#mountains of mourning

[aceofthegreenajah]

Thinking about Mountains of Mourning got me rereading it again for the millionth time. Every time I think, 'surely by now it has no hold of me? I know every turn it takes, can damn near recite parts of it.' And here I am, sobbing.

The story itself is beautiful, the language is gorgeous, but there is also something in the setting that speaks to me personally.

Our family farm is in a community smaller than silvy vale, and has been in the family for at least a couple of centuries. It's in the least populated and most backwater part of the country. And my country itself is small and insignificant, sparsely populated, mostly wilderness. In the eyes of some we may be backwater forest folk, tough as our land and just as stuck in our ways.

And I am a very tied-to-the-earth person. I am at home barefoot in the forest, fishing in the lakes, foraging in the swamps, working with animals, chopping wood. These forests are my forests, this land is my land. I was born on it and if I have to be buried, I want to be buried in it. I've never wanted to leave for better pastures. I've wished I could hold my home and my people up.

So though I cry for the beauty of the language and the message, and the grief of the plot, I also cry for the happy ending that Silvy Vale receives.

[bookfangeek]

Uhhh... hey? I found this weird Animal in the woods? Does anyone know what species it is?

Character (coming soon to) my webcomic @powerpills

[artsygirl0315]

"Unexpected Visit" | Mourning AU

A package was sent by with the surnames these were intended for were Carlson and Anderson, The package was then being delivered to the Medical Unit in which Carol and Aiden resided in.

The Twins were close by, trying their best to keep themselves awake while watching their beloved still resting on the lonesome bed in which they lay on.

Patton, not too far beside them, sat by a chair next to Aiden. He held his hand, whispering pleas and murmurs yet he knew Aiden couldn't hear him.

Not like this, These two can't hear them..

When the package was taken inside the room they stayed in, An unexpected visitor comes through the door just to deliver it.

The heavy foot steps and the familar messy blue jacket that wore off it's signature tones color came insight, The three looked up at the boy with contempt and caution but.. How could he ever be a threat?..

The twins stood up to shield Carol and looked upon the boy, both a bit wary and saddened by the look on his face yet they kept quiet.

He looked so worn out, so dull, so.. tired.

Patton stood up immediately when he arrived, looking up at his fellow member of the organization he so cherished.

Patton can sense the same thing from him, the same shame and guilt plastered on his face that he's seen before.

The same tears, the bags under his eyes yet became more apparent and heavier than last time.

They made eye contact and right then and there, Patton can see the boy's lost soul in his eyes.

"You shouldn't have come, you know?.. Were you aware that they're planning on suspending your positions? Heck, They even considered decommissioning you and your sector!.. Why would you risk your job to be he-"

"Patton, You know more than anyone that I don't care for this job.."

The large boy looks down at the Arctic Base Drill Sergeant and looked him straight in the eyes, His gaze holds no hostility yet anyone could tell that his voice strained out of exhaustion.

Patton, his mouth ajar and his mind was trying to comprehend his words but he closed his jaw and tightened it as he stared back.

"That's a lie and you know it, You were so passionate about inventing things and making all these world-stopping ideas to make the KND better! Your occupation is on the line, as we speak.. Why risk it all of a sudden?.."

Jeremiah kept his eyes on Patton, not moving an inch as he just stood there out of contempt yet he found his voice when he looked down to the floor.

"Because coming to the KND wasn't my idea, This wasn't what I wanted, It wasn't my dream.. It was our dream.."

Patton kept his mouth shut by those words, he didn't know how else to react but be silent. He contemplated for a moment yet looked up again when Jeremiah spoke,

"You know what it's like, don't you?.. To almost lose a loved one from the brink of death, To breathe ever breath and hope that they'll be okay.. But the difference between us is that, You still have a chance to be with them.. I don't.."

Patton stood there shocked from Jeremiah's words, almost a bit too stunned to even speak. His eyes met glossy ones as they stared at each other and stood silent, before he mustered up a response.

"You know that's foul play, You can't just use that against me!.. I'm sorry for your loss, I truly am but don't you dare bring HIM up into this, Don't even bring them up into this!.. Your sector did this to hi-"

"I know, Patton.. I know that and I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I had the gaul to mention them in a vulnerable situation such as this.. I take full responsibility, I will do my duty as a member of the KND and accept my consequences.. I won't even ask for any of your forgiveness.."

Patton was quick to be silenced again, It seemed that he was easily to quiet down when something stuns him. Patton knows Jeremiah, he's a good kid and a kind soul. But he too knows that what's happened still hasn't been resolved and it's become damaging to many others around them. He paid attention once again when Jeremiah takes a step closer but he didn't back away, Jeremiah would never hurt him on purpose.

"I'll pay my dues, Do the time and accept the consequences of my actions as well as my sector's.. But I only ask for one favor, That I stay here and help treat the people we've hurt.. I already failed two people that are dear to me, I'm not going to allow myself to lose more.. I already had a close call once, Not again.."

Jeremiah held his head high and looked at Patton with determination, Something Patton had seen for so many years.

The Drill Sergeant pondered for a moment, the gears in his head turning and weighed down ever possibility that could happen depending on his decision. It didn't take long before he held his hand out to the larger boy, the same look of confidence in both of their tired eyes as he nodded.

"Then prove to me that the smart guy I've trusted over the years is still inside you, Don't let them down.."

"I will, Thank you, Patton.. I've already taken action on preparing Mella's medical kits and Evan's comfort toys.. I couldn't bare myself if I left Carol and Aiden astray, It's what they would've wanted anyway, rather than let their much needed help go to waste back at the treehouse.."

Patton could already tell that Jeremiah was taking his responsibilities seriously and a small yet subtle smile slowly crept up his face, He hopes somehow that the rest of Sector PHP could see the same way Jeremiah does.. He could only hope now..

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[Phew! That was a long post but luckily I'm making more progress with the AU now. Sorry for the lack of dialogue between the Interesting Twins btw, I just didn't have time to really make a script on them but still I hope this was okay! Carol and Aiden belong to my lovely mutual @kandykatz!!💙 Thanks for reading, Stay awesome everyone!]

[felixs-voice-makes-me-wanna]

what for Mr. Choi?

[asssdirector]

song for my stepfather, song for dennis brown, hast thou considered the tetrapod, the young thousands, up the wolves, the best ever death metal band in denton, elijah, dance music, romans 10:9, and southwestern territory?? how did we get such a good setlist and also are you guys alright up there

[immediatebreakfast]

I love how Renfield is the oldest (59) and Mina is very likely the living youngest, and yet they bond so well. (It reminds me how well Mina befriended the 99 year old Mr Swales that he sought her company and felt care for her.) It probably contributed that Jack may have experience with interacting with "madmen" and studying, Mina had lived with and loved a "madman".

It's truly incredible how a simple conversation between an old man in physical cell, and a young woman in a mental cell put such a dent in the Count's plans that he had to flee to Transylvania once it was clear that nothing would stop the crew.

Even if the repercutions were huge in the narrative, in between the horror and the action it was just a visit (probably the first visit that Renfield had in a long time) to talk.

Reading again the entry I noticed how hostile Renfield is towards Mina at first,

"You're not the girl the doctor wanted to marry, are you? You can't be, you know, for she's dead." - R.M. Renfield, september 30.

and even with everything one can say about sexism, and the building infantilization of Mina, let's remember that this is the first time Renfield meets someone that is specifically associated with Jack. Renfield's remarked abuser in both authority, and personhood in general. Also by probably being informed by Dracula himself that both Mina and Jonathan are the key players in this continuous attacks against his plans in England, on top of just almost correctly assuming that Mina must share the same opinion towards the mentally ill that society has.

Three strikes against Mina that she switfly defeats by treating Renfield like the person he is, and talking to him in a normal manner. After taking care of her beloved Jonathan, and being at Lucy's side most of her life Mina is aware of how the Other is viewed. Maybe as she saw Renfield, Mina thought of a worse reality where the man on the bed was her Jonathan in Budapest, maybe she saw how Seward reacted to Renfield's words, and realized what was actually layed out in the room. Or maybe Mina just saw an old man in need of an ear, and she just listened.

This is the first time that Renfield puts a face on a victim of the Count's games, he puts a voice on the young victim whose life is going to violently end in what he thought was supposed to be eternal bliss. Lucy is a distant dream for Renfield, the revenge against these people who dared to put up a fight against this old ancient evil that goes beyond all of their years combined.

Renfield never knew Lucy, but he knows Mina now.

Renfield sees the young Mina Harker, entering life with her equal young husband in hand, and trying to solve the murder of what he knows now was her best friend, and he reflects. He reflects on everything he has done, on what has passed, and what he can do tomorrow.

Mr. Renfield asked if he might see me. Poor man, he was very gentle, and when I came away he kissed my hand and bade God bless me. Some way it affected me much; I am crying when I think of him. This is a new weakness, of which I must be careful. Jonathan would be miserable if he knew I had been crying. - Mina Harker, october 2.

And the man is devastated to see how he is helping orchestrate the murder of another young lady to please the Count. He becomes desperate to leave (a request that is denied by both Seward, and Van Helsing), so the Count can't have access to the inside of the asylum. It doesn't matter if he looks like a coward by the time's literary standards because if the only way to at least save that young lady is by acting like one? Then Renfield might as well do it, he has nothing to lose sans his life.

I think that the key difference between Mina, and Jack when it comes to Renfield is empathy, and the ability to simply treat the other person with the same humanity you should be treated.

Jack may have studied, and climbed until he got to be the head of an asylum, but his own biases, mental problems, and ableism blurred the lines between patient and doctor so hard that he made Renfield's life a boring hell. From when their dynamic was introduced, to Renfield's death, the narrative dictated how Seward was putting both into a deep spiral in which, not even with Renfield's manipulations, none of them were going to come out in victory.

In contrast, Mina has cared for Jonathan without any restrain, and has lived in service of what the situation demands of her at all times. She knows, as a young victorian lady, how to balance herself without trying to compete, or win the other person in the room with her. Mina only needed to genuinely talk to Renfield to break his heart because she gave him the respect, and honestly she expects for herself when talking.

[grumpyoldsnake]

So I've been saying for years that the Discworld series (by Sir Terry Pratchett) and the Vorkosigan Saga (by Lois McMaster Bujold) share several of the same thematic bones

But I never go into specifics

So! For tonight! I will present one case among many.

The Wee Free Men and The Mountains of Mourning

It's about taking action because these people are yours and you have a duty. It's about speaking up for those with no voices of their own. It's about saying, sure, maybe your motivation is selfish, but the impact of your actions sure as hell is not going to be. It's about finding a center to which you can return, when the challenges you face nearly undermine your purpose.

It's about someone who died, and whose memory you refuse to betray.

[thedepressedpelican]

"Home"

[ravensvalley]

#BroadWingedHawk

So when these guys catch their lunch in flight, the impact is so violent that feathers are ripped off right in the air and sometimes even with a part of skin which falls down at our feet. Like a scalp.

…they are Mourning Dove feathers.

[waitineedaname]

"You fear becoming a burden to Cang Qiong Mountain, but Cang Qiong Mountain fears not your burden" what if I just start crying huh

[marejadilla]

Lyndsey Jameson, “Desolation-Black Beach” & detail, 2024, oil on canvas. English artist based in the North-East of England.

[triflingthing]

tourist in the mourne mountains

[cmhcny]

me waking up in cold sweat at 8am to check if popia is alive like

[whateyesaw]

What I Saw in an Irish Forest:

Jan 2024 - Fujifilm X-T30 - Kodak Gold Film Simulation

[panoramicireland]

The Mourne Mountains and the County Down countryside, green and, in places, white with snow.

Long shadows of a winter afternoon.

[starbuck]

I look at you and I know you're the one, the one I used to know something about and I try to say what it was, but the words won't come out