frogs_of_war

We woke Thursday to three roosters crowing “I’m the best!” “No, I’m the best!” “No! I’m the best!” without stopping. Horses, ponies, and sheep roamed the yard as well as the roosters, chickens and oh so many colorful chicks.

Luckily I’d thought to bring our kettle and mugs/cups for all of us to drink from. We’d never have made it in this house without the soothing balm of tea. Breakfast was leftovers from dinner as we didn’t have anything else. It again stuck to the pan.

My sister-in-law crossed on the ferry and we all (us, step-dad, his two dogs, and sis) went for a hike on the island’s tallest point. Step-dad has walked this trail hundreds of times. It was his go-to place for exercise before he was in a car accident a few years ago, and he’s still very fit. He and the dogs strode up the hill. He stop only long enough for us to get close, then he was off again. I felt like I was running a marathon until about a quarter way up when I decided to take my time. My daughter gave up entirely and I settled her on a comfy log. My husband slowed down to where I was and we made a leisurely climb.

But we didn’t get down until well after noon. We were all starving, but had no food, so we went into town. We were planning on shopping and eat afterward, but it was after three and we’d last eaten at 9, so we got what we needed for lunch and ate at a park, then went back for a full shopping run. Then we went back to the island.

Step-dad had given us tickets to ride the ferry. One for the car and driver and and eight for the passengers, so getting back was free.

My daughter wanted a shower, but didn’t want to take the first, so I took one before dinner. First I had to clean the dead moths out of the tub, then drag in a chair because his bathroom had zero counter and I wasn’t about to put my clean clothes on the dusty floor. Half the water came out the faucet instead of the shower head, the warmer half. And I’m glad we brought our own towels, wash clothes, and hand soap. The bathroom was only supplied with cheap toilet paper (much like an Oregon rest area).

That night we had fresh corn, and food we’d picked up from the store. After dinner we went to a public access beach to watch the sun set. It was one of those “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but foot print” beaches. I was fine with that. I took pictures of some mermaids I'd made. We had to leave before it got too dark because the path back to the car was through a thicket. I’d wanted to spend longer there.

When I went to bed, the upstairs was stifling, so I opened the window above the bed. That was noticed that the bathroom window wasn’t the only one the chickens had used as a perch.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/167923.html

Back in January, I told the people I work with that I was going to need the end of Labor Day week off (I couldn’t just request days because Black Out Weeks (when you can’t ask for vacation) is always complete weeks even if the holiday/reason it’s a Black Out Week is Sunday or Monday). So everyone knew: the woman I work with on the regular, my sometimes-here manager, and the lady who is fourth in line getting hours (so she works a different department most of the time). I ended up working Sunday through Tuesday, leaving on Wednesday morning, getting back on Sunday night and being sick all Monday, then going back to work Tuesday.

Knowing for nine months that we were going up, didn’t mean I knew where we were going to stay. I wanted to know. In August, my husband finally found out. We were staying at his step-dad’s old house (they built a new one eight years ago on a less windy part of the property). My husband’s two youngest siblings live in town (the step-dad lives on an island) and we were told the other two siblings (my husband is the oldest) were coming too (hence not knowing if we could stay in the house).

So we arrived about five on Wednesday evening and got in line for the ferry. Crossing costs us almost $30 (leaving the island is free). Then we drove up the road and worked out which driveway to go in as my husband never lived in the house, just visited. The inside of the house was dusty and we were hungry and tired.

For cleaning supplies, we were provided with:

-1 small bottle of dish soap

-1 sponge

-1 broken vacuum

I'd also brought 1 hand towel

The kitchen had:

-Two pots, one with rivet holes instead of one handle, both of them the opposite of non-stick

-A few dusty mugs

-A couple bowls

-A stove/oven combo with no oven racks

-Cupboards full of old cans and medicine that had expired years ago

For food:

-Lots of giant potatoes

-Several onions

-A giant mason jar of olive oil, which step-dad wasn’t sure was still good

-And a garden of vegetables

-Potable water

-Apple cider

When step-dad gave us a tour of his new home he gave us:

-Paper plates

-Plastic forks

-A paring knife (the blade was shorter than my smallest finger)

-A spatula (pancake turner variety)

The island had a restaurant/store, so my husband walked down to it with one of the kids as I cut up potatoes and onions with the small knife I’m glad I didn’t take out of my lunch bag (we’d packed sandwiches in the bag to eat on the way up) on a paper plate (as we had no cutting board). I took comfort in an article I’d read recently that said Americans can’t tell the difference between rancid and extra virgin olive oil and when we do, we prefer the rancid, so it didn’t really matter. Even with all the oil, the potatoes stuck to the pan. It was more mush than fried potatoes. Two of my kids don’t like onions (texture rather than flavor), but wanted the onions mixed it because that was really the only seasoning we had. My husband came back with pre-cooked sausage links and eggs. I cooked them together and then mixed everything. Filling, but it could have used salt and pepper.

After dinner step-dad and his wife came by after their dinner guests left. We fed them cake we’d brought. She was disgusted by the dust and wouldn’t stay. He stayed long enough to open our gift to him (step-dad, my husband, and one of his brothers all have birthdays that week). He then put his gift (a wire tree perched on a rock that we’d spent the last week making) on the table ‘for us to enjoy’. It’s probably still there.

We each figure out where we were going to sleep. My daughter took the extra long couch (wooden with a foam mattress on it), my second kid took the downstairs bedroom, my youngest piled up foam cushions from the store room (that had been a bedroom) and slept between the table and the piano. My husband and I took the added on room upstairs. It had bed with a foam mattress covered by a sheet. I covered the whole thing with the thinner of the two blankets I’d brought for us then put our pillows on top of that. I’m so glad I did.

The upstairs also had a half bath. Half because it only had a shower and toilet. It did have a sink, but no faucet or drain. It also didn’t have a screen over the fan vent and sometime in the last eight years chickens had gotten inside. The wall with the window was covered in leavings and so was the magazine basket, but oddly enough not the magazine on top.

We went to bed kind of early for us, so cars were still going down the nearby road. I’ve got to state here that there wasn’t a single curtain in the house, nor was there curtain rods or holes where the curtain rods would have been. Also no door on the upstairs bathroom. Personally, I’m a curtain girl. Keep the light out and the warmth in. But finally I slept.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/167563.html

Just after we got back from vacation, where we walked down into a cave,

climbed an obsidian hill,

and saw a falls

I worked a lot of days in a row, then my mom came to visit before I'd even got the vacation laundry done. She wasn't feeling too hot, so she came for some babying, good food, and distraction from what was bugging her. So we had a craft day and made clothespin dolls

I did hair and hats, sketched out pattern pieces, and tied bows, Mom cut, glued, twisted, and planned her dolls.
My girl was going to be Little Red Riding Hood, but my mother gave her girl a red cape, so my girl became Adela

and then I made Clemens and Little Hans. They are from the fairy tale mashup I'm writing. Clemens married Adela because the valley elders (those who talk to the forest spirits) told him to. He'd had a helpless, hopeless crush on Johann, Adela's childhood sweetheart and first husband. They are raising little Hans together, but he wants the boy to learn about and love his first father.

Originally, these three characters were going to have names that meant bear (Bernard, etc), but I misplaced the list of all the character names, and renamed everyone. I didn't get a chance to make a peg doll of my Goldilocks character. His name is Ermin, and I'm not sure whether to put him in the formerly frilly nightgown he ran away from home in (now ripped, wet, and muddy) or in the man's trousers and woman's shirt and apron he favors after joining the little family.

Anyway, that reminds me that I found a bunch of videos on flower fairies my day off before my official vacation started and I want to show you my take but I can't find my two bigger mermaids and my Emil, Kurt, and Peregrine dolls set in the King's Dilemma story are not yet dressed for the occasion (should Kurt/Konur be wearing the loincloth from the beginning, or the silk robes he's in later? His hair is clean, so the robes would be better, but the loincloth would be so much easier) and they are not cooperating with being photographed.

So through this whole thing my desk has been getting messier and messier (I also made some felt kitten/babies and converted two t shirts into tank tops), so the place I work and write looked like this:

(That's Clemens upside down while I waited for his leg extensions to dry. The pipe cleaners beside him are his arms. My husband drilled holes in the pegs for us.)

It's slightly cleaner now. Slightly.

Before my mom arrived, I made caramels. I wanted to try some with hot chili oil in them because I'd tried some with pink pepper and they were good, so I put orange oil in half (I know my family likes this) and added a tiny bit of chili oil to the other half. It turned out richer (similar to what the orange does for it) but not spicy at all. I was a little disappointed. I also burned myself royally scraping the chili oil into the pan (the oil is very thick) with a molten-caramel covered spoon. I'm still in a bandage a week later. As long as I wear a hydrocolloid (blister) bandage it doesn't hurt. (just a big pink spot and tiny scab left)

My mom got the idea of trying peanut butter caramels. We couldn't decide whether the peanut butter should go in halfway through or at the end (before or after taking the temp). While I was at it I decided to add chocolate too. So I ended up with

My mom had two favorites, my daughter a different two. My sons each liked one, and my husband liked them all and wants me to add chocolate to my next regular batch.

But the biggest thing I discovered was I don't like peanut butter caramel. At all.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/167261.html

My phone decided I wanted to read stories of people taking in homeless cats and I guess I do because I can't help reading every one.

This one is about a cat who was sad in a shelter, but bounced back after he found his someone.

And this one is about a tiny abandoned kitten and her forever home. (lots of pictures, she was SO tiny)

And this one is a cat who's was called the wrong name at the shelter, but went home with the one who called him the right name.

There's one about a cat who purrs her patients back to health and one about a cat with five extra toes and one (I think it's the same site) about a cat who takes care of lambs. Most are wary of her, but the latest lamb loves her back.

So many cute stories and so many pictures. I could use a few more familiar shelter stories... Just saying

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/167154.html

I still haven't come up with a title... I'm such a slacker.

This is either the end, or and extra—depending on whether that last part was the end.

Three years later:

Rayn passed out chocolate mint cookies to the group in the quad. She’d been extra nice these last few weeks. Kin didn’t want to be too paranoid. She’d left him alone for the almost three years they didn’t share any classes but at the start of senior year she’d joined the sewing club.

Everyone else ate their cookies. The biggest comment was that it was extra minty. Kin ate his slowly, letting large crumbs fall into the grass. The group were trying to pick cookie flavors to sell at the fundraiser next week. All the other groups had their recipes picked out. Kin’s group was still three short. This fundraiser would pay for fabric to make cute clothes and blankets that the club would then donate to the Foster Association for Homeless Familiar Kittens.

( I think I've ingested catnip )

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/166806.html

Kin woke in Ved’s arms. They were both very much in human form. Kin sat up.

“Your roommate went to dinner. You hungry?”

He was, but not just for food. “You’ve finally got me alone and naked and food is all your thinking about.”

Ved groaned and pushed his hips against Kin. Nope, food wasn’t all that was on Ved’s mind.

“Neither of us can get pregnant, right?”

“Correct.” Ven’s Popsey had made sure all the kittens of all his acquaintances knew what catnip looked and tasted like.

“Then what’s stopping us?” He moved his hand slowly down Ved’s body. Nothing stopped them at all.

Laying back in the bed, with Ved’s arms around him like they were supposed to be, Kin gathered up his nerve and asked, “Did you mean it? Back when we were kittens? That someday we’d have kittens of our own. The same kittens?”

Ved hummed assent. “But not until you graduate. Dad, Popsey, and Baba had to wait until their last litter grew up a bit before they really got to spend time together. I’d like to do that before we have kittens.”

Kin cuddled closer. “I agree. Maybe I can be pregnant at my graduation.”

“Big and round.” Ved put his hand on Kin’s flat stomach and kissed Kin’s neck. “Or maybe I should be.”

“But first we need a place to live.”

“Working on it. I get one of the graduate student dorms on the top floor of this very building as soon as the couple up there get their new place, which is waiting on the family there getting their house. Baba’s Pater is pulling strings, but it’s still taking longer than I’d hoped. Or I can move in beside Shiva across campus right now.”

“But you want to be close to me?”

Ved kissed his neck. “Very, very close.”

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/166528.html

They “stepped” to the front walk of each building, but dropping off the kids still took a lot of time. Ved’s siblings all seemed to remember Kin better than he remembered them. The three older brothers all reminded him of the time he ran away from home and was found in Ved’s favorite napping place inside their house and no one, even Kin, had any idea how he got there. He’d run away after Ayr gave up an attempt to comb Kin’s curls when he could no longer stand Kin’s tears and threatened to just cut them off.

Ved’s Baba had taken Ayr and Dad aside and then ran his fingers through Kin’s hair. All the tangles fell away. Kin had gotten to see Ved at least every other week until Ayr got the hang of the spell. Kin now did it every morning without thinking about it.

When the last of the kittens was home, Shiva “stepped” them into the quad. “Ved still lives at home and you’re in a dorm. You poor boys.”

She “stepped” away.

“I’m trying to get my own place,” Ved ran his hand through his hair. “Anything would be fine. It just needs a bed. And you.”

Had Ved said what Kin had heard? Kin stepped closer. Ved pulled Kin against his chest. He leaned his head down to Kin’s shoulder. “I really like you.”

“I like you too.”

“And I want to be more than friends.”

“Aren’t we already?”

Ved made the funny growl purr he did when frustrated. “I don’t want to go too fast for you. I’ve waited as long as I can. But I’ll wait longer if you’re still not ready.”

Kin stepped back to get a better look at Ved’s face. “You thought you were waiting for me?”

Ved stood up. “What did you think?”

“That you’d changed your mind.”

“Never.” Ved rubbed his nose against Kin’s neck. “I really want to spend some time alone with you.”

“My roommate might not be back.”

They hurried to Kin’s dorm. His roommate was home, but he was in cat form, sitting in the window.

“Great idea,” said Ved. He pulled his clothes off, changed form, and jumped onto Kin’s bed. Kin joined him. Grooming him was even better than it had been when they were young. Then Kin cuddled against his neck and closed his eyes.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/166222.html

I realized while writing this that I got the birth times wrong in New Kittens for Vahid and Javed. Vahid was born the night before and Javed was born the same time as Shiva.

Kin felt awkward leaning again the wall across the courtyard from the creche, like some crazy stalker or something. He should have stayed at the library and finished the project. Only a few more hours and it would be done.

“They’re in there.” Rayn pointed. “They’ll come out with three kittens a piece. Quite the handful.”

“Was this what you were doing yesterday instead of helping with the project?”

She swished her hair. “I have priorities.”

Not the right ones.

The door to the creche opened and out came the most beautiful woman Kin had ever seen. Her hair was long and so dark it sucked in all the light around it. Her skin was dusky pale and she was both lean and round. Her skirts swished as she walked into the courtyard. She carried a basket, like all smart parents. It wasn’t until kittens got older that keeping them in a basket was more work than carrying them separately.

Three small kittens and one bigger one followed her out. Then came Ved. He had to duck to get through the doorway. He had a black kitten sprawled on his shoulder. It wasn’t a Maine Coon, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t his.

“I wonder where the other one is?”

In the basket?

Ved looked their way and gestured to the woman. They all turned toward Kin. He moved closer to the corner but in less than a moment he was fenced in by kittens, included the one who had been on Ved’s shoulder. He gave Kin a sniff. “Who is this, Uncle Ved?”

Ved grinned. “Shiva, do you remember Kin?”

She passed the basket to Ved. “Who could forget everyone’s favorite ginger?”

She gave him a familiar hug, even though it had more curves.

“Shiva? You’ve grown.”

She laughed. “So have you.” She hugged him again. “I’ve missed you, but not as much a Ved has.”

“Sheev!”

Shiva laughed again. Then she introduced her nephews. The smaller kittens, including the four in the basket, were their older brothers’. The bigger one belonged to their litter-mates. “Vahid and Del were both pregnant at graduation. These two are Vahid’s. He and his husband had kittens at the same time. Del’s little one didn’t sleep well last night, so Del kept her home. But he’ll want to see you. Ved, bring him by sometime.”

Ved blushed. Shiva turned to Rayn. “And who is this?”

“You’re beautiful.”

“I know, sweetheart. Baba says I’m their only girl because why mess with perfection. But I’m pretty sure it’s because when I was this age,” she rubbed her black furred nephew under the chin, “I made a whole bunch of money appear. Hekte, daric, drachma, talent, stater: all really old coins. They never did figure out where it came from. It’s in the university museum.”

“Money? Why?”

Shiva turned to Ved. “Do you remember?”

They bickered lightly for a while. Rayn managed to stop drolling and stand up straight. “But who are you?”

Shiva grinned. “Shiva, darling. Just ask anyone. They all know me. This is my little brother.”

“By less than a minute.”

She blinked at him. He sighed.

“But you look nothing alike.”

Shiva blinked at her. Rayn pressed her lips together.

“Kin, grab a kitten. We’re the family daycare delivery service. All right, boys, off we go.”

The three smaller kittens claimed Kin. One perched on each shoulder and one on his head. Ved grinned and took his hand. Today wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/166004.html

It just occurred to me that the university would not have a pigeon problem. Maybe not crows either. And moles and mice probably wouldn't be an issue.

“Cináed, I know Javed isn’t you boyfriend.” Rayn’s even tone hammered nails into Kin’s heart. Ved would never be his.

“I can see why you’d want him. So strong and tall. His cat form is enormous.”

Kin bit his lip rather than tell her Ved was a Maine Coon. And perfect in every way.

Rayn giggled. “He’s probably big all over.”

Kin shut his eyes. He didn’t want her talking about his Ved. If she put as much attention in the project as in Kin, they’d be done by now.

“He’s a wizard, sure, but then so am I. What does he have that I don’t?” She ran her hands down her curvy flesh.

Kin sighed. “I’m gay.”

She sidled closer. “But isn’t everyone a little bit. We can all appreciate the same sex. And the opposite sex.”

Kin rubbed his hands through his curls. “That’s bi or pan or whatever.”

“You could be bi or pan or whatever too.”

“That’s not the way it works.”

“Sure it is. Now me for instance.”

Would she ever stop talking about herself? Kin glued the last picture to the poster-board and started the notations beside it.

“I’m mostly interested in men.” She pulled on one of Kin’s curls. He yanked his head away. She laughed. “But Javed’s girlfriend is so beautiful. Gorgeous. I wanted to fall on my knees at her feet and beg to lick her. Not normally my thing.”

Ved had a girlfriend? “Javed’s gay.”

“Keep telling yourself that.” She patted his cheek.

But Ved had told him that, back when they were boys, back when they were talking about starting families and Kin had understood that they meant just one. Had he been fooling himself this whole time?

“You can see her for yourself. They should be picking up their kittens in,” She checked her phone, “twenty minutes.”

Kin’s heart shattered and the chunks fell piece by piece to the floor.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/165858.html

Normally by this point, I've come up with a title. Sigh.

The problem with having a crush on a guy with so many friends was that Kin didn’t get his full attention. Not that he’s expected it. It was a miracle Ved remembered him at all, let alone recognized him. But Kin didn’t stop touching him: a hand on his arm or shoulder, an arm across his back, snuggles like when they were kittens. It was enough to make all the names of all the people Ved introduced just wash away like the tide.

Ved was raised at the university. Two of his fathers and three of his grandparents were in research. Then he’d graduated and spent a year in the field and opted to go through their finding this year rather than go out again. Which meant he was here for Kin’s freshman year.

“How are you setting in?” asked the hundredth person.

“Pretty good,” seemed to be the right answer.

“Like your classes?” That was also a popular question, but he’s only been here a week, so how could he know for sure. He mentioned Professor Dev and like always, the inquisitor smiled and reminisced about being his student the same way Dadaidh and Ayr always did.

Then Kin could turn the conversation to what the other person thought he shouldn’t miss: their favorite teachers, classes, cafes, clubs, parks… and that would keep the conversation going until Ved finished the one he was having and moved Kin along to introduce him to new friends.

Kin wouldn’t be able to remember any of them.

He covered a yawn. Had Ved seen? Kin wasn’t ready to give up the little bit of attention Ved had given him.

“Time to get you home.” Ved grinned.

Kin bit his lip to keep from retorting that he wasn’t a kitten anymore. He probably still was to Ved.

The walk back to Kin’s dorm was nice in the crisp night air. Ved rubbed his face against Kin’s neck and riled up right outside Kin’s door, but he wouldn’t come in. He gave Kin a soft kiss on the lips and walked away.

Kin crawled into the bed too tired to jerk himself off to the smell of Ved on him. He cried a little, quietly in case his dorm mate returned. Ved would never love him the way he wanted to be loved.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/165579.html

This is, as yet, untitled. I've got more of it, but I'm not finished. The prompt is that video Chris posted yesterday.

Kin backed up another step. He wasn’t interested. Why couldn’t she leave him alone?

“Cináed,” Rayn leaned forward showing off what was inside her low-cut tank top. “I know you want me.”

This is what he got from being nice to a fellow freshman. They had three classes together, but just because they were working on the same project together in History of Western Magic didn’t mean he wanted to be more than friends. Why didn’t she go after one of the other people in the group?

Heck, she even pronounced his name right. She must be a stalker.

“I want you to leave me alone.”

She pouted with her finger in her mouth. “Don’t be like that.”

She was drunk. That must be what it was. “Rayn, go home.”

She ran her finger between her breasts. “Come with me.”

Kin had already told her he was gay. And interested in someone else. But she didn’t seem to understand what ‘no’ meant. Dad says that college is the time to learn boundaries and self and all the other things that people who grew up in big families might not have a chance to learn before, but Kin didn’t think this counted. He’d learned what ‘no’ meant before his younger siblings were born.

A strong arm wrapped around him and Ved kissed his neck. “Hello, handsome. I’ve been looking for you.”

This was where Kin wanted to be. Rayn narrowed her eyes but didn’t say anything as Kin was led away.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/165300.html

Masterlist

New Kittens, end

The triplets looked over their babies, who were sucking noisily at Popsey’s belly. VJ nudged Deev. “One looks like us.”

Jas sighed. “Two look like you. The colors anyway. None look like me.”

Jas was all one color. The new kittens were all spotted or tabby. “I had hoped…”

“But two are shaped like you were.” VJ pointed out. “Granmumsey says.”

“One of those looks like you two too.”

“Yes,” said Deev. "He looks like all three of us. And the others look like Baba and Daddy, Baba and Popsey, and Daddy and Popsey. So they are all perfect.”

“My kittens.” Jas sighed.

“Popsey.” VJ walked the long way around Popsey so he wouldn’t get to close to the kittens. Baba had hissed at him after baby Delshad was born. But Popsey just rubbed his face against VJ’s neck. Everything was all right. “Which kitten goes with which name?”

Popsey purred louder. “You know Delshad. He’s the biggest now but won’t be for long.”

“Just like me,” VJ piped up.

“He looks just like Baba,” Deev said.

“That he does.” Popsey nudged Baby Delshad closer to his head and gave him a good licking down. Baby Delshad tried to squirm away, but Popsey wouldn’t let him go. “Come say hi, in case he forgot you.”

The triplets all took their turn touching Delshad’s nose. He meowed at them. It wasn’t real words yet, but Popsey had said to be patient. They hadn’t been born knowing how to talk either.

“And this is Vahid.” Popsey plopped the spotted kitten in front of him and licked them thoroughly. Baby Vahid cried the whole time.

“He’s hungry, Popsey,” said Jas. The sound of his crying brother made him squirm.

“He’s been eating pretty much since he was born this morning. A few minutes to meet you won’t hurt him.”

VJ took a tiny step close and touch his baby brother’s nose. Vahid squeaked and VJ jumped back. The other two didn’t dare touch him. Popsey put him back and got the one who looked like all three of them. “This is Javed. He was born last night.”

“He’s why we are staying with Aunties and Uncles.” VJ reminded his triplets. “Babies cry and if we want a good night sleep, we should stay with them.”

Popsey laughed. “You probably got more sleep than I did.”

Baby Javed took a wobbly step towrad them. The triplets backed up. Popsey laughed. “Come say hi.”

Baby Javed’s eyes weren’t open yet, but he kept going forward as if he knew his big brothers were here, so VJ moved up until Baby Javed’s little nose brushed his leg. Baby Javed lifted a paw to touch him. Deev and Jas came closer. Baby Javed greeted them too. Popsey tucked Baby Javed back against his side. “I think he’s going to be an explorer. If you think he’s in danger, you can stop him, but if he just goes too far come and get me. Exploring is important and you boys won’t mind if he’s in you room or even in your bed.”

“You used to sleep with your little brothers. Granmumsey says.” Jas was hopeful.

“When the kittens are older.”

“Thank you, Popsey.”

“The last one’s sleeping,” said Deev.

But Popsey lifted him anyway and put him in front of the triplets. “And this is Shiva. Your sister.”

Baby Shiva yawned, closed her eyes and settled back to sleep. She was striped like VJ and Deev, but instead of just greys she was also oranges and blacks and browns with a white stomach and a white bit under her chin.

“We have a sister? Like Annie is?”

“Hopefully not too much like Annie,” Baba said from the doorway.

Popsey licked Baby Shiva. “She’s our special little girl and you’ll have to share her. There isn’t one for each of you.”

“We know, Popsey.” Jas hung his head. “Baby Shiva was so tiny and cute.”

“She is, isn’t she, and we almost gave her a name that meant pretty or sweet, but I worried she’d never forgive us, so we picked one that means charming and eloquent instead.”

“Ellakwint?”

Popsey licked VJ’s nose. “It means that everyone likes her.”

“Of course everyone likes her.” VJ couldn’t imagine anything else. “She’s our SISTER.”

Popsey licked up VJ’s jaw. VJ groomed him back. Then he laid his head against Popsey’s side and looked down at his new babies. “I love all of them.”

“I do too,” said Deev. He fixed the fur behind his ear that Popsey had ruffled then joined VJ. Jas liked being groomed, so he stayed by Popsey’s head until Baba and Daddy came to join them. Daddy looked so tired that Jas groomed him too. Then he lay beside his brothers and watched his family sleep.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/164919.html

New Kittens part 6

Vido didn’t know whether to be upset or enthusiastic. That really depended on how upset Jay was. They had decided on three kittens. Three was a good number. One for each of them. One for each of the older boys. Not too many for either Vido or Jade to feed at once.

Three.

His uncertainty was just the pregnancy talking. He should be thrilled. Jade was and he was the one carrying the extra kitten. Vido rubbed his face. Maybe he just needed a nap. Carrying Deev and Jas hadn’t wiped him out this bad. Jade’s Mom theorized that carrying a familiar with a Persian wizard might delute the affects of carrying a Persian wizard alone. Had Jade been this tired and out of it while he carried VJ?

Vido closed his eyes and let his head rest on Jade’s shoulder. “Is this pregnancy easier for you than VJ was?”

Jade petted him. “I’m grown now.”

“But…”

“Don’t feel guilty. I wouldn’t exchange VJ for anything, even if he hadn’t come with two such handsome fathers.”

Should he have been feeling guilty? “Your Mom said I was made for having kittens last time, but this time I feel like I’m going everything wrong.”

Jade kissed his head. “You’re perfect. Sleep. I’ll wake you up when Jay gets back.”

Vido changed to cat form and turned around a few times on Jade’s lap. He just couldn’t get comfortable and he wasn’t even close to halfway through.”

Jade stroked him in the way that felt best. The boys were spending the night with their aunts and uncles—Jay’s parents’ familiars. This was the first time since Vito’s men had come to his concert right after Jay’s magic resistant morning sickness had ended. And Vido wouldn’t even have the strength to watch.

Jade purred. That’s what Vido needed. He joined the sound and feel asleep feeling less awful than he had in weeks.

“My loves, I’m home.” Jay bounced into the house. Where did he get all that energy? “You’ll never guess.”

Jade smiled. “Your news first or mine?”

Jade plopped down beside them and stroked Vido’s fur. The kitten pushed out, deforming Jade’s round belly. “He wants to come out and join us. Don’t you, little love.”

Vito purred louder to let his baby know he was close. The kitten purred back. Jay grinned. “Isn’t that cute? And doesn’t that mean I have less than a week left?”

“It did for me. And Vido. But not for Mumsey. None of us purred until after we were born.”

“Well, I’m hoping. And your news?”

Jade laughed. “Do you remember how enthusiastic you were to end your morning sickness induced celibacy?”

“Do I? I love you guys and this baby, but I’m not doing it again. Unless someone can guarantee I won’t get sick.”

“And how you couldn’t keep your hands off me?”

“You didn’t seem to mind.”

“Not in the least. And that you ended up topping me.”

Jay grinned. “Quite vividly.”

“And since I’d taken catnip…”

Jay leaped to his feet. “More than one kitten?”

“Two.”

Jay laughed. “One of these days I should get you both with two at a time. Of mine.”

Would that pregnancy be twice as bad as this one?

Jay cast his spell to change into a cat and curled up beside Vido. The warm baby against Vido’s side was nice and so was it’s cute little purrs. Soon, Vido promised the kitten inside him, that will be you.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/164838.html

I'd make a note (where I'd written the other chapters) that I had the info for this chapter in my red and green notebook with flowers on it. So yesterday I hunted it down. It took me ten minutes to find (There were only four places it could have been, but I have a lot of notebooks) and ten more minutes of looking through to find any reference to this chapter. Normally when I leave a note to myself, it's because I've written at least a summary.

In this case it was one page with a one sentence about each of the seven chapter. I almost through down the book in disgust. After writing the chapter, I found a longer summary, so I added that ending

New Kittens 5

Jay played with Vido’s fingers. They were so long and beautiful. Jade was making sure the boys were in bed for the night and Jay didn’t want to start talking without him. Vido lifted their hands to his mouth and kissed the pads of Jay’s fingers. “I love you.”

Jay nodded. His voice was going to fail him and if it did he was going to fail himself.

Jade closed the door and hopped onto the bed. “Dressed or naked?”

“What?”

Vido laughed. “We know you want to talk.”

“So dressed or naked? Human form or cat? I find it’s easier to talk about touchy subjects as a cat, but then that’s the form I was born in.”

“How did you know I wanted to talk?”

Jade sprawled on the bed like a giant cat and gave Jay a lazy look. “How long have we been in love with you?”

His men did know him. Jay sat up. “I…”

“Don’t stress yourself.” Vido kissed his neck.

Jay rubbed his face. He was making this whole thing more stressful than it should be. “When would be the best time to have our next litter?”

“Late spring.” Jade laid his head on his hand. “Now that we have a safe place for them to play outside. But any time is fine.”

“Late spring would mean starting soon.” Vito purred. “Or we could wait for next year.”

“No.” Jay lay back and stared at the ceiling. “This year. But…”

“But?” Jade crawled up beside him.

Jay let it out in a rush. “I want my baby born first. I don’t want anything to distract you two when I’m in labor.”

Vido kissed Jay’s shoulder. “I agree.”

“You don’t have to, you know, carry a kitten.” Jade leaned over Jay without touching him. Jade had grown so much, not just taller since they’d made VJ together. “You have nothing to prove to us. Or yourself.”

“I don’t… I’m not… I want to carry your kitten.”

Jade grinned. “Thank you. But I’ll still love you if you want to wait. Or if you decide never to.”

“I know.” Jay pulled Jade over him. His body was warm and hard.

Vito stood up and stripped. “Tonight? And then make the other kittens after you’re over morning sickness if you’re prone.”

Jay glanced between his men. “Do we have what we need?”

Jade grinned. “We could wait a few more weeks.”

“No. Tonight.” They must want this as much as he did, if Jade had already gotten what they needed from his Mom.

Jade stood up and stripped himself and the top covers and sheet from the bed. He unwrapped a wafer and held it out to Jay. “Note how it tastes. Mom’s sure to ask.”

Jay bit down and chewed slowly. It didn’t taste as good as the catnip laced brownies they’d eaten when making the other kittens. “Needs more chocolate.”

He took his clothes off, sat on the bed, and turned himself to a cat. His men wrapped themselves around him. The only difference between tonight and all the other ones was the extra foreplay to give the wafer time to work and the huge difference it would make in their lives months down they road. But he wanted this change with these men. Everything really was perfect.

Much latter Jay opened his eyes to the sound of small feet in the hall.

“Look,” said VJ. “They’re awake. The lights on.”

One of the nightstand lights was still on. He was going to have to get up and cover himself and his men. Or turned back into a cat. He didn’t have strength for either.

“No,” said Deev, “If we wake them, they won’t get us our babies.”

“I can’t wait for our babies,” Jas whispered.

The little footsteps faded. Jay’s men shifted closer to him. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/164531.html

Masterlist

New Kittens part 4

Jade poked his nose behind the bookcase. It was sturdy enough not to fall if kittens got curious, which they would. The Familiars’ apartment was different than he’d ever seen. It was not meant for the comfort of Familiars in human form. Even the bookshelf was more a seating tower. The books were decoration.

Alef, the first and oldest of Jay’s father’s familiars, sat on a pile of books on top of the bookshelf. He stretched and settle back into place. He claimed to be the one who would decide if Jade’s babies were worthy of the Familiars’ attention. Khe of the other hand was friendly and almost took it as a given that he’d get to know Jay’s boys he’d heard so much about.

Dāl, Qāf, and Vāv lay in a pile, faining disinterest. Gāf was doing her duty with Maman. They were called, said Khe, after letters of the Persian alphabet and only their parents and their wizards ever knew their full names.

Khe showed off the apartment, chatting all the while. Jade appreciated the friendliness. He wasn’t leaving his children with just anyone, not even for an hour.

Jay pushed his nose against Jade’s neck. Jade licked him. He hadn’t found anything dangerous to the boys, and despite the side glances, Khe assured him the other couldn’t wait to meet the kittens. Jay left through the cat door and came back a moment later with VJ, Deev, and Jas.

The familiars looked up. The boys sniffed around. A blue bubble appeared. VJ batted at it. It popped and two smaller ones appeared in it’s place. VJ made his own bubble and it dropped onto Qāf’s nose without popping. The adult familiars asked each other whose that was. Deev made a bubble, but his was a dodecahedron, his favorite shape, and green of course. Jas’s was a yellow star.

The adult familiars stood up. They asked for more and watched the children carefully. Then they gave advice. In minutes the room was filled with bubbles of ever shape and color and longevity. Alef even came down to participate.

Jay groomed Jade as they watched. Two adults wandered off but came back a few minutes later with food. The boys ate what they were given and let themselves be licked clean as they explained about the babies they wanted. Khe flicked his tail. “They have won this one, have they not?”

Jay laughed. “They think they have. There was always going to be more of them. On our timetable.”

Khe blinked. He was a person Jade wanted to know better.

The kittens had a short nap, then they cajoled more learning out of their elders. But soon it was time to head home. The kittens attempted to groom all their new friends. The adults showed great patience. Jay took home VJ first and come back a moment later for Jas.

Khe brushed against Jade, a sign of friendship. “You will return?”

The day had been a success. “The next time we all are free.”

“Tomorrow,” said Alef. Then he seemed to get a hold of himself. “Gāf will be here tomorrow. It is her house too.”

Jade blinked at him and nudged Deev to the door. “I will think on it.”

Deev keep looking over his shoulders as Jade maneuvered him out. Then Jade picked him up and stepped home. The boys spent the entire evening talking about their day and fell asleep quickly. Jade turned out their light and went to his room. “It was all the magic they used.”

“Probably.” Jay took his hand and pulled him close. “Are we taking them back?”

“Alef says tomorrow. I might just take them up on that. Leave the boys for a hour while we buy paint?”

“If you’re willing.”

Jade was. “You wouldn’t suggest them if they weren’t trustworthy.”

“Thank you.” Jay kissed his hand. “And when Vito comes back we can paint and move in. Having our own place was be fantastic.”

It would. “And having babysitter will be nice too. Especially if the boys always come home this tired.”

Jay grinned and leaned back on the bed. He definitely got the idea.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/164239.html

I finally finished this. It only took a year. It might be better to read the first two parts again

Master list

New Kittens part 3

Vido walked into his bedroom and closed the door. Jade was sprawled across Jay, but they hadn’t started making out without him. “Any thoughts on this weekend?”

Some of the joy of escaping his campus confinement dissolved knowing he couldn’t share it with the ones he loved. Jay had been to several of his concerts back before Jade entered their lives, but first Jade’s mothers worried about Jade traveling when pregnant and then the boys kept him home.

Jade sat up and looked at his hands. Jay touched his arm. “I’ll watch them. You really should go.”

“I want us all to go.”

Vito could feel the ‘but’ coming. “Once we have more kittens, it will be even harder to get away.”

“I know that!” Jade hugged himself. Vido sat beside him and purred comfort.

Jay snuggled against Jade and put a hand on Vido’s lap. “We were just talking about waiting for the next litter until the boys recent independence becomes a habit.”

“Good idea. Maybe when the boys are older.” He’d have to wait forever. He didn’t just want his lovers to see him play, he wanted them to be with him pre-performance to help distract him from his jitters and after to help him burn through his adrenaline rush. And having a familiar with him would keep him from gathering too much power.

“I got us a babysitter.”

Vido and Jade turned to Jay.

“My parents’ familiars. I’ve gotten to know them.”

It was about time. Vido had tried his own hand, but the six kept to themselves. He’d always thought Jay might have a better chance.

“There bonds with my parents are different from the ones I have with you. They’ll have no children, never marry. The other familiars become their new family.”

“That’s sad.” All familiars were family to Jade.

“Thank you.” Vido rubbed his lips against Jay’s cheek. “For learning more about familiars.”

Jay sighed. “They could have been like aunts and uncles to us. Leyla could have used the experience.”

“They can still be like aunts and uncles.” Jade scooted off the bed and got to his feet. “When are they coming over to meet the boys.”

That was quick. Jade didn’t even let his mothers watch the boys anymore now that they had seven of their own at home and Jay’s parents had never been allowed to keep the boys over night. “I can’t believe you’d agree to let someone watch our sons when you haven’t even met them.”

Jade blinked. “I haven’t agreed. But we do need a babysitter for these three and I’d rather trust them to six adults than to someone who didn’t understand familiars or who’s hands were already full.” He got a far away look. “Maybe graduate students. One of those mated pairs trying to decide if they’re ready for kittens. The boys can work their rascal out on the babysitters.”

Vido pulled Jade into his lap. “Do you have any rascal you need to work out?”

Jade grinned and leaned in for a kiss. Jay rolled onto his feet. “I’ll make sure the boys are good and sleep. Be right back.”

Vido blew him a kiss. No interruptions was exactly what he wanted for tonight.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/164026.html

Weeks ago, when visiting my mother, we went for a walk at the park/mill pond across the street. We saw turtles sunning themselves and a frog, and a snake that lay across the path, so lazy (or cold) that it didn't respond to the lady in front of us who nearly tripped over it. And we saw a goose family, but not like any I had seen before. This one had three parents: one white goose and two Canada, and three goslings. Two of the goslings had the beginning of a dark band around the tops of their necks, which none of the parents did and neither did any of the goslings I googled.

But in my head they are a mama (the light one), a papa, and a daddy.

(click on the small picture for bigger ones)

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/163710.html

When I last worked on The Dose Makes the Poison (for S2B2), I was disappointed in the trajectory. I knew where I wanted it to head, the climax was going to be both physical and emotional. But rereading it today, I kind of like how it ends (whereas when I wrote it, it felt like it just stopped) I think I might still be able to put those last scenes in, with a different emotional hook, but can't decide if they are necessary. I'll have to give it some thought.

Also after spending over an hour searching, but I still have no Googlefu. Would a constable do his rounds, walk the beat, something else? What is a 1930 British equivalent of going cold turkey? Or barely scraping by/head barely above water? So many little words I'm probably using wrong. I thought this would be easier because I've read several series set in Britain between the wars. Only I guess none of the POV are ordinary coppers.

Why is it that I have so many finished stories that aren't complete? I spent six months on my 1001 Nights story, but discovered a problem near the beginning that I think I know to correct and one towards the end I have no clue on. My second draft of Gestures is better than the first, but also got stuck near the center. Something is wrong with it and forging ahead isn't going to work any better than it did last time (I think my POV is too passive in the middle, so I need to switch POVs to a more active character, which could be done by giving each person a part or "book" or by adding other POV near the beginning. I have some ideas for this, but no motivation. And I still have two other 15k+ stories that didn't pan out the way I wanted them to, either by feeling flat or incomplete. Ugh.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/163459.html

Yikes, it's been a month since I posted. I think of something nearly every day to post, but never end up doing it.

The Floral manager is back for 6 weeks, so I'm only getting one day in Floral (the lady being trained to be manager is getting 3 or 4 and the manager said she was going down to 4 and using vacation days, but she hasn't done that yet). I'm picking up hours in the deli, so it's not horrible, but it's been two years since I had to do this.

I just read (listened to) a book that I wish I'd read reviews for first. I spent over 20 hours listening to find that the author had decided the readers really didn't need the overarching mystery solved. The current mystery did get solved, but due to no one verifying the mastermind's age, the confession was inadmissible, so she walked. I got three other books on CD in this series from the library, but even though reviews say they get better, I'm not sure I'll ever read them. (The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French).

The only interesting thing was that I learned combats are cargo pants. I assumed they meant boots until I got to "the hem of her combats" and had to rethink the whole paragraph.

I looked up other British/American difference for a story I'm working on (for S2B2 if I can get it done) and found several difference in words for parts of cars: bonnet/hood, boot/trunk and the like, but what about rearview mirror? My POV sits in the back because he's trying to keep his distance from the driver but their eyes keep meeting in the mirror (set in a Roderick Alleyn/Lord Peter Wimsey Britain). If anyone can help, it would be much appricated.

My sister is in the state for the summer and I took yesterday off to spend it with her. It was pretty nice. And it really hits home how much a child can change their parents POV. My niece got a stack of book store gift cards for her birthday so we wondered the aisle as she picked what she wanted and talked about the YA books. My sister and her daughter read/listen to stories together (niece is 16) and my sister says that when she gets to the parts with the boys kissing, she ask that they skip ahead. She knows that the relationship is important to the plot, but it makes her uncomfortable. A few years ago it would have made her angry and stop reading. That's a big step.

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/163240.html

Our company was bought by another grocery store about a year ago and since then the companies have been merging. Our ordering system, their delivery system, our in house products, etc. Well, one of the things their company has that ours didn't was a good relationship with the union. Ours gave us extras to keep us from joining: health insurance after one month instead of three, two floater days (paid days off) instead of one, raises every time the union got one to keep us making a few cents more an hour. The combined company doesn't.

So the union guys came in and I resisted by asking questions. I asked everything I could think of about raises and health insurance and dues and vacations. The more I heard the better it sounded, but was it right for me? Did it matter? They were going to keep recruiting people until they go over 51% (all they needed for force the rest of the employees to sign up or quit).

But I finally checked out how much I pay in health insurance ($66+) a week compared to how much I'd pay under the union ($15), how much my pension was ($7k) as opposed to what I'd get (just under $30 dollars a month times how many years I worked for the rest of my life with the prospect of even more). So even without the 50¢ raise I'd be bringing home $40 more a week (after dues) and spend less per doctor visit ($10 rather than $150.82), and end up with a bigger pension if I live more than twelve month after retirement (if I work for ten more years). And the best gift my parents have ever given me was making sure they didn't need my help financially (because I couldn't afford it).

So on Thursday, I told them I'd sign last Saturday, and I did. Only since I waited until I was enthusiastically for it, I've been helping recruit others (the sooner we get 70%, which is 51% with a couple more in case of quitting or transferring) the sooner we can get our health benefits (one of the women I work with has a bum ankle and she can't afford to see a surgeon). Another coworker would save $450 a month by removing herself from the exempt list, which was easy because her work title says she works the front end (checkers, and the people who put things and tags on the shelves). But it turns out Floral managers can't go non-exempt, so if my manager leaves and this woman gets the job, she'll lose her union benefits. So few floral departments are union that we have almost no power. No wonder I've only gotten one 25¢ raise in the last six years.

Now just a month ago I would have been upset at the idea of someone pushing to get all the floral departments non-exempt, but now I like the idea that managers could chose to save themselves a great deal of money and if we had greater say in the union, we'd get more raises over in my corner of the store.

I like my job, but I'd like it more if I my paycheck was bigger.

And the union is saving the company money. Right now the company spend $10 on my pension and $330 on my health benefits a week. They will be spending $18 on my pension, but only $200 on my health benefits. We all might win from this.

So this made me wonder what kind of person I am that I didn't join until I was well into it, that I made the choice to choice for myself rather than let it happen to me. Am I the turn and fight/reason kind of person? Or, like my husband says, the kind that wonders what kind of person I am?

Crossposts: http://frogs-of-war.livejournal.com/163022.html

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the dawning of the rest of our lives

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