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Original Characters / Samuel Lindgren

« Last post by Maggie on October 04, 2018, 06:44:01 am »

I've decided to switch Sam around a bit. Remind me to never ever research the effects of Agent Orange defoliant ever again. Gave myself nightmares.

The For What It's Worth / 60's & 70's verse

Full Name: Samuel Voss Lindgren

DOB: October 9, 1936

POB: Boston, Massachusetts

Parents: Lars Lindgren and Olga Voss-Lindgren

Zodiac: Libra

Siblings: None

Occupation: Former Emergency Surgeon at St. Mary's Women and Children's hospital, Boston

Branch / Rank : Army / Capt. ( 62B ( Field Surgeon & General Medical Officer )

Nicknames: Sam, Cap / 'Uncle' Sam / The Swede

Significant Other: Colleen Sheehan ( She was an M5 Nurse serving in the Army and he was flat on his back when they met. )

Children: After the fourth stillbirth and numerous miscarriages they were told that perhaps adoption was the route to go.

Herb: Ginger / Peppermint

Totem: Brown Bear

Snippets For the Verse

- Both Sam and Colleen went over in '64 right after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident. He was 27 and unsure of where he was going, she was 26 and the ink was still wet on her RN-BSN degree. They both shared a common need to help others and what better place to start then in the Army?

- Sam doesn't remember much about just what exactly happened to him but the minute he woke up startled and in immense pain thanks to the sound thumping he took from a ticked off local during a MEDCAP visit to the local village. He looked up into the prettiest green eyes he'd ever seen. She had long dark hair braided and piled on top of her head and her last name was of Irish extraction but she was sweet and smelled like clean cotton and Yardley's English Lavender even in the heat of the jungle. He'd honestly never been so happy to have been knocked out in his entire life.

- A year later he found that she had been tossed into the field hospital in Cam Rahn Bay as a replacement for one the other nurses whose tour was up.

- He can't listen to the song Have You Ever Seen The Rain without thinking of writing home to his mother in a leaky tent. He swears he can still smell the jungle mud and feel the humidity on his skin again and one more than one occasion he'll get a flash and hear the steady thwump thwump of helicopter blades. Years later he would learn that Riders In The Storm did it for Colleen.

- It took some time before he realized that he had met her before after a hellish R and R when he had stumbled into the medical unit about ready to keel over from dehydration. She had hooked him up with a drip and told him that perhaps he'd better lay off the booze. She was also the one to administer his booster shots for everything under the sun. He never quite thanked her for being as gentle as she could even if he had thrown up on her shoes.

- They were lifted out in April of '75 during the liberation of Saigon and married the day after they were back on American soil. His parents, her mother and Best friend Helene and Harvey Starling in attendance, it, like much of their love story, was not a rushed affair just simple and to the point. Never My Love by the Association was their first dance song.

- It wasn't until years later that they found out that the defoliant used in heavily brush covered areas, commonly called Agent Orange, was the source of every stillbirth and miscarriage that they had gone through over the years. They haven't given up hope yet and take every opportunity to spoil their godchildren rotten. Their motto on the subject of starting a family is 'in due time.'

- Sam went on to set a humble family practice just outside of Gloucester, Col's home town and they're both quite happy to live the quiet life far from jungles and loud noises. They serve the community as a team along with their trusty furry companion FUBAR a mutt they found alongside the road one rainy night as they left from visiting Sam's parents in Boston.

- His motto is 'Never give in, never give up and when in doubt pray and hope for the best.'

- Is admittedly not a fan of large crowds or loud noises.

- Is long over the wearing of the official white doctor's coat. He'd rather just show up in jeans, sneakers, and one of the shirts Col's mother sends him every Christmas.

- Has vowed to himself that as long as he can afford them he'll always show up at home on Friday with a bouquet of Col's favorite flowers, pink tea roses, just because.

Tips & Rants / Walk Like a Man

« Last post by Maggie on September 28, 2018, 03:12:05 pm »

Walk Like a Man

Theme: Walk Like a Man - Bruce Springsteen

“What if I can’t give her the life she’s meant to have, Dad?”

A large work worn hand made it’s way up onto a shoulder, the physical build so identical that to the elder Spina it was like looking into a mirror almost fifty-six years prior right down to the boutonnière. To Fred he still saw his eldest son as the curly haired dark eyed toddler that was one to mimic his movements down to the stance. A lump formed low in his throat and it took every ounce of strength not to let his son know that tears threatened to spill. He and his Connie had been married here in this very church back in ’50 and to see his child take his own wedding vows here made him immensely proud. Nothing had changed in the Our Lady Of the Roses alter. There they stood shoulder to shoulder with Gio’s best man and groomsmen across from the bride’s chosen maid of honor and bridesmaids. The flower girl and ring bearer were currently stealing the show by toddling down the aisle together looking quite cherubic. It seemed like only yesterday Gio looked like Tyler, the ring bearer, Col and Gio’s godson through their friends Maureen and Jackie Flannery. All chubby cheeks and big eyes. Fred found himself wondering when Gio and Col would bless him and Connie with a few grandkids. The other boys were so wrapped up in living and Angie was a career woman so it fell to the newlyweds to fulfill that part of life. What would they look like? What would they name them?

“You will, I know it. Your Colleen, she loves you no matter what. Like your mother and me, you think we started out in a four bedroom on a safe street? We worked hard for what we had, and I know you two will too. You’re young and in love and the world is yours. You, my boy, are a man today. You got to walk like a man now, Gio.”

Mirror images of the same set of eyes, one just a touch darker than the other, stared into the other. A slow shy smile spreading across the younger man’s features and in an instant Fred was transported back to Gio’s fifth birthday. The year he and Connie had finally gotten him a dog. A little mutt Gio had named Clarence. It was as if they’ve given their son the world itself on a silver platter. Today the look on his son’s face was one and the same of being given the world all over again. Today his son was a full grown man, still a little green and wet behind the ears but no doubt on the road to being the kind of man Fred and Connie wanted him to become.

“Love you, Pop.”

“Love you too, G.”

A quick hug was exchanged between them much to the chagrin of the younger brothers. The wedding march sounded as the church doors opened. Fred watched as the momentary fear slipped away from Gio’s face. Awe replaced it as Gio’s bride came closer. The lights above flickered for a moment as the vision in white came closer. Even in the dreary grey weather that had dawned earlier this morning Colleen still looked like she had swallowed the sun itself. The watered snow white silk and taffeta of her gown rustling ever so gently as she drew nearer. Fred noticed that she had a small tear in her veil, to welcome good luck. She hadn’t forgotten the traditions his mother, Gio’s Nonna, had told her about. His Gio has chosen the right one. Sadly all the questions and hopes Fred had for the future he wouldn’t see come into fruition. He had been helping his brother-in-law close up for the night over in the city and somehow became the victim of a knifing while seeing a woman getting mugged outside. The police had determined that it had been some sort of cash and grab situation and he had valiantly tried to intervene. He lived for a week on support until they were told he’d never regain consciousness. He slipped away quietly surrounded by his family.

The so called salad days that all newlyweds found themselves knee deep in were cut short for the newest Mr. and Mrs. Spina. They helped Connie as best they could and in the end she ended up moving into the second bedroom downstairs and was adjusting to life as a widow at 52. She had her good days, the one were happy memories were shared and on her bad days they learned to just let her cry it out. Out of all the Spina children Gio was hit the hardest, he and Fred had always shared a close bond and having it irreparably severed in such a violent way. His father had been the heart of the family, the one that everyone looked to for guidance, now that all fell to him. A daunting and larger than life task if ever there was one. Long days gave way to long endless nights as they settled in for bed in the master bedroom. Most of the furniture had come from both sides of their family and it should have been a comfort but some nights, like tonight, it felt to Gio like he was a kid simply playing at life. In the large oak bed that had been his father’s last gift to them he felt like he was being smothered with memories.

“Why is it I feel like I’m just…I dunno. A kid playing house while his parents are out of town or something? I feel like I’m drifting, Col.”

“Grief’s an ocean, Gio. I can tell you that from experience. You can’t let it swallow you up, you’ll sink and I’m not going to let that happen. Not ever.”

He studied his wife for a moment and gave her a rare small smile. Colleen was telling him that she was his life preserver. The guilt of not being able to cry at his father’s funeral service or the funeral dinner. He had just felt cold, raw and then numb. Snippets of memories, almost like old vacation slides and home movies played in his head but the one that played the most got him every time. He still had yet to cry even if he felt like he surely would.

“I…you wanna know what he told me the day we got married?”

“What?”

“You’ve got to walk like a man, Gio. I’ve been trying to figure out what he meant and I can remember when we used to go to the Shore during the summer and I’d follow him all over the beach tracing his footprints in the sand trying to walk like him. Ma’s got it somewhere on Super 8 or something but I’ll always remember that…”

Colleen understood as she gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. While she didn’t have many home movies of her own father there were photographs and one hazy memory of Jimmy holding her up against the waves of the shore and telling her to kick her legs. She could have sworn she’d seen a tear slip down Gio’s cheek.

"He was everything I wanted to be and God, I hope he knows how much I loved him…still do. How much I miss him. I didn’t understand quite what meant back in October but now I do. I’ve got to step up, Tony, Gabe, Renny, Angie. They’re all counting on me. I gotta walk like a man for them…for you…for him. But how can I do that if I couldn’t even cry at his funeral, Col?”

Silent tears slipped down from dark brown eyes onto the duvet. She reached out to hold his large work worn hand in her own, the twin gold bands glinting in the lamplight. They were now mirror images the hands of their own respective parents. Steady, strong, grown.

“You’ve made your own path, Gio. You’re the one walking the shoreline leaving your own footprint path for others to follow. You didn’t even realize that that’s what you’ve been doing all along.”

She brushed stray tears away from his cheeks before kissing his cheek.

“He’d be so proud of you. Because I sure am.”

Tips & Rants / You Really Got A Hold On Me

« Last post by Maggie on September 23, 2018, 01:55:10 pm »

TW: Violence. Straight up Violence. Extramarital affairs also feature.

You Really Got A Hold On Me

Cracks in the foundation aren’t always visible to the naked eye. It doesn’t matter if those cracks are in the foundation of the place one calls home or in the relationship they once thought was bullet proof. Colleen knew the cracks were there but she did her best to repair them with the love she gave so willingly. Eddie ended up muttering something about ‘feeling smothered’ and went on a business trip that lasted the better part of a month only to return reeking of some cheap perfume and with lipstick on his collar. She’d been through it before with Frank when they were dating and that had ended with Eddie rushing in like her knight in shining armor and all but pistol whipping the eldest Flannery son within and inch of his life because he’d raised a hand to her. Something he had vowed never to do. Like their wedding vows and many of his promises in their relationship he reneged on it. He had stumbled into the house a little after one in the morning his eyes glazed over and his movements twitchy. Probably the coke again. She thought to herself as she wrapped her robe around herself and came out from the living room to meet him as he threw off his blazer and set his gun and holster on the side table. Saying a silent prayer of thanks that they had never had children because God only knew what sort of damage little hands could do with a loaded gun in the home. He had no clue she waited up for him, always wanting to make sure he made it home safe and sound. He never once noticed or told her not to worry herself. The record player switched to another single and Bobby Darin filtered into the room.

“What’re you doing in that cheap ass robe, Col? Closet full of designer clothes and it’s like wasted money on you.”

“ My silk robe is at the cleaners. You bled all over it, remember? By the way I’ve never asked you to spend that kind of money on me.”

“What about all those trips to the salon? Vacations? Furs, jewelry? The house we **** live in. What about about all of that, Colleen?”

“I never asked for any of it and you know it! Not once!”

“Oh yeah right. I know women that would give their eye teeth to have the kinda life you’ve got.”

“Like the one that lives over in Roxbury? What’s her name, Eddie?”

“You leave Gina out of this.”

“Oh, so Gina’s her name. Her last name wouldn’t happen to be Avisanti would it? The brunette I hired as a shampoo girl two years ago? That I give a paycheck to and have to see every **** day when I go into work?”

“Yeah. It is and she’s twice the woman you are.”

“Go **** yourself!”

“Well if I could I would because you won’t.”

“Why the hell should I after you slum around with that **** of yours?”

That’s when the hand came towards her face and landed hard on her right cheek. The pain and the sound of bells peeling in her head was ever so familiar and she could have sworn she saw Frank Flannery standing in front of her all over again. But no, it was her husband. The man she had taken vows to love, honor, obey seven years ago in front of their combined families and all of their friends. She had been nineteen then, still a child if you thought about it. But she had loved him, she still did, deep down. His hands were around her throat and her back was pushed flush up against the entryway wall, the painting of Mary Magdalene that graced the wall pressing into the back of her head.

“Don’t you ever call her that again.”

She felt his hands tighten around the long slim column of her neck and her vision began to fade. A tiny spark had ignited in her chest and a voice in her mind screamed out that she was surely dying. The glazed look in his blue eyes changed to the something she had seen before. Pure unadulterated hatred had taken over. She had seen that look on Frank’s face many a time during their courtship that had thankfully never ended up to anything. She still carried the scars from it none the less. Her knight, her brave loving knight had turned on her. The spark turned to a flame as she brought her knee up into his groin and connected with a hard upward motion. She heard him yelp as he doubled over. Colleen reeled for a moment as she stumbled over to the side table and grabbed the pistol. Holding her ground she stood over him as he held himself.

“Oh so you’re gonna shoot me now?”

The distinct sound of the barrel rotating into place filled the large space.

“You couldn’t hit the broad side of a **** barn, Colleen.”

The blast sent her reeling and half deaf. Somewhere in the haze of disbelief she stared at the scarlet stain that was rapidly seeping through her husband’s white dress shirt. It was slowing seeping into the grooves of the beautiful cream colored tile that was on the floor, that was going to take a ton of elbow grease to get out not to mention bleach. The hate that had been in his eyes faded as he looked at her in utter shock. The gun clattered to the floor cracking one of the tiles at her feet.

“You **** shot me!?!”

She could have said a million different things, they each zipped through her head but instead she looked him in the eye as she appraised the damage. She grabbed the hem of her nightgown and yanked off a length of silk and wrapped it around the wound.

“In the shoulder. It could have been worse, Eddie. I’ve got a cousin that’ll patch you up and not ask questions.”

Disbelief gave way to utter shock as her wounded husband simply stared at her. She might have loved Eddie but after he had hit her and nearly choked the very life out of her she didn’t trust him as far as she could throw him. She was going to use this situation to her advantage. She helped him up and slung his good arm around her shoulders as she walked him to the door.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to break it off with that little **** of yours and we’re going to a marriage counselor. We took vows and I fully intend to honor them. Every job you do I get a percentage to put into a college fund.”

“We don’t have kids.”

“That’s my third point of interest. By this time next year we will. You forgot about that trip to the Poconos for your birthday didn’t you?”

“Jesus. ****. Colleen…I didn’t…God. I didn’t know.”

Tears welled up in his eyes as the guilt set in. Offering him her hanky she maneuvered him down the steps and in front of her car. He had so many reasons to cry, the pain he’d caused her over the years was part of it but she had just fed him a line straight out of his own book. He had spent his birthday in a drunken coked out stupor and she had gone to the Poconos but just not with him. She had spent a rather lovely weekend with one of his muscle men that had given her a personal tour of Naples. A soft spoken mountain of a man named Furio. She had figured if Eddie could fool around what was good for the goose was good for the gander. He owed her that much after how many years of telling her ‘Next year, Colleen. Next year.’

“Don’t cry. Just repeat back to me what I just asked of you.”

“Get rid of Gina, marriage counseling and a college fund. Are we talking community college?”

“Ivy League all the way.”

Eddie hobbled out to Col’s little convertible as she settled into the driver’s seat. The engine turned over and she took a moment to look at her husband.

“I’m sorry I shot you but don’t you ever lay a hand on me ever again.”

“It’s the **** coke.”

“Then get rid of it. I won’t have a drug addict around my child.”

“Isn’t it ours?”

“I’m the one that’s carrying it, I’m the one defending it from the world so as far as I’m concerned it's mine."

“Aye aye, Captain.”

“You think I’m kidding?”

“Colleen, you just **** shot me. I’m not dense. How’d you learn to do that anyway?”

“My Dad. He taught me quite a few things.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Do me a favor call Gina from Bobby’s office, okay?”

“Wouldn’t you rather me meet face to face with her?”

“No, side pieces don’t get the luxury of having their feelings spared in my book. Do it quick.”

“God, I didn’t know you were so cold.”

“Cold? This isn’t cold, Eddie. This a woman who’s been hurt so deeply her heart’s bleeding over the fact that she can’t trust the man she married. Do you know every time you go out on business I worry myself into knots? I wait up for you when you’re on local collections. I’ve got the hospitals on speed dial. I love you and you don’t even care. You’re the one that’s cold. Think of that every time you leave or think about screwing around on me.”

“If I had known I never would have done it. A lot of the other wives just…”

“What? Accept it? I’m not like the other wives, Eddie. I take after my mother.”

“You can’t tell me your mother shot your father…”
“Four times over the course of their marriage. I’m hoping that this just serves as a warning. Honestly though I keep telling you to put the safety on.”

“Lessons have been learned on all fronts. Your point has been made crystal clear.”

She knew deep within her heart of hearts that a man like Eddie would never be faithful to her but that was a gamble she was willing to take. After all, she still had Furio, the nest egg she was slowly building and copies of the books Eddie kept if everything truly turned to crap. In this life you had to look out for yourself and your own. Her mother had taught her that much.

Original Characters / Giovanni Spina

« Last post by Maggie on September 22, 2018, 01:15:46 pm »

Full Name: Giovanni Arturo Spina

Nickname: Gio, G, Vanni ( usually only called this by his grandmother )

DOB: September 23

Zodiac Sign: Libra

POB: Hoboken, New Jersey

Hometown: Freehold, NJ

Address: 12 Clinton Ave ( just two houses down on the left from his parents and four houses down on the right from his mother-in-law )

Parents: Fredericco Carrado " Freddy " Spina & Concetta Marie "Connie" ( Commarata ) Spina

Siblings: 3 brothers and 1 sister of which he is the oldest. In order:

Gabriele "Gabe"

Vincent "Vinny"

Lorenzo "Renny"

Angela “Angie” Spina-Dimartino

Occupation: Mechanic / auto parts dealer Past Job(s): Longshoreman for the local ILA 1235 out of North Bergen

Significant Other: Colleen Murphy

Religion: Roman Catholic

MBTI: INFP

Herb: Ginger

Totem: Grizzly Bear

Schooling: Our Lady of the Roses Elementary and St. Anthony's High school went to Union County VoTech for auto repair/technician training.

Snippets:

- Met Colleen when they were both still high school. She **** up her mother's Thunderbird and needed the dents, dings and the **** tail light fixed. He wouldn't accept the tip she offered him and instead asked her out to the movies. She gladly accepted and three years later to the day of their first date they were married at Saints Peter and Paul church.

- They honeymooned in Atlantic City.

- He's got a fondness for dogs, especially the mix who hitched a ride when he was out on a tow call late one rainy night. He brought her home and Col ( who he always thought preferred cats ) melted and babied the dog within and inch of it's life. They soon found out that Frankie ( named after Frankie Valli ) was a girl and due to have puppies.

- Loves Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, Frank Sinatra, and just about any Doo-Wop or Soul oldies that come on the radio.

- His cousin, Eddie has been known to visit from time to time but that's few and far between these days. Last anybody heard he was doing time in Sing Sing.

- His confirmation name is Michael.

- Has been known to serenade Colleen when she's had a rough day.

- Doesn't know it but is a huge help to Colleen with her cousin Stevie. After Col's aunt Irene passed it was left up to Col and her mother to care for cousin and once they were married Stevie came to live with them. Sure, he gives Stevie busy work like sweeping the floor or organizing the stock shelves but he knows it gives his cousin-in-law a sense of accomplishment and he does get paid for it. Gio might look rough and gruff but he's actually a big softy underneath it all.

- Admittedly is not a fan of horror movies, all it took was seeing Jaws on his first date with Col and he was terrified to go to the beach.

- Never had much nerve to get up and dance until Colleen pulled him up one night when they were out with Col's best friend and her fella and he finally let loose. They now spend their hard earned Friday nights out dancing.

Gio's Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/user/highlandfling22/playlist/5fugyCBZQ2ZWmJ9InSDHHE?si=BKPYtKhBQgyRkvUwhCa66g

Tips & Rants / Apron Strings { Currently on hold }

« Last post by Maggie on September 10, 2018, 12:02:31 pm »

My muse had decided she'd much rather drive me bonkers than stick to one particular significant other for this chosen piece. I feel like I should have one of those test pattern things with a please stand by technical difficulties image. Oh...wait...I do! I've lost my ever loving mind over this piece.

I've even got hold music...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3Ww5L83a6k

Non-Gary Related Topics / Re: Dream Interpretations

« Last post by Maggie on September 09, 2018, 06:10:06 am »

Not really an interpretations per say, more like a 'wtf is going on during Maggie's REM cycle?' type thing, but I've tried to post this sucker on Tumblr for ages now and it won't post for some reason.

Had a dream that you and I were walking down a street, very non descript type place but we were in the city somewhere, nice bright sunny day you know, and we were talking and turn to me. Here's how our conversation went.

You stop and turn to me, "We've named a baby after you, you know?"
Me, without skipping a beat, "Oh, have you now? That's so sweet. Where is it?"
You point clear across the road and go "That one." to which I fumble for a moment when I realize that said child isn't yours and is now being pushed by it's mother away from us in the stroller. I just nodded and went "Wonderful!" and we went about our conversation and our leisurely stroll as if that little interlude never even happened.

Now, I know that you and your fella will be a set of the most wonderful parents on Earth and I also know that you both have much better taste in names than what I was named. ( I should point out it was left up to my father and it took him ages to come home after I was born. He's never once given the reason as to why he liked my name he just did. My parents didn't even give me a middle name just an initial. ) Lord. Talk about weird dreams indeed.

Tips & Rants / Re: Things Untold { Jack & Colleen Donnelly }

« Last post by Wolfy on September 04, 2018, 08:34:59 pm »

This is the sweetest little piece I've read in a while. I also love that Hel was included dancing at the club with Col, too! I had absolutely no idea that Jack had been struggling so much prior to having met her and that bit of backstory has warmed even more of my muses to him and they would each like the opportunity to meet him. My favourite line in this piece is ' You gave me hope ' and it's one of the most romantic things anyone could ever say to another. These two are more and more perfect for each other, the more I learn about the relationship between them ❤

Tips & Rants / Little Moments

« Last post by Wolfy on September 04, 2018, 06:36:25 pm »

' You bloody pillock! ' she screamed as they strolled through the parking lot toward their car, bags in hand and trying to reach the vehicle before there was a downpour from the gloomy clouds gathering above them. Her offensive choice of words were aimed directly at the middle-aged man turning the corner in a spick and span silver accord as he almost clocked into the bags in her right hand, skimming the material briefly in his haste to find a spot. It took all of Ren's willpower not to stand there with his mouth agape, frozen in place at the language from the woman he believed only spoke in angel's terms. ' ——unbelievable.. stupid tosser, ' she added on once the male spun even further ahead away from the pair, her mutterings not unnoticed.

' Jesus.. do you kiss your mother with that mouth? ' he couldn't refrain from allowing the humour to blossom as she snapped her head to look at him, a furious expression lingering from the audacity of some people and she caved, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. ' As a matter of fact you kiss me with that mouth and I've never heard a single peep of anything vulgar before, ' he chuckled as the two made it to the car and loaded all of their groceries into the boot, the seven bags of shopping they had packed all neat and tidy leaning to one side as soon as they wet set down and they couldn't care less. Climbing into the front seats, Elizabeth emitted a little huff of irritation as it coursed still through her veins, spotting the silver car.

' I'm sorry, love. It vexes me when people don't have enough brain cells to recall that they are in a public place and not halfway along a race track. It is just one of those things.. do you realise it's people like that whom cause so many accidents, but it's the injured to blame for stepping in front of the car when the driver was being reckless? ' she was visibly shaken by the minor ordeal but attempted to calm her woes as she rolled down the window for a little fresh air as Ren pulled out onto the freeway and they made the short journey home. It took all of half an hour from the one store they considered the best in the area, but she settled back in her seat after cranking it backwards a little and decided to rest her eyes for the short trip.

' I know how you feel, baby. It bothers me, too. I've just never heard you let loose like that before today; it's endearing, ' he commented, removing one hand from the steering wheel so that his fingers could brush a lock of billowing hair away from her face as the wind swept in through both windows that were now open. The smile that painted her lips following the tender touch warmed his heart to such a degree, he slowed the car just long enough so he could lean across and press his lips to her forehead as the car continued to roll along, cars in front and behind them miles apart from their own, so there was no honking to disturb her light slumber as she drifted off with thoughts of him. ' I'll rouse you when we get home, ' he uttered.

Ren turned his focus back to the road ahead as she slept soundly beside him, the only sounds being that of the tyres speeding along the asphalt as the male attempted to get them home sooner rather than later, because he too wanted to nap for a little while. Whenever he chose to lay down in bed, she followed suit and vice versa, so even if she had slept briefly in the car, she would no doubt go curl up under the covers with him, shuffling extra close for maximum comfort and warmth as her small-scale self coiling around him as though he was her most prized possession, and he was. These thoughts had been in and out of his head the whole time as he finally parked the car around the back end of their home, trees billowing in the wind around their cabin much like the loose hair fallen from her clip in the car and he cooed softly to himself. Being home was the one place in the world he felt alive and being in such a place with her and no one else, just the two of them in the middle of nowhere away from the hustle and bustle of society, completed him.

She stirred almost immediately as soon as the vibrations of the car stilled to nothing and tilted her head to look at him with doe-like eyes, a hint of a grin on her lips as she leaned across to his side of the car and planted a kiss right on the mouth, humming softly as she pulled away, leaving him longing and following after her as she opened up the boot to retrieve their shopping bags. Elizabeth felt the warmth of his breath against the back of her neck and it soothed her, in comparison to the chilled autumn winds sending the trees that surrounded their home into a frenzy as they whipped about, and he put a loving kiss to the spot just above the top of her spine while his arms wound themselves around her waist and hugged her back into his embrace, where she then spun around to face him. Her own arms lifted to reach around his neck with ease and she stood on her toes as he pulled her even closer, lifting her off the ground as her nose ended up burrowed in his shoulder length hair and he seemed reluctant to let go anytime soon.

' Ren.. we better get this food in before it deteriorates right in front of us, ' she chuckled, listening intently as his own amusement echoed against her ear and she gripped him more tightly, pressing a kiss to his jawline as they both pulled away and he dove in for a much more firm, concrete kiss to her mouth so she understood everything that was going through his head, even if words were few and far between in that moment. She knew that he loved her, of all the things he could have spoken right then and there, he kept his lips sealed and chose to talk to her through his eyes instead and she melted. Hands loosened their grip at the back of his neck as they got to work lumping the bags to their front door, her setting one down on the mat to open the door so they could hurry inside to unpack and snuggle up under the covers of the bed that she was sure to make before they left this morning.

' You know I love you, don't you? ' he broached, as they were almost done packing everything into cupboards and the refrigerator, the final item being an oversized honeydew melon that was placed on the bottom shelf to keep cool and fresh for the next week or so while they picked at it.

Elizabeth turned to face him then, the smile never once leaving her face as she gave a gentle nod, ' I love you too, so much, ' she stated, walking into his lifted arm as he draped it over her shoulders and led her into the bedroom for an afternoon nap.

Tips & Rants / Things Untold { Jack & Colleen Donnelly }

« Last post by Maggie on September 02, 2018, 10:26:47 am »

* I'm so so glad you liked God & Monsters! You made my entire evening. I'd love to know exactly why Jack's terrified of Helene and would love to explore that further between the two of them in a thread sometime. Was in a bit of a mushy mood so this is the outcome of it.*

“What’s the one thing you never told me…about yourself?”

This was a game they’d played since they had gotten together. Mostly on rainy evenings or when the house was completely quiet, just the two of them in that rambling place at the very end of an equally quiet street. The Donnelly’s lived a very quiet sedate life, if their neighbors knew exactly what Jack did for a living they never let on but nothing he or his wife did ever raised suspicion. They went to church on Sundays, donated to many local charities, and if they got wind that anyone in the neighborhood needed assistance they offered it, no strings attached. The only thing that some of the local gossips thought was strange was that the couple didn’t have a hoard of small Donnelly’s to call their own. They were both Irish and were both Good Catholics so what in the world was the hold up?

There was no pitter patter of tiny feet around this house, no. Only the two of them and two supposedly ‘vicious’ guard dogs/bed hogs who were currently laying in front of the fireplace at the feet of their mistress. They were once Jack’s but when Colleen moved in they swore their allegiance to her straight away. Belly rubs, ribeyes, and smooches from the dark haired woman went a long way. She had tamed Jack so it was no wonder she had tamed his canine companions as well. Contrary to what the local gossips had said amongst themselves it wasn’t for the lack of trying in the children department, no. But they had agreed to put off being fruitful, as Colleen called it, until Jack’s workload had let up. They currently traveled back and forth to Dublin and New York almost monthly at this point and in two week’s time a trip to Sierra Leone was on the books. Jack had gotten wind of something one of his lesser trusted associates was planning, a deal that was shaky from the start and he had highly advised the associate to back out of, and had given word to the only Ukrainian he truly trusted, Vitaly Orlov, to stay at the local resort town with Colleen and Jackie Flannery. Yuri Orlov was going to be made an example of what happens when one doesn’t follow sound advice and he didn’t even know it yet. But, Jack honestly didn't want to dwell on that at the moment. He was home and he certainly never brought his work back to the one place he felt he could let himself breathe.

“I knew the minute I met you I was going to marry you.”

He couldn’t help but smile, he had felt the same way when he had spotted her dancing with her best friend Helene that night. He often found himself wondering what could have happened had he not agreed to go out that night or had never gotten up the courage to talk to her. He was genuinely interested in her reasoning though. So far they had seven years into their marriage so far and he still couldn’t quite understand what she saw in him.

“How’d you know? That you wanted to marry me I mean? Surely it must have been the lighting or something. Maybe it was lust at first sight?”

She reached out to thread her fingers between his own and she smiled.

“Not going to lie, there was a smidgen of lust but that came after I talked to you. It was like something clicked and someone or something, guardian angel perhaps? Just went ‘Yep, there he is. Gift wrapped from God straight to you, Colleen Murphy.’ and that was it. How about you? Surely there were much better looking girls in that club that night. Why me?”

‘Because I saw you dance and you seemed like you were free as the wind. The house lights danced on your skin like stars and you were drunk on life, it was contagious. You had the prettiest eyes I’d ever seen and the sweetest smile that gave me hope.’

Nope. Don’t say that, you’ll be waxing poetic and sound like an idiot. His inner voice whispered. His heart wrestled with that voice. Did he dare tell her the real reason he had stopped into that club? He knew he should but yet he held back. How could he tell the woman he loved more than life itself that had he not met her it would have been his last night on earth? The guilt over his actions had gotten the better of him, the trip to Prague hadn’t gone well and had almost ended in a bloodbath but it was enough to weigh on him, very deeply. So much so he had divvied up all of his possessions and marked them for his loved ones and left a note on the side table of the entryway of his townhouse before grabbing his jacket and keys to go off in search of the nearest bridge. Bullets or razors would have been too messy, he had never been one to dabble with any sort of drug and he was too careful a driver to stage an accident. So that left meeting his maker courtesy of the water.

“You…gave me hope. The night I met you I was down and out.”

In his search it had started to pour and he had ducked into the club paid the cover charge and waited out the storm. He ordered an overpriced gin and tonic which he hadn’t even touched when he had spotted Colleen. She had walked by him once before and he found her perfume interesting. In a sea of overwhelming fruity florals she stuck out, fresh and crisp. Then the more he watched her the weight he carried lifted. She smiled at him and tilted her head for him to join her and to his own shock he did.

“But you saved me. It was a cosmic push from something. I’d never been out on the dance floor until you wanted me to join you.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I never had the time.”

“You had this contagious joy for life that pulled me in, you still do. You gave me so much hope that night that I knew that you were the one.”

You literally saved a drowning man.

Colleen studied him for a moment before she pulled him in close for a hug, it was almost like she cradling him from the world. It always amazed him how someone so soft and warm could be so strong. Not just in a physically but mentally but yet his Colleen had both in spades even if she was a crier. She was his enigma, his little piece of heaven on earth.

“Do you remember the name of the club, Jack?”

In the recesses of his mind the pink and orange neon sign glimmered in his mind as a smile spread across his face and a chill went up his spine. It hadn’t dawned on him in years.

“The Right Place."

Talk about a cosmic kick on the arse if ever there was one.

100

Tips & Rants / Re: In The Land of Gods & Monsters ( Jack & Colleen Donnelly: The Modern Verse )

« Last post by Wolfy on September 01, 2018, 08:41:34 pm »

My heart is breaking for Col right now over this one and the fact that she has to put up with his long absences ( not to mention dangerous ), and Helene is currently packing a bag and telling Joey to busy himself with the guys for a few weeks when Jack has to take his leave again. This was well done and I love that Colleen has secretly been helping herself without his knowledge, also. I imagine that would have made him all the more proud of her. I feel like he is an awful lot because of the time apart they experience so often, he must surely be proud of her for coping and not falling into little pieces, although as is made quite obvious in parts of this piece, she does in little ways. I love that you have included Jackie and Vitaly as well, these two are so fitting! for the sort of lifestyle that Jack leads and I love imagining the three guys going about that business. I'm so looking forward to more pieces along these lines because the dynamic of having those two working with her fella is in all ways perfect. I'm so impressed with this. I know it's only a snippet of their lives - but it's already approaching the favourites.