#{ acushla macree }

[colleenmurphy]

❛ if a zombie apocalypse started on halloween, it would take a while to realise. ❜ ( Jasper )

It took Colleen a moment to truly register her husband's words as she filled the candy cauldron for the trick or treaters she wasn't so excited to see anymore. She had stopped mid Snickers handful and turned smoothly on her heel to face her brown eyed man. Her mind was whirring a million miles a minute as the horror dawned on her.

"Wee hip high zombies, Jas."

The mental image as almost too much for her. She had managed to get her favorite holiday of holidays off and even dressed up for it, Glinda the Good Witch and all. She felt her crown begin to slump a little.

"There's nothing and I mean nothing more terrifying than an undead thing that can take you out at that level. They're like a bolo with legs and I can't outrun that..."

She realized now that she was muttering to herself but the superstitious part of her was truly spooked because truly wild things had been known to happen on All Hallow's Eve. Getting terrorized by half the neighborhood's bemasked younger people made her shudder. Gingerly setting herself down on the fourth to last step on the staircase leading upstairs she sighed before the mental image shift.

Jasper trying to run from Mrs. Nelson from two doors down and little Keven Malone, the rather large nine year old whose mother had a habit of dressing her son up in striped shirts ensuring he resembled a beach ball all the year round. Keven wasn't particularly fast on his feet so she could imagine Jasper just stopping and waiting checking his watch and just as the newly undead neighbors toddled close he resumed his panic and took to running down the street again.

This tipped her over into a true fit of laughter enough to the point that she was gasping for air.

"Mrs...Nelson and the Kevin Malone...Jasper..."

She almost positive he'd think her a right nut for acting as she was. Wiping a tear from her eye she attempted to compose herself enough to explain but was stopped as she envisioned herself walking in the park and peering into Shauna O'Grady's pram only to have the newest addition to the O'Grady family launching itself at her with a snarl and all but flying out of it's damned 'electric plum' colored carriage. The sheer absurdness of it all made her snort as she tried to explain to her husband that no, she'd not gone insane. Instead it just came out as a

"Think we'd stand a fighting chance?"

Before she erupted into another fit of laughter only to find herself bouncing on her bottom down the last few steps with a startled squawk.

[marycolleenheehan]

@writervega to Jasper 

[colleenmurphy]

@writervega​ { aha! my heart! These two are adorable! }

“Ní scoirfidh tú riamh d’iontas a chur orm, a ghrá.”

Tears welled up in her eyes, his words touched her soul, as they always did. To every single nay sayer out there thinking that their affection for one another was simply for show Colleen thumbed her nose. She had no idea just what she had done to deserve such a sweet, honest man such as her Jasper but she was forever thankful to every saint and angel and God himself for allowing it. Even after all of their time together he still amazed her with his undying love and his gracious spirit. Reaching her hand out of hold his she smiled. Leave it to her Jasper to remember her favorite Neruda poem.

“What on earth did I do to deserve a love like yours?”

As she wove her fingers with his and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. 

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

“I know that my heart is safe with you and forever it will be. I often think the world would be a much better place if people loved one another as you and I do, Jasper. They sure don’t know what they’re missin’, do they?” 

Standing on tip toe she kissed him gently on the lips as she had when they were teenagers. Softly and sweetly. The record player popped and crackled as a record dropped down. 

 These are the days of the endless summer These are the days, the time is now There is no past, there's only future There's only here, there's only now

“Dance with me, kind sir?” 

“It’s always belonged to you. Will you keep it safe?” { from Colleen }

@mscolleentrager | at world’s end meme

     “ Until my very last breath, darlin’ —— and further beyond into the unknown, “ he promises her with sweet words, the ringing of truth with every utterance of love between them both was enough to make anyone shed a tear and they had worlds upon worlds of devotion for each && every passing day. The Kennedy’s were never short on their supply of complete and total AWE of one another, so much so they often had people questioning if it was all for show, but they did, had and would always hold such admiration. They never believed in endings and they would be forever, so long as time ceased to exist, they would never be parted from one another. “ Y’know your heart is always safe with me, Colly.  I love you — without knowing how.. or when.. or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride; So I love you because I know no other way than this: where I does not exist, nor you, so close that your hand on my chest is my hand, so close that when you close your eyes, I fall asleep. “

[colleenmurphy]

[colleenmurphy]

@writervega

Shall we aim for six wee Kennedy’s for Jasper and Colleen? Nice lovely round number. And because honestly Col loves seeing every single interaction between her husband and their children.

[colleenmurphy]

(via https://open.spotify.com/track/6gfCFrvF0QpQOuwtrwTaKh?si=Vud_2SNeStiF1xadcXH5gg)

@writervega Colleen to Jasper 

[colleenmurphy]

@writervega​ { see what happens at like 1AM? This. All the feels! }

‘Just pick up the phone and give him a call, Colleen.’

The tiny voice in mind screamed and she had reached for the phone and dialed nearly seven times but before anyone answered she slammed it down in a fit of anxiety.

‘What the hell could I possibly say to him? I’d just freeze up.’

She scolded herself harshly as she looked about the apartment she called home. It wasn’t, not truly. The walls weren’t painted a calming deep blue and floors creaked in all the wrong spots. The bed was far too lumpy and even the washing powder didn’t have the same smell she was used to.

‘You chased a stupid dream and now you’re  here in this...place. Without the only person that truly loved you just as you were and you have only yourself to blame you foolish foolish girl.’

Looking out her window she saw the bright lights of the city below her through the window. This was the land of opportunity she had been told but every day she saw the homeless and the beaten out in the streets. No one smiled and everything had a sun bleached worn out look to it. There was no sunshine and rolling hills and if she wanted to see something green her only chance was making a trek to Central Park. She had ended up getting mugged at a stop light on the way there and decided that it was a sign to just go back to the studio apartment she was spending an arm and leg trying to keep. Food was a luxury and every night she ended up crying herself to sleep because she was starting to forget. Never his face but his touch. The warm weight of his arms around her as he slept and the steady sound of his heartbeat as he held her. He had colored her world in bold streaks and they had washed away the day she stepped off the plane.

“Think, Colleen. Think.”

Closing her eyes slipped away to a memory. The sound of gulls overhead and the lapping of the Bay. Basking in the spring sunshine for a moment between downpours had been a favorite past time of theirs. Garden valleys they explored on summer afternoons. He was always there with her and she could hear his laugh as he called her name. Opening her eyes she looked around the room and found herself surrounded by the crushing cold loneliness that was now her life. There were no gulls or green rolling valleys. There was no peace for her because Jasper wasn’t here.  The cogs in her mind whirred and she snatched a pen from the table and her notebook. Twenty minutes later she had polished what she thought was simply a poem. Setting it to music took her another hour as she had to trek all the way up a floor to borrow a neighbor’s guitar. One cassette tape later and Colleen was sitting cross legged on her living room floor trying to figure out what she was going to say.

“Jasper...God I hope you get this package. I know the guitar’s out of tune a bit but I had to get this to you. I don’t know what to call it just yet.  I’ve tried calling you and I’m never sure what to say...I’d probably just freeze up. I miss you. I love you.”

Slowly and steadily she started to pluck at the strings as she had seen him do time and time again. Three false starts and two sobbing fits that she was sure were on that tape she finally got it how she wanted it.

This is really not my home Oh where are you my lovely Johnny? I'm afraid and all alone There is no peace for me I'm sitting in the stranger's room Playing at the stranger's table Shining empty like the moon There is no peace for me

She continued on and slipped the tape into a case and wrapped it carefully before writing out the address that was her forever home.

Mr. J. Kennedy

53 St. Brendans Avenue, Woodquay, Co. Galway

Pressing a gentle kiss to the package that it was protected from every single for of disaster and mishandling she could think of it she insured it the next day at the local post office from her apartment and prayed that it made it to Jasper in once piece unharmed. She felt the telltale signs of an oncoming rainstorm as she scurried back to her tiny one room apartment and promptly fell into a fitful sleep until her alarm roused her for another night of shift work this week. Colleen Murphy had truly become a true Irish washer woman as she headed towards the all night Blue Ribbon Industrial Laundry that dealt with all manner of linen services.

‘Go home you daft thing! Surely you’ve got enough cash squirreled away for a one way ticket back to where you truly belong.’

A bit of math in her head she soon figured out that it would take another $200 dollars to make it back to Ireland and to the man she loved more than anything in this world. She could do it. She would pick up more hours at the Old Towne and work at the Blue Ribbon on weekends. Hell, she’d take to minding her neighbor’s children if it came down to it. Perhaps if she timed it right she might arrive back to Jasper before he even received that tape.

As she stood out under the overhang for some much needed fresh air and a cold half of some sort of sandwich she looked up at the hazy stars wondering if Jasper had gotten himself up yet. According to her watch it was nearly 6AM over there and she had always been the morning lark.

“Mo ghrá thú, Jasper.”

[colleenmurphy]

@writervega  II cont.  { I made myself cry with this one }

Gathering her things she set her sights towards the exit and prepared to call herself a taxi to stay with her mother. Her gut feeling though, told her to stop for a moment because she could feel that same spark she had felt for nearly a year away across the seas. She steeled herself and prepared to have her hopes dashed once more like she had each morning upon waking up in New York.

‘Maybe he’s here...’

Turning towards the row of plastic seats she spotted a familiar set of deep brown eyes. She would know that face in every single lifetime for it was imprinted on her very soul.

“Jasper?!”

Even her own voice was louder than she had expected but she didn't care. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes welled up with tears. Her mind reeled for a moment as she raced towards him on nimble feet moving carefully to avoid other passersby her skirts flared for a moment as she ran to the man that was her twin soul. He had cut his hair and he had a bit of scruff but he was still the man she adored to the ends of earth and time itself. The endless cold that had settled into her bones and the loneliness that had wrapped itself around her fell away as she all but threw herself at him. She had not known peace the entire time she had been gone. The strange otherness that held her captive and in a permanent black and white world fell away as the colors returned to her sight. She never wanted to let him go ever again.

“Do you know how much I love you, Mo grá?  How much I've missed you and how sorry I am?”

The tears she tried to hold back slipped down her cheeks as she traced both hands over his back. He hadn't changed a bit and the feeling of home came over her. It was then that she realized another lesson, home wasn't a place, wasn't a building or anyone one material thing or location. It was a feeling you got when you were with the one that you loved so deeply you would stop time itself if you could. She mentally kicked herself for not realizing it before having to cross an ocean twice.

“Freedom isn't anything worth having if you don't have love by your side. I learned that...and I'm never ever leaving you again. I was a stupid naive thing with girlish wants. Please...forgive me.”

[colleenmurphy]

(via https://open.spotify.com/track/2B1ylFlO2nBGJdPNb9vMnn?si=TrnuEu9mQAC0au_XSJQ_zA)

[colleenmurphy]

Snippets & Bobs: Acushla Macree verse

@writervega a few little bits for our favorite shamrock couple. ☘️

- Col’s Da was a master of many trades but his first love was the sea ( after his wife and daughter of course 😉) no ship would have him given his background except a smaller craft called the Sweet Colleen, owned and operated by a fisherman with the last name Sheehan. He was also a lighthouse keeper in his later years.

- Col’s Mam ( the fisherman’s daughter ) was a seamstress and a deft hand at lace making.

- Col took ages to find a skill, she finally settled on tincture making as her granny had before her. She just gave it a new spin and tried her hand at making sweets. She’s also a talented fiddle player.

- Colleen dabbles in songwriting, most if not all of her songs are inspired by her Jasper in some way.

- Often dreams of having a proper brood of little Kennedy’s. They can always add more bunks. She’s already started stockpiling baby booties and tiny sweaters and often wonders if Jasper’s noticed.

[colleenmurphy]

For Own Reference

* trying to work out mood boards for each verse at the moment will be back to post the proper one here*

- Irish Rover verse - Col in her homeland * various parings*

- Tiny Dancer/ Blue Jean Baby  / 70′s verse 

- She Moves In Colors / 60′s verse 

- 50′s  verse / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 

- 40′s verse - ‘Til We Meet Again / Shivering Soldier verse 

- 20′s 30′s - Black Donnelly verse

- Cold & Bitey / Rain Falls In Whitby verse

- Acushla Macree - Jasper & Colleen Kennedy * closed verse