#I wonder what haley's issues would manifest as

[handhourgalleries]

"Why is it suddenly so foggy? I can't even take a good selfie? Ew!"

-- Haley, Stardew Valley resident

Normal version of Haley can be found on my Ko-Fi!

[bayardboy]

God Told a Good Joke Today: On Being Present (tw pet death)

“We often feel helpless in the face of suffering, especially the suffering of those closet to us, and we wonder how we can help. Simple acts of kindness are so meaningful... food can be so much more than physical nourishment. Or perhaps you offer a flower from your own garden, or just listen to the fears and feelings of someone who is suffering, so they know they are not alone. Sometimes just being there with an open heart and a presence grounded in peace and serenity is enough.” - Ram Dass, Polishing the Mirror, 2013.

If you’ve read the trigger warning, you may get a sense of where this story is going... but I would encourage you to laugh with me, in good faith, at what transpired this weekend.

My house has been talking about getting a cat for sometime; Sierra wants an orange kitten named Ichigo, after the Bleach character. Gabby tells us their friend is looking to rehome his old cat, who is being bullied by the other (4!) cats in the house. So, on Saturday, I come down the attic ladder to see Woolie standing on the woodwork.

This cat is beautiful. Purebred Himalayan with sky shining from his eyes and fur like fog. A tuft of fur off the tip of his tail, dark ears that flatten when he asks for his head to be pet, a tiny pink mouth with a mrowl that echoes. 14 years old, moving so gently his footsteps don’t seem to make sounds.

This cat is stressed. We did all the wrong things bringing him home; immediately introducing him to a dog, moving his litter box four times, feeding him brand new treats, and dropping him in the house without a safe space to call his own. Half of our roommates didn’t even know he was coming, until three days before!  Having rehomed a friendly cat Leo in August (a story for another time), I had read some of the tips, so I sit with Woolie as he spun around me and became more familiar with my scent. Then, I let him call my room, his.

Over the next few days, he does not eat; just sleeps in the sunshine on my lofted bed, and asks me to pet him mid-night. He ventures around the kitchen and living rooms, occupying all chairs at one point or another, encouraged to explore. He loves music, looking especially relaxed listening to Bruno Major and Haley Heynderickx. The Book of Love by Magnetic Zeros made him set his head down in the sweetest way.

The other roommates notice his stomach contracting and pulsating in a concerning way chalked up to stress. By Tuesday, I decide to call the vet. Adam, who has had this cat its whole life, offers to pay for the vet visit.

Wednesday, we think he is doing better. He has not eaten. He is a great addition to the house, helping us avoid our existent tensions by talking about how cute he is. He is inquisitive, but never adventurous.

Thursday, we wake up early to drive him. I hope to avoid the visit when he eats some wet food for the first time, but Adam encourages us to go anyway. We put on Bruno Major in the car while driving past my old apartment. The receptionist tells us he is due for many types of tests, so we go down the street to a familiar cafe. I take one bite of my burger before getting the phone call: “Yes, the stressful breathing is compensation for not getting enough air to the lungs, so we’ve taken an x-ray. This cat has cancer.”

I call Adam, cognizant I’ve never heard his voice before. After phone tag with the clinic, he tells us he can’t be there when they put him down, because his sister is having a baby today! He asks us to have the remains sent to his house. 

So, Vic and I go back into the office, and they allow us to stand in a tiny room, double-masked, to pet him and see him off. We cry, a lot, but when they ask us if we want to be witness to his passing, we both say yes. 

I am reminded in this moment of a Ram Dass quote: “To learn how to die is to learn how to live, and the way you do that is by living each moment by being here now. The moment when the soul leaves the body is palpable and deeply profound. To share consciousness with a person who is dying is one of the most exquisite manifestations of service.” He was referring to humans when he said this, but in the moment when Woolie looks out the window at the pink spring blossoms, I am shaken by the feeling to mourn, and to celebrate. I say a silent prayer for God to bring this soul back into Adam’s life, and for his passing to be peaceful. We say goodbye to the body.

We sit by the Willamette river, Vic & I, and I have a Regina Spektor song in my head, “Laughing with God”. Throwing stones in the river, we talk about how to break the news to our roommates: in that moment our phones buzz, and Gabby has already screenshotted Adam’s mourning instagram post to the groupchat. 

Home is dark and quiet tonight, with grief lingering in empty hallways like a stench. 

So why do I think this story is funny? Come on, it’s a little funny. To meet a kitty, get him accustomed to our house, build a relationship, then see him through the end of his life in five days? To do everything wrong situationally, then for life to win out and take its natural, God-given course anyway? He was a sick cat when we got him, and there was no way to know. 

Spending the last few days of Woolie’s life with him was such a gift. I can’t help but think we were collateral damage in God acting in Adam’s life, although I can’t begin to guess at God’s plan. Bringing comfort to this animal with all the attention he asked for! Being finally attentive to his compounding health issues! Being present for his cat’s death, as Adam is called to celebrate the birth of his sister’s child! 

When I first encountered this particular Ram Dass text, I was able to sit with it; I was on a road trip, and over the course of ten days I read these many speeches. I learned to be patient with elders and my self, and that only the body dies and becomes cadaver. 

Returning today, I am reminded today that matter can neither be created, nor destroyed; but everything dies. We are witnessing the suffering of our entire world, but there is a chance for a peaceful death, and somehow I feel comforted, even consoled, by that. 

Death is treated as something morbid, something to be avoided, but we must be aware of it if we are to live. We should be grateful of the moment we go to sleep even as we are afraid of the next morning. I am smiling as I write this. I was of service to an animal that brought love and light into my life for a few meaningful days.

Of course I am smiling with tears cascading down my face. I will acknowledge here that I am not sharing my feelings I believe could bring harm to someone reading this story. My intention is to heal with words, both myself and my reader. Healing is non-linear, but in this moment of being ALIVE, we can choose to release our anger, our grief, little by little, like air from a pocket.

Be Here Now! Use the time you have to LAUGH and RELEASE! to experience the depth of emotion in the moments every human knows. 

 Being aware of our heartbeats is the greatest gift we can give to ourselves. A moment of recognition that we are on this Earth; You Are Here! Be Here Now!

And isn’t it funny, that after all this, we’re still fucking here? and if we’re lucky, we’ll be here tomorrow? And the next day? and the next day... if we’re lucky.

[gryffvndors]

in the cal-zone [draco malfoy]

request: “45, 55, 119, 179 and 318 for Draco? Of course, you don't have to use all of them, but I think it would be awesome if you did any combination of them, because I feel like they work well together. I also wanted to let you know I loved your Draco fic- you're an amazing writer and you've got yourself a new follower! <3″ - @quills-and-quaffles

word count: ~1700

a/n: guess who’s back, back again - it me back w more draco malfoy, the slytherin asshole who i love and hate at the same time! thank u requester for ur lovely compliments!!! thank u for following a lame teen like yours truly (,: also sorry i only did 2 of them yeet i just felt like they went together really well! an additional sorry for changing “i love u, u arsehole” to “i luv u, u arsehole” even tho i’m not rlly sorry. (: i hate myself for this title even tho i laughed like a hyena when i came up with it now enjoy this - i’m hungry for calzones *ben wyatt look into camera*

55: “have i entered an alternate universe or did you really just crack a smile for me?”

119: “i love you, you asshole.” 

“Mr. Thomas,” you smile, lacing your fingers across the counter. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

It’s a slow day. You love slow days. Fewer people are hurt, you don’t have to deal with heartbroken families and friends, you have idle time to read, sometimes you are able to take a long lunch and go out with your boyfriend. Then again, you also have a slew of people who have a sixth sense, really, about when these slow days occur, and then make it their life’s goal to ruin them for you. For example, the elderly man in bright yellow standing before you, glasses askew, mouth twisted into a scornful frown, wand in the front pocket of his dress robes.

Why is he wearing dress robes?

“Yes, hello, girl,” he frowns, squinting at your name badge. Noticing how his beady eyes narrow in disapproval, you glance down and straighten it. “What does that say again? My eyesight is sore.”

Plastering a (probably strained) smile on your face, you repeat your name for possibly the hundredth time in the year you’ve been working at St. Mungos as a Healer’s secretary. If your calculations are correct, that’s roughly twice a week that he enters and forgets your name. You mean, you’re no good with names, either, but come on. “...Right,” he says a few seconds later. “I’ve seen your face before, I think.”

“I have assisted you every single week this past year, Mr. Thomas,” you remind him cheerfully. “What can I do for you?”

Mr. Thomas eyes you, scoffing, and shakes his head. “I need my potion. Why else would I be here?”

‘Here we go,’ you think as you take a deep breath and prepare yourself for the oncoming verbal onslaught you’re about to receive. “Mr. Thomas,” you begin hesitantly, “as I have said before, and have said every visit you pay us-” you register his deepening frown and try to lighten your sarcasm a bit, “we do not give out potion prescriptions. We may issue them, but you will either have to go to an apothecary to fill them, or brew them yourself. I might suggest Diagon Alley’s apothecary, as I am friendly with the Potions Master who works there. If you are closer to Hogsmeade, then I recommend that apothecary as well. There are also apothecaries littered throughout Muggle Great Britain if you know where to look.”

His scowl deepens. For a fleeting second, you think the ends of his mouth might go under his chin. “I do not want to go to Scotland or London or go looking for half-arsed apothecaries in between Muggle shops. I came here for a reason. I need my potion, you stupid girl, how do you have a job here? How are you not fired or terminated for being completely rubbish at what you do for a living? How-”

“Mr. Thomas,” a crisp, cool voice behind him utters. Your heart flips at the sound of it. Mr. Thomas’ expression turns to one of apprehension, and as he steps aside for the man behind him, you crane your neck to look at his face. Your boyfriend stands before you, clad in clean, ironed clothes that, knowing him, most likely cost a fortune. His platinum hair is groomed, but not slicked back - he doesn’t do that anymore, but rather lets it hang in front of his face and runs his hands through it to keep it at bay, like he does when he meets your gaze with his pretty slate eyes. For a millisecond, his sneer twitches into something of a smile, but then changes back once his eyes land on the man you were corresponding with. 

Ah, you forgot that Draco is his boss. A shock of pride shoots through you, making you straighten your posture and stand up taller. “I advise you,” Draco continues icily, “to not speak to my girlfriend in such a manner. Apparate to Diagon Alley, fill your prescription, and return either to work, or your residence. I do remember you Flooing in sick this morning, or am I mistaken?”

Mr. Thomas averts his gaze, huffing softly. “You are not mistaken, Mr. Malfoy. I apologize to you and your partner. Have a nice day.”

“And to you as well, Mr. Thomas, do feel better and I will see you in my office at nine am sharp tomorrow morning. That will be all.” The sneer is a smirk now, which means Draco will be insufferable for the rest of the day. ‘Wonderful,’ you think, your internal voice dripping with sarcasm. You and Draco watch Mr. Thomas storm off, turning the corner to the Apparition point just beyond your line of sight. Once he is out of earshot, you chuckle, leaning forward to rest your chin in your hands.

“Mr. Malfoy,” you muse, a smile playing at your lips, “you are such an arse. You use your powers for evil things.”

“Evil?” Draco raises a blond brow. “My powers? Number one, since when was saving your arse evil? And number two, what powers do I manifest? Do tell,” he mirrors you until your noses are touching and you can see the flecks of light and dark blue in his otherwise grey eyes.

“Well,” you whisper, “maybe not evil. Maybe… trickery. Pranks. Jokes.”

“Standing up for my girlfriend is a prank? A joke?” You continue with ease, “And your powers of intimidation, of course. Draco Malfoy, Intimidating Boyfriend Supreme. You really are a catch, aren’t you? And you’re all mine.”

Draco snorts. He lets a hand run through your hair, tugging it loose from the bun you’ve fashioned it in with a quill. Once it’s down, he pulls you closer by it and kisses you from across the counter. You inch forwards and wrap your arms around his neck, melting into his body and, well, the cold St. Mungos linoleum countertop, but that’s only a small price to pay when you get this much-

“Mr. Malfoy, I appreciate how happy you make my secretary. Really, I do,” wryly comments your boss, Melody, the head Healer in your branch of St. Mungos. You two fly apart, blushing like teenagers caught in the broom closet. “But I would appreciate it more if you save the snogging until after her shift is over or, at the very least, her lunch break begins.”

You sheepishly scratch the back of your neck and bite your lip. “Sorry, Mel…”

Melody balances three vials of what looks like Dreamless Sleep in one hand with the other holding her wand to levitate two chests behind her. She chuckles, rolling her eyes. “It’s fine. There isn’t anybody in here. Besides, I know my word alone cannot keep you two apart.”

Draco clears his throat. “I wanted to inquire-”

“Yes, fine. Go get it out of your system with a long lunch,” Melody waves you two away with her elbow, shaking the vials in the process. One nearly slips, but she gets it at the last moment before you can whip your wand out to catch it in midair. “But if I catch you two at it again this week, Draco will be banned from daytime visits. Banned! I mean it!” She pushes the door open to the actual St. Mungos with her arse and slides through it, letting it swing closed behind her.

You turn to Draco, laughing. “She doesn’t mean it.”

Draco murmurs, “Does she ever?” as he reaches over the side to grab your purse. He slings it over his shoulder and leads you out from behind the desk. You wave a hello to your co-worker, Haley, as she takes your place, chatting with another Healer, Ivan. Ivan and Haley bid you goodbye, only Haley having the politeness to nod to your boyfriend as well as you. Ivan only glances passively at him. You sigh, lacing your fingers with Draco on the way to the Apparition point. Before you can enter for a Side-by-Side, you take him by surprise and wrap your arms around his frame, burying your head in his chest. He hugs you back immediately. You breathe in for a moment, inhaling something that can only be described as “Draco”. It’s clean, pristine, like soap, mixed with his expensive cologne and the sun.

(He likes gardening. Gardening. You think back to your Hogwarts years and imagine angsty, teenage Draco gardening. You can’t, but something about this Draco seems incomplete without his gardening. It’s amazing.)

You mumble into his shirt, “You’re extraordinary.”

“Mmm,” he hums. “I really am.”

You pull away to give him a light slap on the chest. His face breaks out into a huge smile. Your heart warms at the sight of it, a rare, but awe-striking image nonetheless. “Am I in a different universe, or did you really just crack a smile for me?”

“You’re definitely in a different universe, because I do not smile in this one,” he replies, still beaming.

You roll your eyes, biting your lip to restrain yourself from grinning. “I love you, you arsehole. Now,” you say, linking arms with him, “where to for lunch?”

“I was thinking I should take you to that Italian restaurant you wanted to go to the other night,” Draco suggests. “The… Muggle one.”

You blink, surprised. He says the word ‘Muggle’ not like it leaves an unpleasant taste in his mouth, but like something somebody would say when they’re trying to find a replacement for a swear word. Cautiously, warily. You freeze, looking up at him. “...What? Do you not want to go there? We could get something else-”

You snort at how quick he is to retract it. “No, no, I’d love to go there. I’m… proud of you, is all.”

At that, Draco starts chewing on the inside of his cheek. “I’m trying. For you.”

You stand on your toes so you can reach your boyfriend’s face. You press a kiss against his warm, soft lips. It leaves a comforting, familiar feeling in your body, your fingers tingling as you reach up to press them against the sides of his face. When you break away, Draco plants his hands on your waist and leans back down for one more kiss.

“That’s all I could ever ask,” you whisper against his mouth, smiling. After pecking it once more, you hook elbows again, pulling apart for good. “Well, Draco, what kind of thing are you looking to try? Calzones? Pasta? I heard from Tessa their baked ziti is to die for.”

“What is a… calzone?”

A smirk tugs at the corners of your mouth. “You’re in for a treat, Wizard Boy. Come on, I’m starving.”

[aion-rsa]

X-POSITION: All-New Wolverine’s Tom Taylor Teases Clash With Gambit

Never count Wolverine out. After initially remaining absent from the announced lineup of ResurrXion titles, Laura Kinney slashed her way back into headlines with the announcement that her series “All-New Wolverine” would continue well past the spring with a new costume, a new story arc (“Immune”) and a new artist (Leonard Kirk). The new Wolverine is showing no signs of slowing down — not even after the major twists and turns of the currently unfolding “Enemy of the State II” storyline!

RELATED: All-New Wolverine Continues Into ResurrXion With New Costume, Artist

This week in X-POSITION, “All-New Wolverine” writer Tom Taylor joins us and answers all of your questions about everything from Laura Kinney’s close friends to her deadly enemies.

CBR News: Welcome back to X-POSITION, Tom! Let’s kick things off with a few questions about Gambit, the first coming from Haley.

I’m a huge fan of Laura Kinney and I love “All-New Wolverine.” I’m also a fan of the original “X-23” solo series. Gambit and Laura’s friendship is one of my favorite things about it. That being said, Gambit is set to reunite with Laura soon. Did you enjoy writing him into the story, and can we expect to see him again later on in the series? Thanks!

Yeah. Gambit was such a big part of Marjorie Liu’s series, and a big part of Laura’s life, that he had to appear here. I definitely enjoyed writing him, particularly his entrance (you’ll see). I hope we’ll get to see more of him in the future.

“All-New Wolverine” #17 cover by David Lopez

Purplevit also wants to know more about Gambit.

I was waiting so long for Gambit to appear in “All-New Wolverine” and finally he is announced for #17! Was it your plan from the beginning to introduce Gambit in “Enemy of the State II” when Luara will need friends the most?

That’s exactly it. Remy’s been such a great supporter of Laura in the past that it made perfect sense for him to show up here, in Laura’s hour of need.

“Enemy of the State II” has also put Laura up against some of her big bads, and the first of healed1337’s two questions focuses on them.

I like how even though Bellona is now working for Kimura, she still showed a bit of a heroic side by sending all the children in the crates back to the United States — even if she ordered her people to kill the pirates afterward. Does this mean there’s hope for her yet?

I’d like to think so. Bellona is a lot like Laura. She’s had to do some terrible things, but she isn’t a terrible person. She may still step out of the darkness.

I like the new black look that Laura’s taking on after the “Enemy of the State II” arc. Is there any way you can expand on why you went with this new look specifically, and is this intended to be permanent?

There are a few different reasons. For one, it’s bulletproof — and a healing factor shouldn’t mean you like getting hurt. Wolverine can still be wolverine without being full of holes. The other reason for the uniform change is that it’s hard to track bad guys through the shadows when you’re wearing bright yellow. And, yes, it’s permanent — except for when it needs to be washed.

EXCLUSIVE: “All-New Wolverine” #19 variant cover by Leonard Kirk and Jesus Aburtov

SomeCBFanboy also has a question about Laura’s attire.

We know that Laura is proficient in weapons and possibly other gadgets. She seems to be the type of character that would plan ahead and carry a little something extra for unique out-of-the-box foes, unlike Logan. How long before we get Wolverine outfitted with a proper utility belt?

She has a jacket now. It probably has pockets. Pockets are great. Just ask Patrick Rothfuss.

Continuing to look ahead past “Enemy of the State II,” Gabe has a Q about Wolverine’s RessurXion status quo.

Wolverine was on the All-New X-Men team before ResurrXion. Will she be joining any of the new teams, like X-Men Blue or Weapon X?

Not yet. She has a big adventure ahead of her.

“All-New Wolverine” #16 interior art by Nik Virella and Michael Garland

ResurrXion also sees the return of the Xavier School, and Ambaryerno wonders if that development could factor into “All-New Wolverine.”

With the Xavier School set to reopen in New York City, what do you think are the chances of Laura convincing Gabby to enroll? She seems just the sort of kid to think of superhero/mutant school as being the coolest thing ever. Plus: Gabby babysitting Shogo for Jubilee just writes itself!

I’d love to see Gabby head to school and interact with all of those people. And I’m sure Laura would appreciate the quiet time. It’s great to see Gabby heading out into the wider Marvel Universe in “Ghost Rider.” I hope we’ll see a lot more of her.

Speaking of Gabby and the rest of Laura’s “sisters,” Ambaryerno has another question.

Are we ever going to learn more about how and when Alchemax got hold of Laura’s genetic material? Because it really leaves me wondering just how old are the Sisters? Gabby is described as “thirteen” in the Annual, however if she aged in “real time” she would have been conceived before Laura even had her healing factor activated… Bellona, Zelda, and 3PAR, not to mention the other six unnamed girls, would have been even older… That would mean Alchemax had to steal the Facility’s research almost from the very beginning of the project, which doesn’t make a lot of sense considering most of Sarah Kinney’s work was done off-book and on her own. Would this mean the girls are more conventional comic book clones, and rapid-aged to a certain point?

Yes, they were rapid-aged at one stage, with Gabby being the last attempt. That attempt was successful, but Alchemax weren’t aware of this as the mutation took a while to manifest, and Gabby’s sisters then kept her abilities a secret.

EXCLUSIVE: “All-New Wolverine” #16 interior art by Nik Virella and Michael Garland

Next up is another in-depth question, this time from Nazrel about one of the more debated facets of Wolverine’s story in recent years.

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that many view Laura and Angel’s relationship as profoundly disingenuous; a vacuous hollow rote teen hook up, in no way informed by the characters, in no way addressing the wealth of personal issues she’d have entering into her first official relationship, or the fact he’s a transitory space-time anomaly. No meaningful connection between these characters has on any level been forged. Do you intend on re-framing this into something narratively functional for the character, ending it, or just continuing along as it is?

While I understand people’s issues about Warren and Laura, what I do like is how much they like each other. It may seem vacuous, and they may not be suited in any conventional sense, but that’s true of a lot of relationships. This isn’t Laura’s first relationship either. The break-up with Hellion was pretty nasty all round, and I wouldn’t want Laura to have another damaging relationship. She’s had enough of that in her life, and a lot of what we’re doing in this book is moving Laura past where she’s been. All of this said, we’re not exactly dwelling on Wolverine’s love life in our book.

We’ll close out this week with two questions from Anduinel, the first focusing on “IvX.”

Is Laura going to feel any of the fallout from “IvX,” or will she be largely isolated from it given the current goings-on in her solo?

She will be isolated from it in her solo. In fact, she’s about to be very isolated in the upcoming “Immune” storyline. Quarantine is like that.

EXCLUSIVE: “All-New Wolverine” #16 interior art by Nik Virella and Michael Garland

And here’s one last one from Anduinel about another book you work on.

Until last month, it hadn’t pinged that you’re the Tom Taylor who’s been writing the Nektons’ adventures in “The Deep.” I friggin’ love that book! (Haven’t gotten to see the cartoon yet, though.) Are there more comics in the works?

Glad you’re a fan of “The Deep”! That series make me very, very happy. The comics are actually coming out in the US for the first time this week as a six-issue miniseries through Boom! Hope you pick them up. We’re trying to make more, but the TV series has taken up a lot of our time. The first season is on Netflix and we’re in the middle of season two at the moment. It turns out working on 39 episodes of animated TV is time-consuming. Who knew? That said, James Brouwer and I are working on a prequel comic series set in the 1800s. We’ll let you know when this comes about.

Special thanks to Tom Taylor for taking on this week’s questions!

Next week, “Uncanny X-Men” writer Cullen Bunn returns to X-POSITION to answer your questions! Have a question for Cullen? Go ahead and send ’em in via e-mail with the subject line “X-Position”. But get ’em in quickly, because the deadline’s Thursday. Make it happen!

The post X-POSITION: All-New Wolverine’s Tom Taylor Teases Clash With Gambit appeared first on CBR.com.

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