#he was responsible for removing lead from gasoline and paint :)

[msnihilist]

Happy Clair Cameron Patterson day!

[leftistfeminista]

VINTO, Bolivia — First, they tried to rip Patricia Arce’s clothes off.

When she fought back, the masked men came down on her with sticks, beating her until she passed out. When she came to, they pulled her up, removed her shoes, and forced her to walk down a long street covered with broken glass.

The frenzied crowd led Arce, the mayor of Vinto, a small town in central Bolivia, away from her office. They said they were walking her to her death. Along the way, someone doused her with red paint and gasoline. Then a woman rushed up to her and chopped off clumps of her hair, at one point slicing a chunk of her scalp off.

Videos of the assault, which took place last month, were quickly uploaded to social media and went viral around the world within hours, showing Arce looking shell-shocked. When the crowd finally came to a halt 3 miles down the road, a man forced Arce down on the ground, stood behind her, and grabbed one of her breasts. “We are live, we are live!” someone yelled before he removed his hand.

By then, a handful of local reporters had caught up to them, and planted microphones in Arce’s face. They asked her to recount what she had just been through. Arce, 48, was still being held against her will by the mob even as she tried to speak.

“Resign!” a chorus of people shouted in the background. Suddenly defiant, Arce said she wasn’t afraid, and that if anything happened to her or her children, the country’s emboldened right-wing opposition should be held responsible.

When Arce, a lawyer and mother of three, first got into politics five years ago, she could never have expected it would lead to this: beaten, humiliated, and turned into an international symbol of political violence.

[prurientpuddlejumper]

A Punchable Face That I Want to Kiss, Ch. 9

<- Chapter 8 || Sequel: A Lipless Face That I Want to Marry

Summary: The goddamned Red Dragon. 

2,384 words

The smell was what hit you first. It entered your nostrils, filled your lungs like smoke, and shivered down your spine. The charcoal of burned flesh. If not for the bitter mingling of burned hair and gasoline, it might have smelled like steak on the grill. The thought turned your stomach. You gave yourself a moment to get used to it, to calm your breathing, before pulling back the curtain.

It was shocking. Horrifying beyond anything you could have prepared for.

He lay unmoving in the hydrotherapy tub in the ICU, burned over ninety percent of his body. You knew it would be bad, but you thought you had already cried your eyes dry when you were first told what had happened, and you stood in the hospital waiting room for hours begging every receptionist and nurse to tell you if he was going to live.

When they finally let you see him, you knew you had to be brave. Breaking down would only make it harder on him. Whatever you do, don’t react.

“Hey there,” you greeted him cheerfully like nothing was wrong. Don’t react. Monitors beeped steadily, and a strong antiseptic smell overpowered the smell of burning. His eyes lifted sluggishly, unfocused. Don’t... Your head swam, and you had to squeeze your eyes shut with all your might to force back the tears biting behind the lids. It felt like the air had been knocked from your lungs, and it was all you could do not to fall to your knees crying.

“Hard… to look at… huh?” he croaked after a while. You gasped at the sound of it, so pained that he had given up on forming proper words halfway through the question and ended it with a grunt. His voice was as charred as his flesh.

There was no skin left. None, except a few patches below the waist, cooling in the tub in an effort to preserve them. His hair was singed off down to the muscle, and the red remains of his scalp were blackened, cracked open and oozing in places. White teeth stood out in sharp contrast in his lipless mouth, like a skull. His lips were gone. Ripped off his face even before being burned alive by a serial killer who thought he was a fucking William Blake painting. A serial killer Will Graham had thrown in Frederick’s path, just to see what would happen.

Little fly, Thy summer’s play My thoughtless hand Has brush’d away

You opened your eyes, surrendering to the tears that poured out unimpeded.

“I don’t know what to say,” you breathed, trying to collect your thoughts. You stepped up to the edge of tub and looked him directly in the eye, making a point of showing that his appearance wasn’t why you had to close your eyes. He had bigger things to worry about than what he looked like right now, but you were sure he was going to be acutely insecure about it. With his contact lens removed, his one dead eye completed the living-corpse effect, but you weren’t repulsed. “I was trying to think of something to say to you—something I could say that would make things better. Because I don’t want to ask a stupid question like ‘how are you feeling?’… or make cliché promises like it’s going to be OK. I tried to think of what I would want someone to say to me if I was the one lying there, but there’s nothing. Nothing I can say will magically make anything better, and I...”

The urge to hold him overwhelmed you. You wanted so badly to kiss him, but you couldn’t even touch him—not an inch of his scorched body—without hurting him more. Choked sobs broke through the tight constriction of your throat, and you gave up trying to speak, kneeling instead by the side of the water tank, your head leaning against its cold metal walls. It was all you could do, the closest you could get.

The last thing you wanted was to make him have to comfort you, but that was exactly what you did; Chilton started whispering sweet consolations to you, though every syllable was an effort, and without lips to press together he had great difficulty forming many sounds, and could no longer pronounce the letters b or p at all. You struggled to make out the words, but you understood the meaning behind them.

You just wanted to touch him again, and he felt the same way.

“Put your hand near mine,” he suggested, slow and raspy.

Carefully, you placed your palm down on the smooth white rim of the tub, avoiding medical tubing and wires, next to his. His wrist was restrained in a soft bandage to keep his arm from sliding off the edge and to keep the IV needles in place.

With painful effort, he stretched his fingers out. Even moving an inch hurt, the skin crisp and easily broken, but he gently touched the back of your hand. He released his muscles and let his hand relax on top of yours. A sigh of relief puffed from his chest. It was exhausting, but worth it.

You still wore your engagement ring, but his had to be cut off of him. A nurse had handed it back to you in pieces, the gold warped from the heat.

Chilton was furious with his situation. He was furious with Will Graham—his initial diagnosis of intelligent psychopath seemingly more accurate by the day. He was furious with Hannibal Lecter, with Jack Crawford, and with himself. Every part of his body screamed in pain the drugs could barely dull. He was grateful for one thing, however.

He was glad Dolarhyde had taken him in his car, and not at home. The goddamned Red Dragon. Francis Dolarhyde tortured him and killed two of his best bodyguards, but his modus operandi was murdering whole families. If Chilton had considered the risk, he would have never agreed to that interview. It was supposed to be publicity for his newest book, The Dragon Slayer. He pictured the headline: “Hero psychiatrist once again aids in the capture of serial killer.” If anything had happened to you, he wouldn’t have survived. He wouldn’t have wanted to.

God, he wished he could touch you. Wished you could comfort him. Wished he could feel anything besides pain. Would he ever kiss you again? Would whatever they could reconstruct of his face be something you would ever want to kiss? You stood by him through so much, but he could never ask you to walk through this hell with him.

  *****

Two familiar voices spoke in hushed whispers outside the thin curtain. No. The hairs on the back of your neck bristled like an angry dog. Those were not the people you wanted to see right now.

“He’s trashed. You ought to get ready for this,” said the deeper of the voices, as if you couldn’t hear him.

Will Graham and Jack Crawford pulled back the curtain divider and entered the room, and you immediately leaped to your feet and rounded on them. You'd been holding in a scream since you saw Frederick burned, and now you unleashed it on them in full force.

“You bastards. You fucking bastards!”

Will’s eyes fell on Chilton, and regarded him with a disturbed, yet wholly unsurprised expression, like someone who set a mouse trap and now had to deal with the bloated carcass.

“Frederick, it’s Will Graham,” he said, ignoring you. “I’m sorry this happened to you.”

He wasn’t.

“He knows who you are,” you hissed through bared teeth. You would have screamed at him, physically pushed him out of the room, but you heard Frederick rasping, tongue moving behind his teeth as he tried to talk, his eyes locked on Will. You stood aside and let him speak for himself.

“You… set me… up. You knew it… You put your hand on me in the picture… like a pet.”

Will translated his broken speech for Crawford, and asked if he saw anything in the Red Dragon’s lair.

A blind black woman.

“Reba,” Crawford said. “The Dragon said her name when he called Lecter.”

With a lead to follow, the pair turned to leave.

“That’s it? That’s all you came here for, huh? You get your answers? Was it worth it?” you laughed bitterly. “Why the hell didn’t you protect him?!” you roared at Crawford, snarling savagely. “You gave Will a SWAT team when both of them were in that fucking article! Why wasn’t anybody watching him?”

Crawford shifted uncomfortably, unable to show the guilt he deeply felt while there was still a killer to catch. “We believed that the Dragon would—”

“Yeah, you believed he’d target Will, right?” you interrupted. “Because that’s what Will told you? You are at best a criminally negligent idiot being led around by the nose by psychopaths, and at worst, you are complicit in enabling them!” The fierce tears streaming down your face warned him better than to argue. You turned your fury back to Will where it truly belonged. “You! Stay the hell away from us. If you come near him again, I swear I’ll—” you spat, but stopped your threat short. You wanted to rip him limb from limb. You did. But saying you’ll kill someone was more than empty words around people like this. And the truth was, you didn’t have that in you. Not like Will did.

So you let them walk out without taking any revenge, or even promising to.

As soon as the curtain swished shut behind them, you wanted to fall to your knees again, but your anger hadn’t yet burned itself out. You turned on Frederick. “Stop getting involved with them! You keep trying to swim with the sharks, but you’re not a shark, Frederick—you’re chum on the water!” Your chest heaved with emotion and your voice was too hoarse to continue without a fresh round of tears.

Chilton wouldn’t dignify that analogy with a response, but grumpily turned his head away to stare at the opposite wall. At least you imagined it was grumpily—he was unable to cross his arms over his chest with annoyance, or leer haughtily through his brow which was singed to the bone, or curl his torn-off lips into a scowl, or even produce an offended growl from his raw throat, and yet you could see him doing all of it clearly in your head.

He was still your Frederick. He hadn’t changed. He never did. No matter what horrific punishment he suffered for his hubris, he would pick himself back up and continue to stick his nose where it didn’t belong until the fates knocked him down again. You admired that most about him—surviving the worst odds again and again, and keeping his ego intact. It was what first made you fall for him, all those years ago.

It never was pity at all, was it? It was always his strength that drew you in.

“I don’t… want you to get hurt again,” you explained, calmer, softer, your voice a trembling mess. “It’s a miracle you survived this, and I…” You wondered how much more could his body take before there was nothing left to recover—before he was nothing but a mass of scar tissue and empty space where bones and organs once were. But you couldn’t tell him that. He had to focus on healing now, not long-term outcomes. “I don’t want to lose you.”

He survived, but with massive trauma. It had to all add up. His blind eye, lost facial bones and teeth, missing organs, and now the majority of skin would be scar tissue and grafts. How many medications and risks of complications were stacking up? How many years were taken off his life? If he went septic before the grafts were completed he could he still die here in the ICU. If he made it out, he might still never move without pain again.

His maxillary prosthetic would get sore after wearing it for too long, but the sagging of his cheek and eyelid without it was also uncomfortable. It was difficult for him to reach things above his head because of the way stretching pulled at his abdominal scar. And those were small compared to this.

What would his life be now?

“You don’t have to stay… out of loyalty,” he wheezed, sensing the way your eyes drifted over his broken body.

“It’s alright,” you smiled through tears, the salt getting in your mouth, “I cleared my schedule. I’ve got nowhere else to be but here.”

“You know… what I mean…”

“Are you suggesting we call off the engagement because you can’t fuck for awhile?”

He made an attempt at a laugh that sounded like choking, then fixed you with a desperate gaze. “This is… not what you signed up for...” He knew he would never be the man you had wanted to marry again. He couldn’t ask you to help him through a long recovery, to look at the nightmare he had become and pretend to still love him.

“How uncharacteristically selfless of you, Dr. Chilton,” you teased, “but I just told you I don’t want to lose you. Asshole.”

His one good eye searched your face through a layer of tears that clung to its surface, but you couldn’t tell if he was smiling or frowning.

There was so little left of his face that was recognizable, but around the gaping hole of teeth the cheeks were still Chilton’s cheeks, the shape of his nose still Chilton’s nose. His one good eye was still the color of water at Chesapeake Beach.

“I want to spend the rest of my life with you, so the only thing you should worry about is living long enough to make that happen. I’m never going to leave you, however bad things get. I love you, dummy. Always.”

Slowly, he released a breath he’d been holding since he was fished out of that fountain. The side of his mouth that always tugged up into a crooked smile when he was winning twitched. A contented, charred noise hummed in his throat. “You thought of something to say… to make it… a little better.”

[heart-eye-harrington]

gwen stacy

Summary: Steve always hated how Spider-Man couldn’t save Gwen Stacy, but what will he do differently when put in the same situation?

Word count: 6.3k

Warnings: Mild swearing, brief mentions of blood/injury, my not 100% accurate retelling of Spider-Man lure

A/N: Hi! I’ve loved this concept for so long that I really wanted to write it! It’s a bit lengthy but didn’t feel right to break it up. Let me know what you think! okay hope you have a good day, i love youuuuuuuu

⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆★⋆

Peter Parker - the nerdy wallflower with a heart of gold. Greatness was thrust upon poor Peter when he was bitten by that radioactive spider. But what did he do with this greatness? Did he use it for his own benefit? No. He used his powers to help others, to protect the neighborhood, to look out for the little guy. He fought the evil in the world as one of the greatest heroes of all, but came home and was back to reality as plain Peter Parker again. There was still a boy under the mask; and a girl who loved him, with and without it on. He’d save the city, save civilians, and he’d save the girl; consistently proving that good would overcome evil and be rewarded. But that wasn’t always the case in life, even for Spider-Man. The fight started like many others, the bad guy had taken Spider-Man’s girlfriend and put her in the middle of the fight to slow Spider-Man’s attacks and distract him. Both powers found themselves falling into the routine brawl, until Green Goblin pushed Gwen Stacy from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge. Spider-Man shot a web in a desperate attempt to save her from the fall. Despite his efforts, she died, snapping her neck from the sudden shock. A deafening snap heard, dashing all hopes of her survival. Good had lost. Peter lost his first true love. Gwen was gone despite it all. 

The story of Gwen Stacy always infuriated Steve. When he was young and read the comic he was baffled. How could Spider-Man let that happen? He could save everyone and still lose one of the most important people in his life. It just wasn’t fair. Steve swore he would never let that happen to him, he would fight harder than anyone, even Spider-Man, for those he loved. 

As he got older, the childhood vow drifted to the back of his head. King Steve took its place. Basketball, girls, and kegs took its place. He was your average teen, prioritizing what you think will help you fit in and make you likable. 

His vow resurfaced when he found Nancy at the Byer’s house that November night. Carol and Tommy struck a match when they struck a nerve. 

Tommy tossed him a coke, letting him knew he owed him a buck fifty. Steve scoffed, because of course Tommy couldn’t just get him something without having to pay him back. Steve places the can to his injured eye, savoring the cool on his skin. The thumping in his head disappears for just a moment before being replaced with another, Carol and Tommy’s cruel jokes. Normally Steve would nod and laugh along, but this time something felt different. He really listened this time, to their claims that Jonathan killed his brother, that Nancy was a slut, and it just rubbed him the wrong way. It was as if they held a match, and he was the striker paper. They had rubbed so many times but this was the moment the match caught aflame.

“Carol, for one in your life can you shut your damn mouth?” Steve was shocked at the ease of his outburst, but not ashamed of it. It felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders. It felt good to get them to stop for once. 

“Hey, what’s your problem man?” Tommy demanded, he and Carol both taken aback at his sudden opposition. But the fire was burning and Steve had no intention of extinguishing it. 

“You’re both assholes, that’s my problem.” He saw he had befriended the heartless villains he swore to defeat, and worse, allowed himself to fall under their influences. He had to get as far away from them as possible and get back to the good in his life. He realized he needed to fight for good again, and that meant fixing his screw up with Nancy. She might be his Gwen Stacy, and he couldn’t sit back and watch as she slipped through his fingers. He messed up, and had to make things right. So he hopped in his car and sped off to his first crime of the day. After a few hours of scrubbing the paint on the marquee and volunteering to help with other odd jobs at the theatre, he sank into the driver’s seat and sighed. He knew what his next step needed to be, but just because you have a plan doesn’t make it easy. He turned the key, flicked on his headlights and headed to the Byer’s house. Tommy’s words echoing in his head, fueling the fire. 

“That’s right! Run away Stevie boy! Run away! Just like you always do! That’s right Harrington! 

Run away!” 

While Carol and Tommy may have struck the match, seeing the flickering lights inside the Byer’s house poured gasoline on the small fire in him. It burned through and melted the hard outer shell he had developed, and exposed the hero his younger self always thought he was inside. The brave boy who fought to protect those he loved. He ran into the house and helped Nancy and Jonathan. After that night, he became his very own Spider-Man. 

Time passed, but that night stayed with him. He kept his younger self in his mind more prominently. He did his best to be the best boyfriend he could be to Nancy, because that’s what she deserved. He did what he could for her, helping her with Barb and reminding her that none of what happened was her fault. Despite his best efforts, she slipped out of his grasp. Maybe it was all bullshit, but damn if he wouldn’t fight for her. He did fight, but not how he imagined. He had to grab his bat again and battle extra-dimensional creatures to protect kids he barely knew. He had a responsibility to protect them, something he quickly accepted and even embraced. He was their hero, fighting the monsters and evil. But, a reward didn’t come in the end. Nancy wasn’t his. He realized she never truly was. It took a while, but he accepted it, came to terms that his first love may have never loved him back, but that’s ok. She’s happy now and that’s all he could wish for her. With the gate to the Upside Down closed, his hero mask was hung up and bat hidden behind old clothes in his closet. Life went on. He graduated high school and got a summer job. Scoops Ahoy wasn’t a part of his ideal hero’s journey, but it paid the bills. 

🕸 

The last few cords of Queen’s Radio Gaga flow through the summer air before Steve turns the key, turning off his car. His chest rises and dramatically falls for no one but himself to see. He mustered up his energy before stepping out of his car. He blinked in the summer sunshine, taking a moment to enjoy how it warms his skin before being trapped in a prison of florescent lights for the next few hours. He drags his feet the entirety of the parking lot before reaching the doors. He adjusts the bag on his back containing his stupid sailor outfit as he makes his way to Scoops. He enters the ice cream parlor and heads to the back room. Just as he’s about to reach the door, it slams open in his face. Pain rushes to his nose and he’s doubled over, clutching it as a few choice words fall from his lips. The open door reveals you, grasping your own face in shock. You kneel down beside Steve, one hand delicately on his shoulder, not sure exactly what to do but wanting to comfort and help him. 

“Oh my God I am so sorry!” your voice coming across breathless in your startled state. Steve lifts his head just enough to let his eyes catch yours. There’s a moment of silence where you’re searching each other’s faces. Something washes over you, but you weren’t sure what it was yet. He sees your worry and distress and can’t help but feel sorry for you. 

“Hey, don’t worry about it. I’ve been knocked in the head so many times, this is nothing.” he chuckles, but his words didn’t put your guilt at ease. 

“Please, let me help you. I know first aid.” Steve can’t find himself to say no, letting you guide him into the backroom to fuss over him. You lead him to the small table, guiding him to sit. As soon as you’re satisfied that he’s comfortable, you turn your back and scramble to get the supplies for his bleeding and probably bruised nose. He didn’t need to be coddled his much, but part of him enjoyed it. A small smile sneaks onto his face as you run a cloth under cold water, the first-aid kit tucked under your arm. You pull up a seat next to him, a serious and concerned look in your eyes. You lightly remove his hand from his nose and place a hand under his chin, turning his head better assessing the damage. 

“Do you feel any blood going down your throat?”

“No”

“Good. Then it’s only an anterior bleed. Posterior bleeds are typical for people who have had head injuries in the past and are a bit more serious. I was worried after you said you’ve gotten hit a few times in the past. I’m just gonna put the cold cloth over your nose, can you pinch it? You should be fine after about 10 minutes” You eyes examine his face to see if he understands, and can’t help but blush at sudden realization at how close you are.

“You weren’t kidding when you said you’re trained in first aid” his laugh is a bit nasally considering his plugged nose, causing your laugh to shake your chest a bit harder.

“What can I say? I thought it would be good with all the babysitting I did. But the kid I watched doesn’t need a sitter anymore, so here I can scooping ice cream.”

“Well, I guess this is one way to be introduced to your co-worker” 

“What can I say? I make a strong first impression.” You chuckle, but it’s short-lived as guilt pools in your gut. “Sorry ‘bout that.”

“Look, it’s fine, you fixed me up. So, what’s my nurse’s name so I may properly thank them?”  He extends his free hand, an olive branch. A playful smirk plays your lips, giving him your name and a proper handshake. 

From that moment on, there was an unspoken bond between the two of you, and you looked out for one another. Steve felt a sense of protectiveness over you, to make sure you were ok. It was always little things like making sure you took your breaks, shooting mean looks at creepy customers, or slipping you a banana when he knew you hadn’t eaten in a while. You’d do the same for him, telling Robin to give him a break after an exceptionally terrible attempt at getting a date or packing doubles of your lunch for him after seeing him eat smushed PB & J’s for the millionth time in a row.  

“Aww, did your mommy pack you apple slices? How cute.” Robin’s joking condescending tone brought a grin to both her and Steve’s faces. 

“No, they did.” He gestures to the counter where you stood scooping ice cream while your coworkers took a quick break. It was slow, so you volunteered to ‘man the ship’ so Steve and Robin could sit in the back room. They both peered at you through the crack Steve left in the sliding window. You were patiently listening to a little girl stumble through her order, sending her reassuring nods and smiles. You radiate positive energy like the sun, washing everything you touched in a warm light. Even from the brief interaction little girl felt it, Robin felt it, but Steve felt it most of all. The simplest actions would cause warmth to spread through his chest, occasionally rising to his checks if he thought about it too much. 

“Earth to Romeo, you’re staring” Robin’s words pull Steve from his trace, the familiar warmth amplified by her words. He ducks his head in a vain attempt to hide it, but he knows nothing gets past Robin. She glances back to you, oblivious to the situation happening behind you. She shakes her head and chuckles, deciding it would be more fun to watch the former king of Hawkins fumble over a girl than call him out. So she simply stands, giving him a small pat on the shoulder on her way out the swinging door open to join you at the counter. She gives you a hip bump, drawing a laugh, and sending Steve back into his trance.

“So, how’s the ship sailor?” 

“She’s in tip-top shape captain,” you tell Robin, saluting her and sending the two of you into giggles. You take a second to relish the moment. You would have never thought a summer job would give you two of your best friends. You’ve never laughed as hard as you did when at the ice cream parlor. You’re drawn from your thought when the bell on the counter rings. You turn to see three young teens staring intently at you. 

“Is Steve here?” the boy with black hair and pale skin asks. 

“He’s in the back on break. You guys ok?” you ask, seeing the discomfort on the youngest’s face

“Will scrapped his knee on the bike ride over and we just need a band-aid” the third boy, who you later learned was named Lucas responded, pointing to the youngest boy, whose name you learned was Will. 

“I can help you out! Come on.” You gesture for the three to follow you into the break room. You get Will to sit, and you squat before him and examine the injury. It doesn’t look bad at all, but there’s probably some dirt in the scrape. Your eyebrows knit together as you think of what to do, making sure to wipe them away before meeting Will’s eyes.

“I’m gonna get some hydrogen peroxide, just be sure it’s clean. We’ll get a band-aid on it and you’ll be good as gold.” Will’s expression relaxes from your comforting words. You rub his arm before going to grab the first aid kit. You hear Steve making small talk with the boys, asking them about what they’ve been up to and when Dustin will be back from camp. You feel your heart flutter at the tone the boys use, all so comfortable with each other. Hearing how good Steve is with them almost makes you sigh with joy. You turn back to Will, supplies in hand. You make sure you’re quick with your work, knowing the hydrogen peroxide doesn’t exactly tickle. Smoothing out the band-aid on his knee, you give a content exhale at your handiwork. 

“There, all better. But you know what makes everything better? Ice cream! You guys want some?” the three teens cheer, which you take as a yes. You share a look with Steve, neither able to deny the joy they boys spread. You bring them to the front, give them their orders, with a little extra for Will, and send them on their way. You smile to yourself seeing the three joke around, and can’t help but wonder what adventures they’d get into. Little did you know you were about to be sucked into an adventure of your own. 

“TOUCH MY BUTT I DON’T CARE!!!” 

“Uh, Robin? What’s doing on?” You timidly ask, taking slow steps into the backroom.

“I’m gone for two days and suddenly this is happening?” you gesture to Steve pushing a kid’s butt into the air vent. 

“Yeah, it’s a long story” Robin chuckles and her eyes remain glued on the scene playing out in front of her. 

After Steve and the boy, who introduces himself as Dustin, get down from the vent, the trio fills you in on what happened.

“You guys are crazy. Really? Russians in Hawkins? Why?” You cross your arms in disbelief. Do they really think you’re that gullible? Well, apparently you are. 

“We don’t know, but we have to find out,” Dustin explains. You lean back, curiosity getting the best of you. Here goes nothing.

“Ok, I’m in. What’s the plan?” you lock eyes with Steve, sending him a small nod. That’s the moment the seed of doubt was planted in his mind. Deja vu flooded through his veins, making this body tingle. He had no idea how big this thing was. What is there really were evil Russians? What if people got hurt? What could he do to keep people safe? He wasn’t sure, but he knew he was willing to do whatever it takes to make sure you all made it out okay. 

He kept his vow the best he could. When trapped in the elevator, he stayed up all night trying to find a way out. He lead the group around the base, making sure he was in front, the first line of defense. Seeing the guard in the communications room sent him into overdrive, charging and taking him out. He cleared as many obstacles as he could to leave a clear path for you all to follow. He did all he could until he was cornered. 

The Russians banged on the door after chasing the group into a room. He screamed for the kids to run, to just go. In his efforts to save the kids he forgot about you and Robin beside him holding the door. It all happened so fast. The floorboard closed atop Dustin and the door behind him flew opened, pushing him, Robin, and you to the floor. That’s when time stood still. His breath hitched in this throat as his hands came up in surrender. The guards took you first, kicking and screaming in a last-ditch attempt to break free. When you turn to see your coworkers, tears streaming down your face, your gaze holds Steve’s in a vice grip. His heart shatters at the fear in your eyes and worse, the pleading. Before he can react, the metal door closes with a deafening thud. 

He’s taken next, and the interrogation is hell. Yeah, the punches hurt, but they replaced the ache in his chest with another. He took it all he could until he couldn’t, succumbing to the pain. When he finally came back to, he hears Robin’s yelling and feels the vibrations from behind him. He only has the energy to stare at his lap, before he sees a yellow sneaker out of the corner of his eye. A familiar warmth fills his chest, the same one he felt anytime he saw them. They carried you throughout the store, often skipping or dancing to the beat of whatever song you had stuck in your head that day. He musters up whatever strength he has to follow the line of your body. There you are, eyes closed and body sprawled on the floor. Fear flashes through him until he sees your chest slowly rise and fall. You look unharmed, further comforting him. He didn’t fail. You were all still safe. The relief wasn’t long-lived, as a familiar fire made a home in Steve’s chest. He was going to fight tooth and nail to make sure you all made it out, he couldn’t lose anyone. 

Erica and Dustin were able to rescue the three of you and get you out of the base. They sat you three in a movie while they got help. Steve and Robin went to get water while you stayed in the movie, too freaked out to leave. You rejoined the group when the movie was over, eager to leave Star Court. Your dreams were dashed when you saw the Russians checking the moviegoers. Steve’s first reaction is to grab your hand, dragging you out of your daze and away from the evil.  You stumble over your own feet as you run, still not fully aware of what’s going on. It wasn’t until you saw their guns that the panic made its way to your legs, carrying you faster and closer to Steve. The five of you hide under the counter of Great Cookie, ragged breathing echoing in your ears. You wrap your arms around Steve’s bicep, clinging to him and burying your face in his shoulder, desperate for any comfort he can provide. You focus on his breathing, familiar scent of hairspray, vanilla and cologne, and the comforting heat of his skin. His free hand comes up to clutch your head, doing whatever he can to keep you close to him. The steps get closer and you squeeze your eyes shut, bracing for the worst. But it never comes. A loud honking and the crunching of metal filled the air instead of bullets. You lift your head to share a puzzled and relieved look with Steve. You take a moment to enjoy the closeness before turning to look above him, only to find find a group on the balcony. You recognize some of the faces, but not all. 

While the drugs had worn off, you still felt like your head was whirling when you learned a girl flipped a car with her mind. The group obviously knew more than you did and you did your best to quickly absorb as much information as you could. In your whirlwind, you notice El stumble away from the group. You begin to follow her as she covers her ears.

“Hey, are you ok?” the second the question leaves your lips, she hits the floor. The group all turn their attention to her and you run to comfort her. You reach her first, kneeling beside her and fanning her face. 

“My leg, my leg” she whimpers, pain evident in every muscle of her body. Someone unwraps the makeshift binding on her leg to reveal what looks to be an infected cut. Your suspicions are beyond confirmed when something begins moving under her skin. Training kicking in, you know what has to be done. 

“Hey, someone grab a knife from the Chinese restaurant and heat it up to disinfect it. Grab something for her to bite. Get gloves too! Quick, please!” You do your best to remain calm for the girl, but need to relay the urgency everyone knows is needed. After seeing Jonathan run in the direction, you turn back to El.

“Hey, everything’s gonna be fine. You’re doing good. Just keep talking to us ok? Deep breaths.” She nods, sobbing as she waits for Jonathan to come back. You feel a hand on your back, turning to see Steve right behind you giving you a reassuring nod. He squats next to you, now putting his hands on your shoulders. It was like a chain of support, him for you, you for El. Jonathan comes back and does his best to get whatever it is out of her, but she insists on doing it herself. Everyone winces as they watch, you included, and you burry you head into Steve’s chest as he holds you close. You hear glass shatter and flinch closer into him. Everything’s silent for a moment, and you lift your head to see the chief of police, Mrs. Byer’s, and someone else. You look to Steve with bewilderment, and all he can do is shrug. He helps you up and the now larger group convenes. You’re mentally exhausted, once again finding yourself hanging off of Steve as you take everything in. You put together the pieces from the three groups and it makes just enough sense for you to follow along. 

Once a plan was made, you see Robin eating out of the corner of your eye. You nudge Steve, a silent invitation to follow you. Robin throws you both something to have. You didn’t realize how hungry you were till you tucked in. It was the first moment of normalcy you’ve had in a while, and you savored every last second of it. It was just like the three of you in the breakroom, laughing, joking, being normal teens. Dustin runs over, excitedly holding car keys. 

“Guess who got us a ride?” He beams. Steve gives him a puzzled look.

“Where are we going?” 

“We have to go to the radio tower I set up. They need us to navigate them around the base to close the gate.” 

“Okay, but what about El?” you question. She still looked to be in pretty bad shape, and you knew you were her best bet if her leg started causing her trouble again. A wound like that could easily reopen. 

“They’re going back to Murry’s, and Hopper wants you to stay with El. Will told him about how you helped him that day in the mall, and he wants you to look after her. ” Dustin informs you. You nod, 

“Ok, tell him I’ll go with her.” You say, Dustin nodding and running off the tell Hopper. Steve looks at you for a moment, realizing what you’re doing. For the first time in days, you won’t be at his side. He won’t be able to make sure you’re ok, and it scares him. 

“Hey, don’t you think you should come with us?” he pleads, gently rubbing up and down your arm. You sigh, wanting so badly to give in and go with him, to follow him where ever he goes, but knowing you’re needed somewhere else. 

“I’ll be ok. Don’t worry about me.” you send him a sympathetic smile, trying your best to convince him and yourself. Deep down you were terrified to be away from him, but you both had obligations now. You had but put your own interests aside and do what was best for the collective good.

“Promise?” Steve’s voice sounded as if it would break. In a spur of confidence, you cup his face in your hands.

“I promise, Steve.” There’s a gleam in your eyes, and Steve takes his hand from your arm and places it over yours.

Dustin returns, throwing the cars at Steve and basically dragging him away. Steve’s eyes stay on yours as you send a gentle wave to the group. You watch your friends until they round the corner, and sink into yourself. Your safety net was going to be driving far away, and taking your heart with it. You shake your head, clearing the thoughts like an etch a sketch. You make your way over to El, wrapping one of her arms around your neck as the group makes their way out of the mall. She groans and you can see she’s losing more blood. 

“Hey, once we get in the car I’ll take another look at it, okay?” all she can do is nod. You situated the two of you in the back of the car and hear the engine sputter. You overhear Nancy and Jonathan say the ignition cable is missing. Before you know it Billy is revving his engine across the lot. You scrabble to get the kids out of the car and back into the mall. Once back inside, you lay El down and redress her wound. It’s not as bad as you thought it would be, but you know your efforts are helping. You reassure her that she’ll be fine and properly fixed up soon enough 

In the distance you hear Mike calling to the “Scoops Troop”, and while in any other circumstance you would laugh at the name, you silently pray that they hear you and rescue you. While you were one who could normally save themselves, you were never trapped in a mall by a possessed Billy. Just as things were starting to look up, you notice Max and Mike looking up at something. Mike screams for his sister as the monster breaks through the mall ceiling. You grab Mike Max and El and hide under a food stand. You pull the three as close to you as possible and shut your eyes, a single tear streaming down your face. 

From the radio tower, Steve can’t stop pacing. He knows that something’s wrong and it’s eating him alive. It’s like he has a sixth sense and it’s going haywire. His mind is going through every bad possibility. What if you got into a car accident on the way? What if the Russians were waiting at the secret safe house? What is none of this would work? He rakes his fingers through his hair in an effort to self-sooth. He looks to the mall and sees the lights flickering. He’s taken back that November night outside the Byer’s. Fear’s icy grip takes hold of his legs, freezing him in place. He hears Dustin to your group over the radio. After the first call goes unanswered he’s on edge. After the second he’s panicking. After the third is answered with a monster’s screeching, he’s near hysterics. Before his mind can keep up with his legs, he’s running down the hill. He had to get you guys out of there. He barely hears Robin’s labored breathing behind him as they both scramble to the car. A fire is burning inside him and he was prepared to fight like hell. 

In the mall, you’re shaking, holding onto the kids like your life depended on it. You barely knew them but felt a responsibility to protect them. Mike wiggles out of your grip to peer over the stand. He hatches an escape plan to go up the stairs. Max reminds him that El is in no condition to do that, to which you nod and agree. That’s when you remember the way through the Gap. The four of you make a mad dash, you clutching El and giving her quiet reinforcement as she hobbles. Someone knocks something over in your haste, alerting the monster to your location. You once again scamble the kids under a counter and shield them with your body. The mind flayer gets distracted, and you guide the kids from the store. 

As Steve turns into the Star Court parking lot, his adrenaline is thumping in his ears. He didn’t know what he was expecting, but Nancy shooting at a car charging at her full speed was not it. His knuckles turn white as he grips the wheel, speeding full force into the other car, causing both to spin out. He catches his breath, looking over to make sure Robin is ok. He lifts his eyes to see the Mind Flayer crawl along the mall roof. Nancy pulls up next to them, telling them to get in. For once he wanted things to slow down, but they’re being chased by the fleshy monster. As soon as it turns around, he thinks to take survey of the car. When he sees fewer people than he’s expecting, he’s near tears. 

“Where are the others?” His voice is barely above a whisper, as if he doesn’t want anyone to hear and confirm his worst fear. 

“Where are the others?” Robin echos his question, but loud enough for the whole car to hear. All Jonathan and Nancy can do is exchange concerned looks. Steve’s hands fly to his hair, unable to process what is going on. You’re not there, which means you’re back in the mall with that thing and Billy. 

“Drive!” He screams, unable to do anything else. Words echo in his head “That’s right! Run away Stevie boy! Run away! Just like you always do! That’s right Harrington! 

Run away!” 

He wasn’t gonna run away this time.

“You’ve got this El. You’re so strong, you’re such a fighter.” You reassure her as the four of you make your way out of the mall. Just as the cool night air hit you, you see Billy emerge from his car. 

“Shit” you whisper, directing the kids back into StarCourt. You follow close behind, acting as a buffer between them and Billy. Mike finds an elevator and desperately tries to push the buttons to get you away from your stalker. You hear the metal door open and know he’s right behind you. Before you can do anything, Max tries to talk to him, but he slams her against the wall. He turns his attention to you, Mike, and El. You push the two behind you, trying in vain to hide them from him. 

“Billy. Please. They’re just kids. Please don’t do this.” He stares straight into your eyes and yet past you. Next thing you know he grabs your head and throws you into the wall. 

As soon as the car stops outside the mall, Steve charges in as quickly as he can. He’s got tunnel vision and finds himself on the balcony with Robin and the fireworks. He looks down just in time to see you run out of scoops. You stop a moment and look up, locking eyes with Steve. A shiver runs down his spine. You avert your gaze to El laying on the floor, motionless and seemingly unaware of the huge monster crawling toward her. You rush to her side in an attempt to pull her away, but Billy intercepts you. 

          It was a routine fight that started like many others

Steve grabs a firework and throws it as hard as he can, hitting the flesh monster and making it cry out in pain. He’s doing everything in his power to distract Billy and the Mind Flayer. The fire inside him burning so hot he can feel in on his skin.  

          The bad guy had taken Spider-Man’s girlfriend and put her in the middle of           the fight to slow Spider-Man’s attacks and distract him. 

Billy grabs you by the neck, lifting you into the air, choking you. You kick at him and scratch at his hands, tear streaming down your face. You give breathless pleas, but know it’s no use. His grip is too strong. He won’t stop 

          Spider-Man shot a web in a desperate attempt to save her.

“ROBIN! I NEED MORE!” Steve held his hand back, awaiting the reload of him ammunition. He was gonna hit that son of a bitch with everything he had. The now-familiar weight fell into his hand, and he launched the firework through the air. He swore he threw his arm out but he didn’t care. He was gonna fight harder than anyone. The fire had made its way to his eyes, burning so hot tears streamed down his face. He saw the monster flinch. It was working, it would all be over soon. His arm hurt so much but he wouldn’t stop

          Despite his efforts, a deafening snap was heard, dashing all hopes of her survival. 

Billy mirrored the monster’s pain, twitching with each impact from the fireworks. He let go of you. You fell to the ground with a deafening thump. Steve felt his entire body go numb. A heartwrenching scream raked through his body. It was a cry that could make anyone grasp their chest as if the pain shot like shards through the air. 

          Good had lost. Peter lost his first true love. Gwen was gone despite it all. 

From somewhere behind him he hears Robin over the radio tell Dustin they’re out of time. Boy, ain’t that the truth. He closes his eyes and remembers. Remember the first time you met, and hand coming to feel the bump on his nose. He remembers how alive you were, always singing to songs stuck in your head, helping others, doodling on your yellow shoes. The kind glances you’d give, quick remarks he’d counter, the way you made him feel. He felt the fire inside die, replaced by a glowing ember. The glow you’d carried now living in him. 

Robin nudges him and he looks down, only to see the monster attacking Billy. Any trace of anger or a revenge plot melting away at the sight. No one deserves that pain, not even Billy. Suddenly the monster begins to flail, Steve and Robin stumbling back from the rail as it falls into it. The pair jump back to their feet and peer below. A fire burns, scorching the monster’s motionless body. Mike rushes to El, wrapping her in his arm. Max stumbles to Billy, sobbing over him. Before Robin can stop him, Steve is rushing down the escalators to you. His feet can’t carry him fast enough, so he slides down the center. When he reaches you, he collapses to his knees. Steve cradles you in his arms, sobbing into your hair. His hand supports the back of your head, holding you close to his heart. 

I’m sorry, I’m sorry” he repeats, placing kisses on your head. 

“I tried, I tried. I fought as hard as I could”

He’s rocking back and forth, trying to soothe himself and you. He screws his eyes shut, taking you in one last time

“Steve?” the voice was barely audible. Steve almost didn’t hear it

The voice comes again, groan follows, then a cough. He carefully moves your head from his chest and it met with the kind eyes he loved looking back at him. A sob crawled its way out his body as you smiled at him. A reassuring smile. You place a hand on his cheek, and he quickly pulls it to his mouth, planting a kiss on your palm. 

“I thought I lost you” his voice coming across breathless in his startled state. There’s a moment of silence where you’re searching each other’s faces. Something washes over you, but this time you’re sure of what it is. You see his worry and distress and can’t help but feel sorry for the pain you caused him. 

“You can’t get rid of me that easily” you grin, you words causing a choked chuckle and tears to flow from Steve. He pulls you close again, fully sobbing into your hair. You wrap your arms around him in a tight embrace. He savors the feeling. 

Good had won. Steve saved his true love. You were here despite it all.

[capricornus-rex]

Old Friend, New Family (6)

Requested by Anon | Prompt:

Hey I was wondering if you’d take a prompt where the reader is an ex-padawan who’s master died pretty early on in order 66, and was instead saved by a clone that removed his inhibitor chip. Then maybe they get separated, and years later when the reader is a crew member on the Mantis, they come across the clone again? How would the crew, especially Cal and Cere, react to meeting a friendly ex-soldier clone who’s close with the reader? Could you make it full of angst then fluff? Love your writing!

Tags: Defected! Clone Trooper, Jedi Survivor! Reader, Order 66 Survivor

Also posted in AO3

Chapters: 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 | Previous: Part 5 | Next: Part 7 | Masterlist

6 of ?

There were debris that had to be cleared out of the landing pad, in case partisans and rescued Wookiees are nearer to that point once they rendezvous. The big problem was the AT-AT, the partisans had little to no resources in moving that away, but they need to clear the path for the other groups coming from the other side.

“Can’t exactly blow it up, can we?” you suggested.

“No, Spinner, we can’t blow it up,”

“Well, my next idea was to tow it until the legs come off,”

“We’ll need some heavy machinery to do that. I don’t see any working walkers or gunships here, do you?”

The day became very busy. The wrecked walker will have to wait, you made yourselves busy in the landing pad—receiving the new batch of supplies, tending to the injured, assisting the medics, and the like. When most of the work at the landing pad has been done, you join Strig and the others to the refinery.

The elevator door rumbled and revealed the forest trench, it was literally a hop and a skip to the platform up ahead. Most of the partisans had their gear to easily traverse the terrain, Strig noticed that you’re barely armed—save for your lightsaber, of course.

“You need some help getting across, Spinner?”

“I think I can hold out well,”

“Alright,”

Strig and the others went ahead with their grappling hooks and rope-guns, from behind, you ran the walls, hopped the gaps, and got rid of the flame beetles before you could grab the liana to swing across. From the platform, Strig watched you navigate through the trench.

“Huh, not bad,��� he muttered under his breath.

You landed on the balls of your feet after climbing up the grate.

“I see that you ain’t rusty yet, huh?”

“Oh, I had some practice through the years,” you huffed, catching your breath. “I have a good training buddy too.”

A fatherly intuition was piqued from your last sentence. Strig tried his best to hide his overprotectiveness and kept it casual.

“Do you?”

“Uh-huh,”

There it is again, the side-eye to the right.

“Look, we’re gonna have to get to the high ground and there’s no way you’re climbing that and joining us at the top in time,”

“I think I can handle myself pretty well, Strig,”

“I don’t doubt that, but I’m trying to make this easy for you,” he tugged another blaster pistol from his vest’s utility belt and handed it over to you. “You’ll need this grappling hook.”

The tool leaves his hand, you follow Strig’s lead and then pulled the trigger as you pointed it at the ledge above. Both of you zip upwards and land on the balls of your feet when the length of the cord retracted back into the gun.

“You’re three years overdue with your explanation—two of them, at that,”

“Two?! Whoa hey, slow down there, Spinner, we’re just getting started with the mission!”

“Then let’s finish it quickly,” you coyly smirked and lightly thumped his chest with the back of your hand.

You gather at the edge of the platform here there’s optimum view of the whole refinery—at least the bulk of it—the pack leader peered through his binoculars and surveyed each portion of the area.

“Gerrera should be in the control center at the end of that hallway,” the pack leader points at the infrastructure. “They should also be close to the prison blocks over there, and then the Wookiees would be free. Come on!”

The group stalked through a shortcut in the forest that leads out to the suspension beams of the refinery. This time, you scaled the structure without using the grappling hook, but let everyone else climb up ahead first so you could follow.

The people in front broke down the ventilation grate for everyone to sneak through, later on, you joined everyone else in the command center—including Saw—but they were in the middle of the skirmish. The Stormtroopers that were stationed there were easily outgunned and outnumbered; you heard the whiz of a door and in the corner of your eye, indigo sparks covered the end of an electrostaff.

“Strig, [y/n], come on!” one of the soldiers, faceless in the room blanketed in red light, motioned at the two of you and headed strode through the twists and turns of the network of corridors leading to god-knows-where.

Cal just missed you, he appeared when the large blast door open and he’s greeted by the electrostaff Purge Trooper—you were already through the other door with the others en route to the prison block. A code read as “4B” was painted white on the dark grey metal walls of the cell block, however, it wasn’t easy freeing this batch of Wookiees. Your group had to fight through an entire security unit consisting of Stormtroopers and at least five Imperial droids.

“The insurgents have breached block 4B!”

“They’re outnumbered, we can take them on!”

By instinct, you took out your saber from your belt and started banking the shots to the Stormtroopers. Suddenly, the Stormtroopers’ morale sank below average level.

“[y/n], wait!”

“Oh no, they got a Jedi with them!”

The partisans needn’t to worry about the Imperial security droids—you had it covered. You were deflecting the tall droid’s heavy punches, you caught a glimpse of another running towards you and it was already running across the bridge connecting your platform to the other.

You staggered away from the droid you’re dealing with, you Force-pushed the droid to the one charging towards you and they fell down hard on the concrete floor below. From above, a small transport-gunship hovered over your heads, deploying more reinforcements; you spot a barrel of explosives that can destroy the gunship as well as the troops inside.

“Strig! Barrels!”

Using the Force again, you launched the barrels up in the air and Strig—being the sharpshooter that he is—made fireworks out of those gasoline-filled tanks with a single, perfectly-timed shot at the enemy. The gas wasn’t potent enough to make a large-scale explosion, but it was enough to overpower the Stormtroopers by cutting off their reinforcements.

When the gunship spun out of control and plummeted to that vat of sap that the Empire themselves have harvested, one of the partisans who infiltrated in the command center hit the button and set all of the Wookiees free all at once. It was a cacophony of cheers. Strig clapped you on the shoulder.

“I see you’re still sharp with that lightsaber, Spinner,”

“You still live up to my nickname for you, Sureshot,” you winked.

All of a sudden, the partisans started swamping towards the two of you—celebrating your teamwork, they started smothering Strig with tight hugs, tousling his head, hard claps on his back, and they showered you with the same treatment. Overwhelmed with the positive emotions flooding you from every direction, your only response is beam a smile and nod.

For the first time, this was what liberty feels like for you and this was a firsthand taste of it. It was something you, your master, Strig and the clones fought for once… before the Empire ruined everything. Strig watched you be showered with affirming words and cheers, and pats on the shoulder, beyond your sweet, innocent smile—he can feel that you’re just trying to keep up with everybody’s energy.

“You don’t celebrate much, Spinner?”

“I don’t save one planet from the Empire’s iron grasp every day,”

“You’ll get used to it,”

The leader received a radio call from the other faction, Cal has freed the rest of the Wookiees and has now regrouped with Mari Kosan. This furthered the celebratory mood of the partisans. It’s too early for a victory party, but it’ll be in order soon.

“Come on, Spinner, let’s get back to base,” Strig notices a graze on your shoulder. He wagered the adrenaline has numbed you of the pain for you to not notice. “We need that cleaned and patched up. You can get gangrene pretty easily with all the crawlies here in Kashyyyk.”

You playfully grimaced, “Will I have mushblooms growing out of my arm any minute now?”

“Oh yeah,” Strig played along. “I can see the stems popping out already right there!”

You’re glad that Strig retained his sense of humor.

Now that you and Cal have cleared the path for the partisans to freely navigate through the refinery, Strig led you to a shortcut that leads back to the landing pad. He collected some medical supplies from the box that you retrieved earlier and then began patching you up.

“Tell me if it stings, okay?”

“What am I, ten?”

“You still look like you are,” he lightly taps the tip of your nose as he chuckled.

The gentleness of his hands never went away over time. Even though it has been so long, his touch was still ingrained in your nerves. It made you flinch for a bit, but then calmed seconds later. It was the same kind of touch that he emitted when he offered his hand to the child who had lost her master.

“There we go, all patched up and ready to go,” Strig cooed.

“Thank you, Strig,”

“You’re welcome,”

Minutes later, you find that Cal has returned to the landing pad after his own side of the victory. You spring up from your seat and ran up to him—Strig’s eyes followed you until you’re at a finger’s length away from the redhead boy. Cal caught you in a hug, lifted you inches off the ground and lightly spun you around.

“We did it!” you cheered.

Out of impulse, Cal gingerly caressed your cheek and closed in for a kiss—right in front of Strig. This little display warranted a raise of the eyebrow from your long-lost guardian.

Strig loudly cleared his throat.

[ixchel-sketch]

TITLE: Cacalotl / El Cuervo  GENRE: Crime & Romance FANDOM: Mayans M.C. SHIP(S): Coco & Original Female Character STATUS: Complete LENGTH: 4,057 words

Coco is beginning to feel worn down by balancing his responsibilities with the MC and his relationship with Maya. Before she goes away to a festival for a week he gets a letter letting him know that he’s being placed back on active duty. The club is supportive now that he is a fully patched member and all that is left to do is tell Maya about it. Meanwhile she discovers some game changing news of her own.

The honeymoon phase was officially over, whatever the fuck that meant. Five months into their relationship and there was no longer any novelty about coming home and finding arbitrary art supplies scattered into every corner of his place. Or the small piles of clothes that remained stacked where they’d been removed until he reminded her to do her fucking laundry. Though he didn’t have too much of a leg to stand on with complaints, his beer bottles and cigarette butts were practically a form of interior design by this point. Both of them had low moods where they weren’t productive, much less focused on avoiding the other’s pet peeves. 

When he was still a prospect Coco could get away with disappearing for a few hours to a night or two spent somewhere else. Now that he was a fully patched member he didn't have to stay late after parties and runs to clean shit up. There was more freedom and some stability now that the club business was going good. Maya had decided to cut down on the amount of travel she did a year, her nights spent split between the RV parked in the back of Coco's house and his bed. Sometimes it was great, he felt a sense of peace coming home and seeing her face light up when he entered the room. Or her head popping out from behind the thin door of her van once the sound of his motorcycle cut off. The feel of her pressed against him at night. But on the hard days, ones where she would suddenly stay in all day and only move to finish a painting or pop something in the microwave reminded him of just how trapped all of the so called stability made Coco feel. 

And the guilt at having those feelings just made him feel even more fucked up. Maya would look at him with those big dopey eyes and say sweet things at him.  Even when his temper would flare and he would push her away she would just shut down and give him space or worse...be outright accepting. The guys didn’t see it as a problem and Coco had gone long past the point of trying to explain. As far as Angel and Gilly were concerned she was damn near perfect, never causing drama or getting into Club business. She didn’t even give Coco a hard time when they would spend nights at Vicki’s for some celebration or another that usually involved other women giving them attention. 

 Which was just another sin Coco could add to his current list of burdens. While Maya had remained faithful and filled her time making art Coco had not been able to resist flirting and stealing kisses from the women at Vicki's. He hadn't slept with anyone, an embarrassingly small point of pride he still wore like a badge. Though the longer it took for them to see any kind of excitement or danger the more his resolve weakened on that front. When they finally got a job doing a run that their northern charter couldn’t complete, crossing over territories that would take at least a couple of days to cover and keep up with the necessary hospitality, it felt like a breath of fresh air. An eager distraction from confronting the news he’d gotten earlier that week. 

Maya certainly hadn’t seen it that way. 

“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped and the look of disappointment that wormed onto her face made his stomach clench. “ I have to leave for that festival in a couple days…” 

“Yeah.” She’d been gearing up for that for weeks, only adding to the stress of their interactions. A smudge of red paint on her cheek told him she’d been working on the collection again.  Finally being able to get away for more than a day was exactly what he needed. “And?” 

“I just thought you might want to spend it together.” Her words were loaded and it sent Coco automatically on edge. They had never set restrictions on the other’s behavior before but now she was going to disapprove of the Club business? 

“It’s not exactly a choice.” 

“But you want to go, right?” 

His shoulders bunched up, making the shrug more apparent and he turned his back to where she was standing in the kitchen to head towards the room and begin packing his bag. The plan was to leave early in the morning and cover as much road as possible. Maya stayed at the doorway and even not facing her Coco could guess that her arms were crossed over her chest. “I gotta go. It feels like I’ve been stuck in the house for fucking weeks.”

“That’s kind of funny,” Though her tone made it clear that she felt no amusement. “ considering you’ve had more shifts and club stuff these last two weeks than in the past couple of months. And when you are here you’re practically itching to leave.” 

“How the fuck do you know what’s going on in my head?” The clothes were tossed onto the bed with little care, just a couple things that would fit into his military surplus backpack. 

“Are you serious?” She scoffs, turned to head back into the kitchen so that she could finish putting away some dishes she’d been working on clearing out earlier. Maya had a habit of leaving them in the sink until the end of the day and felt the need to clean from the rising tension come over her. “The only time you want to talk to be around me is when you want to fuck.”

“Wait wait,” He calls from the other room and the sound of his pack being dropped to the floor is the only noise until he’s standing in front of her with an incredulous expression. Dark brows are lowered into a glower and Maya squares her shoulders in preparation for the oncoming fight. 

They didn’t get into arguments often. In fact she could probably count the number of actual fights on one hand, usually resulting in one of them leaving the house until they had both cooled down and were ready to actually talk about it. There was always some sort of catalyst, or some slow building thing that was finally too much for either of them bare. The former was always an easier fix...but something about the way that he’d been pushing her away made her think the resolution wouldn’t be so simple this time. It had only become obvious that something was wrong when she noticed the way he would lean away from her, the casual brush of his hand against her waist or ass had long since stopped when they were in public. And even though she knew the club had legitimate connections and business at Vicki’s, Coco came back smelling more and more like cheap perfume instead of just cigarette smoke. 

“Don’t pull that fuckin shit. If I’m not at the club or work I’m here just hanging while you do your art so you can take the fuck off again. And when I gotta do the same you wanna start shit? Fuck!” One of the drying plates from the sink is swept off the counter in one fast movement, sending glass shattering on the floor and making Maya jump a couple inches in the air. Her eyes are wide with shock and he purposefully doesn’t meet them, only stares at the organic shaped pieces of ceramic that decorated the tile. 

“What the fuck is goin’ on with you?” Her Appalachian draw picked up as her heart started to race. There was definitely something deeper that caused this kind of reaction in him and the dread that it was something big began to loom in her mind’s horizon. “This isn’t about me wanting to spend time with you before I leave town for a couple weeks is it?”

“No, it’s about you never leaving me the fuck alone!” She’s silent, watching him try to breathe some level headed thoughts back into the conversation, his hand swipes at his mouth where some spittle still clung from when he was shouting. “You’re always here, and when you’re not you’re in my fucking drive way. I agreed to date you, not put a fucking ring on it.” 

Coco felt out of control. As though the topic they had was covered in a metaphoric sheen of gasoline and in his hand held the match. Sure, there had been times when Coco had done his best to lash out and push Maya away, but all of those had been weighted down by his infatuation with her. Now, all he could think about was how good the road was going to feel and the hours of silence and distance. Of action. Of getting away from the conversation at hand and where he knew it would lead. There was far more comfort in the life that he’d known than there was struggling to find himself in a life of domesticity with her. 

“Well it’s a good thing I’m leaving then, I guess.” To agree with her out loud would be too spiteful so instead he went to work picking up the mess he’d made. Shoulders still held high and tight and each action was careful, like he was desperately trying to keep whatever he was feeling buried. Each silent moment made the void of anxiety in her chest open just a little bit wider. “Do you...still want me here? Or is this about something else?” 

Coco’s dark eyes snap to her face and Maya swallows heavily. There’s a severity to his grimace and she had a feeling if he didn’t have a dust pan full of broken plate he’d probably be reaching for a cigarette right about now. After dumping them in the trash can he ran a hand through his hair. A few moments of tense silence later and Coco crossed the kitchen to pull out an official looking envelope, her own gaze drawn towards the seal of the US military at the corner. “What the fuck is that?” 

“Got this a couple days ago. “ Her hands were practically shaking as the piece of paper slipped free from its packaging. A quick scan of the first page gave her enough information...he was being called back to active duty and would have to leave at the end of the month.  “I already told the guys, they got no beef with it.” 

“But you didn’t want to tell me. You didn’t even tell me you were still enlisted!” “Signed up for six years, they can call me back if they want.” 

“So? Fuck them!” 

The glare she receives for that outburst tells her all she needs to know. His mind was made up and the withdrawing made total sense now. A lump formed in her throat and she retreated back to his room to climb onto the bed and wait for him to follow. The painting she’d just finished earlier was still hung on the wall to dry and caught her eye. When Coco finally came in to finish packing Maya waited, the air heavy between them. There was an emotional pain blooming in her heart that felt like the coming of the end. Her voice wavered when she finally worked up the courage to speak. 

“What does that mean for us? I don’t...I don’t want us to be over.” 

Tears finally break free and make tracks down her cheeks and Coco lets out a heavy sigh. Maya hadn’t even noticed that she had her palms pressed to her face until his calloused hands are gently pulling them away so he can wrap his arms around her. Falling for each other hadn’t been in either one’s plans and even though she’d never met another person that made her feel like he did --- some part of her had always known that Coco wasn’t ready for something permanent. 

“Nothing’s got to change right now, we got a couple days to figure it out.” She shook her head against his shoulder and let out a small hiccup of a sob. He was leaving to get away from her. He wanted it to end and there was nothing that she could do about it. The emotion at the forefront of her mind was heavy confusion at how they had even gotten to this point. More gentle than he had ever been, Coco buried his face against her neck and for just a moment she thought he might join her in shedding a couple tears. Instead he simply stroked her back until her chest felt a little less tight and her crying had slowed to a stop. The warmth of his palm against her spine and Coco’s steady breathing turned heavy as he pulled her closer still. 

“I love you.” Maya whispered into the space between them. He didn’t reply, simply placed a kiss in the corner of her neck, her jaw, her lips. His hands are careful but still hold a bit of desperation where they grip her. The fact that he doesn’t say it in return doesn’t go unnoticed but she valiantly pushed the fear of what was to come away so that she could only feel the familiar and comforting arousal that his attentions usually brought on. Maya kissed him back with fervor, hands splayed on his chest, smoothed over the loose white T-shirt he wore until she could wrap her arms around his neck.  The long steady strokes down her back slowly reach even lower until he’s grabbing her ass and pulling her into his lap. 

“I’m sorry.” She’s not sure if he means for the fight, or for something more final… Either way it doesn’t matter at the moment. Maya shushes him with another kiss, one of her hands going to card through the short black hair at the base of his head. His gentleness begins to fade when she arches her back so that their chests are pressed against the other,  though there is still a measure of care to his movements when Coco pauses to remove the sundress she'd thrown on earlier. 

His clothes are quick to follow and Maya takes the opportunity to stretch out on the mattress beside him, eyes roving over his bare form -- memorising the lines of his tattoos and the way they move over his muscles. Soon the shadow of him looms over her, his forearms bracketed either side of her and Coco places a kiss on her forehead. There's something heavy and too scary to name behind their intimacy. A slowness that neither had really had too much patience for before that night. Now it was as though both of them were determined to take their time, one of his legs sliding between hers and allowing the weight of his body to rub her in all the right places. 

"Fuck, you feel good." He groans, hips rolling against her. Maya smirks and brings her hand up to lick her palm before slipping it between them and around his member, earning a gasp of pleasure and fevered kiss for her efforts. Coco thrust against her hand, his own findinding purchase in gripping her thigh or calf where it's raised against his side. His breath is hot between them, warming the air between kisses placed on her collar and lower still. 

Maya lets out a small cry when he noses against her breast then his lips close around a raised nipple. At the same time Coco easily entered her, her hand on his dick going to scrape up his back and rest curled around broad inked shoulders in order to keep him close. She feels stretched and full in all the right ways, but it’s still not enough.

"Shit, harder baby--" Her tone breathy and heavy with desperation. The heat on Maya's belly growing and moving south with building pressure of pleasure. Opposite of her request, he comes free of her and laughs at the pouting frown that creased her full lips. Before she had time to complain though, Coco takes firm hold of one of her legs and brings it up to his shoulder. 

“Oh! Fuck!” At this angle it feels like he might be trying to split her open, hips pistoning fast and harsh until the sound of their pants and the slap of flesh is all that’s left. One of Maya’s hands traces up the muscles of his stomach to lay a palm over his chest and Coco meets her lust filled gaze with heavy lidded eyes. A wet kiss placed messily at the where her calf is balanced against his collar. Her own eyes fall closed as her orgasm ripples through her and pulls him closer to the edge, but she thinks she catches the words ‘Te quiero’ on his lips.

It’s almost a week before she talks to him again. Four days before she’s supposed to return from the festival. The next morning Coco had taken off hours before she woke up, leaving Maya full of insecurity over their future and the argument that had occured that night. There was no trying to talk him out of his decision and the longer that she spent thinking about the time that would mean apart --- the bigger the void got in her chest and the looming feeling of heartbreak. They had never spent too much time planning their future, but she had a feeling at least a year apart would require some kind of heavy talking. And if their last conversation was any judge of his feelings on commitment then she truly felt as though their relationship was living on borrowed time. The internal disquiet caused her stomach to let out a sharp pang of nausea, bile rising in her throat and Maya forced herself to breathe through it rather than go running out of her booth. 

“Hey! Maya!” A familiar voice caused her head to snap up and a grin pushed the dark thoughts momentarily at bay. Tati, the artist that ran the table next to hers came over with a water bottle in her outstretched hand. “Here, you’re looking kind of pale.” 

“I’m alright, just a bit of indigestion.” 

“Damn, that sucks. Do you think I could borrow a tampon?” 

“No. Please do not return it.” She laughed and went to get her purse, sure she had a few older ones lying towards the bottom of the large patchwork bag. Her mind ildely trying to think of the last time she’d used them and froze with a sudden icy chill of panic Maya couldn’t hope to hide. Her fingers shook as she fumbled to place the plastic wrapped tube in her friend’s hand. 

“You okay? You look like you just saw a fucking ghost.” 

“N..No, I’m fine.” Tati looked unconvinced but thanked her again before heading back over to the safety of her canopy. These were the times she wished she’d split the table with another artist so that she might be able to take a break and answer the scary question that was growing like a weed in the back of her mind. As it was she would have to wait until the end of the day to close up her booth and head to the nearest convenience store, each hour passing by impossibly slow despite the amount of decent foot traffic she had. Her gaze cast out and locked onto a nest of a black birds, most likely a crow, equally busy in the tree across the foot worn path. Whether they were a beautiful show of nature or a bad omen she couldn’t say.  Instead she counted the weeks since her last cycle, then again for good measure to make sure that it wasn’t just paranoia. Sure, she was on The Pill but had been known to accidentally miss a day or two...and she’d never been very good about staying on schedule with it. 

" Fuck me, shit.” By the time she made it to the store the sun had set and her anxiety was in full swing. Maya grabbed two boxes of tests and polished off the rest of her large water bottle. Privacy was pushed to the back of her mind in panic and the brunette locked herself into handicapped stall. Coco had been slow to answer her texts since he'd left, and even now left her messages on read despite the obvious stress behind them. With her heart racing and the test lining up on the sink accusingly, she was in no mood to be toyed with. 

"Pick up, pinche pendejo." Three calls, no answer. The sound of women coming and going in the other stalls completely ignored by the focus at hand. By the fifth call there's finally an answer on the other end, his voice tight and the sound of laughter in the background loud and obnoxious over the line. 

"What?" 

"Where are you?" She had expected him to be home, or maybe out with the guys. Though the familiar sound of music and women's laughter told her otherwise. "At Vicki's?"

"Yeah. Hello to you too."

"Hm." He'd never ignored her calls when he was there before.

"What? Qué paso?"

"I think we have a problem." She waits for him  to say anything but the only response is the quieting of ambient noise. He must have gone into another room or stepped outside. The tension grows so thick that her stomach spikes with nausea once again. One glance at the four tests lining the sink and she's unable to breathe the repugnant feeling away this time. The cell phone placed quickly on the floor before Maya emptied the contents of her stomach. 

With a tired sigh she wiped her mouth and picked the cell phone up, grumbling a weak apology. 

"What happened? You take something?"

"No, nothing like that." She'd called him from a show sick from drinking or tripping before, her impulse control severely lacking while on the road. The words felt foreign in her mouth but she forced them out. The bitter taste of bile still coating the back of her throat with a scratchy burn. "I'm pregnant." 

Nothing. Almost complete quiet except for where his breathing has gone rough and stilted. "What the fuck did you just say? Are you sure? I thought you were on the pill?" 

Multiple feelings strike her at once, rippling through her core like a physical blow. Intensifying with each question. Though her tone goes flat and cold, the cell gripped so tight Maya's knuckles go white. "I am. It's not perfect." 

"Yeah? No shit." 

Her eyes closed tightly and Maya swept the tests into the trash. There was no use clinging to them as though she could will away the situation. She clears her throat to make sure her voice doesn't break. "So...what do you want to do?" 

It's his turn to sigh, a slow whooshing crackle over the line and he sounds bone weary and utterly contrary to the wired and shaky energy that courses through her veins. "That's not on me. Look... I already got a couple kids, and I'm not in their lives for a reason. Ain't nothing really changed on that front." 

It's a conversation that they should have been holding in person. Both of them shared accountability for what had happened and not being able to see the look on his face only hastened the hysteria that swiftly encroached. "Right. So you don't...want to be involved. If I keep it."

"Maya...I'm not even gonna be here." 

"Right." Her heart sinks and Maya finally flees the small bathroom, rushing out of the store and shivering when the night air chills the nervous sweat that misted her forehead. The lock to her bike came free as she balanced the cell phone on her shoulder. Numb shock of what this meant making her movements mechanical. The consuming heartbreak just waiting until she was alone to attack, for now anger was her only defense. "You're right. I got this. Just do me a little favor, 'kay?" 

He doesn't answer but it doesn't really matter. There's no way that Coco would turn down this final request, especially since she wouldn't be back for another few days. 

"Pack up my shit so I can just swing by and get it? Thanks." 

[jenomark]

Swallow // Part 4

○Pairing: Dom!Jaehyun x Sub!Reader (Female) ○Other Members/ Characters: Sub!Johnny + Doyoung ○Genre: smut  ○Warnings: no smut, suggestive talk, angst ○Word count: 3,927

→Summary: You accept Jaehyun’s invitation to a wedding, but as you get in the limo, you realize it’s not Jaehyun waiting for you. Will the mysterious John or the following circumstances finally make you break?

→Notes: ✨Anon Requested✨ Heyyyy 😍😍 Can I request Dom Jaehyun x Dom reader smut? Pretty, Please 💕💕

01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06

______________________________________________________________

  You didn’t wear the dress. It was an emotional decision and something that couldn’t be helped. You had tried it on, twirling in front of your mirror for a few minutes, letting the gauzy fabric make you feel like a princess. After that, you balled it up, threw it under your bed, and spent the afternoon shopping for a dress Jaehyun didn’t have a hand in choosing. You felt proud that you had taken these steps, though a secret part of you would have loved to see Jaehyun’s face when he saw you in his dress.

  The dress you picked out was plum, instead of eggplant purple. Where his dress was light and reached the floor, yours was tight against your body and stopped mid-thigh. The velvet against your skin made you feel sexy, and the off-the-shoulder detail made you feel like someone else entirely. It was unlike you to flaunt your body like this, but admittedly, you had been feeling as far removed from yourself as possible lately.

  The car arrived at 9 a.m., like Jaehyun had said. It was a stretch limo in black, with not a dent or speck of dirt anywhere in sight. The backseat was wide open in anticipation, waiting to swallow you up with it’s soft leather seats. You hovered in the doorway to your building longer than you should have, thinking about all the ways you could give up if you wanted to. All you had to do was go back inside and live your life. It should have been so simple.

  You got in the car, anyways. If anything, Jaehyun had piqued your interest with the wedding invitation. The day didn’t have to mean anything.

 “Before you say anything,” you said, closing your eyes tightly. You didn’t have the nerve to look him in the eyes.  “I didn’t wear the dress you gave me because it’s my choice what I put on my body and I get to decide who I am. The dress you chose was beautiful and it fit so well-not that I tried it on-but if I did try it on, you should know how gorgeous it was, and how much I do love it.”

  You opened your eyes. The mascara on your lashes made them stick together for a moment. When you picked out the dress, you went ahead and made a make-up and hair appointment. Though you felt very much like you were trying too hard for a man you most definitely were not dating, you had felt pretty.

“That was quite a speech.”

  Your head snapped to your left when you realized the voice that spoke did not belong to Jaehyun.

“Who are you?” you asked.

  The man beside you was classically handsome. He had brown hair parted down the middle, eyes that looked at you inquisitively, and lips that pulled up at the corners. His long legs were stretched across the floor of the limo in comfort as if he were without a care in the world. He was wearing a suit with an eggplant purple colored bow tie that perfectly matched the dress Jaehyun picked out for you.

 “I’m John,” he said. “You may have heard about me.”

  You tried very hard not to react, but your face betrayed your emotions. If John looked closely enough, he would see both the shock,  and the little way your heart broke when he said his own name.

“Briefly,” you said. “Where is Jaehyun?”

“How should I know?” John said. “I received a box in the mail with directions. Don’t you love it when our boy is secretive?”

  Biting back a retort, you smiled and looked around the limo. Jaehyun had spent a lot of money to transport you and John to Hell. When your eyes set on the sparkling champagne, you thought you ought to make the most of it. You snatched the bottle from it’s bucket of ice, along with a glass. The bottle was already popped and ready, all you had to do was pour and chug.  And chug. And chug.

“That’s a lot of champagne,” John said, watching you. “Must be one hell of a breakthrough you’re celebrating. “

  When you came up for air, you nearly gagged. Champagne was an acquired taste, one that made you more likely to chug actual gasoline. Yet, as the liquid slid down your throat, and your anxiety ebbed, it began to not taste so bad.

   The limo moved, rolling past your life in slow motion. You looked out the window, at your hands, at the empty glass of champagne, at anything but John. You were light-headed and giddy from the alcohol, but the anger in the pit of your chest was trying to scratch its way out. John didn’t try engaging in conversation with you until the city streets turned into long stretches of road seemingly leading to nowhere.

“He talks a lot about you.” John said.

“Does he?” you asked. “I’m thrilled. Tell him I said thanks.”

  John laughed. You looked at him blankly. He didn’t touch the alcohol or snacks in the limo. He barely looked at his phone. You wondered what he was thinking and what his personality was like. The mess that was your life was clearly out in the open and it seemed fair that his should be too.

“You’re more plain than I thought you would be,” he said. “By the way he talks about you, I was expecting someone a little more.... fiery.”

“I’m a Sagittarius. I have plenty of fire.” you said.

“Maybe I’m misjudging you.”

“No offense Mister Long Legs, but you don’t know me.” you said.

  John’s eyes took in every inch of your body. He raised an eyebrow and cocked his head when his gaze rested on your breasts and your thighs. There was a heat rising on your cheeks that could have been from the embarrassment of him assessing you, or the alcohol. If you were being honest with yourself, you would accept that it was something else bordering on the line of attraction.

“I know what you like,” he said. “I know what you don’t like. I know the way you smell. You’re all over him, his bed sheets, his dick.  And I know the way you taste. Our boy likes to share his work.”

“He’s not my boy.”

 You didn’t wait to see John’s response. You didn’t want to know how he felt about you, or how you tasted to him. You never wanted to meet him at all. When you asked Jaehyun about his other subs, you knew how it would make you feel. Curiosity won, but the loss was greater. The existence of John had haunted you ever since, and finally putting a face to the name made everything more complicated.

   When the limo pulled up to the wedding location, neither of you moved from your seats. You were too tipsy and too stuck in your own thoughts, and John’s attention was mostly on you despite your lack of interest in him. You could feel his eyes crawling up your skin, could practically feel that villain-like smile creeping up his mouth.

“I feel like we should talk,” he said. “While we wait.”

“There is nothing to talk about. We both fuck Jaehyun and Jaehyun fucks us. What else is there to discuss? you asked.

  John turned to his side to get a better view of you. You didn’t like that a stranger could make you feel so pathetic in your own skin. The dress, the hair, and the make-up felt juvenile with just one look from him.

“Maybe we should fuck to get this tension out of the way,” John said, smiling. “What do you say? It could be a lot of fun. I’d love to see that pretty little ass spread for me.”

  Your side of the car door opened and a hand appeared. Jaehyun’s hand. You grabbed it and let him pull you to your feet. You were so grateful that you nearly hugged him, but after seeing the look on his face, you decided against it.

“Are you drunk?” Jaehyun asked.

“No.” you said, self-consciously pulling at the hem of your dress. In your haste to get out of the car, it had ridden too far up your thigh.

“Your dress.”

   You initially accepted the look on Jaehyun’s face as annoyance at you being drunk. He liked you sober and consenting only. When Jaehyun didn’t get what he wanted, he came down with a heavier hand the next time around.  But as you looked harder at him, the way his jaw set was more like a man who felt dejected. He placed his hands on your hips and smoothed out the plum velvet fabric.

“I think she looks pretty.” John said.

  John popped his head up from the other side of the limo, rapping his knuckles on the roof. Jaehyun blinked, looked at John and turned his attention back on you. You resisted the urge to smooth the piece of hair that always fell over his forehead back into place.

“Never mind.” Jaehyun said. “You’re a little early. But that’s good.”

“Can we talk?” you asked.

“You look pretty.” Jaehyun said.

  Jaehyun took your wrist and began leading you up a small grass hill. John followed, sticking his hands in his pockets and leisurely strolling behind. When you reached the top of the hill, you could see a beautiful farmhouse painted blue-gray. Next to it was a remodeled barn painted the same color. People were milling in and out of both places, tugging at children’s hands and talking with each other. Two large white tents were set up across the lawns, one with rows of seats and a stage, the other for a reception party.  All around were pretty lattice fences with flowers intertwined throughout them.

“This is beautiful.” you said.

  Jaehyun didn’t stop to let you admire everything. He kept pulling you along beside him, his legs striding across the grass like he had somewhere more important to be. As you reached the steps of the farm house, John sidled up beside you and put his hand on the small of your back. You didn’t want him touching you, but you didn’t shrug him off either. 

   A woman in a wedding dress came out onto the porch, heading straight towards Jaehyun and his band of misfits. He met her with a kiss on the cheek, helping her down the last few steps. There wasn’t any time for you to process what was happening before he slipped his hand casually into yours like it was a completely natural thing to do. 

“Rosie, this is my girlfriend.“ Jaehyun said.

  If Rosie knew anything different, she didn’t show it. The smile on her face was bright, and when she shook your hand, she appeared genuinely happy to meet you.

“And this is my girlfriends brother, John.” Jaehyun said, gesturing to John.

  John put on more of a show. He was charming, nearly bowing in her presence. Rosie was eating up the attention and his small talk, resting her hand on her stomach as she laughed. When you felt Jaehyun’s fingers squeeze yours, you looked down at his grip on your hand. He brought his hand up to his face and brushed his lips lightly against your knuckles.

“I’m sorry you missed the ceremony,” Rosie said. “But I’m glad you’re here for the reception. Jaehyun talks so highly of you. It makes me happy to finally meet the girl who has captured his heart.”

“Me?” you asked.

  Rosie’s face fell only a fraction of a second before her smile returned. “Of course. We’ve been waiting to meet you since he told us he was dating someone a couple of months ago. His mother is always pestering him for more info, but you know him, he doesn’t talk much. My boyfriend Doyoung is the same. Oh, I meant my husband. I have to get used to saying that.”

“A couple of months?” you asked. 

“Where is this Doyoung?” John interrupted. “Probably off pinching himself because he can’t believe he married such a beautiful woman.”

  Rosie blushed and touched John’s arm. You and Jaehyun exchanged amused looks with each other. When Rosie excused herself, John asked if he had overdone it.

“Just a bit,” Jaehyun said. “Luckily, Rosie loves to be charmed by a handsome man.”

“You think I’m handsome?” John asked. “I don’t think you’ve ever called me handsome.”

“Yeah, well there is a lot Jaehyun doesn’t say.” you quipped, dropping Jaehyun’s hand. “Can we know what the fuck is going on now?”

“Keep your voice down,” Jaehyun said. “My family are floating around here somewhere.”

  At the mention of Jaehyun’s family, your heart did a back flip. He barely talked about himself, barely let you two feet into his closet or pantry, and here you were about to meet his entire family in one day. You looked over to see how John was handling it, but he seemed unphased.

“Please talk to me before any of this goes further,” you begged. “I will leave. I think it’s going to look a little bad for you if your girlfriend of a couple months leaves before the reception even begins, Jaehyun.”

  Jaehyun told John to stay and mingle while he took your hand and led you around to the back of the house where a children's swing set sat, unoccupied. He took a seat on one of the swings and motioned for you to sit next to him. He looked beaten down and exhausted already, even though the day had barely begun. 

“Why is John here?” you asked.

“I expected that question sooner. ”

“I’ve been a little busy,” you said. “Why is he here? Why am I here?”

“Why didn’t you wear the dress?” Jaehyun asked.

  You stood with your arms folded as he swung lightly. He looked so handsome sitting there with a slight pout on his face. He was wearing a black three-piece suit with the jacket button undone, and shiny black shoes that reminded you of the day you met him.

“Answer me first.” you said.

“Sit down.”

“No.”

“Please.”

  Jaehyun's voice had no fight in it. Feeling empathetic and exhausted yourself, you took a seat in the swing next to him. He didn’t jump right into conclusions, didn’t fuss with the dress issue, and you didn’t prod him. He freely talked, which felt unnatural and so right all at the same time.

“I’ve known Rosie since I was a little kid. Our parents used to think we would get married. We were always together, “ Jaehyun began. “Attached at the hip. We never felt anything for each other. She’s like my sister. I never had siblings. I had quite a lonely childhood, but Rosie made things better.”

“She doesn’t know about your other life?”

“Other life?” Jaehyun asked. “This is my life.”

“I just meant-”

“- I know what you meant. I never told her and I don’t know if she suspects. The only reason she thinks I have a girlfriend at all is because I told her I did so that she would leave me alone. She cares about me a lot and she worries. She’s kind of like my second mother.”

“Did you ever want to tell her?”

“It’s not her business. Do you talk about your sex life with your siblings?” he asked.

  You shook your head no. You started swinging to match Jaehyun’s pace. You tried imagining how he must have been when he was a little boy, how wild and brave little Jaehyun probably was, and how he couldn’t have known what kind of strong man he would be today. You were greedy for more information about his life, but you didn’t know how to keep asking for more without breaking the rules. Not his rules, but your own.

“And that’s why I’m here,” you said. “As your girlfriend.”

“Partly. There’s more to it than that.”

  You waited for him to say more, but he didn’t elaborate further. You asked again why John was there. The contempt in your voice was obvious. Jaehyun’s only explanation was that he invited him so you wouldn’t feel alone.

“Believe it or not, John is more easy going than you. I knew he would have no trouble taking the attention away from us.” Jaehyun said.

“I wish he wasn’t here.”

“Why not?”

“He asked to fuck me in the car.”

“He’s been asking to fuck you for awhile.” Jaehyun said.

  The tipsy anger from the limo felt like it was finally clawing its way out of your throat. Times were easier when you let Jaehyun spit in your mouth and fuck you raw, but the feelings growing were harder to swallow.

“Why does John know about me? You had me believing I was the only person in your life, ” you said. “That’s not fair to me.”

“I don’t have the answer you want.”

  You looked over at him, but he wouldn’t look at you. Instead, he stopped swinging and stood up. He went behind you and took the chains in his hands from the swing and gave you a light push.

“Why didn’t you wear the dress?” he asked.

“I don’t have to do everything you tell me. You said there were no rules.”

“I said not to overthink things.”

“I don’t have the answer you want.” you said, your voice dripping with sarcasm.

   He stopped your swing abruptly. You leaned your head back at him. You wanted to yell at him, but the way he loomed over you was very reminiscent of Dom Jaehyun. Your body missed him so much. It felt like forever since he touched you in that way.

“What are you kids doing back here?”

  You lifted your head up to see an old lady approaching you. You prayed it wasn’t his mother. You didn’t want to meet her like this, staring up at her son, and wishing for his cock in your mouth. Jaehyun greeted the woman and told her the two of you were just getting ready to head back to where the reception was starting. The timing was fortunate, as a bunch of children started running past you trying to get to the swing set.

“Who was that?” you asked, walking towards the big tents.

“I honestly have no idea,” Jaehyun said. “Rosie’s husband, Doyoung, has a lot of family.”

  It seemed like every time you both got a few feet towards the tent, someone that knew Jaehyun stopped you. You couldn’t help but feel a thrill whenever he introduced you as his girlfriend. You had to stop yourself a few times from enjoying it too much. Today, like all the other days, was only a fantasy.

  For months, Jaehyun paraded around his life calling you his girlfriend and you had no idea. His parents were probably conjuring up an image of a girl good enough for their son. They would be sorely disappointed, you thought.

  John rejoined you as you reached the tents. He had a handful of pretzels in his hand and was eating them like a dog eating from his food bowl. The more disgusted you looked, the more John did it.

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to make sure my mom is okay.” Jaehyun said.

  You watched him walk away and wished he would come back quickly. You didn’t know how you would fare on your own being around so many people and playing the role of Jaehyun’s fake girlfriend. It seemed like the population of the wedding party had doubled since you arrived, and at least to you, it was obvious you didn’t belong with any of those people.

“You seem more relaxed.” John said.

“Stop talking to me.”

  You moved across the lawn but John followed. He tried to hug you and call you sis but you shrugged him off and acted like he wasn’t there.

“Why do you hate me?” John asked. “We only just met.”

“I don’t hate you.”

“But you don’t like me, “ John said. “Because I’m Jaehyun’s.”

“Go away.”

  You approached one of the flower walls. There were so many variations of colors and types of flowers weaving in and out of the lattice. The wall must have cost a fortune and a lot of time to put together. You smiled to yourself, touching a soft rose petal. John just watched you curiously, but you weren’t bothered. The content you felt in the moment was all encompassing.

“I’m learning more about you,” John said. “For instance, you don’t like the taste of champagne, but you would rather drink it than look at me sober for too long. You love flowers. Your whole face just lit up as you leaned in to smell them.”

“What does this have to do wi-”

“-And you love Jaehyun,” John finished. “You l-o-v-e the boy. What a wonderful romantic thing to admit to yourself at a wedding.”

  You let go of the rose and walked away from him, you hair flying in the wind. You felt that your face was flushed, could feel the tightness of your skin making your features look cold. You began to feel ugly again. The good feelings that were working their way into your day were slowly fading out. You would have went back to the car if you weren’t stopped by a man.

“Hello.” he said.

  He introduced himself as Doyoung, the groom. His smile was gummy and full of happiness. He asked if you knew where his bride was. You had to tell him that you were sorry, but you didn’t know where Rosie was.

“Are you Jaehyun’s girlfriend?” Doyoung asked.

  There was a lump forming in your throat that made it hard to answer. You didn’t want to cry in front of this man on his wedding day. You had been the dampener on other people’s happiness before and it never made anyone feel good. It’s how you got so amazing at not being able to admit your true feelings.

“She is,” John said, appearing out of nowhere. “ Doyoung, I think I saw your wife going this way.”

  John led Doyoung somewhere. For a brief moment, you were grateful for his interference. You spun around and started making your way towards the limo. You could feel the breakdown coming. Jaehyun called your name before your hand could reach the door handle. You waited for him, watching him jog down the hill after you, your tears making his image blur.

“I was gone for a few minutes,” he said. “Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be here. I didn’t ask to be here.”

“But you came. Why did you come?”

“Because I never have a choice.”

“I always gave you a choice,” Jaehyun said. “You know that. It’s important to me that everyone who enters in my life knows the choice is theirs.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean?”

  You threw your hands up into the air. “I don’t know! I never know. Jaehyun, it was fine for awhile. You are so great, and you’ve kept me going for a long time, but I’m not sure this is right for me anymore. I’m not sure I can keep being like this with you. I’m not the best version of myself.”

  He stepped closer to you and began to reach out his hand but thought better of it. There were a million thoughts going around in your head, but you couldn’t sort them all out.

“I want out.” you said.

[wiranashippingcorporation]

A Guide on Green Ship Recycling

In terms of statistics, it has been seen that almost 2 to 3 billion metric tons of waste is produced around the world. Also, the number is expected to double up by the next 20 years. Only 65% of the total waste produced is managed properly and this clears the fact that our future is still grim. One of the things that contributes to this never ending issue is the ship recycling. A ship produces good amount of the waste during its lifetime and it also produces good amount of waste when it reaches its end of life. This is the reason why green ship recycling approach came into existence. This helps in benefiting the environment instead of letting it go to waste.

What Is Green Ship Recycling?

Green ship recycling is considered as a responsible method of dismantling or decommissioning the old ships or vessels so that no negative impact is embedded on the human lives and the environment. The amount of waste generated during that procedure also gets reduced. One of the main objectives of green ship recycling is that it gives maximum output of each and every ship or vessel. This also gives advantage to the ship owner as he can get money from selling the usable parts and equipment instead of just dismantling all of the ship’s metal.

Removal of Harmful Materials

The ships or vessels contains a number of hazardous materials that can prove to be harmful to the humans, animals and plants. The harmful material materials includes:

·    Asbestos

·    Oil

·    Gasoline

·    Mercury

·    Lead based paint

Each of the above mentioned harmful material need to be safely removed from the vessel before it is disposed off in the environment. Particularly, oil and gasoline can impose a threat to the marine creatures if these are allowed to get into the beaches or water. Most of the times, inexperienced or irresponsible workers work at the ship breaking yards which results in improper disposing of the substances. Now days, lead-based paint and asbestos are no longer used during the ship construction because of the fact that it affects the human and animal health in the negative manner.

Removal of Useful Parts

After a cargo ship serves its tenure life, it may not be able to transport goods from one place to another. But it doesn’t mean that ship becomes completely useless. Instead, there are some of the mechanical parts in the ship that are in good working condition and can be reused. Through the green ship recycling approach, each and every part of the ship is evaluated and can be reused instead of being turned into scrap metal. In addition to this, you can even get a higher price for the working part if you sell off in the second hand market. Whenever these parts are sold off for the use in other ships, this reduces the environmental impact of the ship recycling / shipbreaking and thus benefitting in some way or the other. They can even melt down a part into scrap and then the production of a new part begins.

[biofunmy]

A Mayor In Bolivia She Survived A Mob Attack And Became A Symbol Of The Political Crisis

VINTO, Bolivia — First, they tried to rip Patricia Arce’s clothes off.

When she fought back, the masked men came down on her with sticks, beating her until she passed out. When she came to, they pulled her up, removed her shoes, and forced her to walk down a long street covered with broken glass.

The frenzied crowd led Arce, the mayor of Vinto, a small town in central Bolivia, away from her office. They said they were walking her to her death. Along the way, someone doused her with red paint and gasoline. Then a woman rushed up to her and chopped off clumps of her hair, at one point slicing a chunk of her scalp off.

Videos of the assault, which took place last month, were quickly uploaded to social media and went viral around the world within hours, showing Arce looking shell-shocked. When the crowd finally came to a halt 3 miles down the road, a man forced Arce down on the ground, stood behind her, and grabbed one of her breasts. “We are live, we are live!” someone yelled before he removed his hand.

By then, a handful of local reporters had caught up to them, and planted microphones in Arce’s face. They asked her to recount what she had just been through. Arce, 48, was still being held against her will by the mob even as she tried to speak.

“Resign!” a chorus of people shouted in the background. Suddenly defiant, Arce said she wasn’t afraid, and that if anything happened to her or her children, the country’s emboldened right-wing opposition should be held responsible.

When Arce, a lawyer and mother of three, first got into politics five years ago, she could never have expected it would lead to this: beaten, humiliated, and turned into an international symbol of political violence.

Jorge Abrego/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Patricia Arce speaks to the media after being attacked in the street.

The attack came in the middle of political upheaval in Bolivia after a contested election in which the president, Evo Morales, narrowly won a fourth term in a highly controversial process. With rule of law virtually suspended across the country at the time of her assault, Arce was forced to go into hiding temporarily.

Outside Bolivia, the conflict quickly became a Rorschach test, simplified into a duel between authoritarianism and democracy, left against right, rich versus poor. At home, the opposition to Morales, the country’s first indigenous president, included people from across the ideological, political, and class spectrum who were fed up with official corruption. But political allegiances aside, Arce’s story provides a warning tale of the human cost of political violence.

Arce was able to escape alive and remains in office. BuzzFeed News traveled to Vinto and spent two days with her. A month after the attack, Arce’s soles were covered in bruises and cuts; she remained under medical supervision for injuries to her kidney sustained during the assault. She spoke of how the attack was a reminder of how brutal life can be for women in the deeply sexist country.

“This was a message for all women here,” she said, sitting on a bench near where she was attacked, “that we still cannot occupy public spaces.”

Patrícia Monteiro for BuzzFeed News

Pro- and anti-Morales signs in the streets of Cochabamba, Dec. 8, 2019.

Trouble started brewing almost two weeks earlier, on October 25, when electoral authorities announced that Morales had narrowly won a fourth presidential term. Massive street protests broke out, convulsing the country and pitting Morales’ political allies — including Arce — against the opposition.

At least 36 people died in the postelection crisis, and dozens of houses and government buildings were set on fire.

It was in the middle of this tense climate that Arce walked onto a makeshift stage with Morales on Friday, November 1. The sun was beating down on Vinto as the two inaugurated a new irrigation channel, the latest infrastructure project delivered by the Movement for Socialism, or MAS, Morales’ and Arce’s party.

Vinto, a sleepy town of around 60,000 people, had for years been one of Morales’ strongholds. Arce, too, enjoyed popularity, particularly among women. She had spent much of her time in office since 2015 spearheading women’s empowerment programs and convincing husbands to let their wives work.

Despite this, Arce has at times found herself at the center of local conflict. Last year, local council members denounced Arce for allegedly handing over control of a Vinto hospital to the police through an agreement they said was illegal, according to local news reports.

But the day when Morales and Arce inaugurated the irrigation project wasn’t meant to be controversial. It was, instead, intended to be a rallying cry for Morales’ supporters to resist amid growing postelection trouble.

“I am not afraid. If I have to give my life to protect this political process, I will!” said Arce. She warned the crowd not to let “a handful of rascals,” including opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho, spread panic across the country’s poor as the political crisis reached an impasse.

The following day, Camacho, the rosary-carrying entrepreneur and president of the Civic Committee of Santa Cruz, a politically influential civic group, set a 48-hour deadline for Morales to resign.

Morales — who had lifted thousands out of poverty; built schools, markets, and hospitals in historically forgotten corners of the country; and maintained a relatively robust economy throughout his 13 years in power — had lost a referendum in 2016 in which he had asked Bolivians if he should run for a fourth term. He decided to run anyway, and narrowly won. After an audit of the results, the Organization of American States found “clear manipulation” in the voting process, including the burning of some electoral records and an unexplained interruption in the transmission of results.

Tensions intensified after Camacho’s ultimatum to Morales. On November 6, pro- and anti-Morales groups clashed in nearby Quillacollo, and a young man was killed. Many there accused Arce of having recruited pro-government workers from Vinto and adjacent towns to march to Quillacollo and provoke the confrontation. Arce has denied the charge.

Patrícia Monteiro for Buzzfeed News

The mayor’s office after the attack.

That afternoon, Arce had just finished lunch in her office when the building suddenly came under attack. From the main highway, men threw rocks at the windows and started a fire on the ground floor. With Vinto’s 22 police officers away providing support in Quillacollo, Arce was virtually defenseless. Her security adviser told her to run out through the back entrance.

Arce expected to find her driver waiting for her outside. Instead, the street was empty except for a group of men; they marched toward Arce and took her hostage. An eye for an eye, they said: She had incited the deadly clash in Quillacollo, so now she must die. But not before a walk of shame.

“Fucking murderer!” the men around her shouted. Arce’s gait was determined, but her eyes appeared round with fear. Her shirt and jeans dripped with bright red paint. One mile. Then two. Then three.

When they arrived in Quillacollo, Arce was unrecognizable, her hair shorn, and reeking of gasoline and urine. Her assailants forced her to the ground; they ordered her to resign and speak critically of Morales as she looked into the collection of cellphones they had shoved in her face.

Across town, Pedro Herrera had been scrolling through Facebook when he suddenly came upon a face he knew well: his mother’s. In the video, Arce was forced by dozens of men to walk down the street. She appeared to faint a number of times, and the men beat her while she was conscious. Immediately, Herrera, 24, told his two younger siblings what was happening, got in his car, and sped toward the crowd. But by then, Vinto had become a battleground, and many of the streets were blocked by people on motorcycles and by piles of burning tires.

Herrera wasn’t able to rescue his mother.

Several hours after the attack began, a couple of unidentified men retrieved Arce from the crowd and delivered her to a police officer, who sped away with her on a motorcycle. That day, Arce arrived at a clinic 90 minutes away from Vinto — anywhere closer would have been too risky, she was told — where nurses scrubbed the red dye from her using paint thinner. It made her skin, already burned by the gasoline, sting even more, Arce said.

Several days later, while she recovered in the clinic, a nurse told Arce that she was no longer safe there and needed to find another hospital.

She went into hiding.

Patrícia Monteiro for BuzzFeed News

Arce stands in front of her office window, which was damaged in the attacks.

Arce reappeared, almost two weeks later, wearing a dirty blonde wig, still under the effects of a cocktail of pain medications. She sat at a blue-clothed table in her office building, flanked by a couple of staff members, to deliver her first press conference since the attack. A dozen microphones and recorders were piled in front of her.

During Arce’s time in hiding, the crisis in Bolivia had only intensified: The police had turned on Morales, and the head of the military had “suggested” he resign. Morales fled to Mexico under the cover of night. Political violence had become deadlier; at least 18 people were killed in two separate massacres.

For the first time since Morales came to power in 2006, the political balance had shifted to the right. Jeanine Áñez, a conservative lawmaker and the highest-ranking member of the country’s legislature after a series of resignations by MAS legislators, had proclaimed herself interim president, thrusting a huge Bible in the air. One of her first moves was to issue a presidential decree granting immunity from criminal prosecution to security forces participating in operations to “reestablish internal order,” prompting immediate pushback from human rights organizations.

Arce’s own crisis had deepened too. Barely able to walk because of the cuts on her feet, she had spent countless hours thinking about what was happening to her country: What kind of children were Bolivians raising? How could people harbor so much hate? But one thing was clear: She had to go back to work.

There had been fevered, outlandish speculation about Arce’s attack. One reporter asked Arce if she had ordered the assault on herself, echoing rumors floated by critics of Morales’.

“It’s shameful to think that someone would do this to herself,” she told the journalist. “I may have been orphaned at two, but I was raised with values and principles.”

Video of the press conference, which was uploaded to Facebook, elicited ridicule from some of her critics in the comments, including suggestions that she get a better wig and that she be nominated for an Oscar for her “acting.” Peppered amid the mocking comments were messages of support and praise.

On a recent Sunday afternoon, Arce slowly got out of her car and limped over to a bench in Vinto’s main town square across the street from her office. She was no longer wearing a wig — “It shows strength to walk around without it,” explained Arce — revealing a pair of small silver earrings. Her lips were carefully painted a light pink to match her sweatshirt. She looked around as a police car drove repeatedly around the square.

“I’m afraid,” she said. “We are raising monsters, not people.”

Patrícia Monteiro for BuzzFeed News

Arce rests with her sons.

Arce held up her phone to show pictures of her assailants she had been sent. Each of them had their name superimposed on them, but despite knowing who they are, she doesn’t expect to get justice. Indeed she may face prosecution herself after the prosecutor’s office in Cochabamba, a major city nearby, opened a complaint against her for “separatism” and “improper use of public goods and services.” The prosecutor’s office did not respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News.

The following day, Arce arrived at her office at 6 a.m. for a meeting, wearing a flowy shirt, jeans, and flats. Less than half-an-inch long, her hair has grown out white in some spots — because of stress, she said — and she touched it self-consciously from time to time. Her office had also undergone an unwanted transformation: A plastic sheet covered the gaping hole where the mob had broken a window. Her desk was empty; protesters had entered her office that day and broken her computer.

Groups of local residents filed into her office throughout the morning, demanding that she mediate neighborly conflicts or sign contracts on upcoming public works. She listened carefully, responded in Quechua — an indigenous language she taught herself when she became mayor five years ago — and took notes. People hugged her on their way out; if they had looked closely, they would have been able to see a speck of red paint on her necklace, a remnant from the attack.

“To have quit or to have kneeled down would have been a betrayal of all women,” said Arce, looking worn-out. Still, she is considering taking time off to grow vegetables and flowers when her mayoral term is over next year. Perhaps take up basketball, a lifelong passion of hers, again.

Downstairs, a group of interns and staffers sat around a couple of desks trying to conserve half-burned tax documents. Most tax records had been torched when the building was attacked, and the smell of charred paper lingered in the air.

Employees try to preserve documents that were damaged in the attack on the mayor’s office.

Patrícia Monteiro for Buzzfeed News

Burned documents stacked up in the mayor’s office.

Patrícia Monteiro for Buzzfeed News

Before lunch, Arce, surrounded by several of her staff members, visited the public registry office to fill in some paperwork. To get there, she had to walk through the local market, where more than a dozen women — most of them wearing aprons, as they had been working in their fruit stalls — walked up to Arce and hugged her.

Back in the car, Arce took a deep breath. How did she feel? “Insecure,” she said.

During the first days after the attack, she would call her therapist five or six times a day, in addition to the two weekly in-person sessions they had, she said. Arce had installed cameras at home and set up the camera feed in her bedroom, next to her bed.

Three different wigs, in various shades of blonde, hung from wall lamps. A dozen hair products sat on her sideboard next to a blow-dryer, a hair iron, and a hairbrush. Arce was cuddled up on her bed, holding hands with her youngest son, 16, who has spent every night with her since the attack.

If she forgets the attack for a moment, someone in Vinto is likely to remind her, she said. A few days after she had returned to work, Arce was walking out of her office when she saw a familiar-looking man waiting in line at one of the counters. Suddenly, she remembered his face: He was one of her attackers.

As if on autopilot, Arce walked toward him. “Hello. I’m all right, despite what you did to me,” she told him.

The man stammered something unintelligible, she said, and bowed his head in shame. ●

Sahred From Source link World News

from WordPress http://bit.ly/2rnctpk via IFTTT

[ecotone99]

[HR] The Creeper

By D.L. Schindler

The curling frond unfurled, coiling almost perceptibly as it grew in darkness. Within hours the vine had reached the top of the arbor. The moon shone on it from between two conspiring night-clouds of black and electrum. Every light, golden city lights and even starlight slowed its baneful march. An evil plant.

As the dew of morning came the vine had made it from the ground to the sides and even the ceiling of the arbor. The sun turned its darkened green flesh a pale and weak color. All throughout the day it withered and its leaves died and shriveled. A plant that hates sunlight, an evil plant.

It was Gerand's job to; well he didn't have a job. He was house-sitting. For eleven months he had house-sat this vacation home. For whoever owned it. Most people would call him a squatter; instead of a house-sitter.

He was looking at the very sick plant out in the arbor and wondered what it was. He did know something about plants and was curious about the one that had suddenly appeared and died. It seemed to be growing, however.

He went outside with his jimmy stick and backpack and in flipflops. The whole neighborhood was empty. These vacation homes were sold before the big election crisis a couple years ago. The rich foreign owners were all too spooked to come to their vacation homes. Some kind of weird suburban setting with a view of the Laikipia Wilderness area. Beautiful, remote and somehow still urban. "Rich folk have weird tastes." Gerand decided daily as he looked around.

He was effectively king of the place. It was ironic that the ancestors of Gerand were indeed kings of ancient Laikipia. A lost tribe, a people vanished, a sole survivor. He knew nothing of his heritage; but still lived in regal dominance of his ancestral home, ignorant of tradition.

Two drunk hyenas watched him with droopy eyes from the shade of an open garage. He waved to them and they averted their gaze. Gerand continued with his homemade club and went into the next house he hadn't raided yet. Letting himself in was easy when all the doors were locked electronically and his stolen keycard was meant for the off-season keeper. There was no such person. Gerand ony had to break in one time, to the offices, and get the key. He had lived like a king in his favorite house ever since. With his backpack full of stored food he went back outside but stopped suddenly.

On the road in front of the driveway was an offroad vehicle belonging to the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute. The driver was getting out and she had already seen him.

"You're not police." Gerand observed out-loud in greeting.

"You don't belong here." the pale-eyed woman said to him. She was walking towards him.

"So what do you want?" Gerand frowned. She was taller than him and had a terrible beauty. She held him rooted to the concrete, through his flipflops, with her steady eye-contact.

"I just want you to help me. I am looking around for a plant that might be here, by now." she said as she stood gazing downward at Gerand.

"Who are you?" Gerand asked with exclusion.

"Professor M'Weru of the East African Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute. Have you seen anything like this?" She quickly identified herself and then produced a folded Kodak photo from the back pocket of her cutoff jeans.

"Actually I have seen that." Gerand said after looking at the picture. It was a wilted plant like the one from the arbor.

"Were you in contact with it at any point?" M'Weru sounded concerned and alarmed, noticeably taking two steps back from him as she asked.

"No, I've only just seen it outside the sliding glass door. It is in the arbor in the backyard of my home." Gerand explained.

"That's good. I need your help to show me where it is. I must identify it, quickly, we are burning daylight." M'Weru sounded relieved, but somehow urgent at the same time.

"Uh, it's this way. We can walk there in a minute." Gerand led her back to his place after he said so.

The two hyenas in the garage across the street were gone, but he was sure they would have found the two humans as funny as they found anything else.

He led M'Weru inside the house and to the view of the plant. She nodded when she saw it. M'Weru took a medical mask from her other pocket and put it over her mouth and nose. She said:

"I am going to get some help. It has to be removed. It is very dangerous."

"Isn't it dead?" Gerand sounded perplexed.

M'Weru sighed and decided to tell Gerand quite a bit about the plant outside:

"Only while the sun shines. At night it will come back and grow and grow. It spreads itself inside living things. What ate fruit here and died in your garden? A monkey? A bird? When its corpse lay rotting this sprouted from seeds inside that killed the animal. It came from...a very bad place."

"What do you mean by all of that?" Gerand sounded slightly horrified.

"The seeds are so small that they are breathed in, a cloud of them if you are too close. Then inside the lungs of the animal they begin. It is an evil plant."

"I have never heard of a plant like that before. Where did you say it came from?" Gerand sounded more horrified as he asked this.

"Maybe Hell." M'Weru held the pale vines in her pale eyes. She then turned abruptly and went back to her vehicle to use its radio. They would burn it like the others.

Everywhere she had gone, from the very bad place to Lingi Grotto, she had found it there. It was everywhere. Growing in darkness, killing, eating, growing, spreading. She glared at the overgrown lawns of this place.

Gerand was watching her from his living room window. He saw her get on her radio and somehow felt on edge with his back to the plant. He turned and stared at it in horror. If he had met it in the dark it might have got him like it did the flying monkey she had mentioned. Well a bird or a monkey. When stressed, Gerand tended to lump his problems together.

The silence was punctuated by the scratching of a mole rat under the kitchen sink. It scurried out when Gerand opened the cupboard there. It ran into the living room and hid under a couch. When he looked it was laying on its side convulsing. Then it died.

There in the darkness, before his eyes, it swelled. Then it burst and several unfoiling vines slithered out and spread their leaves. Gerand coughed at the stench and dry cloud of spores. He rolled onto his back, his lungs aching already.

He was so scared that he would die like that animal that he was hyperventilating. When M'Weru returned she found him on his back with his eyes glazed with terror. She waved a hand back and forth before his face and got no response. She stepped back as she glanced around and saw the open cupboard, the withering vines coming from under the couch and the frightened victim on the floor. This was the work of Devils' Creeper, the thing she now searched.

"I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do for you." M'Weru told him. She left him there gasping and she walked outside and waited for reinforcements.

She had work to do. She carefully looked around from yard to yard and saw more of the plants in some places. Each time she found it she used her can of spray paint to mark the place. Her friends would come and help her to get rid of it. Purify this place.

Purity by fire.

They arrived in two hours, with just an hour left of daylight. Any light would slow the growth, but only daylight halted it. And only fire really cleansed it away.

She had time to look around while they got to work on the places she had marked. All of Lingi Grotto was infested. One vehicle went out and circled, searching for any animals that needed to be contained. The rest of them started breaking down doors and pouring gasoline. When the places M'Weru had marked with her spray can were boiling in black smoke the team drove out of the strange suburban oasis. It was surrounded on all sides by pristine wilderness with only one road leading in and out.

"Professor, do you think we might have eradicated it?" Jomo asked his boss. She was in her vehicle and the young man at her rolled down window. M'Weru was shaking her head 'no'.

"Where do we look next?" Jomo sounded worried. It was becoming harder to find, further and further from its source. Yet they kept finding it.

"This was probably the bird. I think that the one you saw, I think it flew here." Professor M'Weru decided.

The sun was setting.

"So what then, do we do now?" Jomo looked back to where the rest of the vehicles waited for deployment behind hers.

"We go home, get some rest and keep ourselves alert. I will keep going out and searching for it. We might not have got it all, and maybe we have. Time will tell." M'Weru spoke with confidence to her underling. Inside she was as frightened and as helpless as the man she had left on the living room floor to die.

Jomo could not sense her fear. She seemed strong and wise. Everyone saw this in her. M'Weru lifted her left hand out of her window and twirled it in the air above. The engines started as Jomo trotted quickly back to the vehicle behind hers. They all rolled out, heading home.

Soon enough the fires would be noticed and treated, far too late to stop the place being reduced to ashes. As the convoy departed the skies were a glowing nightmare behind them as the neighborhood they had left blazed furiously in their wake. The battle was won, but the war went on.

submitted by /u/dlschindler [link] [comments] via Blogger https://ift.tt/3hg4FtA

[nouranaseem2018-blog]

Cat Diarrhea

Cat Diarrhea

Cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea

Cat Diarrhea / kitten diarrhea Definitions:  It may be a sign of several different disorders—but if it only happens once or twice, it doesn’t have to be a cause for concern.

The intestinal upset may just be a reaction to something that will pass out of the cat’s system in 24 hours. However, diarrhea that lasts longer than a day can dehydrate a cat, and if not corrected it can lead to shock.

Cat Diarrhea / kitten diarrhea is the passage of abnormally soft and/or frequent stools. This sign is often associated with vomiting, but may also occur by itself. When present, diarrhea often causes cats to fail to use their litter pans.

Diarrhea usually doesn’t last long or indicate anything more than a mildly upset digestive system. However, if it persists for more than 2 days, is accompanied by fever or vomiting, or contains blood, take your cat to the vet immediately. If possible, take a stool sample along for analysis.

What To Do About Mild Diarrhea

Any diarrhea that doesn’t fit the warning signs on the paragraph below (Diarrhea Requiring a Vet Visitn) will probably pass on its own in a day or two.

Your vet may want to give you a mild product for feline digestive upset, but do not even think of using human over-the-counter products. The newest Kaopectate formula and any diarrhea product with bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol) can be poisonous to a cat.

Most vets will suggest withholding food for 24 hours so the digestive tract can empty out and calm down. A wonderful powder called Bio-Sponge from Platinum Performance (800-553-2400) works wonders. If your cat has any of the symptoms on the paragraph below (Diarrhea Requiring a Vet Visitn), you should call the vet and see if he wants to see her right away.

Diarrhea Requiring a Vet Visited

It continues more than one day.

It is bloody or contains mucus.

It is black or any color other than brown.

It is accompanied by fever, vomiting or lethargy.

It has a foul odor.

Cat Diarrhea Causes

Diarrhea has many causes; the most common are related to diet. Diets containing cows’ milk often cause diarrhea.

Spicy table scraps and decomposed food are other common offenders, but any food, including commonly fed commercial diets, can cause diarrhea in certain cats.

Viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites (e.g., worms, coccidia) may infect the bowel and cause diarrhea. This occurs most often in kittens.

Diarrhea can also be caused by diseases of the liver and/or pancreas, bowel obstruction, cancer, and metabolic problems.

Even psychological stress gives some cats diarrhea. Trips to the veterinary hospital or the addition of a new cat to the household may result in stress-induced diarrhea, but this type usually subsides quickly without any treatment being required.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is also frequently accompanied by diarrhea.

Some toxic substances that can cause cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea include

Gasoline, kerosene, oil, and coal tar derivatives

Cleaning fluid and refrigerants

Insecticides, bleaches, toilet bowl cleaner inserts 

Wild and ornamental plants, mushrooms 

Building materials (cement, lime, paints, caulks) 

Types of diarrhea causes

Dietary Diarrhea

Food Intolerance or allergy (wheat gluten, fatty foods, dairy products)

Foreign Material

Diet Change

Toxins

Parasites

Hookworms

Roundworms

Giardia

Coccidia

Tritrichomonas

Bacteria

Salmonella Clostridium Campylobacter

Viruses

Feline Distemper

Coronavirus/FIP

Fungal

Histoplasmosis

Inflammatory

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Fiber-Responsive Diarrhea

Stress Colitis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE)

 Systemic diseases

Pancreatitis

Diabetes Mellitus

Hyperthyroidism

FIV

FELV

Liver disease

Kidney Disease

Cancer

Anomalous

Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Intestinal Obstruction

Intestinal Cancer

Toxicity

Lead

Plants

Symptoms for Cat Diarrhea / kitten diarrhea

Milled cat diarrhea may involve wet, loose stools only were bad diarrhea may involve the likes of: 

A fever

 Dehydration 

Vomiting 

Diarrhea containing blood 

No appetite 

Lethargy 

Pains in the abdomen 

Diagnosing Cat / kitten diarrhea

To determine the cause of your cats diarrhea a trip to the vets will be necessary as test will need to be taken such as: 

A physical examination 

A stool sample taken for tests

An x-ray on the gastrointestinal track If there are more severe symptoms present then test such as blood testing and stool cultures for leukaemia and immunodeficiency viruses are done and there is a possibility of a biopsy of the intestinal track. 

Characteristics of Diarrhea helps in diagnosis the cause of diarrhea:

  kitten diarrhea

kitten Diarrhea is one of the hardest things for a kitten foster mom to deal with. So many things can cause diarrhea, and a kitten dehydrates so quickly!

Add to that what a mess it makes (especially if you have more than one bottle baby) and you’ve got a major headache.

The sooner you get your kitten to the vet and find out what’s going on, the less it costs and the more likely she is to survive.

Kitten Diarrhea can result from:

major diseases like feline leukemia

feline distemper, and feline infectious peritonitis

Food changes, overfeeding, or a formula that doesn’t agree with the kitten can cause kitten diarrhea as well.

But more often than not, parasite infestations and a lack of beneficial intestinal bacteria cause the runs. The frustrating thing is that often they don’t show up when the vet’s looking at the poop under the microscope.

When this happens, I ask the vet to go ahead and treat for coccidia. This ailment is very common among kittens and most of my bottle babies have it.

Cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea treatment

In most cases, feeding your cat a bland diet for a few days will clear up diarrhea and prevent dehydration.

Some combination of plain yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled chicken, unsalted chicken broth, bread soaked in broth, or boiled rice works well, although you might have to experiment to find a combination your cat will eat.

Some people also use strained, unseasoned baby food. Withholding food for a day or two before starting the bland diet might help. Do not withhold water!

Dehydration can kill a kitten in a matter of hours. If your kitten has diarrhea or vomits repeatedly, seek veterinary help immediately.

Your veterinarian might prescribe medication or recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment. Don’t give your cat any human medication without first consulting your vet. Some contain aspirin or other ingredients that can harm your cat.

Cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea treatment tips

The first step of Cat diarrhea treatment is to identify and remove the underlying cause. For example:

1- If a cat has a lactase enzyme deficiency (lactose intolerance), dairy products can be removed from the diet without causing a nutrient deficiency because they are not a necessary part of an adult cat’s diet.

2- Diarrhea caused by overeating (characterized by several large, bulky, unformed stools) is controlled by cutting back the overall food intake and feeding the cat three small meals instead of one large meal a day.

Unfamiliar water can cause diarrhea. Give the cat water brought from home or bottled water when you are traveling.

3- When irritating or toxic substances have been ingested, identify the agent because specific antidotes may be required.

4- Diarrhea caused by food allergy or intolerance is treated by placing the cat on a homemade or commercial hypoallergenic diet prescribed by your veterinarian for about eight weeks.

If the diarrhea disappears, the cat can remain on this diet, or various foods can be added one by one until the offending food allergen is detected by a return of symptoms. This food substance is then eliminated from the diet.

5- Food intolerance is a non-immune-mediated cause of diarrhea and vomiting. This could be a response to a dietary protein, a preservative, a flavoring, or anything else in the cat’s diet. Again, removing the offending substance will stop the problem.

Prescription diets for this problem include Eukanuba Response LB Feline, Royal Canin Hypoal- lergenic HP Feline, Royal Canin Neutral Formula Feline, Royal Canin’s Limited Ingre- dients with duck, lamb, rabbit, or venison as the meat protein, Science Diet Feline d/d with duck, rabbit, or venison as the meat protein, and Science Diet z/d ULTRA Allergen Free Feline.

6- Diarrhea that persists for more than 24 hours is potentially serious. Consult your veterinarian without delay. Always remember to bring a sample of the diarrhea so that it can be examined for parasites and bacteria.

A cat dehydrates quickly when fluid losses go unchecked, and this can lead to shock and collapse.

Other indications to consult your veterinarian include bloody diarrhea and diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, fever, and signs of toxicity.

The cause of chronic diarrhea is difficult to diagnose and requires laboratory analysis and close professional monitoring.

7- Diarrhea of short duration without excessive fluid loss can be treated at home.

Withhold all food for 24 hours. Periodically give him very small amounts of water or ice cubes to lick.

As the cat begins to recover, introduce food gradually, feeding three to our small meals a day.

Begin with a diet high in meat protein. Strained meat baby food, the diets recommended earlier for food allergy and intolerance, and Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline i/d are good examples.

Avoid high-carbohydrate foods and dry cat foods. Cats have a low tolerance for carbohydrates and high-carb diets are likely to prolong the diarrhea. Gradually return to the usual food when the cat has fully recovered.

8- Loperamide (Imodium) may be used upon the advice of your veterinarian. However, if an infectious cause is suspected, loperamide might be contraindicated because it will keep the infectious organism in the bowel longer by slowing the body’s efforts to expel it.

Loperamide is also somewhat controversial, as it may cause excitement in some cats. Avoid any diarrhea medicines that contain salicylates.

Homemade Cat Diarrhea Remedies

Cat food for diarrhea or home remedies are used for cat diarrhea treatment.

1. Recipe 1 for cat diarrhea treatment:

1 cup boiled turkey/chicken mince or chicken breast, divided into bite-sized pieces

1-2 glass water or low salt chicken broth

Instructions:

Divide breasts of chicken into bite-sized pieces, and put a small amount of water or the chicken broth to the skillet and simmer until cooked.

You should drain most of the soup (you can leave a small amount), let it to cool slightly before providing it to your kitty.

2. Recipe 2 for cat diarrhea treatment:

Pumpkin is full of soluble fiber that could aid to soothe and coat the GI tract. Moreover, it postpone gastric emptying, reversing the effects of greater periastalis (gastrointestinal emptying) which happens in cat diarrhea.

It’s with high concentration of the potassium, and potassium can be a frequent electrolyte lost during diarrhea and can be well tolerated by cats.

Instructions:

2 glass fresh pumpkin divided into cubes

1-2 glass water or low salt chicken broth

Add these components to a pan and cook until soft.

Then take away the pan from stove, drain the soup and use a potato masher to mash the pumpkin.

let it to cool slightly before providing it to your kitty.

3. Probiotics

While giving milk into a kitty is usually not recommended, particularly your cat with diarrhea, yoghurt is olnly the exclusion. A little amount from yoghurt may also be advantageous to some cats surfer from diarrhea and be used for cat diarrhea treatment.

Yoghurt includes a kind of bacteria called Lactobacillus. These germs typically live in the gut, helping with the digestion of meals.

On occasion the natural flora of the intestine is thrown out of equilibrium (such as if your furry friend is on a course of antibiotics), and this may result in opportunistic and pathogenic strains of bacteria to take hold.

4. Slippery elm:

This herbal treatment has lots of medical advantages and uses, such as cat diarrhea treatment. It comprises a mucilige (a gelatinous substance), which soothes and coats the gut and intestines in addition to raising mucus secretion that shields the gastric tract.

Put 1/2 teaspoon from Slippery elm to your kitty’s meal for every 2 kg (10 lbs) bodyweight.

Read More About:

Declawing cats

Cat vocalizations

Rabies in cats

Cat Spraying

Common Cat Behavior Problems and Solutions

Cats don’t naturally drink water

Cat Hair Loss

How much to feed a cat

Cat Behavior Problems and Solutions

https://www.xyqmfc.com/kitten-diarrhea-cat-diarrhea-treatment/

[nohaahmedali-blog]

Cat Diarrhea

Cat Diarrhea

Cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea

Cat Diarrhea / kitten diarrhea Definitions:  It may be a sign of several different disorders—but if it only happens once or twice, it doesn’t have to be a cause for concern.

The intestinal upset may just be a reaction to something that will pass out of the cat’s system in 24 hours. However, diarrhea that lasts longer than a day can dehydrate a cat, and if not corrected it can lead to shock.

Cat Diarrhea / kitten diarrhea is the passage of abnormally soft and/or frequent stools. This sign is often associated with vomiting, but may also occur by itself. When present, diarrhea often causes cats to fail to use their litter pans.

Diarrhea usually doesn’t last long or indicate anything more than a mildly upset digestive system. However, if it persists for more than 2 days, is accompanied by fever or vomiting, or contains blood, take your cat to the vet immediately. If possible, take a stool sample along for analysis.

What To Do About Mild Diarrhea

Any diarrhea that doesn’t fit the warning signs on the paragraph below (Diarrhea Requiring a Vet Visitn) will probably pass on its own in a day or two.

Your vet may want to give you a mild product for feline digestive upset, but do not even think of using human over-the-counter products. The newest Kaopectate formula and any diarrhea product with bismuth subsalicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol) can be poisonous to a cat.

Most vets will suggest withholding food for 24 hours so the digestive tract can empty out and calm down. A wonderful powder called Bio-Sponge from Platinum Performance (800-553-2400) works wonders. If your cat has any of the symptoms on the paragraph below (Diarrhea Requiring a Vet Visitn), you should call the vet and see if he wants to see her right away.

Diarrhea Requiring a Vet Visited

It continues more than one day.

It is bloody or contains mucus.

It is black or any color other than brown.

It is accompanied by fever, vomiting or lethargy.

It has a foul odor.

Cat Diarrhea Causes

Diarrhea has many causes; the most common are related to diet. Diets containing cows’ milk often cause diarrhea.

Spicy table scraps and decomposed food are other common offenders, but any food, including commonly fed commercial diets, can cause diarrhea in certain cats.

Viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites (e.g., worms, coccidia) may infect the bowel and cause diarrhea. This occurs most often in kittens.

Diarrhea can also be caused by diseases of the liver and/or pancreas, bowel obstruction, cancer, and metabolic problems.

Even psychological stress gives some cats diarrhea. Trips to the veterinary hospital or the addition of a new cat to the household may result in stress-induced diarrhea, but this type usually subsides quickly without any treatment being required.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is also frequently accompanied by diarrhea.

Some toxic substances that can cause cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea include

Gasoline, kerosene, oil, and coal tar derivatives

Cleaning fluid and refrigerants

Insecticides, bleaches, toilet bowl cleaner inserts 

Wild and ornamental plants, mushrooms 

Building materials (cement, lime, paints, caulks) 

Types of diarrhea causes

Dietary Diarrhea

Food Intolerance or allergy (wheat gluten, fatty foods, dairy products)

Foreign Material

Diet Change

Toxins

Parasites

Hookworms

Roundworms

Giardia

Coccidia

Tritrichomonas

Bacteria

Salmonella Clostridium Campylobacter

Viruses

Feline Distemper

Coronavirus/FIP

Fungal

Histoplasmosis

Inflammatory

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Fiber-Responsive Diarrhea

Stress Colitis

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis (HGE)

 Systemic diseases

Pancreatitis

Diabetes Mellitus

Hyperthyroidism

FIV

FELV

Liver disease

Kidney Disease

Cancer

Anomalous

Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency

Intestinal Obstruction

Intestinal Cancer

Toxicity

Lead

Plants

Symptoms for Cat Diarrhea / kitten diarrhea

Milled cat diarrhea may involve wet, loose stools only were bad diarrhea may involve the likes of: 

A fever

 Dehydration 

Vomiting 

Diarrhea containing blood 

No appetite 

Lethargy 

Pains in the abdomen 

Diagnosing Cat / kitten diarrhea

To determine the cause of your cats diarrhea a trip to the vets will be necessary as test will need to be taken such as: 

A physical examination 

A stool sample taken for tests

An x-ray on the gastrointestinal track If there are more severe symptoms present then test such as blood testing and stool cultures for leukaemia and immunodeficiency viruses are done and there is a possibility of a biopsy of the intestinal track. 

Characteristics of Diarrhea helps in diagnosis the cause of diarrhea:

  kitten diarrhea

kitten Diarrhea is one of the hardest things for a kitten foster mom to deal with. So many things can cause diarrhea, and a kitten dehydrates so quickly!

Add to that what a mess it makes (especially if you have more than one bottle baby) and you’ve got a major headache.

The sooner you get your kitten to the vet and find out what’s going on, the less it costs and the more likely she is to survive.

Kitten Diarrhea can result from:

major diseases like feline leukemia

feline distemper, and feline infectious peritonitis

Food changes, overfeeding, or a formula that doesn’t agree with the kitten can cause kitten diarrhea as well.

But more often than not, parasite infestations and a lack of beneficial intestinal bacteria cause the runs. The frustrating thing is that often they don’t show up when the vet’s looking at the poop under the microscope.

When this happens, I ask the vet to go ahead and treat for coccidia. This ailment is very common among kittens and most of my bottle babies have it.

Cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea treatment

In most cases, feeding your cat a bland diet for a few days will clear up diarrhea and prevent dehydration.

Some combination of plain yogurt, cottage cheese, boiled chicken, unsalted chicken broth, bread soaked in broth, or boiled rice works well, although you might have to experiment to find a combination your cat will eat.

Some people also use strained, unseasoned baby food. Withholding food for a day or two before starting the bland diet might help. Do not withhold water!

Dehydration can kill a kitten in a matter of hours. If your kitten has diarrhea or vomits repeatedly, seek veterinary help immediately.

Your veterinarian might prescribe medication or recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment. Don’t give your cat any human medication without first consulting your vet. Some contain aspirin or other ingredients that can harm your cat.

Cat diarrhea / kitten diarrhea treatment tips

The first step of Cat diarrhea treatment is to identify and remove the underlying cause. For example:

1- If a cat has a lactase enzyme deficiency (lactose intolerance), dairy products can be removed from the diet without causing a nutrient deficiency because they are not a necessary part of an adult cat’s diet.

2- Diarrhea caused by overeating (characterized by several large, bulky, unformed stools) is controlled by cutting back the overall food intake and feeding the cat three small meals instead of one large meal a day.

Unfamiliar water can cause diarrhea. Give the cat water brought from home or bottled water when you are traveling.

3- When irritating or toxic substances have been ingested, identify the agent because specific antidotes may be required.

4- Diarrhea caused by food allergy or intolerance is treated by placing the cat on a homemade or commercial hypoallergenic diet prescribed by your veterinarian for about eight weeks.

If the diarrhea disappears, the cat can remain on this diet, or various foods can be added one by one until the offending food allergen is detected by a return of symptoms. This food substance is then eliminated from the diet.

5- Food intolerance is a non-immune-mediated cause of diarrhea and vomiting. This could be a response to a dietary protein, a preservative, a flavoring, or anything else in the cat’s diet. Again, removing the offending substance will stop the problem.

Prescription diets for this problem include Eukanuba Response LB Feline, Royal Canin Hypoal- lergenic HP Feline, Royal Canin Neutral Formula Feline, Royal Canin’s Limited Ingre- dients with duck, lamb, rabbit, or venison as the meat protein, Science Diet Feline d/d with duck, rabbit, or venison as the meat protein, and Science Diet z/d ULTRA Allergen Free Feline.

6- Diarrhea that persists for more than 24 hours is potentially serious. Consult your veterinarian without delay. Always remember to bring a sample of the diarrhea so that it can be examined for parasites and bacteria.

A cat dehydrates quickly when fluid losses go unchecked, and this can lead to shock and collapse.

Other indications to consult your veterinarian include bloody diarrhea and diarrhea accompanied by vomiting, fever, and signs of toxicity.

The cause of chronic diarrhea is difficult to diagnose and requires laboratory analysis and close professional monitoring.

7- Diarrhea of short duration without excessive fluid loss can be treated at home.

Withhold all food for 24 hours. Periodically give him very small amounts of water or ice cubes to lick.

As the cat begins to recover, introduce food gradually, feeding three to our small meals a day.

Begin with a diet high in meat protein. Strained meat baby food, the diets recommended earlier for food allergy and intolerance, and Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline i/d are good examples.

Avoid high-carbohydrate foods and dry cat foods. Cats have a low tolerance for carbohydrates and high-carb diets are likely to prolong the diarrhea. Gradually return to the usual food when the cat has fully recovered.

8- Loperamide (Imodium) may be used upon the advice of your veterinarian. However, if an infectious cause is suspected, loperamide might be contraindicated because it will keep the infectious organism in the bowel longer by slowing the body’s efforts to expel it.

Loperamide is also somewhat controversial, as it may cause excitement in some cats. Avoid any diarrhea medicines that contain salicylates.

Homemade Cat Diarrhea Remedies

Cat food for diarrhea or home remedies are used for cat diarrhea treatment.

1. Recipe 1 for cat diarrhea treatment:

1 cup boiled turkey/chicken mince or chicken breast, divided into bite-sized pieces

1-2 glass water or low salt chicken broth

Instructions:

Divide breasts of chicken into bite-sized pieces, and put a small amount of water or the chicken broth to the skillet and simmer until cooked.

You should drain most of the soup (you can leave a small amount), let it to cool slightly before providing it to your kitty.

2. Recipe 2 for cat diarrhea treatment:

Pumpkin is full of soluble fiber that could aid to soothe and coat the GI tract. Moreover, it postpone gastric emptying, reversing the effects of greater periastalis (gastrointestinal emptying) which happens in cat diarrhea.

It’s with high concentration of the potassium, and potassium can be a frequent electrolyte lost during diarrhea and can be well tolerated by cats.

Instructions:

2 glass fresh pumpkin divided into cubes

1-2 glass water or low salt chicken broth

Add these components to a pan and cook until soft.

Then take away the pan from stove, drain the soup and use a potato masher to mash the pumpkin.

let it to cool slightly before providing it to your kitty.

3. Probiotics

While giving milk into a kitty is usually not recommended, particularly your cat with diarrhea, yoghurt is olnly the exclusion. A little amount from yoghurt may also be advantageous to some cats surfer from diarrhea and be used for cat diarrhea treatment.

Yoghurt includes a kind of bacteria called Lactobacillus. These germs typically live in the gut, helping with the digestion of meals.

On occasion the natural flora of the intestine is thrown out of equilibrium (such as if your furry friend is on a course of antibiotics), and this may result in opportunistic and pathogenic strains of bacteria to take hold.

4. Slippery elm:

This herbal treatment has lots of medical advantages and uses, such as cat diarrhea treatment. It comprises a mucilige (a gelatinous substance), which soothes and coats the gut and intestines in addition to raising mucus secretion that shields the gastric tract.

Put 1/2 teaspoon from Slippery elm to your kitty’s meal for every 2 kg (10 lbs) bodyweight.

Read More About:

Declawing cats

Cat vocalizations

Rabies in cats

Cat Spraying

Common Cat Behavior Problems and Solutions

Cats don’t naturally drink water

Cat Hair Loss

How much to feed a cat

Cat Behavior Problems and Solutions

https://www.xyqmfc.com/kitten-diarrhea-cat-diarrhea-treatment/

[1usedcarshoustontx]

Automotive

Automotive detailing can be one of the most important jobs at vehicle dealerships or detailing shops. Whether a detailer is preparing the vehicle for a sales display or getting it ready for its new owner, it's sometimes that first impression of the vehicle that makes automotive detailing so significant.

Good automotive detailers will know     cars for sale in houston the areas on vehicles that a bad detailer can miss. Areas such as door jams, window seals, and engine cleaning are signs that you got a good detail job. Trade-in vehicles that need to be detailed are perhaps the most important as a good detail can affect its retail value. No one wants to buy a used vehicle, no matter what the performance quality, if it hasn't been detailed properly.

Soiled upholstery and carpet stains can also prevent resale value but using the right products can show a drastic improvement if done correctly. Tobacco or smoking in a vehicle are no longer challenges for the good automotive detailer. Various manufacturers are now producing machines such as Ionizers that when placed in a vehicle for a small period of time can take out the effects of smoking smells.

Automotive detailing products are important. Products or mitts that can scratch, wear out the paint, or dull chrome should not be used and a good automotive detailer will know which products to avoid.

Automotive detailing product salespeople what career is right for me  who promote their products and claim they are the best visit many dealerships. Beyond what products auto detailers are using, a customer should look at the detail shop or detail area. Is it clean? Are the products organized, or are the detailers running back and forth, sharing products, or worse, leaving the detail area looking for their equipment? Check them out for cleanliness and accessibility of the automotive detailing items they use-are they nearby?

A good automotive detailer will use tools such as small brushes with soft bristles for vent cleaning. Detailing tools that have small rubber tips are good for cleaning dirt out of seams and trim. Wheel and tire brushes are also a must. Some products such as mitts and brushes are now being offered by the manufacturers with color-coding. This color-coding helps the detailer identify which is the best tool for the process in a quick and easy manner. Bottles of cleaners should also be color-coded for automotive detailing use. Grabbing the wrong solution can be detrimental to the detailer if he is in a hurry. The color-coding process has eliminated the mistakes sometimes made in the automotive detailing business.

Some automotive detailing shops even offer services that will check your wiper blades and other viewable parts that can easily be replaced by a detailer at a lower cost than a mechanic or technician.

A big job for the automotive detailer millionaire mentor  is new vehicle preparation. If a dealer sells new vehicles, as they are shipped in, they are inevitably full of dust, debris and, road wear from the shipping process. Not only is the automotive detailer responsible for cleaning the new vehicle, most car dealerships will provide them with a checklist of other items to check for operation. The checklist can include items such as setting the clock and radio, testing the key fobs to see if they are working correctly, removing the new vehicle plastic and stickers, and, taking the vehicle on a small test drive to check wipers, air-conditioning and, other essential elements.

Probably the last thing a good automotive detailer can offer is the trip to the gas pump to fill your vehicle up with a full tank. If your detailing company or dealership offers this, it may save you dollars. Many dealerships receive gasoline discounts and are happy to pass them along to the customer to keep them coming back, so check that out when you visit your automotive detailer or dealership.

Automotive detailing takes a lot if care. People who work in this area should be the kind of people who love the detailing process and the outcomes they achieve. They are people who have high levels of energy and communication skills to ensure the customer is getting what they want. If chosen right, the good automotive detailer can make all the difference in that new, used, or customer vehicle. Good automotive detailers will keep customers coming back to any shop and are sometimes overlooked for SEO Houston  the talents they possess.

The very competitive automotive repair industry depends highly on sophisticated equipment which is very expensive. Automotive repair equipments like hydraulic lifts, alignment equipment etc play a vital role in the business operations of this industry. Although expensive, they are indispensable in various repair services. Therefore automotive repair equipment financing is assuming greater importance in the automotive repair industry.

The traditional lending institutions may not be willing to finance sophisticated automotive repair equipment due to their unique nature. However, there are a few genuine financing companies which understand your needs and requirements. They offer financial assistance under various categories and at better interest rates.

Commercial car wash requires lot of equipment and so an automotive repair industry needs to be equipped with all the essential equipments for the same purpose. Automatic car wash, In-bay car wash system, vacuum system etc are some of the sophisticated equipment required in car wash processes. But they are quite pricey especially in case of multiple car washes. Therefore, one can acquire the sophisticated equipments through automotive repair equipment financing.

Tire changer is another important business analyst training   component of any automotive repair shop. Nowadays people are particular about the tires they use and thus excellent tire changer equipment is indispensable for satisfying the customers. Automatic tire changer, PAX tire changer, manual tire changer are some of the equipments available in the market. They can be expensive and so the automotive shops need to look for automotive repair financing.

Auto body equipment plays a crucial role in making a wrecked vehicle to useful. This work however involves full line of auto body equipments like straightening equipment, painting bays and so on. In case they have to be worked on various types of vehicles, a full line of auto body equipment can be quite expensive. In such cases the help of automotive repair financing is much required.

Wheel balancer is another vital tool in an automotive repair shop which helps in assessing the potential problems in the wheel, quickly and accurately. Therefore this equipment helps in providing improved customer service. But the cost of wheel balancer is high and so wheel balancer financing provided by some reliable financing companies is essential.

Wheel alignment equipment is another valuable tool in an automotive repair shop. It saves time and helps the mechanic in easy and quick assessment and repair in any vehicle's wheel alignment. Though essential, they are quite costlier and so many repair shops are not able to afford it. However automotive repair equipment financing provides adult continuing education  valuable service to repair shops to acquire these essential tools.

A frame machine in an automotive shop helps to provide life even to severely damaged vehicle. It is also quite expensive, but some valid financing companies offer easy financial assistance to acquire a frame machine.

Automotive repair equipment financing therefore helps almost all automotive shop owners to acquire the valuable automotive repair tools. The financing companies provide straight forward approach in offering financial help. They provide fast approval with minimum application process. Even an online application is enough to get financial help from them. These companies offer help at better terms so that owners can pay their bills in low easy monthly installments.

What has your lifetime obsession always been? What's your passion? Would it happen to involve working with cars or constantly placing yourself around the roar and rumble of automobiles? If so, why not look into the promising prospect of partaking in the ever-expanding world of automotive franchises? Especially if you're a business savvy or entrepreneur-driven individual who's main interest lies in automobiles themselves, the opportunity of getting in gear with an automotive franchise might just be the catalyst you've been seeking to spur your own self-enterprise pursuits.

Engine-Roaring Basics On Automotive Franchises

With a considerably slim start up investment and a plethora of rewarding benefits, what better time could it possibly be to put the pedal to the metal and start cruising your way down the triple-crown luxury cars houston   highway with an automotive franchise kicking back in the passenger seat next to you? What are you waiting for? As it stands, franchises in general are spreading like wild fire and consumers are taking notice toward the opportunity, substantial earning potential and overall appeal of becoming a business owner.

And depending on where your automotive interests lie, the possibilities in different automotive franchise ventures can vary greatly. Say you're more inclined toward car maintenance, or car repair, or automotive parts or automotive insurance; any and all of the aforementioned can lead you to selecting a specific and quite successful automotive franchise.

Considering Options and Finding Your Automotive Franchising Niche

When deciding on which automotive franchise would be best for you, there are many factors you should take to mind. Clearly, you should have interest in cars and the automotive industry. If you don't then why would you consider running a business in which you have no prior experience or any knowledge in whatsoever? That said, and assuming you are indeed interested in automotive topics, then what should be considered next are overall start up costs. Typically, start up costs for an automotive based franchise can range anywhere from $10,000-$20,000 dollars, which is, looking from a long-term business perspective, a tiny investment for future and monumental gains and growth potentials.

And of course different automotive franchise types -that is, what services and/or products each offer- can vary greatly in terms of investment costs. So, it's important to conduct some research and shop around for your best option.

Working With Brand Names or Not? It's Suggested You Do

Thinking from the perspective of a consumerist mindset, opting to pick an automotive franchise backing a specific brand name might be a great business move. Now, of course, the initial investment costs would be a bit heftier than a standard, lesser-known franchise, but in the long run, brand names are reliable and workable, ten-fold. Customers will flock used cars houston tx  to franchises with names they're familiar with or have heard good things about; take this to heart as it will assuredly make your automotive franchise venture a huge success.

It simply boils down to one thing, assurance. And consumers seek this at all costs. A solid, preexisting reputation through your selected automotive franchise brand will almost immediately provide you with a consistent and frequent client base.

Prior to the invention of automotive GPS units, traveling to unknown areas had to be done through reading a map and/or asking for directions. Both methods had problems. For instance, how can one effectively read a map while driving? Map-reading is only best if there is another passenger in the car, which isn't always possible. Asking for directions can also be annoying, at least if the person giving the directions does so in a manner that is not as clear.

Fortunately, with the emergence of automotive GPS units the process of map-reading and getting directions has never been easier as each can be done either through voice activation, touching the screen, pushing buttons or a combination. Maps pinpointing the exact location pop right up on the screen, while directions can be given through a computer-generated voice. Nothing could be easier or better. The only issue is deciding which automotive GPS unit should be purchased. This article will serve as a guide telling consumers what they should be on the lookout for when choosing automotive GPS units.

The first area of consideration when buying automotive GPS units is seeing how accurate the device is. One way to determine this is by how many channels the GPS unit has. This is because more channels means the unit will be able to communicate with a larger number of satellites, resulting in more coverage. Another way to determine the accuracy mentorship  of most automotive GPS units is through how its antenna is designed. Make sure the antenna is placed in an area of the unit where it will be able to stand freely.

The next thing to think about when looking at automotive GPS units is size. There are some automotive GPS units that will not be portable. Onstar, which has to be installed in one's car, is an example of an automotive GPS unit that can not be moved from car-to-car. Many other automotive GPS units vary in portability.

Thirdly, perspective buyers of automotive GPS units should take notice of a unit's interface. More expensive automotive GPS units will contain voice-activation and/or touch-screens, while cheaper ones can only be used through a series of buttons. If another person is in the car, using buttons is not as bad, but if only the driver can use the unit, it is important that it be as hands-free as possible. It is also important to try to get an automotive GPS unit that has the capability to give directions through a computer-generated voice. Doing so is another way to ensure that the driver of the car keeps their eyes on the road and nowhere else.

The software that the automotive automotive GPS unit uses is also critical. Most top of the line units have very good mapping software included with the unit. However, as time passes the mapping software becomes out of date. You should make sure that you automotive GPS units software is updated at least once every 6 months. Frequently there is cost for this service but if you live in fast growing urban environment then it is a good investment. Your automotive GPS unit is only as good as its operating and mapping software.

When looking at automotive GPS units one should consider: ease of use, accuracy, size and interface. Keeping these elements in mind ensures that a buyer obtains an automotive GPS unit that is reliable and will best assist them when they are on the road.

What are the benefits of automotive reviews and who benefits from them? The answer appears to be simple. The consumer is given all the details he/she might be interested in, as well as a rating of the automobile, so he/she appears to be the sole beneficiary of automotive reviews, since they are useful instruments in making the right choice when purchasing a car. But automotive reviews can work for the benefit of car dealers just as well, as their websites will be considerably trafficked, and initiation of leads from the part of the informed consumers - potential consumers - is more likely to take place.

When car dealers are interested in  ecd attracting visitors to their websites, they have a great variety of means at their disposal. A good ranking made by a search engine will definitely come with an increased number of visitors, but another problem still remains. How do you retain those visitors and turn them into potential customers? Automotive reviews are the answer. Good automotive reviews offer the right information that the visitors require. A first step, which is very important, is that the potential customers will spend quite some time reading the automotive review posted on the website. The purchase of a car is an important step and deciding upon a certain car model may prove to be a complex and painstaking process. Regardless of their financial possibilities, all the potential buyers feel the need to be well informed before they move on to the next step, that of actually paying for the car and driving it home. When researching, customers will find it useful to have access to independent automotive reviews, which will guarantee that their best interest as consumers comes first. The right information offered by independent automotive reviews can turn a visitor into a customer very quickly, and this is what car dealers have to take advantage of.

Automotive news is another means of keeping the potential customers informed. The latest news make the object of interest for all those passionate about cars, or those researching for a car purchase. However, many people consider that the automotive reviews   pre owned cars houston  found on automotive blogs are to be trusted more than any other means of information. Consumers trust automotive blogs because they know that most of the information there comes from people just like them who have something to share. Providing the consumer with the possibility of writing his/her own review of a car is important. People wish to make educated choices when it comes to purchasing a car, and automotive blogs offer them the information they need.

An automotive blog is not just a reliable source of information, but is also available at any hour, since the internet has no limitations whatsoever. An automotive blog will provide visitors with all sorts of information, such as tips for buying cars, maintenance, car repair houston seo expert  and safety, environmental issues, and so forth. Some other car-related aspects may constitute the reason why people affiliate to an automotive blog. These aspects may refer to esthetics, utility or power.

An automotive blog is all the more reliable when it contains photographs or videos, or gives reference to other car blogs or similar websites, showing that the consumer's best interest comes first.

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Caterpillar Joins UTV Market with Two New Models: This Week’s Industry News

Want to keep up with the latest news in lawn care and landscaping? Check back every Thursday for a quick recap of recent happenings in the green industry.

Caterpillar Joins UTV Market with Two New Models Caterpillar introduces its first-ever Cat utility vehicles – the CUV82 (gasoline model) and CUV102D (diesel engine). Both models feature rugged steel cargo beds and offer 1,000-lb. total rear cargo capacity and 2,000-lb. towing capacity. The new CUV082 and CUV102D utility vehicles boast a four-wheel independent suspension system with a front sway bar to provide unmatched stability at full load. A long swing-arm suspension, custom-tuned springs and shocks deliver a balance between a smooth ride and hauling loads. Ample ground clearance ensures these vehicles navigate rough terrain with ease.

These new Cat UTVs efficiently complete hauling tasks, quickly maneuvering over rugged terrain at the worksite at speeds reaching 45 mph, depending on model. The CUV82 is powered by a 0.8L three-cylinder gasoline engine delivering 50 hp, while a 1.0L three-cylinder diesel engine delivers 25 hp power to the CUV102D. The CUV82 and CUV102D comfortably seat two riders side-by-side with ample leg, elbow and headroom for tall riders. Customers can customize their Cat UTVs through more than 50 accessory options. Multiple cab options with sealed surfaces on the ROPS structure provide a weather tight enclosure, while other offerings include snowplows, heater, front winch and power dump. Cat UTVs are prewired for quick do-it-yourself installation of all options.

NHLA Launches “Proud to be Green Collared” Campaign The National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA) is encouraging landscape professionals to proclaim their pride in being “Green Collared.” The NHLA is offering landscape professionals the opportunity to purchase a “Proud to be Green Collared, Making America MORE than Beautiful” bumper sticker for $5. All proceeds will go towards student scholarships for those preparing themselves for a career as a landscape professional.

Weathermatic’s New President, Aborjet’s New Marketing Manager Weathermatic appointed Fred March president for its wholesale irrigation division. Fred March has been employed by Weathermatic the past 15 years, and represented the company in the western United States. Dave Estey, a Vermont native, recently joined Massachusett-based Arborjet Inc. as product marketing manager. He comes to Arborjet after working as director of product development at Propel Marketing.

Arborwell Transitioning to 100 Percent Employee Owned Arborwell, Inc., a tree care company with 200 employees, recently announced that it has completed the transition to employee ownership by becoming a 100 percent Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Trust, effective January 1, 2017. Peter Sortwell, founder of Arborwell, views this as a natural step, consistent with his recognition of the contributions of each employee in the success of the company, and his desire to share the rewards of that success. “I acquired a very small residential operation in 2001, and in the years since, our employees have been instrumental in driving not only tremendous growth, but exceptional professionalism,” says Arborwell founder Peter Sortwell.

The Harvester Group, Pro-Motion Consulting Announce Peer Groups The The Harvest Group recently announced the Harvesters’ Virtual Peer Group. The group, meeting monthly via phone, provides business owners the opportunity to talk with peers in similar-sized companies about the everyday challenges of running a company. Lead by Fred Haskett, The Harvesters’ Virtual Peer Group brings together groups of eight to 12 fellow contractor-related businesses from different geographic areas. Also, Adam Linnemann, president of Linnemann Lawn Care & Landscaping Inc. near St. Louis, and Phil Harwood of Pro-Motion Consulting also announced they are starting and will be co-facilitating landscape industry peer groups.

Editor’s note: Stay tuned for the Turf December cover story “Power Up With A Peer Group.”

PERC Honors Miami Dade County Parks with Green Award The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) presented the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation, & Open Spaces Department with the Green Leadership City Award. “For nearly ten years, the Miami-Dade parks department has maintained the community’s greenspaces with propane mowers, which reduce emissions and greenhouse gases that can be harmful for the public. They should be commended for that effort,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC, which donated $5,000 to the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade.

Redexim North America Hires National Sales Manager Redexim North America has announced the addition of Troy von Holdt as the National Sales Manager. His main objective is to act as the primary support role for Redexim’s wide customer base by adding value to our dealerships and end user experiences. Troy comes to Redexim from Land Pride-Kubota, prior having spent over 8 years with Redexim, in direct end user sales and as a Regional Sales Manager.  In total, von Holdt has 18 years experience in the golf, turf and equipment industry.

Profile Products Adam Dibble Earns Designation as a CPESC-IT PROFILE Products LLChas announced that Adam Dibble, senior marketing and erosion control brand manager, recently achieved the designation as a Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control In-Training (CPESC-IT). Dibble joined Profile in 2009 and has a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan. Dibble is also on the 2016-2019 Board of Directors for the International Erosion Control Association (IECA). Dibble also became a Certified Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater Inspector (CESSWI) in 2015. The CPESC designation recognizes expert knowledge in the principles, practices and legislation of erosion and sediment control. Those with the CPESC certification have demonstrated the ability to observe, evaluate and synthesize information related to Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), Erosion and Sediment Control plans, installation of erosion and sediment control practices and other related activities such as assisting regulators, authoring handbooks or educating the public. The In-Training designation recognizes professionals who are continuing their education and have completed the first portion of the challenging, two-part exam.

JCB Dealer Network Expands With Addition of Norlift JCB in Washington, Idaho Norlift JCB, a division of Norlift, Inc. in Spokane, Washington, is the newest member of JCB’s growing North American dealer network. The dealership is located in the heart of Spokane’s industrial and commercial business district at 512 North Fancher Road. Since 1970, Norlift, Inc. has sold material handling equipment to the Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho regions. Now, as Norlift JCB, the company will sell and service JCB’s compact excavators, skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, small telehandlers and the one-of-a-kind JCB Teleskid, the first skid steer with a telescopic boom for increased versatility and accessibility. Norlift JCB will also offer used equipment acquired via trade-ins and rental fleet sales.

Project Evergreen Rennovates Pingree Park in East Detroit Planting trees, improving grass play areas and painting backstops in November doesn’t seem to fit with the season when leaves and temperatures are falling, but the transformation of Detroit’s Pingree Park is starting to bloom right before the eyes of neighborhood residents. Project EverGreen in collaboration with local business partners, including Troy-Michigan-based Magna International, community groups and the City of Detroit, started the renewal of the 18-acre park November 3-4 when about 200 volunteers pruned and planted trees, filled in ruts in the natural grass playing area, painted backstops and removed weeds and sticks from the playground.

Target Specialty Products and Scotts Sign Marketing Agreement for Professional Turf Products Target Specialty Products, a leading national wholesale distributor of turf & ornamental and pest control products, is partnering with Scotts to develop a complete line of new professional turf products backed by Scotts PRO technology and the latest advancements in turfgrass management. The marketing agreement will allow Target Specialty Products the exclusive ability to co-brand with the Scotts PRO logo and related marks and will further strengthen Target Specialty Products’ position in the marketplace and its product offerings to customers.

Arborjet Welcomes New Product Marketing Manager Arborjet Inc. has announced that Dave Estey has joined the company as Product Marketing Manager. In this role, Estey will be responsible for positioning Arborjet’s products in the marketplace, executing strong go-to-market campaigns and managing product lifecycles. Prior to his role at Arborjet, Estey worked as Director of Product for national marketing agency Propel Marketing, now ThriveHive, and was a Senior Content Strategist at C-4 Analytics, a digital marketing services company. He holds a BA in communications with a minor in writing from Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire.

The post Caterpillar Joins UTV Market with Two New Models: This Week’s Industry News appeared first on Turf.

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Community Voice Responses (Oct. 3, 2017)

From the Sept. 8 Numismatic News E-Newsletter:

Should Treasury Secretary Mnuchin keep Andrew Jackson on the $20?

Here are some answers sent from our e-newsletter readers to Editor Dave Harper.

  Most definitely yes! Regardless of any individual’s contribution to our society, nobody but Liberty or past presidents should be honored on our currency. If an example of political correctness dictating other persons being depicted on our coins or currency is necessary, just look at the recent dismal failures of the Sacajawea and/or Susan B. Anthony dollar coins. Enough with the social engineering experiments already! Alan Anderson Tucson, Ariz.

  Why mess with the history already in place long before you or I thought of this question? I understand that all influential people male or female should be recognized. I pose this question: Should we pass judgment on Michelangelo for depicting God as a Caucasian male on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel? He lay on his back how long to paint this fresco? And legend has it a piece of it is still not finished even. Thanks for your time and a useful publication! Pete Cappola Cattaraugus, N.Y.

  No. An agreement was reached by Sec. Lew and it should be honored. James J. O’Connell III Westminster, Calif.

  No. Jackson was anti-bank notes (currency) and if he should have a place of honor, it would be a gold coin. Put Harriet Tubman on the twenty. The symbolism will go a long way for all of us. Wesley Ellis Portland, Ore.

  Enough already! Small, vocal groups of protesters are trying to change history with their insistence on removing symbols of our past, good or bad. Leave these symbols alone so everyone can learn from them and perhaps not repeat our mistakes. Leave Andrew be. Jim Hatch Windcrest, Texas

  Yes, Jackson should remain on the Twenty Dollar Bill. Harriet Tubman is a laudatory person, honor her, but keep Jackson on the Twenty. Thank you for allowing me to express my opinion. Raymond E Anderson Moscow, Idaho

  Absolutely NOT!!!!!!!

These flavor of the day loony Libs can’t change everything they think MIGHT offend them.

You can’t erase history as much as they try.

Ernie Lurvey Marshfield, Wis.

  Change it!

Gary G. Allen Annapolis, Md.

  Do we want to politicize our money?

When the Susan B Anthony dollar was introduced, years were needed for the coin to gain universal recognition and never really received popular acceptance. If Jackson is removed, the same problems could resurface. The difficulties created by any design modification are valid objections to opposing change. Not liking a design is subjective and political.

Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill is recognized worldwide. A long time would be needed before merchants in China or Italy would learn to recognize a new design on a $20 bill. Initially, the new bills would be suspect as counterfeit.

I happen to like change. I am thrilled every time circulating coinage changes. If citizens want to see Harriet Tubman on their money, I applaud the decision. But, using Harriet Tubman would be a political decision because of the present design controversy.

Some citizens would prefer more artistic money and fewer political designs. Imagine a Walking Liberty image on a $20 bill instead of someone’s face. That type of design would be more universally accepted and less subject to political controversy.

Bruce R Frohman Modesto Calif.

  Yes, I believe that Andrew Jackson should be kept on the $20 bill.

John C. Kozimbo Westfield, N.J.

  Munchkin [sic] can do whatever he wants. I don’t care.

Max Stucky Colorado Springs, Colo.

  Andrew Jackson, more than anyone else aside from George Washington, should be on American money, as he is the father of the United States having real money, successfully fighting off Biddle and the deceptive bankers longer than any other president, instead of a fiat based currency based on nothing but good faith like we have today. Those wanting to remove him from the twenty are either ignorant of our history, don’t like our history, or are just caught up in the change-is-better movement so many unwisely adhere to in present society because reading is too difficult and what they want has nothing to do with what is right, constitutional, or good for them. A democratic republic only works when the citizens are educated in the truth, not believing falsehoods, and are of virtuous character. Unfortunately, those days are gone.

Richard Koch Address withheld

  Andrew Jackson was a true patriot and strategist who prevent the Brits from taking New Orleans. There is no reason whatsoever to remove him from the $20 bill.

Charles Ginetto Address withheld

  Has anyone recognized how our paper money is produced? It is printed on a 32-subject sheet now, or soon, a 50-subject sheet, before it is cut apart to individual notes. This would allow for many different personages. We could celebrate many important and historical American women and possibly have room left over for Madonna, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and so forth.

William Izzo Address withheld

  Yes, absolutely. President Andrew Jackson should remain on the $20 bill!

The move to replace him was political correctness over-reach by the previous administration.

There is no need to change the bill from the former President!

I, for one, will be more than happy to carry many “Jacksons” in my wallet!

F.A. Danitz Address withheld

  It IS long overdue to eliminate Jackson on this note.

Carmen D. Valentino Address withheld

  I may have sent you a text on this issue once before, but I notice that we seem to put only presidents on our money.

I think if we tried that we could find many other individuals who have as much right to be on our money. In two hundred years, we’ve had many individuals who deserve to be on our money.

I do not want to sound like our presidents do not deserve the privileges we give them, they do, but shouldn’t we also recognize those others who have help our country grow.

Bob D. Allen Address withheld

  Keep Jackson.

Robert Donaldson Address withheld

  Keep the Paper money as is. Don’t we have enough things to worry about other than changing the faces on our paper money? What a government waste of time, energy and thought. These bureaucrats have nothing else better to do. Fire them all! Maybe they should then divert thought and energy to emergency preparedness for storms like we are currently being blasted with. A better system of getting essentials like shelter, food, water, medicine and gasoline to needed areas. How about the lead in the water in Michigan and in other parts of our country? It’s a disgrace that our government officials have allowed the infrastructure of dams, highways, waterways, bridges, railroads, sewer systems, water systems that haven’t advanced since the 1950s! Since the 1950s!! 70 years later and no upgrades or progress. Other countries across the globe have far surpassed the US in investments in infrastructure, transportation, and public works. Robert Matitia Address withheld

  Yes, keep Jackson.

Ralph Behringer Address withheld

  Get him off the $ 20 bill; replace with Martin Luther King.

John Lesko Address withheld

  Yes. Without question he should remain on the $20.

Dwayne Helmuth Temecula, Calif.

  Why not rotate the face on the $20 every two years or so. Andrew Jackson, Harriet Tubman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and maybe three others could all be used. Use all of the new faces, then return to Jackson for a cycle, and re-start the rotation again. This keeps the purists and those who prefer some change happy, and it keeps the engravers/artists busy, too.

Ross MacCallum Address withheld

  Time for him to go.

Dave Brunning Address withheld

  Jackson was chosen to be removed because he was a slave holder. Is Washington Next? There is nothing wrong with our money the way it is. Jackson was a great soldier and President.

Name withheld

  This article was originally printed in Numismatic News. >> Subscribe today.

   More Collecting Resources

• The Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money is the only annual guide that provides complete coverage of U.S. currency with today’s market prices.

• With nearly 24,000 listings and over 14,000 illustrations, the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues is your go-to guide for modern bank notes.

The post Community Voice Responses (Oct. 3, 2017) appeared first on Numismatic News.

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UCS tallies assaults on science during Trump’s first six months

Members of the public health community are aware of many of the ways the Trump administration and the 115th Congress are hindering and reversing evidence-based actions for public health – from an executive order requiring agencies to scrap two regulations each time they create a new one to advancing legislation that would make it harder for EPA to obtain and use the most up-to-date science in its work. With so many threats to public health arising each month, it can be hard to catch all of them, though. The Union of Concerned Scientists has performed a tremendous service by producing the report Sidelining Science from Day One: How the Trump Administration Has Harmed Public Health and Safety in Its First Six Months.

The authors of the UCS report – Jacob Carter, Gretchen Goldman, Genna Reed, Peter Hansel, Michael Halpern, and Andrew Rosenberg – remind us it’s so important for the US government to encourage, conduct, and make use of science:

Research in the 1970s about the neurological effects of lead on children resulted in policies to phase-out its use in paint and gasoline. Research on chemicals and metals has improved the quality of our air, water, and soil. Research on infectious diseases has saved innumerable lives by helping governments prevent or anticipate responses to future outbreaks. Advancements in technology have made household appliances, automobiles, and other consumer products safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective and energy-efficient. Government science has improved weather predictions, and climate studies have helped communities across the United States prepare for rising sea levels, drought, extreme heat, and other impacts of climate change.

All modern presidents have politicized science to some degree, they write, but “these threats to the federal scientific enterprise have escalated markedly” under the Trump administration. Here’s their summary of the current situation:

President Trump and his advisors and appointees, along with allied members of Congress, have willfully distorted scientific information, targeted scientists for doing their jobs, impeded scientists’ ability to conduct research, limited access to taxpayer-funded scientific information, disregarded the science in science-based policies, and rolled back science-based protections aimed at advancing public health. They have appointed officials with severe conflicts of interest to oversee industries to which they are tied, and, in some cases, they now lead agencies they have previously disparaged or even sued. They have dismissed climate science despite overwhelming evidence of the devastating impacts of climate change. And they have restricted agencies from considering scientific evidence fully in the decision-making process. Further, the president’s budget blueprints reveal the administration’s desire to scrap investments in basic data collection and research at major agencies, threatening the government’s ability to enforce our nation’s public health and environmental laws.

  Attacking work on climate and other aspects of public health It’s not a surprise that many of the harmful actions the report describes focus on climate change. These include the cancelation of CDC’s Climate and Health Summit; temporary media blackouts focused on agencies doing climate work; instructing employees at the Energy Department’s Office of International Climate and Clean Energy to avoid using the term “climate change” in written communications; removing language on climate change and sea level rise from a press release on new work by US Geological Survey scientists; failing to link greenhouse gas emissions and human activity in a NOAA news release; and an executive order reversing and stalling multiple climate-related policies from the Obama administration. And, of course, President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement will have grave consequences for public health.

The UCS report also catalogs some of the many public-health regulations that the Trump administration has delayed, with serious consequences for those who work with hazardous substances and live in communities with high levels of pollution. For instance, the administration is re-reviewing regulation of vehicle emissions standards; delayed implementation of the Risk Management Plan program intended to prevent disasters like the deadly fertilizer facility fire in West, Texas; put off the effective date of a regulation to better protect workers exposed to beryllium; rejected a petition to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos, which studies have linked to neurodevelopmental problems; delayed enforcement of a rule to reduce workers’ exposure to lung-destroying crystalline silica; delayed implementation of a 2015 ozone pollution rule; and made chemical-industry-friendly changes to EPA rules implementing the updated Toxic Substances Control Act.

Although environmental and occupational health got the brunt of anti-regulatory fervor, other aspects of public health haven’t gone unscathed. The Department of Health and Human Services quietly removed a question about sexual identity from a survey of older individuals and abruptly terminated multi-year projects on teen pregnancy prevention. FDA has indefinitely delayed rollout of a nutrition label that reports added sugars. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has declined to renew the National Commission on Forensic Sciences that the Obama administration created in 2013.

Executive Order 13771, which instructs federal agencies to rescind two existing regulations each time it adopts a new one, considers the financial costs of regulations without appropriately recognizes their public-health benefits – and will mean fewer health-protective regulations overall. Public Citizen, NRDC, and Communications Workers of America have sued to block it.

In some cases, Congress and the administration have worked together to roll back public health protections and make it harder for public health agencies to do their jobs. Congress passed and Trump signed laws rescinding the Obama administration’s Stream Protection Rule, which limited the dumping of coal mine waste into streams, and Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces rule, which sought to reduce the extent to which federal contracts are awarded to companies engage in wage theft or violate laws on workplace safety.

The House has also passed the REINS Act, which would require regulations with $100 million in projected annual impact to be reviewed by a political appointee before taking effect; the HONEST Act and EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act, which would make it much harder for EPA to receive and use up-to-date scientific advice and information; and the Regulatory Accountability Act, which would significantly disrupt the science-based rulemaking process at all agencies.

  Making life harder for federal scientists

The day before the six-month mark of the Trump administration, federal employee Joel Clement took a brave and important step. With an opinion column in the Washington Post, he blew the whistle on the Trump administration’s involuntary reassignment of dozens of senior Department of Interior employees. Clement writes:

Nearly seven years ago, I came to work for the Interior Department, where, among other things, I’ve helped endangered communities in Alaska prepare for and adapt to a changing climate. But on June 15, I was one of about 50 senior department employees who received letters informing us of involuntary reassignments. Citing a need to “improve talent development, mission delivery and collaboration,” the letter informed me that I was reassigned to an unrelated job in the accounting office that collects royalty checks from fossil fuel companies.

I am not an accountant — but you don’t have to be one to see that the administration’s excuse for a reassignment such as mine doesn’t add up. A few days after my reassignment, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke testified before Congress that the department would use reassignments as part of its effort to eliminate employees; the only reasonable inference from that testimony is that he expects people to quit in response to undesirable transfers. Some of my colleagues are being relocated across the country, at taxpayer expense, to serve in equally ill-fitting jobs.

I believe I was retaliated against for speaking out publicly about the dangers that climate change poses to Alaska Native communities. During the months preceding my reassignment, I raised the issue with White House officials, senior Interior officials and the international community, most recently at a U.N. conference in June. It is clear to me that the administration was so uncomfortable with this work, and my disclosures, that I was reassigned with the intent to coerce me into leaving the federal government.

Clement has filed a complaint with the US Office of Special Counsel, but we don’t need to wait for their decision to know that the environment has grown harsher for federal employees whose work involves science. The UCS report notes that the House of Representatives’ revival of the 1876 Holman Rule, which allows members of Congress to target specific federal offices or employees for elimination and reduce an individual employee’s salary, can create a climate in which federal employees feel pressured to avoid releasing information or issuing regulations that members of Congress are known dislike. Congress may also get distorted information from federal agencies if political appointees pressure agency employees or advisors to revise their testimony – something that happened to EPA Science Advisory Board’s Deborah Swackhamer as she prepared to testify to the House Science Committee on the role of states in environmental policy. And, when scientists are told not to attend conferences – for instance, the Alaska Forum on the Environment or an international conference on nuclear energy – it makes it harder for them to stay current and connected in their fields. Throw in a few political appointees who are underqualified and antagonistic to the agency’s work, and you’ve got a climate that seems engineered to demoralize federal employees involved with science.

  Moving forward

As the UCS report notes, members of the scientific and public-health communities are mobilizing to defend federal science and evidence-based rulemaking against recent attacks. Carter and his co-authors write:

Recognizing the stakes, scientists and science supporters are speaking up, taking advantage of the momentum of successful marches and new opportunities for political engagement. Scientists and science supporters are connecting the administration’s actions to consequences for public health and the environment. By understanding current and evolving threats and taking advantage of new vehicles for advocacy, we can defend the scientific enterprise our democracy depends on and preserve the public health, safety, security, and environmental protections that make our nation great. Scientists and science supporters, Congress, and the media can all play a role.

They make recommendations for scientists and science supporters, Congress, and the media:

Scientists and science supporters should scrutinize administration and congressional actions and sound the alarm when science is misused. They can also play a unique role in articulating to others the importance of science in our daily lives. Communicating the importance of science and science-based policies to the public and decisionmakers is crucial to fighting attacks on science in this highly charged political environment.

Congress should use its oversight authorities to investigate and hold accountable the administration for actions that threaten scientific integrity and science-based policies, and it should act to protect whistleblowers. With the growing trend of abuses against science in the Trump administration, Congress must exercise its full authority as a check against the executive branch. Also, Congress should pass legislation to better protect federal scientists and the integrity of science in our federal agencies.

Journalists must continue to hold administration officials and members of Congress accountable for their words and actions and investigate cases of suppressing, misrepresenting, manipulating, or otherwise politicizing science, along with related allegations of wrongdoing in our federal government. The media should seek out scientists as sources when possible and call out agencies that place unnecessary barriers on communications between journalists and government scientists.

Without strong action to oppose current assaults on science, it will only become harder to address threats to public health from infectious diseases, pollutants, and unsafe consumer products. Agency efforts to encourage healthier behaviors and built environments may see recent gains reversed and future progress stalled. Responding to the threats described in the the UCS reports is essential for the health of future generations.

To download a copy of Sidelining Science from Day One and see an interactive timeline of Trump Administration and Congressional Actions, visit the UCS website.

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Article source:Science Blogs