#the thing is- I think Shadow would love Amy no matter what fashion trend she decided for that week- that year- whatever

[shadowxamyweek]

I think the one thing we keep missing on when coming up with goth Amy Rose designs is that if Amy ever did go through a goth phase, she'd look like Draculaura from Monster High.

[lazyspeedster93]

Shadow Misadventure, Ep. 4: Shopping Sprain

(Any and all real-life intellectual properties, including Sonic, belong to their respective owners)

(In front of Rouge and Tails' houses)

Sonic: Mornin', neighbor!

Rouge: Good morning, Sonic! Good morning, Tails.

Tails: Uh...morning. (6 6)"

Rouge: Ahem, I think Omega has something he wanted to say.

Sonic: What a coincidence; Tails wanted to tell you something, too.

Rouge: Omega...

Omega: I am sorry for what I said the other day. I behaved very childishly and insensitive. Your admiration for your friend their does make you any less or more of a genius, likewise for myself with Shadow.

Tails: I'm sorry, too. I went out of line, I said some things I shouldn't have; I hope we can still be friends.

Omega: Acknowledged. (Shakes Tails' hand)

Sonic: Aww, that's nice. 😊 I hope this means we can hang out again soon, Shaddy!

Shadow: I'm choosing to ignore you. We should probably get going, Rouge!

Sonic: Where are you going?

Rouge: Oh, I was just taking the boys shopping at the mall.

Amy: (Suddenly appears): The mall? Can we come?

Rouge: If your friends help with the bags, sure! ❤

Sonic and Tails: Say what now?

Shadow: You heard the lady. You're going to carry their bags, just like Omega and I do every Monday.

Tails: That doesn't quite explain why Sonic and I have to come do it.

Rouge: Because there's two of us shopping. We're going to need the assistance we can get. :P

Sonic: I don't think I'd like that.

Shadow: (Eyes shooting daggers): You will suffer as I do.

Sonic: Uh...😥

Amy: Don't be such a baby, Sonic. It's just carrying bags. Tell you what, if you do a good job, I'll make you those cupcakes you like.

Sonic: Really? 😍

Amy: Really, really! ❤

Sonic: Yay! I'll do it!

Amy: Hey, Shadow! Come over here!

Shadow: What is it?

Amy: (Whispering): After Rouge and I finish our share of the shopping, if I could convince her to let me borrow you for a bit, I want to take you somewhere; just the two of us.

Shadow: (Eyes dart from side to side)...Why?

Amy: Don't tell the others, but I want to take you to game shop with me.

Shadow: That's all? Why are being so secretive about that?

Amy: Normally, I'd take Tails, but you remember what happened at Spring Burger. I banned him from video games for a week for that.

Shadow: Really? Okay, I suppose I could come along.

Amy: Yes!

Rouge: Are you done over there? We gotta beat the sales rush!

Shadow: We're coming!

(One hour later, at the Westopolis Shopping Mall)

Tails: (Vision obscured by shoe boxes): I could use a little help.

Sonic: I would if I could, buddy, but my hands are pretty full. Also, the rest of my arms, shoulders, waist, and my aching back!

Omega: MALFUNCTION. EXCEEDING LOAD WEIGHT LIMIT. HYDRAULICS JAMMING.

Shadow: (Heavy breathing) Whoever came up with the idea of "fashion trends" should've been put in prison!

Rouge: Alright, boys, just set everything down right here for now.

Shadow, Omega, Sonic, and Tails: (Drops packages, boxes, and bags down next to a bench as neatly but quickly as they could, sighing loudly and collapsing)

Amy: You guys want anything to drink? I can give you change for drinks from that vending machine over there.

Sonic: (Exhausted): Please. (Gets change) What do ya wanna drink, Shaddy?

Shadow: Nothing unless it's your blood in a cocktail.

Sonic: So, you don't want any? (Shadow glares) I'll be right back.

Rouge: Anyway, Shadow, I still don't know why you didn't want me to get Amy pieces like mine.

Shadow: The same reason I hate fakes of me. You're a marvelous specimen, sweetheart. We don't need a hundred cheap Rouge knock-offs running around. No offence, Amy.

Amy: None taken. I think. Anywho, when he can move again, could I take him somewhere for a minute?

Rouge: What for?

Amy: Well, uh...

Shadow: Uh, FLOWERS! She's seen our garden and wanted me to help pick flowers for hers(?)

Rouge: Oh! Well, you did plant a lovely garden for our house, sugar. ❤ Alright, you can borrow him.

Amy: Thank you! Ready to go, Shadow?

Shadow: (Struggling up, cracking back) Yeah, I'm good. Let's go.

So, did you really ban Prower from video games? I would've thought he had the authority in that house since he paid for it and all.

Amy: Oh, we Sonic Heroes are all equals. That means we're all equally responsible for each other, and in this case, I had to put on the mom pants with Tails.

Shadow: Heh! I would think you'd say the same thing he did in defence of the faker.

Amy: Maybe. But, as smart as Tails is, he's still a little boy. As his senior, I gotta set a good example. Anyway, we're here!

So, what were you planning on getting, Shadow?

Shadow: Nothing in particular. I mostly wanted a break from carrying clothes.

Amy: Well, I needed to finally get the new Pokémon. So, what should it be: Sword or Shield?

Shadow: I can't help you there. I don't really play Pokémon.

Amy: Whaaat?

Shadow: I'm just not really interested. I don't really do pets, let alone virtual pet games.

Amy: Maybe you'd like Fire Emblem? The newest game is about training a school for soldiers. You like doing that for G.U.N., right?

Shadow: Fire Emblem seems like one of those busy games, and I'm busy in real life. Maybe I'll just put money on No More Heroes 3.

Amy: Ooh! I better make a mental note to get that one.

Dave: Hello, are you ready to check--Oh, no.

Shadow: Hey, aren't you that kid that works at Spring Burger?

Dave: Yes, and you're friends with the big robot that got in an argument with an 11-year-old over you.

Shadow: (Glaring): Are you trying to say something about me?

Dave: (Scared): No, sir. Did you fine folks find everything okay?

Amy: Yep. I'd like a new copy of Pokémon Sword, and my friend here wanted to preorder a game.

Dave: Are you two purchasing separately or is this all one transaction?

Shadow: I'll be using my own money for my preorder.

Dave: (Beep!) There you go, Ma'am. And what was the game you wanted to reserve, sir?

Shadow: (Holds out 10 ring banknote): I'm putting ten rings down in No More Heroes 3.

Dave: (Nervously): Ah, of course. (Completes transaction, hands over receipt) You're all set. Have a good day.

Amy: Let's go, Shadow! Everyone's probably ready to go home.

Shadow: I'm coming!

Amy: Quick question. What was that about you planting a garden. I have seen it in your lawn, and it is very nice. It's just--and don't take this the wrong way--I never would've guess that was your doing.

Shadow: (Reluctant): It's just something I did for Rouge's birthday last year. That's all.

Amy: Aww, Shadow, that's so nice of you!

Tails: Hey, guys! Where are the flowers?

Shadow: Well, it's already done, so there's no need to keep quiet about it; Amy and I actually went to the game shop.

Tails: Aw, man! Really?

Amy: You can come next time. You're not allowed to play games again yet, Tails.

Tails: But we're fine, now. We were just talking about aerodynamics.

Omega: Miles has learned a lot from being a pilot.

Rouge: Well, this has been fun, but it's about time we go home. Shadow, if you please.

Shadow: Chaos Control! (Teleports everyone and all their stuff back to their houses)

Tails: Alright, if there isn't anything else you need us to do for you, I think we'll be on our way. Right, Sonic?

Sonic: Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. You all have good--

Shadow: (Grabbing Sonic and Tails' shoulders, emanating an aura of doom): As a matter of fact, if you could help us take Rouge's bags all the way up to her room, that would be great.

Sonic: Uh...okay. I'll just ask Amy to give us a hand--

Tails: Sonic? She already went inside the house.

Shadow: Oh, right! Her bags are still out here, too. You can bring those in yourself after your finished with Rouge's.

Sonic and Tails: ...Crap.

[cutegirlmayra]

Hello Mayra, :-) I hope you're having a good day and don't tire yourself out. I was hoping to request a prompt about Amy thinking Sonic is tired of the way she looks so she tries out new clothes and a new hairstyle. When Sonic sees her he's speechless but also upset because he wouldn't want Amy to change herself just to make him like her because he likes her no matter what she looks like. I know you're mostly sticking to In Character so you can change anything about this prompt. Thank you!

(x) Used with Artists permission! Please support her as well! 

****(Also, If you are willing to let me use your art as ‘preview images’ to my stories, please support and help me by letting me know you’re alright with the way I credit! I need more preview images plz! -you’ll be alerted if I use your works.- Thank you!)\

I am trying to have a good day, and rest up. So thank you, my friend ^///^

With the ‘in-character’ thing. I do try very hard to stay in character, but I also understand if character’s have to react to AU scenarios not normally happened upon, that they’re going to change their reactions. I use my best guess, or simply try my best. I’m not perfect, but I do my research and hope it’s close enough :) I really like this idea, so I hope you enjoy it!

Prompt:

After Amy began wondering why all her magazine ‘20 ways to catch a wild man’s heart!’ wasn’t working, she tossed the whole thing and seemed pretty bummed out.

But that quickly changed when she saw a commercial of a cute girl trying to impress her crush with different fashion wear…

“It’s up to YOU to decide what he likes!”

She kept flipping through outfits, “Intelligent? Sassy? Untamed? Shy or modest! It’s this brand of design for you!” They ended the commercial, as Amy rose her eyebrow and stood up, looking her look over.

Darting to a mirror, she hesitated a moment before pulling her quills back, and seeing what that looked like from the side.

“…Intelligent?”

She then ruffled her quills, spiking them up and then positioning them off to the sides of her shoulders.

“…Sassy.. untamed?”

She then smiled… slowly… before pulling her hair up and striking a pose.

“Shy~” she cutely put her free hand to her muzzle, hiding some of her smirk.

“Modest~” Amy let her hair fall again and then spread her arms down and out, before looking over her clothes.

She pouted, “This won’t do!” she zipped her head to look towards her room and bolted.

Several days later…

Sonic raced through the city, people excitedly pointed up to the buildings he scaled or leaped like an arch-streaked of blue over with praising and excited faces.

He was about to get through the busy streets below, side-walking a building before spotting out of the corner of his eye…

He didn’t believe it at first..

He spun down and held a blank expression, looking at Amy who was sitting quite peacefully at a table, reading something.

He furrowed his brow.

For the past few years… she had never changed her look.

Now…

She wore her hair back, fashionable square glasses, bracelets and a baggy shirt.

Hipster?

He shook his head before wondering if this was even Amy.

Her mascara she usually wore?

Gone.

Her red, open back dress?

Done away with it.

The change was uncomfortable for Sonic, as he just stood there blinking before looking as though he saw a ghost.

Amy leaned her head up over the book, before smiling widely to him.

“Ah! Sonic The Hedgehog! Fastest thing alive. How do you do.” she held her glasses a moment and tipped her head.

He frowned, looking unsure of her actions. “…Fine.” he stated, before walking more over to her and leaning over the table, trying to muster a smile.

“But I can’t say the same for you. You look-”

“-Intelligent?!” she beamed, leaning up and keeping her hands pressed down on her book.

“…Umm….” he looked behind her to see in the reflection of the cafe her tail wildly beating.

He smiled to the side of his face, lifting a curious eyebrow up once he saw a glimmer of her true self returning.

“Heh. More like messy.” he put a finger under his nose, winking…

He wanted to test this out.

“Is this some new trend you’re going for, Amy?”

She pouted with a puff of air in one cheek, and swished her head away before delicately taking her seat again.

“I’m reading Shakespeare.” she countered. “A very sophisticated and elegant thing to do.”

“Shakespeare, huh?” he leaned down and took a cracker from her plate, making her twitch at his rudeness before he nibbled on it, looking down at the book.

“Is it a love story?” he questioned.

Amy’s whole being slumped, “Wha… What is that suppose to mean!?” her anger got the better of her, but she was more surprised than anything. “Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet? Much Ado About Nothing? Taming of the Shrew!???” she pushed the book repetitively up at his face.

Humorous tears burst from her eyes suddenly, as she laughed. “You can’t be serious! He’s one of the best play-writers in the world!” she gripped her stomach as Sonic smiled, pretending to be annoyed at her acquisition, but glad she was back to her normal self.

“Beats me. I only read legends and myths.” he looked away, before scarfing his cracker down fully then and licking his fingers and lips, seeing Eggman attacking a few streets down. “Gotta go.” he reeled himself off and took speedily off for adventure!

As usual.

“Alright.” she took her hair down, tossing it around a moment before removing the glasses. “That’s a no-go on intelligent.”

Another few days later…

Sonic paused to eat at Amy’s place, before knocking on her door and seeing her come out with a start.

“Pfft! Could you knock any louder? Honestly, Sonic… and they call me desperate.”

He saw her lean against the door,… eye-shadow? Magenta in tone, maybe, and some quills straightened out to be in front of her face. A crop-top with a tight pink skirt that looked like shorts.

He made a sour-expression, before looking back up to her eyes.

“….Hi.” he spoke brassly, before about to turn around.

“H-hey!” she broke her act and quickly reached out to him, holding his arm as he looked back, seeming annoyed.

“..You… don’t go.” her eyes bent, almost a plea. “I-I was just playing sassy…”

Seeing her return to her former self, he smiled, and lost all frustration.

“Ah, there you are.” he turned back and walked inside, starting to figure out what was going on.

“U-um… do you not like.. um..” she pulled her shirt from the bottom out a moment, nervous about showing so much skin, before looking away and blushing, and then holding a pointer finger up for a moment.

“Excuse me… one second!” she darted so fast into her room that he thought it almost cute, and tilted his head with a closed-eye grin.

He then looked around the room… She was already preparing for dinner.

Perfect! He chimed with a step towards the table.

She came back out, her hair redone and makeup changed, which only made him tap on the table and look bored again.

“This same thing..?” he mumbled beneath his breath.

NOW she was wearing a leather jacket, some odd name-brand logos and her hair spiked up on the sides.

She was chewing on a straw and wore black, sleek pants.

What was this? Greece Lightning?

He rolled his eyes.

“Ready for the usual?” she tried to act ‘appealing’… but she could barely move in the get-up and ended up having her pants and heels squeak across the floor till she got to the kitchen.

He pffted, before laughing silently to himself as she twitched an eyebrow in embarrassment and annoyance.

“S-shut up! I’m doing this for-!..Emm..” she kept her mouth closed, but still enraged at him laughing at her attempts before bringing the tray over.

‘Think… untamed…’ she looked up a moment, an innocent expression as Sonic yawned, and ticked her off.

She slammed the tray down, letting the food fly where it would on the table.

Sonic didn’t flinch. Having a leg up on the seat and his hand turned to hold his head up, he just opened an eye and looked back up at her.

“Take your pick. Make your own plate.” she lifted a hand up, trying to shrug it off like she wasn’t responsible and then gave him an edgy glare. “What are you staring at? Food’s gonna get cold.”

He seemed to be looking down, twitching…

She sweat dropped… was he mad at her?

“S-Sonic..?” She stepped back a moment, her Quills starting to fade downward…

“I-I didn’t mean to come off that way! I-I was trying to be untamed.. uhh..” she waved her hands out, but then saw him break into laughter.

He banged a hand on the table, before she pouted and walked off.

“Hold on…”

He continued to profusely laugh as loudly as he could, before about to eat as he wiped his eyes but Amy screamed back.

“WAIT FOR ME!”

He drooped his eyes and dropped the food, folding his arms and leaning back, upset she’d make him wait…

She suddenly came in with another get-up, this one cuter as she wore a summer dress and something more modest.

“I.. Umm…” she wore her quills up again, but more neatly done, and seemed to be tryin’ to pull off another look and character.

He frowned deeply again, putting his arms behind his head and waiting for her to sit.

“I-I hope you like it…” she scooted into her seat, and then covered her face. “O-Oh! But it’s okay if you don’t!”

He rolled his eyes again, “You know I always do.” he leaned up and started eating.

She flinched at how he was passively dismissing her random actions and grew upset again.

‘Is he just toying with me!?’

She took a breath and tried again, holding a piece of food up and cupping her hand under it.

“Ahh..?” she tried for modest, offering to feed him as he gave her a dead-pan look.

She twitched her smile, before shoving the food in his mouth and angrily getting up.

He scrunched up his face, chewing quickly and swallowing before glaring up at her about to leave.

“Going to change again?”

She paused in her stride, and he got up, seeing her grip the wall as she was at her last straw…. wit’s end… heart already tested enough as it was.

“I’m not gonna be insulted by-!”

“You insulted?” Sonic turned his head behind his shoulder, folding his arms. “I came here to eat with my friend. Not meet a bunch of different girls like blind-dates.” he spat his tongue out, a little silly, towards another direction before speaking to her with both their backs facing each other.

“I don’t know why you think you have to change yourself, Amy…”

She suddenly rose her head up, perking up to that new shift in character from him…

“..But it’s ruining my meal.” he suddenly took some more food and moved to the door.

“Tell me when Amy gets back.” he popped some food in and opened the door.

“….Sonic…” Amy turned her slightly tearing up, ashamed face back towards him.

He paused, before turning back to her.

“Hmm?” he seemed ready to scold her again, but she untied her hair, and turned to smile at him.

“You like ‘Plain old’ me… don’t you?” she seemed really touched by it, and he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

“Plain?” he smirked, and turned back around to her, closing the door by leaning back on it till it clicked.

“Amy, you’re never a dull moment.”

She felt her heart melting.

“And you’re never old hat.” he winked.

She immediately skipped off, and made him blink in puzzlement.

He wondered if he said something wrong… but knew he hadn’t.

He sat back down, chillaxing and waiting to eat, trying to be polite as he itched his nose, before seeing her walk back in.

Same old red dress.

His eyes lit up.

Same old mascara.

 His grin curled.

Same old, sweet smile.

He nodded.

“Now that’s a look.” he tossed her some food and she caught it.

“Ohh.. don’t play with your food. Do you like it?” she grumbled a minute at first, before sitting down and looking excited to eat with him.

He winked, “Same old Amy.”

“If you like it, you should marry me and I’ll feed you every day!” she spread her arms out.

He still held his smile.. but leaned back in awkwardness for a moment.

“Heh..heh… still better than Sassy.”

“Oh, you kinda liked Sassy. Admit it.” she put some food on her plate.

“I’d like all those girls better if you were wearing them.” he chomped some food up and she sat, staring at him.

It wasn’t the outfits he didn’t like…

It was simply her not being in them.. that he didn’t approve of.

Author’s notes:

I’ve decided to make this section a ‘read more’ for those who are simply in it for story. ^^

This was fun! I admit, I didn’t know how to make it more unique than my other ‘Amy changes things up to appeal more to Sonic’ prompts, but I’m glad I did! I wanted her to try out different looks and be rejected in them, leading to the main theme coming along… but at the last minute, I had Sonic say probably the most profound thing that randomly hit me as I wrote.

It was like something clicked, maybe the character really did speak out to me, I don’t know XD haha, sounds weird. But I felt he would have been fine with whatever she wore, as long as she was still there.

Because her personality changed, not her clothes! I thought that was super touching and clever, and I literally did it ‘last second’ which makes me feel it was just meant to be written ^^

Surprises come to writers like that, haha! But I was really happy to see that all those personalities truly ‘bugged’ or at least ‘annoyed’ him. He liked how Amy was. She was sweet, thoughtful, and sometimes got upset. But that what’s he likes! haha, it amuses him. So I think Sonic would be uncomfortable with Amy changing herself :)

He’s already so used to her now! Why change anything? teehee! >//w//n

P.s: Instead of some science book which would be more ‘Tails’s style’ I hooked Amy up with Shakespeare. It’s cultured, still something smart, but more Amy’s cup-of-tea. Just in case Sonic would ask something smart of her, she had something to deliver! haha.

[tt-review]

Most people will suffer inconveniences and discomfort for the 'gram, but imagine what lengths fashion people go for the street style snap. On the sidewalks during Fashion Week, lewk-wearers will attempt some styling tricks that might look incredible in a picture, but don't necessarily work for the real world. Take that whole thing about throwing your jacket over your shoulders — at this point, it's a street style cliché. But leave it to fashion people to turn toward something even more challenging as trends start to tire... We call it the forced shoulder exposure. Whether you're wearing your jackets around your elbows or pulling a wide neckline down and around a shoulder, manipulating your clothes to look like they're already halfway off has made its way from a runway styling trend to a Fashion Week attendee trend. If we read the patterns, that means you'll probably be seeing a real-life version on the street in just a few months...or maybe in the mirror? I can see why she wouldn’t be into talking to me, another nosy reporter. So, I'm pleasantly surprised when she arrives and greets me with a warm hug that lasts longer than I expect it to. Her raven hair and impossibly long eyelashes are every bit as dazzling in person as they are in her glamorous Instagram selfies. Save for a bit of sparkle shadow on her lids, she appears to be makeup-free. She is only 5-foot-5, but she seems statuesque in her cropped sweater, high-waisted leggings, and heels. The outfit gives the illusion that she is nearly all legs. After the hug, Gomez sits down, tucks her hair behind her ear, folds her hands — nails painted a deep, slate gray and carefully filed into pointy talons — and waits for the first question. She’s all business. After spending years being judged in the press and media-trained by the Disney machine, she has built up a protective wall that can seem impenetrable. Finding out who she really is — beyond the gossip — is like digging for fossils with a Q-tip.

HOW TO CONTROL YOUR DREAMS

But by 20 minutes in, we’re getting somewhere. We talk about the complexities of female self-confidence — at best, it’s schizophrenic — and we laugh about an Amy Schumer joke that she roughly translates as, “Some mornings you wake up and you're like, 'Everything about me is amazing!' And the next morning you're like, 'How did anybody ever sleep with me?'” After an hour, Selena Gomez is giving me a tour of her tattoos. There are six in all: a tiny music note on her right wrist was her first. “I wanted something small to test the waters,” she says. “Now I’m addicted.” There’s the initial “G” behind her left ear for her 2-year-old sister, Gracie; her mother’s birthday in Roman numerals on the back of her neck; a Bible verse on her right hip that reads, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” The date on her left hip represents when she met one of her best friends eight years ago, and the phrase in Arabic on her back means, “Love yourself first.” She’s contemplating getting a seventh tattoo to celebrate her own revival — the album and the personal reinvention. For all her supposed skittishness, Gomez actually wants to show the world who she is — and, in the coming months, she’ll have plenty of opportunity to do that. Besides the new album, she’s joining The Voice as an advisor, handpicked by Gwen Stefani for her “confidence and creativity,” Stefani said via email, adding, “Selena is incredibly passionate about her craft, and her talent far exceeds what one would expect from a woman her age." Gomez will also appear in four upcoming movies, including a hush-hush part in December’s financial-crisis drama The Big Short, starring Brad Pitt and Christian Bale. And, in a role that seems to be the definition of "giant leap," she portrays a Depression-era young mother in the onscreen adaptation of John Steinbeck’s In Dubious Battle, a performance her director (and Spring Breakers co-star) James Franco promises will reveal the depth of her acting talent. “If she were allowed to play [more] roles beyond just teenagers with teen interests, she would show her innate maturity and strength,” Franco said via email. “She has had to face pressures and scrutiny at a young age that most never face in a lifetime. So when she is able to display the strength and leadership she has developed, she shines.” So yes, you might say this is a big moment for Selena Gomez. After a rough 12 months, she’s picking herself back up and taking control of her career. Not bad for a 23-year-old who got her big break dancing with a plushy. It’s all over Revival. Before “Good for You” was released, Gomez teased her 46 million Instagram followers with photos of different parts of her presumably naked body. The video to that song features her rolling around on a couch, the floor, and in the shower. The artwork for the album’s cover is a black-and-white portrait of her sitting cross-legged and topless, staring into the camera. It’s not a come-hither stare. The expression seems to say, with self-assured attitude, “Yeah…what?” “It's not something where I'm like, let me glorify what I do in the bedroom,” she says. “But I think I have a very healthy perspective on my sexuality. It's part of being an adult, and I'm still figuring out how to be one of those, too.” (A happily single one, at the moment. She issues this PSA to potential suitors: “Do not try to date me right now.”) And as for those who, previously hearing of the White Whale, by chance caught sight of him; in the beginning of the thing they had every one of them, almost, as boldly and fearlessly lowered for him, as for any other whale of that species. But at length, such calamities did ensue in these assaults—not restricted to sprained wrists and ankles, broken limbs, or devouring amputations—but fatal to the last degree of fatality; those repeated disastrous repulses, all accumulating and piling their terrors upon Moby Dick; those things had gone far to shake the fortitude of many brave hunters, to whom the story of the White Whale had eventually come. Nor did wild rumors of all sorts fail to exaggerate, and still the more horrify the true histories of these deadly encounters. For not only do fabulous rumors naturally grow out of the very body of all surprising terrible events,—as the smitten tree gives birth to its fungi; but, in maritime life, far more than in that of terra firma, wild rumors abound, wherever there is any adequate reality for them to cling to. And as the sea surpasses the land in this matter, so the whale fishery surpasses every other sort of maritime life, in the wonderfulness and fearfulness of the rumors which sometimes circulate there. For not only are whalemen as a body unexempt from that ignorance and superstitiousness hereditary to all sailors; but of all sailors, they are by all odds the most directly brought into contact with whatever is appallingly astonishing in the sea; face to face they not only eye its greatest marvels, but, hand to jaw, give battle to them. Alone, in such remotest waters, that though you sailed a thousand miles, and passed a thousand shores, you would not come to any chiseled hearth-stone, or aught hospitable beneath that part of the sun; in such latitudes and longitudes, pursuing too such a calling as he does, the whaleman is wrapped by influences all tending to make his fancy pregnant with many a mighty birth.

One psychologist says she can basically make herself orgasm in her sleep.

No wonder, then, that ever gathering volume from the mere transit over the widest watery spaces, the outblown rumors of the White Whale did in the end incorporate with themselves all manner of morbid hints, and half-formed foetal suggestions of supernatural agencies, which eventually invested Moby Dick with new terrors unborrowed from anything that visibly appears. So that in many cases such a panic did he finally strike, that few who by those rumors, at least, had heard of the White Whale, few of those hunters were willing to encounter the perils of his jaw. But there were still other and more vital practical influences at work. Not even at the present day has the original prestige of the Sperm Whale, as fearfully distinguished from all other species of the leviathan, died out of the minds of the whalemen as a body. There are those this day among them, who, though intelligent and courageous enough in offering battle to the Greenland or Right whale, would perhaps—either from professional inexperience, or incompetency, or timidity, decline a contest with the Sperm Whale