sarahq

"You survived a world that told the wrong story about you. That’s not nothing."

Oof.

Almost the end of a decade in 1989. Revolutions, crackdowns, changes in power ... look, 1989 left a mark on my psyche. Evidently I was escaping into the cinema as much as I was to the roller rink, judging from me opening 20 tabs even with me being picky. Going to narrow that down some. Okay, 11 in the final cut.

( kinda grouped in genre broadly )

sine_nomine

Discharged yesterday evening. Have spent most of today asleep because I could. Reached out to both Dr. ID's office and Dr. Hematology's office. The former to check if he wanted to see me in office (receptionist asked a great question, "Are you on IV antibiotics, to which I got to say no; oral [which is its own hot mess; I am not going there]. So she is supposed to call me back.

Dr. Hematology's office seemed ready to shunt me into new patient needs full workup routing so I am writing him tomorrow to have him try to get me rerouted so I can get labs done Wednesday. I am fine with weekly but they have to get drawn! Will miss June surgery date but would prefer not to miss July (which is why weekly labs are crucial; he was like every other week is fine. Um no.

Okay time for more sleeping.

senmut

Stranger to the Ball (498 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Forever Knight, Labyrinth
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Nicholas "Nick" Knight, Jareth [Labyrinth]
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Fusion, Attempted Seduction
Summary:

Jareth spots new prey

Stranger to the Ball

Jareth smiles as he sees the stranger. It's not often that one of them wanders into the spaces between worlds. Still, they can be interesting in their own ways, if they are not too lost in the ennui of living so long.

Living, for certain values thereof, Jareth amends in his mind.

He maneuvers his way in that direction, watching the stranger take in all of the oddities of the ball's participants. Masks that are cunningly crafted to deliver only a facet of the wearer's personality are works of art, some reeking of the arcane energies invested in them. Others do little to hide the person behind it, much as his own registers as regal and capricious.

A flick of his hand, and Jareth sees to the man's garb, turning it from passable nobility to proper formality and frivolity, the crimson threads shot through the dark cloth with sinister flair.

His guest doesn't notice at first, and Jareth is annoyed, wondering which of his court lured the man in. Yet then the change is appreciated, seen in the mirrored column betwixt dancers. His lovely red-headed courtier seems intent on interception, and he snaps a small stinging swat at her with his magic, forcing her to move on.

"And what, my lonesome wolf, brings such as you to my demesnes?" he asks as he steps into the man's field of vision, setting the mask on its baton to one side, smiling at his most charming.

"I… do not know. I followed a girl…" Already the effect of the court is pressing on the stranger, and Jareth feels a surge of giddy pleasure in the idea of keeping this one for a time.

"There are plenty of women present, but surely, having been led astray by the fairer sex, some time in more masculine company might be preferred?" Jareth invites. "Call me Jareth," he says easily, enjoying the way the man licks at his lips unconsciously.

"Nicki," the stranger gives. "Nicolas de Brabant."

Jareth felt the compulsion of his court pull the full name forth, sees the small frown for having given it, and he reaches with his free hand to stroke the cheek of his interesting distraction.

"This place is unlike any you have seen, and you may enjoy yourself… even to you nature, darling Nikki," Jareth croons at him, before vanishing his mask away, freeing his hands. "A night of dance among those who are not as the mortals you dally among, hmm? Perhaps… with more private dances after?"

His temptations linger, darkening the eyes, before the man tries to deny himself, to find a way out.

For now, Jareth lets him go, but he saw the desire, for that moment, and knows he will find his prey in time.

Perhaps he will deign to dally among mortals to find this Nicki, watching the vampire be caught in several dancers' hands on his way to finding the exit.

"Your hungers could match mine, if you freed them fully."

Current Music: "True Colors" - Cyndi Lauper

drcuriosity

hellsop was a real one. He will be sorely missed.

https://obits.cremationsocietyofmilwaukee.com/peter-coffin

senmut

*\o/*	Word Count	Step Count	Headache?
Daily	1,059	9,485	no
Monthly	5,218	38,017	1 days

Current Music: "Better Be Good To Me" - Tina Turner

sine_nomine

After ALL that talk yesterday about "of course we won't discharge tomorrow without labs" NO ONE ORDERED ANYTHING FOR TODAY.

Yes, I have already left voicemail with the Office of Patient Advocacy. And yes, we all know they are actually there to protect the hospital and not the patient. Still, they have power to do something.

senmut

*\o/*	Word Count	Step Count	Headache?
Daily	1,101	7,191	no
Monthly	4,159	28,532	1 days

senmut

Outside the Flight (350 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dragonriders of Pern
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: F'lessan/Tai [Dragonriders of Pern]
Characters: F'lessan [Dragonriders of Pern], Tai [Dragonriders of Pern]
Additional Tags: Established Relationships, Asexuality
Summary:

F'lessan and Tai talk about it.

Outside the Flight

F'lessan reached, and at the flinch, drew his hand back.

"Tai?"

She rolled over, eyes full of sorrow.

"Shh," he immediately said to the look, hating that she looked upset. "Can I just hold you?"

At that, she scooted over on the bed, and he settled on his back, to keep stress off his bad leg.

"I know Zaranth and Golanth are… involved," she said softly. "I… don't feel it. Like when she rises, and eventually it does break through to me."

He nodded, then kissed her hair. "I love you. Not your body. And… sometimes I think even if those other riders had been careful, it would be like that for you."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Your passion, it's in the books, the stars, in doing all we can to be ready for what the skies throw at us," he continued. "I don't want you afraid to share our bed. I don't want you to think that just because our dragons are doing things, that we have to."

She pushed up on her elbow to look at his face seriously. "You enjoy it."

"But I enjoy you feeling safe and comfortable more," he said, not denying it. There was a reason he had at least three kids scattered across Pern already. "I love you, Tai. Just as you are."

"I feel unnatural, to not want to be like that," she admitted softly. "It was easier, blaming it on how the flights made those riders. But … I know it's not like that, and yet I still don't… want to."

He pushed up enough to brush a kiss across her cheek. "Cuddling is fine? Little kisses? Just sitting or lying near?"

"Yes?"

"Then that's what you have my promise to share with you," he said, coaxing her to lay back against his shoulder.

She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, and then let it out slowly. "I'm not a freak?"

"No. You just have more in common with my best friend's dragon than anyone else on this planet."

She giggled, to be compared to Ruth, as fabulous as he was. "I love you too."

senmut

sweettartheart, that card is a delight. Thank you.

sine_nomine

Discharge anticipated tomorrow, unless numbers go all wonky. We are seeing slow (so slow!) steady improvement. But infinitesimal (or however that's spelt!) movement. Dr. Hematology Cover noted low folic acid and prescribed a supplement. Asked her to order a new complete iron panel, she said great idea, and that she would. Yet, when they came to draw today, it was literally only CBC. NO CMP, Mag or Phos (or iron panel). Weird.

Definitely done being here. Really wish they'd given me my favorite nurse today (who should be working) instead of someone brand new to me.

Anyway, I go sleep. Feeling annoyed about a stack of things. Hoping that's just fatigue talking.

senmut

*\o/*	Word Count	Step Count	Headache?
Daily	1,279	10,210	no
Monthly	3,058	21,341	1 days

Current Music: "Shiny Happy People" - REM and the B-52s

senmut

*\o/*	Word Count	Step Count	Headache?
Daily	1,779	10,699	yes
Monthly	1,779	10,669	1 days

Current Music: "Take Me to Church" - Hozier

senmut

I seem to have been collecting more links than usual this week. In my defense, between headache, potential ulcer, and sheer stress, I have had little writing inspiration.

( 20 links )

Current Music: "Shake It Out" - Florence & the Machine

sine_nomine

Dr. IM is pretty set on tomorrow being the day I go home. I pushed back. I just don't feel well enough, even with 24/7 caregivers. I have written him a note but it's unclear if he will see it. Stuff is definitely improving but is it enough? Not sure. I am definitely not feeling well, which means the antibiotics are working. But this is rough.

jjhunter

Marianne Kuzujanakis: Book Review: “Take Joy” by Jane Yolen

it is so important to understand that writing is a way of thinking and existing, and not just an act of doing

Kelly Hayes: From Aspiration to Action: Organizing Through Exhaustion, Grief, and Uncertainty

It’s easy to pass judgment on ourselves and each other for what we’re “already doing” or failing to do. But as an organizer, I’m concerned with what might motivate or allow people to act differently.

Sasha Chapin @ Sasha's Newsletter: How to like everything more: on the skill of enjoyment

In my experience, high-level enjoyment, like a sport, is composed of many interlocking micro-skills that must be trained individually, but which reinforce each other. This is not how enjoyment is taught—the only tip people typically receive re enjoyment is to “be mindful.” I think this is a suggestion to adopt what meditators call “one-pointed focus,” a form of concentrated, narrowed attention on a small portion of conscious experience. It’s a mediocre suggestion for a couple of reasons. First, this is hard to do well, even for seasoned meditators. Second, it is far from the only enjoyment-producing mental motion.

Liz Neeley @ Liminal: Week 19: What now & what’s next in science and higher ed

Everything is terrible, but I brought you some plums.

senmut

Last Fall (Future Promises) (545 words) by Sharpest_Asp
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Dragonriders of Pern
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Moreta/Nerilka [Dragonriders of Pern]
Characters: Moreta [Dragonriders of Pern], Nerilka [Dragonriders of Pern]
Additional Tags: Background Polyamory, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Pride
Summary:

Last Fall is over Ruatha, so Moreta brings the official word to the Lady who has slipped into her heart.

Last Fall (Future Promises)

Orlith back-winged delicately on the courtyard, followed by Hannath and Nabeth. Their draconic jubilation was shining in blue-green faceted eyes as all three riders started unbuckling their riding straps to get down and greet the Lady of the Hold and those that were waiting with supplies to aid the end of flight.

"Lord Alessan is still out with crews?" B'lerion asked.

"Of course!" Nerilka called back, before pushing klah into Moreta's hands, having reached her swiftly.

"I am pleased to report, Lady Nerilka," the Fort Weyrwoman began, "that the lands are clear, and this should be the final Fall of the Pass."

A ringing cheer went up from the drudges and other staff that had followed their beloved Lady out to tend the trio.

Nerilka's hands were still around Moreta's gloved ones. "We are grateful for the reassurance," she said warmly, looking up with adoration at the older woman. "And extend our invitation to come visit, once the Weyr is certain."

"I'll pass that on to all parties," she said, her own eyes locked on Nerilka's face. She could hear Oklina and B'lerion briefing Tuero on which areas might have injured crews coming back — far fewer than some Falls, by the egg! — even as she was looking forward to a true Rest Day spent here.

"Though I am sure K'lon will spend more time at Igen," Nerilka said with a smile. "We don't want to keep you; I know you usually tend the wounded with my sister over there."

"So we do, but the weyr-healer has been handling what is needed today; Orlith listens for me," Moreta promised, sipping the klah gratefully. "Sh'gall was handling personally informing your Holder at Ruatha River Hold; the clumping is always worse near rivers and seas."

The words were a necessary courtesy, but Sh'gall did not come to Ruatha if he had reason to be elsewhere, even if he had mellowed with Moreta choosing to let him Lead through the end of Pass. He was even more uncomfortable with her choices for companionship than with his blue and green mated pairs.

"I'll have your rooms aired soon," Nerilka said far more quietly as Moreta finished the klah. Orlith's croon still made Nerilka blush a little, even so many years after coming to the startling awareness that they suited one another.

"I'll pass word before I come; I have invitations from all the major and minor holds, some not even beholden to Fort!" Moreta's laughter was contagious, and Nerilka was so glad of that.

How far they all had come since their trials eight Turns prior.

"Save the best for last," Nerilka had the temerity to say, taking the mug back so Moreta could mount again.

"Duty, so pleasure can linger."

That heightened the blush, and Tuero bit his tongue as he joined her, so that he didn't tease her too hard.

It was known, in Ruatha's main hold, that the Weyrwoman visited often, and why, but not a breath was whispered elsewhere. This was theirs, much as it was their Lady's, to have the heroine of all Pern so tied to them.

In minutes, all three riders were strapped in, their dragons leaping for the Thread-cleared skies and winking out, their final duty to Pern done for this generation.