackers chased the Maroons for two miles, killing six of them, then burned down the camp and reported their victory. Later, the Charleston Morning Post would describe how the Maroons “had got seated and strongly fortified in the midst of an almost impenetrable swamp.”

“Running away from a fight was the best strategy,” Diouf said. “People say that’s not what heroes do, but it is. The goal of the Maroons was to stay alive.” Their leader, who went by the names Sharper and Captain Cudjoe, and his wife, Nancy, were among a group that escaped and eventually made its way to Florida. But the second-in-command, a man called Captain Lewis, was captured shortly after the raid and tried, in Savannah, for the murder of a white man whom he had brought back to the settlement before it was discovered. He was sentenced to be hanged, and to have his head displayed on a pole. Some audiences cheered for the Maroons’ defeat, but others celebrated their success. In an editorial, the Massachusetts Centinel admired “those brave and hardy sons of Africa” who “seem wisely to prefer a precarious existence, in freedom, on the barren heath, to the chains of their oppressors, whose avarice, cruelty and barbarism increases with their wealth.” The article concluded, “The spirit of liberty they inherit appears unconquerable. Heaven grant it may be invincible.”

Green is an eighth-generation Savannahian, and “The Kingdoms of Savannah” grew out of stories about the region that he’d heard as a child. The gothic tales often mixed horror with glamour. Once, an elderly relative described a group of escaped enslaved people who’d established a camp on an island in the Savannah River; they’d come upon a pirate ship run aground, its occupants all drowned, and had found gold inside, which they’d taken and buried. Green remembered the story in the early two-thousands, when a friend who was a local professor and historian of Savannah also mentioned a group of escaped enslaved people who had lived in the wilderness. He went to the Georgia Historical Society and pored over the archives. Along with his brother, an archeologist who studied the Taíno people of the Caribbean, he borrowed a canoe and spent a day paddling through the creeks and woods near where the fortress might have been. They didn’t find anything.

“The Kingdoms of Savannah,” which Green wrote about two decades later, centers on the disappearance of Matilda Stone, an archeologist studying the fortress site. The novel is about “a panoply of historical injustices,” Green told me—not just slavery but corrupt police, abusive labor practices, and pollution. At one point in the story, a member of an old Savannah family hoping to solve the kidnapping case is at the library browsing books about Savannah’s history. “I mean that’s what these books are all about,” someone says. “The crimes of Savannah. Every book in here. They’re all just the sickest crime stories you can imagine.” The novel is “sort of a tapestry of stories, which are all based on reality,” Green said. He explained that he’d been inspired in part by Lawrence Durrell’s “The Alexandria Quartet”—a tetralogy of novels set around the time of the Second World War which is “about folks wandering around Alexandria, Egypt, and all of the little ethnic enclaves, and the incredible corruption that rules everything, and how every little enclave is making deals constantly just to survive,” Green said.

Last fall, after the publication of “The Kingdoms of Savannah,” Green organized two events with Diouf and Paul Pressly, a historian writing a book about people who had escaped from slavery. The three soon started assembling a group to search for the fortress. “Historians like me, even public historians—you tell stories, and they just hang in the air, and they don’t go anyplace except for the twenty-five people that you talk to,” Pressly told me. “In talking to George, I realized, This man knows how to bring this into the public arena. A novel is the way you can bring it.” Diouf concurred: “There are more people who read fiction than there are people who read academic books.”

The day before the swamp trek, I spoke with Daniel Sayers, a historical anthropologist at American University who has spent years exploring Maroon history in the Great Dismal Swamp, in Virginia and North Carolina, and had agreed to join the search party. I asked him how he’d proceed once we were out in the wilderness. What would he look for, specifically?

“I’ll probably rely on my Spidey sense—‘Wow, people were here,’ ” Sayers said. His voice was gruff from years of smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco; he wore jeans, a torn T-shirt, and an Olympia Beer trucker hat. It would be great to find an artifact, he went on, but that was unlikely; he would be satisfied with vibes. The site would probably be on slightly high and dry ground, he thought. “I’m hoping the place speaks to me,” he said.

Savannah, along with other Southern cities, is home to many macabre tours that mix history and spiritualism. In “Tales from the Haunted South: Dark Tourism and Memories of Slavery from the Civil War Era,” Tiya Miles, a historian at Harvard, writes that, “according to popular lore and common knowledge alike, ghosts dwell in places stained by unresolved conflict—places marked by pain, violence, betrayal, suffering, and ugly death.” That night, before dinner, I asked Esther Blessing, Green’s wife, if we might go on one. She described the tours as “this weird Tarantino-meets-‘Gone with the Wind’ clickbaity bullshit about enslaved people that isn’t even real.”

“They’re telling these fake stories about history,” she went on, her voice rising. “Why are they doing that when stories like this are there?”

In the swamp, we noticed a spot where the creek seemed to be shallower, and decided to try our luck crossing there. But we arrived only at another deep creek. “It looks like what we have is a whole series of dendritic creeks that are interlacing with this landscape that’s not well shown on any of the U.S.G.S. topographical sheets,” Kanaski said. In other words, we were in a watery maze.

“Where we’re standing might also have been where a small encampment of Maroons was,” Sayers ventured. “This is a Maroon landscape we’re in already.” It was a view that offered some consolation.

Dionne Hoskins-Brown, a government marine scientist who teaches at Savannah State University and is the chair of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission, spoke up. “Is it just the terrain that allowed the community to persist?” she asked. “I mean, it’s given us a fit today.”

“Even militia, who are trained to carry their guns and shoot people and track them down—they’re kind of afraid to go in,” Sayers said. “This is a big deal to just even experience this place,” he went on. “We’re in the heart of resistance in marronage.”

Green and a companion returned from a scouting mission. They’d followed the creek in one direction and found no easy way to cross; they wanted to try in the other direction, but Kanaski proposed coming back another day, when the ground was dry. While they debated, Hermina Glass-Hill, a Black activist and historian wearing pink-fringed boots and a red flower in her hair, removed a Congolese vessel—an engraved wooden chalice—from her bag and filled it with distilled water.

“Before we proceed, can we just pour libations right now, since we have identified that this is the terrain of that Maroon community?” she said, building on Sayers’s hopeful notion.

Glass-Hill stood and led us in a round of “Kumbaya”—“Come by here, my Lord”—an African American spiritual, first recorded in that part of Georgia. “Libations is about honoring the ancestors, honoring those who have come before us,” she said. “We want to give thanks to those brave, courageous souls who thought that taking the risk for freedom and the wildness of this place was more safe than staying on dry land.” She started pouring out some water. “To the men, to the women, to the children, who made this place home,” she said. “Ashé.”

#Searching for a Fortress Built by People Who Escaped Slavery #enslaved africans in america #georgia #yoruba #ase #maroons #south carolina #swamps

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 1 year

Video

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NASA's Perseverance rover deposits first sample on Mars surface A titanium tube containing a rock sample is resting on the Red Planet's surface after being placed there on Dec. 21 by NASA's Perseverance Mars rover. Over the next two months, the rover will deposit a total of 10 tubes at the location, called "Three Forks," building humanity's first sample depot on another planet. The depot marks a historic early step in the Mars Sample Return campaign. Perseverance has been taking duplicate samples from rock targets the mission selects. The rover currently has the other 17 samples (including one atmospheric sample) taken so far in its belly. Based on the architecture of the Mars Sample Return campaign, the rover would deliver samples to a future robotic lander. The lander would, in turn, use a robotic arm to place the samples in a containment capsule aboard a small rocket that would blast off to Mars orbit, where another spacecraft would capture the sample container and return it safely to Earth. Engineers use OPTIMISM, a full-size replica of NASA’s Perseverance rover, to test how it will deposit its first sample tube on the Martian surface. The test was conducted in the Mars Yard at JPL. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The depot will serve as a backup if Perseverance can't deliver its samples. In that case, a pair of Sample Recovery Helicopters would be called upon to finish the job. The first sample to drop was a chalk-size core of igneous rock informally named "Malay," which was collected on Jan. 31, 2022, in a region of Mars' Jezero Crater called "South Séítah." Perseverance's complex Sampling and Caching System took almost an hour to retrieve the metal tube from inside the rover's belly, view it one last time with its internal CacheCam, and drop the sample roughly 3 feet (89 centimeters) onto a carefully selected patch of Martian surface. But the job wasn't done for engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which built Perseverance and leads the mission. Once they confirmed the tube had dropped, the team positioned the WATSON camera located at the end of Perseverance's 7-foot-long (2-meter-long) robotic arm to peer beneath the rover, checking to be sure that the tube hadn't rolled into the path of the rover's wheels. They also wanted to ensure the tube hadn't landed in such a way that it was standing on its end (each tube has a flat end piece called a "glove" to make it easier to be picked up by future missions). That occurred less than 5% of the time during testing with Perseverance's Earthly twin in JPL's Mars Yard. In case it does happen on Mars, the mission has written a series of commands for Perseverance to carefully knock the tube over with part of the turret at the end of its robotic arm. In coming weeks, they'll have other opportunities to see whether Perseverance needs to use the technique as the rover deposits more samples at the Three Forks cache. "Seeing our first sample on the ground is a great capstone to our prime mission period, which ends on Jan. 6," said Rick Welch, Perseverance's deputy project manager at JPL. "It's a nice alignment that, just as we're starting our cache, we're also closing this first chapter of the mission."

#space #science #Astronomy #physics #news #nasa #esa #mars curiosity rover #mars sample return

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mariacallous · 1 year

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We planned only eight episodes of Reimagine Rural, but we heard from so many listeners across the country that we couldn’t help but share more. In this episode, host Tony Pipa speaks with listeners from four towns across the country to hear their stories of community revitalization: Lovington, New Mexico, on rebuilding its downtown; Brattleboro, Vermont, on embracing refugee resettlement; De Soto, Kansas, on gearing up for the clean energy transition; and Quincy, California, on connecting a region through inclusive outdoor recreation.

We’re gratified to have heard from many of you about your own town and the positive things happening there. While this episode concludes season one, please continue to send notes about your rural town to [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.

Get more research about rural policy here.

Participants in this episode:

Alex Beck, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, Brattleboro, VT

Mike Brungardt, City Manager, De Soto, KS

Jeff Lewis, Volunteer, St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Brattleboro, VT

Mara Salcido, Executive Director, Lovington Main Street, Lovington, NM

Rick Walker, Mayor, De Soto, KS

Greg Williams, Founder and Executive Director, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, Quincy, CA

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starshapedspider · 1 month

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they r in luv

#rick and morty style is fun 2 draw in #rickcest #doofus rick #regional manager rick #rick and morty #rick and morty art #my art #art

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beardedmrbean · 2 years

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A Northern Kentucky tennis instructor was arrested Wednesday afternoon following accusations that he raped one of his students in 2019, according to the Boone County Sheriff's Office.

Court C. Clark, 27, of Cold Spring, is facing a single count of third-degree rape, documents filed in Boone County District Court show.

The victim reported the rape to detectives on Monday, court records state, adding she met Clark at the Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Crestview Hills, Kentucky in 2019 when she was 15 years old.

While away on spring break, a criminal complaint states, the victim received "flirtatious messages" from Clark and the pair started dating shortly after.

"That same year, Clark and the victim engaged in sexual intercourse at her home in Boone County," officials said in a news release.

The complaint says Clark, who was 24 when he met the victim, apologized between 35 and 40 times for being involved with the victim during a phone call recorded by detectives.

On that phone call, Clark also told the victim she needed to "delete everything on her phone that involved the two of them as well as throw away gifts that he provided her," the complaint reads.

"I was wrapped up in a situation I shouldn't have been in, but I did it anyway," Clark is quoted as saying during the conversation.

Attorney information for Clark wasn't available as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Clark is no longer employed as a tennis instructor for Five Seasons, Rick Roberts, regional general manager for the club, said in an email to The Enquirer.

He's currently being held at the Boone County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond, court records show. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 1.

#nunyas news

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saiyan98 · 2 years

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A Heart Made Fullmetal (FMAB AU) Part 3 [End]

Disclaimer:

Alphonse Elric: The following is a non-profit fanbase series. PJO, HoO and ToA are owned by Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion. Please support the Official release.

Author: This story is dedicated to @winryofresembool on Tumblr. Thanks for making an amazing Caleo story AND being a Fullmetal Alchemist fan, keep up the good work. Some of the backstory is even inspired by her fanfiction, Things We Lost In The Fire. Do check it out if you are also a fan of Caleo.

Warning: Spoilers to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. If you have not seen this anime yet, I really recommend you watch it. It's really good.

Table of Content

Part 1

Part 2

Summary:

Our story takes place after the events of Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood. The Elric brothers are exploring other regions to understand other concepts and ideas about Alchemy, hoping to prevent another tragedy the boys once went through. Edward is now a husband to Winry (His childhood friend and first love) and a father to his two children. Meanwhile, our main character, Leo Valdez, is an engineer in the Amestris military and was summoned to the Fuhrer's office. That was the day his life made a big change. And maybe for good?

Time has passed and Leo is starting to get used to living in the country-side, especially with a certain flower girl. And he’s learning a lot about Autmail engineering with the help of Winry Elric. His time at Reesembol is showing great results, however, he must now face his ultimate trial yet. Can he succeed? Or will he forever be chained to his tragic past?

As Leo was about to create his first automail project, he realized that fire will be involved in the process. He almost had a panic attack but managed to control himself. After he arrived home, he told Calypso about his past. His mother died due to an accident at their old garage. The flower girl comforts him and wishes to help him face his trauma. Since Leo told Calypso about his traumatic past, she starts telling her tale about her father and his horrific experiments with chimeras.

Story:

Alchemy: The Science of understanding, deconstructing and reconstructing matter. However, it is not an all-powerful art. It is impossible to create something out of nothing. If one wishes to obtain something, something of equal value must be given. This is the Law of Equivalent Exchange, the basis of all alchemy. In accordance with this law, there is a taboo among alchemists. Human Transmutation is strictly forbidden, for what could equal the value of a human soul?

[Insert Anime Opening: Again by Yui]

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Part 3: A Heart Made Fullmetal.

[Flashback]

Calypso’s story begins at a big warehouse, where her father, Atlas, was conducting his experiments in creating chimeras. Calypso was dragged to the warehouse where her father was going to commit his experiment.

“Daddy! Please!” Calypso yelled, trying to escape from his grip.

“It’s okay, dear. You’re helping daddy with an important project.”

Calypso tries to break free from her father’s grasp as she looks around the warehouse. Filled with cages and chains. In these cages are creatures created by alchemy. Half human and animals. Many creatures howled in pain and suffering, while some spoke in human language.

“Help me…”

“Free us…”

“…Kill… me…”

Calypso cries out to her father.

“Daddy! Please! I don’t want to be a monster!”

“Monster? No, Calypso, you won’t be a monster. You’re going to become the next evolution for the human race. Soon, you’ll lead humanity a step closer to becoming the ultimate life form!”

Calypso cries out, but no one will hear her cry for help. Her father has strapped her to an operating table with a transmutation circle created at the center.

“Don’t worry, Calypso. Daddy’s just gonna turn you into what you've always been…”

Atlas grabbed a cage with an animal inside. The animal was an eagle that was on sale on the market that day.

“…an angel who will guide humanity to sanctuary.”

Calypso does not understand what made her father go mad. But, ever since the death of her mother, Atlas also conducted research to bring back the dead with Alchemy. His research led him to the Amestris Military which led to Father himself. He became a member of Father’s inner circle and helped create the Chimera’s and the Homunculi. Using the research notes from Shou Tucker, the creator of the first Chimera, he was able to replicate Tucker’s work and create more chimeras for Father’s goal. He continued this line of work because he believed that working with Father will help bring his wife back. Unfortunately, everything fell apart when the Coup d'etat occurred at Central. Father and his homunculi are gone; the Fuhrer and his inner ring either arrested or killed; and all research about the Philosopher's stone has been destroyed, preventing anyone else from trying to obtain the power of a god through the death of many souls, regardless of innocence or guilt.

Atlas had no choice but to take the last of his research notes on Chimeras and his daughter out of the country and run from the military. As he was on the run, he reflected on his deeds and accepted the truth that you can not bring those who are gone back from the dead. Instead, he focused more on his daughter. However, his time at the military made him less sane and he began doing more research on Chimeras. Thus led to this moment.

As Calypso begs for her father to stop this madness, but he is far gone. The father she once had is forever gone. In his hand, he was holding a Vial with red liquid in it.

Unaware to Calypso, what he was holding was one of the last vials of The Philosopher’s Stone. A stone that was rumored to give Alchemist’s extraordinary powers that bends the Law of Equivalent Exchange. However, the main ingredient of such power is human sacrifices. When the Elric Brothers discovered this, they vow never to use such a horrible tool and prevent others from using it ever again. Atlas managed to escape with one and uses it for his research.

As Calypso cried out for help, A vent broke down and fell right in front of them.

Suddenly, a short man (We all know the pipsqueak) crawled out of the vent, groaning in pain.

“Ow! Should’ve just gone for the main door instead.”

Atlas was shocked at the familiar voice and face.

“Edward Elric! The Fullmetal Alchemist!”

Edward Elric, formerly known as the Fullmetal Alchemist, was traveling after the events of Central City’s rebellion. He and his brother, Alphonse Elric, are traveling around the world to learn other aspects of Alchemy, making sure to prevent the mistakes these boys did in the past. When Ed heard of these mysterious disappearances in the area, he went and investigated and noticed Atlas and his daughter were heading to a warehouse. Thus led to this moment.

Ed faced Atlas and replied, “Ah, looks like I found Dr. Frankenstein.”

Ed looks around and sees all the chimeras; crying out in pain and sorrow.

“You bastard… you ruined all these people’s lives for your own selfish gain.” He then noticed Calypso on the operating table. The sudden realization brought a terrible memory to Edward.

A memory about a little girl and her dog.

Ed clenched his fists.

“No! Not again!” He yelled as he ran to save Calypso. But Atlas was faster, he opened the Vial and used the Philosopher's Stone to use Alchemy and used the ground to tie up Edward and pin him down.

Atlas laughs.

“You’re too late, Fullmetal. I already completed my research; once I give my daughter her gifts, she’ll be free from this world’s fate.”

“Your Daughter?!” Ed yelled. Everything that Atlas was going to commit was just like how Tucker did. If Ed doesn’t stop him now…

“Big… Brother…”

The memory of Nia just kept looping in his head.

He needs to save the girl.

“Please! Help me, mister!” Calypso yelled.

“Hang on, kid! I’ll save you!”

Atlas yelled, “Silence! You don’t know anything about saving people! You claimed that every life is precious and sacred. Tell me, Edward Elric, do you consider my daughter an equal to that of criminals and murderers? Do you consider freeloaders and drunken folks equal to that of family? Do you consider a man like you to be equal to that of an innocent man?”

Ed was silent. Having no answer to give.

“What I did… I did it for my late wife. I promised her I’d protect our daughter. But how could I when we humans are weak and fragile. Corrupted and impure. We humans… are more animals than people. I gave these people the abilities to survive this imperfect world,” Atlas explained as he gestured towards the chimeras.

“And once I finish with Calypso, she will no longer have to fear the inevitable.”

“You’re insane!” Ed yelled. “A father shouldn’t put such horror to their own child! Yes, the world is cruel and unfair! But a parent’s duty isn’t to protect them from the world. It’s to prepare them for it. Otherwise, they’ll be just like us. Broken and tainted with blood.”

Atlas scoffed.

“Simple minded fools like you will never understand. When you become a father, you’ll understand how far you’re willing to go for your kids' safety.”

Ed tries to break free, but to no avail. Atlas was about to attempt the transmutation, when suddenly, red lightning appeared near Ed and deconstructed the binds on him.

“What?!” Atlas yelled.

“Always jumping to the pit of fire, aren’t you Edward?” Said a familiar voice.

Ed looks behind him and sighs in relief.

“Teacher? What are you doing here?!”

Izumi Curtis, an alchemist and teacher to the Elric Brothers. Master in the ways of Martial Arts and the only one to stand up against the North Brigade troops in Fort Briggs (and live).

But most of all…

She’s a housewife.

“I was on vacation with my husband, then I saw you enter this warehouse and I can see why,” Izumi replied as she looked around. She notices the cages and Calypso by the table.

Izumi clapped her hands and touched the ground, red lightning appeared around Calypso and unshackled her from the table. The floor then formed a pillar that led straight to Izumi, bringing Calypso to her. She grabs and put her down.

“You okay, sweetie?” Izumi asked.

Calypso was too scared to answer properly but she nodded.

Atlas yelled in frustration.

“Damn you! No matter, you won’t escape here alive.”

Atlas snapped his fingers and all the cages broke free. Most of the chimeras walked out and stood behind Atlas.

Izumi and Ed huddled up in front of Calypso, protecting her.

“Be careful, teacher. Atlas made these people into chimeras against their will.”

Izumi sighed, “Still naive as always.”

“Better than be a murderer like him.”

Atlas orders the chimeras to attack them.

“We’re in trouble, I’m not much without my alchemy, Teach,” Ed said.

Izumi laughed, “Oh relax, Edward. I brought company of my own.”

“Huh?” Ed said.

“Come out you two!” She yelled.

Suddenly, a giant explosion appeared behind them, bringing out a beam of light from outside.

From the light appeared two figures. Beings beyond man.

On the right was a big heavy man with a manly beard and ferocious-looking face, yet has a heart of gold and owns a meat shop. That man’s name is Sig Curtis, Izumi’s husband.

On the left was a muscular man with a small stand of blonde hair but has a gentleman moustache. Trained in the ways of Alchemy passed down by the Armstrong Family for Generation. Major Alex Louis Armstrong.

“What the hell?!” Ed yelled. “Why the hell are you here Major?!”

“Ah, Edward my boy. I was simply on vacation when I met these two on the way. We saw you enter this warehouse and just happened to drop by,” Armstrong replied.

“So it was all just a coincidence, huh?” He thought out loud.

“Enough!” Atlas yelled. “You’re ruining everything. All my hard work, all the sacrifices, all the struggles I had to put through.”

Ed clenched his fists.

“Struggles? Do you even realize what you did to all these people?! To your own daughter?!”

Calypso was hiding behind Izumi, shaking in fear and in confusion of the situation.

“She doesn’t need to be the perfect being or ultimate life form! And these people, even if they were struggling in life, they still have a life! And you took that away from them!”

Atlas ignored Ed and ordered the Chimera’s to attack Ed and his friends and retrieve Calypso.

As the Chimera’s attack, Atlas fled towards the roof. Ed tries to give chase, but the chimera’s were preventing him from pursuing.

“Damn it!” Ed yells.

Suddenly a wall emerged from the ground and pushed the chimeras out of the way. Izumi and Armstrong created the walls.

“Ed! Go after the bastard! We’ll take care of these creatures!” Izumi ordered.

“Wait! Don’t kill them! They’re still human beings, we can’t-“

A chimera jumps over the wall and was about to attack when Armstrong jumps in and intercept the attack.

“Not to worry, Edward my boy. We’ll handle it from here and protect the girl. Despite what horrible deeds he has done, he must live to pay for them. Especially to this young lady here,” Atlas replied, gesturing towards Calypso.

Ed spoke to Calypso, “Hey kid! Don’t worry, everything is going to be okay! I promise, whatever happens, you’ll be safe!”

Calypso nodded but whimpered as the chimeras focused their attacks on them.

Ed gave chase and went after Atlas at the roof.

As Ed’s friends deal with the monsters at the bottom, he chases Atlas at the roof.

With nowhere left to run, Atlas was cornered.

“It’s over, Atlas! Give up!” Ed yelled.

Atlas grunted in anger, “Damn it! I had hoped that I didn't need to resort to this. But I guess I have no choice.”

Atlas pulled out the vial.

“A Philosopher's Stone?!”

Atlas took the stone out of the vial and used it against Ed.

Ed may not be able to use Alchemy anymore, but he can still fight with martial arts that he learned from Izumi from the past.

The battle was long and harsh.

But Ed managed to avoid most of his attacks, however, he did gain a few cuts and bruises though.

Atlas was furious, “Why won’t you just give up?!”

As he was about to use the Stone again, it started to erupt energy around it, as if it’s starting to lose control.

It then exploded and blew up his entire arm.

Atlas screamed in pain and was walking backward towards the edge.

“Atlas! Stop!” Ed yelled.

But it was too late, before he could reach him, Atlas fell to his death.

Later on, the law enforcement of that country arrived, Armstrong and Ed explained the situation to them as The Curtis’ comfort Calypso.

“And what about the child?” Armstrong asked the officer.

“We’ll put her in foster care until we can find any relatives in her family. Though that’s gonna be difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well… you guys are from Amestris, right? Outside your country, Amestris has a bad reputation about it being a world conquering empire. Especially from the rumors about civil wars and rebellions.”

Armstrong frowns, the dark history of Amestris still haunts the locals of the land and now it taints the Amestrians reputation. The Fuhrer has a long and hard path to fix those mistakes.

Ed looks back at Calypso and notices her traumatized expression.

Who wouldn’t?

Her father strapped her to an operating table in a warehouse filled with monsters he created; and he was going to turn her into one as well.

But it was her eyes that got to Ed.

It was the same with Winry when she found out about Scar.

Filled with shock.

Fear.

Hate…

“…I’ll take her in,” Ed replied.

The officer and Armstrong were shocked with Ed’s answer.

“That girl… went through the same thing like another friend I knew back then… this time, I was able to stop it in time. Now, she needs a new home. I’m sure Winry wouldn’t mind.”

Izumi and Sig smiled and nodded. Proud that Edward has grown-up to be a fine young man.

Armstrong agrees, by crying manly tears and hugs Edward with immense strength. Edward was trying to escape from his grip, but to no avail.

That was the day Calypso became part of Elric's family.

[End of Flashback]

As Calypso finishes her story, she looks back at Leo and notices his shock expression.

“Wow… Calypso, I’m…”

He was too shocked to say a simple sentence. But Calypso understood.

“It’s okay. It was all in the past. But since then, I have.. trust issues with people. I mean, my own father tried to make me a monster when I was a kid. How can I interact with strangers or friends?”

Leo grips on Calypso’s hand tighter in reassurance.

“It’s okay, Sunshine. I get it. We all have issues from our past.”

Calypso smiled.

Telling Leo about her past made her feel like a big rock was lifted from her.

After Breakfast and their emotional talk about their past, the two headed out to visit the Elric family. Leo wanted to apologize for his behavior last time .

“I really need to get over my trauma if I want to continue my training,” Leo said. Calypso nodded and noticed Winry outside of her porch.

“Oh good, I was hoping you would come today,” Winry said. “Come inside, Ed and I want to talk with you Leo.”

Leo believes he’s gonna fail his training on Automail Engineering. He doubts they’ll give him another chance.

As the three went inside, Winry and Calypso went to the kitchen to get some drinks while Leo headed to the living room where Ed was. The kids were still asleep at the moment so it was just Ed and Winry right now.

“Hey, Leo,” Ed greets.

“Hey… you’re probably wondering about my behavior last time, weren’t you.”

Ed nodded.

“Yeah, I do. I spoke to Mustang about it, but I want to hear it from you. If you’re okay to talk about it.”

Leo nodded and told his story to Ed.

Ed didn’t judge nor show any negative expressions.

After Leo told his story, Ed asked, “Why didn’t you tell anyone in Central about this? Why take this job with such trauma?”

“...I guess, despite what happened, I wanted to bring back all the good things my mom did in the past. Even if I have issues with certain aspects of this career, I still want to follow in my mom's footsteps and help people.”

“But you don’t have to do it alone, Leo.”

Leo laughs, “Yeah, I already got that lecture from Calypso. Don’t worry, I’ll get over this trauma eventually.”

“Not by yourself, you’re not,” Winry said as she entered. “Ed and I understand more than anyone what you've been through. What it’s like to lose your parents.”

Ed nodded.

He then told his story.

How he became an Alchemist.

How he lost his mom and committed the ultimate taboo with his brother.

How he lost many friends and good people just to get their old bodies back.

How he and many people joined together to stop an evil homunculus from taking the lives of all who live in Amestris and become a god.

How he gave up his ability to use alchemy to save his brother.

The path was long and hard for Edward, but if it weren’t for his brother, Alphonse; his best friend and wife, Winry, and of the many friends and allies he has made in the past, he never would have the life he has now.

But he did lose many good people.

His mom who always smiled for her boys, despite being very sick.

A little girl named Nina who loved her father and dog and became a horrific experiment for him.

A good man named Maes Hughes who went far and beyond not just for his friends and family, but for the Elric brothers too; and died for it.

The many lives that were lost in the battle at Central City to stop a monster and help the boys get their bodies back.

And finally, his father who was cursed with immortality and saw his entire civilization become a part of him; who loved his wife and kids and wanted to grow old with them. Ed hated his guts because he believed that he abandoned them, but in truth, he was preparing his final fight against the Homunculi. In the end, he died right in front of his wife’s grave.

Leo and Calypso didn’t say a word.

How could they?

Sure they went through a horrific moment in their lives.

But Ed? He went through several and faced the impossible head-on.

And was able to live a happy life now.

“Wow…” Leo said. “I just…”

“It was a long time ago. My point is, I understand. The guilt and fear of losing someone dear to you. Losing a home…”

Leo looks at his drink.

“How did you do it?” Leo asked. “How did you manage to make peace with that?”

“With some help, Leo,” Ed answered.

After that, the gang worked together to help with Leo’s phobia with fire. They started small by using matches, candles and little sparks made from machines.

Leo flinched and started to hyperventilate whenever he saw them at first. But in just a couple of weeks of going through such a process, he’s able to hold candles, lamps and such at ease.

It was a big accomplishment.

So everyone celebrated by baking a cake. While the girls headed to get the ingredients at the markets, Leo and Ed had another important conversation.

“About the man that saved you back then, that was Alphonse, my brother.”

“What?”

Ed explained, “Al was coming back from his trip to the East and he and I were gonna meet to catch up and combine our notes. When we met up, he told me about the fire. After what happened, everytime he comes back to Amestris, he comes by her grave and sends flowers.”

“So it was him who’s been bringing flowers once a while,” Leo said. “I hope to see him someday, I want to thank him for the flowers… and for saving my life.”

Leo and Calypso’s relationship also changed drastically. Whenever Leo has some free time off, he’d come downstairs and help Calypso with her shop. Whether it was technical problems or just managing the front counter, he’s there to help her.

Calypso would make lunch and dinner for the two of them every chance they could. Once a while, Leo would have nightmares and Calypso would enter his room and comfort him and end up sleeping with him.

The two were having a peaceful and happy life in that flower shop that eventually they realized something that they tried to deny for a while; fearing that it’ll end this peaceful time.

They were both falling in love.

One day, Leo came to work on his trauma with Winry and asked her for advice on Calypso.

“Oh, so you finally realized your feelings, huh?” Winry smirked.

Leo blushed.

“Well, take it from someone who’s married to a man with little to no romantic bones in his body. Love is complicated and unexpected, you never know when it’ll happen or with who.”

“But… What should I do if I get transferred to a different part of the country? I saw how fragile long distance relationships are back and Central and… I don’t wanna lose what I have with Calypso.”

“I get it. Don’t forget, my husband goes out of the country and explores the world despite being a husband and father. But you know what? I don’t mind, because no matter where he goes, what he learns, what he’s been through, he’ll come home. Always. Isn’t that what Calypso is to you?”

Afterwards, Leo saw Ed playing with his kids and having fun.

Despite all the horror he went through in his past, he continues to smile and live.

Leo’s training to get past his trauma continues.

Eventually, he was even able to join the village bonfire.

The Elric family and Calypso celebrated with Leo that day. To Leo, it felt like he was cleansed of his burden. At some point, he swore that he saw his mother at that moment and that she was smiling at him. Proud of how grown up he is, and surrounded by good folks that would watch over him.

And so, his training continues.

He still struggles with fire now and then, but he keeps moving forward. He continues to push himself forward to learn Automail Engineering.

In less than a year, he finished his training.

And now he needs to report his training to the Fuhrer.

As Leo arrives at Central, he feels gloomy. It’s not that he’s not proud of his accomplishment.

It just meant that eventually, he’ll have to leave Reesembool.

Leave the Elric family.

Leave Calypso behind.

He arrives at the front entrance of the Fuhrer’s office. He gave his report on his training and that he has completed his training.

“That’s good,” Mustang replied. “With the training and your expertise, I’m sure we can help the poor souls that are still suffering from the Ishvalan war.”

“Um… Sir?” Leo said. But he couldn’t say anything afterwards. The Fuhrer put in so much effort for Leo to get training. The Elric family did so much for Leo to get past his trauma and finish his training. Calypso did so much for Leo to feel at home.

That’s why he can’t deny his transfer.

“Yes?” Mustang asked.

“Uh… nothing, Sir…”

“Corporal… I understand what you’re feeling right now. You got comfortable in your new post. That’s the struggle here in the military. Eventually, we all have to leave our homes behind to protect our country. But know this, Leo…”

“Sir?”

“Keep moving forward toward your dream, Leo Valdez. It’ll eventually help out the people around you, and they’ll do the same to others. It’s human nature to give back to those that helped us. And who knows, eventually, your dream may lead you back home…”

After he left Central Command, he went to visit his mother’s grave. As he arrived, he saw a figure standing in front of her. He was wearing a trench coat and was holding a briefcase and a bouquet of flowers. He has short blonde hair and golden eyes.

It was the eyes that gave him away.

Alphonse Elric. Edward’s younger brother.

“You’re Alphonse,” Leo called out.

Al looks at him. He recognized him instantly.

“You’re that boy…”

Afterwards, the two spoke near a cafe.

“I see,” Al replied. “You've been getting automail training from Winry, and my brother told you about me.”

Leo nodded. “I have to thank you, you saved my life and for that, I’m grateful.”

“...But I couldn’t save your mother…” Al replied, with a guilty look.

“It’s okay, my mother would be grateful for you saving me. That’s how she is, always caring for others before herself.”

Al grips on his coffee tight. “Just like my mom…”

“...Ed told me about you guys tragic past,” Leo said. “I’m sorry you have to go through such a thing. But, you managed to save so many lives afterwards. And for that, I know I’m not the only one grateful for all you have done. So, don't beat yourself down for this. Like Ed says…”

“...Keep moving forward, you've got two good legs. So use them,” Al finished.

“Exactly, which is why I was in Resembool. I finished my training and will be transferred to the East to join in the effort to help out the Ishvalans. After I fulfill my tour, I’m gonna rebuild my mom’s shop and continue her work.”

“That’s good,” Al replied. “I know Winry will be proud of you. Otherwise you’ll have to face her wrench.”

The two laugh at his joke. The two headed back to Resembool.

When Calypso got the news that Leo will be transferred to the East, she had mixed feelings. She’s happy that Leo was able to gain one step closer to his dream. But also sad, because eventually, he’s going to leave in about two weeks.

And she’ll be alone again.

“Gonna miss me Sunshine?” Leo jokingly said.

Calypso scoffed it off as a joke, but deep inside, yes. These few months with Leo have been the best months of her life. She felt needed, happy and no longer alone.

But she doesn’t want to hold Leo from his dream.

“Yeah right, I’m glad you’re leaving. I’ll finally get some peace and quiet here,” She said as she was cleaning the dishes. Unaware that tears were flowing past her eyes.

And neither did Leo.

The next day, Leo invited Calypso to a walk around the village. It confused Calypso because he never went out for a walk. He’s always working on something, training on his automail expertise or helping out with the shop.

“What for? You never simply go out for a walk?”

Leo shrugged, “Gonna be leaving soon, might as well get a last look around before I do. And I enjoy your company, despite your fiery temper.”

Leo smirked while Calypso frowned at his teasing.

She still agrees to join.

As the two walk around the village, they tend to joke around or tease each other for fun. But unknown to each other is that they both are trying really hard not to express their true feelings. Fearing that it’ll ruin what they have now.

“So, once you finish your tour, you’re gonna rebuild your mom’s shop, right?” Calypso asked.

“Yeah, though I probably won't be able to do it at our old spot anymore. So I’ll probably need a new place.”

“I see…” Calypso trailed off. “...in that case, why not build a shop here in resembool?”

Leo snickered, “You know what? That’s a good idea! I can build a shop right next to yours. That way I can enjoy your cooking.”

Leo laughed whole-heartily, but Calypso was silent, looking at Leo brightly.

Even though he said it as a joke. To Calypso, it was hope. Hope for the future.

She scoffed, “Yeah right, you’ll disturb the birds and scare my customers away. I’ll never be able to sell my flowers.”

“Well in that case, I’ll buy all the flowers you made… and give them to you.”

Calypso stopped walking with Leo. Leo turned back and saw her crying.

“Sunshine? What’s wron-”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Not when he has Calypso’s lips on his. Unable to speak.

Nor did he want to let go of her.

Like her nickname suggests.

She’s his sunshine.

It was Leo’s last day and was about to head out. Leo said goodbye to the Elric family, but Edward and Alphonse already headed toward the train station for their departure too. But before he could head out to the station, Calypso walked with him early in the morning, hands-holding and talking about their future.

“Make sure you write back at least once a week. And please don’t skip your lunches and dinner time, I worry for your health,” Calypso ordered.

“Okay, Sunshine. I promise,” Leo answered.

“And please don’t blow yourself up!” She said jokingly. “I don’t wanna hear the news about a scrawny mechanic nearly blowing up ANOTHER street.”

Leo laughs and eventually, so did Calypso.

“Okay, I promise, Sunshine.”

“And…” Calypso grips tighter to Leo, “Come back home soon.”

“I promise.”

As the two arrive at the train station, they say Ed and Al waiting on the train.

“Leo, heading out too?” Ed asked.

Leo nodded.

Later on, Ed wanted to speak to Leo privately. The two sat at a bench nearby so they could talk.

“So, you’re still gonna fulfill your dream?” Ed asked.

“Yeah, I may not be able to rebuild it at our old spot, but I’m sure my mom wouldn’t mind. I’m sure she’d want me to build my dream close to home,” Leo replied, looking at Calypso as looks out to the horizon, waiting for the train. “I won’t lie, I still get nightmares about that day. And I still flinch now and then whenever I’m near a spark or a fire. But… I’ll keep moving forward.”

Ed nodded.

“Good,” Ed said. “Keep moving forward, Leo. Being away from home will be painful, but you have to keep following your dream. There’s no such thing as a painless lesson. They just don’t exist. Sacrifices are necessary. You can’t gain anything without losing something first. Although, if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you’ll find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle.”

Calypso called out that the train was about to arrive.

Leo got up and walked toward Calypso.

He knew that it would be a long time before he could come home. So, he grabbed her, hugged her and kissed her passionately. Expressing all his love and care for her.

For him, she’s home.

“Yeah,” Ed said to himself, “A heart made Fullmetal”

[Insert Anime Ending: Let It Out by Miho Fukuhara]

youtube

Video made by DPGoingGhost

A/N:

Happy Fullmetal Alchemist Day everyone. Sorry for the late reply, school and work kept me busy. But then I remembered October 3rd was close and that I was off that day, so I made the final touches on this chapter for that day. I’m sorry if it’s not good, but I won’t lie, I had nostalgia hit me hard while writing this. I actually cried at certain parts when I wrote them.

Again, this story is dedicated to @winryofresembool on Tumblr. Thanks for making an amazing Caleo story AND being a Fullmetal Alchemist fan, keep up the good work. Some of the backstory is even inspired by her fanfiction, Things We Lost In The Fire. Do check it out if you are also a fan of Caleo. Thank you Winryofresembool for making such an amazing story and being one of my many inspirations to become a writer myself. Never stop doing what you love and keep moving forward.

Despite whatever happens in the future, Leo and Calypso are meant for each other.

Two broken souls, lost and alone.

Desperate for love and acceptance.

I know that together, their shattered hearts can become one.

A heart made Fullmetal.

Don’t Forget.

3.Oct.11

#Fullmetal Alchemist #fullmetal alchimist brotherhood #Caleo #Leo Valdez #calypso #edward elric #Winry Rockbell #Edward x Winry #Percy Jackon and the Olympians #Heroes of Olympus #trials of apollo #pjo hoo toa #fmab #fma #fanfiction #fanfic #three shot

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greysanguinity · 27 days

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EXPLAINING THE ALIEN INVASION AT THE CABIN

JUNE 25TH, 1947. FIRE CONTROL OFFICERS SPOTS “FLYING SAUCERS” Kenneth Arnold Reports 9 Disc-Shaped Objects. “Shiny, Silvery, Moved Incredibly Fast.”

JULY 8TH, 1947. USA. AIR FORCE CAPTURES “FLYING SAUCERS” ON RANCH IN ROSWELL REGION. Intelligence Officers Recover Crashed Disc.

JULY 9TH, 1947. USA. Air Force Declares “Saucer” A Weather Balloon.

OCTOBER 19TH, 1947. USA. SO-CALLED SPACE WHEAT A HOAX, Angry Farmers declare. Andrew Hoxon Denies “Saucer Connection”. Red Tinged Wheat “Nothing But A Prank.” He insists.

JANUARY 8TH, 1948. USA. AIR FORCE CAPTAIN KILLED CHASING UFO. Manetll’s Final Transmission: “Metallic, Tremendous in Size.”

MARCH 12TH, 1957. Brazil. MATO GROSSO HORROR! Reports of Gray Men with Huge Black Eyes, Scientists Scoff! Reports Persist! VILLAGE IN TERROR!

MAY 12TH, 1965. OKLAHOMA. STATE POLICEMAN FIRES AT UFO. Claims Saucer was 40 Feet Above the Highway.

JUNE 2ND, 1965. OKLAHOMA. “ALIEN GROWTH A HOAX.” “Red Weeds” Said To Be Work of Spray Guns, Teenagers.

SEPTEMBER 14TH, 1965. PORTLAND. NEW HAMPSHIRE UFO SIGHTINGS MOUNT. Most Sightings in Exeter Area. Some Residents fear Aliens.

SEPTEMBER 19TH, 1965. MANCHESTER. ENORMOUS OBJECT SIGHTED NEAR EXETER WAS ILLUSION. Officer Cleland: “I know what I saw.”

SEPTEMBER 30TH, 1965. MANCHESTER. FOOD POISONING EPIDEMIC IN PLAISTOW STILL UNEXPLAINED, Over 300 Affected, Most Recovering FDA Officer Says May Have Been Contaminated Wells.

OCTOBER 9TH, 1965. MICHIGAN. GERALD FORD CALLS FOR UFO INVESTIGATION. Republican Leader Says “Michigan Lights” May be of Extraterrestial Origin.

NOVEMBER 19TH, 1965. LOS ANGELES. CALTECH SCIENTISTS REPORT SIGHTINGS HUGE DISC SHAPED OBJECTS IN MOJAVE. Tickman: “Was Surrounded by Small Bright Lights.” Morales: “Saw Red Growth Like Angel Hair.”

NOVEMBER 24TH, 1965. LOS ANGELES. STATE POLICE, USAF INVESTIGATORS FIND NO “ANGEL HAIR” AT MOJAVE SITE. Tickman and Morales Take, Pass, Lie Detector Tests. Possibility of Hoax Discounted.

AUGUST 16TH, 1980. NEW YORK CITY. “ALIEN ABDUCTEES” REMAIN CONVINCED. Psychologists Question Drawings of so called Grays.

FEBRUARY 9TH, 1985. WALL STREET. CARL SAGAN: “NO, WE ARE NOT ALONE.” Prominent Scientist Reaffirms Belief in ET’s. Says, “Odds of Intelligent Life Are Enormous.”

APRIL 9TH, 1997. ARIZONA. FOOD POISONING OUTBREAK UNEXPLAINED! Reports of “Red Grass” Discounted As Hoax.

FROM THE DERRY (ME.) DAILY NEWS, MAY 15TH, 2000. MYSTERY LIGHTS ONCE AGAIN REPORTED IN JEFFERSON TRACT. Kineo Town Manager: “I Don’t Know What They Are, But They Keep Coming Back. Over and Over.”

the alien invasion begins long before the dreamcatcher gang is even born. lights in the sky, unfamiliar creatures with bulbous black eyes, stories of probing, earth has seen it’s fair share of alien activity long before the boys show up.

during their annual trip to hole in the wall, the boys, now men, are split into two teams of two; two will take the truck to get beer, the other two, will stay at the cabin and hunt.

and so the alien invasion begins when a mysterious stranger finds his way to their cabin, nearly frost - bitten and sporting a giant, bulging stomach that visibly squirms. jonesy invites him back to the cabin, curious as to how a man such as him could be just walking around in the middle of a snow storm.

during this time, the other half of their quartet, gets into a wreck after almost crashing into a woman sitting in the middle of the road. they never return to the cabin after this. the woman turns out to be the man in the cabin's wife.

back at the cabin, after taking a brief exit to the outside of the cabin for a laugh, for some fresh air, jonesy and beaver go back inside and find a trail of blood from the room the man was sleeping in all the way towards the bathroom. once they get inside, much to rick’s dismay, they find that he’s nearly dead and the bathroom is full of blood and red, moss looking growth.

beaver decides to shake the man and in doing so, he falls from the toilet and reveals that his backside is completely eviscerated and something has ate it’s way out of him. beaver looks inside the toilet and closes it, finding an alien looking creature; shit - weasels, as they’ll later be called.

the creature is stuck in the toilet, banging and trying to free itself, and jonesy is told to go out to the shed for the tape; when he returns, beaver is dead and there is more blood than before. the bathroom is growing a red growth called byrum, spores of the grey’s that infect humans. jonesy breaks down when he sees that his best friend, his life long compadre, is dead inside the bathroom.

this is when jonesy meets mr. gray. nearly 8 feet tall and full of ugly, grey, reddish flesh and long pale appendages for limbs.

mr. gray looms over him and seems to inspect him, until suddenly disappearing and dispersing as spores for jonesy to inhale; effectively taking over his motor skills, his memories, his everything. it only takes a few minutes for mr. gray to find the language section of jonesy’s memory warehouse.

due to their telepathic powers bestowed upon them by duddits, jonesy is able to keep himself locked up in the off-limits warehouse of his mind. he stays there, barricaded behind the door and slowly becomes used to living without a physical body.

mr. gray, on the other hand, becomes increasingly human as the days wear on and, by learning and watching jonesy’s memory, becomes fully conscious. mr. gray possesses the power of making humans do as he pleases, and becomes even more powerful when he realizes that his host may be much more special than the rest of the useless human population.

in the coming days the fight begins to spread his sickness and byrus by whatever means necessary. the only problem is that the byrum are not able to survive the harsh winter season and are dangerously close to dying out, right then and there. mr. gray’s telepathy grows stronger, eventually forming a hive mind for all that are infected and sick.

tldr: the invasion starts with a pair of hunters being infected by the byrus. jonesy, a telepath, becomes infected with the byrum spores and later, due to this telepathy, he and the alien are able to live alongside one another in his consciousness; but the fight to save the rest of derry doesn't stop and jonesy, the strongest of his friends, is the very reason why mr.gray, the alien, is able to conquer the town and area as quickly as he is.

tldr pt. 2; jonesy and his friends were all given gifts by an alien disguised as a human boy in their childhood. they saved him, and became his friend, and in turn he gave them all different powers to help others.

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