#percussion frog

[cyclepast]

[sgt-celestial]

GIRLWIN AT THE SECOND HAND SHOP TODAY

[crypticbydesign]

I bought this neat little wooden percussion frog at pride today! Now i want more instruments so could ya'll muscically inclined people give me so cool instruments you think i should get into? I don't care if they're 'mainstream' ones or not or if they're hard to play or not i'll figure it out. I just never had an instrument before so i dont know where to start and they all sound super cool.

[skin-quilt]

I 3D PRINTED A FROG PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT WITH 100% INFILL. IT SOUNDS REALY GOOD COMPARED TO THE WOODEN ONES. IT TOOK 6 FULL DAYS TO PRINT.

[guifrogarts]

[Music] Hunter of Wonders

Another old CC-BY track, remastered. (Lost the original project, so I couldn't rework on the instruments. But at the same time, I think the way it currently sounds adds to its videogame kinda flavor, too.)

This was made for an imagined adventure type of game, a la Indiana Jones, where you'd get to explore the mysteries of ancient Mesomerican treasures, as part of a musical challenge my sister came up with. She also told me to use an oboe for this song, as a mandatory instrument.

Download links: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Guifrog/single/hunter-of-wonders/ https://archive.org/details/guifrog-originals https://guifrog.bandcamp.com/track/hunter-of-wonders

Spotify link: https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/album/1FKGDvDeJzIRwwi6ODdOej

[thickest-slimiest-malware]

that heart do burst like a glass balloon

[loki-wants-an-army]

delighted to inform that frog is available as an acoustic instrument as well, in the form of a wooden hand percussion rasp called a güiro

I dunno what's the deal with these frogs but here I played Gravity Falls on them

[st4rbe0m]

𖤐⭒๋࣭ ⭑ KISS THE GIRL - PSH

🫧 now playing - kiss the girl from disney’s The Little Mermaid 🫧 contents - the little mermaid au, no gendered implications but the word 'maiden' is used, implied kissing 🫧 wc - 0.9K 🫧 a/n - i hope this compensates for the lack of body search updates recently :( i need to structure that story out a bit more, so it'll be a while. might make a mini series out of this however teehee >.<

masterlist

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, My oh my Look like the boy too shy Ain't gonna kiss the girl

The blue luminescence of the algae around them, surrounding the boat in a surreal bubble, made the breath in Sunghoon’s throat hitch in awe. You were right in front of him, hands on the pair of paddles opposite to his own, making no move of their own, as your eyes blown wide in awe of scenery peered around. The way the drooping willow branches of the cove swayed in an almost rhythm like manner, creating a music of its own. The fish seemed almost animated as they playfully swam along the quivering currents of the water, the boat stalled and rocking almost like a crib, gently. The reeds whistled, adding the percussion to the music of the ocean, while the crabs and the seagulls perched along the rocks of the shallow alcove seemed to scuttle along, adding a tapping beat to the environment. Almost like this endeavor was planned. Almost. 

Sunghoon doesn’t really register how quickly this stranger, whom he’d found on the beach with no voice of your own, and almost seemingly no knowledge of his importance or his duties, had easily slid into his life, like the puzzle piece he’d been missing ever since he went aboard his ship on his birthday. The day he was knocked off the very vessel, and only had an angelic voice and a fleeting memory saving him from being pulled under by the unforgiving waves of the sea. 

The boat was swaying gently in the water as you both rocked along with it, eyes swallowing in all the beauty of the escape Sunghoon had found during his lonesome adventures to escape from princely duties. A hidden cave, with a shallow pool of water and a welcoming alcove hiding the both of you away from prying eyes. After all, the rumors and gossip about town would multiply with a frenzy, if any citizen were to come across the adoration on the face of their beloved prince, as he gazed upon this strange maiden. The mood around them was so tender, so fragile and so, so beautiful. Yet to Sunghoon, the only beauty he could focus on was the one right in front of him, only on the way your head was tilted up and looking around, like you were seeing everything that existed above the land for the first time ever in your life. The way your lips parted softly and exhaled a soft sigh of satisfaction, like a thirst to see everything was being quenched slowly. And how soft your lips looked, glowing under the moonlight that entered through the cracks above. The plump curve of your cupid’s bow, and the dip of white where your teeth bit into your lower lip in fascination.

If the ambience wasn’t already perfect, the buzzing of the fireflies, that illuminated the air around you both with their bright, yellow glow just made your heart leap in joy, and the smile that grew on your face made Sunghoon’s heart flip in his own chest, like the marine creatures surrounding you both, almost like they’d choreographed their own dance to celebrate the union of you both. The frogs that sat with their little webbed legs stuck on to the paddles of your boat, and the wonderful, colorful fish, creating a haze of flurried colors under the dark water. It was all absolutely delightful, as you both chuckled at the behavior of all the animals around you. One of the frogs on the paddle decided to leap in a move of its own, elegantly diving into the water with a plop. But as graceful as the move was, it ended up with a small splash of water ungracefully landing on Sunghoon’s cheek, which made you giggle in amusement. Bringing the fabric of your sleeve to your palm and shifting close to wipe the cold water off his face, your eyes met the warmth in his brown ones, making you fall harder for the enigmatic and handsome prince. The human you’d found yourself to be so captivated by. Prince Park Sunghoon, royal heir to the throne of the island country, Telmarina. 

Sunghoon’s heartbeat was thundering in his ears due to the proximity between the two of you, and if he didn’t already feel that magnetic pull that was urging him to push his lips onto yours, the urge just got stronger as he looked at all your features with such intensity, as to almost memorize them. You could feel his shortening breath on your face now, which just created a chain reaction to your own flusteredness. His eyes, which were settled on yours, hesitatingly shifted, and then dipped to your lips. And it seemed that you did too, as the pink tinge of his lips seemed to call you like a siren. Leaning in slowly, almost gravely, both of you inhaled as your lips almost touched to fulfill what you both had been yearning for this entire time.

That was until the solid wooden flooring of the boat under both of you seemed to disappear, leaving you both plunging into the cold water of the lagoon, icing the blood in your veins and leaving you both in a shocked state, floating in the water. Laughing at the state of both of you, the kiss that almost happened seemed to slowly leave both of your minds, and Sunghoon swore that if you listened close enough, you could hear some sort of disappointed groan coming from the rock where the crab and seagull sat. And holding out his hand for you to take as you both swam up to land, you both almost ignored the dark slithering eels that swam away silently from the scene, ready to report to their masters of the success of their devious plans.

[entomolog-t]

Bite Me

My first OCs June and Aedes are finally getting their story told!! I'm so excited to finally be posting this. This chapter acts as a sort of prologue to their OG lil comic. I'm very happy to announce I've got 10 or so chapters already written so for the next little while I'll be uploading this story weekly!

- - - -

Next Chapter: Chapter 2

Word count: 759

CW: Vampire adjacent mild gore (mentions of blood, drinking blood)

Darkness had always been a comforting embrace to Aedes. There was an innate safety amongst the shadows, and a beautiful stillness under the light of the moon. Still- but not quiet. The night, in all its ethereal splendor, held a delicate symphony; Wood frogs and crickets sang with fervor, the leaves in the canopy above whispered subtle secrets, and the thrum of a heartbeat rang out in the distance- a sirens song to someone like him. 

Aedes listened intently, following the slow rhythmic beating with well practiced ease- a predator stalking its prey. His mouth watered. It had been so long since he last fed. This rural town afforded him a certain safety, but the cost of less frequent feeding was a hard price to bear. He was starved. Hunger gnawed at his insides, relentless and unforgiving in its demand to be sated, the alluring call of a potential meal pulling him forward as if it were reeling him in. 

He felt almost as if he were in a trance, his fixation on the thrumming causing the world around him to fade away. The nightly sounds seemed to dissolve more and more into the ether with each percussive beat. He followed the beat, his steps marching in time as if dancing to a stranger's most intimate song. Like a doting partner, he let the song lead him, each beat bringing him closer and closer to the unwitting musician. 

There he stood, a quaint two story home before him, its sage green siding looking at home within the menagerie of plant life growing wild around it. As he scanned the building, his eyes fell on an open window. He smiled. It seemed the people of rural towns found a certain safety here as well. 

With the utmost care, he heaved himself up, sliting the screen along its edge as he climbed through the window. He paused, taking in a deep breath as he perched on the window sill. Closing his eyes, he drank in the smell. A scent, smooth and sweet filled his lungs, so tempting it made his breath hitch. His hands shook, and his heart pounded with anticipation- His more desperate instincts calling on him to rush towards that effervescent scent and abandon all rationality. Patience. He steadied his breath, letting his urges feed his excited anticipation. 

A woman lay right there beneath him, her chest rising and falling in rhythm with her heart. Bathed in the pale light of the full moon, he marveled at her ambrosian beauty. Under the glistening light, her soft and subtle skin looked as though she was made of milk and honey, her nectarous lips full and blushing, the sight of their colour teasing hints of that… vigor that flowed so closely beneath her skin. 

And her neck-

He found himself baring his teeth involuntarily, his body begging for him to drink. 

She lay with her head to one side, such an innocent position filling him with such a potent hunger, as if she left herself open and vulnerable just for him. Adrenaline and hunger mingled together, dizzying in their intensity. His own heart thrummed alongside hers, beating much more wildly- a symbiotic dance between predator and prey, the thrill of the hunt intertwining with that ever-present dread of being caught. 

He couldn't wait any longer. 

Silent as the dead, he descended on her- his movements fluid despite their uncanny speed. The call of her heart beckoning him, compelling him to indulge.

Indulge he did.

His teeth sliced into the flesh of her neck, her soft skin offering no hint of resistance to his bite. He suppressed the urge to groan.

The taste - he shivered. 

She tasted like life.

On his tongue, she was a reprise. Her warmth filling him- her blood rejuvenating and invigorating. His mind felt dizzied, dancing on a drunken high he never quite understood. He felt a stupor come over him and welcomed it, riding out the bliss as he drank. 

An oasis is she,

So sweet on my tongue,

If I could drink my fill I would drown- 

He gulped with a primal desperation, his gluttony feeling boundless.

Such an insatiable creature am I,

You, the ambrosia my lips pursue 

Dear, my hunger consumes me,

please, let me consume - 

Her breath hitched. 

Suddenly, the night was no longer still.

In the blink of an eye, his world shifted- or more accurately, flipped- as gravity suddenly ripped him away from his indulgence. His mind reeled, desperate to understand what was happening.

To his horror, he found himself falling. 

[sleeplesssmoll]

Inspired by @definesanity I went through some of the sounds in the level select stages and really listened. I silenced the BGM and left on sound effects to get a better picture.

Mountain Echoes (mineral insight) has echo effects and faint percussion

Starfall Locale (star insight) has twinkle effects! It also has an effect like raspy whisper or breath?

Sylvanus Shape (plant insight) has running water sounds and wildlife sounds. Birds and such.

Brutes Wilds (beast insight) sounds like metal clinking (reminds me of mining). Also a wind effect and creaks.

The Poussiere stages have birds chirping and animal noises. There is wind and waves as well.

Mintage aesthetics has a low hum and a clinking noise. Bells? Lots of metalic sounds and chimes. There are also deep voices vocalizing in the background (at least that's what it sounded like to me). I couldn't hear it until the BGM was off.

Harvest Prime is dead silence.

Artificial Somnambulism is wild without the bgm. It's like being underwater and in outer space at the same time. There are occasion mechanical noises too. It has a musicality to it...

In In Our Time Ch 1, the rain doesn't begin to fall until Stage 13, The Rattenfanger (Where Forget Me Not reveals his true intentions and The Storm).

In Ch1-7 Scorched Woods there are Critter sounds(?) and frogs. Birds and stuff. Woodsy sounds!

Ch 3 has children's voices and a mechanical hum to it.

Ch 3-2 doesn't have the children, but it has nature sounds and gulls. The mechanical whirring is louder too.

Ch 3-6 Black Sheep wall, it begins to rain...

The rain and children's laughter are gone again in ch3-7 Scottish. It's just the gulls, waves, wind, and the machine.

In 3-13 A Yard, you can here pages flipping

3-14 Lost Lambs has a thumping sound? Or maybe a tapping sound, like placing something down.

Ch 4 also has various wildlife sounds and the machine whirring

4-8 Both sides of the table has people's voices. This plays in a few other stages.

Ch 5-1 Bon Voyage very heavy rain! Makes sense. Ch 5 has lots of ocean sounds in general. And wildlife sounds

[facts-i-just-made-up]

Who invented music?

Though there are many instruments capable of making music, the voice was unquestionably the earliest, as percussion was not first invented for musical purposes, and bass guitars don't count. Singing dates back beyond antiquity and indeed, beyond humanity. The earliest animal that evolved to make music was not the songbird or even the cricket, but rather, the frog.

Triadobatrachus, or the "Triassic Yowling Frog" as it was known back then, was the first animal capable of inflating its vocal sack. Thus, it was capable of making and tuning various noises, which like modern human musicians, it did to attract mates. Unlike modern musicians however, it did not rely exclusively on "Wonderwall" by Oasis.

Triadobatrachus made music of a very different sort. Today, we call this genre of music "Swedish Progressive Glam Metal," and it is mostly played today by all-frog bands, such as Croakus. Though American bands like Toad the Wet Sprocket and Colonel Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade have worked in the medium, their lack of actual amphibian musicians relegates them to mere appropriation.

Though many also cite Kermit the Frog as a genuinely salient musician, Jim Henson has explained that Kermit is biologically a human warrior who ran afoul of a Magus in the late sixth century, and seeks now to avenge his friend Cyrus.

[bonzosbunker]

Guzzwog, The Madpole Pokémon

Type: Water/Dark

As soon as it’s born, Guzzwog is said to be filled with a burning hatred for all things. Pokémon and people who unknowingly enter its domain are met with vicious headbutts and spews of water.

It has multiple spikes extending from its body. It is easily swept away by fast-flowing waters. To combat this, it anchors itself to the ground with armlike appendages.

-

Guzzmaw, The Horn Frog Pokémon

Type: Dragon/Dark

A very territorial Pokémon that bites anything that gets too close. It’s hard to get Guzzmaw to bring out its softer side.

Offering Guzzmaw food and treats is said to make it more likely to trust you, but typically, they enjoy being around other members of their species the most.

-

Guzztoad, The Lizard Toad Pokémon

Type: Dragon/Dark

Guzztoad will only get along with other members of its evolutionary line. Guzzwog often accompany a Guzztoad, and provide battle assistance with its water-type attacks.

Guzztoad almost never stops eating, but still has the heart to share the food it finds with its allies. The Guzzwog on the top of its head will eat whatever leftovers its Guzztoad leader gives it.

-

UB-?? PERCUSSION

TYPE: GROUND/DARK

THIS ULTRA BEAST’S BODY IS COVERED IN LUMPS THAT RESEMBLE DRUMS. IT PATS THESE LUMPS TO CREATE EARTHQUAKES. THE STRENGTH AND RHYTHM OF THE BEATS DETERMINES THE MAGNITUDE OF THE QUAKES. WETHER IT PLAYS DRUMS WITH ITS LUMPS FOR ITS OWN ENJOYMENT OR TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION ON PURPOSE IS STILL UNCLEAR.

IT HAS NO EYESIGHT. ANY EYES THAT IT HAS ARE OBSCURED BY ITS LARGE LUMPS, MAKING IT PERMANENTLY BLIND. TO MAKE UP FOR THIS, IT CAN SENSE VIBRATIONS IN THE GROUND TO “SEE” WHAT’S AROUND IT. IT CAN EVEN SENSE CHANGES IN THE AIR, WHICH CAN COME IN HANDY TO PREDICT WHERE A FLYING ENEMY IS COMING FROM.

UB-PERCUSSION IS COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS CROBONGO AND IS CLASSIFIED AS THE BASS DRUM POKÉMON.

(i drew some more guys for the fakémon challenges happening over on twitter. this time, i swapped the roles of seismitoad and guzzlord to create the guzztoad line and ub-percussion!)

[dani-dance]

Night Sara (on earth) @ Fable & Fantasy 2024 (Sunday)

📍🗓️ Emmen, June 23, 2024

These photos are taken from a video I took at the festival! It’s why the angle is sometimes a bit frog-eye’s view :D

I didn’t get recognized this day, but I did get several “oh-my-god-you-look-so-cool”’s which is just as worth it!

Unlike comic con, I went to this event on my own so I mostly had to take my own pictures! (though someone did notice me taking this video and offered to take some pictures of me! I’m not going to post those online, however)

I might just be paranoid but I do think I look a bit tired in these pictures. To be honest, I was. Comic con had been a lot the previous day and Fable & Fantasy is almost entirely an outdoors event, and it was a really hot day. I still like how they came out tho!

I’ve gone to Fable & Fantasy annually since 2022, and it’s always a ton of fun! It’s gotten bigger each year! I’ve got some new dice, played a oneshot in the RPG-cafe, and had some great food!

Also, this year is the first year I got to see the band Plunder live! It was a deciding factor in which day I’d go to comic con and which day to Fable & Fantasy, and it was so worth it. It was so much fun, I was on the dance floor for the full hour (and longer)! The wooden dancefloor was great and sturdy and almost provided it’s own percussion with all the dancing :D Super good atmosphere and really high energy!

Plunder makes and plays almost exclusively Dutch songs, but I’m a firm believer in not needing to know a language in order to enjoy music, so if you enjoy pirate-y partyfolk/folk rock I highly recommend checking out their songs!

[emetoandotherthings]

The Teachers' Curse

A/N: Honestly this is the first thing I've written in so so so long.. I don't really even know where it came from but 🤷‍♀️ Also apologies cause there's a lot of build up, but suck it if you don't like it. Just cause they're so wonderful I'm dedicating this to @lickstynine and @its-a-goddamn-heartbreak

______________________________________________________________

         The teachers’ curse. That’s what they’d all joked about in uni. The last week of term and the first week of the holidays – rule them out because with everything that needed done, you’d be exhausted and every bug, virus and eager bacteria comes after you. Jude had laughed about it with all the rest, until his probationary year began.

         After 8 weeks, October had brought a tired, run down feeling; December heralded a cold – but then, who didn’t get a cold in December? Jude was beginning to think that it was a whole load of rubbish, until he had to content with a 13 week term, coinciding with a pedagogical enquiry and a final profile to prove that he was actually good enough to be a teacher.

         With only 7 school days to go until the Easter holidays, Jude woke up with conjunctivitis – all scratchy and inflamed. He’d ended up with drops that Eden almost had to pin him down to put in, and forced to wear his glasses for the entire week.

         With 5 days left, a throbbing incessant pain in his ear had made itself known as his class worked with the percussion music specialist. The rest of the day, he’d felt like someone was trying to sharpen a pencil inside his ear canal. By 3pm, the glands in his neck had blown up and swallowing was a challenge. Eden had dragged him to the emergency out of hours doctor and the result was a 3 day course of antibiotics. Jude tried to laugh it off as just one of those things, but secretly he wondered whether it was the teacher’s curse creeping up on him. At least he’d be finished the antibiotics by Friday and would be able to have a drink in the evening when the holidays arrived.

         The thrumming had faded to a stop over the next few days, along with the sandpaper scratch in his throat and the only thing that lingered was a tiredness that made it almost impossible to drag himself out of bed on Friday morning.

         “Last day!” Eden’s voice was far too cheery for so early in the morning.

         “Thank the Lord…” Jude sighed, rubbing both hands over his face as he placed both feet firmly on the carpet. Eden was packing books the size of paving slabs into his backpack.

         “I’m in lab today,” he explained, as Jude dragged a shirt over his shoulders. “I’ll try to be back for you getting home – first evening of the holidays!”

         “I am very much looking forward to being back in bed…” It was just 6 hours – then he’d be done, he’d have some downtime. It’s not that he didn’t love teaching – he did! He loved the kids, hearing their stories, seeing their learning click into place like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle… but anyone who claimed working with children was easy definitely hadn’t spent time with 30 at once.

         Last days were a grand waste of time. For start, nearly one quarter of his class were absent; the rest were as mad as a box of frogs – unable to settle to anything for longer than five minutes. Jude was only glad that it stayed dry so the afternoon was filled with spare part outdoor learning; an activity which required supervision, but not a great deal of teaching or attention. He was only too pleased when the bell to end the day rang, and he could wave goodbye to his learned for the next two weeks. Jude had sat at his desk for nearly 10 whole minutes just willing himself to move before he geared himself up to go home.

         He was determined to only make one trip from his car to the flat, so he clambered up the stairs with three bags trying to pull his arms from his sockets. He was struggling to get the keys from his pocket when the front door swung open from the inside.

         “Jude!” Eden looked scandalised at the number of bags his boyfriend was carrying; he swooped forwards and grabbed some of them.

         “Eden…” He hadn’t expected him to be home. “I thought you’d still be in labs.”

         “It’s your first evening of the holidays!” Eden strained under the weight of the tote bags. “I wanted to spend some time with you.”

         “I’m not sure I’ll be that great company,” Jude answered, dumping the last of his bags into their hallway.

         “Oh shush,” Eden said, disappearing into their kitchen. “I was more thinking…” His voice continued from the kitchen and he re-appeared at the doorframe, two beers clutched in his hand. “A drink, a takeaway and some Netflix… No lesson plans, no profile – just relaxing.” Eden was holding out the bottle of beer, a quarter of lime squeezed into its neck.

         “Sometimes you’re the most beautiful thing on the planet,” Jude couldn’t stop the smile spreading across his face, accepting the beer bottle.

         “Only sometimes?” Eden’s eyebrows disappeared up under his fringe.

         “Always,” Jude sighed. “Sorry…” Eden grabbed Jude’s free hand and dragged him into the living room; he’d brought several blankets and pillows into the room. “Oh, Eden…”

         “I thought we could make a bit of a nest,” Eden suggested, “food, drinks, not having to move…”

         “What did I do to deserve you?” Jude mused as Eden pulled him to the sofa, noticing that Eden’s cheeks had flushed pink. “Thank you.”

         Jude had barely drunk half of his beer before he dozed off, his head lolling backwards against the sofa and the beer bottle tipping forward precariously. Eden gently extricated it from Jude’s hands and let him sleep – he needed it.

         Jude’s head was heavy as he woke up, he felt sluggish and groggy; he opened his eyes and stretched. Eden was curled next to him, a book in his lap.

         “Sorry,” he muttered, rubbing his hands across his face. “How long have I been asleep?”

         “About an hour and a half,” he put his book on the arm of the sofa and stretched his arm around Jude’s shoulder. Jude loved how well he fit into the crook of Eden’s shoulder. “I ordered food, it’ll be here soon.”

         “You’re an angel,” Jude said; he was so tired he didn’t feel like eating, but he would – if only to make Eden happy. He grabbed his beer from the table and took a swig, it didn’t taste as good lukewarm, but that was his fault for falling asleep.

         “Food’s here,” Eden announced, his phone buzzing to let him know the delivery driver was at the door. “Do you want another beer?”

         “Why not?” Jude shrugged, he felt bad – Eden was doing so much for him, yet he couldn’t help but feel the only thing he wanted to do was crawl into bed. He tried to waken himself up a bit, sitting up straighter and stretching his arms above his head.

         “Here you go,” Eden reappeared, carrying some pizza boxes and more beers. He set down one of the boxes in Jude’s lap before settling beside him.

         “Aaw, you even got pineapple on mine!” Jude smiled as he opened the lid of his box.

         “I thought I could allow for your transgression just this once,” Eden opened his own pizza. “I’m starving, I don’t know what it is about labs that always makes me so hungry.” He pulled a slice of his pizza up and devoured it hungrily. “Oh, and I’ve got cookie dough for afters.”

         “You’re amazing,” Jude grinned, though even the muscles of his cheeks felt tired.

         “Come on,” Eden nodded towards Jude’s pizza. “Tuck in.”

         Jude managed three quarters of his pizza before he felt the strain of his waistband against his stomach. He wanted more, it tasted so good and he felt more awake than he had since he got home. He swigged more of his beer as he rested the pizza box on the table and leaned back into the pillows and blankets surrounding it.

         “Man, I’ve got a food baby,” he rubbed his hand over his stomach.

         “Me too,” Eden replied. He’d finished all of his own pizza and had curled his arm around Jude’s shoulder again.

         “Shut up!” Jude joked, scanning up and down Eden’s slim frame. “I don’t know where you put it!”

         “I dunno,” Eden shrugged, “perks of having a fast metabolism.”

         “If only!”

         “You’re perfect just as you are,” Eden said; and then they were kissing. It was warm and soft, and Jude loved the way they fit together, as though they’d been made that way. When they split, Jude stayed closed to Eden, he felt like home. “Right,” Eden spoke after a while, “let’s put something on to watch, you choose.” He handed across the remote.

         “Anything?” Jude asked.

         “Anything you want,” Eden smiled.

         Jude’s eyes were drooping, even though he was the one who’d chosen the drama they were both watching. He’d finished off his beer but now his mouth was feeling oddly dry; his waistband was still digging into his stomach and that discomfort was beginning to radiate deeper than his skin. He could get up and change, but that felt like too much of an effort.

         Yet as the time ticked by, and the first episode turned into the second, Jude’s attention was even less on the tv and much more on how the discomfort from his waistband had turned into a weird bubbly ache in the pit of his belly. It felt rather like the time he’d gone sailing and despite the calm water his insides had been sloshing around with every moment. A cold, goosebump sensation kept cropping up on his exposed arms. He tried to shuffle himself on the sofa, wanting to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling, but the movement only served to make him feel worse. He slid the empty beer bottle in between the arm of the sofa and cushion and rested his now free hand onto his belly. It felt soft underneath his hand, but he could still feel the bugle of his full stomach. He took a few deep breaths and tried to surreptitiously move the waistband of his trousers, hoping that would give him some relief.

         It didn’t. In fact, it got worse. From the slightly sloshy, swishy feeling, it progressed into a more churning sensation – like his stomach had been set to spin cycle. He slowly tried to massage his fingers into his flesh, but the ache gurgled and deepened. Jude thought he’d done a good job of hiding it, until Eden raised his eyebrows and fixed him with a strange look.

         “Are you okay?” He asked, his hand straying towards the remote.

         “Yeah, yeah,” Jude lied, but with one look he could tell Eden knew he was lying. “I dunno, I guess, I feel a bit… queasy.” Almost as soon as he said it, his stomach burbled under his hand. “I’m probably just tired.” He wanted to pass it off as nothing, but the discomfort was growing with every passing second. Eden grabbed the remote and paused the tv, he sat up straighter and seemed to survey Jude. Then he stretched out his hand and pressed it against Jude’s forehead.

         “You don’t feel warm,” he said quietly, frowning slightly. “Hang on…” Eden hoisted himself from the sofa and padded across to the main light; Jude blinked as the light turned on. “You’re a bit pale,” he commented, “maybe we should have an early night?”

         “You wouldn’t mind?” Jude asked quickly. “It’s just, you’ve gone to such an effort…”

         “Jude, if bed is where you need to be, then I’m happy to be there with you,” Eden answered, sounding so genuine that Jude could have cried. “And we can have cookie dough for breakfast.”

         “Thank you,” he said, sighing.

         “Come on then,” Eden crossed to the tv and switched it off, before turning off the lamps one by one. Jude shuffled forwards to the edge of the sofa, but as he moved a rush of heat swept across his body and his stomach twisted in such an uncomfortable manner that he froze where he was perched. He took deep steadying breaths, not liking the sudden shift. “Jude?”

         “H-ulp!” The hiccup burst from his lips before he could stop it, and he couldn’t stop the groan that followed or the way his hand had gone to his stomach.

         “Jude?” There was a sense of urgency in Eden’s voice now; he’d crossed the room in a few strides and was kneeling to the side of him, his hand resting on Jude’s knee. “Jude?”

         “Oh god…” Jude groaned. “I don’t feel well Ede…”

         “What’s wrong? Tell me,” Eden’s voice was a comfort, but the spin cycle in his belly seemed to have reached terminal velocity.

         “My – my stomach,” Jude muttered, trying hard not to open his mouth too wide.

         “D’you feel sick?” Eden asked. “Shall I get a bucket?” Jude squeezed his eyes shut, inhaling and exhaling through his nose.

         “Mmmn, no,” Jude shook his head slightly. “Jus’ give me a minute, I’ll be fine.” But nothing felt further from the truth, the sweeps of cold and hot alternating with rapidity.

         “Are you sure?” Eden didn’t sound sure at all, but he squeezed Jude’s knee gently. Jude didn’t reply, he was far too busy willing his stomach to stop clenching in such a disconcerting way. He didn’t know how long he’d spent just trying to breathe, until he felt hot liquid creeping up the back of his throat – and at that point, he felt the inevitability of it.

         “’m gonna throw up,” he managed to force the words out.

         “Right, I’m getting a bucket,” Eden said firmly.

         “No – no,” Jude reached his hand and grabbed Eden’s to stop him moving. “Help me – to the toilet…”

         “Jude, it’d be easier…” Eden refuted, but Jude was already pushing himself up, his free hand cradling his belly. “Okay,” Eden grabbed Jude’s arm to support him, as his legs had the same quality as a newly born foal.

         “Oh god,” Jude slurred, the movement had made everything ten times worse. His stomach contracted and he felt the rush of liquid barrelling up his throat. He slapped his hand to his mouth, hoping to prevent what he knew was coming. “Hmmmllk!” The heave was so strong that Jude lurched forwards.

         “Jude!” Eden’s tone was anxious as he began to pull Jude more forcefully. Jude’s head was swimming, all he could focus on was keeping the contents of his stomach down.

         “Hmmrrk!” The next heave was stronger, and Jude felt liquid hit the back of his teeth, his cheeks puffing out dramatically. He fought to swallow, they were nearly at the bathroom – he had to make it. Jude felt his chest tighten and his stomach squeezing more powerfully, he tried to force his feet to move faster but his legs had lost the ability to be useful in movement.

         “H’kkrrrk!” Jude had no power over his own body anymore, it was doing what it needed to do. His legs had crumbled under the weight, Eden’s hand had released as he fell and he scrambled forwards, but not quickly enough.

         “H’kkkkrrrgggllll’uuuuurrrrggglll!” A spray of warm, bitter liquid burst from Jude’s lips, coating the toilet seat and splashing onto the floor. He had to ignore it, pulling himself closer to the toilet bowl, disregarding that he was kneeling in his own vomit. He’d barely had a second, hardly enough time to draw breath, before his stomach contracted again. “B’hhhrrkk-luuurrrk!”  It came with such force that the puke hit the back of the toilet seat and sent splashes back into Jude’s face.

         “Oh Jude,” Eden’s voice came back into focus, Jude hadn’t realised that all he had heard previous was the rebellion of his own body.

         “Urgh,” Jude groaned, learning forwards to his hands pressed on the cold tiles of the bathroom floor. He could still feel his stomach contracting, gearing up for the next assault. “S-sorry…” He choked, his voice thin.

         “Jude, don’t be silly,” Eden brushed Jude’s hair away from his eyes, then placed his hand in between Jude’s shoulder blades. This simple action seemed to signal the start of the next round.

         “Hrrrr’uuuullllkrrrrggggll!” A wave of thick, bitter liquid forced up his throat and flowed forcefully into the toilet bowl. He could taste the hops of the beer and the tang of the pineapple, and this made him retch harder.

         “Oh Jude,” Eden rubbed Jude’s back firmly, feeling the muscles tense under his touch. “You should have said you were feeling this bad.”

         “Wasn’t-“ Jude choked, spitting in order to try and rid his mouth of the taste. “Hit me all at – hrrk – once!”

         “Here,” Eden retrieved a cloth and ran it under the tap, before kneeling down next to Jude and wiping gently at his face. It was something so simple, but it nearly brought tears to Jude’s eyes. “It’s okay,” Eden’s words were soothing, “it’ll be alright…”

         “Feel – hrrk – awful…” Jude spit the saliva pooling in his mouth out, but that gave way to another heave that brought up a further wave of sick.

         “You’ll feel better when it’s out,” Eden reassured him, rubbing his back again.

         “Urrghh…” Jude groaned, his knees were beginning to protest being pressed against the cold tile floor; he tried to re-adjust himself, kneeling back and straightening up. His body didn’t like this, sending more sick charging up his throat and splashing into the water of the toilet bowl. “Pineapple doesn’t – hllk – taste as good on its way up…”

         “Glad to see you’ve not lost your sense of humour,” Eden quipped dryly.

         “Not the only thing I’ve lost,” he muttered. He was hoping this was a lull; his stomach wasn’t straining and contracting now, all he could feel was a slow churn in his gut.

         “You feeling better?” Eden knelt down beside him, brushing a hair away from his face. “You’re not as ghostly pale anymore.”

         “Think – for a bit…” Jude answered, he put his hand gently to his stomach – it didn’t feel quite as tender as before. “Not sure I’m completely – finished…” The last word hung slowly in the air.

         “But just now?” Eden asked and Jude gave a tiny nod. “Right, for now, let’s get you cleaned up and into bed.”

         “But –“ Jude started, but Eden cut him off.

         “I’ll get a bucket, put it next to the bed,” Eden’s words were so self-assured that Jude had to listen to him. “We’ll get you in something comfy and tucked up so you can rest.”

         “Okay,” Jude agreed, there was no point in arguing with a determined Eden.

         “For some reason, I don’t think we’ll be having cookie dough for breakfast,” Eden chuckled.

         The mention of food made Jude heave dryly again; he gulped down some air and shook his head: “No, I think not…”

[crmsnmth]

Untitled #41

On lazy Hazy summer afternoons I see you in the shimmering of road mirages And in the bees dancing between flowers

I see you in the dust off of old dirt pack trails through emerald forever misty forests Where birds sing songs and frogs croak through the night Symphonies only rivaled by the orchestra of your words

I see your eyes in clear night skies The moon so quiet and new in it's birth cycle Stars shoot across the velveteen black Supernovas millions of light years away A nebula of colored gases in the strands of spiral galacies

I see your face in the face of young lovers Those who haven't learned just how cruel love can be And I wish them the best of luck Letting them believe for a while that love is free and easy

I see your lips on the wings of Monarch butterflies soft, gentle and desperatly wanting touch But you can't touch the wings of them and in my sickness I pull to hard and fill myself with guilt at my accident

I feel your hands everytime a warm wind blows through a parking lot wrapping around my body just like you did And I crave the feeling, so I'm here seated on the cement blocks, counting cars and relishing in the wind's patterns

I hear your voice in the songs of the masters The strings and brass playing low and melancholic the reeds come through with sweeping melodies percussive explosions in the very matter of my brain

I see you everywhere I go, because you were everything to me And now my world is just a never ending game of hide and go seek Where it's never really my turn to hide And I can't hide my depression when I don't hear your voice for yet another day-trip

I see you in the walls of my cellblock room and in the darkness of my shutting eyes Another time to sleep it off