#(a Calvin family emergency)

[the-arch-elf]

Santa is off!

Per the regular route, Santa’s headed to Kiribati first (where it is presently just before midnight on December 24th at the time of this update) and then moving around the world to deliver presents and Christmas cheer!

Excellent job getting everything packed and onto the sleigh, Elves. I knew you could do it!

But our work isn’t done yet. Let’s break out the good hot cocoa and keep an eye on those radars. Hopefully we don’t run into any issues this year, but you can never be too prepared.

Good luck today, and happy Christmas Eve!

[solacescastleglow]

Things I've Been Loving Recently (in no particular order)

writing (& worldbuilding for) fanfiction

the moon <3

omelettes with cheese

dinosaur time (eating spinach by the handful)

buying secondhand books

oil pulling

my shul/local chabad's dinners

looking at pictures of evgeny shwartz as felix yusupov on pinterest

chatting with new people

penguin little black classics in my pockets when i go out

how much it's been raining recently

record shopping with my sibling

pho from the vietnamese restaurant next to the secondhand bookshop

left right goodnight! by bears in trees

pickled onions

the australian voting system (preferential voting my beloved)

wearing pyjama pants under my regular pants

reading ancient classics

my employment consultant (thank u razan!!)

getting on jobseeker pension

my mama (happy mother's day!)

the ____ with mama memes

going on walks with my dad/sibling

one direction (i should have kissed you is a banger don't @ me)

vegetarian chili mac and cheese

the (still working) 1970s gas heater my dad found

living in the area i live in, i'm literally so lucky

my kitty cat, sweet little baby boy

the fact that my dad said my face is getting more square on t

the weather getting colder

studying ancient greek

the two triplets who volunteer at the shul (platonically)

organising our home library

listening to reddit stories while i do other things

papenathy (they live in my head rent free)

water

how cool the people in my area dress

being gendered masculinely by strangers

little bit of bottom growth who said that?

my visual timer

chamomile tea, all time favourite drink ilysm

post blocker on xkit

arm day for strength training

randomly telling myself 'drop and give me 10 bicycles'

the hunger games (original trilogy)

how much better i'm getting at communicating, especially via email

being able to choose between my cane, one crutch, two crutches, or nothing and not suffering severe consequences

bringing my cuddling pillow and blanket downstairs to sit on the sofa

daydreaming that i'm a professor giving a lecture while i write my assignments

my professor who lets us make up a creative project instead of essays

sebastian castellio/hating on jean calvin

fragrantica

hearing the kid next door practicing piano

seeing weird shaped dogs in the park

classical records

showers

the harmonising in shabbat services

the fact that i go to a barber now (the haircut itself, however...)

coles' bakery section

mother's day lunch at a random middle eastern restaurant in a suburb of the town my grandparents live in (literally so good)

sitting on the front steps while dad gardens

smoked paprika

exploring the local high street

friendly retail workers (g-d's strongest soldiers i swear)

the local architecture style

when things i bought years ago suddenly become useful again

my dressing gown

self love (cough cough) (thank you t for giving me my libido back)

the $300 1920s version of mrs beeton's household management i finally saved up enough to buy

financial responsibility

ritalin + lorazepam

my 'going out station' (place i put my keys etc)

having enough in my emergency fund that i don't need to save anymore unless i want to

my notion set up

my allergies randomly going away

therapy

the mottled sunlight in the back garden

growing the fuck up

that time i managed to pick around mushrooms in a dish without crying

my 2015 laptop that still works fine

my motorola phone (it has a headphone jack!!!)

donna tartt lore

making super niche memes

wilfred owen poems

when my dad and i trade our poetry

dusting powder

dry brushing

afternoon tea with my family

scented candles

cooking

chicken salt on hot chips

my great grandpa's harris tweed jacket that fits me perfectly

mint slice biscuits (now that i can have mint)

getting to use my winter wardrobe

how bad the liberals (our conservative party) lost the election

pope memes

the fact i'm graduating this year!!!

scent layering

wholegrain sourdough bread

the fact that i have so many good things in my life <333

[formlines]

Tuxw'id Female Warrior Spirit Puppet

Calvin A. Hunt

from the website: In Kwakwaka’wakw winter potlatches there is a deep tradition of elaborate ritual performances that amplify cultural teachings through the dramatization of the supernatural. Traveling the world, making war, Winalagalis comes from the North to winter with the Kwakwaka’wakw as the patron spirit of winter dance season known as the T'seka or Red Cedar Bark Ceremonials. This sacred season is guided by dancing societies and is characterized in part by the elaborate staging of dramatic tricks that make the presence of the supernatural spirits visible and credible.

Dances and songs associated with Winalagalis include the display of dLuguwe' or supernatural treasures—figures and puppets such as this Tuxw'id, a female warrior spirit by Calvin Hunt. This puppet would rise from behind a dance screen and appear to come to life.

During potlatch ceremonials inside the big house, Tuxw'id puppets, some with articulated appendages, appear in powerful dramatic illusions to suggest that spirits are present. Spirits appear to fly through the air on invisible cords, or emerge from beneath the earthen dance floor by hidden control strings, or miraculously materialize from within the central fire. These displays are all part of family privileges in drama and dancing.

As Calvin Hunt explains, “There are so many variations of different spirits portrayed in Tuxw'id. There are power boards that represent ghosts that come up into the house, there are supernatural birds and other creatures. Supernatural events take place. In one version a woman gives birth to a frog.

“My wife, Marie Hunt, had a Tuxw'id that she passed on to our granddaughter, Scarlet, at our potlatch in October 2019. It is a supernatural canoe that could fly across the sky into the heavens. My daughter, Ali Hunt, has one that was passed from my mother to her. Her Tuxw'id are power boards which represent ghosts of different creatures in our supernatural realm.” —Carol Sheehan—

[rose-of-pollux]

Back to the Future fic masterlist

The way my main BTTF fic timeline works, I operate on a fusion of the musical, movie trilogy, and Telltale game timelines; I take elements from each, and while my written version of Doc started out sounding like Christopher Lloyd, he's very much now heavily based on Roger Bart--I write out of timeline order, so just keep that in mind if Doc's voice isn't quite consistent from fic to fic.

I write Doc as very asexual, which was definitely the vibe that I felt from the musical; subsequently, my backstory for Doc and his relationship with Clara differs greatly from the actual Part III, and I haven't quite figured out how Jules and Verne fit in--only that they just exist for now, and I'll figure their origins out later.

Lastly, I operate on the headcanon that, in the Lone Pine timeline, George and Lorraine remain good friends with Doc after 1955, initially because they think he's their link to "Calvin Klein," but eventually as true friends. This ultimately led to them asking Doc to be Marty's godfather--a role Doc takes very seriously and makes him even more protective of Marty than he was in Twin Pines.

And now, the fics themselves--I'm going to try to keep these in chronological order from Marty's POV (as best as possible, since, in a few of them, he isn't born yet); distinctions between Twin and Lone Pine timelines will be noted as such, and AUs will be listed separately-- (Updated 2/9/25: added a oneshot)

Main Timeline-- Misunderstood (1931 Twin Pines) Miles to Go Before I Sleep (1945 Lone Pine) Stumbling Block (1949 Lone Pine) The Fork in the Road (1963 Lone Pine) Faded Ink (1968 Lone Pine) A Dark and Stormy Night (1973 Lone Pine) Is Anybody Home? (Twin Pines) Seeing Red (Twin Pines) True Blue (Twin Pines) Running Late (Twin Pines) Once in a Red Moon (Twin Pines) Lost and Found (Twin Pines) Reckless (Twin Pines) April, 1984, pt I (Twin Pines) April, 1984, pt II (Lone Pine) With Friends Like These (Twin Pines) Summertime Blues (Twin Pines) Back Down to Earth (Twin Pines) No Turning Back (Lone Pine) As I Lay Dying (Twin Pines) Morale Boost (1955) No Rest for the Weary (1955) At the Heart of the Paradox (Twin Pines becoming Lone Pine) Out of the Blue (Pt II, retconned since I'm doing something different) Cadence of Hill Valley: The Song of Time (musical-verse pt II; multichapter WIP) Cadence of Hill Valley: A Link to the Past (not written yet, musical-verse pt III) Sixty Seconds (pt III, may be retconned by the time I finish the Cadence series) All You Do Is Think (pt III, retconned due to the Cadence series) A Fragile Thing (Telltale game) Start From the Happy Ending (post-Telltale game) Unexpected Arrival (possible Telltale sequel, standalone for now) Haven't Heard that Before (post-canon) Faces of Family (post-canon) They Say that Time is a Healer (post-canon) Battle Scars (post-canon) Keep the Faith (post-canon, multichapter, complete) 'Cause I Might Not Make It Back (post-canon, multichapter, complete) Time Is Not Eternal (post-canon, multichapter, complete) Nothing's the Same (post-canon, multichapter, complete) Beat the Odds (post-canon, multichapter, complete) Close to Home (post-canon) You Can't Fight Fate (Or Can You?) (post-canon, multichapter, complete) The Impossible and the Improbable (post-canon) Seelie Wight (post-canon, multichapter, complete) The Ancient Relic (post-canon, 2015)

Ashen Pines AU Timeline (the Cold War goes hot in 1971, and when Hill Valley is incinerated by people looking for Doc and his knowledge of nuclear weapons, Doc goes on the run with the three-year-old orphan he just adopted--Marty McFly)-- Up In Smoke (oneshot) To Be Told You're No Good (oneshot) Nowhere to Turn (oneshot) A Moment of Peace (oneshot) Lessons Learned (oneshot) Teach Him a Lesson (oneshot) Injustice (oneshot) Don't Look Back (oneshot) I Can See the Fires Still Alight (oneshot) Fatherhood (oneshot) Vertigo (oneshot) Emergency Exit (oneshot)

Other AU fics-- Audivi Famam Ilius (Fantasy AU) Shattered Dream (Turn Left AU) Life, Life (Frankenstein AU) Discord and Rhyme (Werewolf!Doc AU) Where the Sea Meets the Sky (Merboy!Marty AU) The Project Chronos Affair (Doc and Marty join U.N.C.L.E. AU)

[puzzled-pegasus]

Finch ghost design thoughts for an AU idea I have! (Cw vomit and injury mentions)

Molly: the spirit of Molly appears in her nightgown, looking tattered and dirty, and traces of vomit can be seen on the fabric. Her skin is pale and sickly, her eyes gold and slitted like a cat's, with a few streaks of black and copper in her otherwise blonde hair, reminiscent of calico cat fur.

Calvin: Calvin's spirit appears wearing his favorite space helmet, and his face is not easily seen underneath. He uses his ghostly power to float above the ground more often than not, and his mischievous nature lives on as he haunts the Finch house, closing doors and flicking the lights on and off, and creaking the old swing on which he used to play so often. Calvin has fun being a ghost; he hardly regrets his death.

Barbara: Barbara's spirit appears in the school clothes she wore on the Halloween night of her death, mysteriously torn and spattered with dark blood. A curtain of her blonde hair hides the spot where her ear is missing, torn off during the struggle that cost her her life. She is seldom seen, but if one listens closely, she can be heard practicing her famous scream on windy nights, easily mistaken for the call of a raven or the whistling gusts of wind.

Walter: The lonely spirit of Walter Finch wanders the beach where he emerged from his tunnel, searching for his family that he hasn't seen in... who knows how long. If he can be convinced to appear, for he has always been shy, he can be seen with various wounds alluding to his train incident, as well as marks on his clothes where the train's wheels trampled them. He can be convinced to appear by burning a can of peaches as an offering, or perhaps by putting together one of his model trains and turning it on.

Sam: Sam's spirit stays in his room, guarding his photos that he took of his family during his life. If a living person so much as picks up one of his precious memories, he will appear to scold them. He can be seen wearing his outdoor gear, same as the clothes he wore on his last hunting trip with Dawn, and he has a visible wound on the back of his head where it made impact with a rock, causing his death. Twigs and leaves can be seen in his clothing and hair, having stuck to him on the way down from the ledge from which he fell.

[gryficowa]

!!!

[fictionadventurer]

Hoover?

Herbert Hoover came from a very poor family in Iowa. After his parents died, he moved in with an uncle in Oregon, and worked at his land office. He didn't attend school after grade school, but when a Stanford recruiter came through, Hoover did so well on his tests (except English) that he was admitted to the college.

He met his wife Lou at Standford, where they both got geology degrees. Hoover got hired with a mining company, and he and Lou oversaw mining operations in Australia and Asia. They were both in China during the Boxer Rebellion. They worked together to translate an ancient Roman mining text for the first time, and they'd give bound copies of it to people as gifts. Lou spoke eight languages, and she and Herbert would speak Mandarin when they didn't want people to understand their conversations.

By the time Hoover was 40, he was a self-made millionaire, working with a company with offices on six continents and a headquarters in London, and while in London, he was looking for a way to engage with public life. Then WWI broke out. He and Lou worked together to set up a charity to help provide food and transportation for American stuck in Europe. Then the crisis in Belgium happened, and he worked with the Belgian government to start the Belgian Relief program. He eventually had 600 ships bringing food to the starving citizens of Belgium. He was called things like "the Great Humantarian" and "the Master of Emergencies".

This caught the attention of Woodrow Wilson, who brought him into his administration as a food administrator, encouraging Americans to reduce consumption of certain foods in light of the war effort. Hoover then became Secretary of Commerce under Warren Harding, and he massively grew that department. Calvin Coolidge put him in charge of disaster relief efforts in 1927 to respond to flooding in Mississippi, which increased his reputation of a guy who was great at responding to emergencies.

He was so popular that he was the obvious Republican candidate for president. Unfortunately, the guy who was a great humanitarian didn't have the personality or the experience to navigate the give-and-take of politics. He preferred just going in and getting the job done to having to work as part of the political machine. He alienated Congress before the Depression. After the Depression hit, he was doing a lot more behind the scenes to respond to things than the public realized at the time--and had more success than he was given credit for--but he was villainized for not wanting to start direct government programs to help people. That was something he had done a ton of as a private citizen, but he didn't think it was the role of the president to do things like that--he wanted to leave that kind of thing to private charities--which unfortunately gave him a reputation of being uncaring.

He was extremely active in his post-presidential life. After WWII, he was again put in charge of relief efforts to bring food to Europe. He ran the Hoover Commission that reorganized the executive branch of the government. He wrote tons of books and papers (and this from the guy who did so badly at English in college that he needed special permission to graduate). For a guy who had such a disastrous presidency, he actually had a pretty amazing and successful life, and I wish more people knew about it.

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

December 2023 - part 2

December 10 - Chiefs v Buffalo Bills, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City.

Travis Kelce arriving ahead of game

Taylor flies into Kansas City to attend the Chiefs game with her cousins, Travis' cousins & friends at Arrowhead Stadium

Travis made a brilliant play contributing to a touch down but was denied due to a team mates penalty.

During the game, NFL announcer and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo referred to her as "Travis' wife" while on the air with announcing partner Jim Nantz.

"As you see, Kelce's wife, Taylor Swift, in the audience," Romo pointed out, quickly correcting himself and saying, "I'm sorry -- girlfriend."

"Not yet," Nantz said in response.

Chiefs were defeated 17 - 20.

Taylor and Travis leave the stadium together

Taylor and Travis together with team mates, coaches friends and family gather at Miracle Pop Up Bar

Travis' barber shares a photo of Taylor and Travis (x)

Lots of photos emerge from the party with Taylor and travis taking photos with friends - these have been cropped...

December 11 - Taylor is nominated for a Golden Globe for The Eras tour movie.

USA Today reports that Taylor has donated $1 million to a Tennessee tornado relief Fund (x) after a Tornado ravaged the state on Saturday 9 Dec.

ET article (x)

According to Cheterah Jackson, a Columbus, Ohio-based real estate agent and friend of Travis', the couple rented a luxury bus to transport their group and reserved the Christmas bar in downtown Kansas City for friends and family. 

Jackson tells ET, "My boyfriend Calvin Locke... is Travis' friend and has known him since the 7th grade. We were in the suite at the game, which was filled with family and friends."

"Taylor is an absolute sweetheart. She is very down-to-earth and kind." 

"Taylor and Travis are so in love. It was so cute seeing them together and I can see them getting married"  

December 12 - Taylor returns to NYC. Pictured with Miles & Keleigh Teller

December 13 - New Heights Ep. 68 airs (x 5:05)

Jason and Travis limit talking about Taylor although when the brothers chat about the No.1 & No.2 sales of NFL jerseys in the UK, they give credit to Swifties for helping with the success of topping the sales and Travis gives a "shout out to Kylie and Taylor." Travis suggests that perhaps they could "find our way over there this off season and say hello to everyone in person" and record a live show in the UK. Jason replies "we also got an opportunity to do one in Australia - we could make it a world tour"

Any one know of an international pop star who may be touring in the UK and Australia in 2024 that coincides with the NFL off season? Are the Kelce brothers hinting that Travis and perhaps Jason will join Taylor on tour next year? It should be noted that Patrick Mahomes has also raised the idea of possibly catching the Era's Tour in Europe in the off season too...

The boys answer "No Dumb Questions" from handle "metal-as-hell", a reference to Taylor's TIME article calling Travis "metal as hell" when he publicly declared his interest in dating Taylor.

Taylor Swift's 34th Birthday - Taylor heads to Banzarbar, NYC with friends to celebrate her birthday into the early hours of the morning - Happy Birthday Taylor! The paps even broke out into song to sing Taylor "Happy Birthday". Note Travis remained in KC with commitments to the Chiefs. This was expected.

December 14 - Taylor and friends share photos from the birthday celebration the evening before (x)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

December 15 - Taylor is named Billboard's No.1 Greatest Pop Star (x)

It didn’t seem possible that anyone could have a year this dominant: not this deep into the streaming era, not this long after the oft-proclaimed death of the monoculture, not when the entire industry seems to be in crisis over how to capture and hold onto listener attention. It was a year not to be judged against Swift’s 2023 peers, but against the entirety of modern pop history. 

There is no wasted potential with Taylor Swift, no what ifs – the chance was there for her to have one of the greatest years any pop star has ever had, and you know that she grabbed it. Taylor was here. No one who was around for her 2023 will ever forget it.

With reference to Taylor's relationship with Travis, Billboard's Andrew Unterberger says:

... rumors were beginning to swirl about her and Kelce. The Chiefs star had become increasingly coy in his comments about the pop icon, saying he’d invited her to come see him play a home game (after he’d seen her Eras show in Kansas City that July). She did indeed do just that on the September 24th, with her presence at Arrowhead sending both the worlds of sports and pop culture into a frenzy, and leading to numerous posts and videos of non-football-conversant Swifties sharing the sport’s rules with one another, so they could better understand what was happening in between the shots of their hero in a private box with Kelce’s mom Donna.  From then on, every Sunday (and a couple Mondays and Thursdays) of 2023 was overtaken with Taylor talk: Would she be showing up at the Chiefs’ next game? What other celebrities would she be attending with? What kind of Kelce swag would she be wearing, and what would that mean about their relationship? What do you mean Kansas City is on a bye week?While Swift’s short relationship with Healy was extremely controversial to Swifties and her long relationship with Alwyn was largely uninteresting to everyone else, her love story with Kelce – a well-liked, unproblematic figure, a Super Bowl-winning superstar as an athlete with enough of a Q rating as a celebrity to host SNL – was universally accessible, and found near-100% public approval. You didn’t need deep grounding in Swift Lore to understand the relationship, because it just felt right: the All-American athlete dating the All-American pop star. 

Go to part 1 of December 2023

Go to part 3 of December 2023

Return to the timeline

[bunbeeplays]

The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 129 - Dropping Off

It's been a hard couple of days. Gemma keeps asking to see Jaden and they know it's wrong to lie, but they're just not ready to break her heart. They tried calling CPS to see if anything could be done, but Calvin isn't starving Jaden so they won't do anything.

That night, they're stirred from their slumber by incessant knocking.

Ophelia: What the hell? They'd better not wake the girls up.

The last time they got late night visitors, it was Greta and Jace running away from their dad's house, but that's probably not the case now.

The second Xander sees who it is, he doesn't hold back.

Xander: Are you out of your woohoocking mind? You treated us like child predators, took our daughter's best friend from her and now you're bugging us at two in the morning?

Calvin stand there and… takes it.

Anna can barely hear her husband being berated. She's cried for hours and hours, dried tears trailing down her face. Now she's just… numb.

She stares out into the horizon, just like she had days ago. She tries to remember every detail of the scenery. Anything to stop thinking.

Calvin waits for Xander to take a breath before speaking.

Calvin: Xander, I have no right to come to you to ask for anything, after everything I said. I will get on my hands and knees and beg if I have to, but I'm not asking for me. I'm asking for Jaden. Please… hear me out.

Xander crosses his arms.

Xander: Fine. For Jaden.

After checking that the girls were still asleep, Ophelia finally joins them.

Calvin: Something's happened. We need you to keep Jaden while we're gone. Please. I-I was wrong.

It sounds like it pains him to admit that.

Calvin: I'm nowhere near the man I thought I was. I was arrogant, foolishly so. I'm no better than you. I'm far, far worse.

As much as it pleases both of them to hear this, it's also a tad concerning. Where was this coming from? Why did it involve keeping Jaden for the night?

Calvin: We have to go out of town for a bit and Jaden can't come with us. I know after what I did, what I said, I'm asking far too much of you, but please just… please do it for Jaden.

Anna's composure cracks and she begins to weep once again.

Ophelia goes over to Anna and an oblivious Jaden.

Ophelia: Anna, what is going on? Did someone in your family die? What's the emergency?

Anna tries to say something but only gut-wrenching sobs come out. Whatever is is, it must be devastating.

Anna: I always thought I was so much better than you. I was more proper, more modest, more Watcherly. A lot of good all that did me… I'm sorry for everything, Ophelia. We don't deserve your forgiveness, but please watch Jaden for us… Please.

Ophelia glances back at her husband. He can tell they're in agreement.

Xander: We'll watch him. Jaden's always welcome here. But you can't pull any high and mighty llamashit again. You're not going to break my baby girl's heart.

Calvin: I can assure you I won't.

Jaden squeals as his dad lifts him up.

Calvin: There's my boy. You be good for the Lemons, alright? They're good people. Better than your old man.

He pulls his son in close.

Calvin: I love you. I really do. I'm sorry I never showed it.

Jaden melts into the embrace.

While Calvin cradles his son close, Anna can't help but feel resentful. He chooses NOW to finally show he gives a damn about their son? Guess there's no time like the present.

She's felt a lot of resentment toward Calvin the past few days and she has no plans of stopping.

That anger melts when Calvin hands Jaden over to her.

Anna: Oh, my sweet boy. Mommy's going to miss you so so much.

She peppers his cheeks with kisses and revels in his laughter. She tries to perfect this moment to memory.

Anna: Daddy and I have to go, but you'll have a lot of fun with Gemma and her family.

Jaden: Where are you goin'?

Anna: That's not important. Just know that we love you… And we're sorry.

Calvin listens in. Anna really does try to be a good mother. He shouldn't have taken her for granted, or Jaden.

There's a lot of things he regrets, but there's no going back now. He'll fix the mess he made.

Jaden: Thanks for lettin' me come play with Gemma again!

Fresh tears fall down Anna's cheeks but she keeps on a brave face.

Anna: You are so welcome, baby. You and Gemma's family are going to have a great time together. I love you, Jaden Taylor. More than you'll ever know.

Jaden watches his parents walk off. He waves but they don't look back.

Ophelia comes to get him once they're out of sight.

Ophelia: Phew, it's chilly out here. Come on, sweetie, let's get you inside.

As Xander pulls out the sleeping bag, Ophelia brings Jaden into Gemma's room. She was trying not to wake her up, but Gemma's a light sleeper, so that was pointless. Gemma begins to stir, blinking sleepily until she sees who's in her mother's arms.

Gemma: Jaden!!

She doesn't care why he's here in the middle of the night, she's just happy to see her best friend. The two squeeze each other tight.

This was a weird night, but it was worth it to see the looks on their faces.

[synthsays]

Doctober day 5:

□○》 Alarm Clock 《○□

The ear-piercing ring of the brass alarm clock disturbed Marty from his not-so-peaceful rest,

"Doc what happened… ugh my head…" He continued to mumble the nonsensical remains of his dreams.

"Don't worry, you just had a nightmare."

A wet wash-cloth patted Marty's head.

"Wait, wait, wait, but what about Doc? I still need to save him…"

Marty began to get up but was gently pushed back down. His eyes widened as he saw who was caring for him. He quickly sat up right.

(rest of the drabble under cut)

"Lorraine! Uh- um- hi?" Marty subconsciously scooted away from where Lorraine was positioned across from him.

"Calvin, are you alright? You oughta hit your head pretty hard…" She reached for his head but he pulled away.

"You were my m- my ma-" Marty's panic settled as he continued to recollect the contents of his nightmare.

"What the hell happened-" Marty was cut off.

"Calvin Martin Lewis! Watch your language!"

His mother walked in, holding a cup of warm tea.

"Thank Lorraine, dear." And she ushered her off.

Marty stared in disbelief at his mother… or who he thought was his mother. There was no way someone could dream a whole person's life, right? What about Doc and Einstein and the McFly family… who are they?

"Marty, are you alright?"

"No, I'm not alright. Where am I?" Marty's tone was annoyed but worried. Mrs. Lewis returned the worried gesture.

"Lorraine was right… you really did hit your head."

"What happened to me?" Marty leaned in.

"Lorraine found you knocked out by the side of the highway, the route you usually take your bike on. Luckily, there was no blood but she could barely get you conscious enough to push you along the road. You were out cold before you even hit the pillow." Mrs. Lewis offered the tea.

Marty declined, he was too emerged in his thoughts for tea. While she waited, Cecilia placed a record on the machine and placed the needle. After a few moments, only filled by the soft opening of the acapella, Marty came to a realization,

"Doc Brown! Yes, he was the one who built the time machine and got s-" Marty cut himself off this time.

"Martin, what are you on about? A Doctor Brown? Well, if I'm not mistaken, there is that nutcase scientist on Riverside… but that can't be it."

Cecilia Lewis began to grow more concerned about the boy. Surely he remembers his own mother, right?

"Marty, how old are you?"

"What? I'm 17 years old."

"Where do you live?"

"Hill Valley, California."

"What is your name?"

"Marty."

"Marty what?"

"Marty… um… my name is Marty…" He trailed off. His supposed mother, on the other hand, looked to be holding back tears,

"Who am I?"

"You? You're… you… who are you?"

Marty was greeted with a hug, not exactly the answer he wanted but definitely the answer he needed.

" Who am I?"

~Mr. Sandman, bring me a treat~

[annashadowstar]

Name: Chris Galeforce

Age: 29

Sexual: Gay

Height: 195cm

Pronoun: He/Him

From: Mix of China and American

Birthday: June 18

Family: Hubert Galeforce(Father), Charles Calvin(Brother), and Lay Copperbottom(Little sibling)

Background

Chris's birth name is actually Daniel Dreamer. However, he disliked it and opted to go by Chris instead. Chris was 20 years old when Lay was born and he adores his younger sibling. Chris is very protective of Lay and won't hesitate to shield them from any harm, even if it means standing up against their own parents. Chris made a scarf for Lay's 4th birthday featuring a combination of blue and purple on the top and yellow and green on the bottom. Chris was kicked out by his parents on the same day, as they consider him a misfit in their family since he was already 24. Another reason is that he’s gay. After his eviction, he struggled to find a decent job. However, after a year, Chris joined the government and was able to lead a prosperous life. He ultimately decided that it was time to bring Lay out of his parent's custody when he was 28. But unfortunately, he got into a car accident and pass out. Chris wakes up on a hospital bed and looks around, seeing his friend, Charles, and Hubert Galeforce sitting next t him. Galeforce told the solution Chris was in and gave him very bad news about his family. They found his family dead and the house was burned down. Chris was shocked at the news and knowing he lost his little sibling and blamed himself for not caring for them. Chris was then adopted by Galeforce and changed his last name. Chris now works with Charles on a mission and sees him as a little brother.

Magic/Power

Chris possesses the abilities of portal magic, height changing, and healing. His left eye turns yellow, but due to his hair covering it, this phenomenon remains unnoticed by others.

Portal

Chris has the ability to use portals to travel anywhere he wants to go. However, he can only use a portal to return to a place he has previously visited. His portals are capable of being as large as a tank or even bigger.

Healing

Chris possesses the power of healing magic, enabling him to mend any harm except for fatal strikes. During the use of this spell, Chris's hand illuminates in a yellow glow.

Height changing

Chris can change his height whenever he want. The bigger is gets, the more energy will drain away. So mostly, he was in his normal height. The maximum height is 10 ft tall. The minimum is around 5 cm.

Bonus Magic

Similar to Lay, Chris possesses the unique ability to borrow magic. By borrowing Lay's magic, Chris's left eye turns yellow while his right eye turns blue. However, due to his hair covering his eyes, this magical transformation remains unnoticed by others. Chris reserves this power solely for emergencies and utilizes it to ensure Lay's wellbeing. However, the usage of this magic drains Chris's energy, and he requires rest or food to regain it. Just like Lay, Chris also loses consciousness and falls asleep, which can cause panic among those around him. Chris could also borrow Kai’s magic and both of his eyes will turn teal green.

Personality

Chris is kind, chill, and very brave. He likes spending time with Charles since he reminds him of Lay. Chris hates liars since his parents lie a lot to him. Chris could tell who was lying and who was not, no matter how hard they try to hide the truth. Chris loves spending time with Charles and Hubert during the day off or taking a break. Chris is good at hand-and-hand battles and also good with aims and guns. Chris has two large scars across his eyes. He usually covers the scar with his hair and didn't want any attention from other people. Chris also has other scars around his body because of his parents while protecting Lay.

Like: Spending some time with his adopted family.

Dislike: The Toppat Clan

Hair Color: Dark chocolate brown

Go Back to the introduction

[nighthawks-official]

Leaving for the party.

“Are you sure your gonna be ok?”

Virgil pulls the last strap of his backpack on. He looks over at his older brother. Remy had always been protective of him since they where kids. He was such a worry ward. Virgil would never under why that was.

“It’s a sleepover. I’ve had sleepovers before,” The coach had decided the team needed more bonding experiences. He wasn’t sure who suggested it but somehow they had agreed to have a sleepover at Anthony’s as he had the most room. Calvin had invited them to come and the rest of the team was ok with it so they where going.

“I know just… ok. You remember you can always call or text me right? For any reason at any hour if you need to be picked up then I’ll come get you. You can even make some excuses about me or y- mom and dad needing you home. We can make it look like some family emergency happened,” Remy explains. Just like he does every time Virgil is staying over at a friends. Virgil rolls their eyes.

“I’ll be fine Remy. Seriously you can stop being so protective, it’s annoying. Your not my mom or whatever,” Virgil starts to head for the door. He doesn’t see the way Remy tenses, nor how he ducks his head trying to hide the expression that crosses his face.

“I love you, Virg,”

“I know,” The door shuts behind Virgil as he leaves.

[parinazcpgisblog-alevel]

Week 10 - Types of Music Genres

1. Pop

Pop music is the most widely recognized and commercially successful genre worldwide. Known for its catchy melodies, relatable lyrics, and mass appeal, pop music dominates global charts. Artists like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and BTS have played a major role in shaping the modern pop landscape. Pop music is also a favorite choice for workouts and mainstream entertainment.

2. Hip-Hop/Rap

Hip-hop and rap have grown into one of the most influential genres, with 28.2% of all album consumption units in the U.S. market in 2020. This genre blends rhythmic beats, spoken lyrics, and cultural storytelling. Artists such as Travis Scott, Cardi B, Post Malone, and Drake dominate the scene, particularly among audiences aged 12 to 35.

3. Rock

Rock music is one of the most enduring and influential genres in history. With numerous subgenres like grunge, indie, punk, hard rock, and metal, rock music has evolved across decades. Legendary bands like The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, Nirvana, U2, and Coldplay have left an indelible mark on music history.

4. Country

Originating in the rural Southern U.S. in the early 20th century, country music is characterized by acoustic instrumentation (guitar, banjo, violin, harmonica), simple melodies, and heartfelt lyrics. Common themes include love, heartbreak, faith, and family. Notable country artists include Taylor Swift (before transitioning to pop), Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, and Shania Twain.

5. Folk

Folk music encompasses traditional songs from different cultures, often passed down through generations. It is typically acoustic, simple in structure, and serves as a means of storytelling about history, identity, and struggles. Some folk music has evolved by blending with pop, rock, or country. Influential folk artists include Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Marley.

6. Funk

Emerging in the mid-1960s as a subgenre of soul music, funk is known for its syncopated rhythms, complex basslines, vibrant brass sections, and emphasis on the "one" beat. Funk music is energetic, danceable, and has influenced genres like disco, hip-hop, rock, and jazz. Key funk artists include James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone, George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic, and Prince.

7. Disco

Disco music emerged in the early 1970s as a response to rock’s dominance and soul music’s decline. It features four-on-the-floor beats, groovy basslines, lush orchestration, and catchy vocal hooks. Disco became synonymous with glamour, fashion, and dance clubs, influencing later genres like pop, hip-hop, and house music. Iconic disco artists include Gloria Gaynor, ABBA, Chic, Donna Summer, and the Bee Gees.

8. Classical

Spanning from the 11th century to the present, classical music includes orchestral compositions, intricate harmonies, expressive dynamics, and complex structures. Performed by orchestras, chamber groups, choirs, and soloists, classical music has significantly influenced modern genres like jazz, rock, pop, and film scores. Renowned classical composers include Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky.

9. Electronic Dance Music (EDM)

EDM is a broad genre encompassing various styles of electronically produced music, often created using computers, drum machines, and synthesizers. Associated with festivals, parties, and nightclubs, EDM includes subgenres like house, techno, trance, dubstep, and electro. Leading EDM artists include Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Daft Punk, The Chemical Brothers, and Skrillex.

[mikamikapodcast]

Martti Luther

Martin Luther (1483–1546) was a German priest, theologian, and leading figure in the Reformation who radically transformed Western Christianity and the ecclesiastical landscape of Europe. His ideas and actions sparked what later became known as the Protestant Reformation.

Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany. His family was middle-class, and his father was a mine manager. Luther was the first child and was raised Catholic. Luther studied law at the University of Erfurt, but he felt a calling to the spiritual life. He joined the Augustinian monastery in 1505 and was ordained a priest in 1507. He then studied theology at the University of Wittenberg, receiving a doctorate in theology in 1512.

On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his famous 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg church, which criticized the Catholic Church's practices of forgiveness of sins, such as the sale of indulgences. Luther did not initially want to break the church, but wanted to open up discussion and reform the Catholic Church internally. Luther's central theological teaching was that salvation does not come through good works, church ordinances, or indulgences, but through faith in Christ alone (sola fide). This was a radical departure from the doctrine of the Catholic Church, which often held that salvation could also be achieved through rituals and church ordinances. Authority of the Bible: Luther defended the idea that the Bible should be the only authority for the Christian faith (sola scriptura). He translated the Bible into German so that ordinary people could read and understand it for themselves.

Luther's teachings led to tensions with the Catholic Church, and in 1521 Pope Leo X declared him anathema (excommunicated). However, Luther did not back down, and instead denounced the church's erroneous doctrines and abuses.Luther's teachings laid the foundation for the Protestant Church, which separated from the Catholic Church. This led to the emergence of the Lutheran Church and other Protestant churches that emphasized the importance of the Bible and salvation through faith alone. Luther's Reformation also received support from other church reformers, such as Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, although their views differed in some respects from Luther's.

Luther's legacy is immense. His actions and ideas not only changed the field of Christianity, but also profoundly influenced the culture, society, and politics of the entire West. The Reformation changed the structures of the church and opened the way for many other religious and political movements.

Martti Luther (1483–1546) oli saksalainen pappi, teologi ja uskonpuhdistuksen johtohahmo, joka muutti radikaalisti lännen kristinuskon ja Euroopan kirkollisen maiseman. Hänen ajatuksensa ja toimet käynnistivät sen, mitä myöhemmin kutsuttiin protestanttiseksi uskonpuhdistukseksi.Martti Luther syntyi 10. marraskuuta 1483 Eislebenissä, Saksassa. Hänen perheensä oli keskiluokkainen ja isä toimi kaivostyönjohtajana. Luther oli ensimmäinen lapsi ja hänet kasvatettiin katolisessa hengessä.Luther opiskeli juridiikkaa Erfurtin yliopistossa, mutta hän tunsi kutsumusta hengelliseen elämään. Hän liittyi Augustinolaisluostariin vuonna 1505 ja vihittiin papeiksi 1507. Tämän jälkeen hän opiskeli teologiaa Wittenbergin yliopistossa ja sai teologian tohtorin arvon vuonna 1512.31. lokakuuta 1517 Luther naulasi Wittenbergin kirkon oven lähelle kuuluisat 95 teesiään, jotka kritisoivat erityisesti katolisen kirkon syntien anteeksiantamisen käytäntöjä, kuten aneiden myyntiä. Luther ei alun perin halunnut rikkoa kirkkoa, vaan halusi avata keskustelua ja uudistaa katolista kirkkoa sisäisesti.Lutherin keskeinen teologinen opetus oli, että pelastus ei tule hyvien tekojen, kirkollisten toimitusten tai aneiden kautta, vaan yksin uskon kautta Kristukseen (sola fide). Tämä oli radikaali poikkeama katolisen kirkon opista, jossa pelastusta pidettiin usein saavutettavana myös rituaalien ja kirkollisten toimitusten kautta.Luther puolusti ajatusta, että Raamatun tulisi olla ainoa auktoriteetti kristillisessä uskossa (sola scriptura). Hän käänsi Raamatun saksaksi, jotta tavalliset ihmisetkin voisivat lukea ja ymmärtää sitä itse.Lutherin opit johtivat jännitteisiin katolisen kirkon kanssa, ja vuonna 1521 paavi Leo X julisti hänet kirkon kiroukseen (ekskommunikoiminen). Luther ei kuitenkaan perääntynyt, vaan julisti itse kirkon virheelliset opit ja väärinkäytökset.Lutherin opit loivat pohjan protestantiselle kirkolle, joka erosi katolisesta kirkosta. Tällöin syntyi luterilainen kirkko ja muita protestanttisia kirkkoja, jotka painottivat Raamatun merkitystä ja pelastusta yksin uskon kautta.Lutherin uskonpuhdistus sai kannatusta myös muilta kirkon uudistajilta, kuten Ulrich Zwingliltä ja Jean Calvinilta, vaikka heidän näkemyksensä erosivat joiltain osin Lutherin näkemyksistä.Lutherin ajatukset eivät vaikuttaneet vain teologiaan, vaan myös yhteiskuntaan ja kulttuuriin. Hän oli mukana kehittämässä saksan kieltä ja vaikutti monin tavoin lännen kulttuurihistoriaan.

Lutherin perintö on valtava. Hänen toimensa ja ajatuksensa eivät vain muuttaneet kristinuskon kenttää, vaan myös vaikuttivat syvästi koko lännen kulttuuriin, yhteiskuntaan ja politiikkaan. Uskonpuhdistus muutti kirkon rakenteita ja avasi tien monille muille uskonnollisille ja poliittisille liikkeille

[summer-fun-swim]

Calvin had always been fascinated by the water. Today, with the sun shining brightly and a hint of adventure in the air, he decided to head to the lake with his GoPro camera. Clad in a vibrant red Adidas hoodie, the fabric clung to his slender frame, accentuating his youthful body. Below, he wore a pair of navy blue Nike joggers, soft and lightweight, ideal for a day of fun by the water.

As he arrived, the rippling lake glistened invitingly, demanding to be explored. He set his GoPro on a nearby rock, adjusting the angle to capture his every move. The anticipation buzzed in the air as he plunged his hand into the cool water, feeling an electrifying thrill with each ripple against his skin.

Taking a step back, he surveyed his surroundings—families picnicking nearby and laughter echoing through the air. With a laugh of his own, he finally decided to take the plunge and ventured deeper into the lake, slowly wading into the water. The crisp waves lapped against his legs, soaking the hem of his joggers, which now hugged his skin tightly, darker than before and glistening in the sunlight.

Calvin couldn't resist the playful urge to capture the perfect underwater shot. He submerged the GoPro, its sturdy frame designed for such adventures. As he dove beneath the surface, he could feel the comforting embrace of the water around him, his Adidas hoodie now weighing him down, the vibrant red merging with the blues of the lake.

He swam deeper, his heart racing with excitement. The world above faded into a shimmering swirl of light as he frolicked beneath the waves. He flipped and twisted, the joggers swirling with each movement, clinging to his legs while allowing him to glide effortlessly. Each stroke sent a surge of cold water splashing against him, making the fabric swirl and dance.

Finally, with one decisive kick, Calvin surrendered to the thrill fully. He surfaced, water streaming off his tousled hair, beads of it clinging to his lashes. He took a moment to gather his breath, then, feeling whimsical, he dove back under, swimming deeper until the sunlight faded into a tranquil blue.

Emerging once more, he laughed, exhilaration washing over him. With the weight of the wet fabric feeling liberating rather than cumbersome, he chose to swim fully clothed, embracing the freedom that came with it. The soft caress of the water against his body was intoxicating, and he felt an unyielding connection to the serene landscape surrounding him.

Calvin surfaced, his GoPro capturing every moment—the droplets glistening on his Adidas hoodie, the vibrant streaks of navy from his Nike joggers contrasting against the serene lake hues. He felt alive, each glint of the sun illuminating the joyous adventure of youth, freedom, and the intoxicating thrill of wet clothing.

His laughter echoed across the water as he swam with abandon, each movement setting off splashes of water that sparkled like diamonds in the sunlight. The lake, his playground, and he—the young twink late teen—felt invincible, forever etched into those captivating underwater moments, the lake forever keeping his secrets safe.

[fordphilipsfictionlibrary]

Neighborhood Watch (Part IV)

Calvin fell asleep quickly that night, but didn’t remain asleep for long. Around one in the morning he woke up to the sound of screaming next door. It took him a moment to acknowledge what was going on and he had only just begun swinging his legs out of bed when Lori sat bolt upright next to him and began her own fit of screaming. Turning his attention instantly to his wife, he found her pale, sweating and flailing wildly as she batted away invisible somethings all around her. Calvin had never heard Lori scream like this and he worried his heart was going to explode as panic seized him and confusion clouded his mind. Grabbing Lori by the shoulders, he tried to get her to see that she was safe, here in bed at home, but the second he touched her she began trying to escape him.

Remembering that something was also going on next door, Calvin blocked Lori from getting out of the bedroom, accepting the host of slaps and kicks that came his way as he did so. Only after five minutes of struggling did Lori finally calm down. Even once the assault had stopped though, she seemed completely out of it. By the time Calvin heard knocking at the side door downstairs, Lori only barely seemed to have acknowledged that she was at home and that he was not a threat. 

Leaving her in the bedroom, he walked downstairs wearing nothing but his boxers and flung the door wide to find Edgar, striped bathrobe cinched around his bulging waist. Calvin was slightly alarmed to see the pistol sticking out of one of the robe’s side pockets, but given what he’d heard next door, he should have expected it. 

“Everything alright over here?” Edgar asked. 

“Lori woke up screaming like a mad woman,” Calvin said, grabbing a coat from the hook near the door and pulling it on as he stepped outside.

“Denise too,” Edgar grimaced. “So you, me and Steph get something last night and the wives get this tonight. Starting to seem like something worse than you and I were thinking.”

“I don’t follow you,” Calvin said.

“I mean some racist shitbird creeping around isn’t going to have that kind of effect on two separate families, are they? No, something’s wrong with this place,” Edgar grimaced.

“I’m not willing to go quite that far yet,” Calvin said diplomatically, “but this is strange. Did Denise just shoot up out of bed or was she having a fitful sleep before hand?”

“Quiet as lamb and then shrieking like a banshee out of nowhere. If Steph hadn’t run in to help me I might look more like you do now. Lori packs a punch for such a tiny lady.”

“That bad, huh?” Calvin asked, touching his face and finding wet blood there, though not much. 

“Nothing that’ll linger,” Edgar said, “but I wouldn’t roll into town anytime soon. Might send the wrong message.”

“I know you have Steph with Denise, but I left Lori upstairs to come to the door…” Calvin said.

“Go, go,” Edgar said, waving him off. “Just wanted to check on you after we heard yelling. We’ll talk in the morning.”

Calvin didn’t see Edgar until the next night. It seemed that both families had found the night before’s events to be harrowing enough to warrant sleeping in and hunkering down. When Calvin had finally emerged from his house around noon, he’d found Steph sitting alone out back. Apparently Denise and Edgar had driven off to have a talk about the situation. Calvin had considered grilling Steph about what had happened at their house, Edgar hadn’t given him too many details, but he’d decided not to in the end. She clearly didn’t say more than she wanted to and he didn’t want to come across as trying to pry. 

Lori spent the day dozing on the couch and talking with her mother on the phone while Calvin tried to wrap his mind around what was going on. Their seemingly perfect new start was now beginning to feel hostile and unwelcoming. The sea of construction behind them no longer seemed to promise a bright future, but was instead ominous, a perfect place for someone or something to lie in wait. He couldn’t be sure, but he had to guess Denise and Edgar were discussing whether or not they wanted to stay here. These houses had been in high demand and that demand would only continue to rise in the coming months. Maybe they would leave. Maybe Calvin and Lori wouldn’t be far behind. 

When Edgar finally got back, he and Denise seemed to be in high spirits, which Calvin took as a good sign. Whatever energy these two carried over the next few days would go a long way towards influencing Lori’s opinions on the matter and as concerned as Calvin was, he had no interest in packing up and moving again mere weeks after they’d just gone through the same ordeal.

He’d waited outside for Edgar to reemerge.When he finally did it was just starting to get dark, but, despite this, he suggested that the two of them take a walk around the neighborhood. Calvin was a bit uneasy about this proposal, but he figured if the two of them were together, they didn’t have much to worry about. Once they’d gotten out of view of the houses, Edgar said, “Denise was damn close to suggesting we move out after last night.”

“I’m not sure Lori’s far off,” Calvin admitted. “To say she’s shaken would be an understatement. Spent most of today in bed.”

“I think Denise would have done the same if I hadn’t dragged her to town,” Edgar said. 

“So you change her mind?” Calvin asked.

“Think so. Started to anyway,” Edgar sighed. “Thing is, I’m not sure she’s wrong. If I’m being honest, I was happier when I thought it might just be some prick with a grudge against anyone who doesn’t look like him and his. That I can handle. This is different though. That first night I really did feel something. I might be able to write it off if you and Steph hadn’t felt something similar, but-”

Edgar stopped talking at the same time Calvin stopped walking. He could have sworn he had just heard a woman’s scream from somewhere deeper in the complex. “You heard that?” Calvin asked. 

“If you meant that scream, then yeah,” Edgar said and suddenly the pistol was in his hand.

“Put that away if you aren’t ready to use it,” Calvin snapped. Half of it was the edginess of being exposed out here in the street, but the the rest was being around the gun. Edgar was a nice guy, but Calvin didn’t know him near well enough to want him wielding a firearm in his vicinity. 

“Oh I’m ready to use it,” Edgar said. “That couldn’t have been any of ours could it?”

“No,” Calvin said though he still wanted to rush home to check. “No way they could have gotten over there before us. Voice was too deep anyway.”

“I thought the same,” Edgar said, sounding half-relieved.

“You think they heard it back at the house?” Calvin asked.

“Shit, we barely heard it, so I doubt it,” Edgar said. “What should we do?”

“I figure we need to at least check it out,” Calvin sighed, “but we don’t say a word to Denise or Lori until we need to. People scream for all sorts of reasons. Could just be some kids fucking around.”

“Didn’t sound like a kid to me,” Edgar said as he led the way, pistol out in front of him in a way that said he had very little familiarity with it.  

Calvin said nothing back, but followed the other man down the dark streets and past the rows of future homes. As they reached the back of the development they found most of the houses covered in blue tarps with thick sheets of plastic demarcating rooms that had yet to be built out. It gave the houses an eerie look in the half-light and Calvin was suddenly aware of just how easily it would be to see without being seen here. When they made it to the far end of the development all they found were two houses that had just had their frames erected, nothing more, and a muddy field that extended for many fifty feet before turning into high grass and marsh beyond. 

“Don’t know if it’s a good thing we haven’t heard anything else,” Edgar muttered as he looked out at the field and back at the development in turn, as if unsure which was safer to turn his back to. 

“Hard to say,” Calvin said. Either they hadn’t heard anything because the person had left or they hadn’t heard anything because there was nothing left to hear.

Without warning a loud crack issued from one of the nearby houses and both men jumped. Edgar dropped his pistol and it was through sheer luck or ingenious safety features that the gun did not go off when it hit the ground. Calvin shot the man an annoyed look as he tried to identify which of the houses the sound had come from. His money was on a building three down from the one they stood closest to. It had some of its walls up and was the only one they couldn’t see inside from here. 

“Follow me,” Calvin said as Edgar fell in behind him, gun back in his hand now but pointed at the ground. As they crept towards the house in question, Calvin ducked into one of the more exposed buildings. Being inside the maze of thick plastic and opaque tarps was twice as disconcerting as looking in from the outside, but he found what he was looking for quickly enough. Grabbing a heavy wrench from one of the workman’s toolboxes, he pressed on towards the house he had identified as the source of the loud clatter. When they reached it, Calvin could almost feel that they had come to the right place. “Stay behind me,” Calvin whispered, “and do not fire that fucking gun.”

The two men pressed silently into the house. Just inside the door frame, Edgar put his pistol away and instead opted for a heavy piece of piping he’d found in a neat pile. As the two of them began searching the house, Calvin looked for signs of foul play. If something in here got knocked over by the wind, that would be evident soon enough, but he hadn’t felt much wind tonight and he thought the odds of the scream and the other noise coming from different sources was slim.

The first floor of the house showed no signs of habitation or occupation, but when they came to the rough cut stairway, they both had to pause. Something thick and wet had been dripped up the stairs, but Calvin could tell it wasn’t blood. It was too perfectly red and much too thick. It was fresh though and that was enough to make Calvin second guess pressing on to the second level.

“Is that-?” Edgar whispered. 

“Paint I think,” Calvin whispered back. “Someone might be upstairs.”

“You want me to go up first?” Edgar asked. “Might be time for the gun.”

“Might be,” Calvin said and he reluctantly let the other man take the lead. Calvin wasn’t a small guy, but he had no illusion that his size would translate to martial skill. He was a pacifist at heart and had never thrown a punch at anyone but his brothers and even then never with intent to injure or incapacitate.

There weren’t many stairs to ascend but the going was torturous nonetheless. As Edgar reached the second floor, he let out a hiss of shock, but Calvin noticed the gun didn’t move. “Fucking kids,” he said as he stepped towards whatever it was he’d found. Not wanting to be left in the dark any longer than he needed to be, Calvin came up the last few steps quickly and found something that made his hair stand on end. Why Edgar was being so nonchalant was a mystery. 

Painted on one of the brand new walls was a sort of star and within each of the stars' open spaces was some sort of odd symbol. Calvin’s mind immediately went to reports of satanic cults, something the news had covered extensively a few years back. At the time Calvin had chalked it up to the never ending quest for ratings, but now he was wondering if maybe they’d been on to something. “Tell me what I’m looking at here?”

“Pentagram,” Edgar said, walking up to the morbid wall art as if he found it interesting. “Not sure what all this is,” he said, pointing out the host of symbols, “but the pentagram I know. Sign of the devil and all that. Little shits used to paint it on churches when I was a kid to cause a stir. Probably booked it when they knocked that over,” he added, pointing to a heavy sheet of wood that had clearly been propped up against one of the timber frames moments before. 

“What about that scream?” Calvin asked. He did not share Edgar’s opinion that this creepy paint-job was reason to relax.

“They had some girl with them,” Edgar shrugged, completely at ease now. 

“Where did they go?” Calvin asked.

“Pick a direction,” Edgar laughed. “Not many impediments without doors and windows.”

“How did they get here?” Calvin wasn’t trying to be difficult, just speaking aloud and letting the other man try to calm his fears.

“Probably drove,” Edgar said, putting away his gun and checking out the rest of the small upstairs area.

“We would’ve seen a car,” Calvin said.

“Maybe they’re smart enough to park on one of the backroads and come in through the woods or the marsh,” Edgar said. “What do you say you and I spray this off and head back?”

“Better than letting the construction guys find it I guess” Calvin conceded. “We telling the women when we get back?”

“We can wait until the wives head in for the night and then I’ll clue Steph in, see what she thinks. We’ll touch base again in the morning,” Edgar said as he led the way back downstairs.

“Sounds good,” Calvin said, though he wasn’t sure he meant it.

(Part V)