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yeontanismypresident · 5 years

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Our One and Only | 07

a/n: oof the long awaited chapter 7 of our one and only! i apologize for the late update, i just was not feeling motivated or inspired to continue this story. but recently i found some and i got this done!

word count: 3.4k+

genre: idol!verse, hybrid!au, soulmate!au, angst, fluff

warnings: drug use, marijuana, fist fights aye, language

The only sounds that could be heard were the occasional shuffling, everyone’s soft breathing, and the purring coming from Jimin. Your hand was loosely running through his soft locks, delicately untangling the knots, waiting for one of the hybrids to explain their past. Taking in your surroundings, you noticed those who haven't spoken of their past avoided your eyes, as if they were embarrassed and that you would judge them.

“You guys...do know I would never judge you, right?” you asked them, voice hesitant, not knowing if you wanted to know the answer. When the guys didn’t answer you, you chewed on your lower lip and furrowed your eyebrows. Did they really think you’d see them differently…?

Namjoon abruptly got up from his seat, startling everyone in the room, ran his hand nervously through his bangs, his ears flattening atop his head, and spoke, “D-does anyone want anything to drink? I’ll get us some water or s-something.” Before anyone could say anything, he briskly walked into your kitchen, cutting the conversation short. Your shoulders and head dropped, feeling as if you had messed things up between you and the hybrid.

A whine from your left made you look over, catching Jimin's eyes as you did so. He was watching you with sadness, picking up on the change in your pheromones. You gave him a smile, albeit small, and glanced around the room to see Jin standing up. Cocking your head to the side, you gave him a questioning look to which he just gave you a reassuring smile. A few minutes passed by, you continuing to pet the cat hybrid’s ears and the others sitting there in silence. Just as you were about to speak, Namjoon and Seokjin walked back into the room. The elder kept a hand on the back of the younger one, making sure he wouldn’t try and run away again.

“I guess it’s my turn to tell you where I came from…” Namjoon trailed off before going into his past.

--0--0--0--

As Jason was rolling a blunt, he yelled for Namjoon, “Get over here you filthy mutt!” The wolf hybrid held back a snarl, knowing it would just end up with him getting beaten. Stalking towards the man, Namjoon put on a blank face, keeping all of his emotions hidden.

“Yes, sir?” Namjoon quietly asked, keeping his stare on the floor. He was taught to never look someone in the eyes. Otherwise the consequences wouldn’t be pretty.

The drug dealer took a hit before exhaling all the smoke, “I want you to go pick up my next order from the docks.” He handed the hybrid a wad of cash, telling him, “Now go. Get out of my sight.” Internally sighing, Namjoon obediently nodded his head and left.

Walking through the dark alleys, the wolf’s ears twitched at every sound, eyes surveying the area for any danger. As he got closer to the meeting spot he thought of ways to leave this life. He had already tried escaping his owner’s house but that didn’t end well. One of the gang members had spotted him and shot him in the leg to stop him. Since he was trying to climb down from the window, he fell from the second floor. The member had dragged him back inside where he got the worst beating he had ever experienced. He could always try and just leave now, but he knew his owner had sent someone to trail after him and make sure he didn’t do anything stupid. The footsteps behind him and the slightly familiar scent told him that much.

Before he knew it, he was standing in front of some grubby man. A rough voice broke him from his thoughts, “Do you have the money?” Namjoon nodded, handing it over and taking the duffel bag full of illegal drugs. He felt uncomfortable, hating how he had to be the one to handle them.

Just as he was about to turn around and leave, a bunch of sirens sounded off, red and blue lights flashing. The bright lights caused him to squint his eyes, watching as multiple officers came out of the cars, guns held high. Fear paralyzed Namjoon as everyone else ran off, trying to not get caught by the police.

A kind officer walked closer, noticing how the hybrid had bruises and cuts littering his skin. His voice was soft and soothing, “Are you okay?” The wolf whimpered, dropping the bag and backing away. The man stopped where he was and put his hands up, “Hey, it’s okay. You’re safe now.” Somehow, the policeman knew he hadn’t wanted to do any of this, and that calmed Namjoon enough to allow him to put him in the back of the cop car.

The man, who introduced himself as Officer Lee, took him back to the station where they let him clean himself. When he found out everything the wolf’s owner had made him do, Officer Lee and his coworkers went and arrested Jason. He then decided to adopt Namjoon, helping him get better and helping him achieve his dream.

--0--0--0--

“I understand if you hate me and don’t want to be friends anymore,” Namjoon cowered into himself, tears falling from his eyes. You quickly got up and went over to him, pulling him into a loving embrace and petting his ears. His bushy tail slowly unwound from his waist and wrapped it around yours.

With tears of your own, you mumbled into his hair, “I could never hate you Joon. You’re so strong and brave.” You cooed as he sniffled and snuggled closer into your arms. Jin smiled sadly, before speaking up.

“Time to tell my past, hm?”

--0--0--0--

“Do you know what species you want?” The employee, Hyun-Soo, asked as he led a woman and man through a door. All types of hybrids were running around the small yard, both young and old.

The two gently smiled at the playing children as they followed the worker. The male was the one to answer, “No, it doesn’t matter to us as long as we can give someone a happy life.” Hyun-Soo hummed, grinning as a little girl with fox ears ran up to them. She waved excitedly before running off to play with her friends.

“Well, we have foxes, wolves, alpacas, lions,” Hyun-Soo started to list off all the hybrids they currently had, but the female had stopped listening, instead staring at a young boy, who looked to be seven, sit all by himself. He had a sad expression as he watched the others interact with each other. The sight caused her to frown, not understanding why he wasn’t with the other hybrids, and she voiced this.

She pointed over to the small boy, “Why is he all alone?” Hyun-Soo and her husband looked over to see what she was talking about.

“Ah that’s Seokjin,” The shelter worker said, his voice holding sorrow. He sighed, “He’s a hamster hybrid and the only one here. The other children prefer to be with those of their species, so he’s always alone.”

The male looked over at his wife, saw her saddened eyes, and asked, “Can we meet him?” Hyun-Soo grinned and took them over to the little boy. The child looked up with eyes filled with wonder as all three adults kneeled next to him.

“Seokjin, this is Mr. and Mrs. Kim. They want to chat with you, is that okay?’ Hyun-Soo softly asked him, getting a small nod in response. The worker left the three to talk, going over to mess around with some squirrel hybrids.

Mrs. Kim smiled gently and took a seat next to Seokjin, “Hello, Seokjin. How old are you?” The boy held up seven fingers, looking at them shyly. The two humans continued asking Seokjin questions about himself, trying to get to know the young boy. They ask one final question as they stand up, “Seokjin, honey, do you want to come home with us?”

“Really? Can I?” the hamster exclaimed in shock, eyes big and hopeful. When they both smiled and nodded, Seokjin grinned and hugged them tightly.

--0--0--0--

“Seokjin-ah! Come down here, please!”

The 20 year old hybrid came bounding down the steps, stopping in the living room where both his parents were sitting on the couch. In his mother’s hands was a white, thick envelope. With his sharp eye sight, he could faintly see his full name as well as the logo for BigHit Entertainment. His heart stopped, eyes widening in recognition.

He slowly made his way to them, his voice shaky as he asked, “Is..is that…” Seokjin trailed off, his nerves preventing him from continuing. His father gave him a reassuring nod and smile as his mom handed him the envelope. His fingers shook as he tore it open and took out the letter. Quickly reading through its contents, he dropped it and covered his mouth as his eyes began watering.

“What did it say, sweetie?” Mrs. Kim’s tender voice caused the first tear to fall.

Seokjin choked out a laugh, “I got in. They liked my audition! They want me to join!” His parents beamed and brought him into a group hug, congratulating him and expressing how proud they were.

--0--0--0--

“I didn’t have a hard time like the others, but that’s my past,” Seokjin mumbled and leaned back in his seat. The two hybrids that have yet to explain their life looked at each other, trying to decide who should speak next by having a conversation through their eyes. The red fox hybrid pouted in defeat before straightening and wringing his hands out nervously.

Before Taehyung can even begin explaining his past, you can hear the code to your front door being punched in. The hybrids became frigid and their tails moved in annoyance. Confused as to who it could be, you shifted uneasily. Jimin placed an arm around your shoulders, pulling you into his side protectively. Eyes widening in realization, the only person you remember telling the code to was Hyuk, you watched as said man walked through the door.

He went to move closer, though decided not to when a growl sounded, “Y/n…” The way he said your name, desperation thick in his voice, caused your heart to clench. Even though he was an asshole, you still hated to see him almost breaking down.

“Hyuk, leave,” you said, rising from your seat and making your way towards him, your friends following your lead. He glared at the hybrids behind you, his eyes softening into a pleading look when they met yours. Taking a closer look, you noticed how dead his eyes looked, the redness surrounding them shocking you.

He stuck his hand out, as if to reach for you, but stopped halfway, his voice quiet, “Baby, please, can we just talk?” Ignoring the growls coming from the seven men, you took one last step and finally reached him. You didn’t want to appear weak or afraid, no, you wanted to seem strong, like the break up hadn’t hurt you. Which to be fair, you honestly hadn’t suffered much, slowly losing your feelings towards Hyuk the minute you met the seven member group. Which was still confusing to you, but you could dwell on that later.

“Hyuk, you said we were through,” trying to be calm to compensate for the others, you kept your voice even and peaceful, “There’s nothing to talk about.” The maknaes had triumphant grins while the hyung line were smirking, though their expressions were wiped away into snarls when they heard the words that fell from your ex-lover.

Tears blurred Hyuk’s vision, resulting in him looking pitiful, and his voice broke in between words, “Baby, I didn’t mean anything I said. It was all in the moment! I was hurt that you would rather go after the pe- him than stay with me, your boyfriend.” One of the hybrids, the voice sounded an awful lot like Namjoon’s, corrected him with a quiet ‘ex-boyfriend’. Said man glared at the wolf hybrid while scoffing, “Excuse me?”

“He said, ex-boyfriend, meaning you’re not her boyfriend anymore. She doesn’t need you,” Jungkook said, his tone full of confidence as he moved so he was standing right next to you. Jimin followed his lead, grasping your hand tightly in his when he was by your side.

Seeing what Jimin had done, Hyuk sneered at him, “Let go of her fucking hand or else.” Eyes widening, you gripped the cat hybrid’s hand tighter, afraid of what would happen next. Jimin gave your fingers a short squeeze, giving you a reassuring smile before turning to face Hyuk with a blank stare.

“Or else what?” Jimin questioned him, raising an eyebrow to further provoke the man. He knew he shouldn’t irritate him, especially not in front of you, but he really couldn’t stop himself. Maybe it was in his instincts, to protect his mate and get rid of any threats, or maybe it was just because he was tired of this guy acting like he was some hot shit that could do whatever he wanted and get whatever he wanted.

Hyuk balled his hands into fists, his jaw taut with anger, “Or else I’ll fucking remind you where you belong, you filthy pet. That’s all you are. You’re a pathetic little animal that should only be used as a sla-” Before he could finish his speech, Jimin had pounced on him, claws extracted and growls rumbling from his chest. You screamed in horror as you helplessly watched Jimin throw punches at your ex, yelling at him to stop. When he didn’t, you sought help from the other men in the room.

Glaring at the other hybrids through your tears, you begged them to do something, “Please, stop him!” Finally coming to their senses, Jin, Hoseok and Jungkook rushed towards the pair on the floor. Looking back to the scene, you saw Hyuk was now on top of Jimin, hitting him over and over. Jin grabbed him off of the small man, holding his arms behind his back, while Hoseok and Jungkook made sure Jimin didn’t go after Hyuk.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Jimin snarled, spit flying from his mouth as he continued to struggle out of his friend’s hold. You sobbed at his words and turned away from the sight before you, hiding your face in Yoongi’s chest as he hugged you, his tail around your waist. He mumbled gentle words to you and placed kisses on the top of your head, effectively calming you down.

Namjoon stepped forward, his alpha presence making Jimin whine and finally stop fighting his friend’s grip, his tail lowering between his legs and ears pinned to his head. “Jimin, enough. You’re scaring her.” Namjoon’s comment made the cat hybrid whimper and try to get to you, though Hoseok and Jungkook wouldn’t let him. The wolf Hybrid glared at Hyuk, his words coming out in a slight growl, “As for you, I think it’s best you leave.” Hyuk was about to protest, but when the others growled threateningly at him, he scoffed and left without a word.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” Jimin sniffed and rubbed his eyes, “I didn’t mean to lose control.”

Pulling away from the panther, you fling your arms around Jimin, “I was so worried about you.” He whined and hugged you closer to him, nuzzling into your neck and breathing in your scent. The smell of vanilla and roses calming him down. He placed a peck on your pulse and leaned away from you to stare at you, eyes filled with love and sorrow.

The two of you start to lean in, but before your lips can meet, the sound of someone’s stomach growling breaks you apart. Looking around, you notice they’re all staring at you with amusement. Right as you’re about to ask them why they’re staring at you, your stomach growls louder, causing your cheeks to redden. Oh... it was my stomach, you thought.

“How about we order some takeout? We didn’t really get to eat our dinner…” Jin trailed off, hating how he brought up what everyone wanted to forget. It was silent until Hoseok walked past you, placing a quick kiss on your cheek, stating he would order some food.

Jungkook hopped up and down and then ran to the couch, “I call choosing the movie!” You giggled as Jimin pulled you along with him, tugging you down in between him and the bunny hybrid.

All eight of you spent the next two hours eating and watching movies. By the time the second one was ending, you were falling asleep, your head on Jungkook’s shoulder. All of the hybrids cooed as you mumbled in your sleep and cuddled closer to the young man. Jungkook blushed as he felt your hot breath hitting his neck, shivers down his spine. Taehyung walked over and carefully lifted you up, carrying you to your bedroom. Seokjin, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jimin followed, huddling up to you when the fox placed you in the middle.

“Yah, Y/n-ah! Come on! Before they catch us!”

Giggles tumbled past your lips as you ran behind Jimin, squealing when strong arms grabbed you around the waist. Jungkook’s laughs sounded in your ears, cheeks blushing when you felt your face being smothered in kisses from the man. “Kookie! Lemme go!”

The bunny squeezed you tighter against his chest and yelled out, “Never! You’re mine now!” Laughter rang through the air as he started to tickle you. Struggling to escape his grasp, you didn’t notice Taehyung creeping up behind you with a bright grin. Until he was pressed up against your back, tail wrapping around your right thigh, his fingers trailing up your sides and tickling you with his friend.

“I’ll save you jagi!” Jimin screeched, running full speed towards the three of you. When he got close enough, he tackled Taehyung off of you. Out of nowhere, Hoseok appeared and stole you from the bunny hybrid, standing in front of you protectively and growling playfully.

Cold hands gripped your wrist and spun you to face them. There, standing extremely close, was Yoongi. His eyes were sparkling as his face neared yours. Your breath hitched and your eyes glanced down to see his own rosey lips. He licked them, smirking when your pupils dilated even more. Leaning in, you closed your eyes just as your lips tou-

Jolting awake, you looked to your right, seeing Hoseok cuddled into your side his tail tickling your thigh as it swayed every so often, with Yoongi cuddling him from behind, his tail wrapped tightly around your wrist. Turning your head to the left, you saw Jimin cuddled with Jin. Not seeing the rest of the boys, you untangle yourself from the hybrids and left the room. You could hear purring coming from one of the guest rooms next to yours, and looked in to see Jungkook and Taehyung cuddling, fast asleep. Walking further down the hall, you saw a faint light coming from the kitchen. Quietly stepping inside the room, you saw Namjoon sat at the table, just staring at it absentmindedly.

“Joonie?” you asked, voice soft so you don’t startle him. He looked up at you and motioned you to take the seat next to him. When you get close, he tugs you to sit on his lap, tail wrapped protectively around your waist.

He nuzzled into your neck, licking it a little and scenting you. The feeling of his tongue caused shivers to run down your spine. Namjoon smirked, “What are you doing up baby girl? Couldn’t sleep?” Nodding, you rested your head on his shoulder, snuggling into his warm embrace.

“Can I ask you a question?” you slurred, sleep gradually creeping up on you. He hummed, giving you permission to continue. Looking up at him, you softly wondered, “Why do I feel so connected to you guys? Even though I’ve only known you for a short time?”

The hybrid below you became tense, tail tightening around you and ears twitching. It was silent for a few moments and for a second you didn’t think he would answer you. Namjoon pecked your forehead, “I think that’s something we should talk about when everyone is present. Let’s head back to bed, shall we?”

Knowing you weren’t going to get anything else out of him, you allowed him to guide you to the other guest room where you huddled close to him. The warmth emitting from his body lulling you to sleep.

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pixelatedrose · 4 years

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im really upset because this was gonna be the one year i could go to vidcon cause it's in my state, and i might've been able to meet an online friend, and see thomas in real life, so that's sucky. anyways, give me some stories: have you had any pets?

Ahw man...damn that really does suck, I'm so sorry bro

And yeah!! I've had a lot of pets in my life!

The first pet i remember having is our big orange tabby cat, Zephyer. He was a VERY good kitty and EXTREMELY patient. We had him for a very long time, about 11 years, and he went through a lot of toddlers. I miss him still sometimes...

We also used to have a boxer dog named Pandora! She was a very good dog and the only one we've ever had. She LOVED frisbees and was very good. We ended up giving her to our cousins bc at the time we had been moving around a lot and it wasn't fair that she had to be stuck in her crate all the time. I do miss having a dog though.

I also owned a rabbit for a few years. Her name was Ashes and she hated me lol. I loved her so much though.

And then we had two kittens. Merlin and Nimue! Merlin sadly disappeared one night after he was out after dark and we haven't seen him since, I'd like to hope the best and think he found a good family to live with. Nimue is still with us today! She's adorable and i love her a ton.

We got another kitten after Merlin disappeared and we named him Bumi. We found out not much after that he had a very rare disease that only kittens can contract. Its usually fatal and we had him euthanized to put him out of his pain. It was and is very sad, but it was more painful for him to be alive. I miss him a lot sometimes, but i mostly just try not to think about it for long.

We also have a hamster named RosePetal who's my little brother's. I love animals, but dear LORD. I hate this little critter. She CONSTANTLY escapes and i will find her in my room all the time, and its always SUCH a pain trying to get her back. She's cute though so i guess it balances out.

And that's all the pets I've ever owned! I skipped over the multitude of goldfish and beta fish we've owned though. (My little sister currently has like six tiny fish that i have all named Void bc i can't tell them apart.)

#anon ask #anonymous #ask me things #tw death #pets

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runicrigel · 4 years

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The Dead Hen

Author’s Note: In November of 2019 I went to live off grid and work on an organic farm outside of Austin, Texas for a month. I stayed in a camper from 1973 I renovated and wrote small memoir blurbs. This is one of the most poignant.

MEMOIR POST 2 - THE DEAD HEN

“They’re dead,” I announced sagely. "Everything and everyone dies.“ It was a finite statement made desperately upon a patch of sandy earth in southeast Texas. I loosed a guttural, "Huuuugh!” Into the sky, literally hanging my head back for additional dramatic effect. For a moment, I was vaguely self-conscious about this display but no one was around other than the chickens at my feet, clucking and strutting. One chicken crowed and stomped a single foot. It flapped it’s wings as though acknowledging the death of the grey hen crumpled at our feet. I stared at the odd ritual, then back to the corpse.

I understood both then and now that this level of gravitas is likely not befitting the life of a nameless hen. She is just, “chicken.” But I have no direct experience with dead things, or escorting them to their final resting places. When I was young I had a small dwarf hamster named Tutter that had died. My dad had gently carried him into the computer room, cradled in a large, callous palm, and offered kindly, “Do you want to see him?”

“Nooooo!” I howled, and ran out of the room. Death is natural, but there was something terribly unnatural about it to me. I wish I could say that uncanny feeling vacated with age and maturity but it didn’t exactly. All I know is that I couldn’t bare to see my little Tutter lifeless, even if he was but the size of a pair of cotton balls.

Those strong but tender hands that had once cupped my little dead hamster were cold when I wrapped my own hands around one of his palms. "His hands are so cold.“ I’d remarked through a shutter and then tears broke free as I stood by the casket that made him seem so small. I didn’t sob. I just cried, hard, like a helpless person does. When my father died we knew he had wanted a close casket funeral but somewhere along the line that idea had received an override by those left to grieve. He hadn’t wanted people to remember him that way, and after the funeral, I had an inkling as to why.

As I stood both staring and trying to not look at this chicken memories flooded me of pets I’d known to pass. I was there for my boyfriend when his cat was put to sleep, and when the other began to labor and then died right in his arms. More than once I had considered how grateful I was to Spooky and Baldric that they had let me be there for them at the momentous occasion that is the end of a life. Yet, when each feline was buried I had let Jason go alone, unable to look on their corpses. Afraid of what I might see as they disappeared underneath a bed of loam.

I had always been this way. When I was a girl and our dog delivered a stillborn litter I sobbed outside on the suburban sidewalk of our street in my nightgown while my younger sister (who wanted to be a nurse) helped my mother deliver the unmoving pups. When my step-father’s brother killed himself I cried terribly at his funeral and was a ghost of myself for weeks. It didn’t matter that he and I hadn’t been close. I barely new him. At a young age, every one of Death’s intrusive visits were otherworldly and bitter.

And now there was this nameless chicken, it’s death incomparable to my father’s own. This defiant chicken, who had decided to die during my journey of healing and renewal. Rude.

She had been refusing to sleep in the coop for days — opting to hide under it at night instead. While the others piled into the coop to be stowed away from the jaws of coyote or other predators, she scrambled under it to take her chances. Only when the sun warmed the sky and the coops were opened to let the others flutter out to feed, did she enter to perch alone.

Looking back on it, this behavior was likely indicative that she was nearing the end of her life. That night she had died under the coop and now she was laying there so still — like a pile of slate feathers. Morning dew glistened on her neck. When I’d come upon her I’d gasped in surprise. It was apparent immediately that she was dead, lying in a completely unnatural slump unachievable in life.

I knew right away that it was unsanitary for her to stay lying there. It was also my first day completely alone on the farm. There was no one I could defer the task of moving her to. No one to set upon this task that I myself had always avoided. So now here I was howling into the sky, trying to convince myself that this chicken was dead and that no matter how much I didn’t want to touch it I had to touch it and move it out of the pen.

I stood in the sand trying to force my brain to reckon with the fact that the chicken was not going to move. "It isn’t sick or debilitated. It’s dead. It’s not going to move now or ever again. Really? Are we sure.” I had to process, “No it’s really never moving again and nothing I do can change that. It’s final.” I felt cold some where deep inside.

I’m on a farm. And chickens die on a farm sometimes. "Where there’s livestock, there’s deadstock,“ John (the farmer and my host) had warned me with a chuckle.

"Goddammit.” The sentimental, mostly vegetarian in me, wanted to say something to mark this occasion which I’m sure my hosts, now callous to chicken death, would’ve have groaned or laughed at. This chicken didn’t even have a name. It’s just a chicken. And now it died. It’s no one’s fault, it just died and that’s how things were. "You were a good chicken,“ I finally decided on with a gulp. Was she? I have no idea.

I reached down with my work gloves, the body felt heavy and everything in my body crawled. I stepped back. Another five minutes explaining to myself things die, and this was my task. I was going to hold my own on this farm, so help me.

Another round of my mind flashing back to the pets I’d watched surrender to darkness and what I had learned from those moments. I thought of what it might be like when my dogs pass. Would I be so remiss then to cradle their small bodies one last time? My heart broke a little at that thought but I knelt down, took a deep breath and very gently lifted the hen from the ground.

It’s bony feet were curled. It’s tiny head and bushy neck lulled back almost delicately. I rested the little body in a tote and found myself adjusting it so that it wouldn’t lay on its head or neck, as though it might find that uncomfortable. I had to remind myself that she no longer felt anything. I carried the tote away from my body illogically anticipating the chicken might spring out at me, and then as my boots crunched up the hill I huddled the tote more comfortably to my body. I trekked along in resigned silence.

I got to the house in time to see that John was just pulling out. I hadn’t missed him after all. He lifted the creature by its feet and rest it in the back of his truck. "It took everything in me to pick up that chicken.” I confessed. He gave me a smile that was both sympathetic but rueful.

“Sometimes chickens just die, it probably won’t be the last time.” I nodded and wished him safe travels. He bid me a good day. I crunched back up the hill and stowed the once again empty tote in my Jeep.

I embarked on this journey largely in part because my father’s death had left me feeling changed, hollow and wounded. Stowed in the confines of a suburban household I was listless, heavy. The walls became a reflective chamber with no tunnels or corridors towards escape. There was only rumination of thought like chewing on already regurgitated cud. I could not obtain peace through anything side of me, it was time to reach outward.

During my walks among the rustling leaves and cool nights however, I had felt free. Something called me beyond the shores of a linear lifetime spent roaming a cage of drywall. I yearned to — if not attain my father’s joy for life and those he loved — then to at least strive towards it. I wanted to work with my hands, feel fatigue in my body at night and go to bed satisfied with my day’s work.

I thought of my Zazen Buddhist practice and studies. I recalled, as I often do, the stories of the Buddha, sitting in meditation, legs crossed with his fingertips pressed to the earth. It’s called the Earth Witness mudra. The story goes that as Siddartha obtained enlightenment under the bodhi tree he reached down to touch the earth, quite literally grounding himself, and the Earth cried, “I am his witness.” Fibers of carpet and scored linoleum did not offer the same effect I yearned for. I wanted to go to bed with dirt under my nails. I wanted to touch the earth.

So I embarked in a camper that’s older than I am and took a chance on this gorgeous farm in southeast Texas ran by one of the most generous married couples I have ever encountered.

The stages of grief and the stages of enlightenment share a certain quality. The pursuit of acceptance. Part of life is sitting with death, and I am grateful to this nameless chicken who taught me another lesson. As I took that small body into my hands, and lifted it from the sand I believe I cradled acceptance there too. Maybe there isn’t as much gravitas in the death of a single bird as I wanted to assign to it, but maybe there was just enough.

#woofer #grief #buddhism #memoir #writing #life #inspirational #motivation #poet

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potterwatch-transcripts · 6 years

Text

First Broadcast: 2nd of August 1998.

Lee Jordan: Hello all and welcome to the new series of Potterwatch. I’m your host, River. We have decided to continue Potterwatch to ensure, with the help of our listeners, that Harry Potter never forgets how bloody famous he his. We will introduce you to our new correspondents, but first, an update on the man we here at Potterwatch like to call ‘The Dork Lord’. He is still dead. 93 days and counting. And now, I’d like to introduce you to our first new correspondent, Red Hot.

Angelina Johnson: Hello River.

Lee: Hiya Red Hot. What have you got for us today?

Angelina: Well I’ve been keeping track of Harry Potters Quidditch form, as no British teams participated in the World Cup this year and I got bored.

Lee: And? How has Griffindor’s former star-seeker been performing?

Angelina: Pretty poorly to be honest River. I saw him play several games at the Weasley residence with my colleague Oliver Wood. He got hit by eight bludgers, superbly directed by Weasley and Weasley. His attempted to play chaser and all his shots were blocked by Weasley, and he only caught the snitch because the opposing seeker, Weasley, had never played before.

Lee: How disappointing. Any other developments?

Angelina: unfortunately not, as the mother of the Weasley players, Mrs Weasley, caught me and Wood in the tree we were hiding in, and, thinking we were escaped death eaters, transfigured Wood into a small hamster. Luckily I intervened and, upon recognising me, she apologised and invited us for dinner.

Lee: what a happy ending. Thank you Red Hot. And now, before our ‘other news’ segment, I would like to thank our sponsor, Weasley’s Wizard Wheeze’s. And now, with other, non-Potter news, Rapier.

George Weasley: Hey L...River

Lee: Rapier, what’s happening in the world beyond Harry Potter.

George: Well River, first I have it on good authority that Teddy Lupin, son of the war hero’s Remus Lupin and Tonks, has used the potty for the first time, in a manner that can only be described that of a true Griffindor, and is a very good boy and got a chocolate frog from his grandmother.

Lee: Excellent, truly a hero like his parents.

George: Indeed. Next up, the trial of Dolores Umbridge, war criminal and professional toad look alike has entered its 8th day. Umbridge is on trial for a myriad of charges, although my attempts to get ‘crimes against fashion’ added to the list of charges fell on deaf ears.

Lee: well when you’re minister Rapier I’m sure it will be swiftly added to the law books.

George: here’s hoping. Umbridge has had attempted murder added to the charges however, after she stole a security wizards wand and attempted to kill Minister Shacklebolt. She was promptly hit by curses and hexes from 7 members of Dumbledores army who were in attendance and ended up in St mungos. Handsome and wealthy bachelor George Weasley was also admitted for what some thought was a backfiring cheering charm but in actual fact was because he found it so damn funny.

Lee: I hear charismatic and good looking radio personality Lee Jordan performed a textbook Jelly Legs Jinx. Is that true Rapier?

George: It sure is River. Lastly the statue of Albus Dumbledore is scheduled to be unveiled in Godrics hollow next week. The great and the good of the wizarding world will be there to heat speeches by Shacklebolt, Potter and Eliphias Doge. The inclusion of Mrs N and Master D Malfoy on the guest list raised some eyebrows, and I hope those slimeballs don’t show their greasy heads. Also if you are attending, don’t sit next to Hagrid unless you have an umbrella. Last time he cried 8 flobberworms drowned.

Lee: thank you Rapier. And finally, we would like to introduce a man who knows Harry Potter better than anyone alive. Please join me in welcoming...Roonil.

Harry: Thank you for having me. Big fan of the show.

Lee: Well thank you Roonil. So my first question, are the rumours true that Harry Potter was last night admitted to a muggle hospital of all places. Is the boy who lives about to become the boy who died?

Harry: no River. Whilst it is true he arrived at the muggle hospital, it’s in fact because he drank a little too much and tripped over a certain bloody cat belonging to his friend Hermione. They had all drunk a bit too much to effectively repair the damage magically and so staggered to the muggle hospital. It was in fact a sprained ankle.

Lee: you heard it here first folks. Harry Potter, dangerous and drunk? Next, we hear Harry has been seeing a lot of his godson, champion potty user, Teddy Lupin. How is the baby Roonil?

Harry: Teddy is doing very well thanks River. I...that is to say Potter, has been seeing a lot of the wee fellow. I have some pictures.

*rustling sound followed by several seconds of silence*

Lee: Roonil, these all appear to be different babies.

Harry: ah you see that’s because Teddy, like his mother is a metamorphmagus.

Lee: ah I see. And it seems young Mr Lupin has a world famous Weasley Jumper with a little T on it.

Harry: yes indeed, Molly has been on a bit of a knitting spree of late.

Lee: Truly a wonderful woman. And lastly can you comment on the rumours spread by Rita Skeeter than Potter has several illegitimate children fathered during his time on the run last year?

Harry. That is completely accurate River. His children Elvendork, Vernon, Marvolo and Roonil jr will all be coming to live with him and his new live in partner, Buckbeak the Hippogriff, in the coming days.

Lee: how wonderful for him. Thank you Roonil.

Harry: Anytime River.

Lee: Well that’s all for this time. Join me again on Potterwatch, where the password will be Seeker. I’ve been River, goodnight.

#harry potter #lee jordan #george weasley #angelina johnson #oliver wood #potterwatch #headcanon #teddy lupin #hermione grainger #kinglsey shacklebolt #rita skeeter #dolores umbridge #molly weasley #remus lupin #tonks #hagrid

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quicksilversquared · 6 years

Text

How to Fake a Marriage: Ch 21

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

(AO3) (FF.net)

Jagged Stone absolutely loved all of the sunglasses designs Marinette sent him. Adrien listened to the star exclaim over every single one over the Skype design session Jagged, Penny, and Marinette had the second to last Saturday in August. Adrien sat in the couch, just out of sight of the computer's camera, and watched Marinette absolutely glow from the praise. Jagged only had a couple minor requests for changes, and Marinette nodded along and clarified everything, making notes on a pad of paper next to the computer so that she could remember everything.

"And how is the CD cover going?" Jagged wanted to know as soon as they were done discussing the last pair of glasses. "Have you had time to work on it?"

Adrien cringed. Just yesterday, Marinette had ditched her most recent attempt at the cover. He had thought that it looked fine- amazing, even- but Marinette wasn't satisfied. She had assured him that this had happened with every other cover as well- "well, except for the first one. I only made two then because Mr. Ross gave me bad instructions the first time around" - and it was nothing to worry about, really.

"I've made a couple drafts, but none of them feel right yet," Marinette explained. "They don't quite match the feel of the songs you sent me. I'm sure I'll get there, though. I work on it nearly every day."

"No worries, dear!" Penny assured her. "Jagged takes a while to put together his songs- there's always some little thing that's not quite right- so we understand. That's why we asked you with plenty of time this time around."

Adrien made a slight face. Being given plenty of time still wasn't going to keep Marinette from worrying about how much time she was taking to finish. She liked being on top of things (a trait that was apparently largely a side effect of being Ladybug for years on end and never knowing if she was going to have time to finish her schoolwork and projects later on), and having a project drag on like this wasn't her style.

"I've definitely found a few elements that I really want to use in the cover, so hopefully it won't take much longer," Marinette was telling Jagged Stone. "It's just a matter of incorporating them all together."

"I can't wait to see it!" Jagged Stone told her. "But take all the time you need to let your genius work!"

Marinette nodded.

It didn't take long for them to wrap up the call after that, and Adrien bounced up to go hug Marinette as she slumped into her chair with a sigh.

"That seemed like it went well," Adrien commented. "Jagged Stone sounded really happy!"

"I just wish that I had something ready for the CD cover," Marinette admitted. "I did like the last thing I made, but then I looked at it again and realized that I was reusing a lot of ideas from my last cover. It looked cool, but it was way too similar."

Adrien just shrugged. He had thought that the latest cover to be discarded was pretty cool and he hadn't noticed any similarities, but Marinette was definitely more familiar with her designs than he was. If she said that there were similarities, then he would believe her.

"Would it help to take a break from it for a couple days?" Adrien suggested. "Just step away, work on some other projects or watch a movie or take a walk, then come back refreshed. You've been working on this really hard."

"I think that sounds like a good idea, Marinette," Tikki piped up, popping out of the little nest of fabric scraps that she had built for herself on the windowsill. "You've been working really hard both at Madam Rosalie's and with the stuff for Jagged Stone, and you don't want to burn out!"

Marinette worried her lower lip for a second and Adrien waited, patient. If she wanted to keep working on her designs that was fine, but he really thought that she was running herself into a wall without taking a break. Sure, she was designing different stuff at work, and both of them took time off at the end of the evening to hang out together, but it wasn't a long break. If she stepped away, relaxed, and did something else, then maybe those creative juices would come flowing back in.

"Actually, I like that idea," Marinette decided, setting her notes aside. "Let's do literally anything else. I like your walk idea, and then maybe tonight we can go out for a run?"

Adrien grinned and held out his arm. "That sounds like a plan, my Lady."

Marinette had to admit that stepping away from her designing for a bit was relaxing. She and Adrien simply strolled around the neighborhood, enjoying the mild day and popping in and out of some of the shops around their area. They got distracted for a while in a pet store after Adrien spotted the kittens and immediately made a beeline for their pen.

"They're so cute," Adrien cooed as an orange kitten batted at his finger. "I want to get one, but I have no idea how you're meant to house-train them."

"And we aren't supposed to have pets in the apartment building," Marinette pointed out, amused at how Adrien continued to coo even as the kitten started claw its way up Adrien's sleeve. "And it might be a tad difficult to travel between here and Paris if we had a kitten to take care of."

"Aww, man." Adrien made a face, then had to try to pry the kitten off of his arm before she could make an escape over the edge of the cage. "Maybe once I finish school and we're back in Paris, then? They're just too cute to handle."

Marinette just smiled and tried not to laugh. The kittens were cute, sure, but watching her boyfriend cuddle with the kitten was even cuter. They would definitely have to get a cat once they were settled back in Paris. Maybe two.

"They definitely like you," Marinette commented as Adrien lifted the kitten up to perch on his shoulder. The other cats in the pen were crowding up along the edge near Adrien, mewing up at him for attention. "They would be crawling all over you if you could actually get in the pen."

"Now I wish I could get in," Adrien grumbled as he plucked the kitten off of his shoulder. "I'd love that, honestly. I've always wanted a pet but Father always forbade it. I mean, he is allergic," Adrien added. "He's allergic to cats and dogs and I'm allergic to birds. I'm honestly surprised that I haven't started sneezing yet, but maybe it's because the bird section is all the way across the store."

Well, if she and Adrien wanted to discourage Mr. Agreste from coming over too often and overstaying his welcome once they moved back to Paris, now Marinette knew how. Maybe getting two cats would be a good idea.

Sighing, Adrien put the kitten down. The other kittens crowded around his arm, begging for attention. He gave a little pat to each one, ignoring the way some of them were snagging his shirt sleeves as they tried to climb up his arm just like the orange one had. Adrien looked absolutely enthralled, and Marinette was torn between enjoying the view and diving in to play with the kittens herself.

The decision only took a few moments. Marinette slid in next to Adrien, reaching in to pick up a black kitten with green eyes. It was absolutely adorable...but then again, she could say the same thing about any of the kittens.

Maybe Marinette just had a soft spot for cats.

"Are you looking to buy a kitten?" someone asked, and both Adrien and Marinette spun around. The black kitten dug its claws in to Marinette's shoulder in surprise. An employee stood behind them. "Have you owned one before?"

"Oh, we were just looking," Adrien admitted. "I love cats, but our apartment building doesn't allow them."

"Otherwise he'd probably be leaving with three," Marinette teased. Adrien had a black and white kitten in his arms now, and its tail kept whacking him in the face as it waved back and forth. He clearly didn't mind at all. It was really cute.

"Ah. Well, if you change your mind, or if you have any questions, I'll be around," the employee told them. She headed off, leaving Adrien and Marinette alone with the kittens.

"I think that's a hint that we can't just stay here all day," Adrien joked in a loud whisper. He cuddled the kitten close. "It's a pity. I'd love to be able to take one of these guys home, but I think I might have problems getting homework done once school starts again if there was a kitten running around."

"I don't want a kitten," Plagg piped up, popping out of Adrien's jacket to regard the kitten in his arms. "It would steal my cheese."

Adrien heaved a long sigh. "Plagg, kittens wouldn't want your cheese. They're lactose-intolerant after they grow a bit, anyway."

"It would tug my tail," Plagg complained. "Or try to eat me."

"Plagg, it's just sniffing you now," Marinette pointed out. "It's curious, not hungry."

Plagg grumbled and retreated back into Adrien's shirt with one last distrustful look at the kitten. From the safety of Marinette's bag, Tikki giggled.

They played with the kittens for a few more minutes and then, after noticing the employee floating closer to them again, they patted the kittens good-bye and left the pet store.

"They were so cute," Adrien said mournfully as they headed down the sidewalk. "I can't believe our apartments ban pets. Who could ban a kitten with eyes like that?"

"I couldn't have pets growing up because we lived above the bakery," Marinette pointed out. "We were worried about fur getting tracked downstairs. I wanted a hamster because that wouldn't get fur all over, but then there were concerns about if a hamster could get out of its cage."

Adrien patted her arm. "We'll have to get a pet once we're back in Paris, then."

Marinette was going to hold him to that. She wouldn't mind seeing Adrien covered by kittens every day.

The rest of their walk wasn't quite as exciting (though they did pop into the nearby bakery as they passed for a bit of an afternoon treat), and then they headed back to their building. As soon as they stepped into Adrien's apartment, Marinette had to refrain from picking up the design tablet that she had left on his couch. It was almost automatic, and it was probably not a great habit.

"Movie?" Adrien suggested. "Since we won't have to work on dinner for a bit?"

Marinette eagerly agreed. It didn't take long for them to settle down on the couch with a movie, and Marinette let herself burrow into Adrien's side. The one downside to walking around the city was that they had to keep some distance between them to try not to attract attention from any stray reporters that had yet to get a life. Now, in the privacy of Adrien's apartment, they could get as close as they wanted.

"Ew, I don't want to see that!"

...well, almost. Privacy could sometimes be a foreign concept when there were kwamis around, and especially when one of those kwamis was Plagg.

Adrien sighed as he and Marinette untangled themselves from their kiss. "Seriously, Plagg? Just go into the other room, then."

"But I would miss the movie!" Plagg protested. Marinette could see the devious little grin on his face. Clearly he didn't care about the movie that much.

"Plagg..." Adrien practically growled.

"We kiss all the time," Marinette pointed out before Adrien could start threatening Plagg with bodily harm. "This isn't that much different."

"There were hands in inappropriate places," Plagg informed her haughtily, as though he was some sort of prudish teacher. "It was burning my innocent eyes."

"So you're saying that none of your past Chosens ever dated?" Adrien asked pointedly. "Never married? Never had kids?"

"They weren't as gross as you about it!"

Somehow, Marinette sincerely doubted it. She had heard some stories about past holders, after all, and there were more than a few that had ended up getting married and having kids.

"Fine, we'll behave for the rest of the movie," Adrien sighed, shooting Plagg a glare. "Even if I'm tempted to dial up the gross just to spite you."

Plagg scoffed. Next to Adrien, Marinette turned pink.

Once the sun set and the city grew dark, Adrien and Marinette wasted no time in finishing up their dishes from dinner and transforming, heading out for the second time that day. Only this time, they could run and jump and swing from rooftop to rooftop. If they really wanted, they could even cuddle and kiss.

"We really should go out like this more often," Ladybug sighed as they sprinted down a row of houses. They had had to wait until it was late and properly dark, but now they could go out without being easily spotted as they ran across the rooftops. The streetlights down below provided just enough light for Ladybug to see where she was going. "It seems like we're not even going out once a week anymore. I miss getting to stretch my legs."

"To be fair, we do have to wait until it's pretty late to go out now that it's summer," Chat Noir pointed out as they slowed down a bit to a stroll. He sounded a little out of breath, but he was grinning as he stretched. "And since we know that we don't have to transform to hang out anymore, the only real reason to transform here is to run around."

"We could also just stroll like we want to," Ladybug said, linking her arm with Chat Noir's so she could snuggle up to his side. "I wanted to do this earlier, but..."

"Same here." Chat Noir twined his fingers around hers. "Of course, it might have been a little warm to snuggle-walk, but still. By the time it gets cold, I don't know how I'll be able to keep my hands off of you outside."

Ladybug laughed. "You're going to be Mr. Handsy again, hmm?"

"That makes it sound bad," Chat Noir complained, but he was laughing as well. "I just meant that I would want to cuddle with you all the time. But you know that, you dork."

They sped up again, leaping over a gap in the buildings easily. They had just started to circle around to head back to their building for the night when a shout from the streets below caught their attention.

"Momma, there's people up there!"

Ladybug and Chat Noir both whipped around to locate the sound of the shout. Ladybug was still squinting around when Chat Noir hissed and suddenly grabbed her hand, pulling her up and over the ridge of the roof and onto the other side and then yanking her flat to the roof.

"It was just a little kid," Chat Noir whispered. "Hopefully the mom didn't see us." His ears twitched and then his expression dropped. "Oh, crud. She spotted movement and now they're sticking around and looking up."

Ladybug groaned and dropped her face to the shingles. This was exactly what they were always afraid of when they transformed and went for a run around London. If they were spotted and word got out that Paris's superheroes were in London, that could endanger their secret identities. People would look to see what Parisians were now in London and which of those people went back to Paris around the holidays, and that would narrow down the field of candidates quite a bit.

And considering that people would also be comparing moving dates with when Ladybug and Chat Noir vanished from Paris, that would really not be good. Maybe there weren't any active supervillains at the moment, but secrecy was always key. They didn't want any would-be supervillains knowing who they were and attacking them while they were off-guard to steal the Miraculous.

Five minutes later, the superheroes were still lying flat on the roof as Chat Noir listened. The girl and her mother were staying around, peering up at the roof. At one point Chat Noir peered over the ridge of the roof and spotted them aiming a flashlight up towards the roof, and he beat a hasty retreat back down to the safe side of the roof.

"Some people are just too persistent," Ladybug grumbled as they waited for the civilians to leave. "Ugh. If we hadn't changed into pajamas before transforming, I would just suggest jumping down and detransforming in an alley and just walking home."

"I think that might make tabloid front-page news if a reporter spotted us doing that," Chat Noir agreed. "Darn it I hate not being anonymous. No one would care if we were just random people. But nooo, the press has to practically work as a free pair of extra eyes for my father while I'm here."

"It is annoying," Ladybug agreed. "So, do you think that you'll stop modeling once you get a job in Physics? Surely the press attention would go away after a bit."

"Maybe, maybe not," Chat Noir told her. He shrugged. "My father is still famous, after all. That's why I'm even getting attention as a model in the first place. And I haven't decided on the modeling. It's a nice bit of extra income, but if my father won't let me scale it back when I'm in Paris, I might just flat-out quit." He grinned at her. "Well, quit Gabriel, at least. I wouldn't mind modeling your designs."

"You'll be the prettiest physicist in Paris," Ladybug teased. She reached over to rearrange his bangs in front of his face. "And the prettiest kitty, too."

Chat Noir grinned and opened his mouth, clearly about to respond, when his expression froze. His eyes darted towards the street below, and then he was tugging Ladybug's arm again, yanking her back up and over the roof ridge before flattening them both down again.

"Wha- Chat Noir?" Ladybug asked as Chat Noir listened intently. She glanced down at the street, but no one there was looking upwards. "What is it?"

"The kid and her mom decided to circle around to look at the other side," Chat Noir reported with a hiss. "I heard them right before they got all the way around. They aren't going to drop it easily." His ears flicked. "And- oh, shoot. They think they saw movement near the ridge, when we flipped over. They don't think it's superheroes, though. They think that there's robbers or something, and now they're going to the door to ask the people there if they know that there's people on the roof."

"We need to move, then," Ladybug decided. "Just keep low and get off this set of houses, and be super-careful for at least a couple blocks. I wish there were more clouds so the moon wasn't so bright, but we'll just have to work with it."

Chat Noir nodded. His ears flicked again as he listened to the conversation down below. "The people from the house are watching the other side now and the kid and her mom are coming back around again. Let's go."

Ladybug nodded, pushed herself up, and, keeping herself bent practically double, she sped over the rooftop. Chat Noir followed close behind, hissing instructions as he listened to the conversations behind them.

"Over the ridge," he instructed, and Ladybug kept herself close to the roof as she rolled to the other side and continued speedwalking. She glanced down at the street, and didn't see anyone looking up. She could still feel Chat Noir's tension as he followed her closely, so she had to guess that they weren't in the clear yet.

"Back over!"

Ladybug followed the instructions immediately. Chat Noir guided her to a section of the roof that was hidden from the rest of the street by a dormer jutting out so they could keep moving.

"If someone looks out of any of these things, we're done for," Chat Noir panted. There was a pause, and then he spoke up again, a grin in his voice. "That might be a little bit of an exaggeration. But Alya would be over here every weekend if she knew we were here, and there would be way too many people prying into our lives for my comfort."

Ladybug just nodded.

"They've called the neighbors," Chat Noir reported as they vaulted over another dormer. "So there might be more eyes. But they haven't spotted us again."

Even once they cleared a couple streets, they were still tense. They waited until there weren't any people on the sidewalk below before making the final jump onto Adrien's balcony and rushing inside.

"Well, that was unnecessarily stressful," Adrien said with a laugh as they detransformed. "We might want to not go to that area for a bit, though. And maybe we should stick to nights that are either overcast or don't have much in the way of a moon. We would have been fine if the moon hadn't been so bright."

"You would have been fine if you hadn't gone out at all," Plagg grouched, flopping on a pillow on the couch. "Unnecessary transformation. Ridiculous. I could have been eating cheese during that time."

"I think it's fun going out!" Tikki protested. "Maybe tonight didn't go as smoothly as usual, but it's nice to transform every once in a while even if we don't have a supervillain to fight."

"Maybe we should just stay in tomorrow," Marinette suggested. She had really been hoping to do another superhero stroll over the rooftops, but after tonight it would be a good idea to sit back and take a break. "We can bake something- maybe croissants or pain au chocolate, those both take a while- and watch movies while the dough chills. That would be relaxing, but we wouldn't have to worry about anything except burning the dough."

"That sounds like a plan," Adrien agreed. He smiled at her. "But right now- bedtime?"

"Hey!" Plagg protested, even as Marinette nodded. "What do you mean you're going to bed already? What about my midnight snack?"

The rest of the weekend sped by in a flurry of design-avoiding activities, and then Adrien and Marinette both had to head back to work. Adrien slogged through the day, trying not to get distracted by a commotion happening in the rest of the office, and then took off almost as soon as he could at the end of the day. He arrived home from work to find Marinette hunched over her tablet at his kitchen table, frowning as she sketched out ideas for Jagged's CD cover. Several of her previous design attempts were printed out and spread out on the table around her, and she kept glancing over at one as she worked.

Adrien thought they all looked awesome, but Marinette was positive that there was something that just wasn't quite right.

"How's it going, love?" Adrien asked, setting his bag down and crossing the apartment to bend over and press a kiss to Marinette's head. He glanced down at the tablet and grinned. "That looks amazing, Marinette!"

"Thanks! I'm really liking this one," Marinette said, twisting around so she could properly press her lips to his. "I think this is it. It just fits the music so well!"

"I'm glad you're happy with it," Adrien replied with a smile. Then he frowned slightly. "How long have you been working on that? It looks almost complete."

"Oh, I salvaged chunks from some of these designs," Marinette assured him. "Most of this was just a matter of copy-paste and then some color changes so they would all tie in together. I've only been working on it for maybe half an hour at most, and I did some of the moving stuff from previous designs at lunch. I really only just got home."

That was a relief. For a moment there, Adrien had been worried that Marinette was pulling an Alya and neglecting her actual work for the commission.

"Having the break really helped, I think," Marinette continued as she went back to designing. "I felt like I could really just look at everything with new eyes. So thank you for that suggestion."

"No problem," Adrien assured her. "I'm just glad that you've gotten out of the designer's block. It didn't look like fun."

"Not at all," Marinette agreed. "And I wasn't helping things along at all by over-thinking it. So, how was your day?"

Adrien told her about the drama that had broken out in the office as Marinette drew and asked questions whenever he paused for breath. By the end of the story, she had to put her pen down as she laughed.

"I just guess that's the danger in hiring two brothers to work in the same office," Adrien finished. "I'd be surprised that they haven't been fired yet, because they apparently bring their family problems into the office a few times a year, but they're really good at what they do. I think people just learn to ignore it."

"I can't believe that a grown man would threaten to tell their mom on his brother," Marinette chortled. "And while they were at work, too. It's funny, but that's just so unprofessional."

"It makes things awkward, too," Adrien admitted. "I had a few forms I had to run by one of them, but he was still stewing about the fight and about the boss telling them off. And then it turned out that it was a form that his brother was partially responsible for, too, and that practically set him off again."

"Did they get things figured out, though?" Marinette asked, picking her pen back up again. "Like, they aren't going to be all ticked at each other all week, are they?"

Adrien just shrugged. He honestly had no idea. His colleagues hadn't told him that much. He was just a temporary worker, and was treated as such. "I really don't know. I don't think they'll explode like that again because the boss really did tell them off, but unless they resolve things out of the office it could still be awkward."

"Pity," Plagg piped up. "I thought the fight was funny. All I needed was some popcorn, and I'd have a proper show to watch."

Adrien just rolled his eyes at the kwami. Plagg had just liked the fight because it had meant that the brothers were too ticked at each other to notice that their sandwiches had both been strangely devoid of cheese at lunch, and the distraction of the fight itself had meant that only Adrien had noticed him slipping into the break room.

"I hope that they won't explode again while I'm there, though," Adrien said. He stood up and wandered towards the kitchen to see what was there to eat. They had made a large pot of stir-fry the previous day, but he didn't really feel like eating it again right away. "I didn't get as much done as I wanted because the fight was really distracting and then I was a bit rattled. I lost probably an hour of work."

"I'm sure your boss won't blame you for that," Marinette assured him. "You've been working super-hard all summer, and of course unprofessional working conditions are going to affect you. You can't churn out the same amount of work every day, that's just unrealistic."

"I suppose." Adrien ducked his head into the fridge. There were a lot of assorted leftovers, so maybe he should make shepherd's pie. That would be tasty. He started to gather up some of the things that he wanted to use. "I just don't like getting everything I wanted to get done finished."

"We don't do the same amount every day at Madam Rosalie's," Marinette continued. "I mean, if we have designer's block, then we might just spend the entire day whacking our heads against the desk until we get an idea. Or we can spend three days trying to re-draw the same skirt. I know office work isn't the same, but, like, not all forms are alike. Or something."

Adrien muffled a snicker at that.

"D'you want me to help?" Marinette asked ask Adrien started to wash up potatoes. She craned her neck to see what he was doing. "What are you making?"

"Shepherd's pie, and don't worry, I've got this," Adrien assured her. "If you're on a roll with the design, then keep at it. This isn't that difficult to make."

"Does it have cheese?" Plagg wanted to know as Adrien got to work chopping. He floated over Adrien's shoulder, peering at the potatoes and at the leftovers Adrien had pulled out. "I don't see any cheese."

Adrien sighed, headed back to the fridge, and pulled out a round of Camembert so he could cut off a chunk for Plagg. Once his kwami was taken care of and no longer hovering over his shoulders trying to steal from their dinner, Adrien went back to work.

In the living room, Tikki turned on Marinette's music player, and the sound of Jagged's demos filled the apartment. Adrien bobbed his head along to the beat as he worked, and it felt like practically no time at all before he was sliding the pie into the oven and setting the timer.

"Dinner in forty-five minutes," Adrien announced as he flopped back onto the couch. "...ah, bugger. I suppose I should have made a salad or something to go with that."

"Just toss some strawberries on a plate and call it a day," Marinette suggested. Adrien laughed.

"I was trying to be a responsible adult, Mari!" Adrien protested, but he couldn't help but grin. "I was trying to make sure that we got our vitamins and whatnot, but noo, someone is trying to persuade me to just throw that out the window."

"Fruit is healthy!"

Adrien just shook his head, grinning. Marinette was right, of course, and it would be easier to just wash a few berries and toss them on a plate, but that didn't mean that he wasn't going to tease her about her lax approach to it.

Picking up his book, Adrien settled in on the couch. He opened it, but instead of reading he watched Marinette drawing at the table. Tikki danced around behind Marinette, prancing and twirling to the beat, and Marinette focused on her drawing. She looked gorgeous like this, relaxed and clearly enjoying herself as she designed. The summer dress she had picked out fit her perfectly, and it exposed her lovely freckled shoulders.

How Adrien had gotten so lucky to get such an amazing girlfriend, he didn't know. He could be himself around her without fear of rejection, the banter was amazing, and she was his best friend twice over. Marinette was brave and spirited and smart and creative, and she always ranged between cute and absolutely drop-dead gorgeous.

"Done!" Marinette announced. She turned around and grinned, holding up her tablet. "I love this! I'm saving it and then sending it to Jagged Stone right away for feedback."

"Congratulations!" Adrien exclaimed. He set his book aside (he hadn't read a word of it anyway) and crossed the room to examine the cover more closely. Like he had suspected from his earlier glimpse of the piece, it was absolutely stunning and had a play of colors that just made it pop. In his opinion, Jagged Stone would have to work super-hard to make the songs live up to the gorgeous cover's promise. "I'm sure Jagged will love it."

Marinette grinned. "He always does," she admitted. "He's never once had requests for changes of CD covers apart from that very first time, and that one hardly counts. I'm always glad when he likes what I did, especially since he never really gives me much direction."

"Right," Adrien agreed. He ducked down for a kiss. It lasted perhaps a little longer than strictly necessary, but then again there were absolutely no rules about limits on kissing time when the kissee was his girlfriend. Marinette leaned up to meet him, and Adrien deepened the kiss with a grin. It was an awkward angle, sure, but he wasn't about to let a little problem like a slightly sore neck (and a slight twinge in his back from being hunched in front of a computer all day) get in the way of his kissing.

"I'm looking forward to having my evenings free again," Marinette admitted once they separated. "I mean, I know I tended to kind of low-key design before when ideas came to me, but it was stuff for myself and I didn't feel like there was any sort of rush. And I like having commissions, but this one just took longer than I expected. Having done several covers for Jagged before hurt rather than helped, I think, because it's harder to come up with something different than what I've done for him before."

Adrien opened his mouth to respond, but was cut off by the timer in the kitchen going off and he glanced over at it with a frown. Was it time to take the pie out of the oven already? He must have spent more time staring at Marinette than he had thought.

Ah, well, it was time well spent.

Adrien headed off to the kitchen to pull the shepherd's pie out of the oven to cool slightly as Marinette quadruple-saved her design and then saved a copy in a file that she could send to Jagged Stone for approval. By the time their dinner had cooled enough to dig in without burning their mouths, Jagged had sent an email back singing her praises.

"Well, he's definitely happy," Adrien laughed, passing Marinette her plate. "Congrats, Bug. That's a job well done for sure."

#Miraculous Ladybug #My writing #How to Fake a Marriage #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Adrien Agreste

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justemotionalabusethings · 7 years

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{Before I begin this is really heavy. I’m talking suicide and shit man its intense}

Hi! My story is a long and sort of confusing one. I guess we begin at my first sister’s birth.

My father left me when I was really young. He wasn’t ready to be a father and fled for his life. Leaving me with just my grandparents and my mother.

After a while a new man was introduced into my life to fulfill this father role I needed. I was really shy with him until he got me a toy train for Christmas!

I don’t remember much of my childhood (which could be due to csa since signs are coming up here and there) but I remember a lot changed after my first little sister was born.

She was his biological daughter so I guess that meant there was no more room for me and I was only baggage in the marriage. He would taunt me day after day. He’d compare me to dogs and laugh when I ran away crying. He abused all the pets I had. My cat, my dog, and my hamsters. He watched scary movies with me and would then only fuel my nightmares. He’d make me clean everything and then get upset when I got irritated. He’d let me pretty much starve if I didn’t eat what he made or terrify me by saying someone was going to hurt me. To this day I can’t look at Hamburger Helper or Multigrain Cheerios.

At night I was terrified that he would hurt my mother because of his drinking problem. I would always be awake for some reason and hear them fighting about it.

As my family grew, it got to the point where I didn’t feel accepted. Where I’d look into the bedroom and see his daughters huddled around a father that loved them with a wife that he loved. I felt like I could run away and no one would miss me. Like they’d be happier.

During that time I was also being horribly bullied at school. It seemed like no matter what we did or the school did it wouldn’t stop. I got horrible depressed and was even suicidal.

His abuse ended when he made a wrong move and got arrested, effectively getting himself kicked out for good.

I was a pretty happy child after he left. The only thing that scared me then was middle school.

And I was in no way prepared for it.

In middle school I met a girl. We did one of the usual ice breakers in class. Seeing as pretty much everyone from my elementary school had bullied me I asked her about helping me find my way. We soon clicked and were spending a lot of time together because our schedules were almost identical. The only difference in our 9 period schedule was the 2 electives.

Everything was fine I believe. I made friends with her and I loved her more than words could say. She taught me how to be a rebel and how to break rules and do what you want. How not to let feelings hold you back but make them let you go.

Although everything changed in the January of 7th grade.

My mom had never wanted to give me a phone until I was sixteen so I wasn’t on any social media or anything. I pretty much just spent all my time reading.

But my friend got me to convince my mom to get Skype. Once there I was able to talk to my friends whenever I wanted.

From there we started to world build and role play.

After that I remember the abuse really started happening and to this day I’m not sure why.

She used me as a slave basically (funny bc when I tell people that they say that’s wrong bc she’s black and I’m white. Which is wrong bc I’m mixed aka black and white). It began with her just asking me to hold a few things. Then it quickly escalated to everyday I was forced to hold her shit on top of my own. Her lunchbox, her binder and my binder, her book bag and my book bag, and her lunchbox all up the stairs to our lockers which were right next to each other’s. Eventually she started asking our mutual friend to hold my stuff and they refused to let me do that, the sweet thing.

She humiliated me a lot by saying stuff or screaming wrong stuff about me. I have a horrible trigger that I can’t avoid because of her. Everyday if I did something wrong or something she didn’t like, or if I looked annoying I guess, she’d call me a failure. Everyday. And now I can’t escape that word. It sucks man.

She hurt me a lot too. She’d pinch me and I have a very specific memory of her pinching the back of my neck and when I said it hurt she said: “Well it’s not supposed to feel like sunshine so keep smiling.”

I was afraid of her. So afraid of my best friend. God my soul friend. I hate the word soul mate because she was always gushing about how we were soul friends and meant to be together and how much she loved me. It fucks me up some days.

I never knew what I’d encounter any day. After a while I stopped going to after-school activities because she would get pissed at me if I went to them instead of being online talking to her. My teachers started to look down on me for that. Thinking I was not trustworthy or saying I’d show up and then not. But it wasn’t my fault. I was only scared I’d get hurt.

I used to be glad I didn’t kill myself in elementary school because I was happy to be with her. But I feel like it would’ve been easier to end everything there.

I felt like she liked my mutual friend so much better and it brought me back to my step father loving my half sister more than me.

It even got to the point where I felt like she was trying to drive this friend away from me. She’d tell them things that I didn’t do and I’d be too scared to speak up for myself.

I was too scared to get anything to make myself look and feel nicer. I got my nails done one time since my family noticed I was getting sad again but the next day at school she insulted me. She said the exact words; “Why would you get something your friend wouldn’t like?” I think that’s when I realized it was abuse too. Why would someone who loves you say that?

She never for cared me or my problems either so I went silent. I didn’t come to her at all because there was no point in it. No point in being ignored.

I used to call myself a servant but even that was too much of a high status for her. She began throwing her trash at me and forcing me to pick it up or I’d get pinched.

Even calling her seemed like a chore for her. She’d make me promise to call her and once I did she wouldn’t pay attention at all. She’d listen to music or be on some social media. She knew it was hard for me to call because my mom wouldn’t let me call after school. Yet even when we were away from each other she mistreated me. She’d curse at me and insult me under her breath and say ‘good bitch’ when I told her I heard it. But of course. It was always from character to character.

I slipped further and further into the depression (funny because this only happened until near the end of 7th grade and all started in January). I stopped telling my other friend about anything. And I didn’t try to leave the friendship with her because I didn’t want to leave our mutual friend.

I couldn’t even do my schoolwork unless she was right there with me. But only to distract me. I remember I had to go get a project in for health so I wouldn’t fail the course and she almost stopped me from going because she didn’t have a library pass. I ended up going and getting it in but I later found (Thanks to a nice smack on the back of the head and multiple pinches throughout a 45 minute class) that she couldn’t go and was mad. Even though I told her I had to get the project in.

This went on until June. I finally broke down after a horrible day with her. It all started with a simple joke. I was used to her pointing it out when I made typos or spelled something wrong. On that day she spelled something wrong and I jokingly pointed it out. She got pissy and I quickly apologized but afterwards she wanted a hug. I didn’t want to give her one because well, I was having problems, and didn’t feel comfortable hugging. She got mad and when into his whole thing about how: “You have to do what your friend wants you to do even if it makes you uncomfortable.” Which is so messed up…

But at lunch she began getting physical and pinching me and digging her nails into me and kicking me under the table until I finally decided that I’d tell her.

She dragged me outside and I embarrassedly explained that I was on my period and didn’t want to hug anyone. She got really mad and literally beat me up right there in broad daylight in the ‘playground’ more like tiny grass area of the school! (Spoiler Alert: I don’t think the school ever believed me because no one came forward to say they had seen the action. Most likely because she scares everyone.)

I broke down in the bathroom and told my mom and grandmother and they contacted the school. It was a messy process and she hated me afterwards but I was away.

Or… so I thought.

During those months I had started cutting. I cut to make it go away.

So I was online and somehow came across a call out post for that very friend.

I was appalled at what I saw as it mentioned how she caused a minor to relapse into self harm. I was horrified and scared that somehow, probably by her bragging or lying, someone found out I had been cutting.

I came into contact to tell her off but I soon fell back into her trap.

It wasn’t as bad I’d say but she still did damage. She lied to my new friends online and told them that I had saved her pictures, I was coping her accent, and basically stalking her just because I told this abusive friend that I had a crush on her.

The crush cut contact and it killed me considering I was working through my feelings for other girls at the time and none of that was true.

At school she was tolerable but online not at all. She’d vague about me and insult me yet put on a sweet face. And then she’d tell our mutual friends all this fake shit about me.

My guardians went to the school and they were mad at me for going back but they don’t understand. She was my first friend in a long time. I couldn’t leave especially when I felt so guilty.

I truly got away and moved to high-school. I found out that I most likely have bpd and my fp is that mutual friend who decided to stay friends with me after my abusive friend told them off for helping me through my suicidal feelings.

I developed a really big crush on them and right now we’re really close friends and I love them so much for everything they do for me. They’re really adorable too. The sweetest and cutest nugget.

Of course I wish I could end the story like that, gushing about my fp, but it doesn’t end there folks! Because I’ve noticed over the summer before the beginning of ninth grade, which was last summer, that my mom is abusive.

I could go on and on about how’s she’s an asshole. She fits the criteria for emotional abuse almost perfectly with some physical thrown in. I would talk about but as I’m not the victim, and only a victim of child endangerment from being in the same home as her, I don’t feel like it’s my place to share my feelings. Although it does affect me a lot to be here.

I’m still stuck in this abusive home. My first therapist said I show signs of ptsd during our first meeting lol. But I probably have c-ptsd. I have BPD, ADHD and I’m hypersexual to sex repulsed on the constant. Oh yeah I have psychosis too which is acting up. Not to mention I’m 15 and struggling to find my identity. Am I a boy or girl? Do I like girls or not? I do not know.

I guess you can see why abuse is my life story. I have no story beside it. Only abuse and that one sexual harassment issue.

Sometimes I want to die, and sometimes I want a better life. I don’t have a therapist or psychiatrist since I moved which was hard because I LOVED my therapist. I trusted her so much that I was going to open up to her before.

I still struggle with feelings of guilt and such and some days it’s so hard to keep going I don’t find a point. But when I’m with my fp for example I feel more alive than ever. I feel like I can do anything.

I want to thank everyone who reads this and feel free to shoot me a message or something.

Just know that I believe in you. We’re all scarred and scared here. We all have bandaid’s holding together our pieces of broken glass. And one day… those pieces will start to fuse together again and our sharp edges will dull. We’ll be safe, happy and grateful we got through it.

To anyone stuck in a abusive relationship pls tell someone, or call someone. Even if they can’t help you like CPS or something let it out. Don’t bottle it in because it’ll only hurt more.

If I can’t end my story with a happy ending, I hope at least the ending of one of yours does. Because you all deserve a happy ending.

#tw: abuse #tw: parents #tw: suicide #tw: self harm #submission #tw: mothers #tw: fathers #tw: friendship abuse #tw: physical abuse #tw: emotional abuse #your stories

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smithysmith77 · 7 years

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Things I've seen working at a pet store

- every kind of animal you can possibly have as a pet. Including a lady who fed the spider that lived in her bedroom

- a man who asked me why his gerbil wasn’t eating, when he was feeding it “kraft dinner and weenies and beans”

- a teen, old enough to know better, who asked if the frozen mice come back to life when you thaw them

- a lady who nearly killed her gecko because she went on vacation for two weeks and thought it could go without any food or light for that length of time

- many, many people who refused to buy the product they needed because it didn’t come in the colour they assigned to their dog’s gender (“He can’t wear that, he’s a BOY!” “Well actually sir, he’s a dog but w/e”)

- dogs that will eat everything in sight, including socks, flooring, beds,and my favourite, a pin cushion with pins in it (the dog survived)

- dogs that will literally starve themselves rather than eat anything other than one specific brand and flavour of food

- people that tried to return fish we have not ever sold, at full grown size, and claim they bought it two weeks ago (all our fish come in as babies)

- a lady that wanted to put seven 4-inch goldfish in a bowl the size of a grapefruit

- an extremely angry and rude woman who wanted us to fix her fish tank’s problem but refused to follow any of our advice and then made me cry when she yelled at me in front of a large group of customers

- a lady who walked in to return a ton of unused dog stuff and promptly burst into tears when I asked the reason for the return (dog had died suddenly. Happy ending though, she comes in all the time now with her new puppy and is all smiles)

- a man with a (very illegal where I live) 6 foot water monitor which he carried over his shoulder like a baby

- a smaller Savanah monitor named Pancake because when he lay down he went *smoosh*

- a man with a Bengal cat that walks perfectly on a leash when he is not perched on his owner’s shoulder like a parrot

- a water dragon that slept so soundly we had two or three death scares. He would sleep at the bottom of his swimming pool, eyes closed. And then would continue to sleep as you picked him up and prodded him a little. Only to burst to life unexpectedly and scare the crap out of us

- a hamster that we noticed one day only had 3 legs. She was perfectly happy, and was doing fine, but we’d had her a few months and the stump looked like it had recently healed over. No one reported ever seeing any blood or severed hamster feet lying around?? We have no idea how it happened

- a gecko that had a terrible shedding problem that meant it basically shed all the layers of its skin at once, leaving its back all raw and painful. A little Polysporin though and day by day he got better and when his skin healed the scars came out this bright peachy orange and he looked badass

- almost forgot about my girl Amelia She was a fancy rat that escaped when she jumped out of a coworker's hand. She disappeared under a shelving unit and we couldn't find her. We thought she found her way outside and became wild but after a month or so we started finding droppings and hoards of bedding etc. She got into everything,stole cups of meal worms,ate birdseed and ruined whole bags of bedding by tunneling into them. We got a live trap with food and water in it. And every morning the food would be gone but the trap empty. One time I saw her run into the trap, hop over the trip plate like she knew what it was, and hop out again. I finally caught her one day with my bare hands and she bit me but I knew I had to have her so she became my pet and I named her Amelia Earhart. A few weeks of TLC and she's friendly now.

#experience #pets #animals #work

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fashionoutfit6 · 7 years

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itesfashion · 7 years

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ladiesfashion25 · 7 years

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nofomoartworld · 7 years

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Hyperallergic: Feeling Anxiety and Relief at NADA New York

The view at New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) New York 2017 at Skylight Clarkson North (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic)

We live in a time of high anxiety. If I were an art collector with a checkbook at the ready, I’d be in the market, ideally, for works that could momentarily soothe my mind. Some of the most memorable art offered at this year’s New Art Dealers Alliance (NADA) New York, though, deals with distress, evincing an array of ordeals both personal and relatable. Now in its sixth edition, the art fair moved from May to March to coincide for the first time with Armory Week — in a sense, its organizers and exhibitors, too, were anxious to attract a larger crowd at a time when the market is hot. (Though 50% of proceeds raised from ticket sales are also going to the American Civil Liberties Union.) Changing dates meant changing locations, and booths now take over a whitewashed open floor at Skylight Clarkson North in the West Village. There are 100 exhibitors from 14 different countries — 30 of which are first-timers — and 36 project spaces.

Not all that evokes anguish is, on its surface, dark and grim. The piece many fairgoers will likely find far too real is a comical and unearthly one: Jeremy Couillard’s “Alien Afterlife,” a kinetic sculpture at the booth of yours mine & ours that features an alien shackled to its desk, where it steadily types away on a laptop and stares without expression. Couillard’s message is painfully explicit: we’ve become alienated from the real world as we labor away in front of our screens. In this current political climate, the piece resounds even more, reminding us of how we can’t stop feeding our media diet even if it tends to drive us insane. A glimpse at the extraterrestrial’s screen reveals that it’s typing in a near-empty chat room that you can actually access in your own browser — so you, too, can shout into the void.

Jeremy Couillard, “Alien Afterlife” at yours mine & ours at NADA New York

A similarly immobile recluse presides over bitforms‘ booth. Surrounded by cement blocks cleverly shaped like skulls is “Surfer (With Head),” a stick figure made of steel that pokes at an iPad. The work of artist Siebren Versteeg, the installation evokes a post-apocalyptic wasteland with construction ruins that double as memento mori. It’s a lonely and depressing scene, envisioning an end in which we’re still endlessly scrolling.

Works by Siebren Versteeg at bitforms’ booth at NADA New York

Sculptures by Athena Papadopoulos at Shoot the Lobster’s booth at NADA New York

One notable and telling trend is how so many female artists here, in comparison, express anxiety through graphic images of the body, which they do not render in full but in fragments, often exposed and torn asunder. I got used to seeing flesh in a state of vulnerability and suspension, literally hanging in the air. Athena Papadopoulos’s eye-catching crimson sculptures at Shoot the Lobster’s booth are bright and plush, but they hang on butcher hooks and resemble animal parts. They’re in fact self-portraits, with photos of Papadopoulos incorporated into their surfaces, along with other artifacts, from jewelry to small animal bones. The red results from dying sessions with store-bought liquids such as nail polish, hair dye, lipstick, and red wine: all items that suggest self-love but are instead used to stain a body that cannot escape harm.

The same motif appears in Cristina Tufiño’s solo booth at Galeria Agustina Ferreyra, where a banner of a dangling drumstick hovers near pastel sculptures, a couple of which recall limbs — severed, but strangely serene. About 10 booths down, at Signal, Ivana Bašić has cast herself as a broken, incomplete body made of painted wax. “Stay inside or perish” (2016) is elegant yet rife with trauma: The headless figure looks like a fainted aerialist, arched backwards in the air and supported by bands; she has fragmented glass bottles in place of shins, and metal bars, like prosthetics, root her into the ground. The title ominously warns of the violence that’s visualized, suggesting anxieties about the outside world, with all its possible threats to the female body.

Works by Cristina Tufiño at Galería Agustina Ferreyra’s booth at NADA New York

Ivana Bašić, “Stay inside or perish” (2016) at Signal’s booth at NADA New York

Fairgoers will encounter more dangling bodies two doors down at the booth of 315 Gallery, although these seem at first like benign banners. Amy Brener‘s transparent, silicone bodies are thin and embedded with pieces of technology, their heads and breasts reassembled to form sterilized, synthetic designs. No longer human, the female figure is splayed like a motherboard, with her manufactured innards inviting us to scrutinize her as specimen. Behind these is a striking piece by Cecilia Salama that echoes a clothesline — but one weighed down by flesh-like sculptures that are roughly textured, folded, and limp to visualize violations of the female body.

Rubber is an especially evocative material to use to represent flesh, and another artist who harnesses it to accentuate violence against the body is Hannah Levy. At Galerie Parisa Kind‘s booth, she contributes two chairs constructed of pink latex stretched over curved steel. The glossy surfaces look like chewing gum stretched thin, or distorted tongues, or sinews pried apart, now offered up to us as seats.

Works by Amy Brener and Cecilia Salama at 315 Gallery’s booth at NADA New York

Works by Hannah Levy at Galerie Parisa Kind’s booth at NADA New York

Respite from these traumas does appear in numerous forms. Radamés “Juni” Figueroa at Proyectos Ultravioleta’s booth offers a kitschy, obvious way to self-medicate: his paintings take the form of enlarged objects that generally calm and comfort, from a bottle of Klonopin to a slice of pizza to a joint and freshly packed pipe. Weed as therapy appears a number of times, actually. Omari Douglin fills Mrs.’s booth with small paintings of very stoned, red-eyed characters caught in mid-puff — playful but necessary reminders that sometimes we just need to not give any fucks. Across the fair, Safe Gallery has a cheery installation with works awash in soothing colors, including glass bongs by Alex Eagleton that attempt to elevate pipes to the realm of art: they’re not usable, but they sure are aesthetically sexy.

Safe Gallery’s booth at NADA New York

These works may help you lighten up, but others offer more poetic means of momentary, THC-free escapism. Virtual reality is no longer a novelty at art fairs, and NADA has one piece at Moran Bondaroff’s booth by Jacolby Satterwhite that whisks you off to a dizzying, galactic realm. (A taste of his VR work is accessible on your phone as part of a New Museum exhibition that launched in January.) I also tried “The Mirrorbox” by Megan May Daalder at Five Car Garage, which is essentially a helmet for two people to wear for two minutes. Inside it, lights turn on and off to illuminate a two-way mirror from calculated angles, so that sometimes you see the other person’s face, but your visages will also meld together to form an eerie portrait. An exhibitor referred to it as an “empathy machine,” meant to create chance but prolonged encounters between strangers at an event that runs on high energy and fast transactions.

Exhibitors of Five Car Garage try on Megan May Daalder’s “The Mirrorbox” at NADA New York

The most transportive piece, however, is an operatic video by the collective AES+F, presented by Transfer in collaboration with Mobius Gallery. Incredibly crisp and polished, the 38-minute-long “INVERSO MUNDUS” draws you into an absurd, seemingly utopian world, where beautiful people cradle fantastic, enchanting animals (like birds with seals’ heads or hairless cats with bat wings); a pig mercilessly butchers a man; and powerful, impeccably styled women spin men strapped to hamster wheels. You feel like you’re on some kind of drug for most of the piece, and although the scenes don’t appear to follow any clear logic, they’re carefully constructed and wholly mesmerizing. Every time I walked by the booth, the viewing area was filled with fairgoers, frozen by the epic tableaux and lost in their cryptic grandeur.

Still from AES+F’s video “INVERSO MUNDUS,” presented by Transfer in collaboration with Mobius Gallery at NADA New York

In the end, I found my favorite coping mechanism at the booth of Los Angeles Nomadic Division, where stress balls designed by Bettina Hubby to look like breasts fit my very non-VIP collector’s budget. Hubby made them as part of a project she started after being diagnosed with breast cancer — to create with a sense of humor was her way to respond to physical trauma. Representative of both unease and release, the ensuing creations now offer us relief of our own.

Stress balls by Bettina Hubby at Los Angeles Nomadic Division’s booth at NADA New York

Paintings by Radamés “Juni” Figueroa at Proyectos Ultravioleta’s booth at NADA New York

Paintings by Omari Douglin at Mrs.’s booth at NADA New York

Works by Sara Murphy at Essex Flowers’ booth at NADA New York

Jacolby Satterwhite’s VR installation at Moran Bondaroff’s booth at NADA New York

Still from AES+F’s video “INVERSO MUNDUS,” presented by Transfer in collaboration with Mobius Gallery at NADA New York

Andrea Joyce Heimer at Nicelle Beauchene’s booth at NADA New York

Bad at Sports’ booth at NADA New York

NADA New York 2017 continues at Skylight Clarkson North (572 Washington St, West Village, Manhattan) through March 5.

The post Feeling Anxiety and Relief at NADA New York appeared first on Hyperallergic.

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