trying on a metaphor
blake kathryn
DEAR READER
No title available
Three Goblin Art
No title available
if i look back, i am lost
@theartofmadeline
todays bird
noise dept.
wallacepolsom
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
#extradirty
shark vs the universe
d e v o n
Janaina Medeiros
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
taylor price
almost home
Xuebing Du
seen from Argentina
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Germany
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Malaysia
seen from Argentina
seen from Singapore
seen from Türkiye
seen from Singapore
seen from Greece
seen from Malaysia
seen from Mexico
seen from Singapore
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Belarus
@life-torn
“Gh-echh- !!”
..... snff. ‘Scuse him, pardon him, he’s just... been feeling chilly since last night. And by chilly, he means his head hurts and his chest feels all stuffy and he can’t get too warm. And his knees and shins are all scraped and bruised up.
But he’s got a damn pillowcase near full of candy, and he doesn’t plan on sharing, so he’s content.
“Oh, gosh, yeah. My dad’s done a whole lot. He’s traveled just about anywhere I can think of, he’s been in, um.... both world wars, he’s... well, he’s done a lot. I wish he could come out and say he’s done what he has, because he’d get so much more recognition, but I’m pretty sure he’d get locked up and experimented on. We all would.” Gross. No one wants that.
He can’t help but pause a minute and think about it, actually. It’s not often anyone really recognizes his dad anymore, ‘sides a sparse “thanks for your service” every once in awhile. Just about everyone thinks he’s in fancy dress or faking. “.... I used to want to be in the army, like him. But I’ve learned it wasn’t really as heroic as history makes it out to be. ‘Sides, the military has changed too much.”
He’s in the process of rolling up his basketball shorts and pinning those down (it’s the closest to no-pants that he feels comfortable rocking), and nearly stabs himself at the suggestion. Jeez. “Ouch- what? Really? You think this is something he’d want to do?” Forgive Red’s confusion, all he’s seen from the guy is straight-laced. “..... I dunno, we could give it a shot.”
“Here- you stay here, finish getting dressed. I’ll go get him, since I look the least... incriminating.”
“I am. And I’m kinda hoping you’ll keep it, too, he’s had the same aesthetic since I was born.” He loves his old man, but god, it’s like being trapped in a cartoon. “You look the most like dad, since you.... look the most like grandpa.” Obviously, that’s how identical twins work. “So I think it’ll do you good, anyhow. Careful, it’s heavy as sin. Won’t be as heavy as usual, though.” He took all of his father’s pins and badges and war stuff off, at least, and put that in a little box in his room, and replaced them with little cardboard ones. They usually stick on just fine, but he doesn’t want to risk Blu losing them- or worse, being responsible for it.
“The problem with that is that I actually love my uncle quite a bit, and I don’t want to make fun of him. Uncle Mark, on the other hand-” he’s turning to his closet and whipping out that bag of goodies, complete with his bright-red bathrobe. Uncle Mark’s short, but Red’s shorter, so he’s got it all hemmed up with safety pins (thank god for Tori). “- is a jerk, and he made my mom cry at least once. So I’m gonna make him look bad.” Hence the empty wine bottle he’s pulling out of the accessory bag.
“I have the majority of Uncle Wilford’s costume made up, though. But it’s all adult-sized stuff, so I can’t wear it. I tried, but I can’t. Now, remember- I’m supposed to be doing “teenager things” and you’re supposed to be passing out candy, so if we wanna make this sucessful, no one can know about it. No one.”
x. | @dualstache
“You really think I’d come to you if I wasn’t prepared?” Cue him raising up a finger, then quietly disappearing from the room. It’s not a huge matter, wrangling the “costume” from his father- the man’s dressed like a vampire or something, he didn’t bother asking too much, least he be cornered into a bat costume along with the other two infants, and unless it’s due for a washing he usually hangs the ensemble right back up. After pilfering that, it’s only a matter of grabbing the accessories from his room- all of which, once gathered, is slapped gracefully on the closest surface to Blu.
“Now- lithten, you don’t know the whole story, but there’s some weird stuff in this family, alright? Now, people’ll think you’re a safari man or whatever, but i’ve got my own get-up that’ll clue the neighbors in.” Because everyone, unfortunately, has seen Uncle Mark in his red robe before. Everyone.
“It’s either this, or join Bela Lugosi and his merry band downstairs. Which sucks, because we have babies now. And toddlers. So they get more candy, more attention, and they’ll probably make us push the stroller for at least a bit- or we have to carry a few. And that’s a bitch.”
🧙 for red!
HUFFLEPUFF.
Congratulations! You have been sorted into the house of Hufflepuff! You are very dedicated to things you truly care about. You are fair, kind, and tolerant. You have many friends and are well-liked.
“...... None of this is true. This quiz is lying.”
Character Quiz Meme
Send in a symbol to find out what my muse’s results were and whether I think it’s accurate or not. Send in 🔮 to see my muse’s Meyer-Briggs Result Send in 🧠to see my muse’s Enneagram Result Send in 🧙 to see my muse’s Hogwarts House Result Send in ⭐to see my muse’s Homestuck ‘True Sign’ Send in 🎨to see what famous work of art my muse is. Send in 🎉to find out what role my muse plays in a friend group Send in ☯️to see my muse’s psychological archetype Send in 🎭to find out which of The Four Temperaments my muse is Send in 💟to find out what kind of ‘dere’ my muse is Send in ⚔️ to find out what my muse’s moral alignment is. Send in 😈 to find out which Disney Villain my muse is Send in 💖 to find out what my muse’s Love Language scores are
Showing him that little trick was only good enough until he ran out of paper. He’s currently all cozied up on the floor, wastebasket filled up and overflowing with paper scraps, with his piggybank contents spread out between his legs and a jar propped up in his desk drawer.
He’s currently got about a dollar fifty in pennies and nickels that’ve made it in so far, so.... that’s something, isn’t it?
Oh, don’t worry, Grandpa, he feels silly about it already. Especially after saying it out loud, it just sounds ridiculous. There’s so much technology these days that even if something did happen, the ones at home would know pretty quick and the ones abroad could get help just as fast. But there was a time long, long ago where his family had been two frazzled men, each with the need to wander at various points in time. He might not remember anything about it, but he does remember that it made him feel very, very awful deep down. Not the same situation as the one at hand, but that same awful feeling is still relevant.
He’s jolted out of his own thoughts when Grandpa ventures inside, and Red takes the time to settle down on the ground. It’s nice to watch all the kids together, he’ll admit that much. It certainly feels like a much stabler unit when he’s... out of his room long enough to see them interact.
Maybe he should be out more. Just a thought.
Though he is standing by as Grandpa explains, twiddling with a few bits of dried-up leaf. “... What if I’m not a good shot?” He can’t help but ask, even as he’s aware it doesn’t make a lick of difference. You can’t put something in front of him to relieve anxiety when there’s something within it to cause the anxiety.
But, nevertheless, he’s sighing, taking up a few pieces of paper to make his own little projectiles with. And after the first few shots, it... really doesn’t do much. It helps take his mind off of it, of course, but... that might be the goal, wouldn’t it be?
“..... I’ve never been a big brother before,” he’s adding, mostly to change the conversation while he shoots. “I- I mean, Florence, but he’s... he wasn’t a baby-baby when Dad found him. These’re gonna be all brand new, and.... how’re you supposed to treat new babies anyhow?”
“I’m not sad.” Let’s just get that straight, because he really isn’t. He doesn’t remember the last time he’s been properly sad, honestly. He’s just worried. Nervous. Full of anxiety. Which any reasonable person should be, he might add- at least, a little bit... maybe not as much as he is, but..
“I’m not sad,” he’s adding again, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ve just got a lot to think about. And- and no offense, but I’m a little old to be playing in the leaves.” That’s certainly part of it too.
“...... I’ve always got a lot to think about,” he’s confessing after a moment or two of silence. “I don’t think.... I don’t think people know how much stuff I know- an- and I’m not talking about, like, adult stuff, or overhearing conversations, it’s.... it’s stuff no one should know.” But that’s not really the issue at hand right now. “ I’m not sad, I’m excited. I wanna meet these kids as much as anyone, and I wannt be a good brother to them, but at the same time I.. I just want... I want the babies to be okay. I want Miss Tori to be okay. I want dad to be okay, and Uncle Wilford to be okay. But we won’t know if they’re all okay until someone over there checks in, or until I just happen to know something in the meantime, and it’s like that everytime anyone leaves the house, really, it’s just... really bad because this time, there’s someting serious on the line.”
“..... It’s just how I am, grandpa. Ask anyone. Don’t read into it too much.”
A statement that drags another, slightly louder whine out of him. Come on, Grandpa, he’s not five anymore- was he ever properly five, he... can’t remember, but he’s certainly not five anymore. The little ones might not understand the urgency or fear that this situation holds, but Red feels it all plenty enough for the five of them. What if something really bad happens? There’s so many opportunities for bad stuff to happen in a situation like this...
.... Oh, he doesn’t know what to do.
It may be just on the cusp of ten minutes, because Red has an excellent internal clock for punishment, but eventually he’s shoving the screen door open to join them. Everyone looks like they’re enjoying themselves, which is good- Graham especially, he’s always been one for a romp. But Red can’t bring himself to hop in with them, he’s... well, when isn’t he worried? Let’s just be real for a minute.
He’ll just position himself with his back to the nearest tree, giving the little ones a smile if they ever try and catch his eye, but for the most part staring off into space. “.... Who’s gonna rake all these up again?” He’s mumbling, a quiet attempt at a joke that, as always, sounds a bit too serious on him.
Don't think he didn't notice that, mister. Grandpa's already making his way down to Red's room, with Florence and his elephant sitting on his hip, and knocking lightly on the door. " Redwald? Come on, Scout, why don't you come hang out in the yard with the kids and I? It's a perfect day to go play in the leaves Dad just raked up. " And he knows three kiddos that are already psyched, but it seems like Florence isn't the only one that could use a bit of a distraction.
… Mmh.
Red couldn’t help but whine a little at that- god, doesn’t anyone in this house ever miss anything? See, this is why he stays in his room- at least then he can worry in peace. But this is his…. this is Grandpa they’re talking about. You don’t just ignore Grandpa; not unless you have a death wish, he supposes.
“… Okay.” He’s gotta practice being social, after all.. he’s gonna have two more whole siblings to teach how to exist. At least Florence came partially programmed. So after a brief internal debate, he’s gathering up his boots and scarf and everything else, and putting them on as slowly as possible. “Go on out, I’ll… I’ll catch up.”
“I- .....”
He doesn’t know what he was going to say anymore. By the time he understood what the ruckus was for and by the time he got himself decent enough to check, they’d already bundled up and left. He’ll just... wait at the top of the stairs for a litle bit. Yeah. Just long enough to hear his grandpa come upstairs, then he’s... back to his room.
“.... Red? You’re bi- you’re.. big, right?”
It’s taken him a moment to realize he’s being addressed, but Red does eventually nod. He won’t break the somber silence his little cousin’s put into play, nor talk until he really knows what’s going on. Genuine questions out of him are pretty rare.
“.... So that means you- so that means y... you’ve done a lotta ‘growin.”
“......... More like a little growing, but.. yeah. What’s on your mind? If- if it’s anything about babies, you can ask your dad that-”
“No. Not that.”
“Then what? Either you’ve got a reason for asking me or not, and I’d rather you speak sooner than later.”
“.... How’d you do your grow- your growing without a mommy?”
“ .... Why’d you wanna ask that, Graham?”
It’s the tyke’s turn to be silent, now, his expression seeping from bashful curiosity to a genuine sadness, too old and too wise for his little face. That, soon, is replaced by the familiar, screwed-up visage of a little one trying way too hard to keep from crying. “Oh, no- no, come here, come on. What’s going on? Talk to me, I’ll- I won’t judge you.”
“I jus- I j- I-,” oh, he’s hyperventilating. Red can’t keep the alarmed look off his own face, rubbing a hand hard down the little one’s back.
“ She- she never came back, Red! She never came back. Red, I w- I wa... I want my momma... I want her to come back. I love daddy but I want her to come ba-ack...!”
And sooner rather than later, Graham is scooped up in Red’s arms, one hand around his back and the other smoothing down his hair. “........ Me too, Graham. I.... I want mine to come back too.”
“.........”
“ I was an infant, not stupid. My body just didn’t match my brain yet.”
“ I was a baby in the Great Depression, I was lucky if I even had powdered milk. “
🔮 you’re getting side-eyed | @pistolkilled 🔮
“ Well- well, that’s all well and good, but these aren’t toyth. These are collectorth pieceth, like... this is a 1948 Navion, just about mint condition. I only took it out of the box to put it together latht chrithtmath.” Red’s still mad at you, stranger, but he’s using you as a support beam to stand on his chair and make sure you put it back on it’s shelf the right way.
“Thith one I took my time with, too. She’s got a completly accurate E-165 engine, just-... y’know, minaturized. I thought I lotht the kit the latht time we moved, so she’s, um.... special. And fragile. So if you wanna see any more of them, you ask me, underthtand?”
Especially now that it’s all... sinking in, what this guy is saying. He doesn’t... know what an airplane is? I mean, given all the stuff he’s rattling off, that’s not too surprising- most of that was cool before he was born.
“ .... I can show you some more, if you think they’re actually neat. You’re not- my... dad didn’t athk you to take interetht or anything, right? He’th done that before.” When he was much younger, but still. It’s happened.
You heard it here first, folks, Redwald is crying.
It’s not something he does often, or proudly, but sometimes it’s necessary.
Especially, you know, when everything is kind of falling... both apart and together at once. Tori’s on maternity leave, so the babies are coming soon enough, and- well, the big issue is college, of course. What if he’s not as ready as he thinks he is? What if he’s laughed out of the school? What if he ends up failing his classes and it proves that he really isn’t anything more than a 12 year old?
.... He’s just going to curl himself up a little tighter against his bed and try to be as quiet about this as possible until he’s done.
