#oddo!doors

[hazy-solaris]

sighhh…

[skellymom]

"Vagabonds"

Ongoing OC x Hunter/Bad Batch Fanfic Series

Introduction: "Chaos On Coruscant"

And Chapter 1: "Weight of the Galaxy" (posted 8/14/2023/reuploaded 1/2/24)

ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ. ɪꜰ ��ᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ 18+ ᴅɴɪ.

(Credit: Cool moving star dividers by @4ngelic-wh1spers )

BACKGROUND: The following story takes place in the Bad Batch Star Wars Universe, and I tried to keep within the timeline of Season 1-2 before the Batch Left Ord Mantell for Mount Tantiss.  The OC characters of my invention are Maadienne “Mad Momma” Dax and her genderfluid Teen named Love.  Mad is an older single mom.   

Mad and Love also are coded as belonging to something similar to the American Nomad population in the US.  Think Nomadland, off-griders, bikers, Slab City transients, hobos, tramps, hippies, punks, carnies, faire circuit vendors, survivalists, societal dropouts, etc. And they intersect with other nomadic groups coded as similar to the Roma (Romani), Travelers/Tinkers (Irish), Romanichal (British/UK). All of these people in this story universe refer to themselves as “The Star People”.

WARNINGS: Shades of neurodivergence, mention of deep sorrow/depression/hurt/lost love/relationship breakups/estranged parents/heavy mental baggage/ugly crying.  There are hints of the beginning stages of fascism and xenophobia.  Some mention of erections, arousal, sexual/sensual feelings, flirting.  Lots of swearing (Star Wars swears mixed with Earth swears).  Fictional prejudicial slurs.  Poverty, class struggle, slavery, war, child abduction, politics, very amorphous mention of genocide, animal cruelty living conditions (brief), animal death (postmortem) and both of these are redeemed. 

Original art of my OC: Maadiene "Mad Momma" Dax. Art markers on paper.

Original art of my OC: "LOVE". Art markers on paper.

FYI-We WILL get to Hunter! But first I need to introduce my OC’s!!!

Introduction: "Chaos On Coruscant"

The outer streets of Coruscant started to show their seediness and poverty the longer Mad and Love walked away from the bustling city center.  They had just picked up a considerable payment of credits after dropping off two young orphans to a well-heeled couple living within the upscale high rises of the capital.  They had the help of clearances, chain codes and disguises.  Both wearing a bland headscarf veil and shift dress over their clothes and skin tattoos.  Mad’s face was uncovered and Love’s full coverage.  To anyone who passed on the street, they were two household nannies taking care of their rich owners’ children. 

The orphans, Edda and Oddo, were refugees from a distant Outer Rim planet that the Empire had newly “colonized” for resources.  The people of that planet fought and lost control of their sovereignty. Many lives were lost in the battle.  So many refugees and newly orphaned children were begging to flee the planet to avoid becoming slaves of the Empire.  Mad and Love saw an opportunity to take whomever they could away from that situation and bring them here to a better life.  They hated the Empire.  Before that The Republic.  Before that…whatever governing forces that had killed, enslaved, or pushed their people out among the stars.  Homeless Nomaadi that nobody wanted.  Dirty marked “Caitiff” scum.  Now the Empire was doing this to other “outsiders” all over the galaxy.  

When Mad and Love dropped off the children, the stipulation was it had to be at the back servant’s entrance.  The couple wouldn’t let it be any other way.  Even though Mads contacts were secure, and this job was very low on the risk scale, there was no room for compromise.  The couple didn’t come out expressly and say anything prejudicial about Nomaadi delivering the children.  But it was heavily implied through the thin veneer of niceness as they opened the door to welcome the children.  Mad and Love were instructed to wait at the threshold, to hug Edda and Oddo and say a hurried goodbye.  The siblings protested tearfully, but gave in. Mad caught a fleeting look at the large opulent apartment, meeting the eyes of the servant at attention on the other side of the room.  The husband, giving them a brusque “thank you” while handing over the bag of credits, shut the door in their faces.  Standing in the servant’s hallway, Mad and Love looked at each other in sad silence.  The siblings had travelled with them on the Beldame several weeks before.  Bonded with them.  The children didn’t care who Mad and Love were.  They were so grateful to be safe and have someone in their life that cared. 

The credits helped smooth the sting…a little.  The encounter was so jarring and surreal, but par for the course.  Mad and Love couldn’t eat or survive without steady revenue coming in. The couple who paid for the lives of these children paid handsomely.  To them it was just a drop in the bucket, easing their guilty conscience.  Taking in homeless orphans as their own children…while not using any of their privilege to stand against the Empire seemed like a glaring example of blind privilege.  Love was neutral on the subject, looking at the glass as half full.  The children have good homes now.  Mad saw the glass as leaky with a huge crack in it.  The damned thing didn’t work well and was fundamentally broken.  

Their ship, the Dread Beldame, was parked on the outskirts of the capital city to keep a low profile.  That meant a lot of walking, but it kept the Coruscant Police off their backs.  Getting the hell off the planet relatively undetected was the goal now.   

The narrow streets led to a small public square complete with an open-air second-rate vendor market.  Tourists visiting the Capital, locals, and Neuvo riche citizens of the city center visited these spots due to lower prices on goods.  The awful smell of the exotic meat vendor wafted up into Mad and Love’s noses.  The smell of a hundred naturally and genetically designed animals housed together in a small space. 

Mad ignored the smell and kept a brisk pace.  However, was surprised by a familiar voice and warm Nomaadi greeting.  

“Auntie?” 

Mad Stopping in her tracks and looked past the front counter into the shadows towards the back of the stall.  A familiar face slowly stepped out.  Mad thought she was looking at a ghost.   

Nephew Sil, covered in dirt and slaughter offal, underweight and wearing a slave collar sadly smiled at her.  She hadn’t seen him since he was a boy, when he was abducted from his family.  Now Sil was a teen. The Nomaadi chest tattoo a clear identifier.  Her experience was that many Nomaadi children were stolen.  The authorities didn’t care to help the families to find them, so they were easy pickings by slavers and traffickers. 

Love, totally unaware of Sil, followed the scent and was shocked by the scene at the meat vendor’s chopping block.  A small live puppy was held aloft shrieking and scruffed by the butcher who was barking at any possible patrons in the crowd. 

 “Loth Wolf-Vornskr hybrid!  Tender delicacy.  Butchered fresh right here.  Last one goes to the highest bidder!!!”   

In his other hand was a very large meat cleaver. 

Love was mortified to witness this.  As their eyes looked past the puppy, cages upon cages of trapped animals came into view.  Small wire cages stacked up high holding dirty tortured souls stuffed into small spaces.  And beyond that, a bigger reinforced pen holding a large bellowing beast hiding in the shadows.  The smell of animal shit, fear, blood, death, and pain hit Love in the gut and assaulted their senses.  Patrons rushed forward with their money to bid on the last small life in the butcher’s hand.  Love was knocked aside and bounced from one patron to the other before being shoved down onto the hard pavement.  The obscene display of crude materialistic greed while being trampled was too much for Love.  And concern for the pup brought anger out of them, vibrating the very air within the space. 

Mad called out to Sil, “Come with us!”   

“I can’t” and winced as he touched the shock collar.  It was electronically locked, live and would not allow him to leave the market stand.  Sil was the meat butcher’s property and locked in, just like all the animals stuffed in the cages around them.   

Mad unbuttoned the top of her blouse to reach for the credits stowed in the security pocket of her binder.  The high neck fell open to reveal her own circular Nomaadi chest tattoo.  She could attempt to buy Sil back from the Butcher and help locate his parents.  The job’s payment would allow this luxury and still have enough for them to live on until the next job. Before Mad could pull out any credits, she could feel every hair on her body stand on end.  Sil could feel it too.  Mad knew exactly where it was coming from. 

“LOVE!  NOOO!!!” 

Mad suddenly turned to see Love levitating 10 ft above Coruscant street.  The patrons facing the butcher never saw what was coming, but he had a front row view.  The butcher froze and his eyes went wide. Mad could feel the raw emotion and power pulse from Love’s body.  They were gonna blow, and Mad couldn’t do a damned thing about it.  

The puppy and the animals in the surrounding cages fell silent.   

All.  At.  Once. 

What happened next to Mads recollection was in slow motion.  A silent Force scream emanated from Love’s mouth.  It shorted out EVERYTHING within that city block.  All the technology, transportation, everything…and the locks on all the cages within the meat stall.  Everything was at a standstill for 5 seconds.  Love still levitating above the street, the butcher standing in the same position, the vendors at a standstill.   

Then things sped up.   

And… THE SHIT HIT THE FAN!  

The animals, sensing freedom, burst from their cages in a frenzied wild blur.  Screams could be heard from patrons slowly realizing what was happening as animals escaped beneath their feet, swooped near their faces, leaped on or past them.  Love still levitating as people and animals ran pell-mell through the square.  Nobody cared to notice a skinny veil-shrouded teenager floating above them.  The butcher let loose a litany of curse words and pointed the meat cleaver in Love’s direction…while still holding onto the puppy.   

Love reached out with the Force and snatched the puppy from the Butcher’s grasp.  He turned 3 shades of red and chucked the meat cleaver at Love.  They cradled the puppy and force deflected the cleaver.  It fell ineffectually against the pavement below.  Love was still levitating at 10ft and giving a calm intense death stare to the Butcher.  He foamed at the mouth in a rage, stooped down and yanked a laser rifle out from under the counter, swinging it around to aim right between Love’s eyes.   

Love, unfazed, didn’t move from his aim.  Mad almost shit her pants in fear.  It was all too much.  They were going to get caught, and Love’s luck was going to run out.  Today was the day she would see her offspring’s brains all over the streets of Coruscant. 

The Butcher pulled the trigger…which did absolutely nothing as Love’s scream had shorted out his weapon.  He was thwarted once again from dispatching this teenage menace, and absolutely lost his composure, chucking the weapon at Love. 

They calmly Force pushed the weapon aside, keeping the death stare.  Having nothing left to assault Love with, the Butcher leapt onto the counter and launched himself up towards them… 

…and was immediately taken out by the large animal held captive in the shadows of the meat vendor’s stall.  There was an explosion of metal, wood, and small animals…that hadn’t escaped from the first rush to freedom.  The Behemoth ran past Love and caused total mayhem to the remaining people in the square.  More blood curdling screams mixed with angry animal cries. 

Love calmly turned on a dime and floated airily away from the scene, pulling off the veil and gracefully dropping it to the ground below.  Their Nomaadi tattoo in full rebellious glory to all of Coruscant.  Love’s facial expression calm as ever, still cradling the puppy. 

It was a total sight to behold.  Mad was beside herself watching Love float away from the scene.  And then yanked almost off her feet as Nephew Sil ran past and grabbed her hand.  He ripped the now inactive slave collar from his neck and threw it aside.  Behind them a cab and several speeder bikes fell from the sky and exploded on the pavement, they had shorted out as well.     

“We gotta go, go, go!  Run Auntie Mad!!!  Where’s the ship???”  Running high on adrenaline he dragged Mad out of the square into the narrow streets for cover.  They tripped over scurrying marmots.  And, Mad had to pull a small, flighted escapee from her hair as they tried to catch up to Love. 

“Love, come down outtya head!  Or we are gonna lose ours!!!”  Sil let go of Mad and ran ahead.  He took a huge running leap and yanked on Love’s leg, pulling them out of levitation mode.  It was like he was trying to catch a balloon.  Love landed on two feet with a proud smile.  

They signed “Hello” warmly and presented the puppy proudly.  

“You CRAZY!”  Syl shook his head “Causing big trouble.” 

They were interrupted by a bedraggled Spice Head grabbing both teens by the back of their shirts.  “Catiff scum!  You should be worth some credits!!!” 

Mad had enough of everything that had gone to total shit today.  Anger welling up, she would have shot him on the spot had her blaster not shorted out.  Instead, she ran full tilt into the assailant, knocking him to the ground.  From there, proceeded to grab handfuls of hair and repeatedly pound his head into the pavement accentuating each screaming curse:   

“KEEP.  YOUR.  HANDS.  OFF.  MY.  KIDS.  YOU.  KRIFFING.  BANTHA.  FUCKER!!! 

He started bleeding, lost consciousness, and stopped moving.  He was still breathing, though.  That was a plus.  Mad’s view cleared and could feel Sil and Love pulling her off the man.   

“Mommommom!”  Loves voice echoing inside Mad’s head. 

“Auntie, stop!  Please get up!!!”  Sil’s voice outside her head. 

Looking up, more Spice Heads were watching the scene unfold, shrinking back into the shadows.  Fear on their faces.  

“See this?  Keep your hands off us and your mouths shut!  We were never here!!!”      

Mad gathered herself, stood up and firmly barked, “Get your asses in gear, the Dame’s this way!”  Sil and Love, clearly shaken, followed behind. 

She gave murderous glances to the onlookers, who cowered as Mad, Sil, and Love passed.  One threw the Eye of Protection sign, showing the fear Outsiders had of The Bad Fate believed (wrongly) spread by the Nomaadi.  Mad sometimes wished she could really curse these people to silence so her family could escape safely.  Every excursion was dangerous to her people.  Snitches were a constant hazard. 

From there, they ran several blocks to the outer port where the ship sat waiting.  

The Beldame with its mismatched junky exterior looked so welcoming.  The sensors picked up Mad and Love’s proximity and opened the gangplank.  All three ran in and found their seats.  The Dame automatically closed its gangplank and Mad got them out of there quickly.  Two local precinct police speeders appeared in hot pursuit firing handheld blasters at the ship.  The speeders could only follow so far before falling behind…but not before shorting out the Dame’s antiquated deflector shield.   

While the Dame exited Coruscant’s planetary atmosphere, Mad brought up the coordinates for Ord Mantell, scrambled their jump signature, and punched the ship into hyperspace. 

You could cut the silence inside the ship with a vibroknife.  Both teens unsure if Mad was still…MAD. 

Both were seated behind her.  The light of stars coursing past casting shadows down Mads back.  It was an uncomfortable 15 minutes before she swung the chair around and met Love with an intensely serious stare.  Only Love heard Mad’s voice in their head. 

 “Dank Ferrick, Love…what the hell was that back there!” 

Sil sat watching a silently animated display of physical movements while both Love and Mad argued back and forth inside their heads at each other.  It was like watching manic mime comedy.  He knew they both could communicate like this.  Just never seen an argument between the two since he disappeared years ago.  He could only guess what the row was about. 

“I couldn’t help it.  Everything about that place was so horrible.  All those animals living and dying like that.  The people trampling me.  And… I miss Edda and Oddo.  I’m sad we let them go.” 

“We needed the money.  We were broke, Love.  Can’t keep everyone we ferry across the galaxy.  What you did in the town square…it was over the top.  You blew our cover.  Our contacts that we worked so hard for won’t help us now.  We will NEVER be able to go back to Coruscant again!” 

“Good, that place is fucking POODOO!!!” 

“But we had allies there, Love.  Without allies we can’t do any business there.  We just lost a good steady income.  The Outer Rim only pays us enough to scrape by.  And now we might have eyes actively looking for us!  You don’t really understand how dangerous everything is now for us…YOU…especially since the Jedi were murdered, do you???” 

Silence.  Surprised face. 

“DO YOU???  We already have shit rain down on us normally.  Things are getting worse out there with the new Empire.” 

Silence.  Angry face. 

“And what the hell was that…thing you did?  It shorted everything out!  That’s new, Love.  You need to control whatever the hell that is.  What did you do?” 

Silence.  Offended face.  

Mad sighed.  “I’m sorry I upset you.  I’m sorry I yelled.  It scared me.  The thought of losing you scares me.  I love you”. 

Silence.  Neutral face. 

“Ok…” Exasperated sigh.  “I… We’ll talk later. “ 

More silence.  Still neutral faced, Love starts to levitate and zone out.  Swaddles the puppy tighter. 

Mad knows she overreacted again.  The rebellious Love was something she wasn’t prepared for.  No idea on how to control these powerful urges.  A Jedi might be able to help if there were any left.  But then, the Jedi were problematic and antiquated.  Had they not been, Love would have been a Padawan long ago…and probably deceased now.  With a heavy, tired sigh Mad turns finally to address Sil. 

“I missed you so much Nephew.  I’m sorry for the drama.” 

Sil immediately got up and hugged Mad.  She grabbed him in embrace and squeezed hard.   

“It’s been so long.  Your parents will be happy to know you’re safe.” 

Sil was quiet.  Then Mad heard soft sobbing and felt his body shake.  She kept quiet and just held on until he wanted to be let go.  Love, dropping their angst, floated over and placed a hand onto his back and slowly rubbed in circles. 

He eventually let go and stood up.  Both Mad and Love spoke at the same time: Mad verbally and Love signing in Basic, “In your own time.  I’ll be here.  I love you.”   

Sil wiped his eyes.  “I’m hungry, Auntie”.  He was so thin.  Clearly, he was underfed while gone.  Probably starved to be kept in line, in addition to the shocks he received.  An outline of rough scar tissue from the slave collar worn into his neck stood out.  It was a very sobering thing for both Love and Mad to consider. 

“Let’s see what we can rustle up, huh?”  Mad got up and made a beeline for the ‘Dame’s tiny galley kitchen. 

“I missed you too Couz.” Love signed.  “Can you hold Tiggy for me while I help mom?” 

Sil nodded and took the puppy from Love.  “Hello, Tigglet” he whispered while settling into the pilot’s chair to watch the stars and Purrgils float past. 

Thanks for your patience. Hunter makes his entrance in this next chapter!

Chapter 1-"Weight of the Galaxy"

Back at Ord Mantell, Mad knocked back the Spotchka to steady her nerves.  While leaning on the bar of Cid’s Parlor with head in hand, she contemplated the huge clusterfuck that transpired on Coruscant. 

They were so kriffing lucky!  Especially finding Sil like that and getting him freed.  Being able to keep all the credits from their last job without having to haggle for his freedom.  The animals and exploding vehicles provided diversion.  The Butcher was being scraped off the concrete, so he wasn’t talking.  The Spice Heads might present a problem…if anyone cared to listen to a bunch of Tweakers. The only reason they were pursued and lacked a shield was due to the Coruscant Police suspecting those running away from the scene and fleeing the planet were to blame for the crime of…property damage.   

The authorities and media didn’t give a Womp Rats ass about the dead butcher, his sketchy meat market front, or the slaves he ran through it.  They feigned some concern about the injured citizens of the downed vehicles and those maimed by the market escapees.  The News Holos were calling the incident “eco terrorism” by a small band of indigents who set the animals free.  Fortunately, a well-known Enviro Group stepped up and claimed responsibility, inspiring its many supporters to clog the streets around the Capitol building in open protest.  The Butchers Trade Org, Pro Meat Groups and rando hooligans looking to profit and cause havoc clashed against them.  This brought out the Coruscant Guard to try to bring order to the chaos.  The upper crust of Coruscant railed against the inconvenience to their day and clutched their pearls.  Total mayhem and a convenient smokescreen. 

This kind of luck is what Nomaadi Maami Dall would call “A Gift from The Force”.   

“But make NO mistake, the Force is Fickle.  It won’t last for long.  Get out of yer own head, or it will be your end!”  Could hear her Elder preach the message like she was sitting right next to Mad at the bar.  She sorely missed Maami Dall…and Paapi Dall, Brothers, Sisters, Aunties, Uncles, Couzins, Friends of The Nomaadi Star People.  The whole Community.  It had been so long since they could all safely come together for Reunion.  Fond memories of feasts, Hand Fastings, Parting Ceremonies, musicians in drum circles around large bonfires, people singing and dancing all night, helping to repair transports during the day and restore supplies for travel, children playing, community coming together to share news, information, trade, settling disputes, healing family rifts, making love, birthing babies, and just safely relaxing from the nomadic lifestyle for a while.  

Oh Maker…the nostalgia HURT.  Being transient was The Way.  Everyone had a different journey.  Paths diverging, converging constantly.  Nomaadi were encouraged to leave, live their own truth, and be independent.  Plus, their survival depended on it.  Too many of them in the same place for a long period of time made the community sitting ducks.  This is why they would occasionally meet for Reunion by word of mouth and never permanently settled anywhere. 

Mads’ thoughts shifted back to their luck…this time.  How long before it ran out?  Love started as a quiet introspective child.  Their use of the Force started early.  It always manifested itself as gentle, non-threatening, defensive and never offensive.   

Mad also deeply regretted the show of temper.  She really hoped to not permanently injure or kill the Spice Head.  He was stupidly dangerous and a victim of a fucked-up system that kept so many down on Coruscant.  Hell, the universe.  All the people on the bottom fighting for the scraps that the powerful occasionally threw at them.  She sighed…when was it ever going to kriffing change?    

Mad’s only plan for tonight was ordering several more drinks to help forget the rising worry in her mind: After the wholesale slaughter of the Jedi and those showing Force abilities, how was she going to keep her powerful and now rebellious child safe? 

At the other end of the bar slumped Hunter, attempting to drink himself into oblivion.  He was at the start of his journey tonight several drinks in.    

His brothers and sister were back at the Marauder.  Tech and Echo had mechanical Maintenace to do.  Wrecker planned to take Omega for Mantell Mix and browse the Traders Market.  Hunter didn’t feel any of it, except guilty for turning Omega down when she begged him to come along.  He couldn’t get the vision of Crosshair out of his head, standing alone on the platform of Kamino as they left the planet.  Oh, and he felt guilty for that too.  Sad as well, and some frustration that his brother wasn’t touched by the plea of brotherhood offered by most of The Batch.  He very briefly considered having Wrecker drag Cross back inside the ship, refusing to leave without him, or stunning the sniper to do so.  It would have not changed Crosshairs mind in the long run.  Stubborn brainwashed sibling.  Hunter still loved him. 

All the while the remains of his home…no, his family’s home lay in the Kaminoan sea smoldering.  The remains of which The Batch narrowly escaped from.  Almost resigned to a watery grave. What happened to all the future unborn and young clones he had seen at the facility the day the Empire took power?  Were they safe?  Even alive?  All The Regs brainwashed by the chip.  All the Jedi murdered by them.  Did Caleb Dume ever make it to safety?  If so, was he scarred for life after seeing his master gunned down on Kaller, then having the Clones turn on him too?  It was all too much.  He felt small and overwhelmingly powerless.  Like absolute miserable shit. The only thing he could do was drown his emotions in whatever Cid’s bar was serving. 

Sometime later, after draining his drink, Hunter’s senses tingled.  Sitting up and rubbing his face, he caught a scent.  His nose found the source down the opposite end of the bar. She looked and smelled intriguing, and was staring intently into an empty glass.   

“Hey”, Hunter addressed Cid and nodded down the bar, “Who’s she?” 

The Trandoshan rolled her eyes, “Why?  Ya looking for a world of hurt, Bandana?  “Cause that’s all you’re gonna get with that one.” 

“No seriously, what’s her name?�� 

“She comes here to drink alone.  The last idiot who didn’t respect her space left a permanent stain on my carpeting.  That Momma has zero patience for Bantha shit” 

“Momma???” 

“Yeah, she’s got a kid.  The dad split.  Just the two of them now.  And she’s protective of her kiddo.  They’re ‘Nomaadi”, so they tend to keep to themselves.” 

“Nomaadi?” 

Cid sighed and rolled her eyes again gesturing wildly, “Nomaadi!  Travs!  They wander the galaxy with no known homeworld.  Come on, Bandana, you never heard of ‘em?  Met ‘em???  Her people are scattered all over the place.  You must have had to move them along while you were working for the Republic?  The Republic considered Nomaadi trash, so they got pushed out.  And they just keep on moving around the galaxy.  This new Empire absolutely hates them.” 

Hunter let that sink in while staring down the bar.  Cid contemplated these two sad saps sitting at either end.  

“She reminds me of someone I know.  Got the weight of the whole galaxy on her shoulders.”  Hunter’s gaze immediately snapped up to meet Cid’s eyes.  She held his gaze for a long, uncomfortable moment hands on hips. 

“Her name is Mad.” Cid finally answered as she turned and walked away. 

Mad.  Was her name Mad for angry or crazy? He couldn’t tell, but he wanted to find out.  She was a welcome distraction from the things he wanted to stop thinking about tonight. 

Mad’s inner stream of consciousness was abruptly interrupted by Cid. “Find any amazing revelations in the bottom of that glass? You’re here to drink, not meditate.”  

Immediately she looked up to meet the bright green eyes of the Trandoshan. Cid’s first language usually was heavy sardonic sarcasm tinged with menace, but Mad saw a bit more in her demeanor. A tiny bit of empathy shining through…before the sarcasm blocked it out again.  

“Dark and Broody at the end of the bar wants to buy ya a drink if you’re interested.”  

Cid pointed towards a very handsome man with a red bandanna and face tattoo staring up the bar at them. He raised his hand in a brief two finger wave and cheesy half smile. An attempt of levity with some drunken smolder.  

Heavy sigh and groan from Mad. “No creepers, Cid.  Remember last time?” 

Cid leaned in against the bar. Her voice finding some softness, “He’s ok. Done some jobs for me. Got a kid of his own, no partner. Kinda lonely. You both look like you need a drink and time out of your own heads. Whaddya say?”  

Another sigh from Mad.  What did Mad really have to do tonight? The next job wasn’t until tomorrow afternoon.  And Love was back at the Beldame with Sil fiddling with the shield generator.  The puppy was probably tearing up and crapping all over the ship.  Maker, what was she gonna come back to?  Mad didn’t want to deal with any of it tonight.  Luckly, Sil seemed somewhat responsible enough, and Love rarely if ever left the Beldame without Mad at their side.  Both teens had dragged Mad down the gangplank in the direction of the bar. “Go have a drink!” they chimed in unison “We got this!” as they ran into the ship.  Oblivious young'uns, dear Maker, now she had two…three with the four-legged pot roast they just “adopted.” 

“Fuck it. You’re right. Can’t turn down free Spotchka.”  

Cid winked and turned away to grab a glass. Mad straightened up, looked down the bar, and gave her best devil may care smirk.  She then gracefully signed “thank you” in Basic Sign Language to Dark and Broody.  

Cid plunked down the Spotchka.  Mad tipped it back with abandon, enjoying the feel of the drink on her tongue. The pleasant burn. The warmth of it down the hatch…  

“HELLO.”  

Mad choked and spit the drink right onto Cid.  

“Smooth move, Bandana”, disgusted and slightly pissed Cid retreats to wipe herself down. Dark and Broody had suddenly and stealthily materialized in the seat next to Mad.  

The pleasant burn is now a fire in Mad’s nose and throat. Spotchka ran down her chin and onto the bar. “Are you trying to Kriffing kill me!” in between coughs. Anger rising. What the fuck, this guy! Dark and Broody looks embarrassed and concerned.  She briefly considers punching him in the face.  

“Sorry…I should have given you more warning” he replies while offering several napkins. Mad grabbed some from his hand holding them to her mouth.  

Cough subsiding, nose still burning, Mad takes in the visage of Hunter: Head of amazing thick black hair, trim body, muscular, deep brown eyes that she could get lost in… She shakes her head and his smokey, sexy voice slides into her ears, “You ok? Anything I can do?”  

Mad’s expression was ambiguous while trying to calm down.  She sits staring intensely at Hunter.  He noticed the depth of her eyes: flecks of yellow mingled with green.  While her surface demeanor gave little away, Hunter’s senses pick up anger, confusion…and a slight glimmer of attraction.  She looked like she might attack and eat him alive.   The prospect seemed exciting.   His eyes dropped and scrutinized her chest tattoo for the first time. 

“My eyes are up here, Stud” she growls.  He notices her noticing him looking at her chest and immediately becomes embarrassed.  His expression shows it, as his eyes widen and immediately shoot back up to her face.  “Just looking at your tattoo.  Honest” he raises both hands in surrender. 

“You always this smooth with the ladies?” 

“Little off my game tonight.  Can I try again?”  Hunter gives Mad a sly smile. 

Cid sidles back up to the bar, “Drinking only, no maiming…and NO sex in the bathroom.  If ya wanna do that, then leave my bar!”  Hands on her hips, looks across the room and suddenly shouts, “SHUT UP, YOU TWO, and mind yer own business!” 

Bolo and Ketch stop laughing and solemnly return to their game of Djarik. 

“Mad, I need Dark and Broody here in working condition for my next job.  So go easy on him.  He’s harmless.  Bandana, quit being such a laser brain.  You guys are stinkin’ up the joint with your buffoonery” she nods to Hunter, then Mad “and your angst.” 

Both Hunter and Mad, taken aback by Cid’s scolding, soften and relax.   

“Cid’s right.  I really am harmless…and a laser brain.  My name is Hunter.”   

He extends his hand to shake.  Mad continues to stare into Hunter’s deep brown eyes for several beats before extending her own and taking his hand.  As her fingers slide into his grasp, there is an intense warm wave that passes between them both that ends in a tingle.  Hunter and Mad’s body hair stands on end as the tingle runs up one arm, crosses their hearts and runs down the other arm.   

Hunter, trying to maintain his cool, gives a lopsided attempt at a smoldery smile while still holding Mads gaze.  Mad was never prepared for this sensory experience and immediately inhaled while her pupils dilate, and her face slightly flushes.  Hunter can hear her heart skip a beat, then pick up to a frenetic pace.  He smells perspiration as it begins to form upon her skin.  He also smells a faint hint of arousal.   

“Mad…”  She’s thrown off by what just happened and quickly pulls away.  She’s used to whatever crawls into the bar trying to daftly impress, threaten, cajole, talk down to, manhandle, or manipulate her.  He’s self-depreciating, disarming, and a bit goofy…while smoking hot.  She’s confused and warming up to this Hunter guy. But the walls are still up.  The urge to bust him in the chops has left her mind. 

“Wooo.  That was…intense!”  Mad’s feral demeanor fell away to shit eating grin and head tilt.  She fans herself with her hand.  That sensation was amazing!  What the hell did HE do?    

Hunter chuckled.  “Uh, yeeaaah…” Casually crosses his legs to hide a semi erection.  That sensation was amazing!  What the hell did SHE do? 

“That happen often?” 

“Nope.  You’re the first.”   

“Shush…flattery will get you everywhere” Mad leaned in closer to Hunter, still not breaking intense eye contact.  She was falling into the pool of those warm brown eyes.  Basking in them.  Hoping not to drown. 

“I can only hope,” he counters.  His heart flutters first, then he feels a second flutter between his crossed legs.  Physically he feels amazing.  Mentally, he feels like an idiot.  

Cid, leaning against the back of the bar, rolls her eyes.  “Can I get you love birds to move the party to The Oasis?  I can’t handle the melodrama.  Give ya a bottle of free Spotchka to get lost.” 

“The Oasis?”  Hunter said suddenly.  He was very confused.  To the best of his knowledge, Cid never mentioned it. 

“It’s a secret little hideaway.  She doesn’t let just anyone use it.”  Mad winked at Cid then gave Hunter a conspiratorial grin. 

Cid wrinkled her nose and shot Hunter a nasty look, “I never let your Batch in on it…except for Tiny.  Your ship smells like poodoo.  If you trash my Oasis, you’ll owe me FOREVER!”  She followed this up by pointing her long bony Trandoshan claw at him.   

Yep, that did it: Totally killed Hunters erection. 

Cid plunked down a full bottle on the bar.  Mad grabbed it as she got up from her bar stool.  “Care to join me for Spotchka under the stars…Hunky?”   

Two loud and very offended scoffs from across the room, “How come we don’t’ get free bottles?” 

“SHUT IT!” from Cid “Or you both are gonna get a bottle each…upside your heads!!!” 

Hunter could only answer with a smile and nod, grateful he could now get to his feet without embarrassment from a certain bodily function.  He followed Mad to Cid’s office and through a hidden doorway.  

“Don’t trash my Oasis!  I MEAN IT!!!”  came Cid’s shrill threat from the other room.   

Mad grabbed Hunters hand and led him through several dark winding stairways, many doorways, purposeful twists and turns that confused the sense of direction. The last door opened to a rooftop area… 

PLEASE like, comment, and/or REBLOG!

To read Chapter 2

https://www.tumblr.com/skellymom/728315714878980096/background-hunter-and-mad-bond-make-love-and?source=share

[somekndofpeople]

@mettleborn LIKED FOR A STARTER —->

“Don’t touch th’ an’mals,”     His voice carried just enough to deliver the phrase he had grown tired of, and it showed in his low tone. So much so that it pushed him to make signs for the displays- that no one reads anyways.  Leaden footsteps leisurely came from beyond the propped open door to the back of the shop. Knowing eyes peered around the door frame at the suspect, or rather, customer. In his own hand, he rattles a dark glass dome around in his cupped palm until it was right side up, and peering back at him. A glass eye that had lost its mate that he had discovered just as the bell on his shop door rang.     Looking back to the customer, he gave a pointed nod in their direction, moving behind the counter, “There somethin’ I can ‘elp ya with?”

Oddo tenderly sets the eye down on the counter for later. Better to keep his own eyes and attention on the newcomer. Incase they also cannot read "fragile," or, "employees only."

[nonooddo]

"That sure is an Odd'o tune coming from our HOA....!"

There is something really rotten about an HOA that takes the side of a developer who wants to scar the very neighborhood that the HOA 'represents'...!

Lately the stench of 'developer' seems to seep through all the emails, texts, letter, web postings and conversations from our HOA... But that should surprise no one. No one who has ever looked at the Cedar Creek documents and sees who's really in control of our supposed Home Owners' Association.

The Cedar Creek network of layers, appointees, companies, voting and non-voting reps, villages, incorporated entities and 'Development Company' Front organizations makes reading the CC&R a real headache-inducing exercise.

Something that ought to be as simple as 'One Household + one vote = election of the HOA Board' is instead more mysterious than picking a new Pope in the middle ages and more complex than the election of the Doge of Venice (look it up!).

All of this because someone (or a couple of people actually) want to keep control of our HOA - WELL PAST their sell-by Date!

As a premier set of neighborhoods we represent a big seat at the regional players' table for our controllers. They get to lord it over all of us, and direct spending, control our assets and even sell us land that the same people then still stay in control of...! Its like a Vegas magic show - but much, much worse. (Because we are forced to pay for it over and over and over.)

Most of us have not really cared. A few brave souls have fought this tin-pot tyranny for a several years. And for their troubles many other homeowners call them crazy and fake-HOA heavies have repeatedly threatened, bullied and harassed them. Still the majority of us have dismissed it all - carried on paying dues and sticking to the rules that we have no say in.

WORST of all are the home owners who volunteer as reps for the 'HOA'. Those that are not in it to reform it (and there are a few of them that slip through the net) are there to 'work for the community'... Not realizing that the are actually unpaid employees of a development company and its millionaire owners. They are less self-aware than the hapless stars of the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn cruddy comedy. Because HOA reps never get the job in the end.

Terrible fiction - WORSE reality!

So this has rumbled on forever with most of us tuning it out - why complain now? Well now the stripes of the developer are showing - because apparently its mating season for developer type and the smell is bringing the stripey skunks out to look for each other to start cuddling up.

The Cedar Creek developer-HOA is all but in bed now with the Oddo developer and the noise is disturbing. Squeaking nice squelches about each other and getting defensive and 'hissy' if any of us try to shoo off the visiting skunk with a broom!

This mating ritual seems designed to create a hybrid skunk developer baby - a big, ugly 300 unit 'luxury baby' that they are trying to nest among the trees right outside our front door. You know - they way horny skunks are wont to do. And this nauseating spectacle is sure to keep up the smell of developer skunk and, inevitably, cause more of the same to be born if the nest is allowed to settle in.

(Ok enough stink-rat analogy!) The fact is that if we had an actual HOA - where the interests of overlord developers played no part in its decisions - we would not be facing an incursion of something tremendously ugly and unwelcome above Cedar Creek Parkway. But instead we have to listen to developers squeaking both inside and outside our house.

Not much good is going to come with this fight against Oddo Developments - the greed to be on that prime and stunning site is real. And there are serious elements inside Olathe City Hall staff that detest what we have - because they are schooled to undermine single family neighborhoods. But the treachery of our HOA's role in this may ultimately cause a real shift in the landscape.

When we see what happens to our neighborhood because of Oddo Developments - we may just remember who opened the gates.... Who sang the song of Oddo... Who caries the lion's share of blame.... And who we will HAVE TO TAKE DOWN as a result...

If you've ever been skunked - its not something you soon forget.

[thelocalmuffin]

For Day Twenty-Six, I wanted to write Ginasusa and put the RNG in and got prompt 27-as a suggestion. Hope you all enjoy. You can check it out on AO3 too.

Knock, Knock

Without another warning, the door opens as a young woman steps inside. Susato turns to see Gina coming inside the Sholmes Suite, closing the door behind her. It’s a bitter cold day and she’s holding her jacket close. She’s shivering in place, her frame shaking as she tries to lean on the wall. She must have been caught up in the blizzard.Susato frowns, grabbing a blanket and placing it on Gina. She leads her to the couch.

“Good evening, Miss Lestrade.”

“Hi, Sooze.” Gina smiles weakly. “Fanks.”

“What brings you here so late?”

“It was real cold and I couldn’t see through the snow, so I stopped by for a spell.” Gina sighs. “That storm is real bad. Ya don’t mind, do ya?”

“No, of course. Let me get some tea for the both of us.” Susato goes back to the kitchen, turning on the gas stove.

“Where’s Oddo…or anyone else?”

“Oh, everyone else is asleep. I have no idea how they do it. I haven’t been able to sleep for a while.” Susato admits with a sigh. “It’s really cold in the attic and though I keep trying to maintain the heat in the furnace, it’s not enough. So I came down here for a cup of tea.”

“Oh, did I scare ya?” Gina frowns. “’M sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m just relieved it wasn’t someone trying to break in.” Susato admits, pouring the tea and bringing it over. “I just wasn’t expecting visitors so late in the evening. Well, you are welcome to stay if you’d like. I know Mr. Sholmes wouldn’t mind.”

“I fink so.” Gina hums with a smile. She looks down at the teacup. “Oh, wut tea is this?”

“It’s a vanilla chamomile blend. I was hoping that Iris was right that it can help with sleeping.” Susato takes a sip of the surprisingly sweet blend.

“Yeh, that sounds good.” Gina takes a sip, sighing. “Kinda sweet, but at least it’ll keep me warm.”

The two watch the snow fall. From the inside, it’s actually a rather pleasant thing to enjoy.  Tomorrow, the reality of the smog and dirty snow will be clear in the light of the day, clinging on the snow. For now, it's just lovely to watch it fall. The tea has also done its job of warming Susato up internally. She grabs the cups and teapot, sitting back near Miss Lestrade and getting a blanket of her own. She’s not going to bother to try to sleep in the cold attic again.

“You warm enough?”

“Eh, not really.” Gina admits. “I heard a kiss gets people all warn ‘n cozy, though.”

“Heehee.” Susato giggles at the cute attempt of flirting Miss Lestrade tried. “Very well.”

She leans over, kissing Gina’s cheek without any warning with a soft smile. Her face brightens up, bright red as Susato grabs a blanket and snuggles up next to her. “Well, wouldn’t you know it? I think you had a point, Miss Lestrade. You are a lot warmer.”

“Uh…yeh.” Gina stutters, turning her body away. “G’night, Sooze.”

“Goodnight, Miss Lestrade.”

**

I’m still taking a couple prompts! If you’d like to send them over, feel free to send me an ask and let me know what ship you want with these prompts.

[saintheartwing]

The Karma Circle: Sister Dearest

Welcome, children. Welcome…to the KARMA CIRCLE.

I take you to a simple town with simple people. McKeesport. A quiet town, filled with quiet people, kindly people. Away from the hustle and bustle of the big city of Pittsburgh, Dibbun Membrane lives with his sister and his father, having been at long last freed from his greatest concern: an annoying alien that finally blew himself and his base up, leaving a VERY helpful and playful robot behind for Dib to play with.

And Dib looks upon this new companion as a true comfort, for his father is never, ever around when he needs him, and his sister is beastly and cruel. Dib ¬simply does not have it in him to fight back against her, for she terrifies him to the very core…

Even more so than the haunted house by Emmett's Pond. He passes it by every day on his way back from school...unaware that that which is dead does not lie still. It lies in wait. Seeking what it lost.

…and it will soon strike. For the Piper is about to be paid.

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

Throughout the town's history, several fires tore through McKeesport. The greatest of all took place on May 21, 1976. Fire had spread from the town's most enormous department store downtown, fourteen buildings going up in a blaze. Striffler's Funeral Home, Kadar's Clothing Store, Oddo's Hobby Shop, the Coney Grill Restaurant…

And the Emmett Family home. It had been especially tragic…a young, sweet child had run out of her burning family home after the flames had spread, rushing away desperately to get help, for there were only two ways to get to town, one by the road, the other by a small lake that led to another road into town. She'd supposedly been trying to get help, for the first path was alit with flames, and had hoped to cross the lake…only to drown in the middle of the lake instead.

The poor little girl had failed her family, and legend had it that she still cannot rest. At sunset, you'll see the smoke drifting through the trees though it's been a CENTURY since she drowned…and if you're wise, you'll RUN! For that's when her ghost rises from the dark lake in which she'd drowned. She searches and searches for her baby brother, her father, her mother, but will never find them…and you had best take care she doesn't find you.

Dib believed in ghosts, of course. He was twelve years old and had seen more than most his age. He'd seen demons and spirits flying through the skies. He'd seen beings from beyond the stretches of Earth. And his new "little brother" of sorts, his best friend and confidant, was a robot with a head full of garbage, paper clips and-

"Ba-doompa-doompa-bubble gum! Ba-doompa-doompa-bubble gum! Ba-doompa-doompa-bubble gum! I'm gonna buy some bubble gum!" GIR the robot sang out, waving his tiny little robot hands in the air, his cyan eyes glittering as he bounced about the kitchen, Dib smiling a bit as he munched on his "Choco-Flakes" cereal.

There was an article in the paper about someone supposedly seeing the "Departed Soul of Emmett Lake". And, of course, it had the famous rhyme that you were meant to sing as you ran by it, the magic charm. "Departed Soul of Emmett Lake, Come not Night for Mercy's Sake! For when the sun hangs in the sky then we shall safely pass you by".

Gaz probably believed in ghosts too, deep down. But she didn't know nor would she have cared about the haunted lake. Gaz didn't care about much that didn't immediately gratify her, like a Poop Cola or "Piggy Hunter May Cry 5". It was, in a way, amazing that Gaz could be so different from their mother even though the two were almost equal in appearance to their respective parents. Dib had his father's scythe-like hair and pale skin, and both had their mother's amber/gold eyes…but Gazlene, unlike Peggy Membrane, had eyes sharp like a hawk, her arms thin and her expression usually bitter, and when she DID smile, it was a grin like stretched elastic.

She only ever really smiled when Professor Membrane was in the house. Then she'd call Dib by his actual name and would calmly smile over at Dib in a faux-friendly fashion. But once their dad had left, the smile would vanish, she'd punch or hit him somehow for taking a soda she felt belonged to her, or would, occasionally, lock Dib in the cellar for taking what she felt was a slice of HER pizza.

Not that Dib and GIR really minded being in the cellar too much. Because Dib had just decided to move a great deal of his stuff downstairs, including a Papier-mâché version of people's heads, toy soldiers…GIR liked to play with the red ones…and a Tallest Red and Purple series of puppets that GIR had made. GIR especially liked to act out the "what happened when the Tallest decided to check that odd speck in the distance out the window". The "odd speck" turning out to be a tiny black hole. Zim, watching it all from his end, had evidently been mortified. Maybe THAT'S why he hadn't been paying attention to the explosive experiment that finally did him in!

"What the hell is that? That's gotta be the weirdest thing I ever seen in my life!"

"Man what the hell IS that?"

"Say Red, think we oughta check that thing out?"

"I dunno, Pur, why not-AAAAA! AAAAAAA! AAAAAAAAAA!" GIR cried out, waving the Red and Purple puppets about in the air as Dib held up the black hole he'd made from Papier-mâché as GIR "tossed" the puppets through it. There came a loud KLOKKA-KLOK and the doorway opened up, Gaz glaring down at them.

"Shut up. You'll make me lose my concentration on Vampire Piggy Hunter X." She snapped, slamming the door shut as Dib glared up at her as she re-locked the cellar door. Good thing he'd snuck down some circus peanuts today.

"I could cut her up into little pieces and feed her to Mr. Tiddles." GIR cheerily offered, Dib frowning a bit.

"For one, Mr. Tiddles has been dead since Gaz sacrificed him to get those gummy bears that feed on human flesh." He sighed. "And TWO, I'd just get sent to prison. Everyone knows I hate her…they'd blame me for sure." He mumbled, taking his glasses off and rubbing some gunk off of the lenses.

"Can'tcha…y'know…just tell your dad she's a meany head, Mary?" GIR asked, scratching his bucket-esque head as Dib shook his head back and forth.

"Dad wouldn't believe me. She always acts reaaaal nice around him and she doesn't leave bruises on me that leave actual marks. Besides, I don't think he WANTS to believe me. He wants to believe his children get on just fine so he can just keep working at the lab." Dib insisted, shaking his head again. "She'll be back in ten minutes. Remember, look SAD." He insisted, GIR taking his lips and turning the smile into a deliberate frown. "Good. If she thinks we're having fun down here, she'll just think of a worse punishment. Probably one that'll hurt."

"Like…goin' down to the lake?" GIR mumbled out, eyes widening slightly in fear.

"Zim told you about it?" Dib asked, raising an eyebrow up in the air…and though GIR was silent…Dib could guess what the answer was.

…

…

…

…then came September, and Professor Membrane had to be called away to a peace conference at the United Nations. Dib, of course, had tried to beg to come with him, but Professor Membrane had just good-naturedly laughed and patted his son on his head, saying Gaz would take good care of him before heading out the door. Gaz had IMMEDIATELY barricaded Dib in his room and he'd been almost without food had he not thought to keep Premium Saltines and peanut butter cups under his bed. Why? So she could eat all the pizza and keep HIM from taking it.

"I'm wise to all your tricks." She told him calmly. "And don't complain. Whiner." She'd added, slamming the door in his face when he'd asked to use the bathroom. Good thing the window could be opened enough.

"I wonder why Memby never notices the rose bushes under your window don't ever bloom." GIR asked as Dib did his business and then closed the window, Dib sighing as he plopped down on the bed and glanced over at the calendar on the wall.

"Oh. Good! Tomorrow's Wednesday!"

Indeed. The next day was Wednesday, and that meant that Gaz was chatting it up with her friend Tak, another Irken alien just like Zim had been who'd been considerably more…calmed down…over the years. With Zim dead, what psychosis she'd had had faded a bit into just occasional coldness and vaguely British snarkiness that always manifested whenever Gaz was compelled to drag Dib along with her to Tak's house down the street to play "Grand Theft Piggy 5: New Pork City" in Co-Op. Tak and Gaz both seemed to be made of the same material…that is, a big block of granite left in the middle of a Minnesota winter.

But hey, GIR and Dib could sneak Reeses Pieces from a small glass cup that Tak kept by the living room cupboard whilst Tak and Gaz played before Tak's big screen TV and they could ignore the nasty comments the two girls would sling their way whilst carjacking little old virtual ladies.

"Honestly, my brother is SUCH a whiner." Gaz muttered. "He keeps insisting I can't take the car. That "I'm too young". I could drive it just fine."

"You ALWAYS walk here?" Tak asked.

Dib paled. Oh crap. Ohhhhhh crap.

For you see, there were two ways to get to school AND to Tak's house, which was right BY the school. One was by the hill, and the other…well…the "shortcut" by the lake. The haunted lake.

"Yeah, it's a long walk up the hill to get to the stupid school-" Gaz mumbled as GIR's mouth hung slightly open, finally processing what Gaz and Tak were about to say, his eyes becoming tiny pinpricks. Oh no. Ohhhhh no!

"Why don't you just take the shortcut through the woods? Y'know, the one that has the lake nearby?" Tak asked.

"Huh?" Gaz blinked, pausing the game and putting the controller down as she scratched the purple hair atop her head, her amber/brown eyes turning to look at GIR and Dib as her tone became quiet and dangerous. "You KNEW about a shortcut?!"

"Everyone in town knows. Lemme guess. You didn't tell her about the shortcut because you're scaaaared of da spooooky ghoooosties!" Tak said, throwing her head back and laughing hysterically, antennae flopping about as GIR clung tightly to Dib, letting out a panicked squeak. "I'm sure your sister will be happy to cure you of such a silly fancy. It's just an urban legend. Supposedly this young girl's family burned to death and SHE drowned in the lake, and should you see smoke rising from the woods, you'd best RUN! It's all so silly." She said, her voice as sweet as honey from a wasp.

"You're a bad, BAD girl! You won't make us go past the lake! Not at sunset!" GIR yelled out.

"A GHOST? Really?! You didn't tell me about this shortcut because some GHOST is supposed to haunt it?!" Gaz snapped. "Gimme a break, like I should be scared of a stupid specter." She muttered, folding her arms across her chest and shaking her head back and forth. "While I'm doing IMPORTANT things you're picking your nose, laughing on how you make me walk three miles every day just to get to school! And all cuz of some dumb urban legend! Lemme guess, a headless lumberjack'll pop outta the woods and cut my head off?!"

"I wish." Dib muttered.

Gaz IMMEDIATELY launched the wireless controller she had in her hand at him and it smacked into his forehead, a bloody cut trickling down it as he flopped to the ground, Dib glaring triumphantly up at her as he picked up his dropped-down glasses. "Now I've got a cut, a scar to show Dad when he comes back." He told her.

"Shut up or you'll get worse than that!" Gaz told him sharply, grabbing him and GIR by the wrists, dragging them out of the house, heading for the woods…heading for the lake…

As sun was beginning to set, crimson rays being cast overhead. She continued dragging them along the path, over dead leaves and fallen sticks, a long shadow being cast behind her smallish frame, the setting sun glowing almost as brightly as her hateful eyes, the dark pond slowly coming into sight off in the distance.

"Maybe she's a witch?" GIR whispered to Dib. "You think she's a witch?"

"Shhh!" Dib hissed back. The charm. The magic charm. "Departed Soul of Emmett Lake, Come not Night for Mercy's Sake! For when the sun hangs in the sky-"

"What're you two whispering about?" Gaz snapped out.

"Nothing!" Dib said quickly, gulping a bit as the wind began to wrap itself around him, digging its claws into him.

It was no good. The charm only worked during the DAY, when the sun was up and now the sun had fallen past the gnarled and now-barren trees, the sky looking like it was lit up with burning flames as…as pale wisps of smoke came curling and creeping under the ground, like blind fingers searching…

"The smoke. The SMOKE!" Dib whispered out, eyes widening in horror. "The smoke from the burning house! It was there!

"Are you kidding me?" Gaz groaned, rolling her eyes. "Seriously? Smoke?!" She muttered, dragging them towards the lake, GIR trying to break free in desperation before Gaz tossed him away, shoving her brother towards the lake, sticking his head down towards it, shaking him a bit. "LOOK!" She yelled out. "There's nothing there at all! It's just mist rising off the water!"

She was looking at Dib when she spoke…and did not see what was rising out of the reeds nearby, making it's way towards her as she glared back at GIR, who was gasping in horror at what drew ever-closer. Something dark and wet and tiny, a figure made of rotted-away flesh and water and reeds. Greenish/brown muck clung to the decayed flesh and slightly-cracked bones, a frog stuck in one eye, calmly breathing and staring back from the empty socket. Its eyes were silver like the scales of a fish, it's mouth turning from a slight smile to a furious, baleful glare as it saw Gaz shake Dib again, threatening to drop him in the lake as she yelled at GIR.

"WELL?! You cowards, I can't believe you're scared of some stupid girly ghost, there's nothing-"

The ghost GRABBED her, Dib breaking free and scrambling back as Gaz and the figure went into the lake an instant later, dark water frothing about as the two figures struggled, snarls and screams filling the air, Gaz and the figure sinking down in a boil of bubbles.

"G-g-g-g-g-GHOST!" GIR screamed out, Dib and GIR immediately racing off down the path, heading for home as fast as their legs could carry them, but GIR's leg had been injured when Gaz had thrown him, and there was a KRAKKA-KRKK sound as he fell to the forest floor, letting out a yelp. Dib quickly knelt down by him, trying to help GIR up as they heard the bushes and bramble being pushed aside, the two rooted to the spot in sheer terror, white nests of toadstools around them as they clung together in fear…

And then Gaz burst through the bushes, looking…oddly nice. She'd evidently run so fast her clothes had dried on her body, and her cheeks now had a bit of a blush to them, her hair now falling around her head almost like a halo as she blinked a bit at the sight of the two.

"Are you alright, guys?" She asked.

…GUYS?!

"That was an awful stumble, huh? Oh and look at you, Dib, you're shivering!"

DIB?! Calling him DIB and not "Hey, you"?

"Lemme give you a piggyback ride, GIR." She offered, helping GIR onto her back and cheerily smiling at Dib. "I think there's some pizza left over I can heat up at home, okay?" She asked Dib as she calmly walked off down the path, whistling.

WHISTLING!

"Who are you and what have you done with Gaz?" Dib muttered a bit, walking alongside her, scratching his head in surprise.

…

…

…

…true to her word, Gaz heated up the leftover pizza in the microwave and poured them all some Poop Cola, breaking out the big, fizzy straws from the cupboard, smiling as she watched them eat, staying silent before heading to her own room, Dib and GIR going back up to Dib's room, the two sitting on Dib's bed as Dib nervously chewed on his lip, glancing over at GIR.

"Did…did that just happen?" GIR asked. "She's all…y'know. Cheery."

"Yeah, it's weird." Dib murmured, scratching his head in confusion. "But…you saw it, right? At the lake?"

"Yes. And she fell in, right?" GIR wanted to know. "I don't get it, why…why's she being so nice? It's weird, Mary. Really weird. She's so different!"

"I thought she'd be dead, but…" Dib trailed off. "…I hope dad comes back soon." He finally sighed. "Hopefully things'll be back to normal soon."

And so the two went to sleep, GIR plopping down in the corner underneath a poster of the X-Files whilst Dib laid back in his bed, listening to Gaz walk about downstairs, slowly and uncertainly, as if she'd lost her way.

Within a few days though, it became clear Gaz had changed since falling into the lake, as if all the unpleasantness had been washed right out of her. The house was now bright and cheerful, Gaz now happily sharing her pizza and soda with the two and never raising her voice. She let Dib play with her Game Slave and even Tak didn't seem to mind this new Gaz as much, because this new one was far more cooperative in co-op. She doodled with Dib during the evening, chatted with him as they looked at old corny B-movies on the TV. And above all, she never ever hit them or yelled at them anymore!

Dib and GIR started calling her "Gazzy", and Dib would stargaze with her on the roof of their house at night, looking up silently at the stars, resting one hand atop hers as they contemplated the majesty beyond.

"Dad's gonna be home tomorrow." Dib said one night. "You remember, right?"

"Yes, Matthew."

"It's just "Dad", really."

"Alright. Dad."

"…how long will you be staying?" Dib wanted to know, tilting his head slightly to the side as Gaz rubbed her chin and raised an eyebrow up.

"However long would you want me here?" She wanted to ask. "If…if you wouldn't mind, could…" She began to say before Dib smiled, patting her on the shoulder.

"I want you to stay with us." Dib insisted. "Okay?"

"…I'd like that." She admitted with a smile, wrapping her arms around her brother and hugging him tightly. "Thank you, Dib." She said, a single tear trickling down her cheek and onto the roof below.

…

…

…

… it was about two years before Dib made his way back to Emmett's Lake, going in broad daylight on a sunny Saturday in June, down the winding forest path to the dark lake where tragedy had struck o'er a century ago. The lake was peaceful now, tiny little tadpoles flittering about as butterflies flew overhead. He calmly sat at the end of the lake, on a tree stump as a water boatman skittered across the lake, leaving behind a small silver wake as Dib waited.

Sure enough, a few bubbles began to rise up to disturb the surface of the quiet water, small fish darting away as a scum of mud and filthy rose up slowly from the bottom of the lake, taking the vague shape of someone all-too-familiar who was scowling angrily.

"Dib, gemme out! She took my body that stupid little bitch! Look, if you bring her down here, I'll give you fifty bucks! I'll bring you chocolate every day to your room for breakfast, I'll-I'll wash your feet and never yell at you again, I promise, I-"

"Goodbye, Gaz." Dib firmly remarked, sitting up and walking away.

And that was the last time Dib ever walked by the lake ever again.

[italianfootballtheories]

Udinese - Pozzo’s Old Lady

Season Preview - 2019/2020

It’s no coincidence that since the Pozzo family purchased Watford in 2012, Udinese’s fortunes went from 4th, 3rd, and 5th in the seasons preceding, to no higher than last campaign’s 12th ever since. There’s no denying the lucrative TV money circulating in the Premier League, but that’ll hardly console Udinese fans who’ve seen their beloved side reduced to feeder club. The sliding doors usually directs quality players over to the EPL while those who don’t quite cut it at Watford come the other way. Giampaolo Pozzo has been married to Udinese since 1986, but his affair with sexier Watford has left the Zebrette feeling cheated.

Fans have also expressed their disapproval at the transfer model of often shunning Italians in favour of unknown players from far and wide in the hope of turning them over for profit. Once upon a time those unknowns were Alexis Sanchez, Handanovic, Benatia, and Zielinski. Nowadays, most of the unknowns don’t turn out to be as glamorous. It was no surprise then, to see sagacious Udinese vulture in on the carcass of bankrupt Palermo and sign Nestorovski and Jajalo as free agents.

Since Francesco Guidolin Udinese have also struggled for continuity on the bench. Igor Tudor is in his 2nd spell after keeping the Friulani afloat after they again getting sucked into the relegation dogfight under Velazquez first and Davide Nicola later. It was the same trick Tudor used the previous campaign when Massimo Oddo had them perilously close to going down. This time he’s stuck around and notched a preseason onto his belt. 

The ins and outs haven’t done much to alter the overall quality of the squad, although Tudor will be hoping rumours of De Paul’s departure amount to nothing; the Argentine was the stand-out player last term. He represents Udinese’s best chance of a mid-table finish, which is the club’s realistic objective (along with grooming some players for profit). 

Of the new recruits, midfielder Walace (capped 5 times for Brazil) is the one fans are most hopeful for. They would have liked to have kept Okaka, who netted 6 times after arriving in January, but the Pozzos (at time of writing) returned him to Watford - has since returned. At least Lasagna stays after breaking into the national team, while Under-21 captain Mandragora started the season off with a brace in the Coppa Italia. 

Of late, Udinese have been saved by there usually being 2 or 3 teams in the division too terrible to stay up. It should be the case again this time as they look set to fight it out with the likes of Bologna, Parma, and SPAL for a comfortable survival.

[beedujourblog]

Located in the Cape Winelands off Route 44 in Stellenbosch, lies the brand new Pink Valley Wines. Pink Valley is literally the new kid of the wine block as it opened its doors on 11 November 2019. Specialising only in rosé wines, the aptly named Pink Valley Wines graciously hosted me on their farm to taste their new menu at their beautiful restaurant located in its vineyards at the foot of the looming Helderberg Mountains.

Who is Pink Valley Wines?

Pink Valley Wines is owned by the Oddo’s a French wine-making family who recently bought the farm to start a new wine here in South Africa. The family has farms in Provence and Sancerre in France, in Sicily, Italy as well as in Spain. The Rosé’s here in the Pink Valley are created using the same method as the Rosé produced in Bordeaux. Ultimately, you now have a wine created using their French method with our home-grown vines and soil.

The result is an interesting light rosé that looks almost like a white wine. You can barely see the pink shimmer in it until closer inspection. The taste will reveal that it is indeed a rosé though.

  Pink Valley is currently the first winemakers to specialise only in the production of Rosé  here in South Africa. I think it’s a perfect concept seeing as Rosé is not limited only to the summer season in our warm climate.

The Pink Valley Wines Menu

The restaurant is situated alongside and overlooking the vineyard offering calming views of the valley far away from the traffic. The interior is comfortably decorated in bright pastels with interesting artwork pieces on the wall. The owners are avid patrons of the arts and love to show off their collections. In fact, they commissioned local abstract artist Walter Battiss to design their label and logo.

Starters

I opted for the Sweet and Sticky Pork and cucumber skewers. This tasted DELICIOUS. I highly recommend this one! It is the ultimate savoury treat.

Mains

Their mains are generous if there’s one word to describe it.

The beef rib and grilled corn with salad

I couldn’t even finish this huge offering. While I always prefer my beef with a side of potato, I have to say this corn strips were amazing. I really enjoyed the two together.

The Whole Baked Mackerel with Salad

Freshly baked mackerel covered in a savoury sauce makes for an excellent summer option.

Dessert

The strawberry and vanilla panna cotta slice

Now I am not a sweet person and this is actually the first time I have ever tried a panna cotta. This was nothing short of amazing and the best thing was that it was not over sweet. It had a fruity taste and the mix of wafer and bitterness was perfect. Plus, just look at it!

Deluxe chocolate and hazelnut sandwiches.

Served chilled, these decadent biscuits are filled with a creamy slightly bitter chocolate that just comes forth on breaking it. Delish.

If you are looking for THE wine farm to visit this summer, Pink Valley Wines is one to add to your list. I personally enjoyed the wine’s light and refreshing taste and like me, you’ll probably be walking away with your own bottle after the visit!

Cheers, Bee

Pink Valley Wines https://www.pinkvalleywines.com/ Pink Valley Wines Cordoba Road (R44) Helderberg Rural Stellenbosch – Somerset West South Africa T: +27 (0) 21 855 3744 E: tasting@pinkvalleywines.com

  PIN IT!

Think Pink and Drink Pink at Pink Valley Wines Located in the Cape Winelands off Route 44 in Stellenbosch, lies the brand new Pink Valley Wines.

[nyslovesfilm]

Staten Island Small Businesses Ready for Their Close-Up

More than 20 film and television productions have been shot on Staten Island since 2018 and the borough’s small businesses want to be a part of that growth in production. An Oct. 28 roundtable discussion aimed to help that happen. Sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Motion Picture & Television Development (MPTV) in partnership with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Borough President’s Office, the event featured helpful strategies from production professionals.    

Representatives from a cross-section of Staten Island businesses—including marketing, shipping, caterers, storage facilities and security services—attended the roundtable to find out ways they can take part in film production. Production supervisor Gus Gustafson and assistant location manager James Kenny, who both worked on Judd Apatow’s Staten Island feature, attended and shared their production perspective. The roundtable also featured representatives from the soundstages and from some of Staten Island’s most popular filming locations, including Snug Harbor and Bayley-Seton Hospital.

“Productions often operate at an extremely fast pace so when we partner with businesses and communities during filming it’s crucial that both sides have a solid understanding of what to expect,” Kenny said, adding, “Local businesses can often get things done fast because they already have a built-in community network.”

Staten Island businessman Bob Cutrona vouched for the pace and flexibility needed when working with film productions. His company Project One Services, Inc., has been called on to do a variety of services for shoots, from defoliating trees to painting interiors, to finding a location for Boardwalk Empire. Recalling one project, Cutrona said his company had been hired to clean cell blocks and other areas at the old Arthur Kill Correctional Facility for a shoot. “The night before the scenes were to be shot, I got a call around 10 p.m.,” Cutrona said. “The director had changed his mind. The production needed us in at 5 a.m. to clean another cell block to be ready for an early morning call time. I was able to pull my crew together and get it done.”

Staten Island is a longtime favorite of filmmakers including: Francis Ford Coppola, who shot scenes from The Godfather there in 1972; Martin Scorsese, who shot scenes from Goodfellas there; and Steven Spielberg, who in 2005 staged scenes for War of the Worlds that had aliens destroying the Bayonne Bridge and surrounding neighborhoods.

More recently, Hulu’s American Saga, a biopic series about the origins of the Wu Tang Clan, was shot on Staten Island. Judd Apatow directed Pete Davidson there last summer in the aptly-titled Staten Island. With infrastructure investments by Broadway Stages and RiverBridge Studios, film-friendly communities, and a variety of unique locations, film production growth in the borough is likely to continue.

“Since the inception of Borough President Oddo’s Made on SI initiative, Staten Island has thrown its doors open to the film industry,” said Jennifer Sammartino, Deputy Chief of Staff to Staten Island Borough President, James Oddo. “This is a win for everyone as our landscape can double for so many time periods and locales – cultural organizations, churches, offices, parks and private homeowners have all benefitted from working with the industry. It’s also a boon to small businesses and has many young people excited about the prospect of working in the industry.”

Members of the MPTV team will be heading back to the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce in December for a Small Biz/Film Biz Bootcamp, where businesses can learn tangible tips and best practices for working with productions. In addition, a listing of film-ready businesses will be created by the SI Chamber of Commerce for productions to access. MPTV will amplify the listing through social media channels and will highlight Staten Island businesses as part of our #MerchantMondays campaign on Facebook at Twitter.

To find out more about filming on Staten Island and the many resources available to filmmakers, go to Made On SI. To see more of Staten Island’s unique locations in the MPTV locations library, click here.  

[leslie-red]

The Damaged Boy chapter 12

Blood Red

He take delicatly the axe with his right trembled hand,trying to not make any noise.He must be focus,trying to control himself.Oddo surely must have heard him when he broke the cage.But he didn't have the choice.And still..Oddo is not coming...He take this opportunitty to calm down and watch all around him..Trying to looking for a window..Anything to run away.But there is nothing.He tight the axe with all his strenght,like this is his last hope to survive.For the first time,he realize how much everything can be so simple now he has two hands.And yet..He wish to take this new hand off.Maybe it can help him,change his existence..But this is a poisoned gift from Oddo.Oddo...He should not call this man by his name anymore.He is a liar..He is violent.Evil.He must run away from him.And if he must have commit the irréparable...He will do.Killing someone is not simple action he know that.So..He will be a murderer after that ? Could he will live with that ? So many questions....

Suddenly he heard a deafening noise and this voice..Oddo..He seems totally drunk. He sing promising himself to have a beautiful life,to be rich...Oddo's voice give him horror inside him.This is not the same joyful tone.This one seems completly mad.Full of insanity.He heard Oddo's step come closer and the boy stay into the dark wall.He pray stupidly to not be seen. Yes this is stupid but please..Moon...Mona..Help me.I'll be back home.I promise." He knows things gonna be bad...Really bad..Maybe just for him..Or for Oddo..Or both of us.The door open abrutly , rattling walls and ceiling,when the big scary man come with a bottle in his hand :

" Hé boy ! " He laughed,drinking in the same time. " Don't you want to do a party with me ?? We deserve it don't we !! " C'mon you can..Get out of this...BIRDCAGE ! " And he laugh all more into a table. The poor boy try to stay quiet...Really quiet and calm,well hidden,the axe against his chest.The only thing he want is to find a solution and to escape from here.That's all.Follow his guts is the solution.

 I won't stay here..I won't...I will be free from this hell...Please Moon..No..Mona..Tell me what to do..I have to survive from him.Do i have to kill him ?

Oddo stop to laugh ,seeing the empty and shattered cage on the floor.He began to roar,touching the padlock.Oh non...Of course..It's gonna happen..He must run away.

" My dear boy...so dear toy.." He pound the table , furious : " WHERE ARE YOU ??? "

The poor boy is still paralysed,trembling in all his damaged body.Oddo is a monster,in a everyway.This monster will find him and kill him.

“ Oh no no no no...." Oddo take then a big wooded hammer " I know you're there...You can't escape..You are mine and i will find you.I will destroy all the pieces of you...No one..NO ONE EVER RUN AWAY FROM ME ! My own wife never did..She know she can't.So boy...You have to know that too.You are mine...As much Alelma is mine." He drink for the last time before to smash the bottle against the wall.The boy startle and try to stay in control,but his heart..Well if he had one,beat really fast.

" Come out come out...Boy...Ready or not here i come...You want to play ? Well let's pay you are a toy...My precious toy...God i hate be desobeyed..So so much." He raise his big hammer ready to destroy anything that moves. " You were so unique..But i can be so easily angry.." His eyes are red by rage and wine,making him more mad." I promised i would break your other hand..Then it will be your head..Everything..”

That's it.He must do something.No..He must do the only thing that'll help him to survive.He know it.If Oddo find him..This is his end.So Oddo haunt him ? Ready to slaughter him.He'll do the same thing.This is the only way to survive from this hell. He come out then of hiding , really slowly,looking for this predator,axe in his hands..His both hands,and he see this stranger now.He heard a lound and deep breath...Oddo's breath.But him..He can stay silent,not being really human.None noise come out of his mouth.

" Show yourself my boy...Come back to me..You have only me.."

No that's not true...Not matter what's gonna happen..There will be only me.Always. But something unexpected come to him.Oddo is really smart.He knew that but not that much.The big,horrible man see him and yell,his black eyes shining :

" Found you ! " He raise his hammer ready to destroy him.Again the poor boy is so scared..He panic because he has still this conscience.So he run as fast he can,keeping despite what he feel,the axe.He heard Oddo calling him a coward and that he will kill him. Coward..Maybe..He feel this damn fear.But he want to affront it.This fear to be ended ,savagely.And he is scared also to comitting murder.Still.All of this..This is so hard.Right now yes this is horrible.Oddo run like a enraged bear to him and take him,ferocious by his waist,laughing.The poor boy cries,terrified :

" Don't touch me ! No !!! " But Oddo tight his grip,like a snake attacking a rat. " You are mine..My puppet.The most precious that i had."

The boy feel like vomiting,squeezing the axe,and anger takes over despair.He scream,full of rage,doing the best he can to hurt this monster to his face.And he did.With difficulty and effort,but Oddo cries out with pain and drop him.The little boy become a killing machine from this moment,taking the axe and scream again and again,killing Oddo.Blood squirt on his own pale face full of tears of rage.But he can't stop anymore.Oddo is dead,disfigured but he still kick him with his weapon,yelling until exhaustion.The workshop is now a bloodbath.

It's not hard to write this kind of situation,it's more hard when this is about a child..What a child can feel in this moment..I'm sorry if you don't like it ( but maybe you do this is just a story),but yes read the tag this is a darkfiction and yet i think i could do worse. AO3

[nonooddo]

Just What is this Developer Up To..?

Oddo Developments is building, planning or has built tower blocks of thousands of beds and and 'townhome' developments across this part of the county and the greater Kansas City area.

The developer is relentless in fighting communities across the region - with teams of architects, lawyers, illustrators, PR people and paid-up engineers all producing 'unbiased reports', 'scenic' renderings and of course candid submissions in multiple sets of municipal planner meetings. Meetings that local residents know nothing about until the Oddo Project is already baked - and its odor has already seeped all through the corridors of the various city halls.

"You Cant Handle The Truth" - until its too late for you to do much about it..!

And IF there is a need for high stacked rental housing - maybe all these legal maneuverings - that just happen to NEVER include the locals and the communities Oddo moves it resources into - are meeting that need. But that doesn't explain why Oddo is determined to grab hold of the gateway to Cedar Creek...

Hiddeous

The Oddo company's other plans, on a much less significant Cedar Creek adjacent site - (between Valley Parkway & 103rd/Hwy 10), are much more modestly scaled. Not on a high elevation - those plans are only intended to be TWO STORIES HIGH...!

Yet More ODDO It will be doubly difficult to sell apartments with traffic views if the luckless Oddo residents wake up to find that Oddo over-development in Lenexa is causing traffic to back up onto Hwy 10...!

Of course selling views of traffic on K-10 would be more of an uphill battle than selling views from the top of the hill on Cedar Creek parkway. Cedar Creek views that we provide, at our expense, and Shadow Glen golf course views that Oddo will appropriate along with the name 'Shadow Glen'.

So is the deal - 'stacking "synthetic stone cladding" and "cement board" multi-level micro apartments' all along K-10 designed to catch the eye of commuters? Those forced to wait for a space on the Cedar Creek off-ramp will have noting to look at but tail-lights and 'ANOTHER ODDO DEVELOPMENT' billboards? Logical maybe - if cheap and nasty.

But what does that do to the claims of luxury resort living..? Is that really the way you recruit top level tenants? Somehow I think not. So really - what is Oddo Developments doing trying to take over the entrance to Cedar Creek..? Why does THIS site have to be 6 stories of building - as opposed to 2 elsewhere (from which he clearly must be able to turn a profit...)?

I'll tell you - this is all about what we have, we created, we should own and we should be in charge of (were it not for another developer who clings onto control through a faux HOA)...

Oddo Developments wants to loot Ceder Creek of its views, its open spaces, its character and its green resources... He has no way to prevent his tenants using our open property, crowding the carefully stewarded natural spaces - and our absurd developer-run HOA has no plans, ability or inclination to stop Oddo. After all - birds of a feather....

So we should be in no doubt that the rapacious machine presently gnawing at our door, does not have a better face or a nicer plan. There are no 'more acceptable' approaches or alternatives. Not from an entity that is here for the singular reason of appropriating for itself all that we have worked for, contributed to, managed, observed, maintained, stewarded and paid for. Oddo's very presence in Cedar Creek is fundamentally at odds with all of us who live here. And that difference is irreconcilable.

The essence of Cedar Creek is at stake here. Nothing more, nothing less.

NO...!

Oddo can't be allowed to win.

[michelleinaba-english-blog]

Quinn’s Rise and Fall in New York Politics

Profile produced for my writing class at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. 

Date: December 14, 2014

Prof.:  Dean Steve Coll

NOTES: This story was produced for a writing seminary, and we used secondary sources in that class. Quotes that come from secondary sources are marked with a number at the end of the paragraph, with the corresponding footnotes at the end of the story.

QUINN’S RISE AND FALL IN NEW YORK POLITICS

On a Friday night in late October 2012, in front of the Stonewall Inn, Christine Quinn stood on the stage, surrounded by hundreds of supporters. The atmosphere was uplifting. Kim Catullo, her wife, stood one step behind her on the podium, silently watching Quinn as she addressed the crowd. “You know what? If we turn everybody here and everybody you know and everybody they know out to the polls on Tuesday, people are gonna be shocked and surprised, and we are going to go into this runoff as winners!” \1

 The crowd erupted in applause and cheers, and music started blasting. Quinn took a step backwards, and Catullo pulled her in, hugging her. Quinn then turned around, looked at the people and waved. One by one, supporters climbed the stage, lining up to give the Speaker a hug.

 Exactly four days later, at the Dream Hotel in Chelsea, there was only quiet. Quinn and her supporters stared at flat-screen TVs in shock as anchors announced Bill de Blasio as the new Democratic nominee for mayor of New York. De Blasio had left her in third place with a meager 15 percent of the votes. Quinn’s eyes were glued to the screen as they started watering up. She got up and walked toward Catullo. Catullo hugged her. It was over.

 A middle-class girl from Long Island, Quinn moved to New York City soon after graduating from Trinity College, in Connecticut, in 1988. Upon her arrival in the city, she started working as a community organizer. Her entrance to New York politics effectively started when she was hired to manage Tom Duane’s City Council campaign, in 1991. He was elected and she became his chief-of-staff, a position she held for five years.

 “She’s the smartest person in the room,” said Jim Oddo, a former City Councilman. “I don’t mean that in an Al Gore way; she’s the most prepped, the most organized person.” /2

 In 1999, Quinn decided to run for city council, to represent her neighborhood of Chelsea. It was a district with gay voters; Quinn lived openly as a lesbian. Her journey and professionalism resonated with her neighbors.

 When she was in her mid-twenties, Quinn approached her father to tell him that she was gay. “It wasn’t a great moment,” Quinn recalled. “I went to see him in his apartment. I told him, he said, ‘never say that again.” They did not talk for some time.

 “And then he, as many parents do realize, he was harsh and didn’t react the way he would’ve wanted to, and then we put it behind us and moved on,” she said. “And he’s been incredibly always very supportive.”

 Between 2001 and 2005, Quinn was reelected three times. In 2006 she ascended to become the first female and gay New York City Council Speaker.

 “Even from her early days, as a housing advocate, she was super, super skilled politically,” Ginia Bellafante, a journalist at the New York Times, said.

 Yet as she aimed at the possibility of becoming mayor eventually, Quinn made decisions as a Speaker that did not please all Democrats.

 “Although she may have began with very progressive tendencies, I think her main goal was to get things done, get laws passed, and stand against the laws she didn’t want passed,” Bellafante said. “She tried to negotiate, she tried to be a pretty good stand between the mayor and the city council.”

 “As a Speaker of the council, she was viewed by many of her members - the council members - as a very driving and intense kind of a leader,” David Chen, a journalist at the New York Times, said.

 Quinn’s legislative decisions were viewed as being calculated to provide the maximum impact on her potential mayoral ambitions.

 “Almost every decision she made had to be viewed through the prism of mayoral politics. Whether that was fair or not, that was the conventional wisdom out there, and that was how people viewed her as a politician,” Chen said.

 Quinn received a lot of criticism in 2010, when she refused to bring to vote a bill that would give paid sick leave to employees of small businesses.

“There were certain things, certain legislations that she blocked because the Bloomberg administration didn’t support it, but she was also doing her own political dance,” Kate Taylor, a journalist at the New York Times, said. “Even though she was a Democrat, she wanted to seat herself into that moderate mold and she wanted to attract the wealthy, sort of establishment parties, who supported Bloomberg.”

 “She wasn’t motivated as much by her own idealism that she had when she was young,” Bellafante said.

 “She had to make the transition from being a liberal activist, with roots in Chelsea which, you know, is one of the more liberal parts of the city, to being a citywide official,” Chen said. “She had to balance all those interests in there for her to be more practical, a little more pragmatic in getting some things done.”

 One of the major sources of Quinn’s identity became her relationship with Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

 “I think they were friendly, I don’t think they were close personal friends, and their views were not completely at odds, obviously, but when Christine Quinn was first elected to the City Council, she disagreed with him in a lot of things,” Taylor said. “Before he supported gay marriage, she would kind of bug him about that.”

 “She brought waffles to City Hall to mock his waffling stance on same-sex marriage, which she ultimately supported,” Taylor recalled.

 When dealing with Bloomberg, Quinn usually chose the path of cooperation instead of confrontation.

 “When she became a Speaker, I think someone from the administration approached her and said, ‘you can get a lot more done by working with us.’ And she really took that approach,” Taylor said.

 “Quinn, who always came across as [having] a background as a pretty vocal liberal activist, made the calculation when she became Speaker that she had to forge a productive working relationship with Bloomberg, in order to make a run for mayor,” Chen said.

 The turning point in their political cooperation came in 2008, when Bloomberg needed a favor from Quinn. He wanted to have a third term in City Hall. Quinn then pushed the controversial term extension bill for a vote by the city council.

 “She had been planning to run for mayor herself - but she decided to support his effort to list term limits in the city council and get the city council to vote for it,” Taylor said. “And she earned a lot of gratitude from him for that.”  

 In November 2011, the council sued the administration for the first time under her leadership, over the mayor’s policy requiring city shelters to submit homeless people to a rigorous interview before offering them a bed.

 “I think they had a contentious relationship,” Bellafante said. “She was certainly tacked to the left of him. But they agreed on a lot of things and she was very good at playing politics. In terms of real estate development and friendliness to Wall Street, they had a lot in common.”

 “My sense of the relationship between the two of them, which was mainly on impressions from their staff, or maybe a little bit from Quinn herself, it was a kind of practical, and sort of transactional relationship,” Chen said.

 In August 2011, there were rumors in the city’s political scene that Bloomberg had been talking privately to other politicians and civic leaders about endorsing Quinn as his successor. However, the public endorsement never really came.

 “The mayor has said for years that Speaker Quinn has been a great partner in government and that view hasn’t changed,” Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson said. /3

 “He treated her very respectfully, and I think the assumption was that he would endorse her for mayor, until it became clear in the election that his endorsement would only hurt her,” Taylor said, because New Yorkers were increasingly dissatisfied with Bloomberg.

 In March 2013, Quinn announced her bid for mayor.

 “I don’t think I anticipated how negative it would be from day one,” Quinn said. “I don’t think I anticipated just the negativity.” /4

A conflict between Quinn and animal rights activists escalated throughout the campaign. In almost every single event she attended, activists heckled her.

“I worry about some of the people out there, some of the haters,” Catullo said. “I don’t wanna go into detail, but we get letters, we’ve gotten a number of things. People don’t see what she’s had directed at her. People don’t always see that.” /5

 “It was the kind of level of intensity that the other candidates – the major candidates – did not encounter, and that was kind of striking,” Chen said. “She very rarely … would put out in advance schedule because I think they were very leery of one of these activists sort of crashing the scene and really disrupting things, and really making things difficult for her. So that was a factor that the public didn’t realize, that it really influenced the way she campaigned.”

 During the campaign, the animal rights groups paired with a committee called NYC Is Not For Sale 2013, forming the coalition “Anybody but Quinn.” Members of the coalition went to Quinn’s public events, protested in front of her door, and stopped passersby on the street to tell them not to vote for her.

 “The animal rights activists who were against the horse carriage trade really raised a lot of money to defeat her because she was never in favor of banning that industry,” Bellafante said.

 “There was an independent expenditure against her of over $1 million in negative advertising,” Mike Morey, spokesperson in Quinn’s campaign, said. “It was a group that desired to ban horse carriages. They were funded by groups that supported Bill de Blasio.”

 “The animal rights movement has focused on the horse carriage industry, and there’s nothing in New York like a small, well-organized group to make themselves heard,” Mitchell Moss, professor of urban policy and planning at the New York University, said. /6

 The first televised debate took place on August 13. Quinn was wearing a pink dress, a light pink small jacket, and make up in soft shades of rose. As the other candidates confronted her about doing a backroom deal with Bloomberg for the term extension, her lips sealed tightly as she looked at them, her head tilting down a little to the side, and a small frown formed on her forehead. Her arms were securely locked at the side of her body, her hands clasped each other on the podium, and her feet were militarily close together. Only her right thumb seemed out of place, nervously caressing her left hand. Her answers had a controlled tone of voice, different from her other public appearances.

 “It just seems like it was so unnatural, and so orchestrated, that a lot of voters felt uncomfortable in the end with her,” Chen said. “They didn’t think she was as authentic as they would’ve liked.”

 Quinn was also criticized for her choice of outfit because it did not seem to square with the business-like approach she had usually taken on before.

 “It seemed out of character and there was a sense that she was trying to overcompensate and appeal to the general electorate,” Chen said. “And also her performance during that first debate was viewed as very scripted.”

 In the last debate, the issue of the paid sick leave bill was brought up by De Blasio, who asked Quinn why she had blocked it for three years. She answered that she had helped pass the law in 2013.

 “That really put her in a difficult position because she was trying to appeal to the business community and get their support, but at the same time, obviously, she had to run a democratic primary,” Taylor said.

 From March through August, Quinn had been ahead in the polls. After the first debate, Bill de Blasio appeared as the new frontrunner, with Quinn falling to second, and then to third place. She never recovered the first position again.  

 “So, there’s two things: the behind the scenes, sort of anxiety, because of all these protesters, and the other is these debate performances, where she came across as less than authentic, or a little too scripted which, I think, reinforced the image of her being a sort of insincere person who would do anything or say anything to get elected,” Chen said.

 On election night, when it was clear she had been defeated, Quinn, Catullo, and the campaign team left the hotel to address supporters.

 “There’s a young girl out there who was inspired by the thought of New York’s first woman mayor and said to herself, ‘You know what? I can do this,” Quinn said. /7

 She then thanked everyone, and the crowd exploded in applauses. Quinn turned to her right, where Catullo was standing, and gave her a long hug. She, then, turned again to her supporters, smiled, and waved.

“Obviously, in the end of the day, the voters had a different vision at that moment in time, what they believed they needed in the mayor,” Quinn said.

 “There was also a Bloomberg fatigue in New York against her. Even though Bloomberg was still popular in New York, people saw her as a continuation of Bloomberg and they had the desire to move on,” Morey said. He said he does not believe the term extensions were a deciding factor in the election: “Some New Yorkers couldn’t get over that. Also Bill de Blasio also supported the term extension when he was a city comptroller. So, no, it wasn’t a deciding factor.”

 “She also lost because her team was very conscious and they thought they were running this campaign of inevitability from the very beginning,” Chen said. “A lot of people in the inside, reporters included, felt that she was not a strong frontrunner in the very beginning, and that a lot of the polls were inaccurate and based on name recognition.”

 After leaving city politics, Quinn has been working with a few different non-profits, such as the Athlete Ally, which fights homophobia in sports, and the Naral Pro-Choice New York, an abortion rights groups. She said most of this work is done pro-bono.

 “I just worked with the governor’s campaign on the effort to create the Women’s Equality Party, which was successful and exciting, and new,” Quinn said. “I never created a party before, so that was fun.”

 Quinn deflects a little when she talks about watching the new mayor in action. “Obviously, it was not the plan that I had, but that said, what I wanted was to open the paper everyday and to see things in this city and country get better,” she said.

When talking about De Blasio’s soon-to-be bill banning the horse carriages, Quinn’s reaction is a brisk, fast answer. “Clearly the mayor and I have a different view on that,” she said. “We’ll see what happens as time goes on.”

 Her future plans are not yet clearly shaped, but government does not seem to be in it.

“My goal and hope is to continue to find ways to be of service and to work on the issues that I care about and try to help in a different role than in government and make the city a better place,” Quinn said.

 FOOTNOTES:

1/: Christine Quinn: “…if we turn everybody here…”: New York Observer, “Christine Quinn rallies LGBT supporters outside Stonewall Inn,” 9/6/13.

2/: Jim Oddo: “We’ve known each other since 1992…”: New York Magazine, “Quinn in the Slush,” 5/19/08.

3/: Howard Wolfson: “The mayor has said…”: New York Post, “Mayor’s Christine nod now in doubt,” 8/5/12.

4/: Christine Quinn: “…how negative it would be…”:  New York Times, “Hers to Lose,” documentary, 9/26/13.

5/: Kim Catullo: “I worry about some of the people…”: New York Times, “Hers to Lose,” documentary, 9/26/13.

6/: Mitchell Moss: “…animal rights movement has focused…”: New York Times, “Hers to Lose,” documentary, 9/26/13.

7/: Christine Quinn: “There’s a young girl…”: New York Observer, “Christine Quinn for New York,” 9/10/13.

[houstonlocalus-blog]

Other Side: The Best of The Week

August Alsina, Photo: Live Nation

  With the weather reaching new levels of intensity around this city, I don’t think we can say that summer isn’t in full swing anymore. Of course, with the entertainment options available to you this week, you could apply that theory as well. Sets from August Alsina, Playboi Carti, and Caddywhompus will all fall between locals and legends like James Taylor and Blue Oyster Cult, as well as Vans Warped Tour. Houston, here’s how to navigate the next seven days.

  Wednesday you can get going over at Satellite Bar when the electro-pop goodness of Houston’s Camera Cult headlines a set. These guys make ultra-catchy tunes that are hard to deny and even harder not to get down to. In fact, their latest singles, “Camaro” and “Between The Scenes,” should get your feet moving. The synthpop of Nashville’s Hardcastle will be on as direct support, while the ambient pop of Houston’s Whale Bones will open the all-ages show, with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $8 and $12.

  On Wednesday, Raven Tower will host the singer songwriter goodness of Adam Bricks on the back patio. Bricks has been slugging it out for a good while now, and his live shows can be anything from sweet and endearing to raucous and energetic. Not to mention, last year’s Relations is one of the best records you might not have heard of.  The all-ages show gets going around 7:30 and it’s free.

  POIZON, Photo: Mark Lochridge

  Over at Walter’s you can get down with the punk rock of Houston’s POIZON for their album release party. While you may not care that this band has a member of the band Fatal Flying Guilloteens in it, that shouldn’t matter, as their debut album, Church Is Poizon, is as golden as their enigmatic live shows. Austin noise rockers Xetas will be on as direct support, while Criminal Itch will get the all-ages show started. Doors open at 8 pm and there’s a $10 cover.

  On Thursday you might find yourself wanting to just chill with great tunes, and if you do, then you should head to MKT Bar to catch John Egan.  Possibly one of the more underrated musicians in Houston, Egan is a joy to catch perform, and his latest release, Magnolia City, is great from start to finish, with bluesy undertones like no one else. The all-ages show gets going around 7 pm and it’s free.

  Jealous Creatures, Photo: Scott Holleman

  At Rockefeller’s the anthemic indie rock of Austin’s The Rocketboys will swing by to perform. Kind of like if Coldplay were from the U.S., this 3-piece band’s latest release, Certain Circles, is a mix of rock and beauty. The indie folk meets southern gospel of The Whistles and the Bells will be on hand as direct support, while Houston’s Jealous Creatures will get the all-ages show started, with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.

  Notsuoh will help you get weird when Houston’s Black Lodge headlines the Main Street mainstay. Black Lodge sounds a little chaotic, but that’s the point, and the duo’s self-titled debut from 2014, Black Lodge, still holds up. The experimental psych of NOLA’s Druidian Pink will be on with their trippy sounds as direct support, while Austin’s Pony Kicks will get the free 21 & up show started with doors at 8 pm.

  Over at Walter’s you can catch the entertaining and fun sounds of New Orleans duo Caddywhompus. These two have been getting more and more popular with each release, and their live shows have gotten bigger and bigger. Their latest album, Odd Hours, from this year, is their best to date. Houston’s Young Mammals will bring their jangly indie rock on as direct support and openers for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

  Playboi Carti, Photo: Paradigm

  Over in the ballroom at Warehouse Live, the popular hip hop of Atlanta’s Playboi Carti will take place. He’s here in support of his most recent drop, Playboi Carti, from this year. If you were lucky enough to grab tickets, then you should be in for a treat. Atlanta’s young nudy will be on hand as direct support, while Gunna will get the all-ages show that has since sold out started, with doors at 8:30 pm.

  On Friday the up and coming sounds of El Paso’s Khalid will take center stage over at Revention Music Center. This guy might be young, but don’t let that fool you as his soulful vocals alone are worth checking out. He’s literally popping off everywhere he performs, and his recently dropped debut, American Teen, is amazing. Houston’s DJ Baby Roo will bring his DJ prowess on for the all-ages show, with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $110 and $130.

  Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the Texas psych of Bubble Puppy will be on hand. These guys were unfortunately overshadowed by 13th Floor Elevators when they began, but that doesn’t mean that they ever lost their lustre. While their track “Hot Smoke And Sassafras” became universally adored, their records easily still stand the test of time. There’s no word of support or opener, but that could change on the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $12.

  Insomnia Gallery will have the Black Girl Magic art show presented with Jaz Henry. The show will feature artists that you may not know exist, with the likes of Chasity Porter, Lex Simone, Ryan Francisco and many, many more showing work. Alongside art, there promises to be vendors as well as music and drinks. The all-ages event gets going around 7 pm and it’s free to attend.

  Giant Kitty, Photo: Daniel Jackson

  Walter’s will have a show to benefit the Lilith Fund for reproductive rights featuring a headlining set from Houston’s Giant Kitty. The 4-piece punk band will bring energetic songs from their debut, This Stupid Stuff, as well as tracks from their upcoming sophomore release due out sometime this year. The intense hardcore of LACE will be on as direct support, while the high-energy punk of Ruiners will go on prior. Houston’s Clare will open the all-ages show, with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.

  Continental Club will keep the longest rockabilly weekender in Texas going with the 17th installment of Rock Baby Rock It. The two-day soiree has Houston’s Los Skarnales on as headliners for the first night. I’d guess you’d have caught the energy heavy performances from these guys over the years, but you may not have in a while. And if you haven’t, then you should definitely check this set out. Their more recent release, Another Day, Another Borrachera, has them at the top of their game. Legendary 60s rock and rollers, Mexico’s Los Johnny Jets, will be on as well, and should bring hits like “Es Lupe” and “El Ultimo Beso” to life. Tomcat Y Los Rock N Roll Combo will also be on hand for the 21 & up show that gets going around 9 pm with a $20 cover.

  On Saturday you can get your art fix over at Walter’s for the Chronicles of a Collective art show. Art from the likes of Lisa Ramirez, Christopher Oddo, Elizabeth Cook and more will be on view. Each piece will include a story about the art from the artists themselves, and it should make for an intriguing and very different type of art show. The all-ages event gets going with doors at 6 pm and it’s Free to attend.

  Night two of Rock Baby Rock It will commence at Continental Club and the adjoining spaces with a headlining performance from Rudy T Gonzales and The King Pelican. The San Antonio doo-wop singer is back with a new band, and he should swoon all who catch him. The London-born and Austin-transplanted rockabilly of Rockin’ Lloyd Tripp will also be on hand, while the Left Eye Jumpers will go on prior. The energetic sounds of The Octanes will also be on the bill, as will Colton Turner and Luxurious Panthers. The 21 & up show has doors at 6 pm and a $25 cover.

  Blue Oyster Cult, Photo: TKO

  The downstairs of White Oak Music Hall will host the legendary sounds of Blue Oyster Cult, now in their 45th year. And don’t worry, there will be plenty of cowbell in this performance as the group celebrates yet another decade of performing. Hits like “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” “Burnin’ For You,” and “Godzilla” will get played alongside other favorites from the band. The intergalactic stoner rock of Dallas’ Mothership will get the all-ages show started, with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $35 and $37.

  Additionally on Saturday, House of Blues will host the ever-popular sounds of August Alsina. Alsina may have been born in Louisiana, but his Houston upbringing and turbulent past have helped pave the way for a pretty amazing career. His latest release, This Thing Called Life, still holds up, and there are rumors of new tracks coming sooner than later. There’s no word of support or openers, but that may change for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $29.50 and $55.

  Unsane, Photo: Hexagram Booking

  Possibly one of the more intense bands to come from the eighties, New York’s Unsane will unleash their noise rock intensity over at The Secret Group. I can’t stress enough how solid these guys are in a live setting, and after lineup changes, members beaten in Europe, and being many times knocked down, they’re bringing their intriguing sound back. Their last release, 2012’s Wreck, sounds as good today as it did when it was released, while their 1998 album, Occupational Hazard, is still one of my favorites of all time. The hardcore metallic noise of New York’s Fashion Week will be on as direct support and openers for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $15.

  Satellite Bar will host the hip hop of NYC’s Aaron Cohen over to drop rhymes. Cohen has made quite the name for himself with his 2013 release Potential Fans, while last year’s Off The Ground cemented him as a strong lyricist. Houston’s T2 the Ghetto Hippie will bring his latest, Double Cups & Taco Trucks, to life as direct support, and iLL Faded will get things started as only he can. The all-ages show is free for adults or $8 for the kids, with doors at 8 pm.

  War On Women, Photo: Bridge9 Records

  On Sunday the Vans Warped Tour will make its way to NRG Park.  This year, the long-running festival has a pretty stacked lineup that includes War On Women, Candiria, CKY, GWAR, T.S.O.L. and many many many more. There’s more information here for the all-ages event that gets going with gates at 11 am and tickets between $41.50and $51.50, while parking is $15.

  Insomnia Gallery will host the latest edition of the You Need Pics event, Hey Buddy, You Need Pics. Because this is my event, it’s best to explain that if you’re in a band, or you’re a comic, or pretty much any form of entertainer, then having fresh pictures goes a long way. All of the door money goes to the photographers, and you can get all the pics you want for $5 per person. There will be multiple professional band photographers on hand; I’ll be serving Topo, Lone Star, and Topo Cocktails at the cash bar, and there’s music from DJ Playlist. The all-ages event starts at noon and runs until 4 pm with a measly $5 cover.

  Out in Clear Lake, The Alarm will bring their acoustic rock to all who attend at Scout Bar. While these guys have been around since the early eighties and were often compared to bands like U2, they had their own sound and charted several large singles and albums with ease. They’re still fronted by their original singer, and I’m sure you’ll hear their hits like “The Stand,” and “Sixty Eight Guns.”  There’s no word of openers or support, but that could change for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $16 and $20.

  James Taylor, Photo: Creative Artists Agency

  On Tuesday, the legendary folk sounds of James Taylor will make their way over to Toyota Center. The legendary singer will perform all of your favorites like “Fire and Rain,” “Carolina In My Mind,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” and more with his all-star band, alongside songs that span his career, including those from 2015’s Before This World. The slinging-guitar-goodness of Bonnie Raitt will be on hand as opener and direct support for the all-ages show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $66 and $100.

  Over at Walter’s, Austin’s Sailor Poon will bring their punk-fueled garage sound back to town. While there are plenty of bands with punk leanings, the silly and often loud sounds of this band are hard to ignore, and their latest, Yeast Pigeon, is pretty solid.  The cop-themed punk energy of The Cops will be on as direct support, while the fuzzy punk of Houston’s ImposterBoys will open the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $7 cover.

  That’s about all that’s happening this week. No matter what you decide to do, don’t forget that a safe ride home is just an app away.

  Other Side: The Best of The Week this is a repost

[somekndofpeople]

Oddos eyes narrow the longer the customer looks into him, and they stay that way at his request. Of course its another one of these guys. Looking for someone or another. He should've known, its the off season, and hunters are coming out short handed because of it. Both eyes look past the other to follow the nod that points out the door,

"Tobacco 's few doors down. As of six years ago we did away with dry goods and amm'nition." After his uncle passed he couldn't carry on as one man with the burden of slinging goods, prepping animals, and doing the other work out back when no one was looking. He taps a finger at the glass eye, signaling its purpose, "We only do taxidermy these days." He turns away, for but a moment, and pulls up his stool to sit down and cross his arms. Feeling this was going to take longer than he would fancy. "As fer strange lookin' fellas you're gonna hafta be a lil more specific... Tha's th' majority of my clientele 'm 'fraid."

Animals? Looking around Sam sees no animals, is that a cat over there or a particularly awful hat? Shrugging his shoulders, he strides up to the counter, immediately witnessing the unsurprisingly surly expression on the shopkeeper's stony face. In response Sam smiles; he’s on a charm offensive today and if that doesn’t work, well, he’ll just have to bribe this guy. Wait, is he holding an eye? For a moment Sam finds himself silent as he searches the man’s expression trying to determine which might be the fake, though he soon senses he needs to stop staring.

"Yeah. I’m looking for tobacco and...well, information. You had any strange lookin' customers come by this way recently, say last couple of days?”

[leslie-red]

The Damaged Boy chapter 11

A cage for a puppet    

Loud noise is the first thing he see.He open his eyes,chocked,paralysed,feeling like ice cold,all around him.Everything is so dark,like he is in a black hole.This noise is still here....What is this place ? What's happened ? For a moment,he doesn't remember anything.Anything about his existence,the only thing he knew is that he is locked,feeling intense fear.And then,slowly everything come to his mind.He remember first about this fake new arms,and with this hand,he try to touch something.He realized that he is really prisonner when the hand touch something cold.This hand touch bar,and he try to get up.He is in a cage.He feel deep anxiety.Like he's gonna throw up.He still hear nothing but this loud and creepy noise.

Until the door opens abrutly,from upstair and he can see a dark and big frame,going down the stairs,quickly.He know this person.....

" Oddo ? " He whispered completly confused.Indeed Oddo appear,placing some woods on the floor,humming.Panicked,the poor boy yell :

" Oddo ! ! " The big man slowly turn around and smile meanly :

" Well...You are awake already.This potion doesn't make enough effect on you i can tell." The boy still shout,shaking the cage :

" I knew it !! Since the beginning you poison me ! He feel such intense anger from this moment.Oddo come to him, trying to stay calm :

" No.Don't shout at me.You are not allowed.Hear me boy ? So yes that's right.Since the beginning.But you were so naive.So innocent and lost.So it was simple to have you..With me." The boy can't drop his glare,full of rage agaisnt the tretor,breathing deeply. " It was easy for everyone.Even for these two idiots.They found you,and they bring you at my house.I wanted they found a creature like you,then i pay them.It was the deal.And about Adelma..My dear wife.Pamper you like a baby,taking care for you.Oh yes..So easy."

" Adelma..She...She also betrayed me.." He is still angry..Oh yes.But he feel now sadness.Pure sadness.

" Yes my wife had a deal.Like everyone here.But you know what boy...I think she really loved you.She is weak.But she will always love me more.I'm her husband.Now,enjoy your new house.I promised you that you'd have a new one right ? "

" No..You promised me that i would go back at Adelma's house.." Oddo would fight back that this is his house but the boy repeat,insisting : This is her house ! She gave me food ! She gave me a bed ! You didn't ! You just used me ! I WANT TO LEAVE !!

" SHUT UP TOY ! " Under Oddo's rage,the poor boy hit his head against the cage,scared.He can't speak anymore now.He stare at this monster face to him.This monster..This man he throught he knew.Oddo try again de keep control and raise his finger,talking slowly and seriously :

" You obey me.As long you are with me.You do what i say and until now you were perfect.Keep going like that.Accept what you are.I'm not stupid.You are not a kid like the others.You are a toy,and you'll be useful to me until i find the succes i deserve.You belong here now.In this cage,with all these puppets and dolls.This is your family.So now you stay quiet,you are mine.If you scream just one more time..You will regret.I'll cut the other hand." The boy stay still quiet,petrified by fear.Oddo nobbed,satisfied.He is his boss now.

" Well now,we're gonna leaving far..Far away to a new big show..." And he go away,humming again,without a last look.And he slap the door.

The boy stay alone in the dark,trembling,trying to handle his horrible fear.All around him there is only damaged toy,on the floor,blank.So this is how his life is gonna be ? Captive in this morbid world ? Despair consumed all his body and he put his head on his knees. Images come to his mind.He remember..The blue sky,the sun,the landscape,sweet music,and laughs.Crickets hopping everywhere,singing.He breath deeply pure air like he was real.Alive.He see many people but he can't recognize them.But he see Mona...He didn't listen to her.She told him to be careful,to listen his gut.She look at him,smiling to him with sadness.He feel so guilty now.Why all these feeling must be so painful ? He see then childrens running,laughing.He doesn't know them but he hear now a sweet voice..From a girl.She say "I love you” But he doesn't see her. He heard again the crickets,and he turn around,perceiving Edward..His creator.He forgot about him.....Totally forgot everything about him ! " My boy...Come back.." This sad and tired smile...these eyes expressing all his love.Edward try to walk to him when she appear..The woman and her blue dress..Her damaged face..And she smile simply.None words from her. He open then his eyes and raise his head,furious.He scream trying to break the cage with all his strengh : " NO ! NO ! NO ! " After five kick with his leg,he break this prison and fall on the floor.He will find a way to escape from this hell.He see then an axe in the corner of the room......

So sorry to take so much time..It's not my fault.This is life..... Hope you still love it and i hope see you soon for the next chapter !

Ao3

[leslie-red]

The Damaged Boy chapter 16

Little Princess

Tranquilizers..This is what they gave to him.He didn't know the effect.It was kinda relaxing but he felt so weak.For a moment he was so happy.He remembers the sun,warming his face,and very quickly,he was again in this orphanage.He remembers then this nurses smiling to him,trying to rassure him.Even some of childrens looked at him with compassion.Some of them.Some others was disturbed by him.Like this boy who answered his questions.Bastian was his name.This is what he heard.Now he is seated on a chair, next to the director's office.And he feel depressed and angry.The only thing he want,is to be outside with the sun.That's all.

The door open and he looks up seeying a young woman with a smile. " You can go in, he is waiting." For a little moment,he try to not laugh.He was the one who's waiting.He gets up meekly and go in the office.The room is really big,as much the director's desk.He see the old man seated,hands folded,his eyes fixed on him.

" Sit down." He then do it,and this is utter silence for a long moment.He doesn't trust anyone now.Not anymore since Oddo..He can't.The director began to speak :

" You have to know first,that this is your place here.And i understand that this is weird for you.But i promise,you'll feel like home.You can call me Dan." No i won't. " it will be more easy." I want to leave. " But you..You don't have name that's right ? "

" No i don't." He answer simply,neutral.

" I see.It's not a big deal i assure you." This is a joke ? " A name doesn't represent what we are.." Oh great he is a shrink.." He try to control his bad mood.He doesn't need to bring more troubles.

" What's happened this morning..I understand your reaction.But you can be sure you are in the good place.And you'll feel better." He sigh,annoyed.He watch this man..The director.No..He will never say his name.He will stay a stranger to him.He can see something in his eyes..But he can't describe it.For one second,he feel like a chill.

" Dou you have something to tell my boy ? "

" You know nothing. " He dare to answer,staring at this man.Provoking." Nothing at all about who i am.Don't say you can understand.You can't ever. Dan stay really calm,and smile with this strange gaze :

" Just one little thing...What i wanted to say..This is a good place.And really nice place.Don't break anything else for the next time." He go to his library and take a book :

" Do you like reading ? " The boy frowns.Honestly,he never thought about his passions.What he could really like in his..Short existence.This interest for this simple thing..Like books.But i can easily have taste to kill..Dan put the book named " Little Princess" on the desk.The boy look at it,silent.

" I think you'll feel related to this story.About this little girl.Books are so fantastic.Trust me." He take slowly the book.This is the first time he touch one.He can feel the director watching him with insistence.This is troubling.

" May i go ?..I'm tired."

" Sure.Get some rest and began to read.Everything will be fine.Tongigh there will be a party in the garden.There will be music,You will can talk with the others childrens.Your choice." A book...Now a party.Sure he can't leave..Or he can.He hold the book firmly :

" Thanks.." He just say forced. He leave fastly,freedom calling to him from this new strange man.Why are they all so strange ? Disturbing ?... He stay for awhile in the hall, staring at the book.He heard then smalls steps and a little voice behind him :

" Hello.." He feel like paralysed by this voice and finally turn around seeing a young girl,she is his age.Blond hair with pink dress.She smile to him.A innocent sweet smile.And And dumbly he doesn't know what answer.He barely nobs and leave.

here the whole story !

It’s really hard for me to write currently and i try to not give up and i heve other project for new story after this one.I really want to finish it and i would love more support and readers but too bad.Let’s pray for me i’ll make it completed i want to write the end ! i love writing i really do...But when the mood is never perfect it’s not easy....