#and don’t say rocky horror or I will kill you with a spoon
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#4 Hospitality
Wayward Guide for the Untrained Eye 30 Day Prompt
(This takes place around the first half of Episode 4)
Day #4 @30daysofwayward
CW: Mention of blood
(I do not own any other characters or place names outside of Shelby St. Ranger, this is just for fun)
They say practice makes perfect, and over the years I had crafted the perfect hangover. I made some coffee, grateful I’d brought it with me from my car. My car. I groaned, leaning against the counter as the coffee brewed. I called the shop as soon as it opened, and arranged for my car to be towed. They told me what time I could expect it to be done, and as I hung up I realized I should have asked what their hours were. I pushed the thought away. I should just try to get some work done, and then go get my car. Go to the library. Drop off the book. Come back home and work more. That’s all I should do.
I poured my cup of coffee and as I looked at the dark abyss I thought of Prism’s dead eyes. I grabbed some milk from my fridge and poured it in to disrupt the abyss. The clouds of white mixing with the coffee almost had a red tint to it, or was I imagining it? I violently opened my drawer and grabbed a spoon, using it to stir the thoughts away and made the coffee a caramel color. I didn’t love the taste of milk in my coffee, but my mouth tasted sour anyway so it really made no difference.
I sat down at my computer and as soon as the screen blared white at me I turned it off again. I grabbed a pen and paper instead, but regardless of the medium, my head pounded and my words were all dried up. I fetched my mail and didn’t bother opening it. I laid on the couch after taking some pain killers and getting through most of the cup of coffee, and let my thoughts wander back to the night before. I tried to piece together my hunch about Desmond, but once again I was having trouble envisioning him as some sort of criminal mastermind. Also, ripping pages out of a book, slashing tires, and murder didn’t quite line up in my head. And why would it be the chapter on werewolves? It didn’t make sense.
I thought of the person I’d bumped into and sat up. Fur coat. I groaned as my head hurt again and gently laid it back down. I scolded myself for such a silly thought, and decided I needed some water.
After a few glasses and more leaning over my sink just in case, I decided to take a shower. I took a small nap and it was as if my normal brain had come back. I had time for a small meal before I had to start my trek back into town to get my car.
I brought the book, with the intention to return it and be done with the whole thing.
On my walk, I remembered I was missing the town council meeting, with only a moment of regret from my still lingering curiosity. I turned onto the street that became the main drag of town. They’d towed my car back for me, as an expensive favor, since it would’ve been too far to walk, and I’d already paid over the phone. My car was right where I’d left it, with brand new tires. I got in the car and sat for a moment. The curiosity came back in the stillness and quiet of my car. I couldn’t just leave. I had to know.
I walked into the Dead Canary, feeling a little queasy at the memory of running in after seeing Prism just the night before.
“Shelby.” Desmond looked as surprised as I felt that I was there. “What can I do for you?”
“Did Truman Hensley get elected?”
“No.”
“No?”
“The Sheriff is running in her brother’s place. You’ll get to vote after all.”
“Good.”
“And Paul’s doing alright.”
“Paul?” I blinked. “Podcast Paul?”
“You found him last night, with Prism.” He bowed his head gently at her name.
The other body. I had forgotten, in the blur of it all. “Oh. Good. I’m glad he’s not dead.”
He nodded. “Indeed.”
With a touch of uncertainty, I sat at the bar. “Desmond, what happens if Truman Hensley wins? What happens to this town?”
“I wouldn’t be too worried about that.” He said, but he looked away when he said it.
“I am worried. And I’m not sure why.”
“You feel at home here, and maybe you don’t want that home to change.”
I blinked. “Yes, that’s exactly it. Very astute Desmond.” He couldn’t kill anyone, I thought to myself. Why, because he was being nice to me? Like murderers weren’t nice to people sometimes? I shook my head. “I just can’t get over the feeling that something else is happening here.”
“You’re starting to sound like those - what did you call them? Podcasters.” He chuckled. “You may just be seein’ things that aren’t there.”
I sighed and rubbed my face. “Maybe you’re right Desmond. Maybe I’ll just return the book and stop asking why. And just be happy with what I’ve got now.”
“If you keep asking the wrong questions, you’ll keep getting the wrong answers.”
“The wrong questions?”
He didn’t say anything, he just stared at me while cleaning a glass, and I decided it was time to leave.
The drive to the library felt like it went by faster than normal. I barely saw the scenery as it spilled out before me. It was as if my vision kept being obstructed by big blurry thoughts: being told rather than listened to about Prism’s death, the censorship of werewolf information, Paul being attacked (or exploded? With crystal shards? Which didn’t even make sense?), Desmond’s possible involvement- I didn’t see the car come around the bend and the world went black.
Irony is getting your car fixed only to wake up to smoke coming from the hood. I looked around. I had, very luckily, been pushed to a road shoulder and had crashed into the wall of the hill instead of off of the road to a tree riddled hillside. No one had stopped, so it was a hit and run. An accident. There was a mass of white coming from the steering wheel. The airbag was deployed, and the red on it surprised me. I checked my nose. It was bloody. I almost laughed at the blood on my hands. With wide eyes, I went over my body with soft pats to make sure nothing was broken. I felt okay, albeit shaky. I shuffled around in my glove compartment to get my cell phone. I’d stuck it in there for emergencies such as this one, and waited for it to turn on while my car made unnerving creaking noises. Once it was loaded, I could see clearly there was no signal. I wasn’t close enough to the valley to make it that way, so I decided to walk back to town.
To say this was a stupid decision was an understatement. The idea of just staying with the car until someone drove by that could help me didn’t even occur to me; I had to move. There was no place to walk on the road. I just clung to the rocky hillside when a car would go by. I was grateful traffic was rather slow, and almost cried when there was a large swatch of road to walk on. By the time I got back to town, the adrenaline had worn off and my whole body felt like someone had punched it. I couldn’t walk home, I decided, I had to just give up at the Dead Canary. It was aptly named. I felt like a freaking Dead Canary.
If Desmond was surprised to see me before, apparently I looked pretty bad this time.
“What happened to you?”
“Car crash.” I said. And then the world went black, because apparently talking was just too much energy I didn’t have.
I woke up in a strange bed. I jolted up and then shrank back down. “Two for one discount.” I heard from the other side of the room. The drunk lump was erect and I realized he was in a lab coat. I thought I’d heard him referred to as a doctor, which I’d taken as a joke, but with horror I realized Henry actually was a doctor.
“What?” I asked.
“Desmond got you a room.”
I smelled the air as he wobbled closer. “Are you drunk?”
“Hardly.”
“Why did you say two for one?”
“Paul? Earlier? With the crystals?”
“Ah.”
“You’ll be fine. Just a broken nose, some bruising probably. I don’t have another lolly pop.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“I’ll be...I’ll be around if you need any more medical attention.”
Henry left and I was alone in my room. I realized out of nowhere I’d left the book in the car. The car. I groaned and got out of bed. Someone had taken off my shoes, so I put them back on and carefully made my way back to the bar.
“You’re up quick.” Desmond threw a towel over his shoulder.
“I left my car-
“Up on the highway, already got it towed.”
“How did you know?”
“Only one way to go really.”
“True.” I paused as my face throbbed. “Thank you for putting me up.”
“No issue.”
“How much do I owe you.”
“You stayin’?”
“Probably not.”
“How you getting home?”
“Walking.” Even just taking a step now made my body ache and I paused through the pain. “Actually, is it okay if I stay?”
“I’ll charge ya half price.”
I nodded. “Thank you. Can I get some water? And maybe a paper and a pen?”
“What for?”
“I write as a distraction, and I don’t have my notebook or anything with me.”
“I’ll get that for you. Anything else?”
“No.”
“Just hang tight.”
The sun was setting, and I thought about trying to call someone for a lift home. But the idea of just staying put til tomorrow was too tempting. And something about having been put to bed, and taken care of, was just simultaneously alien and comforting.
With the paper and pen in my pocket, my glass of water, and some aspirin Henry had fished out of his pocket that I inspected carefully before risking, to my room. I saw a closed door next to mine and wondered who else would be staying there. And then it occurred to me. Of course, Artemis and Paul. The only visitors in this town. I listened in the hallway for a moment, but no sounds were being made. I went into my room and shut the door.
There was a small mirror and desk set up that I sat down at. My reflection startled me. My hair was tangled, there was bruising around my eyes, and blood still under my nose. Great, I thought. Good thing only Desmond and Henry had seen me. I tried to clean myself up a little bit. There was blood all over my shirt. I took it off, relieved I had been wearing a long sleeve shirt over a short sleeve one. My jeans were also spotted with blood, but that was ignorable. I put the pen and paper down on the desk. My head felt a little too wobbly to write just yet, but having the option made me feel better. I’d have to write about the feeling of a broken nose; I knew that would be useful for my main character. I tried to touch it, but winced which made it hurt worse; like a ball of heat in the middle of my face just aching.
I went back to the bed when I heard talking from my wall. I tried to ignore the urge to listen in for a while as I heard the voices were low, but I finally couldn’t help it and pressed my ear up to the wall.
“I’m gunna get a drink.” Said a voice, and footsteps.
And then, “I think I’m a werewolf now.”
First of all, those were really thin walls, but also, what?
What?
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Dog Soldiers (2002)
For years, I assumed the only noteworthy werewolf films could be counted on a single hand. With Dog Soldiers, we finally need more than five digits. It’s a few edits and a quick re-writes from being the best it could be, but this is an effective horror action movie.
On a routine training exercise, a company of Irish soldiers encounters a pack of werewolves. Taking refuge inside a house with a local woman (Emma Cleasby), Wells (Sean Pertwee), Cooper (Kevin McKidd), "Spoon" (Darren Morfitt), Joe (Chris Robson), and Terry (Leslie Simpson) have to hold the fort until morning when their attackers change back into human form.
Let's address the blemishes to get them out of the way. The very first and final scenes are contrived. The former ties into the later but introducing a sterling silver letter opener screams “plot point” and gives away we're watching a werewolf movie - if it wasn't obvious from the cover. There had to be a better way to do it.
Are you tired of seeing the full moon rise over and over in those other werewolf movies? Here the issue is avoided because everything takes place in a single night. It’s so obvious I’m surprised no one’s thought of it before. Another example of great writing is the setting. This is essentially a home invasion movie. The soldiers didn't know they were heading into a werewolf movie so they didn’t pack silver bullets. They're outnumbered and outgunned. All they have is ingenuity, strategy, their weapons, and each other. They may not be able to instantly kill the wolf-men, but they don't need to. Their objective is to survive. As resources dwindle, the intensity grows. Dawn is growing near but their ammunition keeps decreasing and people start biting the dust.
Dog Soldiers does something few werewolf films do well; the whole “curse” thing. Saying too much would give things away but there are some nice revelations when we learn what makes a werewolf and what the transformation entails. It allows the story to bypass the familiar plot points we see in every single bad werewolf movie while keeping the best elements.
Another strength is the characters. Each one is unique. Bits of dialogue here or there establish this guy as a soccer fan, this one as an animal lover. The character dynamics keep you interested even when the monsters aren't attacking and make you care about who lives and dies. It alternates between sequences of action, drama, and horror. Topped with some good dialogue and good special effects, it strikes a nice balance. You can tell writer/director Neil Marshall likes horror movies and wanted to make one that addressed the issues he saw in the others. He might not have had a huge budget but he made the most of it.
Dog Soldiers will appeal to fans of both supernatural horror and the more “down to Earth” realistic “home invasion” genres. It affectionately borrows from movies like Predator and Alien while standing on its own. It starts off rocky but the bulk of the story is strong enough to make you forgive the clunky caps. The film sits comfortably along An American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Ginger Snaps and The Wolfman as a great werewolf movie. Vampires and zombie pictures are dirt cheap to shoot. Lycanthropy is much harder so you've got to put some work into finding a good one and "Dog Soldiers" is just what you've been looking for. (On Blu-ray, May 22, 2015)
#DogSoldiers#movies#films#reviews#movieReviews#FilmReviews#Werewolves#HorrorMovies#HorrorFilms#NeilMarshall#SeanPertwee#KevinMcKidd#EmmaCleasby#LiamCunningham#2002Movies#2002Films
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Riptide 7/13 CSBB
@captainswanbigbang & @captxinswans present:
RIPTIDE by @courtorderedcake
Beta’d by the wonderful @ultraluckycatnd
An Enchanted Forest AU where the dark one was never released into the world in a vessel, thus causing a massive shift in timelines. The ogre wars have ravaged kingdoms, untold destruction spanning continents, rulers displaced. Even as the wars sputter to ash, the safest place to be is at sea, and that’s not very safe at all - as Emma and Killian find out, fates intertwined against all odds.
Rated: E/X - heavy content : warnings of assault, rape, noncon, just everything, I feel like the rating says enough. It’s something.
WARNING:
READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Read on Ao3 HERE .
Chapter IX : Shell & Bone
I can be quick and then I'm deadly,
I am a rock, shell and bone medley.
If I was made into a man, I'd make people dream,
I gather in my millions by ocean, sea and stream.
What am I? Sand of course, dear one
- Unknown
Emma woke next to a sudden jostle, Killian tensing above her and words, laughing words that weren’t his. The fuzzy bits of sleep fading, she could hear Killian’s voice now loud above her. “Don’t you dare touch her. I’ll kill every one of you if you touch her -”
Emma’s eyes shot open as Killian’s body was pulled away from her and the warmth of his embrace was gone. Two men were pulling him away, his hand reaching for hers across the floor.
“No!” Emma reached for him, pulling his hand into hers, fighting and kicking the other man who stepped into the space to grab her. “Killian, Killian! Let me go, let me go!” Wailing and reaching for him, his body was pulled behind hers to keep him moving.
“Ain’t it sweet? Keep struggling and I’ll give you a chance to hold your baby.” The man holding her pulled her hair, and she yelped, his other hand squeezing her windpipe.
“Emma, you have to stop struggling love, you’re going to hurt yourself. It’s going to be alright.”
They were both pulled on the wet deck with rain still falling heavily, chilling her again. James stood looking over the docks in front of them as Emma was thrown down, Killian over her protectively a moment later.
“I’ve made two decisions, for the sake of my dear little sister and her unborn.” James smirked down at them as Killian gathered her shaking body close to his. “The first is that you get to say goodbye to your beloved before he hangs. I do follow Navy protocol, after all, so you can say goodbye here and as he hangs.” Emma sobbed into Killian’s chest, both of them holding each other tightly. “And I’ve arranged for you to be delivered to a beautiful holding cell to wait for your bastard to be born. Then off you go to whatever fate I decide, and your bastard goes to a nice home.”
“You will not take my child -”
“See, the thing is dear sister, you’re not exactly in the position to make demands. Or to be a mother,” James sneered. “Now say your goodbyes.”
“Emma, I love you. Look at me love,” Killian kissed her, wiping tears away from her face in earnest. “You have to keep our child, beg them, do whatever you can. Do you understand? Don’t you dare give up, Emma -”
“I won’t but you have to fight them too, please, I know you can figure a way out of this. We have survived everything, everything, Killian. You have to see your child. He can’t grow up without you.”
Killian opened his mouth to say something more, but was stopped by James waving a hand to pull Emma from him, his fingers holding hers until the last second. “I love you, Emma.” She continued reaching for him, and he pulled against the two men holding him, continuing to try and touch her fingers.
James laughed, his continued laughter eventually drowning out Emma’s pleading.
The day he was led out to be hung was exactly ten days after his capture. He’d counted, scratching long groves into the wall of his cell with a spoon, sharpening it to carve Emma’s name and his into the wooden door frame along with a small picture of a swan. Tracing it kept him sane when he imagined he heard her cries or a phantom squall of a baby somewhere in the evenings, his body unwilling to rest.
Off of the coast of King George’s miserable land, Korumpiran, lay the island he sat in now. It was unnamed, just referred to by people who knew what lay on its rocky face as ‘Prisoner’s Keep’. Emma was somewhere in the compound, it was where people the Navy wanted to parade out with pomp to a gaggle of noble watchers were held.
Hanging was a sport, and it needed spectators.
James was in high spirits when they came to fetch him, dressed in his full regalia and grinning. As they climbed the stairs to the deck of the gallows, he whispered gleefully, “Today’s the day!”
Killian grunted.
James’s boots were a shining dark black in the noon sun, in stark contrast with the washed-out boards. As his death necklace was hung around his neck, Killian whispered goodbyes to those who would never hear them. His crew, his few friends, his child, saving the last for Emma.
James stood next to him, no executioner’s cowl to mask his glee. “Do you know what the best part of this is going to be?” James’s eyes glittered with excitement as he whispered, “My deal with you ends when you expire. You’ll have your whore and child with you in hell soon enough!” James laughed, pointing out into the crowd where several naval officers flanked Emma’s body.
Killian struggled in his bonds, trying to get off the stage to her in blind panic. Their audience whispered in confusion as she cried hysterically. James tried to redraw the crowd’s attention, not to be outdone. “I hereby judge the pirate known as Captain Hook as guilty of crimes against the crown...” A wail went up in the crowd, pained as a naval officer started yelling, “...desertion of the Navy, Piracy...” A low moan soon followed, and one of the naval officers ran back into the base, eyes wide. The crowd began to turn and soon, the original crowd was turning towards low keening cries.
The hair on Killian’s neck stood.
Navy officers yelled, and James became angry. “...and stealing a ship from HIs Majesty’s fleet. The punishment shall be death, by hanging. Any last words?” James removed the rag he had stuffed in Killian’s mouth.
“Emma, my wife, please tell me she’s alright. She’s pregnant and I can’t see -” Shouting at the crowd, he struggled, and several women covered their mouths in horror.
It was taboo for any wife to be present for a hanging, as the gentry were prone to swooning. A pregnant woman being forced to stand privy to an act of such violence was beyond cruel, practically sacrilege, and put both her and child at risk. A scream tore through the crowd, and he could see Emma on her back, naval officers holding her as one came back with a cloth. Her mouth was a tight lined grimace. The crowd was booing the hanging now in favor of the poor woman who seemed to be having stress complications. Killian was barely aware of anything else except trying to see what was happening. Officers ran on the platform to help James hold Killian as he fought to get to Emma with every fiber of his being.
Fists landed blows on his face and a boot connected with his ribs until he knelt, bleeding on the platform’s drop door, the first real prayers to any God who’d listen running through his mind. He heard James pull the lever, and closed his eyes, unable to stand the nightmare any longer. The door below him gave way and he fell, time slowing as he heard James yell in fury. Killian’s knees connected with packed ground. The rope had snapped, cut through almost completely.
Killian’s body registered its living state before his brain, scrambling to move as James shouted orders. His blood beat in his ears to the sound of her name, every part of him trying to protect both his child and his wife. A guard caught his arm half way and shoved him, a strange movement that was neither defensive or offensive. Sprawling forward, he noticed a heavy weight in his coat pocket. Reaching in and touching cold metal, he looked up to watch the guards surround Emma and understood.
James shouted more commands as Killian pulled his hook out of his pocket, taking it in his good hand awkwardly without his brace. A few paces ahead of him, he saw Ruby adjust her stolen Naval uniform, sending a signal to however many others had infiltrated, and he realized that the ever clever crew of The Gilded Wing had each put a swan patch under their shoulder stripe.
Killian slashed through an officer with slight difficulty, continuing towards Emma as he watched the infiltrators from The Gilded Wing shed their disguises. Two guards with a swan patch held Emma's hands, kneeling as the crowd surrounding them began to realize that they were caught in the beginning of a blood bath. Men started to scream as Merida, Ruby, Rory, Phillip, Graham, Fa, Regina, Robin, Z, and others he didn’t know began to carve through them.
Finally reaching Emma, he felt life return in full color. Wearing a ridiculous full satin gown, even in labor on dusty cobblestone she took his breath away. He rubbed blood from his face and ignored what was most likely a broken rib. Snow looked at his dumbstruck face with a small knowing smile, as Emma and Belle beamed up at him. He knelt by her side, or more truthfully, dropped to his knees.
“Emma are you? Please tell me you're alright. Seven Hells and the damned -” His wheezing questions were answered with a soft kiss as her hand threaded through the hair at the nape of his neck. She pulled away, motioning a hand to the bodice of her dress and bringing him back to the peril of their situation.
“We're fine. Help me get out of this damned thing before we all wind up dead, because that would be depriving a nice end to my dashing rescue of you. Oh, and take off your shirt.” Emma reached below her skirts and pulled out his extra brace, a cutlass, and her preferred scimitar. He pulled off his coat and shirt as she and Snow struggled to get her out of the gown. Belle stood guard, easily dropping men with a crossbow.
“You know, there's a thousand other ways to get us both naked love,” he grinned. He put on his brace with ease, relishing in the feel of the soft leather and the plush embrace of the fitting for his hook. Snapping buckles tight, he clicked in his hook. With a flourish he ripped the gown, revealing her breeches and tunic below. “When we get back, I'll show you a few of the ways I thought of on the gallows.”
“Gallows humor. That's appropriate,” Snow smirked, as he shrugged his shirt and coat back on. Helping Emma stand, he embraced her tightly.
“I love you, Emma. We'll talk about how mad I am that you are here later,” he whispered into her hair. “If I told you to stay out of trouble you'd never listen, but please be careful.”
Emma smirked, looking up at him. “I'll do my best, Killian.”
Another round of shouts began as another James appeared from the nearby doorway, screaming that the man on the gallows stand was an imposter, a wizard from the Far East.
Anyone from The Gilded Wing would recognize the slightly darker tanned skin, or the top of his ring finger missing on his right hand. But dressed in a captain’s uniform, the Navy became more confused. James sputtered on the gallows stand about his twin brother, while David shouted back towards the crowd. The Gilded Wing members took advantage of the chaos, attacking without mercy.
“Welcome to the party, Hook,” Belle said as she stood, joining the fray with Snow just behind, pulling a bow with quiver from her pant legs.
Killian kissed Emma one more time as they began making their way towards James.
Emma slashed through men easily, avoiding attacks as Killian moved faster, slicing with both hook and sword. Gunpowder filled the air as blood spilt; dying shouts heard over the smell of fire shot from Regina's hands. Robin, Belle, and Snow had taken high perches, shooting targets with keen accuracy. Men ran to get to safety.
Killian reached the platform first, and James backed away as he approached. Parrying back and forth, Killian was surprised that such a coward was actually an adept swordsman. A well aimed kick from James landed squarely in his broken ribs, the crunch and pain throwing him back on his elbows letting out a strangled cry. James raised his weapon high, the sword shining in its cruel metallic glory. Killian turned to Emma and watched her, unwilling to spend his last moments watching James’s sadistic snarl.
A shot rang out, James stepping back and looking at his stomach in surprise. Killian took no chances, digging his hook deep into James’s neck, ripping his face apart in a clean motion. Killian heard the bastard gurgle but threw him down, unwilling to give him any more attention. Looking up, Charming nodded to him over the smoking barrel of a pistol, a calm ripple of understanding coming between the two.
It was done. Men ran in all directions, fires started in several places along the keep, and cannons sounding from what sounded like several ships. Glancing at the smoke drifting off of the towers, he would swear he was hallucinating. Two dragons circled, one dark, massive, and sleek, the other a soft pearl color with somehow more delicate features. They were stunning in their fierceness.
The island was in ruins as nobles cowered, fleeing to ships that sped away from the rubble.
“Killian?” Emma called through the smoke, and he stumbled off of the deck into her embrace. She smiled and let him lean into her body, face pressed against her neck as he took a breath. “You’re heavy. As much as I -”
Rough hands pulled him aside, helping him stand fully. Charming stood next to him, propping him up. He grunted, growling out lowly, “You have legs, lean on someone who isn’t pregnant.”
Killian could feel his ribs throb as they walked along the cobbled path, Charming under his arm letting him lean and Emma by his side trying to keep him talking. His lungs burned, and he was painfully aware that breathing was becoming harder. “How did you manage this?” he coughed, and Emma looked at her brother, then away quickly.
“Will is alive. Belle took him back to The Gilded Wing, and they caught the Jolly on its way here to save us. Regina popped into my cell, letting me know the plan and helped me smuggle the things we needed. Hey, hey. I need you to stay awake.”
“And you tamed dragons in your cell?” Blinking groggily, he shook himself further awake, not realizing his drooping eyelids as his lungs tightened.
“That’s… That’s actually Z, and his, um… Friend? or Lover, I guess?” Emma said unsurely, glancing at David.
“Mal, the blonde woman, new to The Gilded Wing’s crew. Old friend of Regina’s, and a powerful sorceress. Transformed Zorro, your Z, into a dragon for revenge and the spell accidentally hit them both. They can change forms when they’re around each other,” David grumbled.
“You know I think you’re magnificent, Emma. Did you manage a Kraken too?” Emma laughed, moving closer into his side. “Don’t laugh, love. I’m trying to share a moment with you while staving off choking. And you, my dear brother-in-law racing to save me. Now that I wouldn’t have bet on.”
“Never call me that again. Could you focus?” Charming gritted out. “If you died, I’d never hear the end of it from Emma or Snow. And,” he mumbled under his breath, “I cannot be left alone with Scarlet or Robin, who would join you in hell. I can’t be killing crew. That’s, what do you say? Ah, yes. Bad form.”
“Dave, you truly do care,” Killian groaned when Emma gently prodded him gently in the ribs, shooting him a look, but Charming actually gave a forced smile.
“Don’t make me stab you when you have cheated death thrice today, to my sister’s delight.” As they approached the Jolly in full glory next to The Gilded Wing, they were met by a crowd of crew members, Graham taking over for Charming. Before he was completely pulled away, Charming slid an elbow right into where he ached, hard enough to bruise but not to cause any more actual damage. Killian sucked in as much air as he could get through his teeth, trying not to vomit. “And never call me Dave ever again either.”
Emma helped him settle into their bed, helping to ease him down and help make something comfortable for both of them. She’d washed his face, and taken off his bloody clothing, soft touches that reminded him her finger was painfully bare of his ring. Before he could say anything, Regina had come by for more healing and a round of her truly noxious potions made to induce bones to knit together with the added bonus of making a grown man fall back into the mindset of a whiny child.
His lucidity began to fray, and Emma lay next to him quietly, looking over their handiwork on his battered body. “You’re starting to get a little bit magic sloshed. I can see it in your eyes,” Emma giggled. “You always look so intense before you let go and get lost in things.” She reached for his hand, surprised when he moved to kiss her, searching her eyes as they broke away,
“You shouldn’t have been there. If you had been hurt, Emma, I can’t... I couldn’t even watch you pretend to suffer because I thought...” His voice caught, and she held his hand tighter. “No more. Stay off your feet. I know you’ve been hiding how exhausted you are, and I’m worried for you love. I’m worried for our child.”
“I’m ok, I promise,” she lied, and adjusted herself. Wincing, she did not sell her lie.
“No. You’re not.”
“Killian, I -”
“When was the last time you ate and really rested? You were in a cell, probably not much nicer than my own. And your wound? See to it you actually get it cleaned, love,” he sighed, gathering her into his arms. “Of course.” He nuzzled into her neck, his words slurring softly as the potion helped mend his broken bones. “You could just rest with me. Help me get better. Stop me from worrying about the dragon we unintentionally signed on as crew.”
“Of course,” she whispered against his chest, as close as she dared with his broken ribs snug under bandages. “Captain's orders, hm?”
“Quite right.” he sighed.
The sky was a sickly green as rain drizzled over the Jolly, the clouds casting strange shadows through the windows in the Captain’s quarters. Emma still felt uncomfortable on her ship, rather spending her time watching Killian heal and helping out on the Jolly. Her main tasks were easy to fall into, and she enjoyed laying in his arms as his wife.
Married life suited her, although Killian’s boredom did not. He entertained himself by wrapping yarn around his hook as Maggie had taught him as lumpy blankets as soft as clouds littered their bed. He also read, and occasionally sketched her changing form with rapt fascination. She'd begun to truly show, her body suddenly ballooning everywhere as her sickness was replaced by unending hunger.
Killian still not only assured her that she was beautiful, but made it very clear that he enjoyed every bit of what he saw. Every time she left him in the mornings he’d groan, sleepily begging her to stay; either trying to ply her with his words… or other things. “You could lie here with me all day,” his voice said with a low, husky rumble. He stretched his arms around her as she sat on the edge of their bed, and she heard the hiss of pain, even as he tried to hide it. “I’d show you how well I’m healing by licking every inch of you -”
“Killian!” she laughed, as he kissed her neck. “While that’s tempting, and it is oh so very tempting, the ledgers need to be balanced to account for repairs, stock needs to be counted, and you need to rest -” “Do the ledgers here, and I promise I’ll rest,” he nibbled her earlobe and she let out a gasp. “After I taste you. You don’t understand how beautiful you look, Emma.” She pulled away from him, and his face fell.
“Mmmhm, well, we can discuss this more when I bring you lunch.” His face brightened and he licked his lips. “With Mal, for another bout of healing.” He flopped back, with a wheeze, groaning. Emma stood, bending to kiss him, and made her way to the door. “I will do the ledgers here though, to ease your suffering.”
She heard his hum of approval as she walked to the deck. He was healing nicely luckily, and would be better in a matter of days. Emma was grateful to have Regina and this newcomer, Mal, around to work healing magic, even if it wasn’t as powerful as her own. His ribs had set which was a great comfort to Emma. She had been worried with them sleeping together that she’d hurt him somehow. Regina had even suggested he could be on deck but not working as early as the next day, but Emma hadn’t told him in case they were wrong.
It was cool, the rain picking up as Emma stepped on the deck and took in a deep breath. Walking to the railing, she looked over the waves, peering behind them where the Gilded Wing followed. A hand automatically rested on top of her stomach. The child was quiet today to boot, and would be until after breakfast. Although her sickness was blessedly gone, she’d noticed how easily she got winded or tired while working. She’d learned some ways around it; eating a good breakfast, snacking, breaks to sit down, drinking water, and other small tricks. The fresh air was another trick, the sea breeze felt good in her lungs.
Will stepped over to her, handing her a bowl of sweet rice and dried fruit. “Good morning. How’s Jones?”
“A few more days. Unless he does something stupid.” Tipping her bowl, she swallowed greedily. Every meal felt like she hadn’t eaten in days. “What still needs to be done this morning?”
“Jefferson says there’s a storm about to roll in, so we need to tie off some barrels, and move some crates.” He ticked off his fingers, while she continued eating. “There’s some damage to the sails that need to be tied off, and a little damage to the rigging. I think we should be storm ready after that.”
Emma nodded, finishing her meal. “Let’s start.”
They worked tirelessly as a unit as lightning crackled close by and a boom of thunder echoed only slightly to the west. The rain began to pummel them, and Emma started to shiver; her fingers going numb as she tied things off. A tickle ran across her back, and she looked up to see a loose rope dangling. She pulled gently to tie it off on a stable weight. It wouldn’t give so she pulled harder, letting her muscles strain as the wind whipped. She let go, dizzy and winded, her body protesting even standing.
Internally, she began to panic. She hadn’t been working that long, but she was exhausted already? This couldn’t be, and she wouldn’t accept it. She’d push through.
Smee looked at her in concern. “Miss Emma, are you alright?” She nodded and reached for the rope again, numb fingers gripping to pull even harder. This time it gave and she tied it off triumphantly, panting to catch her breath.
She realized something was wrong before she saw black creeping towards the edge of her vision. Turning to stumble towards Smee, she heard his surprised question before darkness took her.
When she blinked her eyes open again, she was laying bundled under far too many blankets by candle light, a cloudless night sky laid outside the open windows wherever they were harbored. Killian sat beside her, gently stroking her hair as he read. She went to ask him what happened, but could only rasp out a questioning noise before coughing.
“Well, my darling, you’ve gotten yourself sick and pushed yourself to fainting, per Regina. She sends her regards, with strict instructions for both of us,” he whispered. Killian smiled at her, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Emma groaned. “If that’s your apology for scaring us all half to death, it needs some work.”
She coughed, trying to clear her voice. “Sorry.”
“Emma…” A look of concern and tired frustration crossed over his face. “Regina and I talked, and you shouldn’t be doing anything but light labor, if that. We’re concerned for you.”
Emma scoffed, her eyes narrowing. “No, I need to work. I’m not weak -” “No one thinks you’re weak. You’re building life, the farthest thing from it - but this was a close call.”
“I just fainted. It’s not -” Killian’s hand balled into a fist, and he interrupted her, his voice quiet, but filled with worry and anger.
“You were bleeding.” His jaw ticked, and Emma immediately felt her heart sink as she rubbed where she could feel the baby resting, stretched along her entire frame.
“I was…?” Emma saw him soften, and he took her hand. “The baby is alright though, right? Killian, I didn’t mean to -”
“Z carried you in, and somehow got Mal and Regina over here almost immediately. He’d noticed you were bleeding after he picked you up.” He sighed. “Regina said you just strained yourself, and you needed to rest. You need to rest. She thinks… She thinks something might be wrong, and we should get a midwife.”
Emma’s heart froze, panic rising in her tone. “Why would she think that? There’s nothing wrong with him, the baby. You’ve read everything, we’re fine. We’d know if something wasn’t right, wouldn’t we?”
He rubbed her hand, kissing the knuckles he'd just traced. “It’s alright. She just said she was worried. The baby is rather big and your symptoms and swelling have been really severe, that’s all. A midwife is not a bad idea. We should find one just to be safe. There’s one she recommends that is available a few months from now, and another available in a month or so. How about we try the one available sooner and see what she thinks?”
Emma nodded, tracing where she could feel the slightest movements. “Better safe than sorry. I’ll stay on light duty.”
“Good. Never a dull moment around here.” He smiled at her adoringly. “One of us is always down, it seems.”
“Oh, how are you? Did they -”
“I have been told I’m fine besides light bruising.” He laid next to her, putting his book aside. “Which is truly too bad, I had planned to keep you totally and completely enthralled during our bed stay together.”
She laughed, which turned into coughing. “Ugh. I really did get sick.”
“Aye. You were ice cold. I wrapped you in every blanket in here. I thought…” She stopped him with a kiss, pulling him close.
“I’m not going to leave you, I promise. I learned my lesson this time, and I’ll take it slow.” Burying herself in his chest, she could hear his heart race. Emma closed her eyes, letting her entire body relax into his, feeling his warmth through her blankets.
“I love you, even when you’re a stubborn woman intent on shortening my life with fear.”
She yawned, feeling another round of exhaustion settle over her. “You love it.”
“Indeed, Emma, I do.”
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Mel Feller MPA, MHR, Discusses Texas Sized Business Risks for Every Business
Mel Feller MPA, MHR, Discusses Texas Sized Business Risks for Every Business
Mel is the President/Founder of Mel Feller Seminars with Coaching for Success 360, Inc. and Mel Feller Coaching. Mel Feller is an Innovator and Business Leader. Mel Feller currently maintains an office in Texas. Mel is currently an MBA Candidate.
Your business is at risk. For a lot of money. No matter what type of business you are in, you are susceptible to a patent infringement lawsuit. The worst part about this risk is that there is nothing you can do to protect yourself. You are a victim in a business world horror movie. Unfortunately, there is no one to scream, “No don’t do it. Don’t open that door” and protect you. All the doors are open and the trolls are all attacking.
Why wouldn’t they?
Put yourself in the position of a patent troll. If the laws changed in your industry so that if you filed a lawsuit against any small business in the USA, you were pretty much guaranteed to win or at worst get a settlement, could you overcome you internal greed and walk away from all that money. You, maybe. You might do the right thing. However, we are talking these lawyers about here. There is no chance the legal industry would pass up on a box full of money sitting right in front of them. Its free money to them. They are grabbing for it.
While we often read about the big patent lawsuits with Yahoo, Google, Facebook etc., it is the untold number of mid-size company settlements that are hidden by non-disclosures that we never read about that should scare the hell out of you. Thousands and thousands of companies are being sued or threatened with lawsuits over patents. It is by far the biggest risk that medium sized businesses and corporate America faces today. It is a fungus among us.
In addition, I am not saying that every company is at risk of having one patent lawsuit come their way. Nope. EVERY company in America is at risk of having two, three, five and even one hundred patent lawsuits coming your way. If you have a janitorial service company, you are at risk that the USPTO will issue a patent to someone who says they have invented a new way to optimize the path you should take when mopping a commercial kitchen. Then maybe they will issue a patent on the fastest way to wash kitchen utensils. If you wash spoons first while holding them upside down, you could be at risk. Ridiculous? Not in the current patent environment. The economic problems we face will hurt your business. Patent lawsuits can kill your business.
Oh, and before I move on, will someone please tell the NCAA and the Bowl Championship Series that there is a patent on most configurations of playoffs for a football championship. Our patent office at work.
So what should you do? You should first contact your local Senator and tell them that without protection the only firms that are going to remain in this country are law firms that specialize in patent lawsuits. Ok, maybe that is an exaggeration, maybe.
This problem obviously makes me incredibly mad. When it comes to this issue, Congress is a bunch of cowardly, ignorant pansies on their knees to the IP terrorists of the business world. They will not realize what is at risk until the number of companies in their districts going out of business after being sued for ridiculous patent infringement skyrockets.
Which of course leads to the question of why have not more companies gone out of business from patent lawsuits? Simple answer – because the small businesses that cannot afford to pay for protection or settle lawsuits are further down the pecking order. The lawyers are grabbing the low hanging dollars first. They are going where the money is, which is medium to super-sized businesses. The Googles/Facebook/Microsoft, etc. of the world.
Once they finish there, they will move down the food chain. It will be worse than a science fiction movie where the aliens try to consume all of our resources. In the not so distant future, trolls will go after companies knowing that while there is not cash available from small companies, there are assets that will be available to them once they bankrupt those companies. This is exactly what will happen if laws are not changed.
Unfortunately, for small businesses and start-up companies, some patent owners are becoming far more litigious. Once upon a time small businesses might be able to fly under the radar screen even if they were infringing because the cost associated with going after such folks was prohibitive. Nevertheless, welcome to the brave new world of the patent troll, where certain nefarious bad-acting patent owners seek to enforce dubious patent rights against those who are engaged in a business vaguely related, but who are almost certainly not infringing.
These bad actors, who seek to extract licensing payments with threatening letters or lawsuits if necessary, know that because it can be expensive to fight most will simply fold and pay what amounts to extortion.
Despite the gathering storm, some businesses would prefer to pretend that patent infringement is not a problem for them and they will not be sued. The graph below shows that since 1980 the number of patent lawsuits filed has only gone up, with a record number (4,991) being filed in 2017. Add the frequency of the “dime a dozen” threatening letters sent by those seeking to extract licensing payments to the number of lawsuits filed and you can readily see that patent infringement litigation, and the associated threats thereof, are a growth industry.
It is only a matter of time before technology-based businesses, regardless of size, will find themselves facing a patent infringement issue. As with most things in life, there is are many things you can do that are wrong, incorrect and/or harmful, with a small handful of appropriate things you really need to do. When you get that first threatening letter, or you are sued without warning, you need to know the follow.
True or False — I should contact the lawyer sending the letter or representing the party suing me because if I can only talk to them I’m sure I can convince them I am not infringing.
FALSE! You have been sued or targeted with a threatening letter for a reason. Typically, that reason is be extract money from you, or perhaps to get you to stop doing what you are doing. If you have been targeted by a patent troll the reality that you are not infringing is of absolutely no consequence. Patent trolls sue small businesses to extract payments knowing that the overwhelming majority of patent infringement lawsuits will settle. In fact, upwards of 96% of patent infringement lawsuits settle, many without a Judge ever reviewing any of the merits of any argument. Therefore, the fact that you are right and would prevail is not going to get them to back off.
It is a huge mistake to contact the attorney who represents the party coming after you. You may say certain things that compromise your negotiating position, you could give them crucial information about your business that they can use against you, or you might demonstrate that you are scared to death and willing to do whatever it takes to get the case to go away. None of these things is good.
True or False — I can just ignore the matter because it will go away if I do not respond.
FALSE. Looking the other way or burying your head in the sand are not effective strategies to deal with what may or may not be a meritorious patent infringement lawsuit. Certainly, if the lawsuit or dispute is meritorious, you have to take it seriously, otherwise your business may be in jeopardy. If the lawsuit or dispute is frivolous, you still have to take it seriously because that almost certainly means you are a target of a patent troll who is not going to go away.
When you are sued there is a limited amount of time within which to act, and you absolutely need to act with due speed to address the matter. In fact, you have days to act, not months. Yes, you might be able to get an extension of time to act, but you cannot assume that you can deal with the case when you get around to it.
If you have yet to be sued and instead are being threatened there are some ways to take the offensive and attack, should you be interested in taking an aggressive approach to fighting back. Some of what is available to turn up the heat on the party threatening ceases to be available, or is far less useful, once a lawsuit has actually been filed. So definitely take those threatening letters seriously and become informed of your options.
True or False — I should contact a patent attorney to discuss the threatening letter or federal complaint to understand what my options are and what I should be doing.
TRUE. There are a few things that you never want to really need in life. You probably never want to be in a position to really need a dentist for an emergency procedure, but that does not mean you ignore that excruciating pain in your tooth. Likewise, you never really want to need a lawyer, but sometimes you find yourself in a position where you absolutely need the assistance of someone who has been in the trenches and can navigate the rocky waters on your behalf.
A patent attorney can take the mystery out of what can be a truly mysterious and foreboding process. A patent attorney can also take up the fight, represent you and allow you to the greatest extent possible to continue to focus on business rather than being distracted.
True or False — When I get sued by a patent troll there is little that can be done, I might as well give in, pay and move on.
FALSE. Ultimately you might wind up deciding to pay to make the dispute go away, but make no mistake, there are ALWAYS things that can be done to facilitate a resolution. Even if you care going to give in and pay, you want to make sure that this happens in a way that does not paint a bulls-eye on your back identifying you to all other patent owners as someone who caves and pays rather than fights. If you are, an easy target then expect to be shot, metaphorically speaking of course. Therefore, you need to consider not only this case, but also what of others down the road.
Those who are patent trolls they have little to lose, but they certainly want to keep that patent they are so fond of trying to enforce against you, so you really need to consider trying to strike a blow at the heart of that patent and render it useless. You also need to consider an array of counter-claims that you might be able to bring against the bad acting patent owner who is simply trying to interfere with your business operations enough to get you to pay on a specious claim.
Turning the tables on the patent troll can be an effective strategy, and one that is unfortunately not employed very often. Of course, you probably want to avoid fighting an all-out war, but if both parties fear a long drawn-out battle, there is incentive to come to a resolution. In order to be a party at the peace talk table, however, you need to have leverage of some kind, otherwise you are not a party to talks as much as you are having terms dictated.
True or False — I have been sued and the patent troll is also suing some big companies for the same patent. I can just sit back and let the big companies fight the case, because they have far more to lose. They will fight hard so I do not really have to.
FALSE. Your interest is not necessarily the same as another defendant, so relying on other parties to fight your battle is risky. In fact, large corporations sometimes cave to patent trolls, finding it easier to pay than to litigate, which might not be in your best interest. Still other times large corporations will fight and fight hard, going deep into a case before even considering settlement, perhaps even taking the case all the way to trial. The same way that caving might not be in your best interest, fighting an all-out battle to the end might not be in your best interests either.
There is little generalized legal advice that any attorney can give that applies to everyone who might find themselves in the same or similar situation. The advice you need, and will get if you hire an attorney, will be tailored to your unique circumstances. The facts that are legally relevant to your situation are but one piece of what needs to be considered. Your business reality is unique and clearly far different from the larger or smaller companies that might also be sued in the same case.
Relying on others to do the heavy lifting, which I have heard as a strategy of some who are sued, is an enormous risk. Would you feel comfortable putting the future of your business in the hands of a large competitor? Likely not, so why would you tie your litigation fate to that large competitor?
What can you do as a small businessperson to protect yourself? Honestly, nothing beyond complaining to your Congressperson. The only option I have found is to buy into companies that aggressively sue over IP. It is a hedge against patent law. Put another way, if you cannot beat them, then you have to join them. Sucks, but there are not any other options that I can see.
Mel Feller, MPA, MHR, is a well-known real estate, business consultant, personal development consultant and speaker, specializing in performance, productivity, and profits. Mel is the President/Founder of Mel Feller Seminars with Coaching for Success 360, Inc. and Mel Feller Coaching, a real estate and business specific coaching company. His three books for real estate professionals are systems on how to become an exceptional sales performer. His four books in Business and Government Grants are ways to leverage and increase your business Success in both time and money! His book on Personal Development “Lies that Will Sabotage Your Success”. Mel Feller is located in Texas.
#patent trolls#lawsuits#patent lawsuits#business#small business#online business#starting a business#cutting business costs#small steps#small business goals#making money#make money online#texas sized business#mel feller in Texas#success#Coaching For Success 360#mel feller#melfeller.com#melfellersuccessstories.com#mel feller coaching#melvin feller seminars
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100 questions ask game
I was tagged by @mysmoldarkfictionalsons <33 I tag @surelance @spacemcclain @k3ithkogane @bobaphichit and @angst-in-space and all my mutuals/followers :D!! You don’t have to do it but seems like a nice way to know ny’all better :’)
1: When you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk?
more cereal!
2: Do you like the feeling of cold air on your cheeks on a wintery day?
what is a wintery day all I feel is humidity and tears
3: What random objects do you use to bookmark your books?
random receipts
4: How do you take your coffee/tea?
Coffee- cold!!! with a like 2 spoons of cream and a LOOT O sugar
5: Are you self-conscious of your smile?
My laugh mostly but I guess they’re similar?
6: Do you keep plants?
Yess my home balcony has many
7: Do you name your plants?
No??
8: What artistic medium do you use to express your feelings?
Drawing drawing painting but not digitally? like sometimes I just take a watercolor paper and attack it with a paintbrush to vent
9: do you like singing/humming to yourself?
I can’t hum! idk why so I singgg
10: do you sleep on your back, side, or stomach?
stomachh
11: what’s an inner joke you have with your friends?
A beach potato flew around my room and a skeleton wants to bone me
12: what’s your favorite planet?
....earth...??? But I guess the next would be Saturn <3
13: what’s something that made you smile today?
This little boy bumped into me and I went ‘ouch’ and he did this little gasp and held my hand I wanted to steal him
14: if you were to live with your best friend in an old flat in a big city, what would it look like?
I have a feeling it would be really warm and fuzzy and a cupboard full of ready made soup powder cause I love soupp
15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is!
If a baby was to be born in space, it would probably be born all deformed
16: what’s your favorite pasta dish?
??? I’m uncultured
17: what color do you really want to dye your hair?
red and brown highlights just tbh but If I was allowed to be crazy, dark purple <3
18: tell us about something dumb/funny you did that has since gone down in history between you and your friends and is always brought up.
well I apparently spray painted ‘sex’ in neon orange in the school bathroom in my old school and I once did this complicated dab dance in front of the class nobody lets me forget it
19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it?
Oh yes I have a lovely black faux leather book and I just write random things that happened in the day or fanart ideas!! surprising amount of matt holt doodles
20: what’s your favorite eye color?
Light brown or grey ugh I could melt
21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that’s been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces.
I don’t really have one?? but I do have this samsung laptop bag that has literally been with my like everywhere
22: are you a morning person?
YES i love four am
23: what’s your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations?
drink cold coffee, lie on the bed and send stupid selfies to my friends
24: is there someone out there you would trust with every single one of your secrets?
yes <3
25: what’s the weirdest place you’ve ever broken into?
In my old school there would be the fourth floor where people aren’t allowed to go and I was just curious okay and I looked inside and a shitload of mirrors??? i have no idea
26: what are the shoes you’ve had for forever and wear with every single outfit?
this weird ass pink sandals that say new york city on them
27: what’s your favorite bubblegum flavor?
strawberry I guess?
28: sunrise or sunset?
SUNRISE <3
29: what’s something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing?
This one girl randomly uses her pointer finger to just *flipflopflipflopflipflop* the tip of her nose and then she like blinks twice its so fucking cute okay
30: think of it: have you ever been truly scared?
No
31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks.
they succ. no? NO!?? yes. socks are weird even the word is weird I dislike them
32: tell us a story of something that happened to you after 3AM when you were with friends.
not much to say sadly but this one time on a sleepover we got bored staying awake so we went to the neighbouring 24/7 store and got icecreams and then fell sick it was nice
33: what’s your fave pastry?
I guess a.. brownie? I’m not that into baked stuff?
34: tell us about the stuffed animal you kept as a kid. what is it called? what does it look like? do you still keep it?
didn’t have many wasn’t attached to them...
35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often?
yeS YES YES
36: which band’s sound would fit your mood right now?
I think? U2 for some reason
37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean?
clean... :( but im weak
38: tell us about your pet peeves!
people not closing the door
people stopping your music to talk to you
people putting a babY ON THE PHONE TO TALK TO ME
39: what color do you wear the most?
greyyyy i love wearing grey
40: think of a piece of jewelry you own: what’s it’s story? does it have any meaning to you?
i have this one pretty crystal pendant that i bought on a roadtrip i love it
41: what’s the last book you remember really, really loving?
simon vs the homo sapiens agenda
42: do you have a favorite coffee shop? describe it!
the starbucks at the mall? Its ceiling is covered in pipes and stuff for the electricity or heat or whatever but it has really comfy couches i love it
43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with?
My dog.. but a person? I guess this girl in my apartment who I sometimes just roam around with
44: when was the last time you remember feeling completely serene and at peace with everything?
last summer
45: do you trust your instincts a lot?
No not really I seem to think about consequences a lot more lately but if I’m feeling it, yES
46: tell us the worst pun you can think of.
what’s up?
-
The ceiling.
I HATE THIS WITH MY ENTIRE BEING PEOPLE WHO SAY THIS SHOULD GO TO HELL AND BACK cause im mericful
47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe?
tomatoes. die
48: what was your biggest fear as a kid? is it the same today?
leaving for college. No
49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought?
idk i dont
50: what’s an odd thing you collect?
bookmaRKS i have like 200 of them
51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them?
never come back again by austin
52: what are your favorite memes of the year so far?
cowboy hat!
53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them?
I don’t really care too much?
54: who’s the last person you saw with a true look of sadness on their face?
my mom
55: what’s the most dramatic thing you’ve ever done to prove a point?
yell ‘kavya is a bich’ into the school on the third floor
56: what are some things you find endearing in people?
when it’s people i LIKE? them
57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics?
that song was my childhood so I love thhsdkjhsjkd just sang along
58: who’s the wine mom and who’s the vodka aunt in your group of friends? why?
I’m wine mom! S is vodka aunt bc it just fitss
59: what’s your favorite myth?
apollo and hyacinthus
60: do you like poetry? what are some of your faves?
I guess? I like phenomenal women
61: what’s the stupidest gift you’ve ever given? the stupidest one you’ve ever received?
I gave a potato and received a small mirror that said -u r bootiful- on the back
62: do you drink juice in the morning? which kind?
nahh
63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be?
my bookshelves are BEAUTIFUL ilovethem and I just have my music playlists so??
64: what color is the sky where you are right now?
pastel blueee
65: is there anyone you haven’t seen in a long time who you’d love to hang out with?
yes
66: what would your ideal flower crown look like?
white flowers <3
67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel?
aweSOME i have a special playlist for days like that
68: what’s winter like where you live?
its rainy
69: what are your favorite board games?
TERRA MYSTICAAAA and jenga
70: have you ever used a ouija board?
nahh
71: what’s your favorite kind of tea?
I don’t really drink tea?
72: are you a person who needs to note everything down or else you’ll forget it?
YES OMG
73: what are some of your worst habits?
my hands always get too excited so I fiddle a lot and tend to tear the edges of pages
74: describe a good friend of yours without using their name or gendered pronouns.
the most reflective pretty eyes I’ve seen. has the best heart in the whole word. literally the embodiment of good and pure
75: tell us about your pets!
HER NAME IS AMBER SHE’S A SHIHTZU I WOULD DIE FOR HER AND IF YOU HURT HER I’LL KILL YOU SHE’S THE BEST THING IN THE WHOLE GODDAMNED WORLD
76: is there anything you should be doing right now but aren’t?
writing an exam tbh it doesn’t count though
77: pink or yellow lemonade?
pink I had it once I liked it a lot
78: are you in the minion hateclub or fanclub?
*walks away* don’t include me in your shenanigans
79: what’s one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you?
So I was about to leave my old school right? last day was over, finals were done, and the reality that I would lose all of them was just settling in. so I think my mom noticed I was depressed and she called up ALL of my friends in my group of pals and they came over even though they live all so far away and I was editing percy in a video and they just hugged me from behind I laughed and yelled i miss them
80: what color are your bedroom walls? did you choose that color? if so, why?
everything is purple I have purple wardrobes and walls and doors and yes. I did choose this color? Because I wanted blue but I also wanted pink at that age so I mixed them in and decided on purple!
81: describe one of your friend’s eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of.
water at zero gravity
82: are/were you good in school?
Yesss
83: what’s some of your favorite album art?
I love michl’s art? And Eden’s
84: are you planning on getting tattoos? which ones?
Maybe two! Idk I’m just a young potato I’ll see to it later
85: do you read comics? what are your faves?
I guess! I love asterix&obelix and tintin and I love omg check please and sharp zero
86: do you like concept albums? which ones?
I listen to some of my dad’s so pink floyd’s I guess
87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives?
The lion king movies and Fantastic Mr. Fox
88: are there any artistic movements you particularly enjoy?
Im too asleep for this
89: are you close to your parents?
yeah
90: talk about your one of you favorite cities.
I LOVE KUALA LUMPUR its’adjabjkabkjadsbjaksd
91: where do you plan on traveling this year?
NO WHERE i’m going to get a 10 cgpa and kick school in its ass
92: are you a person who drowns their pasta in cheese or a person who barely sprinkles a pinch?
CHEESEEEEEEEE
93: what’s the hairstyle you wear the most?
two pony tails!
94: who was the last person you know to have a birthday?
this old friend of mine
95: what are your plans for this weekend?
study for finals
96: do you install your computer updates really quickly or do you procrastinate on them a lot?
pretty quickly
97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house?
INJP, capricorn and I’m a slytherin!
98: when’s the last time you went hiking? did you enjoy it?
last summer with my family and yeah
99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them.
any Eden song tbh I just scream and now that Jo reminded me I’m crying to little wonders
100: if you were presented with two buttons, one that allows you to go 5 years into the past, the other 5 years into the future, which one would you press? why?
five years into the future I’m just too scared to go through everything that happens in the next five
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Text
How Many Eyes? (Unknown Plane) By Matt Cavotta (5/17/07)
Muggtoth huffed and winced with each stride. Hs body was not often made to run—even before it was stricken with necrosis. But necrosis was not the cause of his pain, or his flight. Necrosis was his normal, yet unnatural, state of being. The cause of his quickened pace and shortened breaths was altogether not normal.
Normally, Muggtoth avoided dangers. It was what he did. It was all he did. Yet somehow, this day, his eye had failed him.
*****
"Eyes..." said Vissk to his pupil, pointing to his own, lightly closed. "Eyes are mostly symbolic. They are not what we use to actually see."
"Master?" asked Pinaphet, his own eyes crinkled in confusion.
"Everyone detects things with his eyes, the things that are plainly before him. But the truly wise, the sighted...see beyond the range of our little ivory orbs." Vissk touched lightly his closed eyelids. "We see beyond the mundane material of the now and into," he paused, and opened his eyes wide and bright, "the future."
"But how is it done?" pleaded Pinaphet. "How do I see beyond?"
"In time, young pupil, you will. You will become Magus. I have...seen it."
*****
"How could I not see it!" spat Muggtoth, struggling to keep moving. "How did I not see?" With each agonizing step he could feel his body stiffening, his limbs constricting like hairs caught in a tightening knot. With each step he thought of his miserable lot in undeath.
Through some curse unknown to him, Muggtoth was given a second life. Every day of that life was a test of his will, and of his wit. Through his one stained eye Muggtoth would see the pitfall of his own end, and each time he would sidestep it. At first he thought himself gifted, a seer. As time wore on he became bitter, cursed to unending visions of his own demise. He hated to see himself in pain, broken, falling to a second death. He also hated being alive. He hated himself for being a coward. "Face the future, end this misery," he would say to himself just before sidestepping his fear, again.
*****
Vissk led his apprentice through the impossible halls of his home. Pinaphet walked as close to his master as propriety would allow. Each turn was a wonder to him, stepping from hallway to ceiling to inverted staircase. They redefined up and down at every turn.
"Are we really walking on the wall, or do your eyes play tricks?" quizzed Vissk.
Pinaphet could hardly spare the concentration to consider the question. His every thought was on not falling off the wall.
"Always assume your eyes play tricks. Eyes are for fools. Eyes see what others aim to show you. My home is this way because I aim to confuse my guests, both wanted and unwanted. I find it makes for entertaining dinner conversation with the former and is effectively paralyzing to the latter. In your case, it makes a fine learning experience.
"Soon you will see through your eyes, not with them. Imagine each of them is a tiny crystal ball. To see truth, look into your eyes. To see trickery, look with your eyes."
*****
The poison reached Muggtoth's arm and seized it. His walking staff slipped from his stiffened fingers and clacked upon the rocky ground. Moving would be even more difficult now. His own ineptitude angered him. He had seen countless deadly events and avoided them all. Falling rocks, loosed arrows, hungry beasts of all sorts. But today, he had seen no danger. No dark future that he would cowardly flee. Yet here he was, suffering a slow and agonizing death. "It serves you right, coward!" he blurted at himself. "You should have let an arrow strike, or a baloth take you." These deaths would have been quick and easy.
He felt deserving of this long doom, and of the ironic twist that it would come blindly. In defeat he slumped to the earth, closed his eye, and wept inky blackness. And then he saw it.
*****
"One eye in the present and the other in the future? Come now, young Pinaphet, did you pick that up from an old ale-rat at the pub? Words like these are for fools—fools who try to comprehend what is beyond them. The truth, as I have been instructing you, is that eyes are not significant.
"Of course, we are aware of the present. It is a very important time. It is when we process the past and affect the future. But there is no one eye for this or one eye for that. Such words are the gushings of some struggling bard, tossing rhymes for refills.
Let me give you an example. This morning I saw the future, as I often do. I saw it as I read a book about poisonous flowers. What I saw was a dragon, long and lean, very fearsome, swirling within the two eyes that took in the print on the pages. At the very same time, my mind took note of the deadly beauty of both flower and dragon, and recreated an image from my past of an experience I once had with a firebreather. Past, present, future...all at once."
"How were you not confused? Seeing so much at once?"
Vissk chuckled. "Tell me, Pinaphet, are you confused by soup?
"Soup?" Pinaphet's wrinkled brow indicated that he was more confused by this question.
"Yes, soup. You feel its welcoming warmth upon your face as your nose takes in the subtle scent of carrot. The clank of the spoon on the bowl reminds you of your mother, and you remember her. Then the hot spoon and froth touches your lips, and you slurp it in and savor the wonderful marriage of carrot, ginger, and cubal root. All at the same time.
No, Pinaphet, it is not confusing. In fact, it is quite...delicious."
*****
There, lying in surrender upon the rocks, Muggtoth saw it: a vision, blue and rippling, of faces in horror and his flesh peeling from his hand before him. Behind the onlookers, towers he knew well.
Muggtoth sat up as quickly as his aching body could. So this pain, this torturous pain would not be his end. With renewed strength, Muggtoth turned eastward and was once again on the move.
*****
"It is important for you to note, young one, that everyone can see beyond the now. Well, everyone with the wisdom to do so. What I speak of is the past. The past is your guide in the now. Do what you can now to avoid the pitfalls and recreate the boons of the past.
"Future sight takes wisdom as well. It, too can guide our actions in the present. With it, a Magus can prepare for what is coming. We can affect what will happen before it happens, redirect timelines that have not even begun yet. With a mind on the past, awareness of the present, and visions of the future, a Magus can see...all. All without reliance on an eye."
Pinaphet was wide-eyed and rapt by his master's words. He wanted, more than anything, to see the way his master saw. He fought hard the desire to rush the process, to cut corners and open his ey...to see. But he knew that the process was long and arduous. He saw, in his future, much, much study. But he was curious. "Master," Pinaphet asked sheepishly, "can you show me?"
Vissk knew the question was coming, and had been directing his lecture toward it all along.
"Oh, I think you've had enough to process for today. But, I guess I can show you...something. Go to my study and grab the mortar and pestle on the desk. Take care not to be startled by the mouse that will scurry across the ceiling. I don't want you to spill what's inside."
*****
"Where are we going?" asked Pinaphet.
"Into the future," bellowed Vissk with drama and sarcasm. Pinaphet could tell he was not going to get a straight answer, so he just waited quietly until his master continued the lesson. "Fear not, young one, but we are going to see a dragon." Pinaphet stopped abruptly.
"A dragon?"
"Yes. The one I spoke of earlier. A time rift will open not far from here and from it will erupt the worm from the future. This will be a great opportunity for you—to see the future come into the now. Not exactly a 'sighting,' but exciting." The smirk on Vissk's face made it clear that he was pleased with his little rhyme. "The dragon will come out of the rift and let out a great roar. It will not strike immediately. I know, because I have seen it. And I have prepared for it.
"I told you about a dragon I encountered in the past. It should have killed me. I lived by luck alone. Now that I have survived this incident in the past, and researched greatly on the subject, I can, in the now, take actions that will safeguard us in the future. I have readied a possession spell that will put the beast under my control. That way, it can roar all it wants, but it won't hurt you. You can study it at your leisure, sense what the stuff of the future feels like. Then, in time, when you gain the sight, you will recognize the sensation. Then the time rift will close and I will send it back to whenever it came from."
The two walked a while in silence. Vissk wanted to give Pinaphet some time to ponder what was going to happen, to be prepared for the future the way he was. But, for the drama that he fancied so, he also wanted to wait for the right time to speak his next words.
"Pinaphet. Take this mortar and pestle," said Vissk, with the slow and methodical tone he employed to indicate the importance of his words.
"What is it.?"
"It is antidote for the poison of Viperwick pollen," replied the magus nonchalantly.
Pinaphet was about to speak when he was interrupted by shuffling and snorting in the thicket to their right. Out of the brambles stumbled Muggtoth. At the sight of the two men, the cyclops collapsed, groaning, upon the grassy ground.
"Don't worry, he's too sick to harm you," said Vissk. "Feed him some of the mixture in the mortar."
Pinaphet stood a moment, amazed at his master's power. He really could "see all." Vissk took a moment to let Pinaphet grasp what had just transpired. Then, after a self-congratulatory smile, Vissk barked out, "Pinaphet! The antidote. Be quick—the real lesson is about to begin."
The apprentice quickly shuffled over to the hulking creature and reached out with the goo-covered pestle. The cyclops opened its bony mouth slowly and took the antidote.
Muggtoth felt the poison, and the pain it caused, recede. His muscles limbered and his clouded vision cleared. He stood, and saw two men standing before him. They were talking to each other, but he could hardly hear them. They paid him no mind at all. He recognized the faces, but not their expressions. He recognized the towers in the distance, but something was different. He was too groggy to try and figure it out, or to move.
"Preparation, Pinaphet. It is what we do with our knowledge of the future. Now leave the creature," said Vissk, pointing out into the glen, "and have a look out here. Just seconds before the air turned cold, seconds before a sharp thunder pierced the quiet, Vissk boldly announced, "The rift. It opens."
Muggtoth saw the men grow wide-eyed as they were bathed in blue light. He heard his own voice speak softly in his mind, "It is here." He closed his eye and threw his arms wide.
Beyond the broad silhouette of the cyclops, Vissk and Pinaphet saw a bright blue line slice across the glen like a blade through a whaleskin. The thin now tore and split wide, releasing a blue glow and a shadow from the future.
"Worry not, Pinaphet," barks Vissk, "I have seen this. I have seen." The wavering shadow lurched forward, piercing the light, and took form. "It is the dragon, the dragon of my vision," said Vissk. The beast looked around at the unfamiliar landscape and at those standing before him.
"You stand?" bellowed the dragon. "Before Ugin?"
Vissk turned calmly to instruct his pupil. "The roar," said Vissk, as he readied his spell. "The roar is next." The face of the great worm contorted. It reared back and drew a long gulp of air. Pinaphet stood paralyzed with fear. To calm his apprentice, and display his control over the now, Vissk continued to announce what would happen next. "I will now..." The beast snapped forward with its jaws open. The air rippled and a blackened line was torched from the dragon's maw across the ground, through the Cyclops, to the men, and beyond. Both cyclops and human saw nothing, their five melted eyes tumbling down their blackened, fleshless faces. But they felt it, the moment of utter hell as their existence both inside and out was boiled away. Vissk burned out in anger, wondering "How, how did I not see," while Muggtoth burned out in peace, thankful for the end.
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