#i thought boston was in louisiana... | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

maguro13-2 · 1 month

Text

Demons Unleashed ~ Origins of the Ink Demon Gaiden Pt.3 ~

[Salem Town Hall - Salem, MA]

[Central City (Yoru) - Mariko Nanba]

Eruka : Hey guys!

Ashley : Long time no see, Eruka.

Kimial Diehl : Congratulations, Froggy! I heard that you finally completed your Majo Detective Training.

Eruka : I sure did! I'm finally beginning to work in the force! Now that I am a recruited Majo Detective, I will save the innocence and stopping the evil forces and crime itself! No evildoers shall face the almighty Eruka Majo Detective! I am great with skills and far surperior although using frog magic was utterly useless so I decide to get my official spell book and learned traditional types of various magic.

Penny Crygor : Well, good for you! Good for you! Surely that you just wanted to go back as a frog princess in your homeland of Louisiana?

Eruka : Nah! I like it here up north. It's nice and cool to be a great person to visit New England. I mean, this entire state is one heck of a place to live here! I'm sure everything will just be at work! We always gotta love Boston! So I heard about this state being lucky for you to be grew up on.

Kimial Diehl : Actually, I grew up here as a child before I moved to Tokyo and right before I triggered the second event in Tokyo after the Shattering.

Eruka : Eh? The Shattering? The event that took place around 12 years ago? That the was the event when Maka Albarn was a little girl that triggered the power of Shattered Resonance and literally just wiped out 80% of Japan's population. So the Masked boy Makoto Asagiri of the Phantoms of Society, managed to save her life and is also a survivor of the event. Same goes to you, Kimial.

Kimial Diehl : Right, I usually have a real name that I used have from my ancestor, I was part of the Kasugatani Family Tree, even though I thought she was lame and I realize she just died. What's the point of being a witch anyway and become a hero.

Eruka : Hey, woah. Inca Kasugatani may have been a cool ancestor, but she's not that lame and you know it! Just because she died about 1000 years ago, doesn't mean that you could be just careless or--

Maba : Enough! (Bangs Gavel)

Eruka : Sumimasen, Maba-san. I beg your pardon.

Ashely : All do favor.

Kimial Diehl : So, Maba. You're our town's...Huh? City official.

Maba : Indeed. Now then, Eruka and you two have finally got my attention, her training skills as a Majo Detective were highly incredible, I've shown good progress on your training.

Eruka : (Nods) I've did! I worked my way out into being a skilled Majo Detective, I'm finally in the force and ready to do some justice!

Maba : Well, very quaintful. Well, the Family of Kaoru Enma is making some huge changes going around the city. Hopefully, Lynn, Lynn, City of Sin isn't too much about the awareness levels outside of Boston. Well, not necessarily in order. But I do know is that I've reported you to Town Hall to give you this important detail. It's about the humans that created the World of Soul Eater 1000 years have mysteriously returned after the Ohkuboverse's annihilation from the Time Eater.

[Mistery - Seirou Okamoto]

Kimial Diehl : Yeah, it's the same entity that wiped out Shinra and his people before he everyone knew that was gonna resurrect himself through reincarnation.

Maba : Well, technially, It is a commonly known sense that the first witch that gave them life in the Ohkuboverse like us, was executed after Shinra and his beloved's death. Penny Crygor was taking pictures of a mysterious lab where and discovered naked women that acclaims to be the humans of the Ohkuboverse and the witch who gave life to us and as you a part of her family tree.

Kimial Diehl : Me, a part of her family tree? Who is this "her" that is a part of the family tree?

Maba : It's simple, she is the witch gave life to the Majo order during her execution in the Ohkuboverse, everyone thinks that Shinra's man-made son calls us the "sworn enemies" to the DWMA it's because of the Spreading influence that led to the heartless' attention making us as their personal scapegoats.

Kimial Diehl : Wait a sec, so the witches are scapegoats to the heartless? But Shinigami said that our magic has wrecked havoc on the earth.

Maba : False, that's not what his son said. He said that the true enemies to us were the heartless their selves and same goes to the humans that had their hearts swallowed and conjured by the darkness itself. And we would've opened our eyes to the truth when the so-called DWMA trying to make an attempt on destroying the Kasugatani Family Tree, that's what got the Heartless' Attention on destroying the Kusakabe Legacy!

Kimial Diehl : Say what? Why would Shinigami wanted to say that?

[DOOR BANG!]

Fox Witch : Lord Maba! Please excuse us! We got some terrible news coming from Nevada! Estimated over 9000 heartless.

Maba : What 9000? That's Dragon Ball.

Fox Witch : I meant over thousands of Heartless have came from the outskirts.

Maba : What's this excursion from Shinigami?

Fox Witch : We just discovered that the true creator of the Majo Order has returned after being executed in the Ohkuboverse. A criminal mastermind from the Paper Mario universe is gathering the eight vessels that he brought back to life from Shinra's newly world. First Vessel is Amaterasu, the spectral woman and mother of Iblis, second was the mastermind that destroyed Shinra's childhood, Haumea...

Kimial Diehl : And let me guess...the third one is definitely the ancestor of mine, not lame it is. I know why.

Ashley : I can think of one person who were one of the eight vessels that were connected to the Eight Pure hearts. Or should I say that the eight vessels of the eight Pure hearts are Eight Pillars, the keys to opening darkness, the adolla realm was apparently nothing more than nothingness.

[Aniexty - Yasuhiro Inoue]

Ashley : We all just discovered that the so-called "Anoter Era" or Adolla is was made for nothingness. Needless to say, The Ohkuboverse was nothing more than a cursed universe, there was never a god, nor it was evil itself, it was made from deception from Demon Vibe, the reason that authors like him were so arrogant, the crazy story of Soul Eater is all just a baloney. But how did Shinra not know it was Demon Vibe or Sephiroth that was manipulating everything from the very start, and in turned--[to Kimial and Eruka] manipulated you.

Kimial Diehl: What? Me? Manipulated by Demon Vibe?

Eruka : How on earth did you know, smarty pants?

Ashley : Easy. The Time Eater had to kill everyone because it was going to stop Demon Vibe from ever reaching the Door to Darkness, the same door that it's astral creation, the evangelist, was attempting to put the planet in omnicide with the usage of Firaga and darkness itself. Your ancestor, Inca Kasugatani, was used as a puppet for the entity's will, she went insane after she realized that wickedness was not the right answer. However, Shinra and his people didn't show Demon Vibe's true potential after he was banished to the Shadow Realm. So the Time Eater annihilated everyone and then executed Inca Kasugatani in resulting of destroying the Ohkuboverse. That's the real reason Soul World existed within Real World AU.

Kimial Diehl : I see then. Right now, we gotta stop those heartlesses. But if I'm worried about protecting our people, then I will break free from Shinra Kusakabe's will. Reclaim the name Kasugatani and my position. That's why I ran away from Tokyo to join the force.

"Meanwhile in Boston..."

[A Spirit of Bushi - Konami Kukeiha Club]

[people being terorrized and screaming]

*DBZ SFX : LOUD EXPLOSIONS*

Boston Citizen : Help! Help! There's a Monster on the loose!

Fracktail : WHERE ARE THE EIGHT VESSELS OF THE EIGHT PURE HEARTS!? THE VESSELS OF THE EIGHT PURE HEARTS HAD BEEN MISSING SINCE MY LAST CONTACT WITH THE SECOND FORMER PILLAR, THE SECOND WHO TRIED TO DESTROY THE WORLD FROM THE WILL OF DEMON VIBE!

*DBZ SFX : Scouter Scanning+Beeping*

Fracktail : Just as I expected. There are 5 of the eight vessels of the Eight Pure hearts, but only three of them is mississing. Where is the 5th vessel.

Sarissa: That's no monster on the loose! Some idiot awakened a dragon by accident! I'm sorry for my gratitude, but what are you supposed to be just as clever as some dragon from the Paper Mario. You're Fracktail from the Paper Mario Universe, Aren't ya?

Fracktail : Correct, it only took you 10 seconds to figure it out that it was me that is searching for the lost vessels that disappeared since the Ohkuboverse was destroyed. In any case, I will make you try to beat me in a battle test to see if you have what it takes to reclaim the Pure Heart as your own prize! See if you like it for yourself!

"FRACKTAIL : GUARDIAN OF THE PURE HEART"

Sariss : Well, I'm sh*t out of luck! No way point of defeating this guy. Guess it's just my lucky day! (Uses her magic to attack Fracktail's antenna) Yes! Direct hit! This is just too easy! (uses her magic rapidly) Ha! How's this to taste your own data!? Not quite the possible movements about a dragon fighting against a magician that is here to stop troublemakers to search the vessels of the Eight Pure Hearts.

Fracktail : Hmmm...Your skills are quite intriguing, but I seem some minor damage due to your battle experience. You have the will of a warrior that is far superior to the others. I shall get a good reading on your performance of battle techniques. Commencing Data Scanning Operation.

*DBZ SFX : SCOUTER SCANNING+BEEP*

Sarissa : Hmm? What's it doing now? Is it scanning my data just because I am a warrior? What was it going to scan me anyway?

Fracktail : SARISSA, MAGICIAN OF THE WOODS INCIDENT. LEGENDARY HERO IDENTIFIED, NOT SHINRA KUSAKABE. MUST PROTECT PURE HEARTS FROM LAWLESS INTRUDERS! COMMENCING ATTACK MODE OPERATION. *DBZ SFX : ENERGY BALL IMPACT*

Sarissa : Woah! (evades the attack) You're not going to take me down that easily! (uses Thunder magic to attack Fracktail, electrocuting) I hope this will wear you down!

Fracktail : ERROR! ERROR! DOES NOT COMPUTE! DOES NOT COMPUTE! SHINRA KUSAKABE, MUST BE DESTROYED! ATTACK! ATTACK!

Sarissa : Did this dragon say "Shinra Kusakabe"? Isn't it that the guy who created...the world that we lived in? What the hell is dragon talking about. He was talking about the Eight vessels of the Eight Pure Hearts.

Fracktail : PREPARE FOR ENEMY ELIMINATION!

*ADOLLA LINK*

Sarissa : Eh? That link! It sounded like nothingness coming from somewhere! But where?

Inca Kasugatani : Leave this one to me. I know how to take this sucker down. Hey, Dragon with an antenna! I'm the one you were looking for! If you know where Shinra Kusakabe, then I suggest that you look at me, the young woman or youth who happens to be the witch that gave birth to Majo in Soul World 1000 years ago.

Sarissa : Huh? Who are you? You look like the one that is similar to Kimial Diehl before, have I seen you before or did I even first meet...you?

Inca Kasugatani : You finally remember my future relative, of course she is the descendant to me that I was the one who started the Majo Order a 1000 years ago. The order was given to protect my family tree from being destroyed by the face of true evil, but after the Time Eater came on that day, everyone was annihilated and I was the only one left that is executed by it. Two mustache men from past and future made an execution about my death sentence for serving the will of Demon Vibe itself. But luckily, I was resurrected by my own soul from Shinra's creation. Giving the perfect body and not to mention the perfect platonic love that I given to the man that died at the hands of the Time Eater along with his beloved Iris.

Sarissa : Say what!?

*DBZ SFX : SCOUTER SCANNING+BEEPING*

Fracktail : INCA KASUGATANI, MOTHER OF WITCHKIND. VESSEL IDENTIFIED! DATA MATCH. RETURNING TO BASE IMMEDIATELY. (flies off)

Sarissa : Hey, It got away!

Inca Kasugatani : Not for long! Hey, Fracky! (Fracktail stops and turns) I know where Shinra Kusakabe is and I have heart that is connected to him.

Fracktail : Wise word, Mother of Witchkind. I will search for the legendary hero that is one of the eight vessels of the Eight Pure hearts. I shall find the one who have resurrected the 1000 years of death in resulting of 50% of the Ohkuboverse. The legenday Hero, Shinra Kusakabe, has finally returned after his demise by the Time Eater. Now that the Eight Vessels of the Eight Pure Hearts are beginning to make a return in the exchange of exisiting to Real World AU, I shall find the rest of the Eight vessels on my search for the eight pure hearts. But first, I shall give this to you what is left from the former of the eight pillars. (gives the orange pure heart to Sarissa) Now...Returning to base. Beginning new search of the missing right vessels. Farewell. (flies away)

[Doom's Eye - Jun Senoue]

Sarissa : Hey, Thanks so much anyway! Oh well, it flew away back to base. Don't know what's gonna happen next if he finds the other eight vessels of the Eight pure hearts. Very impressive for me that he gave this to me in order to find the missing vessels that were the eight sacrifices used to open the Door to Darkness. I wonder what does that even mean? So tell me, Pink-hair lady that kinda looks like Kimial, I'm her caretaker Sarissa and you must be the lady who was executed 1000 years ago from the Time Eater. Inca Kasugatani, the young lady who sold her heart and soul to the darkness. Just why on earth have you came back for so long after Shinra's death. Why are you here anyway? Here in Real World AU?

Inca Kasugatani : You're quite a noble caretaker is that it? I humbled my gratitude that you would believe that I created a line of witches who would easily find about Shinra returning to his ordinary self in the next years. I would guarantee you that I have a platonic love for him, to think that I'm wickedly insane because of me, I was chosen as a puppet by the will of Demon Vibe. It's will used me as a puppet to destroy his world. I just wanted to reunite with him and feel that I would needed to have forgiveness. I wanted to play with him again.

Sarissa : Reunite with Shinra Kusakabe? No way.

~ Stage 2 : Return of the Witch ~

2 notes · View notes

tmnt-obsessed-ace · 1 year

Note

Not turtles but can you name all 50 state capitals of the united states?

The last time someone asked me about state capitals it was my dickhead 4th grade social studies teacher Ms Pitt

So lets go >:)

Alabama: Fuck Idk ._.

Alaska: Think it starts with an M

Arizona: Phoenix (my mom went there one time)

Arkansas: shit...uh idk

California: Sacramento

Colorado: damn what is it

Connecticut: Most forgetful state ._.

Delaware: Delware lite

Florida: FLORIDA ALL CAPS

Georgia: Atlanta (only time Ive been out of state)

Hawaii: Honolulu

Idaho: Potato land

Illinois: Chicago

Indiana: Jones

Iowa: Its IOWA!! Who knows?

Kansas: (Is that even a state? I thought it was a city)

Kentucky: I think it starts with an R

Louisiana: New Orleans

Maine: idk

Maryland: who knows

Massachusetts: Boston

Michigan: I dont even know where Michigan is!

Minnesota: Large sota

Mississippi: fuck idk (and considering that I might be moving there with my parents in the future...fuck)

Missouri: shrugs

Montana: I keep forgetting that this is a state

Nebraska: I dont know

Nevada: Vegas?

New Hampshire: idk

New Jersey: who cares its new jersey

New Mexico: again I dont know

New York: Albany

North Carolina: It has a capital alright

North Dakota: Whatever the fuck it is

Ohio: ohiO

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City (only because that is a stupid lazy name for a capital)

Oregon: idk

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia

Rhode Island: idk

South Carolina: Its fucking tiny idk

South Dakota: shrugs

Tennessee: Nashville

Texas: I dont know...

Utah: Salt Lake City?

Vermont: what kind of name is VERMNOT?

Virginia: Virgin city

Washington: Seattle

West Virginia: Virgin City part 2 electric boogaloo

Wisconsin: idk

Wyoming: idk

I dont know majority of the state capitals.

#unsusprising #considering thats its been around a decade at least since Ive last thought about the state capitals

12 notes · View notes

driftwoodskeleton · 1 year

Note

4-9 for Tallahassee and Sebastian, please!

i love talking about my OCs so thank you for this.

4: How do they feel about people from before the war?

Tally wishes she'd run into more of them. Maybe some old friends? She liked meeting the Vault-tec rep as a ghoul, but all the others she's met have been people she didn't know, She was hoping some of her old friends might have survived, but no such luck so far.

Sebastian hates them. He tries to avoid thinking about them much, to be honest. He hates what they did to the world and that he has to struggle now because of it. He'd never admit it, but a lot of his hatred stems from jealousy about how comfortable and easy their lives seemed.

5: Where are they from?

Tally is from Louisiana, but she's spent most of her life in Massachusetts.

Seb is from what's left of Texas. He left as soon as he could and headed for the Mojave and hasn't looked back. Much.

6: What faction/s are they currently part of?

Tally is firmly Brotherhood of Steel, since taking over. She helps out with the Minutemen too, but that's less important to her now.

Sebastian would prefer it if all major players in the Mojave would spontaneously explode. He's not necessarily into the thought of a wholly independent Vegas, but if it meant he could just go back to his job without becoming some massive figurehead for everything, he'd be thrilled.

7: What faction/s have they been part of in the past?

Tally was more involved in the Minutemen previously, but she's taken a backseat on that now. Since Desdemona kinda Railroaded (haha) her into joining them in order to get the courser chip decoded, I guess they count as a prior faction since she destroyed them?

Seb was helping Yes-Man and the NCR before he realised they were both insane in their own ways and that he wanted nothing to do with any of them anymore.

8: Have they met any canon characters?

Tally has met most of the canon characters in Boston aside from a few like X6-88 and Curie. She has a hard time keeping track of everyone she has met.

Sebby tends to avoid people unless he has no choice, so he hasn't met that many. He did shoot Caesar in their first meeting, so it's probably for the best that he avoids people.

9: Are they friends with any canon characters?

Tally is friends with a lot of people, she finds it helps with her Elder related duties to be friendly with people from across the Commonwealth. She's closest to Danse though.

No. Sebastian hates pretty much everyone. Except Rex, Raul, and Lily. Something about her calling him her grandson by accident melted his cold, dead heart just a little.

🌸 Thank you so much for the ask!!! 🌸

#thank you for the ask!!#the last call #oc asks #fallout 4 #fallout new vegas #ask games #i love ask games #tallahassee swan #sebastian six #my ocs

3 notes · View notes

siancore · 2 years

Note

Hello Beautiful,

I've finally binged the vampire show to ep4. One angle I want to see more of is the psychological impact of New Orleans. Sure Lestat has decades more experience and is sadist. But also NOLA is a new, fresh hunting ground for him. The people and streets are only for his entertainment and meals.

I think Lestat saw Louis pull a blade on his own brother and thought, here is another predator yearning for freedom. As a sadist who wouldn't search for connection to the human world any way, he saw Louis dominance and violence and perhaps thought, "this human sees NOLA as his playground too, he's just caged by human conformity." Lestat's sadist mind couldn't see Louis as performing tough guy but really his identity, his self is created by "home."

Then, our moral quandry fledgling is required to see his home, his people, his streets as food. Would Louis have less of a moral quandry if Lestat had whisked him away to St. Louis or Boston to learn to hunt?

What is the psychological weight of having to feed on your home, on your communal self? I feel like the show, and discourse, could have gone deeper with that.

Maybe New Orleans as both hunting ground and home is covered more in Ep5, since they talk of leaving but still that is years in and after Louis has already decided he cannot kill humans.

Wow. Thank you so much for this deep dive into these new characterisations. Louisiana is a very special, unique part of the world. So far, I think the writers have done okay. There’s so much history to delve into, and I know there’s only so many episodes.

This new iteration is so enjoyable. Full disclosure: I’m a bit fucked up like Lestat. That’s not me being weird or trying to say I relate to a morally ambiguous character. It’s deeper than that. I’ve already said too much. I just get it.

BUT fuck him. I feel inadequate right now. I feel like I cannot give you the deep response you deserve. You have touched on so many relevant points. This discussion around sadism. Toxicity. Hunting. It’s like it is meta meta level shit. I cannot even. Usually, I’m okay. But this. Wow. It’s almost too much. You’re so clever x

2 notes · View notes

the-firebird69 · 2 months

Text

Just started thinking about things like the car and the circus and we thought the car makes sense and to drive around for a few months each car but most likely just in Florida and doesn't really want to travel around the world it's pretty dangerous and you wouldn't have enough money let's try thinking about the circus stuff and he was really going to be here and it probably wouldn't be you guys and he would be up against other people or robotic people and we don't want that so it's a nice idea to make some extra dough and we think that these pseudo empire will be here and might actually do that and it will be what the max are running as well but we don't think that you folks are going to be in it especially the two idiots at all in any way and we think that you did very angry and still sense of s*** and my son is just getting by and the circus is like it's not really the epitome of what he would be wanted to do it's kind of like bingo certain ways Barnum & Bailey is different but that'll be later on. And Ben Arnold agrees it's not the symphony orchestra of New York or London or Tokyo and it's not even boston-based for real it came out of Louisiana and not to be picky but that area this is strange show and it was really workers who are screwing around all day he didn't want to work and that's what they're saying but they probably won't be around here at all and it's going to be Mac and Ben Stan and Justin and Mike and I can and their kids and they're all going to do in these things is stunts they have in the past and you get all these warlock saying they're going to run around and do these things and push everyone out so they're all going down to fort Myers and to the circus area so we picked up a mallet and pseudo empire picked up a real one I'm starting to grab them and hang them I'm trying to mess up their business and it's going to go on all day and night at each circus area finally BG and Chrissy and some others go up there in the skies and start doing anything as pitiful

Thor Freya

Olympus

It's a very strange feeling walking around with these losers under the before and they're trying all sorts of stuff now they tried nothing and they don't do stuff that works and they're hateful and mean and they don't have it I can't stand though

Hera

True

Zues

0 notes

callisto47 · 1 year

Text

Thoughts

Aside from it being a new year, there are just goals I actually want to accomplish and put into action this year. One being Travel. I have always been someone who wanted to travel but over the years have been more and more introverted and a homebody. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing but I want to see these places I've always wanted to. I know some may take a few years to get to such as Ireland, Iceland, Italy, and so on. But other places like Mexico, LA, Boston, Louisiana, I would like to start crossing off my list soon. Here's to this happening!

#traveling #goals

1 note · View note

lacontroller1991 · 3 years

Text

50% Off (Rick Flag x Fem!Reader)

Anon Request: on a rare day off, reader and Rick go to a staff only pool, reader almost regrets it because she can't stop checking out Rick getting out of the pool all wet in his twin trunks. Rick is oblivious because he thinks his love for her is unrequited and doesn't wanna ruin their close work friendship

Author's Note: FOR A DC MOVIE I WAS SUPER SHOCKED (im a marvel girl through and through) BUT GODDAMN THIS MAN FINE AS FUCK

Warning: Language, smut, semi public sex, vaginal penetration,

The hot Louisiana sun beat down against your neck as the grip on your rifle lessened with every drop of sweat. You loved your job… when you were working inside. When you had to watch the prisoners “enjoy” their time outside of their cells it was hell. Fortunately for you, you had your close friend who was also sharing in your agony.

“Shit like this makes me miss DC,” Rick complained as you let out a huff of breath, glancing over to the colonel and watching the way the sweat rolled down his tan face. It was hot. He was hot. Though you would never admit that outloud.

“Mmmm, not as much as I’m missing Boston right now. Did you know there was a staff only pool?” You asked as he turned his head, hazel eyes piercing yours. Shifting onto his right leg, he glanced back to the courtyard, keeping his eyes on Harley, who was provocatively walking around the other members of the squad in a modified prison uniform meant to enhance her body. A pang of jealousy shot through you as you watched his eyes follow her form.

“Yeah, no one uses it though.”

“Why not?”

“No one cares to,” he mentioned as you nodded your head, watching Harley wave at the both of you.

“I don’t understand how she can strut around like that.”

“Is that jealousy I’m hearing?” Rick asked with an amused smile as you scoffed and walked away.

“No way in hell, Flag. Shift is over. I am going to use that pool, it’s way too hot out here. Wanna join?”

“Nah.”

“Come on,” you begged, tugging at the sleeve of his uniform, “we have the rest of the day off and it’s hot, let’s go for a swim.”

“Alright, meet me there in 20.”

“Yes sir,” you mocked saluted him as he scoffed, gently shoving your arm before stalking off.

You ran back to your small little office and practically threw off your uniform in a haste, digging through a bag you had packed especially for this. Pulling out a black one piece, you quickly tossed it on before fixing up your hair a little. Yeah you were going to a pool, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t want to be presentable. Walking to the pool, you ignored inmates' looks and jests towards you as you swung open the door that led to the outside and quickly shut it.

“Wondered if you were gonna make it,” Rick commented, grabbing your attention as you turned to face him, body immediately shutting down. You eyed the way the water dripped off his toned chest as he pulled himself out of the pool. Your gaze dropped down lower to his trunks that clinged to his body, outlining every muscle and then some. It just got 1000% hotter, you thought to yourself as you pulled your mind out of it’s trace before he could notice the way you stared at him. Setting your towel on the bench, you moved to dip your foot in the pool and moaned at the temperature.

“You alright there?” He asked, suddenly standing next to you, causing you to slightly stumble until his arm wrapped around your waist, steadying you.

“(Y/N), are you alright?” Concern lacing his voice as he lowered his head, checking you over, noting the flush in your cheeks but dismissing it for the heat.

“Yeah, I’m just hot,” you replied, quickly slipping into the pool and dipping your head underwater, relishing in the feeling of the cold water against your warm skin. Shrugging his shoulders, he hopped into the pool creating a splash that further drenched you. Swimming to the edge, you propped yourself up on the ledge, letting your legs dangle in the water as Rick came up next to you.

“Ya know, this was a good idea. The water is feeling so good,” groaning a little at the contrast of tempts. What he didn’t know though was that his little groan added to the heat.

“I’m just glad I had a swimsuit,” you lied, acting as if you didn’t intentionally plan the swimsuit out.

“Me too, but it looks good on you.”

“Thanks, I got it for 50 percent off,” you mentioned, closing your eyes and not noticing the way his eyes trailed down your body and focused on your erect nipples.

“I’d prefer it 100 percent off,” he mumbled out loud before his eyes shot open in slight panic. Yours shot open as you looked over at him, shocked by his words.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, I said nothing. Must’ve heard something,” lying through his teeth, he looked anywhere except where you were.

“If I’m not mistaken Colonel, I think I heard you say you wanted it ‘100 percent off’,” you mentioned, slightly moving over to him as his dick twitched when you said his rank.

“(Y/N),” he warned slightly, “what are you doing?” You casually placed a hand on his chest before running it down, stopping right above the waistband of his trunks and feeling the way his muscles tensed up underneath your touch.

“What we both want,” your admission caught him by surprise, because for all he knew, he was the only one interested in you and not the other way around.

“We can’t, we’re coworkers,” he groaned slightly as you sucked on his neck, nails raking down his toned abdomen. Pulling away, you locked eyes with him.

“Rick, I don’t give a fuck. I’m tired of waiting around for you to notice,” you were cut off by his lips pressing against yours. It wasn’t how you imagined your first kiss with Rick would go, but the desperation and lust behind it made all coherent thoughts leave your brain. Wrapping your arms around him, you opened up your mouth to allow his tongue to enter. Groaning against the kiss, you felt Rick’s hands coming to wrap around your waist and bring you closer to him, causing you to accidentally rub against his growing erection.

“Fuck baby, you’re so fucking hot,” he whispered, kissing along your neck before finding your sweet spot. Moaning, your hands went up in his hair as you tilted your head to the side to allow him better access to your neck. Grinding down against him, you tugged his hair as his mouth returned to yours, hands moving to your ass and squeezing it. Breaking away, you looked into his lust filled eyes before moving your hands down to his trunks and palming his hard member.

“Should we really do this here?” He asked softly, breathing quickly and hissing as your hand glazed over the tip of his shaft.

“I don’t care if someone sees us, let them,” you whispered against the shell of his ear, nibbling the skin that was there. Turning you around, Rick pushed you up against the wall of the pool as he shoved his pants down enough for his erection to spring free.

“Are you absolutely sure?” Nodding your head, he moved one hand down between your legs and pulled the part of the bathing suit out of the way as the other hand lined his manhood up with your vaginal entrance. With one last look of confirmation, Rick quickly snapped his hips upwards causing the both of you to moan at the sensation of one another.

“You can move,” you noted, feeling accustomed to his size. Slightly pulling out of you, Rick thrusted back in a second later and leaned his head against your shoulder.

“God you’re so tight baby, you feel so good around my cock,” you moaned at his words as he continued to thrust up into you. Pivoting his hips, he began to hit a new angle that made your eyes roll back in your head.

“Fuck Flag, harder,” you commanded as he sucked on your pulse point and thrusted into you with more force that had your back scratching up against the wall. Suddenly, you felt the tip of his cock graze against your cervix, hitting that hidden spot that had you seeing stars.

“Right there,” you managed to moan out as Rick could tell you were close. Moving one of your hands down, you start to rub your clit as he continued to hit that spot.

“Fuck,” your eyes rolled back into your head as waves convulsed through you, your walls contracting around his dick as he coaxed you through your climax. After feeling your walls clench around him, Rick’s thrusts started to become more irregular as his abdomen muscles flexed continuously. Seeing that he was close to coming, you wrapped your legs tighter around him.

“Fuck Rick, cum inside of me. Let me make you feel good,” you continued to dirty talk, loving the way he was so concentrated on getting his high, “cum inside my pussy, please Colonel,” and that sent him over. You both moaned as hot ribbons of cum coated your walls as he lazily thrusted inside of you a few more times before pulling out.

“Damn kitten, you felt so good,” pulling you in for another kiss, you happily sighed against his lips, knowing that he was yours.

Author’s Note: So I am obviously not the best at dirty talk and I apologize, but enjoy!!!

677 notes · View notes

icarus-suraki · 2 years

Text

Flannery O’Connor is so often named as The Southern Gothic author around here, and that’s entirely accurate: she is fantastic. I happen to love Wise Blood. But! You’re missing out on a lot of other good authors if she’s the only one you’ve read.

Cormac McCarthy’s early novels set in Appalachia, especially Outer Dark and Child of God are amazing. But trigger warnings for, um, everything?

Toni Morrison!! Beloved has a malicious spirit and everything. The fact that it’s set in Ohio doesn’t change the fact that the origins of it are in Kentucky. Likewise, The Bluest Eye is set in Ohio too, but that doesn’t change the feel of it.

Wiley Cash: A Land More Kind Than Home. It’s got snake-handlin’ and everything. It’s my personal favorite of his three novels (I hear there’s a 4th maybe coming soon?)

If you have not read Carson McCullers, please do. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter is her most well-known novel and it’s fascinating for making the main character a kind of “negative space” shaped by the characters around him.

William Faulkner’s As I Lay Dying is nicely gothic if sometimes a little difficult to read due to the writing style. Some of his writing is gothic, some isn’t. I’d argue that The Light in August counts as does The Sound and the Fury.

Truman Capote has the short story “Children on Their Birthdays,” which is also good. It’s in A Tree of Night, which has some good short stories. His novel Other Voices, Other Rooms is really good stuff.

Eudora Welty doesn’t want to be called “Southern Gothic” but we know better. Go read The Optimist’s Daughter.

Some people include Ambrose Bierce, which is fair, though I’ve never quite thought of him as hardcore Southern Gothic? He does write some weird and horrific stories.

And, of course, Harper Lee, though her list of works is small.

This is such an incomplete list in many, many ways. This is just a list of authors that came to my mind just in thinking about other authors who might also appeal to fans of Flannery O’Connor (may she haunt us forever).

(Also, some people include Edgar Allan Poe on Southern Gothic lists for some reason? I say they’re making that claim on a technicality because he’s from Boston and spent more time above the Mason-Dixon line than below it. The fact that he’s buried in Baltimore doesn’t make him count. Also his writing is more Gothic and Romantic than straight up Southern Gothic.)

I guess my other point is “Southern Gothic” doesn’t have to take place in Louisiana swamps, although that’s a really good place for it.

#book suggestions #southern gothic

60 notes · View notes

sleepdeprivedsimp234 · 11 months

Text

~New York gets turned into a child~

⚠️TW⚠️ mentions of implied abuse, some angst, some characters might be OOC, mention of potions

=======================================================================

‘Goddangit…’Louisiana thought to himself as one of the potions he was experimenting with turned to a dull blackish-purple color, meaning it had been a failed potion. He was trying to see if he could make some new potions that could help speed up the process of healing, but alas his attempts were not successful. Loui sighed and stood up from his little floor table that he used for crafts and made his way downstairs to rid of the failed potion.

As he walked into the kitchen he saw New York leaning on the counter with his phone in his hand. "Hey York." He said with a bright smile.

York’s eyes flicked up from his phone to look at the shorter state. "Hey." He gave the younger a smallish smile before turning back to his phone. Perhaps he’ll manage to escape engaging in small talk. Sike b*tch-

"How are you sha?" Loui said. ‘F(speaks New York)’ The Empire State thought to himself.

"…"

"Aight den." Said the Pelican State, understanding that his friend didn’t want to talk right now. He started walking to the sink when all of a sudden the Dakotas came speeding through the kitchen, bumping into him which made him fall back into York and spill the potion on the taller.

Thankfully, York managed to catch him before he could bust his head open on the cold hard ground (OH, OH, TROUBLE, TROUBLE 😫✨).

"Omg I’m so sorry York!! D*mn it how could be so f(speaks New Orleans)in’ clumsy…" Loui said frantically as he regained his balance.

"It’s fine kid." York said, "It wasn’t yer fault, so don’t beat ya self up over it."

"O-ok den.. Ya might wanna get a differen’ shirt tho sha." The shorter of the two said.

"Yea I know." York said. He started walking up to his room when suddenly he felt a bit dizzy. He stumbled a bit as he passed the kitchen island and grabbed onto it for support. He was secretly hoping and praying that Louisiana hadn’t noticed, but alas we don’t all get what we want.

"Woah, are ya ok sha?!"

"I-I’m fine."

"Are ya sure? Yer stumbling more than fourth grade me in ELA when the teacher asked me to presen’ ma work to da class." Loui said, kinda concerned for his friend.

"Yes I’m sure."

"Ok den…"

York regained his balance and started walking towards the stairs. Unfortunately, he barely made it out of the kitchen before he lost consciousness and fell to the floor, and to add insult to injury, hit his head on the tile floor.

After hearing a thud, Loui looked up from whatever he was doing, sprang to his feet and rushed to New York’s side. "York!!!" He yelled as he lifted up the taller and pulled him into his chest. Apparently, he yelled it loud enough to get the attention of Massachusetts, who ran into the room as fast as he could to see what was happening.

"What the fa(speaks Boston) is goin’ on here?!" The older shouted, confused as to why there was yelling, but his face dropped when he saw his younger brother unconscious in Louisiana’s arms. He ran over to where Loui was knelt down with his brother, "Holy sh*t, is he alright?!?!"

"I-I d-dont know sha! He was a-actin’ a-all weird and and-"

"Lou, bud I’m going to need you to calm down." The older said, trying to get the other to calm down and breathe so he could explain what happened. Yes, Mass was internally panicking, but he needed to address the situation calmly. "C’mon, breathe…. Yep just like that kid… Good job I guess. Now can you tell me what the fa(speaks Boston) happened?"

"Ok ok…" Loui started, finally gaining control of his breathing again."He was actin’ a-all weird and stumblin’ an’ sh*t, so I asked im’ if he was aight. He said yes, so I d-decided to jus’ ignore it. Next thang I heard was a thud, so I looked up an’ saw York on the flo’ unconscious."

"Ok thanks I guess…. Give im’ ere’." Mass said, taking his brother in his arms when his friend handed him over. He gently moved his brother’s coat out of the way so he could check his pulse in his neck, secretly happy to find a pulse. He then grabbed York’s arm so he could check his pulse in his wrist. Mass rolled up York’s sleeve, trying his best to not look at the SH scars that lined his brother’s arm, and checked his pulse, finding similar results. "Aight there d-doesn’t seem to be any severely wrong with im’."

"What is wrong wit’ him doe?" The other state said.

"Huh?"

"Ya said ‘severely’, which sorta implies dat dere’s somethin’ wrong wit’ im’ sha."

"Oh- OH… yea the entire thang’s existence is kind of an issue itself." Mass said with chuckle. Loui just rolled his eyes and laughed a bit.

"I’ll just bring im’ to his room and let im’ rest. He probably passed out from sleep deprivation seeing as this dumb*ss never sleeps." The Bay State said as he stood up and picked his brother.

"And you do?" Loui said, giving the shorter a teasing look and smirk.

"Oh shut tf up, yer one to talk." Mass said, giving the younger a glare.

"Touché. I’ll see ya lata’ I guess. Bye Mass."

"Later kid." Mass said. He walked up the stairs with New York in his arms, ignoring any weird stares he received. Once he got to the NE’s floor of the statehouse he started walking down to the end of the hall where York’s room was, but soon got stopped by somebody calling his name.

"Mass! Hold up!" He stopped and turned around to see Pennsylvania running after him and eventually come to a stop as well.

"The f(speaks Boston) do ya want Penn?" He said.

"*pant* *pant* I was coming to see if somethin’ was wrong cuz I saw Yorkie in ya arms, and I know that he neva’ lets anybody pick him up willingly. Is he alright?" Penn said once he caught his breath.

"I don’t know exactly wha’ happened, I heard a bunch of shoutin’, asked what happened, and Lou said he passed out. I checked on im’, and there seemed to be nothin’ wrong with im’ other than his entire existence ofc. Apparently he also hit his head real hard." The shorter responded and gestured towards the slight mark on the side of his brother’s head.

"Oh dang…. Why do you uh…-think he passed out?" Penn asked.

"This idiot prolly passed out cuz he never fa(speaks Boston)in’ sleeps." Mass answered.

"Yea that’s likely. Do ya want me carry im’ for ya?" Asked the Keystone State, who held out his arms awaiting his fellow state’s response.

"Naw I got im’. He’s really light and easy to carry. Howeva’ ya can open his door so I don’t have to figure out how to do so without droppin’ im’."

"Aight."

Once they got the room, Mass set the taller, unconscious state on his bed and put a hoodie and sleeping shorts on him and left the room after.

=======================================================================

3 hours later…..

A few of the states were all relaxing in the living room on the main floor of the statehouse (the statehouse has 6 floors, not counting the basement). Texas was reading a book in a corner, Florida was on his phone, Loui had fallen asleep covered by a blanket on Florida’s lap (my precious baby 🥺🥺🥺), Cali and NJ were watching whatever f(speaks Midwest)sh*t was on the TV, and Mass was cooking dinner.

The sudden memory of York still being unconscious in his room suddenly flashed into Mass’s room as he was cutting vegetables for the soup he was making. ‘Uh sh*t…’ "Hey can someone go check on York? It’s been three fa(speaks Boston)in’ hours and he still hasn’t come out his room." He shouted.

"No can do Masshole! I’ve got a sleeping Loui on top of me and moving would be kinda illegal right now." Florida said with a laugh.

"Yea that would be, though I neva’ expected yous to care whether somethin’ was illegal or not." Mass said.

"I’ll go. I ain’t got nothin’ better to do anyways." Tex piped up from wherever he was.

"JESUS- Where tf didja come from?!" New Jersey exclaimed, clearly startled by Texas seemingly coming out of nowhere.

"Uhh…. The corner….?"

"For somebody that’s that friggin’ tall yer awfully good at hidin’ dear lord…."

"Uh thanks..? I think?" Tex said, confused as to whether or not that was a compliment. He just shook it off and went upstairs to check on New York. Once he got to York’s room he knocked on the door.

"York?"

No answer.

"York are ya there?"

Still no answer.

"New York?"

….

"New York, answer me."

…..

"Aight im comin’ in Empire." Texas said before opening the door and stepping into York’s room. He looked over to where York’s bed was and was surprised when he didn’t see New York, but instead a small fragile looking child huddled in the corner looking terrified. "Hey! Who are you, and what’re ya doin’ ere’?" He half shouted as he started walking to the bed.

He stopped when the kid backed up even further in the corner (if that was even possible). He sighed and walked over to the bed and sat down at the end of it, farthest from the child. Tex noticed how the child’s eyes followed his every move. ‘Dang what is this so scared for…’ he thought to himself.

"Hey kiddo, no no… don’t be afraid, I ain’t gonna hurt ya." Texas said with a comforting smile. This seemed to calm the child down just a lil’ bit. Or at least enough that he was able to actually speak.

"W-who are y-you?? Where a-am I??" Asked the child.

"Texas. My name’s Texas." The older responded. "And you are at the statehouse, don’t you worry yer cute lil’ head, yer safe here."

"O-ok…" the kid mumbled. He gathered enough courage to get out the corner he had backed into.

Texas raised his hand to take off his hat, in hopes it would make him less intimidating, but stopped when he saw the kid flinched and let out a small whimper.

"Sorry I’m sorry! Pls don’t hurt me!!! I didn’t mean to….." the child yelled and started hyperventilating a bit. Texas took off his hat as quickly and swiftly as he could so he comfort the kid whilst not looking intimidating to the younger and hugged the child close.

"Hey hey… shh shh…. It’s ok…. You’re alright… I ain’t gonna hurt ya kid." The Lone Star State said calmly and quietly as he comforted the younger by hugging him close and rubbing his back gently. "Yer okay…. It’s alright…." Tex had successfully calmed the kid down. The child looked up at him from where he was on the older’s lap.

"N-new Y-York…." The kid mumbled.

"Hmm?"

"M-my name i-is New Y-York."

‘IM SORRY WHAT-‘ Texas thought to himself. ‘How is he a kid then?! And why is he so terrified of me?! York would never…. I’ll just play along I guess.’

"New York huh?" He questioned. The kid nodded with a small smile. He chuckled, "That’s a nice name."

"T-thank you s-sir."

"Aye now- Ya don’ hafta call me sir, just call me Texas or Tex like the others do." Texas said, wiggling a finger under the kid’s chin, making him giggle and push him away.

"Whahat others?" Asked the child with a confused expression on his face.

"The others that live with me." Tex replied.

"C-can I m-meet them?"

"Course’ let’s go!" The older said as he got up from the bed. The younger followed suit, but when he stood up he nearly fell right over. He would’ve fallen if Texas hadn’t been there to catch him.

"S-sorry s-sir- I mean Texas!!" The kid cried out, putting his hands/arms up in front of his face. This kinda caught Texas off guard. He knelt down in front of the kid and gently moved his hands out of his face.

"Hey hey hey, why’re ya apologizin’? Ya didn’t do anythin’ wrong."

"W-well my f-father thinks that it’s s-stupid t-that I s-stutter and s-stumble when I walk when I-I can’t r-really help it. He u-usually yells at m-me for it and tells me t-that I-I’m never going to amount to anything i-in life if I c-can’t even speak or w-walk properly." New York’s words broke Texas’s cold heart. Who in their right mind tells that to their kid?! That’s just sick! He was about to ask the kid who his father was and where he lived so he could go beat a b**ch up when he realized that this was past York, meaning his father was possibly not around anymore. He saw a single tear run down York’s face and instantly hugged him close (Tex’s mama bear instincts are kickin’ in now- not that he’s gonna tell you that).

"Hey hey hey…. It ain’t yer fault bud. Ya can’t help it, it’s just how you were born. Yer father has no right to blame ya for somethin’ that ya can’t control." Said Texas.

"Really?"

"Really. Now, do ya wan’ me to carry ya? So ya don’t fall on the floor or down the stairs?" The older suggested.

"Y-yes please." Said York (just to be clear, this is still past him, current him would never allow anyone to pick him up). The poor child was unable to comprehend the kindness he was receiving (poor baby’s so traumatized 🥺😭).

"Ok. Up you go!" Texas said as he picked the child up, and started chuckling when the kid climbed further into his arms and kicked a bit (prolly cuz he was now several feet off the ground). When he picked up the child, he tried to ignore how uncomfortably thin and light he was as he started heading downstairs.

=======================================================================

When he got downstairs with le child:

"Hey y’all I think we may or may not have a slight problem." Texas said, kinda quietly cuz’ York was half asleep on his shoulder.

"Whaddya mean is he dead or some sh- oh….." Mass started to say as he walked out the kitchen wiping his hands with a towel.

"What is it- oh f(speaks Jersey)." Said Jersey, who had turned around from where he was on the couch.

"I-is that…?" Mass asked, with what Texas could describe as a sad or fearful expression on his face.

New York had now near fully woken up. "Mass!" He shouted with the most joy in his eyes that Texas had ever seen. The younger wriggled around to escape, so Tex put him down and let him run to his older brother, whom he hugged when he got to.

Mass hugged back as tightly as he could without hurting his little brother, and with little to no hesitation. "Y-Yorkie?" He asked despite knowing for a dang fact that this was his brother

"Mhm! You look so different, and relaxed for once, did s-something h-happen?" York asked, burying his head in the crook of Mass’s neck.

"Ummm….. Yea sure. I guess ya could say that." The older responded with a slight smile.

York looked at a smallish (emphasis on the "ish") cut that Mass had gotten when he was cutting veggies and let out a small gasp. "Mass you’re hurt!" He said grabbing his big brother’s hand.

"Huh?" Mass looked down at his hand. "Oh, hehe guess I am…. It’s just a small cut tho, no big deal."

"I-I know, but I t-thought you p-promised to not hurt y-yourself on p-purpose anymore!" The younger said sadly. There were a few shocked expressions from the others in the room except for Jersey, Connecticut, and Louisiana (who was still asleep on Florida’s lap 🥺).

"I know bud, don’t worry. I didn’t do it on purpose, I swear! I just accidentally hurt myself when I was workin’ earlier." Massachusetts reassured the younger.

"Are y-you sure?"

"Of course, Yorkie." Mass said, smiling at the other, who smiled back.

"Okie! Where are the other two?" Asked the younger.

"Oi Jersey! Connie! Get ya *$$es over ere’!" Mass yelled.

"Alright jeezus- no need to yell!" Connie (Connecticut) said as they both walked over to where their siblings were.

"Wow, you all l-look so d-different!" York said.

"Hehe yea…"

"I’m sorry but what the F(TECHNICAL GLITCH) just happened?!" Florida shouted, accidentally waking up Loui who groaned a bit in sleepy frustration. "Crap- sorry Loui."

"It’s fine sha… but what’s all da shoutin’ about…?" Loui said, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

"I think that Yorkie got turned into a child. And who knew that his siblings could be such softies!~" Florida teased. He smirked when the older of the four glared at him.

"Aight whose turn is it to beat the sh*t outta im’?" Connie said to the others.

"Mine. C’mere Flori- huh?" Jersey said as he started to jump up, but he stopped when he felt a small tug on his arm. He looked down to see York, who had grabbed his arm as if to stop him from attacking Florida. "Yorkie? What’re ya doin?"

"I’m not letting you hurt anyone! Please don’t be like Father." Said the youngest.

"Wha… Oh…. Oh d*mn…" Jersey said, at first confused as to what he meant, but soon came to a realization.

"What does he mean by that??" Cali asked from where he was in the living room.

"Shut up California." Texas said.

"Wait a dang minute- Did Flo’ida just say dat York turned into a child?!" Loui said, now wide awake.

"Yup." They others all (-York) said in unison.

=======================================================================

Later after dinner:

Everyone except for Massachusetts and Louisiana had gone to their rooms after dinner. Mass was just sitting in the kitchen with some random boring book and Loui was on the couch with York.

"Hey kiddo wanna see somethin’ kinda cool?" Loui said to the younger. He smiled when the younger nodded excitedly. "Okay!" He opened his palm and closed his eyes for a moment. Then all of a sudden, Loui’s palm started glowing and there was small little light figures dancing and running around the two of them in a circle.

"Woah…." The younger whispered under his breath. His eyes were filled with wonder and astonishment.

"Kinda nice huh?" The older said with a smile.

"Mhm! It looks so pretty!"

"Heheh thanks sha." Said the Pelican State as he brought the magic back into his body so he didn’t pass out in front of the child.

"What d-does that mean?" York said.

"What?"

"Sha?"

"Oh- OH… haha, ‘sha’ means darling, but I call all my friends that." Loui answered. He gave the younger a confused look when he looked behind him and giggled. All of a sudden, he felt two cold hands on his shoulders and gave a small shriek. "Alaskahaha why man?!"

Alaska chuckled just chuckled and said, "Felt like it. Who’s the kid?"

"It’s York." The shorter responded.

"That’s York?" Alaska said nonchalantly. "Huh. Not gonna lie he was actually pretty cute as a kid."

"Wow. Neva’ expected dat from you of all people." Loui said teasingly.

"What’s that supposed to mean?!"

"Ya know what I mean."

"Whatever." Alaska said, rolling his eyes. He noticed how Loui looked just about ready to pass tf out (An HC that I have for Loui: He is the most powerful magic user, but it also tires him out and/or makes him dizzy as h*ll) and how distant his eyes looked.

"Ummm Mr.Louisiana? Are you alright?" York asked, concerned as to why his friend looked so tired and distant.

"Oi Boston!" Alaska shouted.

Mass looked up from where he was reading with a slight death glare. "It’s Massachusetts, but good enough. Whaddya want?"

"I think that ya might wanna check on im’." He said, pointing at Loui. "He ain’t looking too good right now."

"Whaddya mean?" Mass said as he walked over. His eyes widened slightly when he saw Loui. "Oh. Umm… well. I can say that I think he’s aight, he’s prolly just a bit tired and/or dizzy from usin’ his magic. I’ll bring im’ to his room, you can stay with the kid." He grabbed Loui’s arm and guided him to a standing position with an arm around his upper torso so he could support him.

"I don’t remember signing up for babysitting, but whatever." Alaska said as he walked over to the other side of the couch and sat down next to New York.

"Good. Cuz that wasn’t a question. Also just a heads up, if ya hurt im’ in anyway shape or form, I’m going snap yer spine just a ‘lil bit’." Mass said as he walked away with Loui.

The two just sat in silence for a good solid minute before York decided to say something.

"S-so…. What’s your n-name?" He asked, gaining the tallest state’s attention.

"Haven’t ya heard any of the other two say it?" The older responded.

"Uh-uh. If one of you did say it, I p-probably wasn’t paying a-attention because according to my father, I’m fully i-incompetent as a functioning b-being." Said the child. York’s words left Alaska slightly stunned.

"Well I don’t think that’s really true…, but if you must know, my name is Alaska." The older answered. ‘What kind of parent says that to a kid?!’ He thought to himself.

"That’s a nice name." York said.

"Thanks. Y’know, ya ain’t half bad, kid." Alaska said, giving the smaller a small smirk and ruffling his hair.

"Hehe thanks. I like you, you’re weird." Said York with a giggle.

"Aye I am not! You’re the weird one here!" Alaska said, smirking and poking the littler one in the side, making him giggle.

"Nohoho I’m nohohot! (No I’m not!)"

"Yes. You. Are." Alaska said whilst poking the kid with each word, the younger giggling in response. He stopped when the kid swatted his hands away with his little claws. But then something caught his eye. York’s legs and arms were littered with bruises, big and small, and small scratches/cuts as well. "Hey kid?"

"Yea?"

"How’d ya get yourself hurt that much?" He asked. Alaska noticed that after he asked the question, the younger’s face suddenly gained a slightly sadder expression. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yea, I’m f-fine. My f-father just s-said that I a-am not supposed to t-tell anyone what happened." The younger said with a small, sad smile. That’s when it clicked in Alaska’s mind what had happened.

"O-oh ok." He said, deciding to not linger on the subject any longer. Alaska couldn’t help but smile fondly when York yawned with a slight squeaky sound (Idk bro I just yawn like that sometimes). "Tired?"

"Mhm…" the younger mumbled.

"Thought so." Alaska said as he picked up the sleepy child and set him in his lap in a comfortable position. He gently ran a hand through the smaller’s hair and started humming a Russian lullaby he learned a while back. He smiled when he heard a small purring sound emitting from the child. After about three minutes York was dead asleep. Alaska smiled fondly and rested his chin on the younger’s head. The two sat in silence for a few minutes before the sound of someone clearing their throat broke the silence.

Alaska turned around to see Mass standing in the corner smirking at them. ‘Oh sh*t…’

Mass chuckled and said, "Huh. Didn’t peg you as the type to be good with kids."

"Shut the f(speaks Anchorage) up." Alaska said, giving the Bay State a death glare, making the smaller put his hands up in mock surrender.

"I’m just sayin’." Mass said, walking over to the other two states."Here I’ll take this out of yer hands." He took the sleeping child out of the Last Frontier’s arms and brought York to his room.

~THE END~

=======================================================================

Lil’ bonus part for the end: In the morning:

*inserts screams as New York chases Mass, Rhode, and Florida (who took pictures the day before) throughout the entire backyard*

New York: GET YOUR *$$ES OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!!!

Mass: NO, PISS OFF- *gets tackled* DANG IT!! FLORIDA, RHODE SAVE YOURSELVES!!

Florida: C’MON RHODEY FASTER FASTER-

Rhode: WAIT FOR ME I HAVE TEENY LEGS-

========================================================================

#ben brainard #welcome to the table #welcome to the statehouse #wttt new york #wttt massachusetts #wttt louisiana #wttt texas #wttt florida #wttt new jersey #wttt connecticut #wttt california #I nearly died of cuteness when writing this-#help-#I think it’s a universal agreement that England is a piece of sh-

24 notes · View notes

gisellelx · 3 years

Note

Consider this ask a general prompt for any nerding you would like to do for us re: linguistic thoughts about various Cullens. Also: any particular headcanons of how they've influenced each other's speech in general? (I was going to say re: Edward emulating Carlisle but that might not be the most interesting example)

Okay commence much belated nerding out. Relevant post.

Under a cut because sorry, I went to town here. tl;dr--the Cullens sound different to each other, and their backgrounds and relationships have affected the way they sound over time. But they all can sound exactly how they need to any time they need to.

Here are two useful things we know about why people do or do not change the way they talk.

Communities of practice: this is a concept which comes from education but which has gotten adopted in several adjacent fields, including sociology and linguistics. Basically, the idea is, the way you talk will reflect the kinds of relationships you want to have with people around you, and how you want to draw lines separating your group from other groups. My easiest-to-understand example of this is that my friends from college athletic bands had some terms and inside practices which arose because of our shared experience of playing in those bands. We were in band twenty years ago, but if you're having drinks with a few other bandos and leave the bar, someone will go "ohhhhh see ya!" like the cheer we yell when someone gets put in the penalty box at a hockey game.

Convergence and accommodation: Speakers often try to sound like people they want to connect with in more than just practices and inside jokes. The more you want to connect with someone (combined with your personality), the more likely you are to adopt their style of speaking. This is in the short term, which is accommodation (you start to speak more slowly because the person you're speaking with speaks more slowly) or dialect convergence (over time your whole way of sounding starts to shift toward other people's.) Some evidence that extroverts do this faster, but it also depends on how desirable the connection is.

Convergence is probably more influential for the Cullens than CoP, although I imagine there are some CoP kinds of things that happen to vampires more broadly and the Cullens specifically. In particular, I suspect (and write) that the Cullens have lots of euphemisms for things: they talk about "mistakes" to avoid talking about murder, about "Royce" and "Charles" to avoid uttering the word rape, Edward's rebellion is called The Time or Edward's Sojourn (that's Carlisle).

The bigger question is, how would they sound and how would they naturally converge (or not!) based on their personalities and relationship.

So. You have the Cullens. Kind of a rough-and-tumble rundown of their varieties:

Carlisle: I headcanon Boston Brahmin . In the 1700s, the London accent was /r/-full, so Carlisle would've arrived to the US sounding more like a current-day American speaker than we associate now with British English (received pronunciation usually being the exported one). He would've hobknobbed with the educated elite on the eastern seaboard and picked up what they sounded like at the time. He loves being American--this is where he found his purpose and his family. So shifting toward that accent makes sense for him.

Esme: Lower middle class US midlands. The central Ohio accent is often perceived to be extremely neutral. It's not--there are some truly funky features--but people think it is, so there's not much reason to move away from it. She might have tried her hand at a transatlantic accent, but she slides back into her middle Ohioan often, because it's easy and it's not usually considered "bad" anywhere. She makes fun of the way Carlisle says rather. He teases her about how bag and egg are the same sound for her.

Edward: Northern Cities Shifted Chicago. If you've ever heard a Chicagoan pronounce the word Chicago, well, there you go. I realize this probably fucks with the gentle, sexy attempt-at-American accent delivered by Robert Pattinson. Edward was born too late to have transatlantic imposed on him, and so his accent was probably left to be.

Rosalie: Another reason they hate each other--they sound alike. Rosalie is on the other side of the Great Lakes, was born not that much later, and Rochester is another major source of Northern Cities Shift. So she and Edward sound...pretty much the same. They're both upper middle class/upper class and are picking up the prestige version of the NCVS.

Emmett: Appalachian. Pretty much enough said. The post I linked at the outset lays out a few things from Appalachian speech.

Jasper: East Texan. Texas is not general southern--there are a handful of features which make it notably different than say, Louisiana.

Alice: Upper class Mississippian. Now, this is somewhat indistinguishable to a northern American or non-American ear--maaaaybe you notice sort of "high class southern" but it's subtle. She's got a bunch of features of southern English, though, but the more prestigious versions of them. Not quite To Kill a Mockingbird--that's Alabama-- but that's not a bad place to start to hear it.

So that's where they're starting. Where do they end up?

Carlisle: sticks with Brahmin. The moment he arrived in the US means a lot to him, and so he defaults back to that first major change, when he adopted an American identity.

Edward: Probably goes without saying, but he sounds exactly like Carlisle. He shifted his default as soon as he was able, and his intense adoration of Carlisle means he converged on Carlisle's variety. He also picks up Carlisle's idiolect--particular phrases and verbal tics--again, because he wants to be like Carlisle in any way he can. "Oh my God will you quit; you're not Carlisle" is a phrase that gets uttered in annoyance often.

Esme: Keeps her central Ohio accent. She loves Carlisle more than anything, but there's nothing particularly stigmatized about her variety. So she keeps it. She's happy to be her own person.

Rosalie: Does not wish to be a part of this family and regrets her change. She certainly does not converge toward Carlisle's style, but the pressure of sounding anything like Edward, even if his dialect has shifted, is also grating. She brings her NCVS a little more toward Esme's Ohio variety over time.

Emmett: This man killed a bear* with his bare hands in the Smoky Mountains. He's real proud of being a mountain man and he sounds like one. He also has a healthy disdain for the upper-crustness of Carlisle and Rosalie and Edward and is determined to bring them back down to earth. Over time the most obvious parts of his dialect do fade--he doesn't use "a huntin'" very often, for instance. But he can shift into full on Appalachian on a dime and often does. It's fun for him.

Jasper: Stays East Texas. He's very proud of his cowboy identity, and is the least connected to the Cullen family as a community of practice. He can sound like whatever his paperwork says he does, but in default, he's still got the same Houston variety he's had for two centuries. I don't love darlin' darlin' Jasper in fic but I chalk that more up to writers learning how to have a light hand with dialect rather than it being something he fundamentally wouldn't say--he absolutely does say it. Also says bless your heart.

Alice: Biloxi is not that far from Houston, and she and Jasper, who are wound around each other, pick up each other's verbal mannerisms and reinforce subtle aspects of each other's gulf of Mexico accents. She both mellows Jasper's Texas English while also moving her own English toward his.

So in "default" mode, the Cullens sound a little different to each other. But there's no way a Twipire would somehow be unable to move perfectly and seamlessly between multiple English accents as they needed to. There's no reason to think that any of them showed up at Forks High School sounding like anything but exactly what their paperwork said their dialectal background ought to be.

*by the way this would've been a black bear, not a grizzly. I'm sure he loves grizzlies, but he wasn't fighting a grizzly in the Smokies. He probably got tangled up with a really mad mama bear. This is a pet peeve of mine, I admit.

#linguistics #twilight #accents #cullen family #carlisle cullen #esme cullen #edward cullen #rosalie hale #alice cullen #jasper hale #long post #giselle gets too srs bsns #tw: rape mention

89 notes · View notes

moonlightchess · 3 years

Text

Recently I realized something about my writing process and given how it directly relates to my anxiety I thought I'd share it here in case it was of any help to any other fellow writers.

Okay, so like most of us I usually have at least 4 - 6 different wips happening, some of which are over 100 pages and others I've just started. One of my major problems was how my anxiety prevented me from literally just writing whatever was inspiring me at the moment - "that's a great idea and I've already compiled a playlist to listen to while I write it, but I can't right now! I'm so close to finishing that wip that I've already spent months on! If I get sidetracked I'll never finish it!" And then the guilt and anxiety dominates my headspace until I'm left sitting there staring at a story I really don't feel motivated to work on at the moment with another idea that is currently seizing me left unsatisfied and unwritten.

It turns out that in this house, we die like men, and we write whatever the fuck we want whenever the fuck we want. Maybe someday I'll be a professional writer with a contract and maybe then I can focus on stressing myself out over deadlines and obligations, but right now I'm only writing for fun and for myself so I don't have to answer to anybody, least of all my anxiety.

Southern gothic, for instance, has been my main source of inspiration lately - my Boston apartment and a gallon of Dunks coffee apparently can't put a dent in my Louisiana heart. I inherited a banjo from my uncle in Kentucky a while back - y'all don't know 'bout my country-ass family - and I've finally started learning to play it and so my spotify recs have become a haven for Earl Scruggs and Allison Krauss and the Sleepy Man Bluegrass Trio. I've been writing a lot of things tackling the pervasive sense of racist denial permeating and poisoning the American south lately, and other, softer things about bayous and banjos.

The problem with this is that I have nearly finished a whole-ass damn novel about jaded Boston artists in the 90s and the murder cult silently flooding into the city and taking over with only a crew of about 20 coke-snorting northern nihilists aware and trying to stop them. It's literally up to like 250 pages in google docs. My inspiration for it stalled a while back as the south whispered "remember me?" into my ear and left me swimming in a sea of sweet tea and folk history. I've been so frustrated every time I open it to finally finish the damn thing, because all I can think about is rural gothic at the moment.

"I mean," my cousin said from Nola when he called the other day to check in, "why don't you just write what you want to write? You don't owe anyone shit, no one's paying you for this. Besides, if you try to force yourself into writing something you're not into right now, I imagine it'd suck."

He was right. Write what you want to write. When you want to write it. Fuck it, this is Sparta.

#writing #creative writing #southern gothic #horror

27 notes · View notes

didanawisgi · 3 years

Link

Jazz and freemasonry are unlikely bedfellows, but in the 1950s, the secret society became a support network for musicians and the world’s largest fraternity for black men, among them Duke Ellington and Sun Ra

When the City of London festival found out about a long dormant masonic temple that had been uncovered next to Liverpool Street station, it seemed obvious that this wonderfully opulent hall should be used as a one-off music venue. The only question was – what music should it host?

“The obvious choice would have been to host a Mozart recital, because everyone knows that Mozart was a freemason,” says Paul Gudgin, former director of the Edinburgh Fringe and now director of the City of London Festival. “But it just so happened that I was reading a biography of Duke Ellington which mentioned, in passing, his membership of a masonic lodge. I found it astonishing that such an anti-establishment figure turned out to be at the heart of an establishment organisation. And I thought it would be a perfect place to pay tribute.”

This month, the City of London Festival will host two Duke Ellington tributes in this elaborate, neo-classical masonic temple, now in the basement of the Hyatt group’s Andaz hotel. Saxophonist Tommy Smith plays on 4 July, and pianist Julian Joseph on 11 July.

“It’s something of a badge of honour to hear that Ellington was a mason,” says Joseph. “Not only was he part of a musical elite, but he had managed to enter this secretive and powerful organisation, one that only the privileged few had access to.”

Start digging into the history of freemasonry and you discover that Ellington was just one of many renowned African-American musicians to be inducted into its mysterious world. He was joined by the likes of Nat King Cole, WC Handy, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Lionel Hampton and Paul Robeson.

“Throughout history, freemasonry has attracted musicians,” says Martin Cherry, librarian at the Museum of Freemasonry in London. “Mozart is the obvious example, but in 18th-century London, a lodge was established called the Lodge of the Nine Muses, which attracted a number of European musicians and artists, including JC Bach. For musicians and artists who were new to a city, the lodge would have been an opportunity to meet fellow artists and network with people with whom they may be able to find work.”

The same applied two centuries later, across the Atlantic. “Musicians often led an itinerant lifestyle,” says Cherry. “Belonging to an organisation that had lodges all over a country could help ease the slog of life on the road, particularly in such a vast country as the US.

“Freemasonry was also charitable towards its members when they fell on hard times, looking after them when they were sick or paying for their funeral. Mozart’s funeral, famously, was paid for by his lodge, and there’s evidence that freemasons paid for the funeral of the blues musician Mississippi Fred McDowell – there are images of his open coffin which show him wearing his masonic regalia.”

Many white jazz musicians and bandleaders were freemasons, including Glenn Miller, Paul Whiteman, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin, as were many country & western stars. But, like so much in American life, freemasonry was segregated, with American masonic lodges split along colour lines.

Black freemasons: the sons of Prince Hall

Black freemasonry dates from before the American war of independence, when a freed black abolitionist and leather worker by the name of Prince Hall (1735-1807) was refused admittance to the St John’s masonic lodge in Boston, Massachusetts. Undaunted by the rebuff, Hall and 14 other free black men were initiated into freemasonry in 1775 by a British military lodge based in Boston.

In 1784, after the British had left America, the grand lodge of England issued Hall with a charter to set up an African lodge in Boston. It proved so popular that Prince Hall was granted the status of provincial grand master, allowing him to set up two further African masonic lodges in Philadelphia and Rhode Island.

Over the next two centuries, Prince Hall freemasonry snowballed across the United States, becoming the world’s largest fraternity for black men. By the middle of the 20th century there were lavish Prince Hall masonic temples around the country – from Los Angeles to Washington DC, from Seattle to Madison, Wisconsin.

“One of the attractions of Prince Hall freemasonry to African-Americans is that it is an organisation started by African-Americans in the 18th century for African-Americans,” says Cherry. “It has a history. And, like all freemasonry in America, it became very popular in the early 20th century, which was a time when Americans tended to join things.”

By 1900, Prince Hall masonry had become a forum for politicised African-Americans, with Booker T Washington (1856-1915) and W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) serving as active members. Throughout the 20th century, many key figures in the civil rights movement were attracted to freemasonry. The father of Martin Luther King Jr – Martin Luther King Sr (1900-84) – was a member of the 23rd lodge in Atlanta, Georgia. Medgar Evers, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) activist who was assassinated in 1963, was a 32nd-degree freemason in Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. Alex Haley (1921-92), the writer of Roots and biographer of Malcolm X, was a 33rd-degree mason in the same order. Thurgood Marshall (1908-93), the first black member of the US supreme court, was supported by his Prince Hall lodge in Louisiana. The comedian Richard Pryor (1940-2005) joined a lodge in Peoria, Illinois, while actor and activist Ossie Davis (1917-2005), Paul Robeson (1898-1976) and the boxer Sugar Ray Robinson (1921-89) were all active Prince Hall masons.

“Like all freemasonry, Prince Hall freemasonry does tend to have a middle-class appeal,” says Cherry. “The many Prince Hall visitors to the Masonic Library and Museum in London are often doctors, lawyers or skilled artisans, and a lot of them have a military background. Some join because their family were members; some think it’s a good way of networking. Some like the comradeship and the social aspects; others like the ritual and the regalia.”

As well as being a networking institution, freemasonry might also have had a philosophical appeal to many politicised African-Americans. The mysterious tenets of freemasonry include gnostic texts, references to ancient Egypt and alternative interpretations of the Bible. Prince Hall lodges thus became a forum where pre-Christian knowledge could mix freely with black liberation theories and remnants of African religions...”

#jazz #duke ellington #music #culture #paul robeson #freemasonry #freemason #freemasons #lost keys of freemasonry #Prince Hall #Nat King Cole #W.E.B. DuBois #booker t. washington

28 notes · View notes

thejoshuaglenn-blog · 3 years

Text

You're a Good Boy, Charlie Brown

The key purpose of a Tumblr blog here is really a brain dump: logging thoughts, feelings, narrative and such is easier in long form than via a brief Facebook post that generates half a dozen "oh no, what happened" comments. As I'm writing this, most of it seems like bullet points and organized timelines. If you're looking for a TL;DR or current state of thoughts, it's the last section titled The Day After, and the Day After That.

A few days ago, Niko and I said goodbye to our first dog, Charlie Brown.

I'm not keen to chat about it a lot. There's more to process than I have time to type; most of it centers around being fair to myself and to Niko, taking the time to appreciate his life without beating ourselves up, and avoiding the overwhelming mire that grief can become.

Joining the Family

CB was a rescue, a hapless victim of the 2016 Louisiana floods and a happy-go-lucky participant in a "dog for a day" event hosted by a local shelter. I fully expected to rent him out for a day, give him a few great experiences, and return him. For myriad reasons, we never did bring him back to Pet Rescue by Judy, and he's been with us ever since.

At adoption, he was estimated to be around 4-8 years old. With a kicked-in shoulder that offset his collarbone and ribcage, some assorted dental issues, and other little signs of damage (cigarette burns, what the heck is wrong with people), it was tough to really gauge his age. That means he left this world at the ripe old age of something like 9-13, which isn't terrible considering all he'd been through.

Charlie Brown was the iconic good boy. He seldom barked, he never licked or jumped, and just wanted to be in the same room as his favorite people. He had a few toys that he cherished, never ripping them up, just carrying them with him from room to room and whining a bit, unsure of where he could store them for safekeeping. Apart from some separation anxiety issues and an occasional urge to bolt out the door and book it as far as he could, CB was by all accounts an easy first dog: more like a low-effort cat than anything else.

Slowly Falling Apart

Over time, the health issues increased. Intermittent but predictably regular upset tummy. Bad gums, bad teeth. Random gooey skin lesion. Eye ulcers. Since October, we've been averaging 2-3 unplanned vet visits a month — many incurring some hefty bills. We'd take out another credit card, find another financing plan, but it adds up. So does the emotional toil on the family; so does the anxiety toll on the dog.

You start to think about quality of life for the dog, you know? He'd had a few teeth removed to sew up his gums after they kinda detached and fell apart from his jawbone — so he couldn't chew anything hard. Couldn't even chew a tennis ball, which was the only toy he took interest in anymore. Couldn't have any fun treats like peanut butter or other soft chews, as his tummy would have bad flare-ups that usually ended up with him attached to an IV bag. After finally settling in and learning to play well with Atlas, Charlie Brown started to get pretty irritable whenever Atlas got frisky.

He still loved running around outdoors, and was in otherwise great health.

I can't tell you how guilty that makes me feel, even now.

Moving to Waltham

Before we left Orlando, there were so many crisis moments in emergency vet offices where Niko and I talked about how long he could ride this roller coaster. CB obviously was not a fan of vet visits: loved the staff, but was notably anxious and panicky when separated from us, and he had grown very loathe to the process of poking, prodding, and whatnot.

Shortly after moving to Waltham (he was a champ in the U-Haul), Charlie Brown had a severe colitis flare-up. He was losing so much fluid and was growing very lethargic over the day. Vets are hard to get into these days: with the sweep of "pandemic puppy" adoptions, the vet industry as a whole is saturated with demand, and practices are responding as best they can. There were just no emergency clinics available to us within 20 miles, except one that noted "we have no availability, but you can come and wait, and we might be able to see you in 4 or 5 hours." So we did.

It was a very late night. Charlie Brown came home with us with another round of the same antibiotics he'd been taking almost regularly since December for his assorted ailments, and some probiotics. The next day, CB seemed a bit better and brighter, and Niko and I went into the city for part of the day. We came home to find he'd had an accident, but it was just... blood. So so much. And he looked so in pain, so ashamed, so guilty, so anxious.

So we went back to the vet ER. It was another very late night. I didn't know how many of these late nights we could afford; neither of us knew how many of these late nights it was fair to expect Charlie Brown to endure.

Do you plan on letting a pet go after an extended crisis visit? Do you plan on letting a pet go in a time of relative peace?

Camping Analogy, and a Best Last Day

When you're off on a long hike, and you see daylight start to fade as the sun begins to set, you begin to think about finding a good place to set up camp for the night. It's abysmal to do this after the sun has already gone down: where you could have had preparation and structure, you have chaos by flashlight.

A dog's life is in your hands. You're his whole world: all food, adventure, pampering, challenge, treatment, and care come from you. More than anything, we wanted Charlie Brown to have a peaceful, restful life. Now that we started thinking about it, we wanted to be able to give him a peaceful, restful passing as well: not as the climax of another overnight crisis with injections and yelps and beeps and cowering and anxiety and fear, but in the still quiet of familiar sounds and smells.

His very last day was a great one. Fresh Pond in Cambridge: a massive stroll around a colossal lake with an absurd bounty of new smells, kind people, happy dogs, and a brisk New England breeze. He got to swim in a little side pond — that boy lived for jumping into random lakes. He ran around the broad field that is Kingsley Bowl, chasing a thrown ball the very very farthest his sad pop could throw it — and he brought it back. We bought him a steak. We told him how much he brought to our lives.

And then we waited.

Lap of Love is a sort of home delivery service of dignified passing for pets. There's more to say on that hour than I care to pen, but throughout the procedure, we never left him. Charlie Brown passed enveloped in our arms and laps and sobs and hugs.

The Day After, and the Day After That

The rest is just thoughts. Your head starts to feel like a coffee shop where your grief comes in, sits at a table with you, and unloads. You nod, listen, and wish them well. I hope I can keep processing this way — I find it helpful, and less overwhelming.

I wish he had been able to play with his tennis ball more. Since his jaw surgery — even out on Kingsley Bowl, nearly a month and a half after he should have been fully healed — any kind of chewing would cause renewed bleeding and pain.

I wish we had hugged him more. But truth be told, he didn't like hugs. They made him uncomfortable. So we gave him a hand to lay his head on, or a knee for him to pop his head upon, as often as he liked.

There were so many times I felt inconvenienced by owning a dog at all. They weren't the majority, but... now each remembered time feels like a splinter of selfishness.

I miss how familiar the back of his neck felt under my hand, just behind the ears, where the waves of fur meet and crash and make a long cowlick of foof and fluff.

His happy smile and his stressed smile were very similar, but you could still tell which was which.

I loved being there for him in thunderstorms.

When you think about it, we sort of were hospice care for him. We weren't his original owners; we just wanted the rest of his life to be painless and fulfilling. He had so many trust issues when he first came to us. And in the end, he loved anyone he met.

I miss feeling around with my feet to make sure I don't step on him on my way to bed. I miss setting my feet on the floor as I wake, stooping down, and giving his head a good squishy rub.

He never did get to see Boston snow. I mean... thousands of dogs never get to see snow. But I was really looking forward to sharing that experience with him.

I wanted so badly to bring him to a point of health, and then say goodbye when he was feeling well. Seeing him have his Best Last Day, part of me whispered "murderer" with cold accuracy, and I have a hard time shaking it. He was so happy — but between jaw bleeding after playing with a tennis ball, seeing him scratch his eyes that were starting to ache with ulcers again... I know the unbridled happiness came with the reality of his declining health.

Atlas was the best thing that ever happened to that boy. I know Charlie Brown was at least a little disgruntled that his easy-going day-to-day had been interrupted by a chompy puppy, but Atlas brought out the young pup in CB: ripping palm fronds to shreds, playing tug, playing tag, meeting new dogs with confidence and assurance.

I used to get so mad at my mother-in-law for feeding Charlie Brown cinnamon donuts. I wish I'd given him more. Heck, I wish I'd given him more peanut butter. I'm frankly surprised he hadn't died of peanut butter overdose years ago.

Where Charlie's health had limits, we kept going with Atlas. That might mean taking Atlas out to play with a ball or a tug toy, because CB couldn't. It breaks my heart now to think of Charlie at the glass door just watching it happen, all because he physically couldn't play the same. I know he didn't understand that.

We took him out to Park Ave maybe once or twice. I wish it had been more. Truth be told, it was the same as the dog park, though: he was kind of a loner. Loads of people or dogs made him anxious. So while I might idealize the past and wish he had sat at our legs for lunch after lunch at an outdoor thoroughfare, ... I think he would have been miserable. I think he would have rather just curled up at the base of the couch and dozed while we watched a show.

He was so trusting. I could just drag him onto his back and onto my lap for cuddles and a good tummy rub. No complaints.

He looked so gaunt these past few months. I keep looking at earlier photos, and I really didn't realize just how grizzly and drawn he had become lately.

I miss seeing him randomly waiting for me outside the bathroom door — or curled up on the bath mat while I was in the shower, having sneakily nosed the door open and wanting my company while I was rinsing.

For his first few years with us, he was incredibly playful. I've been going through old videos — it's like going outside just blew his mind, and toys were either for cherishing daintily, or thrashing about and throwing to oneself and gnawing. He lost that after a time. He regained it a bit when Atlas joined the party. But it still faded. I'm sure that's inevitable, but it makes me sad to see the early vibrant puppy in those old recordings, and how different he had been in recent months.

2 notes · View notes