#SABRmarcus

[sophie-gardener-blog]

Marcus & Sophie

@marcus-trilling-phd:

What adventures did you get up to?

I went to the movies. I went to the beach a bunch, which is probably the biggest reason these freckles are showing so much. I went kayaking, free climbing, and paddle boarding on different days. Those are things I do fairly often for fun. What about you? What were you up to recently?

[james-cartwright-md]

Marcus & James

marcus-trilling-phd‌:

I’ve never played before.

Its fine. Im learning and not very good. Its more for some entertainment while Im busy doing some recovery from my illness. Im also taking book recommendations.

[msemilywright-blog]

marcus-trilling-phd:

I’m assuming you do not mean the sun being visible twenty-four hours a day via the north pole.

No, I am talking about my new movie. Although, I wasn’t aware of the North Pole thing.

@marcus-trilling-phd

[zephyr-dresden]

Marcus & Zephyr

@marcus-trilling-phd

I was informed the K in such situations stood for kill. 

Not in the Zephyr Zone, my friend. Every kiss begins with ‘K’, ammirite?

[connor--byrne-blog]

Marcus & Connor

@marcus-trilling-phd:

I recently got a cat and the companionship is comforting. I’ve considered getting a dog at some point. It’s whether it can fit into your life or not I suppose.

That’s awesome. Is your cat a cuddling type, playful, or a bit of the loner and do it’s own thing type that doesn’t like to be bothered? Do you think you ever would get a dog? I think it’s time for one for me. I’m going to wait until my girlfriend and I have our new house, something bigger to let a dog run around in. Once we’ve got that, then we’ll look at getting one. It’s time, I’ve always wanted one.

[andrew-maelor-blog]

Marcus || Andrew

@marcus-trilling-phd:

A friend and I are going up to Joshua Tree tonight and then to a small concern on Christmas eve.

I’ve been there before, is this your first time going there? I assume you mean concert, and if so, what sort of concert are you going to?

[elfie-webb-and-her-petals-blog]

Elfie & Marcus

@marcus-trilling-phd

This is my feeble and most likely detrimental attempt at colloquy... Salutations.

[starsandboulevardsroleplay]

‣ MUNDAY: APPRECIATION POST ↴

WE’RE BACK! After a brief little break from the glorious MUNday posts. We are picking up with one of our most beloved legacies, Shelby. For those of you that don’t know, this gem of a writer has been with us longer than nearly all our current writers and has given us some of the most diverse characters we have ever read. Shelby is constantly pushing herself and her characters to grow. She doesn’t solely do this with dramatic plots but with their careers, relationships- romantic or otherwise, and reflection on their past. I know that I have personally grown a lot as a writer because of her, but she has also helped my characters grow too. It’s an honor to get to write with you, but more importantly, I appreciate you reaching out every day and being a great friend. You are always there for those that need you, be it for feels, a laugh, or venting. I can’t count how many times you’ve lifted my spirits over the years, but you’re amazing and I can only ever hope to be half the friend you’ve been to me.

Lots of love and happy writing! - Admin NatBat

[tomlinotracey]

Gonna Take Away This Hurtin’ Inside || Tomlin, Alessandra, Marcus, & Selene

Note: This took place in the early morning hours of December 27th and is part of Selene’s DPA.

Tomlin’s life had been changing, less reclusive and possibly even on the cusps of optimism. A part of him was, as it always did, waiting for the other shoe to drop. His entire life had been a pattern of high-highs and the lowest lows. With Alessandra’s slip that Selene was in the hospital he felt the whiplash of his world stopping once more. He had quickly shut his laptop, switching the notifications for The Network to ‘on’ on his phone. Though Tomlin hadn’t showered since his one call late in the afternoon, he couldn’t be bothered to take the time to get decent. Pulling on a hoodie over his flannel button up and grabbing his helmet, he headed out the door to CC West.

There was absolutely no recollection of speed or red lights as Tomlin took side streets and as many right-turns as possible en route to avoid cops, lights, and other drivers. His phone, mounted to the tank, flashed messages on The Network from Aless and he voice-replied. Knowing he would need to wait ten or fifteen minutes for his friend to get there. Parking the bike at the top of the parking deck so that he could try and calm himself on the walk to the building felt like a logical time-killer. Every step felt heavy and familiar. Tomlin tried to prepare himself for the familiar scent of sterilization and the sound of crying, coughing, and whispered chatter. His heart thumped in his chest and he was eager to turn to the cafeteria away from those woefully familiar things. 

The cafeteria staff offered up the sympathetic smiles of people that knew their customers were either grieving or doctors carrying the burden of countless lives on their shoulders. With a quick text to Aless that he would wait for her in the cafeteria, Tomlin drank his ginger ale in small sips. He knew it wouldn’t ease his stomach, that he wasn’t sick, but he was thankful for the distraction. While he waited he flipped through his own page on The Network and saw that though they were seeing each other in their day-to-day, they hadn’t talked online in over a month, with her not responding to his last message. Tomlin let out a sigh, wondering if that was why no one told him sooner. Flipping to his phone’s photo gallery he looked at the pictures of her, some asleep and others laughing, and wondering if that was the last. 

Pessimism was seeping into every fiber of Tomlin’s being when Aless pressed a soft hand to his broad shoulders. He could see why Micah adored her and constantly sung her praises. Beyond her natural glowing beauty, Alessandra radiated kindness and warmth. Tomlin took a long, deep breath and stood up, passing her the plastic container with her sandwich and the bottle of water he’d grabbed for her to wash it down. Whether she wanted to sit and eat or not, Tomlin wasn’t even thinking about asking. Aless wasted no time leading the way, either knowing that he was ready to go or because he’d made some kind of accidental expression of impatience. Nevertheless, his long strides shortened and his pace slowed as his pulse started to race when he saw the sign for the cardiac intensive care unit.

Feeling his throat go dry and his stomach tighten, Tomlin reached for Alessandra’s hand. Without her support he wouldn’t have made it to Selene’s door without crying, but having always been an emotional person, tears were inevitable. Tomlin’s 6′1 frame filled the door and then collapsed to one side of it. His helmet swung loosely from his hand, his wallet and phone clanking around inside it. If it woke Marcus up he didn’t notice. His eyes studied the transparently pale skin of Selene’s face. If it wasn’t for the machines beeping loudly in the room he would have expected the worst. Setting his helmet by the door he crossed the room, his clammy right hand still clinging to Aless.

His blue eyes looked all the more vivid as tears shimmered and started to roll down his cheeks. Bending down he ran his palm softly across her cheer and into her hair, then stole a kiss to her forehead. “Mo ghrá geal.” The words poured softly from his mouth, at first in a sad greeting and then in a tone that could only be understood as pleading. “Tá brón orm nach raibh mé ann duitsa, mo ghrá geal. Tá brón orm gur chaill mé an oiread sin ama, mo ghrá geal.”

At some point his hand slipped from Alessandra’s and he sat at the edge of Selene’s bed cupping her small free hand in his, Marcus holding the other. He could still feel Aless’ calming presence and there was a relief in knowing that someone that loved Selene as much as he did had been with her. In those small blessings he took deep breaths and found some semblance of solace. A familiar face came in after Tomlin had been there for a few minutes, a Dr. Sinclair that was related to the Cartwrights- explaining why he’d looked familiar. Tomlin stepped in the hall with the pair and Tomlin asked a hundred and one hushed questions. There was only so much that could be shared, but more that Tomlin could do. After promising he would ask Thane, another one of Selene’s friends, for any possible number to family back in Scotland, Tomlin went back in the room and sat opposite of Marcus.

There were parts of Selene he didn’t know, Marcus was one of them, but it didn’t scare him away. Tomlin wasn’t surprised by the mystery of Selene, it was one of the things he loved about her, one of the things that he would miss most if her light vanished from the world. Somehow, he found the strength to suppress the self blame and focus on small tasks. He’d called Thane and Lucas, leaving them voicemails, and to email UCLA asking who they would need to speak to in order to share Selene’s emergency information- though unsure if her lack of enrollment as a student would mean this wasn’t collected. Tomlin put in every effort to see her in the busy part of his year at work. When he came in he brought a sandwich or coffee for Marcus, books to read to Selene, and an unfortunate lack of answers as to who he should call.

Every night after the twenty-seventh, Tomlin would collapse into bed and Iggy would curl up to him. It was there that he let himself wallow. The Aussie would lick at his face, stopping the tears before he could be consumed by his usual darkness. Perhaps he found himself refusing to believe that things wouldn’t turn around. Perhaps he’d learned from the time they had wasted pushing each other away would be something that they cherished as a time where they learned to hold on to each other. For the first time he was blocking out the dark, blocking out all the possibilities and statistics, clawing so fervently to hope and optimism that if it were to slip away the man that survived would be unrecognizable.

Translation:

Ghrá geal is an Irish term of endearment that means “bright love”, Mo is ‘mine/my’

Tá brón orm nach raibh mé ann duitsa. Tá brón orm gur chaill mé an oiread sin ama. = I'm sorry I was not there for you. I'm sorry I wasted so much time.

[kailanimaris]

Marcus & Kailani

@marcus-trilling-phd

There’s a whole load of information of the effect a planets axis can have on its seasons as well as how the composition of atmosphere affects weather. I am available to get coffee if you wish to know more. 

Oh would you? I have one of those fancy french press things and an espresso machine and a Keurig if you’d rather just come over to my place and avoid attempting to have a conversation with me while having your picture taken. I can promise you that Thane will say the paparazzi can be quite... vexing.

I really would love to know more though. You’ll have to warn me when my questions start getting annoying. I didn’t exactly have a traditional education and that’s made me a very curious sort of person... or so I’ve been told.

[sirius-heise-blog]

Marcus & Sirius

@marcus-trilling-phd:

I do something very similar. Though mine reasons for it stem from not realising people want to speak to me. I think people are glad to have a break from me most of the time. Or they don’t realise i’m gone. Either way. I’m Marcus.

I’m glad to know that there are others around here who understand. Ah, I understand. It’s quite different for me. I have this tendency to be very closed off, although I’m not on purpose. I guess I just keep to myself? I’m a quiet sort. It’s nice to meet you, Marcus. Have you lived in LA long, or are you from the area?

[sophie-gardener-blog]

Marcus & Sophie

@marcus-trilling-phd:

My cat ate a whole through one of my socks and then proceeded to climb inside of it. I believe that meets the criteria?

I do love cats. They do some of the cutest things that would seem impossible, but somehow they make it possible. How many cats do you have? Only the one? What’s their name?

[river-morgan-peretz]

@marcus-trilling-phd:

If it were not for the fact I recently acquired a kitten I would have considered this.

You can have a cat and  a dog! These guys need homes. 

[samaira-ambani-blog]

Marcus & Samaira

@marcus-trilling-phd:

I’m certain you’re not the only one who practices yoga. I don’t but I assume someone must or there would be classes.

Well, obviously I know I’m not the only one in LA that does yoga, but I don’t know that I’ve really talked to many that do it on this network. Sometimes it’s nice to go with someone you know... 

[zephyr-dresden]

FMK: Andrew, Tomlin, Marcus

These are tough choices, you know that? You’re killing me.

F(uck the Hell out of): Mr. McThick. Those arms – seriously.

M(arry to get all of these perks in one package forever): Tomlin. Zephlin, ammirite?

K(iss and then some. Over and over again.): Marcus, my boo.

Done and done.

@andrew-maelor @tomlinotracey @marcus-trilling-phd

[selenemacsuain-blog]

Selene & Marcus

@marcus-trilling-phd

The salt flats in Bolivia. Excellent dark skies. You can see the galactic centre particularly well. 

I will have to make sure I take my almanac with me and record what I see. I will definitely make sure to make it to the Salt Flats.