The lord didn't give me naturally curly hair but that's not gonna stop me from trying
Someone came out from under the desk; it seems he wants to improve his grades...
@ofthemorningstars GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY
Reblog to do this to prev
MinistryTV Presents
a BTL AU premier of Season 3's first "quarter quell" 3 part episode.
written by [AZ]
hosted by Zombocomme.
Part 1: Yesterday, Tomorrow, Today
special thanks to @puuuders for the wonderful DeCopia art, there isn't enough of it in this world, and Dahling we are so eager for it!
Enjoy
“Oh take it again I think I wobbled!” Copia laughed, fingers clutching the holes through the chainlink fence, unsteadied by the laughter that couldn’t be bothered to subside; The photo taken of him and Jim in their matching short shorts, was purely accidental, and completely hilarious.
“Oh yall think this is funny!” Jim snarked, trying his best to keep his entire butt cheek clenched ‘just-so’, and the cramp running up his leg from the pose was making him sweat.
Teddy, another one of the fathers on the “Dad” trip they were all on, guffawed watching Copia and Jim try to hold their legs up. The sun was shining just right for the shot, and his camera was not much of a well-to-do, but, in anycase, he once again turned the ridged spindle atop the disposable camera with a satisfying grinch-gritch-gritch sound. “All right then, all right, now steady boys, this is going in the album!” Teddy said with a cheery expression, already rosy from the kiss of the Los Angeles sun…
As the camera captured the moment, it seemed nothing could have prepared them for what was to come, though for now, the sun shone and the waves rolled like laughing thunder.
“You gits never do help, do ya!?” Emmanuel roared from the charter boat a ways off, where he and his husband Johan were loading up the hold below, stuffing it with a long weekend’s worth of rods, camp gear, roasting foods like wieners, the all too necessary spirits and booze, and “STEAKS?!” Jim hollered, seeing Emmanuel wave the bag of meat above his head, as if calling the dogs in to supper… the implication of the sentiment wasn’t far off honestly…
“That got their attention didn’t it?” Johan chuckled, grabbing the vacuum sealed bags from Emmanuel, “You tease them so, they don’t even know these are frozen solid! Not worth the run” he chirruped towards the trio beyond the fence. It was a happy sound that punctuated the clumsy metallic clank-clunk of the bricks of meat. Emmanuel winced at the sound, “Easy, Easy!- these came all the way from Ricky Tan’s stash, shh-” He murmured to the steaks, cradling them to his chest, “‘ee didn’t mean it loves, shh-” He exaggerated, rubbing the plastic wrapped packaging as if to shine away the scuff of his husband's grievous meat mishandling. Rolling his eyes with a grin, Johan tossed a bottle of A1 steak sauce to Emmanuel, who caught it as naturally as if swatting at a fly. “There see, now it might be worth the running you’re trying to make them do” Johan chirped.
Emmanuel raised the sauce bottle as if in toast, the transgression of insulting his steaks quickly forgotten, “Lads, dogs, and Sea-dogs, got that in common. Nothin’ like throwing a gorgeous steak on the barbie to get them all to come running down-a do some work.”
“Mm, yes, too old to be paid for hard labors on a wage of cold pizza and beer.”
“Cold pizza works just as well!” Emmanuel said in mocked outrage, “ Have ya know I moved a whole damned thansion off a cold slice and half a swig!” he said, puffing out his chest, which, to be seen, was quite a swoonable thing. But Johan kept his nerve, chicken wasn’t a game he submitted to easily. “That sounds like tall tales,” Johan said, flicking some perspiration from his neck, “I didn’t know you were such a bad liar.”
“Don’t believe me?” Emmanuel dared, dangling one of the steaks by the plastic it was sealed in, “Only a little” Johan said, tying up his hair, showing off his muscles with a little bite to his lower lip, running a smooth hand along the back of his neck, as if he wasn’t showing off on purpose. A flicker of hunger shot through Emmanuel’s veins. Salivating slightly, “Only a little, I right think you’de believe me, a lot”, he said, his tone carrying a pleased rumble through his barrel chest. “Some of the best big fish stories are true” he growled, checking Johans hip to show off exactly how much the wolf of the desert desired his mate who came from the far northern cold. Johan gasped softly, heat burning from within, the thick heaviness now pressing against his thigh making his own desire twitch beneath his board-shorts. Emmanuel, ever the one to get right to things, obviously, and with a bit of crass or sass, openly palmed his husband, huffing hot breaths over that pale skin.
A moment flashed in his mind, he had the notion to pull Johan towards the cabin door and bend him over before god and everyone, Johan was already flushed and panting.
And then as if he had done nothing at all, he roughly rolled his hips twice to show his mate ‘who was who’, and snatched up the frozen steaks. Emmanuel tilted his head and smirked, a boyish expression that made Johan’s knees weak and his stomach quiver with a little something warmer than the sun which was also beginning to sear a bronzy kiss to his own blushing cheeks. Emmanuel gave Johan’s ass a tight smack, sending the yelp of North Wolf’s breath into a powdery little shreik. Emmanuel had won this round, and like a victor in a game, saucily stepped up on the edge of the boat rail, and hoisted the steaks high, and tapped the bottle of A1 against the steaks, the frozen clack loud enough to be heard down the dock, and expertly, both things banging together remained unbroken. The man was ringing a dinner bell for his friends, and by and by, they were ‘a come, dogs working for a bone. But to the sea-dog’s credit, the method did work…
Then again, it wasn’t totally surprising for a man who’s Piracy Title in his glory days was ‘Captain’; Emmanuel was a man of statured presence, and he shone a beacon of bravery, and a pillar of his community, and yes, he was as handsome as he was hardworking. A Semi-Retired Alpha in his diverse pack that seemed to grow by the day, he had led the settlement of Ministry Valley through many disasters and skirmishes with beings from Ghosts to Demons, Loup-lycans to Vampires, River Guardians and deep water monsters. Quite the exciting first 2 years in his time at the once sleepy valley that is as mysterious as it is wonderful; He had peopled the valley with those seeking sanctuary, backed by The Emeritus Estate and The Defroque House, with some support from the Siblings of Sin Residing in, out, and around, Emmanuel was every bit their leader as their sworn protector…
The Australian Irrinja-Lycan continued waving the steaks in the air as the trio above the hill ran down, practically drooling all over themselves in the race to the Marina. Emmanuel's red hair hung loose to his shoulders, shagging in unruly waves and kinks, appearing properly, adventured-ly-windswept by the sea before he even got out of bed most mornings, lucky pirate bastard…
The trio still on land, trotted down the switchbacks of the hill slope. Teddy continued the brisk pace, Jim faltering in second at the stony clacking in the air, realizing it was coming from the boat, and saw the A1 sauce bottle bouncing off the steak like a jade egg against Marble.
“Aw hell Em, they ain’t even thawed yet!?” Jim whined.
“As if that is a complaint!” Copia huffed, trailing to catch up to his friends, between breaths, “Not like he could ship a wagyu.”
“Maaann, thought he had like connections in Japan n’stuff”, Jim panted, hocking a collected wad of spit from his mouth. Copia wheezed, trying to keep up, but was bringing up the rear as he fell farther and farther behind, quickly becoming the group caboose. “He, eh, lapsed that one when he retired early, no diamonds, no wagyu, cheap bastard.”
“Fuck he let go of The Wagyu Man for?” Jim choked, his feet in their socks and sandals slapping the asphalt leading to the gate of the marina, which had seemed like a skipping stones throw, as it was down the hill. But the switchbacks down it were long, uneven and a bit steep in the decline. “Shit, this boardwalks long’r than I thought!” Jim croaked, the pitch of his voice rising as his wind seemed weaker in the lungs than he remembered for his age…
*Odd… but age and all that, even with The Dark Gift, time still turns against the mortal vampires. It was just odd it seemed to be happening quicker than Jim expected… he figured his long life would span well over a century, maybe two if he was lucky… unlike his father, who was battling an aggressive cancer, and would likely not last the decade. Had Jim’s father, Rev. James Defroque, not been born a vampire, the cancer would have put him in the Alabama ground sooner than last year. Like the slowest progressing of a remission-hail-mary-miracle, starting to turn south, Jim’s father James would fade, he had chosen a mortal life afterall. But the thought made Jim suddenly feel sick.
Jim doubled over, coughing into his hand, the ichor in the bile almost unseen, c’epting that the slightest color in it was giving Jim a moment’s pause. A shadow of doubt and something a little more foreboding tugged at the back of his mind. The saturation of the world zoning in to that evil color in the phlegmy sick. The word, had there been one in his primal mind, was dread.
Suddenly here and now, Jim’s mind yanked to the present, watching Copia gain on him, and Teddy going on as if he’d been talking already, a moment before Jim realized, the dissociation ending as quickly as it had began-
“...-been on about….right… see?”
“Ye- wait, huh?” Jim questioned, wiping the acrid spit up on a passing wood post as he walked past. He had slowed to a stop and not realized till now.
“I said ‘See, shouldn’t-a been smoking’, Old Boy!” Teddy replied, falling into a trot so as to not leave his friends totally behind.
*Teddy meant nothing rude by it, though perhaps now wasn’t the time.
“Jim, you old bean…Copia, dearest… Johan Dear, Em you sly dog... Milagro My love…”
The token Ace of the group, ever loved his friends. Despite some minor, good sportingly teasing, Teddy’s banter always seemed to come off as a natural expression of affected tenderness.*
The tow-headed Lycan smiled behind his combed mustache, a bit old fashioned in his style, despite the youth in his step, and only just coming into his prime in his early thirties, and whom recently worked out some bulk out of his leaner muscle, swaggered forward a little as he bounded a couple steps, already ahead in position, though keeping a comfortable pace with the group.
“Aw- layoff” Jim smirked, his dark eyes sparkling a little- He and Teddy were close, though they had a bit of their own rivalry about their interactions. But mostly, they kept each other going.
“Smoke so much, I doubt you’ll have the constitution to catch a bigger fish than I” Teddy grinned, shouldering into Jim a little. Jim shoved back playfully
“So, am I, ta understand, the contraband you brought, is in fact naht, some smokeable Mary-onna” Jim grumbled, side eying Copia who was caught up once more. They turned the last corner and while in sight of the boat, seemed to lollygag a moment longer.
“Correct! I have something better-”said Teddy, his tone most triumphant.
“Is it chocolate, I swear if its chocolate, I’ll hurt you, you, you-” Jim chortled at Copia’s interrupted words. Teddy boldly egged on the teasing, “Go on Darling, tell us how you really feel”. Jim innocently coughed out a chuckle, and Copia, who was still trying to oxygenate, apparently, continued on…”-You, diet and *gasp* exercised, power- *inhale* -walking, jogged up lycan, eh- mother-, ugh-, *slight cough* eh-fuck!” The struggling Cardinal wiped at his brow, the wind trying to wipe the sweat into his eyes. His face paints were done in haste, and in the heat of body and blood, and the bloody hot sun, the job looked even more haphazard; as Copia walked with his friends, the hastily applied paints from that late started morning, clearly now were beginning to melt. Copia tried to wipe at the edge shapes, the way one may try to wipe away the smudge of tears from their liner. Jim cornered the end of his custom shirt, a tropical suave that lookd classy and fun. Gently, Jim dragged the tip of the fabric around the signature marks of the Cardinals paints, taking care to pull the muddied paint grease lines into symmetrical shapes. Copia, stood still like a boy getting his nose wiped, sputtering every now and then in expected protest, but he smiled beneath- grateful he had Jim there- even if he’d rather have a mirror…
“Ugh, if I encounter another one of your Zombo-Joke chocolates and turn orange again-” Copia said, slapping Jim’s fussing away. Jim licked the corner of his shirt, trying to fight around Copia’s swatting, “wait-wait, one more-, another pass, one more.”
Teddy chuckled, watching the antics of his friends, “Hah! It's your own fault for beeing greedy over my candy bowl.”
“I didn’t eat it all, I only had some, I just happened to grab the LAST one, and, ah-boom, orange I turn!”
“Well, don’t eat my candy in the first place- or else I won’t make any more” Teddy hurrumphed playfully.
“Like, your ‘special’ chocolate brownie crunchies.. Mmmm… that what you brought Ted? You bring some of my cowboy crunchies?” Jim asked hopefully, imagining the infused and potentially a bit, psychedelic energy they gave- magical sweets had a right proper kick, and he was hoping if it was contraband Teddy had brought, that it would be those little yum-yum bites of chocolate goodness, “Tell me ya brought em Teddy, tell me you brought some special choccys?” Jim said, his eyes wide like a boy begging to open christmas early.
Copia interrupted with his own reply before tEddy could answer, “No, “ Copia mocked. Jim frowned. “Teddy brought chocolate that was, unspecial- ”. Teddy also gave Copia a small frown, the know it all tone in the cardinals Sing-songing prompting a groan from both he and Jim.
Copia continued as if no one cared to be annoyed by his snarking, “ ‘course they're special chocolates! The man is a damned wizard, afterall, credit where it’s due” Copia said, crossing his arms over his chest, a hip jutting out. Teddys annoyed expressions softened a bit. “Well thank you Cardi, I appreciate the given credit… not that i asked”, Teddy grumbled a little, the slight pissing contest all around was starting to raise hackles on his nerves, but the Lycan wizard kept his composure. Unlike Jim, who made a big faceto go with the sound of his scoff, pulling the group to a stand-still just before boarding the boat, Emmanuel and JOhan barely noticing the standoff happening on the dock.
“The-fu- One, Ah wasn’t askin’g you, a goddamned thing, and two-” Jim said, stopping short in his tracks, holding an arm out to catch Teddy in a one armed grip, nearly making the man stumble. As if to show he was nothing but a friend and complimentary crediting one to ‘his buddy Ted”. “Ah gives credit where it’s due cause-”
“Ya feel better when you eat the chocola-” Teddy started- almost expecting a despondent reply in unison, reciting his famouser words-
“You feel better after eating the chocolate, don't you?” Jim overlapped, a criticism in his mind already surfacing, like the pulse at his temple.
“I never said I don-” Copia started-
“And Three” Jim said, holding his fingers up in front of his face, “Ha’me a word in edgewise once-ina- while, Dam!, It was a valid question! Is not like Teddy is *Mr. Pharma or an *herbalist these days-, tyin to be all straight and narrow as a growing Dad, takes work to be ‘*bonafide*’” Jim said, his airquotes making Copia’s face turn a tight shade of red over his nose and ears, the words clearly a trigger from a particularly nasty argument He and Jimmy had some time ago.
About to retort, Copia was halted from his word stinging spiral, by Teddy’s chipper, counter-interuption; and the Uno Reverse, while frustrating, was also a thankful interruption to the tension that was as quick to come as it wanted to go, “Chin up Jimmy, I may be declining to make and partake in my vices, but I’m not some cracked up saint you know.” Jim and Copia exchanged a look that seemed to say they believed Teddy thought himself otherwise. This was true, he’d been over protective and overbearing lately, and even more territorial in nature about the times and attentions spent on Milagro before she birthed the twins. But to his credit, he’d been making good effort to mend his ways and be better to his friends…
“And to prove I'm a man of my word-” Teddy said, holding a finger up, “I came prepared with a little, home-made, contraband” he winked, “courtesy of our booking host, Mr. Defroque… why I thought it would be a bit of fun to, make the most of clearing the pantry of *beverages, since Millie and I won’t be having them as much with the babies moving in.”
“Even more reason to celebrate with toast-able beverages” Copia smiled, glad that Teddy was the one taking the turn to Host Millie and her babies.
*Teddy was as tired and in need of a holiday as they all were, all having been helping as much as possible with the newborns, but he had a stamina that strengthened when he was with his woman.. Nearly 6 months later, Milagro had finally been able to come home from hospital, and she and the babies would move into a cottage in the country that Teddy had worked his ass off to procure on short notice. But bless that woman, after being there only a week, she had insisted she take over baby-sitting, so the dads could have a well deserved, long weekend off… and had even encouraged them to, “let loose, and sin a little”...*
Teddy looked at Copia, and grinned wide, “Thanks Darling, man of my word I brought plenty for us all to sin and celebrate!” Teddy was making a gesture that soon, it would be happy hour aboard the charter boat, and the thought made the trio brighten in anticipation.
Jim side eyed Copia a moment, catching his smile, and contagiously smiled back, then looked back at Teddy, who tapped the side of his nose mischievously. Jim's eyebrows popped up over the rims of his sunglasses. “Well hell, I could* use a drink, *now” Jim said, an immediate shift in his mood at the thought of cracking open a bottle of something to share.
The three went, steadily into the boat while Johan greeted them as if everyone had just arrived and was to set about in the performance of a beloved memory, an excitement bordering on anxiousness seemed to infect the boat and her crew, and soon, all were moving about trying to urge the show on…
Emmanuel pulled the little charter boat out smoothly into the bay, calm waters just beyond the breakers, the tense atmosphere waning. As Johan tossed Teddy a crate, the glass rattled like an iced cracker jack in a box.” Catching it in a swooping motion, the box floating into his grip gracefully, Teddy regarded Johan, who nodded, impressed at the skill. “Lads, I saved some of that *House Moonshine* dropped off from Christmas-tide” Teddy said, sorting the crate of Defroque Peach Orchard Jars to the side, the logo similar to Jim’s custom peach fruit “Hawaiian shirt”. Jim gave the box a kick, sending it into the corner of the deck where the coolers waited their turn to be prepared in the rushing-about of things. The strange chop in the water quietly spun the boat from exiting the area, and Emmanuel smoothly brought the boat around to try again.
“Odd” He thought…
The Tsunami Warnings had been an on and off concern but, the sky seemed so clear, and the water so blue, such things seemed to happen far away and not at all… except when the tremors made noticeable changes in the currents. But Emmanuel put the thought out of his mind for now. The sound of the box smacking the coolers made his ears want to lay flat.
“Oh this too” Jim said with a flippancy bordering asshole, tossing a bottle of Emmanuel's Deep Sea Rum right in time to land safely in the cooler, the ice toppling into it just in time while Copia was busying himself with the task, and clumsily at best, the bumped chest sending the shards of ice skittering across the deck.
“Easy with the goods mate!” Emmanuel called out. Copia’s lip quivered a moment before he sent a scowl in Emmanuel's direction as the man clutched his metaphoric pearls. “First my steak, “ Emmanuel complained, “-then tossing me rum,-” the exasperation apparent as he continued to rant, “ -Out late all night, making a lazy crew, a wonder we ever shipped off then!” he tsked, “-not ah ounce of respect round this load of crapped out dingy hopping bunch of bitches-”
“Yeah well all I’m hearing is criticise, criticise!” Jim sassed back in Copia’s defense, tossing a load around harder than needed, “Ya ungrateful sons a bitches, ah Paid for this charter-” :And I’m Captain, of this boat” Emmanuel asserted, clearing his throat as he stalked over, leaving the helm, Johan at his side with a look of concern. “I Said- Easy With the Goods, Mate.” Emmanuel growled dangerously. Copia looked like a feral thing, fangs dropping with a hiss in his throat. The hot sun and he were not agreeing already, and the dangerous tick in the air set him on edge, as did the way the men were starting to ‘Cobra-up’ at one another, as Milagro had once so cleverly put it.
“Ain’t nuthin’ hurt, Sir-”
“Captain!-” Emmanuel Corrected.
A half step of silence, “-Cap’m.” Jim said correcting himself, albeit with indigence.
“Not like I ain't been around working goods before” he began to argue.
Emmanuel cut in with a sharpness in his tone, commanding attention; the Lycans of the group averted their eyes a moment, adapting a stillness despite the rocking of the boat as the strange chop of the waters buoyed them, like a cork bottle bobbing upright precariously, penned in the confines of the bay.
“Don’t matter how long you been working or laboring-” Emmanuel started.
Jim’s eyes narrowed.
“You act like im some no good silver spooned underfoot bucking around like a corral horse in the kitchen, I’ll tell you somethin’-” Jim said, something breaking through the pent up emotions dammed behind his heart cage.
“No, I’m tellin’ YOU, somethin Mate-” Emmanuel reared, the quivering features of his Lycan heritage fluttering beneath his tanned skin. Like a lion fish flaring with intensity, the Thylacine stripes indicative of his Lycan heritage flashed with his words, as if the intensity was a command of purpose rather than reaction… although in Emmanuel’s case, it was his personal aggression surfacing through.
“Aw Fuck off Em, we’re jsut tryong to get shit done fast enough to actually get on this damned vacation!” Jim countered, easing down. Their shoulders were at their ears and they realized how an unremarkable situation had turned almost violent.
Jim had been dedicated, and the emotional tolls of this year alone were enough to make him brood. The man was sober from the hard stuff that almost ruined his life once, but Jim had been there, for everyone. Fixing up the abbey where the Lycans had set up shop wasn’t his first construction project. He was a logistical Both humble prodigy from it, and had no problem getting his hands dirty, he worked hard, he was a shrewd businessman, silver tongued and charming as they come, but here he was, like everyone else, doing his best to fit into a style of life he'd never envisioned of himself before. Jim had the mind to be a heartbroken bachelor, and instead, made family amongst his friends. Especially with the ones on board the boat he had so generously chartered, for a trip he was paying all expense for, not because he was actually a money shoving jerk… it was because he’d worked hard for it, and wanted to spend it on his bestest of friends… In that regard, they leveled with each other.
Neither unequal- but of course… as sort of Type A and Alpha energies go, they didn’t exactly back down from one another. And it was making everyone one the boat uncomfortable. But the seriousness was interrupted by Emmanuel remembering to mind the helm and Jim that he was minding the men aboard too.
Copia piped up, “Why are even the both of you mad, I’m getting things thrown at me left and right, and no concern for how that makes *me feel?!” sheepishly the leaders on the boat murmured some apology, sprinkled with a little blame for one another at Copia’s expense. Teddy pinched the bridge of his nose, unable to referee between the three that were quarreling so much today.
Johan, who was the pack Omega, rolled his eyes at the squabbling. Eyeing Teddy, eying him. They by nature, had the job of helping keep the peace in the pack, and seemed to also participate in such roles within their greater found family. Both Omegas shared a knowing glance, a call to action- one, bound to the alpha, the other, bound to his woman- who was also the alphas Female mate, The Lady Milagro…
Teddy motioned for Johan to intervene first. Out of respect. It was Johan’s first duty, to help soothe the situation, by soothing his mate.
“Love, we have enough steaks for everyone, yes?” Johan said, his hands finding Emmanuel’s elbow, the touch, an almost instant pull back from Emmanuel's notoriously long lined, short fused temper. Emmanuel halted a moment, tossing his shoulder back, a low grumble.
Teddy stepped in, his priority, get the group loose and calm, his genuine spirit like a dousing rod, or, the physical manifestation of an Emotional Support Animal to his friends”, As Milagro had once so cleverly put it. He stretched loudly, prompting everyone to fidget themselves enough to start unclenching and loosening and stretching out their faces, shoulders, back, and all. Like a chorus of knuckle popping and yawning noises, Teddy’s voice amongst them, rising like a gander calling to his disorderly goslings, “Well damn, it’s a hot day,” Teddy smiled, clapping Copia’s back. It rocked The Cardinal gently at his heels, and his socks were now wet with the spilled ice, melting into cold water between his toes.
Teddy sighed and nodded, hands on his hips, “Everyone’s just tired, and worn out. It's been quite an adventure already, and it’s only Friday afternoon! On the bright side of things, we are all here, blessed to be together hm? Chins-up everyone, chins up”. The uncurbed sporting enthusiasm of his call rang out, earning a chortle from Jim, who was side glancing Teddy, “Amen!” Jim clapped emphatically. Teddy pinked in the cheeks. He hadn’t meant to sound preachy, but he pressed on, “The only way out is through,” Teddy continued. Nods on deck gave him a spur, “And as the activity planner of the weekend, I know we will just enjoy all the fun bonding activities i have planned. Games and crafts and-”
“Give it up for youth pastor Thaddius” Jim said, holding his cupped hands in a clap call. Everyone sniggered and golf clapped along, soft thuds exaggerated by the wolf whistles from Teddy’s friends. He felt his face burn hotter than the sunburn he was getting, and snatched a large woven hat from a hook near the wall like a distraction of poorly popped smoke bombs., “We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us gentleman, might we start off right with holding our tongues a tad and setting off sooner than later, I’m eager to try those steaks EM,” He said, hailing the Alphas participation in the matter, a bit demandingly, but no matter. The word steaks had every man aboard in rapt attention, like a pavlovian response, all eyes zoned into the matter of the subject. The gloriously thick steaks, ropes of marbling splattered like art, even frozen, made the mouth water in eager anticipation…
An “Oooooo-” started with Johan, coaxing everyone to oo and aw as Emmanuel proudly pulled out the steaks from the sink where they were defrosting in water, earning a momentary confused eye from Copia, though the nods of approval in the group seemed to counter his concern in the observation of meat in water.
*in the plastic of course, we’re heathens, not savages!*
The thought bounced from Emmanuel to Copia, and Copia’s face brightened. Emmanuel sent a wink toward’s Copia’s way, Johan already giggling. Between his mates intuition, Teddy as the pack Omega, and Copia’s telepathic talents, and Jimmy’s knack for knowing people, Emmanuel’s joke had projected outwards, landed, and the group collectively burst into a long fit of laughter, for while yes, it was a bit at Copia’s Expense, it was a much needed moment of levity.
With a bonfire on the horizon of their collective day dreaming, they eventually subsided from their giggles and continued on, grunting and bumbling into the roles of a functioning working crew of hands on the deck, Jim working especially hard now that there was a defrost time to look forward to, and spying the moment’s motivation, Teddy talked up the steaks as the “Due Reward” of their collective father and partnered duties, saying, “I shall work up my appetite to be worthy of the goal”,, prompting the group toned collectively and work to do the same. Amazing what a proper motivation and teamwork can do for someone's spirit” Teddy said to no one aloud in particular. Though it didn’t feel passive aggressive, forced, or smart assed. It was a sentiment of genuine appreciation, save it for Teddy to be the wholesome one on this trip, as it seemed Johan’s motivations lie elsewhere at the moment.
He sauntered by trailing a hand over Emmanuel’s chest and slipped away from the group his mind, preoccupied with
*The other meat, that belonged in the heat of the captain’s quarters below deck, if you catch the drift*
Emmanuel, keeping a weathered eye on the waves, already trying to think of a way to escape the responsibility of the helm to go down and get a quick one in with his husband. Copia looked out to the chop of the waves. Not one to get seasick, he leaned at the rail, watching gulls follow behind the ribbon of blue water trailing behind the boat. Jim, from the corner of his sight, kept being drawn back into the sight. Copia looked downright peaceful. It was an expression so gentle on the dark painted lip of his smile, that the troubled Cardinal’s face seemed to soften, a timeless tranquility so rare in him these days. Jim found himself holding his breath, as he held on to the stolen moment of watching the man he loved, watching the handsome Cardinal Copia, basking in his quiet element. An ease settled into Jim’s heart and he too found his face softening at the sight, the sun shining on the waves bounced off the dewy flecks of sea water gathering atop of Copia's hair, appearing as sparkling glass. He looked radiant. At the sight, Jimmy felt a tear roll down his face, he felt so moved. The tear was carried off by the chasing winds of the coast, and in his heart, he tried to both hide and scream the thoughts in his head towards Copia’s mind, “Baby. I- I just miss you… miss ya so damned much, it feels like my heart’s finna break every time I look at ya...”
The thought bounced around without being received. No matter how he tried, Jimmy just couldn’t talk to Copia that way anymore. “Miss like how it was… Wish it was, back the way things used tuh be I mean.” Jim thought out, a prayer for the god of second chances under his breath, but, feeling nothing in the anguished moment of begging to be seen as ‘worth a damn’, he bowed his head in defeat. With nothing coming back from Copia, the moment passed like the shark tunnels where the fish swim one way and the conveyor belt floor moves the other; gone too soon, and sadly so. Like watching the beauty of the creature leave with it, the magic swept away like a memory one forgets to add faces to…
Heavy-hearted, Jim's gaze dropped to the ropes and the deck and his socks with sandals he and Copia were matching with today. A resigned sigh was carried away from Jim's mouth as he put the moment behind him, and headed over to Emmanuel to talk shop.
Quietly, the Cardinal's lips parted, the hush of the tone tender and soft, like the gentle sway of the sea grass deep below the waves, softly aloud, and to no one in particular, he spoke, the words like a song, “I miss it too…" and he smiled, knocked on the rail twice for luck, and strode over towards the helm, to meet Jim where he was, and say those words to him, himself... "And it's only Friday-" Teddy chuckled, watching his friends from a ways. He put his hands in his pockets, a jaunt in his step as he whistled a merry tune, as he thought proudly of himself. Perhaps this trip would help mend what was between the Father Jim Defroque and the flighty Cardinal Copia.
"Well you can't keep a Wild bird back in a cage,
Take the roar from the lion, if you've taken his rage..."
ZOMBO YOU'RE ALIVE OMG I MISSED YOU!!!
Read this before work like the morning newspaper. Thank you much for this excellent work
𝙳𝙽𝙸
𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜
𝚁𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜, 𝚑𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚎𝚜, 𝚎𝚝𝚌.
.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.
𝙲𝙾𝙽𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚃 𝚆𝙰𝚁𝙽𝙸𝙽𝙶
𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐 𝚒𝚜 𝚂𝙵𝚆 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚕𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚖𝚜. 𝙼𝚒𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕𝚢.
.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.
𝙼𝚢 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝙼𝚒𝚊𝚜𝚖𝚊.
𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚊 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝟷𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝙹𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢, 𝟸𝟶𝟷𝟾. 𝙸 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚖𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚜𝚊𝚍𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚎𝚠𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚐𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚎𝚍, 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚏𝚎𝚠 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚑𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢. 𝙵𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎, 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚊 𝚙𝚑𝚢𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚐𝚢𝚖 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚛.
𝙸 𝚊𝚕𝚜𝚘 𝚔𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝙿𝚊𝚙𝚊 𝙴𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚜 𝙸, 𝙸𝙸, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝙸𝙸, 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚍𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝.
𝙴𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛, 𝙸 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚢𝚘𝚞.
.˳·˖✶𓆩𓁺𓆪✶˖·˳.
Miasma's 3rd blog hopefully I don't accidentally delete this one 🙏🙏🙏