#Big Thompson River

[cpleblow]

north fork of the big thompson river

comanche peak wilderness, roosevelt national forest

©cpleblow (2022)

olympus omd em5

#landscape #river #comanche peak wilderness #big thompson river #hiking #16:9 #vertical

[oooshinyphotography]

Something about this log caught in the rocks really caught my eye and so I used it to underscore this side view of one of the waterfalls along the Big Thompson River.

Big Thompson River Falls.

Drake, Colorado. 9-15-22.

Canon T5 F/4 1/4000s ISO-800 18-135 @ 26mm.

#oooshiny #oooshinyphotography #oooshinyphotos #colorado #canon #nature #nature photography #colorado photography #colorado photographer #Drake #water photography #water #waterfall #waterfalls #waterfall photography #Big Thompson River #Big Thompson River Falls #log #rocks #rock photography

[michael-massa-micon]

Big Thompson River - June 2023 Between Loveland and Estes Park, Colorado, route 34 runs alongside the Big Thompson River as it cuts through the limestone cliffs. Kathy got this image which shows the cliffs and the river as we drove west. MWM

#colorado #loveland co #estes park co #mountains #rocky mountain national park #big thompson river

[myhauntedsalem]

Christmas Tree Ghost Ship

From 1898 to 1912 Herman Schuenemann was the Captain of the wooden schooner Rouse Simmons.

Captain Schuenemann was considered as much a part of Chicago’s Christmas as Santa Claus because his ship was better known as the “Christmas Tree Ship.”

Every November he would set sail on Lake Michigan from Thompson with a full cargo of spruces, pines and balsams piled high.

As Schuenemann reached his destination– he would steer the Rouse Simmons down the Chicago River and up to the Clark Street Bridge were thousands of waving Chicagoans would wait in anticipation.

Once the ship had docked, people swarmed onboard to choose a Christmas tree. They cost 50 cents to a dollar.

“Chicago’s Yuletide season began when the Christmas Tree Ship arrived with evergreens lashed to her masts and rigging… Her skipper would welcome throngs of Chicagoans aboard as soon as the ship’s moorings were secure. Whole families would hurry to the dock to get the pick of the crop. Many wandered on deck to watch the Captain’s daughter, Elsie, weave pine branches into wreaths, which were also for sale.”

–Reminiscences of Phil Sanders when he was a boy.

Herman Scheuenemann and his brother August before him– from 1876-to 1898– always made sure no one left without a tree. Both brothers gave away hundreds of trees to needy families, churches and orphanages.

August was carrying a load of trees to Chicago when his ship went down in 1898 in one of Lake Michigan’s fierce November gales. His brother, Herman made another trip just two weeks later determined Chicago would have its Christmas trees that year.

Unfortunately, fourteen years later Herman would suffer the same fate.

Lake sailors as well as ocean sailors are a superstitious lot–they have to be. Generations of “old salts” pass down what a sailor needs to be aware of–this includes everything that happens on and around their ships.

Captain Schuenemann was a competent and cautious sailor but for some reason he ignored a significant number of ominous warnings in November of 1912.

He was planning to sail from Thompson, Michigan on a Friday with a large cargo of trees despite severe storm warnings. His crew was nervous for there was an obvious storm brewing and the captain wanted to start their journey on a Friday.

Sailors considered it extremely unlucky to begin a voyage on a Friday. In the 1800s the British Navy was so annoyed by this superstition they purposefully launched a new ship called HMS Friday on a Friday.

Needless to say this ship and its crew were never seen again.

Captain Charles Nelson, Herman’s partner who had been a lake captain for 50 years tried to persuade Herman to delay but he could not convince him. Herman didn’t want to take the risk of being iced into the harbor and having his ship dashed against the docks by gale-force winds.

Schuenemann then ignored several more bad omens. Just before the schooner left the harbor several sailors watched in horror as droves of rats fled the ship. This is believed to be a sign a ship is in imminent danger.

Three crew members afraid now left the Rouse Simmons forfeiting their pay. This left just 13 crewmembers on the ship. Sailing with thirteen crewmembers was considered to be as dangerous as starting a voyage on a Friday.

Ships at the time nailed a horseshoe to the side of their vessels for good luck. Just as on land it is considered bad luck if these horseshoes are hung upside down–all the luck will run out.

As the Rouse Simmons set sail, the horseshoe that was hung on its side was loosened by strong winds. It was now hanging upside down on a single nail.

Captain Schuenemann left the harbor on November 22nd and sailed right into the now infamous Big Storm of 1912.

The temperature immediately dropped from 40 degrees to below freezing. Rain turned to snow and ice, which coated the ships’ rigging, sails and spars–and the Christmas trees that were on deck.

The next day witnesses in Kewaunee, Wisconsin saw the Rouse Simmons pass by flying her distress signals. They wondered why the ship with its tattered sails did not just stop but instead sailed into a blinding snowstorm.

“The Two Rivers Life Saving Crew was informed of the ships’ distress signals and set out in search of the schooner but it was never found.”

–From an article in the Chronicle of Two Rivers

This mystery was not solved until 1971 when the wreck of the Rouse Simmons was found at the bottom of Lake Michigan.

Its wheel was missing so the experts concluded that the ships enormous cargo of Christmas trees had basically turned into ice blocks on deck, which then slid into the wheel leaving the captain unable to control the ships’ course.

One popular sailor superstition is that when a ship’s bells are heard ringing of their own accord, as in a storm, this foretells death.

In the days after the Rouse Simmons was lost several people near Two Rivers, Wisconsin reported hearing phantom bells and phantom cries in the wind.

A ghost ship has also been seen through the years. It is often spotted on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day gliding in the waters near Two Rivers. People have watched as it just vanishes into a mist.

#Christmas Tree Ghost Ship #ghost and hauntings #paranormal #ghost and spirits #haunted locations #haunted salem #myhauntedsalem #ghost ship

[mooodyblue]

♡→ little!elvis masterlist

→ all fics contain sfw age regression/little space. it is very possible he was a regressor himself hence why i write it. feel free to send an ask and i'll happily send you a few screenshots from books that mention it. linda thompson's book speaks of it quite a bit.

🍼 - personal favorites

cg!elvis masterlist | main masterlist

my little!e tag

little!deke rivers tag

cg!jess wade x little!clint, deke & vince

little!jess x cg!clint

first time regressing h.cs 🍼

embarrassed h.cs

jerry x little!elvis h.cs (2) 🍼

gentle giant h.cs

babyspace h.cs (2) (3) (4)

elvis just needs a little love

making food/reading for elvis

elvis is feeling sick

feeding elvis

elvis fights to not regress in the middle of the store after finding a bear he wants. 🍼

elvis won't stop calling you while jerry's babysitting 🍼

elvis has a snow day.

getting elvis ready for bed babyspace!e

elvis just won't stop biting his nails. 🍼

helping him regress 🍼

elvis will only nap if you're with him

elvis trips and falls

christmas with little!e

bottle feeding

lazy morning 🍼

elvis regresses at a christmas party. 🍼🍼

while regressed, elvis notices you have a bad day and tries to be big just for you

elvis wakes up little and sick

elvis wakes up sick in vegas with you by his side. however, you taking care of him brings out another side of elvis which he's embarrassed of.

after a bad day, elvis comes home and throws a bit of a tantrum. 🍼

elvis gets too engrossed in his bath toys

elvis accidentally regresses on the set of loving you 🍼 🍼

part two

when elvis wakes up with a sore throat, he worries he'll never be able to sing again.

elvis hurts himself on stage 🍼

elvis slips after a magazine says he's dating someone else.

elvis slips into babyspace before a show

elvis just wants to feel pretty. 🍼

elvis slips during a press conference and jerry swoops in to help him out.

after a long, exhausting week, elvis slips into babyspace, leaving jerry to tend to a grumpy elvis.

you and elvis decide to regress together, leaving jerry to tend to the both of you.

elvis goes into babyspace for a few days, causing you to call for backup from jerry

elvis hits his head while playing hide and seek

babysitter!jerry taking care of messy elvis in babyspace

taking elvis to the beach on his birthday.

elvis shows off how smart he is

little!reader/little!elvis x jerry

elvis slipping while the memphis mafia is over

#elvis x reader #elvis #don't even think about sending weird or gross asks about this either lol this aint my first rodeo

[heavenlybackside]

Snowing really good in the Big Thompson Canyon..🌨🌨🌨

Big Thompson River 💦❄️

Big Thompson Canyon 🏔

3/14/24

💙🌨❄️🌨🩵✨️

[scotianostra]

Happy Birthday Scottish actor Sam Robertson born in Dundee on 11th October 1985.

Samuel, to give him his full name has been in a number of shows but most of you will know him as Adam Barlow in Coronation Street. He has no formal training, but with three years at Coronation Street under his belt he left the Manchester soap later he took a role in Scotland’s soap River City for a wee while before returning south to the cobbles of Coronation Street last year.

Robertson has also been in a few films, my pick of them is The Legend of Barney Thompson which had a stellar cast that included Robert Carlisle, Emma Thompson, Ray Winstone and James Cosmo, if you haven’t seen it find it and watch it!!

Other appearances for Robertson include the role of Callum Murston in the excellent Ian Banks adaption Stonemouth as well as being a housemate in Celebrity Big Brother in 2013. A more recent film appearance was a part in London Town, about the punk scene in the 70’s, which was okay.

I don't watch any of the soaps, but according to a newspaper article in August in real life Sam is still looking for the love of his life, his character recently walked out on his wife Sarah Platt after discovering the truth about the paternity of her unborn child.

#scotland #history #scottish #Actor #Coronation Street #UK Soap

[soulmusicsongs]

Gospel Blues

Gospel Blues: 10 tracks with blues-based gospel music.

Babylon is Falling - Rev. Dan Smith  (Live At Fox Hollow, 1992, original 1972)

Before This Time Another Year - The Harrell Singers (Before My Time, 1966)

Dark Was the Night - Cold Was the Ground - Blind Willie Johnson (Dark Was The Night - Cold Was The Ground / It's Nobody's Fault But Mine, 1928)

Hear My Prayer - Reverend Milton Brunson And The Thompson Community Singers ‎(Jesus Is Just Alright, 1973)

I Don't Know Why (I Have To Cry Sometime) - Premium Fortenberry ‎(The Lord Will Make A Way / I Don't Know Why (I Have To Cry Sometime), 197?)

I'm Going To Sit Down On The Banks Of The River - Blind Gary Davis ‎(Harlem Street Singer, 1960)

Jesus Is My Air-O-Plane - Mother McCollum, Eddie Head & Family, Edward W. Clayborn (The Rural Blues - Sacred Tradition 1927-1939)

Prodigal Son - Rev. Robert Wilkins (Memphis Gospel Singer, 1964)

Wade In the Water - Big Mama Thornton ‎(Ball n’ Chain, 1968)

What Is This? - The Rance Allen Group (The Rance Allen Group, 1971)

More Gospel Music

Gospel Disco in 13 tracks

Funky Gospel Bass in 10 tracks

The Best Gospel Funk Ever

Funky gospel basslines! Bass for Believers 

The Gospel according to Bill Withers

From Soul Goes Gospel in 10 tracks

#Gospel Blues #Soul #Soul Music #Soul Music Songs #Gospel #Soul Music List #Music #Music Songs

[drawing-way-outside-the-lines]

➖ Mature content, 18+ ➖ check the trigger tags each time ➖      

Chapter 49 - Name-giving. Episode 1.

---- Congo's point of view----

Congo: I stretched my arms and in the process wrapped them around Evan. It was starting to get light outside, but it was still pretty dark in the room, although I could make out his face, without concentrating too hard. His eyes were open now, and he was looking at me with a small smile Hey… my voice was low and warm I thought you were asleep?

Evan: He moaned softly and stretched in a way so he rested his hands on my cheeks Mmm.. I was… for about 10 minutes. He chuckled softly and stretched his legs, sliding one of them between mine You didn't sleep yet?

Congo: Yeah I chuckled softly for about 20 minutes, I guess?

Evan: He smiled at me softly, and got that special look in his eyes. The look of love.

Congo: I love when you look at me like that… I kissed the tip of his nose lightly and smiled

Evan: Look at you like what? He smiled softly

Congo: I smiled warmly Like you're really deeply in love with me I chuckled softly

Evan: I couldn't see the actual blushing, but I could see him getting shy I just think…

Congo: Yes?

Evan: That you're really amazing… thank you.

Congo: I smiled warmly For what?

Evan: For always making me feel so safe… he chuckled softly and smiled bright, looking even more in love than before. And then he leaned in, showering my lips with loving kisses

Congo: I moaned softly and chuckled Thank you…

Evan: For what?

Congo: All those delicious kisses I planted both my hands on top of his on my cheeks, and gave him one big kiss Evan…

Evan: Mmh? He smiled at me bright

Congo: I…

Evan: I love you so much!

Congo: I chuckled warmly Me too… I love you very much too I leaned in and kissed him again

Evan: You make me so… happy he smiled even brighter than before if possible, and squeezed his face against my chest as he once again turned shy

Congo: You make me very happy too I kissed his hair softly and wrapped my arms around him again, squeezing him tighter. Somehow Evan's naked body pressed against mine, was exactly the comfort I needed to get on top of everything that had happened the past weeks. Pregnancy and all. There was a tranquility about it, that I hadn't felt in a very long time. I guess that's what happens when two romantics fall in love with each other. It was something special. Something pure and warm

Evan: I felt his hands softly caress my chest hairs. It was a nice soothing feeling, and for a few second the thought of having a baby with Evan crossed my mind. How would a mini Shaw/Thompson look? I chuckled softly at myself as I noticed where my thoughts had drifted to. Really, was I already walking down that past? I mean, the first time I saw Andy, I felt in my heart that he was the one. I could have married him in that dirty old bar. But, to already feel so strongly for Evan? Or maybe it was just my thoughts taking a stroll here in the darkness? What are you chuckling about? He smiled at me softly, and kept running his fingers through the small hairs on my chest

Congo: Nothing particular… was thinking about babies.

Evan: Ahh… yeah, imagine, 3 little Andy's running around. What a mess! he chuckled warmly but they will be so…. beautiful…. so….

Congo: Worth it I kissed his forehead gently

Evan: Yeah… very much he closed his eyes and sighed relieved as my kiss relaxed him I think it's starting to settle in my mind… I think I'm starting to get used to the thought.

Congo: That's good. I planted yet another soft kiss on his forehead, gently caressing his back And how about your brothers? Have you gotten used to that news as well? It must be quite a mouthful to suddenly learn you have two brothers on your dads side...

Evan: He nodded softly I'm getting there. They are both cool guys… and I see River and I are similar in many things… Jackall and I not so much, but I like him a lot. He reminds me a lot of Daniel in many ways. So I guess there's a good potential for the two of us becoming close.

Congo: I nodded softly Yes, I think that's quite possible.

Evan: He smiled softly and leaned his face against my chest

Congo: And how about you and I? Have you gotten used to that by now?

Evan: He stayed quiet a few seconds, then looked at me with a bright cheeky smile No… I think I need a few more days hiding in bed to get used to that?

Congo: I observed his face as he broke out in laughter Oh you little rascal! I wrapped my arms around him tightly and showered his neck with kisses, loving the sound of his soft moans between his laughter Mmmh… I could use a few more days too, to get used to you.

Evan: He moaned a bit deeper and pressed his now growing boner against my thigh

Andy: INCOMIIIIIING!!!!

Congo: His yelling barely reached me, till I heard him already sprint down the stairs

Andy: You guys forgot about my scan, right? He chuckled hoarse and stuck two mugs of coffee down in our faces drink up! We leave in 15 minutes!

Congo: I chuckled softly and sat up Well, good morning to you too! I sipped my coffee and smiled softly at Evan as he also sat up, and grabbed the other mug with a soft grunt Andy, my love, please don't run down the stairs like that! My nerves can't handle it. Especial now with the triplets.

Andy: It was still fairly dark, but I could see him roll his eyes Fineeeeee! I'll crawl the next time.

Congo: Not sure it's any better I chuckled softly and handed my mug to Evan Hold this please. As soon as he did, I grabbed one of Andy's arms and yanked him down in bed as fast as I could, showering him with kisses as he squealed and laughed loudly. What was there not to love about mornings like this? About 30 minutes later, we were all 3 gathered at the health facility owned by Gaby's family. We were in the 'usual' check up room, and Andy was once again laying on the bed, wearing one of those light blue hospital dresses, wearing nothing underneath. Both Evan and I were by his side, each holding one of his hands as he looked scared It's gonna be alright… I promise my voice was warm and soothing as I stroke his forehead gently

Akin: Yes, everything will be fine, Andy. You should listen more to Congo he winked at me and gently padded Andy's stomach How are you feeling today?

Andy: He smiled anxiously good… except there's a light pressure here.. in this side… he placed his hand on his lover stomach area in the left side It wasn't there before. it started, I dunno… like… an hour ago or so… maybe less… it's not painful, it's just… a weird pressure? Does that make sense?

Akin: He smiled softly Does any of this make much sense?

Andy: Chuckled softly and looked down himself I guess not?

Akin: Alright… I will have a look. He grabbed a stethoscope and rolled up the hospital dress, placing the end tight against Andy's belly. Listening for a good 15 seconds before he frowned and pulled back down the dress

Andy: Is everything okay? He looked more scared than before and squeezed my hand tightly Are the heartbeats okay?

Akin: He smiled politely Yes, the heartbeats are as strong as ever. He searched around a cabinet and returned to us a few seconds later with something, I honestly never wanna see again in my entire life! It looked like a long needle like tube of some sort… a torture instrument, really. This might prick a bit, Andy, and it's very important you stay absolutely still so I don't rip the amniotic sac. Which would be very bad.

Andy: He nodded softly and looked at both me and Evan

Evan: I don't like this he looked at Akin with questioning eyes, then at me, as if he wanted me to tell Akin to stop

Congo: Akin… are you sure about this procedure?

Akin: Smiled politely at us As long as Andy stays perfectly still, there is no risk of harming the little ones. The needle may look huge, but it is so thin at the very tip that they wont even feel a thing. You do still want to know about the genes right? Just to make sure there's no A hiding in there… right? He looked questioning at Andy, who had requested this test a few days before

Andy: Nodded silently I need to know… He took a deep breath and looked at me and Evan Just… don't let go.

Congo: I wouldn't dream of it. I'm right here by your side, and I'm not gonna let anything happen to you or the babies, I promise you.

Andy: He nodded softly, then turned towards Akin and nodded, quickly closing his eyes as he took another deep breath

Akin: Smiled apologizing at both Evan and I, then very gently and very slowly, inserted the long needle through the lower part of Andy's belly, just under his belly button

Andy: Sighed softly a few times as Akin changed position, but few minutes later it was over, and Akin wiggled 4 small glass tubes of blood in front of us. Are we done already?

Akin: Yes he smiled warmly Wasn't as bad as it looked, right? I even took 4, just to be sure.

Andy: Shook his head lightly Nah, it was okay…

Akin: He put the small tubes inside a little machine, pushed some buttons, then turned and smiled at us as the little machine started buzzing. 5 minutes and we should have the exact results of who is father to whom. He smiled politely at us all, and quickly dragged something out from a drawer. This time it looked more like a dildo, even Andy seemed to notice as Akin started rubbing some lube on it

Andy: He chuckled hoarse Maybe we could start with a dinner, Akin?

Akin: Looked at Andy with a little smirk That never seemed to stop you before.

Congo: I couldn't help but chuckle softly, and Andy followed. Even Evan seemed to loosen up a bit

Akin: Alright… take a deep breath again, I just wanna do a quick scan, to make sure everything is looking good so far.

Andy: Nodded at the long instrument in Akins hand Oh baby, I don't need deep breaths for stuff like that, I was born ready! He chuckled cheekily and wiggled his eyebrows

Akin: Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you. He slowly let the instrument glide into Andy, who surprisingly gasped loudly

Andy: FUCK!!! Where the hell did you store that thing? The fucking North pole?!

Akin: Close enough. He turned on a little screen on a small tv, and turned the tv so only he could see it Sorry, no peeking today. I'm searching for a few things, so I have to have the screen as close to me as possible.

Andy: Searching? He moaned softly as Akin moved the… let's just call it a dildo… that's exactly what it looked like in shape and size. Is everything alr- he moaned deeper Is there any complicatio- moaned deeper

Congo: I sent Akin a questioning glare, it had become easy for me to understand he was dodging Andy's questions, by moving the dildo around, so Andy felt pleasure and forgot his questions Is everything alright, Akin?

Andy: Moaned heavily as Akin stuck the dildo further up, moved it upwards towards his belly, and at the same time put pressure with a hand just above Andy's dick, which not surprisingly were starting to twitch a bit as it was starting to get hard.

Congo: Is this necessary?

Akin: Sighed softly Yes, it is. Just two more minutes and I will hopefully have found the answers I'm looking for.

Congo: I have to admit, now I got worried too, and judging by the look on Evan's face, he was right there with me. Andy on the other hand seemed to be enjoying himself, as he started moaning more rapidly with each twist and turn Akin made inside him

Akin: You gotta lay still Andy. His voice was firm but slightly amused You guys must be starving him?! Didn't I tell you it is perfectly safe to penetrate him? He looked at Evan and I with a soft glare I can't do my job well, if he's wiggling like this.

Congo: I looked at Andy which was now slowly grinding the instrument, pressing his butt against it as he clearly wanted more. I chuckled softly We do touch him… just not quite as much as he would want us to, I guess…

Akin: Meaning not quite as often and quite as rough?

Congo: I nodded softly Yes, I guess so.

Akin: This is a very important time for Andy to be touched. His hormones are sky high, and every little touch sends him right to the stars. It is very important to leave him satisfied as it is very healthy for both him, and the babies.

Congo: We understand that. But, I'm sure there's a fine line somewhere? Andy is a guy, obviously, I frowned softly and nodded at Andy's now fully standing boner I get it is healthy and doable for women to have rough sex during pregnancy. But Andy isn't growing, and there can't be much more space left in him? I just fail to understand how there can also be space for us to bump around?

Akin: He smiled politely and nodded at Andy Well, I suggest you try finding that space, as he's just about to explode. He will end up jumping the mailman one day. I'm surprised he didn't already… He got interrupted as a beeping sound suddenly appeared from inside Andy, and he slowly dragged out the dildo instrument

Andy: Moaned dissatisfied

Akin: Sorry Andy. But making sure you cum is not on my agenda. We are purely here for the check up. Which looked good by the way. And the results should be done now as well, so, let's have a look on that, shall we? He smiled politely got up, and walked to a sink a few meters away, pulling off his rubber gloves, and washed his hands. He slowly walked to the little machine, pushed some buttons and it started printing a long paper, while Akin poured some coffee in a mug for himself I would offer you guys, but I brewed it sometime past midnight, it's practically cold at this point.

Congo: I shook my head lightly It's okay. We had just before we came here. I looked a bit worried at Andy as he pulled the dress down over his boner and pouted He was clearly not happy.

Akin: He smiled politely once again, and yanked the paper out of the machine as it appeared done. Then he sat down on a chair, sipping the coffee lightly as he ran his eyes over the paper I see… mmh hmm… I guess that somewhat makes sense as he said so, he looked at Evan and I. You two have become very close the past week, huh? What has happened?

Congo: I looked at him questioning We have spent more time together?

Andy: They live in the basement… it gets quite noisy at times! He pouted even more

Akin: Sounds like someone is jealous?

Andy: I'm not jealous. I'm glad they are fucking each other every 5 minutes. I just wish there were something left for me!

Akin: Nodded softly and chuckled I see… but you have both penetrated Andy at the same time at some point?

Congo: Yes? I looked at Evan as he made an almost whimpering sound and blushed bright red. I knew how he hated intimate detail being shared

Akin: Well… congratulations. You're gonna be fathers! He smiled casually and sipped his coffee

Congo: Yes. Thank you. I looked at him unimpressed We have know that for a little while now.

Akin: Looked a bit contemplating Yes, and no. You see today, I found not 3 strong heartbeats but 4. And The scan I just did, confirmed there is indeed a 4th baby suddenly growing. a girl to be more exact.

Andy: WHAT?! But how?!? His face went from pout to pure happiness in under a second

Akin: Smiled politely How is any of this happening? The results are as such he looked back at the paper as he read them Babygirl one… Congo and Andy are the fathers. babyboy one… Andy and Evan are fathers.

Andy: Squealed a bit from excitement

Akin: Babyboy two, the smallest one of the three… Andy, Congo… and Marius appears to be the fathers.

Congo: I froze

Akin: And newcomer baby girl appears to be Andy carrying Congo and Evan's child. As there is neither Marius nor Andy found in this baby.

Andy: Somewhere far away I heard him cry from happiness, and I saw him embrace Evan, who most of all just looked really puzzled.

Akin: My guess is, that this happened by your cum getting mixed inside Andy at the same time. Marius's blood recognized love, and the stronger your love grew for each other, the more Marius's blood tapped into the love, and eventually created a 4th child.

Congo: I felt out of breath, I needed to get some air!

#unicornmanes #Congo Shaw #Evan Thompson #Akin Lupei #Andycorn #Andy Shaw-Thompson

[kiwi-tai]

9 people you want to get to know better

tagged by @luhvey-duhvey

I always feel so weird tagging people 🤭🫣 but anyways tagging @jams-sims @chocolatesvilla @crowsintheisland @elliesmith33 @fox-from-fairytale @amorisland @mergrl @noahsthottie @willkimurashat

Last Song: Free - Florence + the Machine personally Florence Welch and Jack Antonoff should not have been allowed to make such an iconic album together jail for both of them because I’m OBSESSED

Currently Watching: gonna copy @luhvey-duhvey because I’m also a YouTube girlie watching videos of twitch streams from the gamers I watch and I found this Australian dude who does magnet fishing which is like dunking a big magnet in a river and fishing shit out it’s so entertaining and he reminds me of henrik.

Last Read: Currently finishing up Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson there’s something about cheesy rom com novels that once I start despite how much I may cringe I have to finish because I get so invested.

My Current Obsession: I wish I had one I’ve been constantly at work for the past few weeks but I’m trying to get back into litg and I just got really into this Choices book but it’s VIP so I’m gonna lose that soon since I have to wait like three days for the new chapter.

#kiwi talks #tag

[cpleblow]

Comanche Peak Wilderness along the North Fork of the Big Thompson River

©cpleblow (2022)

#vertical #black and white #hiking #exploration #colorado rockies #big thompson river #comanche peak wilderness #16:9 #olympus omd em5

[oooshinyphotography]

Big Thompson River Falls, Drake, Colorado. 9-15-22.

Canon T5 F/5.6 1/4000s ISO-800 18-135 @ 135mm.

#oooshiny #oooshinyphotography #oooshinyphotos #colorado #canon #nature #nature photography #colorado photography #colorado photographer #landscape #landscape photography #water #water photography #waterfall #waterfall photography #rocks #rock photography #Big Thompson River #Big Thompson River Falls #Drake

[thiswasinevitableid]

Observations (OT4)

The winner of the humans and mers underwater poll was: Humans kept in a zoo underwater for mers to look at. Duck's design is based on a grouper, Indrid's on a flying fish. This fill is NSFW

Hell would be better than this.

The U.S.S Chicago flames behind him as Barclay’s life jacket practically chokes him, not built for a man his size. His shipmates are calling out around him, calling for each other, for help, for their mothers, and he doesn’t know what to do. 

Thompson is to his right, blood dripping from his forehead. Maybe he hit it on the way down, maybe shrapnel got him. Barclay swims toward him, intending to check on him, when a fin slices the water between them. At the sight, the younger man kicks, panicked, for a few feet before disappearing under with a horrific cry. 

There’s more fins now, and he sees a shark head breach the water nearby. They didn’t have time when they abandoned ship, and they don’t have time now. 

When the teeth clamp onto his legs, it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as he expects. He calls out for help anyway. 

The world is all a blur, then it’s nothing at all. So it’s a complete shock when he opens his eyes to a blue sky and grass under his back. 

Barclay sits up, looking around at stands of scrubby pine trees and a staggering number of rubbery plants. Ice plants, he thinks they’re called. A seagull calls in the distance, and a breeze drifts along his neck, cooling a patch of singed hair. 

Heaven would make sense, but he’s still in his uniform and everything hurts. That makes it unlikely to be a dream, either. So where the fuck is he?

A groan from the ground in front of him, and he stumbles over a mound of sand to find dirt and grass, bracketing a woodland stream. Laying beside the water is the first thing in this place that makes and fucking sense. 

“Stern! Uh, I mean, Lieutenant, are you okay?” He kneels down beside the other man, rolling him gently onto his back. There’s a bad cut on his face and a burn covers much of his left arm.

“Fuck. Okay sir, don’t, don’t worry, I’ll find us some help.”

Eyes, blue as a friendly sea, open and focus on him.

“Wherever we are, I’m pretty sure you don’t have to worry about calling me ‘sir’ anymore.” His usually calm and confident voice is weak, and panic re-emerges in Barclay’s chest. 

“Wait right here, I’ll find someone, there has to be someone here.” He stands, picks a direction, and jogs off. 

In about twenty steps, he smacks into a wall. There’s still images of the woods and an ocean beyond it in front of him, but it’s a wall all the same.

“What the fuck?” He whispers, setting his hand on the surface, “we’re in a fucking room or something.

He looks back; Stern raises an eyebrow, but doesn’t ask any questions. Stern is always asking questions.

Barclay pounds on the wall, “Hey. HEY! Is anyone out there? We got a man down in here and we need help.”

There’s a melodic ding above him, followed by a lilting voice, “Do not worry, someone is coming in to address his injuries. Please remain calm. Mr. Cobb.”

“How the-”

“I can see the future.”

“What??”

“Oh dear, I under-anticipated the timelines where you become alarmed.”

“You’re damn right I’m alarmed.” He jumps as the piece of wall making it look like the river continues slides open and a man about his age swims in, bare-chested and carrying a bag over his shoulder. He swims up the river and hauls himself onto the bank beside Stern. At the point at which Barclay sees his lower half is a tail, he has to sit down. 

“You okay there big fella? Humans can get kinda light-headed on the trip down.”

“Yeah no, I’m not okay.” He rubs his face with his hands and adds, helplessly, “what’s going on?”

The merman sighs, “I keep tellin’ ‘em that wakin’ y’all up here is more disorienting than if you woke up somewhere where it’s obvious you’re under the damn water. Here” he pats the ground next to Stern, “have a seat and I can explain it to you both.”

Barclay complies. Even though his attention should probably be on the merman, all he can focus on is whether Sterns’ breathing is weakening. 

“Let’s see, how do I put this, uh, delicately. Y’all are in a terrarium park. Like those things on land where you keep fish and stuff-”

“Aquariums?” 

“Those are the ones, yeah. Mers got something similar, just for stuff you find on land rather than in the water.”

“We’re not stuff” Barclay’s voice cracks at the thought of being miles and miles from home and treated like a beast.

“I know you ain’t.” The merman carefully rubs a salve onto Stern’s arm, “But plenty of mers figure that since you’d keep us in zoos, you would. So it’s fair play. I don’t agree with that. But mr. high and mighty out there has me on human detail anyway” He pulls out a green bandage, “yeesh, Indrid said this was a shipwreck, how’d he get burnt.”

“They hit us at midships. Blew the engine room. There was fire everywhere and, and sharks and, and-” 

“Easy, big fella, easy. What’s your name?”

“Barclay. And that’s…Stern. I don’t know his first name.”

“Joseph.” It’s barely a whisper, but the other man holds out his hand, “nice to meet you.”

The merman shakes his hand, “You too. And I’m Duck. It’s a nickname.”

Joseph smiles, “Your tail is magnificent.”

“Thanks.” Duck smooths his hand over Joseph’s hair, “I’m gonna leave you this salve to put on the burn if it starts hurtin. And these’ll help with adjusting to the depth” He passes Barclay a tin of small, pale orange hard candies, “Anythin goes wrong, that stump right there has a little button in it. Hit that and I’ll come swimmin.”

“Okay.” Barclay holds the tin to his chest. 

Duck sets a hand on his arm, “Don’t worry about anythin but feelin’ better and helpin Joseph here rest up. Okay Indrid, I’m comin’ out.” He slips back into the river and dives, raising his tail in goodbye.

In the artificial woodland noise, Joseph murmurs, “I knew they were real.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

If merfolk ever decide to make real contact with humans, they should bring their medications with them. They’d make a killing. 

Joseph is only three days out from the worst injuries of his life and his arm is barely scarred and the gash on his face is gone. Better still, Duck has visited them every day, ostensibly to check how they’re getting on, but he’s easily led into more casual conversation. 

That means Joseph can turn his attention from his own wellbeing to that of Barclay. The cook has tended to him like a candy-striper to a dying man, seemingly ignoring his own needs in favor of looking after Joseph. It only seems fair to return the favor. Especially to his favorite part of being on the Chicago. 

The mers have a deal with a select group of humans to send them supplies from land, which is why Joseph and Barclay have a little driftwood cabin to call their own complete with a few pieces of furniture, clothes, some books, toiletries, and a record player. 

Joseph still wonders how they got that down here. 

Indrid, the voice from the speakers, assured them that they would not be “on display” until they were both fully healed. So he gathers up the shaving supplies and carries them to the pond at one end of the stream, where Barclay stares into the calm water. He has no need of them himself, but it helps to keep up appearances. 

“I wasn’t sure if you want to keep your beard regulation or not. If you want I can trim it for you.” He sits beside the other man.

“Think I’ll let it grow. Thanks, though.” His mouth almost forms another word. If Joseph didn’t know better, he’d think Barclay liked calling him sir. 

He packs the kit back up. After a moment, Barclay dips a foot in the water, “Do you think anyone else made it?”

“I hope so. But I don’t know. It was so fast I’m not sure we even had time to send a distress signal.”

Barclay turns those big, coffee-brown eyes on him, “It’s like I can’t get it out of my head. I can’t sleep because when I close my eyes I just see all of it again. But you seem so calm.”

“Honestly, I think my body and brain went through so much shock in the last few days that my responses to things are all out of order. And I…well, I suppose there’s no harm in saying now that when we reached our destination I was going to ‘disappear’ and take up work gathering intel behind enemy lines. I learned how to keep a lid on my emotions under horrific circumstances.”

“Always thought you were too smart to be a Lieutenant.” He yawns, “god I’m tired.”

“I have an idea. Lay down in the grass.”

Barclay obeys, his head coming to rest near Joseph’s thigh.

“Good. Now, when you close your eyes, I want you to picture that restaurant you’re going to open. The one you always talked about.”

A soft chuckle, “Didn’t know you remembered that.”

“I tried to remember details about the men on my crew. But I’ll confess our conversations always stuck in my mind.”

A blush creeps beneath Barclay’s beard, “Should I, like, describe it too?”

“That’s exactly what you should do.”

So Barclay tells him about how the dining room will look. What drinks he’ll serve. Then he describes a five course menu in such delicious detail that Joseph is relieved their hosts provided them with a pantry of semi-recognizable foods. 

Barclay pauses mid-description of a roast duck with spiced plum sauce and, as shyly as a virgin at a drive-in asks, “Would you pet my hair?”

He’s spent so long drilling the urge to touch others out of himself that he almost says no. Then he reaches down and runs his fingers over dark strands until his shipmate in this strange, underwater shelter is finally asleep. 

—----------------------------------

Barclay is napping in a remarkably effective ray of fake sun when arguing voices jar him awake. He looks around to find Joseph in the chair he’s dragged outside. When their eyes meet, his friend simply points to where a speaker is in the ceiling above them. 

“You know why I cannot.”

“I know why you didn’t in those other ‘zoos,’ since you apparently were gone before the humans even got settled in. But this is Sylvain! You’re gonna see these fellas all the time. And if you don’t want ‘em thinkin’ they’re no more than glorified pets in your eyes, you oughta at least go in there.”

“You know I do not see them as such.”

“You keep makin some real big assumptions about what I know, Indrid. What I know is you used to treat humans as friends, used to be the one talkin’ me into pokin’ my head above water to talk with ‘em. And I know somewhere along the line the fella who’d do that started actin’ like he was too good for those trips. For me.”

“My duties changed, you know-”

“If you say those two words again I’m gonna rip my ears off and feed ‘em to the sand sharks.” It's the angriest Duck has ever sounded, “I just want you to talk to me like you used to, without all this weird formal platitude shit.”

“It’s not as easy as all that.”

A sigh, then “Guess I know how much effort you think I’m worth, then.”

The conversation ends there, though a moment later Indrid makes what sounds like a curse and the speaker goes dead. Then the doors to the outside open and Duck swims into the stream with a not-very-convincing smile.

“Afternoon, fellas. Oh, Joe, I brought you Stone Jump, like I promised.” Duck produces a wooden box and sets it on the ground. Barclay’s still a little stuck on the fact that Joseph lets someone use a nickname. 

“Thank you.” Joseph sits on the bank, making small talk as Barclay brings over water for them both. As Joseph takes his cup he asks, casual as can be, “will we ever get to meet Indrid?”

Annoyance is plain on Duck’s face when he says, “Don’t seem to be shapin up that way. You know what’s wild? Back when we were kids, Indrid loved spendin time around humans. I was this stubby-tailed thing who didn’t wanna go into weird situations, but all he had to do was smile at me right and I’d follow him to the surface. Older we got, the more we talked about maybe makin a place where humans and mers could live side by side. When he got his powers as seer he told me he had all these plans. Then he off and disappeared, came back, and was talkin about the human zoo thing! I peaced out after that and started workin in the kelp forest. When we got word Sylvain would be gettin’ humans, he pulled some strings to make sure I was the one working with you, even though he knows I hate the zoo thing!” He notices his own raised voice and sighs, “Sorry, sore spot.”

“Understandably.” Joseph opens the box, studies the game pieces, “would you like to talk about something else?”

“I really would.”

“How do mers tattoo?” Joseph gestures to the illustration of kelp twining up Duck’s bicep. Barclay can’t prove it, but he’s pretty sure the mer flexes a little when he notices Joseph looking. 

“Same as humans do. Or maybe used to. Y’all still tap sharp little sticks into each other?”

“Not these days.There are machines for the needles now.”

“Wild. Mers actually learned tattooing from humans, way back when.” He smiles playfully at Joseph, “you got any?”

“None. What about you, Barclay?”

“Uh, one. It’s kinda embarrassing. We all went to get one the week before we shipped out and I wasn’t sure what to ask for so..” he lifts his shirt, revealing the mermaid on his left pec. That it looks like Joseph in a seashell bra with longer hair does not escape him, or help the blush on his chest. 

“Very classic.” Joseph’s smile suggests the likeness is apparent to him too. Barclay wants to wipe the knowing look away with a kiss. 

Instead he lowers his shirt like an obedient sailor and listens as Duck explains the rule of the game.

—-----------------------------------------------------------

When he was seven, Barclay’s grandparents took him to a zoo, where he spent a considerable amount of time at the grizzly bear exhibit, waiting for it to come out. The nice keeper had explained that the bear was shy at times, but usually came into view when fed. Then she’d winked at Barclay, reached into her pocket, and tossed an apple into the cage. The huge, lumbering shape emerged, took the fruit, and arranged himself in the sun to eat it. When a crowd gathered, he first turned away from them, and then slunk out of view. 

Barclay understands why. 

Their “exhibit” has been open to the public for a week, and Barclay rarely leaves the cabin or the trees if he can help it. It just freaks him out, being watched like that. 

Joseph is the exact opposite, has dragged a chair down to the main glass–it can become two way during visiting hours and one way at other times–and is watching the mers who visit them more intently than they gawk at him. 

“It’s not ideal observation conditions by any means, but there’s no way in hell I’m passing up the chance to take notes on a civilization few humans ever see.”

A cluster of mers swim in, pointing at Joseph. Barclay can’t really blame them for their reaction; he’d pay good money to see Joseph, and even more to touch him. And god knows he’s probably giving all these mers the wrong idea about how handsome the average human is. His bearing, dress, really everything but his insistence on slicking back his hair has become more relaxed since they got down here, yet he never seems anything but confident and in control. 

Joseph moves from the chair, kneeling on the grass to converse with a kid mer through the glass, patiently answering her questions. 

He’s right there. And there may as well be another pane of glass between them for all Barclay feels able to do about it. 

Barclay retreats into the cabin until closing time, and is busy assembling dinner when Joseph steps inside. 

“Just like old times.” 

“Yeah.” Barclay can’t look at him. Not right now. Not with the thought of being trapped here forever with the person he wants but can’t bring himself to make a move on.

“Putting you in charge of the galley was the smartest thing Hayes ever did.” There’s a pause, and then a hand rests on his shoulder, “Barclay? Is everything okay?”

“Peachy keen.” 

“Lying doesn’t suit you, sailor.” 

Barclay turns. Joseph watches him with an inviting expression, which is how he musters up the courage to say, “It does when the truth is hard to put into words. Sir.”

“You could be a man of action, then.” Joseph strokes Barclay’s beard, touch lighter than a spring breeze. 

“I could.”

The touch is firmer this time, “That’s an order, Cobb.”

Barclay grabs Joseph’s shoulders, yanking him into a kiss. It’s the worst possible idea, he doesn’t know if Joseph swings that way, let alone for him-

The other man tangles his fingers in Barclay’s hair and presses him against the counter with the fervor of a man who’s been unsatisfied for far too long and is ready to do something about it.

They don’t break the kiss until Barclay’s knees are nearly buckled, at which point Joseph murmurs, “Thank the lord, I wasn’t sure that would work. I’ve wanted to do that for months.”

“Months? I, I mean, I know I wanted to but you’re, you so…you’re you. I didn’t think you’d go for some nobody cook.”

“Barclay, I used to lay awake in my bed and daydream about how when the war was over I was going to convince you to go into business together in a restaurant so we’d have an excuse to see each other every day. When I woke up down here and saw you I figured I was dead and in heaven.”

Barclay whines, hiding his face in Joseph's shoulder, “I feel like such a fucking numbskull. I should have noticed.”

“We’ve both had a lot on our minds.”  Joseph kisses the side of his head, “I’m not sure I’m up for more than, um, heavy petting for the time being. But if you want to take advantage of the fact there are no cameras in here, I have a few ideas.”

—----------------------------------------------------------

For various reasons, Joseph resigned himself to going without intimacy until he was out of the navy. So being able to lay like this in the grass, Barclay’s head on his chest, feels more fantastical than the mer structure surrounding them. 

It also makes him very glad the mers project a sky onto the ceiling of the enclosure; if he had to look up and contemplate how much water is atop him, it would damage his calm. Right now, the sky shows constellations and a waning, crescent moon. Indrid explained to him that the spell enchanting it mirrors the sky directly above them. 

It turns out Indrid can be incredibly chatty when the mood strikes him. While Joseph has no idea what he looks like, hours spent gabbing with him through the speakers mean he knows Indrid’s opinions on terrarium design, the warmest portions of the ocean, and which octopi make the best pets. 

Their talks also make it clear that Indrid is painfully in love with Duck, to the point that Joseph and Barclay have debated whether to tell the other merman that and spare everyone years of pining. 

Barclay is mid-description of the time he made a cake so gorgeous it nearly caused a fight at the cakewalk when a burbly, sorrowful noise drifts through the glass. Duck’s left instructions for the one-way glass setting to always show them the outside world, which is why they can see the mer huddled in the far corner of the room, tail tucked to chest and shoulders shaking. 

“You okay there?” 

In spite of the gentleness in Barclay’s voice, the mer bolts upright like he’s been stabbed, “Yeyes, perfectly fine, nothing wrong.”

“Indrid?” They say as one.

“Yes.” A weak, awkward wave, “Hello. It is nice to meet you in person. I assumed you were asleep. I will be going now so as not to disturb you further.”

“Or you could come in here for a while? Seems a lot better than being upset on your own.” Barclay gestures at the hatch in the wall. 

“I do not wish to intrude…”

“Indrid, we’ve known you for close to two months now. It’s not an intrusion when a friend visits.” Joseph doesn’t add that Indrid coming in after an invitation is probably the least intrusive way they’ve been made aware of his presence. 

The merman disappears at the edge of the enclosure–he and Duck have to dive beneath it, into an anteroom, and then through the hatch–and then emerges in the stream, giving them their first, unfiltered view of him. To his left, Barclay gasps. A remarkably restrained reaction under the circumstances. 

Indrid is stunning. Silver hair falls to his shoulders, framing an angular face as he hauls himself onto shore. His tan skin is covered in tattoos, and his tail reminds Joseph of flying fish, only black with silver streaks instead of silvery-blue. 

As Joseph turns on the nearby “lanterns” (really glowing algae in containers shaped like camping lamps), Indrid looks at Barclay and sighs, “This is not at all how I wanted my first visit to go.”

Joseph rejoins them at the stream, “You met us when we were nearly drowned. I think  inelegant introductions might be par for the course.”

Glowing, red eyes well-up with tears, “I, I am sorry I could not save more of your crewmates. They only ever let me save two, no matter how much I argue. And only then for the terrariums! I started out trying to convince them that routinely saving humans from shipwrecks, would foster peace, would make you see us as allies but no one would listen. And all the while humans died at sea and I could do so little to stop it. I had to give them a way to think of us as superior before they’d even hear of saving any.” 

“That’s why there are humans on display so many places.” Joseph muses.

“Yes! I would try to get ahead of the wrecks and convince the towns to build these terrariums, and now everyone assumes I am this eccentric mer who sees humans as pets. And I don’t! Especially not you two, I do so enjoy our talks Joseph and our chats while you exercise, Barclay-”

Joseph shoots his friend an amused glance. He’d wondered why he kept coming back from that one grove shirtless. 

“-and all I want is to be your friend, to spend time with you as Duck does and I cannot because I fear any affection for humans will be used to dismiss my requests down the line and it will all be for nothing!”  The last word is trilling wail. Joseph isn’t sure how to proceed, if comfort would just make it worse. 

“C’mere.” Barclay opens his arms. Indrid blinks once, surprised, and then dives into them, curling himself around the cook and hiding his face against his chest. So close, Joseph realizes that Barclay is actually bigger than Indrid, even accounting for the tail, an observation his imagination unhelpfully runs off with while he’s trying to focus. 

“Oh” another, softer trill, “oh you are very good at this. I see why Joseph chose you as his mate.”

“We’re not quite at that point, but I agree; he’s wonderful to hold.” Joseph sits closer, “should I pet your tail? I know that helps Duck relax.”

“Yes” is all that Indrid gets out before tearing up again, “I, I was hiding out there because we had a fight. A bad one. He, he accused me of not caring about you. Both of you. He asked me to give him a reason why he should keep supporting my idea and do you know what I said? I said “because I said so!” Like the absolute fool I am! It only got worse from there.I was just so upset and tired from arguing with other officials all day over seer matters and I just wanted someone to listen to me rather than second guessing everything I say.” His tail goes limp, “in most futures this argument is the end of it. He stops trying to be close to me. And all because I could not bring myself to tell him what I have told you.”

“It’s a damn good thing I worked out your hiding spot, then.” Duck floats in the stream, eyes on the other mer.

Indrid yelps, startled, “There was only one future where you came for me.”

“Yeah, well, recall someone sayin’ I was the most stubborn mer they’d ever met.” Duck pulls himself onto the grass, “why didn’t you tell the truth when I asked about the zoos?”

“I was…ashamed. I had made so many promises to you about what we could accomplish and then all I could produce was something you despised.  And there were so many futures where the confession did nothing to save our friendship. In retrospect, this was foolish of me. You have never been one to opt for the likely futures.”

“Take a lot more than a fight or a disappointment to get rid of me.” Duck leans forward, rubbing his cheek against Indrid’s, “all I’m askin’ is you tell me the truth next time.”

“I shall.” Indrid purrs, melting from Barclay’s arms into Duck’s. 

“Uh” Barclay clears his throat, “since you boys got that sorted out, do you wanna stay awhile? I finally figured out how to make cookies down here.”

Indrid trades a quick glance with his companion, then nods, “Nothing would make me happier.”

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Things become much livelier in the enclosure after that night. Duck visits them at least every other day, and Indrid stops by whenever he can during open hours. More often than not, the pair come together after the zoo closes, joining Barclay and himself at the stream. They’ll teach other card games, eat, or trade stories about the surface and submarine worlds. 

At first the two mers simply swim or sit next to each other. But after two weeks, Indrid’s preferred sitting position is draped around Duck. When he’s not laying his tail in Barclay’s lap or resting his arms and chin on Joseph’s legs to talk with him about the finer points of mer technology. 

Duck is the one to suggest swimming together, and while Barclay jumps in with little coaxing, Joseph prefers to sit on the bank with his legs in the cool water. This gives him an excellent view of Indrid winding around Barclay, laughing as the cook tells him the kinds of jokes only sailors can create, and means that when Duck swims up and rests his arms on the bank, he does so between Joseph’s spread legs. 

Suffice to say, he’s been having a lot of interesting dreams lately. 

The one he’s awakening from involved Indrid in the bedroom window of Joseph’s childhood home, but as a humanoid moth rather than a mermaid. He sighs, hoping he’ll get to pick it up tomorrow night. He takes Barclay’s hand where it’s draped over his waist and nestles back against him, fully intending to try for more sleep when he catches on to what woke him up in the first place. 

“Why, Mr.Newton, such forward courtship.” Indrid’s voice drifts from the nearby speaker, “and towards the court seer no less.”

“If mister high and mighty seer didn’t want me cornerin’ him like he’s a cheap siren in a dark reef, he shouldn’t have spent all mornin’ teasin’ me before I left for work.”

“Such accusations. That behavior would be unbecoming of one such as myself.”

“Show you unbecoming”

There’s a trill, accompanied by the thud of a body being shoved against something sturdy.

Barclay’s hold on him tightens, “We should tell them, right? Indrid said the control for that mic is still faulty.”

Joseph extricates himself enough to lean out the window by the bed and says somewhat loudly, “You’re right Barclay, it sounds like someone unintentionally left that microphone on.”

Silence, then, “Damn, darlin, sounds like your pet’s been hearin you get felt up.”

A whining purr, “You promised you’d let me live down accidentally calling Joseph ‘pet.’”

“Aww, it’s cute when you try’n wiggle away. Your choice, fellas; I can turn the mic off, or you can listen in.”

“I wanna listen.” Barclay sleepily hugs him from behind.

“You can leave it on.”

Indrid moans, and Joseph can pick up the thwap of his tail. Then he smiles as he feels Barclay’s half-hard cock pressing against his ass.

“Did that happen before or after you woke up?”

“After” Barclay kisses his shoulder, “please let me fuck you, sir? Or you can fuck me, I like that just as much.” His hands drop lower and lower. Joseph stops them at his navel. 

“I want to so badly, big guy. But there’s something you need to know. My dick isn’t exactly…standard issue.”

“That’s…well I was gonna say wild but if there’s anyone I know who could pull off being in the service without that getting found out, it’s you.”

“A shocking number of people are easy to bribe. It really doesn’t bother you?”

“Not at all, baby.” Barclay traps him against the wall, “does explain why you never engaged in any, uh, ‘off hours recreation’.” His hand slips into Joseph’s shorts just as a very loud moan comes from above them. 

“Not exclusively. Everyone above me was a prick, and sleeping with subordinates is unethical–oh, ohmylord” He groans as Barclay slips two fingers inside him. 

“Too bad. Because there were plenty of guys on that boat who would’ve loved a turn with you. Sir.” Barclay fingers him more roughly, “mostly because you were so fucking put together it seemed fun to ruin you.”

“And it, it had nothing to do with wanting to put an officer everyone saw as a brownnoser in his place I’m sure?” He steals a glancing over his shoulder, hoping Barclay takes the hint. 

He does, grinding against him and growling, “Yeah, that too. Don’t know a sailor who doesn’t wanna see the officers taken down a few pegs but you, baby, if you’d been a hardass about something all anyone could talk about was what we were gonna do you” He laughs when Joseph moans, “didn’t think you’d get off on knowing we used to talk about fucking you two at a time, sir. Fuck, woulda been even more fun once we found out it could be three.”

“Yes, yes” he rocks his hips, trying to rub his dick on Barclay’s palm, “Barclay, please, please fuck me.”

“By all means do” Indrid’s voice floats by, “but first; meet us at the river.”

Barclay waits for Joseph to meet his eyes and nod before saying, “Guess we better follow orders.”

They make their way over as graceful as the situation allows and find the mermen waiting for them. Duck’s chest is covered in bites, and Indrid is smiling like a shark who just ate an entire hatchery. 

He can’t help himself. 

“Do mers generally finish fast?”

Duck laughs, “Nah, we both just been real pent up all day. I was comin by to make some notes before I forgot and this one followed me instead of waitin’ for me at home”

“The futures suggested several promising timelines if I did.” Indrid settles against his boyfriend, “well, gentlemen? It seems you were in the middle of something.”

“I have an idea. Undress, sailor.”

“Yes, sir.” Barclay stands, pulling down his pants. Joseph takes the opportunity to slap him once on the ass before removing his own clothes.

“Sit with your legs in the water. Yes, like that, and then I can just…” he straddles Barclay while facing the mers, and the cook wraps an arm around his waist to steady him. 

“My, my, what a lovely view.” 

“Got that right.” Duck kisses Indrid on the cheek before watching hungrily as Joseph sinks down onto Barclay’s cock. 

“And here I thought it looked big. Christ that feels amazing.” He rocks his hips, then gasps as Barclay begins thrusting into him with abandon. 

“Sorry sir, lost the last of my patience feeling how wet you got for me. Fuck” he grabs Joseph’s thighs, “you’re so fuckin’ lucky none of us ever got fed up enough to bend you over. Tighter than a fucking virgin in church and so fucking needy you’ll put on a show for anyone who asks.” 

“I, I’d argue Duck and Indrid aren’t just anyone.”

“He’s right, dearest” Indrid swims close enough to pet Barclay’s legs as the tense in the water, “you belong to us, after all.” He leans in, nibble Joseph’s stomach before giving an experimental lick to his cock. Then he swims back a few inches so he can watch Barclay driving into Joseph with increasingly erratic thrusts, “mmmm, such power. You’ll make a wonderful mate, Barclay. Such the perfect combination of sweetness and…strength” his eyes widen excitedly as Barclay thrusts hard enough that his balls slap into Joseph’s skin. 

“Fuck, fuck” Barclay grunts, “much as I wanna hear you scream while you get fuckin’ knocked up by an enlisted man, think I better cum somewhere else.” The cook pulls and, as much as he appreciates it, Joseph groans in frustration. 

“C’mere, slick.” Duck holds out a hand, “got just the thing.”

Joseph takes his hand, slipping into water for the first time since the wreck. Duck swims them backwards with ease and rests his back against the bank as Joseph lovingly paws his chest. 

“It really is a shame, you being under the sea all the time. The whole world should get to see this amazing body.” 

Duck blushes and trills, a lower noise than when Indrid does it, “You’re a real sweet talker, you know that?”

There’s a moan from the other bank, and Joseph looks over to see Indrid with Barclay’s cock fully down his throat as the cook cums. But instead of releasing him fully, Indrid sits back and then begins mercilessly sucking and licking the head as it tries to soften. 

“I didn’t know he could be mean.” Joseph whispers

“Me neither. With me he’s either sweet or just a little feisty because he wants me to show off how strong I am.” Duck kisses his jaw, “but what I wanna know right now, darlin, is how you want me.”

“If I'm honest I hadn’t gotten much farther than touching you. It’s all I can think about sometimes” he runs one hand along Duck’s tail and strokes his face with the other, “you were made to be worshiped to..be…what is that?” He looks down, and through the water can see the scales where he’s straddling have given to a flat, ridged surface dotted with short, soft nodes.

“My set-up ain’t one of the more common ones, but I like to think it’s mighty fine. Go ahead, try rubbin on it.”

Joseph grinds against the tail, the texture firm with just enough give to be comfortable. It’s like nothing he’s ever felt, and he closes his eyes to focus on the sensation as it glides his body towards orgasm. When he opens them again, Duck’s pupils are huge and he’s letting out pleased, gentle grunts. 

“Does it feel good for you?”

“Uh huh. See, I got more underneath it, a spot where someone can fuck me full on. But they gotta work for it first like this.”

“Like this?” Joseph grinds down more aggressively and Duck moans. 

“Just like that, fuck, feels fuckin’ amazing, c’mon, a little faster, yeah, perfect.” He pulls Joseph into a long, tender kiss, and when they separate Joseph kisses every inch of his face he can manage as he cums on the merman’s tail.

“See? Told you it was mighty nice.” Duck grins, lopsided and so charming Joseph kisses him again.

“Agreed. Do you need to cum?”

“Nah, in a one and done mood tonight.  Besides, seems like the big fella could use you back on land” he tilts his head to where Barclay is sprawled on the grass, moaning weakly as Indrid licks the remnants of a second orgasm from his cock. 

The seer releases Barclay as Joseph crosses the stream, catching him in his arms and purring “next time, pet, I demand a whole turn.”

Once he’s bundled himself in a towel and Barclay into his arms, Joseph rubs the cooks neck and tells him how wonderfully he did, and how glad he is they’re together.

“Speaking of such things…” Indrid looks at them, “am I correct that while both of you are happy here, you’d prefer a life on land?”

“Uh huh” Barclay murmurs, “lotta things I miss.”

“I have to say I agree. Not that this isn’t fascinating. And…well, without this zoo we’d never have met you both. But still, there’s a lot on the surface I wanted to see.”

Indrid taps his fingers together, “I make no promises, but Duck and I have been talking and I think I have a way for you to do just that…”

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No one is sure how Ned Chicane finds a buyer for a house that anyone on the island could tell him is dangerously close to falling into the sea. He simply says he found people who truly appreciated it’s charms.

(He leaves out the part about it being enchanted to protect from storms and rot).

What they are sure of is that, shortly after VE Day, two men move into it. Bachelors, one who quickly finds a job cooking in Mr. Kahale’s restaurant, and one who eventually takes a job as a schoolteacher. 

And some say that they see both men climbing down a ladder into the sea. But that’s probably just a rumor.

#OT4: Government Men and Their Cryptid Boyfriends #mermay #duck x indrid #agent stern/barclay #trans agent stern #inclay #agent stern/duck newton #agent stern/indrid cold #terato #human/monster romance #monster boyfriend

[southeastasiadiary]

Day Twenty-Five: A Day in the Life of the Other Jim Thompson

There are those who say I lack the ability to be spontaneous. Or perhaps they'll admit that I can be spontaneous as long as every detail of my spontaneity is carefully planned and approved at least three months in advance. But to these naysayers, I say, “Ha! Let today be proof you couldn’t be more wrong.”

I awoke in Chiang Mai with every intention of calling today’s entry “Repositioning #5” because that was the agenda set for the day: “Transfer by private car without guide from your hotel to the Airport to take a flight to Bangkok (10h10-11h35). Upon arrival at the Airport, please head to the exit gate and look for your driver who will be waiting for you, holding a welcome signboard with your name on it. Then, you will be transferred to your hotel in town by a private vehicle.”

The transfer to the airport and then the flight to Bangkok went according to plan. But then I met my local guide, Rich (or maybe Mr. Rich; I’m not sure whether “Rich” is a personal name, a family name, or merely a pseudonym; I expect the latter), a really friendly young man with an almost Cambodian permanent smile and a love of laughter. While we were waiting for the car, he said, “I have a suggestion. Your hotel room won’t be ready for several hours yet. You are scheduled to visit the Jim Thompson House on your last day. Why not visit it today instead? Then we’ll go get lunch. By that time you could check in.”

That idea sounded terrific to me, so off we set in a midday Bangkok traffic jam to reach the Jim Thompson House.

Now, I have wanted to see this house since long before I ever thought I’d actually travel to Thailand, and I wanted to do so for the silliest possible reason. Back when I was a graduate student and a newly-minted college professor, one of my preferred means of relaxation were to read “noir,” hard-boiled mystery novels like The Killer Inside Me, The Getaway, A Hell of a Woman, and The Criminal. The author of all these novels was Jim Thompson. So, when I discovered that Jim Thompson lived much of his life in Bangkok, disappeared under unusual circumstances, and lived in a place sometimes referred to as The Jim Thompson Mystery House … well, that was a place that intrigued me.

There was only one problem, however.

The Jim Thompson who wrote the novels and the Jim Thompson whose house is in Bangkok were two entirely different people.

The owner of the house was an architect who worked for the OSS (the predecessor of the CIA) during World War II. One of his last intelligence assignments was in Bangkok, and he fell in love with the city. He decided to live here permanently. Then, discovering that the cottage industry of making Thai silk was about to die out, he became fascinated with the fabric and the designs often printed on it. He took samples to New York and showed them to friends of his who edited fashion magazines, and they began to feature Thai silk in some of their designs.

Thompson’s big break came when “The King and I” was first a hit on Broadway and then made into a movie. All of Yul Brynner’s elaborate costumes were made of “Jim Thompson silk,” and the former architect/former spy now had a third career: fabric merchant. As his wealth increased, he bought six houses (four from Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam/Thailand, and two from the Muslim community of weavers just across the river in Bangkok who wove his cloth) and joined them together into an East-meets-West mansion on the banks of one of the klongs (canals) of the Chao Phraya River.

All was well and good until Thompson took a vacation to the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia in 1967. Then, on March 26, he went out for a short walk … and was never seen again. The cause of his disappearance (and presumed death) remains a mystery. Some say he was kidnapped and then murdered, a random victim of a random crime. Others say he was still doing espionage work and was investigating something to do with the war in Vietnam, causing himself to be killed by an enemy agent.

And that, you have to admit, is a far more mysterious ending than that of the author Jim Thompson who simply died of a stroke at the age of 70 in 1977 after a lifetime of alcoholism.

The architect/spy/fabric exporter Jim Thompson, on the other hand, had filled him home with Thai art, such as this rare wooden Buddha (most Thai Buddhas are bronze)

and this sandstone Buddha.

He also collected ceramic works, like these pots that have no lid:

They are actually filled through a hole at the bottom.

Like the Confucius Cup in Hoi An, it's the level of the liquid itself that keeps it from running back out through the bottom. The claim is that, without a lid, the contents don’t oxidize as quickly and thus remain fresher longer.

Thompson’s dining room table consisted of two Chinese gaming tables set side by side.

His living room is open and spacious, looking like the perfect place to relax and read a novel by the other Jim Thompson.

His bedroom is set off from the rest of the house by a set of doors that once led into a pawnbroker’s shop.

In his bedroom are two horoscopes. The one on the left is his birth horoscope. The one on the right is (reportedly) a prediction that something sinister would occur when he was 61 years old. He was born in 1906 and disappeared in 1967, so …

His bedroom was simple and elegant.

Traditional Thai houses are built on stilts to protect the furnishings from flooding. Today the area beneath the house, which would have been plain in Thompson’s time, is decorated for visitors like me.

At the end of the tour, Rich suggested that we get sandwiches in the Jim Thompson Cafe. There were four sandwiches on the menu, and I ordered the ham and cheese. Unfortunately, the cafe was out of everything except tuna salad, so Rich said, “How about a tuna salad sandwich?”

You would think that, with all the plays I acted in earlier in my life, I could better conceal my emotions. But frankly, my face is often a dead giveaway for whatever I’m thinking even when I believe I’m being perfectly composed. So, less than a second after asking this question, Rich said, “Okay. We can find another place.”

Apparently, Rich can be spontaneous, too.

#thailand #bangkok #jim thompson

[hallmark-movie-fanatics]

FOLLOW YOUR HEART TO HALLMARK CHANNEL’S ORIGINAL SERIES SUNDAY NIGHTS (Spoilers)

ELIZABETH’S FAMILY VISITS HOPE VALLEY IN EPISODE TWO OF ‘WHEN CALLS THE HEART,’ PREMIERING AUGUST 6, ON HALLMARK CHANNEL

STUDIO CITY – July 7, 2023 – On “When Calls the Heart,” Elizabeth’s Aunt and sister arrive in Hope Valley in, “Hope Springs Eternal,” premiering Sunday, August 6 (9 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel.

The series stars Erin Krakow (“The Wedding Cottage”), Pascale Hutton (“We Wish You a Married Christmas”), Jack Wagner (“A Big Fat Family Christmas”), Kavan Smith (“Big Sky River”), Chris McNally (“Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies”), Kevin McGarry (“The Wedding Veil Expectations”), Andrea Brooks (“Romance to the Rescue”), Martin Cummins (“Riverdale”), Kayla Wallace (“My Grown-Up Christmas List”), Loretta Walsh (“Love on Fire”), Viv Leacock (“Cruel Instruction”), Amanda Wong (“Raise a Glass to Love”), Johannah Newmarch (“Gabby Duran & The Unsittables”), Natasha Burnett (“The Journey Ahead”), Ben Rosenbaum (“It Was Always You”), Hrothgar Mathews (“Motherland: Fort Salem”) and Hyland Goodrich (“When Calls the Heart”).

The town is buzzing with talk of the Hot Springs and how it will help the town. Meanwhile, Elizabeth (Krakow) and Lucas host Aunt Agatha (Karin Konoval, “Schmigadoon”) and Julie (Charlotte Hegele, “Air Crash Investigation”), who make an interesting visit to Hope Valley.

“When Calls the Heart” is from WCTH 10 Productions Inc. Erin Krakow, Susie Belzberg, Michael Shepard, Eric Jarboe, Jimmy Townsend, Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird, Michael Landon Jr., Vicki Sotheran and Greg Malcolm are executive producers. Peter DeLuise, Neill Fearnley, Paul Redford, Derek Thompson, Elizabeth Stewart and Amanda Phillips serve as co-executive producers. Heather Nevin, Shelley Matheson, Doran S. Chandler and Vince Balzano are associate producers. Vicki Sotheran and Greg Malcom serve as producers. Neill Fearnley directed from a script by Derek Thompson. Based on the novel When Calls the Heart, by Janette Oke.

#when calls the heart #s10 e2 hope springs eternal #hallmark channel #press release #hallmark original series #season 10

[heavenlybackside]

It may be spring, but Colorado isn’t done with snowy scenes just yet. Big Thompson River yesterday.