#like 70% of this bed is not being used despite three creatures being on it smh

[im-still-watching-anime]

my dog has decided that this is how we should sleep tonight and ngl i love him but i have some critiques here

[balticapocalypse]

THE SNAKE IN BALTIC RELIGION

"Chronicles, travelogues, ecclesiastical correspondence and other historical records written by foreigners often made mention of snake worship among the Old Prussians, Samogitians, Lithuanians, and Latvians. The snakes were frequently referred to as žalčiai (cognate with Žalias 'green') which has been identified as the non-poisonous Tropodonotus natrix. Sometimes the chronicles also referred to them as gyvatės, a word which is clearly associated with Lith. gyvata 'vitality' and gyvas 'living'. The following historical records should more than suffice to demonstrate that snakes were worshipped widely among the Balts.

In the eleventh century, Adam of Bremen wrote that the Lithuanians worshipped dragons and flying serpents to whom they even offered human sacrifices (Balys 1948:66).

Aeneas Silvius recorded in 1390 an account given him by the missionary Jerome of Prague who worked among the Lithuanians in the final decade of the fourteenth century. Jerome related that:

'The first Lithuanians whom I visited were snake worshippers. Every male head of the family kept a snake in the corner of the house to which they would offer food and when it was lying on the hay, they would pray by it'.

Jerome issued a decree that all such snakes should be killed and burnt in the public market place. Among the snakes there was one which was much larger that all the others and despite repeated efforts, they were unable to put an end to its life (Balys 1948:66; Korsakas, et al 1963:33).

Dlugosz at the end of the fifteenth century wrote that among the eastern Lithuanians there were special deities in the forms of snakes and it was believed that these snakes were penates Dii (God's messengers). He also recorded that the western Lithuanians worshipped both the gyvatės and žalčiai (Gimbutas 1958:35).

Erasmus Stella in his Antiquitates Borussicae (1518) wrote about the first Old Prussian king, Vidvutas Alanas. Erasmus related that the king was greatly concerned with religion and invited priests from the Sūduviai (another Baltic tribe), who, greatly influenced by their beliefs, taught the Prussians how to worship snakes: for they are loved by the gods and are their messengers. They (the Prussians) fed them in their homes and made offerings to them as household deities (Balys 1948: II 67).

Simon Grunau in 1521 wrote that in honor of the god Patrimpas, a snake was kept in a large vessel covered with a sheaf of hay and that girls would feed it milk (Welsford 1958:421).

Maletius observed ca. 1550 that:

'The Lithuanians and Samogitians kept snakes under their beds or in the corner of their houses where the table usually stood. They worship the snakes as if they were divine beings. At certain times they would invite the snakes to come to the table. The snakes would crawl up on the linen-covered table, taste some food, and then crawl back to their holes. When the snakes crawled away, the people with great joy would first eat from the dish which the snakes had first tasted, believing that the next year would be fortunate. On the other hand, if the snakes did not come to the table when invited or if they did not taste the food, this meant that great misfortune would befall them in the coming year' (Balys 1948:67).

In 1557 Zigismund Herberstein wrote about his journey through northwestern Lithuania (Moscovica 1557, Vienna):

'Even today one can find many pagan beliefs held by these people, some of whom worship fire, others — trees, and others the sun and the moon. Still others keep their gods at home and these are serpents about three feet long... They have a special time when they feed their gods. In the middle of the house they place some milk and then kneel down on benches. Then the serpents crawl out and hiss at the people engaged geese and the people pray to them with great respect. If some mishap befalls them, they blame themselves for not properly feeding their gods' (Balys 1948: II 67).

Strykovsky in his 1582 chronicle on the Old Prussians related:

'They have erected to the god Patrimpas a statue and they honor him by taking care of a live snake to whom they feed milk so that it would remain content' (Korsakas et. al 1963:23).

A Jesuit missionary's report of 1583 reported:

'...when we felled their sacred oaks and killed their holy snakes with which the parents and the children had lived together since the cradle, then the pagans would cry that we are defaming their deities, that their gods of the trees, caves, fields, and orchards are destroyed' (Balys 1948: 11,68).

In 1604 another Jesuit missionary remarked:

'The people have reached such a stage of madness that they believe that deity exists in reptiles. Therefore, they carefully safeguard them, lest someone injure the serpents kept inside their homes. Superstitiously they believe that harm would come to them should anyone show disrespect to these serpents. It sometimes happens that snakes are encountered sucking milk from cows. Some of us occasionally have tried to pull one off, but invariably the farmer would plead in vain to dissuade us... When pleading failed, the man would seize the reptile with his hands and run away to hide it' (Gimbutas 1958:33).

In his De Dies Samagitarum of 1615, Johan Lasicci wrote:

'Also, just like some household deities, they feed black-colored reptiles which they call gioutos. When these snakes crawl out from the corners of the house and slither up to the food, everyone observes them with fear and respect. If some mishap befalls anyone who worship such reptiles, they explain that they did not treat them properly' (Lasickis 1969:25).

Andrius Cellarius in his Descripto Regni Polonicae (1659) observed:

'although the Samogitians were christianized in 1386, to this very day they are not free from their paganism, for even now they keep tamed snakes in their houses and show great respect for them, calling them Givoites' (Balys 1948: II 70).

T. Arnkiel wrote that ca. 1675 while traveling in Latvia he saw an enormous number of snakes.

'die night allein auf dem Felde und im Walde, sondern auch in den Häusern, ja gar in den Betten sich eingefunden, so ich mannigmahl mit Schrecken angesehen. Diese Schlangen thun selten Schaden, wie denn auch niemand unter den Bauern ihren Schaden zufügen wird. Scheint, dass bey denselben die alte Abgötterey noch nicht gäntzlich verloschen' (Biezais 1955: 33).

The Balts' positive attitude towards the snake has been recorded also in the late nineteenth century in the Deliciae Prussicae (1871) of Matthaus Pratorius who observed: 'Die Begegnung einer Schlange ist den Zamatien und preussischen Littauern noch jetziger Zeit ein gutes Omen' (Elisonas 1931:8.3).

Aside from the widespread attestation of snake-worship among the Balts and its persistence into Christian times, these historical records also suggest an intriguing relationship between Baltic mythology and our folk tale. Both Simon Grunau (1521) and Strykovsky (1582) mention the worship of the snake in close reference to the god Patrimpas. This deity is commonly identified as the "God of Waters" and his name is cognate with Old Prussian trumpa 'river'. The close association between the snake and the "God of Waters" has prompted E. Welsford to suggest a slight possibility that the water deity Patrimpas was at one time worshipped in the form of a snake (Welsford 1958:421). A serpent divinity associated with the water finds numerous parallels among Indo-European peoples, eg. the Indie Vrtra who withholds the waters and his benevolent counterpart, the Ahibudhnya 'the serpent of the deep'; the Midgard serpent of Norse mythology; Poseidon's serpents who are sent out of the sea to slay Lacoon, etc. A detailed comparison of the IE water-snake figure would far exceed the limits of this paper, nevertheless, it is curious to note that except for the quite minor Ahibudhnya, most IE mythologies present the water-serpent as malevolent creature — an attitude quite at variance with that of the ancient Balts.

From the historical records it is difficult to determine to what extent the ancient Balts might actually have possessed an organized snake-cult. Erasmus Stella's account of 1518 concerning the Sudovian Priest's introduction of snake-worship into Prussia might suggest such an established cult. In any event, that the snake was worshipped widely on a domestic level cannot be denied. In general it was deemed fortunate to come across a žaltys, and encountering a snake prophesied either marriage or birth. The žaltys was always said to bring happiness and prosperity, ensuring the fertility of the soil and the increase of the family. Up until the twentieth century, in many parts of Lithuania, farm women would leave milk in shallow pans in their yards for the žalčiai. This, they explained, helped to ensure the well-being of the family.

In 1924 H. Bertuleit wrote that the Samogitian peasants "even at the present time, staunchly maintain that the žaltys/gyvatė is a health and strength giving being" (Balys 1948: II 73). To this day in Lithuania, the gabled roofs are occasionally topped with serpent-shaped carvings in order to protect the household from evil powers.

The best proof of the still persistent respect, if no longer veneration, of the snake (or žaltys in specific) is provided by various folk sayings and beliefs which were recorded during this century. Some of them clearly reflect the association of the snake with good luck, while others depict the evil consequences which will befall one if he does not respect the snake. The following are some examples:

Good luck

1. If a snake crosses over your path you will have good luck.

2. If a snake runs across your path, there will be good fortune.

3. Žaltys is a good guardian of the home, he protects the home from thunder, sickness and murder.

4. If a žaltys appears in the living room, someone in that house will soon get married.

Bad consequences

5. In some houses there live domestic snakes; one must never kill this house-snake, for if you do, misfortunes and bad luck will fall on you and will last for seven years.

6. If you burn a snake in a fire and look at it when it is burning, you will become blind.

7. If you find a snake and throw it on an ant hill, it will stick out its little legs which will cause you to go blind.

8. If s snake bites someone and the person then kills the snake, he will never get well.

9. If a snake bites a man and another person kills it, the man will never recover.

10. If you kill the snake that bit you, you will never recover.

11. If a žaltys comes when one is eating, one must give it food, otherwise one will choke.

12. When children are eating and a žaltys crawls up to them, he must be fed; otherwise the children will choke.

13. If you kill a žaltys, your own animals will never obey you.

14. If someone kills a snake, it will not die until the sun has set.

15. If you kill a snake, the sun cries.

16. If you kill a snake and leave it unburied, the sun grows sick.

17. When a snake or a žaltys is killed, the sun cries while the Devil laughs.

18. If you kill a snake and leave it in the forest, then the sun grows dim for two or three days.

19. If you kill a snake and leave it unburied, then the sun will cry when it sees such a horrible thing.

20. If you kill a snake, you must bury it, otherwise the sun will cry when it sees the dead snake.

The snake's name.

21. If one finds a snake in the forest and wants to show it to others, he must say: "Come, here I found a paukštyte (little bird)!", otherwise, if you call it a gyvate, the snake will understand its name and run away.

22. If you see a snake, call it a little bird; then it will not attack humans.

23. While eating, never talk about a snake or you will meet it when going through the forest.

24. Snakes never bite those who do not mention their name in vain, especially while eating and on the days of the Blessed Mary (Wednesdays and Sundays).

25. On seeing a snake you should say: "Pretty little swallow." It likes this name and does not get angry nor bite.

26. If someone guesses the names of a snake's children, the snake and its children will die.

27. If you do not want a snake to bite you when you are walking though the forest, then don't mention its name.

28. A snake does not run away from -those who know its name.

29. Whoever knows the name of the king of the snakes will never be bitten by them.

30. One must never directly address a snake as gyvatė (snake); instead, one should use ilgoji (the long one) or margoji (the dappled one).

Snakes and cows.

31. Every cow has her own žaltys and when the žaltys becomes lost, she gives less milk. When buying a cow, a žaltys should also be bought together.

32. If you kill a žaltys, things will go bad because other žalčiai will suck all the milk from the cows.

Life-index and affinity to man

33. Some people keep a žaltys in the corner of their house and say: if I didn't have that žaltys, I would die.

34. If a person takes a žaltys out of the house — that person will also have to leave home.

35. If a žaltys leaves the house, someone in that household will die.

Enticement.

36. When you see a snake crawl into a tree trunk, cross two branches and carry them around the tree stump. Then place the crossed branches on the hole through which the snake crawled in. When the sun rises, you will find the snake lying on these branches.

37. When you see a snake and it crawls into a tree-stump, take a stick and draw a circle around the stump. Then, break the stick and place it in the shape of a cross and the snake will crawl out and lie down on the cross.

Miscellaneous.

38. If a snake bites you, pick it up in your hands and rub its head against the wound. Then you will get well.

39. When one is bitten by a snake, say: "Iron one! Cold-tailed one! Forgive (name of person bitten)," while blowing in the direction of the sick person.

40. If you throw a dead snake into water, it will come back to life.

41. A snake attacks a man only when it sees his shadow.

42. They say that when a snake is killed, it comes back to life on the ninth day.

43. If a snake bites an ash tree, the tree bursts into leaf.8

44. If someone understands the language of the snakes, whey will obey him and he can command them to go from one place to another.

45. If there are too many snakes and you want them to leave, light a holy fire at the edge of your field and in the center; all the snakes will then crawl in groups through the fire and go away, but you must not touch them.

Some folk-beliefs show an obvious Christian influence and are possibly the products of frustrated Jesuit anti-snake propagandists:

45. When you meet a snake you must certainly have to kill it for if you fail to do so, then you will have committed a great sin.

46. If you kill a snake, you will win many indulgences.

47. If you kill seven snakes, all your sins will be forgiven.

48. If you kill seven snakes, you will win the Kingdom of Heaven

Such examples as these, however, are quite rare in comparison to the folk-beliefs which are sympathetic to the snake.

Considering the evidence amassed from both historical records and folk-belief that the Balts possessed a positive and reverent attitude towards the snake, it is little wonder that the snake husband's death is viewed as tragedy. If, as the proverbs suggest, a snake's death can affect the sun, then what consequences might the death of the very King of the Snakes have among mortals? This tragic outcome, as Swahn has indicated, gives the tale a character which is foreign to the true folk-tale (Swahn 1955:341). This tale could not terminate on the usual euphoric note typical of the Märchen (although the tale does contain numerous Märchen motifs) because the main event of the story relates to a "reality" which the people who tell the story still hold to be true. The tale is thus well-nourished in a setting where such folk-beliefs about the snake persist. On the other hand, the tale itself may have played a part in affecting the longevity of the beliefs. Whichever case may be true, it is obvious that both are closely related.

A specific element of folk-belief that survived as an ideological support to the tale is that of the snake's name-taboo. The tragic killing of the snake king is implemented only because the name formula is revealed. Thus, the general snake-taboo proverbs (No. 21-30; receive a specific denouement in the snake-father ordering that his name and summoning formula not be revealed to others. There appear to be two important aspects that surround this name-taboo. First of all, it reflects the primitive concept of one being able to manipulate another when his name is known. A second aspect is that the name-taboo may rest on the reverence and fear of a more powerful supernatural being that requires mortals never to mention the deity's real name. For example, Perkūnas, the all-powerful Thunder God of the Baits, has many substitutes for his real name which are usually onomatopoeic with the sound of thunder, eg. Dudulis, Dundulis, Tarškulis, Trenktinis. In our tale the general reason for the name-taboo may be partially related to this second explanation especially since there are a number of variants for the name of the snake-king, eg. Žilvine, which have no etymological support but bear a suspicious resemblance to the word žaltys 'snake'. This might then indicate a deliberate attempt to destroy the name žaltys in such a way as to avoid breaking the name-taboo but still retain some of the underlying semantic force. On the other hand, it must be admitted that many of the summoning formulas include a direct reference to the husband as žaltys. In these cases, since the brothers know his name, they can extend their power over him. It is likely that both these aspects should be considered when explaining the name-taboo of the story. The clear distinction between the obviously Christian folk-sayings (No. 45-48) and the underlying pro-snake proverbs carries considerable significance when one views the substitution of the Devil for the snake in many of the Latvian variants. This substitution occurred in all probability with the increasing influence of Christianity and its usual association of the serpent with the Devil as in the Garden of Eden story. It is interesting to reflect that in some cases the entire story proceeds with the same tragic development despite this substitution (Lat. 2, 7, 9, 15). Even in the Lithuanian variant (Lith. 4) where an old woman tells the heroine that her snake-husband is actually the Devil, this does little to alter the tragic tone of the tale's ending. Thus, it would seem that the Devil is a relatively late introduction, sometimes amounting to little more than a Christian gloss of the snake's real identity. On this basis, one might well conelude that the tale must have been composed in pagan times and is thereby, at the very least, four or five centuries old if not far older.

The effect of the diabolization of the snake among the Latvian variants seems to have led to a disintegration of the tale's actual structure. In some of the Latvian redactions (Lat. 4, 8, 15) where the Devil is the abductor, the story simply ends with the killing of the supernatural husband and the heroine's rescue. In variants of the tale which progress with such a rescue-motif development, it is important to observe that many of the other elements are consequently dropped. There is no name-taboo or magic formula, sometimes no children, and, of course, no magical transformation. Thus the tale is stripped of all these other embellishments and appears rather bare. It simply relates an abduction of the heroine and her rescue, usually accomplished by some members of her family or a priest and thunder storm (Latv. 15). In any event, the abductor is one whom she quite definitely cannot marry and therefore, there can be no Märchen marriage-feast. When the tale has been altered, the rescue motif can then be correlated to the other Märchen tale-types where the heroine is abducted (rather than married) and is eventually rescued by an eligible marriage partner. One might even speculate that this will be the eventual fate of those particular Latvian variants which no longer specify that the snake, a sacred and positive being, is the supernatural husband. We then have an intimate relationship between folk-belief and folk-tale which ultimately may be mirrored in the very structure of the story.

The place of the snake in Baltic folk-belief and its relation to our tale now having been well established, the obvious next question is whether similar beliefs exist in the neighboring non-Baltic countries and, if not, might we propose this as a possible explanation why the story as a Baltic oicotype has not spread to these other cultures. A complete analysis of the role of the snake in Germanic and Slavic folk-belief would far exceed the time allotted for the composition of this study, nevertheless, some of the evidence arrived at by way of a cursory review should be brought forth.

Of sole interest in our investigation of snake beliefs among the Germans and Slavs is the extent to which these cultures parallel the Balts with respect to the latter's quite sympathetic attitude toward the snake. Bolte and Polivka, Hoffmann - Krayer and J. Grimm all mention that among the Germans there are some beliefs which view the snake in a positive light. A few specific entries in Handwörterbuch des deutschen Aberglaubens are similar to some folk-beliefs already cited among the Baits (Hoffmann - Krayer 1935-36: VII 1139-1141). Bolte and Polivka in listing parallels to Grimm's Märchen von der Unke cite several instances of snakes bringing great fortune to those who treat them well and disaster to those who disrespect or abuse them (Bolte and Polivka 1915: II 459-465) .9 Both Hoffmann-Krayer and Grimm, after listing various "remnants" of what they maintain might be evidence for an ancient snake-cult in Germany, state that under the influence of Christianity the snake is usually diabolized and its image as a malignant and deceitful creature predominates. Only in some very "old" stories are there traces of the original heathen positive attitude towards the snake (Grimm 1966: II 684); Hoffmann - Krayer 1935-36: VII Sp. 1139).

Welsford, in writings about the snake-cult among the ancient Slavs, states that it was probably quite similar to the one which persisted among the Balts, but that the latter seems to have retained it much longer. In the Slavic countries the snake was usually regarded as a creature in which dead souls were embodied and through time came to be viewed mostly as a dangerous animal. It is this aspect of the snake which appears most often in Slavic stories. The snake seems to be similar or even identical with other evil antagonists such as Baba Yaga (Welsford 1958: 422). There are also many stories involving a hero or heroine who has been transformed into a snake by evil enchantment. These stories primarily relate how this "curse" is ultimately overcome.

These remarks indicate that the respect for the snake and its association with good fortune was also known to both Germans and Slavs. The heathen past, however, is farther removed from these peoples than form the Latvians and Lithuanians. If similar snake-cults existed in Germany and in Slavic lands, they were not practiced on the same scale within recorded history as they were by the Baits. The cited fourteenth to eighteenth century reports on the Baits were written by Slavs and Germans and already then the surprise and disgust with which they viewed Baltic snake-veneration gives us a good indication of the place of the snake within their own cultures.

Cursory perusal of present-day Germanic and Slavic beliefs about the snake seems to verify the fact that, indeed, the snake is usually considered deceitful and malevolent. The majority of folk-beliefs, expressions, and proverbs reflect this general negative attitude. There are only a few examples of a positive regard for the snake, usually associating it with powers of healing. One may speculate that the folk medicine beliefs which prescribe the use of a snake as an effective cure may be partially explained by the notion that evil conquers evil (ie. an extension of similia similibus curantor). This, however, is mere speculation for it is also likely that the snake's obvious vitality may be responsible for its specification in various folk cures. This latter case seems to be well supported in the Baltic beliefs (cf. folk-belief 38, 39) since the name for snake, gyvatė, and its association with gyvata 'life' helps one to consciously sense the logical correlation.

Stories which mention the affinity between snakes and children are probably known throughout the world because they describe an unexpected occurrence. W. Hand has suggested that the credibility of such stories rests on the notion that the child's innocence and helplessness can not be breached even by a snake (Hand 1968). Note that this kind of logic presupposes that the snake is evil.

Hence, although a more thorough investigation is definitely required, one may still suggest that the Balts have sustained through their history a more sympathetic regard for the snake than either the Germans or Slavs. Assuming that this hypothesis may be true, let us now see how it might be related to the discussion of our tale.

When one assumes no comparable folkloric basis among the Germans and Slavs with regard to the snake, then the Baltic tale would make very little 'cultural sense' to these people and even if it penetrated into their cultural spheres, it would probably by altered by the same process which seems to be occurring with the Latvian tales. Secondly, even if we posit the existence of a similar positive attitude toward the snake in these cultures at a pre-Christian time, these beliefs would now seem to have almost entirely died out. In any case, even though there may be some survivals, there has been no comparative retention of respect and reverence for the snake among the Germans and Slavs as one finds with the Baits. The narrative motif of this tale clearly rests on a folk-belief which serves as an ideological backbone to the story. Conversely, people unfamiliar with the underlying folk-belief or possessing quite antithetical beliefs would find this tale lacking in cultural meaning and, therefore, 'untransferable,' at least in its original form".

By Elena Bradunas, 'If you killed a snake the sun will cry' in Lituanus: Lithuanian Quarterly Journal of Arts and Science (21).

Illustration by Aleksandra Czudzak.

[loveinterestcastiel]

erosion

I wrote some endverse fic based on a @lateral-org post asking a FANTASTIC question:

When/why/how did endverse! cas get rid of the trenchcoat and what was dean's reaction?

Rated M. Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence. Word Count: 4.1k

tagged some mutuals and people I thought might be interested in this under the cut, if you want tagged in this/future fic or want me to remove your tag dm me!

erosion

Of course, Sam said yes in Detroit. So why dream about that? He lived it every day. The redundancy was irritating at best.

Where the fuck did I leave my boots last night? Cas cursed under his breath and embarked on a thorough search of their cabin, the coarse words warm and familiar on his tongue as he yanked on his socks. I really am starting to sound like Dean.

Dean’s boots were already gone, his gun and thigh holster absent too. He’d left his green jacket behind, tossed carelessly aside last night and hidden under the trenchcoat on the floor at the foot of their bed. He slipped his coat on over his clothes and shoved Dean’s jacket into their pack- he knew he’d want it later, even if it was just for the drive back. He slipped on the worn coat, habit- he’d stopped wasting Grace on its upkeep a while ago, but it was still important. It felt like comfort, in some strange way, so he kept on wearing it despite the worn-through elbows or the stubborn little bloodstained spot on the hem.

He’d dreamed of Detroit, last night, again. He didn’t know if he’d ever get used to dreaming, as unsettling and involuntary as it was. It felt like the unfair hijacking of an otherwise enjoyable human bodily function, and he resented it altogether. He snagged a bit of weed from his stash and tucked it in next to his flask, sweeping out the cabin door and into the frigid morning sunshine, giving Chuck a lazy wave as he ambled past his cabin to the truck lot, kicking little pebbles across the packed dirt at imaginary targets with a super-human precision that grated strangely on him today.

“Big run today,” Chuck said with a tentative smile, his hands clasping a chipped mug filled to the brim with his ridiculously indulgent tea, wafting a cascade of steam out over the railing of his cabin porch before dissipating into the air. “Don’t forget the perishables if you can get at them, ok? We’re seriously low on-”

“Toilet paper, milk, cheese, butter,” he interrupted, “plus sugar, flour, canned fruit, hygiene products, toothpaste, toilet paper, coffee, meat if we can get it, .35 and 9mm ammunition, mechanical oil, gasoline, propane, rubbing alcohol, gauze, surgical tape, toilet paper, paracetamol, and oh, toilet paper again!” Cas recited dryly, rolling his eyes. “You gave us a written list yesterday. Twice. Couldn’t fuck up blackout drunk.”

Chuck snorted, shaking his head in self-deprecation. “Just doing my job, Cas.”

“We’ll do ours,” he called over his shoulder, continuing down the central path briskly. “We’ve all got our part to play.”

What was it Lucifer had said to Dean, that night Zachariah stole him out from under Cas’s nose and threw him into the future? No matter what choices you make, whatever details you alter… we will always end up here.

It certainly seemed like he was right. Most days, it seemed like they were all hurtling towards the exact same place Dean had caught a wretched glimpse of, once, with the brakes slashed and emergency failsafes offline, and no indicator that the impossible choices they were making every day were anything but inevitable. He knew that Dean still had nightmares about his ending, but he didn’t know much else about Dean’s nightmares anymore but what little snippets he could garner from what Dean mumbled and cried out in his sleep. He’d lost the ability to dreamwalk a while back. Three nights after the Croatoan virus wiped out Fort Worth and they were forced to fall back, he tried to enter Dean’s sleep to watch his dreams in the dubious refuge of a closed down Motel 6 off of interstate 70 as they ran west, to see if there was some piece of information they’d missed, some new choice they could make one day that could change the path they were on.

It simply hadn’t worked. He mourned the loss of one more skill in the darkness of their room that night as Dean slept uneasily in the bed beside him, one more thing which, in its absence, made him ever more useless to Dean, much like the loss of his ability to time travel, or to smite their enemies with ease. Flight was becoming difficult by the day, and he knew in some part of his mind that his wings would be the next to go, and he would be grounded, permanently, on Earth and not in Heaven.

And so it goes.

Anyway, it wasn’t like they had much of a choice about anything these days. Once Michael had taken Adam, they lost their only trump card. Heaven didn’t need Dean anymore, but Hell desperately needed Sam. It was a shame, it really was, that Sam’s gamble hadn’t paid off.

It was a miracle Lucifer let Dean go. He had brushed him off as a non-threat. Unimportant on a cosmic scale, however important Dean was to the vessel. To Sam. So Dean walked out of that run down building alive, and he was the most beautiful, terrible thing Cas had ever seen. His soul shone brighter than even an archangel’s grace in his rage and trembled with the fierce sharpness of grief, and it was glorious, righteous.

Godly.

Even as Cas’s memories softened and blurred, becoming tinged with a mortal haze, that memory of Dean remained in a sparkling clarity. He could imagine no life, no moldable version of the past, in which he did not choose Dean. From the very first moment his soul had reached back to cling to Cas’s Grace in Hell, Cas had fallen, was falling, would fall, for Dean. It was inevitable, his love. They were inevitable. They fell together in the time after Detroit, into battle, into bed, and into cosmic obscurity. Soon, too soon, their losses began to outnumber their wins, and they had to make more and more certain regrettable sacrifices just to stay alive. Cas was used to collateral damage, far more than Dean was, but whatever the other humans in their ragged camp believed of him, he wasn’t unaffected. Just the opposite, in fact. He had never felt anything before, not for billions of years, an incomprehensible existence of light and intent and obedience and war, and now he felt everything. That- not Dean’s disappointment, or the slow loss of his Grace, or his Father’s unyielding silence- was undoubtedly the worst part of becoming something like human.

Some days were better than others, of course. Some days he took precious little blue or white or green pills, all different shapes and sizes and he felt good. Numb, pleased, far away. Quiet. Others, fewer than the days he had his pills, he took shrooms, LSD. Molly, twice. Often he took nothing at all, craving the wicked pain and emptiness it created in him as his sobriety enhanced the ache his dwindling Grace left behind, needing the punishment to feel real before forcing himself into a tumultuous sleep after days spent horribly awake with half a bottle of rotgut sloshing in his stomach. He still liked joints, rolled meticulously, their verdant smoke curling up deliciously in his lungs and setting him up on a lovely little metaphorical cloud the best, and then, they were even more so lovely when he shared them with Dean. There was nothing, nothing like passing it between them, before transitioning into trading hit after hit between their mouths, brushing against his soft lips, breathing his air, watching Dean’s cheeks flush a stunning pink and holding tight to his deep golden hair, dragging him down into slow, languid kisses that desire deepened and turned into a precious sort of holy consumption as the high hit its stride in them both.

He was sober today, mostly, just riding out the last of some gorgeous pink pill from a nearly full bottle he’d just scavenged out a few days before. It made him feel floaty, focused, fearless. He felt almost like he did two years ago, before his reeducation stint in Heaven. Angelic. It was nice. He’d take another, later. Maybe Dean would want to take one, too, and they could fuck high out under the stars on their quilt again like they did last October and feel like the real Gods of this stupid little planet, on top of the world, on top of Dean, cradled in the soft embrace of his thighs, and worship each other.

Take that, brothers. Castiel smiled viciously at the sky. You’ll never fuck God like I have.

Standing impatiently among their motley caravan of vehicles in the sickly yellow light of a midwestern April morning sun, his back to Cas, Dean’s silhouette and the flashing imprint of his soul- the only one Cas could still see clearly- caramelized into a sweet union of tangible and not that pulled at his stomach and swept him into the siren song of Dean’s being and woke up the hungry creature that lived in his heart and craved DeanDeanDeanDean.

No one else was there yet, probably all still dicking around at the camp mess and drinking shitty chicory. His feet fell silently on the earth, leaving behind the sound of the universe and the vibrant humming of Dean’s soul- and oh, he hoped he could always hear that symphony, even when all the rest of his powers had run dry.

Just as he reached out to take Dean by the shoulder and turn him around, Dean moved with a sudden burst of energy, like a coiled snake striking out. He whirled around and met Cas’s eyes, took him by the neck and the waist, and kissed him. His lips moved with a gentleness that contradicted the intensity of the grip of his cold-fingered hands as they worked their way into his hair, wormed their way under his trenchcoat, and touched the bare skin they found where the hem of his t-shirt met his jeans. He met the kiss eagerly, licking teasingly at the seam of his lips, biting down gently and coaxing Dean into opening his mouth. He pushed Dean back until his back hit the nearest rusted army-green truck with a small thudding noise, pressing himself up against Dean and tugging on his hips so they were pressed flush against each other, the contact sending and electric thrill racing up his spine.

“Cas,” Dean gasped out at the sensation of their bodies meeting, the air punched out of his lungs.

“Mmm, morning,” Cas murmured between kisses. “You’re out here early.” Dean’s neck was uncharacteristically bare above the neck of his rough brown sweater, creamy and invitingly unmarked. Cas indulged in the impulse to change that, working his way over the tender skin, sucking and biting until a bruise began to bloom below the junction of Dean’s jaw and neck, worrying it with his teeth until it was a deep reddish-purple.

“Couldn’t sleep,” Dean whispered, letting his head fall back against the truck window, baring his throat further, and closed his eyes. He seemed almost happy, today. He seemed to light up in the lead-up to their more dangerous missions, and Cas didn’t want to think about that right now. Didn’t want to ruin the moment. “Didn’t want to wake you up,” Dean elaborated.

“I appreciate that.” Satisfied with the rather outrageous hickey he’d created on Dean’s neck, Cas pressed it with one last kiss. “How’d you know I was behind you?” he asked, pressing their foreheads together and slowly grinding their hips together lazily, just breathing Dean in.

“Felt you,” Dean said, bringing their lips together again briefly. “Always can.” One more little kiss.

“Dean, last night, when you couldn’t sleep, I dreamed again about Detroit-” Cas started to confess feverishly, almost against his will, Dean stiffening up at his words in his arms, and was interrupted by the sound of people approaching, footsteps, voices, and an earsplitting wolf-whistle directed at their compromising position.

Dean’s face shuttered immediately, and Cas felt every scrap of easy bliss flee his body.

He pulled back with more than a little reluctance, his stomach twisting as a fakely jovial grin tugged at the corners of his lips, and clapped Dean on the shoulder. “Let’s go, fearless leader. We’ve got a mission to run, don’t you know?”

“Don’t start with that fearless leader shit,” Dean said tightly, rolling his eyes away from Castiel’s face and fixing on a point somewhere over Cas’s shoulder. “Who’s driving?”

“Looks like Cas is driving,” Joe called out mischievously.

Risa smacked him in the chest. “Get in the truck, idiot.” She turned her gaze to Dean, an odd glint in her eye. It felt sticky and wrong in his core but Cas stamped the feeling down. “Group brief over the radio on the way?” she asked.

“Yeah, at 8,” Dean said, sliding into his unshakeable militaristic persona with a firm nod. “Should be fairly straightforward in and out supply grab. Intel says the Croats cleared out of Roanoke a couple days ago, left major infrastructure and commerce sites relatively untouched. It’s a good thing too,” he added, “we were getting spread a little thin with most goods.”

“Sounds easy enough.”

———————————————————————

It was not, in fact, easy.

Their intel was wrong, so wrong, and Cas didn’t know how the fuck it happened, but they were fine, they were almost finished, closing up the trucks in the alley behind the supermarket and waiting for Dean and Trish to return from sweeping the perimeter, when out of what seemed like thin air and with no more than a broken shout for warning there were more Croats swarming them than he’d ever seen in one place before, and Joe and Maya and Kris were dead, and Dean was nowhere to be found.

The Croats had the remaining seven pinned down against the main truck, snarling and screeching and reeking of blood and gore, strips of flesh and clothing that once adorned their companions now dangling from their teeth. Their single-minded need for the endless consumption of human flesh and that it was currently being denied drove them to a terrifying frenzy, but the hunters were starting to push back, and the Croat numbers were thinning slowly but surely. Cas thought he saw Allen get bitten, but next he glanced at him he looked fine. He’d need to check on that if they made it out alive. He resigned himself quickly to the idea of killing the man before they got back to Chitaqua- Allen was a nice enough man, quick-witted and skilled with a blade and a loom, but nothing was worth bringing a Croat back to camp. He owed it to the man as a human being to grant him a swift death if he’d been infected before Allen himself could realize it. A shot to the back of the head, unawares, had to be better than a clumsy battle and inevitable stab to the chest (Cas knew he would always have the upper hand against a human, even when he had fallen in full) with fear in his heart.

He buried his angel blade to hilt in yet another Croat’s throat, yanking it out and ducking out of the way of the spray of blood that followed in a well-practiced motion uncanny in its speed. They would win this one.

But still no Dean.

Cas felt a bubbly panic rise up in his chest through the haze of battle as it became clear to him that Dean wasn’t coming back. Even from the other side of the building or from inside, there was no way that Dean had not heard the commotion of such a large fight.

Something was stopping Dean from coming back to him.

“Risa,” he shouted over the din to the woman on his left. “Dean and Trish-”

“I know,” she interjected tersely, hacking the head off of a skeletally thin Croat in a tattered suit. “Retrieval? We’ve got this handled here as long as this all the fucking bastards around.”

“I’m going in,” Cas said quickly, slicing at a particularly bold (stupid) Croat trying to charge him. It crumpled to the ground and twitched once, and was still. Some of its companions fell on the body ravenously, and were subsequently cut down in turn as they began to tear at the corpse. “Leave as soon as you’re able; I’ve got the keys to the main truck. Cover your right,” he warned Risa, and, sensing an opportunity in the parting sea of Croats before him, ran.

He was through the service doors of the building before the Croat hoard could even begin to respond to his escape, and their noises were quickly muffled by the service door as it locked automatically behind him, leaving him in relative quiet.

There were a surprising number of crates and boxes remaining in the storage and unloading zones, either empty or nearly so, and he quickly ascertained the area was, apart from himself, devoid of life or anything of interest to the camp.

Cas.

Dean's sudden prayer hit him like a sledgehammer to the gut.

Aisle... his mental voice trailed off for a second into indistinct sounds, colors, and waves of pain. Aisle seven. It's bad.

Cas shoved through the access door into the freezers, and out into the store with a recklessness he would have been ashamed of had he been so terrified.

He turned down aisle seven and skidded to a halt, frozen at the sight that greeted him, and tried to make sense of the hideously macabre tableau.

Trish's decapitated body lay the furthest from him, her ribcage torn open, her organs spilling over her arms and scattered in pieces over the floor. Three dead Croats, all headshots, around her remains. Then a bloody lake on the cheap linoleum tile, thick and viscous and so, so red, two more dead Croats, clearly more hard-won victories, their arms hacked at, heads partially removed, and nearly blocking the last body from view, wedged up against the shelves and bloody as it was.

"Cas," Dean wheezed, lifting his head laboriously to meet his eyes, blood bubbling up between his lips and staining them. "Cas, I'm so sorry-"

"No, no, don't talk like that," Cas said desperately, kneeling beside Dean. He took their pack of his back with shaking hands and shoved his angel blade somewhere inside. "We can fix this. You'll be okay."

"Cas-"

"You will!" he said, too loudly and startling himself.

"My ribs," Dean panted out in pained little gasps. "Broken. There's something in my back." He twitched minutely as if to show Cas the problem and immediately convulsed involuntarily at the pain the movement caused him, a horrible rattling moan in his throat. "My leg. Right one. Broken too." His jaw was clenched so tightly it was a miracle he could speak at all through the teeth-grinding pain he was in.

"Okay," Cas said faintly.

Cas...

Oh, he hated feeling. Sometimes he thought it made him useless. He missed being cold. Brutal, uncaring about pain or death. But this was Dean, and he'd never actually been particularly good at being a machine, anyway. "Okay. Dean, I need to see your back," he warned him, before moving him as gently as he could and angling his body so that he could get an unobstructed view of his back.

There was a crude metal stake wedged just an inch to the left of his second and third thoracic vertebrae, rusted, twisted and cruel-looking.

"Dean, I- I have to try to heal you," he said slowly, knowing that Dean wouldn't want him to be wasteful with his Grace. But this was beyond what human field medicine could help.

Dean didn't respond. He'd fallen unconscious.

"Oh no, no, no, baby," he babbled under his breath, trying to figure out the best way to extract the bar of metal. "Hold on," he muttered, grasping the stake firmly and bracing Dean's body against his own, trying to avoid fucking his broken ribs up more.

"Father, please, if you're still here, if you're listening, if you care at all," he begged, "help me."

Of course, his Father didn't answer. Gritting his teeth, Cas yanked out the stake and tossed it aside, immediately covering the wound with his hand. He summoned his Grace together and it responded sluggishly, but his hand was glowing and Dean's back was knitting back together.

As the skin merged into a puckered, raw-looking pink scar, Cas dropped his hand away from the wound and found himself utterly breathless, gasping for air and drained.

Dean was still unconscious.

He leaned Dean back up against the shelving and took a moment to figure out what to do next. Dean was still dying. He was still in danger. He couldn't be moved, nor could they stay put. He quickly opened up their pack and realized in horror that all the medical supplies were with Risa and AJ on the trucks and so, so far away by now.

He yanked his coat off with a twinge of regret. It was bloodied and worn and what he was about to do with it felt like a milestone he was loathe to reach.

He shredded it into long, wide strips, not letting himself think of how it was the last piece of Jimmy Novak, or how he had repaid the man's sacrifice by being party to the end of the world they both wanted to protect, or how Claire Novak had stopped praying to him weeks ago, now. He got on with the job, this is just a job, I can fix this-

He managed to wrap Dean's leg up decently tight, straight and stiff, but he had quickly discovered it was broken in several places. He didn't know what he could do for Dean's ribs, and he felt, as if from a distance, how Dean's breath was coming shallower and shallower, and he made his choice.

He laid his left hand on Dean's broken leg, as gently as he could. Leaning forward, he smoothed the wispy little baby hairs he loved to tease Dean about back, off his sweaty, pained, precious face, and, placing his right hand on Dean's crushed ribs, near his heart, touched their foreheads together. He looked at Dean's soul, his shining, beautiful (fading) soul and knew.

"I love you," Cas whispered, his voice wrecked. With that finally said, he grabbed his exhausted, weary Grace, and though it fought him and slipped through his grasp, he got hold of it and he pushed everything he could, everything he was into his hands, into Dean.

When he had done it, when he had drained himself down to mists and vapors, and had saved Dean, he gathered him in his arms, and carried him back to the truck on numb feet, leaving the scraps of Jimmy's coat behind in aisle seven.

When the truck broke down thirty miles from Chitaqua, and their radio too, he turned to Dean, pulling on a blue-ish jacket they'd picked up earlier during the run. It fit well.

"It's a good look for you," Dean said gruffly, staring at Cas with an expression he could not recognize. There was blood still smeared on his cheekbone, he noted absently.

"Oh. Yes. Well, thank you," Cas answered, adjusting the sleeves.

Dean tugged at the tan fabric strips on his leg, wincing at the pressure.

"You did a good job, Cas. With this fabric splint from your coat-"

"I know you won't be able to walk it," Cas said quietly, unable to meet his eyes even as he interrupted him. "I did what I could, but you'll be weak for days. You need time."

"You can leave me, Cas," Dean said, a strange, pinched guilt-pain-tenderness on his face. "You can come back for me."

"No," Cas said, smiling, and choking, and took Dean's cheek in the palm of his hand with a terrible ache rising in his throat. "I can't."

April 19th, 2012, under the peak of the Lyrids meteor showers, Cas flew for the last time, right up to the gates of the camp.

When they landed, a millisecond and millennia later, his wings burned away into nothingness in a wave of electric, minty-white pain that forced him to the ground. In the aftermath, panting and sweating and shaking in Dean's arms and clutching at his handprint on Dean's shoulder, he realized his Grace, or what was left of it, anyway, had consolidated into a bright little ball in his chest. Like a soul.

The realization was followed by another. Despite his earlier conviction that it would one day be lost to him, he could still see Dean's soul- behind his teeth, in his chest, radiant like a halo around his head, and worth, a million times over, and a million again, falling for.

Tagged:

@heller-jensen @sunforgrace @rambleoncas @adhdeancas @evermorecastiel @holmesemrys @plantdadcas @good-things-do-happen-dean @jeanne-de-valois @autisticandroids @sonder-stars @yana125 @faithcastiel @cascreamtiel @seffersonjtarship @i-sing-for-me @purgatorybi @bibelphegor @cowboyslikedean @gracefuldean @dimples-of-discontent @judaskissdean @wafflehousegothic @icaruscastiel @67chevyimpala67 @lesbianjenderenvy

[clumsyclifford]

for the prompt list i hope it's ok to do a combo bc 70 & 85? 👀 (idk why the text is weird i think it's bc i had to copy paste the emoji since i'm on desktop skjfkdjs) anyways it's for whatever pairing you think works best :) -megs <3

omg yes a combo! aka challenge mode. my favourite :) ALSO! i took advantage of this open-ended prompt to write ! my very first ! cashton prompt fic ! this is so exciting i love it here. finally completing the set thank you for allowing me this moment

read on ao3

-

Calum treks into Ashton’s room around midnight. The light from the hallway spills into the room until Calum pulls the door shut behind him, probably worried about waking Ashton. Considerate of him, but unnecessary.

“I’m not asleep,” Ashton says.

Calum exhales. “You’re telling me you went to bed an hour ago and you’re still awake?”

“I was reading for a bit,” Ashton says. “I’ve only just moved to the falling-asleep stage. And obviously I have not yet been successful.”

Calum hums an acknowledgment. “Do you, um…can I…”

“Yeah, always,” Ashton says, shifting onto his back to watch Calum. “You don’t have to ask, Cal. I’ve already told you it doesn’t bother me.”

“But you don’t like sharing with Luke or Michael,” Calum says quietly. “I don’t know, I’m just making sure.”

Ashton is grateful for the dark room to hide his blush. “Yeah, but I don’t mind if it’s you.”

They both know it’s different, but neither one will be the first to admit it. This is how they communicate for now, in shared sheets and heavy implications, never saying what they mean, trusting the other person will get it anyway.  

“Okay,” Calum says. “If you’re sure.”

“Next time you ask me I’m just going to ignore you,” Ashton says as Calum pads his way over to the bed. 

“You’re a monster,” Calum says. “You put me in an awkward position here. If you ever wanted to come sleep in my bed you’d probably feel awkward too.”

Ashton purses his lips. “Well, that’s what you get for always going to sleep after me.”

“Mhm,” Calum hums, too knowingly for Ashton’s liking.

“But to be fair, I’ve never asked you if I could sleep with you. Whereas you’ve asked me many times, and I’ve said yes every single time.”

“Still,” Calum says, crawling under the covers and propping himself up on his elbow. It’s hard to see him through the darkness, but Ashton can feel Calum’s eyes carefully trained on his face, maybe seeking his eyes. 

“You want to sleep in your bed?” Ashton asks, raising his eyebrows.

“No!”

“I mean both of us.” Ashton’s face flushes. “I’m just asking, like, would you prefer that. If you didn’t have to feel awkward asking me.”

“No,” Calum says. “Honestly, no. I don’t mind asking. Anyway, I like that you keep saying yes.”

He’s smiling. So is Ashton. 

“Alright,” says Ashton, shaking his head a bit. “Come on. It’s late.”

“It’s really not that late,” Calum says. “Mike’s still up.”

“That’s the worst argument for it not being late. Michael is up until three in the morning.”

“Luke might still be up.”

“He most certainly is not.”

“You never know. Luke’s unpredictable. A wild card.”

Ashton laughs. As if Luke could ever be a wild card. As if he could ever be anything other than unwaveringly, consistently Luke, the biggest creature of habit Ashton’s ever met. Second only, maybe, to Ashton himself.

Calum pulls the covers up and snuggles up to Ashton, reservations gone. “Mm, you’re warm,” he mumbles.

“You are not,” Ashton says, tensing up. “Motherfucker, Calum Hood. Wear a jumper.”

“I’m not cold!” Calum presses his face into Ashton’s neck. 

“Not to you you’re not. Stop it!”

“Sorry,” Calum says, though he doesn’t sound sorry.

“I see how it is,” Ashton huffs, shifting to press closer to Calum, because whatever he says, a cold Calum is better than no Calum at all. “You just use me for my warmth. I’m the guy who keeps the bed warm.”

“Not true,” Calum says, pouting. “I like cuddling.”

“You never cuddle with Luke or Michael. Now I know why. They don’t go to bed early enough to be warm enough for you. I’m just your personal space heater.”

“First of all, Michael hogs the blankets, and he knows that’s why I don’t cuddle with him anymore.” Ashton laughs. “But anyway that’s not it at all. Stop fishing for compliments. You’re not a last resort. I never check their rooms.”

Maybe he’d been fishing a little bit, but the payoff is worth it. “Good,” Ashton says. Being pleased about that might say too much, but Calum has put himself on the line just saying it, so they can call it even.

“I thought we were sleeping now,” Calum says, slinging an arm over Ashton’s stomach. “Be quiet.”

“Don’t shush me in my own bed.”

“Be quieeeet,” Calum sings in a hushed voice. “It’s time to sleeeeeeep.”

“I’ll kick you out.”

“No you won’t.” Calum hums, a quiet, contented noise, and Ashton can feel his smile against his collarbone before Calum turns his head. Ashton stretches out his arm, forcing Calum to lift up his head for a moment before returning it to rest on Ashton’s bicep, cheek pressed against Ashton’s shoulder. Ashton feels warmer than before. He wonders if Calum can feel that on him. If Calum feels that too.

“What were you reading?”

“I thought you wanted to sleep,” Ashton says wryly. 

“I changed my mind. I want to talk.”

“You just want me to talk.”

“Okay, same thing. I fall asleep faster when you talk.” Calum shrugs a shoulder, moving his hand to rest against Ashton’s chest. Through Ashton’s thin t-shirt he can feel the heat of Calum’s palm, the way his thumb moves just so to smooth out the fabric before settling.

At some point they’re going to have to address this. Ashton has a sneaking suspicion that if he doesn’t say something, nothing will ever happen. Calum feels awkward asking to sleep with Ashton despite the blanket permission Ashton has granted him repeatedly. There’s no way he’ll bring up something like this.

Dance around it? Sure. Like motherfucking Fred Astaire. But never face it head-on.

It’s on the tip of Ashton’s tongue to say something, say anything. Ask a point-blank question, maybe, like why do you only ever want to sleep in my bed?, or just say the truth. Confess how he feels and hope Calum is brave enough to do the same. Hope Calum feels the same. 

It’s late enough, and Ashton is tired enough, that he can’t see it backfiring. Maybe it would go well. Or at least maybe it wouldn’t go badly. Maybe Calum would smile and say me too, you idiot, I’ve been waiting for you to say something; maybe he’d pick up his head and give Ashton that cheeky smile Ashton’s come to expect from him, and maybe he’d kiss Ashton, taking the warmth off Ashton’s lips to keep for himself. 

Maybe he’d just sigh that happy sigh of his and say let’s talk about this in the morning, cuddling closer to let Ashton know that this isn’t a soft rejection, just a rain check for when they’re both more awake. Ashton could take that.

But as much as Ashton is sure there’s something here, he can’t bring himself to say it. It’s easy to be confident right up until he needs to be confident. 

(And it could always go wrong. It could. It could.)

“You calling me boring?” Ashton teases softly, but Calum just huffs an exhale.

“You know I’m not,” he whispers. “Please?”

Ashton brings his hand up to tangle into Calum’s hair, and Calum gives his happy sigh and cuddles closer, just as Ashton had hoped. “Okay,” Ashton murmurs. “Sure. Goodnight, Cal.”

“‘Night, Ash.”

Ashton smiles. They can talk about it another day. Tomorrow, maybe. “You wouldn’t like this book,” he starts. “It’s by an old white guy, and I know you hate those.” Calum breathes a quiet laugh. “Well, he’s not that old…”

Calum drifts off as Ashton describes the premise of his book, going slack in Ashton’s arms, breathing slow, and Ashton presses a kiss into his hair. 

One day he’ll do it when Calum is awake, but not today. There’s always tomorrow. 

[llendrinall]

What if the golden trio + Draco magically get sucked into a universe where Riddle was killed before the potters were. And they grow up from babes to adulthood not remembering anything until they suddenly get their memories when each reach the age of 21 and ohh imagine how hard itd be on each's parents cuz they dont know whats wrong and all. Then bam Ron shows up engaged to a muggleborn he never spoke to in school and Harry and Draco are spotted on a date in a muggle zoo. The Malfoy's flip and so do the Potters.

It'd be a lovely story of healing, connecting and love and honesty I think they deserve it after the shit they went through.

The memories come to them in dreams. At first it’s just a strange, upsetting, dream that has a bit more consistency than dreams usually have and that lingers through the day while dreams fade away before you get out of bed. By the third night they have almost all the memories back, each dream slotting nicely with the previous one. Harry is understandably freaked out. He makes a quick trip to Godric’s Hollow to go hug his parents and then spends a lot of time looking at the one family photo they have in the living room, the one in which Harry and Dudley were seven. He stares at Petunia’s smile and wonders whatever happened to give him such horrible ideas about his aunt.

He and Ron are friends, living together as they went through the Auror training and now in their first year working as Aurors. Harry talks to Ron because he can’t shake that horrible feeling of dread; all the things he could lose or maybe all the things he has lost. That’s when they realize they have the same freaking memories, the same dreams, down to the nasty details like Ron leaving during the horcrux hunt or Harry being kind of a jerk about Ginny.

Ron, being Ron, is blessed with an eminently practical and down to earth sense of life. The dreams are strange and it would be very interesting to learn how come they got the same dream-memories, if something happened to their other selves and why are they suddenly remembering now. All those are very good and valid questions that someone should investigate. For now, Ron is going to find Hermione Granger and do whatever it takes to make her fall in love with him so he can marry her.

It turns out that Hermione has been getting the same dreams, the same memories, and when Harry and Ron – those two classmates she was friendly with but not super close to – come knocking on her door, she cries and she doesn’t know if it sadness for what they lost of joy to have them back. Ron once again shows his superior sense by grabbing her hand and saying that yes, this might be a super duper weird spell, and yes Hermione is right to suspect it and want to know why and where it came from, and yes, there may be some dark forces playing around; but none of that changes the fact that he loves her and even if the memories proved to be fake he will still love her because she has the courage and smarts to suspect the meaning of these memories and basically what Ron is trying to say is that he loves all iterations of Hermione. Sorry, but she is stuck with him.

They get married that same day, with Harry acting as a witness. Then they go tell their respective families. The Grangers take it surprisingly well and don’t even threaten Ron with dismemberment if he ever hurts Hermione. Instead, they ask him to do right by her. Ron, who might be going a bit mad, makes a vow of devotion and loyalty with his actual knee on the floor and the Grangers love it. They named their only daughter Hermione, of course they love it when an actual chivalric hero comes into their living room.

The Weasleys are a different thing. They know enough about magic to be suspicious of the sudden memories. Mrs Weasleys gives Hermione the stink eye because, to be honest, this sounds a lot like a love-potion. It’s only because Harry is there with the same memories and no wish to marry Hermione that Mrs Weasley doesn’t call the Wizarding Patrol immediately. Also, the twins and Ginny dislike Hermione. The twins slightly less so because they only had to suffer her as Prefect for a year, but for Ginny it was three long years of Hermione barring her from hexing and/or beating people. It was very frustrating and she blames Hermione for every pimple she got during that time. If Ginny had been allowed to hex Parkinson or Malfoy of freaking Finch-Fletchley every time they were their annoying selves, Ginny would have been much calmer and mellower and her skin would have reflected it.

So the Weasleys are not happy but there isn’t much they can do about it other than keep a close look on Hermione and wait for Ron to see reason.

It is a very busy weekend to say the least. On Monday Harry has vertigo because the week seems awfully empty (disarming a blood hex and capturing its creator, ppft, what is that for someone who remembers fighting Voldemort?). Harry would rather have his hours full so he won’t be overwhelmed by his thoughts. There is so much death in the memories! His parents, Sirius, Remus, Peter, even Regulus who is profoundly weird and very snobbish but James insists on inviting him to events and he keeps coming despite how uncomfortable he looks. They are all dead in Harry’s memories.

There is also Malfoy, who is even more of a jerk in the memories and who grew up to become an actual Death Eater like his father, someone who almost killed Dumbledore and who, when the time came, saved Harry’s life with a lie.

On Thursday the Auror office receives a call of dark activity in Minaford Park, which is where Draco Malfoy is living these days. Harry takes the assignment and makes quick work of the boggart and the ghoul that somehow were trapped under the stairs and were screaming at each other. As excuses go, it’s not too bad. Harry is certain that Draco could have done it himself, but it is messy enough that it seems believable that he would prefer someone else to fix it for him.

Draco offers Harry tea, which he accepts. There is a very odd tension in the air. Draco is down to his shirt sleeves and has shadows under his eyes and when he looks at Harry… It can’t be said that he looks at him funny. Draco was his usual snobbish self while he watched Harry getting rid of the creatures. But there is something in his eyes when Harry takes a seat and accepts the tea cup. Something almost like sorrow.

No, not sorrow.

Compassion.

“Look, Potter”, Draco says. “I am too old to start having prophetic dreams, but this affects you directly. You figure out if someone is playing with a timer-turner or what, here it goes.” And he tells Harry everything.

As one could expect, Minaford Park has a very beautiful garden. Draco and Harry spend hours after lunch walking through it. Ah, yes, Harry stayed for lunch. Draco insisted. He still had things to tell Harry and he was growing hungry.

They meet again on Saturday, ostensibly so Harry can tell Draco what he and Hermione had learned. Ron says he doesn’t give a damn where the memories came from. He only cares what he can do with them and so far he seems to be doing pretty well, having married Hermione and encouraged Bill to ask Fleur Delacour out. Hermione and Harry are a bit more worried, but Harry will admit the research effort goes 30-70% in Hermione’s favour.

Talking with Draco is good. He seems to share the same dread as Harry. Draco confesses that he is not happy with his conduct, or rather the conduct of the Draco that could be. He talks a lot about the fear and nausea at having the Dark Lord in his house, the smell of despair that took over the manor, the mad glint in his aunt Bellatrix’s eyes. Since Draco talks about his aunt, about seeing her mad and cruel and talking proudly about torturing the Longbottoms, Harry feels that he can talk about his own aunt Petunia and Draco will understand. Lily and Petunia don’t have the closest relationship, but to think that she could treat Harry like that…

The Sunday visit to the zoo isn’t a date. As soon as Hermione learns that Draco also has the memories she assigns work pairs and tasks. She sends Harry and Draco to check the reptiles in case they see something like Nagini in there. Both of them have the most memories of her. They should be able to recognize the snake.

Nagini is there and she is surprisingly cognizant for a snake which makes them suspect that she might be a horcrux. The discovery leaves them cold, a new kind of vertigo opening before them. They didn’t live through it, they are only memories, but the exhaustion of the war feels real and they don’t want to go through anything similar again.

Draco asks to go see the penguins and it might seem silly and contradictory, but watching them helps a lot to keep the chill from Nagini away. Neither can tell who initiated, but while in there they begin to hold hands. They go to see the butterflies next, which are in the next pavilion, and suddenly everything in the world looks much better. They don’t kiss when they part, but the way they look at each other is worth at least three kisses.

On Monday Harry receives a short message from Remus that simply says he has sequestered the Prophet’s copy but he doesn’t know how long he can keep Harry’s parents from seeing the news. Harry takes the morning off work and goes to Godric’s Hollow immediately so they can learn about Draco from him rather than the salacious gossip column.

James simply says, “MALFOY? You… MALFOY!?”.

He seems upset. Then he freezes and for the next ten minutes James says nothing. He doesn’t move. He is just there, in the kitchen, one hand in the air and the other holding a cup of tea that is growing cold.

“Harry, dear, I want you to come to dinner today.” Lily says. She has a worried frown but is otherwise unperturbed. “And tell us everything about those memories. Even the bad bits. This is important. It can be dangerous.”

“Yes! Dinner!” James screams, suddenly unfreezing. “Bring him to dinner. Tonight.”

“What?”

“No, you are right. It might be too formal, too soon. Quidditch, then. Does he like Quidditch? He must. I remember you complaining about him while you were in school.”

“He… likes Quidditch, yes.” Harry says hesitantly because even now he is not sure if his dad is talking about Draco.

“Perfect. We shall go see a Quidditch match, the three of us.”

“James.” Lily warns.

“Does anybody in this house know when the next Quidditch match is?” James cries over his wife’s warning that he is doing it again, just like with Sirius.

“Saturday.” Remus says.

“That’s too late! When is Sirius back?”

“Wednesday.” Answers Remus and despite his transformation exhaustion he nimbly steps away from Lily’s strike with the newspaper. Usually Remus would spend his transformation at home, but since Sirius had to go on a trip he came to James and Lily’s so he would have company, which led to the fortunate circumstance of being able to take the newspaper and delay the news.  

“Honestly, Remus.” Chides Lily.

“I’m not encouraging him! You can’t call answering his questions encouragement!”

“It is decided, then.” James announces from the chair. He has climbed a chair and is speaking from atop. “Friday, you bring young Malfoy home. We will play Quidditch and some board games and have dinner in the yard. Sirius shall bring Regulus so Malfoy is not the only Slytherin.”

“James, listen to me…” Lily tries with little faith that James would listen to anyone.

That same morning, at eleven, Lucius Malfoy receives a howler from James Potter composed of thirty-two seconds of mad laughter, which means that James must had listened to Lily at some point or most likely that she was able to take his wand.

It couldn’t be said that James Potter was happy to hear that his beloved son was dating a snobbish Slytherin prick, no, but as soon as he realized that Lucius Malfoy would be equally unenthused about it, it had awaken James’s unhinged tendency towards confrontation with the established power and forced adoption of families’ black sheep. He had done it to Sirius, he had done it to Remus, he had done it to Peter (even if it failed catastrophically) and he was doing it to Regulus now. He had even befriended Severus Snape. Oh! Snape! He should invite Snape too. That way they could make teams of four.  He would come if Lily asked him to.

And afterwards they explore those memories, and Lily looks worried and so does Snape. Regulus goes very quiet for a while but then he gives his opinion of what has happened and it’s the most words anyone has heard him speak but the multiverse theory makes a lot of sense.  

The Weasleys warm up to Hermione eventually. They can’t tell why, exactly, other that Ron is beaming these days. Also, every time she comes to the Burrow she brings a gift to Arthur. It is a very obvious ploy to make them like her but it works because she sees the gift through and answers all of Arthur’s questions no matter how long it takes. The twins took notes when she gave her physics lecture. It was most informative. They created two prank artefacts out of it.

They find the few horcruxes Voldemort managed to make. Peter, who had a falling out with the Potters years ago, resurfaces and tries to steal a horcrux and bring back the Dark Lord out of spite. According to Regulus some people are dedicated to bring their own destruction and you can’t do anything about it.  Barty Crouch Jr. also tries to bring Voldemort back, but by then Lucius Malfoy has been adopted by James even though he is a powerful adult man with his own family. It makes no sense. If anything, Lucius should be the one informally adopting people and grooming them under his wing to be his devoted friends and allies. But Lucius had become James’, just like Severus warned him it would happen, so he puts a stop to that Barty Crouch nonsense pretty quickly and to any other former Death Eaters with ideas. Lucius might not like the Potters but he likes the idea of Voldemort taking over his house even less, and whatever else his happening, it makes Draco happy, so.

What little of Voldemort remained alive, it is now dead.

The four of them, they have the shadows and regrets of two lives, the fear and pain of two wars, but the happiness afterwards… Oh, it is worth it, it is very, very worth it. It is the happiness of two lives, tenfold.  

[wyverntooth]

G’s Core Pt 2

(Undertale is property of Toby Fox, thus I hold no legal rights to it. CORE!Frisk is Dokudoki’s creation, Gaster!Sans is commonly found in Echotale and or Underpatch which were created by Yoralim and Borurou respectively, ERROR!Sans was created by Lover of Piggies and Axetale is the creation of Bananafrappe and Azulandrojo while most of the artwork for their AU comes from Mercy-Monster. These are all ideas I’ve borrowed and they’re to be credited with these things, although this story is my creation so thanks for reading and please check the earlier mentioned creators out. Please enjoy!)

Every Journey Begins With One, Hellish Step

“….” G stared in silent bewilderment at his companion’s unconscious state, barely able to register the transparency his companion had begun to display. His silence would be broken, however, the frigid zephyrs trying to drain him of the little body heat he could retain as snow began to fall from above with a desperate haste to reach the ground beneath his boots. “Sorry, but I won’t be able to survive in this weather if I stay out here. I’ll see you when you wake up, kid.”

Pulling over his hood and zipping his jacket, G strode into the forest, casting a hesitant glance back at CORE!Frisk before quietly scoffing. They’ll be fine. They always are. Besides, they have to decide whether or not they’re tangible, so they’re safe from hypothermia or those ‘ravenous beasts’ they mentioned. G thought assuredly, a smirk coming to his face as he made his way towards one of the Guard Barracks.

The snow crunched beneath his boots, accompanying his every breath and step, the forest’s quiet wildlife boding poor tidings later. Didn’t matter, though. Once he got to the barracks, he’d have access to the public records and provisions. Frisk said that the population’s been cut by zero-point-3 percent, which may or may not be a lot depending on the time frame we’re given…He stopped, the sound of his boots crunching snow ceasing as he swept the heavily wooded landscape with his eyes.

Something’s not right. He thought to himself, certainty in his being. Wait….Looking around cautiously, he summoned a pair of long, nondescript bones to his hands. His breathing was all he heard, the quiet birds and rodents having gone silent. 

“When it’s silent in the forest, there’s a predator nearby.” CORE!Frisk’s words rang in his head, their familiarity with that subject having come from living in a man-made Hell on the surface.

Alright, G thought, supraorbital ridge furrowing in seriousness. If Frisk’s right, than who is it I’m up against? The Dog Guard, perhaps? This is their modus operandi: stalking their prey ‘til it’s far enough away from the beaten path that it won’t find its way back… A rustling of feathers made him lift his head to find a crystal-feathered avian staring down at him from the branches above in its nest. Okay, it’s just a drake, nothing to worry about…

His thought was proved wrong when the creature above him snarled, its teeth slick with blood and dust, making the Revenant’s eyes narrow as he took a stance similar to that of Papyrus. Looks like those lessons Fell!Pap gave me are going to finally be put to good use.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he found the Drake diving at him with its razor like talons ready to tear into his being, forcing him to slide away as the avian monster sank its fierce claws into the spot where he’d stood not a moment before before turning and charging for his head. G, seeing how the maddened creature’s eyes practically burning with desperation, slammed the bone in his left hand onto the ground and flipped above the mastiff-sized raptor to land behind it with a swing for its head.

The blow landed, but instead of incapacitating it as intended, G’s senses swam with data concerning the beast before him. “LV: 7  HP: 20/20  ATK: 15  DEF: 6  EXP: 2  NEXT: 30″ These numbers, as inconsistent as they were, explained a lot about this creature’s life. Despite being a bird of prey, a Drake wasn’t usually battle intuitive or aggressive, and yet this one was holding up against a blow that could’ve concussed a Royal Guard in the central timeline of their multiverse.

Said reptilian-avian screeched, sinking its jaws into G’s shoulder as a reward for his lapse in focus. Jolting in pain from his unconscious observation, G willed the bone in his right hand to undergo a transmutation, grafting the bone in his right arm into a casing with the skull of a blaster around his fist which he subsequently used to remove the foul poultry from his now damaged shoulder.

His stats held themselves in his mind, the knowledge that Sans and Gaster’s fusing into him bringing him what he was still a bitter taste in his mouth. “LV: 13  HP: 70/70  ATK: 130  DEF: 130  EXP: 60  NEXT: 254″ The skull over his fist glowed, G’s high magic output giving it an artificial facsimile of power and sentience, only to be shattered over the encroaching Drake’s brow with a punch.

Its eyes vacated of life and its body fell to the snow covered ground, every molecule of its being beginning to quiver in ecstatic madness as it prepared to become dust. “No you don’t!” G said sternly, flooding magic into his hands and the creature he’d felled, his intent alien to any other than himself.

The bird’s body ceased to quiver and yet its eyes still remained vacant of life, as if it were any empty shell yet to be filled. It croaked out a strange chirp, a grim smile crossing G’s face as he returned his bone staff back into the ether from whence it came.

“That’s more like it…Now then,” Turning away from the empty eyed bird, G looked towards the general direction of the barracks he’d come this far for, with a groan. “Back to walking.”

The barrack door creaked with neglect, its hinges fighting against themselves to move in the frigid air that threatened to snuff the warmth from all life in the forest. G sighed heavily, scowling at the cold, dark place he’d held such hope in finding. Fitting, that a monster would seek a cold, dark dwelling instead of the outside world. He’d have chuckled if not for how peeved he was with the bird he’d recruited as his thrall.

During his trek, it hadn’t shut up or behaved with any semblance of intelligence outside of premature sentience displayed by a child. Every tree was so interesting to it that it had to circle it three time before climbing to the highest branches that could support its weight. This wasn’t something G appreciated at all, if put in mild words.

Even his memories as Gaster told him that children weren’t this easily distracted or poorly behaved. Said avian dived under him with its scaled belly acting like that of a penguin, knocking G flat on his ass as a result and getting him to growl in disapproval. “Thrall!” G said firmly, rising to stand and see his psuedo-puppet to be frozen before him like a toy soldier. “Cease this unruly behavior, you sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgic half-grounded Achiyalabopa-wigeon crossbreed, or so help me; I’ll make your undeath a Hell worse than this one you’ve been in!”

It merely blinked its lifeless eyes at him before returning to whatever it had been doing before, G’s quiet groan audible to only himself. If I’d gotten a Caladrius, an Alicanto or even an actual Achiyalabopa, this wouldn’t be a problem. He silently stewed, glaring venomously at the mastiff-sized avian’s turned head. But I got a Drake: a near-flightless, avian with as little intelligence as a newborn when enthralled! Why did I think this would be a suitable thrall?! Am I going soft?! Am I getting sentimental?!

Despite knowing the answers to these questions, G continued his internal queries as he entered-closing the door behind him with his left heel-and took a seat on one of the numerous bunk beds occupying this small barrack. Sighing heavily with a drag of freshly lit cigarette, G admitted to himself what he hated to think about. I’m desperate for companionship.That’s why I enthralled this stupid, fucking bird.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, he found said avian in front of him with a small book in one of its talons and its mouth agape in something similar to the smile a pet would give its owner. “Thanks, Thrall….I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading it.” G said, a rueful smile crossing his face as the bird gave him the book and darted after something only its falsely-resurrected eyes could self-deceive.

“Go have fun, Thrall…”Taking another drag of his cigarette as he stared out the window into the dark, blizzard-beaten forest outside, G muttered under his breath, “This is gonna be our home for a while, so we might as well get comfy.” Falling back into the bed, he propped open the book Thrall had given him, the cherry of his cigarette illuminating the words of the first page.

[blueisunlucky]

1. more cereal than milk 2. no 3. a broken adventure time card holder given to me from the one that got away on halloween three years ago 4. i don’t drink coffee & i take my tea with two sugars, sometimes one and a half, depending on the size of the mug 5. yes 6. no, but i’d like to 7. - 8. words 9. no 10. side 11. shipping each other with males whom they have a vague connection with (e.g. makes a teacher laugh once, sees a random boy’s name on their Snapchat contact list that we don’t know,) 12. earth 13. my brother showing me a meme 14. spiral stairs, raw brick walls, a neutral colour scheme and warm fairy lights. lots of them. these fairy lights will be stringed across the walls and have candid poleroid photos pegged to them. tables covered in newspaper clippings, sketches of plants and fairytale creatures, cutouts from magazines and used mugs. strange abstract paintings from market stalls that we thought were funny, creaky wooden flooring and shaggy rugs on top. 15. 99% of our solar system’s mass is the sun! the sun is fucking huge 16. spaghetti without the sauce 17. blonde, but people think it wouldn’t suit me. blue seems intriguing 18. i used to write these cheesy erotic short stories about my friend and some guy (see no. 11) on scrap pieces of paper for my friends to annoy the said friend. these papers are now lost, but the memories of them aren’t 19. no. i have tried, but i always forget about it after a while 20. blue, for the first girl my heart latched on to. 21. i don’t have a specific bag, but an assortment of school bags that constantly broke or were horribly bulky that i kept pushing or bashing people 22. is anyone? 23. write, but i never get the time anymore 24. yes 25. me break into someplace? ha i’m a pussy 26. what is this question? my school shoes, because i’m obliged to wear black shoes? 27. bubblegum is already a flavour 28. sunset 29. one of my friends literally lights up from about 20 to 100 if you mention something she likes. she has such pure, childlike enthusiasm 30. yes 31. socks. I despise the rise of ankle socks. you’re paying the full price for half a sock. like?!!1!? otherwise, i enjoy all socks, frilly, knee length, comical, odd. maybe not sports socks though 32. i have never been out with my friends after 3am. sad times. 33. apple pie, no doubt 34. i had a stuffed tiger toy called “Tiger” but pronounced like “Tigger”. he wasn’t the Disney one. my father bought it for my mother, and she gave it to me. my younger self called him my husband and I liked kissing him. he currently sits at the back of my wardrobe. 35. i am the stationary whore. i steal and hoard pens, pencils, rubbers, coloured paper, paper clips, etc, that i find on the floor or abandoned in classrooms when the coast is clear. 36. coldplay 37. messy 38. the sound of chewing, saliva, and those sort of things 39. i’m not sure. if i had to choose, i’d guess grey? 40. i have a gold ring with a gold bow on it in the drawer of my wardrobe. back in high school, me and my mates had this inside joke that one of my friends and I were “married”, so one April she and the others came to my house and she joke proposed to me. 41. Thanks for the Trouble, by Tommy Wallach 42. i wish i had a small, pretty corner coffee shop to tell stories about, but i just don’t drink coffee. all i got is the Starbucks and the Costa’s i grab hot chocolates from when i’m outside and alone, or when my friends feel like it 43. probably my cat 44. AS results day. we all got crappy grades, and the four of us sat in a playground and laughed 45. no 46. compasses and protractors are banned from my school because they’re considered weapons of math destruction 47. peppercorns 48. i don’t think i had a fear when i was younger, but now i fear rejection and being seen as boring 49. i’ve never owned a record and the last CD i had was given to me during primary school. everyone uses online copies now, unless they’re being aesthetic ™ 50. stationary (see no. 35). 51. Jenny, by Studio Killers 52. is Hollyweed considered a meme? 53. nope. i’m uncultured swine 54. my mother 55. pretend to forget, like faking momentary amnesia, and boy, it was the worst decision i’ve made to this day 56. nicknames, gift giving outside of holidays or birthdays, remembering little details 57. chaotic, suicidal, but nearing the end, strangely peaceful 58. i’m the vodka aunt, for i spike my own tea with it, as an “experiment”. I’m yet to find the wine mom 59. religion 60. yeah, i like it. La Belle Dame Sans Merci, by John Keats, at the moment, but i haven’t read enough to make an informed decision 61. a toy cross bow for my father. he never used it, and i don’t know why i got that; i just wanted to get him something. for me, a penguin cuddly you from a girl i hardly talked to anymore. i was sixteen or seventeen i think? i don’t mean to be rude but why? 62. i don’t have time to drink in the morning. the exception would be when i was doing that vodka-tea experiment (see no. 58) 63. my books are currently in a rainbow colour order. if they weren’t, i wouldn’t care too much 64. a pale blue, with a smudge of purple-grey clouds 65. the first friend i ever made, Tusma. she moved houses at the end of year three. i haven’t seen her in about eight years 66. depends. i’m torn between going dainty and picking yellow: buttercups, dandelions, daisies, with soft clovers and the occasional purple wildflower, like a rugged, forest fairy. or standing fierce, a red rose crown, thick with thorns, holly leaves and berries, some crushed, scarlet liquid dripping down my forehead but eyes staring straight ahead. 67. powerful, invisible, stealthy 68. cold, bitter, sometimes dry like a cough or wet and uncomfortable. it doesn’t snow anymore 69. scrabble, monopoly 70. in year nine, some kids decided they wanted to use a ouija board. i was curious, and i walked into the science room they were planning to use when the teachers were gone and the lights were off, despite my friends’ protests. it wasn’t an actual ouija board, but an imitation, scribbles on a piece of paper. i can’t remember who did it with me, but i’m pretty sure some of them were the popular kids. we felt no presence, although everyone tried their best to scare each other. we never said goodbye. no ghosts have haunted or killed me yet. 71. earl grey, or normal tea with a sprinkle of ginger 72. i feel as if i’m going to forget and can’t handle things, but i rarely note things down. i seem to cope, just 73. daydreaming, procrastinating, not being able to keep my own secrets 74. shy, quiet bean, needs to be protected at all costs, their laugh is more of a giggle, good at art, baby of the group, secretly wants to get drunk and make out with people, i suspect a little bi-curious but i can’t be sure, has technology and food kinks (but not at the same time) 75. i have a black and white cat named Wallace, after Wallace from Wallace & Gromit, because he eats cheese. he has a wonky tongue because he cut it on something but we never found out what that something was. he’s eleven years old, so he’s getting on now, and i think there’s a rising rivalry between Wallace and a mysterious black cat that keeps popping up near our garden 76. revising, duh 77. have never tried pink lemonade, so yellow 78. hateclub 79. sent me a claraxeleven edit as means to make me stay when i was thinking of running away. i thought only those deep in the doctor who fandom watched those, and it may have suggested i was rubbing off on him 80. lilac. i chose it because when i first moved into this room i was sharing it with my younger sister, so i wanted to choose a colour that she wouldn’t hate that was also not pink 81. watery brown stone (cba) 82. yeah, i was usually in the top or second top groups 83. i don’t buy albums, so i wouldn’t know where to start 84. yes. a small TARDIS at the back of my neck. maybe a ruffled feather, despite it being a little cliché, it has a literal importance to me. something related to space on one of my thighs, and perhaps something with roses, or skulls 85. unfortunately, no 86. i don’t know what those are 87. The Imitation Game, High School Musical, Edward Scissorhands, Men in Black, Shrek, Home Alone, Independence Day, The Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, Hidden Figures, the Star Wars trilogy, Freaky Friday, Titanic, Jurassic Park, Alien, Terminator, Jaws, Jumanji 88. dancing when i’m alone, and dabbing (sorry not sorry) 89. debatable 90. it isn’t a city, but my favourite place is the Isle of Wight. i first tried tea in a big blue breakfast room at the b&b and learned to play pool at a pool table you had to put a pound in to play. i fed a lamb and my brother wet the bed and we watched a Lara Croft movie in our little room and it rained most of the time but i loved it all so 91. no where 92. barely sprinkles 93. bedhead, sometimes brushed 94. yesterday, a boy who loves me but i ran out of love months ago 95. nothing unusual 96. procrastinate 97. myer briggs? what is this? capricorn, gryffindor 98. NCS, where we all hiked across the coast of Wales, and at the end of it i thought my legs were going to fall off and my feet were all numb. beautiful views though 99. If I Lose Myself, One Republic; Give Your Heart a Break, Demi Lovato; Get Out, Casey Abrams; Oh No!, Marina and the Diamonds; Spectrum, Zedd 100. past, because i know what i’d do

[selenass]

la arcana famiglia

hey guys!! i’m here throwing up a request for furia’s seven advisors of the famiglia. many more positions in the famiglia are open, and if you’d like your character to be apart of it just let me know! all the names are open, and they could have adopted the surname arcana or not, it doesn’t matter! most of these have open genders <3 

la arcana famiglia has been in mystic since just after it's founding. it began with the angel, javier arcana. he was just about two hundred when he moved, and he wanted to make the most of his time. he began the famiglia to ensure that all those he loved, and all those in mystic, were protected from the treachery of humans. he was incredibly compassionate and loved all those around him. he had a human son in 1967, and two years later his mother abandoned them, and javier fell in love with a mermaid. his son was always jealous of how much love javier had for miera, and the jealousy soon stemmed into hatred. one night in 1996, javier's son's jealousy overtook him, and he crawled into miera's bed to hurt her the way she hurt him. he succeeded, but the task cost him his life. javier himself the one to execute his son. the famiglia's process slowed down, and even became a stand still when miera found out she was pregnant. together, javier and miera fought through the perils of pregnancy and into the world came furia. furia, grew up knowing that javier wasn't her biological father, but didn't ever say it outloud. everyone knows, but no one will ever tell her. the seven below are all people who have helped papa run the famiglia, and now will help furia. four years ago, she fought them all in a duello (cept jolie who didn’t participate), becoming the champion. she got the role of papa and one wish with the price. (the other was her hand in marriage, but when she won that was eradicated). she wished for papa to stay papa. in doing so, she was free to be apart of the famiglia but not run it, until last month when her mother died of natural causes. two weeks later, her father flew into the middle of the ocean. he hasn't returned. so these seven advisors are now helping furia run everything. here we go.

nova - 19

nova is a mermaid, born in 1998. he moved to mystic when he was four, after an evil plot his parents planned against javier and his wife failed. he's grown up beside furia all her life. they're best friends. at a point, engaged to be married. his gender is fixed at male. at the moment, nova cooks for fun, but he's considered the famiglia's unofficial cook. his baked treats can make anyone feel instantly better. he grew up with a crush on furia, but if he's grown out of it or not is up to you.he generally takes his position in the famiglia very seriously, and hopes to achieve more now that furia is the dona.

liberta - 22 / 50 - 60

liberta is a young faerie, no more than sixty years old but looks twenty-two. he was originally hired as a bodyguard for javier's son, but it became apparent that he didn't want to be guarded. he was switched to guarding the grounds of the mansion instead, but recently, as one of the last wishes of papa, he has returned to body guarding, and now watches over furia. his gender is fixed at male. furia grew up making googly eyes at him, but never acted on him. he gets tongue tied around her, and if often making a fool of himself, but refuses to pursue anything because he knows his (but most importantly her) role in the famiglia, calls her princess, to remind himself of this.

luca - 21 / 27

luca is an angel and their gender is open. luca was hired when they were about ten to watch furia, she was about three at the time. her parents wanted her to grow up with children rather than adults always watching her. luca's a young angel, and stopped his aging when he was twenty-one, so physically he's very close to furia now. when she was sixteen and won the duello, his services were no longer required, so applied as a teacher at the local high school, to help any creature students who needed help. they call furia 'milady' despite not waiting on her for years.

debito 26 - 34 / 70 - 90

debito is a demon and their gender is open. debito controls the money that the famiglia spends, and how much they spend on each case that they get. debito runs a small (but really expensive) boutique by the beach, where they coax tourists into buying memorabilia that they don't need. the famiglia is loaded, so this shop is a front, in case any creatures want to contact that famiglia without causing a scene by going to the manor. they should not be older than ninety years old, and their physical age is entirely up to you. they're a cocky piece of shit, who thinks they're better than anyone else. calls furia 'bambina' to piss her off.

pace - 28 - 32

pace is a human and their gender is open. pace runs the defense of the famiglia, ensuring that whenever there is a problem that needs physical fixing, they are covered. pace also works as a police officer, so as to help any creatures that need through the law. pace is a sweet person who enjoys to eat a lot. pace is a strong being, but they don't enjoy using their fists unless they have too. he's often the police officer who does rounds on the beach, and will most definitely overlook any underage people at tom's.

jolie - 33 - 37

jolie is a scary son of a bitch. they are a witch and their gender is open. jolie practices a lot in the dungeons of the manor so that they won't hurt anyone if any of their potions go wrong. they're the person that anyone of the famiglia calls on if they need medical expertise, as his potions can do wonders. however, jolie is a very good lawyer with his own branch. though all the funding for the branch comes from the famiglia, and any money the branch makes goes right back. he's the one to help in case of legal troubles.

dante - 32 - 37

dante is a wolf and their gender is open. dante is loving, open, and generally a great person. a seriously built person, dante can seem quite terrifying at first glance, however it doesn't take long before a person realizes that dante is like a big puppy. he works at the hospital as a leading surgeon, and is usually available if the famiglia needs any medical expertise in order to help them / guide jolie's potions. dante is closest with jolie because they are similar in physical age.

[janetchavezcom]

Living Big in These 12 Spacious Teardrop Trailers

So, the roadtrippin’ adventurer in you wants you to buy a teardrop-shaped trailer.  And why not?  Not only are you leaving just a small footprint on this world compared to a conventional RV (recreational vehicle for the uninitiated), it’s compact enough to easily fit the tightest parking spot.  An average-sized teardrop trailer is only about 5’ tall and 10 ft length.  And that’s not a lot of room, is it?  Your bathroom at home could be way bigger than that.  You’re thinking that the teardrop should, at the very least, accommodate your basic activities inside such as cooking and sleeping? And maybe a little more?

With teardrop trailers becoming popular once again and having evolved since its modest beginnings in the 1930s, manufacturers are also keeping up by building more ambitious models to suit the needs of the modern man or woman.  Teardrop trailers are often more affordable options than a typical motorhome.  We guarantee you will be amazed at how spacious they can be with our top 12 teardrop trailers.  We can wholeheartedly recommend any one of them to be your next teardrop trailer purchase.  From small-scale manufacturers such as Little Guy Trailers to a more familiar Winnebago brand, these trailers are taking RVing to a higher level with their generous floor plans.  Come to think of it, teardrop-style trailers are often much more capable and luxurious than you might initially think.

For each teardrop trailer in our list, we will list items you probably would not expect to find inside a traditional teardrop trailer.  Believe me, it’s not magic – it’s space redefined, teardrop trailer-style!

Winnie Drop Brand: Winnebago

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  18.4 X 8 X 9.3

other specs available: overall vehicle weight – minimum 2,360 lbs

This retro-inspired trailer is like having your own cosy nook with many lavish creature comforts. Towing is very straightforward given its size, and camping is made even more pleasant and spacious thanks to its slide-out capabilities.  Surprisingly, it can accommodate up to 4 sleepers at a time.  It comes in a range of different floor plans and in three variants namely: WD170, WD170S, and WD170K.

WD170

relax in a 60 X 40 queen-size bed with storage underneath

the kitchen space contains a handy micro-refrigerator to store your meats and other perishable food items

a kitchen with sink, a stovetop-style cooker and yet another storage space, albeit overhead this time

dine comfortably with your friends and family in a 42 X 74 dinette

a toilet with a sink in a bathroom

a living room with a mount for your TV and a sliding seat

WD170S

All the items found under WD170 plus:

a bigger bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet – a definite plus!

Space for your pantry and wardrobe in the back of the bathroom

ample space above the kitchen and dinette

WD170K

All the items found under WD170 plus:

has 30 X 74 bunk beds to replace a queen-sized mattress

a larger 58 X 74 U-shaped dinette perfect for bigger groups or families

a complete bathroom with shower and toilet

a TV mounting cab unit begging for a small flat screen

For more information, check out Winnebago website at https://winnebagoind.com

MyPod

Brand: Little Guy Trailer

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  11.7 X 5 X 5.2

other specs available:

overall dry weight: 630 lbs

tongue weight: 110 lbs

interior height: 37 inches

This compact fiberglass trailer is aptly named MyPod for obvious reasons. It’s a tiny marvel weighing 630 lbs with a 110 lb tongue weight, your regular car could probably tow it without much difficulty.  It comes in five different colors: blue, red, silver, white and black. The Mypod could very well be your designated camping companion.  And it has space for the following:

a 52 X 76 full-size single bed which could fit up to 2 slender sleepers

a three-speed fan to cool you during hot summer months

built-in air conditioning unit to even make extremely hot summers disappear

window shades

an entertainment center which can house your TV and video game console

a roof rack where you can place your camping gear

can be pimped even further to fit tailgate and side mount screen room tents, and trailer cover when in hibernation, so to speak

For more information, check out Little Guy Trailers website at https://golittleguy.com

FronTear

Brand: Oregon Trail’R

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  8 X 4 X 5

other specs available:

base towing wt = 1000 to 1300 lbs

tongue weight = 100 to 140 lbs

The FronTear is a popular teardrop trailer from its manufacturer which you can further customize by choosing the exterior color and interior design. Interestingly, it is perhaps the smallest teardrop trailer in the market today.

Here are some of the customizable items as well as some standard features you can squeeze into this cute little wonder:

set of cabinets with drawers, some of which you can place overhead or on the rear side of the trailer

key holders based on your design

backup lights controlled through a tow connector

a battery holding tray for maintaining your batteries

a tongue rack for storage

folding holders for cups – great for your cup of joe

galley to host your kitchenware

drapes with a barrier backer layers that resist moisture

custom-sized door units

Digital audio amplifiers

a reversible Fantastic Fan and rain sensor

LED lights (Halo Dome)

TV and DVD prep

a bed with 4-inch thickness plus a custom cover

stainless steel sink and faucet

A propane set with a two-unit burner stove, 11 lb propane tank
and heat shield

a panic siren to ward off unwelcome guests such as a black bear for instance

a rooftop rack system where you can put your camping gear

For more information, check out Oregon Trail’R website at http://www.oregontrailer.net

Diamond in the Rough

Brand: Teardrop Trailers

approximate dimensions L x H in feet:  8 X 5

other specs available: none

Just like its name, the Diamond in the Rough is a mini sparkler with so much potential despite being one of the smallest teardrop trailers.  It has eponymous features such as the roofing, checker plating, and diamond-plated plate fenders.  The 14-inch chrome rims shine like diamonds, too.  Check out other features available by default and by order for this polished teardrop trailer:

a small portable kitchen which comes with a faucet and sinks which can be upgraded to an electric type drapes and a mattress

shelves and wooden rack to hold your plates, glass, cutlery and cooking gadgets

an oven that you can pull out for baking delicious pastries and other specialties

space for refrigerator or cooler

optional small bunk bed for children

a 3,000-watt inverter

a large-sized front box to help you with additional storage needs

a trickle charger using seven round blade

solar panels for the green buyer

Plugin (12v)

deep cycle marine battery

For more information, check out Teardrop-shaped Trailers website at https://www.theteardroptrailer.com

T@G XL
Brand: nuCamp

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  13.7 X 7.8 X 6

other specs available:

tongue weight – 100 up to 1,210 lbs when spare tires and its battery unit are accounted for

Gross Axle Weight rating – 2,220 lbs

interior width – 70 inches

interior height – 47 inches

The T@G XL trailers are deemed to have more space than what you are used to with teardrop-shaped trailers.  In any case, it’s still small but can pack a lot of punch. It could also be a sight for sore eyes with the color white combinations on the exterior with red, yellow, and black.  Unfortunately, there are no bathroom facilities in this trailer so you might have to find your “spot” outside in nature.

Meanwhile, these are  the amenities you will find inside the T@G XL:

an ample cooking surface for prepping your meals

a stovetop oven

a microwave oven that’s built-in a panel for your quick bites

a kitchen sink to wash your used utensils

cabinets on all sides for more storage space; it can also house an A/C and cooler

water capacity of 11 gallons enough to supply your needs at a time

70 X 78 king-sized bed located in the middle of the room

interior with wood paneling for a bit of rustic feel

For more information, check out nuCamp website at  https://nucamprv.com

Timberleaf’s Teardrop Trailer Brand: Timberleaf

approximate dimensions L x H in feet:  15 X 5.5:

other specs available:

overall dry weight: 1,400 lbs

tongue weight 140 lbs

Touted as a featherweight by its manufacturer, the Timberleaf teardrop trailer looks eerily similar with the MyPod and FronTear with its retro-modern structure.  It also comes in different exterior colors with their interesting color names such as Pepsi blue, Extreme green, Caution yellow and Bright red.  You will be even more amazed at the facilities and optional extras you can find inside.

Plywood walls (Baltic birch) treated with low-VOC acrylic polyurethane

a  shelf with a drawer that pulls out to store all your cooking essentials

12-gallon water tank including a sink with a dispenser for cold water

gallery-type cabinets with sliding doors that serve as extra storage

a 20 square-foot retro laminate countertop

a queen size mattress (Colorado style) with 4” thick foam

a tinted polycarbonate (44×26) skylight  complete with pull-down shades and double screen (14×17 each) venting windows

a Fan (‘Fantastic’ brand) to provide some air circulation

R-11 rated anodized aluminum roof and aluminum sides complete with ceiling and wall insulation

roof rack in euro styling to hold your off-road bike and other gear

tent room with mesh material to let more of the outdoors in

a roof storage using a pioneer platform that can fit any trailer size

awning for some shade and curb appeal

a stove paired with windscreen and a couple of 22” burners

a tongue-style aluminum storage unit which can be locked to secure your items

a wooden cooler that comes with a handy 45-liter optional countertop lid

a wooden shelf on the exterior which can be detached or 2 wooden foldable shelves on the interior

For more information, check out Timberleaf website at http://www.timberleaftrailers.com

Vistabule’s Teardrop Trailer

Brand: Vistabule

approximate dimensions L x H in feet:  14 X 5 X 5.7

other specs available:

tongue weight – 130 to 1520 lbs depending on load

overall vehicle weight- 1220 lbs

The Vistabule teardrop trailer is another small wonder which boasts of large windows as if bringing the outside in. You can enjoy viewing the horizon with the front window which changes to your skyview when you’re lying down on the bed. Towing is an uncomplicated process with its aerodynamic properties and its ball hitch that measures 2 inches.  You will be very excited to see what’s inside a Vistabule:

a kitchenette with outdoor cooking that has a sink and a two-burner stove

a pass-through feature that allows food the be easily shared when it’s time to eat

several cabinets for storing your cooking gadgets and dinnerware

a 58.5 X 78 main bed with underneath storage with a length of 6.5 inches and foot room

a gallery counter which approximately measures at 36 inches in height

a dining space to share with your family or group of friends

a two-in-one sofa bed

a nice headboard with which you can hang your keys has upper storage capacity for your clothes and other miscellaneous items

a nine-gallon storage tank each for graywater and freshwater

a floor mounted table when sofa bed is in sofa mode folds to become a side table if in bed mode

For more information, check out Vistabule website at https://vistabule.com

560 Raindrop Brand: Camp-Inn Teardrop Trailers

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  14 X 10 X 5

other specs available:

overall vehicle weight – between 1,000 and 1,500 lbs

tongue weight – 150 to 180 lbs

The  560 Raindrop figures as one of the biggest teardrop trailer from the Camp-Inn fleet with its width of ten feet.  That said, you can expect this hefty teardrop RV to break conventional boundaries in its industry.  Towing and parking this RV are made simpler with the chock blocks, folding hitch, leveling jacks, and a hitch ball.  The front panoramic windows are big enough to enjoy the view outside.  Be dazzled some more by the following items you can discover about the 560 Raindrop:

dual cabin doors for gear storage

a set of bunk beds for small children

a queen-sized foam mattress with cover

a couch that can fit two adults

a propane gas tank for your cooking needs

graywater and freshwaters tanks with monitor and a capacity of 8 gallons each

outdoor kitchenette with underneath storage, a two-unit burner stove, birchwood cabinets, drawers, a sink with faucet spray hose that is made of stainless steel

more storage beneath the flooring and on the front side

curtained and screened windows

a ceiling fan

coat hooks

optional appliances such as 15-inch TV, DVD player, sound system, and air conditioning unit

solar panel prep

For more information, check out Camp Inn Teardrop Trailers website at http://tinycamper.com/index.htm

Mount Massive Brand: Colorado Teardrops

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  14 X 6.8 X 6.8

other specs available:

overall vehicle weight – 1,430 lbs

tongue weight – 199 lbs

Cabin height – 56 inches

If you’re a family of 5 or more, the Mount Massive Teardrop trailer is perfect for you.  Yes, it is a massive teardrop which should be towed by a pickup, minivan or an SUV.  This trailer is beautiful with its maple plywood walls, huge stargazer windows, and ample insulation not only on the walls but also the floors, ceiling, and doors.  The walls will not corrode or degrade easily because of its low VOC polyurethane covering. And of course, you will be impressed by the many possibilities it can hold in its interior.

a kitchenette with countertop, shelves that slide and rotate for your stove and other cookware

41-inch galley counter for your kitchen prep

a 60 X 78 queen size bed with shelves

a convertible sofa bed

lighting

dividers for cooler/ water tank

a cleanup tub

cabinets to hold your utensils

a 14 X 14 pop-up vent

optional power package including plug-in, AGM batteries, an inverter and solar panel

a spare tire

For more information, check out Colorado Teardrops website at https://coloradoteardropcamper.com

Dreamscape

Brand: Escapod

approximate dimensions L x W x  H in feet:  13 X 6.4 X 6

other specs available:

Maximum weight capacity – 3,500 lbs

tongue weight – 185 lbs

The Dreamscape teardrop trailer is a mobile version of the capsule hotel which is common in Japan.  It is as efficient but even capable of more functionality.  It is proudly American-made with powder-coated steel ensuring your trailer to rack up miles without problems.  It has complete insulation covering not just the walls but practically the entire trailer that will not only keep your interior at room temperature but also soundproof it somehow. The Dreamscape will continue to wow you with these awe-inducing standards and optional add-on line-up:

an outdoor kitchenette with cabinets on the backside and several drawers where you can keep your utensils

countertop with stove top made with stainless steel

a  good space for small kitchen appliances such as coffee maker, microwave, electric mixer, etc.

a 65-liter cooler

a queen-sized 5-inch memory foam mattress with underneath storage for your personal items

USB charging device and deep cycle battery

LED lighting

a triple speed fantastic fan

Three cubbies and four cabinets to keep your things organized

hitch that fully articulates

electrical converter (110v)

propane heater with water tanks

a water heater and shower unit to refresh you after a tiresome hike in nature

rooftop tent and awning combo

racks for bikes and kayaks

spare tire and mount for security in case of emergency

a stove with a propane tank

For more information, check out Escapod website at https://escapod.us

Sierra Madre Basic On-Road Teardrop Trailer

Brand: Sierra Madre

approximate dimensions L x  H in feet:  8 X 4 (smallest model)

other specs available: none

The Sierra Madre Basic On-Road Teardrop Trailer could be your good start in a trailer lifestyle.  It comes in different sizes (4 X 8, 4 X 9, 5 X 8, 5 X 9, and 5 X 10)  which should suit the amount of stuff and number of people you’d like to join your trip.  The chassis of this teardrop trailer has a torsion axle (Dexter type), wheel jack in front, safety chain, 14-inch powder-coated tires and 2-inch A frame in square tube.

The Birch plywood wall interior gives you UV protection with its clear lacquer covering and the anodized aluminum exterior.  The 12 X 18 windows provide a nice view of the outside. The ceilings are insulated to keep you comfortable during cold weather.  You can also enjoy more amenities inside this teardrop force to be reckoned with.

a foam mattress

a kitchen with counter, shelves, storage compartments where you can stash your cooking gadgets to make your prepping a lot easier

bedroom lighting, gallery and cabin domes.

a bedside shelf to hold your night lamp and some books

For more information, check out Sierra Madre Trailers website at http://sierramadreteardroptrailers.com

RetroRide 5 X 10  Teardrop Camper

Brand: RetroRide Teardrops

approximate dimensions L x  H in feet:  10 X 5 (biggest model)

other specs available:

Tongue weight – 160 lbs

Overall vehicle weight – 1,110 lbs

The RetroRide 5 X 10 is the largest among the company teardrop trailer variants. It also looks like it comes from an era gone by with its basic aluminum exterior but this time only a bit more polished.  You always have the option to customize the color to your own liking for an extra charge.

This simple teardrop trailer has varnished interiors and bare essentials such as front rack, and two doors.  The low price tag will give you room for upgrades which you can add to your trailer’s stash.

A/C and heater units

replacement tire

Additional windows for some nice view

battery in 12 volts to accommodate your small appliances

radial tires measuring 15 inches (standard is 14 inches)

For more information, check out RetroRide Teardrops website at http://retrorideteardrops.com

Is it truly for you?

These teardrop trailers make you think twice on getting a more a conventional RV not only because of the price but also, you may have realized that you don’t need a lot of space to experience a home away from home atmosphere.  All you need is creativity, smart planning, and I must admit, a bit of compromise.  Yes, you can fit the queen-sized mattress of yours, you just have to be strategic in doing so.  As you have discovered from our 12 teardrop trailer examples, no space is wasted, there is always a purpose it can serve one way or another.  While you manage your expectations, perhaps you will find yourselves pleasantly amazed when you step inside the not-so-small world of the iconic teardrop trailer.  It will take you to places literally and figuratively speaking.  Living big in a teardrop-shaped trailer is not impossible indeed.  But then again, is it really for you?  In spite of all the details I have provided here, only you can answer that for sure.

The post Living Big in These 12 Spacious Teardrop Trailers appeared first on Crow Survival.

source https://www.crowsurvival.com/teardrop-trailers/ source https://crowsurvival.blogspot.com/2018/11/living-big-in-these-12-spacious.html

[crowsurvivalcom]

Living Big in These 12 Spacious Teardrop Trailers

So, the roadtrippin’ adventurer in you wants you to buy a teardrop-shaped trailer.  And why not?  Not only are you leaving just a small footprint on this world compared to a conventional RV (recreational vehicle for the uninitiated), it’s compact enough to easily fit the tightest parking spot.  An average-sized teardrop trailer is only about 5’ tall and 10 ft length.  And that’s not a lot of room, is it?  Your bathroom at home could be way bigger than that.  You’re thinking that the teardrop should, at the very least, accommodate your basic activities inside such as cooking and sleeping? And maybe a little more?

With teardrop trailers becoming popular once again and having evolved since its modest beginnings in the 1930s, manufacturers are also keeping up by building more ambitious models to suit the needs of the modern man or woman.  Teardrop trailers are often more affordable options than a typical motorhome.  We guarantee you will be amazed at how spacious they can be with our top 12 teardrop trailers.  We can wholeheartedly recommend any one of them to be your next teardrop trailer purchase.  From small-scale manufacturers such as Little Guy Trailers to a more familiar Winnebago brand, these trailers are taking RVing to a higher level with their generous floor plans.  Come to think of it, teardrop-style trailers are often much more capable and luxurious than you might initially think.

For each teardrop trailer in our list, we will list items you probably would not expect to find inside a traditional teardrop trailer.  Believe me, it’s not magic – it’s space redefined, teardrop trailer-style!

Winnie Drop Brand: Winnebago

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  18.4 X 8 X 9.3

other specs available: overall vehicle weight – minimum 2,360 lbs

This retro-inspired trailer is like having your own cosy nook with many lavish creature comforts. Towing is very straightforward given its size, and camping is made even more pleasant and spacious thanks to its slide-out capabilities.  Surprisingly, it can accommodate up to 4 sleepers at a time.  It comes in a range of different floor plans and in three variants namely: WD170, WD170S, and WD170K.

WD170

relax in a 60 X 40 queen-size bed with storage underneath

the kitchen space contains a handy micro-refrigerator to store your meats and other perishable food items

a kitchen with sink, a stovetop-style cooker and yet another storage space, albeit overhead this time

dine comfortably with your friends and family in a 42 X 74 dinette

a toilet with a sink in a bathroom

a living room with a mount for your TV and a sliding seat

WD170S

All the items found under WD170 plus:

a bigger bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet – a definite plus!

Space for your pantry and wardrobe in the back of the bathroom

ample space above the kitchen and dinette

WD170K

All the items found under WD170 plus:

has 30 X 74 bunk beds to replace a queen-sized mattress

a larger 58 X 74 U-shaped dinette perfect for bigger groups or families

a complete bathroom with shower and toilet

a TV mounting cab unit begging for a small flat screen

For more information, check out Winnebago website at https://winnebagoind.com

MyPod

Brand: Little Guy Trailer

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  11.7 X 5 X 5.2

other specs available:

overall dry weight: 630 lbs

tongue weight: 110 lbs

interior height: 37 inches

This compact fiberglass trailer is aptly named MyPod for obvious reasons. It’s a tiny marvel weighing 630 lbs with a 110 lb tongue weight, your regular car could probably tow it without much difficulty.  It comes in five different colors: blue, red, silver, white and black. The Mypod could very well be your designated camping companion.  And it has space for the following:

a 52 X 76 full-size single bed which could fit up to 2 slender sleepers

a three-speed fan to cool you during hot summer months

built-in air conditioning unit to even make extremely hot summers disappear

window shades

an entertainment center which can house your TV and video game console

a roof rack where you can place your camping gear

can be pimped even further to fit tailgate and side mount screen room tents, and trailer cover when in hibernation, so to speak

For more information, check out Little Guy Trailers website at https://golittleguy.com

FronTear

Brand: Oregon Trail’R

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  8 X 4 X 5

other specs available:

base towing wt = 1000 to 1300 lbs

tongue weight = 100 to 140 lbs

The FronTear is a popular teardrop trailer from its manufacturer which you can further customize by choosing the exterior color and interior design. Interestingly, it is perhaps the smallest teardrop trailer in the market today.

Here are some of the customizable items as well as some standard features you can squeeze into this cute little wonder:

set of cabinets with drawers, some of which you can place overhead or on the rear side of the trailer

key holders based on your design

backup lights controlled through a tow connector

a battery holding tray for maintaining your batteries

a tongue rack for storage

folding holders for cups – great for your cup of joe

galley to host your kitchenware

drapes with a barrier backer layers that resist moisture

custom-sized door units

Digital audio amplifiers

a reversible Fantastic Fan and rain sensor

LED lights (Halo Dome)

TV and DVD prep

a bed with 4-inch thickness plus a custom cover

stainless steel sink and faucet

A propane set with a two-unit burner stove, 11 lb propane tank
and heat shield

a panic siren to ward off unwelcome guests such as a black bear for instance

a rooftop rack system where you can put your camping gear

For more information, check out Oregon Trail’R website at http://www.oregontrailer.net

Diamond in the Rough

Brand: Teardrop Trailers

approximate dimensions L x H in feet:  8 X 5

other specs available: none

Just like its name, the Diamond in the Rough is a mini sparkler with so much potential despite being one of the smallest teardrop trailers.  It has eponymous features such as the roofing, checker plating, and diamond-plated plate fenders.  The 14-inch chrome rims shine like diamonds, too.  Check out other features available by default and by order for this polished teardrop trailer:

a small portable kitchen which comes with a faucet and sinks which can be upgraded to an electric type drapes and a mattress

shelves and wooden rack to hold your plates, glass, cutlery and cooking gadgets

an oven that you can pull out for baking delicious pastries and other specialties

space for refrigerator or cooler

optional small bunk bed for children

a 3,000-watt inverter

a large-sized front box to help you with additional storage needs

a trickle charger using seven round blade

solar panels for the green buyer

Plugin (12v)

deep cycle marine battery

For more information, check out Teardrop-shaped Trailers website at https://www.theteardroptrailer.com

T@G XL
Brand: nuCamp

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  13.7 X 7.8 X 6

other specs available:

tongue weight – 100 up to 1,210 lbs when spare tires and its battery unit are accounted for

Gross Axle Weight rating – 2,220 lbs

interior width – 70 inches

interior height – 47 inches

The T@G XL trailers are deemed to have more space than what you are used to with teardrop-shaped trailers.  In any case, it’s still small but can pack a lot of punch. It could also be a sight for sore eyes with the color white combinations on the exterior with red, yellow, and black.  Unfortunately, there are no bathroom facilities in this trailer so you might have to find your “spot” outside in nature.

Meanwhile, these are  the amenities you will find inside the T@G XL:

an ample cooking surface for prepping your meals

a stovetop oven

a microwave oven that’s built-in a panel for your quick bites

a kitchen sink to wash your used utensils

cabinets on all sides for more storage space; it can also house an A/C and cooler

water capacity of 11 gallons enough to supply your needs at a time

70 X 78 king-sized bed located in the middle of the room

interior with wood paneling for a bit of rustic feel

For more information, check out nuCamp website at  https://nucamprv.com

Timberleaf’s Teardrop Trailer Brand: Timberleaf

approximate dimensions L x H in feet:  15 X 5.5:

other specs available:

overall dry weight: 1,400 lbs

tongue weight 140 lbs

Touted as a featherweight by its manufacturer, the Timberleaf teardrop trailer looks eerily similar with the MyPod and FronTear with its retro-modern structure.  It also comes in different exterior colors with their interesting color names such as Pepsi blue, Extreme green, Caution yellow and Bright red.  You will be even more amazed at the facilities and optional extras you can find inside.

Plywood walls (Baltic birch) treated with low-VOC acrylic polyurethane

a  shelf with a drawer that pulls out to store all your cooking essentials

12-gallon water tank including a sink with a dispenser for cold water

gallery-type cabinets with sliding doors that serve as extra storage

a 20 square-foot retro laminate countertop

a queen size mattress (Colorado style) with 4” thick foam

a tinted polycarbonate (44×26) skylight  complete with pull-down shades and double screen (14×17 each) venting windows

a Fan (‘Fantastic’ brand) to provide some air circulation

R-11 rated anodized aluminum roof and aluminum sides complete with ceiling and wall insulation

roof rack in euro styling to hold your off-road bike and other gear

tent room with mesh material to let more of the outdoors in

a roof storage using a pioneer platform that can fit any trailer size

awning for some shade and curb appeal

a stove paired with windscreen and a couple of 22” burners

a tongue-style aluminum storage unit which can be locked to secure your items

a wooden cooler that comes with a handy 45-liter optional countertop lid

a wooden shelf on the exterior which can be detached or 2 wooden foldable shelves on the interior

For more information, check out Timberleaf website at http://www.timberleaftrailers.com

Vistabule’s Teardrop Trailer

Brand: Vistabule

approximate dimensions L x H in feet:  14 X 5 X 5.7

other specs available:

tongue weight – 130 to 1520 lbs depending on load

overall vehicle weight- 1220 lbs

The Vistabule teardrop trailer is another small wonder which boasts of large windows as if bringing the outside in. You can enjoy viewing the horizon with the front window which changes to your skyview when you’re lying down on the bed. Towing is an uncomplicated process with its aerodynamic properties and its ball hitch that measures 2 inches.  You will be very excited to see what’s inside a Vistabule:

a kitchenette with outdoor cooking that has a sink and a two-burner stove

a pass-through feature that allows food the be easily shared when it’s time to eat

several cabinets for storing your cooking gadgets and dinnerware

a 58.5 X 78 main bed with underneath storage with a length of 6.5 inches and foot room

a gallery counter which approximately measures at 36 inches in height

a dining space to share with your family or group of friends

a two-in-one sofa bed

a nice headboard with which you can hang your keys has upper storage capacity for your clothes and other miscellaneous items

a nine-gallon storage tank each for graywater and freshwater

a floor mounted table when sofa bed is in sofa mode folds to become a side table if in bed mode

For more information, check out Vistabule website at https://vistabule.com

560 Raindrop Brand: Camp-Inn Teardrop Trailers

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  14 X 10 X 5

other specs available:

overall vehicle weight – between 1,000 and 1,500 lbs

tongue weight – 150 to 180 lbs

The  560 Raindrop figures as one of the biggest teardrop trailer from the Camp-Inn fleet with its width of ten feet.  That said, you can expect this hefty teardrop RV to break conventional boundaries in its industry.  Towing and parking this RV are made simpler with the chock blocks, folding hitch, leveling jacks, and a hitch ball.  The front panoramic windows are big enough to enjoy the view outside.  Be dazzled some more by the following items you can discover about the 560 Raindrop:

dual cabin doors for gear storage

a set of bunk beds for small children

a queen-sized foam mattress with cover

a couch that can fit two adults

a propane gas tank for your cooking needs

graywater and freshwaters tanks with monitor and a capacity of 8 gallons each

outdoor kitchenette with underneath storage, a two-unit burner stove, birchwood cabinets, drawers, a sink with faucet spray hose that is made of stainless steel

more storage beneath the flooring and on the front side

curtained and screened windows

a ceiling fan

coat hooks

optional appliances such as 15-inch TV, DVD player, sound system, and air conditioning unit

solar panel prep

For more information, check out Camp Inn Teardrop Trailers website at http://tinycamper.com/index.htm

Mount Massive Brand: Colorado Teardrops

approximate dimensions L x W x H in feet:  14 X 6.8 X 6.8

other specs available:

overall vehicle weight – 1,430 lbs

tongue weight – 199 lbs

Cabin height – 56 inches

If you’re a family of 5 or more, the Mount Massive Teardrop trailer is perfect for you.  Yes, it is a massive teardrop which should be towed by a pickup, minivan or an SUV.  This trailer is beautiful with its maple plywood walls, huge stargazer windows, and ample insulation not only on the walls but also the floors, ceiling, and doors.  The walls will not corrode or degrade easily because of its low VOC polyurethane covering. And of course, you will be impressed by the many possibilities it can hold in its interior.

a kitchenette with countertop, shelves that slide and rotate for your stove and other cookware

41-inch galley counter for your kitchen prep

a 60 X 78 queen size bed with shelves

a convertible sofa bed

lighting

dividers for cooler/ water tank

a cleanup tub

cabinets to hold your utensils

a 14 X 14 pop-up vent

optional power package including plug-in, AGM batteries, an inverter and solar panel

a spare tire

For more information, check out Colorado Teardrops website at https://coloradoteardropcamper.com

Dreamscape

Brand: Escapod

approximate dimensions L x W x  H in feet:  13 X 6.4 X 6

other specs available:

Maximum weight capacity – 3,500 lbs

tongue weight – 185 lbs

The Dreamscape teardrop trailer is a mobile version of the capsule hotel which is common in Japan.  It is as efficient but even capable of more functionality.  It is proudly American-made with powder-coated steel ensuring your trailer to rack up miles without problems.  It has complete insulation covering not just the walls but practically the entire trailer that will not only keep your interior at room temperature but also soundproof it somehow. The Dreamscape will continue to wow you with these awe-inducing standards and optional add-on line-up:

an outdoor kitchenette with cabinets on the backside and several drawers where you can keep your utensils

countertop with stove top made with stainless steel

a  good space for small kitchen appliances such as coffee maker, microwave, electric mixer, etc.

a 65-liter cooler

a queen-sized 5-inch memory foam mattress with underneath storage for your personal items

USB charging device and deep cycle battery

LED lighting

a triple speed fantastic fan

Three cubbies and four cabinets to keep your things organized

hitch that fully articulates

electrical converter (110v)

propane heater with water tanks

a water heater and shower unit to refresh you after a tiresome hike in nature

rooftop tent and awning combo

racks for bikes and kayaks

spare tire and mount for security in case of emergency

a stove with a propane tank

For more information, check out Escapod website at https://escapod.us

Sierra Madre Basic On-Road Teardrop Trailer

Brand: Sierra Madre

approximate dimensions L x  H in feet:  8 X 4 (smallest model)

other specs available: none

The Sierra Madre Basic On-Road Teardrop Trailer could be your good start in a trailer lifestyle.  It comes in different sizes (4 X 8, 4 X 9, 5 X 8, 5 X 9, and 5 X 10)  which should suit the amount of stuff and number of people you’d like to join your trip.  The chassis of this teardrop trailer has a torsion axle (Dexter type), wheel jack in front, safety chain, 14-inch powder-coated tires and 2-inch A frame in square tube.

The Birch plywood wall interior gives you UV protection with its clear lacquer covering and the anodized aluminum exterior.  The 12 X 18 windows provide a nice view of the outside. The ceilings are insulated to keep you comfortable during cold weather.  You can also enjoy more amenities inside this teardrop force to be reckoned with.

a foam mattress

a kitchen with counter, shelves, storage compartments where you can stash your cooking gadgets to make your prepping a lot easier

bedroom lighting, gallery and cabin domes.

a bedside shelf to hold your night lamp and some books

For more information, check out Sierra Madre Trailers website at http://sierramadreteardroptrailers.com

RetroRide 5 X 10  Teardrop Camper

Brand: RetroRide Teardrops

approximate dimensions L x  H in feet:  10 X 5 (biggest model)

other specs available:

Tongue weight – 160 lbs

Overall vehicle weight – 1,110 lbs

The RetroRide 5 X 10 is the largest among the company teardrop trailer variants. It also looks like it comes from an era gone by with its basic aluminum exterior but this time only a bit more polished.  You always have the option to customize the color to your own liking for an extra charge.

This simple teardrop trailer has varnished interiors and bare essentials such as front rack, and two doors.  The low price tag will give you room for upgrades which you can add to your trailer’s stash.

A/C and heater units

replacement tire

Additional windows for some nice view

battery in 12 volts to accommodate your small appliances

radial tires measuring 15 inches (standard is 14 inches)

For more information, check out RetroRide Teardrops website at http://retrorideteardrops.com

Is it truly for you?

These teardrop trailers make you think twice on getting a more a conventional RV not only because of the price but also, you may have realized that you don’t need a lot of space to experience a home away from home atmosphere.  All you need is creativity, smart planning, and I must admit, a bit of compromise.  Yes, you can fit the queen-sized mattress of yours, you just have to be strategic in doing so.  As you have discovered from our 12 teardrop trailer examples, no space is wasted, there is always a purpose it can serve one way or another.  While you manage your expectations, perhaps you will find yourselves pleasantly amazed when you step inside the not-so-small world of the iconic teardrop trailer.  It will take you to places literally and figuratively speaking.  Living big in a teardrop-shaped trailer is not impossible indeed.  But then again, is it really for you?  In spite of all the details I have provided here, only you can answer that for sure.

The post Living Big in These 12 Spacious Teardrop Trailers appeared first on Crow Survival.

source https://www.crowsurvival.com/teardrop-trailers/

[angelicwritingoflesilva]

Thursday, Lots of Stuff!

this is a story! If you want to read more about it, check earlier posts!

;u; Tomorrow, the plot will be finalized, I’ll post accurate color references of the characters, and I’ll begin the first draft. Saturday, the first draft will be finished, and, Sunday, the final story will come out! Very hyped for my first short story!

Without further ado, take a look at what I’ve been doing today!

What is this planet that the story takes place on?

The main setting of the story is the Oilcean, dubbed so by many oil tycoons from the main colony of Earth. It is called so because it is rich in oil (and diamonds!) and is covered mainly in a deep ocean. Dangerous creatures lurk in the depths, and an only an estimated 7% of it has been successfully charted. 

The planet used to be ice-cold, in fact. Filled with tall mountains and seemingly endless crags, it seemed cold and inhospitable. However, a meteor struck the planet millions of years ago, knocking it slightly off of its axis. Because of this, it has been growing closer and closer to the sun for millions of years. The ice and snow melted, creating a massive ocean that covered all but the tallest of peaks. Underneath all of this immense pressure, diamonds crystallized at the bottom of the ocean. Creatures were trapped under the landslides that resulted from the melting of the snow and ice, resulting in oil and coal later.

Humans that inhabit this planet live on large, robotic island-like boats. They act like a city and move too slowly across the ocean to even tell that they are moving at all. Hundreds of thousands of people can inhabit just one.

Recently, due to a large influx in pirate ships, the planet has been closed off to human visitors. The ones already there, however, were not forced to move. This makes the planet the perfect opportunity for the rich to get richer. Many large oil/diamond manufacturers bribe their way onto the planet, to farm the goods that not many others can. The ultra-rich also like to take vacations to these “closed-off” planets, pretending that, because they have so much money, they are above the law.

What is the slave ship looking for, and why are slaves needed? What does the ship look like?

The planet that the ship is located on is rich in diamonds and oil. However, it is cheaper to farm the diamonds rather than the oil.

The first job is net-casting. An ultra-thin piece of wire, at the bottom of which contains what appears to be a round, hard ball. Throwing the immensely heavy ball over the ship takes at least 9-12 slaves. Once it rests at the bottom of the ocean, the ball explodes into a large net, weighed down by hefty iron balls. The ship is then rowed forward, typically done by 50-75 slaves (rowers). Once it is too difficult to row any longer, the ship is stopped, and 150-200 slaves have to haul the net out from the depths of the ocean, using a feeding device that rolls the net up. However, the device breaks easily, so the slaves have to rely on their strength.

Slaves below deck work on cleaning and polishing the stone (caretakers). They are typically looked down upon by other slaves, since their work requires very little labor and they get to be shielded from the blazing sun all day.

Some of the easier jobs include cooking, cleaning, and deck dog. A cook is what they sound like--they make food for the other slaves. Cleaners help keep the below decks meticulous and check for rats (which may be served in the slave’s meals). A deck dog is a slave that cleans up the deck above ground, scrubbing out the salt with an expensive mineral mixture. If one of them fails at their duty, it becomes instantly noticeable, as the wood begins to warp and rot within the week.

You can see an image of what a bird’s eye view of the deck would look like.

The ship is split into three levels--above deck, slave’s level, and crew’s level. Above deck is where all the work happens. Days are typically 70-80 degrees, although they can reach a sweltering 103. Burns and sweating are the marks of a slave who works above deck. They also have the most casualties. Many slavers are located above deck, so between them, heat stroke, and easy suicide by drowning, many die above deck.

Slave’s level is split into three areas, the most spacious of which is the cafeteria. Slaves are served two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. Breakfast tends to be more filling, so they work better throughout the day. Common dishes are soup with some type of rat and/or fish that was caught up in the net, bread and water stirred in with lard, or pickled meat. Dinner is usually just a hard and moldy crust of bread.

The second area is where the diamonds are refined into sellable gems. The slaves in this area are either lucky (being assigned to wash the diamonds) or skilled (being assigned refinery tools after being determined as “skilled”). The diamonds are then carried above deck to a storage section, where they are left to dry in the sun.

The final, and smallest area, is the slave’s quarters. There aren’t even any beds, just rows of wooden rectangles with crudely cut slits into them, each meant for a slave. When someone gets sick, they are forced out of the room by the slaves, so they can prevent themselves from getting sick.

Slavers

The slavers are all natives from the Oilcean, supposedly the ancient remnants of some advanced deep-sea dweller. Their eyes hang from their face in muscular tubes, which make their eyesight incredibly versatile. Their skin is gray, veiny and wrinkly. A permanent, yellow-toothed grin stretches on their face. When they move, their skin makes the sound of tanned leather slowly settling into new positions.

Cruel by nature, the slavers enjoy their jobs immensely. Of course, the money that they “earn” is also a bonus. They know the limits of pain, madness, and torture, and how to push a person to it. 

Typically, slave ships stick to themselves. Occasionally, they will band together to take down an enemy or a large ship full of valuables. However, no alliance has been known to last.

Species found as slaves on the ship

There are three main species that work on the slave ship. The most common, Frog Men, are strong, Neanderthal-like, and subdued. They’re stupid, to put it bluntly, but are strong and capable throughout 75% of their lives (from 6-55 ish [lifespan: up to 80 years, but if taken care of, can live up to 250+ years]). However, since their intelligence is lacking, they have to be monitored almost throughout the day, since they simply forget what they are doing and wander off. They are generally subdued and keep to themselves.

They work mainly as the heavy lifters, transporting diamonds between levels on the ships and casting/lifting the nets. They are fed the best out of all of the slaves, since their work is considered the most important. Not many slaves are resentful of this, because, one, the Frog Men are peaceful and innocent. They don’t ever pick fights. Two, they do not want their jobs.

Frog Men are usually found in the rapidly decreasing swamps on the Oilcean. Because swamps are gradually becoming smaller and smaller, wars and fights for food often occur on their remaining land. This makes many Frog Men willingly go to slave ships, since they will no longer have to fight their own kind. That is why most Frog Men found onboard are gentle, quiet spirits.

The next most common are the humans. Humans are known for their adaptability and unpredictability. Many consider them to have easily “breakable” spirits, since they seem to lose hope far faster than other slaves captured. Because of this and their intelligence, their work is highly appreciated. They are also found in almost every slave market circle in existence.

However, they have a short “use” span, are delicate compared to the other two species on board, and, because of their intelligence, have a tendency to attempt escapes and overthrows. This leads to their high mortality rate. Despite Frog Men making up most of the slaves, humans make up more than 50% of the deaths on board.

The least common species are avians. Avians are bird-like people who inhabit the scattered islands around the Oilcean. They aren’t prevalent onboard ships, since most that are captured are sent to the mainland to work as household slaves, since they are considered gorgeous.

Generally, they are sweet to their friends. A long time ago, they were flighty and generally nervous, but, because of humans taking their islands to drill for oil, they have become war-like and tough. They stay away from fights when they can, but no longer flee when the time comes to do battle.

Although they are grouped under one name, Avians, they vary drastically from place to place. Different island chains can have different governments, cultures, and religions, as well as different-appearing birds.

The navy thingy

Has finally got a name! It’s now: Navy of the Oilcean, more commonly referred to as N.O.T.O (each letter pronounced as its name). It was created to combat the growing pirate threat. The ranks follow (basically) as follows:

Cadet - Enrolled in military school. 

Freshie - Lowest actual ranking, typically perform labor such as cleaning, cooking, and repairing.

Soldier - Able to go on rescue teams, although they typically see little action

Senior soldier - Front linesmen. Experienced and smart.

Captain - Leader of rescue missions, although they do not plan them.

Senior captain - Can do any of the above, and also searches the ocean via satellite images for slave ships.

Counsel member - Five positions only. Make the bigger decisions for N.O.T.O, and green-light senior captain planned expeditions.

Master Seafarer - Two positions only. Oversees everyone. Capable of firing counsel members and doing any of the above.

Mainly humans are in N.O.T.O, although a few Avians have joined the ranks. (Frog Men are “too unpredictable” to accept into N.O.T.O)

New character!

Ta’hua is an avian, modeled after a blue and gold macaw. He is a deck dog on the ship, and has become close friends to Sterling. His mother taught him some words in English, and Sterling knows a bit of Avian (although it is not in his island chain’s dialect), so, between both of that, they can communicate.

Before he was captured, he was an anxious, squeamish avian. He was scared of everything and never strayed far from his mother’s side

Plot brainstorm

All I know atm is that the story is going to begin with one of Sterling’s “hosts” dying, and going to end with him in a hospital

Armor

The armor pictured above is worn by soldiers in N.O.T.O. The armor pictured in the large image on the left is worn underneath what is known as nano-armor. It is mainly traditional armor, with a hard helmet, breastplate, knee guards, and flexible pants and arm armor. There is a respirator to supply extra oxygen to the fighter, allowing them to remain active without getting out of breath. It is also can be used underwater, much like an oxygen tank.

However, the armor that takes the most damage is called nano-armor. The armor is white, and acts almost like a liquid. Millions of robots, contained in a button on the helmet of the armor worn underneath the nano armor, form the armor. A power core, located on the back of the under armor, powers the nanobots. They can shape and mold around the user’s body, and also have different weapon forms. From swords to guns, they can form basically anything. However, when creating a tool, nanobots are rushed to that site, and away from where they were protecting, causing weak spots in the armor.

Concept art from earlier!

https://sta.sh/2jgffibjbv7

Pretty inaccurate color sketches--will update with (even worse) digital art tomorrow!

Heh, yeah, these aren’t really close to the colors I wanted. Although, you probably get the basic idea. Nonetheless, a better image will come out tomorrow, along with the finalized plot!

TL DR; there are bird, frog and creepy angler fish-lookin’ people native to the planet. humans are greedy and want the ocean’s resources and buy their way in. pirates hunt ships on the sea/islands to get slaves for themselves or to sell. the slave ships have awful conditions. Ta’hua is a bird person and is an anxious wreck.

I am posting this at 11:53 and am too tired to check for spelling/grammar/writing mistakes, I’m pretty sure I said however like 100 times, but whatever

[ecstaticcinema]

you were never really here, 2018.

​Joe, the main character of Lynne Ramsay's newest film, You Were Never Really Here, is a lumbering, unpoetic creature agonized by irrefutable tragedy. Like Goya's ​"The ​Colossus,​"​ ​he​​​ transforms the spaces he resides in. Played by Joaquin Phoenix, he gives a performance much like Harvey Keitel's in Bad Lieutenant or of Choi Min-ski in Old Boy​:​​​​​​​ beasts who crave beauty but by their very nature unable to attain it. With his thick body he bludgeons scenes, turning them into portraits of masculine despair. Joe is a hit man. His instrument of violence is the brutal but intimate hammer. He is the modern interpretation of the weary cowboy​ -- ​men burdened by their masculinity, purveyors of wreckage. But it is not only his physicality that's highly masculine. Joe holds a very limited view of the sexes based on traumatic experiences of domestic and wartime violence. Men are either saviors or villains and women victims. He sees himself as a savior but not in the egomaniacal way Robert De Niro portrayed in Taxi Driver, a performance and film that many have compared this to, or even that film's inspiration, The Searchers, in which John Wayne's role as savior is a given. On the surface all three films have many similarities but Lynne Ramsay, the film's director, takes a less aggrandizing, but equally compelling approach.

The film starts with Joe cleaning up post-assignment in a hotel room--it's a credit to Ramsay's talent as a director that she focuses on key details, trusting the intelligence of her audience to put the pieces together: ​a bloody hammer, a woman's cursive name necklace​. ​Ramsay utilizes the same editing techniques on Joe's less than savory memories, using short, cruel bits of recall that refuse to be forgotten. When Joe comes home he finds his mother resting on a recliner in the living room. In the background there is a picture of a beautiful woman that we can only assume was her. The vital woman in the photograph has become a withered old woman and it is no coincidence that the movie playing on the television is Psycho. Joe and his mother's relationship are fraught with complications that pervert the mother-son dynamic. For one, Joe's mother is possibly suffering from dementia. She asks Joe to stay in bed with her because the film scared her and the next day she locks herself in the bathroom shouting that she needs space. Her illness has reverted her to a little girl and reversed the roles. Joe is weary of all this but the codependent relationship suits Joe's need to identify as male protector. So much so that when she dies later in the film, rather than face an identity crisis he immediately seeks to replace her with another, Nina, the underage daughter of a politician.

In a tight 90 minutes the film hearkens back to the days of great B-budget genre film making of the ‘40s and ‘50s, when directors took the well worn expectations of genre and re-skinned them to make them subversive. John Ford, Nicholas Ray, and George Stevens come to mind, especially in their use and questioning of gender. Despite his masculine presence, Joe is an invisible man. He represents the many veterans traumatized by violence expected to assimilate into civilian life and while he's not homeless he looks every bit like the veteran homeless in his faded generic clothing and grisly appearance. Men like Joe usually become alcoholics or drug abusers. Joe's addictions are a blend of self asphyxiation and trauma hunting. Trauma doesn't just happen upon him. He actively seeks it out. Where others would glaze over their surroundings, preoccupied by their own worries and desires, Joe acutely notices signs of distress, particularly those of women. A group of young girls ask him to take a picture of them. They are smiling and happy. But through Joe's eyes we see the potential for victimization. Their open, smiling  mouths become death gawks. Their wet, shining eyes bearers of pain. We see them as he sees them. Joe so clearly identifies with women, and his behavior, while at times can come off as homoerotic, are strongly based in the homosociality of the military. There are scenes of Joe at a bathhouse, flashbacks of two male soldiers dancing together, and in one particular scene Joe and a wounded assailant lie on the kitchen floor and hold hands, singing along to Charlene's "I've Never Been to Me", a song with a decidedly feminine perspective. The shot is filmed beautifully with both men in profile, their faces adjacent to one another so  that they are transformed into dual mountains. They are alike and they are one. And both are invisible.

There are certain scenes that call to mind William Eggleston, photographer of the '70s, who frequently captured images of loved spaces that have been abandoned--in this film kitchens, offices, and bedrooms, and of note, a booth at a diner. His photographs contain a potent eeriness that borders on the supernatural and while the physical objects are what are present, it is the lack of human presence that is the most powerful take away. Observers of his photographs wonder who was there, what were they doing, what were they talking about or thinking, where did they come from, where and why did they go? There'a violence to these empty places. An almost apocalyptic edge. With that aesthetic applied in You Were Never Really Here those questions are answered and that assumption confirmed, making them all the more frightening.

My one real caveat is that I would have liked the film to have focused a little more on the girl victim. It's the same problem I had with Taxi Driver and The Searchers, which give excellent portraits of their leading man characters but give little credence to the girl's they save who are just as much if not more victim's of trauma-no one ever seems to ask what struggles the girls might face by being saved or how difficult transitioning to normal life might be. While Joe's struggles are what's at the forefront this film does come the closest to addressing that. When Joe attempts to rescue Nina he finds that the role of avenging angel has been taken from him. At this realization, Joe emits the kind of horrifying grunts and groans only an abused animal could make. Who is he if he is not the hero? He will never stop hearing the voices in his head or being a violent man. And while it is Nina who defends herself by taking up her own object of violence her victory feels hollow. If you live by the hammer...

[adrenalineguide]

Ram 1500 Sublime Sport and Chevrolet Colorado Z71

Text and Photos by Michael Hozjan

For whatever reason pickups have grown and grown, and grown. Sadly their hauling capacity hasn’t grown proportionally, just their size. But as everyone keeps telling me, that’s what buyers want…large roomy cabins with dare I say ridiculously small cargo beds. The days of the compact pickup are gone. Even the mid-sized Colorado, which was built as a bridge between the compact and full size pickups a few years back, is now just as long as full size models of a couple of decades ago

Ram1500 Sublime Sport

“You won’t be speeding too much with that color, they’ll spot you a mile away!” Came the comment from my local corner convenience store clerk. She was absolutely right.

Regular readers will know that I’ve been a long time fan of the Ram. The fact that I live in a town that has a higher concentration of Mopars than people is only coincidental. Needless to say I was giddy about getting behind the wheel of a Ram once again. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has just upped the ante on pickup colors. Yes there’ve been some shades of orange but none has screamed it over the rooftops like Ram’s Sublime Sport.

OK it’s not new, dating back to the hippie era 70’s when colors such as plum crazy, go mango, panther pink and sublime were the IN colors with the Mopar musclecar landscape adorning their ‘cudas, Road Runners and Challengers. Only 3000 Sublime Sports will be built and out of those only a thousand will be coming to Canada. Ah yes I can see it now in 50 years at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale; “Next up on the block, number 375 of only 3000 built.”

The monochromatic Sublime Sports comes only in crew cab form with the shorty – almost comical for its size – 5’7” cargo bed.  Black badges and black 20-inch wheels (rear wheel drive variants get 22” rubber) with black racing stripes adorning the faux hood scoops set this Ram apart. Just in case you still don’t know what you’re sitting in there are lime colored Ram logos and Sport embroidered logos on the headrests.

Power comes from…you guessed it, the company’s hallmark 5.7L Hemi with multi cylinder displacement system and 8-speed tranny connected to a 3.92:1 rear axle. What will it take to put manual transmissions back in trucks? The green machine will tow in excess of 10,000 lbs.

At over 67grand this loud truck comes fully loaded from the 4-corner air suspension to the power sunroof. In between you’ll find spary-in bedliner, park sense front and rear park assist.

Creature comforts include a heated steering wheel,  and front buckets, power adjustable pedals, rear window defroster and full audio/infotainment system. Nine Alpine speakers and a subwoofer assure your favorite tunes sound their best. There’s room in the back for three adults to ride in comfort. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, there’s more legroom back there than in most luxury sedans, little wonder people are going to pickups in lieu of large family sedans. I just wish it would get sedan type gas mileage. Trying to keep my right foot on the light side…I did say trying, I managed to squeeze out 14L/100 kms.

There’s no uber secret to the latest Ram, it’s big, roomy, comfortable and moves like a bat out of hell. If you like big trucks and like getting a lot of attention than this is the truck for you. Oh and while I haven’t spotted one in my town...yet, there’s a Sublime Sport in the next town over, proving Mopar madness is rampant. Better hurry before the allotted 1,000 disappear. 

Price as tested: $67,885*

* Includes destination charge less applicable taxes.

Chevrolet Colorado Z71

If the Ram is just too big for you, Chevrolet’s midsize pickup may be just the ticket. Yes there’s a midsize pickup from Chevrolet…and GM too and they may be the biggest secret in the pickup market, after all when was the last time you saw an ad or a commercial for the Colorado or its GM counterpart, the Canyon?

With the downsizing of cargo beds in full size pickups and their sizes getting larger by the minute, midsize pickups make more sense than ever before. Consider that the Colorado reviewed here has a class leading towing capacity of 7,000 pounds and is available with a 6’1” bed. The only dimension the Colorado falls short on is bed width, with only 44” between the wheel wells as opposed to 48” with its full-size counterpart. Still front seat passengers won’t feel claustrophobic despite the narrower cabin.  

Ironically at a time when you’d think that more manufacturers would be coming on board, the opposite is true, the competition is abandoning the small and midsize pickup segment – Toyota is the only other player left in the field. Luckily of us the boys at the Renaissance Center in Detroit are going full steam to capture a bigger piece of the pie.

For the latest version, it’s not what outside but what’s under the hood that’s the big news. The Colorado was freshened up a couple of years back, so it was time for engineers to take their turn and address some of the complaints being addressed by buyers, namely the gas guzzling attributes of the old LFX V6.

The new double overhead cam engine, code named LGZ shares much of its DNA and technology with the same V6 that powers up the Camaro, including Stop/Start and cylinder deactivation of two of the six cylinders while cruising down the pike.

Those yearning for more power will be happy to know that the new mill still manages to tweak out a few more ponies over its predecessor, 308 vs. 305 and torque is up to 275 lb-ft from 269 with peak power coming in at a lofty 4,000 rpm. It’ll get you to 100 kmph in about seven seconds. The pay off is that the engine’s thirst for the good stuff is only marginally better despite the 8-speed tranny. My average for the week, mostly highway driven and in two-wheel drive, only netted me 11.7L/100 kms. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to try out the 4x4 this winter on another trip into the woods. 

Buyers also have a choice of a 2.5L inline four (200 hp/191 lb-ft), or with a 2.8L Duramax four-cylinder turbo diesel (308hp/275lb-ft) that should get better results even with the six- speed tranny. Biggest performance differences are in the towing numbers; 3500 pounds for the gasoline derived four and 7700 pounds for the diesel, ten percent over the V6.

The Colorado also comes in a choice of rear wheel or four-wheel-drive and a choice of two or four door cabs and two bed sizes. The Z71 came with an electric transfer case controlled by a console-mounted dial.

Cubby hole under the rear seat is a welcomed touch. 

On the other hand the shelf under the arm rest can hold a pack of American cigarettes and little else.

Which brings us to the interior. The Z771 is a nicely appointed truck. Yes the dash is still a throwback to the eighties with industrial looking plastic, but modern touches such as steering wheel mounted sat radio controls ease the drive.The cabin is fairly isolated from road noise and the front (heated) seats are comfortable. I don’t know if I’d put a couple of burly six footers in the back row for any lengthy period. A rear view camera is a welcomed addition particularly as tailgates are getting higher and harder to see behind.

Don’t think that midsize pickups are small, they’re not. Like the full size models, they’ve grown over the years. The Colorado dwarfs my ’98 full size 1500 in every aspect except width.

My Z71 in crew cab guise with four-wheel-drive and the shorter (5’ 1”) cargo bed came in at a base list of $38,870. Options on our test vehicle included an 8” infotainement screen with MyLink and nav ($795), Bose sound system ($875), cargo area lamps ($310) black ladder steps ($875), heavy duty towing package ($275) and a host of trinket options.

If you’re looking for a truck that’s easily maneuverable around the city, is smooth on the highway and can still haul a load, The Colorado may be your ticket to ride.

Price as tested $44,225 *

* Including dealer prep less applicable taxes.