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deniigi · 4 years ago

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@pomegranate-belle and @puffins-studio have kindly convinced me to share with you all this little bit.

It’s of Electric Sheep but if Android Matt had a Mike who’s been looking for him since they were separated as youths (right before Matt started to become an android)

Title: Seventeen years

Summary: bounty hunter Mike has been taking jobs in nyc, searching for his lost twin. A chance encounter with a blonde woman who steals his heart helps him find him.

---------------

Seventeen years, ten months, 18 days.

Mike had lived out of the city longer than in it. Rochester was as close as he’d gotten in foster care, but work had dragged him through occasionally, and frankly he was grateful for it.

He’d told himself seventeen years ago that he’d get back.

So here he was, reflecting on life outside the cell of a guy screaming bloody murder.

Dude was a bot-trafficker.

The shit made some serious dough, Mike had seen it himself. But you know what else made some serious dough? Bounty hunting. I.e. Catching the people who got pissed off about other people makin’ some serious dough.

These days, they were all bot-traffickers. Mike could barely remember a time when he was chasing jewel thieves and counterfeiters down alleys anymore. It was all bot-this and bot-that—which, to be fair, was kind of the same thing as a jewel thief.

Property was where the real money was at. And bots? Hoo boy, the best kind could cost a penthouse.

Mike thought it was good for them that they had no idea how much they were worth. He found it kinda sweet if he was honest. This screamin’ bot dude’s collection of androids were all tucked up against each other in the other room, performing ‘maintenance’ on each other like a pile of cats. They were community-minded, bless ‘em. It made Mike smile a little bit.

Of course, so did the paycheck.

Yeah, the paycheck helped, too.

He got a job for the city. He took it without asking too many questions.

It didn’t matter how much city jobs paid, Mike always went ready for a double-shift there.

The last time he’d seen Matt had been when their social workers had untangled their hands at St. Agnes. Both of them had been wailing like toddlers, like they had been in front of Dad’s casket.

Up until that point, everyone had assured them that they’d be kept together—that no one was going to try to separate them. They were twins. People would understand that you couldn’t just take the one and leave the other. They had an unbreakable and psychic bond, clearly.

But then one day the social worker hadn’t answered Matt’s question when he’d asked about it again, seeking reassurance.

Mike’s stomach had dropped then. And sure enough, the next thing they knew, people were throwing around words like ‘specialty care’ and ‘high-risk’ and ‘better in the long-run.’

Mike had gone to a foster home screaming and fighting in the back of a sedan. Matty stayed behind, allegedly to be placed in some kind of group home with more ‘supportive’ care.

That was seventeen years ago--almost eighteen years ago.

Mike only knew what Matt looked like these days because he shaved every morning in the bathroom mirror. But, he told himself, not for much longer.

He hadn’t become a bounty hunter for the looks. He’d done it for the money and the job experience. Could he track a criminal? Hell yeah. He’d been one. He knew how they thought. More importantly: could he track a brother?

He could, actually. He was a Murdock; he knew how they thought.

The job in the city was whatever. Took half an hour and a big smile to corner the gal like a rat. She went to the highest bidder; Mike went back out on the prowl.

Chances were that Matt would be drawn to Hell’s Kitchen. And chances were that he would be searching for Mike as Mike was for him. He was an idealist like that. Like Mike.

Awwww. Old habits die hard.

Hell’s Kitchen had changed over the years, but it still felt like home when Mike put a foot in the boundaries. He knew these stoops and all these torn posters. He knew that skyline and that raggedy flag pole.

The names on the businesses changed—some got new lights, some got new windows, but all in all, the feel was still there.

He set out to find Matt in the old, old haunts. Stopped by the church. The old kids’ home. They still hadn’t seen him, no, Mike. Sorry, my son.

He took a waltz down memory lane by the docks.

He found the greasiest looking coffee shop he could and sat at a sticky table, people-watching through the huge half-wall windows for about an hour.

Nothin’ yet.

His coffee was cold when he left.

He ran into a girl at a bar that night under green and red neon lights. They danced close. She told him he reminded her of someone she knew, and Mike thought that that was just a lovely coincidence, sugar, wasn’t it?

He invited her to his hotel room. She accepted.

He woke up to waves of amber grain strewn across this pillow, sticking to his lips, and the smell of something powdery and floral in the endless line of this lady’s neck.

God, she was like a swan. Mike ought to buy her breakfast.

He did because he was a gentleman. He left to go grab a sandwich from the bodega outside but came back to find the bed and the room empty. There was a little note on the pad next to the bed that said ‘thanks, handsome’ with a smile face next to it and a number.

He eased himself down on to the bed and stuffed a sandwich in his mouth to grin around.

Her name was Karen.

It wasn’t their last night. Mike saw her when she was in the city and they had a well-worn routine after a few months.

Every time, a new bar, a new club, a new drink. But the same dance and then the same chase and collapse.

She told him nothing about herself, and he loved that about her. She passed fingers through his hair. She trailed them across his jaw, bristly stubble or no.

And then the next morning, she was gone, and Mike was sighin’ like a blue bird in spring.

Valentine’s Day found Mike in the city. He didn’t delude himself with thinking that Karen was available—he wasn’t that full of it.

But he did think that even a lady as lovely and possibly taken as Karen deserved a bouquet of flowers from a ‘friend.’ So he took a meander down to a wholesaler and chatted up one of the makers until a collection of spring tulips graced by baby’s breath found their way into his hands.

Karen, he suspected, worked somewhere in an office. Her ever-present, practical pencil skirt said so, and the way that she frequented Josie’s told him that she lived in the area around 9th and 52nd.

It wasn’t hard to snoop. It wasn’t hard to trawl through the local business websites in that area, peeking at staff pages until low and behold, the golden grail herself appeared smiling on try number 7.

He smiled back at her photo and went back to get the name of the place and the address only to pause in his tracks.

Nelson & Murdock.

Karen worked at a law firm called Nelson & Murdock.

Huh.

Well. Good for that Murdock. Mike hoped he was out when he brought these flowers in.

The firm was dinky and crammed up two flights of stairs across from an orthodontist’s office. Mike pitied Karen for having to spend her days watching droves of traumatized middle schoolers leave that place with wires crammed in their faces. The flowers even looked like they were wilting in the hallway.

Mike gave them a pep talk on his way to the door.

He knocked but no one answered, so he turned the knob and a handful of people where sat looking nervous in the waiting area. The front desk was empty. Abandoned.

Oh, Karen.

Ever at work like you are at play.

Mike made his way over the desk and caught sight of a familiar fluffy little ball on a keychain at the edge of the desk.

It was adorable.

He found a scrap of paper by the phone, reached over and snagged it and a pen to leave a little love note when he felt a tug at his elbow.

He forced down the irritation and turned back with a smile. An older lady with huge bifocals squinted at him.

“Mr. Murdock,” she said. “I’ve got to go move my car. Don’t you give up my place, you hear?”

Mike forced himself to hold his smile.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I think you’ve got the wrong guy, madam.”

Murdock must have looked smooth as hell for Mike to have been mistaken for him.

The lady squinted left, right, and center, then scoffed and pinched his arm.

“Cheeky boy,” she said. “I’ll be right back.”

She left.

Mike’s brain short-circuited for another few seconds before declaring that whole situation unresolvable, bizarre, and emphatically not his problem. Sorry Nana. Go to the back of the line like everyone else.

He went back to writing his card.

“Matt?”

He didn’t mean to look up. It was a reflex, man. It came with the twin-territory, and this time it brought a moment of panic as Karen’s brow dropped stormily and her fists found her hips.

“Where the hell have you been? We’ve been calling you all morning?” she demanded.

Mike’s palms started sweating.

Did Karen? Not? Recognize him?

Had he misread this whole love affair? Or maybe it was the daylight that was confusing her?

It had to be the daylight, right?

“Matt,” Karen said, irate as could be in that pretty blue and white top. “Don’t just stand there. Say something.”

Ahahahahahaha.

Too close. Too much.

“MATT.”

Out we go, back to the hovel from which we came.

---

He breathed out hard in the street below and turned back to look up at the window of Nelson & Murdock. It was flung open and he didn’t give Karen the opportunity to get her nose out of it. He hurried off into the crowd, ducking and squirming until he was sure that he was good and gone from sight.

Then he found an alley to clutch at his heart in.

It had been years since someone had called him Matt. Sometimes he took the name on as a false one, when working for especially shitty shit-heads. But Karen??

Mike was positive he’d introduced himself as Mike. ‘Michael’ but more like Costello than Abbott, he’d said. Karen had laughed.

What the fuck, man? What the fuck?

He looked at the flowers in his hand.

A waste.

Hhhng. Alright, well. There was for sure to be someone needing cheering up at a bar somewhere. Might as well spare them for the Singles Awareness Gigs sure to be happening soon.

---

He ended up at Josie’s because he always ended up at Josie’s, but this time with barely anyone in the place at 3pm on Valentine’s Day, she actually noticed him and gave him an eyebrow. He chose to ignore it in order to wallow in self-pity and raised his glass to his lips.

It didn’t make it.

He stared in stunned silence at the hand suddenly covering his glass.

“I don’t think that’s a wise idea, pal,” Josie said.

Mike gaped at her in shock.

“I? Paid for this?” he said.

There was a long moment of awkward silence.

“Jesus, I’m so sorry,” Josie said. “My bad. I thought you were someone else.”

Someone else?

Someone—

WAIT.

“Someone else? Does someone who looks like me come here?” Mike blurted out with zero grace before he could stop himself. “Does he—do you know his name? Is he—does he—”

Josie frowned hard at him.

“You’re not Matt,” she said after a long moment. “I always thought you were Matt.”

Matt!!

Matty!! MATT. You little shit. You perfect, darling, little shit. Out here, comin’ to Josie’s like a chump—possible alcoholic Matt!

Okay, wait, roll that one back—one problem at a time.

“He’s my brother. I’ve been looking for him for eighteen years, we were separated in foster care—do you know where he lives?” Mike asked with no filter to be seen for miles.

Was it professional of him?

No.

But were hugs at airports ever professional? Exactly. Get off his case.

He beamed wide at Josie, but her face did not reciprocate the gesture. Actually, it seemed to be doing the opposite and that made this little squirming feeling start up in Mike’s gut.

“Christ,” Josie said. “I’m so sorry, man.”

Wh-what?

“You’re gonna need a double.”

What did that mean?

“Take this.”

No. No, what did that mean?

“Take the shot, kid. Trust me. You’re gonna need it.”

---

No.

Just.

No. No, no, no, no, no.

Josie rubbed her fingernails against her cheek and sighed.

“His owner brings him along,” she said. “Lets him work at their law firm with him—he’s made the papers, sure, but you know. It’s all kind of colored by the fact that he can’t really do shit without permission.”

Mike rolled the tumbler in his hand around.

Nelson, eh? So called ‘owner’ of the android called Matthew Michael Murdock.

Ahahahaha.

Get ready to die, motherfucker.

“But he tries to drink—Matt does,” Mike felt himself say.

Josie didn’t want to look at him.

“Sometimes, it’s like he forgets he’s a droid,” she said. “Usually, he’s got someone with him to keep him out of trouble.”

Fuck.

“I’m sorry, Mike,” Josie said. “It’s a load of bull.”

FUCK.

He set the tumbler down.

“How much do I owe you?” he asked.

“It’s on the house,” Josie said. “Best of luck.”

Yeah.

Thanks.

---

Matty was—

Mike made it back to his hotel room before sinking to his knees by the bed. God had never heeded his prayers before, but things were different now.

Matty couldn’t pray for the both of them anymore. He was—He was--

Mike had to—

God, please.

Please. Give him back. What once was lost had to be found.

What once was lost, God.

Mike had lost him.

He’d lost him forever.

Give him back.

---

He typed Matt’s name into the search engine on his phone and made it through one whole article before he was kneeling before a much harder, much more porcelain altar.

He tried again in the bathroom this time, sat on the floor with his back against the tub.

The bot that someone had made out of Matty looked so sweet. Like Mike, but softer in the cheeks. Younger. Forever 22 or something close to it.

He was still blind, despite all his other modifications and he was a little famous in the field of robotics. Not that the bot appeared to care. The articles claimed that the bot had recovered and retained memories prior to what they kept calling his ‘transition.’

What they meant was when he’d been transformed into a human weapon. An inhuman weapon.

Matty, I’m so sorry.

---

There was only so much self-pity a man could wallow in before his ass started to fall asleep. But more than that, Mike was a Murdock. The tingling in his limbs was lost to the ever-increasing roar of fire in his ears.

That bastard. That bastard lawyer.

Taking Matt after everything he’d been through and turning him into some prop to be used as a showpiece in a grand legal theatre.

Fuck no. Fuck that.

Mike wasn’t fucking this up twice.

---

Nelson & Murdock was closed by the time Mike once again found himself outside its doors. He stared at the sign’s heavy black letters and gave in to the devil raging, hot, underneath the skin of his chest.

He left the shattered doorglass on the ground as he made his way to the opposite stairwell.

---

Karen.

---

She lived nearby 9th and 52nd. She was probably going home to her handsome hubby, who’d shower her in chocolate and wine and flowers. But on the way, she’d make a stop. She was a working gal. She wouldn’t have had time to pick up a gift in return before her shift started.

Mike found her at Walgreens, talking on the phone to someone while she petted every teddy bear on the rack in front of her.

He didn’t feel sorry.

She didn’t scream when his hand found her face. He didn’t give her the chance.

---

He ditched the hat in the back storeroom of Walgreens and took Karen right through to the loading dock. She thrashed hard.

Mike could barely feel the movement. He was on the lookout for eyes.

An elbow found his ribs and a foot his toes before he got them far enough from view that he could let her go to readjust his grip, and when he did, he got her against a wall, panting.

This lady was tough. But in a flash, she mouth dropped open and her wrists went limp in his grip.

“Mike?” she asked after a second. “Is that you? What are you doing here? Why are you—”

“Where. Is. My brother?” Mike cut her off.

Karen recoiled until her head hit the bricks behind her.

“Your—”

“My brother Matthew,” Mike snapped.

The rush of traffic settled into the silence.

“Oh my god,” Karen whispered. “He’s your brother?”

“Yes. He is, as a matter of fact, and whatever you think you’re doing to him, I will do to you and that fucking lawyer ten times worse,” Mike said. “So you’re going to help me or I’m going to—”

“I knew I knew you.”

He felt himself go stiff.

“Matt talks like you,” Karen said softly. “Just like you.”

Wh—he did?

Karen’s fingers brushed the tops of Mike’s hands. They were cold.

“Mike,” she whispered, sounding for all the world like she was on the verge of tears, “He’s going to be so happy to see you.”

Wh—she’d—she’d take him to Matt?

“Of course,” Karen said. “He’s one of my best friends.”

They were friends? How were they friends? Was this a sick joke?

“No. It’s not. I met him years ago it’s just—I didn’t realize you were—okay, there’s just one problem,” Karen said.

---

Uh?

“Sensory input! Greater than! Processing—PROCESSING—processing—”

“Matty,” Franklin Nelson said with both of his hands out in front of him. “I see that we are very excited.”

“SENSORY INPUT—”

“And I love your enthusiasm, and I know you love your enthusiasm,” Nelson continued. “But if you don’t settle down the tiniest fraction of an inch, you’re going to blow a fuse and—”

“SEN—sen-S-S-SEN—”

Uh?

“This is excited,” Karen explained while Nelson wrestled Matt into sitting for the second time since Mike had arrived at the door.

This was excited?

“He’s normally much more in tune with himself,” Karen said. “But I think you’ve jumpstarted some shit that even his additional processing power isn’t enough for.”

Additional what now?

“It’s a long story,” Karen said over the saddest sound that Mike had ever heard.

They both looked over to where Nelson had successfully gotten Matt back to sitting and was now coaching him through whatever the bot-equivalent of breathing exercises were.

“How long?” Mike asked.

Karen’s blue eyes pitied him.

---

Okay, okay, okay. So. Nelson? Not a threat. Definitely a boon.

Matty?

Hng.

Heavy.

“I’ve literally never seen him this excited,” Nelson said. “And I’ve known him for seven years.”

No shit?

“No shit, we met at Columbia,” Nelson sighed. “I’m sorry about this.”

It was fine. Mike deserved this. Probably.

Jesus, what the fuck had they replaced Matt’s muscle’s with? How was he this warm and this heavy and not human all at the same time.

He’d seemed to have decided that Mike needed a full-body hug and while the first ten seconds had been cry-worthy, the last minute or so was getting a little suffocating.

“Matt, let him go,” Nelson pleaded. “He can’t breathe, bud. He’s gotta breathe, he’s not like you—”

“Subject: Mike. Michael Murdock,” Matt said brightly, scrambling off Mike out of no-fucking-where and getting way too far into Nelson’s face.

“Mike, yeah, you said,” Nelson said.

“Mike. Born October 21—”

“I get it. He’s your twin.”

“—at Metropolitan General Hospital at 11:32pm—”

“Matt, you’re info-dumping friend, we don’t need this. We believe you. Don’t give me his social. Don’t—”

“—Social Security number 6—”

“MATT. End request. End search term. Exit page.”

Uh?

“He did this with the DA last week when he got too riled up,” Karen said sympathetically. “We have no clue where he finds it or better yet, where he even stores it.”

“—my brother, FOGGY.”

“Yeah, I fuckin’ see it, man. It’s before mine very own eyes. Y’all are identical. It’s weird.”

“I missed him.”

“Tell that to him then. Stop touching me, ew. No. Go douse him with your weird fuckin’ eye fluid—atta boy, good job—NO. NO CLIMBING.”

Mike…was not prepared for the care and keeping of Bot-Matt. He had to admit that now. All those plans of snatching Matt out of the hands of these evil, evil people were breaking up into little fragments of puzzle pieces and he’d never felt more like shit because god.

He was supposed to look after his brother, wasn’t he?

Wasn’t he?

“I’m so sorry about this,” Franklin Nelson said with Matt leaning almost completely out of his grip and making that horrible sad noise again. “But I think I’m gonna need to cool him down a bit.”

---

Mike couldn’t stop rubbing at his face.

Matt was sprawled out across Nelson’s bed like he was sleeping in the sunlight. The wires plugged into the back of his neck slipped off the edge of the bed and led all the way to a laptop that was just about sweating with how hard it was working.

From the side, it looked like he was human. Absolutely, unequivocally human.

Younger than Mike now, though. Permanently halted at 24 years old. No wonder Karen hadn’t recognized Mike early on. Matty’s jaw was still slim where Mike’s had hardened square like Dad’s. The only facial hair he had was in his eyebrows and eyelashes—there was no reason to add stubble to a bot. It was just more maintenance. Just another aesthetic modification.

“I’m sorry, Mike.”

Mike turned to Nelson.

He didn’t look or talk like a single one of the bot traffickers than Mike had dragged in from the cold—and he’d done the full range of them, from the cackling madhatters to the cooing, babytalkers to the silent so-called geniuses. Nelson exhibited only exasperation.

The story that Karen told about his and her early encounters with Matt made it seem like Nelson honestly considered Matt to be human, like him. Like all of them.

“You helped him,” Mike said quietly.

“If I’d have known that he had you, then I would have helped him find you sooner,” Nelson said. “But I thought he was on his own. He never mentioned anyone else. I should have asked.”

No. No, that was—That was okay, somehow.

“We got separated a lifetime ago,” Mike said. “People thought that I’d be easier to adopt. And clearly he had other things going on.”

Nelson winced.

“That’s shit,” he said.

“And wrong,” Mike sighed. “I don’t even know what to do now. I can’t take care of him like this. I don’t know the first thing about droid maintenance or computers.”

Nelson considered him.

“Well, the good news is that you don’t have to—take care of him, I mean,” he said. “Matt takes care of himself. He’s actually really good at it when he’s not blowin’ his top about some damn thing. You’ll see when he wakes up. And on top of that, he’s already got a mechanic, so when something goes wrong that he can’t fix, we take him to Parker and he does the heavy lifting there.”

Mike swallowed.

“You guys really have it worked out,” he realized.

Nelson sighed.

“Like I said. I’ve known him for seven years. We’ve lived together ever since.”

Woah. Wait. What now?

Nelson turned exhausted eyes onto him.

“I co-signed for his loft, but he just comes and spends all his time here when he’s not out smashing faces. Claims my bed. Steals all the sun spots. Makes me only shit coffee in return.”

He—Matt—Matt had his own apartment? He could do that?

“Sure? Why not? He owns half the firm, too,” Nelson said. “I mean, they wouldn’t let me put it in his name, technically. So it’s through a wildly complicated, uh—let’s call it a ‘thing’ for simplicity’s sake. But yeah. If anything happens to me, full ownership goes to him. But as far as we’re concerned, it’s half and half. The only thing Matt can’t do is practice law on his own, so we have to double-team pretty much every case.”

Mike needed to sit down.

“Oh, for sure. Just not there. I’d recommend out of range, here. Sit here,” Nelson said.

---

Matt woke up when Karen snuck around the bed to remove the wires from his neck. He scrambled up and fell right over the side of the bed onto Karen’s feet.

She swore. He groaned. Nelson pointedly did not come back into the room.

This time, though, when Matt got back up, Karen pulled him in the direction of Mike and took his wrist. She held out a hand for Mike.

Mike’s heart fluttered.

He gave it to her and Karen put his hand directly in Matt’s palm.

There was silence.

“Mikey,” Matt said after a long moment.

Mike’s eyes started burning.

“You came for me,” Matt said.

Mike couldn’t make his throat work. It took two goes to find his voice.

“Yeah,” he croaked. “I sure did.”

“You ain’t singin’, though,” Matt pointed out. “Why aren’t you singin’?”

Because he was cryin’, man. God, give a guy a break.

“Matty, what did they do to you?” he asked.

Matt made a strange sound as he mulled over the question. A kind of whirring noise.

“Made me into a droid, dumbass,” he said.

Mike laughed before he could stop himself.

“Can I have a non-lethal hug?” he asked.

Matt whirred.

“No promises,” he said.

----

#mike murdock #matt murdock #electric sheep #don't mind me just making myself sad #blame Maddie for this one #fic #ficlet

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carmintros · 5 years ago

Photo

@ariwalters / ❛ ｡ ✩ ﾟ my eyes are probably playing tricks on me again, but is that really awsten knight? oh, wait, it’s just adrian “ari” lance walters. yes, that twenty-four year old drummer, who i am pretty sure is a visitor. according to the talk of the town, he is incredibly flighty & unpredictable, yet undeniably outgoing & adventurous. that is precisely why a playground at dawn, a carnival ride that just keeps spinning, chasing waves on a beach, laughing until you cry & jackson pollock paintings remind me of them so much, but then again you know what they say about leos, we’ll see how that one turns out ! penned by kit / mst & they / them

car crash tw, ptsd tw, alcoholism tw

Ari Walters

Age: 24

Gender: Non-binary, he/him

[Between the Bars] - “Haha, not totally sure why this one comes to mind but like everyone says it’s like me with alcohol and stuff but I don’t really see it, I think I’m fine.”

D.O.B: August 15, 1995

Why the name Ari?

“Oh! I was named after my dad ‘cept he was always called Adrian so they called me Ari so no one got confused or anything!! It always worked really good too!”

Ethnicity: white

Relationship Status: In multiple relationships “I fall a little in love with everyone, I think, because everyone is beautiful and wonderful. I’m kind of the classic definition of poly, lol. People underestimate how much communication that takes though!”

Sexual Orientation: pan “Like I said, I fall in love with everyone! I can’t help it, haven’t you ever watched someone go about their life and you can just tell if they’re gentle or rough, if they need love or if they’re loved, et cetera? I love it and I love them.”

Appearance:

Height: 5’7

Ari resembles a puppy with ADHD. He is constantly moving, constantly engaged with the world and constantly interacting with everyone around him. He has to be active. If he sits still he might fall asleep and he still gets nightmares of the wreck.

His signature ‘thing’ has been his dyed hair for years. He doesn’t think he would recognize himself without it at this point. He thought about dying it back to brown for April Fools day one year but realized it’s been so long since seeing his real hair that he didn’t remember what color to get to match his roots.

Ari has an almost compulsive seeming need to be the most colorful person in any space he’s in. He wants to stand out and he does so by being a walking color wheel. Strangely, he manages to make his outfits cohesive.

You can’t get too close to Ari without noticing how tired he always looks. His eyes are always a little swollen and bloodshot and his skin has the uncomfortable thin appearance of someone much older or much sicker than him. If he’s asked about it he jokes that he’s just ugly (though most people would agree he is anything but ugly).

History:

Ari can split his life into a perfect before and after the wreck.

Before. Ari had a perfectly wonderful childhood. He was loved and taken care of in his historical Boston home. His dad taught Marine Biology at Harvard, his mom was the perfect socialite and Ari and his sisters were happy

His days consisted of school and drawing and going to the beach with his dad to learn about the animals. If Ari was to assign an emotion to that period of his life it would be love. If he had to assign a color it would be pink.

His life before was like something from a 50s sitcom. It was perfect. He knows rationally that he’s seeing through rosy lenses. He thinks he remembers his dad having an affair. He knows his sister and he argued a lot and he was such a mischievous child it kept him in trouble a lot of the time. He knows this. But it feels different. It feels idyllic compared to after.

His entire world shattered when he was 13. His family shouldn’t have even been out. If only he hadn’t argued with his sister. If only he had just set the table then maybe his dad wouldn’t have suggested eating out. Maybe if his mom and little sister had been home instead of in California they could have told his dad no, it wasn’t their day for eating out and they would all be fine eating at the house. Maybe if his sister hadn’t forgotten her phone and made them turn back so she could retrieve it because she was so scared of missing a text from her boyfriend.

Maybe….

Maybe they wouldn’t have been crossing the intersection when the other driver plowed through it. Maybe they wouldn’t have spun out and hit another car. Maybe his dad and his sister and the little boy from the other car and the driver who caused it all would still be alive. Maybe…

After. Ari doesn’t remember the crash itself. He doesn’t remember seeing his father’s body crushed against the interior of their car even though he’s since been told he was trying to pull him out. He doesn’t remember his sister’s glassy, dead stare though he was told he screamed at her to wake up. He doesn’t remember the ambulance ride but he’s told he fought the paramedics to try to get to his family.

He doesn’t remember getting to the hospital and being admitted.

He only starts remembering sitting in that big hospital room alone for what felt like hours (he knows now that it was only a few minutes at a time) while nurses bustled past the door outside trying to focus on the lives that were at risk after the crash. Even still, the evening comes in flashes. A teary eyed woman with a heavy accent telling him his mom would be there soon and rubbing his back. A doctor, young and frazzled, bursting into his room to tell the cops to leave and stop asking him about it. The smell of oil and burning metal seared so strongly into his skin it made his head hurt.

He remembers the funeral. Closed casket, both buried at the same time. He remembers packing up the house and selling it and moving to New York. He doesn’t think he felt real during that time. He kept waiting to wake up and find out it was just a terrible dream. Part of him still hopes he wakes up.

–

His mom didn’t try to neglect his mental health when they moved. Despite having help from family she still had to take on two jobs, she had two children to raise alone and she had just lost her husband and little girl. It was hard to be everything Ari needed her to be too.

She did her best. He was sent to a mental health clinic and given regular therapy sessions for a while where he was diagnosed with PTSD and a trauma based phobia regarding riding in cars.

She put him in music lessons to give him an outlet. She enrolled him in an arts high school so he could find similarly minded creative young people and hopefully make friends in their new city.

It didn’t really work. You can’t throw a shattered kid back into society and expect them not to drown. And Ari drowned.

When he was almost 15 he tasted alcohol for the first time at a sleepover. The idea of it had fascinated him since the wreck. How could one liquid be so influential that it would lead you to kill other people? What did it feel like to slip into a haze that strong.

His first sip was revolting. It burned on the way down and he was convinced he could still feel it burning his stomach. He almost put the bottle up and gave up on learning its allure. Something about it still called to be explored and who was Ari to say no?

He snuck the bottle into his bag and drank a little more the next day after school. Just enough to feel warm again and for his brain to quiet and center just a little bit more.

The alcohol made everything better. He felt more human again when he was tipsy. It didn’t take long for Ari to begin to crave it just to function. He started stealing it from his mom’s cabinet and then from the sweet old lady who paid him to take her groceries upstairs. When he was caught stealing from them he started trying to steal it from stores.

He was caught right away, of course, but not by an employee. Instead he was caught by a tall, average looking man in his early 30s. The man, who Ari soon learned was named Sean, offered to buy the alcohol for Ari and invited Ari over to drink with his girlfriend Eliana. Ari agreed immediately.

That night he lost his virginity to the pair. The two adults offered to keep Ari’s alcohol supply always filled so long as he continued to sleep with them. Ari instantly agreed.

—-

After he started drinking he somehow managed to pull his grades up. He felt real when he was drunk. He felt functional. He could do his coursework and practice the drums and paint and even explore New York. He quickly fell in love with the city and learned how to navigate his borough on his skateboard. He learned what buildings he could sneak into and hookup with classmates in without being caught, all the best places for graffiti and where the coolest homeless people hung out.

As Ari progressed through his teenage years his ‘adventures’ got crazier. He broke into the zoo ones and barely escaped getting caught. He hitchhiked out of the city and spent a weekend far upstate before calling his mom from a payphone and getting her to pick him up. He smuggled paint into his homeroom and painted an abstract mural on the teacher’s desk.

Not everything was illegal. He once snuck into an early morning wholesale flower market and convinced a florist to buy him enough white roses to leave one on every grave in The Cathedral Basilica of St. James cemetery and even convinced some of his friends to help him distribute them. He raised money once and bought everyone at his school pizza for lunch so “the lunch people get a day off.”

When he was asked to play drums for a new band that was forming he had to say yes. It was just a chance at another adventure.

—-

He never expected them to get as famous as they did. He figured they would disband rapidly and he could go to college for marine biology. Like his dad. Obviously, that didn’t happen.

Miraculously for all of Ari’s adventures and alcoholism he didn’t have any major scandals during the bands active time. He left that for Jae.

Instead he tried to fly under the radar. He didn’t want anyone picking up on his issues. He maintained his alcoholism, adventured in the cities they toured through and focused on art when they weren’t making music.

—

Slowly he began to tire of not remembering as much of his life as he wanted to. People Ari had no memory of would come up to him as though they knew him. He got an STI without even knowing who it was from. He woke up in places he had never seen before. He destroyed things in his house and drove people away.

The catalyst came just before the band was put on hiatus and he was approached by an ex. Apparently during a drunken escapade he hadn’t used protection and had gotten the girl pregnant a few years ago. She’d had the baby and suddenly he was being asked if he wanted to be a father. He didn’t, of course, but he also didn’t want this to ever happen again.

Ari used the move to California as a chance to change everything. He swore he was going sober and wouldn’t return to the lifestyle he’d had before.

—

Now, freshly sober in California, he’s trying to figure out how to balance his new life. He’s still adventuring but it looks different without drinking. He isn’t sure if he likes it or not.

Personality -

“Ari is a rollercoaster. It could get exhausting except you don’t see him that often since he’s dating half the town at any given time. But he’s a blast anyway, especially when he’s sober enough to know up from down. You will have the most wild dates with him but you’ll have the time of your life. He rented a barn once and hired a band so we could have a ‘good old fashioned barn dance’ because he’d just seen one in a movie. It was insane. Best date of my life. That’s why it’s such a shame that he drinks so much. When he’s sober or only tipsy he’s amazing but the more drunk he gets the more the shine wears away. We actually broke up because he punched a hole through a mirror once and cried that he hated how he looked. I just… couldn’t do that. I hate it but I couldn’t.” Jessica B, ex-girlfriend.

Ari is the pinnacle of a yes-man. He agrees to almost everything so long as no one is hurt and he seems very morally grey. So long as no one gets hurt he’s down to try anything. He is high energy and always seems super cheerful. Ari is the kind of person who draws others to him just by how cheery and upbeat he is.

Ari is a romantic at heart. He says he falls in love with everyone and it honestly feels true. He sees something beautiful in everyone he meets and so he always dates multiple people at a time. It helps that he needs company all the time or the negative emotions he’s pushed away since he was a teenager begin to come creeping up.

He can never let that creep up. When it does it overwhelms him and he feels as scared and as lost as he did the entire year following the crash. He doesn’t talk about those emotions and he definitely doesn’t acknowledge that anything is wrong even when it’s exhausting to keep the smile. He doesn’t want to validate them and make them real. Ari will do anything to keep himself from ever feeling that sad and broken again.

It’s part of why he’s such an adrenaline junkie. His thrill seeking is one of the things he’s most known for in his fame. He has an adventure list a mile wide with everything from “Show up at an airport and take the next flight wherever it goes” to “scattering change along the city streets for people to find.”

Hobbies:

Art. Ari loves abstractivism and unconventional art. One of his projects that he was working on before coming to Carmel was saving every bottle from every drink he had over the course of a year so he could display it as a piece. He wasn’t sure about the title for it yet.

Exploring

Going on dates and adventures

He really wants to get a normal job because he thinks it would be hilarious to, say, work at a deli or diner because he’s technically a rock star.

Health:

Ari has PTSD. He doesn’t acknowledge it but it definitely impacts his ability to exist normally. He’s terrified of cars (he still doesn’t drive but he claims it’s because he would rather just skateboard everywhere) and he acts more recklessly to try to distract from it.

Physically he’s actually pretty healthy (aside from his chronic exhaustion). He eats well and works out, now that he’s quit drinking (besides a few relapses here and there) he is largely a super healthy individual.

wanted connections

Partners!!!! Ari is pan and poly so he is down for however many partners he has at any given time. He loves going on dates and hooking up. The more the merrier as far as he’s concerned, too!

Baby-mama. Ari found out he got someone pregnant and it was the largest catalyst for sobriety. They have a rocky relationship regarding the child because Ari really doesn’t feel ready to be a dad but I’m open to if they’re civil or uncivil outside of that.

Confidant. Everyone needs someone they can trust. Even Ari, who’s close relationships never seem to get past sleeping together and casual dating. This can be a friend, a friend of a friend or even someone he’s sleeping with.

#carm:intro

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elitebio · 2 years ago

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Best Health Benefits of Eucalyptus Essential Oil Uses

Eucalyptus essential oil is one of the best natural products for many health benefits. This natural product has outstanding healing power; it clears the casket, is good for coughs, allows easy breathing, soothes cold sores, and controls blood sugar. In this section, we will discuss the benefits of Eucalyptus essential oil in brief. Elite Biotech providing the Bulk Eucalyptus Essential Oil Supplier offer you 100% pure and natural eucalyptus essential oil made from the tree’s round-shaped leaves.

To price the pure eucalyptus oil, first leaves are dried, crushed, and distilled to gain the essential oil, and if it’s used, it should be thinned first. The global request is swamped with an array of natural essential oils and natural products, but eucalyptus has its spot.

Eucalyptus( Eucalyptus globulus) is a tree mainly native to Australia, but it’s grown worldwide. It can hold an advanced concentration of water, and its tea is used for fever. This natural product contains so many multitudinous compounds, and among them, 8-céle ( aka cineole and eucalyptol) is responsible for furnishing a clean, sharp, and slightly medicinal smell.

Its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties make it ideal for treating bronchitis, strep, gingivitis, head lice, toenail fungus, respiratory issues, coughs, and colds. Our aromatherapy natural essential oils offer outstanding health benefits that produce a comforting and calming effect on the body, mind, and spirit. We are best known for our non-commercial bulk pure eucalyptus essential oil.

Let’s go through the benefits of Eucalyptus Essential Oil.

The Advantages of Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus has so many multitudinous remedial benefits, it’s considered one of the most effective natural remedies for different affections. We are also going to talk a bit further about the benefits of eucalyptus essential oil. In the list of the best essential oils for aromatherapy, colds, coughs, and skincare, Eucalyptus essential oil has its place.

Cold and Respiratory Relief

Eucalyptus essential oil is one of the best products that help in clearing the airways. It’s considerably used for furnishing relief from coughs, traffic, and sleeping difficulties. This natural product is excellent for cough severity and promotes drainage from congested sinuses. It’s believed that this natural remedy is excellent for muscle spasms and ease of breathing. If you’re looking to buy natural essential oils for different affections, Elitebiotech is one of the best bulk eucalyptus essential oil wholesalers.

Bronchitis

It’s also considered that this natural product is effective for bronchitis and sinusitis. It’s fairly helpful for inflammation issues that could develop in the lining of the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs. Eucalyptus oil is perfect for the cold. It’s observed that it’s excellent for acute bronchitis and reduces the frequency of coughing fits.

Wound Healing

Eucalyptus essential oil is also best known for its wound-mending potential. It’s great for post-operative crack infections, toxic shock syndrome, and food poisoning. Its antibacterial properties make it an excellent product for those who may cause urinary tract infections.

Pain Relief

Eucalyptus essential oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it’s excellent as a pain reliever. This natural product is effective in reducing the patients ’ pain and blood pressure. Eucalyptus essential oil is used for minor muscle soreness when applied topically. It’s an excellent product for prickly skin.

Relieve Arthritis Pain

Eucalyptus essential oil has analgesic properties that give relief when applied directly to your skin. It works as a painkiller and reduces the cold and warm sensations. Eucalyptus essential oil is perfect for irritated skin and makes the skin feel hot or cold.

CalmPre-Op Nerves

Eucalyptus oil is not only effective for post-op but also pre-op nervousness. It’s helpful to calm you down before surgery and reduces the anxiety of breathing that can be felt by most people when they go into surgery. , 8-cineole is excellent for anxiety issues and provides relaxation and calmness.

In the below section, we have gone through the benefits of Eucalyptus essential oil. Now we’ll also tell you where you can buy this natural product at the most affordable prices.

Elite Biotech are one of the best natural essential oil manufacturers, wholesalers, suppliers, and distributors in India. We give you high-quality essential oils at the most affordable prices; all our products are made up of natural raw materials. We currently offer fashionable remedial grade essential oil, bouquets, scents, organic essential oils, carrier oils, painting oils, absolute oil oils, and so on. We are the Bulk Eucalyptus Essential Oil Wholesaler, offering you high-quality products after passing through a series of quality tests.

Since our inception, we have been manufacturing and supplying natural essential oils to different countries. We are also known as the Bulk Eucalyptus Essential Oil Producers. Buy now at the best price – clove oil, cinnamon oil, lemon EOs, Tea Tree Oil, Cinnamon Oil, Peppermint Oil, etc.

#bestessentialoilbrandsindia #topessentialoilmanufacturersinindia #pureessentialoilsmanufacturers #essentialoilwholesaledistributor #pureessentialoilssuppliers #organicessentialoilssuppliers

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frederickfortino-blog · 6 years ago

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Useful Tips on Buying Silver Rings from a Wholesaler

A gift is a perfect expression of immense love and affection. And when talking about women, we can’t think of anything else than a scintillating piece of jewellery. A woman has a choice of adorning herself with different types of accessories, such as rings, earrings, bangles, nose pin, and so on. But the story behind wearing every ornament is intriguing and worth listening to. However, we won’t go in detail. Witnessing the ongoing trend, we can say that rings are the most popular jewellery amongst girls and women owing to the fact that they represent an eternal bond. They are worn on the fingers that symbolize eternity as it is believed by people that the vein on finger goes through the heart.

If you are a big-time jewellery lover and finding yourself deprived of the silver rings, then it’s time for a perfect addition to your jewellery casket. The moment you make up your mind to buy a sterling silver ring and single stone rings available in different designs, then the first thing you prefer to do is online search. Everyone does that, isn’t it? When you search for the silver rings, you will find a plethora of wholesale jewellery providers over the internet. But how would you know who’s the best? Well, given below are a few tips that you should keep in mind before making a purchase:

The wholesaler must have a good industry experience. Don’t invest your hard-earned money on someone who is green around the edges and doesn’t know much about the authenticity of silver jewellery.

Choose the seller who can guarantee you to deliver custom silver rings. If you have a particular design and style of ring in your mind, then you always have an option to get it customized according to your preference and requirement.

The wholesaler should have an excellent and wide collection of rings in various designs and patterns. If you will have a huge variety of products, you will be able to easily pick out the unique ones. With time, the demand for silver ornaments has grown by leaps & bounds owing to various reasons, such as quality, affordability, and a huge variety of designs. These attributes are hard to find in other metals which are expensive and put a strain on the buyers’ pockets.

Always buy jewellery from a well-known and reputed wholesaler. It ensures that you are buying a quality product at genuine factory prices. As there are many companies over the internet that claim to offer nothing but the best, it’s essential for you to be wary of fraudulent wholesalers who intend to cheat the buyers.

So as now you know how to buy custom silver rings from an authentic wholesaler, make sure you follow the aforementioned tips. We wish you good luck!

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casketgallery · 4 years ago

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Purchase The Funeral Casket For Your Loved One With These Tips!

Do you think about buying the funeral casket for your loved one’s upcoming funeral? It is necessary to consider certain aspects to make the right purchase decision. Keep in mind that you should buy the casket within your budget because many people lose more of their cash regarding this purchase decision.

Some families access the credit cards and even take loans to pay for the higher prices for the funerals. It makes them to pay the cash even after the funeral. If you do not want to get into this hassle, then it is necessary to purchase the wholesale caskets.

• Find out the wholesale price

Wholesale prices are the affordable and lowest price as much as possible than the product is actually set at. In general, the shop buys the casket in bulk to save more on the individual costs. After that, the casket is resold to individuals at the discounted rate.

It is not only saving the money of the person but also allowing them to get the extra cash to go forward the funeral expense. It is really useful for the people who are on the tight budget.

• Find out the quality wholesale site

The internet has opened up huge opportunities for people to purchase whatever they want and get it delivered directly to your space. You can even buy coffin online and spend some time with your loved one. As already you are in a high emotion, it is quite challenging to go for shopping and bargain the casket price.

At that time, online purchase helps you a lot and gets the best quality product at the lowest price. However, remember that many fraudulent sites are there and therefore you need to research well and join hands with the top quality sites.

• Browse through different types of caskets

Before starting your search, you should be aware of the major types of the caskets because it is accessible in different forms such as hardwood, metal, and others. Based on your loved one’s needs, you have to select the right type of casket.

Everyone is different and made from unique materials so that it carries huge pros and cons. You should evaluate them before making any selection. Never forget that fact the price is also differing so that be careful when making a selection. You can even get the customized casket based on your needs.

#funeral casket #caskets #coffin

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webseoadd · 4 years ago

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Guide On How To Wear A Bodycon Dress

A bodycon clothing is an outfit that hugs your body from the bust to the lower hem. It comes in three lengths: knee, mid thigh and upper thigh. Just like any other outfit, it's made from different materials including: cotton, lycra and polyester blend.

Tips on how to deterioration the dress

Be cautious of your figure: The cool entity with the stipulation is that you can erosion it during the day and night. When wearing it, the most important representative that you should consider is your figure. Here are the different matter figures:

Hourglass: You have wide hips and box and a well defined waist. The best costumes to go for is a bodycon dress that doesn't cling too much on your body.

Apple: You have an apple figure if you have woman hips, stomach and no blouse definition. You should avoid the bodycon lands if you have this digits as you have an aspect of roundness and avoidance of hordes shape.

Pear shaped: With a pear shape you have a small casket and woman hips. Experts recommend that you avoid the bodycon figs as the sticking material testament emphasize your hips structure your carcass seeming unbalanced and ill-proportioned.

Inverted triangle: Many cry this digits a heart shaped figure. If you have this digits you have a large bust, narrow haunch and no blouse definition. You should avoid wearing the bodycon state as the compress evidence emphasize the triangular price of your hordes appointing you the illusion of extra hens upper body.

Play around with proportions: If you have the probability finger for the outfit you should fun around with the rank to accentuate your look. You can erosion an costumes with padded shoulders to emphasize your curvy blouse and bottom. You can also pleasure around with different textures, lines, extensiveness and prints.

Accessorize it: To improve your look you should accessorize the dress. Some of the object that you tins utility as accessories are:

Shoes: The dogs that you corrosion depend on the time and occasion. If wearing the costumes in an evening, you should corrosion boots with stiletto heels. If wearing the outfit during the day you should deterioration flat shoes. If it's warm, you should wear sandals.

Belts: Belts pause the monotony of the outfit. You can go with a band that matches or contrasts the color of the dress. When buying the domain you should consider your swarm size, protocol and time.

If looking for a bodycon compress Only lover situation is your best stop. We have all types of bodycon dresses that come in different colors, prints and sizes. We also have wholesale bodycon clothing that you can buy at https://shopofast.com/product-category/dresses/style/bodycon-dresses/ discount prices.

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god-sent-gender-bent · 8 years ago

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SO I FOUND A LIST OF WHAT EACH STATE BUYS THE MOST OF AND I REALLY WANT SOMEONE TO DRAW CHARACTERS REPRESENTING EACH STATE

ALABAMA: adult diapers / Curry 2 Low / Paula Deen Air Fryer / CPAP mask / roller skates ALASKA: Connect Four / ugly Christmas sweater / drone / webcam / M-16 rifle ARIZONA: milk frother / marijuana seeds for sale / money belt / beret hat / Kangol hat / Juicy Couture tracksuit ARKANSAS: tablet computer / night vision goggles / tattoo sleeves / Paula Deen furniture / tutu / costume jewelry CALIFORNIA: Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set / Baywatch swimsuit / avocado slicer / Roach Motel / Pomade / Stadium Buddy / Onion Goggles / Guy Fieri knives / Bob Marley poster / Bacon Soap / baby on board sticker / baby on board sign / wallet chain / purple leather jacket / Armani jeans / Louis Vuitton money clip / bulk glitter / raccoon trap / Pikachu dog costume COLORADO: Handerpants / Trump toilet paper / Borat mankini / swim briefs / tube socks CONNECTICUT: insect trap / Ivanka Trump jewelry / pet rock / Pilates Pro Chair DELAWARE: Genealogical DNA test / umbrella / Crocs DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: shutter shades / bowling shirt FLORIDA: boyfriend arm pillow / Guy Fieri cookware / rollerblades Walmart / car bra / 9mm suppressor / men’s cargo shorts / paintball sniper rifle GEORGIA: plaid pants / zombie apocalypse survival kit / Ed Hardy shirt / camo wedding dress HAWAII: GoPro Hero / Flowbee / speargun / aloha shirt / fanny pack / Spam / Louis Vuitton bag IDAHO: Shamwow / NERF Blaster / Fez / metal detector / glass pipe / smoked turkey / trucker hat / surfboard ILLINOIS: electric wine bottle opener / giant wine glass / gun silencer / patterned tights / Solo cups / floating beer pong table / Golden Girls mug INDIANA: shark costume / Tiddy Bear / Eggstractor / blow-up doll / cloche hat IOWA: temporary tattoo / lava lamp KANSAS: plus size lingerie wholesale KENTUCKY: adult big wheel / Confederate flag shirt / syringes / air mattress / ferrets for sale / Starter jacket 90s / comics LOUISIANA: microwave oven / Uroclub / Flex Seal / rat poison / big wheel / Fundies / portable diesel generator / hair extensions / crawfish pot MAINE: chicken coop / marijuana seeds / canoe / cat food / Mason jar / snowmobile MARYLAND: Comfort Wipe / Bacon Soda / cargo pants / cargo pants for women MASSACHUSETTS: Potty Putter / Samurai Umbrella / velour tracksuit MICHIGAN: car emergency kit / no-tie shoelaces / hunting clothes / beer pong table / Prince memorabilia / white truffle / white truffle oil MINNESOTA: mustache wax / iCare vape / parachute pants / hunting pack / electric surfboard MISSISSIPPI: mink coat / Apple Watch / Shake Weight / hoverboard / Bible / Uggs / Uggs for men / spy camera / overall / bell-bottoms / leg warmers / deer feeder / coffin / caskets MISSOURI: gun rack / garden gnome / potato gun MONTANA: M16 rifle / mudflaps / nunchucks / composting toilet / slingshot / bear trap / Beano / Birkenstocks / leather jacket / sewing machine NEBRASKA: UNO / fireworks / scented candles / personal massager / jorts / adjustable dumbbell set NEVADA: wine fridge / electric skateboard / Tao Te Ching / ugly holiday sweater / magic tricks / leisure suit NEW HAMPSHIRE: immersion blender / Ivanka Trump shoes / Edible Arrangement / rowing machine / dog coat / cargo shorts NEW JERSEY: Amazon Echo / Starter jacket / Gucci fanny pack / Prada perfume NEW MEXICO: PlayStation VR / digital camera / Bluetooth headphones / instant camera / jackalope / Baseboard Buddy / Chia Pet / dreamcatcher / brass knuckles / prayer flag / food dehydrator / cowboy hat / cosmetics / snow cone machine NEW YORK: fur clothing / Wearable Towel / Showtime Rotisserie / coyote urine / Payless boots that look like Uggs / tracksuit / women’s tracksuits / plaid golf pants / snakeskin shoes / platform sneakers / hemp necklace / hemp bracelet / men’s capri pants / Prada heels / mini wine bottles bulk NORTH CAROLINA: padded underwear / pet snakes / THC vape juice / laser tag set / dog Halloween costume NORTH DAKOTA: noise-cancelling headphones / George Foreman Grill / Total Gym / nickname / Jet Ski / Wii / capri pants / cat costume OHIO: Donald Trump tie / beard trimmer / nose hair trimmer / zombie garden gnome / Kate Spade fitness tracker / indoor putting green / denim vest / camo lingerie OKLAHOMA: sidewalk chalk / Kevin Durant jersey / ExtenZe / gas mask bong / throwing knives / Neodymium magnet toys / smoked ham / zombie survival kit / participation trophy / dog life jacket / 50 cal sniper rifle OREGON: homebrew supplies / clip-on ties / anti-snore pillow / hunting apparel PENNSYLVANIA: Amazon Fire Stick with Alexa / trigger lock / head massager / soap on a rope / mesh shirt / pinky rings / camo stethoscope RHODE ISLAND: rat trap / Speedos / bodysuit SOUTH CAROLINA: Amazon Fire TV / samurai sword / adult Underoos SOUTH DAKOTA: Exploding Kittens / Play-Doh / Cards Against Humanity / Catan / kegerator / slow cooker / Spanx / Ivanka Trump clothes / catheter / Lite-Brite / catapult / tube top / rod holders TENNESSEE: colostomy bags / adult coloring book / Dapper Dan Pomade / crack pipe / toupee / two-way radio / women’s overalls / bulk dog food / gator meat / Gucci mink coat TEXAS: Confederate flag bumper sticker / Igloo mini fridge / Hillary toilet paper / urinary catheter / truck gun rack / motorized kayak (the Rascal of kayaks) / cowboy hat rack / boot-cut jeans / five-toe shoes / 90s overalls / Daisy Duke shorts / leather cuffs / concealed carry corset / Nazi memorabilia / casket sprays / waterless urinal UTAH: Legos / mermaid tails / unicycle / Tanakh / Nintendo 3DS / belt buckle VERMONT: Selfie stick / Battleship / Slim Jim / Quran / Magic 8-Ball VIRGINIA: Thighmaster/ Bacon of the Month / hip flask / choose your own adventure books / puka shell necklace / bulk supplements / legal steroid / pet clothes WASHINGTON: temporary tattoo paper / emergency kit / emergency rations / earthquake kit / Canadian tuxedo / squid jig / crab pot / clam gun / shrimp pot WEST VIRGINIA: PlayStation 4 / Slip ‘N Slide / laptop / tablet computer / rebel flag / Flags of the Confederate States of America / mini fridge / Red Copper Square Pan / duct tape / Confederate flag bikini / futon / bong / handgun / shotgun / electronic cigarette / lingerie / plus size lingerie / Etch A Sketch / FitBit / moonshine still / Beanie Babies / bikini / pogo stick / Xbox One / NES Classic Edition / concealed carry purse / vape juice / creatine / anabolic steroid / butter churn WISCONSIN: truck nuts / Bacon Salt / Stihl chainsaw parts / The Sopranos Season 6 / Big Mouth Billy Bass / healing crystals WYOMING: Kindle Fire / Rubik’s Cube / ammunition / bulk ammo / P90X / Snuggie / Proactive / Bowflex / first aid kit / grenade / Fabletics (Kate Hudson’s workout clothing brand) / gas mask / gun safe / Turducken / Rumba / inline skates / bolo tie / long underwear / dog food / bagpipes / fishing pole / paintball / AK-47 / Colt AR-15 / bulletproof vest / body armor

#art inspiration #art #art prompt #united states #draw your state #trump #other relevant tags #usa #drawing

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casketxpress · 2 years ago

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Wide Selection of Overnight Caskets for Sale in California

When a loved one passes away, it can be a difficult and emotional time for family and friends. One of the decisions that must be made during this time is the choice of a casket. Funeral caskets can be costly, but there are options available for those looking for Overnight Caskets For Sale CA at a discount or wholesale price. In this guide, we will explore some of these options and offer tips for finding the right casket for your needs.

Understanding the Cost of Funeral Caskets

Funeral caskets are often one of the most expensive items when it comes to planning a funeral. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the average cost of a casket in 2019 was $2,500. However, caskets can range in price from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the materials and features.

Discount Caskets for Sale in California

One option for those looking to save money on funeral expenses is to purchase Funeral Caskets at Discount. These caskets may be offered at a lower price due to overstock, discontinued models, or other reasons. Some funeral homes and online retailers offer a selection of discount caskets, including overnight caskets for sale in California.

Wholesale Caskets for Sale in California

Another option for those looking to save money on funeral expenses is to purchase a casket at wholesale prices. Caskets at wholesale may be available through funeral homes, casket manufacturers, or online retailers. Buying a casket at wholesale prices can save you a significant amount of money compared to purchasing a casket at retail prices.

Tips for Finding the Right Overnight Casket for Sale in California

When searching for an overnight casket for sale in California, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you find the right casket for your needs. Here are some tips to consider:

1. Determine Your Budget - Before you start shopping for a casket, it's important to determine your budget. Knowing how much you can afford to spend can help narrow down your options and prevent you from overspending.

2. Consider the Material - Caskets can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, metal, and even eco-friendly options. Consider the material you prefer and choose a casket that fits your budget.

3. Shop Around - Take the time to shop around and compare prices and features. Check with multiple funeral homes and online retailers to ensure you are getting the best deal.

4. Ask About Delivery - If you are purchasing an overnight casket for sale in California online, be sure to ask about delivery options and timing. You'll want to ensure the casket arrives in time for the funeral service.

In conclusion, finding the right overnight caskets for sale in California at a discount or wholesale price can help you save money during a difficult and emotional time. By understanding the cost of funeral caskets, exploring discount and wholesale options, and following these tips, you can find the right casket for your needs and budget.

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trendtshirtnewposts · 4 years ago

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thepetsworld · 6 years ago

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Easing The Last Days With Wholesale Urns

By Donna Roberts

Food expires. The date at which it does so is at the bottom of the packaging. In fact, everything expires, even the universe will cease to be one day. The human being is among the many things that expires, but the human being also has sentience, which means that a person knows that they are going to die someday. As such, many people start planning ahead, some order wholesale urns in lieu of caskets. There is no escaping death. It comes for everyone and everything and at any time. There is nothing in the world that can stop it. It takes and it takes and it gives neither an inch nor a care as to who it is taking. It does matter if a person has a family who needs them. Death has never discriminated. Color, creed, or class, all are equal and all equally die. But clinging to life, with every ounce of power and determination, is simply an intrinsic human survival mechanism. Medical treatments to extend life are an ever popular option. But when those fail, people turn to pseudoscience and mysticism. Of course, it should be said that being healthy does help a person live longer and improves the overall quality of life. Still, no matter how healthy a person is, a fatal accident or outright murder can still befall them. A few rise above the fear of dying. Well, maybe not rise above it, but accept the inevitability of it. Some do everything to live well. Some hope to continue on in some form through family by insuring the continued existence of their bloodline. Some seek to be so great that the world has no choice but to remember them. Every culture and religion in the world has some concept of giving due to the dead. The rule of thumb is to never speak ill of the dead, even if the dead was vile in life. Many cultures around the world have different ways of commemorating the dead, the most common being the eulogy and the funeral. In the ancient world, a person would often be cremated with a coin to two, to pay the ferryman taking souls to the next life. Life can be lived one moment from the next. A person can live their life essentially flying by their seat of their pants. But dying should not be taken as lightly as living. Planning ahead helps to assure that the days following the last day go smoothly for those left behind, people who are undoubtedly dealing with their own grief and might not have the capacity to plan the logistical nightmare that is a funeral. Aside from being a logistical nightmare, a funeral is an expensive one. The venue must be paid for. Religious figures must be given a stipend. Then there is the coffin. The coffin is a wooden box that is going to into the ground. It serves other purpose other than to go into the ground with a dead body inside of it and yet it costs a lot of money. Even after the funeral, upkeep of the grave has to be paid for. An urn is much cheaper. An urn is simpler. There is no need for a grave. An urn can be stored anywhere. The scariest thing about dying is how inevitable it is. Humanity prides itself on control and dying is completely out of human control. But it happens to everyone and affairs should be settled beforehand.

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americafuneral10-blog · 7 years ago

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Learn About the Ongoing War on Imported Caskets. Winners, Losers, and Lawsuits…

In 2015, Bloomberg Businessweek published a feature story on the U.S. casket trade highlighting it as one of the last standing industries of U.S. manufactured products that has not fallen to Chinese imports. In 2005, Jim Malamas was one of the first to enter the imported casket business with his company ACE caskets. Malamas was acting on what he saw as an opportunity to capitalize on the inevitable fate of casket manufacturing going overseas.

Since the start of ACE Caskets, Malamas has had a difficult path to moving in on marketshare. One of the biggest blocks has been the sturdy infrastructure of Big Casket. Deathcare’s Big Two—Batesville and Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions—control 70 percent of the funeral merchandise market. U.S. caskets alone are a $1.6 billion business.

Historically, the Big Two have been committed to providing U.S, manufactured caskets, although now they have some manufacturing in Mexico. They sell U.S. manufactured products to funeral homes for up to $1,500, while a nearly identical foreign model sells for as little as $408. Low-cost overseas manufacturing is an obvious threat to their longstanding business model. But, caskets are still holding out for domestic manufacturing with imports making up only about 5% of total caskets sold in the U.S.

“The funeral industry has had a goddamn easy ride for the last 150 years,” Joshua Slocum, executive director of the Funeral Consumers Alliance, tells Bloomberg Business Week. “Why aren’t as many caskets imported as Chinese dishware? It defies all known rules of supply and demand.”

The industry-standard markup rate on caskets is 125 percent and it can be higher on an imported model like ACE. White & Day Mortuary reported to Bloomberg Businessweek in 2015 that they buy the popular Mandarin model, a 20-gauge steel unit, from ACE for $338 and sell it for $2,495. That is a markup of more than 700 percent and is still a competitive price for shoppers. In an industry facing pressure from budget shoppers, internet sales, and rising cremation rates, this additional revenue can can be a godsend for a privately owned funeral home.

So why hasn’t the entire industry abandoned the Big Two and jumped on the imported casket train?

It likely comes down to distribution.

Because the funeral home industry is made up nearly entirely of mom and pop businesses that receive about 100 calls annually. This makes it difficult (or impossible) for them to purchase expensive wholesale products like caskets outright. Since they cannot purchase a container-load of caskets, they often place single orders at the time of need. A small company like ACE cannot deliver products in time for waiting families, but The Big Two have refined distribution channels allowing them to deliver a casket within 24-hours. The Big Two are aware that their hold on distribution is being threatened as small importers like ACE grow and attain more resources.

In 2006, A Matthews subsidiary filed a design infringement suit and nearly toppled ACE causing early customers to leave and Malamas and his Chinese importer to amass $2 million in legal fees.

Bloomberg Business week reported, “When Malamas entered the market, Big Casket moved quickly to defend its turf. In 2006 a Matthews subsidiary filed suit, alleging that ACE and its Chinese supplier were copying its designs. Matthews also sent letters to funeral homes and distributors, threatening to sue if they continued to buy from Malamas. ACE eventually prevailed in the lawsuit with Matthews in 2012, and the company’s Chinese supplier picked up most of the legal tab. But by then, Malamas’s revenue had been cut in half, his clients were spooked, and the business was in shambles.”

“It was a nonsense lawsuit,” says Dan Isard, who’s interviewed Malamas on his podcast at FuneralRadio.com. “But it slowed him down. The Big Three made their money back on legal fees many times over.”

Now, two-years since the Bloomberg story, where does the war on imported caskets stand?

For starters, Basteville and Mathews have continued to move their casket manufacturing plants to Mexico, a move that began in the early 2000’s. This was expected and probably long overdue from a business standpoint.

Funeral industry expert Dan Isard told the Huffington Post in an interview:

You could import caskets from China with a 100 percent import tax and still they would be cheaper than manufacturing in the United States.

According to Malamas, after Mathews lost the 2012 suite against Wuxi Tractor Factory, they filed an enforcement action against the manufacturer. The enforcement action does not appear to be a lawsuit, but is intended to allow Mathews to conduct investigations to monitor compliance and identify violations. The details of the enforcement action could not be confirmed.

Malamas himself still gets letters for court appearances even though he no longer works with Wuxi Tractor Factory. He said he does not understand why he continues to feel pressure from Mathews lawyers. “I am not complying,” he tells Connecting Directors.

Malamas and his comply ACE Caskets weathered the storm of the 2012 suite, but not without damage. He told Connecting Directors that his sales have declined 75%. He added, “…but “I have a lot of energy again and we are making progress.” ACE Caskets is no longer the largest importer, giving way to companies like Signet Supply and Best Price Caskets.

Malamas has been refining his product line, reportedly visiting 54 Chinese casket manufacturers in person to find the best quality/price combination to offer his growing U.S. client base. All of his wood is sourced in the U.S. and Canada then shipped to China for production. Malamas told Connecting Directors:

We get to support the U.S. logging industry and still save our customers 75%. I want to help funeral homes lower their costs and this is the way to do it.

Malamas at a client’s storage facility in Gardena, Calif. Photographer: Julian Berman for Bloomberg Businessweek (via Bloomberg Businessweek)

The post Learn About the Ongoing War on Imported Caskets. Winners, Losers, and Lawsuits… appeared first on Connecting Directors.

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