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#bulldog mask
neviagreatestart2003 · 10 months
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The Masked Singer Season 5 Characters!
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List of Contestants/Celebrity.
1st: Piglet - Nick Lachey
2nd: Black Swan - JoJo
3rd: Chameleon - Wiz Khalifa
4th: Yeti - Omarion (Wildcard)
5th: Russian Dolls - Taylor, Isaac, Zac Hanson
6th: Robopine - Tyrese Gibson
7th: Seashell - Tamera Mowry-Housley
8th: Crab - Bobby Brown (Wildcard)
9th: Orca - Mark McGrath (Wildcard)
10th: Bulldog - Nick Cannon (Wildcard)
11th: Grandpa Monster - Logan Paul
12th: Raccoon - Danny Trejo
13th: Phoenix - Caitlyn Jenner
14th: Snail - Kermit The Frog
Miscellaneous: Cluedle-Doo - Donnie Wahlberg
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^^woof woof^^
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dateamonster · 9 months
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trying to think of what my preeny has to repeat 6th grade fursona would be lol but theres only cats, dogs, wolves, foxes, big cats, and rabbits in that world so what is a humble piggy liker such as myself to do!!
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impoliticwestie · 27 days
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A B C D. Photoautomat, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London, 2011.
Taken at the legendary independent Shoreditch photo booth owned and run by Alex Kokott.
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enobullphotography · 4 months
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It's safe to assume that I won't be going back to digital anytime soon! At least not for any of my own personal stuff. I'll of course continue with digital (for now) for all my paid work, but the fun I'm having loading, shooting and processing film... How do you put that feeling into words?
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Recently I purchased my newest (new to me) camera as I mentioned in my last post, a 35mm Canon A1. And while the images in this post were shot with ol' faithful (AE-1 Program) having the new camera has reignited the love and the passion for shooting film.
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These are all prints from a roll of Kodak Portra 400 shot between early April & early May. My brother and I went downtown on or around 4/20 for a double header! We wanted to try 7th St. Burger and we did and it was amazing. Right next door was a place called Luke's Lobster! And what person in their right mind could ever pass up lobster? Lmao!
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While waiting for our burgers I caught this man in the window who reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock. There was mo way I wasn't going to get this shot!
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And towards the end of the roll I got my favorite shots! My children and my boy Philly! My daughter has this beanie that reminded me of Marvin Gaye, she was looking so cool with her denim jacket and her natural hair out! And my baby has recently become obsessed with the Jason Mask I bought for Halloween. Stay Tuned for more. My journey with film photography is just beginning! Come back next time for some black and white and expired film!
📷: Canon AE-1 Program 🎞️: Kodak Portra 400 Eno Bull Photography
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robinsnest2111 · 8 months
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anyone else remember the dark dudes collection by depesche from around the mid-2000s?
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found this little bad bunny crossbody bag thrifting today (the mad bunny pin I found at a fleamarket a couple years ago)
I think I once had a mad bunny wristband as well but it probably has been lost to the void a while back
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on another note: I really like the bad bunny/mad bunny twin designs. makes me wanna draw some human versions of the two, or create edgy sims based on them :P
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(keychain photos from this ebay listing as official product images are impossible to find)
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bittersweetblasphemy · 11 months
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been looking into getting the husband a nice bulldog harness but i suddenly imagined myself wearing one and i
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hockeydogwoof · 1 year
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An extreme close-up for the football helmet lovers (like me) out there. :-)
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totoshappylife · 2 years
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ROCKBROS Cold Weather Balaclava Ski Mask for Men Windproof Thermal Winter Scarf Mask Women Neck Warmer Hood for Cycling
ROCKBROS Cold Weather Balaclava Ski Mask for Men Windproof Thermal Winter Scarf Mask Women Neck Warmer Hood for Cycling
Price: (as of – Details) From the brand ENJOY CYCLING ENJOY ROCKBROS! We adhere to the concept of providing high-quality products for everyone who loves cycling, spreading a healthy cycling culture. Winter Head Gear Winter Gaiters Thermal Shoe Covers Winter Bar Mittens Winter Cloth Winter Head Gear Department ‏ : ‎ Unisex-adult Date First Available ‏ : ‎ September 8, 2021 Manufacturer ‏ : ‎…
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swiftiethatlovesf1 · 2 months
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Grumpy Toto Wolff with wife sunshine!reader. Feat their son, grumpy!Jack. Thank you!!
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Everyone knew the Wolff family around the paddock with Toto being the intimidating Team principal of Mercedes and you being the sunshine of the paddock known for your kindness and radiant smiles. Wherever you went Toto and Jack, your son, seemed to follow you like your shadow.
Today it was an ordinary day in the paddock, as you left the car two hands took yours, Toto being on your left and Jack on your right, this continued until Toto had to leave to talk to some investors not before giving you a goodbye kiss to you and Jack. As you continued your walk around the paddock drivers, mechanics and other workers stopped to say hi, each one annoying Jack more and more, it wasn't until Daniel approached you that Jack had enough, he knew that you and him were a dangerous combination that could spend hours talking and laughing. "Mom, I'm tired I want to go to see Dad" Jack said as he pulled you away. "Sure let's go, it was really nice seeing you Daniel," you said waving him goodbye as Jack pulled you away.
Jack led you back to the motorhome, his grip firm. Inside, the atmosphere relaxed, with Toto and Jack both visibly more at ease now that you were within their watchful gaze. Toto tried to focus on his work, but his attention often drifted towards you, ensuring you were always within sight. Jack, too, played nearby, occasionally glancing your way.
You left their watchful gaze because you had gone to the bathroom, however, your brief absence stretched into a worrying length of time. Panic flickered in Toto’s eyes, and Jack’s expression mirrored his father's concern. They scoured the motorhome, calling your name, their worry mounting with each unanswered call.
Then, a familiar sound broke the tension—a burst of your laughter, bright and unmistakable. Toto and Jack followed the sound, rounding the corner to the back of the motorhome. There, they found you sprawled on the ground, Roscoe, Lewis Hamilton's bulldog, enthusiastically licking your face. You giggled uncontrollably, trying in vain to fend off the affectionate dog. "Roscoe, please stop licking me," you managed between giggles, your attempts to dislodge the hefty bulldog proving futile.
"Lewis can you remove your dog from my wife" Toto said trying to not sound angry at Lewis, he could never blame you, you were just too innocent and couldn't phantom all the possible possibilities that could happen, that's why you needed them.
"Roscoe, come on, mate," Lewis called out, giving a light-hearted laugh as he approached. Roscoe finally relented, hopping off you with an enthusiastic wag of his tail. Lewis reached down to offer you a hand, pulling you up gently as Toto and Jack watched closely, their expressions a mix of relief and restrained annoyance.
"You okay?" Lewis asked, his tone warm and friendly.
"Yes, thank you, Lewis," you said, dusting yourself off with a bright smile. "Roscoe just couldn't resist, could he?"
Lewis chuckled, "He's got good taste."
Toto's jaw tightened slightly at the comment, but he quickly masked it with a tight smile. "Yes, well, we should be getting back. Lots to do before the race." He wrapped a protective arm around your shoulders, steering you back towards the motorhome. Jack, sensing the tension, clung to your other side, holding your hand tightly.
As you made your way back, Toto kept glancing over his shoulder, making sure Lewis was out of earshot. "I think it's best if we stay inside for a while. Don't want to get caught up in any more distractions."
You nodded, oblivious to the underlying tension. "Of course, Toto. Whatever you think is best."
Inside the motorhome, Toto finally relaxed, his grip on you loosening but still firm. Jack settled in beside you, visibly more content now that you were back in their safe, controlled environment.
"Mom, can we play a game?" Jack asked, his earlier irritation replaced with a hopeful expression.
"Of course, Jack! What do you want to play?" you replied, ruffling his hair affectionately.
As Jack fetched a board game, Toto watched you closely, his gaze softening. "You know, you really should be more careful. The paddock can be a bit overwhelming."
"I know, Toto," you said with a gentle smile. "But it's also full of wonderful people. Like Lewis and Roscoe."
Toto's eyes darkened slightly at the mention of Lewis, but he quickly recovered. "Yes, well, just remember that Jack and I are always here to keep you safe."
You nodded, your smile never wavering. "I know. I’m so lucky to have both of you."
Jack returned with the game, and soon the motorhome was filled with laughter and the friendly banter of a family enjoying each other's company. For a moment, all the underlying tensions and unspoken worries faded away, replaced by the simple joy of being together.
As the day wore on, Toto and Jack remained ever watchful, their protectiveness never wavering. They knew you saw the world through rose-coloured glasses, but they were determined to keep those glasses from shattering, no matter what.
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theflashjaygarrick · 2 months
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So you've heard about the DC Absolute Universe and you're wondering what it is all about.
While details about Absolute DC is still coming out, I decided it might be useful to make a breakdown of what we know so far (mostly from SDCC).
DC Absolute Universe Breakdown:
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The Absolute universe is a new alternate universe influenced by Darkseid energy. It is a 'darker' universe where all the heroes have lost something key to their Earth 0 selves which leaves them as underdogs. While separate to the main universe it will link in through the events of the All In initiative. There doesn't seem to be many superhero teams yet, but a lot of iconic heroes have had their own solo series' announced:
Absolute Batman (By Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta):
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The series brave enough to ask...what if Batman was an absolute unit. This is a Batman with no money and no status as the Prince of Gotham. Instead he is a construction worker and city engineer who has turned himself and his costume into an absolute weapon. He has an adorable French Bulldog and is also apparently blonde.
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This Bruce Wayne never had a butler but there still is an Alfred in the Absolute Universe: Alfred "Penny", the grizzled and tired MI-6 spy. They seemingly meet for the first time when Bruce has already began his caped crusade against crime (and the series' confirmed big bad Black Mask)
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Bonus: The Jim Lee variant cover gives us a better look at his costume's armoured texture and one of his weapons. He's seemingly more of a heavy hitter than the Batman we know.
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Absolute Wonder Woman (By Kelley Thompson and Hayden Sherman):
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This Wonder Woman was raised not in Paradise Island but rather in The Underworld. She has no sisters and no quest for peace. Instead she is the last of the Amazons who becomes a warrior and a witch, and eventually the Absolute Universe's first superhero. She is more heavily armed, carries a massive sword, and flies around on a skeletal pegasus made of iron.
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Unlike her Earth counterpart who is notable for not wearing a mask, this Wonder Woman seemingly has two, including a rather demonic looking helmet. Also, her colour scheme is based less on the American flag and more on the idea of lava under rocks.
She also has a Jim Lee variant cover which suggests she also will have a lasso.
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Absolute Superman (By Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval):
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Superman is the member of the trinity we know the least about. He is supposed to be more alien (suggested by his glowing red arms and the fact the cape seems to be made of pure energy) and according to the solicitation is "Without the fortress... without the family... without a home" but honestly we don't know much more.
We do have some cool art though (including another Jim Lee Variant):
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Absolute Green Lantern (By Al Ewing and Jahnoy Linsday)
Absolute Green Lantern is a "first contact" story and "reimagining" of the Green Lantern mythos featuring Jo Mullein, Hal Jordan, and John Stewart. We have some cool concept art of it including a redesign of Jo that suggests the lanterns might be in civilian clothing illuminated green.
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Absolute Flash (By Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles)
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This is the book we know the least about. All we really can infer apart from the creative team is that the Flash is presumably Wally West and that he appears to be more tortured character than in most other iterations.
(Shout out to Bleeding Cool for posting photos of the SDCC slides for people who weren't there)
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Yandere Anasui Narciso X Therapist Female reader
Yep, will do. This is before Joylene went to prison and the events of Part 6 haven't happened yet. Pucci may be mentioned. I have never been to prison and am only using what I've seen of Green Dolphin as reference. Take anything that happens with a grain of salt.
Psychosis (Yandere Anasui Narisco x Fem! Therapist reader)
Tw: Sexism, mental illness, mentions of SA, murder, Anansui, obsessive behavior and other gross and suggestive themes. DON'T READ IF YOU'RE UNDER 17 (even still you're on thin ice if you complain).
The clicking of heels rings through the prison's male section as a woman walks beside two heavily armed security guards. The Green Dolphin male ward was no place for a woman to be by herself. The inmates either made disgusting comments about her and what they want to do to her, or they cursed her out and threatened to kill her when the guards leave.
The woman in question is (Y/N) (L/N) a recent graduate of Florida State University with a master's in psychology. While rather young, (Y/N) was a very bright person recommended to the Green Dolphin Street Prison by her professor. (Y/N) was very interested in the criminal mind and its workings, so this job while not glamorous piqued her interest. Sighing to herself, (Y/N) pulled down her skirt to cover as much of her upper legs as possible. Pigs. She knew none of them would have the courage to act this way when they were in a session with an armed guard.
"Listen newbie these prisoners contain some of the vilest criminals in Florida. You'll need to toughen up because your fancy degree won't be able to protect you." The male officer on your right sneered at (Y/N). (Y/N) huffed before turning to him. "I was under the impression that at least one armed guard would be nearby during a session." The guard on her left snickered mockingly, placing a heavy hand on your shoulder. "You're a big girl, you should be able to protect yourself. Besides you ain't even that cute for no one to fu-" (Y/N) slapped the officer's hand away harshly, glaring in disgust. "You have no right to speak to me or any colleague that way." The left male officer's eyes narrowed into his puffy cheeks making him look like an angry bulldog. "You think you can speak to me bitch cause your hot shit?! I oughta beat you like your daddy should have."
The officer on the right looks away as the officer on the left closes in. To (Y/N) it became very apparent that the male officers saw no use of the female employees here and were threatened by her intelligence. She knew that they were masking their precious egos and wouldn't do anything. (Y/N) made no move to back away and looked the chubbier officer in the eyes. "You know projecting your own trauma onto others won't resolve the internal pain." The left guard's cheeks turn even redder as he pulls out his Billy Club. "Why you-!"
Before she was hit, (Y/N) calmly yet defiantly stares into the cop's eyes, he falters and snarls at the woman. "Fucking witch, what did you do to me?!" "Given you something to work on, now would you both kindly escort me to my patients or will I have to report to the warden for gross incompetence." Both prison guards grumbled something about (Y/N) being a "pretentious bitch" but (Y/N) could care less she had clients to meet.
It was turning night and (Y/N) had finished some paperwork on her latest client some blind man named Johngalli A. He refused to open up to her at all and kept staring at the wall. (Y/N) chuckles to herself about the irony of your statement before sighing...why couldn't she just be assigned to the women's ward? Well, time to go home and shower the day away.
Those bastard cops left her defenseless in the men's ward no less! (Y/N)'s heels being the only noise in the uncomfortably quiet hallway. (Y/N) darts her eyes left to right as she turns the corner. Once she gets out of the male ward she can walk to a gate! (Y/N) visibly relaxes at the sight of two guards at the front of the gate. She tenses back up as they block the gate with their faces obscured. "Is there a problem gentlemen?" (Y/N) asks the guards who stood like sentries before the gates of Hell.
"Oh, look at that it's princess, can't believe you survived your first day" cruel brown eyes stared directly into her soul. More cops with a vendetta against (Y/N), when will it end? (Y/N) huffs and tries to barge through the flesh barricade, only to be met with resistance. "What's the hurry pretty thing? We just want to get to know our coworker better right Lewis?" The second one pipes up causing Lewis to glare at him. "Shut it Darnell, just grab the girl!" Darnell shrugs before attempting to grab (Y/N), key word is attempted as (Y/N) does not want anything to do with these men. She elbows the one trying to grab her hard in the windpipe. Darnell wheezes and falls to the ground, (Y/N) pulls pepper spray out of her bag and sprays Lewis in the face. Lewis covers his eyes and falls to the floor hollering.
(Y/N) tries to make an escape when Darnell hits her in the back of the head with the butt of his rifle. (Y/N) curses Darnell for recovering quickly as she falls to the ground, black spots filling her vision. "Fuck that bitch is quick on her feet." Darnell gasps as Lewis gets back up their voices become indistinguishable, but (Y/N) sees them getting down and trying to take of her clothes. Tears bubble up as she tries to move away only to be forcefully held down. The last thing (Y/N) sees and hears however is pink hair in her peripheral vision and a scream of agony.
(Y/N) wakes up in the trauma care center with prison nurses fussing over the bruising on her arms. Some cops who weren't complete dicks found the woman lying on the floor with her blouse partially unbuttoned and bruises on her arms and the back of her head. Hanging above your unconscious form were the dead bodies of your would-be assaulters Officers Lewis McVay and Darnell Thompson. Their bodies were so horribly disfigured that officers were only identified by a DNA test.
(Y/N) was horrified at the news yes, she thought they deserved to be punished but for someone to play God to this extent makes the woman feel unnerved. Her boss wasn't completely terrible since (Y/N) was given a week off. In this time, (Y/N) couldn't get the question out of her mind. Who saved her?
Monday at 9 am sharp (Y/N) arrives to work, she won't let the trauma stop her from helping the patients. Also bills need to be paid and college debt doesn't make life any easier. The guard at the front gate greets (Y/N) as she walks into the prison. Before (Y/N) can make it to the health wing, the warden approaches with a stern look on his normally pleasant face. "Ms. (L/N) I hope your break was pleasant, I regret to inform you that an inmate has personally requested you to be their therapist." That was news for (Y/N) as she was under the impression that most of the prisoners in the male ward hated her. It filled her with a weird sense of hope that her progress might not be all in vain.
"Great just hand me his personal files and we'll get started tomorrow." The warden held his puppet Charlotte up to you and spoke through it. "You don't understand, he wants to have a session now!" Now? (Y/N) was stunned why was the warden being so pushy about it. "Alright, I still need the man's files." The warden smiled and handed the woman the manila file under his arm. "Thank you very much Miss (Y/N) you've done the right thing." (Y/N) walked off in the direction of the male ward without bothering to respond.
The male prison ward was a lot quieter with the lack of jeers from the prisoners, however there was a lingering tension in the air. Many of the male prisoners glared daggers at the therapist as she made her way towards the room where her next patient was waiting. Inhaling (Y/N) put on her best brave face and opens the door. Waiting for her with a bored expression was a flamboyantly dressed man with long pink hair. The patient's rose-colored eyes lock with (Y/N) an indecipherable look as he trails her form. The therapist also took his appearance in further as she made her way to your seat.
His attire was impractical for a prison, consisting of a mesh shirt with pink shoe prints attached to it, a purple stewardess hat with gold horns on it, and thigh high white boots trailing up to the skimpiest brown skirt she's ever seen. Sitting down in the seat, (Y/N) greets her patient without breaking eye contact. "Good morning Anasui, I am (Y/N) (L/N) your therapist. I cannot prescribe you painkillers or antidepressants, but I can recommend you to a psychiatrist if I decide it is best for you." Silence. Very well, (Y/N) thought, he must not be quite comfortable yet. "The warden told me you requested my services personally, is that correct?" Anasui stares at your mien before speaking in a baritone voice. "I did doctor." (Y/N) shakes her head as she looks sheepishly at Anasui "Oh no I'm no doctor, I can't afford to spend any more time in college."
"Interesting"
(Y/N) got uncomfortable, it felt like Anasui was the therapist not her. "Do you find my lack of a doctorate amusing Mr. Anasui?" (Y/N) switched to strict therapist voice, she needed to let him know that she won't bend to whatever he has planned for her. Anasui stands up from his seat and stalks closer to the therapist. (Y/N) maintains eye contact with the prisoner as he kneels down until their foreheads are touching. "Why are you here (Y/N)?" Anasui asks as his hot breath fans over the woman in front of him, his tourmaline eyes scanning her facial features for any trace of dishonesty. (Y/N)'s eyes narrowed as she retorted sternly. "That is none of your concern Anasui, please return to your chair." "I won't." (Y/n) furrowed her brow in frustration as Anasui seemed to only get closer. She knows not to reveal all her cards, yet she knows that Anasui will refuse to continue this session unless he's pacified.
"If you must know Anasui, I happened to get into my profession because the criminal mind fascinates me. Now would sit down so I can figure out how to help you?" (Y/N) glares at the unruly patient in front of her, Anasui pulls away and stands back up to his full height, peering down at her. Anasui scoffs before sauntering over to his chair and sitting down. (Y/N) sighs before scribbling down 'difficult patient' on her patient notes. Who could blame her for being a little petty with a criminal? "Alright Anasui how was your childhood?"
(Y/N) came out of the room weary and a bit defeated. It was difficult to get through to someone who looked at her as if she were nothing. The little she gathered about him were short normally one-word answers. However, the audacity does not end there as Anasui asked many invasive questions about the therapist's personal life. (Y/N) gave lackluster responses and it seemed to be the only time that Anasui paid any attention during their session, as she would meet his unwavering gaze greedily soaking up the answers. It was honestly quite creepy.
(Y/N) was not watching where she was going as she collided with a firm object, causing (Y/N) to fall and drop her papers everywhere. "My apologies miss (L/N), I must not have been watching where I was going." A deep yet warm voice spoke as (Y/N) looked up to be met with the prison's chaplain Enrico Pucci. The young flushed as the handsome man offered you a firm hand, pulling her up. He was quite handsome for a man of the cloth. "Oh no father it was my fault, I've been stressed with work recently." Pucci nods his head as he gives (Y/N) a knowing look. "The prisoners here can be quite difficult, but you must not let you stray from guiding these lost lambs to salvation." (Y/N) smiles gratefully at the encouragement from the priest. "Thank you, father I won't let, you down." Pucci waves as the woman walk to the canteen for your meal. She won't let Anasui best her.
Not now, not ever
Lunch was uneventful as the therapist ate in the cafeteria, none of the inmates attempted anything. Must still be afraid of what happened to the last people who tried. (Y/N) didn't mind the peace as she looked through Anasui's file in hopes of getting some information which might crack him. It said he was a lonely boy who enjoyed taking things apart and was sent to the psychiatric ward for disassembling a neighbor's car. Clearly some compulsive behavior that continued on in a disturbing way with his crime. When he caught his girlfriend in bed with another man, Anasui methodically killed and disassembled their body parts so "they'd never be together again". You would think that was the actions of a mentally ill individual, but the psychiatric analysis declared Anasui was perfectly sane. Well, there goes her appetite, however (Y/N) achieved interesting information for her next session with Anasui.
(Y/N) awoke in a cold sweat to the blare of the alarm. She had one of the most disturbing nightmares about Anasui looking down at her with rage and slicing her limbs off one by one as she bleeds to death. The inmate's furious expression frightened her as (Y/N) had never seen more than a neutral expression on the pink haired criminal's face. The woman wanted to avoid that terrible fate of choking on her own blood, so she was determined to get into Anasui's good graces. Dressing in a comfortable sweater and a nice pair of dress pants, (Y/N) applies a slight bit of makeup before walking out the door in pleather dress shoes.
Morning traffic was light as (Y/N) drove down to the prison with a (hot beverage) in hand. Florida's weather was not (Y/N)'s favorite as she felt sweat beats form on the hand holding her beverage. She just hoped the air conditioner was working in her office as she had some paperwork to do after meeting with Anasui. Crossing the bridge, (Y/N) showed her work badge to the officer in the front before driving to the employee parking lot. She was ready to deal with her unruly patient.
(Y/N) could feel the tension filling the room. Anasui refused to look at her and the only sound was the scribbling of her pen. Alright time to deploy new tactics, not looking up from her paperwork (Y/N) asks. "Anasui what's your opinion on love?" At this question, Anasui sat up straight and burned holes into the top of her head. "My opinion on love?" Anasui slowly asks as if he's not sure what (Y/N) just said. (Y/N) looks up with a sweet smile. "Yes, I would like to know how you feel about love. How have you felt it? Who you've loved?" Anasui looks at the therapist with an unreadable expression before he sighs. "I don't love anyone." (Y/N) raises an eyebrow before shaking her head. "That's not what I asked, I want to know how you feel about love. I doesn't have to be romantic or recent, just tell me about your view on love."
Anasui looks like he had been punched in the gut as he looked away from his therapist's calm yet curious expression. "I never loved my family." Anasui began looking unsure of himself as the woman in front of him gestures for him to continue. "It was nothing they did wrong, I just never really cared what happened to them. I never cared about anyone until I met her..." Anasui looks down at his boots as if contemplating how much to share. "Was she your girlfriend?" (Y/N) asked gently, a tone that surprised Anasui. Anasui nodded and looked up to meet the woman's gaze. (Y/N)'s face was warm and welcoming a contrast to the normally hard professional exterior. "What was she like?" Anasui flushed at the question as he looked up dreamily. "She was perfect. Tough yet kind, I felt like I held the world in my arms when I held her." His face softened as his eyes filled with adoration. "What changed?"
At this question Anasui's eyes filled with rage, the same rage that (Y/N) saw in her dream. "I found another man with her in her bed, fucking her right before my eyes. How could she be so shameless as to sleep with another when she was mine?!" Anasui raised his voice towards the end, vitriol filling his voice as his eyes grew dark and a blank expression came across his face. "I figured if that if she didn't love me anymore than she deserved to die. The man who led her astray had to go too." (Y/N) shivered as she tried to keep a neutral face at the prisoner's confession. His voice was measured and cold like a true killer. (Y/N) knew she had to get him out of this volatile head space, or she might be next.
"I'm sorry that you had to go through such heartbreak, love isn't always easy. I don't think you should give up on love entirely Anasui, there's always someone out there for everyone." The therapist hid the waiver in her voice as she felt ice shoot up her spine, Anasui's dead eyes gazed at her apathetically. (Y/N) jumped as Anasui appeared right in front of her caging her into her chair with his body, his gaze fixed like a predator observing its prey. How did he get up so fast?! Anasui observed the panic on (Y'N)'s face as he leaned into her face. "Do you really believe there is someone who is willing to love a monster like me? A murderer who killed two innocent people and feels no remorse?" Anasui challenged the woman in front of him, daring her to delude herself in believing that he was worthy of love.
"Yes, I believe that even murderers can find love." (Y/N) steadily stated placing her hands in her lap to hide how badly they were shaking. The man who put her in such a compromising position scared her to know end. She had dealt with many vile criminals that threatened her life but there was always anger, blazing fire in their eyes. Anasui was icy cold as nothing was displayed behind his eyes. His forehead bumped into (Y/N)'s harshly as he looked her up and down. "Could someone like you love me? Someone innocent and free from the cement walls that confine me?" (Y/N) brought her own face close enough for their noses to touch before speaking. "Yes, even innocent people can fall in love with criminals. It's up to the criminals to open themselves up to the idea of being in love though." Anasui's eyes widened at her action and words, she was tough. However, the fire in her eyes was something beautiful to experience firsthand. She cared enough to try to get through to him which means she cares.
She must love him
His eyes fill with an emotion he only held for one other person, adoration. (Y/N)'s eyes widen as Anasui plants his lips on her forehead and he pulls away smiling. She had never seen this man smile, except when he mentioned his ex. Her gut felt like it was filled with lead as Anasui takes her hands in his and speaks. "I think I'm ready to love again."
I think I'm ready to love again
What an ominous warning for what was to come. If (Y/N) could come back and warn her previous self not to take on Anasui as a patient, she would. However, it seems he was obsessed with her before even officially meeting. This obsession morphed from curiosity to some bastardized version of love. Some sick replacement for affection. (Y/N) couldn't continue this charade of being the caring therapist if it meant her life was in peril. She'd have to move to the women's ward or worst case, another prison entirely. Stirring the coffee that she obtained from the break room, (Y/N) contemplated her next move. Anasui is a dangerous man, who knows how he will react to her leaving? For now (Y/N) needed to lay low and make it perfectly clear to Anasui she did not love him at all.
"You're late." Anasui's voice held a tinge of annoyance as (Y/N) set her leather satchel down. The woman grimaces at the sign of a negative emotion, keep calm and everything will be fine. (Y/N) turned to Anasui and gave him a professional smile. "I don't think it's possible for a therapist to be late, if this concerns you, we can finish later." Anasui considers this and nods, scooting his chair in to be closer to his beloved therapist. (Y/N) pushes her own chair further away from the pink haired male, causing him to frown. "Anasui, you know I am your therapist, right?" Anasui gives her a dreamy look as he reaches out to (Y/N). "You are that and more my darling." (Y/N) recoils into herself at his lovesick eyes burn holes in her very soul. She needs to pick her next words carefully.
"As your therapist it is important that I maintain a distance from your personal life. I believe that it is wise for us to observe our relationship as patient and provider, nothing more and nothing less."
"Marry me."
"What?" The cold feeling of dread raked its icy fingers through your neck hairs, which stood at attention. Anasui's pink lips quirk into a confident smirk as he pulls a small black box out of God knows where. He opened it to reveal a modest ring with a small diamond. "I see no need to court properly as we already know so much about each other. I want you to be my wife and I will be your husband." "NO." (Y/N) shouted her calm facade quickly unraveling as Anasui approached her chair once more.
"No."
(Y/N) looks away from the towering pinkette in front of her, the room's energy becoming sharp and frigid like an icicle. (Y/N) had to stand firm now or she would never escape this monster "I can't marry my patient; besides you know nothing about me." (Y/N) thought reason would reach the seemingly logic-oriented prisoner, but he was too far gone. A rough hand gripped her chin and pulled her face to peer at his own misty-eyed stare. "You're wrong, I know more about you than even your own parents. I can treat you better than any other man so why do you refuse me." (Y/N) didn't believe him one bit.
"What's my favorite color?"
"(F/C)."
"When was I born?"
"(DOB)."
"Do I have a pet?"
"No but you've also preferred cats over dogs."
(Y/N) gasped and pushed herself further in her chair as the monster in front of her caged her in once more. This has to be a bluff, an attempt at besting her, she won't yield. "Anasui if you don't sit down, I will alert the guards." (Y/N)'s tone waivered as her eyes were wild with panic. Anasui soaks in (Y/N)'s terrified expression with a deadpan expression. "If you call the guards, I'll slaughter every last one of them. If you leave, I'll break out and find you." His eyes did not lie as he said this phrase, she were frightened. How unstable could a prisoner be to claim to love her after only a few visits?
Before (Y/N) could retort, Anasui slams his lips on hers muffling any cry for help. He took advantage of her open mouth to wriggle his pink muscle in. (Y/N) screamed into the kiss as Anasui had closed his eyes in bliss. The therapist lay limp as she let him have his way with her mouth, before he pulls away a sting of saliva connecting (Y/N) to this ravenous beast. "If you're not ready for marriage now we can court, just know that refusal can lead to the death of many." Leaning down to place open mouth kisses on her now exposed neck, leaving pink lipstick marks all over.
"What will it be (Y/N) marriage or courtship?"
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[Image Description: A colored line-up of various Legend of Zelda characters for the Linked Spirit AU. The characters read left-to-right: "Marin, she/her, pre-Hyule Warriors" is a young redhead girl with a purple cloak and maroon and white dress. She has her hands politely held in front of her. "Groose, he/him, Skyward Sword" is a redheaded man with his hands on his hips, wearing a blue tunic and a green caplet. "Greg Moblin, he/him, LoZ 1" is a large gold bulldog like moblin holding a flower in his hands. He wears a red shirt and pants, with a green poncho. "Purah, she/her, Breath of the Wild" a young teenager wearing a black poofy skirt and a tan shirt and coat with red accents. She has a red streak in her white hair, posing with her hand next to her face. "Tulin, he/him, Breath of the Wild" is a pullet age white Rito with one arm as a wing and the other arm ends with a Wind Waker style hand and wing 'sleeve' "Aror, he/him, Twilight Princess, Crossbow Training" is a child Twili oc with red hair and wears a green over the shoulder wrap over a white tunic. "Midna, she/her, Twilight Princess" is a older Twili, with long fluffy ears wearing a black and teal collared cape, She wears a dark purple skirt with a grey fur trim and a wolf head belt clip on the side of her hip. "Medli, she/her, Wind Waker" is a teenaged white Rito, her red hair in a ponytail. She holds a hand to her chest. "Aryll, she/her, Wind Waker" is a young teen with her hand raised excitedly. She wears a purple skirt with a skull pattern, and a blue shirt with flower patterns. She has the Wind Waker's starter sail wrapped around her waist. "Ol' Niko, he/him, Wind Waker, Spirit Tracks" is an elderly man, smiling with his hands on his cane. He wears a red and white stripped shirt with a blue vest. "Gulley, he/him, A Link Between Worlds" is a blond child wearing Link's Cap and a matching green vest over his yellow tunic. He has his hands on his hips. "Ravio, he/him, A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds" is a teenager with dark hair that fades into light blue. He waves, winking, wearing a floor length purple robe and dark purple blue. "Grandpa Smith, he/him, Minish Cap, Four Swords Adventures" is a greying beared man, drying his hands on a cloth. He wears a long leather apron over his green tunic, and wears a green bandana. "Skull Kid, he/him, Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask" is a Skull Kid wearing a orange hat and tunic, with green shorts, collar, and gloves. He has a v like mark on his forehead. He holds up a horned skull mask in front of him. "Lady Alma, she/her, Wand of Gamelon" is a young woman with short red hair and a tiara. She raises a hand to her chin dantily, wearing a teal shirt and darker teal skirt. End ID]
A few "NPCs"
I can't say ALL of them will make an appearance in the comic, actually, but these are NPCs that are important to the Links, in one way or another, while also having a few significant design differences from canon (thus why no Linebeck or spryte lol.)
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pianokantzart · 6 months
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The One to Blame (Part 3)
Part 1 Part 2
Content Warning: Blood, trauma, graphic description of injuries
______
As the airship rose to the top of the castle where Bowser stood, Mario, Toad, and Princess Peach shared a silent agreement that their only goal at this point was to get Luigi to safety. They soon learned, once they got a better look at the situation, that this would require the difficult task of freeing Luigi from Bowser’s grasp without accidentally breaking his neck, as the koopa’s hand was still clamped down over the man’s face like the teeth of a bulldog. But they had the element of surprise on their side. The appearance of Peach outside of her cage and the reemergence of a “conquered” foe was a dual shock that caused Bowser to lower his guard, and Toad used the opening to launch a cannonball into the koopa king’s shoulder. Incredibly, the impact wasn’t enough to cause any serious damage, but it was enough to elicit a roar of pain as he released his captive to hold his injury. The second Luigi was dropped Mario and Peach rushed in and ushered his limp form to the deck of their airship.
Their greatest stroke of luck was that the warp whistle hadn't been wasted. Early in Mario's journey there was no small amount of temptation to use it to avoid certain dangers they encountered on their way to The Dark Lands, though they knew it was far wiser to save it for the journey back when things would likely be at their worst– which proved to be an understatement. By the time Luigi was on board the stollen vessel, Bowser’s pursuing forces had joined the battle, and the great flying galleon was rendered barely able to stay airborne amidst the damage laid into its hull by the attacking clown cars, bullet bills, and the jet of flames Bowser spat out in rage.
Toad, clinging to the ship’s controls in a struggle to keep them from free falling, blew into the whistle on Peach’s command, and with a shrill tweet the quartet disappeared from Bowser’s view along with the crumbling ship.
In a flash, they reappeared in The Mushroom Forest just outside of Peach’s beloved kingdom. A gentle rain shower had blown in during their absence; another stroke of luck that extinguished the flames of the airship as it finally succumbed to the damage and crashed, toppling giant mushrooms in its path as it landed with a heavy thud in the cool, damp earth. Toad braced himself against the steering wheel. Princess Peach and Mario pressed around Luigi to hold him steady.
Once all was still, save for the sound of falling rain and the creak of the airship as it settled deeper into the mud, Mario was first to act, his greatest impulse being to start carrying his brother toward civilization. When Toad emerged from the driver’s seat and finally got a proper look at the severity of Luigi’s condition, he followed suit, struggling to find some unbroken part of the man by which to pick him up until Princess Peach stopped him with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“We’ve moved him around too much already. Wait for help to come.”
She pointed to the Mushroom Kingdom in the distance. Toad looked, and could see glimmer of lamp lights already venturing closer– excited soldiers and citizens who had noticed the ship’s appearance from a distance, and were now eager to see whether or not Mario’s mission had been successful.
Toad nodded and stayed put.
Mario, however, seemed blind and deaf to everything except his own misguided determination. He grabbed Luigi under his arms, struggling to lift his dead weight until he caught a good look at his brother’s face, and froze. Up until now, Mario had seen little of Luigi’s features through the fog of adrenaline. They had mostly been either hidden in Bowser’s hand, or masked by a thick layer of blood. 
The rain had now washed most of the blood away, though more continued to flow from Luigi’s mouth, nose, and ears, turning Mario’s white gloves a ghoulish shade of pink in his effort to carry him.
Mario's mind– struggling to comprehend what it was seeing– couldn’t help but compare the appearance to smashed bread dough or a dropped cake. He felt lightheaded and distant, like all was little more than a lucid nightmare.
Luigi’s lips, purple, swelled, and split, parted to mutter something that Mario struggled in vain to understand, and in his anxiousness he mistakenly stepped on the ruined remains of the shattered leg, causing the mutter to break into a gargled scream so horrible that Mario panicked and collapsed under his brother’s weight. Toad and Princess Peach acted quickly. They grabbed the duo as they fell, Toad taking charge of Luigi to carefully guide him back down to the floor while Peach wrapped her arms around Mario and pulled him off the deck of the downed ship, away onto the grass at the base of the wreckage. She did so with more aggression than intended. She was expecting a fight, but was dismayed when the plumber numbly allowed himself to be dragged away without resistance, fists clenched and shaking with sobs. Seeing this, she switched tactics. She held him tight and spoke quiet reassurances, struggling to hold back tears of her own. “He’ll be fine. You did it. You saved him. I promise you, with all of my heart, he’ll be alright.” Mario barely heard her over the continued patter of rain. The distant lantern lights rushed closer, rumbling in on a blur of color and voices. There were tugs on his sleeve that were batted away and a few muffled voices saying his name– conversations swelling and falling in volume as his mind drifted. ___
Mario recalled that in the short span of time since he had moved to The Mushroom Kingdom, he became renowned as the one who put an end to Bowser's reign of terror. Naturally, this meant Mario was the first person everyone looked to when Bowser was broken out of prison by his minions and successfully captured Princess Peach during his escape. They gave a lot less credence to Luigi’s abilities. The toads liked him well enough, but he was rarely regarded as anything more than “Mario’s brother.” Up until Bowser’s escape Mario had found this annoying, but when his own reputation came with the burden of responsibility he saw a bright side: Luigi had no obligation to go anywhere or do anything that would put him in danger. Mario had hoped to one day go on adventure with his brother (albeit in circumstances far less dire), but he knew that his own dreams and those of the ever-cautious Luigi were not always going to perfectly align, and this time Mario was determined not to act mindlessly like he did back in Brooklyn when he first started the plumbing business, or when he tried to save the flooding city. He would not throw himself into danger while fully expecting his sibling to follow in his footsteps.
To his surprise, Luigi had already readied a backpack full of supplies the moment he heard word of The Princess’ capture, fully anticipating adventure well before Mario relayed his plan to embark on a rescue mission. He even seemed almost disappointed to hear that the effort was in vain, as Toad already had a pack prepared with the essentials. “Well, it couldn’t hurt,” Luigi shrugged, shoving an extra box of matches into the front flap of the backpack before hoisting the straps onto his shoulders and heading toward the doorway. In the long run, his extra provisions would provide them with only some ramen cups and an extra blanket before the pack met its end in The Seaside Kingdom– grabbed in the beak of a cataquack, ripped from his back, and torn to pieces. But in that moment of preparation, losing spare supplies was the last thing Mario was worried about, and with a determination that surprised even himself he moved to intercept his brother before he reached the doorway. “Wait! Luigi, are you sure you want to do this?” Luigi stopped and stared with a confused expression. “What do you mean?” “This journey is going to eventually take us to The Dark Lands. Do you really want to go back there?” “Ha! no!” Luigi said, forcing a laugh. “But The Princess risked her life to save me. It’s only right that I do the same for her.” Luigi tried to side-step his brother, but Mario mirrored his motions to stay in the way. “We may end up facing up against Bowser again! This time we won’t have any superstar to help us out.” “But I’ll have you, won’t I? And nothing can hurt us as long-” “-As long as we’re together. I know. I know. I just…” Mario trailed off, unable to quite find the words to explain why he was so uncertain. There was more to his hesitation than just a desire to allow Luigi to make his own choices. At this point, his choice his clear. But ever since the incident in the warp pipe (and everything that followed), Mario had become far too aware of the effect his actions had on his brother. He suspected that was why he had this ugly feeling in the pit of his stomach that if they took on this mission as a team, something terrible would happen. Luigi sighed. He gave the tops of his hands an anxious rub before he spoke again. “Look, Mario, I won’t go if you don’t want me to, but first you gotta look me in the eye and say it…” He leaned down so they were face-to-face, and stared at him with a somewhat comedic intensity. “… Just say ‘Luigi, I don’t want you to come with me,’ and I’ll leave you to it. Promise.” In the end, Mario didn’t have the heart to say it. His nagging fear did not outweigh his desire to embark on this adventure with his brother by his side, and part of him knew Luigi wouldn’t have given that ultimatum if he suspected he’d actually follow through. He wanted to come, that much was clear. Who was he to tell him “no”? And it had gone so well up until the end! They were as good adventurers as they were plumbers, if not better. Mario was certain he wouldn’t of gotten half as far as he did without Luigi watching his back, and whenever Luigi was scared or cornered all he needed to do was shout “Mario” and– ___
Before he could finish the thought, Mario felt his heart seize up. His whole body felt in free-fall when he suddenly realized what Luigi had been trying to say earlier through shattered teeth and a broken jaw. Mario. “My name.” Mario looked up from his daze with a frantic desperation. “He was trying to… oh Luigi…” As the world came back into view, Mario saw that there were toad guards scattered about, working on the wrecked airship to unload its artillery and ensure that the fire was fully put out. A few of them startled when Mario moved, most of them giving sympathetic glances before returning to work, but the only truly familiar face to be seen anywhere was Toad. He was holding out his umbrella, dedicating its entirety to shielding Mario from the steadily increasing downpour, paying no mind to how soaked his own clothes were becoming with every passing second. When Toad saw Mario finally recover his senses he couldn’t help but smile with relief as he stepped a little closer.
“Hey! You' okay?” “Luigi.” Mario gasped like he was coming up for air, “Where’s Luigi?” “Don’t worry, he’s safe. The Princess is with him. He’s going to– well, he’s probably at a hospital by now. We can–” He hadn’t even finished his sentence before Mario bolted toward town. Toad tried to fold his umbrella and put it away, but finding he didn’t quite have the time he simply tossed it aside before chasing after his friend, struggling to keep up with the plumber through the heavy rain.
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sahonithereadwolf · 1 year
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I went down another research hole the other night. Y'all might know about "Big Rock Candy Mountain" from O Brother, Where Art Thou...
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But it, like most of the songs from that movie comes from a tradition of American folk songs. Big Rock Candy Mountains very specifically this tradition of hobo ballads. And, like setting aside the overtones of American colonialism that purvey all these sort of "there is a dreamland to the west for you to claim" songs, there is a cultural tradition of these. "Life is a struggle but there is a place where it's not if you can find it" is a very human sentiment.
There are plenty of medieval works on Cockaigne, which has a similar kinda tone to it. A land where the harsh realities of a blue collar or peasant class struggle can not exist.
But did you know about the secret gay lyrics of Big Rock Candy Mountain?
After Harry McClintoc recorded his version of this ballad, which he claimed he wrote in 1895 based off the stories he heard as a kid working on the railroad, a bunch of people took him to court because they claimed he stole and took parts of his song from a bunch of other hobo songs in the same traditions. Sweet Potato Mountain, Hobo's Heaven, An Appleknocker's Lament... As part of the court dispute, McClintock was told by the judge to perform the song. As art of the court record we have a last stanza which is not used in the cleaned up version used for records and "reputable venues". This was recorded as:
"The punk rolled up his big blue eyes And said to the jocker, "Sandy, I've hiked and hiked and wandered too, But I ain't seen any candy. I've hiked and hiked till my feet are sore And I'll be damned if I hike any more To be * * * * * * * * In the Big Rock Candy Mountains." Now NO ONE KNOWS what that last lyric is. However we can make some very educated inferences. This is about gay sex.
And it's not like "Big Rock Candy Mountains" is immune to commentary despite the more sanitized versions you'd see later from the likes of Burl Ives.
I'm thinking very specifically: "In The Big Rock Candy Mountains All the cops have wooden legs And the bulldogs all have rubber teeth" and
"In The Big Rock Candy Mountains The jails are made of tin And you can walk right out again As soon as you are in There ain't no short-handle shovels No axes, saws or picks I'm a-goin' to stay where you sleep all day Where they hung the jerk that invented work In The Big Rock Candy Mountains" Going back to the lyrics "The punk rolled up his big blue eyes"
Punk in this context and original use, especially in it's use in hobo culture refers to a younger man or boy being kept for sex and other menial task.
Which, you know, should put a whole new context to see how it's been used against other forms of youth culture. Hippies, greasers, punks,ect. And at least for me makes it's misuse feel even more slapdash and pathetic.
If you doubt this, it is quickly followed up by the term "Jocker" "And said to the jocker, 'Sandy," a slang term of the era referring to an aggressive and usually straight passing dom top, especially in the context of prison.
To be a little flippant, this is a twink grumbling to a daddy.
As I mentioned before, no one actually knows what that missing lyric is. Or at the very least it's never been made public.
But give it's proximity to "sore" and "more" a lot of guess tend to jump to the word "Whore".
Sam Eskin actually interviewed McClintock for Folkway Records and which, when asked about the lyrics said “the ambition of every hobo was to snare some kid to do his begging for him, among other things,”
This is something you see in a lot of early gay panic lit all the way up through the 80's. Especially as the moral authoritarianism of the Hayes code kicked in. But it also found itself in the early pulp lit where queerness could still exist (if behind a little mask and a performative, if dramatic, finger shake)
Queerness and homelessness were intertwined. Still are, both from my own personal experiences and if you look at the statistics. And it's not much of a leap to understand why. ---
But we do have some offered lyrics from other authors: "To be buggered sore like a hobo’s whore,” Is a popular one, which has it's origins from a 2002 folk music site called mudcat and waaaaay too British to read naturally if you ask me.
“And be cornholed till my ass is raw.” is another one you see passed around a lot. Which feels too forum humor.
George Milburn in 1930 offers "To be a homeguard with a lemonade card.” which is naive and sweet to say the least.
The fact is we still don't know this lyric, gay punchline (or at least gay panic) as it might be. All we know is that Big Rock Candy Mountain "Was never meant to be a parlor song" in McClintock's own words.
Well that and the insight it offers into social perceptions of queerness at the time and how it's shaped and shifted in the future.
What do you think this secret gay Big Rock Candy Mountain lyric is?
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violent-darkness · 5 days
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Monsters
Billy Butcher x OFC/Second person POV
“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
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Chapter III: I See You
Chapter I Chapter II
AO3
Warnings: 18+ mdni, alcohol consumption, mentions about past trauma.
Summary: You and Butcher share a tense yet intimate moment, reflecting on your emotional scars. Your connection deepens and unspoken feelings surface. Would you allow yourselves to be vulnerable with each other?
Notes: This is an x OFC story, told from the second person POV, with minimal physical description of the OFC.
*At its core, this is a story about how people deal with their inner demons. Are monsters truly capable of love, or do they only seek to destroy? Can broken parts be mended?*
The hot water from the shower felt rejuvenating. You stayed under it for quite some time, basking in the sweet cocooning sensation and the joy of finally being in your own apartment after so many months. The memory of what happened just a few hours earlier was still vivid but slowly fading. So much time had passed. You had gradually taught yourself to lock away those memories, hiding them deep inside.
As you cocooned on the couch with a few cozy blankets, you found yourself strangely drifting not to your own memories but to Butcher’s. You recalled the guilt etched on his face when Lenny killed himself, and it crushed you. He didn’t deserve that burden. No one does, asshole or not. You wondered how much that event had scarred him, shaping who he had become as a person—much like your own horrible past. And could anyone ever outgrow it? Ever since you both woke up, you had continued to avoid each other, both pretending the other didn’t exist.
Hours passed, yet you were too restless. Your legs kept fidgeting, and your mind kept tracing circles. You tried to watch a stupid movie on TV, but to no avail. The chamomile tea was of no use either. You counted every single sheep on the globe, but sleep was still far away. Finally, you got up from the couch with a deep sigh, put on some decent clothes, and called Hughie, who was half asleep at this point in the night.
"Hey, is everything alright?" he asked, punctuating the question with a big yawn.
"Yeah, sure, peachy. Listen, you’ve been to Butcher’s place, right?" You decided to jump right to the question.
"Rrriight… He doesn’t live too far from you, actually. Why?"
"Can you text me his address, please?"
"Wait, what’s this all about?" Hughie asked, sounding confused.
"Never mind, everything’s fine. I just need it for… something." Luckily, Hughie was too sleepy to push further and texted you Butcher’s address. You left your place, convinced that this was the stupidest idea you’d had in a long time.
You bought a bottle of whiskey from the store nearby, and 15 minutes later found yourself knocking on Butcher’s door. You kinda hoped your guess that he would also be awake was right; otherwise, you might look like an idiot. Relief washed over you when a few seconds later Butcher opened the door. He was wearing one of his usual Hawaiian shirts - a navy blue one, unbuttoned to the middle of his chest. A flicker of surprise and uneasiness crossed his face, but he quickly managed to mask it.
You smirked and showed him the bottle. His eyes immediately lit up with interest as he smirked back, took it, and swung the door wide open for you to enter, all without saying a word. While he fetched glasses, you took a look around. His place was surprisingly tidy—you’d half expected it to be messier. There wasn’t much furniture, and everything was very basic, but interestingly enough, there was a huge pool table, occupying half the living room. No decorations whatsoever, except for a framed photo of a much younger and beardless Butcher with a cutesy little English Bulldog. Next to the photo you noticed a gramophone with a couple of records lying beside it. Just as you were about to peek through them, Butcher returned with two filled glasses and handed you one. Time was passing by without either of you saying anything. The silence was thick as fog, wrapping around you both and creating a protective layer between you and the outside world. You both just stood by the window, drinking in silence, avoiding each other's gazes. You were enjoying the full moon outside, its tender light spilling into the dimly lit room, as you fidgeted with your glass. It was strange—it should have felt awkward, but you were largely at peace like this, with him by your side. "This Mindstorm was really a cunt," you finally blurted.
Butcher burst out laughing, "He was, wasn't he?" The resonance and the sincerity in his emotion pierced through the silence and broke the barrier between you.
"Listen—" "Hey," you both chimed in at the same time. Butcher smiled awkwardly. "You first."
"What you saw earlier… No one knows about it. And I, um, would appreciate it if it stayed that way." The painful subject was bubbling inside you, threatening to burst at any moment, so you had to let it out.
"Do I look like someone who shares secrets?" Butcher scoffed, his brows furrowing. "I'll keep yours if you keep mine. No one knows about me either—about Lenny…" You noticed a shadow of guilt pass briefly across his face before he masked it again. You raised your hand in a definitive gesture, stopping him from finishing his sentence, and gave him a brief nod.
"Are you in touch with your sister now?" Butcher asked after a short pause. He was desperately trying to distract himself from how beautiful your face looked under the moonlight.
“We rarely see each other,” you said, your voice softening as you looked away, lost in thought. “But I love her very much.” A flicker of sadness crossed your face. “She spent some time in a mental health institution, but she’s doing better now…” You glanced up, searching for a change in Butcher’s expression. “What about your family? Your dad? Are you in touch?”
"He’s dying. Ass cancer. And me mum, I told her I ain’t speakin to 'er, until she leaves him." Butcher grunted. His gaze was intense, fixed somewhere beyond the room as if he was trying to escape the weight of his own words.
"Well, I wouldn’t say I’m particularly sad," you couldn’t help but admit.
"You and me both, luv." Butcher was struggling internally. How much could he reveal to you? How long before you ran away screaming, realizing what a proper cunt he was? He acted all tough on the outside, but deep down, he feared rejection just like everyone else. He ran a hand through his hair. He decided that tonight he'd lower his guard. Just for you. His face grew very serious. "Lenny was the only good thing in my life and I blew it. Like I do with everything good that ever comes close to me. I infect it with my poison." He downed the rest of his whiskey in one gulp and poured himself another glass.
Butcher showing you his vulnerable side caught you by surprise. You felt out of your depth, so you quickly followed suit and downed your glass in one big gulp, your gaze fixed on the floor in front of you. The golden liquid burned through your throat and created a nice warm sensation that spread throughout your body.
"Look at me, Butcher," you finally found your inner strength. "I want you to look at me and listen very carefully, because I am only going to say this once." Your eyes met for the first time that evening, yours filled with resolve and decisiveness. You turned towards him and closed the distance between you, feeling the radiating heat of his body. "What happened with Lenny wasn't your fault. It wasn't. It was your dad all along - he was the monster. And you are nothing, nothing like him."
Butcher shook his head, but remained silent. His expression was a mixture of skepticism and reluctant hope, a tight line forming between his brows as he wrestled with his own doubts. He didn’t fully believe you, not really. But just for a brief moment, he allowed himself the luxury of doing so and it felt good, letting the warmth of that fleeting trust seep into his guarded heart.
He left his glass on the windowsill and took a step closer to you. "You saw me. You saw me for what I truly am. And that’s not a sight I show to anyone, ever. Cause it ain't pretty. I may not be like him, but there's darkness in me, and it won't let me have any peace. Never..." His dark eyes pierced into yours, pleading, expecting a reaction, desperate to receive acceptance. 
Your heart pounded against your chest, as his intense gaze was burning into you. "And you saw me. I'm as broken as you are. The darkness is eating me up from the inside. It's been there all along and affects everything around me... I just try to stay away from everything nice." The words tasted bitter in your mouth. Later, you would wonder why you shared some of your most private thoughts with him. Maybe it was the whiskey talking, or maybe it was something else. Perhaps the dark part inside you finally recognized a kindred soul. 
There it was again—the same hint in his eyes that you had noticed on the boat. But this time, you didn’t have the strength to deny it or pretend you hadn’t seen it. His gaze shifted to your lips as he took another step closer, now mere inches from your face. You could feel his breath on your skin.
"I ain't nice, luv," he leaned in to whisper in your ear, causing an electric spark to course through your entire body.
His kiss tasted of whiskey and fury—passionate, intense, and messy. His lips crashed against yours with a desperate hunger, the heat of your bodies mingling as the world around you faded away. With his kiss, he wanted to take a piece of you with him, to reach the deepest, most intimate corners of your entire being. The feeling of his tongue brushing against your teeth drove you wild. His hands traced patterns across your back, pulling you closer into his arms, unwilling to let you go. Suddenly, a dog barked loudly outside, the sound snapping you out of your trance.
"I should go," you broke away from the kiss abruptly, your breath catching as the weight of the moment hit you. Your lips lingered for a moment, but a surge of urgency overwhelmed you and you turned and stormed out the door, leaving Butcher stunned and motionless, unable to respond. You couldn’t allow yourself to be with him or to feel anything for him. This was a recipe for disaster, bound to end badly for both of you. So you did what you knew best, what you had always done to avoid the pain, to keep yourself safe from getting hurt—you ran away.
Back in his empty apartment, Butcher stared in the direction you had left. He took a few steps toward the door, as if to follow you, but stopped at the last moment. Running a hand through his hair, he convinced himself that this outcome was for the best. You needed to stay away from him, for your own good. He grabbed the whiskey bottle and headed to his bedroom.
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