#officer maloney

[offbrandorangedrink]

officer maloney with some birds and a sky and some bushes

[lunadreamscaper]

Johnny Ghost would say acab right in Maloney’s face then curb stomp him right after.

[incorrect-vt-quotes]

Ghost: Well, if I was Jimmy Casket- Ghost: -AND I’M NOT! Officer Maloney: [Suspiciously and reluctantly crosses out Ghost's name on his list]

[extraordinary-taleblr-askblog]

HEY YOU KNOW WHO SHOULD HELP WITH A MURDER ROUND?? THE POLICE- PERHAPS A POLICE OFFICER. WHOS NAME IS MALONEY. IS HE ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND????

Seems as though he's still training to join the force. Maybe there's another lawman around currently...?

[maddiefriendlovesbilly]

Various uncommon character sketches (one much more recent than the others)

[bringbackbunnymaloney]

Check out this office post too!

And Méko’s office today!

[10yearsofventuriantale]

Today is the Ten-Year Anniversary of “♪ I'M A BIRD SONG! | Gmod SQUIRT GUN Weapon Mod! (Garry's Mod)”

[incorrectbatfam]

Do the batfamily members ever get too into their undercover work? (Undercover in an office and theyre worried about spreadsheets, working in a warehouse and coming home complaining about missing parts)

Bruce: Status updates on your undercover missions. Dick, you first. What have you got down at the docks?

Dick: I haven't confirmed the Killer Croc sightings yet, but more importantly, our catch hasn't been measuring up to last year's. Tuna we're doing okay on, but the salmon population seems to be on the low end. I've contacted the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries but it'll be another 3-5 business days before they can come down and check it out.

Bruce: At least you're doing something to help. Jason?

Jason: Class was okay. I think the kids are warming up to me as their substitute while Mrs. Maloney is out on maternity leave. The average on the last vocabulary quiz was 83.53% so either I'm doing my job right or they need to be challenged. I'm worried about Tristan Lancy, though. He's normally a good student but his grades have been dropping recently and his parents don't seem like safe people to tell. I'll talk to him tomorrow and try to pair him up with a peer tutor if he needs it.

Bruce: Also see if he has any alternate contacts besides his parents. Tim, any updates at the chemical plant?

Tim: If by updates you mean OSHA violations, I could go on all week. We got a batch of new recruits today and they were just thrown into the work—no PPE, no safety training, nothing. This is what happens when you place production over employee well-being. I'm gonna file a complaint after this meeting. Also, I think the union will have something to say about the manager cutting people's lunch breaks short.

Bruce: I see. Damian? Please tell me you found something volunteering at the zoo.

Damian: Depends on how you define "found." While I have not obtained evidence of a mutant larvae black market, I did help some of the animals at the sanctuary make progress with their recovery. Bobo the monkey is healing from his broken arms and we're gradually getting him re-acclimated to climbing higher surfaces. Suzie the black bear was born a little prematurely but seems to be catching up to her peers in terms of growth. Lastly, we got a grant for additional wildcat research and enrichment. As an aside, we are having an educational seminar on European mountain goats this Friday at 3:30 and I expect all of you to be there.

Bruce: I'll put that on our calendars. Steph?

Steph: It's not really undercover work for me, just work. Anyway, yes the newest Batburger location is being used for money laundering. But I really need to vent about the customers for a sec. We don't open until 10 and at 9:30 this morning some moron was banging on our door demanding Jokerized cheese fries. Then right in the middle of the lunch rush, Janie got sick so I had to fill in as the cashier and it was hell. After that, I had to step in between a fight at the drive-thru because the customer claimed we only gave him nine pieces of his ten-piece Robin nuggets and tried to beat up the kid who took his order. And to top it all off, an entire high school hockey team came in five minutes before closing.

Bruce: Cass?

Cass, blowing balloons: Can't talk. Arranging bat mitzvah.

Bruce: Duke, you're my last hope.

Duke: Margie's bringing a peanut butter chocolate cake to the bake sale. I swiped her recipe and we can easily beat her. Her ganache is way too watery and just runs off the top of the cake, which isn't even leveled. She's also trying to do something with a raspberry filling that isn't working at all. It's like she couldn't decide on what to bring. The bake sale committee also asked if we can bring some apple pies because the original baker has to go out of town for a family emergency. I think we'll win if we bring them with some ice cream and a touch of caramel, even though this isn't a contest.

Bruce: Thank you. At least our most critical case has been taken care of.

Barbara: ...I'll save my book launch for later.

[todaysdocument]

Letter and Summary Report of Incidents of Intimidation of Teachers during the Desegregation of South Boston High School and the Abrahams School

Record Group 21: Records of District Courts of the United StatesSeries: Tallulah Morgan et al v. James W. Hennigan et al Civil Action Case File # 72-0911

Angoff, Goldman, Manning, Pyle & Wanger

Counsellors at Law

Sidney S. Grant (1905-1957) 44 School Street

Samuel E. Angoff Boston, Massachusetts 02108

Albert L. Goldman 723-5500

Robert D. Manning

Warren H. Pyle

E. David Wanger

John F. McMahon

Joseph G. Sandulli

September 6, 1974

Stephen A. Moyhahan, Jr., Esq.

Clerk, U.S. District Court

1525, Post Office Court House

Boston, Massachusetts, 02109

[stamp] DOCKETED

[stamp] FILED [illegible] OFFICE Sep 6 9 23 AM '74 U.S. DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF MASS

Dear Mr. Moynahan:

There is enclosed a summary report of serious incidents of intimidation of teachers by members of the community, which the Boston Teachers Union requests be transmitted to Judge Garrity prior to the start of today's hearings.

I regret my inability to provide it earlier.

The Martin and Garret incidents have been reported to Ms. Silke Hansen and I anticipate that the Community Relations Service will report on these developments to the Court.

The Boston Teachers Union will request an in-chambers conference to discuss the contents of the report with the Court and parties.

Very truly yours,

John F. McMahon

/lt

Enclosure

cc John Mirick, Esq.

John Leubsdorf, Esq.

Sandra Lynch, Esq.

K. Maloney

338 [green ink]

18

[Complete document and transcription at link]

[pie-resurgence]

>:)

Omg it's Officer Maloney, guys look it's him, it's the funny bird man. Oh no he's in a dark hallway guys oh nooo-

I saw what @pie-resurgence said about there not being a lot of Officer Maloney fanart and I just want them to know that I thought about that like 3 months ago and then tried to make a character sheet for Officer Maloney so I could draw him more cuz he's really such a cool character and then I rage quit cuz I couldn't get the hands right and honestly that should not be stopping me from posting more Officer Maloney fanart. So here's the attempted character sheet/analysis:

[lunadreamscaper]

oh yeah so The VenturianTale wiki says (or used to) say that Officer Maloney is Malaysian American.

does any one know the source video to this or is this just another sabotage headcanon 😭/genq

[overanalyzingtaleblr]

TALEVEMBER 2024

Last year there was a Talevember, and now there's one this year!

I wanted to make this more about characters just so each day we could focus on someone new! And maybe spread some new ideas about them.

These prompts don't need to be drawings, they can be anything you want! Including art, fanfic, memes, headcanons, or just normal text posts.

I also made a general prompts list

This one would be used for more traditional art months, though feel free to use the prompts for anything you want. These prompts don't have to line up with the character prompts, and vise versa.

I hope everyone has fun with these! I look forward to seeing what people do with them.

I will also be participating as much as I can and will be posting videos and wiki pages to catch up on characters.

Below is a more in-depth look at what each character prompt includes, in case anyone needs clarification

Jimmy Casket - just him and any surrounding ideas

P.I.E - Paranormal Investigators Extraordinaire. Just the group as a whole. Anything about them, but mostly like as a connected group. Johnny Ghost, Johnny Toast, Fred Spooker, and Colon Ghostie, and the organization they're a part of.

Billion Year War - The arc in which

Billy Acachalla - just him and any surrounding ideas

Ghost’s Family - refers to Johnny Ghost and anyone in his family. This includes Gregory Casket, his mother, his father (any of them), Ernie Ghost, as well as anyone stated to be related to him. May also refer to his family as a unit.

Gertrude - Gertrude Acachalla and any surrounding ideas

Acachalla Gang - The Acachalla Gang refers to the gang Papa Acachalla used to be a part of. It contained Papa Acachalla, Maxwell Acachalla, Jose Jose Jose Jose, Princeton Quagmire, and possibly Jeremy Acachalla and Kermit the Claw.

Unicorns - refers to Starduat Sprinkleshine, Sparkly Puddlebuns, any other unicorn, and the Floating Gun of the Aztecs in which people transform into Unicorns.

Spencer - Spencer Acachalla and any surrounding ideas

Maddie Friend - just her and any surrounding ideas

Police Officers - refers to any Police Officers in the VT universe, main one being Officer Maloney, or Jenny Toast (sister). There are plenty of other police officers to take from as well.

Fred Spooker - Fred "Spooker" Soup and any surrounding ideas

Enemies of PIE - refers to any enemy of PIE. Examples include: Maxwell Acachalla, Toilet Toucher, Darth Calculus, Housekeeper, and Prince Fang.

Johnny Toast - just him and any surrounding ideas

D.o.I.E - Destroyers of Inveatigators Extraordinaire is a group consisting of Johnny Cranky, Meow Pebble, and Jimmy (presumably Jimmy Casket). This prompt may also be used to talk about Deadly Investigators Extraordinaire which includes Darth Calculus, Billy Acachalla, and possibly Gertrude. These two groups are sometimes combined by the fandom

Uncommons - any characters who are a bit more obscure or that people in the fandom don't talk about much. This prompt is very vague and thus can be used to talk about pretty much anyone, specifically if they don't already have a prompt. Characters that come to mind are Light Zeron, Josh, K-78-C, and HigglyDigglyHougan.

Papa Acachalla - just him and any surrounding ideas

Sue Acachalla - just her and any surrounding ideas

Soup Family - refers to everyone included in the Soup family, including Chalalata Soup, Apupu Soup, Fred Soup, Darth Calculus, Barnacle Soup, as well as anyone else either related to them, or brought up in conversations around their family (like Goober or Sally Betty Jessica)

Johnny Ghost - just him and any surrounding ideas

Paranormal Entities - refers to any paranormal entity in the VT universe, or discussion around paranormal entities as a group. Characters who come to mind are Woah, Cardboard Friend, Aimee, the lvl25 cat demon, among many others

Creepypasta Highschool - refers to both the Creepypasta Highschool, as well as students and teachers there. Main students there are Slenderman, The Rake, and Jeff the Killer. The main teacher being Mr. Sviggles

Gavin Toast - just him and any surrounding ideas

A Tale Series - refers to any tale series on the channel. Main ones being A Minecraft Tale, A Skyrim Tale, A Fallout Tale, and An Oblivion Tale. Unfortunately these all had to be crammed into one prompt.

Colon Ghostie - Chris "Colon" Ghostie and any surrounding ideas

Acachalla Family - refers to anyone in the Acachalla Family, both as a household, and any extended family they may have. The Acachalla Family tree is extensive.

Taleblr OCs - refers to any original character, either from the fandom, or that you made up! Get creative, or discover someone else's OC!

Sally Acachalla - just her and any surrounding ideas

Jenny and Jenny - Jenny Ghost and Jenny Toast, both as a team and individually.

Early PIE - refers to the early years of P.I.E. It includes the creation of the team, as well as early characters like Katrina, Mary Toast, Dark Pit, Johnny Boast, and Johnny Roast. Could also refer to Gregory Casket.

Thank you for taking an interest in my Talevember list! I hope it brings everyone some fun and allowed the fandom to spread ideas to each other.

[feminismisstillahatemovement]

Three Republican state lawmakers are drafting legislation to remove President Joe Biden from ballots in Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, Breitbart News exclusively learned Friday.

The three state representatives who are drafting the three bills are:

Pennsylvania Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R)

Georgia Rep. Charlice Byrd (R)

Arizona Rep. Cory Mcgarr (R)

The state representatives’ aim is to fight back against the Democrats’ so-called “lawfare” used to attack former President Donald Trump. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Tuesday in a 4-3 opinion that the United States Constitution’s “Insurrection Clause” blocks Trump from appearing on the state’s presidential ballot.

“We are joining forces to introduce legislation to REMOVE Joe Biden from the ballot in Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania,” the lawmakers told Breitbart News. “The absurdity of radical Democrat judges removing Donald Trump from the ballot in Colorado will be a stain on the American political system for decades. By their very own interpretation of the law, Joe Biden is 100% not eligible to run for political office.”

“Democrats’ insane justification to remove Trump can just as easily be applied to Joe Biden for his ‘insurrection’ at the southern border and his alleged corrupt family business dealings with China,” they continued.

“Colorado radicals just changed the game and we are not going to sit quietly while they destroy our Republic. To be clear, our objective is to showcase the absurdity of Colorado’s decision and allow ALL candidates to be on the ballot in all states,” they wrote. “To do that, we must fight back as Republicans against the communists currently running our great country.”

Republicans were immediately incensed by the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision. Many floated ideas to block Biden from various state ballots. Texas Republicans threatened to take action predicated on the Biden administration’s open border policies, but no action was taken.

“While GOP elites are asleep at the wheel, the Democrats are very serious about destroying the American Republic,” political strategist Cliff Maloney told Breitbart News. “Thank God for patriots like Aaron Bernstine, Charlice Byrd, and Cory McGarr for stepping up to FIGHT back.”

[tedwardremus]

I'm probably your 40th ask, but its fine

Lily Potter professor of Potions helps a student with dyslexia, and lets the student know that it's okay being different and they are intelligent in their own unique way

fun fact! You are the first person to ask for a special Lily fic for her birthday!

A deep inhale. A slow exhale.

Caitlin Maloney wasn’t sure how long this meeting with her Head of House would last. But she figured she could make it through five minutes.

She sat stiffly in the chair across from the big desk, eyes fixed on the small clock resting on its surface.

If the meeting lasted longer? Then she’d last another five minutes.

Another slow breath.

Five minutes was fine.

Caitlin didn’t know why she’d been called to Professor Potter’s office.

But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in trouble.

She always felt like she was in trouble.

The door opened, and Professor Potter entered, offering a warm smile as she took a seat. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Caitlin. Peeves was causing trouble again—this time with a first-year Ravenclaw."

"It’s okay," Caitlin said automatically. Her mouth felt dry.

"Would you like some water?"

"No, thanks." She wasn’t sure why she refused. Her mouth was so dry.

"You’re not in trouble," Professor Potter reassured her.

She was one of the most well-liked teachers at Hogwarts—young, kind, funny. Everyone adored her. Caitlin didn’t.

Not that it was personal. She just didn’t like most of her classes.

"How’s third year treating you?" Potter asked. "A couple of weeks in already. New classes can be overwhelming."

Caitlin glanced at the clock again. The ticking filled the silence.

No one else had been called in for a private meeting. Maybe this was it. Maybe they were finally going to kick her out.

"I’ve been talking to some of your professors," Potter continued. "They’ve raised concerns about your schoolwork."

Oh.

Caitlin’s heart pounded. A creeping heat spread up her neck, her whole body caught between burning and freezing at once.

"They all say you’re pleasant—if a bit quiet—but it seems like you’re not putting in much effort. And third year is important—"

"I try," Caitlin whispered.

"Excuse me?"

"I try," she said again, a little stronger this time. She hoped Potter didn’t notice how hard she was gripping the edge of her chair, how her leg wouldn’t stop shaking. "I try really hard."

Professor Potter hesitated. "Your test scores over the past two years say otherwise. I know it’s hard, being thrown into the magical world—I’m Muggle-born too—but most students adjust by now."

Caitlin squeezed her hands into fists, digging her nails into her palms. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Breathe. In. Out. Just five minutes. Just five more minutes.

"But I try really hard," she said again.

Dammit.

Tears welled up, hot and unrelenting, slipping down Caitlin’s cheeks before she could stop them.

She was crying. In front of a teacher.

Professor Potter’s voice was gentle but firm. "The other professors say it seems like you don’t care about school—that your homework is always half-finished."

"But I try!" Caitlin’s voice cracked. "I go to the library. I’m always the last one in the common room. I even skipped the first Hogsmeade visit to finish my Charms essay. I try really hard."

Potter sighed. "I’m sorry, Caitlin."

But Caitlin couldn’t stop now. The words kept pouring out, tangled with the tears. "And it’s not fair. Everything moves so fast, and I’m so slow. But if I rush, I mess everything up. My potion measurements are always wrong. I miscount my stirs. I can’t even finish reading the instructions before the board clears and new ones appear. But I try so hard. Please believe me."

A warm hand closed over hers.

"I believe you," Professor Potter said softly, giving Caitlin’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

Caitlin sniffled. "I just thought…" She hesitated, swallowing past the lump in her throat. "I thought going to a magic school would be better. That it would be easier. But it’s not."

Potter’s expression was filled with understanding. "I’m sorry, Caitlin. I’m sorry you’re struggling so much."

Caitlin just nodded, wiping her nose. "Thanks," she mumbled.

Professor Potter gave her a small smile. "How can I help?"

"I don’t know." Caitlin shrugged helplessly. "I’ve always been bad at school."

Potter nodded. "That’s okay. We’ll figure it out, Caitlin. We’ll create a plan that works for you."

Caitlin wasn’t sure she believed that. But for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel completely alone

[maddiefriendlovesbilly]

Okay actually, I’m gonna be the change I want to see in the world— I Know I’m the only person pushing for this, but can you do a ship review on. Light Zeron and Officer Maloney— if you don’t know enough about either character for that,,,, I dunno— Poppy Soup and Sally Acachalla? - overthinkingtaleblr

you CANNOT do this to me I'm INSANE about both of these concepts and I'm gonna do both you fiend! I'm starting with zeron/maloney because I think the idea of that is just below spooker/maxwell for me on deranged (/pos) ships.

Light Zeron/Officer Maloney

so to start us off let's go over the AMAZING dynamic of "world's most pathetic officer of the law" and "vampire security guard on the run"

we know that maloney is. ahem. SHIT at catching criminals, which makes this whole thing work long enough that they Could form a love/hate relationship

god I want a 5k fanfic on this unironically but I would have to write it!!!!

is this post- or pre-vampire? I'm thinking pre BECAUSE imagine!!! imagine the angst

zeron is acting strangely, super out of character. the only person who knows him well enough to figure it out is the man trying to catch him :sobbing:

(also on an unrelated note, they're both aliens which I think is really cute)

look just like. god I'm just shaking my fists irl because I'm so incoherent about this

theyre like. weirdly similar tbh. something about their egos i feel like would both clash heavily and potentially work really well together

IT'S THE PERFECT ENEMIES TO LOVERS SICK FIC GODDAMN

zeron hasn't drunk any blood in ages, (something-something moral quandary something-something starving) and now he's basically passing out from malnutrition, so of course that's the moment maloney spots him in the alley he's squatting in.

and maybe if it were a stranger he would corner them and feed, (its so much easier to drink someone's blood when you can convince yourself that they aren't actually a person, in a weird, convoluted way) but this is someone he knows, maybe even respects. even if they are enemies.

so he doesn't want to drink maloney's blood, and that leaves him with only one other choice - he runs.

he pushes past him and ducks into the nearest abandoned building, hoping to lose maloney in there, but maloney's right behind him.

and meanwhile maloney, so used to their usual back-and-forth banter during fights, is highly confused (maybe a little upset - and fairly worried - if he's being honest) by this behavior.

zeron keeps running but it's clear he won't get much further unless he drinks someone's blood, and now there's literally only one person around - the guy he cares for too much (even if he won't admit it to himself).

be caught or surrender, that's his choice.

it's made for him when maloney catches his wrist - but instead of cuffing him, he spins zeron around, cornering him.

(at this point zeron is wondering if he's about to die a very painful death, but all he can do is stare at maloney's neck.)

maloney oblivious to his surroundings as always, is currently checking zeron over for injuries, and mentally slapping himself because he caught the criminal, why isn't he cuffing him?

this is around the time zeron's resolve breaks - close proximity to a very appetizing meal while starving makes it a bit difficult NOT to partake.

he goes for the neck - literally - and begins drinking like the world is ending. make this part as gay as your little heart desires.

being stabbed in the neck hurts, even more so when they are draining your blood, so maloney quickly pushes zeron off.

but a meal's a meal, and zeron is gone before maloney can even get a word in.

that's all ive got on that for right now haha, so let's hop over to pros and cons!

pros: very fun dynamic, their shared weirdness and the fact that they're both aliens (of different species) could be a bonding point, and they are both like. so so sopping wet and pathetic, they also have similar personalities in a strange way. great potential for hurt/comfort, enemies to lovers and hurt/no comfort fics.

cons: uhhhh. okay so theyre on opposite sides technically, which means any happy ending is gonna have a lot of rough spots, and there's like SO much distrust between them (and light zeron already has issues trusting others)

Conclusion: I'm like SOO biased here so give me a sec to find my center and use logic. Do I think they would work short-term? I feel like they would somehow manage it? like despite everything they'd somehow manage to stay in a not-so-secret kind-of-relationship for at least a year (meanwhile all the news stations are reporting about the two gay people fighting in the street again), and then they'd actually start going on the cheesiest dates ever (and causing pure chaos wherever they went), like coffee dates and amusement park dates and all that shit. everyone would just accept that they're dating and that maloney will probably never catch him but it's Buttsville, NC so what are you gonna do?

at the same time though, I'm sitting here like, what's the long-term gonna look like? does maloney become a criminal? do they get married and settle down? both are hilarious yet tragic because undoubtedly maloney would be a better criminal than police officer but it goes against his perception of himself, and neither is exactly built for domesticity. still, I think they'd manage. somehow it feels like they're too much of a force of nature to let something like that stop them, y'know?

[she-wolf09231982]

Chapter 2- Stuck With Me

Summary: After the German bomb run on Bastogne, the locals and American soldiers there that were able, helped piece back together what they could of the town. Medical personnel that had survived still tended to the wounded however they could with whatever supplies they had left. A deserted upper class family home that survived the bombing was temporarily designated as the new aid station until further notice. Although he was internally grieving the loss of Renée and Anna, Eugene steadily pushes through the chaos to provide aid to his fellow Easy members at a moment’s notice. Saria, on the other hand, wasn’t as resilient.  

A/N: OC/Rosaria Marie Leone (leh-OHN), EugeneRoeX!FemMedic, WW2, Post D-Day, She/Her Pronouns, Military Terminology, Band of Brothers References, Boondock Saints ‘ll Duce’ Prayer Reference, Mentions of Weaponry, Smoking, Mentions of death, Blood, Graphic Gore, Medical Terminology, Italian and French with English translations

*These stories may not fall entirely in accordance with the TV series timeline. I do not know the real soldiers the actors portray in this series, so please understand I show no disrespect. Some or most of historical events and character interactions in my fanfics are fabricated purely for the sake of the enjoyment of fiction*

Story takes towards the end of Episode 6-Bastogne and beginning of Episode 7- The Breaking Point

~~~~~~~ 

January 3, 1945

Easy Company was still holding the line outside Bastogne in the Ardennes Forest, enduring the cold, the hunger, and the lack of supplies. Not to mention the incompetence and constant absence of their current commanding officer, LT Dike, was mitigating any progress to push through Foy.  

The new aid station was set up in a deserted lavish multilevel family home. While the few nurses and local volunteers buzzed from room to room tending to patients, Saria sat in the parlor tearing bed sheets into strips to use as bandages and dressings.  

Suddenly, a litter was clumsily carried through the front door with Eugene following behind them. Upon hearing them enter, she rushed over to assist. 

“What do we got here?” Saria asked. 

“Gunshot wound to the right thigh, but-” Gene began. 

Saria began hastily assessing the wound on the exposed thigh area. 

“Saria-” Gene drummed. 

“Looks like the femoral artery’s been severed-” Saria muttered to herself thinking out loud, not listening to Eugene. 

“Saria,” Gene bellowed. 

“Che cosa!? (What!?)” Saria replied sharply in Italian, looking at him expectantly. 

“It ain’t gonna do any good.” he said pensively. 

Saria cocked her head as she furrowed her eyebrows at him, waiting for him to elaborate. 

“Il est mort. (He’s dead).” Gene clarified in French. 

Saria stared at him, absorbing the information until it finally clicked. She looked at the soldier’s lifeless, pale face. She dropped her eyes to the floor, allowing a defeated sigh to leave her lips. 

“Guess it was silly of me to think every soldier you bring here would still be alive.” she said quietly. 

Eugene only blinked, keeping his attention on her. 

Saria shook her head to reset her thoughts. 

“Take him to the garden house out back so Chaplain Maloney can say a prayer over him.” Saria instructed, lazily gesturing to the hall leading to the back door of the house before walking into the kitchen. 

“Yes, ma’am.” the two men replied as they carried the perished soldier down the main hallway towards the rear of the house. 

Eugene waited in the foyer, glancing down the hall to make sure the stretcher made it out the back door before proceeding to the kitchen.

He leaned against the doorway waiting as Saria faced the cast iron wood-burning stove. She raised a kettle from the trivet (stove surface) and poured hot water into a teacup. 

“What was his name?” Saria queried sipping her beverage with her back remaining to Eugene. 

He cleared his throat, “Hoobler. Don Hoobler. Accidently shot himself with a Lugar he got off a German he picked off.” he dejectedly explained. 

He saw her disappointedly shake her head, well aware she was contemplating the irony behind a soldier recklessly losing his life because of a foolish ‘trophy’ like a German Lugar. 

“Comment as-tu été? (How have you been?)” Gene’s usual gravelly baritone voice carried over the room to her. 

Saria remained quiet at first as she tried to piece together a response that wouldn’t raise concern. 

“Keeping busy,” she replied plainly. “Et toi? (And you?)”  

“Same.”  

“Tea?” Saria offered after a long pause. 

“No thanks.” Eugene declined kindly. 

“We have coffee.” she extended as she looked over her shoulder. 

A faint smile graced Eugene’s face.  

“Coffee would be nice, merci.” he professed as he crossed the threshold to sit at a two-seater kitchen table. 

Saria occupied herself preparing the coffee grounds and coffee press. Eugene surveyed her bustling around the kitchen, trying to get a feel for how his friend really was feeling since she was being very vague and evasive. He noticed she seemed to be very adamant about keeping her back to him. But he sat there waiting patiently while she kept herself busy with the coffee. 

Saria placed the packed coffee press onto the stove trivet, then stood by the counter where the kitchen window viewed out to the garden. Her eyes coincidently caught Chaplain Maloney walking into the garden cottage. She quickly averted her eyes to her hands fiddling with a spoon on the countertop. 

Eugene observed her carefully, his heart progressively filling with concern. 

“There’s another chair here,” he pointed out, but she didn’t budge.  

“Asseyez-vous et parlez avec moi, mon ami (Sit and talk with me, my friend).” he beseeched. 

Saria audibly sighed. Eugene got up and walked to the other chair sliding it out from under the table, inviting her to have a seat. 

“S'il te plaît? (Please?)” he gently implored with a feeble smile. 

She looked at the chair, then at Eugene. She sauntered to the table and lowered herself onto the chair as he pushed it under her. He walked over to the counter, grabbed a teacup, then went to the stove to pour himself fresh coffee from the press. 

He turned slowly towards Saria as he took his first sip. She sat gaping at the floor, lost in her thoughts. His soul ached for his mourning companion. 

“Saria-” Gene began, but she remained stoic, only closing her eyes so she didn’t have to look at him.  

He walked to her, placed the cup on the table then squatted in front of her to look her in the face. 

“Rosaria,” he asserted sternly, refusing to let her avoid him any longer. “-regardez-moi. S'il te plaît. (-look at me. Please).” 

Saria met Eugene’s troubled expression with empty bloodshot eyes, as they began to gloss over, filling to the brim with tears until droplets started to cascade down her cheeks. He studied her face for a few seconds longer, searching for any inkling of hope. He found none. 

“My French is getting rusty...” she whispered as her voice cracked from choking down the urge to sob. 

Eugene’s eyebrows drew inward, shaking his head trying to comprehend why she said what she said.

“I haven’t-” she struggled to continue as she repeatedly blinked hoping to keep the tears from spilling over anymore, “-I haven’t been practicing my French. I’m losing everything she taught me.”  

She hung her head, ashamed she had possibly dishonored Renée’s memory by forgetting the French she worked so diligently on with her. 

Gene nodded, “I see,” he discerned compassionately, now realizing where the root of Saria’s pain was coming from. 

He searched within himself for the comforting words he could say to console her, but even he was still in a state of lament over Renée’s death.  

He looked back at Saria, “So, everything I had said to you in French since I got here-”  

Saria looked at him hesitantly, waiting for him to finish. 

“How much of it did you catch?” he questioned with a impish smirk gradually appearing on his face.

Saria forced out another long exhale, “Enough for you to get me in the chair, I suppose.” she fleetingly jested. 

Eugene chuckled, which prompted Saria to briefly giggle as well. Eugene returned to his chair to finish the rest of his coffee. After a minute or so of subdued laughter, there was a deafening hush in the room as they sat in silence together. 

“Honestly, I haven’t been practicing my French because I’ve been waiting to practice with someone I'm comfortable with.” Saria proclaimed. 

“Yeah?” Gene returned genuinely intrigued. 

“Mmhm,” she replied. “Could you-” 

Eugene raised his eyebrows waiting for her to finish. 

“Pourriez-vous...um...” Saria attempted to rephrase her question in the little French she could remember. “-m'aider... avec mon français ? S'il te plaît? (Could you...um...help me... with my French? Please?)”  

Eugene’s smile widened as he leaned forward, sliding his arms across the table with his palms open, inviting her hands to hold his. Saria obliged, bringing her hands up from her lap, placing them in his.  

“Bien sûr. (Of course).” he responded as he affectionately caressed her knuckles with his thumbs. 

Saria smiled awkwardly, pushing down the heightened feeling of butterflies in her stomach. 

~~~~~~~ 

January 4, 1945 

“Bonjour, Rosaria.” a warm familiar voice greeted. 

Saria emerged from behind the bar to see Eugene standing under the oak archway leading into the parlor. 

“Eugène! Je suis tellement content de vous voir! (Eugene! So glad to see you)!” Saria exclaimed. 

Eugene revered at her as she met him under the archway. 

“What?’ she asked with a playful look of skepticism.  

“Your French. C'est déjà bien mieux. (It’s already much better).” he commended. 

“Oh-” Saria’s breath hitched, “-merci à toi (-thanks to you).”  

“De rien, mon ami (You’re welcome, my friend).”  

Eugene leaned against the oak pillar of the arch while Saria self-consciously rocked back and forth on her feet with her hands folded tightly behind her back. 

“Renée would be proud.” Eugene stated, raising his eyes to Saria’s. 

Saria drew in a deep breath when her eyes met his. He couldn’t help but adoringly gaze upon her while a soft smile stretched across his face. 

“Hm,” Saria hummed, “-yeah.”  

She forced a meager smile then looked at the floor. 

“So, I got some news,” Gene declared, “They’re trying to push into Foy in a couple of days.” 

Saria cast him a look of panic, “You’re leaving?” she asked, trying to suppress the concern in her voice. 

“That’s the plan.” he replied plainly. 

Saria’s eyes darted around the room while her heart rate steadily increased.  

“But-” she began. 

Eugene stared at her, waiting for her to continue her sentence. Words failed her as she stood there in front of him with her eyebrow’s furrowed and the worry lines intensifying in her forehead. 

“But?” Eugene pushed. 

Saria refocused on him, “You can’t leave me here. Alone.” 

“You won’t be alone, mon ami.” he assured. 

“Comment ça? (How so?)” she retorted raising an eyebrow at him. 

Eugene chuckled, “You have all these people here that work with you, the locals-” 

“Please don't.” Saria interjected. 

“Don’t what?”  

“Don’t list off other people for me as if you’re expendable.” she mandated. 

He curiously cocked his head at her.  

“Because you’re irreplaceable to me.” she confessed without hesitation. 

Saria was a wreck under the surface. Racing thoughts of losing the only best friend she had left, let alone what she just admitted, had her chest painfully heaving from anxiety. Gene watched her meander to the nearest lounge chair to sit before she passed out. 

He snickered to himself before he strolled over to her. He briefly stood over her, then squatted next to her chair resting his elbow on the armrest. He weaved his fingers between hers, giving her hand an encouraging squeeze while his thumb tenderly kneaded over hers. 

“I don't like it anymore than you do, mon cher (my dear),” he began, “-but this is why we’re here. It’s what we gotta do.” 

“I know.” she grumbled looking down at their hands intertwined on her lap. 

“Please come see me before you go?” she said as she looked up at him imploringly. 

“Bien sûr ma chère (Of course, my dear).” he promised.  

~~~~~~~

January 5, 1945 

Eugene unfortunately didn’t have time to visit Saria before advancing deeper into Bois Jacques woods right outside of Foy.  

“TAKE COVER!” Sgt Carwood Lipton yelled out to Easy Company. 

German artillery fired onto Easy Company from the town as Easy soldiers scattered to the nearest foxholes to take cover. Blasts coming from all directions causing trees to fall and dirt to fly made it difficult for the men to navigate safe passages to their holes. 

After a brief break from German attacks, Sgt Bill Guarnere answered the pleas for help from a wounded Joe Toye after an explosion took his right leg off. While Guarnere did his best to drag Toye back to safety, another German shell made contact near them during the second wave of attacks, severely wounding Guarnere’s leg as well. 

After the chaos settled, the Commanding Officer, LT Buck Compton, staggered over to Toye and Guarnere lying motionless on the ground. As he approached, the aftershock rendered him speechless, leaving him unable to find his voice at first to call for help. 

“MEDIC!” he finally managed to cry out. 

Doc Roe came hoofing through, landing on his knees next to Toye getting to work on what was left of his leg. Off to the side was Guarnere leaning against a tree. 

“Just hang tight, Bill, I’ll get to ya as soon as I’m done with Toye over 'ere.” Gene told Guarnere as he quickly packed Toye’s thigh with dressing to absorb the blood. 

“Do whatchya gotta do, Doc.” Bill replied. 

Just then, another medic appeared at Guarnere’s side, already getting a tourniquet out. Gene caught sight of the new guy, unaware there was another medic available to Easy Company. This man worked briskly, effortlessly placing the tourniquet and swiftly dashing sulfur then wrapping the wound with bandages to stop the bleeding.  

“Hey, buddy, when you’re done over there can you help me with this?” Gene requested. 

Nothing prepared him for what happened next. A voice of a woman responded. 

“Be right there, pal.”  

Gene looked over at her, perplexed that this was in fact a woman working out here next to him. As he continued handling Toye, she scampered over to him kneeling at his side. 

“What do you need me to do?”  

He looked up to see it was Saria. He stared at her in utter disbelief, almost forgetting he was caring for Toye. 

“Saria? What the hell are ya doin' out here!?” Gene asked shocked, but mostly perturbed. 

“I’ll explain later, tell me what you need me to do.” Saria countered urgently. 

“Hold this.” Gene begrudgingly instructed her to hold Toye’s thigh up so he could use both hands to wrap. 

Two men rushed in with a stretcher. 

“Bill, you go first.” 

“Whatever you say, Doc.” Bill replied. 

“Over here. Take this man.” Gene ordered pointing at Guarnere. 

~~~~~~~ 

January 7, 1945 

There was hardly a chance for Eugene to sit and revisit why Saria was there after they prepared Toye for transport. The next few days the 506th had cleared the West and East side of the woods, which temporarily allowed little resistance from the Germans. 

Saria sat in the foxhole she dug for herself, restocking her carrier bag. Eugene peered over the edge to look in. 

“Rosaria.” He greeted her dryly. 

 She looked up at him, “Well hi, Eugene.” she chirped. 

He jumped into the foxhole landing on both feet then sat in the dirt next to her. 

“Mind telling me how the hell you ended up out here?” he suggested in a parent-like tone. 

“I was reassigned to Easy Company per the request of LT Dike. Before his final leave of absence, that is." she explained. 

“LT Dike? He was never around. How would anyone get his signature to approve your orders to get assigned to us if nobody could ever find him?” Gene rationalized. 

Saria revealed a mischievous grin, “Nobody can confirm nor deny that my orders are legit if the CO is never available to say otherwise.”  

Eugene wasn’t amused, “You forged orders to get assigned to Easy Company??”  

Saria looked at her boots. 

“Pourquoi?? (Why??)” 

“Eugene, I couldn’t stay in Bastogne any longer. It only reminds me of Renée and Anna. Then you were going to leave, so-” she trailed off, not really knowing what else to say. 

Eugene released a frustrated huff, shaking his head disapprovingly. 

“Tu vas être ma mort (You’re going to be the death of me).” he growled to himself. 

Saria did her best to push back a snicker, knowing Gene was genuinely disappointed with her for committing such an act of dishonesty. When a scoff escaped through her nose, he shot her an exasperated side-eye.

"You think this is ok? Rosaria, it’s dangerous out here.” his tone low and disgruntled.

“Eugene, please spare me the lecture. You don’t think I’ve seen how dangerous it can get out here? I’ve seen more wounded men than I can count at that church that came from out here. I know it’s no walk in the park.” she proclaimed. 

He forced another annoyed breath, then rubbed his tired eyes with his forefinger and thumb. 

“You’re stuck with me, now-“ 

“Yeah, you got that right.” Gene retorted. 

“-so there’s no use in arguing about it. Don’t act like you’re not glad to have me here. You guys needed another medic anyway-” 

“That wasn’t for you to decide!” Gene snapped with resentment behind his eyes. 

Saria looked away from him, unable to stomach how angry her best friend was with her. Eugene ran his hand roughly through his hair, immediately regretting raising his voice to her. He shifted to face her. 

“I am glad to have you here,” he started, “-but you don’t understand that you out here with me is a distraction.” 

Saria looked back at him inquisitively. 

He shifted again, “If the Germans rain hell on us again, and they will, I’m gonna be worryin’ more about you the whole time.” he explained. 

Saria’s eyes dropped to the ground beneath her heels, feeling ashamed she hadn’t considered his perspective. 

“Ya get what I mean, Mon cher?” he asked her softly, tilting his head to glimpse into her eyes. 

“Oui.” she uttered as she shivered from the cold. 

Eugene looked her over, “Venez ici (Come here).” he directed as he scooted closer to her, snaking his arm across her shoulders to pull her into him. 

Saria rested her cheek on his chest, nestling into him as he pulled a wool blanket over them.  

“Good?” he questioned. 

Saria nodded, “Grazie, Eugenio (Thank you, Eugene).” She said in Italian before drifting off to sleep.

Eugene pulled her in tighter, daring to kiss the top of her head before whispering a prayer over her: 

“Je te compterai parmi mes brebis préférées et tu auras la protection de tous les anges du ciel (I will count thee among my favoured sheep, and you shall have the protection of all the Angels in Heaven)…

…with all my heart.” 

~~~~~~~