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surveys-at-your-service · 4 years ago

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Survey #352

my head’s a mess and a half, i can’t think of lyrics to put here so yeah here’s the survey

What’s the last vegetable you ate, and when did you eat it? Uh I think it was a pepper in this Healthy Choice dinner bowl I had yesterday. What was your last Facebook notification for? A friend liking this photo I shared of some beautiful, small rock and pebble sculptures of people. What bands have you seen live? Just Alice Cooper. Tell me an interesting fact about your mother: She only has one kidney due to the other being taken out because of kidney cancer when I was a kid. Coincidentally, her father was actually born with only one as well. What do you think is the most important thing to happen to you before the age of 13? Nothing really comes to mind. What were you super against as a young child but aren’t anymore? SUPER against? I dunno, man. What are your plans later today? I don't know. Yesterday my mother informed me that Jason's mother died, and since then I've been in shock. I was in awful condition yesterday because I absolutely adore(d) her like she was MY family, and once upon a time I thought she would be officially, and I still feel very, very dead. I doubt I'll get anything done today. Are you doing anything exciting this weekend? Definitely not exciting... Mom and possibly I are probably bringing Jason's family food for the family get-together they're having (we're not staying for... obvious reasons), but she's unsure because it might be a bit too awkward. I'll stay in the car because I don't want to disrespect Jason's space, but I REALLY want to go through with this. His mom was so important to me, and I don't want to just... do nothing as if she meant just that. I want the family to know I never stopped caring just because there was a breakup. Plus I wanna give Jason his favorite chocolate bar to try to bring him a bit of happiness. I can't imagine what he's feeling, and my instinct of "I need to protect him" absolutely never went away. Who do you talk to the most? My mom. What are some things you do regularly that make you feel old? Go to bed before 9PM, sometimes even before 8. And my knees pop like a motherfucker. Who is your best guy friend(s)? Girt and Sam. Do you wish your skin was lighter or darker? Neither; instead, I just wish it was clearer. I have extremely dry skin, especially on my arms, so I have little bumps and marks there, as well as little freckles over my body. Having like, porcelain skin would be amaaaazing. If you had a tiny scar on your face, would you get it removed or just keep it? Keep it. Look more badass, haha. Have you had an x-ray in the past year? I think so, on my legs. It may have been over a year ago, idr. Do you think your first love still loves you? I don't want to know. I really don't. What is something that is “going right” in your life? *blinks* When did you feel ready to start dating? Seriously, probably late middle school. When was the last time your pet bit you? If you don’t have a pet, have you ever been bitten by someone else’s? My snake Venus has never bitten me. Meanwhile, my cat Roman lightly (and sometimes not so lightly...) bites me pretty much every day when I play with him, lol. Where were you the last time you made out? My bed. When was the last time you cried tears of joy? I probably haven't done that since I met Sara irl. How do you type your sad smileys? One of these three: :( or :c or :< Do you have “decorative hand-towels” that cannot be used in your house? No. What was the last soda you drank? Mountain Lightning, a Mtn. Dew ripoff bc we're cheap, lol. What was the last thing someone made fun of you for? I don't know. Have you ever had any type of surgery? Yeah, a cyst removal as well as tubes in my ears. Should kids be allowed to get tattoos/piercings without parental consent? Uh no????? Who was the last person to hit on you? That I'm actually aware of, Sara. I'm quite sure nobody has since. What was the last thing you decided not to do, that you were supposed to? I was too weak to even clean the litterbox last night. I just wanted to go to bed. I need to do it today. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to tell someone? Hm. Maybe that I didn't love Joel? It was just really awkward and I felt awful about the whole situation. What do you put on hot dogs? Ketchup and mustard. Ever fallen in the shower? I've fallen OUT of the shower. I was extremely dizzy and was trying to get out, and I just passed out onto my chin. Broke some molars and got a concussion. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever called someone you care about? Probably a bitch or something. Do you think that things will get better? I sure hope so. Have you ever legitimately saved a person’s life? I guess I kinda have. My WoW friend Lisa and I were talking, and she wasn't feeling well at all when she suddenly disappeared. Coincidentally, her husband got home RIGHT when I messaged her again, wanting to check up on her, and he heard the alert so checked it out. Lisa was knocked out on the couch having some medical emergency with a name I can't remember, and he just thought she was sleeping. Because of seeing the chat, he took her to the hospital when she probably would've died otherwise. She insists I saved her. What’s your favourite book genre? Fantasy. Have you ever walked out of a movie at the theatre? No. Do dogs like you? They definitely seem to. Animals in general honestly do. Would you say that you project an air of authority? Definitely not. Have you ever jumped off a high dive into a pool? No. I've always wanted to, but I was too scared at any opportunity. Do you use one towel when you shower or two? (one for hair, one for body) I just use one. I dry my hair first, then my body. Have you ever been to one of the great lakes? No, but I did see one of them from a plane when I was flying to Sara's. Who do you know that had a baby recently? My high school friend had her daughter Persephone literally a couple days ago. Cute little thing. Do you like Usher’s songs? Oh wow, what a blast from the past. I don't even recall the names of any, but I remember I enjoyed some as a kid. When was the last time you went to a waterpark? Wow, it has been YEARS. Like, not since I was a teen. Have you ever ridden a train? No. What do you eat your French fries with? Ketchup, sometimes. Do you have family problems? Not really. What’s the last food you ate that was stale? Bread, I think. How do you like your grilled cheese? Just a normal 'ole grilled cheese. What is the most challenging meal you have ever cooked? I don’t cook. What was your favorite thing to do as a little kid? Play video games. Have you ever been close to drowning? Yikes, no. Have you ever had a panic attack? Countless. Do you like doing housework? No, who does? Would you ever get implants? Nah. Do you own a robe? No. Do you have a little sister? What’s her name? Yeah, Nicole. Do you like crust on pizza or do you cut it off? I don't trust people who don't eat pizza crust. What was the last song you listened to? "The Ghost of You" by My Chemical Romance. It's making me cry, but I really need to. Have any of your family members been to jail? No. None that I know of, anyway. Is there anyone that you feel you still need some closure with? An old friend, yes. Can you remember when you first learned how to read? No. What event in your life has transformed your personality the most? My mental illnesses as a whole. Have you ever had any teeth pulled? No. Do you still want to be what you wanted to be in elementary school? No, but only because it's not realistic. I don't want to travel. What’re some TV shows that you would like to get into? I don't care about TV 'til MM resumes, and then absolutely whenever The Edge of Sleep is released. Mark is a key actor in it. How would you feel if you were drafted for the military? I couldn’t be. What is your favorite Queen song? Ha, I'm aware this is probably everyone's answer, but "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the bop of all bops. Do you know how to use any foreign currency? No. Been kissed by someone who you knew was “bad” for you? BEEN kissed, yeah. By Juan. Ever taken an at-home pregnancy test? No. When was the last time you were at a loss of what to do? Now. What did you do on your favorite date with a guy/girl? It was a group date where we went to this big arcade one night. What’s a movie you have seen in the theater more than once? None. What is the reason you’re still alive? That's a big answer that I'm not in the mood to ramble about. Have you ever had sex in someone else’s bed/bedroom? Yeah, oops. Do you ever brush your hair before you go to bed? No. Have you ever had a dream about sleeping with a celebrity? (You don’t have to give details.) HAHA this was the only lucid dream I've ever had lmfao. Has anyone ever told you that they needed you? Do you think they meant it? I don't remember. How did you feel when you woke up today? What was the first thing you thought about? Like shit. "Virginia's still dead" just bitchslapped me. Do you still tell your parents that you love them? Well yeah. Have you ever said “I love you” to someone you weren’t going out with? Yes, because I really did. Have you ever been threatened before? Yes. Would you date someone with a physical disability? Yeah. Think of the last person you had sex with. Do you think they’ve slept with anyone else since they last slept with you? Probably. The last time you dyed your hair, what color did you dye it? Red. Think of the last time you went out to eat. Who paid? My mom. Do you save at least 15 percent of your income? What income? Do you ever go on Reddit? If so, what are some of your favorite subreddits? No. Were you ever a flower girl or ring bearer in anyone’s wedding when you were little? No. Are your parents in good health? Not especially. They're both probably unhealthier than the average person. Dad smokes way too much to be healthy, and Mom has a plethora of issues. Have you ever been a caregiver to a sick/disabled relative? No; it sounds awful, but I'm very doubtful I could be because I canNOT clean another human being. Is there any type of medicine you can’t take? For what reason? No. Do you have a favorite pair of pajamas? What do they look like? They're black Pokemon pants with Pikachu jumping by the logo. Do you have any interesting pillow cases? No. If something on your body hurts, which part is it most likely to be? My knees. Are you more afraid of spiders or bees? Both, but situationally. Have you ever worn fake nails? If so, what did the last pair you wore look like? Only once for prom. They were maroon, like my dress. Wait... or maybe I didn't wear them? Fuck, idr. Is Russian or Native American history more interesting to you? Native American history is way more fascinating to me.

#survey #surveys #questions

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doglover502 · 7 years ago

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Reputation

WARNING: The following post is super lengthy. Probably the most lengthy post I’ll ever make.

Decided to release what Reputation would look like if it was a fanfic.

Will contain many unfinished dialogues, finished chapters, and links to pictures. Figured I’d give you all as much of the scope as possible to see how with this whole idea I’ve been thinking.

Enjoy this fragmented half outline/half fanfic piece of work I’ve got!

Intro: For the most part, the same as the original, even if it is now strangely somber toned than the rest of the fic.

Chapter 2: Also stays the same, except the ending is with Fanny being called away on Teen Leader business instead of prepping for a pep rally.

Chapter 3: Fanny and Paddy getting into a fight, over an escaping operative. Most of it would take place in the sky with them spouting insults at each other. This would also reveal that Paddy is Head of the Decommissioning Squad, following in Fanny’s footsteps. The operative escapes from both of them, but Fanny does capture Sonya and Lee from Sector W who were in the area. They would continue their fight at dinner, introducing the rest of their family, with the dysfunctional dynamics between them (mainly Mr Boss not helping at all with their fighting and their mom being more or less oblivious to the fact that they’re fighting at all).

Mom: “Isn’t it lovely to see the 2 of them playing together?”

Maybe, maybe not a sweet moment between Fanny and Shaunie, whom she clearly favors over Paddy for him not being an operative, showing despite Fanny’ abrasive, demanding egotistical attitude, she does still have a heart down there… somewhere.

Chapter 4: Next day. Talk between Fanny and Rachel, maybe pep rally thing still happens. Instead of operatives disappearing though, now a giant KND fight, then teens disappeared. Revealed from the same kids Fanny captured in the previous chapter. Traced back to Patton who had a hand in their escape, gets beat pretty dang hard by a group of bullies that were tipped off by a blonde girl (under the passive-aggressive claim of it being her job) and as a final touch given a swirly. Fanny tries to leave, since she knows he deserved it, at least in the Teen Ninja’s view, but hearing him hurt makes her get pretty uncomfortable, until she decides to help him (The Teen Leader’s job is to look after every teen, even the friendly-to-kid ones), before leaving soaked in toilet water.

Chapter 5: Investigation, starting with immediate Paddy interrogation. He says nothing, even though she is not convinced. She then started to formulate a plan, or a blueprint, thought the plan isn’t outright stated yet (honestly it’s something big that’s really only done for petty revenge, because that’s how The Fan rolls with things like that). Paddy then says over one of those fork walkie-talkies (they’re in the show, I just don’t know what they’re called) to bring the teenagers back in the morning before anyone gets too suspicious.

Chapter 6: The next day, the missing Ninjas return, but act very different. They keep cancelling their missions, and don’t attack kids. Fanny gets very concerned, but still can’t get any info out of any operative. This is the turning point where she turns to Patton, remembering how he’s friends with operatives. She brings up how she saved him from that swirly (though he would have survived anyway), and states how this means that he owes her something. She more or less tricks him into working for her.

Chapter 7: Next day, it’s revealed that Patton took their conversation in the last chapter as them becoming friends, and kind of sort of told everyone in the school. Him, still being considered a dork, means that Fanny’s been getting a lot of crud for it by everyone in the school. She immediately goes over to him to set it straight that any relationship they have is strictly business (read: he does stuff for her). Then she more or less starts Patton off with a series of tests throughout a week, with the first task for him to get rid of his old smell, which he does (later it’ll play a part).

Fanny: “This is just to see how much you’re willing to do for me.”

Most of them are humiliating; making him wear ridiculous suits, purposefully provoking a bunch of people, Wally included, and being forced to admit some of his most shameful secrets (the bedwetting included, which comes back later). Overall, stuff that Fanny finds funny, but also paints her as a bit of a jerk (which she is. She gets better later).

Throughout the week and these tests, Fanny talks with Wally of a possible plan to find out what’s going on with their Ninjas. Fanny comes up with a plan to try and kill 2 birds with one stone; ask a favor from her father to attack near an important treehouse sector while she goes out and invites Patton to spend a day with Ninjas, try and get him to act more like a teenager, and prompts him to show up in the morning so they can prepare some things so he doesn’t make a complete fool of himself.

“I thought you said our relationship is strictly business.”

“This is for business. I’m a busy girl, maybe sometime I need you to talk to someone I can’t be bothered with. Do you really think someone’s gonna talk to someone who has unicorn vomit in their hair”, she asked pointing to his rainbow dyed hair. Before continuing, she stopped before asking, “Wait a minute, I don’t remember telling you to get a rainbow hair dye.”

“You didn’t”, Patton explained. “I got it myself when you asked me to get all that hair detangler.”

Fanny stared at him as she thought, That hair was a conscious decision. Oh my god this is gonna be hard.

Chapter 8: (This chapter will be broken up in paragraphs because it’s the longest chapter I have written)

Meetup the next Saturday morning…at 6 in the morning when Patton shows up at her house.

Fanny rubbed her eyes and she grumbled to herself.

‘Who the crud is deciding to bother me at this godforsaken hour’, she thought. ‘I swear if it's Paddy, I'm going to throw him so far-’

Her thoughts were interrupted when she opened the door and finally heard a familiar voice.

"Morning Fan"

Fanny looked up wide-eyed (or as wide as her still half-asleep eyes could open) to see Patton on her door. However, instead of his usual outfit, he now sported a white one-piece footie pajamas, a hood over his head resembling a polar bear. The only familiar clothing he had was his signature pink scarf.

Fanny looked at him, staring at his still rainbow-dyed hair, in a slowly forming face of annoyance.

"What the crud are you doing?!"

"Well, you said you wanted us to go out for something yesterday, so-"

I DIDN'T MEAN AT 6 IN THE MORNING", Fanny shouted at him. "Do ye have ANY idea what it'is t'have a Saturday sleep?"

Patton blinked at her in curiosity. "You have an accent?”

Fanny was slightly taken aback. "No ah-", she then coughed to clear her throat. "No I don't. Anyways, don't you know you're supposed to sleep in on a Saturday?"

Patton nodded his head, smiling. "I did sleep in. Usually I wake up at 5."

‘Of course he does.’ Fanny rolled her eyes.

"Well, now you know", she said less annoyed. She started to turn around back towards her room. "So, you can go home and just come back lat-"

Before she could finish, Patton took her arm back towards his direction.

"Negatory, Fan! You said you wanted us to go out today the second I woke up, so, here I am."

"And you didn't bother to change out of your pajamas before coming over?"

"Oh don't worry Fan. I remembered my scarf", Patton said holding up an end to his pink scarf for emphasis.

Fanny rolled her eyes again, before she yawned. "Well, I'm going to change out of my pajamas because I am not about to go outside-"

"The SECOND we got up Fan", Patton interrupted a second time. "Just like you asked."

Fanny looked at him in shock. "Well can I at least get some breakfast first?"

"Way ahead of you on that." With that, Patton pulled pulled out of his pocket a wrapped up rectangular object and handed it to Fanny.

Fanny took it into her hand, still in shock. She looked up to him for a long minute with a look of incredulous.

"You're going to drag me out there right now no matter how much I protest, aren't you?"

Patton nodded. "That sounds pretty affirmative."

Fanny sighed heavily before walking outside. "Well, let's just get this over with."

‘Geez, this guy is stubborn.’

Around this time, I thought of the idea that even after decomissioning, Patton would still use the words”affirmative” and “negatory” instead of ever saying just “yes” or “no”. More things change, more they stay the same.

The accent part of the dialogue gets explained later in the fic

She then promptly (after a bunch of morning grumbles), gives him a makeover to make him look more “cool”, just in time when her group (Wally, Bartie, and Virginia), show up only to come with another problem; that Patton’s talking attempt at being cool basically devolves into a bunch of mismatched slang gibberish.

They’ll be given a signal from Mr Boss to attack that hasn’t come yet. They still have a few hours because it’s still early morning. Until then, they pass the time skateboarding (maybe), phone prank calls,and harassing kids to get out video arcades and give them their quarters, all of which Patton fails at. Eventually, they start daring each other to do stuff during which, Fanny ultimately (and gracefully) dares Patton not to talk anymore. A series of more humorous dares happen (including one for Patton to chug down a 128-ounce soda, this comes back later) which manages to impress everyone, right before Mr Boss gives a signal that the treehouse is now free of operatives.

They drive off to the treehouse, joking and planning a sneak in while the sector’s distracted. Fanny notices Patton squirming in his seat, but makes nothing of it nor asks (for fear of he’ll start speaking slang again). They go inside the treehouse, which is one that is very electronic based to the point of even having wires on the ground (probably a big tech treehouse reponsible for a lot of the newest 2x4 technology).

They sneak around, with Patton following visibly fidgeting and uncomfortable, but when trying to speak up is immediately shut down. Fanny hacks into a computer, to try and hack into the Moonbase mainframe to see what they’re up to. She finds out that her Ninja’s are slowly starting to be recommissioned and therefore, no longer wanted to fight the KND anymore. She tries to hack in further to find the weakness or reversal, but just as she’s on the cusp of it, the computer starts to short out. Actually, the whole treehouse and the electric things go out and all haywire. And the source of that can be quickly traced back to Patton for that (this would be in lieu of replacing that algebra incident).

Huge cool escape from wires and sparks and potential fire hazards with them running and maneuvering very fast. Here, Patton ends up being the fastest to the point of even Fanny trying to catch up to him, only doing so by catching onto his scarf. Leave off just in time before getting injured, if leaving treehouse in a gigantic mess.

After, the start to head off for lunch, where Patton immediately becomes the butt of every single pee joke you could possibly imagine. At first, Fanny takes Patton off somewhere and immediately begins to berate him and how she felt like a giant idiot even thinking to bring him along, to which Patton sadly takes (tears may or may not have started to fall). In another rare moment of sympathy, or empathy, or whatever -pathy it is, (which are apparently becoming increasingly unrare), as Fanny sees him taking all of what just happened and also is happening completely silent and visibly hurt, she immediately pays Wally, Bartie, and Virginia $20 to keep that part of the mission completely mum.

This is also the turning point in the fic where Fanny gives Patton his nickname Whizzer (though she claims it’s because he ran super fast, though really it’s for both things that happened).

This is the point where the chapters stop being numbered

Probably a few chapters with them bonding even more as well as setting Fanny’s plans into motion. Couple of reveals in each chapter. More for more character traits as the plot moves along.

A reveal that Patton actually does have one teen interest; a love of rock music, albeit slightly older rock music. Turning point when Fanny starts to give him a chance, feeling he isn’t completely hopeless.

Reveal of Fanny’s plan, to more of less stupify all kids up until they turn 13, so they can then train to be Teen Ninjas without any decommissioning or interference. Plans kept in a vault kept inside her Ninja Leader headquarters

Reveal of The Steve, now in college, whom Fanny sees to approve of plan (really just to brag at how great of a successor she is), and how he is Patton’s step-brother (to both of their humiliations).

Show some of Patton’s other abilities aside from running fast. He’s rather strong (this would be something shown early on as some jokes in that he doesn’t know how to control his strength), fit into very small spaces, and hold his breath underwater for a long time. Fanny would probably ask him to be a Ninja, but he’d refuse.

Over the course of this, more Teen Ninja get recomm’d and Fanny starts to lose more control.

Also a reveal of a Teen version of a Code Module hidden in a vault Fanny has with a special key.

Even more snooping by the blonde girl in chapter 4, who knows Fanny is hiding something but just not sure of what.

Chapter ?: One with Sonya with Patton inviting Fanny to one of their tea parties. Nothing too big, more of a funny chapter that almost gives away Fanny’s plan to Sonya. Basically them fighting literally under Patton’s nose without him noticing a thing. Would also reveal they’ve been close since Patton was a teen and that Sonya was the one who made him his pink scarf. Also some implication on a friendship with The Tommy being responsible for how he is. The end of the chapter would imply that Sonya does feel upset that this is how Patton has become after decommissioning from respected to almost resented. But it does. A lot.

Chapter ?: The chapter was based off an idea from my friend UniversesCollideInc.

Patton inviting Fanny to a friend of his’s party as a “plus one; which takes place at a Chuck E Cheese like kiddy restaurant and she’s the only teenager who got invited. Of course, there’s friction and a fight in maybe the ball pit or arcade between all of the kids and Fan. Or laser tag, with real lasers. Patton, of course, still doesn’t notice, r just thinks it’s all in good fun. Eventually, a game of truth or dare strikes up and one of the kids asks Fanny a truth question on what was her early teen years like or something to which she lies (Paddy, being invited, knowing her well enough to know she’s lying) about how they were amazing. However later she’d go off somewhere secluded (I had this idea that near Patton’s house there’s like this place like this old abandoned playground with a bunch of trees that he would just go to sometime. It was a place no one else really seemed to know about, no kid or teenager. He mainly brings Fanny there just so there could be somewhere she wouldn’t have to worry about anyone seeing her with him) and cried about it. Patton found her, after noticing her van, and that’s when he learns her middle school teen years were just as lonely and miserable as his.

Fanny: How did you find me?

(Patton opens his mouth to answer but then looks confused.)

Patton: Actually I have no idea.

Fanny: I’d laugh if I weren’t so miserable.

Then cue some bonding over how much middle school sucks when you’re not just like everyone else.

Would reveal some behind Fanny such as her hiding her accent. After this, she starts talking more like herself, at least around Patton.

Also reveal that the blonde girl is actually an older Numbuh 12, as Fanny still remembers parts of the SLUMBER incident, just the non-KND parts. She still remembers the betrayal, but not without any context.

Then Fanny (while thinking ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this.’) says “You know; I think you’re a pretty brave guy, Whizzer.” And when he’s (naturally) confused, continues “You do what you like no matter other people say. I wish I could do that.”

This would probably be around the point where Patton invites Fanny to a sleepover, which she accepts.

Chapter ?: The next night, the sleepover. Probably when Fanny also meets Patton’s mother, and realizes she’s also a big part of his childish behavior. Then followed by this picture and dialogue (tying in part of the tests thing in chapter 7 and Fanny feeling like a giant jerk over it, as she should), which would also be the start of Fanny admitting (at least to between them) that her and Patton are friends.

Idea that except instead of Fanny finding out about his partial memories from Patton’s sleep talking, she finds out them from a dream journal he’s got that’s mentioned earlier (because that sounds like something he would definitely have).

(Idea that requested from @minderrific)

At first she just didn’t care, and shrugged it off. She herself doesn’t have a diary of anything like that “(With my nosy brother? Too risky!”). Later on, when she sees him distraught after waking up to get new sheets, she does find it and starts reading some passages. She doesn’t fully understand it, but she knows something is up.

The rest is still the same after with her comforting him, and asking to continue the nickname, and admitting they’re friends.

Chapter ?: The 2 breakfast pics. Older Numbuh 12 threatens to expose Fanny with a lie that she’s working with him to be on the KND side and betray the Ninjas. Fanny tries to break things off with Patton, but finds herself unable too, and is left with a decision, although she is able to at least stall it for a while. She does meet up with Patton again

Chapter ?: While Fanny is out, Paddy tries to break into that vault to get that Teen Code Module (needs a name), and tries to find the key by planting a bug on Fanny to follow her. That’s when the he learns Fanny’s been secretly hanging out with Patton, as she’s trying to teach him how to stand up for himself.

Chapter ?: That big punch where Patton knocked Wally out. Older Numbuh 12 decides to utilize it as further proof that Fanny’s getting him against teenagers even more, to the point of physically hurting them, and Fanny is forced to break it off, and makes up excuses to why she can’t talk to Patton. Sonya, with new knowledge Fanny’s behind it, decides to talk to her.

Chapter ?: Fanny still ignoring Patton before ambushed by Paddy, Sonya, and Lee. Giant talk, leading Fanny to ultimately say they aren’t friends, she was just using him to try and get information. Patton overhears, and immediately gets upset at her. Though not sad upset, angry upset. Typical friendship breakup scene (yeah I know, clichéd).

Chapter ?: around a week later, Fanny and Patton still aren’t talking, although she does notice since then his old smell from before he met her has come back (it still plays a part). A successful KND ambush commences as more recomm’d teens have fought off, leaving what Fanny more starts to realize are just a mere few left (she’s been very distracted lately). This is when that bet between her and 12 is finally placed to whom gets the Moon base Code Module also gets the Leader position. Also time with Wally and Patton apologizing, and gain “a weird fighty respect” (directly quoted from @socksandbuttons) and later on where Wally kind of helps him to realize (unintentionally) that Patton really can’t stay mad at her forever, and Fanny realizes she can’t either. Wally and Patton fight again, also with comments on Patton’s hands are bloodied and bruised from their fights and his mom would have a conniption (this plays into a small bit in the ending), and Patton gets word through Wally about the bet about to happen.

Chapter ?: The bet begins Fanny attacks the Moonbase, and Older Numbuh 12 soon follows behind. Giant race across operatives, traps, and doors to the Module. Sonya and Lee take Patton to the Moonbase to help her to be safe. He manages to catch up to nearly catch up before older Numbuh 12 uses him to get herself closer to the Code Module. Fanny notices he’s there from his old smell returning (told y’all it played a part), and she finds out Patton has been really hurt and Fanny having to team up with her brother, Sonya, Lee, and The Tommy to save him, even if she has to give the Teen Leader position up.

An idea I had was the Code Module being kept behind a giant PB&J sandwich wall, instead now Patton is the one allergic to peanuts instead of Fanny like in chapter 5. If that happened, that would also be something that would be mentioned earlier (probably with Fan trying to bake him something like peanut butter cookies and finding out the hard way)

They make it to her Headquarters where she keeps some medicine stuff and her and them save Patton. Though now she thinks that her popular Teen Leader days are over. Except Patton managed to snatch the Code Module away right before then, technically meaning HE’S the Teen Leader, and would get all the unconditional popularity and not worry about being picked on just for being friendly to children. And his first act…give the title back to Fanny. Therefore being his last act, and having the shortest Teen Leader term. And Fanny’s first act back in office….give the Code Module back to her brother Paddy, so HE can look like a KND hero (she gets annoyed by him a lot, but she does love him). She also gives him a small gift that she just labels as the key. Fanny regains her Leader position and ultimately discharges 12 from being a Ninja altogether. Paddy at the Moonbase is hailed as a hero, when he opens up and finds the key to the vault; the same Rainbow Monkey necklace that he gave Fanny right before her decommissioning in the now strangely weird-toned from the rest of the fic intro (she still kept it even if she pretended she didn’t). But, it’s also revealed during her bet she stole a copy of the device hat turned teens back to their side and it’ll probably turned those teens right back to “normal” (she still has Teens to watch, and she can’t go completely soft).

Epilogue: Ends in winter, a day or 2 before winter break. Cuts to Fanny’s bragging about that story to everybody like she did in Chapter 2. And it shows a much more friendly fight with her brother. Still rough, but more light-hearted and in good stride instead of downright hatred. Afterwards she walks off to school with Patton, who’s got a new scarf, a different looking one, (an orange one, in plaid) as a birthday gift, which happened a month after the Module incident. He’d be dressed in a mix of his usual clothes and the ones from the little makeover Fanny gave him (and cool sunglasses, but not as cool as Fan’s). Meanwhile, Fanny is now wearing that hoodie Patton had made her in the the sleepover chapter. It’s revealed in their passing dialogue that Patton is respected more (at the very least everyone gets his name right) and has become something of an honorary Teen Ninja; not a complete one, because he still refuses to fight his friends, but has a position like a children ambassador (more or less organizing the KND/Ninja attacks on each other to make the kid/teen feud just a little less completely hatred filled). Also talk of Numbuh 12 planning a rebellion, maybe for a sequel hook. And then Fanny gives him her gift; a pair of pink gloves for his hands. Some nice happy cozy ending and all that stuff.

And that’s Reputation! :)

It never became a real fanfic, sadly, but it definitely was a fully developed idea. Or at the very least, a developed one :)

Maybe someday I’ll write it like a real fanfic, maybe not. For now though, I think I’ll stick to making more pictures of the story line with bits of dialogue.

If someone wants to take a whack at writing this, or collabing with me to write this, go ahead, I’d love to see it. Just please credit me for the idea if you don’t collab it with me.

Special thanks for the help from @minderrific, @socksandbuttons, and UniversesCollideInc.

I know the plot’s cluttered, the characters are portrayed very differently than they’re usually written (that was intentional, I wanted to play around with just how different an operative could end up when the decommissioning’s over), and it overall needs some work, but I still like it and despite not truly writing it, this is still my baby and I’m proud of what I made it into.

#reputation #knd talk #numbuh 86 #numbuh 60

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livelikebrent · 7 years ago

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Stop 3: Charlottesville, VA

**Please Note: I was in Charlottesville the weekend before the rally**

Standing at Brent’s wake I was touched by how many friends had traveled to say goodbye to their friend and the ones that showed up to support me. As dozens of people came through the doors they slowly turned into hundreds and dare I even say thousands? Okay, it was “just” under 2,000. That evening there were times where a million thoughts were flying through my head and at other times I was caught just starring blankly at the carpet. One of the reoccurring thoughts and things I said to some of these friends, “I’m so sorry this is the reason I’m seeing you again.” But I thought about it as I was hugging, kissing, crying and shaking hands with these people that I decided this didn’t have to be the last time I saw them. Or this didn’t have to be their last memory of Brent, his family, and myself. So I came up with Tour de Brent.

It was late on a Sunday night creeping into Monday morning where I looked up the weather in Charlottesville, Virginia for the week and upcoming weekend. It was about a 4.5 hour drive from Philadelphia. One of Brent’s college buds, Broocks, grew up and lived there now with his wife and two little boys. He came up for the wake and funeral and I was able to spend a little time with him afterwards at Rodano’s. A couple of years ago, Brent and I took a road trip to Ashville, North Carolina for another West Virginia University friend’s wedding, "Iowa John’s.” Enroute, we swung through Charlottesville to meet up with Broocks and get breakfast together. So with the weather looking pretty stellar for the entire week, I ended up reaching out to Broocks asking if he by any chance had plans for the coming weekend. The only plans Broocks and his family had for the weekend was taking the boys to the county fair. They welcomed me with open arms into their home.

I was completely fine with driving myself. I had done a lot of that the last year of my life but I remembered Brendan having his summer off. Brendan is one of Brent’s friends from home. According the Brendan, they met in September of 1989 at kindergarten. He came around to Philadelphia a lot whether Brent was in the hospital or perfectly healthy. After Brent had passed, there were many people that reached out to me daily and Brendan was one of them. He’s an athletic trainer for a high school so I figured I better take advantage of him having time off during the week (must be nice) to tag along. Without hesitation he was on board for a long weekend trip to Charlottesville and a hike through the Shenandoah National Park.

Brendan picked me up Friday afternoon and we headed south. What was originally a 4.5 hour car ride quickly turned into 6 but I didn’t mind. Broocks wasn’t getting out from work until about 10pm but we still wanted to try and catch some of the band that was playing at his work in town: Three Sheets To The Wind. Their genre? “Yacht Rock”...they’re a cover band that dress in Tommy Bahama and play various crowd pleasing covers. I mean, wouldn’t you want to catch at least on song that evening? We sure did. On the ride, we talked about everything...work, family stuff, music, Brent, what had happened and how I was. I appreciated some of the questions that Brendan asked me. Some I’ve heard half a dozen times and others no one had asked me or had acknowledged. One question he did ask me during this car ride was, “Has anyone given you any piece of advice that you have found helpful or took comfort in?” It took me a moment. I have had many people reaching out to comfort me, give (warranted and unwarranted) advice and opinions. I had a family friend write me a lovely card. She had lost her son (Let’s call him Jason* for the sake of this post) to leukemia several years back. Similar to Brent, he overcame his cancer but it came back and started to cause problems. She wrote this to me...

“...You can’t go back and say “What if?” You have to be confident with the choices you made and the love you shared. I thought I would “crash and burn” when Jason* passed, but I couldn’t because he wouldn’t want me to! Jason* gifted me reasons to go on and share his love - Our “Jason*’s Hugs” blankets and Jason*’s Camp Flip Flops share his love through us. And...he is always “just beyond my reach”! It’s your path! Fill it with the love you shared! The greatest gift - love!...”

While that piece of advice may be obvious to some of you, it��s also nice to hear it. Some things also aren’t so obvious when you are so close to what has been happening. When Brent would talk about death with me I would entertain the conversation because it was important to address. We couldn’t act oblivious to the fact that death was very much a possibility for Brent. He had concerns that he would make known to me: 1. He didn’t want to die 2. What would happen to me and where would I end up? I would tell him we would cross that bridge when we got to it and we weren’t even close. Then I told him a million times over and over again that dreadful night in the hospital, that morning he passed, everyday leading up to and throughout his funeral that I will be okay, even though I wasn’t. This brings me back to why I’m traveling. I believe that Brent would be heartbroken if he saw me laying around my apartment unmotivated, mourning and not living...or as stated earlier, “crash and burn.” Brent and I missed out on a lot when he was sick and he always felt so guilty for that. He wanted me out and about and not hold me back from anything. So that’s what I’m doing. All of this traveling to see friends again and writing about memories new and old isn’t just for me. These are my reasons “to go on” and Brent is very much a reason and he is with me on every single trip.

We rolled into Charlottesville just after 8pm and caught the last few songs of the final set at the Sprint Pavilion where Broocks is the Operations Manager. The Sprint Pavilion hosts everything from town events and cover bands to Bruce Springsteen. Broocks grabbed us a couple of beers, Starr Hill was one of the main breweries, as he was wrapping up his night and we watched the band. I asked for a Starr Hill because I remembered that Broocks and Brent traded a couple beers on our road trip...and that brewery being one of them. After the band played their final song, Brendan and I walked up and down downtown Charlottesville looking for a spot to eat. What is really neat about Charlottesville is that while restaurants and shops line the brick walkway, down the center of said walkway each restaurant has a fenced in courtyard area with outdoor seating. Literally, every restaurant. So we chose Miller’s Downtown. I had remembered Broocks mentioning Dave Matthews had some sort of involvement with the establishment.

Turns out he used to bar tend there when he was first starting out. We didn’t step a foot inside and dined al fresco. I can’t comment on the ambiance of Miller’s but we people-watched, had burgers and beers which were decent then started making our way back to the warehouse of the Sprint Pavilion. Broocks was busy setting up pong and waiting with a refrigerator full of “hospitality beers.” On the end of the downtown strip before you hit the Pavilion is the Freedom of Speech Wall which I had already had plans for later during our visit. There’s chalk and people come by and write whatever they feel like on the slated structure. When Brent and I visited a couple of years back I remember him drawing the flying WVU logo as photographed below by Broocks!

We opened the doors to the warehouse and there was Broocks amidst a group of friends chatting, laughing, and playing beer pong with music playing in the background. Broocks is such a happy guy and I feel like he brings a smile to everyone’s face as soon as you see him. He welcomed us, made sure we were introduced to everyone and got us some drinks which happened to be from Starr Hill again. Broocks and Brendan chatted, they had never met one another. When I originally asked Broocks if Brendan could visit with me for the weekend he said, “Any friend of Brent’s is a friend of mine.” Brent was always about bringing people together and I plan to continue to do that for him. I had already received the grand tour of the warehouse but Broocks showed Brendan and me around. The warehouse is honestly a man cave...but you’re at work with all of your event equipment.

Brendan and I ended up chatting for a while with a kid named Jake. He was really passionate about fly fishing, used to work at the Sprint Pavilion and attended Marshall University. I believe that is literally all we talked about. He seemed to be an honest, nice and easy-going individual. He didn’t stick around all night as he had to get up early the next day for his fly fishing camp he taught. As we were standing there next to this filing cabinet filled with stickers we started looking for a spot for Brent. There was a perfect spot on the top draw right next to a Starr Hill sticker. Jake asked about the stickers and I told him about Brent, Carve 4 Cancer and why we were in town to begin with. He was blown away and said his family has a house in the Poconos not terribly far from where Carve had been held. He immediately asked if he could have a sticker so he too could “Live Like Brent.” I gave one to him without thinking twice.

We woke up the next day to Broocks introducing Bodie to Brendan and me. Bodie is a cute blonde pup that loves playing fetch. He will literally go all day long. That’s what she said. Our next introduction was to Nolan, Jen and Broock’s 3 year old son who loves everything about cars. Then last but not least we were blessed with Jen and Nash’s presence a 3 month old who had been on his best behavior all weekend. I kid you not when I say I did not hear the child cry once. We actually knew what we would be having for breakfast that morning because Broocks had been insisting and chatting about it the night before. Bodo’s Bagels offers something called a “Deli-Egg Bagel” and it’s flipping delish. Ultimately it’s meat scraps mixed into the egg on your whatever egg and cheese sandwich. Broocks picked up breakfast from Bodo’s as the rest of us had coffee on their deck. We played fetch with Bodie while Nolan sang us a couple of songs and danced around like a wild man. Side note: Brendan was the perfect guest. Nolan and Bodie both fell in love with him and immediately all became best friends. It also helped that Brendan could speak about Cars all day long...as in the movie, Cars. After breakfast the Meade Family packed up and went to the Albemarle County Fair as Brendan and I headed towards the Blue Ridge Parkway on Skyline drive to hike through the Shenandoah National Park.

This photo is of Brent and me back in 2015. We did a similar drive but a bit longer on the Parkway and ended up hiking Humpback Rock which had an elevation of 3,080 feet. It was beautiful. I decided that this time around we would do something different and saw there were a couple of falls trails. The drive through the park was a solid 20 minutes to reach the trail base. Again, I didn’t mind...the entire drive through the Shenandoah is scenic with the trees, dozens of overlooks and winding roads. Another thing I didn’t mind was that it felt like fall that morning. It may have been just about 70 degrees if that. It was gorgeous.

We ended up on an 8 mile hike starting at the Jone’s Run and connecting to the Doyle’s River Falls loop. The water wasn’t terribly high. Before we left the house Jen mentioned that they haven’t received much rain this summer. It was completely fine and still a solid hike. We saw three falls, two of which were on the Doyle’s River trail which were 63′ and 28′ followed by the Jones Falls that was 42′. It was a long downhill hike followed by a long uphill. I may have said to Brendan at one point, “I don’t understand how this is an ‘intermediate’ trail.”...We were still very much on the downhill portion. My glutes later confirmed that it was very much an intermediate hike. The trails were shady for the most part and the weather honestly couldn’t have been better for an August hike. At one point we were on part of the Appalachian Trail which was neat. Brent had talked about wanting to hike the entire trail in one shot...I couldn’t imagine doing that. But fun fact: Broocks has hiked 150 miles of the AT (not in one shot but still v. impressive)! By the time Brendan and I hit mile 7 out of 8 on the hike I was most definitely ready for food. A deli-egg can only hold you for so long. When we finally looped back to the trail base where the car was parked we stopped to take in the scene once again but with a feeling of accomplishment this time around. We took a couple of photos before getting in the car for another scenic ride to Crozet, VA for some grub.

During the car ride down in between singing Fat Joe and Usher songs, Brendan made sure I was aware how ready his stomach was for smoked meat on this trip. I took note. Broocks had told us before we left for our hike about a place that had awesome smoked barbecue called Smoked Kitchen and Tap...how fitting. I couldn’t get a photo fast enough for the before photo. But this will have to do! We ordered hickory smoked brisket, ribs, fried chicken (with a side of maple syrup), cornbread, creamed corn with jalapeno and cole slaw. My mouth is watering again. The meat literally fell off of the bone. Smoked also has it’s own line of sauces. Carolina Firewater was hands down my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of barbecue sauce...I prefer savory. This was a vinegar based hot barbecue sauce and it ruled.

After we had our “snack” we headed back to the Meade’s to clean-up and head out to dinner with the family and then go see a show downtown with Broocks. After we cleaned up we hung out on their patio, played fetch with Bodie, I told Jen what had happened with Brent in those final 12 hours of his life and drank a couple of beers...some of which were yes, Starr Hill along with beer I had brought. Brent collected growlers. Knowing Broocks was into craft beer just like Brent I took Brent’s Crime and Punishment Brewing growler and filled it up with one of Broock’s favorite types of beer, an English brown ale called Bad Haircut. I gave it as a gift and a ‘thank you’ for not only just allowing us to stay in his home but for being a part of Brent’s life.

Broocks wanted to bring us to a place called Kardinal Hall (a cardinal - I know!) which was a German style beer hall. It was great. I will say it again...the weather was perfect. We were able to snag a seat outside so Nolan could play and we could enjoy the ambiance of the evening. We chatted WVU and Broocks explained how he knew Brent. In his own words, “It’s all a bit foggy”...I find this a common theme when you ask any of the WVU boys how they’ve met. But ultimately, Broocks met Brent through our dear friend Dan who grew up with Brent and ended up attending college together. One night Broocks went over to Dan’s apartment and ended up meeting his neighbors below him and the rest is history...or just a bit “foggy.” Speaking of how people have met, I’ve mentioned Starr Hill several times in this post and in my last post I noticed that there was a Starr Hill sticker where I placed my #LiveLikeBrent sticker at Assateague Island. Well, it turns out that Starr Hill plays quite the roll in the Meade household...and I don’t mean that because that the one beer their refrigerator was stocked with either. Jen was in Charlottesville for a work conference several years ago. She fell in love with the town and during her visit she stopped at...wait for it...Star Hill Brewery. Broocks just so happened to stop at the brewery that night and took a seat next to her. Honestly...Starr Hill should put out a “meade” to honor this couple. I feel as though their life is sponsored by Starr Hill and not just by choice.We stayed for just a couple of hours and by the time 8:30pm rolled around we packed things up so Jen and Broocks could put the kids down for bed.

P.S. Let’s all acknowledge Broocks’ shirt he chose to wear. It’s a Brent Mydland shirt that Brent made back in college with some friends. Super appropriate for this weekend!

After Brendan and Nolan were done chatting Cars, Broocks took us to the downtown mall to The Jefferson Theater to see a Charlottesville all-star Grateful Dead cover band play called Alligator. The Jefferson reopened only in 2009 but was established in 1912 as a live performance theater that played silent movies, vaudeville acts and hosted a historic list of live performers, ranging from Harry Houdini to The Three  Stooges. It’s a neat venue that reminded me a bit like The Troc in Philadelphia...but a bit nicer. When we walked in, Broocks already had tickets set aside for us. While he only asked for three tickets, his friends at the venue set aside four. Even though Broocks told them twice he didn’t need the fourth ticket they just insisted that he took it. Broocks looked at us and said “Then this one is for Brent.” We got to the show in time for their second act and they played really well! One thing I did notice is that there was a woman on stage. I mentally face palmed and thought, “Donna Jean.” As soon as she started singing, Broocks leaned over to Brendan and I vocalizing my thoughts. “Donna Jean ruined so many songs!” It was true but the woman up there did a great job. We hung out on the floor for a while and then Broocks gave us a tour. He gave one to Brent and I when we swung through town briefly but the venue was empty. So it was neat to be able to watch the band from various spots throughout the theater.

We walked around the venue and got another round of drinks. Broocks knew the bartender...well, Broocks knows everyone. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had told me he was actually the mayor of Charlottesville. They were chatting about what was planned for the following weekend downtown, the Alt-Right rally. The group had done everything properly as far as organizing their event in the downtown mall, permits, paperwork etc. But The Jefferson Theater was concerned about the safety of their patrons and how packed the mall may become. It was to the point where the venue was considering cancelling their concerts that had been booked for that weekend. I honestly don’t think anyone knew what to expect and couldn’t have imagined what actually ended up happening. All I know is that if Brent were still alive and with us on the trip he would have been beside himself knowing we had just been there. I've been sick to my stomach thinking about it as well.

After the show, Broocks took us to one of his favorite spots downtown called, Jack Brown’s. He mentioned that they were having a silent disco outside for a portion of the night and we could check it out if we wanted. As soon as he said that, I looked at him and Brendan and asked, “Have you EVER participated in a silent disco?!” The answer from both of them was no and I told them we had to go to it. So we went inside, snagged a couple of seats at the bar and drank. I thoroughly enjoyed the place...it was a dive. Bras hanging from one of the “chandeliers”, vintage beer cans lining the ceiling and a fairly extensive bottle and can selection. Mind you, I asked Broocks to take us where he would’ve brought Brent had he been in town for the night. Broocks said Brent took him once to get a hubcap burger at The White Haven Family Diner back home in Pennsylvania so Broocks wanted to take him out for a burger at Jack Brown’s. Plus, there was a great spot for a sticker to be thrown up. I’m also just noticing now another Starr Hill sticker in this photo.

After we had a couple of drinks we went outside to the silent disco. For those of you unfamiliar with this rad concept I’ll explain it! Everyone had a pair of wireless headphones that are controlled by two DJs. One DJ is “blue” and the other “green.” On the side of your headphones you have two controls: 1. Volume 2. A station switch. For the station switch you can either tune into what the blue DJ is playing or switch over to what the green DJ is playing. The DJs were located on balconies outside of the bar above everyone singing and dancing. So if the green DJ sees everyone’s headphone beginning to light up blue then he will change the song he’s playing in hopes to get everyone back over to their station. Mind you, if you don’t have the headphones on...you can’t hear the music. Randomly, I would take my headphones off and hear people singing out of tune to the same song and dancing. It was like being in a completely different world when you had your headphones on jamming out.

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Broocks and Brendan couldn’t have enjoyed themselves any more than they did. We were all singing, dancing, drinking and telling one another when a noteworthy song came on the other DJ’s channel and to switch. We were only able to catch the last hour of the disco and could’ve gone on for another hour had the DJs kept it going. Final song of the night? Queen B’s “Love on Top” ... to say the very least it was a great way to wrap up the silent disco.

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The silent disco was the highlight of the night. But I will say there was a very close second. I introduce to you: Mike Jones a.k.a. the “C-Ville Clapper.” As we were walking down the mall, Broocks pointed out a gentleman in camo with a bicycle. “You guys see that guy!? That guy is SO annoying. He’s the C-Ville Clapper.” The C-Ville Clapper stands on the soap box next to the Freedom of Speech Wall and...yes, slow claps. All. Day. Long. Broocks says it gets to the point where people working inside of the offices downtown get annoyed by the constant noise of the slow clap. Broocks approached him to find out his real name, “Well, I’m Mike Jones!” he said and shook Broocks’ hand. The three of us buzzed died laughing hearing that and looking at this guy. We walked and talked with him for a bit. Then he looked at us and asked us to follow him down the alley. We all looked at one another and said in various forms, “Nah, I’m good man.” But he told us, “I’m a bad boy, I’ll take you to the moon.” Again. Dead. Laughing.

After the disco and walk with Mike Jones we ended up at The Whiskey Jar for a night cap. Another spot that Broocks would’ve brought Brent. The name of this bar certainly described the place pretty well. The place was buzzin’ with a wedding party along with other patrons. It had bottles on bottles of all sorts of whiskeys and brown liquors that I had never even heard of before sitting pretty on shelves.

There was a little jazz band playing in the back corner behind us. Brent would’ve really liked this place. I could picture him sitting at one of the tables with a whiskey neat bobbing his head and tapping his toes to the band. We shut down the bar and grabbed a ride home. The three of us spent the next hour talking about Brent. The wake. The funeral. How terrible it all really is. Then we called it a night.

Sunday was for two things: Ace Biscuit and Barbecue and taking over a portion of the Freedom of Speech Wall. When Brent and I came down to meet up with Broocks we started with breakfast. Broocks suggested Ace and I’m so glad he did. It is absolutely delish. One of my favorite things about this place is that they have an ODB sandwich on the menu - Ol’ Dirty Biscuit. Tip: You can make any menu item “dirty” by adding sausage gravy. Plus, the fact that the name of the establishment is also my nickname made me like the joint even more.

Looking back I wish I had a photo taken of the three of us. But sometimes it’s just easier to be living in the moment. We ordered our breakfast and sat back at a picnic table anxiously waiting for our meals. I LOVE biscuits and was waiting all weekend for my Ace sausage, egg and smoked pimento cheese biscuit breakfast sandwich. I couldn’t tell you what the boys ordered because I was too focused on waiting for my own. My food didn’t stand a chance and I didn’t even think about snapping a photo. So this photo of the mural outside will have to do!

We went back inside, I bought a t-shirt (bummed they are always “sold out” of their OBD shirts) and asked permission to place a sticker on the mixer sitting up at the register. As I was doing so, a couple of the employees asked what the sticker was for. We told them the story and the last time we were there was with Brent and had to come back. They immediately cleared off a spot right on the front of the mixer for Brent so everyone could see it. The employees couldn’t have been nicer and more supportive.

After Ace we made our way back to downtown to work on the Freedom of Speech wall. We bought some chalk and chalk pens, borrowed a bucket and straight edges from Broock’s warehouse and went to town on that wall. We probably could have completed the project in less time but every so often a group or individual would stand there and ask what we were doing or who Brent was. At first Brendan and I would both stop what we were doing to chat with the group or individual...but it became so frequently asked that we ended up alternating who would tell the story. Some people said, “Oh” and then there would be others that were so extremely touched by the story and what we were doing. One women embraced my sweaty body and hugged me tight and wished me the absolute best. That meant a lot to me coming from a complete utter stranger. But then alas! We completed the hashtag in 2.5 hours! Shout out to Brendan for his first and claimed this to be his last “art installation.”

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As we made our way back to the Meade household we passed a cardinal mural on the side of a building not too far from the house. As we passed, Brendan asked if I wanted him to stop to take a photo. As I was thinking about my response and if I felt like stopping he said, “Sometimes the cardinal comes to you and sometimes you have to go to the cardinal.” He whipped his car around and told me to go stand against the wall. I’m glad he did.

When we got back to the house it was mid afternoon and Brendan and I packed up and said our ‘goodbyes’ to Jen and Broocks. Jen told us that Nolan will be very upset when he wakes up from his nap to see his friends have vanished. The kid could’ve literally laid next to Brendan talking about cars and watching car videos for hours on end. If he doesn’t end up doing something with cars when he gets older I will be astounded to say the least. As we were walking out of the house Brendan asked if I’d like to swing through Washington D.C. since it was on the way home...I figured why not? We were going to be sitting in D.C. traffic anyway. Brendan also mentioned that since Brent loved history and we could visit the World War II monument for him. I liked that idea. As we were leaving Virginia, Brendan elbowed me. I looked at him and he nodded in the direction of a truck passing us on the right. He casually said, “Look at the license plate.” I chuckled but was thinking, “You have got to be kidding me.” It said, “BBRENT.” Photographed below, Brent decided to join us for a bit on the ride to D.C..

We walked around the monuments, chatted and again just enjoyed the beautiful weather we were blessed with that weekend before heading back north to Pennsylvania. I just want to say thank you once again to Jen and Broocks for your generosity and spending a weekend with me for Brent! Thank you to Brendan for being my photographer and chauffeur for the entire weekend. I couldn’t have asked for better company.

Photo Credit: Brendan Moriarty, Broocks Meade and Jen Meade

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jacklawsonsurvivor-blog · 6 years ago

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Journal Entries II

Editors note: TW for attempted sexual assault.

April 27th 2018

I still have power as of the time i am putting these thoughts down. I have spent the past day glued to CNN and other news channels (fuck Fox News) and i think shit might be fucked beyond control. According to the news most of upper Maryland and parts of West Virginia and Penn are under a “Total Quarantine” by the Federal Government spearheaded by the CDC. It means that i am stuck here in my area for the moment. I am very glad my sweet wife is far from this. I am really unsure of how i could handle all of this with her here.

I went out yesterday and talked to my neighbors. Shelia & Donna are set with food and water for a while and we can see each other without having to go outside to signal. I gave them some nails to help board up the windows out front. Jeff & Barb aren’t home and i haven’t seen them for a while. I don’t know if they tried to bolt early but they have three kids. i Really hope they were on vacation far away. Finally Marko & Josephine are screwed it seems. They spent most of their money this week trying to get supplies from the food lion and weis but it seems price gouging and mugging was going on. Marko has a really bad black eye and Jo isn’t much better. she got a knife wound up her arm. I gave her some of my wife’s thread in case her would came open and some more food.

The news is full of vids of attacks and the National guard shooting at people to get back away from the makeshift boundaries. The worst was at the Penn border. At least a dozen were shot as they tried to get out of the quarantine. The video of a little girl dead and starting to twitch as she got up will haunt me forever i think.

April 28th 2018

Things are breaking down fast. A house a block down that i can see from the deck caught fire. No one came to put it out. So far i haven’t seen any dead, zombies, biters whatever the fuck people want to call them. I still have power. So well done potomac edison. I talked to her today. My wife is holding it together but she cried on face time. i showed her all my supplies and how the house was defended. it made her feel better. she told me how much she loved me and happy birthday a day early just in case she can’t tomorrow. There have still been no reports of the pathogen showing up west of the Mississippi for a few days. CNN says they have it contained (In America) to mostly the East Coast. Lucky us.

After i got off the phone i decided to do a real audit of my supplies:

8 gallons of water, 24 canned soups, 4 pounds of white rice, 24 cans of ginger ale, 5 boxes of protein bars, three packs of fig newtons, two packages of crackers, 6 pounds of salt, 2 cases worth of random beer, 9 bottles of high proof booze, 20 cans of random veggies, 10 cans of fruits, 4 pounds of flour and random other stuff in the pantry. 3 twenty pound bags of cat food (for the cat)

As far as weapons go i have my baseball bat, 4 folding knives, a hunting knife, my compound bow with 25 good arrows and 5 not so good arrows. 1 old broad head, 5 current style broad heads, 3 stopper heads, 3 bleeder heads, 19 field points (bodkins), my .20 gauge with 10 slugs and 15 buck shot, and my .45 with 2 full boxes of ammo. Plus random lethal things in the garage.

i am well set and really hope this blows over buy i doubt it.

April 29th 2018

Happy Birthday to Me. Still have power but it has flickered a few times. I talked to Mom for the first time in days. Dale got her out of maryland and long with my step dad and youngest sister. i will owe that man forever. They couldn’t say where they are and that she can’t talk for long but she wanted to tell me she loved me and that she was safe. Mom tears are the worst. Hannah cried a lot too shes safe and really sad they couldn’t take the dog but shes safe and that is all that matters. Andy, god bless him, told me he knew i would be safe and that this is nothing for a gamer nerd like me to handle. he joked i have been training for this my whole life and should be fine. Bless that man for making me laugh.

Dad called too. He is safe so is my step mom and step sister but,...my grand parents are dead. Someone went though the entire old people complex and shot almost everyone in the night. A letter was left talking about giving mercy to the infirm before things got worse. Dad is not ok. He is trying to be but he is not. He has food and weapons plus plenty of ammo. He is far from the quarantine area but ready just in case. i told him i would be fine. i hope i wasn’t lying.

I can still smell the smoke from the house that burnt down. I had the fire place cleaned last year so at least i don’t have to worry too much if it is still like this in winter. fuck. my grandparents are gone for no fucking reason. Lord give my old man strength.

May 3rd 2018

Where to start? Power is out and i don’t think it is coming back. There was an attack of Zombies two days ago. It started at the house behind me. I woke up to screaming and the power out. My new neighbor (i never met her not really) was screaming and holding her kid and trying to run out her back door. I could see she was bleeding. Her husband was following her. Fast. His face seemed wrong and distorted. Blood was all down his front. Before i could grab a gun or anything really the kid started spasming or something. Then ...then he ripped open her throat with his teeth. i puked up everything in me.

The neighbors next to them opened their doors and came out to see what was up. The kid sprinted like a shot to Ginny. She was nice. She liked to grow potatoes on her deck. She was hoping to make vodka this year. She won’t now. The kid got her in the gut. i had never seen guts before. i wish i haven’t. i froze for just a moment longer but the gun shots got me out of it. Someone i hadn’t met started shooting at the kid. center mass doesn’t work on zombies. i thought we knew that already. The Dad started moving again to the sound of the shots. i aimed at the kid with my .45. it was a long shot but i hit him. back of his head blew off.

Doug tried to calm his wife Ginny and didn’t listen when i screamed across the back yard to back off her. She turned and took a chunk out of his face. Their son Robbie didn’t wait. He took a bat to his Mom’s head. His Dad went inside. i heard a single bang not long after. The zombie Dad i didn’t know was still running after the shots. No idea what happened after that. It seems all that commotion must have called the other Zombies that had been around but had no reason to come my way. I did a fast check of the doors and my windows. i could see Donna on her deck give me the all clear.

i went out to my deck with my shotgun and my bat across my back. I could smell something horrible. Marko was walking at our fence line just sort of shambling. When he turned i could see his stomach was open and trailing his intestines. i didn’t eat for 24 hours or so. Jo was standing on her suv and started to scream for me. That of course called over all of the Zombies that had started to gather. I don’t know what i was thinking and i don’t know if i was really. if i had been thinking i don’t know if i would have done this. i ran to Marko and stopped two feet from him and shot him in the head. I told Jo to start running to me and head up the deck stairs. I shot two more Zombies. One i didn’t know and the other was a kid i saw at his bus stop all the time. God forgive me but i didn’t hesitate.

We made it inside.

I got her calmed down and told her she needed to show me that she wasn’t bit or scratched. She did but wasn’t really happy with me right then but i think she gets it now. She wasn’t but. She took her clothes off but i told her keep her undies on. i hope she appreciated it. I got her fed too. Her arm cut held. The short version is Marko was fuming about getting his ass kicked trying to find food and took it out on Jo. Seems this was a thing he did. I never knew. i feel like shit. i shared my good booze with that man. He tried to rape her. pinned her down and was going to “do what he wanted in what holes he wanted.” she said that she felt something break in her. She grabbed a knife (this happened in their kitchen) and managed to sliced him enough to make him let go. He charged she did it again and cut him all the way open.

She had only a few moments to breath before he turned. He chased her around the house and out the door. She hid on the top of their deck roof for hours. She said by the time she came down Marko wasn’t running anymore just shambling. She got chased up on the SUV then i walked out.

I need a drink.

#zombie

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