Story Market Day
- Thread starter ComCamGuy
- Start date
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Given the circumstances, being discrete would be wise; other-wise tolerant people have much shorter fuses and less capacity to suffer assholes or worse; there's probably very little in the way of social structure left over from the more civilised recent era......
Think about some jackass disparaging your sister or your recently shattered family in your hearing.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
And quite appropriately so, too......
Sportsman
Veteran Member
Which brings up another problem. Once you bring someone into the fold, you necessarily give them information that they can blab about and use against the gang later on. Perhaps accidentally or perhaps in revenge. It's a touchy situation.
Thanks CCG, now tell us a little more about what went down!
Thanks CCG, now tell us a little more about what went down!
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
In Gretchen’s Room
“I’ll be OK. I am more pissed than hurt.”
“I know. I wanted to check on you just the same” Derek said as he stood in the inner doorway leading from his room.
“You didn’t have to jump in. I had it handled.”
“I know you did, but…” he shuffled his feet some as he looked down at them. “You’re my sister. It’s my job more than anyone else to take care of you. Besides he really pissed me off! First with the snarky comments, the not listening when I was trying to teach him something like Veronica wanted me to, his rude comments and shit to you. When he touched you, I had to stop it.”
“I could have done it. I had it handled!” Gretchen reiterated.
“I know, but that would have encouraged it even more. It would prove he could get a rise out of you and he would keep trying things and getting bolder and bolder until…”
“Yeah…” Gretchen was the one looking down now, unwilling to meet Derek’s eyes as she contemplated his words. The worse part was, she knew he was right.
She looked up. Her brother had a serious look on his face. When he looked like that, she could almost see her father in him. The same piercing gaze, the same set of the jaw. Just the thought set her crying. She thought she was done with crying! Before she knew it, he was on the bed sitting next to her, holding her as she cried and cried. The bed shifted again. Onna and Senshi pushed their furry heads and bodies up into the embrace. They knew she was upset and had to be there to help.
“I’ll be OK. I am more pissed than hurt.”
“I know. I wanted to check on you just the same” Derek said as he stood in the inner doorway leading from his room.
“You didn’t have to jump in. I had it handled.”
“I know you did, but…” he shuffled his feet some as he looked down at them. “You’re my sister. It’s my job more than anyone else to take care of you. Besides he really pissed me off! First with the snarky comments, the not listening when I was trying to teach him something like Veronica wanted me to, his rude comments and shit to you. When he touched you, I had to stop it.”
“I could have done it. I had it handled!” Gretchen reiterated.
“I know, but that would have encouraged it even more. It would prove he could get a rise out of you and he would keep trying things and getting bolder and bolder until…”
“Yeah…” Gretchen was the one looking down now, unwilling to meet Derek’s eyes as she contemplated his words. The worse part was, she knew he was right.
She looked up. Her brother had a serious look on his face. When he looked like that, she could almost see her father in him. The same piercing gaze, the same set of the jaw. Just the thought set her crying. She thought she was done with crying! Before she knew it, he was on the bed sitting next to her, holding her as she cried and cried. The bed shifted again. Onna and Senshi pushed their furry heads and bodies up into the embrace. They knew she was upset and had to be there to help.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Downstairs
“What are they going to do about him?” Daniel asked again.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing! He attacked me! He broke my nose and damn near broke my jaw! He’s crazy!”
“Evidently, in their eyes, you started it.” Owen said. He wasn’t sure what else to tell him.
“He attacked me! I didn’t attack him! He’s in the wrong!” Daniel insisted,
“Daniel, their house, their rules. You need to behave yourself. I’ve told you again and again.”
“We aught to call the cops on him!”
Owen just stood there looking at his little brother, wondering not for the first time why he thought hwe could raise him when his father died overseas. The bad part was, Daniel wasn’t a bad kid. He just needed to grow up and act like the adult he was going to need to be if Veronica and Violet were right about the times to come.
“Do you want to go back to the apartment? Dodging the thieves in the parking lot? Where I had to bring the battery in each evening otherwise it got stolen? Is that what you want to go back to?”
Daniel was startled by Owens outburst. What was his problem? He was the one Derek attacked! What the hell!
“Derek assaulted me! That shit isn’t right!”
“Well, you better figure out how to not piss him off or he might do it again! And whatever you said or did to Gretchen to make it happen had better not ever, ever happen again. Violet thought Derek might have saved your life by just beating your ass, Gretchen was going to kill you. Now, clean yourself up and come upstairs to dinner. I recommend you work at closing that flap below your nose for a day or two and be civil until we can figure more out.”
“What are they going to do about him?” Daniel asked again.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing! He attacked me! He broke my nose and damn near broke my jaw! He’s crazy!”
“Evidently, in their eyes, you started it.” Owen said. He wasn’t sure what else to tell him.
“He attacked me! I didn’t attack him! He’s in the wrong!” Daniel insisted,
“Daniel, their house, their rules. You need to behave yourself. I’ve told you again and again.”
“We aught to call the cops on him!”
Owen just stood there looking at his little brother, wondering not for the first time why he thought hwe could raise him when his father died overseas. The bad part was, Daniel wasn’t a bad kid. He just needed to grow up and act like the adult he was going to need to be if Veronica and Violet were right about the times to come.
“Do you want to go back to the apartment? Dodging the thieves in the parking lot? Where I had to bring the battery in each evening otherwise it got stolen? Is that what you want to go back to?”
Daniel was startled by Owens outburst. What was his problem? He was the one Derek attacked! What the hell!
“Derek assaulted me! That shit isn’t right!”
“Well, you better figure out how to not piss him off or he might do it again! And whatever you said or did to Gretchen to make it happen had better not ever, ever happen again. Violet thought Derek might have saved your life by just beating your ass, Gretchen was going to kill you. Now, clean yourself up and come upstairs to dinner. I recommend you work at closing that flap below your nose for a day or two and be civil until we can figure more out.”
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Well if the dogs were hungry & full-on protective, there wouldn't have been much to police up, debris-wise; all good I think..
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Well that may lead to issue resolution in the near-term or, be a set-up for some more bad behaviours a little further out. Unfortunately, this boy doesn't yet know just how serious the rules are for his new life circumstance....
Gaining knowledge can be at least painful and often, the student doesn't survive the training or final exam.
Last edited:
beaglemama
Contributing Member
One problem with letting him go is that he knows too much. Even though he doesn't know everything, he still knows enough to put a target on the group's backs. It might be better to keep him around for a while (keep your friends close and your enemies closer), but keep him in the dark about when/where they're going, and leave him behind. when it's go time.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Later, in the Garage
The mood at the evening meal reminded Violet of the formal dinner at the military school right before she got kicked out. Sitting across from her father in his finest dress uniform trying to act like nothing happened, ignoring her swollen face and blackened eye, trying not to look at her because he was upset about her getting into a fight and getting thrown out.
It had the same tense feeling. As the real adults tried to act like nothing happened, making a point not to mention Daniel’s swollen nose and cheek. Everyone tried to play along but it like an elephant in the room, it could not be ignored. They all knew it would have to be talked about but it would be just the three of them alone without the kids.
The kids, that was a problem. They could not hide their animosity towards each other nor did they even try. They did not talk to each other, only dirty looks were passed instead of food. Good thing the adults were there to move the food around or some might have gone went hungry.
Daniel finished eating pushing his plate away getting up from table never asking to be excused. He left the kitchen without a word instead gave everyone the nastiest glare he could musty up.
Owen started to get up and call him back but was stopped by Violet’s hand on his arm. Moments later, everyone got up and began cleaning up from dinner.
“There is enough bodies in here. I’m going to take the dogs out to get them out of the way.” Gretchen shooed the dogs out of the kitchen down into the garage.
Daniel heard the sound of the dogs on the stairway and figured the meal must be over. He needed to go back upstairs to get his pad he left on the couch. Hopefully everyone was busy so he could just come back down and ‘not cause problems’.
Daniel came up the stairs into the garage. As he turned to go up the stairs into the kitchen, he felt something slip around his neck and jerk him backwards. His hands flew to his neck. The rope jerked him backwards and upwards until his toes barely reached the ground. He fought to loosen the rope, to no avail. A person came into his dimming vision, it was Gretchen.
“If you ever touch me again, I will hurt you so bad, the beating my brother gave you will look like mercy. You put your ****ing fingers on my crotch again, I will hang you up on this hook and skin you while you’re still breathing.” She punched him in his broken nose, restarting the blood fountain.
The rope released. Daniel fell to the floor, gasping for breath. As his vision returned, he could see Gretchen’s lithe form walking to the stairs, a long thin bare blade in her hand.
The mood at the evening meal reminded Violet of the formal dinner at the military school right before she got kicked out. Sitting across from her father in his finest dress uniform trying to act like nothing happened, ignoring her swollen face and blackened eye, trying not to look at her because he was upset about her getting into a fight and getting thrown out.
It had the same tense feeling. As the real adults tried to act like nothing happened, making a point not to mention Daniel’s swollen nose and cheek. Everyone tried to play along but it like an elephant in the room, it could not be ignored. They all knew it would have to be talked about but it would be just the three of them alone without the kids.
The kids, that was a problem. They could not hide their animosity towards each other nor did they even try. They did not talk to each other, only dirty looks were passed instead of food. Good thing the adults were there to move the food around or some might have gone went hungry.
Daniel finished eating pushing his plate away getting up from table never asking to be excused. He left the kitchen without a word instead gave everyone the nastiest glare he could musty up.
Owen started to get up and call him back but was stopped by Violet’s hand on his arm. Moments later, everyone got up and began cleaning up from dinner.
“There is enough bodies in here. I’m going to take the dogs out to get them out of the way.” Gretchen shooed the dogs out of the kitchen down into the garage.
Daniel heard the sound of the dogs on the stairway and figured the meal must be over. He needed to go back upstairs to get his pad he left on the couch. Hopefully everyone was busy so he could just come back down and ‘not cause problems’.
Daniel came up the stairs into the garage. As he turned to go up the stairs into the kitchen, he felt something slip around his neck and jerk him backwards. His hands flew to his neck. The rope jerked him backwards and upwards until his toes barely reached the ground. He fought to loosen the rope, to no avail. A person came into his dimming vision, it was Gretchen.
“If you ever touch me again, I will hurt you so bad, the beating my brother gave you will look like mercy. You put your ****ing fingers on my crotch again, I will hang you up on this hook and skin you while you’re still breathing.” She punched him in his broken nose, restarting the blood fountain.
The rope released. Daniel fell to the floor, gasping for breath. As his vision returned, he could see Gretchen’s lithe form walking to the stairs, a long thin bare blade in her hand.
Last edited:
Landcruiser
Contributing Member
He should ave been asked to leave immediately after the incident. Guests do not behave in this manner ever. Problems like this only get worse
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Beat me to it
Consciously leaving a live enemy in your rear should be avoided at all costs. A live enemy with some detailed knowledge of your equipment, capabilities & weakness is exponentially worse.
I know that indicates harsh action could be required but all choices in life are not "1 from Column A, 2 from column B" and thus far, Daniel is manifesting as a spoiled, entitled individual. He would probably be suspect in my mind going forward and a candidate for permanent disassociation but, pragmatism is often required and seldom a perfect or happy choice.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Message sent; now, was it received and understood?
kyrsyan
Has No Life - Lives on TB
So many pathways there. Does he decided she got the drop on him and he could best her in a "fair" fight? Does he decide to "behave" until he can see an opportunity to "punish" them all for not being on his side? Does he decide that it only applies to her and the Vs and that he can go back to those behaviors with any other females? And another one that just popped in my head, does he decide to complain and insist that she be punished because it was unprovoked? And where does that go, because then everything that happened in the garage will have to be told.
And where will Owen stand in all of this? Does Owen know everything that happened in the garage?
And while I understand why Gretchen did it, it would have been better to wait and do it when he tried again, when Derek wasn't around. Because he would have tried.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Right.
ALL pretty significant points for an author to consider and there might even be more.
Just working through this little contretemps could take, I don't know, 4-7 chapters, another 10-12000 words; not an inconsiderable effort but, I'm sure our Author will rise to the occasion.
Right?
He probably went for more coffee.
Personally, if Daniel were to follow Gretchen w/ a view to a "fair fight" (he's over matched but doesn't realise it) and she settled his hash for good ..... just saying.
Last edited:
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
A Tense Evening
Everyone settled into a fitful sleep after dinner. Some earlier than others. Daniel and Owen were downstairs, away from the others. Violet and Veronica stayed up while Derek and Gretchen went to bed early. Onna went with Gretchen while Senshi laid next to Violet. For the first time since the kids came to the house, The Vs were drinking Scotch.
“I don’t know what went down, but I know it’s not a good idea for someone to mess with Gretchen when Derek is around.” Veronica said as she poured some into the crystal bar glasses for both of them.
“I don’t know. I kind of got the impression there was more to it, but neither will talk about it.” Violet sat back in the recliner.
“Well, they better work it out before we have to get into the middle of it.” Veronica put her nose over the scotch and breathed in its peaty aroma. This reminded her to see if there was any left at the Class Six on base.
“We better get with Owen in the morning and hash this all out. A wagon train style road trip to the middle of nowhere isn’t the best place to have people at one another's throats.” Violet sounded more concerned than Veronica expected.
“Thank God the dogs weren’t with them. Depending on how it started, it could have gotten really bloody very quickly.” Veronica shuddered as she considered her own words.
Violet reached down and scratched Senshi’s head, thinking of this sweet little ball of fur unleashed into his fully protective mode. She had wrestled and played tug of war with him in the backyard. She knew how massively powerful he could be. And if he was there, Onna would be as well. If they felt they were protecting Derek or, heaven forbid, Gretchen…
Everyone settled into a fitful sleep after dinner. Some earlier than others. Daniel and Owen were downstairs, away from the others. Violet and Veronica stayed up while Derek and Gretchen went to bed early. Onna went with Gretchen while Senshi laid next to Violet. For the first time since the kids came to the house, The Vs were drinking Scotch.
“I don’t know what went down, but I know it’s not a good idea for someone to mess with Gretchen when Derek is around.” Veronica said as she poured some into the crystal bar glasses for both of them.
“I don’t know. I kind of got the impression there was more to it, but neither will talk about it.” Violet sat back in the recliner.
“Well, they better work it out before we have to get into the middle of it.” Veronica put her nose over the scotch and breathed in its peaty aroma. This reminded her to see if there was any left at the Class Six on base.
“We better get with Owen in the morning and hash this all out. A wagon train style road trip to the middle of nowhere isn’t the best place to have people at one another's throats.” Violet sounded more concerned than Veronica expected.
“Thank God the dogs weren’t with them. Depending on how it started, it could have gotten really bloody very quickly.” Veronica shuddered as she considered her own words.
Violet reached down and scratched Senshi’s head, thinking of this sweet little ball of fur unleashed into his fully protective mode. She had wrestled and played tug of war with him in the backyard. She knew how massively powerful he could be. And if he was there, Onna would be as well. If they felt they were protecting Derek or, heaven forbid, Gretchen…
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Not grappling training, Fishing. , while Derek was trying to teach him something about fishing
Lone_Hawk
Resident Spook
Kibles-n-bits.....
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
yes but then this little bit of business would have been resolved so, the arc of this part of the story would perforce be truncated ....
I'm sure we don't want that, do we?
No, I didn't think so.
Ta
I'm going out on the balcony for a small Maduro and a splash of something 90 proof. Yes, its that warm here.
All y'all stay warm......
Last edited:
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Deep in the Night
Veronica woke up. There was something wrong. The first thing she noticed was movement on her bed. Someone was on it. Correction, something. She could see the shape of one of the dogs, It was Onna.
Onna was on the end of the bed. She was alternatingly sitting on the end of the bed facing the door and turning tight circles on the bed. Whenever she was facing the door, her ears were at full attention and every now and then, a little whine came out. When she would turn her circles, she would pause when her eyes crossed Veronica’s.
Veronica woke up. There was something wrong. The first thing she noticed was movement on her bed. Someone was on it. Correction, something. She could see the shape of one of the dogs, It was Onna.
Onna was on the end of the bed. She was alternatingly sitting on the end of the bed facing the door and turning tight circles on the bed. Whenever she was facing the door, her ears were at full attention and every now and then, a little whine came out. When she would turn her circles, she would pause when her eyes crossed Veronica’s.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Derek woke up feeling someone climb into his bed.
“Derek, something’s wrong!” It was Gretchen. Senshi joined them on the bed.
“What do you mean, something’s wrong?” Derek tried to wipe the grit from his eyes.
“Senshi woke me up. He kept pawing at my arm until I got up, then he came this way.”
Derek looked at Gretchen, now that his eyes seemed to be working, he saw she had her pants in her hands, complete with belt and holstered pistol. Part of him thought it melodramatic. Then he remembered mom and dad.
“Lets get dressed. I don’t like the feel of this.”
“Derek, something’s wrong!” It was Gretchen. Senshi joined them on the bed.
“What do you mean, something’s wrong?” Derek tried to wipe the grit from his eyes.
“Senshi woke me up. He kept pawing at my arm until I got up, then he came this way.”
Derek looked at Gretchen, now that his eyes seemed to be working, he saw she had her pants in her hands, complete with belt and holstered pistol. Part of him thought it melodramatic. Then he remembered mom and dad.
“Lets get dressed. I don’t like the feel of this.”
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Violet woke up. She wasn’t sure why. She did that sometimes. When she woke up, she just knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep. She threw on sweats and a tank top and wandered down the hall to the kitchen. The house was quiet. Then again, this house was always quiet. You could have a gunfight in one of the bathrooms without disturbing the person in the bedroom there was so much sound deadening in the walls along with the super insulation.
In the kitchen, she could see the wind outside was whipping things around. She could hear it howling in gusts as it rearranged the snow in the backyard. She put water on for coffee. After she got it started, she looked around. She had expected the dogs to come investigate.
Violet started feeling off…The last time she felt like this, a rocket hit the tent next to hers downrange.
In the kitchen, she could see the wind outside was whipping things around. She could hear it howling in gusts as it rearranged the snow in the backyard. She put water on for coffee. After she got it started, she looked around. She had expected the dogs to come investigate.
Violet started feeling off…The last time she felt like this, a rocket hit the tent next to hers downrange.
Last edited:
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Violet sipped her coffee as she stood in the kitchen trying to get a handle on her feeling. She could still feel the hair on the back of her neck standing up. It has been almost an hour since she woke up. It just wouldn’t go away. The weather radio on the counter told her it wasn’t much of a winter storm. The wind has died down, so that wsn’t it. Everyone else was asleep. It was only her wigging out, she figured.
She heard noise on the steps leading into the garage. She looked down at her hand. The coffee cup was gone and a twelve inch chef knife was in it’s place. She didn’t remember doing that.
The doorknob turned. When the door opened, she saw Owen standing there. He looked like he had just gone three rounds with Mike Tyson. His lip was swollen and bleeding. His face was wet with sweat or tears. His torn shirt had smears of blood across the front. His eyes looked empty and hollow, like two piss holes in the snow. He moved stiffly, like every movement was a struggle.
“I had to. It was all my fault.” He said as he stumbled and fell onto the floor.
She heard noise on the steps leading into the garage. She looked down at her hand. The coffee cup was gone and a twelve inch chef knife was in it’s place. She didn’t remember doing that.
The doorknob turned. When the door opened, she saw Owen standing there. He looked like he had just gone three rounds with Mike Tyson. His lip was swollen and bleeding. His face was wet with sweat or tears. His torn shirt had smears of blood across the front. His eyes looked empty and hollow, like two piss holes in the snow. He moved stiffly, like every movement was a struggle.
“I had to. It was all my fault.” He said as he stumbled and fell onto the floor.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
You know the rules: what you can, as you are able.
We free riders on this train don't get to impede your RL circumstances.
Of course, knowing what Owen did w/ Daniel's remains would be OK too.
Last edited:
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Sure but I'm not really fond of Chianti; maybe a well-chilled Chardonnay?
Last edited:
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
She threw on sweats and a tank top, correction made