#like I just saw an article linked on here that immediately I could sniff out massive bias in

[medicinemane]

"This study says...", sorry mate but your bias is so on your sleeve that I'm not gonna be trusting any studies you cite because the thing is it's very easy to do a "study" that says anything you want, and it's just not worth my time to read tripe that just coincidentally supports exactly your position

(This is about "articles" that have "evidence" that just so happens to align with what the writer would want, and it's for some site that's gonna have massive bias. To make something up as an example, if Atheism.com has an article talking about how this study proves god doesn't exist... maybe you can see why I think they probably have their finger on the scale a bit and it's not really worth my time reading either the article or the study)

(Bonus summary of thoughts in the tags, realized why this most bothers me is it kinda stops being able to have an earnest conversation about important topics cause... yeah; this stuff is worth discussing but we can't when you're presenting evidence that's from one of the most biased sources on the subject you could possible have managed)

[chris-evans-indian-fanfic]

Love

One-Shot

Description: Asexual!Bucky thinks he is broken beyond repair, until you show him that he has been complete all this while.

Warnings: Angst, bad language, mention of sex toys, romance and fluff

@jtargaryen18 organised a writing challenge for reaching 4k followers and of course I have to participate multiple times! 😍 I am sorry this entry is a little late 🙈

My Main Masterlist

A/N: This is the first time I am writing an asexual character. Whatever I have written is based upon my knowledge that I have gathered by reading various articles and posts on asexuality. The reason I am writing this is because I want to have an equal amount of straight and LGBTQ+ stories in my masterlist, so that there's something for everyone to enjoy. Hence, if you are an asexual person or know someone who is, and you realise that anything in my story is incorrectly represented, then please let me know. I will immediately correct it, issue an apology and accept my mistake publicly. 

I don’t consent to have any of my work published or featured on any third party app, website or translated. If you are seeing this fanfiction anywhere but Tumblr and AO3, it has been reposted without my permission. In that case, please do share the link and let me know.

…

"I cannot fucking believe this!" Karen shouted, "What are you like gay or something?"

Bucky winced at her venomous words. "You need to leave," he said in a quiet, respectful tone.

"Like hell I am going to leave. I want answers!" she placed her hands on her hips and stomped her foot. "What is it? Am I not sexy enough for you? Are you not attracted by this?!" she gestured towards the skimpy lingerie currently hugging her body.

Bucky met her eyes as he responded, "I do not want to have sex with you." 

She huffed, clearly not convinced, "Why not? We have been going out for what, 3 months now? And you still don't want to have sex with me? What is the issue here? Is it-" she paused suddenly, her eyes traveling down his torso to his crotch, "You can't get it up can you?" she sneered.

Bucky shook his head, too exhausted to deal with her, "Karen, it's nothing like that. I just do not want to get physical with you. That's all."

"Oh! Ooooohh!" she bent backwards a bit, "So it was fine to hug me, cuddle with me and hold my hands. But when it comes to sex, you suddenly become a pious celibate saint! What the fuck Bucky?"

Bucky sighed, and handed Karen back her coat, "We are done. Please leave."

She laughed dryly, "Oh abso-fucking-lutely we are done. You know what I think?" she asked while wearing the coat, "I think that you are too old grandpa and that your tiny ass tortured gay dick cannot salute on its own. Because no man in his right mind would deny this," she again pointed to herself. "Super-soldier my ass," she muttered as she left.

The door to his apartment closed with a loud bang, leaving an echo in its wake. Bucky stood still, rooted to his spot. If it were not for the silent tears rolling down his cheeks, anybody could have mistaken him for a statue. 

Slowly, he sat on the floor, his gentle sobs rocking his body as he hugged his knees. 

Decades of torture by the hands of Hydra had left him crippled, physically, mentally and emotionally. When he had been saved by Steve, he had started to piece his life back together, bit by bit. Things such as books, movies, music became tiny jigsaw pieces that slowly filled the void in his life. 

After the final galactic battle with Thanos, Bucky had been officially initiated to the Avengers team, or rather what was left of it. The team soon became an extended family, a family that Bucky was still getting used to. It was especially irksome when Sam and Scott decided to set him up on a date with Karen from Research & Development (R&D), despite his protests.

It wasn't that Bucky didn't desire a relationship. He wanted to be close to someone, experience romance, feel their heartbeat in a close embrace and place light kisses on their forehead. 

But he didn't want to have sex.

At first, he thought he might not have met the right woman. So he searched for porn online, which did little to sway his feelings. He put the issue on a backburner, the safety of the people and the urgency of his missions steering the wheel of his life for a while. 

But when Sam and Scott proudly announced their grand plans for Bucky's date, he remembered his "issue" again. He looked at Karen closely whenever they went on dates together. She looked perfect. Beautiful hair, soft glowing skin, curves in all the right places, all packed in a graceful, slender body.

Bucky liked being close to her, but he was still not getting aroused. Hence, he stopped her advancements everytime she tried to get physical. Karen tolerated it for a while, before her patience wore out tonight.

As the sun rose in the sky, Bucky was still seated on the floor, his cheeks now stained with tears that had stopped sometime in the night, though a sniff escaped from him every few minutes. He looked at the sunlight pouring in from the window, broken by the window-panes, landing at his feet in two rays with a comforting warmth. It was in that moment that Bucky realised, Hydra had truly broken him.

🏳️‍🌈

"We have various types of dildos available. There's The Classic, Textured, Long and Thin, Short and Thick, Vibrators, Transparent Plexiglass Dildos, Strap-Ons, G-Spot Dildos, Double-Ended, Squirting Dildos and ones that also come with a suction grip. Are you looking for yourself or are you looking for something to enjoy with your partner?" the helpful saleswoman asked you.

You stroked your chin in thought, "It's only for me. I already have a vibrator that I bought about a year back. The G-Spot ones have never really worked for me. I am looking to try something new. What is the suction grip one?" 

The attendant handed you the dildo and showed you the suction grip at the end of it, "You can use this to place and stick it on any flat surface you want, whether it's the floor or the wall or the side of your desk. It guarantees a completely hands-free pleasurable experience."

You stuck it on the wall besides the showcase to test the theory. It worked. "Neat! I will take this one," you smiled as the attendant went to fetch a fresh piece.

You paid for your new sex toy and walked back to the Avengers compound with your small white shopping bag in tow.

When you reached your desk, you heard Karen bitching as usual about something to Jessica. At first, you blocked them out like you did almost everyday, but then a name in their conversation caught your attention.

"He's the Winter Soldier alright. He's completely frozen down there," Karen whispered loudly with disgust. 

"Even that red sexy lingerie didn't do anything for him?" Jessica gasped dramatically.

"No!"

"That's crazy! That hot-red piece will convert even the most gayest of the guys! And it didn't do anything for him? Wow," Jessica responded.

Karen added, "You know something? I have always thought he was extremely weird. Like, dude, I know you were tortured by Hydra or whatever, but get over it man! It's been years since he was free. He should enjoy life and stop being such a wimp. I am 100% sure he is impotent."

"You know I was digging into him the other night," Jessica said in a hushed whisper, "and I saw a message board online which suggested that his penis has been completely cut by Hydra. This person knows all such secrets about these alleged superheros. You should follow him."

"What is his username?"

"Proud-Flat-Earther-MotherFuckers. Wait, I will send you the link," Jessica offered. 

Having heard enough of their nonsense, you made your way towards the HR department. Maybe both Karen and Jessica had forgotten, but talking about the personal lives of Avengers was strictly against the rules and was considered as reason enough to fire employees. 

You filed a complaint with the HR and within a few hours, both the women were fired on the spot. You savored the moment with relish, as their faces turned aghast at the realisation that their actions had consequences. You went up to them, watching the pair clean their desks, with unabashed glee. 

"You know something Karen?" you asked her, "Just because a man refuses to have sex, it didn't mean that he's a wimp, or gay or an impotent. But if you do choose to think of him that way, then it surely makes you a sexiest and a homophobic person."

Karen looked at you furiously, "You bitch! I lost my job because you went and blabbed in front of the HR!"

You chuckled at her outburst, "Oh my dearest Karen. Yes I did go and rat you out to the HR. But that's not what got the two of you fired."

"Then what did?" Jessica asked as she joined the conversation. 

You folded your hands for effect, "Your hateful comments and toxic views cost you your jobs. People like you think that just by using the latest iPhone or following the latest trends, you are a modern, 21st century person. But in reality, it is your open mindset which makes you a member of the modern society. If you would open your mind just as much as you open your legs, trust me, the two of you will be much better off."

You turned to leave, but stopped yourself, "Just a suggestion. Stop using words like gay and impotent as insults. It will help you retain your next job for a longer time." You winked at their speechless faces, and happily returned to your desk. 

Your job in R&D was taxing and so, you always found yourself working late. Today was no exception either. As you left your office at around 8pm, you saw Bucky heading towards the elevator which led to his apartment. You always had a soft spot for the brunette super-soldier. For starters, you couldn't even begin to comprehend the tortures he must have endured in his past. And the fact that he was trying to piece his life back together again? It was truly commendable.

He always kept to himself, his eyes downcast and his body language unsure. And after what you had heard today, you felt even more sorry for the guy. Turning towards the cafeteria, you picked up a box of vanilla-strawberry French macarons for him, thanking the heavens above for the free food available at the Avengers compound. You held the white bag with macarons in your left hand, being mindful of not confusing it with the similar white bag in your right which contained your new sex toy. 

A few moments later, you found yourself in front of his apartment. You had visited him twice before to adjust his vibranium arm or to sort out a few tweaks, but never before had you visited him so late in the evening. 

You knocked, feeling a little hesitant as you did so. He was surprised to find you standing on the opposite of the door, however, he still greeted you courteously nonetheless. 

Before you could state your reason for the visit, he said sincerely, "I heard what you did today. Thank you. I really appreciated it."

Now it was your turn to be surprised, "Oh. Ummm. It's okay really Mr Barnes. It was nothing. You don't need to-"

"No. It wasn't just nothing. You could have turned a deaf ear and ignored them. Yet you chose to stand-up for me. Thank you," a small smile laced his face and you melted on the spot.

You had a crush on Bucky. A BIG one. Could anyone blame you? This guy was a hot, sexy mess of an ice-cream sundae that left you hungry for more even on the coldest nights of the year. 

You realised you were staring into his steel-blue eyes like a creep, and immediately cleared your throat. "What-what they did was wrong. Karen had no right to demean you for your desires or lack of them. I-," you sighed, "I am sorry for what she said. It was disrespectful and hurtful. So I brought you something that I hope will cheer you up."

You awkwardly raised your right hand, "I got you some vanilla-strawberry macarons from the cafeteria."

Bucky did cheer up a bit at the mention of his favourite food. He eagerly took the bag with a huge smile, "Thank you," he said once again as you shook your head. "Thank you for everything you do to keep us safe Mr Barnes. I must be on my way now. Goodnight," and with that you left, grinning like an idiot.

🏳️‍🌈

You took a bath, ate your dinner and slipped into comfortable pyjamas. Excited to try your new sex toy tonight, you unpacked the bag expecting to see the nondescript box of the dildo. Instead, 5 delicious macarons stared back at you with innocence. 

You stumbled backwards in shock, the impact of your action settling like a dull, heavy weight in your stomach. "Oh no no no no," you whispered, horrified.

You immediately rushed to your window and pulled aside the curtain to look at Bucky's building, as if expecting to see him staring daggers at you. One of the privileges of working with the Avengers? You got to stay in a nice apartment within the compound itself. Your residential complex was a little further away from the main building, covered easily by 15 minutes of walking. 

Feeling hyper, you frantically searched for a coat and almost ran out of your house. You rushed back in to keep the box in the bag and again, dashed towards the elevator. 

Hoping that Bucky would have yet to open the box, you sent a silent prayer to all the gods and goddesses in the skies above, even Thor. Meh, you never know when an ex-Avenger could be of help.

You sprinted towards the other building, a multitude of thoughts clouding your mind- What if he was offended by it? Would he file a complaint against me? It would be sorta ironic if I was fired for this! Shit he would think my apology was false and I am probably mocking him.

You reached his apartment, a panting, huffing mess of a person. You knocked frantically, his door shaking with force at your desperation. However, you jumped as Bucky whispered your name from behind you, "Are you okay? What's going on?" he asked with concern as you turned around to face him.

"Did-did you op-open the bo-ox?" you questioned him while panting like a dog. 

He furrowed his brows in response, "No I was planning to open it in a few minutes. Please tell me what's going on. Why do you look so scared?"

You bent over double, your stomach cramping thanks to your impromptu running, "Thi-this is your bag," you held up the package, "That ba-bag is mine."

"Okay," Bucky said slowly, still unsure of your behaviour, "Should I open the door to retrieve your bag?"

You nodded as he stepped aside, "Why are you not wearing any shoes?"

You looked down at your feet at his query, small blades of grass had stuck to your naked feet along with dirt. "I was in a hur-hurry to get to you," you managed to say between your breaths.

Bucky just nodded in response. It was then that you noticed the pack of paper tissues in his hand. He opened the door and stepped inside, beckoning you to follow him. He pointed to the white bag kept on the table while he looked at it with worry. "Will it explode?" he solicited.

"Uhh no," you replied awkwardly.

"Is it dangerous?" curiosity etched on Bucky's face as you swapped the bags.

"No, it's nothing like that," you looked down at your feet, feeling the heat rush to your cheeks with embarrassment.

He narrowed his eyes, "Then what is it?"

"I can't tell you," you quietly admitted, "but here are your macarons. I am really sorry for this. Didn't mean to disturb you from whatever you had planned," you pointed to the box of tissues still in his hand. 

Bucky noticed the underlying question in your statement, "I was about to watch a movie. So needed these to clear the mess."

Your eyes went wide at his sincerity. While you had a crush on him, you definitely did not want to know about Bucky's late night masturbation adventures. Shaking your head, you raised your hands and started walking backwards, "I am sorry I disturbed your nightly… activities. I get out of your hair."

"Actually, would you like to join me for the movie?" Bucky asked hopefully, "We have the macarons and you seem like you need to calm your nerves."

You were surprised for the third time that day. Did Bucky just ask you to masturbate with him? Or have sex while eating the macarons? Or did he want to eat them after you guys have had sex? A flurry of questions swirled in your mind as you stared at him with a slightly open mouth. 

Bucky interpreted your gaze and stumbled to clarify himself, "As friends! Would you like to watch a movie with me as a friend?"

You slowly nodded your affirmation, "Yeah okay. Which movie are we watching?" 

"The Notebook," he revealed with a smile, "It's an extremely emotional movie. Ummm what's the term? Tear-jerker? Uhh yeah, it's a real tear-jerker of a movie."

"Oh so that's why…" you pointed at the tissues. "Yeah," he confirmed, "I tend to cry a lot while watching that movie. And… ummm… I am the kind of person who cries ugly. You know, all tears and snot. So yeah… I need the whole box."

"That's… that's actually sweet," you smiled, "Trust me you are not alone. I start crying as soon as the titles appear on the screen."

He got excited at your confession, "Yes! Exactly! It's because you know what's going to come and you are just mentally preparing yourself."

You chuckled with him in affirmation as he led you further into his apartment.

You freshened up a bit in his washroom, making sure to clean your feet and the residue on your face from the sweat.

Bucky was standing besides your bag when you entered the living room, "Now that we are friends," he intoned, "will you please tell me what's inside of this?"

You sighed, "Mr Barnes-." 

"Bucky," he corrected you and you smiled. 

"Will you promise me you will not take any offense or be insulted by it? I really did not mean to swap the bags."

"I trust you," Bucky said with assurance.

"It's…it is a sex toy," you mumbled quietly. Any normal human wouldn't have heard you, but Bucky's enhanced hearing caught your words flawlessly. 

He took a moment to process your words, and finally, to your amazement, burst out laughing. 

You sheepishly smiled at his reaction as your heart felt a little lighter. "That is embarrassing," he agreed with a wide grin. 

The two of you settled on the couch as Bucky's chuckles lessened. He kept the box of macarons between you two, but hesitated to begin the movie.

You sensed his curiosity, and clarified, "I haven't been in a relationship in a very long time. It's been… 2 years I guess… since my last breakup." You took a deep breath, "And my job doesn't exactly leave a lot of time on my hands for dating or one-night-stands."

Bucky seemed to consider your words for what felt like a long time. Finally, he asked quietly, "What does it feel like? To… to want another person… sexually?"

You blinked your eyes, thinking you must have misheard him. But then, his gaze met yours, and you knew his question was sincere.

"It feels like…," you raked your mind in search for the appropriate words, "...like your entire body is on fire, and you need the touch of the other person to quench your thirst. Like, just for a few moments, you want to shut your mind, and let your body think for you."

Bucky nodded slowly as you finished, "But what if you feel that in your heart? And not for your body?"

You squint your eyes at his question, "What do you mean Bucky?"

He placed his head in his hands, "I just… I don't feel like that with anyone. I mean, I don't want to have sex. Trust me I have tried everything. Literally everything. Still I don't feel aroused… I am broken, aren't I? Because this is abnormal, right? No matter how hard I try I will never be normal."

Your heart shattered at his words. You had heard about his horrid nightmares, but to think that he was struggling to accept himself, thinking that he was broken, even when he had so much love to give, was depressing. You could not just stand by and watch.

Gently, you placed a hand on his shoulder, "Bucky, look at me." When he didn't comply, you urged him, "Bucky, you are not broken. It is completely normal to not have any sexual desires."

"No it's not," he scoffed.

"Yes it is," you coerced him, "Do you know what is asexuality? It is the complete absence of sexual desires. Many people-"

He interrupted you, "There is no such thing. You are making this up."

"I am not," you replied indignantly, "Research indicates that more than 1% of the American population is asexual. Also, experts believe that more people might be asexuals because they think that they "haven't found the right person yet"," you ended with air quotes.

With no reaction from him, you sighed and got up, "Do yourself a favour. Use the internet and learn about asexuality. It will help put your mind at ease." You left after giving that piece of advice.

Bucky stayed in the same position for a few moments after your departure. He nibbled on a macaron as he considered the movie playing in front of him. Unable to focus, he promptly shut it all and carried the box to his bed. The macarons disappeared into his mouth as he tossed and turned, feeling restless. 

There was no way asexuality was a thing. If it was, then how come there were no movies, tv shows or even advertisements on asexuality? That's because it wasn't normal, right? Maybe you had just lied to him to make him feel better? Maybe you took pity on him?

He looked at his phone on the table near the tv set, your final words repeating in his head in a loop. The combination of tiredness and laziness encouraged him to take your advice in the morning.

🏳️‍🌈

You didn't see Bucky for 3 days after your fateful encounter with him. The fact that you still had your job at the Avengers Tower meant that he hadn't filed a complaint yet with the HR. And for that you were grateful. Friday came and you found yourself working late, again. It was around 10pm and you were still in your lab, almost done with the work. That's when you heard the small swoosh of the lab doors opening and closing.

You looked up from your table, and found Bucky staring intently at you with his blue eyes. He cleared his throat and tentatively took a step towards you. "You were right," he said slowly, "I researched online, read a few articles and spoke with the in-house therapist. I am an," he took a deep breath, "an asexual."

You closed your laptop and smiled at his confession, "How are you feeling now?"

"Honestly? A little bit better. I feel somewhat free," he admitted while gripping the white bag in his hand a little bit tighter.

"That's great! I am so proud of the progress you have made," you beamed at him, but sensed his hesitance as you neared him.

"What's wrong?" you gently inquired.

"You are… not… I mean… by any chance… asexual?" he winced at his own question.

You chuckled lightly, "No I am not."

"Ahh, then it's okay," he murmured and turned as if to leave.

You stopped him by placing a hand on his firm bicep, "What's going on?"

He shifted on his feet, visibly uncomfortable and anxious, "I was just… no nevermind it's stupid."

"Bucky," you said his name in a stern voice.

He sighed again, "I thought… I mean I owe you a movie because… of that night… and so… you know… would you like to watch it? The movie? But why would you? You deserve better… you are not an asexual. You are normal. Why would you want to go on a date with me?" he finally ended his mumbling.

You looked at him with squinted eyes, trying to decipher what he had muttered. "Did you just say you would like to go on a date with me? But it was stupid because you are an asexual and I am normal?" you blinked as he nodded.

"Who told you that you are not normal?" you asked him, a little irritated, "Bucky look at me." This time he complied, "You. Are. Normal. As normal as me, as the other Avengers or as anybody else in the world. Do not, for even one goddamn second, think that there's something wrong with you because there isn't. Are you listening to me? Am I clear?" you wagged your forefinger at him.

Amused at your outburst, he nodded with a sheepish grin. Clearing his throat, he asked you again, "Would you like to watch a movie with me tomorrow? As a date?"

You placed your hands on your waist, "Yes."

His grin widened as he asked you the next question, "Still mad at me?"

"Uh-huh."

"Maybe these cupcakes will help," he shyly held up the white bag in front of you, "I made sure they were cupcakes," he added with a smirk.

You graciously accepted the bag, "Cupcakes will always help."

"Great! It's a date then. Tomorrow… at 4pm? My apartment?" Bucky suggested.

You agreed, and he left with a goodbye. As soon as he was out of sight, you opened the box, expecting to see the usual cupcakes inside. Instead, you found that the sweet treats were decorated with cute messages such as "U R Cute" , "Be Mine?" , "So Sweet" and so on. Feeling mushy at his adorable gesture, you bit into the sweet treat as you headed back to your apartment.

The next day, you made sure to wear a purple dress, complete with black, grey and white accessories - the colours of the asexual flag. Bucky beamed at you as he welcomed you into his apartment. He had made a snack mix from popcorn, crispy pretzels, chips and nachos, the perfect accompaniment to any movie according to him, and you couldn't agree more.

The pair of you watched The Notebook in silence, except for a few sobs and sniffs here and there and the straight up bawling during the emotional parts of the movie.

After a while, the film ended but your date continued. The two of you talked about everything, right from the meaningful discussions about the government policies to random questions like "which mythical creature would you be and why?"

Soon, it was time for you to head back to your apartment. Bucky offered to walk you and you happily agreed. But before you left, he asked you nervously, "Would you like to have a second date?"

"I would love to," you beamed, "Which movie should we watch the next time?"

He ran his hand in his somewhat disheveled hair, "Uhh… I actually made a date jar. Wait, I will get it."

He brought over a glass jar, filled with tiny bits of folded paper, "I thought we could have dates that start from each English alphabet. We can pick and choose at random from the jar."

Tears pricked the corner of your eyes again at his thoughtful and romantic gesture. You gingerly picked one note from the jar, excited for the adventure that awaited the two of you.

🏳️‍🌈

It took more than 2 years for the pair of you to finish every date in the date jar, except for one. Whether it was jet-skiing in the ocean, taking classes for flamenco dance, him teaching you self-defense or going on a wildlife safari together, you and Bucky finally got through it all. Only the letter "P" was now left.

In these 2 years, any distance between the two of you had practically vanished. Bucky was comfortable in removing his bionic arm in front of you. Moreover, he had started sharing everything with you. Right from his darkest and disturbing nightmares to a pretty butterfly that he may have seen during his missions, Bucky made it a point to ensure that you were a part of his life, and you had absolutely no complaints.

The two of you had also discussed about your sexual desires, and Bucky had been comfortable with you using your sex toys as and when you wished.

Bucky was the perfect boyfriend anybody could ask for. He was considerate, thoughtful, a hardcore feminist and gave the best foot-rubs in the world. And so you were nervous. Nervous because the two of you had never actually sat down to talk about the nature of your relationship. And as the day of the last date loomed nearer, your anxiety increased. At first, you thought of making a second date jar, but he had quickly dismissed the idea, stating that he would be caught up with multiple things after the last date ended.

As you sat in the car that Bucky had sent for you, your apprehension grew. Bucky always picked you up, however this time, he had asked you to come alone in the car. Maybe he wanted to break up with you?

By the time you reached the park it was pitch black. You were sure Bucky had paid the guards to keep the gates of the park open just for you.

As soon as you entered, you saw the pathway lined with 25 lamp posts, leading you towards a breathtaking archway decorated with fairy lights and your favourite flowers.

On every lamp post, a photograph of the two of you - which were taken on your dates - was stuck along with a note. The notes described how he fell in love with you over and over again on every single date. Your progress was slow, as read each of his meticulously written words with tears in your eyes. You collected all of his notes and the photographs, and finally headed towards the lit archway.

When you entered it, the instrumental notes of the song "All of Me" by John Legend reached your ears.

You walked ahead and reached a bend. Upon crossing it, you were showered with rose petals as the live music grew louder. And at the end of the archway, your boyfriend, James Buchanan Barnes, was standing in a tuxedo, looking as sinfully good as the forbidden fruit. The entire area around him was lit with soft fairy lights that cascaded gracefully between tall lamp posts. Even on the ground, small wooden lamps illuminated the grass across the area. A live band was playing the music and your Bucky was standing with the most gorgeous bouquet of red roses that you had ever seen.

Your vision turned blurry as you started crying, and looking at your tears, he started sobbing as well. "No no no I can't cry now," he managed to say between his sobs while giving you his handkerchief, "I have to do this."

He got down on one knee and took your hand in his. You both laughed as you started crying harder. He took a deep breath and said your name, "These 2 years have been the most magical years of my life. You have accepted me as who I am, what I am, and never once tried to change me or make fun of me for it. I never thought I would be treated with the amount of respect that-" he started crying, unable to finish his sentence.

You sat beside him and handed him your kerchief. "Yes," you said with a tear-stained smile.

"Let me ask you first!" he exclaimed between his sobs.

You laughed and wiped your snot as he cleared his throat, "I love you so much. You are the only one I want to-" he started crying again.

"Yes!" you answered his unsaid question.

"I haven't asked you yet!" he exclaimed again as the two of you giggled between your sobs.

"Okay c'mon Bucky you can do this," he muttered to himself as you beamed at him. "Okay," he looked into your eyes and whispered your name, "Will you do me the honour of marrying me and becoming my wife?"

You choked up at finally hearing the words. Rendered speechless, you could only nod as fresh tears escaped your eyes.

"You have to say yes!" he almost shouted with excitement.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!!" you matched his enthusiasm as he slipped a ring onto your finger. His large arms then engulfed you in a bear hug, wrapping you in a safe and secure space for eternity to come.

Permanent tag: @donutloverxo @notyourtypicalrose @just-one-ordinary-fangirl

Bucky taglist: @loustan90

Taglist open! Just comment, send an ask or message!

[shmisolo]

I wanted to post the things I’ve made this year in one place.  I haven’t posted most of them over here—largely because I’m not tumblring a lot these days.  But I made a lot this year—both visual and written—that I’m proud of and wanted to share it out.  You can find this post also in tweet form here!

Happy 2020, Reylo friends!  It’s been a wild ride of a year, and mine couldn’t have been what it has been without you.

Visual

Alternate TROS Ending Gifset | World Between Worlds Graphic | Padmé quote gifset | Hadestown AU |  Alfa Gifset | ManDADlorian Video | Rey & Dark Rey Gifset 1 | Rey & Dark Rey Gifset 2 | Rey & Padmé Gifset | Rey Gifset 1 | Rey Gifset 2 | Rey Gifset 3 | Rey Gifset 4 | Rey Gif | Trailer Gifset 1| Trailer Gifset 2 | Trailer Gifset 3 | Kylo’s Karaoke Night Playlist | Graphic for lwaboc for @kylorenvevo | Graphic for Heart’s Flight | Graphic for YTCShepard | Gifs for Sugar, Honey, Honey for YTCShepard | Gifs for @sciosophia | Game of Thrones AU Graphic | Luke Gifset

Oneshots

Investiture for @misscoppelia

In which Ben goes to daven for his father’s yahrtzeit and manages to prove to himself once again that he is both a terrible person and a terrible Jew.

Oh and he sort of falls in love.

baby you can drive my car for @talltig

They call them “soulmates.” Probably because it leaves less of a sting in their mouths.

The Kitchen for flypaper_brain

Rey and Ben, hunting for their first house.

alone with a heart meant for you for @nuanceismyjam

Ben orders Grubhub; Rey's car breaks down.

myosotis for @rissanox

Ben picked the flowers for their wedding.

and beyond for @lilithsaur

“Please?”

For a moment, he thinks it will be like the first time, him begging, her crying and saying no and him not knowing how to protect his crushed heart.

But she doesn’t cry, she doesn’t say, “Please don’t go this way,” she doesn’t look horrified or disgusted. She just grabs him by the front of his shirt and tugs his lips down to hers before reaching down to cup his cock.

You, Me, and He for @rissanox, @persimonne, and @misscoppelia

When they say that Kylo's brain is in his groin, they're not far from the truth.

Alternatively,

In which Kylo Ren is his own penis.

Bliss, Balance and Birth for @selunchen​

Ben teaches their daughter to read.

💦💦💦💦

In which Ben accidentally implies that he gets his cardio from having sex on national television.

Favorites for @lilithsaur

In which Matt is preoccupied in getting Daisy the perfect token of his love on this, the two month anniversary of her agreeing to be his girlfriend.

A Trash Triplets AU.

Gotta Get Up, Gotta Get Out | Moodboard

“Listen asshole,” Rey says as she steps through the door of Poe’s deli. “You have exactly as long as it takes me to buy these cigarettes.”

Ben doesn’t waste a second breathing. “Metaphysically speaking, you and I are intrinsically and inexplicably linked,” he starts because there’s no time for beating around the bush and besides, Rey can sniff out a lie like no one else. “And I'm convinced our true purpose is to to connect with each other, if not help save each other's lives.” She’s opening her wallet and handing Poe a ten. “In another world, hopefully you are doing the same for me.”

The Other Thing for @persimonne

That’s what they don’t warn you about, he thinks idly. In his DesEd class, they’d warned him about knots, and heats, and ruts, and nesting. But they’d never warned him that her home would smell so much like her, like everything he’s ever wanted, that he would be unable to extricate himself.

“Can you make it a little more interesting in like...thirty minutes?” he asks her.

She pulls away and he immediately regrets saying a damn word.

“I could make that work,” she replies dryly. “I’ll pencil you in.”

A for... for @loveofescapism

Rey’s seeing double by the time there’s food on her plate. Oh. There’s food on her plate. That’s good. That’s unexpected at this point. “Eat,” Ben tells her.

So she does. It tastes good. Very good. She likes this food a lot.

“I’ll make sure she knows,” Ben says.

Oh she’s at that point of drunk where she’s just saying things out loud instead of keeping them in her internal monologue.

“You are,” Ben says, looking very amused.

She hopes she doesn’t say anything embarrassing.

“I promise, you haven’t yet, but oh boy, I’m looking forward to this.”

She shoves food into her mouth to keep herself from thinking out loud about his dick in her ass at his mother’s Passover seder.

do or do not (do the do)

In which Ben, in an effort to improve his stamina (look he's making progress, ok?) after reading some articles that he'll never be able to unread, receives some coaching (that he very much did not ask for).

(Very much did not ask for.)

(Not) Interested for @thewayofthetrashcompactor, @monsterleadmehome, @destiniesfic, yuktipatipriya

We're bringing Speed Dating back to Space Battles Bonanza! Register online for one of our special Bonanza sessions of 15 three-minute dates so you’ll no longer have to look for love in a galaxy far far away. Choose from one of seven speed dating sessions, two of which are queer focused. If the Insurgents can blow up the Doom Moon in 11 minutes, let’s see if you can make a love connection in only three.

There’s a history of successful Speed Dating at Space Battles Bonanzas, with long-term couples, engagements and marriages now among the alumni.

--

In which Rey & Kylo meet at their fancon's speed dating.

Never Die for @avamarga

Did you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? I thought not. It’s not a story the Jedi would tell you.

Forged for @reyloner

There are several reasons that Ben would never have dreamed he’d ever receive this text. The first is that he’d be invited to a Halloween party. The second is that he’d never in his life expected to be in a serious relationship, much less the sort of serious relationship where his partner would suggest matching Halloween costumes. And the last is that he is dating someone who’s show only and they’ve only almost murdered one another twice. Because he’s an A Song of Ice and Fire fan. He hates Game of Thrones.

and getting caught in the rain for @kylorenvevo

What's the point of going to a family wedding if you're not going to hook up with your newly rediscovered brother's baseball coach?

A Picture's Worth for @selunchen

reyjay: hiya your art is amazing

reyjay: it’s a big ask but could you draw me for my art final tomorrow? i’m shit at drawing people and i can’t fail this. can you help?

He stares.

And stares.

And stares.

kyloren: is this some kind of a joke?

reyjay: no?? why??

kyloren: you’re asking me to help you cheat your exam, but you’re not even offering me money?

Bang for your Buck

“We ready?” he asks her, sounding huffy.

“Nice to meet you Ben, I’m just familiarizing myself with your training,” she replies.

“Ok, well I don’t have all day.”

“No, you have,” she checks her watch, “another hour.” Because of course he’d booked an extra long session. Bless that sweet, sweet overtime pay.

“And you’re sure you know what you’re doing?” he asks her and she glances up at him, sure that her eyes are flashing because that’s fucking rude. She’s a professional. Amilyn wouldn’t have hired her if she didn’t know what she’s doing, and just because he apparently thinks he’s the center of the universe doesn’t change that fact.

“Don’t worry, you’ll get your bang for your buck,” she tells him icily.

Two to Tango

Rey: I need to ask you something awkward. Ben: What’s up? Rey: Can I give you a blowjob? Please?

atlanta > all atlanta > community > missed connections for @sand-its-everywhere

In which Rey meets a cosplayer at DragonCon.

Sonsick (I'll fall for you soon enough) for @jeenonamit & YTCShepard

Sheev and Snoke share a moment at the country club.

A Thousand Words for @monsterleadmehome | Moodboard

In which, some years later, Ben encounters someone he drew for nudes.

Truth and Death written for this year’s @reylofanfictionanthology

Ben opens the box. Inside, he sees the charred remains of a helmet.

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

She is made of sand-turned-clay, where other moving creatures are made of flesh and blood. Their skin cracks in the dry Jakku sun just like hers, but they are alive in their organs.

Rey is alive in a different way.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year written with @jeenonamit | Moodboard

Rey convinces Ben--and his sentient penis--to go with her to a Halloween party.

What could go wrong?

(Working title: "Dicklo 2: Electric BOO-galoo")

Shalom Rav! for @jeenonamit | Moodboard

In which Rey comes to terms realizing that she is attracted to the rabbi.

when the stars and moon align just so for @capaldisrighteyebrow

Songs spoke of red stars on nights that blood was shed. Stars bled too when the great fell. There were no red stars tonight. The stars did not bleed for Snoke.

Would they bleed for Ben?

She swallowed.

Because despite his own words—that he served his master (master, as though he were a draft horse to be yoked and plow the fields of men), that he would give everything to his master, she had seen doubt in his eyes that night, three years ago, when the stars and moon had aligned just so.

oh, my love, don't forsake me (take what the water gave me) for @reyloner and @loveofescapism

Their sabers clashed, humming in the spray, and Rey's heart was in her throat the entire time.

it’s you and me (i know it’s our destiny) | Moodboard

It’s just a kid’s game, he thinks when jealousy pangs in his heart. But it’s more than just a kid’s game.

It’s Pokémon.

It’s the only good thing in his life.

will you come when i call you (i’ll come when you call me) | Moodboard

Surely when Snoke had connected them, he hadn’t connected them like this.  

—

@reylo_prompts: “Due to the Force bond Rey and Ben always come simultaneously. Now they need to figure out how not to do that since it can result in awkward situations.”

The Sweater Curse for @jeenonamit & @commandercrouton

She’s never made a sweater before, but she saw the pattern on Ravelry and who cares if she’s only made (lumpy) hats before—she has to try it.  She has to make it. She has to make it for Ben.

“You realize that Hannukah isn’t an important holiday, right?” Ben asks as she makes eye contact with him.  His eyes are big and brown and—at this moment—mildly annoyed.

“Really?  Is it a giant conspiracy theory?  Part of the war on Christmas?”

“More than you realize,” Ben says and for the life of her she can’t tell if he’s joking.  He does this thing sometimes that’s confusing—where he’ll say something that sounds mopey but is actually snarky and it disarms her every damn time.  “In any event, ugly Hanukkah sweaters definitely aren’t a thing the way ugly Christmas sweaters are.”

“Well, they are now,” Rey says firmly.  “I’m making you an ugly Hanukkah sweater.  Deal with it. And stop moving.”

Ours Is The Fury for @reyloner & @commandercrouton

Rey was tasked with taking Storm's End for her king. She defeated the Storm King Snoke in the Rainwood, but when she proceeded to the castle itself, preparing for a long siege, things did not go to plan.

Seen ✔️✔️ for @ever-so-reylo | Graphic

His lock screen has three texts from Rey on it:

Rey Wife: Babe I know you’re probably busy right now, but you sent that pic to the wrong chat. Rey Wife: Bennnnnnn Rey Wife: Call me when you’re done processing your trauma.

And then about ninety chats from the Skywalker Ranch WhatsApp thread.

--

In which Ben sends a picture to the wrong chat.

With you, Always for @jeenonamit, @nuanceismyjam, and YTCShepard 

Rey's boyfriend is now a Force ghost but they're sure as fuck gonna try fucking anyway.

Chaptered Fics

we decided not to kill the wolves (we wanted to be wolves) for @nerdherderette | Complete | Moodboard

A pack of wolves lives in the woods to the north of Raddus and as winter looms, they have their eyes set on Leia Organa’s stronghold. Rey may be new to Raddus, but she’s not about to do nothing while it may be in danger. And besides, Poe must be exaggerating about wolves the size of bears. She’s not afraid of monsters.

Carry In My Core (That Voice I Adore) | Complete | Moodboards

Starring in her first opera would be stressful as is, but Rey, always one to outdo herself, just had to go and make things even more complicated with Kylo Ren. It’s hard enough looking him in the eye, much less pretending to be in love with him. She can make it through this. She has made it through worse. She can make it through this.

shadow boxes | Complete

Just because they aren’t together, doesn’t mean they’re not in love.

anyway you want to (anyway you've got to) | Complete

But you know she's getting something other Than the love from her mother

A Porn Challenge in which your author makes Rey and Ben bone their way through the month of February.

words like tomorrow (or future, or fate) for @haloren1st​ & @staticcatfish​ | Complete

One day, Rey wakes in a body that's not her own in a town she's never been to before. Who is Ben, whose body she seems to be possessing, and who woke up in her body? Why are they connected this way?

---

A Your name. AU.

Above us, stars. Beneath us, constellations. for @valsansretour​ | Complete | Moodboard

Ben woke, but Luke’s saber wasn’t ignited. Instead, he saw a master who had shattered his trust, who thought he was a monster, and—worse—he was probably right.

So he fled Yavin IV, to Skywalker’s dismay, and no one heard from him since.

Years later, on a wasteland planet, a girl and a fugitive stormtrooper board a Corellian YT-1300 light freighter in desperation to find they are not the only ones trying to steal it.

Why Don’t You And I Combine for @ever-so-reylo | Complete | Moodboard

Rey’s phone rings while she’s at the farmer’s market. She lets it ring. They have a line and it’s only a few hours, and the girls are at school and it’s just her today, so she doesn’t have enough hands. Rose and Finn and Poe are helping Ben move furniture out of his apartment and into the house. They’re probably calling about something silly, or Ben’s calling to say he’s fully moved in and he’s lying in their bed—possibly with his hand on his cock—and that he’s thinking of her.

— 

In which life continues, grows, and Rey and Ben continue to rebuild their relationship.

A sequel to Let’s Get Together.

The Love Committee for @jeenonamit | Complete | Moodboard

In which Rey, tired of her bad luck with dating apps and failed relationships, enlists her friends' help in determining who she should date next.

They take it a little too seriously.

A Year of Me and You for autonomee | Complete

“After you move in with one another, give yourself six months to like one another again,” Maz says, looking at Rey seriously through her bottlecap glasses.

“I’m not going to fall out of love with—”

“No, no. Not love. Love’s not got anything to do with it, child. Like.”

--

Non-linear vignettes of various length, set during the first year Rey and Ben live together.

Hanging by a Moment for pillar-of-salt | Complete | Mix

There are many things that Ben could have tolerated about his parents’ divorce. That his mother had finally had it with his father’s borderline illegal—or rather, as he liked to put it, borderline legal—company, the shady activities it covered that would doubtlessly end her political career if a reporter got hold of them; that his father had finally had it with the way his mother nags, because sure, he’d thought it was hot twenty years ago, but he is in fact an adult who can actually keep his shit together—all that he would have gotten. He’d have been wrecked, but he’d have gotten it.

His dad leaving his mom for a nineteen-year-old gold-digger though, and his mother not even putting up a fight—that had caught him by surprise.

That had hurt.

Be nice to her, Ben, his mother had said on the phone when he’d spoken to her for the first time in five years. She just lost your father.

Yeah. So did I.

Cupcake Wars | Complete | Fingerpainting + Playlist

Entirely by accident, Rey ends up fucking someone who works for Snoke's Cupcakery. She's just blowing off steam. It doesn't mean anything at all. It certainly won't come back to bite her in the ass.

in nobody's eyes but mine for @ever-so-reylo | Complete | Moodboard

Rey had spent too much of her life feeling as though permanence could only be transient so why bother with it. What was long-term? What was mating? What was home?

the water won’t have ya if the devil’s too blind for @thekesselrun | Complete | Moodboard

That water’s too dirty to wash away your sins.

“They’re not sins. I didn’t commit them against god. There is no such thing as god.”

Then whatever you want to call them. Crimes don’t get washed away by a river.

“It’s a cursed river,” Ben points out.

No, it’s a polluted river. Curses aren’t real. Not like that, anyway.

“Are you really well-actually-ing me?”

Yes, I am. Because you’re an idiot. Some extremely oily and not remotely potable water is not going to be able to remove the guilt you feel about killing your father, turning your back on your mother, murdering hundreds of innocents, and helping the First Order destroy the world. Especially when you knew I wasn’t going to let you die.

–

In which Ben Solo washes up on shore, very still alive and unsure of what to do next until a passing scavenger offers him a lift on her boat. Who is he now? Who does he want to be?

Apples & Honey for @peaceblessingspeyton | Complete | Moodboard

When Ben catches wind that his mother is planning to foist a potential girlfriend on him when he comes home for Rosh Hashanah, he takes matters into his own hands: specifically, he runs to Rey and asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend.

There Is Another for @kylorenvevo | Complete | Moodboards: Ch 1 | Ch 3 | Ch 7 | Ch 9 | Ch 11 | Ch14

“Mission success?”

“You will be interested in this.”

“Oh?”

Kylo glances back over his shoulder. The girl he had found on Takodana is still deeply unconscious, and will remain so for a long while. He had knocked her out as deeply as he could. She had fired at him the moment she’d seen him, resisted him tooth and nail. He does not want her waking up until he has her properly restrained, and he had not come to Takodana prepared to take any prisoners.

A shiver runs up his spine as he tries to shove away how it had felt, carrying her through that forest.

“Yes.”

“How so?”

The trouble with helmets is he can’t look Kira dead in the eye anymore. He can’t watch her face closely to see what will happen when he tells her,

“She’s you.”

Dear Mr. President | WIP | Moodboards: Ch13

Dr. Dameron shifts and slides a manilla folder across the desk to her. “Under ordinary circumstances, I’d let you keep the folder. I hope you’ll understand why I can’t do that this time around.”

She opens it and stares.

She stares and stares and stares.

Dr. Dameron has to be kidding. There have to be hidden cameras here, this has to be some elaborate prank. That’s why it’s him here and not Dr. Wexley—that was his name. Dr. Wexley.

But instead of getting to her feet and tossing her hair and saying he was cruel for playing with her heart like this, all she does is ask, blankly, “So...Ben Solo is my soulmate? Our new president is my…”

She swallows.

And Dr. Dameron nods.

so long lives this and this gives life to thee | WIP | Moodboard

His smile fades and he falls to the ground, his head hitting the ground with a sharp crack.

“Ben!” The yell echoes around them in the darkness and Rey lurches forward, her hands scrabbling over his face, his neck, trying to find a pulse.

She bursts into tears when she finds it. She doesn’t know why she’s crying. He’s alive.

———

In which Ben's Force Sensitivity—and not his life—was given to save Rey.

a little death (goes a long way) for @talltig | WIP | Moodboard

“That’s good of you,” he replies. “Especially with the O-Negative.”

“It’s a good deal,” she says and he glances up. Yeah, because Omega blood is harder to find. A taste of life, because they almost never survive the turn.

[imjustthemechanic]

The French Mistake

Part 1/? - A Visitor Part 2/? - The Kulturhistorisk Museum Heist Part 3/? - Cutscene Part 4/? - The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Now that our heroes have figured out what’s going on, the next question is what they’re going to do about it.

“Well done,” Steve said as they headed for the trailers, amused in spite of himself.

Nat smiled.  “I don’t get to do full-tilt diva very often,” she replied.

“You just enjoy watching people who hate you have to put up with you anyway,” Steve said.  He’d done some of that during the war, with the generals and politicians who hated that this musclebound fool in a costume was showing them up.  It did make him feel powerful.

“Everybody enjoys that,” Nat said.  “It’s the evil queen in all of us.”  She chose one of the RVs at apparent random, and grabbed the door handle.  “This one’s yours.”

“No, it’s not ,” said Steve.  The sign on the door had the same name as had been highlighted on the front of the script: Chris Evans.  It was a very nondescript name, Steve thought, like John Smith.  Or, for that matter, Steve Rogers.

“Considering that Mr. Evans is probably picking himself out of the remains of the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo right now, I think he’s got other things to worry about than who’s in his trailer,” said Nat. “You can tell him we borrowed it, if that makes you feel better.”

“I’ll do that,” Steve promised.

Nat opened the door.

The first thing Steve saw was the dog, which had stood up on its hind legs to rest its paws against the inner screen.  When Nat opened that second door to climb the steps and go inside, the dog bounced out past her to greet Steve.  It was a floppy-eared, brown and white animal of indeterminate breed, and like most of its kind it seemed to have recognized Steve immediately as a dog lover.  He knelt down to rub its head and neck, and the dog wagged its tail and lolled its tongue out happily.

“Hi, there, boy,” said Steve.  “Or girl.”  He held out a hand for the dog to sniff.  It licked his fingers, and with his other hand, Steve found its collar rand tag.  “Dodger,” he read.  “Nice to meet you, Dodger.  Did somebody leave you here all alone?”

“Steve!” Natasha called from inside.  “Come and take a look at this.”

“Coming,” said Steve.  He straightened up and gave Dodger’s head a few more pats.  If this were Chris Evans’ dog, he thought, somebody was going to have to take care of it until its owner returned.  Evans might be badly injured, or even under arrest – if he looked so much like Steve that nobody had noticed the two switching places, right now he was probably telling a SWAT team that he wasn’t Captain America. They probably didn’t believe him.

With Dodger right behind him hoping for more affection, Steve climbed the steps into the trailer.  The first room was a kitchen that was practically the size of Steve’s entire apartment in 1940s Brooklyn, and it was a mess, with dishes in the sink and half a bowl of cereal uneaten on the table.  Script pages were scattered around, and books and magazines on the American space program – but the first thing to draw Steve’s eye were the photographs taped to the cupboards.  Some of these were of strangers, but many appeared to have Steve himself in them. If that were Chris Evans, then yes, the resemblance was absolutely uncanny.

Some of the pictures were probably of Evans’ family and friends.  Others were perhaps from his movies.  There was a photo of Evans standing next to an astonishingly tall black man, both of them smiling.  A picture in which Evans was bundled up against winter cold and looked like he’d just been beaten black and blue, but beaming as he posed with a younger man and a very schoolmarm-ish looking woman.  There was, of all things, one of those ridiculous Doritos bags Stark had found so funny, framed on the wall as if it were a work of art.

Then Steve’s stomach seemed to drop out and hit the floor with a splat, as he moved further along the cupboards and started finding people he knew.

There was a picture of himself, Natasha, and Sam in street clothes, grinning and laughing.  Worse, there was one of Steve, Bucky, and Peggy in uniform, leaning on the counter of that café in northern Italy in 1944… where had some actor gotten that?  Another was of Peggy making a face and pointing at a smiling Steve, both of them with twenty-first century clothing and hair and looking directly into the camera.  Yet another was of Steve, Stark, and T’Challa with their arms around each other’s shoulders like they were all best buddies, standing against a background of advertising images.  Steve didn’t remember any of those pictures being taken. Some of them could not possibly have been taken, because the people in them were dead!

“Steve!” Natasha repeated.

“Nat, have you seen this?” Steve asked. Whatever she was calling him for, it couldn’t possibly be as distressing as what he’d just found.

“Steve,” she insisted, “have you seen this?”

When Steve tore his eyes away from the impossible photographs, he found that Nat was in the living room, at the front of the trailer.  This was built around a fake fireplace that was really just a television screen playing video of burning logs.  Steve had never understood the point of such a thing, since it didn’t keep anybody warm and couldn’t be cooked on in an emergency, but there it was – and hanging above it were three framed movie posters.

These were done in what Steve recognized as an old-fashioned style by the standards of the twenty-first century.  Modern posters tended to go in for teal and orange and a lot of photoshop filters.  These were in watercolours, and were for separate but related films: Captain America: the First Avengers, Captain America: the Winter Soldier, and Captain America: Civil War.  Each bore a list of actors’ names, but the portraits were of people Steve knew.  There was himself, Peggy, Bucky, Natasha, Sam, Stark… even Pearce and the Red Skull.

There had been Captain America films, of course. There were the ones Steve himself had been in, and then there’d been a couple more made by Howard’s Stark Pictures in the late forties and early fifties, starring Burt Lancaster, Ronald Reagan, and Angie Martinelli.  There’d also been the two terrible made-for-TV movies from the early eighties, in which Steve had been played by a guy who looked like his name ought to be Bolt Vanderhuge or something, and who was, if possible, a worse actor than Steve himself.

The last few years had produced more recent Avengers-themed movies, too.  There’d been that one with Eric Bana as Dr. Banner, and the Battle of New York movie The Tower, which everybody seemed to have hated except for Dr. Foster’s friend Darcy.  The team had watched those, and had a good laugh at them.  These were different.  The faces were too perfect, and the titles suggested events uncomfortably close to the last several years of Steve’s life.  Anybody making movies about that was doing so without his permission.

“Those… aren’t real movies, are they?” asked Steve, taking in the lists of names on each.  He recognized none of them.  If these were actors they were none he’d ever heard of… or most of them weren’t.  He did see the one from the trailer door.  Chris Evans.  His own apparent doppelgänger.

“They’re not real movies in Kansas,” said Natasha thoughtfully.

Steve turned his head to look at her, and found her in her ‘thinking’ pose, head cocked and brow creased.  After a moment, she caught his eye, and took a deep breath.

“This is going to sound weird,” she warned him.

“Weird?”  He snorted. “What’s weird?  We were just in Oslo fighting an alien who thinks he’s a god, and now we’re making a movie.  I don’t know what weird is anymore.  Tell me.”

She didn’t, though.  Instead, she stood there thinking a moment longer, then looked around the room.  “Find me a computer or a cell phone,” she said.  “I want to try something.”

They searched the living room, which was neater than the kitchen but only slightly, with Dodger doing his best to help and mostly getting in the way.  Underneath a pile of magazines Steve found a laptop.  When he turned it on a password screen popped up, but Nat got them past that easily, and Steve sat down on the ottoman and brought up google.

“All right, what am I looking for?” he asked.

“Museum of cultural history explosion,” Nat said, leaning on his shoulder to watch.

Steve typed in the terms, slowly – SHIELD had gotten him lessons in touch-typing, but right now his fingers, like everything else, were clumsier than normal.  The search engine thought for a moment, then presented a list of results.

To Steve’s surprise, none of them were about what had just happened in Oslo.  Never mind that it had been less than an hour ago, in this age of instant communication and constant media presence, an event like that ought to be all over the news. Instead, the first page of links was mostly articles about an exhibit at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was being taken to task for neglecting black history.

“Try Avengers in Oslo,” Nat suggested.

Steve tried it, and read off the first result that came up.  “Oslo – Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki,” he said, and clicked on the link.

The article that came up was in white text on a black background surrounded by ads, and it was very brief.  The first paragraph discussed the paganist riots, which were something Steve vaguely remembered hearing about, although he’d been busy elsewhere at the time.  The second part of the article was about Stark’s visit to the NEXUS, and it quoted a conversation Steve remembered having with Stark, Banner, and Fury about Ultron’s attempts to launch nuclear weapons.  The men’s names were all highlighted in blue – they were links to other pages.  Steve licked his lips, then clicked on his own.

Nat leaned a little further forward, and this time it was she who started reading aloud.  “Captain America is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics,” she said.

“What?” Steve asked.  “Fictional?”

“Scroll down,” said Nat, and when he didn’t, she put a finger on the touchpad and did so herself.  “Here we are!  In Other Media.  Actor Chris Evans portrays Steve Rogers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Films Captain America: the First Avenger, The Avengers… yadda yadda yadda.”  She kept scrolling through a list rather longer than the three movies whose posters were on the wall.

“What?” Steve repeated.  When he’d first awakened, back in 2012, he’d learned that a lot of people did assume Captain America was a fictional character – somebody invented for comics and old films as an embodiment of the optimistic allied war effort.  Five years later, after Steve had been on the news, the Ellen Degeneres show, and that stupid Doritos bag, they ought to know better.

“I was right,” Nat said, sounding uncharacteristically surprised by it.  “Huh.”

“What were you right about?” Steve asked.  “What’s going on?  Whatever it is, it can’t possibly be any weirder than this already is, so just tell me.”

Nat reached over his shoulder and clicked on one of the movie titles, apparently just out of curiosity.  “Are you familiar with the idea of parallel universes?” she asked.

Steve had heard the phrase.  It was something Stark and Banner occasionally talked about, but he had only a very vague understanding of the concept garnered mostly from movies and television.  “That’s where there’s an alternate world where things happened differently, and it somehow exists at the same time and place as our world, but we can’t get there.”

“Right,” said Natasha.  “Supposedly there’s an infinite number of them, where all possibilities happen.  There’s a world where we lost in New York and Loki now rules the planet, there’s a world where Ultron destroyed the earth…”

“If you’re trying to make me feel better, it’s not working,” Steve pointed out.  “We’re in another universe?”  Could the tesseract do that?  Well, if this were actually happening, then yes, evidently it could.

“Loki said he would find another planet to rule,” said Nat.  She found the cast section of the article on The Avengers, and grabbed a piece of paper and a pen to write down the names.  “I figured he was talking about a different planet.”

“I didn’t stop to think about it,” said Steve. Though if he had, he would probably have come to the same conclusion.  “He went to a universe where we’re fictional, so we can’t stop him from taking over.”  That made a certain amount of sense, although in that case… wouldn’t Loki himself be fictional, too?  How did the people of this world know what to put in their movies, if those events had never happened here?

“Maybe – maybe we all ended up here by accident when Thor broke the rune stone,” said Nat.  “So if you and I are the actors who played Captain America and the Black Widow in these movies… although I don’t know why they’d name the movies after you when I’m the one who does all the hard stuff…” she added with a smirk.

“Thanks, Nat.  That means a lot,” said Steve.  He could guess where she’d been going with the first part of that statement, though. “If we’re here, we can assume that Thor and Loki must be, also, while the Steve and Natasha from this world… I mean…” he looked up at the central poster. “I mean Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson…”

“They must be in our world,” Nat agreed.

Steve had already assumed that, but now he started seriously contemplating what it meant. “Getting arrested for breaking into the Museum of Cultural History in Oslo,” he said.

“And then handed over to the World Security Council for taking on a supervillain without the permission of the Norwegian government, in non-compliance with the Sokovia Accords,” Nat agreed, with a grimace of concern.

“All while they insist that they’re not Captain America and the Black Widow, they just play them in movies!”  Steve groaned.  That was a very bad situation indeed.  “All right, how do we fix it?”

“That,” Natasha said, “is a very good question.”

[nightingveilxo]

When is Richard Brook, Not Richard Brook? When The Doctor is In

As most of my mutuals know by now, I think we’re somewhere still in S2, with 3 and 4 being in various character’s minds. But, this discussion from @waitedforgarridebs prompted more research on my end (even though the question at the end was a joke), added new elements about Mary and Molly, and worked in the upcoming con in LA. It does get into the scheme of Dr. Who overlaps though, which we already have many instances of all through Sherlock. So, this is a bit crack theory, a bit not.

TRF

SHERLOCK: Tell me what you want from me. (The man stares at him wide-eyed but doesn’t speak. Sherlock moves the gun’s muzzle closer to him.) SHERLOCK: Tell me. ASSASSIN: He left it at your flat. (AGRA/Mary/Ajay) SHERLOCK: Who? ASSASSIN: Moriarty. SHERLOCK: What? (All three of them start to get to their feet, Sherlock still holding the gun on the other man.) ASSASSIN: The computer keycode. SHERLOCK: Of course. He’s selling it – the programme he used to break into the Tower. He planted it when he came around. (Just like “Faith” will later plant a note in Sherlock’s possession in TLD.) (Three gunshots ring out and the assassin reels and drops to the ground. Sherlock stares up in the direction the bullets came from, then swings around and he and John race off. As police sirens approach again, they duck into an open doorway and yet another police car drives past the end of the road. They take a moment to catch their breath.) SHERLOCK: It’s a game-changer. It’s a key – it can break into any system and it’s sitting in our flat right now. That’s why he left that message telling everyone where to come. “Get Sherlock.” We need to get back into the flat and search. JOHN: CID’ll be camped out. Why plant it on you? SHERLOCK: It’s another subtle way of smearing my name. Now I’m best pals with all those criminals. (John has spotted a pile of newspapers nearby and he picks up the top copy.) JOHN: Yeah, well, have you seen this? (It’s a copy of “The Sun” – the same edition that Mycroft had at the Diogenes Club that morning, telling of the upcoming exposé by Kitty Riley. John shows it to Sherlock.) JOHN: A kiss and tell. Some bloke called Rich Brook. (Sherlock slowly turns his head – clearly the name means something to him. John is still looking at the paper and doesn’t see his expression.) JOHN: Who is he?

Fast forward...

KITTY: Oh I’ll ... I’ll be doing the explaining – in print. (She hands John a folder.) It’s all here – conclusive proof. (John looks at an early typed sheet of her upcoming article, then turns to the proof copy showing the layout of how it will appear in the newspaper, with spaces left for photographs. The headline reads, “Sherlock’s a fake!” with the strapline, “He invented all the crimes”.) KITTY (looking at Sherlock): You invented James Moriarty, your nemesis. JOHN (upset): Invented him? KITTY: Mmm-hmm. Invented all the crimes, actually – and to cap it all, you made up a master villain. JOHN: Oh, don’t be ridiculous! 

So now, John and Sherloch both have the concept of inventing a master villain in their minds, which might explain why the villains after Moriarty are all progressively worse than the one before.

Remember the video ‘Richard Brook is real’ from 2012? Linking in below, for those that never saw it. What if Brook the actor was an actual person, but the man we knew as Moriarty wasn’t him, and The Doctor ended up in 221B to help Sherlock resolve the matter, because he knew the world at the time needed Sherlock Holmes? The Final Problem: The world will always need Sherlock Holmes, and fans won’t let him die.

Richard Brook - 5′ 10″    Andrew Scott - 5′ 8″

Possible John didn’t notice or that Moriarty is meant to be taller, and it could be a hint of how John didn’t recognize something physiologically important, which then resurfaced with the bones and skull in TFP. Easy to overlook the first time, but John actually reviews the printouts a second time, out in the street after he and Sherlock try to follow Moriarty. Also, Moriarty’s CV only has the height, no mention of weight or hair color, which is unusual for an actor’s CV--even one including a photo. The photo is credited to Arwel, from 2010.

Kitty shows John all the evidence, and says it’s conclusive, but it’s all printouts from off a computer or photocopies. One image doesn’t even have the image of Brook, just an X in a box.

When Sherlock goes to visit Molly, his questions to her are almost the same remarks John will later make in TLD. Molly counts, and don’t ever think otherwise.

BART’S. Molly comes out of a small side room in a lab, switches off the lights and walks across the darkened lab, sighing tiredly. As she reaches the door to the corridor, Sherlock is standing in the darkness behind her with his face turned away from her. She doesn’t see him and reaches for the door handle. SHERLOCK: You’re wrong, you know. (She gasps and jumps, spinning around towards him.) SHERLOCK: You do count. You’ve always counted and I’ve always trusted you. (He turns his head towards her.) SHERLOCK: But you were right. I’m not okay. MOLLY: Tell me what’s wrong. SHERLOCK (slowly walking towards her): Molly, I think I’m going to die. MOLLY: What do you need? SHERLOCK (still slowly approaching her): If I wasn’t everything that you think I am – everything that I think I am – would you still want to help me? (She gazes up at him as he stops close to her.) MOLLY: What do you need? (He steps even closer, his expression intense.) SHERLOCK: You.

TLD

JOHN: She thought that if you put yourself in harm’s way I’d ... I’d rescue you or something.  But I didn’t – not ’til she told me to.  (He briefly glances towards Mary as he says ‘she.’)  And that’s how this works.  That’s what you’re missing. (He points towards Mary.)  She taught me to be the man she already thought I was.  Get yourself a piece of that. SHERLOCK: Forgive me, but you are doing yourself a disservice.  I have known many people in this world but made few friends, and I can safely say ... JOHN: I cheated on her. (Sherlock stops.  Mary straightens up from where she was leaning on the back of the chair, looking shocked.  John gestures towards Sherlock.) JOHN: No clever comeback? (Immediately he turns to directly face the ghost of his wife.) JOHN: I cheated on you, Mary. (Sherlock blinks, perhaps realising what’s happening, but he stays silent as he turns his head towards where John is looking.) JOHN: There was a woman on the bus, and I had a plastic daisy in my hair.  I’d been playing with Rosie.  (He pauses for a moment then raises his eyes.)  And this girl just smiled at me. (Mary gazes back at him.  There is no condemnation on her face.) JOHN: That’s all it was; it was a smile. (Sherlock’s eyes turn back to John.) JOHN (to Mary): We texted constantly.  You wanna know when?  Every time you left the room, that’s when.  When you were feeding our daughter; when you were stopping her from crying – that’s when. (Mary lowers her eyes and gives a small smile.  John swallows, his eyes starting to fill with tears.) JOHN: That’s all it was, just texting. (Sherlock has lowered his eyes and is gazing into the distance.) JOHN: But I wanted more. (Sherlock lifts his head and his eyes to John again.  Mary is smiling tearfully at her man.) JOHN: And d’you know something?  I still do.  I’m not the man you thought I was; I’m not that guy.  I never could be.  But that’s the point.  (He sniffs, then looks at her as his eyes fill with more tears.  He bites his lip and speaks tearfully.)  That’s the whole point. (Again he bites his lip.  Mary looks back at him, her own eyes filled with tears.  She smiles at him as he speaks again.) JOHN: Who you thought I was ... (she nods at him) ... is the man who I want to be. (He swallows, fighting off his tears.  She smiles gently back at him.) MARY (softly): Well, then ... John Watson ... (She raises her head and smiles widely and fondly at him.  He stares back at her.  She looks at him for a long moment.) MARY: Get the hell on with it. (She nods at him and smiles through her tears.  The perspective changes and she has gone.  John stares ahead of himself for a long moment, then gradually lowers his head into his left hand and starts to cry.   Sherlock quietly puts his mug onto the table beside him, then stands up.  John sobs, tears pouring from his face and falling to the floor.   Slowly Sherlock walks across to him.) SHERLOCK (softly): It’s okay. (He tentatively raises his arms, perhaps hesitating momentarily for fear of being rejected again, then slowly puts his left hand onto John’s arm and his right hand onto his back before sliding it upwards to gently cradle his neck.  He moves closer, sliding his left arm up to hold John’s shoulder.) JOHN (tearfully): It’s not okay. SHERLOCK (softly): No. (He lowers his cheek onto the top of John’s head.) SHERLOCK (softly): But it is what it is.

We’ve already seen that the hug is done much the same as when John hugs Sherlock in TSoT. It’s all coming from memory, and trickling into S4.

Speaking of memory... TD12. Lots of speculation on that one, and I’ve written a meta of my own talking about the levels of personality aberration in psychiatrics, and TD12 also being a data storage system that would have been in use during HOB (if Sherlock was concerned his Mind Palace might be damaged or altered).

But, what if TD12 was a callback to TRF and a Mary connection? Look again at the photo of Kitty above, and these...Look at her tailored clothing, blue, gold neck chain. What happens in S4? Everyone is wearing tailored clothing, and blue, except for Molly. 

Now, notice the photo from Rachel’s recent well wishes to Amanda. When I first looked at it, I thought her hair was pulled back in a low bun. She’s wearing a gold chain necklace, which I mention the instances of seeing in this short discussion.

And this one from pre S4, of Amanda in a red wig (which we never saw in S4.)

And Elizabeth from TLD. We’re just repeating redheads everywhere by S4.

T...D...D...12...12...Tattooed Disillusioned Dem Size 12 12

Molly ends up in the same (completely buttoned) cherry sweater she was wearing in TGG when she introduced Moriarty to Sherlock and John...

TRF (partially unbuttoned) when she helps Sherlock before and after the Richard Brook revelation...

and finishes out TFP montage wearing an upbuttoned version of the same sweater and slacks. (She also wears one very Molly-style dress in T6T, a tailored outfit with striped shirt in TLD, and the same sweater she wore when helping fill in/mirror for John during TEH.)

If you think maybe that’s all coincidental, just know that the striped shirt mentioned above, was a callback to this shirt in TBB, but in T6T it’s buttoned up all the way to her chin, and gone is her relaxed manner.

They’re all instances of when Sherlock turned to Molly for help or communication. Also, same tailored style as Kitty, but very much in a Molly way. John also has his own version in TBB and TRF. Sherlock loses his Belstaff Armor during TFP, but is miraculously given it back during the episode. Molly has her own versions, because she’s the one person on which Sherlock always relies (even when it’s all in someone’s mind.)

Overlook...

Now, what if The Doctor did get involved in the events of TRF, and changed the game? Before you scoff, just know that Moffat and group did that via a special in Dr. Who, and it altered seven seasons of how viewers saw The Doctor’s story. The books on the shelves of 221B from S4, are even linked to what goes on the lab during HOB.

Which brings us back to... ( x )

Also, remember this happened...

Moffat in 2015 on Possible Sherlock/Dr. Who Crossover

Collider: Are you surprised that people seem to always want to know about the possibility of a cross-over between Doctor Who and Sherlock?

Moffat: That’s a question that I get asked so often, and I can’t keep answering it. It’s all right for Doctor Who. That’s fine. But it would change Sherlock’s life, if he met the Doctor and knew that time travel was possible. He’d have to factor that into every crime he solved. And do we really think that Sherlock Holmes lived through a Dalek invasion? I don’t think he did. I think he’d have mentioned it by now. It’s not going to happen. That’s just the truth of it. ( x )

What was it again that Kitty said during TRF? Oh, yes...

KITTY: Mmm-hmm. Invented all the crimes, actually – and to cap it all, you made up a master villain. JOHN: Oh, don’t be ridiculous!  

Sherlock, S4: Premonitions, repeating cases, predicting behavior two weeks in advance of the actual events, childhood Eurus telling Mycroft he looks funny as a grown-up/materializes in 221B for a few moments, etc

Side Note: In 2014, Moffat said he had a photo of Sherlock and John in the TARDIS, but it was never shown.

The most recent element might have just gone into place for Sherlock Event in LA. Amanda was scheduled to be there, and a topic for questions was Marvelous Mary Morstan.

Except, then Andrew was confirmed, and Jonathan was added/confirmed (maybe was going to be there anyway, but we don’t know for sure). A few other things changed, too.

From Sherlock To Sci-Fi. Every Good Fairytale Needs a Villain was already in place.

Moriarty’s Pool Party

Up On The Roof.

Transcripts ( x )

@waitedforgarridebs @tjlcisthenewsexy @monikakrasnorada @may-shepard @smoljohnlock @swimmingfeelsinajohnlockianpool @sherlockians-get-bored @princess-of-fireflies @darlingtonsubstitution @justshadethings @loveteaelephants @shadow3214 @devoursjohnlock @gosherlocked @marathecactupus

[buynewsoul]

Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Autumn Manka is a K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) handler to her 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog, Kona. As members of the volunteer nonprofit Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association (VSRDA), this dynamic duo spends its downtime training for and going out on searches to help Virginia law enforcement find missing people or human remains.

What it takes to be a K-9 SAR and handler

Kona with his gear. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

The time and money required to be a K-9 SAR handler isn’t small. As Autumn explains it, the commitment takes over your life. Above and beyond training Kona and learning how to handle a search and rescue dog, Autumn herself must go through ongoing certifications including those in first aid, blood-borne pathogens and crime-scene preservation. She is, after all, working with the police in what could be an active crime scene.

Then there are the constant classes so she can make sure Kona and the other dogs on her team are taken care of. Doggie first aid, doggie agility, and doggie stretching and orthopedic classes all fill her calendar. Add an annual out-of-pocket cost of $2,000 to $6,000, and one wonders why anyone would do it. That’s an easy question for Autumn to answer. It’s the human paycheck.

“The feeling that you get, whether it was your dog or any dog, and you find a missing person that has been out for four days in the elements, and everyone is getting worried, and the dog hits the ground, starts the task and says, ‘Guys, he’s right here,’ and you’re able to get that person loaded into an ambulance and they are off and well because of a dog — that’s the paycheck. That’s the human paycheck.”

Nose up, nose down

For nose up work, dogs work off leash following their handler’s verbal control, looking for a smell of a person in the air. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

There are two main types of search and rescue dogs. Both require certification. There is tracking and trailing (known as “nose down” work) and wilderness area search and recovery (known as “nose up” work). Nose down work is scent specific. These dogs are looking for a specific person. They are trained to find a scent, lock on it and follow it. Nose down dogs go on missions wearing their leads so they don’t lose their handler. They have a job to do, and making sure their human is keeping up with them isn’t part of it. Once they lock on to that scent their heads are down, and they are going to follow it!

Nose up dogs are looking for a smell of a person or remains in the air. All of us have a specific scent that is determined by our diet, where we live, etc. That scent lives in our cells that we are constantly shedding. We can’t see it, but there is a cell cloud around us at all times. That cloud travels, much like fog. Even after a rainstorm, parts of your cell cloud can still be floating around in the air. Nose up dogs scan the sky sniffing for that scent. They usually work off leash, and their movements are more methodical —you can see their brains working as they scan, pause, sniff and scan again. They too will follow the scent no matter what, but head up dogs are trained to stay under their handler’s verbal control.

Kona’s story

Autumn has been doing this volunteer work since 2007, and Kona isn’t her first SAR K-9. When it was time to get another partner, Autumn knew what she wanted. Although any worker breed can be trained in SAR, she works well with German Shepherd Dogs. She contacted a breeder who specifically breeds the type of pup she was looking for. Before even meeting the puppies, Autumn studied their pictures.

When she saw a group photo there was one pup out in front, a born leader. When she met them in person, a train went by close enough to scare the newborns. The puppies hid, all but one. He too was most likely afraid, but he wasn’t going to show it. He stood his ground, facing the train. This was the brave leader Autumn knew she could train into a talented search and rescue dog.

Kona came home at 7 weeks and immediately went into training. Of course, obedience is a big part of SAR dog training, but the majority of what is focused on at this age is structured play and purposeful socialization. Once a puppy gains the physical maturity to start his search-and-rescue training it will take 14 to 24 months of 8 hour sessions per week to get to a place where the dog can pass certification.

Kona is a recovery, nose up dog, which means that Autumn can’t share the specifics of their cases, but he has had success in his searches. They search for missing people. As examples, it could be a dementia patient who is lost, someone who has wandered away from a car wreck or someone involved in a crime.

Hunting, for the dog, is fun. You don’t really train a talented dog partner to hunt, according to Autumn. That part comes naturally. You train him to indicate and show you that he has found the person or remains he has been looking for. The hunting — that’s part of who the dog is.

“They are doing what they love to do,” Autumn says. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch. To watch your dog utilize all their dogginess and succeed is an awesome feeling.”

Why do Autumn and Kona do this?

Back to the original question of why. Why would someone spend so much time and effort to volunteer for something like this?

For Kona: Well, as a reward for a job well-done, he gets his favorite toy and there is nothing he likes more than his favorite toy. Not to mention he is getting to do what all of our dogs love — sniff!

For Autumn: According to her, she’s now a connoisseur of good boots, wool clothing and is a sock snob. She can use a compass, GPS and a radio forward and backward — nothing of which she knew anything about before becoming an SAR K-9 handler. Oh — and then there is that human paycheck!

A Q&A With Autumn —

Q: What is Kona’s diet?

A: Kona eats a dry beef and sweet potato kibble with warm water added twice a day. He also earns treats when we train obedience. Sadly, for Kona, the days we train with treats, he gets less kibble. Have you ever seen an overweight working dog?

Q: Does Kona get any human food?

A: Kona likes cheese sticks, peanut butter and raw chicken, turkey and beef. Frozen peanut butter- and kibble-filled Kongs are my go-to for absolving personal guilt and keeping Kona occupied on non-training days.

Q: What type of gear does Kona use?

A: Many SAR dogs wear lightweight harnesses or vests. Some wear only collars. Whichever the handler chooses, the gear is usually minimal in Virginia, because the dogs are searching in brambles and bushes, which loose gear gets hooked on. Also, our dogs mostly search off leash day and night, so a bell and LED lights are important.

Q: Are there certain health issues that Kona’s job causes you to have, and how do you address those?

A: SAR dogs are K-9 athletes, and as such, they are exposed to a lot of impact on their joints. Many of our SAR team dogs use joint supplements throughout their working career. I think blood sugar is an important consideration, and I prefer to feed Kona several meals throughout the day, instead of one big meal. When a K-9 teams searches for hours, it’s common for handlers to throw some kibble in their partner’s water to keep their energy up and encourage water intake. On the East Coast, ticks are a big concern for handlers and dogs. I treat my search gear with Permethrin sprays every six to eight weeks, and Kona wears a tick collar.

Q: Do you groom Kona yourself or take him to someone to be groomed?

A: I do all the grooming care for Kona. Also, while (I assume) Kona does not daydream about getting his nails trimmed, he drools when he sees the grinder. Working together, my spouse and I intentionally classically conditioned him to the nail grinder. Nails are a safety issue for a working dog, and a paw injury can take a canine out of deployable status for weeks or months if it keeps reopening or gets infected.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

About the author

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram @wnewell.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

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The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Autumn Manka is a K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) handler to her 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog, Kona. As members of the volunteer nonprofit Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association (VSRDA), this dynamic duo spends its downtime training for and going out on searches to help Virginia law enforcement find missing people or human remains.

What it takes to be a K-9 SAR and handler

Kona with his gear. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

The time and money required to be a K-9 SAR handler isn’t small. As Autumn explains it, the commitment takes over your life. Above and beyond training Kona and learning how to handle a search and rescue dog, Autumn herself must go through ongoing certifications including those in first aid, blood-borne pathogens and crime-scene preservation. She is, after all, working with the police in what could be an active crime scene.

Then there are the constant classes so she can make sure Kona and the other dogs on her team are taken care of. Doggie first aid, doggie agility, and doggie stretching and orthopedic classes all fill her calendar. Add an annual out-of-pocket cost of $2,000 to $6,000, and one wonders why anyone would do it. That’s an easy question for Autumn to answer. It’s the human paycheck.

“The feeling that you get, whether it was your dog or any dog, and you find a missing person that has been out for four days in the elements, and everyone is getting worried, and the dog hits the ground, starts the task and says, ‘Guys, he’s right here,’ and you’re able to get that person loaded into an ambulance and they are off and well because of a dog — that’s the paycheck. That’s the human paycheck.”

Nose up, nose down

For nose up work, dogs work off leash following their handler’s verbal control, looking for a smell of a person in the air. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

There are two main types of search and rescue dogs. Both require certification. There is tracking and trailing (known as “nose down” work) and wilderness area search and recovery (known as “nose up” work). Nose down work is scent specific. These dogs are looking for a specific person. They are trained to find a scent, lock on it and follow it. Nose down dogs go on missions wearing their leads so they don’t lose their handler. They have a job to do, and making sure their human is keeping up with them isn’t part of it. Once they lock on to that scent their heads are down, and they are going to follow it!

Nose up dogs are looking for a smell of a person or remains in the air. All of us have a specific scent that is determined by our diet, where we live, etc. That scent lives in our cells that we are constantly shedding. We can’t see it, but there is a cell cloud around us at all times. That cloud travels, much like fog. Even after a rainstorm, parts of your cell cloud can still be floating around in the air. Nose up dogs scan the sky sniffing for that scent. They usually work off leash, and their movements are more methodical —you can see their brains working as they scan, pause, sniff and scan again. They too will follow the scent no matter what, but head up dogs are trained to stay under their handler’s verbal control.

Kona’s story

Autumn has been doing this volunteer work since 2007, and Kona isn’t her first SAR K-9. When it was time to get another partner, Autumn knew what she wanted. Although any worker breed can be trained in SAR, she works well with German Shepherd Dogs. She contacted a breeder who specifically breeds the type of pup she was looking for. Before even meeting the puppies, Autumn studied their pictures.

When she saw a group photo there was one pup out in front, a born leader. When she met them in person, a train went by close enough to scare the newborns. The puppies hid, all but one. He too was most likely afraid, but he wasn’t going to show it. He stood his ground, facing the train. This was the brave leader Autumn knew she could train into a talented search and rescue dog.

Kona came home at 7 weeks and immediately went into training. Of course, obedience is a big part of SAR dog training, but the majority of what is focused on at this age is structured play and purposeful socialization. Once a puppy gains the physical maturity to start his search-and-rescue training it will take 14 to 24 months of 8 hour sessions per week to get to a place where the dog can pass certification.

Kona is a recovery, nose up dog, which means that Autumn can’t share the specifics of their cases, but he has had success in his searches. They search for missing people. As examples, it could be a dementia patient who is lost, someone who has wandered away from a car wreck or someone involved in a crime.

Hunting, for the dog, is fun. You don’t really train a talented dog partner to hunt, according to Autumn. That part comes naturally. You train him to indicate and show you that he has found the person or remains he has been looking for. The hunting — that’s part of who the dog is.

“They are doing what they love to do,” Autumn says. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch. To watch your dog utilize all their dogginess and succeed is an awesome feeling.”

Why do Autumn and Kona do this?

Back to the original question of why. Why would someone spend so much time and effort to volunteer for something like this?

For Kona: Well, as a reward for a job well-done, he gets his favorite toy and there is nothing he likes more than his favorite toy. Not to mention he is getting to do what all of our dogs love — sniff!

For Autumn: According to her, she’s now a connoisseur of good boots, wool clothing and is a sock snob. She can use a compass, GPS and a radio forward and backward — nothing of which she knew anything about before becoming an SAR K-9 handler. Oh — and then there is that human paycheck!

A Q&A With Autumn —

Q: What is Kona’s diet?

A: Kona eats a dry beef and sweet potato kibble with warm water added twice a day. He also earns treats when we train obedience. Sadly, for Kona, the days we train with treats, he gets less kibble. Have you ever seen an overweight working dog?

Q: Does Kona get any human food?

A: Kona likes cheese sticks, peanut butter and raw chicken, turkey and beef. Frozen peanut butter- and kibble-filled Kongs are my go-to for absolving personal guilt and keeping Kona occupied on non-training days.

Q: What type of gear does Kona use?

A: Many SAR dogs wear lightweight harnesses or vests. Some wear only collars. Whichever the handler chooses, the gear is usually minimal in Virginia, because the dogs are searching in brambles and bushes, which loose gear gets hooked on. Also, our dogs mostly search off leash day and night, so a bell and LED lights are important.

Q: Are there certain health issues that Kona’s job causes you to have, and how do you address those?

A: SAR dogs are K-9 athletes, and as such, they are exposed to a lot of impact on their joints. Many of our SAR team dogs use joint supplements throughout their working career. I think blood sugar is an important consideration, and I prefer to feed Kona several meals throughout the day, instead of one big meal. When a K-9 teams searches for hours, it’s common for handlers to throw some kibble in their partner’s water to keep their energy up and encourage water intake. On the East Coast, ticks are a big concern for handlers and dogs. I treat my search gear with Permethrin sprays every six to eight weeks, and Kona wears a tick collar.

Q: Do you groom Kona yourself or take him to someone to be groomed?

A: I do all the grooming care for Kona. Also, while (I assume) Kona does not daydream about getting his nails trimmed, he drools when he sees the grinder. Working together, my spouse and I intentionally classically conditioned him to the nail grinder. Nails are a safety issue for a working dog, and a paw injury can take a canine out of deployable status for weeks or months if it keeps reopening or gets infected.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

About the author

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram @wnewell.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

MUTTS Canine Cantina — An Urban Oasis for Dogs

Animal Welfare Enforcement Down

The UPS Loves Dogs

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[jeffreyrwelch]

Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Autumn Manka is a K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) handler to her 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog, Kona. As members of the volunteer nonprofit Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association (VSRDA), this dynamic duo spends its downtime training for and going out on searches to help Virginia law enforcement find missing people or human remains.

What it takes to be a K-9 SAR and handler

Kona with his gear. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

The time and money required to be a K-9 SAR handler isn’t small. As Autumn explains it, the commitment takes over your life. Above and beyond training Kona and learning how to handle a search and rescue dog, Autumn herself must go through ongoing certifications including those in first aid, blood-borne pathogens and crime-scene preservation. She is, after all, working with the police in what could be an active crime scene.

Then there are the constant classes so she can make sure Kona and the other dogs on her team are taken care of. Doggie first aid, doggie agility, and doggie stretching and orthopedic classes all fill her calendar. Add an annual out-of-pocket cost of $2,000 to $6,000, and one wonders why anyone would do it. That’s an easy question for Autumn to answer. It’s the human paycheck.

“The feeling that you get, whether it was your dog or any dog, and you find a missing person that has been out for four days in the elements, and everyone is getting worried, and the dog hits the ground, starts the task and says, ‘Guys, he’s right here,’ and you’re able to get that person loaded into an ambulance and they are off and well because of a dog — that’s the paycheck. That’s the human paycheck.”

Nose up, nose down

For nose up work, dogs work off leash following their handler’s verbal control, looking for a smell of a person in the air. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

There are two main types of search and rescue dogs. Both require certification. There is tracking and trailing (known as “nose down” work) and wilderness area search and recovery (known as “nose up” work). Nose down work is scent specific. These dogs are looking for a specific person. They are trained to find a scent, lock on it and follow it. Nose down dogs go on missions wearing their leads so they don’t lose their handler. They have a job to do, and making sure their human is keeping up with them isn’t part of it. Once they lock on to that scent their heads are down, and they are going to follow it!

Nose up dogs are looking for a smell of a person or remains in the air. All of us have a specific scent that is determined by our diet, where we live, etc. That scent lives in our cells that we are constantly shedding. We can’t see it, but there is a cell cloud around us at all times. That cloud travels, much like fog. Even after a rainstorm, parts of your cell cloud can still be floating around in the air. Nose up dogs scan the sky sniffing for that scent. They usually work off leash, and their movements are more methodical —you can see their brains working as they scan, pause, sniff and scan again. They too will follow the scent no matter what, but head up dogs are trained to stay under their handler’s verbal control.

Kona’s story

Autumn has been doing this volunteer work since 2007, and Kona isn’t her first SAR K-9. When it was time to get another partner, Autumn knew what she wanted. Although any worker breed can be trained in SAR, she works well with German Shepherd Dogs. She contacted a breeder who specifically breeds the type of pup she was looking for. Before even meeting the puppies, Autumn studied their pictures.

When she saw a group photo there was one pup out in front, a born leader. When she met them in person, a train went by close enough to scare the newborns. The puppies hid, all but one. He too was most likely afraid, but he wasn’t going to show it. He stood his ground, facing the train. This was the brave leader Autumn knew she could train into a talented search and rescue dog.

Kona came home at 7 weeks and immediately went into training. Of course, obedience is a big part of SAR dog training, but the majority of what is focused on at this age is structured play and purposeful socialization. Once a puppy gains the physical maturity to start his search-and-rescue training it will take 14 to 24 months of 8 hour sessions per week to get to a place where the dog can pass certification.

Kona is a recovery, nose up dog, which means that Autumn can’t share the specifics of their cases, but he has had success in his searches. They search for missing people. As examples, it could be a dementia patient who is lost, someone who has wandered away from a car wreck or someone involved in a crime.

Hunting, for the dog, is fun. You don’t really train a talented dog partner to hunt, according to Autumn. That part comes naturally. You train him to indicate and show you that he has found the person or remains he has been looking for. The hunting — that’s part of who the dog is.

“They are doing what they love to do,” Autumn says. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch. To watch your dog utilize all their dogginess and succeed is an awesome feeling.”

Why do Autumn and Kona do this?

Back to the original question of why. Why would someone spend so much time and effort to volunteer for something like this?

For Kona: Well, as a reward for a job well-done, he gets his favorite toy and there is nothing he likes more than his favorite toy. Not to mention he is getting to do what all of our dogs love — sniff!

For Autumn: According to her, she’s now a connoisseur of good boots, wool clothing and is a sock snob. She can use a compass, GPS and a radio forward and backward — nothing of which she knew anything about before becoming an SAR K-9 handler. Oh — and then there is that human paycheck!

A Q&A With Autumn —

Q: What is Kona’s diet?

A: Kona eats a dry beef and sweet potato kibble with warm water added twice a day. He also earns treats when we train obedience. Sadly, for Kona, the days we train with treats, he gets less kibble. Have you ever seen an overweight working dog?

Q: Does Kona get any human food?

A: Kona likes cheese sticks, peanut butter and raw chicken, turkey and beef. Frozen peanut butter- and kibble-filled Kongs are my go-to for absolving personal guilt and keeping Kona occupied on non-training days.

Q: What type of gear does Kona use?

A: Many SAR dogs wear lightweight harnesses or vests. Some wear only collars. Whichever the handler chooses, the gear is usually minimal in Virginia, because the dogs are searching in brambles and bushes, which loose gear gets hooked on. Also, our dogs mostly search off leash day and night, so a bell and LED lights are important.

Q: Are there certain health issues that Kona’s job causes you to have, and how do you address those?

A: SAR dogs are K-9 athletes, and as such, they are exposed to a lot of impact on their joints. Many of our SAR team dogs use joint supplements throughout their working career. I think blood sugar is an important consideration, and I prefer to feed Kona several meals throughout the day, instead of one big meal. When a K-9 teams searches for hours, it’s common for handlers to throw some kibble in their partner’s water to keep their energy up and encourage water intake. On the East Coast, ticks are a big concern for handlers and dogs. I treat my search gear with Permethrin sprays every six to eight weeks, and Kona wears a tick collar.

Q: Do you groom Kona yourself or take him to someone to be groomed?

A: I do all the grooming care for Kona. Also, while (I assume) Kona does not daydream about getting his nails trimmed, he drools when he sees the grinder. Working together, my spouse and I intentionally classically conditioned him to the nail grinder. Nails are a safety issue for a working dog, and a paw injury can take a canine out of deployable status for weeks or months if it keeps reopening or gets infected.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

About the author

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram @wnewell.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

MUTTS Canine Cantina — An Urban Oasis for Dogs

Animal Welfare Enforcement Down

The UPS Loves Dogs

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[stiles-wtf]

Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Autumn Manka is a K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) handler to her 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog, Kona. As members of the volunteer nonprofit Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association (VSRDA), this dynamic duo spends its downtime training for and going out on searches to help Virginia law enforcement find missing people or human remains.

What it takes to be a K-9 SAR and handler

Kona with his gear. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

The time and money required to be a K-9 SAR handler isn’t small. As Autumn explains it, the commitment takes over your life. Above and beyond training Kona and learning how to handle a search and rescue dog, Autumn herself must go through ongoing certifications including those in first aid, blood-borne pathogens and crime-scene preservation. She is, after all, working with the police in what could be an active crime scene.

Then there are the constant classes so she can make sure Kona and the other dogs on her team are taken care of. Doggie first aid, doggie agility, and doggie stretching and orthopedic classes all fill her calendar. Add an annual out-of-pocket cost of $2,000 to $6,000, and one wonders why anyone would do it. That’s an easy question for Autumn to answer. It’s the human paycheck.

“The feeling that you get, whether it was your dog or any dog, and you find a missing person that has been out for four days in the elements, and everyone is getting worried, and the dog hits the ground, starts the task and says, ‘Guys, he’s right here,’ and you’re able to get that person loaded into an ambulance and they are off and well because of a dog — that’s the paycheck. That’s the human paycheck.”

Nose up, nose down

For nose up work, dogs work off leash following their handler’s verbal control, looking for a smell of a person in the air. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

There are two main types of search and rescue dogs. Both require certification. There is tracking and trailing (known as “nose down” work) and wilderness area search and recovery (known as “nose up” work). Nose down work is scent specific. These dogs are looking for a specific person. They are trained to find a scent, lock on it and follow it. Nose down dogs go on missions wearing their leads so they don’t lose their handler. They have a job to do, and making sure their human is keeping up with them isn’t part of it. Once they lock on to that scent their heads are down, and they are going to follow it!

Nose up dogs are looking for a smell of a person or remains in the air. All of us have a specific scent that is determined by our diet, where we live, etc. That scent lives in our cells that we are constantly shedding. We can’t see it, but there is a cell cloud around us at all times. That cloud travels, much like fog. Even after a rainstorm, parts of your cell cloud can still be floating around in the air. Nose up dogs scan the sky sniffing for that scent. They usually work off leash, and their movements are more methodical —you can see their brains working as they scan, pause, sniff and scan again. They too will follow the scent no matter what, but head up dogs are trained to stay under their handler’s verbal control.

Kona’s story

Autumn has been doing this volunteer work since 2007, and Kona isn’t her first SAR K-9. When it was time to get another partner, Autumn knew what she wanted. Although any worker breed can be trained in SAR, she works well with German Shepherd Dogs. She contacted a breeder who specifically breeds the type of pup she was looking for. Before even meeting the puppies, Autumn studied their pictures.

When she saw a group photo there was one pup out in front, a born leader. When she met them in person, a train went by close enough to scare the newborns. The puppies hid, all but one. He too was most likely afraid, but he wasn’t going to show it. He stood his ground, facing the train. This was the brave leader Autumn knew she could train into a talented search and rescue dog.

Kona came home at 7 weeks and immediately went into training. Of course, obedience is a big part of SAR dog training, but the majority of what is focused on at this age is structured play and purposeful socialization. Once a puppy gains the physical maturity to start his search-and-rescue training it will take 14 to 24 months of 8 hour sessions per week to get to a place where the dog can pass certification.

Kona is a recovery, nose up dog, which means that Autumn can’t share the specifics of their cases, but he has had success in his searches. They search for missing people. As examples, it could be a dementia patient who is lost, someone who has wandered away from a car wreck or someone involved in a crime.

Hunting, for the dog, is fun. You don’t really train a talented dog partner to hunt, according to Autumn. That part comes naturally. You train him to indicate and show you that he has found the person or remains he has been looking for. The hunting — that’s part of who the dog is.

“They are doing what they love to do,” Autumn says. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch. To watch your dog utilize all their dogginess and succeed is an awesome feeling.”

Why do Autumn and Kona do this?

Back to the original question of why. Why would someone spend so much time and effort to volunteer for something like this?

For Kona: Well, as a reward for a job well-done, he gets his favorite toy and there is nothing he likes more than his favorite toy. Not to mention he is getting to do what all of our dogs love — sniff!

For Autumn: According to her, she’s now a connoisseur of good boots, wool clothing and is a sock snob. She can use a compass, GPS and a radio forward and backward — nothing of which she knew anything about before becoming an SAR K-9 handler. Oh — and then there is that human paycheck!

A Q&A With Autumn —

Q: What is Kona’s diet?

A: Kona eats a dry beef and sweet potato kibble with warm water added twice a day. He also earns treats when we train obedience. Sadly, for Kona, the days we train with treats, he gets less kibble. Have you ever seen an overweight working dog?

Q: Does Kona get any human food?

A: Kona likes cheese sticks, peanut butter and raw chicken, turkey and beef. Frozen peanut butter- and kibble-filled Kongs are my go-to for absolving personal guilt and keeping Kona occupied on non-training days.

Q: What type of gear does Kona use?

A: Many SAR dogs wear lightweight harnesses or vests. Some wear only collars. Whichever the handler chooses, the gear is usually minimal in Virginia, because the dogs are searching in brambles and bushes, which loose gear gets hooked on. Also, our dogs mostly search off leash day and night, so a bell and LED lights are important.

Q: Are there certain health issues that Kona’s job causes you to have, and how do you address those?

A: SAR dogs are K-9 athletes, and as such, they are exposed to a lot of impact on their joints. Many of our SAR team dogs use joint supplements throughout their working career. I think blood sugar is an important consideration, and I prefer to feed Kona several meals throughout the day, instead of one big meal. When a K-9 teams searches for hours, it’s common for handlers to throw some kibble in their partner’s water to keep their energy up and encourage water intake. On the East Coast, ticks are a big concern for handlers and dogs. I treat my search gear with Permethrin sprays every six to eight weeks, and Kona wears a tick collar.

Q: Do you groom Kona yourself or take him to someone to be groomed?

A: I do all the grooming care for Kona. Also, while (I assume) Kona does not daydream about getting his nails trimmed, he drools when he sees the grinder. Working together, my spouse and I intentionally classically conditioned him to the nail grinder. Nails are a safety issue for a working dog, and a paw injury can take a canine out of deployable status for weeks or months if it keeps reopening or gets infected.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

About the author

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram @wnewell.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

Read more dog news on Dogster.com:

MUTTS Canine Cantina — An Urban Oasis for Dogs

Animal Welfare Enforcement Down

The UPS Loves Dogs

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[grublypetcare]

Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team

The post Autumn & Kona: A K-9 Search and Rescue Team by Wendy Newell appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren't considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Autumn Manka is a K-9 Search and Rescue (SAR) handler to her 3-year-old German Shepherd Dog, Kona. As members of the volunteer nonprofit Virginia Search & Rescue Dog Association (VSRDA), this dynamic duo spends its downtime training for and going out on searches to help Virginia law enforcement find missing people or human remains.

What it takes to be a K-9 SAR and handler

Kona with his gear. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

The time and money required to be a K-9 SAR handler isn’t small. As Autumn explains it, the commitment takes over your life. Above and beyond training Kona and learning how to handle a search and rescue dog, Autumn herself must go through ongoing certifications including those in first aid, blood-borne pathogens and crime-scene preservation. She is, after all, working with the police in what could be an active crime scene.

Then there are the constant classes so she can make sure Kona and the other dogs on her team are taken care of. Doggie first aid, doggie agility, and doggie stretching and orthopedic classes all fill her calendar. Add an annual out-of-pocket cost of $2,000 to $6,000, and one wonders why anyone would do it. That’s an easy question for Autumn to answer. It’s the human paycheck.

“The feeling that you get, whether it was your dog or any dog, and you find a missing person that has been out for four days in the elements, and everyone is getting worried, and the dog hits the ground, starts the task and says, ‘Guys, he’s right here,’ and you’re able to get that person loaded into an ambulance and they are off and well because of a dog — that’s the paycheck. That’s the human paycheck.”

Nose up, nose down

For nose up work, dogs work off leash following their handler’s verbal control, looking for a smell of a person in the air. Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

There are two main types of search and rescue dogs. Both require certification. There is tracking and trailing (known as “nose down” work) and wilderness area search and recovery (known as “nose up” work). Nose down work is scent specific. These dogs are looking for a specific person. They are trained to find a scent, lock on it and follow it. Nose down dogs go on missions wearing their leads so they don’t lose their handler. They have a job to do, and making sure their human is keeping up with them isn’t part of it. Once they lock on to that scent their heads are down, and they are going to follow it!

Nose up dogs are looking for a smell of a person or remains in the air. All of us have a specific scent that is determined by our diet, where we live, etc. That scent lives in our cells that we are constantly shedding. We can’t see it, but there is a cell cloud around us at all times. That cloud travels, much like fog. Even after a rainstorm, parts of your cell cloud can still be floating around in the air. Nose up dogs scan the sky sniffing for that scent. They usually work off leash, and their movements are more methodical —you can see their brains working as they scan, pause, sniff and scan again. They too will follow the scent no matter what, but head up dogs are trained to stay under their handler’s verbal control.

Kona’s story

Autumn has been doing this volunteer work since 2007, and Kona isn’t her first SAR K-9. When it was time to get another partner, Autumn knew what she wanted. Although any worker breed can be trained in SAR, she works well with German Shepherd Dogs. She contacted a breeder who specifically breeds the type of pup she was looking for. Before even meeting the puppies, Autumn studied their pictures.

When she saw a group photo there was one pup out in front, a born leader. When she met them in person, a train went by close enough to scare the newborns. The puppies hid, all but one. He too was most likely afraid, but he wasn’t going to show it. He stood his ground, facing the train. This was the brave leader Autumn knew she could train into a talented search and rescue dog.

Kona came home at 7 weeks and immediately went into training. Of course, obedience is a big part of SAR dog training, but the majority of what is focused on at this age is structured play and purposeful socialization. Once a puppy gains the physical maturity to start his search-and-rescue training it will take 14 to 24 months of 8 hour sessions per week to get to a place where the dog can pass certification.

Kona is a recovery, nose up dog, which means that Autumn can’t share the specifics of their cases, but he has had success in his searches. They search for missing people. As examples, it could be a dementia patient who is lost, someone who has wandered away from a car wreck or someone involved in a crime.

Hunting, for the dog, is fun. You don’t really train a talented dog partner to hunt, according to Autumn. That part comes naturally. You train him to indicate and show you that he has found the person or remains he has been looking for. The hunting — that’s part of who the dog is.

“They are doing what they love to do,” Autumn says. “It’s a beautiful thing to watch. To watch your dog utilize all their dogginess and succeed is an awesome feeling.”

Why do Autumn and Kona do this?

Back to the original question of why. Why would someone spend so much time and effort to volunteer for something like this?

For Kona: Well, as a reward for a job well-done, he gets his favorite toy and there is nothing he likes more than his favorite toy. Not to mention he is getting to do what all of our dogs love — sniff!

For Autumn: According to her, she’s now a connoisseur of good boots, wool clothing and is a sock snob. She can use a compass, GPS and a radio forward and backward — nothing of which she knew anything about before becoming an SAR K-9 handler. Oh — and then there is that human paycheck!

A Q&A With Autumn —

Q: What is Kona’s diet?

A: Kona eats a dry beef and sweet potato kibble with warm water added twice a day. He also earns treats when we train obedience. Sadly, for Kona, the days we train with treats, he gets less kibble. Have you ever seen an overweight working dog?

Q: Does Kona get any human food?

A: Kona likes cheese sticks, peanut butter and raw chicken, turkey and beef. Frozen peanut butter- and kibble-filled Kongs are my go-to for absolving personal guilt and keeping Kona occupied on non-training days.

Q: What type of gear does Kona use?

A: Many SAR dogs wear lightweight harnesses or vests. Some wear only collars. Whichever the handler chooses, the gear is usually minimal in Virginia, because the dogs are searching in brambles and bushes, which loose gear gets hooked on. Also, our dogs mostly search off leash day and night, so a bell and LED lights are important.

Q: Are there certain health issues that Kona’s job causes you to have, and how do you address those?

A: SAR dogs are K-9 athletes, and as such, they are exposed to a lot of impact on their joints. Many of our SAR team dogs use joint supplements throughout their working career. I think blood sugar is an important consideration, and I prefer to feed Kona several meals throughout the day, instead of one big meal. When a K-9 teams searches for hours, it’s common for handlers to throw some kibble in their partner’s water to keep their energy up and encourage water intake. On the East Coast, ticks are a big concern for handlers and dogs. I treat my search gear with Permethrin sprays every six to eight weeks, and Kona wears a tick collar.

Q: Do you groom Kona yourself or take him to someone to be groomed?

A: I do all the grooming care for Kona. Also, while (I assume) Kona does not daydream about getting his nails trimmed, he drools when he sees the grinder. Working together, my spouse and I intentionally classically conditioned him to the nail grinder. Nails are a safety issue for a working dog, and a paw injury can take a canine out of deployable status for weeks or months if it keeps reopening or gets infected.

Thumbnail: Photography courtesy Autumn Manka.

About the author

Wendy Newell is a former VP of Sales turned dog sitter, which keeps her busy being a dog chauffeur, picking up poop and sacrificing her bed. Wendy and her dog, Riggins, take their always-changing pack of pups on adventures throughout the Los Angeles area. Learn more about them on Facebook at The Active Pack and on Instagram @wnewell.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Dogster magazine. Have you seen the new Dogster print magazine in stores? Or in the waiting room of your vet’s office? Subscribe now to get Dogster magazine delivered straight to you!

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