#Mason County Press

[mountttmase]

Change Of Heart

The Middle - Part Three

Note - chapter three wooooo. Thank you so much for all your feedback last week and I’m really sorry I didn’t reply to you guys. It was a weird few days and I’ve been sick so it slipped my mind but I really appreciate you guys so much. I hope you enjoy this one too and happy halfway mark 🩷

Pairing - Mason Mount x Reader

Word count - 6.3k

Warnings - series contains angst & fluff

Never in a million years did you think you���d be in the pickle you were in right now.

You’d never felt this awful about yourself before, fleeing the flat that you’d shared with Jack for just over three years since your second year of uni and returning to your childhood home for some much needed comfort. But the only person's comfort you wanted was still in training.

You thought everything was turning out perfectly, moving out of halls and into your first big girl flat with Jack was a massive step but you’d fallen into domestic life perfectly. The both of you still on the same course but taking a few different modules meaning you weren’t together 100% of the time and being able to study together and push each other forward helped you get the best results possible. Both ending up with firsts and it didn’t take you long to land a job so you could continue to live where you’d both made your new home but right now that all now seemed like a long lost dream.

As soon as you made it home to your parents house you rushed up to your old room. Ignoring your family entirely as you locked yourself away and as soon as you thought Mason might be finished with training you sent him a quick text.

Mason, he was always there when you needed him.

You were surprised at first at how quickly the pair of you had fallen back into the rhythm of being friends. Waking up that next morning after your dads birthday party to find him pressed up against your back with his head in your neck and an arm around your waist, but it was the fact he’d clearly gotten hot in the night and taken his jeans off that had made you chuckle. Knowing how much he didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable by taking his clothes off but you enjoyed waking up next to him more than you let on.

He’d woken up shortly after you and after a quick squeeze you felt him move away, not wanting you to wake up with him pressed against you but you were quickly rolling over so you could press yourself up against him and hold him to you until you felt his chest rumble with laughter.

‘Morning Masey’

‘Morning, love. You sleep okay?’

‘Surprisingly well actually. What about you?’

‘Yeah not bad’ he whispered but you could tell he was a little shy still. Not able to look you in the eyes for more than a few seconds but it was just nice to have him back in any capacity.

Mason stuck to his word after that night, always keeping in contact as often as he could and when he went on loan to Derby County you made sure to go to as many games as you could manage. Jack always in tow as it became your little thing but as soon as he joined back up with Chelsea Jack had to stop. Telling you he didn’t feel right cheering for Chelsea as an Arsenal fan so you ended up going to games alone or with some of the Chelsea girlfriends as Mason introduced you to more people as he made friends.

You were so proud of him, watching him take the world by storm and as his second season was coming to an end you knew one of the biggest games of his life was coming up and he didn’t need any distractions.

You needed him though. Urgently.

You needed him more than you'd ever needed anyone in your life and as you sat and waited for him to show up you felt sicker and sicker. The gravity of the situation still not hitting you properly as you hadn’t managed to speak it out loud to him yet but you knew you needed to get a grip.

When Mason eventually got to your house, the door was opened by your mother who gave him a concerned look as she nodded him in and he wasn't sure what to to think at all.

‘She’s in her room but she won’t tell me what’s wrong’ she huffed, rolling her eyes slightly and it struck him as a bit weird because he knew you told your mum everything. The fact she was laughing it off though made him think it was that serious though and he felt his heart calm down slightly.

‘I’ll speak to her’ he reassured her. Touching her arm as if to comfort her slightly before he made his way up the stairs and straight to your room. Knocking gently as the door was shut but he really didn’t know what to expect.

‘You in there love?’ He called, knocking lightly again as he didn’t know if you were sleeping but you were far from it. Laid on your back as you looked up to the ceiling to try and control your breathing but his voice had you sat up straight in an instant.

‘Yeah’ you answered, hoping it was loud enough for him to hear but you knew your voice sounded strained and when the door finally opened and you could see his face you felt yours crumple. Hot tears running thick and fast down your face but Mason was quick to shut the door and rush to your side so he could pull you into his arms.

Even though he had no idea what was going on, the fact he’d dropped everything to come here and comfort you meant the world and as you sobbed into his chest you’d never felt more lucky to have a friend like him.

He let you take your time, rubbing you back soothingly to calm you down enough to speak and even though you were petrified, you knew Mason would be there for you and on your side no matter what you told him.

‘Hey, come on it’s okay’ he whispered, trying to pull back so he could look at you but you weren’t ready yet and he didn’t push you to talk until your tears had died down. ‘It’s alright, love. Take your time, yeah? I’m not going anywhere’

‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you come all this way’

‘No no don’t be silly, you know I would have come a lot further if you needed me to’ he whispered. Trying his best to settle you so that you’d come out and tell him what’s wrong and when you looked up at him with a pout, his heart broke for you. ‘What is it, love? Whats happened?’

‘Me and Jack… well there isn’t a me and Jack anymore. He’s left me’ you told him, your voice wobbling as you tried your best not to break down again but you could tell he was shocked as he pulled you back into his chest.

‘Oh y/n’ he sighed, wrapping his arms around you tighter and rubbing your back soothingly. ‘What happened?’

‘If I tell you, can you promise it stays between us’ you asked, not wanting anyone to know your secret just yet but you knew you were about to burst if you didn’t tell someone.

‘Well I don’t kn-‘

‘No Mason, you have to promise’ you begged, feeling yourself get hysterical as he wasn’t promising but when he cupped your jaw you looked straight into eyes and knew you had nothing to worry about.

‘Okay okay, I promise, yeah?’ he told you, grabbing your hand out of your lap so he could link your pinkies together and you smiled for the first time that day at the gesture. ‘I pinkie promise you it stays between us. Now spill’

You tried your hardest to tell him, the words stuck on the tip of your tongue and it took a few tries but he never tried to rush you. Giving you the time he needed you gather yourself and get the words right but it was like you’d forgotten how to speak.

‘I can’t Mase, I can’t say it’

‘Why not?’

‘Cause if I say it then it’s happening and-‘

‘Whatever it is, no matter how bad you think it might be, I’m here yeah?’ He told you. Stroking your cheek so you could look at each other properly. ‘I’ll always be here. You’re not on your own at all so just tell me and we can face it together’

‘I’m pregnant’

The words came out as a whisper and you weren’t even sure if Mason understood at first but when you watched his face contort into one of shock you knew he had. All the breath in his lungs being expelled at once as what you’d said hit him like a slap in the face, but now you’d said it out loud the words came pouring out of you like word vomit.

‘I found out a few days ago and I’m way further along than I was expecting and it’s all just such a mess. I didn’t want to add more pressure onto your plate with the final coming up but I didn’t know who else to tell I’m so so sorry Mase-‘

‘You do not need to apologise, okay? You have nothing to be sorry for’ he whispered and you could see he was trying his hardest to comfort you but he was also stunned by what you’d told him. ‘Sorry I feel like I’m being shit but I don't know what to say’

‘No it’s fine, I don’t know either’ you laughed and the fact you’d cracked a bit made him smile. Pulling you into his chest so you could cuddle into him and when his fingers began to massage over your scalp you felt yourself melt.

‘Are you okay? Like are you feeling okay?’ He whispered into the side of your head and you nodded softly.

‘I’m a bit sick but I’m fine I promise’ you told him looking back up into his big brown eyes and it was as clear as day how much he cared and how worried he was for you.

‘So Jack left when you told him?’ He asked carefully but all you could do was nod knowing your voice would fail you. ‘I’ll kill him. I swear to god I’ll kill him’

‘Please don’t, I just wanna forget he ever existed’ you sniffed before looking down into your lap so you could let your tears fall.

‘Look at me’ he whispered, taking your face in his hands again so he could kiss your forehead and you felt yourself relax in his hold. Looking up at him through your tears but you could see he was calming down. ‘He never deserved you. The both of you, okay?’ He mumbled. Your eyes spilling over as he referred to you as a pair and even though you were petrified you knew you’d be okay as long as you had your best friend. ‘I don’t care what you say, I’m here now and I’m taking care of you’

‘No mase, you can’t-‘

‘I don’t wanna hear it okay.’ He cut you off, tucking your hair behind your ears. ‘Call it payback or whatever for when I left for a year but you’re not on your own. I’ll do whatever you need me to’

‘Mase-‘

‘You need to do one thing for me though, okay’ he asked and you had no idea what it was but you were willing to do just about anything for him right now. ‘I need you to tell your mum’

You knew he was right, there was no way you could hide this from her and you’d need all the help you could get but the prospect of telling your family terrified you. You knew this wasn’t what they wanted for you and the thought of disappointing them hurt but you knew deep down he was right.

‘Will you come with me?’ You asked quietly and his face softened immediately.

‘Of course I will’

‘Okay, let me just go to the loo and sort myself out and we can do it’ you smiled. Leaving him alone in your room for a moment but you had no idea what he was about to do as he reached for his phone and called the one person he needed to talk to.

‘Hello?’

‘Don’t talk and don’t put the phone down’ he said lowly, his mind scrambled with what he wanted to say but in the end he blurted it all out. ‘I’m just calling to tell you you’re a piece of shit and if you dare thinking about coming near her again I’ll rip your fucking head off’

‘Oh give it a rest mate, you think I give a shit?’ Jack laughed and the sound made Mason want to punch something. ‘You should be thanking me anyway, I know you’ve wanted me out of the picture since I got there. Not that it makes much difference, she still picked me even when you were begging for her’

‘Shut the fuck up’ Mason spat but it made no difference. Jack was still laughing at him down the phone like he thought he was pathetic and it made Mason want to scream.

‘Don’t call me again and I won’t call you. And don’t worry, I don’t plan on being near her anytime soon’

‘How can you be like this? You’re gonna chuck it all away for no reason?’

‘I never wanted a kid, that was never in my plans. She can do what she wants but I’m out. Just like I’m out of this conversation. I would say good luck with everything but I don’t mean it’ he said before hanging up and Mason could only just contain his rage.

How could he say that about you? You’d stuck with him for so long and Mason knew how much you loved him so to hear him speak about you in this way infuriated him. Mason was never Jacks biggest fan but he’d always been respectful for your sake and now he wished he never had been.

‘Mase, you coming?’ You called, your head poking into your room to see him looking furious but as soon as his eyes fell on you his whole face changed.

‘I’m here love, sorry’ he smiled. Popping his phone back into his pocket and meeting you by the door so he could take your hand and lead you downstairs. It was safe to say you were terrified but as long as you had Mason you knew you could get through this.

Telling your mum you were about to become a single parent was one of the hardest things you ever had to do, but she could see how upset and scared you were and thankfully wasn’t hard on you. Begging you to stay home so she could look after you and you took her up on the offer so you could be closer to Mason and away from the home you used to share with Jack. Even staying with him some nights just for a break and you always felt your happiest when you were next to him.

He did everything for you. He cooked, he cleaned, he even did your washing and when the time came for his big game he called you as soon as he could after he’d won to let you know it was you and your little pickle that pushed him over the finish line and gave him the strength to win.

When he had a small break from football he took you away for a few days just the two of you and you knew what you must have looked like to other people but you never corrected them. You just held his hand and let him treat you even if you did feel awful about it but in the back of your mind you wanted people to think you were together. That you had your life in order and the father of your child was in the picture rather than off doing god knows what because you weren’t good enough for him.

Pregnancy was tough. You felt sick most of the way through it and even though you were trying your hardest to make out that you were fine, you were still mourning the loss of the man you thought you’d be spending the rest of your life with. You kept your sadness private though, waiting until you were in the safety of your bedroom of a night to let your tears flow.

It took a while but you knew it had to stop. Your life still had to move on without him and you had a whole new human to think about. If he didn’t want to be a part of your lives then that’s his choice but it was also your choice to give your baby the best life you could.

Mason couldn’t make it to your first scan but he made sure to take you to your second. You could tell he was unsure about if you wanted him to actually come in with you or not but you just nodded your head in the direction of the door and he followed you in with a huge smile.

‘I see your red lipstick is back’ he commented as he helped you up onto the bed but all you could do was send him a smile. It was rare you’d worn it over the last few years as Jack always complained when you did but now you were free of him, you were free to wear it again. Feeling more like yourself with each day that passed.

‘So todays the day’ the nurse smiled as she gelled your belly up. ‘What have you decided?’ She asked but Mason was looking at you confused. He had no idea what an important scan this was but you just smiled at him before turning to her.

‘I want to know’ you confirmed but Mason just looked at you like you were speaking another language.

‘Am I missing something here? Want to know what?’

‘What I’m having. I can find out if it’s a boy or a girl today’ you told him and his eyebrows almost got lost in his hairline he was that shocked.

‘Oh’ he smiled. ‘Wait you’re just gonna find out now? No big gender reveal or anything?’

‘Nah, I don’t fancy it’ you shrugged. ‘I’ve got the most important person here who needs to know so I don’t see why I should wait. What do you think?’

‘Let’s do it’ he smiled, his eyes sparkling as they filled with tears and you squeezed his hand to let him know it was okay as the nurse began the search for your little one. ‘What am I having then? A niece or a nephew’ he joked, squeezing your hand gently as she moved the probe around and she let out a little laugh before her eyes fell to you.

‘Y/n… you’re having a little girl’

You didn’t realise you were crying until you felt Mason's lips on your forehead. Warm trickles spilling down your cheeks at the gesture as you covered your face with your free hand.

You’d told yourself you would be happy with whatever your baby was but deep down you knew you wanted a girl. A little mini you who would be your absolute best friend and now you knew you were getting your wish you couldn’t hold your sobs in. The nurse leaving the pair of you alone so Mason could help you calm down and after a few more forehead kisses and reassuring words in your ear you were semi back to normal.

‘Sorry Mase, it’s just a lot’

‘I know, love. It’s okay though, you’re allowed to get upset’ he reassured you and before you knew it you were getting packed up to leave and go home with fresh pictures of you little girl in hand.

You made a quick stop in the loo before you left, something that was now becoming a regular occurrence and once you were out, Mason was nowhere to be seen. You wondered if he’d maybe been mobbed by fans and had to go and hide but as soon as you got your phone out to text him he appeared. A sly smile on his face as he hid his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie and you eyed him curiously until he let out a giggle.

‘Where did you go?’ You asked him, the smile on his face contagious as he tried to suppress it.

‘The gift shop’

‘Why? Isn’t it full of flowers and get well soon cards?’

‘There was a lot of that yes, but I wanted to get my niece her first teddy’ he smiled, reaching back into his front pocket and pulling out a little giraffe teddy with a pink bow tied round the bottom of its neck and you felt your eyes sting for the millionth time that day.

‘Oh Mase’ you whispered. ‘That must have cost you an arm and a leg in there’

‘Worth it’ he smiled and when he wrapped his arm around your shoulders, you let him lead you out to the car to go home.

As you neared the end of your pregnancy you were ready for it all to be over with. Your little pickle wasn't so little anymore and everything was hurting. The worst were the Braxton Hicks contractions and even though you’d been having them for a few weeks now, the ones today felt worse. You weren’t due to give birth for another two weeks though so you knew it was nothing serious however after a call to your midwife she advised you to come in and stay the night to be observed.

You called Mason that night once you were settled in, letting him know you were staying over as a precaution and even when he tried to protest you made him stay home. He had a big game the next day and you didn’t want him to worry and get himself in a tizz when you’d be chilling in bed all day and by the time you were both ready to sleep he was pleading with you to see you afterwards. Agreeing that he could come and visit you after his game and you went to sleep excited that you’d be able to see him tomorrow.

As far as games go, it was a good one for Mason. He stuck to his promise and scored you a goal, his first of the season, which was then followed by 2 more. His first Chelsea hat trick and you just wished you would have been able to watch it in a little more comfort.

As soon as Mason could get out of there he did. Discreetly letting the staff know what was happening so they let him go without another word and even though all his team mates wanted to celebrate, there was only one place he wanted to be.

He knew he had time but he also wanted to get to you as quickly as he could so he only made one stop to pick you up a few things and he made it to the hospital by 6pm. Thankfully your mum had told him where abouts in the hospital he had to go and once he made it to the maternity ward reception he didn’t have to look far to know what room you were in. Your mum walking out looking more emotional than he’d ever seen her and once she caught sight of him she ran over to give him a big hug.

‘Is she alright? I text her a few times but she didn’t reply so I presumed she was asleep’

‘Oh Mase’ she sobbed. ‘She’s here’

‘What?… what do you mean?’

‘She was born about half an hour ago, it all happened so fast’ your mum told him but he was stuck frozen.

‘Is everything alright? Are they both fine? I got here as quick as I could I had no idea-‘

‘They’re both fine Mase’ she reassured him. Holding him but his arms in hopes he would calm down. ‘Why don’t you go in and see them. I think she was about to have a nap but she’ll be over the moon to see you’

‘Okay’ he whispered. Eyes trained on the door your mum had just emerged from and with a gentle push he was making his way over.

Mason had never been so nervous before, not even before he took his penalty earlier did he feel like this but the excitement took over and before he knew it he was pushing the door open to reveal you sat up in bed and even though you looked frightened and exhausted, your eyes were full of love and he couldn’t wait to hold you.

‘Mase’ you breathed, your bottom lip wobbling as he rushed to your side, dropping all his bags in the process so he could hug you and as soon as his arms were around you you cried your heart out. All of your emotions and hormones spilling out of you as the comfort of your best friend engulfed you and he let you cry it out fully. Pulling back as your breathing started to regulate so he could kiss your cheeks and take a good look at you. ‘I’m so sorry, they told me it would be hours-‘

‘Do not say sorry, yeah’ he whispered. Pushing the hair out of your face so he could get a better look at you and the look of pride on his face made you dizzy. ‘Are you okay? Are you in pain?’

‘Yeah, it hurt like fuck’ you laughed, wiping your eyes before he took your hands in his. "They said it would take hours and then all of a sudden I was fully dilated so I couldn't even get the epidural’ you told him and his face softened. ‘I think she was just too excited to see you and congratulate you for your hat trick’ you laughed tearily and his face crumpled a little bit. ‘You played so well Mase I’m so proud of you’

‘Are you kidding me? You just pushed a whole human out. I’m proud of you’ he told you as his eyes flickered all over your face. ‘And you’re the only woman I’ve ever known give birth in red lipstick’

‘I wanted her to know what type of woman she’s got for a mum as soon as possible’ you told him with a laugh. ’Do you wanna meet her?’ You asked quietly, knowing he’s been waiting months to finally see her and the bright smile he sent your way to you all you needed to know.

‘Please’ he whispered shyly, so you nodded him over to sit in the chair next to your bed before leaning over the other side so you could pick her out from her crib. Luckily enough she was still awake and you kept your eyes on Mason's face as you handed her over.

It was like love at first sight, his eyes filling up with tears that he tried to blink away as his lip wobbled but he was a natural when he held her. Getting her comfortable in his arms as best he could before he stroked her little face and you could tell from his ragged breathing he was overwhelmed with everything.

‘Oh y/n she’s your double’ he whispered. Tracing her features gently and your heart was racing at how he was with her.

‘Yeah, you think?’

‘Of course, she’s perfect’ he whispered, softly trailing his finger dow her nose as she looked up at him in wonder but your moment was only short lived as your midwife came back in to check on you and her eyes caught Masons immediately.

‘Ooooh a boy, what’s your name handsome?’ She giggled and you laughed at his frightened face.

‘This is my best friend, Mason’ you explained and she gave you an over exaggerated wink before directing her attention back to him.

‘Well Mason, I’m not sure if you know this but babies really benefit from a little skin to skin when they’re born.’

‘What?’ He breathed. Looking at you for help but the shrug of your shoulder let him know you weren’t about to help him.

‘It’s true, releases good hormones apparently and will help her immune system’

‘I’ve only just got here and you already want me bloody undressed’ he muttered, passing you back your little bundle of joy before undressing his top half and you felt your heart flutter a little at the sight of him. You hadn't seen him in this state for a long time and you couldn't believe how much he’d bulked out but you pushed everything down as you began to unwrap your daughter to hand over to him. Feeling yourself melt even more as he settled her back against his chest and you wrapped a blanket around them to keep them warm.

‘Hey, y/n? Have we got a name yet? I want to introduce myself properly’ he told you seriously. You’d had a name for a while but you wanted to make sure it fit her face and you wanted to discuss it with him too just in case he thought it was a bad idea.

‘I think I do, yeah. Mase this is Ginevra, Gee for short’ you told him softly. ‘I wanted to name her after my Italian great grandmother, you know the one I only met once?’

‘I remember’ he smiled ‘Hey baby Gee, it’s so nice to finally see you’ he told her looking down into her eyes that were staring right back into his. ‘We’re gonna be best friends, me and you’ he told her. Listing off all the adventures he was planning for them and you knew in that moment that it didn’t matter about Jack or anyone else, she would always have Mason.

It was the start of a beautiful friendship between the pair of them and even though being a new mother was difficult and required a lot of adapting, Mason always made sure he gave a helping hand.

You felt awful, letting him give up his free time to help you raise a baby that wasn’t even his but you could see he was in his element. His caring nature coming out in full force whenever Gee was around and you loved the way this extended to you too. Not that he hadn't always been caring but it was like he was extra gentle now.

Whenever he had a few hours free he would make sure to visit, even if it wasn’t for long but it always brightened your day to see him and it definitely brightened Gee’s. Next to you, he was becoming her favourite person.

You loved being back at home but there was something missing. A deep need inside of you to stop relying on your family and to give your daughter the life she deserved on your own. You had always tried to be as independent as you could but living off your parents and Mason was starting to take its toll.

Gee was the most special little girl in the whole world. You couldn’t believe you’d created a human so kind and funny and silly and after dreaming about your baby for so long, it was unreal to finally have her in your arms.

You had three months left of maternity leave when work checked in on you. You figured it was just for a general update but after a long talk they were offering you something you couldn’t refuse. A way out of the life you were currently in and you didn’t even think twice before saying yes.

Mason could tell there was something on your mind from the first look at you. He’d come over for a few hours after training just like usual and aside from a quick hello, you mostly sat in silence. Never one to push you though he let you sit a stew for a while as he laid with Gee on the floor. Tapping the toys hanging from the frame attached to her play mat so they dangled above her and as she laughed excitedly he would tickle her tummy to make it even worse so her giggles filled the quiet room.

He was so good with her, which made what you were about to tell him all the more difficult. Not having the courage to do it right then and there but after a little while you couldn't hold it in. Asking him to come and sit next to you on the sofa and he carefully picked up Gee so he could cradle her in his arms as you spoke and you looked on with a big smile as she playfully held his finger.

‘So the company I work for, they’re having a bit of a shuffle around and things are gonna be different when I go back’ you started but his face turned to one of anger immediately.

‘You’re not loosing your job are you? They’re not allowed to do that’ he told you seriously but you just smiled and shook your head.

‘No Mase I’m not losing my job’ you laughed. ‘I’m getting a promotion actually’

‘Oh no way, that’s amazing’ he smiled. His whole face lighting up now he knew they weren’t trying to get rid of you but now you knew the hard part was coming where you needed to explain what was actually going on.

‘Yeah they’re opening a new office and they want me to run my own department there, like it’s all getting set up for when I’m back it’s really exciting’

‘I’m so proud of you’ he smiled but he noticed the way your face had fallen and that you looked slightly nervous. ‘What’s up? You don’t look too happy about it’

‘No I am I am, it’s just, well it’s a big change’ you explained but his kind smile hadn’t faltered and you knew you were about to crush his whole world.

‘I know it is, but you can do’

‘Mase?’ You gulped. Looking down into your lap as you held the heart of the necklace he’d gifted you all these years ago. Hoping it would give you the strength you needed like it always did.

‘Yeah?’

‘It’s in Manchester’

‘What?’ He asked. Looking up to say his face contorted in confusion and even though you knew you had to explain more, a weight felt like it had been lifted.

‘The job. It’s in Manchester’

‘Oh’ he breathed. Looking slightly bewildered by everything you were saying and as he carried on speaking you knew you’d have to break it down a bit more for him. ‘That’s a pretty long commute isn’t it? A couple of hours each way at least. Can you work from home?’

‘I can work from home Mason, yes. But I also need to be in the office’ you breathed. Ready to give him the final blow and as you looked into his sweet brown eyes, you knew this would hurt him more than anything. ‘That’s why I’m moving there’

‘You’re what?’

‘I’m moving to Manchester, Mason’

You watched his face fall, eyes dropping down to Gee who was quietly laying in his arms and when he looked back up you could see his eyes were full of tears.

‘Please don’t take her away from me’ he whispered, his voice thick as his bottom lip wobbled and your heart broke for the boy sitting next to you.

‘No Masey, no I’m not taking her away from you I promise’ you told him, your own eyes burning as you tried to comfort him but you could tell he was distraught at the thought of not being close to her anymore.

‘I can’t lose you guys, I’ve lost you once and I can’t-‘

‘Mase no, come here’ you asked him. Holding your arms out for him to fall into and once he was settled comfortably you scratched over his scalp just how he liked it. ‘You won’t lose us I swear, we’ll be back all the time okay and you can come visit whenever you want. I just… I need to do this. For me’ you sighed. ‘I wanna give Gee the best life I can, okay?

‘I can do that, I’ll give you guys everything you need-‘

‘Mason, my minds made up’

‘But why’ he pouted. Knowing there was more to the story than you were giving him and the look in his eyes made you realise you had to be completely honest.

‘I can’t be here anymore Mase. Everywhere I look I see him and I just hate feeling like this. I need a fresh start’ you confessed and you watched his face drop instantly as a look of understanding washed over him.

‘Hey hey, it’s alright’ he whispered, sitting up and pulling you into his side. ‘If it's what you need to do then I’ll support you, okay? I’m not gonna sit here and act like I’m thrilled about the whole thing but whatever you need then I’m here for you’ he reassured you.

‘Thank you’

‘And you best believe I’m gonna be visiting every second I get a chance so you better get somewhere with a guest bedroom’

‘I will, I promise’ you laughed. Trying to hold back a sob but it was no use. Yes this was what you needed but it was tough on everyone and you hated upsetting Mason more than anything. ‘You knew you’re always gonna be my best friend Mason. Distance won’t change that’

‘I hope so’ he whispered tearily and you felt your heart break for the millionth time.

Tag list - @saltyheartnightmare @harvestmount @prideofpd @sid-vii @carlottawllms @footiehoemcfc @katharinanadiaa @whenelifallsinlove @neverinadream @cityzenchick @msnmnt @stikkibun @masonmtxo @chillymountsjess @yoursselo @maseymm @feelinglikeineedlotsofnaps @leclerc13

[inafieldofdaisies]

Hi daisies 🧹🫶🏻😂 can you lore drop me some Sébastien facts that you can share so far? 👀

Sébastien has, in Calahan's words, a name so long that it doesn't fit on a standard name tag: Sébastien Theodore Phoenix Sawyer Thatcher Landon Nicholas Gallagher-Kerring

He has quite the tumultuous relationship with his father where he's constantly torn between pleasing him and completely defying him any chance he gets

His mother is a well-known French artist who married Frank-Gerald out of love but soon discovered the man only wanted a heir and had utmost trouble staying faithful and keeping up the promises of a 'dream life' he wooed her with

His father would do anything to keep up apperances hence why any transgressions and attempts at rebellion Séb makes are quickly buried in the press. Same goes for his inevitable divorce to Gisèle that resulted in an airtight NDA, hefty settlement to 'keep her happy' (his words) and strict conditions for seeing their only son. Thanks to his team of lawyers, to the outside world their failed marriage remained picture perfect.

Séb is set to inherit his father's empire when he turns 25, over which he harbors an array of conflicting emotions: if he should leave it all behind and essentially tell 'old Gerry' to fuck off or would it mean his father would win and everything he (and his mère) went through would have been for nothing.

His most recent act of rebellion is the reason Sébastien ends up stuck in Hope County in his own version of 'Princess Heir Protection Program' with a cult twist. You can guess who becomes the Carter Mason to his Princess Rosalinda

Frank-Gerald is a big-game hunter and considered their yearly (and nonnegotiable) father-son hunting trips as perfect bonding time. Séb blames turning vegetarian on him.

Sébastien is a collector at heart, especially when it comes to first editions of items. His fashion sense is even stronger, so you can imagine how hard he takes being stranded with just the clothes on his back (outfit includes a ruined yellow Skydiving suit he cannot live down and is the source of many jokes and nicknames Calahan has for him) and the closest closet full of brands being John's.

I don't talk too much about Séb but he's on my mind all the same so consider this a Wip Whenever tag, it's been a while <3

@socially-awkward-skeleton @strafethesesinners @strangefable @hollywood-is-bleeding @cassietrn

@lilywatt @shellibisshe @aceghosts @wrathfulrook @josephslittledeputy

@josephseedismyfather @trench-rot @dumbassdep @killyourrdarlingss @katsigian

@voidika @g0dspeeed @purplehairsecretlair @imogenkol @simonxriley

@derelictheretic @cloudofbutterflies92 @carlosoliveiraa @neonshrike @elligatorrex

@mkdecimation @theelderhazelnut @finding-comfort-in-rain

@direwombat @la-grosse-patate and anyone with something to share this week <3

[pinnithin-writes]

Flash warmup for workshop; 512 words

---

The name’s Darcy Peters. I’m a car exorcist.

Well, legally speakin’ I’m a mechanic. Out here in the hills and hollers of Eastern Kentucky, there’s all sorts of ghosts and spirits about. The usual cases are souls who died toilin’ away in the coal mines, but you get a few other sad stories here and there. Kids who died too young from scarlet fever. Runaway slaves who didn’t quite make it past the Mason-Dixon line. Out here, your car is your freedom, and a lot of the restless dead see that as their ticket to the next life. Poor things don’t realize a vehicle will just take ‘em to the next county over, if they’re lucky.

I live and work in Harlan County, a place so bleak and depressing they wrote a song about it. Loads of songs, actually. It’s all true - most folk around here really do spend their whole lives tryna get away. Not me, though. I’m just as tied to the land as the spirits are.

“Well, there’s your problem,” I say to the young man seated all nervous like in my garage. He looks like he’s from out of town, a little out of place in his pressed slacks and sharp clean blazer. I set him down next to the water cooler and the faded stack of magazines while I took a look at his Mercedes, which didn’t take much time. “There’s a ghost in your alternator.”

The young man - I think he introduced himself as Duke or Declan or some such name - blinks a few times, as if to make sure he heard me right. “Sorry, a ghost?”

“Yeah, a ghost,” I repeat, wiping the grease off my hands with a rag. “Coal miner, most like. They love gettin’ all up in the engine parts. It’s where all the energy sits.” I give him a once-over; he looks spotless. A man like him doesn’t belong a hundred miles near a mine shaft. “Don’t know how you managed to pick one up. You been in Harlan long?”

“My uncle lives here,” Duke or Declan replies, shifting uncomfortably in his chair. “He invited me to stay at his ranch for the summer. I just got here a few weeks ago.”

“Who’s your uncle?”

“Richard Werner.”

“Oh, you’re Dick’s kin?” I chuckle. Of course he’d send his clueless nephew to the local mechanic without telling him to expect an exorcism. Bless his heart. “Well, welcome to Harlan. You’re new, so I guess it’s best you hear from me: we got ghosts here. Lots of ‘em. And there’s one in your alternator. That’s why you keep stalling out.”

“Oh,” Dick’s nephew says in a small voice. After taking a moment to digest this, he asks, “Well, can you fix it?”

“Does a bear shit in the woods?” I reply automatically, and I catch his face wrinkling up in the corner of my eye. I toss the rag over my shoulder and nod to the old yellow fridge grumbling in the corner. “Help yourself to some iced tea - I’ll be right back.”

[bigfootmountain]

MAYSVILLE, Ky. Authorities are investigating reports of the sighting of a large, long-haired creature with 'glowing animal-like eyes' at the isolated home of a Mason County farmer last weekend.

Charles Fulton, 39, told county authorities he fired two shots with a .22-caliber pistol, but said it seemed not to affect the creature which loped off at a 'slow-motion kind of gallop.'

Fulton and his family were at their rural home in a heavily wooded area watching television last Saturday night when another child came into the living room and said someone was turning the back door knob. Thinking the child was playing a prank, Fulton made him sit and watch TV.

'A few minutes later, something liked to have tore my front door off,' Fulton told authorities Wednesday.

He said he opened the door and saw a creature more than 7-feet tall standing there, covered with long whitish hair. 'It was standing on two feet like a human and its head was taller than the door frame, which is 6 feet, 8 inches,' Fulton said.

Opening the door apparently startled the creature, which ran off the porch. Fulton went back in, put on his coat and got the pistol, He then went to the back yard, where he spotted it standing between an outbuilding and the house.

It was then he noticed its 'glowing eyes and hair like a horse's mane,' he said, 'I fired at it twice from about 30 feet away and don't see how I could have missed.'

He said the creature turned slowly and 'ran off at a slow-motion gallop.'

His wife, Wanda, 36, and several of the children said they also saw the creature from inside the house.

Fulton discounted the possibility the creature was a bear because of its upright position, and said it certainly was not a man in costume.

The sighting was the first of an ape-like creature in Kentucky for more than two years. At that time, motorists on the Pennyrile Parkway in western Kentucky saw a large hairy creature bound off into the woods.

Robert Gardiner, 40, a big game hunter for 20 years, is convinced he has found the lair of Bigfoot in the hills of southern Ohio near McArthur. He urged hunters to hold their fire if they see him.

Gardiner says an analyst, who examined blood samples taken from a tree in Wayne National Forest in Vinton County, described the samples as 'apelike humanoid blood.'

However, Gardiner says he will have the blood analyzed again to get a second opinion.

The first analyst, Gardiner said, 'could not break it (blood) down into one of the human categories, but it did come from some sort of primate.'

Gardiner, a native of Lexington and now a resident of Columbus, Ohio, is president of the North American Sasquatch (Bigfoot) Research Team, and has been searching in the hills for over a week.

'I have not seen them but I sure have heard them,' said Gardiner who has also searched the Pacific Northwest for the creature he believes is the missing link.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 1980 United Press International

[enderprophet]

Satanists in Jackson County? Drawing By Missing Child Sparks Fear, Concern.

(Ripley, West Virginia) A new drawing making its way around social media has caused some residents of Jackson County to question what, exactly, it is depicting. This picture was posted by Amanda Mason, age 62, to Facebook last week with the caption "MY GRANDBABY WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE ANTICHRIST". According to Amanda, this figure was found in the drawing book of her granddaughter, Nyla Davis, age 8, who is currently missing, alongside her older sister Amara Davis, age 14. Amanda also claims that both her granddaughters, who were living with her at the time of their disappearance, had been "acting distant" shortly before they vanished. The former pastor also claimed to have seen "hooded figures" outside her home at night. "I know this is The Antichrist because the Devil cannot create. He can only mutate. Pervert. Corrupt. Mock. And we know from the Good Book what The Lord is gonna look like when He comes back. And this? This is like that, but false. The Devil was an angel once. Who ever said he threw all his clothes out when he fell?" The Jackson County Sheriffs Department has dismissed Mrs. Mason's theory of her granddaughters disappearance. "These claims are utterly baseless and not worth commenting on further.", they said in a statement. "What we do know is that we have been unable to locate their (Nyla and Amara's) biological father, Zack Davis, since they disappeared. Zack Davis is a registered sex offender and a threat to children, hence why his daughters were removed from his care and placed under the care of their grandmother. If you have any information whatsoever on the location or status of either Nyla Davis, Amara Davis, or Zack Davis, please contact us or any other authorities immediately. Again, we cannot stress this enough, Zack Davis is a registered sex offender and a threat to children." When asked about the drawing during the press conference, the sheriff replied "I think its some cartoon character actually. I remember seeing my daughter looking at something that kinda looked like that. Who knows, kids draw the strangest things sometimes. Anyways, its almost certainly not relevant to this case, and is taking away attention from the real and present threat that is Zack Davis. Again, if you have any information on the whereabouts of Nyla or Amara, please contact us immediately." Nyla and Amara Davis remain lost. @magireco-minibang

(Picture found by Amanda Mason, supposedly drawn by her granddaughter Nyla Davis, age 8)

[thepedanticbohemian]

The Ouderkirk House

by Jacqueline L. Landry

#amquerying

CHAPTER ONE:

June 23rd

Mason County, Washington

I go down hard, face first, the toe of my hiking boot catching on a gnarled outcropping of cedar root. I land with an oomph amid poplar and oak leaves, evergreen needles, candy wrappers, and cigarette butts. I heave for breath and inhale the odor of decomposition. I cough to keep from gagging. I know this smell too well but I never get used to it. I know I'm right again. Sadness grips my gut, and I grimace.

I ease myself up, taking care not to dislodge the detritus covering the shallow grave. There hasn't been rain in Western Washington for nearly two months. The little mound looks fresh. The decomp odor tells me a week old, maybe two.

Here's just one more thing I wish I didn't know anything about. Experience is a two-edged sword. Sometimes it’s edifying. Right now it sucks a root.

The search and rescue volunteers and deputies gather behind me as I right myself, situate my hoodie, and look around. Their eyes are all focused on me, then upon the grave. I feel their collective gaze and try to get a grip on my anxiety. My skin prickles and I begin to shiver. I clear my throat and pull myself together, arms crossed beneath my breasts.

“Get Deputy Shepherd,” I say, restraining my urge to run away.

We're in a dense forest, slightly north of Shelton, Washington. On any other day, for any other reason, the hike through this wooded terrain would be beautiful. The oak and poplar leaves telegraphing the wind, cedar, and pine needles crunching under our feet. The breeze rustles the tops of the evergreens, their needles whispering as they move together. However, the weather is far too dry for this part of the Olympic peninsula this time of year. Record low rainfall reminds me there’s a burn-ban in effect for most of Washington state. One positive about that. No rain to wash away evidence.

The rest of the forest is a lush pallet of greens despite the lack of rain. Nothing but fern-clotted shade from so many old evergreens and deciduous trees. We're in the thickest part of the forest with no sunny spots to be found.

It can't be more than seventy degrees here. Still, I have soaked through both t-shirt and purple and gold University of Washington hoodie. Like a lathered horse, I feel the wetness in my pits and rivulets trickling down my back. I understand it's all part of my anxiety, but I fidget in embarrassment. I swipe my palm across my soaked upper lip and chin.

No one wants to find a child’s grave, especially not like this. In these cases, my sole responsibility is to do just that. My visions of what the victim went through are unspeakable. Left arm missing below the shoulder, genitals mutilated and the wound…violated. All antimortem—before death. I shudder and close my eyes but the images are all-pervasive.

And somehow, when I get it right, it’s bad and my fault. Just like when I get it wrong. Funny that. Do I like having bad news all the time? Hell no. I wish little Timmy so-and-so would be found alive and skipping around a park somewhere before he takes the candy from that strange man. We all do. It’s never enough for a grieving family, though. I don’t really blame them. What I can do even embarrasses me.

Five-year-old Noah Nixon went missing from the front yard of his parents’ Olympia home, just shy of a month ago. Disappearing into thin air, the press trumpet, and not the first child to do so in the region. Rumors of a child killer circulate—fanned by the press—and people are scared. These types of killings have been going on in Western Washington since the nineties. Still no suspects. The FBI dubbed the suspect the Knife and Hatchet Man, because of his M.O. Using the hatchet to sever the left arm of his victims just below the shoulder. He uses the knife to do the rest of it.

Is it just me, or do we have more than our share of serial killers here?

This psychopath knows what he’s doing and is getting better at this shit than we are. Welcome to the age of television true crime. And such perps don’t joke around. They are serious about their work, and will not be caught unless they want to be.

When posters and tearful TV pleas from his parents for Noah’s safe return fail, and even cadaver dogs came up empty, Mason County’s Sheriff, Pete Cody, suggested another tactic.

Me.

I’m Ruth Anne O'Neill and I was called into the case to see if I could find the boy. I’m a forensic psychic medium—not a tarot-card-toting, crystal-ball-gazing charlatan—the real deal. It’s not really my job, but it is what I do. I always try to convince myself my gift was bestowed for the betterment of all mankind, or some such high-brow shit. Oh, and I cuss like a sailor. My Dad was Navy, as is my wasband. I come by it naturally. Fuck is my favorite verb, adverb, pronoun, and adjective. As you come to know me better, you might understand why. Police humor is extremely dark and so is mine. Sometimes, in this line of work, fuck is the only word that suits.

Mostly though, my psychic gifts get me labeled as a witch by the elderly, small town Dutch folk where I live on Whidbey Island. That’s the largest island in the continental US, in the middle of Puget Sound. An otherwise neighborly, rural paradise, the folks point, stare, whisper, and generally shun me in the checkout lanes at Safeway. They say my pale green eyes are eerie and my short, sandy blonde hair makes me look like a dyke. I dress the part just to get a rise out of them. A gender non-conforming psychic is easier to swallow than a witchy, hippie psychic, right?

Hell, if I’m really honest, this is no gift. It’s a curse I can’t escape even in sleep. I mostly have the respect of the law enforcement personnel I work with, but get lampooned by the press and other non-believers.

I have this…thing…in my head, forced on me since I was six years old. All I really want to do is bake cakes and take care of the guests at the Hummingbird’s Nest bed and breakfast. I’m the chef and half-owner there in Oak Harbor, the largest small town on the island only by benefit of its two Navy bases.

The gift or curse argument aside, I’ve found twenty-eight children—three of them alive—with my visions and dreams. Out of two hundred and ten cases, perhaps it’s not the greatest track record, but it is something.

No, that’s not right. Noah Nixon makes that twenty-nine totaling two hundred and eleven in the past ten years. At any roads, the press will lambaste the family and law enforcement for involving a flake like me in what is a serious matter; a missing, and now presumed dead, little boy.

More than just presumed, my intrusive inner voice tells me.

With so many days gone by and zero leads, Sheriff Cody knows we’re looking for a corpse. The smell rising from the debris-covered ground will prove he and I are both right.

“Please, please,” I whisper to myself, “just let it be a dead animal. Don’t let it be Noah.”

My gift-curse tells me better, of course, but it’s my mantra every time I find a grave. Don’t let it be little so-and-so. But it always is.

I try to picture a deer killed out of season and quickly buried after its antlers are removed as trophies. I want to think of the blue-eyed, brunette, cherub-faced Noah, running and playing, going to school, tucked in for a night’s sleep. Anything other than tortured and stuffed into the ground like so much garbage.

Of course, with the gift-curse thing, I’m not wrong once I see the final location of the missing person. I saw the grave in my mind before I fell onto it. It’s more than simply tripping on a root. I was in one of my absence seizures again. Goddamned things make me go all wonky and sometimes even blackout. As if seeing the horrors isn’t bad enough.

Deputy Hal Shepherd makes his way through the overgrown ferns and saplings to the grave at my feet. His olive green uniform jumpsuit has large rings of perspiration beneath his armpits. This makes me feel less self-conscious about my own horse sweat. He squats, ink pen in hand, and considers the scene for about five minutes. After that, he silently paces like a caged leopard around the small burial. He stops at the far side of the grave, glaring at me. He gazes icily at the mound, then pulls out his cellphone, hitting speed dial.

“Send in the forensics team.”

The crime scene investigation team is slow to reach our location, two miles in from the end of the fire trail. I chew my inner lip as they cordon off the scene with yellow and black police tape. I found the scene. Hooray for me, my inner voice ruthlessly teases me.

My visions led us here, otherwise, Noah might’ve never been found. The killer probably thinks he’s clever, picking such an isolated spot for his body dumps. Who would think to look in these woods other than some freak psychic like me?

The next hour crawls by with the click-flash-whir of cameras, and CSIs taking measurements. I watch from behind the crime scene tape as they use tweezers to pick up all the candy wrappers and cigarette butts for DNA and fingerprints. A handful of leaves and needles appear to have blood on them. They go carefully into evidence bags, too.

Shepherd keeps himself busy walking the perimeter while speaking to Sheriff Cody on his cell. He lifts the crime scene tape and walks under it leaving the cordoned area. He spares me a hard look before walking father into the forest.

Those involved in evidence collection speak little beyond whispered instructions to the newbie on their team. The rest of us stand outside the perimeter, silent as the grave. No pun intended. Our busy presence has scared off the wildlife, even the birds. I shift from one foot to the other, my right boot feeling a little tight. I think the seam on my sock is rubbing a blister on my big toe. I think of all this to keep my mind off what's going to be dug up any moment.

Finally, one of the CSIs carefully brushes aside debris and dirt to reveal a greenish, naked, and bloated body. Those of us watching collectively gasp. I’d been right about the mutilation.

Then there’s a little girl's voice just behind me.

Ruthie.

More urgently:

Ruthie!

I look around like I’m crazy. I know the voice calling my name isn’t among the gathering. It’s a voice I haven’t heard since I was six years old. I put my hands over my ears to muffle the plaintive calling. Nope, it doesn’t help.

Ruthie!

It’s strident now.

“Stop it!”

I think I only say it in my mind. Then, my voice ricochets off tree trunks and echoes eerily around us. I hear the crackling sound of the white paper Tyvek suits worn by the CSIs, and nothing else as all eyes turn on me.

“Stop what, Ms. O'Neill?”

A tall, painfully lanky volunteer searcher in a red and black checkered flannel shirt looks expectantly at me.

“Huh,” I grunt, looking from his man-bun to his long beard, stalling for time to think up a good lie.

“Are you okay, ma'am?”

Ma'am? I’m not that old you damned hipster! Keep Portland weird I guess, man-bun.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Was just thinking out loud. It’s nothing.”

“Are you sure,” Man-bun asks.

I wonder hysterically for a moment if he’s coming onto me. I’m not on enough anxiety meds for that.

“I said it was nothing, okay,” I snap and turn awkwardly away.

My right boot squeaks like a fart and I close my eyes on my renewed embarrassment. To say I don’t want to be here now is a vast understatement. I quick march through the overgrown ferns the two miles back to the fire trail and police and CSI vehicles.

The plaintive voice of my late sister keeps resonating in my head.

Ruthie! Ruthie don’t go. You’re not finished yet.

My brain feels like the Vegas Strip. The number twenty-five is flashing there. That’s when I U-turn and drag myself back to find Shepherd.

Twenty-six if you count Noah, my sister’s voice chides.

I look around for her, knowing I’m not going to find her. A wave of torrential sweat hits me again when I get back to the scene. I can smell my stink and want to be anywhere but here. I need a shower, more coffee, well maybe not coffee. I want to be in my kitchen making my famous everything bagels, not helping find dead kids.

I aim myself unsteadily toward Shepherd. He’s all business and seems done with me now that I located Noah. I’m brassy enough, though, I’m rarely ignored.

“You should call Sheriff Cody. You’re going to need more CSI people out of Olympia. There are twenty-five other bodies here.”

[nysocboy]

Gemstones Episode 3.1: Kelvin collects cocks, the Simpkins smirk, and Dusty Daniels flirts. With a Brazilian beefcake bonus.

The Season 2 finale of The Righteous Gemstones  aired in February 2022.  Season 3 premieres in June 2023, sixteen months later, but the timeline in the Gemstone universe doesn't fit.  Plus personalities and back stories are different.  As with Season 2, it will be more profitable -- and more fun -- to enter fresh, pretending that we have never seen or heard of these people before.

Title: "For I Know the Plans I Have for You."  Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I hope so, because word on the street is that this season gets very dark.

Rogers County Fair, 2000:  The teenage Jesse Gemstone is announcing a demolition derby featuring his monster truck, the Redeemer, while his parents, megachurch pastor Eli Gemstone and his wife Aimee-Leigh, argue: the Redeemer is putting butts in seats, but is this really appropriate for a Christian ministry?   What are we going to do next, sell beer?  At that moment, a muscle hunk comes by selling beer!

Eli and Aimee-Leigh's three kids look very young, but according to the fan wiki, Jesse is 19, Judy is 15, and Kelvin is 9 or 10.

While Aimee-Leigh is off smoking a cigarette, May-May, a shabbily-dressed middle-aged woman, approaches, furious: "You pretend to be all sweet and caring, but I know the truth -- what you done to my family."  She attacks; Aimee-Leigh runs through the crowd, screaming for help, but May-May catches up and hits her with a wrench. As she lies bleeding on the ground, a car hits -- May-May! 

Eli Retires: Present day. Time to introduce the main conflicts of the season.  First up: the now-elderly Eli is hanging out with his Mason-like Cape and Pistol Society. They ask how he's enjoying his retirement.  Actually, he's only semi-retired: he's writing another autobiography and taking speaking engagements, but his kids are running the church. Gulp!  His friend: "You scared your kids are gonna blow it?"  

Cut to Zion's Landing, the Gemstones' Christian-themed resort. The 42-year old Jesse and his crew confront Eli's driver.  In joke: his name is Walker!  He squealed to the press about the dwindling membership and donations since the kids took over, so they beat him up and fire him. Pretending to have never seen these characters before, I am shocked.  Christian ministers are often shady and hypocritical, but violent? What if someone sees?

A Cold Fish Kiss: Eli's second child, Judy, is now a famous singer.  She has just returned from a tour, and her husband BJ wants to snuggle, but she yells at him for pressuring her, gives him a "cold fish kiss," and runs out again.  Uh-oh, marital trouble.

Smut Busters: The primary conflict, judging from the amount of air time it gets: 32 or 33 -year old Kelvin, wearing a t-shirt that says "Smut Busters" above a splat of -- jizz?  -- is showing a giant novelty dildo to someone named Keefe. He exclaims with glee, "That is gonna hurt."  So he's gay, and Keefe is his boyfriend.  Who's the bottom?

We pan out to see kids examining a pile of sex toys, mostly dildos and butt plugs of various sizes and shapes, intended for gay men.  Notice the "Size Queen" dildo.   Hey, are these guys...gulp...pedos?

Psych!  Kelvin and Keefe are actually youth ministers, running a project called the Smut Busters.  They buy out the inventory of local adult stores, to force them into bankruptcy.  Wait -- anyone know basic economics?

The youth group kids, also in Smut Busters t-shirts, are just examining the latest haul.  Do they take the kids to the adult stores?  They wouldn't be allowed inside.  Besides,  "exposing children to sex" is a misdemeanor. 

They ask the kids and adult volunteer Taryn to join them in the Smut Buster chant: "No smut, no lust, no coconuts" (with a feminine hip wiggle). No one joins in.  

After extensive research, I conclude that "coconuts" doesn't have a symbolic meaning, except maybe to evoke testicles.  It was chosen for  its near-rhyme. The chant reflects the playground phrase "no butts, no cuts, no coconuts" (no cutting in line), and its variation, "No ifs, no buts, no coconuts" (no disagreeing).

Pretending to have never seen these characters before,  I conclude that they are a gay couple: notice how Kelvin plays with Keefe's nipple, an intimacy that platonic pals would not enjoy, how Keefe gets all bitchy around Taryn, and how most of the sex toys they buy are for gay men.  They can't conceive of something used by straight men as erotic: "There's a naked lady on the box.  Keefe, I said sexy, not disgusting!" 

So the main conflicts of the season will involve the transition of power, marital problems, and coming out. 

The Primitive Tribe: At church, the siblings are bragging about their missionary trip, where they brought Lasik Surgery to an isolated tribe in the Amazon. 

They are completely clueless; surgery to correct astigmatism must be the most trivial of the group's medical needs.  Plus the depiction of a "primitive tribe" veers uncomfortably close to racism.

Old Slow-Eyes: Then Sunday dinner at Jason's Steak House. They argue about who is responsible for the decline in church members and donations since Eli stepped down, then about church leadership: Jesse thinks that he should be the sole leader, but the others think that they should lead together. 

How closeted are Kelvin and Keefe?  They are presented as the equivalent of the other couples, Jesse/Amber and Judy/BJ;  Jesse even refers to them as a unit. Plus Kelvin displays some feminine traits that anyone would pick up on instantly. Maybe they are out to the family, but closeted to the church. 

Jesse criticizes the Smut Buster project -- preventing truck drivers from getting "dick pills" but not doing anything to help the church.  Kelvin says that they have bought up the inventory of 16 porno shops along the I-95 corridor. Of course, they get to keep the dildos. This is a call-back to Season 2, when Jesse complained that Kelvin's God Squad, a collection of musclemen, was solely for "popping boners," his own erotic enjoyment, not to help the church.

Next on the agenda:  A wealthy donor, famous racecar driver Dusty Daniels (Shea Whigham, left) planned to bequeath his entire $200 million fortune to the church.  But now that Eli has stepped down, he will be going with the rival Simpkins family instead.  Uh-oh,  the church can't afford to lose this!

The Evil Simpkins:  The siblings visit Dusty at his private racetrack to convince him to change his mind, but he thinks that the Simpkins display more fraternal affection.  The Gemstones can't even hold hands properly (this will become important later).  

Kelvin keeps fiddling with a ring on his wedding-ring finger, to draw viewer attention to it. Are he and Keefe actually married?

The Simpkins arrive: two brothers and a sister, about the same age as the Gemstones.  They have no trouble holding hands! Plus they are self-made millionaire pastors -- they didn't inherit a dynasty..  

Shay Simpkins flirts with Dusty, so Judy says that she also finds him hot.  Kelvin nods his agreement.  Wait - how out is he?  Dusty, openly bisexual, returns the compliment: "All y'all look good, but this ain't about looks."  Kelvin: "That's a good thing because if it were, we'd win by a mile."  They flex and posture.

Ok, Dusty says, why don't you battle for me?  In stock cars. He's putting himself in a feminine role: traditionally suitors compete for the attention of a young lady. 

Jesse against Craig Simpkins, who claims that he has no experience. Uh-oh, he means he's not experienced in the basic stock cars used in NASCAR racing.  He's an expert in the more advanced Formula 1 cars.

There isn't even a race: Jesse stalls and then spins out.  The fortune goes to the Simpkins! 

The full review, with nude photos and explicit sexual discussions, is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends

[benandstevesposts]

For nearly a year, the family of three Black girls found dead in an Atlanta, Texas pond have sought justice in their loved one’s case. The investigation into their death has progressed from an accidental drowning to a homicide.

Over the past three years, up to 60,000 Black girls were reported missing by the FBI’s National Crime Information Center. Three of them include 9-year-old Zi’Ariel Robinson-Oliver, 8-year-old A’Miyah Hughes, and 5-year-old Te’Mari Robinson-Oliver, who went missing on July 29 last year. Their cousin, caring for them, then reported their disappearance to the police. The very next day, they were found in a pond. Initially, reports said the incident was a drowning. However, an autopsy in March showed evidence that the three were strangled and suffered lacerations to the face, per the Cass County District Attorney’s Office. Now the police and the girl’s family are looking for who is responsible for their death.

Now advocates are stepping in to demand answers. On April 3, Minister Quanell X, the leader of the New Black Panther Nation, traveled four hours from Houston to hold a press conference in Cass County and demanded that the FBI and Department of Justice step in to investigate. The FBI has not responded to a request for comment from Yahoo News.

Quanell X stood beside the mother of the Oliver sisters during the press conference. “She was told that they drowned, but she always had a suspicious feeling that the girls did not drown. Well, her suspicions were confirmed by the autopsies,”

“She was told that they drowned, but she always had a suspicious feeling that the girls did not drown. Well, her suspicions were confirmed by the autopsies,”

Many supporters of the Oliver sisters believe this investigation was delayed because the girls were Black. Historically, the cases of missing and murdered white girls and women receive more attention by the media and the police compared to their Black counterparts. The Black community has led the push to get the story out about the three girls, including social media posts from celebrities like Viola Davis and Niecy Nash.

Because this investigation has come so long after the girls’ death, it may be even more difficult to find who is behind it, authorities say.

“A child killer. A serial killer is on the loose. One who was not afraid to murder three children. And if you kill three you will kill more. Especially when you believe you will get away with it like this perpetrator has,” said Quannell X. 

The Texas Rangers and Cass County Sheriff’s Office asks the public to contact Texas Ranger Josh Mason (903) 255-5727 with any information or tips on the case.

You can find the original report on this story here XXXX

[marcopolo1254]

References

Adams, C. W., George Sarton, and James R. Ware. “Queries and Answers.” Isis 37, no. 1/2 (1947): 68–73. http://www.jstor.org/stable/226165.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Lop Nur." Encyclopedia Britannica, December 25, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/place/Lop-Nur.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Hotan." Encyclopedia Britannica, July 28, 2010. https://www.britannica.com/place/Hotan.

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Yarkand." Encyclopedia Britannica, September 24, 2013. https://www.britannica.com/place/Yarkand.

Cartwright, Mark. "Marco Polo." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 12, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/Marco_Polo/.

Cartwright, Mark. "Xanadu." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified September 18, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/Xanadu/.

Encyclopædia Britannica. “Hotan.” Image. March 20, 2024. https://cdn.britannica.com/62/129262-050-2830713C/Ruins-monastery-Melikawat-Hotan-China-Uygur-Autonomous.jpg

Huntington, Ellsworth. “Lop-Nor. A Chinese Lake. Part I. The Unexplored Salt Desert of Lop.” Bulletin of the American Geographical Society 39, no. 2 (1907): 65–77. https://doi.org/10.2307/198379.

Hartmann, Sabine. “The Wild West of China: Yarkant, Taklamakan Desert, and Camel Riding.” YouTube, uploaded by Sabine Hartmann, 20 Mar. 2024, https://youtu.be/KbmCCQJlF9I?si=UHuCC1EkW9L3IdI3.

Haw, Stephen G. Marco Polo’s China: A Venetian in the Realm of Khubilai Khan. 1st ed. London: Routledge, 2019. DOI: 10.4324/9780203606902.

History.com Editors. “Kublai Khan Image” HISTORY. A&E Television Networks, June 10, 2019. Originally published November 9, 2009. https://assets.editorial.aetnd.com/uploads/2009/11/gettyimages-51242295.jpg?width=1920&height=960&crop=1920%3A960%2Csmart&quality=75&auto=webp

Masefield, John. Introduction to Marco Polo’s Silk Road: The Art of the Journey: An Italian at the Court of Kublai Khan. Watkins Publishing, 2011, London. Marco Polo's Silk Road: the art of the journey, an Italian at the court of the Kublai Khan: Polo, Marco, 1254–1323? Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive

National Geographic. “The Silk Road Map” January 9, 2024. Web. the-silk-road-map.jpg (4486×3594) (nationalgeographic.org)

Ogata, N. Research Trip in the Tarim Basin, “Qiemo image”. Xinjiang, China. 2005. http://kyotohumanities.jp/ogata/xinjiang2005/Cherchen_11.jpg

Pietranera, Luca. “The Wandering Lake: Image of the Day.” NASA, Telespazio, Rome, Italy, based on data from the MODIS Science Team. 2001. The Wandering Lake: Image of the Day: NASA -- Caption and image courtesy Luca Pietranera, www.telespazio.it/ Telespazio, Rome, Italy, based on data from the modarch.gsfc.nasa.gov/ MODIS Science Team: Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming: Internet Archive

Rossabi, Morris. “The Early Mongols.” In Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times, 20th Anniversary Edition, With a New Preface, 1st ed., 1–21. University of California Press, 2009. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/j.ctv1xxz30.7.

Rodriguez, Jonathan. “Qiemo.” Central Asia Sites, 21 May 2017. » Qiemo Central Asia Sites (vassar.edu)

Sparavigna, Amelia Carolina. “From Kashgar to Xanadu in the Travels of Marco Polo.” Zenodo. 2020 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3759380. (PDF) From Kashgar to Xanadu in the Travels of Marco Polo (researchgate.net)

SY. "Map of Marco Polo's Travels." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified February 11, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/10041/map-of-marco-polos-travels/.

Towle, George M. Marco Polo: His Travels and Adventures. Boston: Lee and Shepard Publishers; New York: Charles T. Dillingham, 1880. Marco Polo: His Travels and Adventures - AmblesideOnline - Charlotte Mason Curriculum

Rong Xinjiang, 榮新江. “Reality or Tale? Marco Polo’s Description of Khotan.” Journal of Asian History 49, no. 1 - 2. 2015. https://doi.org/10.13173/jasiahist.49.1-2.0161.

Yarkant County (Kashar). Travel guide: Tours, travel tips, attractions. “Yarkant image.” 2017 https://www.chinadragontours.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Yarkent-05.jpg

[obtener2]

2-7-1865 - President Lincoln ordered a disabled 14-year old boy to be released from the 55th Kentucky regiment. Perry Harris had joined the army a month earlier without his parent's permission. The request for the discharge had been requested from the boy's father. The discharge was effective April 15. A Family and Nation Under Fire iBooks https://goo.gl/SAVc8A nook https://goo.gl/DSQXGu Amazon: https://goo.gl/A3brGd KSU Press http://goo.gl/Z3z4Xs

"55th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry: "Organized at Covington November, 1864. Attached to Military District of Kentucky, Dept. Ohio and Dept. of Kentucky, to September, 1865. Regiment mounted and assigned to duty in counties bordering on the Kentucky Central Railroad till December, 1864. …Operating against guerrillas in counties west of the Kentucky Central Railroad and the Counties of Campbell, Bracken, Mason, Fleming, Nicholas, Harrison and Pendleton, east of the Kentucky Central Railroad till September, 1865. Mustered out September 19, 1865." [Source National Park Service]

[mountttmase]

THE GIRAFFE, MY FAVOURITE OF THE WHOLE SERIES🤭

Never in a million years did you think you’d be in the pickle you were in right now. HERE WE GO🫣

You’d never felt this awful about yourself before, fleeing the flat that you’d shared with Jack for just over three years since your second year of uni and returning to your childhood home for some much needed comfort. But the only person's comfort you wanted was still in training. SHE NEEDS MR. MASON MOUNT🥺

SHE HAD MOVED IN WITH JACK THE SHIT, STUPID DECISION GIRLY🤦🏻‍♀️

OHHHH OMG OK SO SHE DIDN’T TELL IT TO ANYONEEE🤭

NOT HIM BEING READY TO DRIVE TO WHEREVER SHE WAS, MY MAN IS PERFECT😭

Mason, he was always there when you needed him. CAUSE HE LOVES YOUUUU🤭

You were surprised at first at how quickly the pair of you had fallen back into the rhythm of being friends. Waking up that next morning after your dads birthday party to find him pressed up against your back with his head in your neck and an arm around your waist, but it was the fact he’d clearly gotten hot in the night and taken his jeans off that had made you chuckle. Knowing how much he didn’t want to make you feel uncomfortable by taking his clothes off but you enjoyed waking up next to him more than you let on. OMG HE TOOK HIS JEANS OFF, I FEEL BETTER HONESTLY, I FELT ALL THE DISCOMFORT FOR HIM🤭

He’d woken up shortly after you and after a quick squeeze you felt him move away, not wanting you to wake up with him pressed against you but you were quickly rolling over so you could press yourself up against him and hold him to you until you felt his chest rumble with laughter. I MIGHT HAVE SCREAMED AT THIS🤭

THEY SLEPT INCREDIBLY WELL CAUSE THEY SLEPT TOGETHER AND WE ALL KNOW THIS😌

Mason stuck to his word after that night, always keeping in contact as often as he could and when he went on loan to Derby County you made sure to go to as many games as you could manage. Jack always in tow as it became your little thing but as soon as he joined back up with Chelsea Jack had to stop. Telling you he didn’t feel right cheering for Chelsea as an Arsenal fan so you ended up going to games alone or with some of the Chelsea girlfriends as Mason introduced you to more people as he made friends. AHAHHAHA JACK BEING THE THIRD WEEL

You needed him though. Urgently. OPSSS, I LOVE HOW SHE JUST NEEDS AND WANTS TO TALK WITH HIM

‘She’s in her room but she won’t tell me what’s wrong’ she huffed, rolling her eyes slightly and it struck him as a bit weird because he knew you told your mum everything. The fact she was laughing it off though made him think it was that serious though and he felt his heart calm down slightly. POOR MUM, SHE IS NOT READY FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN

‘You in there love?’ He called, knocking lightly again as he didn’t know if you were sleeping but you were far from it. Laid on your back as you looked up to the ceiling to try and control your breathing but his voice had you sat up straight in an instant. HE CALLED HER LOVE AND I AM GIGGLING SO MUCH

‘Hey, come on it’s okay’ he whispered, trying to pull back so he could look at you but you weren’t ready yet and he didn’t push you to talk until your tears had died down. ‘It’s alright, love. Take your time, yeah? I’m not going anywhere’ I THINK I NEED AND DESERVE A MASON IN MY LIFE😌

‘No no don’t be silly, you know I would have come a lot further if you needed me to’ he whispered. Trying his best to settle you so that you’d come out and tell him what’s wrong and when you looked up at him with a pout, his heart broke for you. ‘What is it, love? Whats happened?’ HE JUST LOVES HER SO MUCH, AND SHE CAN’T SEE IT

‘Me and Jack… well there isn’t a me and Jack anymore. He’s left me’ you told him, your voice wobbling as you tried your best not to break down again but you could tell he was shocked as he pulled you back into his chest. OH WHAT A BIG LOST

‘Whatever it is, no matter how bad you think it might be, I’m here yeah?’ He told you. Stroking your cheek so you could look at each other properly. ‘I’ll always be here. You’re not on your own at all so just tell me and we can face it together’ I NEED THIS TYPE OF REASSURANCE IN LIFE

‘I’m pregnant’ OPS, SHE BLURTED IT OUTTT🤭

‘You do not need to apologise, okay? You have nothing to be sorry for’ he whispered and you could see he was trying his hardest to comfort you but he was also stunned by what you’d told him. ‘Sorry I feel like I’m being shit but I don't know what to say’ POOR BOY IS SHOCKED

‘So Jack left when you told him?’ He asked carefully but all you could do was nod knowing your voice would fail you. ‘I’ll kill him. I swear to god I’ll kill him’ I CAN HELP YOU, BUT HONESTLY? THANK GOD HE LEFT

‘Look at me’ he whispered, taking your face in his hands again so he could kiss your forehead and you felt yourself relax in his hold. Looking up at him through your tears but you could see he was calming down. ‘He never deserved you. The both of you, okay?’ He mumbled. Your eyes spilling over as he referred to you as a pair and even though you were petrified you knew you’d be okay as long as you had your best friend. ‘I don’t care what you say, I’m here now and I’m taking care of you’ I AM TAKING CARE OF YOU???? LOZ? MY HEART😭

‘I don’t wanna hear it okay.’ He cut you off, tucking your hair behind your ears. ‘Call it payback or whatever for when I left for a year but you’re not on your own. I’ll do whatever you need me to’ HE IS JUST SO PERFECT HONESTLY

‘Will you come with me?’ You asked quietly and his face softened immediately. SHE WANTS HIM BY HER SIDE, BABIES

OMG HE CALLED JACK

‘Don’t talk and don’t put the phone down’ he said lowly, his mind scrambled with what he wanted to say but in the end he blurted it all out. ‘I’m just calling to tell you you’re a piece of shit and if you dare thinking about coming near her again I’ll rip your fucking head off’ OMG? THAT WAS HOT🤭🤭

‘Oh give it a rest mate, you think I give a shit?’ Jack laughed and the sound made Mason want to punch something. ‘You should be thanking me anyway, I know you’ve wanted me out of the picture since I got there. Not that it makes much difference, she still picked me even when you were begging for her’ FUCK YOU IN ALL HONESTY

‘Don’t call me again and I won’t call you. And don’t worry, I don’t plan on being near her anytime soon’ THANK YOU, NEVER COME BACK PLEASE

How could he say that about you? You’d stuck with him for so long and Mason knew how much you loved him so to hear him speak about you in this way infuriated him. Mason was never Jacks biggest fan but he’d always been respectful for your sake and now he wished he never had been. CAUSE HE IS A PIECE OF SHIT MASE

‘I’m here love, sorry’ he smiled. Popping his phone back into his pocket and meeting you by the door so he could take your hand and lead you downstairs. It was safe to say you were terrified but as long as you had Mason you knew you could get through this. UGH HE KEEPS CALLING HER LOVE

HER MUM BEING A CUTIE, I LOVE THIS FOR OUR GIRLY😭

He did everything for you. He cooked, he cleaned, he even did your washing and when the time came for his big game he called you as soon as he could after he’d won to let you know it was you and your little pickle that pushed him over the finish line and gave him the strength to win. OMG???HER LITTLE PICKLE

When he had a small break from football he took you away for a few days just the two of you and you knew what you must have looked like to other people but you never corrected them. You just held his hand and let him treat you even if you did feel awful about it but in the back of your mind you wanted people to think you were together. That you had your life in order and the father of your child was in the picture rather than off doing god knows what because you weren’t good enough for him. THIS IS A SHITTY THOUGHT IF YOU ASK ME Y/N…

Mason couldn’t make it to your first scan but he made sure to take you to your second. You could tell he was unsure about if you wanted him to actually come in with you or not but you just nodded your head in the direction of the door and he followed you in with a huge smile. HE WILL SEE HIS LITTLE BESTIE FOR THE FIRST TIME🥹🤏🏻

‘I see your red lipstick is back’ he commented as he helped you up onto the bed but all you could do was send him a smile. It was rare you’d worn it over the last few years as Jack always complained when you did but now you were free of him, you were free to wear it again. Feeling more like yourself with each day that passed. FINALLY IT’S BACK I’D LIKE TO ADD

‘Am I missing something here? Want to know what?’ I LOVE HIM

‘Nah, I don’t fancy it’ you shrugged. ‘I’ve got the most important person here who needs to know so I don’t see why I should wait. What do you think?’ OMG? THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON?🤭

‘Let’s do it’ he smiled, his eyes sparkling as they filled with tears and you squeezed his hand to let him know it was okay as the nurse began the search for your little one. ‘What am I having then? A niece or a nephew’ he joked, squeezing your hand gently as she moved the probe around and she let out a little laugh before her eyes fell to you. UGHHHH LOOK AT HIM ALL EMOTIONALLL

‘Y/n… you’re having a little girl’ YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAAY🎉🎉🎉🎉

You made a quick stop in the loo before you left, something that was now becoming a regular occurrence and once you were out, Mason was nowhere to be seen. You wondered if he’d maybe been mobbed by fans and had to go and hide but as soon as you got your phone out to text him he appeared. A sly smile on his face as he hid his hands in the front pocket of his hoodie and you eyed him curiously until he let out a giggle. HEHEHEHE I KNOW WHAT HE IS HIDINGGG🤭

‘There was a lot of that yes, but I wanted to get my niece her first teddy’ he smiled, reaching back into his front pocket and pulling out a little giraffe teddy with a pink bow tied round the bottom of its neck and you felt your eyes sting for the millionth time that day. THE GIRAFFE IT’S HERRREEE

OMG IT’S TIMEEE🦒

HE SCOCRED 3 GOALS FOR THEM, I MIGHT CRY

As soon as Mason could get out of there he did. Discreetly letting the staff know what was happening so they let him go without another word and even though all his team mates wanted to celebrate, there was only one place he wanted to be. RUN THERE MASE, YOU’LL FIND THE BEST SURPRISE EVER🤭

He knew he had time but he also wanted to get to you as quickly as he could so he only made one stop to pick you up a few things and he made it to the hospital by 6pm. Thankfully your mum had told him where abouts in the hospital he had to go and once he made it to the maternity ward reception he didn’t have to look far to know what room you were in. Your mum walking out looking more emotional than he’d ever seen her and once she caught sight of him she ran over to give him a big hug. THE FACT HE STILL WENT TO BUY HER A FEW THINGS EVEN IF HE HAD JUST PLAYED AND RUNNED AROUND FOR HOURS

‘Oh Mase’ she sobbed. ‘She’s here’ SHE IS HEREEEEE MY BABY IS HEREEEE OMG

Mason had never been so nervous before, not even before he took his penalty earlier did he feel like this but the excitement took over and before he knew it he was pushing the door open to reveal you sat up in bed and even though you looked frightened and exhausted, your eyes were full of love and he couldn’t wait to hold you. UGH HE IS SO HAPPY AND EXCITED

‘Mase’ you breathed, your bottom lip wobbling as he rushed to your side, dropping all his bags in the process so he could hug you and as soon as his arms were around you you cried your heart out. All of your emotions and hormones spilling out of you as the comfort of your best friend engulfed you and he let you cry it out fully. Pulling back as your breathing started to regulate so he could kiss your cheeks and take a good look at you. ‘I’m so sorry, they told me it would be hours-‘ UGH SHE NEEDED HIS HUG SO BAD

‘Do not say sorry, yeah’ he whispered. Pushing the hair out of your face so he could get a better look at you and the look of pride on his face made you dizzy. ‘Are you okay? Are you in pain?’ I LOVE HOW CARING HE IS

‘Are you kidding me? You just pushed a whole human out. I’m proud of you’ he told you as his eyes flickered all over your face. ‘And you’re the only woman I’ve ever known give birth in red lipstick’ OMG THE LIPSTICKKK😂

‘I wanted her to know what type of woman she’s got for a mum as soon as possible’ you told him with a laugh. ’Do you wanna meet her?’ You asked quietly, knowing he’s been waiting months to finally see her and the bright smile he sent your way to you all you needed to know. OBVIOUSLY HE WANTS TOOO

It was like love at first sight, his eyes filling up with tears that he tried to blink away as his lip wobbled but he was a natural when he held her. Getting her comfortable in his arms as best he could before he stroked her little face and you could tell from his ragged breathing he was overwhelmed with everything. LOOK AT MY BABIESSS

‘Ooooh a boy, what’s your name handsome?’ She giggled and you laughed at his frightened face. HELLO TO YOU, YOU’LL BE MY FAVOURITE PERSON IN A FEW SECONDS

‘Well Mason, I’m not sure if you know this but babies really benefit from a little skin to skin when they’re born.’ I LOVE THAT WOMAN

‘I’ve only just got here and you already want me bloody undressed’ he muttered, passing you back your little bundle of joy before undressing his top half and you felt your heart flutter a little at the sight of him. You hadn't seen him in this state for a long time and you couldn't believe how much he’d bulked out but you pushed everything down as you began to unwrap your daughter to hand over to him. Feeling yourself melt even more as he settled her back against his chest and you wrapped a blanket around them to keep them warm. THY ARE DOING SKIN TO SKIN AND I AM MELTING

‘I think I do, yeah. Mase this is Ginevra, Gee for short’ you told him softly. ‘I wanted to name her after my Italian great grandmother, you know the one I only met once?’ MY BABY GINEVRA🥹🥹🥹

‘I remember’ he smiled ‘Hey baby Gee, it’s so nice to finally see you’ he told her looking down into her eyes that were staring right back into his. ‘We’re gonna be best friends, me and you’ he told her. Listing off all the adventures he was planning for them and you knew in that moment that it didn’t matter about Jack or anyone else, she would always have Mason. OMG? HE IS THE SWEETEST, CUTEST, LOVELIEST HUMAN BEING

You felt awful, letting him give up his free time to help you raise a baby that wasn’t even his but you could see he was in his element. His caring nature coming out in full force whenever Gee was around and you loved the way this extended to you too. Not that he hadn't always been caring but it was like he was extra gentle now. HE IS JUST SO PERFECT GIRLLL WHY CAN’T YOU SEE ITT

You had three months left of maternity leave when work checked in on you. You figured it was just for a general update but after a long talk they were offering you something you couldn’t refuse. A way out of the life you were currently in and you didn’t even think twice before saying yes. OH NOOO😭

Mason could tell there was something on your mind from the first look at you. He’d come over for a few hours after training just like usual and aside from a quick hello, you mostly sat in silence. Never one to push you though he let you sit a stew for a while as he laid with Gee on the floor. Tapping the toys hanging from the frame attached to her play mat so they dangled above her and as she laughed excitedly he would tickle her tummy to make it even worse so her giggles filled the quiet room. AHHHH HE IS SO SWEET

He was so good with her, which made what you were about to tell him all the more difficult. Not having the courage to do it right then and there but after a little while you couldn't hold it in. Asking him to come and sit next to you on the sofa and he carefully picked up Gee so he could cradle her in his arms as you spoke and you looked on with a big smile as she playfully held his finger. UGH, HE BROUGHT GEE WITH HIM🫣

‘Oh no way, that’s amazing’ he smiled. His whole face lighting up now he knew they weren’t trying to get rid of you but now you knew the hard part was coming where you needed to explain what was actually going on. YEAH, NO, IT ACTUALLY ISN’T THAT AMAZING

‘It’s in Manchester’ SHIT😭😭

‘Oh’ he breathed. Looking slightly bewildered by everything you were saying and as he carried on speaking you knew you’d have to break it down a bit more for him. ‘That’s a pretty long commute isn’t it? A couple of hours each way at least. Can you work from home?’ OH BABY, SHE IS MOVING…

‘I’m moving to Manchester, Mason’ FUCK YOU

You watched his face fall, eyes dropping down to Gee who was quietly laying in his arms and when he looked back up you could see his eyes were full of tears. OMG, I HATE YOU Y/N😫

‘Please don’t take her away from me’ he whispered, his voice thick as his bottom lip wobbled and your heart broke for the boy sitting next to you. MY HEART CAN’T TAKE THIS

‘No Masey, no I’m not taking her away from you I promise’ you told him, your own eyes burning as you tried to comfort him but you could tell he was distraught at the thought of not being close to her anymore. WELL…YOU ARE ACTUALLY

‘I can do that, I’ll give you guys everything you need-‘ OMG, AFTER THIS I WOULD HAVE ASKED HIM TO MARRY ME

‘Hey hey, it’s alright’ he whispered, sitting up and pulling you into his side. ‘If it's what you need to do then I’ll support you, okay? I’m not gonna sit here and act like I’m thrilled about the whole thing but whatever you need then I’m here for you’ he reassured you. HE IS JUST TOO GOOD, I CAN’T

‘And you best believe I’m gonna be visiting every second I get a chance so you better get somewhere with a guest bedroom’ SILLY

‘I will, I promise’ you laughed. Trying to hold back a sob but it was no use. Yes this was what you needed but it was tough on everyone and you hated upsetting Mason more than anything. ‘You knew you’re always gonna be my best friend Mason. Distance won’t change that’ MY BEST FRIEND…YEAH

LOZ🥹

OMG PROPER ROLLERCOASTERS🎢

THE FACT WE’VE BEEN PLANNING THIS SERIES TOGETHER BUT YOU STILL ARE ABLE TO SURPRISE ME AMAZES ME EVERY TIME.

I LOVED HOW SHE TOLD HIM FIRST, AND HOW SUPPORTIVE HE IMMEDIATELY WAS…”I’LL TAKE CARE OF YOU”, MY BOY

I LOVED THE CALL WITH JACK, MASON TOLD HIM WHAT H ìE DESERVED TO BE TOLD, AND IT WAS HONESTLY HOT

RED LIPSTICK IS BACK AND I COULDN’T BE HAPPIER

THE SECOND SCAN? AND THEM FINDING OUT THAT SHE (THEY) ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL?

THE GIRAFFE, OH HOW MUCH I LOVE THAT LITTLE GIRAFFE

THE BIRTH, HIM SCORING 3 GOALS FOR THEM, THEM BEING FINALLY ALL TOGETHER, SO PERFECT

I LOVE THE NRìURSE, SHE IS MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER BY FAR

GINEVRA? MY BABY GINEVRA IS FINALLY HERE, AND EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO MEET HER, I AM SO HAPPY

THEY ARE LEAVING AND MY BOY IS HEARTBROKEN, I AM REALLY MAD Y/N, B AWARE OF THIS

THE WAY YOU MAKE ME HATE AND LOVE HER IN THE SAME CHAPTER AMAZES ME

MASON IS JUST SO PERFECT

CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE BESTIE

THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS WORK OF ART AND PUBLISHING IT FOR ALL OF US TO READ, IT’S AN HONOUR

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR MAKING THEM REAL AND FOR TAKING SOOOO MUCH OF YOUR FREE TIME TO WRITE AND MAKE THIS AS PERFECT AS IT CAN POSSIBLY BE

SO SO SO PROUD OF YOU AND SOOOOO EXCITED FOR HE NEXT 3 CHEPTERS, REAL ROLLERCOASTERS ARE COMING AND WE ALL ARE NOT READY

LOVE YOU, YOUR BRAIN, YOUR ART, AND YOUR WRITING

THANK YOU🩷🩷🩷

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH THANK YOU SM

You opinion on this means the world to me and the fact that you’re liking it so far just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy 🤭

LOVE YOU SM THERES MORE TO COME

[anthonybialy]

Shoveling Results for Buffalo Bills in Playoffs

Beating the Steelers and nearly themselves shows nothing is ever to be taken for granted.  Another Buffalo Bills delay in a series of not finishing off a foe can only partially be blamed on incessant snowfall.  Why do you do this to us, ask fans about a two-touchdown playoff win.  The result only seems ungrateful typed out.

Football is a nice distraction from debating whether or not they should play football.  We no longer have to argue whether a storm creates unprecedented peril or is merely a typical Erie County January unless it snows again this weekend.  Politicians who are as inept as coaches show how sports apply to the rest of life.  

Pre-empting Wheel of Fortune was worth it.  Nobody watching gets to schedule kick off.  Frustration is key to being a fan.  Realizing such is the path to mitigation.  We can’t control sports any more than we can the weather, and that hasn’t gone well recently.  Coping with what we can’t affect applies to viewing and shoveling.

Pittsburgh partisans claiming delaying benefitted the home team’s quarterback was a conspiratorial slight aimed at their own side.  Suspicious Yinzers implicitly doubted Mason Rudolph’s ability to complete passes under better conditions.  Selecting precipitation as an equalizer may work in video games.  But there’s no button to press for halting snowflakes.

With fake grass visible and only the occasional nasty gust, there was nothing to blame other than performance.  The defense will never expect throwing to empty areas.  Was it windy out there?  Rudolph would have to honestly answer that it wasn’t.

Josh Allen wanted to show he could run as far as he could throw.  The biggest challenge with watching a singular talent turn the extraordinary into the usual is to remain appreciative.  Please let us show we can continue to express awe when he dashes at will.  Allen pairs Keanu Reeves’s personality with playing like John Wick.  That’s quite a relentless performance from someone so easygoing.

The Bills have a chance as long as they have this quarterback.  Backers trust their deliverer to the point that they don’t rely on insecure comparisons.  Eagles fans say Jalen is better than Josh Allen.  Chiefs fans say Mahomes is better than Josh Allen. Cowboys fans say Dak is better than Josh Allen.  Dolphins fans say Tua is better than Josh Allen.  Ravens fans say Lamar is better than Josh Allen.  Bills fans say Josh Allen.

Dalton Kincaid is covered.  It doesn’t matter.  Offenses are supposed to go for a big strike after a turnover, and some tendencies are worth indulging.  Oh, right: there’s also that other tight end.  Why choose between the rookie or Dawson Knox scoring when we can enjoy both?  There’s nothing fun like looking at Steelers cornerbacks looking back.

Wide receivers are also permitted to field passes by rule, so it’s nice that other category contributes, too.  Stefon Diggs continues to help even not counting his willingness to accept a slightly diminished role.  He may not have been given a choice, but he’s maximizing his targets no matter how his contributions get framed.  And Khalil Shakir’s handprint should be marked on the turf for a reception that’s already legendary.

Firing Ken Dorsey is the team MVP.  You say a transaction can’t accept an award for a person.  I say the best move this franchise could’ve made enabled many persons to play offense to their capabilities.  Rewarding a concept is fitting even if there’s nobody to accept the trophy.

Everyone is tired of wrestling officials but a league which apparently enjoys provocative storylines.  Using challenges for uncannily similar plays reflected a pattern poor calls.  Only reversing one obvious turnover recovery made the live ineptness worse.  The ball will never hit the helmet no matter how many times you watch.  That’s true either on your billboard-sized living room television or a boxed tablet held up by a sideline underling.  Trying to dock with a tablet like a space station may not be the ideal way to determine truth in the galaxy’s most prominent league.

Sean McDermott strives to keep games competitive.  That only sounds like a compliment.  He coaches a team talented enough that shouldn’t allow adversaries they knock down to go the distance.  Even what the score indicates to be a somewhat comfortable triumph against another club that made the tournament felt too close.

Letting teams hang around has become intrinsic to McDermott’s coaching personality.  The daft field goal attempt was not just patently obvious in hindsight for those scowling as the field goal crew took the field.  The block merely exacerbated a timid decision.  Hurting a hamstring without contact while carrying a hand warmer is the most punter play ever.  

Buffalo was ultimately somewhat successful in finally balancing out the first playoff matchup with this round’s first postseason opponent.  Overall themes remain despite half a century of changes.  That version of the Steelers kept scoring in the first half, which means the 1974 Bills had to abandon their plan of handing off incessantly to whoever their running back was.  Sunday featured the host reversing and repeating history, sort of.

Monday Early Night Football means we don’t have to wait as long to watch the next round.  Participants would likely prefer a bit extra time than viewers.  Having almost two fewer days to prepare for the game as their counterparts is a hypothetical that’s become an actuality.

The NFL’s idea about spreading games out is as brilliant as playing in the game’s true fanbase of curious Europeans and never figuring out what a pass is.  Buffalo will be best served by relying on instincts.  That one rusher who throws sometimes plays best when he’s managed least.  With a team that wins despite coaching, they need as little preparation as they can get.

[ghanashowbizonline]

Sports - Kwame Poku showcased his skills with a goal and an assist in the match against Derby County. To see these impressive moments, watch the video.

Kwame Poku showcased his football prowess by scoring and assisting in Peterborough’s 3-2 win against Derby County. The match kicked off with a lightning-quick start, as James Collins, within the opening 30 seconds, nodded home a cross from the right, setting the stage for an intense battle. Derby County continued to press, with Mason-Clark firing over in the 13th minute after a commendable…

[enderprophet]

Zack Davis Found Dead

(Ripley, West Virginia) Zack Davis, person of interest in the Nyla and Amara Davis case, was found dead at around 2:00 AM Sunday morning at a nearby truck stop by a passing driver. The Jackson County Coroners' Office has not been able to determine a cause of death. In a press conference, the County Coroner stated, "By all accounts, Mr. Davis should be alive. There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him. Outside of some bruises on his wrists and ankles, which may have been caused by restraints either before or after his death, he has no visible injuries, or any substances in his body. Unusual deaths happen all the time, however, and he's very clearly dead. Very puzzling, though." Zack Davis, 38, was proceeded in death by his parents, Amy and Quintin Davis, and his wife, Jill Davis (nee Mason). It is hoped that he is survived by his two daughters, Nyla and Amara Davis. Funeral services will be held on 4:00 PM Thursday at the Ripley Baptist Temple.

Nyla and Amara Davis have been found. They are warm, happy, and content. They are truly loved. ... Have you heard? Who told you? The Rumor of Pascha Yoakega! They say that somewhere out there, there is a powerful Magical Girl. A Magical Girl so powerful and mighty, She isn't a Magical Girl anymore! She's so powerful, that She can defy and even defeat the Uncaring Law of Cycles! How can you tell that its Her? Simple! She looks like a triumphant deity. Do you know what that looks like? Of course you do! She shall be an inspiration to all them! She shall be the Salvation of She shall be the Goddess of Salvation for She shall be the Goddess of Salvation! Pascha's soul shines for you! Pascha cares for you! Pascha loves all! And She loves you! Pascha loves you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!

お願い!

@magireco-minibang

[thepedanticbohemian]

THE OUDERKIRK HOUSE sample

CHAPTER ONE:

June 23rd

Mason County, Washington

I go down hard, face first, the toe of my hiking boot catching on a gnarled outcropping of cedar root. I land with an oomph amid poplar and oak leaves, evergreen needles, candy wrappers, and cigarette butts. I heave for breathe and inhale the odor of decomposition. I cough to keep from gagging. I know this smell too well but I never get used to it. I know I'm right again. Sadness grips my gut and I grimace.

I ease myself up, taking care not to dislodge the detritus covering the shallow grave. There hasn't been rain in Western Washington for nearly two months. The little mound looks fresh. The decomp odor tells me a week old, maybe two.

Here's just one more thing I wish I didn't know anything about. Experience is a two-edged sword. Sometimes it’s edifying. Right now it sucks a root.

The search and rescue volunteers and deputies gather behind me as I right myself, situate my hoodie, and look around. Their eyes are all focused on me, then upon the grave. I feel their collective gaze and try to get a grip on my anxiety. My skin prickles and I begin to shiver. I clear my throat and pull myself together, arms crossed beneath my breasts.

“Get Deputy Shepherd,” I say, restraining my urge to run away.

We're in a dense forest, slightly north of Shelton, Washington. On any other day, for any other reason, the hike through this wooded terrain would be beautiful. The oak and poplar leaves, cedar, and pine needles crunch under our feet. A warm breeze rustles the tops of the evergreens, their needles whispering as they move together. However, the weather is far too dry for this part of the Olympic peninsula this time of year. Record low rainfall reminds me there’s a burn-ban in effect for most of Washington state. One positive about that. No rain to wash away evidence.

The rest of the forest is a lush pallet of greens despite the lack of rain. Nothing but fern-clotted shade from so many old evergreens and deciduous trees. We're in the thickest part of the forest with no sunny spots to be found.

It can't be more than seventy here. Still, I have soaked through both t-shirt and purple and gold University of Washington hoodie. Like a lathered horse, I feel the wetness in my pits and rivulets trickling down my back. I understand it's all part of my anxiety, but I fidget in embarrassment. I swipe my palm across my soaked upper lip and chin.

No one wants to find a child’s grave, especially not like this. In these cases, my sole responsibility is to do just that. My visions of what the victim went through are unspeakable. Left arm missing below the shoulder, genitals mutilated and the wound…violated. All perimortem. I shudder and close my eyes but the images are all-pervasive.

And somehow, when I get it right, it’s bad and my fault. Just like when I get it wrong. Funny that. Do I like having bad news all the time? Hell no. I wish little Timmy so-and-so would be found alive and skipping around a park somewhere before he takes the candy from that strange man. We all do. It’s never enough for a grieving family, though. I don’t really blame them. What I can do even embarrasses me.

Five-year-old Noah Nixon went missing from the front yard of his parents’ Olympia home just shy of a month ago. Disappearing into thin air, the press trumpet, and not the first child to do so in the region. Rumors of a child killer circulate—fanned by the press—and people are scared. These types of killings have been going on in Western Washington since the nineties. Still no suspects. Law enforcement calls the suspect the Knife and Hatchet Man, because of his M.O. Using the hatchet to sever the left arm of his victims just below the shoulder. He uses the knife to do the rest of it.

Is it just me, or do we have more than our share of serial killers here?

This psychopath knows what he’s doing and is getting better at this shit than we are. Welcome to the age of television true crime. And such perps don’t joke around. They are serious about their work and will not be caught unless they want to be.

When posters and tearful TV pleas from his parents for Noah’s safe return fail, and even cadaver dogs came up empty, Mason County’s Sheriff, Pete Cody, suggested another tactic.

Me.

I’m Ruth Anne O'Neill and I was called into the case to see if I could find the boy. I’m a forensic psychic medium—not a tarot-card-toting, crystal-ball-gazing charlatan—the real deal. It’s not really my job, but it is what I do. I always try to convince myself my gift was bestowed for the betterment of all mankind, or some such high-brow shit. Oh, and I cuss like a sailor. My Dad was Navy, as is my wasband. I come by it naturally. Fuck is my favorite verb, adverb, pronoun, and adjective. As you come to know me better, you might understand why. Police humor is extremely dark and so is mine. Sometimes, in this line of work, fuck is the only word that suits.

Mostly though, my psychic gifts get me labeled as a witch by the elderly, small town Dutch folk where I live on Whidbey Island. That’s the largest island in the continental US, in the middle of Puget Sound. An otherwise neighborly, rural paradise, the folks point, stare, whisper, and generally shun me in the checkout lanes at Safeway. They say my pale green eyes are eerie and my short, sandy blonde hair makes me look like a dyke. I dress the part just to get a rise out of them. A gender non-conforming psychic is easier to swallow than a witchy hippie psychic, right?

Hell, if I’m really honest, this is no gift. It’s a curse I can’t escape even in sleep. I mostly have the respect of the law enforcement personnel I work with but get lampooned by the press and other non-believers.

I have this…thing…in my head, forced on me since I was six years old. All I really want to do is bake cakes and take care of the guests at the Hummingbird’s Nest bed and breakfast. I’m the chef and half-owner there in Oak Harbor, the largest small town on the island only by benefit of its two Navy bases.

The gift or curse argument aside, I’ve found twenty-eight children—three of them alive—with my visions and dreams. Out of two hundred and ten cases perhaps it’s not the greatest track record, but it is something.

No, that’s not right. Noah Nixon makes that twenty-nine totaling two hundred and eleven in the past ten years. At any roads, the press will lambaste the family and law enforcement for involving a flake like me in what is a serious matter; a missing, and now presumed dead, little boy.

More than just presumed, my intrusive inner voice tells me.

With so many days gone by and zero leads, Sheriff Cody knows we’re looking for a corpse. The smell rising from the debris-covered ground will prove he and I are both right.

“Please, please,” I whisper to myself, “just let it be a dead animal. Don’t let it be Noah.”

My gift-curse tells me better, of course, but it’s my mantra every time I find a grave. Don’t let it be little so-and-so. But it always is.

I try to picture a deer killed out of season and quickly buried after its antlers are removed as trophies. I want to think of the blue-eyed, brunette, cherub-faced Noah, running and playing, going to school, tucked in for a night’s sleep. Anything other than tortured and stuffed into the ground like so much garbage.

Of course, with the gift-curse thing, I’m not wrong once I see the final location of the missing person. I saw the grave in my mind before I fell onto it. It’s more than simply tripping on a root. I was in one of my absence seizures again. Goddamned things make me go all wonky and sometimes even blackout. As if seeing the horrors isn’t bad enough.

Deputy Hal Shepherd makes his way through the overgrown ferns and saplings to the grave at my feet. His olive green uniform jumpsuit has large rings of perspiration beneath his armpits. This makes me feel less self-conscious about my own horse sweat. He squats, ink pen in hand, and considers the scene for about five minutes. After that, he silently paces like a caged leopard around the small burial. He stops at the far side of the grave, glaring at me. He gazes icily at the grave, then pulls out his cellphone, hitting speed dial.

“Send in the forensics team.”

The crime scene investigation team is slow to reach our location, two miles in from the end of the fire trail. I chew my inner lip as they cordon off the scene with yellow and black police tape. I found the scene. Hooray for me, my inner voice ruthlessly teases me.

My visions led us here, otherwise, Noah might’ve never been found. The killer probably thinks he’s clever, picking such an isolated spot for his body dumps. Who would think to look in these woods other than some freak psychic like me?

The next hour crawls by with the click-flash-whir of cameras, and CSIs taking measurements. I watch from behind the crime scene tape as they use tweezers to pick up all the candy wrappers and cigarette butts for DNA and fingerprints. A handful of leaves and needles appear to have blood on them. They go into evidence bags, too.

Shepherd keeps himself busy walking the perimeter while speaking to Sheriff Cody on his cell. He lifts the crime scene tape and walks under it leaving the cordoned area. He spares me a hard look before walking father into the forest.

Those involved in evidence collection speak little beyond whispered instructions to the newbie on their team. The rest of us stand outside the perimeter, silent as the grave. No pun intended. Our busy presence has scared off the wildlife, even the birds. I shift from one foot to the other, my right boot feeling a little tight. I think the seam on my sock is rubbing a blister on my big toe. I think of all this to keep my mind off what's going to be dug up any moment.

Finally, one of the CSIs carefully brushes aside debris and dirt to reveal a greenish, naked, and bloated body. Those of us watching collectively gasp. I’d been right about the mutilation.

Then there’s a little girl's voice just behind me.

Ruthie.

More urgently:

Ruthie!

I look around like I’m crazy. I know the voice calling my name isn’t among the gathering. It’s a voice I haven’t heard since I was six years old. I put my hands over my ears to muffle the plaintive calling. Nope, it doesn’t help.

Ruthie!

It’s strident now.

“Stop it!”

I think I only say it in my mind. Then, my voice ricochets off tree trunks and echoes eerily around us. I hear the crackling sound of the white paper suits worn by the CSIs and nothing else as all eyes turn on me.

“Stop what, Ms. O'Neill?”

A tall, painfully lanky volunteer searcher in a red and black checkered flannel shirt looks expectantly at me.

“Huh,” I grunt, looking from his man-bun to his long beard as I stall for time to think up a good lie.

“Are you okay, ma'am?”

Ma'am? I’m not that old you damned hipster! Keep Portland weird I guess.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Was just thinking out loud. It’s nothing.”

“Are you sure,” Man-bun asks.

I wonder hysterically for a moment if he’s coming onto me. I’m not on enough anxiety meds for that.

“I said it was nothing, okay,” I snap and turn awkwardly away.

My right boot squeaks like a fart and I close my eyes on my renewed embarrassment. To say I don’t want to be here now is a vast understatement. I quick march through the overgrown ferns the two miles back to the fire trail and police and CSI vehicles.

The plaintive voice of my late sister keeps resonating in my head.

Ruthie! Ruthie don’t go. You’re not finished yet.

My brain feels like the Vegas Strip. The number twenty-five is flashing there. That’s when I U-turn and drag myself back to find Shepherd.

Twenty-six if you count Noah, my sister’s voice chides.

I look around for her, knowing I’m not going to find her. A wave of torrential sweat hits me again when I get back to the scene. I can smell my stink and want to be anywhere but here. I need a shower, more coffee, well maybe not coffee. I want to be in my kitchen making my famous everything bagels, not helping find dead kids.

I aim myself unsteadily toward Shepherd. He’s all business and seems done with me now that I located Noah. I’m brassy enough, though, I’m rarely ignored.

“You should call Sheriff Cody. You’re going to need more CSI people out of Olympia. There are twenty-five other bodies here.”

[newstattoos]

The Menard County Sheriff's Office recently arrested a suspect at large accused of a shooting in Mason County. Mason County Sheriff's Office has released the following press release: CAUTION - A wanted suspect is armed with a revolver Mason County Sheriff's Office reported an incident involving an armed suspect this afternoon. The incident occ...