#Kansas City Paperworks

[artemismoorea03]

DP x DC Prompt: Kindred Spirits

(aka yet another prompt where Ari accidentally writes a oneshot instead of a prompt because they get overly excited about their ideas. Inspired by the Danny Phantom episode Kindred Spirits (hence the name))

President Luthor passed a handful of laws, countless half-assed laws that sent the goverment into chaos and made a mountain of paperwork for the League. That mixed with a handful of attacks in different areas of the world that needed their attention, the fact that one of their most dangerous enemies was in charge of an entire country, and a handful of other variants they were too buried to be aware of the Anti-Ecto Law and the calls that kept getting blocked by the Government to their systems, alerting them that somebody was potentially in some kind of danger.

It wasn't until Clark and Bruce were visiting his parents in Kansas though that they realized just how much they were missing. It was a type of play-date (though they refused to tell Damian that was what this little adventure was called) which was to allow Damian a chance to play with Jon and see the animals the lived on the farm, it also gave Bruce some time away from the city after an injury required him to take two weeks off to allow his shoulder to recover.

Bruce was fine, it was Clark who was worried.

Bruce was watching the two boys play as Jon taught Damian more about milking cows as well as explaining why it was important to do such when both Jon and Clark both stopped suddenly and looked West.

After a moment Jon let out a very worried, "Dad..?"

"I hear it, Jon. You and Damian go inside and get some lunch." Clark said as Jon nodded, then practically dragged Damian away, much to Damian's complaint.

"What's wrong?" Bruce asked as Clark glared west.

"Screaming, specifically a teenager. It's muffled and echoed like he's underground. Whoever is screaming is in trouble."

Bruce frowned, jogging over to his car climbing inside as he quickly began to change into his costume as Clark zipped into the house then zipped back out in costume. "Can you follow the sound?"

"As loud as it is? No problem." Superman said as Bruce pulled on his cowl.

"Good. Take us there."

Superman didn't hesitate to grab Batman's good hand as the two went into the air and flew in the direction of the sound. Batman had no idea what to expect when they arrived as they flew through the Colorado Mountains, but a mansion of a cabin with no cars out front seemingly abandoned was the last thing he expected.

At first there was no sign of anybody or anything in the area. No neighbors, no cars, no sign of a break in, not even any noise that Bruce could hear, only proving to Batman once more that Superman's hearing was nothing to take lightly.

"Where?" Batman asked as they landed.

"Directly under the house. But... it's gone quiet. Too quiet."

Batman frowned, looking at the house and the insignia on the front of it. "Vlad Masters."

"Who?"

"Vlad Masters. He's one of the names on Lex Luthor's paperwork, supplies him with some of his 'space tech' and 'energy'. His business has always been shady but it's always been 'mysterious clean' whenever we look into him." Batman said as he went to the door, using his tech to hack into the security system before they entered the house.

Animal pelts, hunting trophy's, countless other signs that it was some kind of glorious vacation home also suggested that nobody was home. The fire was cold, there was no sign of life, but there was something green on the floor near a wooden vanity that had been broken in half and recently.

Suddenly, Batman heard a low but muffled voice should from near the fireplace.

"YOU EXIST TO SERVE ME! JUST DO IT!"

Batman glared as they both ran towards the fireplace as Batman began to adjust some of the statues when the head of a Vlad bust rolled open at the forehead exposing a red button. Before he could hit the button though there was another voice, this one was clearly a young child.

"YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS OF ME!"

"NO! NO!"

Batman clenched his teeth as he hit the button, the fireplace beginning to open in front of them. Suddenly there were lights on that he could see which lined the staircase. The two began to rush down the stairs, following the sounds of people talking when the young voice spoke again.

"I can do this..." The voice echoed.

"You don't have to. Cover your ears and get behind me."

Batman and Superman made it to the basement just in time to see what happened next. A man with black hair who was dressed as a vampire was approaching two children, a teenage boy and a girl closer to twelve. They both had white hair, green eyes and black and white suits. They looked like siblings, or cousins.

Regardless of their relationship the boy was in front of the girl protectively, sucking in a deep breath before an absolutely horrifying noise ripped it's way out of the boy in a wave of green. Superman immediately smacked his hands over his ears and Batman found himself doing the same thing but he didn't take his eyes off of what was happening in front of him. Machinery and tech was knocked off of the walls, the round cracked, and the vampire was thrown away from him and slammed into the far wall.

The amount of power coming from this one kid was intense and something Batman had never seen before, and judging by the look on the vampire's face it was something he hadn't been expecting from him either. Batman looked back at the boy, who seemed to be getting more pale by the second, his body shaking as tears pricked at the corner of his eyes simply from the amount of energy the ability he was using must have taken.

It wasn't until the vampire seemed to transform from it's vampire appearance to a more familiar appearance of Vlad Masters, a sight that Batman honestly didn't expect to see in such a situation but not one that exactly surprised him either. If Vlad was a meta that made some of the things that didn't make sense before a lot clearer.

Finally, the boy had no energy left as the yell - or rather the wail - cut off, dropping everything that had been thrown against the wall including Vlad. A similar white ring surrounded the teen as he seemed to transform from a white haired green eyed teen to a black haired blue eyed teen that immediately crumbled to his hands and knees. He had bruises from fighting, but the bigger concern were the bruises on his wrists that were clearly from restraints of some kind.

Was the boy the one Superman heard scream?

The young girl checked on the boy, who was shaking and looking like he was seconds away from passing out.

"Out of power... but worth it to take this place down..." He said, seeming to notice Batman and Superman with wide eyes, but the others didn't seem to spot them yet.

Vlad got up and started marching his way towards the kids, transforming back into his vampire appearance as the girl blocked the boy.

"Stay away from him!" She said, her hands glowing green as a puddle of green began to form under her feet.

"Oh, I don't think so girl, you don't dare use your powers again. Danny's beaten, this is over!"

Batman and Superman launched into action as Batman threw one of his batterangs passed Vlad's face, causing him to jump away from the teens. Vlad turned, seeming to expect somebody else but then being absolutely shocked and almost frightened when he saw who was standing in front of him.

"Superman and Batman? Here?" He growled, his hands glowing as he glanced passed them at the kids who seemed almost as frightened as he did. "I can save you both, you know? Take you away from them and keep them safe."

"Think... we're safer away from you, you absolute Fruitloop." The boy said, trying to get up just to stumble and fall again as the girl seemed ready to protect him from Superman.

Vlad laughed, "We'll see about that, Daniel. If you think I'm dangerous... imagine what they'll do with the truth." Vlad suddenly shot up into the air, flying through the ceiling.

"I've got him!" Superman said, flying up the stairs after Vlad while Batman turned to face the two kids.

"Stay back!" The girl warned, her hands glowing again as the puddle started to grow.

Batman held up his hands, taking a step back. "It's alright, nobody's going to hurt you. What's your names?"

The girl looked at the boy who seemed to be fading fast. "If you help him and don't hurt him... I'll tell you everything but if you hurt him... I'll destroy you." She warned.

Batman nodded, "I'll help him, I promise."

She relaxed, finally allowing Batman closer to the teen who looked up at him and tried to move away just to end up falling to the side instead. Batman put his hand out, supporting the teen before helping him sit up more steadily.

He looked at the bruises on the kids wrists then at the container behind him which had shackles in similar shapes and sizes to the bruises on him. Whatever this was, whatever Vlad Masters was doing, clearly surrounded this boy. That meant they had to get him out of there.

Batman carefully picked the teen up, surprised at just how light he was. Did this kid eat? He adjusted his hold on the teen who put his head against Batman's shoulder with a tired sigh as the girl grabbed Batman's cape. He gave her a soft smile before the three of them started marching up the stairs, meeting Superman at the top who sighed.

"He took off towards the North-East." Superman said as Batman nodded with a 'Hm'. "So, what are your names?"

"I'm... I'm Dani and this is Danny." The girl said.

"Two Danny's?" Superman asked, "Doesn't that confuse your parents?"

"Considering my dad is Vlad, I'm guessing not." Dani huffed.

"She's... my clone..." Danny muttered, exhausted as both Superman and Batman blinked in surprise. "But you're not allowed to hurt her. Made by Vlad or not she's my family and I'll protect her..."

"Nobody's going to hurt anybody." Batman promised, "For now we're going to get you somewhere safe and figure things out. Superman, call Flash and tell him where we are, we're going to need a pick up."

Superman nodded, reaching to grab his League Communicator as he walked away while Batman set Danny down on one of the couches.

"Okay, there you go. What did that guy mean when he implied that we were dangerous to you? What do you all think we're going to do to you?"

Dani shrugged as Danny looked at him.

"Anti-Ecto Control Act... what I am, what Plasmius is, what Dani is... we all fall under a law that says we're non-sentient. The law says that anybody with ectoplasm in our blood is to be captured, contained and destroyed. Which means that legally you should be trying to kill us... not help us."

Batman frowned, "I've heard of the law, didn't think it held ground and least of all enough ground to follow." His frown faded as he gave the kids a reassuring smile. "Plus, I'm technically a vigilante, that's hardly legal too. So, what the law doesn't know won't hurt them. Besides, you guys seem plenty sentient to me."

The two Danny's smiled before Dani let out a sniffle as she rubbed her eyes.

"I'm sorry... Danny... I'm sorry." She sobbed, hugging onto the older Danny who hugged her back.

"It's okay, Danielle... it's okay."

It wasn't okay. None of this situation was okay. But, Batman would do everything in his damn power to make sure that it was fixed as soon as possible.

[edutainer2022]

A cold, vicious cyclone caught me unawares in the middle of the city the other day, right as I decided it was too hot for the coat. So, naturally, Scott gets under the weather in NYC, quite literally (and is being a stubborn doofus about it). It's an Earth and Sky fluff, but in the end, John decided he wanted in, so Earth and Star have a good hearty chat too. Virgil and John are being very good brothers. Absolutely nothing hurts. A greatful boop to @idontknowreallywhy, @astranite and @janetm74 for soft fabrics and Top Gun featuring.

UNDER THE WEATHER

The perks of living on a tropical island included not only it being remote, secluded and perfect to house a state-of-the-art rescue operation. It was also the whole being TROPICAL deal. Whenever one stepped out - it was reliably warm. The downside of living on a remote tropical island was losing the habit to navigate the regular four-seasons weather. Or the fickle New York City climate.

Truthfully, Scott didn't miss it much. Of course, he'd be fondly nostalgic about Kansas and snow slides, or, would occasionally get caught up in the inherent wistful mood of early NYC fall. But he definitely didn't miss THIS - being caught up in the icy torrent and orange warning winds two blocks away from the Tracy Tower. In nothing but his dress shirt and slacks.

They were at Tracy Industries headquarters with Virgil for the better half of the week. Virgil was involved in pre-screening the latest batch of R&D pitches, before they would move on to Brains and John for the final approval and production. Scott was held hostage by the Department of Finance for budget amendments and redistribution.

When the opportunity presented itself, well into the afternoon, to escape his own untimely death by paperwork or premeditated murder of a high ranking employee, Scott ran for the hills, slipping expertly beneath the radar of Kayo's handpicked security detail.

His underlying motive was quite noble - to walk to that coffe-shop Virgil liked and get his brother and himself some decent coffee. Virgil loved coffee and Scott loved Virgil - the rationale for his sortie was ironclad. Of course, pursuing exclusively immaculate fraternal care didn't provide for ditching his earpiece and wrist com. The hasty retreat also meant his designer (and more importantly in his current predicament - woolen) jacket got left hanging on the back of his chair by the bay window. He forgot this wasn't Tracy Island, the sun outside the window and climate control in the offices and their penthouse at the top of the Tracy Tower lulled his vigilance. And now, without a comm to get a timely warning from Eos or to call a cab (or the security SUV with a profound apology, or One from the landing pad on the roof), Scott was caught in the sudden onslaught of a cyclone.

The prudent thing to do would be to go back to the Tower. So, of course, Scott decided in favor of the opposite and broke into a run for the rest of the distance to the coffee place. The relentless laws of physics - speed and resistance - made sure he was soaked through the very last thread of clothing on his body and chilled to the bone by the time he got there.

His hair plastered to the forhead, the supershiny gel having lost the round with the freezing downpour, rivers of water drained down from the top of his head all the way past the suit slacks and dress shoes splashed in muck. There were poodles of water INSIDE his shoes. His socks were wet. His shirt was drenched. The squelching of the fabric as he walked up to the counter suggested he was wet EVERYWHERE. Yuk! That, at least, he didn't know as he was getting numb all over from the cold.

Scott was aware he probably looked like a wet stray cat. It was that or his shirt became see-through in the rain - as a barrista with a cute smile tried to waive his fee for the coffee. Unacceptable! He paid for two extra large, extra strong brews,  and rushed out, stifling a sneeze. Must have been the shirt, since one of the take-away cups had a phone number scrolled on the side. Which was a small consolation, as he broke into a jog again, making his way back through the raging elements.

***

The Tracy Industries front desk in the lobby, thankfully, didn't detain him, so he snuck into the elevator, not making eye contact with anyone. It was getting increasingly hard to hold the coffee cups - his hands were numb and shaking, and his teeth were clattering in time with full body shivers. Scott was sure he had hit the executive floor button, but the elevator made no stop, gliding all the way up to the private penthouse. Figures. He'd probably earned himself a lecture not only from the on site security team, but from John as well.

The door slid open on his approach across an antechember and he was welcomed in the hallway by a wall of flannel presided by furrowed black brows. Scott brandished the procured coffee cups like a shield, instinctively. He would sound more nonchalant if he were not stuttering from the cold.

"Hey, Virg, I got your favorite coffee!"

His face muscles were too frozen for a smile.

Virgil was holding a massive towel, or maybe a full body length terrycloth sheet, like an unfurled banner, and appeared completely unmoved by Scott's heroic endeavor.

"How very kind of you! Now step on the rug and strip. I'm not mopping after you!"

Scott looked down and found himself standing, indeed, on one of Gordon's old bright pool towels. It was already soaked halfway through with all the water Scott was dripping. He felt marginally ashamed as the elevator likely sported poodles too. But it was hard to maintain several self-deprecating emotions at once, being that cold and miserable.

The styrofoam cups were tentatively deposited on the glove table. Scott peeled off his soaked dress shirt and shed the trousers more than eagerly, toed off wet (and probably ruined too) shoes. Francesco the designer would bite his head off. But that could wait. He needed something warm off the rack now! A move off the towel was aborted, however, by the reappearance of the Eyebrows over the terrycloth edge.

"Uh-uh! Everything, Scooter! You're NOT wedging your undies behind the shower stall. Again!"

Scott sighed. That was ONE TIME! He was sneaking back past the curfew and tried to conceal evidence. Unsuccessfully, as it turned out. The moment the last wet cloth on him joined the pile on the floor, he was wrapped head to ankles in the sea of soft blue fabric and steered in the general direction of the shower.

"You know the drill! Try to warm up under hot water as long as you can. If you feel lightheaded - yell, I'll be right here."

The scolding shower helped somewhat. He could still feel the freezing grip around his ribs, but his extremities were not as numb anymore, at least. There was a stack of warm sleepwear waiting for him as he stepped out in the cloud of fog. Scott smiled - it was a motley assembly of his own clean trunks and sweatpants, a well-worn soft flannel shirt and a Denver Engineering hoodie, that swapmed his frame. Hair toweled off and curling every which way, he was mostly ready to venture back out into the colder world, but felt dead tired.

There was a nest of throw pillows and a blanket, assembled on the couch, unfolded to full length, in the living room. Scott made an immediate beeline for it and tugged the blanket around his shoulders, trying to fold his feet beneath as well. The shivers were crawling back. Virgil emerged from a door that was decidedly neither Scott's nor his own room, carrying a pair of fluffy bright orange socks and an extra comforter.

***

After some gentle, yet determined, coaxing, the orange socks were tugged onto Scott's icy cold feet and a second blanket was tucked snuggly around him. Virgil settled by his side against a couple of snatched pillows, pondering idly that they would need to get a spare weighted blanket for the penthouse too. They would also owe John more socks. The Scott-sized frozen burrito shuffled closer and Virgil wrapped an arm around his wayward big brother, offering more of his body warmth. The chills worried Virgil. Scott was fit and healthy, but he was chronically exhausted and hadn't been exposed to cyclones without IR-grade water-proof gear, or at least a raincoat, in a while.

"So... you wanna watch Top Gun?"

It was a rhetorical question, but Scott's face immediately shot up, beaming with a thousand suns. He also did an enthusiastic giant caterpillar wiggle, blanket and all. Virgil thought in that moment his core memory was probably Scott, all bright eyes, gap-teeth smile and dimples, bouncing with excitement and unbridled energy. He wished he got to revisit it more often.

The opening frames rolled on the holoscreen to the sound of the all too familiar Anthem. Virgil finally reached for so hard earned cup of coffee, now reheated, and couldn't contain a snort.

"Aw, Scooter, you actually scored a number for your troubles?"

It was obvious Scott wasn't going to last through the movie - his eyes were droopping and voice slurred, mostly muffled by plaid flannel.

"M'dashin'!"

A smaller hologram appeared at that exact moment on Virgil's comm. John looked way too amused:

"Actually, that's the number of a homeless shelter around the corner from the coffee shop."

Virgil's laughter full on rumbled at that. He raised a hand to ruffle the back of big brother's head:

"Oh yeah, you're a dashing idiot."

"M'cold."

The muffled complain was exemplified by a full body shiver.

"Sure, Scotty! You're a cold, wet, dashing idiot."

There was no protest to that, just a soft, slightly stuffed snore. Virgil adjusted the hold on the now sound asleep biggest brother to snuggle him closer.

***

The F-14A Tomcat was playing chicken with a MiG-28 on the screen. John's hologram lingered. Virgil could tell the space ginger was concerned more than he let on. John finally spoke.

"Is he gonna be alright? Should I cancel his Friday?"

Untamed by the gel, the now dry and fluffy ringlets made it difficult to reach Scott's forhead, but the back of Virgil's hand found the way, careful not to disturb. The skin was cool to his touch, no signs of fever.

"He'll be alright. He just needs to warm up and sleep it off."

He moved to rub a soothing circle over Scott's back as the big brother relaxed deeper into sleep. It was sorely tempting to clear Scott's schedule for the next day and mandate more rest. But Virgil was aware it would pose a risk of Scott, not held down by a cold, hairing off to the island in One, insisting to be back on the roster, if not on TI business. That would be a shame, as a big part of the weekend, Virgil had been looking forward to, was going to see Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera with biggest brother.

John  was still hovering, unconvinced. Virgil siged, but smiled:

"Well, Johnny, unless you want to come down from orbit and join me at the box, I'd rather our reservation to a sold out six months in advance opera didn't fall through."

John looked appropriately appalled and quite earnest:

"I love you more than my life, brother, but I do draw a line at too many people doing too many loud things in a confined space. Call me Johnny and see how often I come down from orbit!"

Virgil stifled a huff of laughter, as Scott shuddered and groaned quietly, but, thankfully, didn't wake up. The warm-up circles over his back and shoulders resumed. Virgil hugged him closer. John shifted attention to the swaddled biggest brother in fond amusement.

"What did you bribe him with, anyway?"

Virgil didn't have the energy to protest.

"Apfelschtrudel from that place Gordon found. And he can preview the R&D projects I selected for Brains, if he gets bored. No call-outs, no reports, no work mail though."

The gazed Virgil fixed on John was full of fair warning. It was John's turn to smile.

"Don't worry. You love watching opera and Scott loves watching us doing what we love. He'll be fine. And locked out of his work accounts, for good measure."

Silence stretched for several moments, interrupted only by Scott's soft snoring.

Virgil looked down on the slumbering brother in his arms, then back at John.

"I wish he did more of what he loves. Just Scott. For himself - not for us, or for the company, or the world."

That wasn't an issue easily solved in a casual conversation through an impromptu movie night. If at all. John knew that too, all too well. The brother in orbit chewed on his lip, lost in thought.

"You could sugget he get coffee in that place again. She's a Hudson Uni postgraduate. Cultural Anthropology."

Virgil was mostly used to John's the Resident Genius thoughts veering in unexpected directions, but the ginger thoroughly lost him there.

"Huh? Who's a postgrad where?"

John rolled his eyes in exasperation commonly reserved to explaining things to the bristling rescuees and a five year old Gordon.

"The barrista that gave Scott a shelter number today. She works part time and volunteers there often. One time she even volunteered at the IR disaster site. Remember, the sinkhole? She seems nice."

Top Gun closing scenes were replaced by assorted social media pages and university profile pages. Virgil gulped.

"John! You can't go doxxing random people!"

John's hologram up in orbit shrugged:

"I have Eos run background checks automatically on anyone who comes in contact with you guys. We can't take any chances!"

There was sound and, sadly, field proved reasoning behind what nearly cost them barely averted tragedy on several occasions. But still... Virgil kept staring at a pretty blond smiling from the holoscreen.

"That gotta be illegal!"

"Only if I get caught."

Turquoise eyes twinkled in nothing remotely resembling remorse. He still didn't cut off the call.

"Do you wanna come down here for the weekend?"

Virgil suddenly felt the need to have more brothers accounted for and within reach. There was hope in the way John actually gave it a thought.

"Only if you don't make me go to the opera. I ordered you pizza, by the way."

A wave of warmth washed over Virgil and he tightened the grip on Scott's frame instinctively.

"You're my favoretest brother not asleep at the moment!"

He was graced with another eyeroll.

"You spend entirely too much time around Gordon. I'll have Eos screen the calls and land the elevator on the Tower tomorrow evening, your time, if there's no major catastrophe."

Virgil resisted the urge to fistpupm in the air. Definitely too much time around Gordon. Another thought occurred to him as he remembered a detail John mentioned when vetting the unsuspecting compassionate barrista.

"Hey, John! Could you..."

"Right ahead of you, brother. An anonymous donation was made to the homeless shelter and free kitchen an hour ago."

And they said Virgil and Scott were uncanny telepathic. Then again, it was to be expected. Anyone who was genuinely kind and considerate to their favorite Idiot, or attempted to course-correct his destruction path, inadvertently gained a lifelong ally in every one of them. Maybe he really needed to nudge Scott to go get more of the good coffee tomorrow. Equipped with an umbrella that time around.

[sweetspring13]

Back to KC

Stepping off the plane, Taylor felt a rush of happiness as she breathed in the warm, humid air of Kansas City. After spending a month in the UK, this summer warmth was a welcome change. She rubbed her nose absentmindedly as she walked down the stairs of the plane, stretching her legs, savoring the feeling of movement after the long flight.

She was reaching the bottom of the stairs but stopped in her tracks pressing her hand against the underside of her nose, pinching roughly as her breath caught in her chest “Hhih'tchiiew!! Snfl..” she sniffled sharply and rubbed her nose on her knuckles again as she finally made her way down the stairs.

Taylor made her way inside the airport, she kept sniffling and rubbing her nose and she could feel the beginning of congestion settling in. Ugh, why did it still tickle so much? She sighed, scrunching up her nose and rubbing a little harder. "Snff... sniff..." She noticed her eyes were starting to itch too, and she sighed, a bit annoyed, realizing her allergies must be acting up.

As she waited for immigration paperwork to be done, her nose continued to run, and she had to rummage through her bag for a tissue. She blew her nose, noticing how congested she sounded. "Ugh, great," she muttered to herself. "Hh...hhih...hehhtchiew!!! Snf.. sniff!” The sound echoed in the spacious terminal, blending with the distant hum of conversations and announcements.

"Bless you," her security guard said, his voice calm and professional.

"Thadks," Taylor replied, her voice thick with congestion. She handed over her papers, the official barely glancing at her before stamping them. She finally moved towards the exit, where the humid air hit her once more.

"Ugh," Taylor whimpered, pulling her crumpled tissue from her pocket and blowing vigorously into it. When she was done, she didn't throw the tissue away; but instead continued rubbing intensely at her nostrils, scrunching up her face in an expression of cranky annoyance. "Fuck, I'm all itchy," she whined, before her hand stilled, pinching her pink nose in the tissue, and her bloodshot eyes closed to slits. "Huhh...hht chshh! Ah...ahh...tchhiew! Snfl...”

The ride to Travis's house was uncomfortable. Taylor sat in the backseat of the car, her head resting against the cool glass of the window. Her nose was stuffed up, her voice nasal and congested. She couldn't stop sniffling. "Sngff, snff..." The city streets blurred past, but she could only focus on the persistent itch in her nose and the tingling in her eyes.

“Hey guys,” She looked up to her driver and her security guard. "Cad we stob at a pharmacy? I ndeed sobe allergy bedicine."

"Of course, Miss Taylor," he replied, directing the driver to the nearest pharmacy.

---

Finally arriving at Travis's house, she stepped out of the car, feeling the familiar warmth of home. Travis was waiting at the door, his broad smile lighting up the moment he saw her. The sight of him made her heart flutter, momentarily distracting her from her discomfort.

"Hey, you!" he exclaimed as she got closer “come here, girl” pulling her into a warm embrace. She felt the strength and warmth of his body against hers. This is what coming home feels like. Their kiss was soft, but she had to break apart to sniffle, she looked up at him, a big smile on her face while rubbing her itchy nose with her knuckles. "Snff... I missed you," she said, giving him a peck on the lips and leaning back to look at him once more.

"I missed you too," Travis replied, his eyes sparkling. “So fucking much” He then attacked her neck and cheek with kisses, making her squeal as his lips tickled her skin. His breath was warm, and the sensation of his stubble against her neck made her giggle.

"Stop, it tickles!" she laughed, giving a liquid sniffle and coughing a few times to catch her breath as he finally let her go. Travis grabbed her luggage, and as he was closing the door, he heard her sneeze again. “Hhuh...'chhishew!! Snfl,”

"Bless you," he said, coming closer to hug her again. His embrace was tight and comforting, his scent familiar and soothing. "I have something to show you that my mom brought over the other day."

He led her to the couch, holding her hand. The living room was cozy, filled with the soft glow of evening light filtering through the windows. As they entered, Taylor dropped his hand and turned away pinching her pink nose as her eyes fell helplessly shut. “Aahh...aahishhhew!! Hhut'chheww!!! Ugh... snfl..” She sighed stuffily and mumbled, "Egxcuse mbe... snff," while rubbing her nose, feeling the rawness from constant irritation.

Travis came closer, one hand rubbing her shoulder and the other fixing her hair behind her ear. "You getting a cold, baby?" he asked, his voice gentle.

She shook her head, still rubbing her nose. "Doe, this is just how Kansas City decided to welcobe be back."

Travis chuckled, his laugh a soft rumble. "I can't believe you're allergic to my hometown," he joked. "Maybe your nose is just too snobbish for the Chiefs´ land."

Taylor rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Ha ha, very fuddy," while swallowing back a smirk. Despite the discomfort, she felt a warmth spreading through her chest. Being with her boyfriend made everything better.

They smiled at each other and leaned into another kiss. As they kissed, Taylor had to back up to sniffle and rub her nose. "Sngff... snff..." She leaned into him again, only to back away two seconds later as she sucked in an involuntarily deep breath. “Aah'tchxshh!!! Sniff!”

Travis laughed a little and said, "Bless you," leaning in to kiss her again. He heard her stuffy sniffles and asked, "You good, babe?" whispering close to her, his breath warm against her cheek.

Taylor sniffled once more and mumbled a sweet "Huh huh," while leaning into his lips again. Things got heated, their kisses deepening as they moved upstairs to the bedroom. Taylor stopped a few times to sneeze, but they continued, eager to be together.

In the bedroom, the atmosphere shifted, becoming more charged. The room was dimly lit, shadows playing on the walls. Travis pulled her close, whispering, "You're so beautiful, Tay." His hands were warm and firm on her back, pulling her into his embrace.

Taylor sniffled, wiping her nose in the back of her hand. "I've mbissed you so buch,"

"Come here," he said, pulling her closer, his hands exploring her back and waist. Taylor kept sniffling and wiping her nose, but she didn't want to stop. "Sndff... snnff..."

“Uhhh...hh...hhet'tchshh!!” She sneezed again, her breath hitching as he kissed her neck.

"It´s been too fucking long," Travis murmured against her lips, kissing her deeply. Taylor felt a rush of desire and they continued to kiss, their hands moving over each other with increasing urgency. --

They lay in bed, the soft sheets cool against their skin. Taylor's nose was red and irritated, "Sngff... snff..." She lay her head on Travis's chest, rubbing her itchy nose in circular motions with the palm of her hand, trying to scratch the persistent itch. "Uh, huhh...uht'chiiew!! Hehh...heISHshiih!!!" She let out two congested sneezes, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

Travis chuckled softly, his chest vibrating under her head. "Bless you, baby," he said, leaning down to press a soft kiss into her irritated nose. "Poor nose," he murmured, making her scrunch up and wriggle her pink nose immediately in response to the feather-light touch. Travis smiled at her girlfriend´s kittenish behavior and then leaned down pressing more kisses on her face.

Taylor gave a liquid sniffle and mumbled a breathy, "Wait..." as she pushed him back, turning her face away and lifting her other hand to cover a third sneeze. "Hh...hhih...hehhtchiew!!!”

"Bless you, bless you, bless you," Travis said pressing his lips onto her hair.

"Sorry," she mumbled quietly, her hand still covering her nose. She sniffled back congestedly. "Sngff..."

"Do you need a tissue?" Travis asked, his voice full of concern.

Embarrassed, Taylor nodded. "Yes, please."

He brought a box of tissues from the bathroom and handed her a couple. She blew her nose congestedly, the sound harsh in the quiet room. She then wiped her nose, sniffling once more. "Snnnrff..."

Travis sat next to her and pulled her close once more. "You okay?"

Taylor was still rubbing her nose behind her tissues, “I´b fide, snff” wiping the crumpled tissues roughly back and forth against the underside of her damp pink nose, “by dose is just so, snnf… snnfff.. itchy."

"Do you want me to go buy you some meds?" Travis asked, his hand gentle on her back.

"I already had sobe before getting here," she replied, sneezing again. “EhhISH'sheww!!”

"I've never seen you so bothered by your allergies," he said, his concern deepening.

"I doe," Taylor sniffled. "I usually dod't get like this. It bust be all the traveling," she paused, feeling her breath hitch again. "Or the changing temperatures, or the... Hheh...hhheh...hht'CHSHsht!!! Ohhh... snfl…” The blonde girl sneezed breathlessly into the damp tissue she held to her runny nose, groaning and making a whiny sound while burying her face in Travis's chest as he rubbed her back lovingly.

“I´m sure the meds will start working in a bit” he looked down at his girlfriend, hating to see her so miserable. “Maybe you should take a hot shower, that´ll make you feel better”

“Yeah, I´ll go id a bit” Taylor paused to blow her nose again, and Travis waited patiently while the wet sound slowly cleared from his girlfriend’s stuffy head. “Huh, that’s better,” Taylor sighed cuddling up to Travis’ side. “When do we habe to leave?”

“We have to be there at nine, I think” he said, raising his wrist to look at his clock. He felt Taylor tense up, sucking in a sharp, quavering gasp of air, clearly gearing up for another congested sneeze. She hitched and huffed over another sneeze still swirling around helplessly in the back of her head, blinking blearily as her pink nose glistened with allergic snot. She looked, somehow, completely adorable and completely pathetic at the same time.

But the sneeze that had welled up suddenly inside her died away again just as her lungs filled with air, a desperately uncomfortable look settling onto her face in its place. "Oh..." Taylor groaned, pressing a finger under her running nose and rubbing hard while she laid back in his chest “Snfl... sorry, I thought I w-was goig… huhh… t-tohh... snfl...hh-hhuhh...” Allergic tears ran down her cheeks as she sniffled and wiped her nose, pinching it firmly between her fingers and massaging it lightly up and down as the ticklish feeling came back full force, making her squeezed helplessly shut in submission to her itchy nose. “Hhuh...hh... Uhh'ehhtchOOoo!!! snfl..”

"God bless you!" he exclaimed, smiling at her.

"Thagks," she sniffled, wiping her nose on a fresh tissue. "So, who's godda be at there tonight?"

Travis started explaining, "Well, it's at Jeff's place, so definitely him and his girlfriend, maybe a few other..."

"Hehhh…hetchshh! Sniff" Taylor interrupted with a sneeze.

“I think th-”; "Heh-tchiiew!!"; “Britt told m-“; “hhuh...aahISHshhew!!!”

Travis laughed and jokingly asked, "Do you really want to know?"

Taylor sniffled and wiped her nose, blushing a little. "Sorry, I thidk I´b done dow, snnff" She grabbed a fresh tissue and blew her nose vigorously, until the wet sound finally subsided, if only for a moment.

Travis chuckled, kissing her head. "I´m just teasing, love. Anyway, I think it´ll just be Jeff and Katie, Pat and Britt and the rest of the team with their partners”

“Souds great!” Taylor sniffled stuffily. "Maybe I should go take a shower. Sngff..."

She slipped out from under her boyfriend and spent a long time soaking in a hot, steamy shower, breathing deeply and trying to clear her sinuses. And it did make her feel more like herself.

She got out of the bathroom and crouched down in front of her suitcase, rolling her eyes as she felt her nose starting to run and tickle again. She kept rubbing it, trying to stave off the sneezes. She stood up to start getting ready, but her breath began to hitch.

Travis walked back into the room and watched her standing in the middle of the bedroom, one hand raised in front of her face, her nose red and her expression one of anticipation. “Uhh...snnfl...hh-hhuhh...” The tickle danced lightly behind her nose and eyes, making her head fall back in anticipation. She dropped her hands for a moment, still holding the tissue, briefly revealing her glistening pink nostrils on the brink of another allergic sneeze. They widened irritably in time with her hitching breath, leaking twin trails of watery snot down the channel of her upper lip as her teary eyes fought to stay open just a crack. But suddenly her shoulders dropped and she opened her eyes, breathing woozily with a cranky expression on her face and she let out a disappointed huff.  “Ugh… snnf… it wedt away” She mumbled, furiously attacking her cute nose with the heel of her palm. “Ehhh...hehhh...huhhIHSHOOoo!!! Hht'ghSHIuuh!!”

"There it is!" Travis said, smiling. "Bless you, baby."

“Trav… sniff!… cad we close the…huhhhh…the wihdow? Huh-tchhh! Ahh, ahhh…achhiiew! Sniff..” Taylor’s shoulders snapped like a whip, doubling her over with one ferocious, shuddering sneeze after another. “Oh, shit, of course” Travis jumped up and closed the window while Taylor pulled a few more tissues from the box, rubbing and blowing her irritated little nose as hard as she could. He hadn't realized they were open and probably making her allergies worse. “Thadks,” Taylor sighed, sounding exhausted though they still had a long night ahead of them. She sat down at the little desk in his bedroom and blew her nose for the millionth time, as she prepared to get ready.

She looked at herself in the mirror, her face pale and her eyes slightly red from the constant rubbing. She began applying foundation, but her nose tickled, making her stop suddenly. “UhhTCHshiiew!!” The sneeze made her drop the bottle, the colored cream dripping onto her desk. She sighed and tried to clean it up a bit before continuing.

She moved on to her blush, but now her nose was running again, and she tried to sniffle, but it was no use. Her eyes watered as a deep itch welled up in the back of her head. She grabbed a tissue, and tried to wipe her nose as softly as she could, to avoid smearing off the foundation she had just applied, but it was a fruitless effort between her drippy nose and the allergic tears. She sighed and went to fix it. As she looked back up at herself in the mirror, she realized she felt awful. Her nose was all stuffed up and constantly runny. Despite all the foundation she was putting on, her nose was still pink, and she looked sick. She couldn't stop sneezing and blowing her nose. She felt gross. And truly did not to be at a party sneezing her head off in front of everybody. On top of that, between the jetlag and the allergy pills she was starting to feel drowsy.

She sighed defeatedly. She didn´t want to disappoint Travis, but she truly couldn´t find it in herself to go to this party. So she went to the closet room where he was getting dressed. As she crossed the doorway, she sneezed two more times. "Uhhh...uhtchOOoo!!! Hiih'hishhiew!!" She groaned tiredly, leaning against the doorframe.

"Bless you," Travis said, looking at her with concern. "You okay?"

"By allergies are killing mbe, baby” She looked at him with a guilt filled expression “I jusd.. snnf.. I dod't feel great... Is it… snnf! Is id okay if I jusd stay here todight?" she asked, looking up at him with tired, watery eyes.

"Of course, baby," Travis said, getting up and wrapping her in a hug. His arms were strong and comforting, his chest warm against her cheek. "We don´t need to go"

"I´b so sorry… I jusd-"

"You don’t need to apologize about anything, T. I don´t want you to go anywhere if you are not feeling great. The whole point of this was to just have some fun" Travis smiled sweetly while he rubbed his arms down her shoulders.

“You doe you.. snff… you dod´t have to stay right? I´ll jusd take sobe bore meds ahd jusd go t-to.. huhh” Travis chuckled wryly and handed his woozy girlfriend a fresh tissue, which the blonde-haired girl grabbed hastily, raising it to her stuffy pink nose, already flaring wide as a fresh trickle of clear snot dribbled lazily from their depths. “Ishhxk!! Ishhiew!! Iiih, iishhew!!! Snfl…” Taylor sighed miserably as she wiped her nose.

“Bless you, baby. And I'm not going anywhere, so just forget it.” He told her while guiding her back into the bedroom “I´ve missed you so much these past weeks it´s going to take a whole lot more than a few sneezes to keep me away from you” he told her sweetly, with his big, charming smile as he helped her climb back under the covers and then tug them back up again so she was tucked snugly into bed.

“There, you stay here and pick a movie, I´ll go get us some take out and we can just stay here” Trav told her gently, threading her fingers through her girlfriend’s soft blonde hair.

“Thadk you, baby” Taylor smiled gratefully at him. She looked into his eyes, a gentle smile on her lips and the little twinkle in her eyes that he loved so much. Her small hand moving to his chest, pulling him closer “It´s so nice to be back home”

[cliff-montgomery]

The Thorny Problem of Straw Purchases in U.S. Gun Law

by Cliff Montgomery - Feb. 15th, 2024

Yesterday’s mass shooting at a parade intended to celebrate the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl victory over the San Francisco 49s once again reminds us of the need for serious gun laws and gun law reform.

On February 9th, two short reviews on current federal gun laws were released by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The CRS refers to itself as a “ non-partisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress.” In short, it prepares concise, easy-to understand reports on matters of the moment to members of the U.S. and their affiliated staff members.

We will cover those two short studies for our readers. Tonight, we look at the report Gun Control: Straw Purchase and Gun Trafficking Provisions in Public Law 117-159, better known as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Straw purchases are defined by the study as “illegal firearms transactions in which a person serves as a middleman by posing as the transferee, but is actually acquiring the firearm for another person.”

Below, we offer readers most of the central statements found in the CRS report:

“On June 25, 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA; S. 2938; P.L. 117-159). This law includes the Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act, provisions of which amend the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA, 18 U.S.C. §§921 et seq.) to more explicitly prohibit straw purchases and illegal gun trafficking. Related provisions expand federal law enforcement investigative authorities.

Federal Firearms Law

“The GCA is the principal statute regulating interstate firearms commerce in the United States. The purpose of the GCA is to assist federal, state, and local law enforcement in ongoing efforts to reduce violent crime.

“Congress constructed the GCA to allow state and local governments to regulate firearms more strictly within their own borders, so long as state law does not conflict with federal law or violate constitutional provisions.

“Hence, one condition of a federal firearms license for gun dealers, which permits the holder to engage in interstate firearms commerce, is that the licensee must comply with both federal and state law.

“Also, under the GCA there are several classes of persons prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition (e.g., convicted felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users). It was and remains unlawful under the GCA for any person to transfer knowingly a firearm or ammunition to a prohibited person (18 U.S.C. §922(d)). Violations are punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is the principal agency that administers and enforces the GCA, as well as the 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA, 26 U.S.C. §§5801 et seq.).

“The NFA further regulates certain firearms deemed to be especially dangerous (e.g., machine guns, short-barreled shotguns) by taxing all aspects of the making and transfer of such weapons and requiring their registration with the Attorney General.

Straw Purchase Provision

“Straw purchases are illegal firearms transactions in which a person serves as a middleman by posing as the transferee, but is actually acquiring the firearm for another person.

“As discussed below, straw purchases are unlawful under two existing laws. Prosecutions under those provisions have been characterized by some as mere paperwork violations and, hence, inadequate in terms of deterring unlawful gun trafficking.

“P.L. 117-159 amends the GCA with a new provision, 18 U.S.C. §932, to prohibit any person from knowingly purchasing or conspiring to purchase any firearm for, on behalf of, or at the request or demand of any other persons if the purchaser knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the actual buyer

is a person prohibited from being transferred a firearm under 18 U.S.C. §922(d);

plans to use, carry, possess, or sell (dispose of) the firearm(s) in furtherance of a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking crime; or

plans to sell or otherwise dispose of the firearm(s) to a person who would meet any of the conditions described above.

“Violations are punishable by a fine and up to 15 years’ imprisonment. Violations made by a person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that any firearm involved will be used to commit a felony, federal crime of terrorism, or drug trafficking crime are punishable by a fine and up to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Gun Trafficking Provision

“Gun trafficking entails the movement or diversion of firearms from legal to illegal channels of commerce in violation of the GCA. P.L. 117-159 amends the GCA with a new provision, 18 U.S.C. §933, to prohibit any person from shipping, transporting, causing to be shipped or transported, or otherwise disposing of any firearm to another person with the knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the transferee’s use, carrying, or possession would constitute a felony.

“It would also prohibit the receipt of such firearm if the transferee knows or has reasonable cause to believe that receiving it would constitute a felony. Attempts and conspiracies to violate these provisions are proscribed as well. Violations are punishable by a fine and up to 15 years’ imprisonment. […]

GCA Interstate Transfer Prohibitions

“The GCA generally prohibits anyone who is not a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) from acquiring a firearm from an out-of-state source. [But] Interstate transfers among unlicensed persons may be facilitated through an FFL in the state where the transferee resides. […]

GCA Record-keeping and Straw Purchases

“Under the GCA (18 U.S.C. §926), Congress authorized a decentralized system of record-keeping allowing ATF to trace a firearm’s chain of commerce, from manufacturer or importer to dealer, and to the first retail purchaser of record. FFLs must maintain certain records, including ATF Forms 4473, on transfers to non-FFLs as well as a parallel acquisition/disposition log.

“As part of a firearms transaction, both the FFL and purchaser must truthfully fill out and sign the ATF Form 4473. The FFL must verify the purchaser’s name, date of birth, and other information by examining government-issued identification (e.g., driver’s license). The purchaser attests on Form 4473 that he or she is not a prohibited person and is the actual transferee/buyer. […]

“[However,] straw purchases are not easily detected because they only become apparent when the straw purchase is revealed by a subsequent transfer to a prohibited person.

Other GCA Gun Trafficking Prohibitions

“According to ATF, gun trafficking often entails an unlawful flow of firearms from jurisdictions with less restrictive firearms laws to jurisdictions with more restrictive firearms laws, both domestically and internationally.

“Such unlawful activities can include, but are not limited to, the following:

straw purchasers or straw purchasing rings in violation of the provisions described above;

persons engaging in the business of dealing in firearms without a license in violation of 18 U.S.C. §921(a)(1)(A), punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment;

corrupt FFLs dealing off-the-books in an attempt to escape federal regulation in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(b)(5), punishable by up to 5 years’ imprisonment; and

trafficking in stolen firearms in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(j), punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment.

“Under current law, offenders could potentially be charged with multiple offenses under both the preexisting GCA provisions such as those discussed above and 18 U.S.C. §§932 and 933.

“Since P.L. 117-159 went into effect on October 31, 2023, 250 defendants have been charged with gun trafficking, including 80 charged with violating the law’s straw purchase provision.

“In January 2024, the National Shooting Sports Foundation—an industry trade group for the firearms industry—noted that the ATF has yet to implement two parts of P.L. 117-159: ‘Firearm Handler Background Checks’ (FHCs) and instant point-of-sale background checks when an FFL buys from a private individual.

“The former would allow FFLs to use the NICS to background check FFL employees and has been in regulatory review since September 26, 2023. The latter would allow FFLs to instantly identify if a weapon is stolen at the point of sale by authorizing importers, manufacturers, and dealers of firearms to access records of stolen firearms in the National Crime Information Center; it has been in the interim final rule stage since May 17, 2023.”

[crafty-butch]

for anyone who hasn't seen it: a 6000 word article about spurious correlation guy's obsession with figuring out why a pedestrian bridge to (seemingly) nowhere was built

not going to spoil the twists and turns, but here are some excerpts to show the depths of the rabbit hole this man dove into:

(I'll let you imagine the paperwork I had to do in order to get approval from the FAA to allow me to fly a drone near an airport to get these photos.)

While I am dedicated to this search, I am not about to fly down to Kansas City to dig through federal archives, especially when those documents may or may not be there... ...just kidding. Of course I flew down to Kansas City to dig through the federal archives!

I also had to go through the National Archives and Records Administration researcher orientation and get certified to handle federal documents at NARA facilities

[calveesmain]

Hey y'all's in the state of Kansas DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, RENT FROM EUCALYPTUS REALTY or ANY Property owned by LEW MCGINNIS

First, my experience with them;

I had a 6 month lease filed with an apartment building that ended in October 2021, I signed the paper confirming I would be out in october, I moved out in october 2021. I had an eviction filed against me November 4th, 2021. I just found out they succeeded in filing an eviction against me. I was not contacted regarding this at all, even though they had my active phone number on file and had called me after I moved regarding paperwork on an old roommate who'd moved earlier in the year. They filed an eviction on me, for an apartment I was not living in, after my lease had ended, and made zero attempt at contacting me. I did not find out until attempting to rent a house with a friend. Noone has answered the phone for me, or for the new renting agency, and my application is going to be denied. All because of an eviction filed against me. For an apartment I did not live in anymore. After my lease had ended. What should I do now? I would try to pay anything they're trying to charge if I could get them on the phone. It's not like I can fight it in court, they already won. Everything I'm reading just says "ask the owner nicely to get it removed" and I don't think that's possible now given what I've found since looking into them.

Because HERE'S what I found after a little digging;

The owner is a real estate person based out of Oklahoma, and owns multiple properties in Topeka, Emporia, and Wichita (I found the number 35 in Topeka, but I couldn't verify that or tell you how many in the other two cities) . I'm finding all these news artical now about how he's filed the most evictions out of any realitor in my county, how his properties have major upkeep issues (my apartment had a hole through the glass back door that was never fixed, and I have video I can dig up of a leak in my ceiling from the apartment above me pouring water into my bathroom multiple times a day. Not leaking, or dropping, POURING, and it only got fixed cause I was lucky enough to run into the handyman and speak with him myself, and I'm even luckier he was there to run into) how he's had mold outbreaks in both Topeka and Emporia due to maintenance neglect, literal tax evasion on those Emporia properties , bribing tenants for good reviews in Wichita (he later refused to pay), rent hikes (the whole reason I didn't renew my lease is because of a 100$ rent hikes + new fees), bedbug and roach issues among other things.

This feels completely unfixable. I'm going to have to grovle at this man's feet to fix the fact that HE EVICTED ME FROM AN EMPTY APARTMENT AFTER MY LEASE HAD ENDED and even then it's not gaurinteeed.

Y'all's should boost this cause I don't want anyone else in ks to get stuck dealing with this shit

Don't rent from Eucalyptus Realty or Lew McGinnus

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Central City Lemonade Stand

Fandom: DC Comics, Flashfam

Summary: Teeny Tiny Thad spends the summer with Grandpa Barry and Grandma Iris.

Chapters: 1/?

Characters: Thad Thawne, Barry Allen, Iris West, August Heart, Owen Mercer, Meloni Thawne, Don Allen

Additional Tags: No Powers AU, POV Barry Allen, Don Allen is Alive, Tiny Bart and Thad, Fluff and Angst

Chapter One: Newest Detective

I came in from a crime scene to fill out paperwork in my lab. There was a sticky note on my door, and I assumed it was a joke from my coworkers, but I took it and read it. "Do not disturb, unless Barry," I read aloud, "Unless Barry? What does that mean?" I could tell it was August's handwriting, so I went inside. I almost didn't notice the bundle of blankets in my desk chair while tidying up. I walked around the office, poring over my notes before I heard someone's stomach growl. The bundle of blankets moved, and I jumped. I thought it was a kitten or a puppy that August picked up. Then I got a closer look at the blankets. They were Thad's baby blankets.

"Noodle?" I asked as I removed the blankets and picked up my grandson. He wrapped his arms around my neck, and I plopped down in my chair, wondering how he got into my office. "Where's Donny and Mel?"

"At home," Thad mumbled into my shoulder, "I ran away." My heart dropped as I realized how dangerous his trip must've been, and I wondered why Mel and Donny didn't call me.

"Okay. Well, we should call so your parents know you're safe," I whispered. Thad shook his head. "Come on, Noodle. For me?"

Thad nodded. "I don't want to talk, though," Thad replied. I rubbed his back as I dialed the number and put the phone on speaker.

"Hi, Grandpa Barry!" Bart answered.

"Hi, Barry!" Owen greeted.

"You fellas are one short... Where's Thad?" I asked.

"With Grandpa," Bart answered.

"Okay... Put Donny and Mel on the phone... I need to talk to them privately," I commanded gently.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Bart yelled. I could hear them scrambling to give the phone to their parents.

"Hi, Dad. Is everything okay?" Donny asked.

"Where's Noodle?" I questioned.

"At his Grandpa's," Mel chimed in.

"He has two grandpas... And he's with me," I confessed. Donny gasped. "Now, don't worry. He's alright. I think August got him settled in my office. What happened at home?"

"He got into a scuffle with Bart, and I guess we could've dealt with things better—. How did he get all the way to Kansas by himself?" Donny asked.

"I don't know yet. I can keep Thad for a little while until things cool down if you want," I suggested.

"If that's what Tad wants, then that's okay," Mel replied, "Will you tell him that we love him and give him a kiss for us, Dad?"

I insisted that Mel call me Dad. She was a sweet kid and a doting mother, and she made Donny happy. "I will, Mel. I love you, kids, okay?" I whispered.

"We love you too, Dad. We'll call you tomorrow to see if everything's okay," Donny replied.

They hung up, and I pressed a few kisses to Thad's cheek. "Hungry?" I asked. Thad nodded.

"Can we have nuggets and apples?" Thad asked. I chuckled.

"How could I say no to nuggets and apples?" I smiled as I tapped him on the nose.

Thad smiled at me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy to have him around, even under the circumstances. He hopped down and reached for my hand. "Grandpa Barry?" Thad whispered.

"Yes, Noodle?" I asked.

"Is Grandma gonna be mad?" Thad questioned.

I thought about it for a while, so Thad knew I wasn't giving him the answer he wanted. "No, Grandma's gonna be excited to see you," I reassured him, "But I still think it'd be a good idea if I brought you home at the end of my shift instead of dropping you off."

"Okay," Thad replied. He grabbed my hand, and we left my office. We ran into August on my way out.

"Hey, you goin' out for lunch?" August asked. I nodded. "Bring me back something?"

"Can do," I replied.

I had to get his car seat out of my trunk when we got to the car, but he climbed in and helped me set it up. I buckled him in and fixed his hat on his head. He was asleep within minutes. Had it been Bart, he would've asked question after question the whole ride to the restaurant. I glanced at the backseat once we were in the drive-thru, and Thad had his thumb in his mouth. "Noodle, we're here. Still want nuggets and apples?" I asked. He nodded, still half-asleep. I ordered our food and got him a toy on my way back. "We've got a few more hours at the precinct, and then we can go home."

Thad chewed on his apples first and stared out the window. "You can dip them in your caramel if you want," I offered. Thad shook his head.

By the time we reached the precinct, Thad had eaten the last of his apples, and he neatly folded up his bag, waiting for me to unbuckle him. Thad knew how to unbuckle himself, but he wanted to be sure it was time to get out of the car. I appreciated his caution. I let him ride on my back and held the food with one hand and our drinks with the other. August was waiting in my office when we returned, and I gave him his bag. "Grandpa get you a toy? Or should I take him in?" August joked. Thad grinned and showed August the little Hot Wheels car that came with his kid's meal. "Oh, wow! Nice Buick!"

Thad bobbed his head side-to-side proudly as he ate his nuggets. I twisted in the chair with Thad, and he looked up at me. "Grandpa Barry," Thad whispered.

"Sorry," I replied. August chuckled.

Thad finished his meal and threw his garbage away. "Did the fibers from the closet come back yet?" August asked casually.

I nodded. "No match to the fibers found on the victim's neck," I replied, "But, I did find something interesting about it. The fibers are mohair, and the mohair fabric—."

"What's mohair, Grandpa?" Thad questioned as he drank his juice. He seemed invested in the conversation as any detective would be, and I wasn't in the business of giving patronizing answers to my grandkids. They were all pretty smart kids.

I logged into my computer and completed the search for him. "It's a fabric made from goat hair that's prone to shedding, and this is not a fabric that you'd want to get wet. Mohair is prone to warping and shrinkage when exposed to water... And it's a direct match to the fibers found at two other crime scenes. The first involves a missing person's case from six months ago," I explained. August perked up.

"The Edmonds case?" August asked.

"Yup. And the Roberson case," I added.

"Still doesn't explain why there was no sign of breaking and entering," August mumbled.

"Unless they were selling sweaters," Thad whispered. We both looked at him. "Did I say something wrong, Grandpa?"

"No, I think you just gave us a lead. I'm gonna look into this, and if I find anything, you are getting the biggest ice cream cone known to man," August promised him on his way out the door.

Thad looked up at me, and I grinned. "How'd you think of that?" I asked.

"Sometimes Mommy buys things from door-to-door salesmen," Thad answered. Kids, right. I messed up his hair and took a sip of my soda.

"You're so helpful," I commended him.

"Will you tell Grandma Iris that I helped?" Thad asked. I knew why he asked, but I nodded anyway. Thad was always a bit afraid of Iris, and I could never understand why.

"Grandma's gonna ask how you got here... You know that, right?" I questioned.

"Mhm," Thad whispered.

"Are you gonna tell her?" I asked.

"Can you?" Thad replied. He seemed so distraught I couldn't be moved to chuckle. I kissed the top of his head to reassure him.

"You'd have to tell me how you got here first," I explained.

[b-afterhours]

Avenue of Sins: Epilogue

SUMMARY: a story of two misfit kids from mid-west america making it big in the big apple. and in the true sense of the american dream they find themselves in a life of sex, money, drugs, and a little rock n roll too.

WARNINGS: adult content, mature readers only.

if you’re seeing this for the first time you can read part one here and if you need to catch up on previous chapters go here.

series playlist

Authors Note: Buckle in this one is a long one, 14k words. Thank you if you ever made it this far ♡

Three Years Later…

September 1992

It felt like it was happening all over again. Except Bill was on a plane ready to land in Seattle, Washington. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes as the plane descended, his least favorite part about flying. He hadn’t traveled in what seemed like years from New York City. He was too busy with managing Trigger Finger to travel and too paranoid to leave it. He felt like if he ever did the place would burn down or even worse, raided by the DEA. That was until recently after a year's worth of paperwork and back door deals he was able to relax some. 

He needed a partner who cared about Trigger Finger XXX as much as he did but some who also cared about Myrna. Someone who knew her. He proposed half of the ownership to his confidant and oldest friend at the club, Cooch the Coach who he now called Bianca, his business partner. A lot of things shifted at the club. Once Bianca became a partner she passed down her title of house mother to Kansas. She took it only if she never had to perform again and just took care of the girls. Bill was fine with that even though he would miss her earnings. Most notable was when Queenie became head bartender, replacing Alma when she decided to leave. 

Alma left. It wasn’t a surprise. He could feel her slowly pulling away ever since that night. That night. He didn’t want her to go. He didn’t get to make up all the times he meant to say ‘I love you’ yet. He still had all the ones he thought. 

When she decided to go she told him only that she wanted to take a trip back home to the middle of nowhere, Strathburg, Missouri. She missed her mom, she said. It was time she saw her again just for a week she told him. In his heart, he knew. She wasn’t coming back. She was letting him down easy. To get used to the feeling of her not being there. A week turned into two. And on the third week, she called. Her mom was sick. She will be staying until she gets better. Bill didn’t question her even though he wondered if she was being truthful. 

Two months later Alma’s mother passed away. Her leaving must have been divine timing Bill thought to make Alma’s defection less about him. He couldn't imagine what kind of heartbreak she would have gone through knowing she never got to say goodbye after years of not seeing her mother. One of Bill’s older brothers went to Mrs. Lucio’s funeral. To pay his respects to a matriarch of their community on behalf of his extended family. Bill wired his brother money to help Alma with funeral costs, even though she probably didn't need it but he wanted his brother to get close enough to her so that he could report back all about her. How she looked. If she asked about him. 

“Arrived. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The time is 9:45 AM and it’ll be a brisk 70 degrees out with a light drizzle.” The pilot announced as soon as they began to taxi to the gate. 

Bill finally exhaled the breath he had held in, anxiously awaiting to stretch his long legs that had been cramped during the four-hour one-way flight despite booking first class. He had traveled out of Kansas City. Making a quick stop to visit his two older brothers. The oldest of whom he had expected to ask him for money but not until he had settled in. He asked him an hour into being back home in Strathburg. The other second oldest who loved him but disapproved of his life, he was most happy to see. Because at least he lived honestly and told Bill what he needed to hear from time to time. It felt bleak being back home but at least he felt justified for leaving it behind seeing the state of the town in shambles. He knew he’d hang himself from the white oak tree he’d liked to climb in his childhood he had not. 

He joined his second oldest brother to the grocery store for barbecue meats to celebrate his last night in town when he unexpectedly ran into Alma’s father, Mr. Lucio. He almost hadn’t recognized the old man. Alma’s parents were much older when they had her and the man now walked with a hunch and a cane. He wore a trucker cap and a clean mechanics work shirt. 

“Billy Skarsgard?” Mr. Lucio said after having stared at Bill nearly unable to recall him. 

“Yes, sir. How have you been?” 

The old man grumbled disapprovingly. “Okay…” he said looking behind him and towards another woman near his age getting into the passenger seat of his Chevy pickup. “I’ve gotten remarried a few years ago… long before Mrs. Lucio passed, mind you.” 

“Yes, I’m sorry to hear that.” Bill slid his hands into his pockets feeling uncomfortable. 

“Alma… she wasn’t so happy hearing that we separated while she was gone. But she hardly ever called, you see.” Mr. Lucio gave him a pointed look. “Well, I wish I could say it was good to see you…” 

“I understand, Mr. Lucio.” Bill frowned a bit. 

He rolled his eyes and exhaled harshly out his flared nostrils once he was able to leave the old man's presence and join his brother inside the run-down store. Mr. Lucio never liked him but for some reason, a part of him hoped he’d regard him as the grown man he was now rather than the teenage boy he knew before. 

…

Bill had rented a Honda Civic from the airport and took the short drive to his hotel. His nerves were beginning to get to him even worse than they had been before he started his journey. Alma had some knowledge of his arrival. During a phone call last week, he had told her he’d be traveling to visit her within the month. He was scared to give her an exact date of his arrival, irrationally worried that she may suddenly skip town and evade him. On their occasional phone calls, he would always have a notepad by his side. Taking note of the places she visited, or the friends she had, but one in particular was the note he made that she worked at a record shop. She probably would have told him the name of the place had he asked but he was oddly too scared to. Instead, he made things more difficult and acquired a Seattle/Tacoma phonebook and had Queenie call every record shop in the area asking for her. 

“Sheisty Sound Records, how can I help you?” 

“Hello, uh, yes I was wanting to speak to Alma. Does she happen to be in today? I have a question about a uh, return?” Queenie said her mind was tired of repeating the same script over and over by this point. 

“Alma is busy with a customer right now but I can-” 

Queenie slammed down the phone on the receiver and screamed in elation and relief. She ran up the stairs to the loft office and barged in without knocking. Startling Bill and his bodyguard Theo as they were speaking. 

“Sheisty Sound Records! I found her, Bill!” 

“No way!” He said perking up in his seat and taking the piece of paper Queenie had written down the much-needed information he was seeking. “Shit! Thank you so much.”

Queenie stood there proudly before asking, “I really hope you go see her now. I miss her. Bring her back Bill. Last time she visited she didn’t stay very long and we hardly saw her.” 

Bill smiled sheepishly but thanked her again for her trouble and promised her a personal tip that night. 

In his hotel room, Bill immediately entered the hot shower after he made a phone call to the record store asking for Alma and hung up before an employee could pass the line over to her. The steam from the shower felt glorious to him. He didn’t like how the recycled plane air stuck to his skin and made his face and lips dry. As he stood there letting the water cascade over his body he reminisced about the last time he had seen Alma almost two years ago. For some reason, it didn’t feel as nerve-racking to see her then as it did now. He thought that maybe after dealing with her mother's affairs after her death was done her trip back to New York City was her coming back home to him. Unfortunately, she had only come all that way to gather some of her main belongings and give away a few other things to whichever girl at the club wanted them. 

He was rather sad that she wasn’t staying but he decided that he wouldn’t hold her back. He felt that he had done so long enough. He remembered one night they were together they spoke only once and briefly about Craig before mutually changing the subject. It still felt too raw, too real then. Alma admitted to him that she still had night terrors about it. He admitted the same but didn’t tell her that Craig succeeded in killing her in his dreams instead. Bill watched her speak and noticed how her skin looked so plump and less sunken. Her eyes had a spark to them again and it made his heart flutter. She had stopped doing drugs cold turkey just by being in Strathburgh for the last year. She looked healthy and it seemed like she had a slightly better disposition on life despite her mother’s passing. He knew her mother was the only thing tying her to their home town and in some way, her passing freed her from that place.  

Bill ran a bar of Ivory soap across his body remembering how Alma touched him the last time they made love. Real love. The type of lovemaking that still could shudder his breath thinking about. When she was back he told her loved her constantly but that night he couldn’t keep the words out of his mouth. They kissed every inch of each other. Their bodies had connected thousands of times before but that night they were never more aware of how perfect they fit until that moment. Like it was meant to be. 

Bill quickly rinsed off, trying to keep himself from being too distracted by those thoughts. Drying off, he lit a cigarette before using the hotel hair dryer. He wanted to get ready quickly and hoped that maybe he could catch Alma on a lunch break or if not he could scope the place out and try again tomorrow. Once the steam from the mirror in front of him dissipated he looked at his face in the mirror and contemplated trimming his facial hair or shaving it all off. He swiped his hand across his upper lip stubble one last time and decided he wouldn’t mind a clean shave. 

After a quick stop at a flower shop, where he ordered a fresh bouquet of white and light pink peonies. It felt weird to show up to Sheisty Sound Records empty-handed. He sat in the car for a moment observing the Seattleites walking around with hot cups of coffee, wearing what seemed to be tattered hand-me-downs and, a lot of flannel. His gaze fell back on the shop when a logging truck revved by. The youths skating in front of the place and loitering by the shop didn’t help with his uneasiness. He could see his old self in them but they seemed more ruthless than he had ever been. He figured maybe it was because he was getting old and losing his edge. 

He stepped out of the small Civic, placing the bouquet on the roof so that he could bend down to retie his Doc Marten bootlace and pat down his crease-ironed trousers clean from lint along with his black Louis Vuitton polo shirt. He lightly jogged across the street with the bouquet in hand and as he got closer to the record shop he tightened his long black pea coat to his body as he passed the teenagers cracking jokes and making a slight ruckus after a young boy fell off his skateboard trying to do a simple kickflip. Just as quickly as he spotted them, they spotted his tall imposing figure in all black approaching them. The three teen girls who were looking up at him jaws dropped and their hands came up to their mouths as they tried to stifle their blushing giggles. The teen boys just stared at him unsure of how to react to him but they quickly rolled their eyes when noticing the girl's reaction. 

“Holy fuck he’s tall as hell!” 

He heard one of the boys say as he walked inside the establishment. He stood there a moment until a woman with a baby on her hip and a diaper bag in hand passed him and politely asked if he’d help her open the door. He nodded and did so taking a look at the bundled baby in a white puffer onesie and a matching beanie as the child waved at him. He caught himself smiling. 

Bill took a gaze at the record shop, the same as many others only that it was much bigger inside than he anticipated. From the outside, it looked more like a small hole-in-the-wall establishment but inside it spanned much longer. Something he hadn’t seen in most record shops was that they had a back area with a stage reminding him of when he used to manage local NYC punk bands. This looked like the type of venue he would have booked back then. It was a nice place he had to admit and it was just the kind of place he would find Alma.

There was a folksy rock song playing on the store's stereo system as he approached the cash wrap which sat in the middle of the place similar to a circulation desk you would see in a public library. He cleared his throat to gain the attention of a girl with a bleached buzz cut and a septum piercing she fashioned with a diary lock. She was rifling through a stack of tapes with chipped red painted fingernails and idly conversing with another employee, a guy with long hair in a low ponytail who was wearing a thrifted brown tweed suit jacket over a white band tee riddled with cigarette-burned holes. 

“Excuse me, I’m a friend of Alma? I was hoping she’d be here?” He said, lifting a brow nervous that he may not even be at the right record shop after all. 

“Alma? Umm…” the girl looked around the store for a moment. “I think she’s still on her lunch break?” 

“No.” The guy said with a bored sigh, never looking up from his task of pricing records. “She took an early lunch break today. She might be in the back.” He shrugged. 

Another employee stopped near them in passing, overhearing them. She was tall, with afro twists adorned with gold string embellishments on the two front twists. 

“I last saw her by the bathrooms,” she said leaning on the cashier counter handing the girl with the buzzcut a few more tapes. “Here you go, Ulyssa.” 

“Those kids outside I swear they misplaced the tapes on purpose,” the girl with the buzzcut, Ulyssa grumbled.  

Bill stood there impatiently, they spoke almost as if he weren’t even there. They hardly ever looked at him beyond their tasks at hand. Unconsciously, he rubbed his temple. Was Alma there or were they fucking with him, he thought. 

“Okay… but she's here, right?” He asked. 

“Yes, I’m here.” A familiar voice announced before laughing. 

He looked a little behind him to his right and saw Alma there leaning against the threshold of a small office room. She looked different but in a good way. He noticed she had adapted her style to where she was now. Wearing high-waisted mom jeans, a plain white shirt tucked in under an oversized brown cardigan, and black Converse. The biggest difference was her long teased hair was cropped to her shoulders in a long bob and she was wearing her glasses again. A pair without a chip in it. 

“You gonna just stand there or do you wanna come into my office?” She smiled at him. 

Bill smiled too as he finally approached. She took his hand and closed the door behind him before she hugged him tightly. She couldn’t help herself and snuggled her face into his chest taking in the scent of him. She missed him that was for sure. He felt her hands snake around to his back feeling around to the front of his chest again. She bent all the way down sliding her hands on the outer side of his legs. Bill looked at her curiously, his mind going in a direction he didn’t expect their first encounter to go, at least, not yet. Until, on her way back up she swiped her hands on the inner side of his legs stopping just before she touched his crotch. There was a devious grin on her face. 

“Really? You’re seriously checking me for a fucking wire?” Bill said with a smirk of disbelief on his face. 

Alma laughed. “You never know.” 

“You never, what? Do you not know me anymore?” While it was a rhetorical question in nature he couldn’t help but wonder.

“Oh my god, Bill.” Alma groaned, rolling her eyes. She took a seat, not in her office chair, but instead one of the two that sat in front of it. “I’m just fucking with you.”

“I had pictured this going so differently.” He said taking a seat next to her. 

“Disappointed? 

“No, I was just so nervous and here we are again back to how we’ve always kinda been.” He shrugged. “I got these for you,” he said, passing her the bouquet of peonies. 

She smiled nearly burying her face in to smell them. “Aww, thank you. You’re so sweet when you let yourself be, you know?” She said, hugging his hand briefly. “I’ll put these in a vase after lunch.” 

“Your coworkers out there said you took an early lunch?” He lifted a brow. 

“But you’re here now, aren’t you hungry? Wait, how long have you been in town?” 

Bill looked at his silver Rolex watch. “Hmm, since mid-morning. Almost 4 hours?” 

“Okay, so let's get something to eat. I have a weird shift today. It’s a half day and then I’ve gotta come back later this evening because we have a show tonight.” 

“A show?”

“Let’s go! I’ll explain once we’re out of here.” She said standing up and grabbing both of his hands so that he would also. 

They walked hand in hand to a little family-owned pizzeria a few blocks away. Bill couldn’t help but notice how he looked like her tall looming shadow with the outfit he chose to wear. 

“You’re very sneaky but not really.” 

He heard her say suddenly wondering what she meant until she explained. 

“So which girl in the club did you have play as your private investigator?” 

Bill stopped in his tracks. “What?”

Alma turned around to look at him. “Oh, don’t play coy. You know you just could have asked me where I work. I wasn’t keeping it a secret.”

“You knew I was coming?” 

“In a way…” she said, retaking his hand so they could continue walking just a little bit further to enter the pizzeria. “Let's just get our pizza slices to go. We can talk in the plaza. Away from people.” 

They sat on a bench affixed with a large metal rain awning as they ate. Bill again watched the people in the strange cloudy city he was in. Miles away from New York eating subpar pizza. Though he wasn’t a born and raised New Yorker living there for over 10 years had made him a bit of a snob, though he rather not admit that. 

“New York pizza is better, huh?” Alma noticed Bill’s expression as she threw her pizza crust to a squirrel nearby. “It’s just what's close by,” Alma shrugged. 

“It’s fine enough, I guess. So… how’d you know I was coming? Do you have one of my girls working as a mole in my club for you?” 

Alma lightly laughed. “No. Well… not really. Cooch tells me stuff here and there but she’s not telling me the details of your day or anything like that.”

“Hmm,” he said to himself. Of course, it would be his business partner, of all people. Bianca liked them both and in the same way, Myrna did, she encouraged him to be with Alma. She was the reason he finally flew to town.

“Don’t be mad at her. If I want to know something I always call you first. It’s just sometimes a little verification doesn’t hurt. I really do want to know if you’re okay beyond what you share with me. Besides, it wasn’t her that blew your cover, it was you.”

“How? I didn’t say when I was coming.” 

“It was almost like a month ago? Someone called the store and Ulyssa told me a girl had called asking for me but they hung up on her face. Usually, when people ask for me they stay on the line to bitch about something. But I shrugged it off, until you told me almost a week after that, that you were going to dirty ol’ Strathburg but not when and you didn’t give me a date of when you were coming here either. But I knew Strathburg was a pit stop, at the very least.”

“Okay, okay so you knew.” 

“Well yes and no. I figured out you were coming but not until today. When you called asking for me and hung up in Ulyssa’s face again! And she said it was some guy this time. But yeah, I figured it was you.” She lightly laughed. 

“So are you happy that I’m here or do you feel put out that I came?” He leaned forward and clasped his hands turning his head towards her. 

“What? Never. Of course, I’m happy that you’re here.” She scooted closer to him, hooking her arm under his, and hugging it. “You can stay as long as you want. You can stay forever even.” 

He turned his head again towards her and kissed her. Doing so seemed to settle his worrisome mind. “I missed you. I love you.” 

“I know…” 

“I know we talk as much as we can but there’s so much stuff we can’t say,” Bill said and Alma nodded in agreement. 

While apart they would speak regularly but Bill could be paranoid and they both agreed that they would speak moderately vague. Afraid that in an unfortunate series of events, his phone lines have been taped or maybe someone could overhear something they weren’t supposed to. It’s the reason why he never asked Alma where she worked and the same reason Alma would call Cooch to verify things. 

“How long are you in town for?"

"I have a flight back on Sunday so 4 days? Three and a half now. But I mean I can really go back whenever I want. I don’t work as much when it comes to pushing cocaine. I’m nearly out. I just do some middleman sales with Alvin’s creepy ass.” 

“At least you finally admit he’s a creep! He’s an asshole too.” 

“I mean… I knew but he’s nobody.” He shrugged a bit but laughed. “I don’t touch the stuff anymore it became a bit tired. Boring even. It’s not as fun without you.” 

Alma rolled her eyes but smiled. “Oh please. But you do look really good, Bill.” She said, squeezing his bicep. He flexed a little to amuse her. “You look like some of those daddies that come to your club now.” 

“Oh yeah?” He smiled, kissing her on the cheek. Alma liked the feeling, she was so used to his stubbly kisses that his bare-faced ones felt so much sweeter. 

“Let’s not start…” she said suggestively.

“Okay, so as I was saying. I don’t sell grams to the patrons. But, there’s two guys – two dealers – who know Alvin that sell in the club. Same shit that we sold but they do the grunt work and all I do is take a fee from their sales inside my club. So I’m not making as much money as I was but… I don’t really need to.” 

“Smart. When people get greedy that’s when they lose it all.” 

Bill nodded. “True. Plus I just don’t want to deal with it anymore, honestly. Things are getting really ugly in NYC because everyone is cooking it down to rock. It’s just everywhere.”

“I heard.” Alma shook her head. “Here, people are mostly fucked off of dope. Gives me the heebie-jeebies. It’s not very glamorous either.” 

“Not at all. And you? How’s work and all that?” He leaned back on the bench placing a long arm over her shoulders.

“It’s busy like I said before on the phone. But it’s nice, the employees are great. If they ask, you’re a businessman, by the way, that's what I’ve told them,” she winked at Bill’s amused face. “But the music scene is so different here but I like it. The people here are a little bit nicer than people in the city for sure. I applied to night school. I start next spring semester, so that’s something new at least.” She shrugged. 

“Really? So you’re really going back?” Bill had recalled a late-night phone call after having phone sex with her that they spoke a bit about it but she was still indecisive about the prospect then. 

“Yes. I’m going to try at least.” She shrugged. “I- um it’s just the time management of it all, you know.” She sighed. She looked more stressed about the thought than she was letting on. Though, Bill figured it was just nerves because she hadn’t been in an academic setting in so long.

“Well I’m glad,” he said, rubbing her shoulder. “I’m sure you can do it. It’s just that means…” 

“I’ll be staying here.” She nodded with a slight frown on her lips. “I… want to go back. I do but there are just some – things – here that I have to take care of first.” Her gaze fell away from him as she explained which he found odd. It was avoidant and that unsettled him. As he was just about to ask what those things were, she stood up. “Um, we should go back to the shop the band roadies are supposed to be there around now. I need to be a boss and oversee that shit. You know how it goes,” she winked. 

…

Bill found himself moseying the record aisle while Alma helped direct the roadies where the music equipment needed to be on stage. He leafed through a table of records, seeing how many albums he could recognize when a copy of Dark Entries by Bauhaus jumped out at him. He smiled to himself, remembering the copy he used to personally own. He plucked it off the table and turned his head towards Alma. She was still preoccupied, letting in another group of bulky bearded men holding cases of beer, a cooler, and several bags of ice from the back door. At the counter sat the tall girl with long twists checking a customer out and placing their items in a brown bag, hand stamped in blue ink with the store's name on it. 

“Hey, um, I’m sorry. I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Bill, Alma’s uh friend, yeah.” He said awkwardly because all things considered saying he was just a friend just didn’t feel right. Though, it was useless to get into the complicated specifics with a stranger. 

“Right. I’m Ash.” She said playfully pulling the skirt of her long maxi dress and giving him a curtsy. “You thinking of buying that?” She asked, pointing at the record in his hand. 

“Uh, actually I was hoping you could play it on the sound system?” He said handing it to her. 

“Oh, sure, no problem.” She looked at the cover and smiled. “Bauhaus, old school nice!” 

Bill smirked but he thanked her. Instead of standing around, he decided to duck off into Alma’s office leaving the door open to listen to the track he requested. He took off his coat draping it across the back of her office chair and looked around at the decor. It was mostly band posters and stickers stuck everywhere on the walls. Even on the windows, he could see out of which wrapped around the top half of the office. On the desk were only some payroll paperwork along with a few checked-out library books. Mostly a few nonfiction music bios, but there were two about feminism and two Dr. Seuss books. 

He was trying to get a sense of where Alma was at mentally but a part of him wanted to be naive. Not everything had to have a deeper meaning, he thought to himself but it didn’t satisfy him like he wished it would. He didn’t like the thought that she’d be living in Seattle longer than he anticipated. It had already been three years, wasn't that enough? Wasn’t he enough to go back by now? Something about how she deliberately avoided his gaze earlier bothered him too and he loathed that he felt that way. There was something she wasn’t telling him. 

…

Bill was buying beer from the impromptu bar those three bearded men were running, collecting bills in meaty clenched fists. He knew they were operating without licenses but he thought it was funny that even if Alma was working in a legit business she still found a way to be shady by outsourcing bikers for bartenders. The band, Fringe Fangs, was on stage shortly after Ulyssa and the guy with the ponytail from earlier who he learned was named Gregory did a jumbled and long-winded slam poetry duet as an opening act. 

“I just let them express themselves,” Alma said in a hushed whisper during their set when she noticed Bill side-eying her. “They’re very passionate, I guess.” She clamped her hand on her mouth to keep from laughing. 

Bill finally had two Rainier beers in hand, trying to circumnavigate the crowd who were moshing in the middle pushing the people near the edges where he was at. Like a sixth sense, he was able to spot someone barreling towards him and he quickly stepped back and turned his body to the side before being taken down with the unlucky few in front of him. He couldn’t remember the last time he was in a mosh pit but the way his joints ached these days he couldn’t even if he wanted to.

Alma had noticed the commotion that had happened in front of him and laughed but was glad he had made it back unscathed and two beer cans still full. They enjoyed the show by the sound mixing table at a safe distance from the chaos of thrashing bodies. He enjoyed the music and while the band wasn’t as great as some of the grunge tracks he’d listened to in his free time back home, they weren’t as bad for what it was worth. He noticed Ulyssa tap Alma on the shoulder from behind and she leaned her ear toward her mouth as she spoke. Alma’s brows furrowed before nodding her head in understanding. She turned around and downed the last bit of her beer and set it down on the floor. 

She put her hand up half-fisted with her thumb and pinky out to the side of her face and mouthed, “I have a call.” And then she put her pointer finger up letting him know she’ll only be a minute. 

He positioned his body in a way so that he could see a bit behind him to watch Alma followed by Ulyssa to the circulation cash wrap counter. He saw Alma put the phone to one ear and the other she covered with her hand to be able to hear whoever was on the other line. Her face looked somewhat apologetic as she spoke and then a strained frown appeared as she looked at Ulyssa who stood by also seeming to want to know the details of the call. Alma leaned her elbows on the desk, rubbing her forehead before hanging up. Ulyssa placed a hand on her shoulder as Alma seemed to have told her the particulars of the mysterious call she received. He noticed that she pointed at him and then Ulyssa walked around the cashier wrap, grabbing her tote bag and retrieving car keys out of them before slinging it over her shoulder. 

He turned back towards the stage again, took a sip of his beer, and swallowed hard. But not before catching a glimpse of Ulyssa holding Alma’s face in her hands as to reassure her before hugging her tightly. 

…

They were able to leave the record shop show at a decent time for them. While it was late, it wasn’t as late as when they would leave Trigger Finger. A few other employees who came in for the evening shift stayed behind to clean in understanding that their boss was hosting a friend from out of town as it seemed to him. However, she wasn’t hosting him at her apartment and instead, she asked if they could stay at his hotel. Especially, after having learned that he was staying in a king suite at the Fairmont Olympic. It was a fancy institution in Seattle close to Elliot Bay. 

“You set all this up?” She said taking her black Converse off as she entered the suite. She shrugged her tote bag off her shoulder glad that she always had an extra outfit in her office, something she learned to do while working at the club. 

“Well, there’s a patron at the club who’s a travel agent. I just told him what accommodations I wanted and he did all the work.” He said scratching the back of his ear before taking her tote bag and setting it on the couch.

He watched her walk towards the bedroom, swiping her hand across the neatly laid down comforter before going towards the window and opening the canvas blinds. Light rain was running down the glass as she gazed at the lit city below. He felt pulled towards her and as he approached and wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her neck. She leaned back, relaxing into his embrace and reaching a hand up to thread it into the hair on the back of his neck. 

“I love you,” he said between kisses. 

“I love you too,” she said, turning around to meet her lips with his. When she could feel him slowly inching them towards the bed she reluctantly pulled away and lightly laughed. “Could I, maybe, take a shower first? I had a long day and the show made me sweaty.” She said as she took her glasses off, shrugged her cardigan off, and tossed them on the single upholstered chair in the room.

“Oh yeah sure,” Bill said, catching his breath. 

“You can come too,” she winked, walking past him towards the bathroom as he followed with a smile on his face. 

He took off his shirt on the way in and fiddled with the shower taps to find a comfortable temperature for Alma. When he turned around she was already standing bare before him. His heart skipped. When she saw his eyes widen for a brief moment, she giggled. He took her hand, leading her into the shower, and made quick work of removing his pants and underwear in one fell swoop to join her under the warm shower of water. The sexual tension between them was palpable but he let her have a moment to wash her hair in which he helped scrub her scalp and while she conditioned it he wet his hair to make do with his. When he finished Alma was facing him for a moment, handing him a soapy washcloth and turning around again prompting him to run it along her body. He ran it along her back gingerly but as he ran it against her hips he couldn’t help but become enamored by how womanly her body had become. Soft in all the right places. He couldn’t take it anymore and pressed his body against her back. She gasped when she felt how hard he was pushing on her ass cheek. He continued running the washcloth delicately multiple times across her breasts which caused her eyes to flutter closed appreciating the sensations. She felt his lips on her neck again kissing tenderly as he dragged the washcloth towards her belly and squeezed the soap from it. The way the suds trickled down to her core tickled her for only a moment when they were replaced with his bare hand touching her there. His other hand was around a tit pinching her nipple. She opened her eyes to look down at the familiar but dearly missed sight, making her moan which echoed in the acoustics of the bathroom. Her hips bucked back as he made purposeful circles around her sensitive nub so that she could feel more of him hard-pressed against her. 

Bill stopped when she was near climaxing putting his hands on her hips to turn her around and got down on one knee. She leaned as comfortably as she could against the white tiled shower wall while hooking her leg around his shoulder before he delved in with his mouth. He wanted to taste her first climax of the night on his eager tongue. 

Cutting the shower off, Alma wrung her hair out quickly and took Bill’s hand as he led their way to bed. She wanted him so bad and he did as well but the shower wasn’t the best place when you need to be agile. He spun her to the front himself so that she could settle into the bed before himself but she sat at the edge for a moment. Taking him into her hands to stroke him considerately, missing the feeling and appreciating the heft of his erection. He watched her kiss his dripping tip before fully taking him in her mouth relishing the feeling of the warm pressure. Her hands assisted her by lightly massaging his balls. He looked at her affectionately while he gathered her wet hair in one hand and the other caressing her hollowed cheek prompting her to gaze up at him. He took the hand lightly tugging his balls and held it before he pulled his hips back to slightly thrust into her mouth. It was a courtesy thrust to alert her that he was going to do it again but less gently. She looked up again and nodded once, ready for him. She took him all the way to the back of her throat and she heard Bill deeply groan while her eyes were shut tight as they watered. 

“You’re always such a good girl for me,” he said. 

While he was enjoying himself he wanted to be inside her for real. So he gently pulled away and let her catch her breath. He crawled into bed following her as she scooted backward and finally reached her lips. He took the back of her head again to hold her there as he swiped his tongue along her bottom lip begging to be let in. As they made out, he positioned himself and perfectly aligned with her, muscle memory taking over. She followed the hand cradling her head down to the pillow, ready for him. He pushed inside her ever so gently which she loved because she liked to feel all of him slowly filling her wanting to feel every ridge and vein. Once he could push in no longer they both moaned from the feeling. The connection, the fullness, the tightness. He gave her several long strokes, all the way out and all the in, before pumping in and out of her in an even rhythm. 

They were filling the room with moans and obscene noises as they kissed and nipped at each other's skin. Like him being inside her wasn’t enough, they wished to be closer than humanly possible. Alma looked down between them to see him thrusting inside her and the erotic sight made her body hot. Her stomach muscles began to tighten and Bill closed the gap between them when felt that tension around him. He was ready but he kept up his pace so that she could come with him and he could tell she was so close. He ran his right hand down her leg and hooked it around her knee to prop it up creating more room for him to push deeper. Alma’s breath hitched at the feeling, she took his face into her hands so that he would look at her. The eye contact and the friction of their bodies linked together sent them over the edge. They came hard together. Barely able to catch a breath between their thumping hearts and residual moans. Their bodies felt amazing from what they could do to each other. 

….

It was early dawn when Bill awoke to Alma ending a hushed phone call and walking about the suite. He rubbed his tired eyes and stretched his long naked body still under the sheets. He reached towards the nightstand next to him to take a cigarette out of his pack. When he snapped his gold zippo lighter shut Alma appeared at the bedroom threshold half-dressed only wearing a cropped black Sonic Youth tee over red strappy bikini panties and long white socks. 

“You’re awake?” Alma said, surprised. 

Bill lifted a brow as he puffed on his cigarette. Before they went to bed after another bout of a more tender kind of lovemaking he imagined that when he woke up she’d still be next to him naked for a slow-to-rise kind of morning sex. 

“Yeah? I heard you hang up the phone.” When he said that he noticed her eyes gazed away from him. “You wanna smoke?” He said, trying to pull her eyes towards him again so that he could read them. There was something there when she did but he still didn’t know what exactly and he felt himself beginning to become frustrated. 

“I’m okay. I quit, it’s been a while now,” she said sitting at the edge of bed next to him. 

Somehow that annoyed him even more. So he took one last puff and stubbed it out on the hotel ashtray. He sat up, leaning against the headboard and placing his hand idly by his crotch. 

“Alma-” He bit his lip, stopping himself before his tone could take on too much of an edge. “Who were you talking to on the phone? And yesterday-” 

“I was talking to the owner of the record store just now,” she said quickly. Yet still, she couldn’t look at him. There was something wrong. “You know I have work in a little bit but I can just go and then take the rest of the day off after? I have to make sure things are okay first.” 

Things, he thought to himself again. He knew with the money they made at Trigger Finger she technically didn’t have to work, she was choosing to. If she hadn’t taken up night school in Seattle she could come back to New York and never had to work again. He knew she had more than a few reasons for not wanting to come back to New York but the city was so big she could find an area that felt like somewhere else easily. Alma peered at him through her hair and noticed he was watching the way she picked at her cuticles nervously. 

He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry Alma… I just don’t think that’s true?” 

“What?” She looked at him shocked, nearly offended he would even voice his distrust. Though maybe he had reason to, she thought to herself. 

“Something’s been off since I got here, frankly. The phone call during the show? You woke me up because you were on the phone at 5 a.m.? You even checked me for a fucking wire as soon as I was alone with you!” 

Alma sneered, shaking her head. “Oh for fucks sake!” She said getting up and leaving the room. 

“Alma!” He shouted, swiftly jumping up out of bed, frantically digging in his suitcase for a pair of boxer briefs and a black shirt. “Don’t you leave!” He said stepping into his underwear and quickly walking out of the bedroom as he pulled the shirt on. He nearly bumped into her when he met her in the living area. 

“Who were you on the phone with, Alma?” He said grabbing her arm so that she would look at him but instead, she pushed him off. 

“You’re fucking crazy!” 

“Is it the police? The feds? The fucking DEA?” He shouted, his eyes still trying to meet hers as she looked everywhere but him.

“I can’t fucking believe you right now!? After everything we’ve been through you think I’ve turned into a narc! You’re paranoid!” She said tapping her head with her pointer finger.

“Then what are you not telling me, hmm? You’ve been acting pretty damn shifty, what the hell am I supposed to think?!” 

Alma recoiled a bit but she brushed it off by running her hands tensely through her hair. Bill watched her take a seat on the couch, blinking several times as if to keep tears at bay. Suddenly he felt awful for being selfish and accusing her of being an informer. 

“Shit,” Alma said through a deep shaky sigh. Her whole demeanor had changed, she looked on edge and petrified. “Fuck it. Could I have a cigarette?” 

Bill returned from the bedroom with his pack of smokes. He lit her cigarette and sat on the coffee table in front of her. They were silent for a moment while she took a couple of puffs and rubbed her tired eyes. 

“I don’t know how to say this?” Alma said gazing at the ember at the end of her cig. “I um,” she sighed trying to find the right words. “So the last time I saw you, right?” She said finally looking at him which was a mistake because meeting his green eyes made her eyes water again. 

“Just tell me, Alma? Whatever it is. I won’t be mad.” He said putting a reassuring hand on her bare knee. 

Her anxiety-riddled heart was beating so hard against her chest. “See, I think you will?”

“What?” Bill said, pulling back confused. 

“B-but you have to understand I did this for a good reason, okay? I couldn’t bring… And you’re still into stuff in New York City i-it’s just not safe.” She said jumbled and stubbed out her cigarette. “You know what we did, Bill. It’s just not safe!” 

“I understand why you wouldn’t want to come back, especially after something like that. Okay, but that was on me. Joey Russo and I have been on good terms since he’s taken over. Everyone’s turned over a leaf and we’ve forgotten about Cr- him. Nothing will happen to you there.”

Alma shook her head. “I’m not worried about myself…” she said, putting a hand to the middle of her chest. “Bill…” her voice cracked. Before he could wipe the tears that had rolled down her cheeks she put her hands up stopping him. “Wait. The last time I was with you I-” she closed her eyes. “I got pregnant.” 

Suddenly Bill couldn’t breathe and the walls felt like they were closing in. There was a loud ringing in his ears and he was certain his heart went into arrest. Alma grabbed his hand when she noticed he looked a bit faint. Her touch brought him back but his heart was beating erratically. 

He took his hand away from hers. “Are you saying?” He stood up and paced in front of her trying to collect the thoughts of his racing mind with his hands clasped behind his head. “That you? What the fuck?!” 

“Bill, I'm so sorry. I should have told you. I was just so scared… and my head was still so fucked up then. I just did what I knew how and ran. I understand if you’re angry with me but don’t be mad at the baby.” She said wiping tears that wouldn’t stop running down her cheeks. 

“The baby!?” He said still unable to believe what he was hearing. “Alma why? Why would you keep this from me?!” He cried sitting defeatedly on the other end of the couch and buried his face into his hands. 

“Bill… I know you probably hate me now. And you don’t have to say anything and you don’t have to see me ever again after this but could you just let me explain? So even if you don’t want to see the baby you at least know? Could I at least give you that?” 

~~~

May 1991 

Ulyssa came over to Alma’s apartment bringing her soup after she had called in sick believing she had a stomach bug. She had felt awful these past few weeks but this day and the night before she had been throwing up anything she ate. Even on an empty stomach, she would heave, making her stomach muscles sore and her throat burn from the stomach acid. Ulyssa had become a good friend during her time in Seattle. She could seem quite serious because of the way she dressed and had a buzzcut and a bullring in her nose but she had a sweet pure soul. She was artistic and she always saw the good in people which Alma had seen people take advantage of but even when she realized she would still wish those people well. 

Alma opened the door wrapped in a duvet hardly having the strength to greet her. Ulyssa pushed her along back to the couch so that she could continue to relax and fight whatever ailed her. 

“I brought wedding soup and plain chicken and rice from the pizzeria,” she announced from the kitchen as she set the takeout on the counter. “Ash gave me some of her custom tea blends and insisted I make you some.” She walked back to the living room pulling two VHS tapes from her tote bag and holding them out in front of Alma who looked like a miserable lump on the couch. “I stopped at the video store on the way. Mermaids or Uncle Buck?” 

“You pick,” Alma said groggily.

“Okay… Mermaids it is. Maybe Cher will cheer you up,” she said, taking the VHS and putting it into the VCR player. “I’m going back to the kitchen to fix you up!” 

Ulyssa doted on her while she lay there hardly following the movie. She finally sat up to drink the tea Ash had sent with her. It tasted like peppermint and camomile and that helped settle her empty stomach and warmed her up. The reprieve was short-lived when Ulyssa set a bowl of soup and a plate of shredded chicken breast atop white rice. She ate a few bites of the chicken and rice and a few spoons of soup when suddenly something smelled off and it made her stomach churn. Ulyssa watched Alma pick up the bowl of soup to sniff it and set it down and then the plate and noticed that she recoiled and suddenly looked green. She nearly tossed the plate down on the coffee table as she got up and ran to her bathroom to throw up the only food she had eaten all day. Ulyssa quickly followed her and held her long dark hair back until she finished. She helped her back up and closed the toilet lid so that Alma could sit down and collect herself and gargle some mouthwash.

“Sorry,” Alma apologized. “I appreciate you coming here to help me. Just something didn’t smell right.” 

“You don't have to apologize. You’re only human. But the food was fresh? I saw Von make the chicken to order?” She then placed the back of her hand against Alma’s forehead checking her temperature. “Hmm. You’re not warm? And you don’t exactly look clammy?” 

“I just can’t keep anything down,” Alma shrugged. 

“And the smell of the perfectly fresh food made you sick? When was the last time you had a period?” 

“Ulyssa, what are you getting at?” 

“Well, didn’t you go see your boy… friend in NYC like two, three-ish months ago?” 

“Stop… it’s not that I’m on birth control.” 

“Right. But when you had that wicked cold before you went on your trip you went to the doctor? Did he give you antibiotics?” 

“Yeah, I was really sick that time. I had the whole fever and runny nose and everything then but this feels worse.”

“Alma,” Ulyssa gasped. “You’re not supposed to do that!”

“What do you mean?!” 

“You can’t take the pill and antibiotics! They like cancel each other out or whatever! You’re supposed to tell your doctor what other stuff you’re taking so they can prescribe you appropriately.”

“What the hell!? I didn’t know. But I can’t be… pregnant,” she exclaimed with disgust. “Like that literally just can NOT happen!” 

“Well… I don’t know Alma. You might be? Unless you have some other medical issue-”

“No. Nothing like that! Like this just can’t happen… ethically!” Alma said, exasperated at the whole situation. 

“There’s only one way to know,” Ulyssa took her hand and together they rushed to the drug store and back. 

Alma felt like she was going to be sick again as she waited in the living room as Ulyssa stayed in the bathroom monitoring the results of the test. She heard the bathroom door open and she anxiously turned around. Her stomach dropped immediately when she saw Ulyssa smiling, wiping away tears of joy for her friend's new blessing. 

It was Ulyssa who supported her every step of her pregnancy. She would have respected any decision she had made in regard to keeping the baby but she was so happy to learn that she’d be able to take her to appointments and remind her to take her prenatals. She didn’t judge her when Alma explained that she didn’t want Bill involved. Her simple explanation that things were just complicated between them sufficed. It was nice to have her but sometimes her sunny disposition annoyed her. She wanted someone to tell her she was a dumbass. So one night after working on her feet and feeling miserable she called Cooch. Bianca always had a weird sixth sense about things and when she answered, it was as if she already knew before Alma could even explain. 

“Well, I knew it! I had a dream about you! It was a good one and I was gonna tell Bill thinking he’d get a kick out of it but you know I looked at him that day and… the pieces of the dream fell together and I just had this feeling. Oh my god, Alma! You have to tell him! It’s his baby too, honey.” 

“Bianca, I can’t. Please, please don’t tell him! Like on my whole life, please! You understand why I can’t.” 

“Okay,” Bianca sighed. “I get the jist of why. But honey, you’re just gonna do it alone? That’s not very fair to the baby, now is it? Bill would probably shit bricks knowing you’re pregnant but he would love that child.” 

Alma began to cry hysterically on the phone while Bianca tried to settle her down. She was right but she was so afraid to go back to New York City and she knew Bill would want her there if he knew about her condition. Sure, she had visited just fine but the baby would add to her permanence there. 

“Alma, I won’t tell. Okay? Sadness isn’t good on the baby so take care of yourself, you know best.” Bianca assured. “But Alma, I’m going to push him to visit you. I don’t know when we’ll finish all this ownership paperwork but for him and you, that’s what I’ll do. I love you both. I want this to all work out for the both of you.” 

Alma had wished that their conversation went differently but it’s what she needed to hear, she supposed. She continued on, growing bigger and bigger. One night she was on a phone call laughing along with Bill when she first felt the baby kick. She gasped, bringing a hand to her belly in awe. She hung up on him, feeling tears welling up in her eyes as she held onto her belly and it all hit her that she was really carrying a child within her. During the first half of her pregnancy, she just felt like a walking science experiment even if she had seen the amorphous being in her first black and white ultrasound feeling the baby move finally made it real. 

Her employees created a small baby shower at the record shop for her. They all chipped in for cake and ice cream for her which Alma felt bad about because she was more well-off than they were but they didn’t know that. They gifted her diapers and various essentials meanwhile Ulyssa had made her hand raw and sore by all the baby beanies she crocheted. They were all gender-neutral tones, Alma had decided that she didn’t want to know the sex. In some ways, she still felt detached. Later she would know it was because she didn’t want to enjoy certain milestones too much if Bill wasn’t there to experience it with her. A way of punishing herself because no one seemed to want to berate a pregnant woman for her decisions. Nevertheless, she was grateful to her work family and tried to stay happy enough for the baby. 

The feelings of detachment she felt washed away when she delivered her child. A long, hard 26-hour labor. Her nurses pleaded with her to at least take the pain medication in place of the epidural she denied, as they watched her arduously breathe and sweat through contractions. She denied those too. She thought she deserved the pain for the things she had done. For the greatest sin, a person could commit. She almost succumbed to a violent near death herself but that was merciful compared to how it felt pushing her baby out of herself. Ulyssa was by her side even though Alma told her that she wanted to be alone at first. Her mom was gone and Bill didn’t know he was about to be father, they were the only two people she would have wanted in the room. She gave in around 13 hours just to have someone hold her hand. 

Having the child in her arms pushed some of those loathsome and lonesome feelings aside. She couldn’t believe she could love something so much in a matter of seconds, it was overwhelming. She didn’t feel like she deserved to have such a precious innocent life in her arms but she knew she would keep them safe and love them. She couldn’t help but notice all the features the baby inherited from Bill. The light brown hair, the perfect plump lips, and the little but big ears he has. 

While raising a newborn was hard, some things were just instinctually easy. She took time off work for 5 months but she would sometimes visit the shop when she would go out so that the baby could get some fresh air. It was also because she was starting to feel cooped up in the apartment most days. Ulyssa or Ash would visit when they could to give her a break for a shower or take her and the baby's clothes to get laundered. A few weeks after she gave birth Bianca called about the child. She had told her, her due date during an earlier phone call and knew she should have had the baby by now. They spoke a bit and Alma had asked for some baby advice from her, she knew she was a good mom to grown respectful boys. 

“And don’t worry Alma,” Bianca said before the call concluded. “He doesn’t know, I haven’t said a word. But remember what I told you?” 

“I know… and I do want him to visit me eventually. I don’t know how long I can keep this to myself? I talk to him on the phone but when the baby cries I have to hang up on him and yeah…” she frowned. 

It was exhausting taking care of a baby while also keeping up a lie. A very big lie from someone she loved. From someone she shared a child with. Although, if he did come to Seattle she couldn’t just bombard him with the news by handing him a child he’s never seen before in his life. Expecting him to immediately step into the role of a father of a child he may ultimately not want anything to do with. It didn’t matter how much he loved her, that he even killed for her. She couldn’t even share this part of her, this part of them with him. 

And then the day finally came. Bill had flown into Seattle to finally visit. Bianca had called her job now that she was back to working in the record shop. The baby was crawling around in a playpen situated next to her behind the office desk. The babysitter was Ulyssa’s more studious and nerdy twin sister Yolani, She picked up the child until around 10 AM most days so the baby would come to work with her for an hour as she opened the store. But because she had a half day she arranged to keep her until the evening because of the show that night. That was until Bianca informed her that Bill wasn’t far away. Alma’s heart jumped in a panic; she suspected that she would have more of a heads up but Bill hadn’t told her when he left Missouri, instead, he called her from the airport payphone when he arrived. 

Immediately, Alma made a phone call to Yolani apologizing for asking her to make changes to their agreed schedule today. Yolani informed her that since she was on a later schedule she had taken herself to a cafe for breakfast to study for an exam but that she could be there in close to 30 minutes. It would do, she had no idea where Bill was at the moment so she hoped that it was more than enough time. 

In the meantime, she checked the baby's diaper bag even though it was always packed with what was needed but her nerves were starting to get the better of her. 

“Ulyssa?” Alma called out of her office when she saw her pass by the office door. She reversed her tracks and walked in. “Your sister is coming to get the baby early today. Um, my boy- um Bill,” she took off her glasses and tensely rubbed the bridge of her nose and put them back on. “He’s here.”

“What?! On his way or…” 

“No, here in Seattle.” 

“You know what? Someone called and hung up in my face again. It was a man’s voice asking for you like about 40 minutes ago…” 

“Oh my god,” Alma sighed. “Your sister said she could be here in like 30 minutes,” she reached into the playpen picking up her child and kissing them on the cheek. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll call her and tell her it’s urgent. I’ll explain enough to her. But tonight? She’ll have to keep the baby overnight then, right?”

“I’ll pay her extra. Or whatever she wants. Thank you Ulyssa. I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me,” her vision blurred as tears prickled her eyes. 

“Of course, lovely! I’ll have Gregory put the playpen in the stage storage. And if he comes while baby is still here we’ll slow him down.” 

Alma waited with the baby in her arms by the front of the record shop. Watching cars pull up by the curb and checking for familiar faces but the teens bullshitting outside blocked half her view. By luck, Yolani arrived quickly thanks to her sister's call. Alma apologized and thanked her in the same breath. She watched Yolani and the baby leave her office after she had grabbed the baby bag. Staying behind she took baby pictures off her desk and put them into a lockable desk drawer then her breath hitched when she saw the familiar tall man walk in as they left. She couldn’t breathe for what felt like forever when she had seen him acknowledge the baby as they reached out and waved their little hand. As if they both knew. 

~~~

September 1992

Bill sat silently, shell-shocked with what he had heard. His feelings were all over the place despondent and angry and just confused over everything Alma revealed to him. She sat on the opposite side of the couch sunken into herself wiping away tears. She wondered if he would speak now after he had sat mute the whole time she spoke but he just sighed and put his face into his hands again. The air felt thick and the cold blasting AC was deafening in the room. 

“I’ll leave,” she said silently. “I know… this is a lot. I was very wrong, I know.” 

Bill muttered something into the palms of his hands that was unintelligible. 

“I couldn’t hear you,” Alma said, leaning towards him. 

“And where is the baby now?” 

“With the babysitter, well the call I had during the show was from Yolani. Something came up and so Ulyssa, her twin, left and took over for her. This morning I called my apartment where Ulyssa stayed overnight.” 

Bill scratched his jaw, “What did we have?” 

“A girl,” Alma bit her lip to keep it from quivering. “A little girl. She’s healthy, perfect.” Alma could have gone on and on about how she was a sweet, friendly, and happy baby but she didn’t want to pile on so much because she had restricted him from ever knowing that. “Do you want to know her name,” she asked cautiously. 

Bill swallowed the lump in his throat. “No. I-I don’t think I’m there yet.” 

“Okay,” Alma nodded understandingly. She took a notepad and pen from the coffee table and scribbled her address on it. “I have to go home. You don’t have to come if you don’t want to or if you’re not ready but, um,” she paused to keep her voice from breaking. “If you leave, could you at least call and tell me? So that I can know that this is done?” She wiped the stray tears that fell away. 

She got up and quickly put on her pants and Converse sniffling as she did it. Bill just sat there on the couch staring a hole into the wooden coffee table and unmoving. Alma along with her tote bag was just about to walk out of the hotel room and paused when he called her name. 

“Alma,” he said, still staring at the coffee table. “I love you.” He announced to the living room as if he were only saying it to remind himself that he really did. 

She smiled sadly and before she left she said, “I know…” 

…

Bill sat silently for an hour, his mind was vacant for at least half that until he started to review everything Alma had explained over and over again in his head. He just couldn’t believe she would have kept something so major, something so important, something so life-changing from him. All the mixed feelings of betrayal and sadness and anger and disgust made him sick but something else was there he didn’t expect. It was happiness, he felt a new brand of pride knowing that he was a father. He never imagined being one, he hadn’t ever put much thought into it before. The thoughts he did have weren’t fond takes of fatherhood either. He was afraid he wouldn’t make a very good one. Plus, it didn’t help that he didn’t really like his own very much. His father used to beat him and his brothers especially him because he dressed like a freak as his father would say. That or a sissy boy which he was called since he was a little himself. He ran a hand through his hair trying to wish those awful memories away. 

Soon he found himself in the scalding hot shower standing with his back towards the stream with his head down sulking. He had no idea what to do with himself, he stood there for almost an hour just thinking and remembering things he’d rather not. In a way, he understood Alma’s motivations. She was deeply depressed and guarded when the incident with Craig happened. He could imagine it was difficult that the only person she could even talk to about it was him but their distance made it impossible. Even when she had last visited him in New York City she hardly wanted to unpack it. He could tell it was still bothering her deeply. He didn’t like what he had done either but knowing that Craig had almost killed her he didn’t really care as much as she did. When she did open up a little, she said the part that mostly bothered her was that in a small way, she was ready to die. And he blamed that on himself for what he had put her through. Giving her the runaround and not properly loving her like he should have. He wanted to but was too much of a coward wanting all the benefits of her company without commitment. They still hardly ever called each other boyfriend or girlfriend. He was selfish. But so was Alma. She kept a piece of him he couldn’t take away from her.

He found himself at the hotel restaurant dressed simply in a white shirt and dark jeans and keeping to himself. When the waitress asked if he’d like the mimosa drink special he shook his head and asked for a glass of William Larue Weller whiskey neat instead. He ordered a veggie omelet that he only took 2 bites of and asked for the rest to be sent to his room. He didn’t have an appetite. Instead, he went to the large bar in the main hall which was barely opening for service so early in the morning. On his third whiskey, he began making a mental con list in his head of why he couldn’t be a father to a little girl. He owned a strip club for starters, he was a former drug dealer, he was a womanizer to some degree, oh and he’s killed someone and was indirectly involved in another. He shouldn’t be a father, he should be in prison, he had thought to himself. 

Bill stretched his back against the high chair he was sitting in and ordered another whiskey. He stood up with the glass in hand to take back to his room waving off the protests of the bartender for doing so. He set the glass aside on the nightstand while sitting on the edge of the bed that housekeeping had fixed for him while he was gone. Putting a cigarette to his lips, he leaned against the headboard and lit it. He sighed out a plume of smoke in thought. Thinking how Alma had mentioned that she did what she did to keep the baby safe. Though he knew what she meant he couldn’t help but think that she meant safe from him. He shook his head, the liquor was muddling his thoughts and misconstruing things for him. 

He took his thoughts off himself then. He leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling and pictured Alma as a mother. Such an odd image because much like him she never expressed feelings of wanting children either. Although he had to admit to himself that the image warmed his heart. A quick thought of her pregnant body came to mind but he pushed that away because they became filthy and he wasn’t in the mood to think of her that way. Though she never expressed wanting kids he never heard her say anything bad about them either. Had she stayed in New York, would she have kept the baby, he wondered. If they were the traditional type maybe things wouldn't have been so convoluted as it was right now. 

The only certain thing was that Alma was pregnant and never told him and now he had a daughter. One that didn’t know he existed her whole short life. One that he didn’t know existed until about three hours ago. He stubbed his cigarette out and downed the rest of his whiskey before settling into the bed. He was tired of thinking and the whisky was making him tired. Luckily, before his eyes grew heavy he came to a conclusion. 

…

Alma was in the bath with her daughter laying on her bent knees above the water washing her hair. She had no clue if Bill would come or if she’d ever see him again but in case she thought they ought to look presentable. Especially if they would meet for the first time. However, time passed and it was near evening around 4 p.m. It was drizzling outside, the overcast making it much darker than it should have been. Alma’s heart started to break a little, not for herself but for their daughter. 

But she couldn’t blame him either. She was tired of crying though, she had done what she had done and said what she needed to say. He knew now and she could stop lying. The lying was the worst part for her. That part was done whether Bill and her were done she still didn’t know but she hoped he would call like she asked. While the baby was sitting in her chair swing she left a moment to the hallway closet to grab the box of baby mementos just in case. 

…

Bill awoke suddenly from his slumber. He hadn’t intended to fall asleep but he was kind of glad he did because he woke up with a clearer mind than before that was for sure. He checked the time on his watch, noticing how long he had slept. He stood up quickly, he knew Alma must be sitting in her home waiting for his call, more likely considering he slept half the day. After brushing his teeth and fixing his hair he walked to the living room and tore the piece of paper which Alma had written her address from the notepad. 

He pulled up to the small apartment complex which looked more like a large house divided into 4 apartments, two on the top and two on the bottom. He checked the paper with her address once more and saw that she lived in apartment 1B. His heart started racing, he knew once he stepped through that door his life was going to change and he wasn’t sure if he was ready for that. But he couldn’t live with not knowing either. 

He pulled his black unzipped hoodie closer to his body and knocked on the door quite hard at first by accident and quickly corrected himself remembering there was a baby inside. Alma opened the door alone standing there in a white Adidas sweatshirt commemorating the 1984 Winter Olympics and black leggings. Her glasses weren't on and her hair was half up. Alma looked a bit shocked to see him standing there but quickly let him in. 

“Thanks for coming by,” she said sheepishly, fiddling with the sleeves of her sweater. “Um, the baby is taking a nap right now, that's why she’s not out crawling around or trying to walk,” she lightly smiled. 

“Mhm,” Bill nodded. “I thought about it some and I think I do want to meet her. I mean when she wakes up.” 

“Yeah, sure,” Alma nodded. 

She pointed at the couch inviting him to sit with her. It was a bit awkward between them but not anything they couldn’t work out of. Before she could sit down, she thought to maybe give him something to drink so she grabbed two bottles of water from her fridge. He sat there looking around her apartment, there was obvious evidence that there was a baby living in the home with the chair swing and little toys inside a chest. He also noticed that while everything was nice and neat she didn’t seem to live beyond the means she certainly had. It was a humble dwelling. A place to lay your head at night comfortably. 

She came back to join him, handing him a water. She could feel the tension in the room and it unsettled her having that feeling in her own home but she pushed those nerves aside. 

“So I can imagine you might have a lot of questions,” she began. “But I want to make sure how much I can say because I don't want to make you uncomfortable. I don’t expect you to jump into this full speed and I’ve accepted that you might not want to at all.” 

“Alma, I want to be around,” he swallowed the lump in his throat. “I don’t know how often that may be because of the distance but I-I want to know her.” When he said it out loud he truly felt it. Though he had doubts about himself being a father, he wanted to at least try. “I’ll figure everything else out later but right now this is what I want to do.” 

A wash of relief and happiness fell over Alma. She felt like she could finally breathe. Though things between them would probably be prickly for a while she was glad they could put it aside for their daughter.

“I have this box full of baby things,” she said, reaching for it on the coffee table in front of them and lifting the lid off. “Would you like to go through this while she sleeps?” 

She pulled a few things out which looked like photo albums and newborn clothing and then grabbed a manilla folder and opened it, inside were her ultrasound pictures. She handed one to him and he carefully took it in his hands. He wasn’t sure what he was looking at. Until Alma pointed at a white speck near the center of the photo. 

“That’s what she looked like in the beginning,” she lightly laughed. “And then she eventually grew into her looks,” she said, passing him another ultrasound photo with a clear profile of the baby that grew inside her. 

He traced his finger along it now wondering what she looked like now. She told him that she was a fairly big baby at birth and really long which made him smile but kind of made him feel for Alma giving birth naturally. She handed him the newborn clothes that the baby wore in the hospital and he could help but notice how big his own hands were compared to the small garments. 

“Alma, can I ask you something,” he said, laying the little onesie on his thigh. 

“Of course.”

“Yesterday, when I first showed up to the record shop. I saw her, didn't I?” 

“Yeah, that was her with her babysitter Yolani walking past you.” 

Bill rubbed his hand across his mouth blinking back tears. He remembered the baby’s outstretched hand in his direction and some part of him felt something but he hadn’t paid attention to it then. 

“We can take a break if you want,” she asked. 

“No, it’s fine,” he cleared his throat. “I’m fine. What did you name her?”

And that’s when Alma started blinking back tears of her own. She took a deep breath to collect herself. “Her name is Echo.” 

“Oh,” Bill choked up. 

“Yeah, um it’s Echo Myrna. I figured I should give her a middle name for someone that you’ve loved in your life, too. And well, you kinda named me Echo too.”

Bill put his arm around her and hugged her tightly. He knew better than to think that while she never told him about their daughter she always still had him in mind. They were in an embrace for a long while when he told her that he loved her and she said it back. Because they did even if they were both fucked up, they were all they had. 

They could hear cheery baby babble from the next room. Echo was finally awake. 

“Do you want to meet her?” 

“Yeah, should I follow you or?” He said beginning to feel nervous.

“Yeah come on. She is a good sleeper, a lot better than us for sure. And she never wakes up grumpy, only sometimes when she’s hungry,” Alma lightly laughed. 

Baby Echo was standing in her crib, smiling happily when she saw her mother walk in. Alma felt Bill let go of her hand a few paces behind her but she didn’t think anything wrong by it. She could feel his hand trembling in hers going to the bedroom so she knew it was because of nerves. She reached into the crib and lifted Echo out, smoothing her bed hair down. Echo reached for him the same way she had done at the record shop and smiled brightly at him this time. 

“Would you want to hold her?” 

“Hmm, I’m not sure,” he said, wringing his sweaty hands together and putting them into the pockets of his hoodie. 

Alma nodded understandingly. She knew she had to be mindful and go at his own pace but she wished he had said yes. “Let's go back to the living room. I need to make her a bottle.” 

Bill sat on the couch and watched Alma hold their daughter in one arm while the other scooped powdered formula and put it into a water-filled baby bottle. He noticed how Echo rested her head in the crook of her mother's neck, content while sucking her little thumb. His heart strained noticing how much she really did look like him especially now that he finally decided to look through a small photo album. Her newborn pictures showed lighter brown hair than she did now but even if her roots had darkened some he could see the golden wavey locks on the ends when they had joined him on the couch again. He saw the pictures of the baby's first Christmas, she was still so tiny and fresh sitting on Alma's crossed legs under a Christmas tree as she opened a present. 

“How old is she?” He said looking at the little girl who was kicking her little feet towards him. She was gnawing on the tip of the bottle smiling at him with a curious expression on her face. 

“Nine months almost ten,” Alma smiled. “She was born on November 30th.

“She looks so small in these pictures,” he said, flipping to the next page of his daughter enjoying a day in the park. 

“I have a few rolls of film I still need to develop from this summer. She’s a very photogenic kid, kinda like you that way.” 

Echo giggled a bit as if she were actually following their conversation. Without even thinking about it, his hand reached for her little wriggling foot. He smiled at her when she giggled again because his touch seemed to have tickled her little foot. 

“Hi.” He said to her and then looked at Alma, “What should she call me?”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with. We don’t have to decide that today?” 

Bill nodded. “Could I try? Could I hold her, I mean.” 

Alma took the baby bottle from Echo before she gladly handed her to Bill who was quite obviously nervous, it was all over his face. But when she was in his arms and she placed her little hand on his chin his nervousness seemed to lessen. Echo looked up at him with big round green hazel eyes with so much familiarity it nearly frightened him. As if she knew exactly who he was. His heart warmed in a way he had never felt before, it was scary. He could only imagine how Alma felt when she had first met her. The feeling was overwhelming. 

Suddenly, Echo’s quick hand took a grasp of his nose and squeezed it making him wince. 

Alma reached over and pulled her hand away. “Echo, be nice. Sorry, she can be a little feisty but she’s friendly at least.” 

Bill laughed. “It’s okay,” he said, touching her cheek until her little hand took hold of his pointer finger. “I like her. Kinda reminds me of her mom.” 

That evening he just held her in her arms as they spoke about their daughter. When she needed tending too he stood back but watched trying to take mental notes on how she liked to be cared for. She seemed like a fairly easy baby and a very happy one. Bill decided to stay the night at her place and in the morning offered his hotel for them all to stay at and spend some time together as a family. So that he could acclimate to the reality and be with his daughter. 

When they entered the hotel, Bill brought in the bags Alma had packed along with the playpen as she walked through the place to show the baby around. She sat Echo in the center of the large king-sized bed and took the camera from inside her jacket to take a picture.

“Look at you, big fancy girl!” She said as the little girl clapped happily. 

They enjoyed the weekend and it was as if they had done this all before. A second nature came out of Bill and took over. Alma watched him place their sleeping daughter into the playpen next to their bed on the last night he was in town. When he joined Alma in bed, he kissed her deeply and pulled her on top of himself. Eventually, they lay in bed naked, discussing how to make it all work. Making solid plans to travel to each other until they could all settle somewhere. He wanted to be a better father than his dad was and while it scared him like hell he would do his best for Echo. And while he was still upset to some degree with Alma he tried to be understanding. She was just trying to protect their daughter. 

“She kinda saved me, you know. I know I shouldn’t put that on a kid but yeah she changed me.” She snuggled to the side of him. Though he only knew his daughter in only a few days he could sense what she meant by that. 

“I love you, Alma,” Bill said sleepily. “I think I’m okay with her calling me Papa. That feels right. Right?” 

The baby suddenly cried out in the middle of the night just as her parents were going to drift to sleep. Though promptly Alma got up, on her way to her daughter she picked up one of Bill’s shirts and threw it on before picking her up from the playpen. With Echo in her arms, she walked towards his side of the bed and picked up the premade bottle that sat on his nightstand. 

“It’s your turn papa,” she said, passing the baby along to him as they both laughed. 

Bill happily obliged, he had a lot of catching up to do. 

FIN

[beastswithoutburdencomic]

HUNTERS’ BULLETIN 0716202X.

HUMAN TRANSMUTATION ON THE RISE

Reports of humans being transmuted into other species- whether supernatural in nature or not- have been on the rise in Wardview. Bulletin 0711202X describes the problem in more detail, but to make a long story real short: In the first six months this year alone, we’ve had reports of at least 27 rogue transmutation events. For the uninformed, that’s already getting close to the amount of rogue transmutations last year.

Of the 27 transmutations, only 3 of the transmuted individuals have come forward with information about the witch that turned them: Relin, an individual turned into a wolf; Daisy, a woman turned into a riverdram; and Maron, a man turned into a sapient bottle of Schnapps*. All have since been returned to human form.

The other 24 haven’t given up the names of those who may have caused the transmutation. When examined by an associate with the wizard colleges, only one was found cursed to remain silent; the other 23 appear to have full capacity to communicate (in their own way) and actively refuse to do so. All were offered protection and all were offered the chance to return to human form; however, none have taken those offers.

Attached are excerpts from several interviews. In all, the person in question adamantly denied that the transmutation was done against their will. In fact, those with their memories unaffected claim to have asked for the transformation. 

While it may be true that one or two made the ill-advised decision to stop being human, the Hunter’s Guild finds it unlikely that all 23 truly desired it. 

These are normal, law-abiding citizens; the only way they would desire such a drastic change is if they were made to want it. It is more likely, therefore, that the magic of transmutation has affected their minds. 

As such, the Hunter’s Guild will be lobbying the City Council and the Scrivener’s Guild of Greater Wardview to grant permission to temporarily humanize those transmuted who appear to be mentally compromised. If it is found that there truly is no magical coercion involved, those involved may be transmuted back to the species they so desired after applying for the requisite paperwork from the Scrivener’s Guild.

To all hunters in the field who may come upon an individual showing signs of transmutation into a species other than their own it is advised that you find a way to convince them of their prior humanity. If they can show proof of authorized species-switching, they should be allowed to transmute in peace.

If transmuted individuals become hostile it is advised to use violence only when absolutely necessary.

*All names have been changed to protect the anonymity of those involved.

Interview Log 5.09.2X - BERTIE

Interviewee: Bertram Lionelle, 48, tax accountant to XXXXXXX

Transmuted into a borzoi; now in the care of his former sister

Interview conducted by Kansas Gatling, hunter.

Notes: Despite his new canine state, he has retained his ability for human speech. His sister, Hela, accompanied Bertram for the interview.

BERTIE: I’ve told you people before. I have the paperwork done. Helen has all my records available to her.

KANSAS: No one’s saying that you don’t, Mr. Lionelle-

BERTIE: Just Bertie. ‘Mister’s a people thing to call someone.

KANSAS: I mean, you’re-

HELA: Please, Mr. Gatling. You’ll upset him. 

KANSAS: I’d guess being turned into a dog would have that effect, yeah?

HELA: Just look at him- he’s shaking! 

KANSAS: Mr. Lionelle, we’re just trying to figure out if there was anyone forcing you to-

[HELA seems to entirely ignore the intervieweras BERTIE begins to growl.]

HELA: Oh, don’t listen to the bad man Bertie- you’re such a good boy! Such a good boy!!

[The growling stops.]

BERTIE: Good boy? Good boy? Good boy?

KANSAS: … Is there any chance of doing this without your sister here, Lionelle.

BERTIE: Christ, fine. But my answer’s not going to be changing anytime soon.

[ Hela was able to provide the contract that Bertram signed with the witch proving that he agreed to transmutation into dog form. The name of the witch was, regrettably, blacked out. ]

-

Interview Log 6.12.2X- RAIN

Interviewee: Rain, 29, yarn shop employee

Transmuted into a sapient ball of baby blue yarn

Interview conducted by Nora X, Hunter

Notes: Despite its lack of vocal chords, Rain is still able to communicate by partially unraveling and spelling words with its yarn.

NORA: Alright, so like. To cut to the chase. Why yarn?

[There is the sound of rolling and shuffling as the yarn unravels and rearranges itself.]

NORA: Huh. So you want to become part of something bigger.

RAIN:

NORA: Hm. I don’t know about a sock. Dunno if I’d want that for the rest of my natural shelf life.

RAIN: 

NORA: Sweater, huh? That’s nice.

RAIN: 

NORA: Damn. That's… really emotional, actually.

RAIN:

NORA: Yeah, I get what you mean.

RAIN: 

NORA: Alright, interview over. Seems like it wants this. One more question, though.

RAIN:

[NORA appears to lean forward.]

NORA: So like… is this a fetish thing or what?

[Nora is no longer allowed to interview transmutation victims.]

-

Interview Log 3.14.2X - MAISY

Interviewee: Maisy B, 19, Wardview U student

Transmuted into a riverdram

Interview conducted by [REDACTED], hunter

Notes: As riverdram vocal chords are not capable of human speech, an interpreter was contacted for means of translation. 

INTERVIEWER: - and what does that… chittering, mean?

[ The INTERVIEWER sits across from Maisy, who floats in a tank taking up the entire back wall. Sitting between them is an interpreter with a hearing aid. ]

INTERPRETER: [sounding exasperated] The same as I said before- she says she thinks this is a waste of everyone’s time.

MAISY: Chchchchchchchchcchchhh!

INTERPRETER: Wait. The water’s been feeling salty for- how long?

MAISY: Gghgrhch. 

[There is the sound of water sloshing as MAISY appears to gesture.]

INTERVIEWER: What? What is it?

INTERPRETER: … She says things have been feeling saline for about half an hour now?

INTERVIEWER: Oh- that’s not intentional or nothin’. There’s been a leak.

[The INTERPRETER relays this to MAISY.]

INTERVIEWER: We could try bringing her out of the water-

MAISY: Ah!

[There is more water sloshing. The INTERPRETER hops up.]

INTERPRETER: We’ve been over this, Mr. [REDACTED]- she doesn’t want to leave the water.

INTERVIEWER: I’m not seeing how we can keep this discussion going if she won’t consent to-

INTERPRETER: She’s already consented to-!

[There is a sharp banging of claws on glass. The water sloshes as a deep, guttural howl emanates from MAISY’s throat.]

INTERVIEWER: Shit. [into walkie] Might need some help in here.

INTERPRETER: No! There’s not- she- [speaking to MAISY] It’s okay- it’s okay, you don’t need to--

[Sabotage by interpreter suspected. The Guild will seek another interpreter with Hunter ties to balance implicit bias. ]

[ Kester Gatling (he/him) is a hunter for the Hunters’ Guild of Greater Wardview, one half of the Gatling Bros. Crisis Intervention Team, and long-time patron of the Valentine Institute for Advocacy of the Human Soul (VIAHS).

To support the Hunters’ Guild, please read our webcomic. ]

[ourpickwickclub]

To clarify, I think that anon ask you posted confused people. The old plane wasn’t in Sherman today. It’s been in Arlington Texas for quite awhile and that’s where it flew from today and went to Little Rock. Then it went to Tulsa, not OKC like the ask you posted said. I think your plane source is probably correct that it has something to do with selling the old plane and the pilots meeting today in Little Rock to transfer the plane over and for Blake to possibly sign paperwork. The new plane did just what we expected it to do, which was fly from LA to Little Rock, and then to Sherman to hanger until Sunday I assume, when it will pick Blake up in Kansas City.  Neither plane was in Oklahoma City at all today. 

[fresne999]

Like

Aunt Tiger / Bear - Alabama 1870s - Young woman rescues her niece from Aunt Tiger/Bear - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aunt_Tiger

An Athabasca Story - Alaska, interior. As is, no notes. https://blogs.uoregon.edu/eng104/2015/02/05/the-athabascan-allegory/

The Changing Woman - Arizona - 1960s - Any of these stories worked together with a young Dine working to get voting rights - http://www.hanksville.org/voyage/navajo/ChangingWoman.php3

Jack and the Beanstalk - Arkansas - 1950s Living in grinding poverty, Jack trades the family cow for a magic bean. When a bean stalk rises to the sky, armed with his fiddle and some pluck, can he win a fortune in the sky?

12 Dancing Princesses - CA Hollywood 1920s. There's some Epic of Gilgamesh imagery in the story, so Babylon, US Babylon, Hollywood. There are 12 starlets held in a compound for various things, but every morning, their dancing shoes are in tatters. Enter a worn out gumshoe (with the help of one of the female stars - maybe one of the girls is secretly her daughter) to find out the secret.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears - Colorado - Goldilocks is a blond US soldier who shows up at the house of a hidalgo, and tries all the beds and food, while the hidalgo and his family are away. 

The Frog Prince - Connecticut - Gilded Era. Tell the story as if Hetty from Ghosts were telling the story, and that's one durable-ass frog.

Fairy Gifts - Delaware - 1950s - The story as is, but during the post-war years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Gifts

The Tale of the Doomed Prince - Florida - 1970s The story, they are relocated Vietnamese after the Vietname war.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tale_of_the_Doomed_Prince

Hansel and Gretel - Georgia - 1830s - 1850s - Trail of Tears Cherokee children surviving and overcoming the evil witch / disease on the trail to Oklahoma. 

Maui Slows the Sun - Hawaii - now. What it sounds like on the Tin. Also, Maui is building a solar farm.

The Heart of Princess Joan - Idaho now - Girl's heart is stolen by social media. Like in a new gods sort of way. Story is her quest to find her own heart.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Heart_of_Princess_Joan 

Little Red Riding Hood - Illinois, Chicago. Worlds Fair 1893. She's a farm girl heading for adventure in the big city. Racing against the edge. Midwest gothic / horror in that she's lured to lodging called Grandma's place, but it's run by a serial killer. She works together with another girl to turn the tables.

Iron John - Indiana - 1990s to now - Iron John with tractor pulling. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_John

Little Bull Calf - Iowa 1980s. It's all 4H, but also the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Little_Bull-Calf

The Fisherman and the Jinni - Kansas 1950s - Story as is, but it's during the bloody battles over whether Kansas would be a free state. The jinn/bottle is there because of a tornado. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fisherman_and_the_Jinni

The Devil and his Grandmother - Kentucky 1970s / 80s - Story as is, but Vietnam veterans & the whip helps with the stock market or some such thing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_and_his_Grandmother

Cinderella - Louisiana - 1850s. Her father is a plantation owner. Her mother was enslaved. Her dad's will manumitted her / freed her. But step-mom hides the paperwork. The "prince" is an abolitionist, who helps her find the paperwork, the $ that should come to her for her years of free labor, and move to an abolitionist state.

Dick Wittington and his cat / Puss in Boots - New York - Gilded Age. There are gangs, debutants, and a plucky lad with a talking cat.

Sinbad the Sailor - Maine 1990s. Old man shit talking about his adventures to a grandchild in a bar. As the story progresses, it's clear all the stories are true. 

Wendigo - Maryland - 1870s - Young woman thwarts a wendigo out ot eat her as she and her family travel through the woods.

Bluebeard - Massachusetts - 1740s. Boston to made up small town. A Bostonian woman marries a wealthy man as her family is in dire straights. She doesn't know he's a mass murdering fiend with a New England Gothic house. He doesn't know she is touched by the fey. Shenanigans.

Pied Piper of Motown - Michigan, Detroit, 1960s - African American singer transforming / creating rock and roll. Leading the children of the nation to "wickedness" of dancing. 

East of the Sun and West of the Moon - Minnesota 1930s - Stick fairly close to the original fairytale, but also tie it into the elements into the Civilian Conservation Core restoring the forest / restoring the prince from a bear to a natural form.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_of_the_Sun_and_West_of_the_Moon

Aladdin - Mississippi - 2001 - Arab American negotiating being Arab American after 9/11, but also magic. 

Zombie Road - Missouri - Early 2000s, a group of ghost hunters visit Zombie Road. Will they survive?

The White Snake - Montana 1880s - Story as is but the princess is the daughter of a rancher. The young servant is a former Buffalo Soldier. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Snake

Father Frost - Nebraska 1910s - The story as is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Frost_(fairy_tale)

Rumplestilskin - Nevada - 1860s. Woman marries a wealthy mining king with the help of Rumplestilskin. It's the wild west. It's rooting, tooting, there's a strange magic man whose name she's got to guess to save her child. 

The Seven Swans - New Hampshire - 1950s - A young woman is committed to an asylum for killing her children. Actually, she's under a curse to weave shirts for her brothers who went missing during the war. Is it a delusion? Is it reality. Story told from the POV of a young nurse at the facility, who falls in love with the woman. 

Sleeping Beauty - New Jersey - She works in a factory with something toxic. All the girls are getting sleeping illness. She was the first. Her lesbian union organizing girlfriend is in a race against time to figure out how to get help to cure her.

Godfather Death - New Mexico 1980s. Aids crisis. A young man comes to believe he is the godson of death, who appears at the foot of people who will die and at the head of folks who will live. He attempts to trick Death into saving the life of his boyfriend, but in the end can only trade the wax in his own candle of life to save him. 

Rip Van Winkle - New York, NYC. Dude falls asleep in 1900  and wakes up in 2000. Shenanigans ensue.

Br'er Rabbit - North Carolina - 1960s Br'er Rabbit, a young african american, is on a journey to visit his grandmother down south. He's got a green book. He's got wit. Racism is thwarted, but with some close calls. 

The Stallion Houssan - North Dakota. 1920s. He's a farm kid (boy or girl) involved in running bathtub gin into the US during prohibition. Talking car gives warnings about the law and double crossing mobsters.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stallion_Houssan_(Sudanese_folktale)

The Devil's Sooty Brother - Ohio - Post WWII African American man. Story otherwise as is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil%27s_Sooty_Brother

The Fisherman/huntsman and his Wife - 1930s Oklahoma - The story with prohibition era examples. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fisherman_and_His_Wife

Beauty and the Beast - Oregon - 1880s. She's a runaway from her controlling Gilded Era -- either incest-daddy or she's a high class prostitute -- a mail order bride to a gruff lighthouse keeper. Can she learn to love him? Can they avoid the evil tendrils of her past. Some magical realism from the landscape should come into play.

Sleepy Hollow - Pennsylvania - As is. No notes. 

The Boy Who Cried Wolf - Rhode Island - 1776 - Fairytale as is, but its the British are Coming. 

The Gray Man - South Carolina - 1880s - A Gullah woman living on the coastal islands befriends the Gray Man (ghost who warns of storms), and is able to save her town from a storm.

Le Chevalier Fortune - South Dakota - Young woman pretends to be a man to make her fortune / help her family. Shenanigans. Or an African American pretends to pass. Shenanigans. But also magic - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle-Belle_ou_Le_Chevalier_Fortun%C3%A9

The Ant and the Grasshopper - Tennessee - 1980s - Story as is, but a commentary on right wing propaganda about folks on welfare. 

Ali Baba and the 40 thieves - Texas - 1930s wildcatters for oil. Same deal, but searching for that texas gold.

The Water Mother - Utah - 1880s. Story as is, but during that time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Water_Mother

Rapunzel - Vermont - now or nevertime - Hiker goes through a portal to encounter a tower where there's a young woman with very long hair. No need young lady, "I'm out mountain climbing." Sort of a silly counter take to the whole story. 

The Bunny Man - Virginia - young person dealing with Bunny Man - https://bestlocalthings.com/va/myths-urban-legends

Snow White - Washington. Seattle. 1880s A young woman is brought to the US from China through legal shenanigans for sex work. However, her mother's spirit is helping her through a magic crab / fish / tree. Take your pick. She manages to get her freedom and owns an empire of laundry services. The 7 dwarves are 7 other immigrants, who help her along the way. 

Catherine's Destiny - West Virginia 1960s - It's the fairy tale, but Catherine is a country western singer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_and_Her_Destiny

Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor - Wisconsin - 1950s - Sailor gets shipwrecked on an island in the great lakes. Saved by a talking --- whatever animal works for you. 

Ship of Death - Wyoming - 1980s. Group of teens camping on the Platte River sees the Death ship. Dun Dun Dun. Slasher horror movie ish. 

Okay, odd question: If you were going to adapt potentially up to 50 fairy tales of your choice, moving the action to the United States, but were supposed to set only one story in each state (doing that fairy-tale-shared-universe thing where each story takes place in a different kingdom in the same world, and then treating states like kingdoms), what are some stories you would chose to pair with particular states?

[jc-lambert]

African Gold

Black Lives Matter: pretty much started with African Immigrants being gunned down in Italy.

They've all moved to Wichita having been described as terrorists, illegal immigrants and enemy insurgents. They're all moving out it looks like due to my Italian Citizenship and draft notice. My grandparents where the primary landlords of the city. It looks like both are dead and the Luinstra family are being chased off. Perhaps by my sisters or aunts, maybe the Manson Family who've taken to squatting in 12 Step Meeting halls: I have yet to see or speak to either of them. The Immigrants from Africa are expected to hit Portland Oregon and will most likely take the diamond exchange: which has been known to slave drive & prostitute any and all blacks, especially those from Africa. In such cases, such persons become food easily. (as in cannibalism)

Portland has over 10 plastics factories. Plastics are seldom a vegan product. Infact, they're more so prone to being cannibal [made of people] in nature.

Now there are scattings of gold being found cheaply all over the city. It's like Jesus Christ has managed to just poop gold everywhere crack cocaine is known to be sold by hispanics and negros. I found about a gram or two of 18k with a nice sized (somewhere between 2-5 carats: it needs weighed. It's quite large, it might be about 6-8 carats actually) diamond on the sidewalk yesterday.

I do not have a copy of photo ID.

Who wants it? [the rock]

I could use lunch (or cost of state ID paperwork) & a ride to Bert Nash.

Im in Wichita.

There are several guys who work at K.U. Medical.

I am not allowed to fly a sign or ask everyone in the offices there for a ride.

I'm kidnapped. This is my "home city". You are to never ask where I am from or where I am. I have been in the company of escaped fugitives & sketchily released high profile California serial killers, who are in no way supposed to be anywhere near Kansas. They seem to have hacked the system and been made available for release.

[adambuyskc]

10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers to Find Their Dream Home

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming. With so many factors to consider, it’s crucial to approach the process with a clear plan. To help you navigate this journey, here are ten practical tips for first-time homebuyers to find their dream home.  

1. Determine Your Budget

Before you start house hunting,Sell My House Fast In Kansas City establish a realistic budget. Consider your monthly income, expenses, and how much you can afford for a down payment. Don’t forget additional costs like property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Pre-approval for a mortgage will give you a clear idea of what you can afford.  

2. List Your Priorities

Make a list of your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Do you need a large backyard, proximity to work, or a specific number of bedrooms? Knowing your priorities will help you narrow down options and focus on properties that truly fit your lifestyle. 

3. Research the Market

Take time to understand the real estate market in your desired area. Look at recent home sales to get an idea of price trends. This research will help you identify a fair price and spot good deals.  

4. Choose the Right Location

Location is one of the most critical factors in home buying.Sell My House Fast In Kansas City Consider access to schools, public transportation, shopping centers, and your workplace. Don’t just think about current needs—factor in future plans too.  

5. Work with a Real Estate Agent

A professional real estate agent can simplify the home-buying process. They have local expertise, can negotiate on your behalf, and will guide you through legal paperwork. Choose an agent with a good track record and excellent communication skills.  

6. Visit Multiple Properties

Don’t settle for the first house you visit. Explore multiple properties to understand what’s available within your budget. Compare features, prices, and locations to make an informed decision.  

7. Inspect the Property Thoroughly

A home may look perfect on the surface, but it’s essential to dig deeper. Hire a professional home inspector to check for structural issues, plumbing problems, and other potential repairs. This step can save you from costly surprises later.  

8. Think Long-Term

Consider your long-term plans when buying a home. Are you planning to start a family? Will you need extra space for a home office? Buying with the future in mind ensures your home continues to meet your needs over time.  

9. Negotiate Smartly

Don’t be afraid to negotiate the price and terms of the sale. Your real estate agent can help you make a reasonable offer based on market value. Negotiation may also include requesting repairs or asking the seller to cover closing costs. 

10. Stay Patient and Persistent

Finding your dream home may take time. It’s easy to get discouraged if your offers are rejected or the process takes longer than expected. Stay patient, keep looking, and trust that the right home will come your way.  

Final Thoughts

Buying your first home is a big step, but with careful planning and the right mindset, you can turn your dream of homeownership into reality. Follow these tips, work with experienced professionals, and stay focused on your goals. Soon, you’ll find a home that’s perfect for you!  

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[teejeepclothes]

Missouri Tigers On Saturdays X Kansas City Chiefs On Sundays Shirt

Missouri Tigers On Saturdays X Kansas City Chiefs On Sundays Shirt So, I’ve been working at this company for nearly a Missouri Tigers On Saturdays X Kansas City Chiefs On Sundays Shirt from January. I needed a job as was being made redundant and this popped up so I took it, it’s a night shift but work is work. Now, after about three months, I was asked by my colleague if I could cover his shift as he had an evening event to go to which I said that’s fine I came to find out it was a company event where everyone is invited to it but me. I shrugged it off as I thought I’m new so I guess they had it booked for a while. Kinda still sucked having to cover someone’s shift though as they were having fun and I’m stuck in the office. Anyways, fast forward to about a month ago I was doing paperwork and I came across an email stating Christmas party, I brought it up with my colleague he said is there? To which I said yeah at this place he said oh yeah I know I’m going to that. I was struck as I had not been approached or invited to it, what makes it worse is as there has been a boom in work lately they have took on about 6 new people about 3 months ago and they have all been added to the guess list and they class each other now as “family” while I’m stuck covering the guys shift and I was told I need to have the on call phone over Christmas because he has a family?! Well so do I!!!

[thatstormygeek]

The medical costs incurred by the survivors of the shooting are hitting hard, and they won’t end soon. The average medical spending for someone who is shot increases by nearly $30,000 in the first year, according to a Harvard Medical School study. Another study found that number goes up to $35,000 for children. Ten kids were shot at the parade. Then there are life’s ordinary bills — rent, utilities, car repairs — that don’t stop just because someone survived a mass shooting, even if their injuries prevent them from working or sending kids to school. The financial burden that comes with surviving is so common it has a name, according to Aswad Thomas of the nonprofit Alliance for Safety and Justice: victimization debt. Some pay it out-of-pocket. Some open a new credit card. Some find help from generous strangers. Others can’t make ends meet.

Mostly, it’s the moms who keep the bills organized. Tucked above the microwave. Zipped inside a purse. Screenshots stored on a phone. And then there’s a maze of paperwork: The Missouri state victims’ compensation form is five pages, including instructions. It’s another six pages for help from the United Way. Emily Tavis keeps stacks of paperwork with color-coded binder clips in her basement: Black for her partner, Gooch Sr.; blue for her stepson, Jacob Gooch Jr.; pink for herself. All three were shot at the parade. Tavis was able to walk after a bullet ripped through her leg, and she considered declining the ambulance ride because she was worried about the cost — she lacked insurance at the time. Gooch Sr. was unable to walk because he’d been shot in the foot. So they shared an ambulance to the hospital with two of their kids.

[coremcenterusa]

If you seek help with the paperwork for Occupational Hazard Insurance, you must contact Core Medical Center, USA, today. We know prompt authorizations and appropriate paperwork are essential to recovering injured workers. Our staff puts a lot of effort into ensuring that necessary medical care is authorized and all pertinent paperwork is sent on time to everyone who needs it. We aim to ensure that your workers recover quickly and that any administrative setbacks don’t affect their ability to perform their jobs. Contact Core Medical Center if your company requires a reputable occupational medicine and workers’ compensation provider in Blue Springs or Kansas City, Missouri.