Endtown by Aaron Neathery for October 05, 2012

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    Level_Head  about 12 years ago

    Aaron Neathery can never failTo deliver (and better than mail!)A story sublimeThat gets us every timeEven Flask has gone beyond the pale!As she fades, he hints it’s not foreverAnd she knows that she’s run out of cleverBut then his bit of snarkTriggered one (last?) new sparkAnd she seized it as “now or never!”=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books

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    mr_sherman Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Level Head, I hope you’re right.

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    SapphireDragonStudios  about 12 years ago

    Oh my!

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    mr_sherman Premium Member about 12 years ago

    At least she got a good-bye kiss.

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    RickD Premium Member about 12 years ago

    If Marx brings her back…would it be as his companion? Flask can’t go back to Endtown. Marx can’t really stick around there either. Maybe Flask can be saved as a traveller with Marx. Yeah, that sounds really familiar—at least the “companion” bit.

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    SapphireDragonStudios  about 12 years ago

    Well, at least this week ends with a kiss and a little bit of hope, however dangerous we have learned hope to be. ^-~

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    Palabrajot  about 12 years ago

    She’s coming back as a blonde, apparently! So it should go much more smoothly for her.

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    JusSayin  about 12 years ago

    I agree, there is some reason AaronNeathery changed her hair color. I’ll speculate without concern about being corrected. If I remember correctly, in LOTR, Gandalf the Grey had to die so he could begin a life as Gandalf the White. She certainly has been traumatised, even if it could be argued she chose the paths she took. But Flask was put through a traumatic Apocalypse, the End of the world, and in trying to kill the City of TopSiders she was trying to kill herself and what she Had Become.Or she might be fading into the Aether. I would hate to see her go, aside from somehow being stunning in a CatWoman way, she was fascinating.Oh yes, remember to vote for the usual, we have some catching up this month. I’ll figure out how to make links someday. In the meantime Level_Head has been gracious enough to provide links for voting for this strip, Endtown 2.0 and Doc Rat. Doc Rat is produced by frequent contributor Jenner, and can be found at WWW.docrat.com.au/ . Level_Head has also provided links to The Underground as well as some sweet merch links for original art, books and T-Shirts and coffee cups(maybe totes, glassware and maybe a mousepad {or is that Mouse Pad, baby} at Cafe Press.JusSayin

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    JanBic Premium Member about 12 years ago

    It’s not just her hair, all of Flask and her uniform are fading.Perhaps this signals her return to the real world and the kiss is one of gratitude and relief.

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    mr_sherman Premium Member about 12 years ago

    White. Like ice. I’m reminded of the phrase “One last cold kiss”.Although as I stated before, along with many other readers, I don’t think this is the end for Flask.

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  11. Idano
    Ida No  about 12 years ago

    Marx: (After finishing the kiss): “See that camera over there?”Flask: “Huh?”Marx: “Surprise! You’re on Candid Camera! It’s all been one big joke!”Flask: “And now you die.”

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    Jenner Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Marx is not in love with Flask, but he’s giving her the kiss of love she so desperately craved, all her life. In fact, even her lover never kissed her on the lips, skin to skin. She is about to fade away into death, and this is the very last, the parting gift he has for her. Not the comforting hug of a friend, but the lips-to-lips of a lover. He’s doing this for her because it’s the one thing she needs. He’s doing it out of pity.

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    Jenner Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Oh, by the way, it doesn’t count as necrophilia if she can still talk to you.

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    Robert Nowall Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Either Flask is on her way to the afterlife—-Hell or Purgatory, I’d think, unless there’s some further alternative she’d be eligible for—-or (with Marx’s help) she’ll slide into one of the alternate realities—-but, either way, no rest.

    Either way…I guess it’ll be awhile before any of us see her again…like I said yesterday, it looks like a long weekend…

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    Jenner Premium Member about 12 years ago

    In any case, I agree with Level Head. If there were ever any doubt that Endtown is one of the greatest comic strips in existence, then all doubt must end now. This is absolutlely sublime.People, spread the word, and do everything you can to help this exceptionally good but fragile one-man-show keep going.

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    LizardPriest  about 12 years ago

    I suppose he could pull another Flask out of a parallel universe where she didn’t get her face blown off.

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    crookedwolf Premium Member about 12 years ago

    She’s gone from ghastly to ghostly.

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    crookedwolf Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Just love panel 3.

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    Paul Gabbard Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Philomena don’t go, who will the rats salute? Who will keep that duck on his toes??

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    The blackness has left.It is the LIGHT OF REDEMPTION.SHE HAS BEEN SAVED!THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNELIS HERSELF!The freight train passed her by.As from some of my stories and past you know now what LIGHT I stand in.Got told that one night on the side of road out in West Texas by two Wiccans. He may have not had a flower to give her. Marx himself was the flower.“No rest for the wicked” Damn straight now there is work to do.I think Endtown is going to get a new Sheriff (Security Chief for those perfectionists)Man I dreaded this all night. Totally prepared to say goodbye.It is always darkest before the dawn.But dawn will come and with it the light.Be out of pocket most of today. Lost a good friend in San Antonio fellow worker. Must go stand the final guard.He was one of my best friends and co-worker.RIP big guy.

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    Francis362003  about 12 years ago

    Looks like she is now going to Heaven

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    William Bednar Premium Member about 12 years ago

    She’s probably aging. I don’t know why, but that’s the way I interpret this change.

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    To alli think TSOJ is just jerking our chains.He comes across and yaddayadda this and yaddayadda that about this episode. He cracks off pot shots of humor to some serious stuff.HE DOES FEEL THIS. It is the way he deals with the seriousness of the situation. Humor releaves the tension of the moment.I can see it. Years of experience. C’mon big guy. You know it but don’t want to show it.Sitting there behind your facts and humor jabs.Ice cream for everyone (unless you are lactose intolerant)Gotta go. Peace…..out

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    salenstormwing  about 12 years ago

    All cats go to heaven?

    Uh, yeah, poor Flash has lost all her shading. Next she’ll lose all her line art. But honestly, this is very sad. And… I want to go boot up the intro to Borderlands 1 on Youtube.

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    Tue Elung-Jensen  about 12 years ago

    Am is a furry? Also does she even have lips to do that?

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    DADOF3  about 12 years ago

    Sorry for your loss Veteran. Godspeed on your travels.

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    boreas2  about 12 years ago

    is flask fading or turning into her human form ?

    AM cried when mallard asked about flask

    is it posible flask human name was ….melody ?(if flask were this universe melody it could explain why he cried for her before knowing her past )

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    Coyoty Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Marx’s kissing Flask doesn’t mean he’s a furry, any more than kissing someone of another race means you have a thing for the race and not the person. It’s irrelevant.Marx might have let her die, depending on what her deal was. If she didn’t justify her life, her justice might have been oblivion, but she not only justified it, she apparently made him care much more about her than either expected. He’s giving some of his life to her. This might be the start of a new relationship for both.Maybe we should start calling her Whitey now. “Blackie” might have been symbolic of the darkness in her soul, and now that’s been cleaned away.

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    andyw  about 12 years ago

    I wonder if the ‘No rest for the wicked’ comment means “You weren’t wicked. You can rest now.” Validation and benediction, rather than a promise of resurrection.

    Who knows? The author. Will he let us know? I look forward to finding out :)

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    ConstanzeN  about 12 years ago

    My interpetation of the colour change of Flask…is that she is fading away as her soul leave her body. And the kiss is a farewell kiss. Aaron, you really made me tear up. So sad. :O( But, there is always hope,

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    Habogee  about 12 years ago

    Could she be transitioning from an Antagonist to a Protagonist role somehow?

    Brain Fart….

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    Purdey  about 12 years ago

    I have never, while reading a comic, had so many emotions come out in the past few days. As an artist/writer myself, I salute you, Mr. Neathery! You are masterful at both.As for me, I’m not trying to guess what’s coming. I’m enjoying the ride!

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    finder10030  about 12 years ago

    My best guess is that the look on Marx’s face is not condemning or sorrow or anger. It almost looks hopeful. Like, "She get’s it. . .all that anger “for nothing”. . .no rest for the wicked and wicked you were, but now you are wicked no more. It’s time for atonement and a rest from all those bad feelings." I don’t think Flask is done, far from it. Like some of the others, I can see Flask as Aaron M’s travelling companion – but not before she helps Endtown be free of it’s menace.

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    To all.Back in one piece. Quite a few tears down there. Hard to lose a companion and good friend. 67 yoa. Doing our required physical testing. Sudden massive heart attack. The Defib equipment on hand was unable to save him. EMS there in minutes. DOA.Had to hand out lots of flowers and comfort.Thanks for the notes.

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Now on to the show.C’mon man.A koala for Security Chief! She would burn that place to the ground. You think Flask had issues.Separate a mother from her child? HOUUEEEE!Now Flask has a job to do.Take care of the damn satellite.She knows it, she worked on it, hacked it, but now it is up there now and Endtown is not safe.Not safe from without and not safe from within.Jackrabbit is going to see a power vacuum and seize it. Wally and Holly are going to be back on Jeopardy. (I will take Dangerous for 200.)Allee has got to come back. Soon she is going to run out of booze and the DT’s are going to need fixing.And the MAYOR.Better clean his shorts. Prof Mallard. He will use his usual look, hike an eyebrow, ask where the nearest mini bar is, and invent some other device that may help or maim.After all he has those dittos Marx gave him and what? probably several days to play with them.Marx will probably don his Napoleon outfit and feel great scratching him self.Flask? She is going to be one pretty kitty. Her load lifted. Her focus reset. She will see life worth saving even if it means killing but now its to save other life not just take it for revenge.Petey will still be confused.AND THE SAGA OF ENDTOWN CONTINUESEnough said. Out

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    “No rest for the wicked.”Means exactly what is says. Your journey continues. The wicked had now become saved. How do you angels get there?They arn’t just made. They are created out of terrible situations with a final realization that there can be good. Always remember.It is not what HE wants. It is what HE what HE NEEDS.

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    Robert Nowall Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Albert came back from the dead…why not Flask?

    Also for those who are promoting Linda for Flask’s job…well, from what happened on the ship, I figured her going into Alcoholics Anonymous with Allie Alvarez…

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    I cannot wait to see Flask and Wally meet.They both come from a dark past. Holly helped Wally by holding his hand after the nightmare. Marx helped Flask get over her dark past. Hold her letting her tell her tale, giving comfort and hope.Now Wally and Flask.That story to maybe be told.

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Or maybe we should just all go out and get ICE CREAMYea!!!!!!!!Monday awaits.

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    GoNordrike  about 12 years ago

    Oh God, I just hope that Flask makes it back to Endtown, if not and she does die, at least she’ll be in peace! Oh can’t wait till Monday!

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    mr_sherman Premium Member about 12 years ago

    “No rest for the wicked” traditionally means that the wicked will spend eternity in torment. Flask has been deceived, tortured, and in her dysfunction, responded in kind. It’s no excuse, only an explanation. I wish her no torment. May she walk the path of grief and enter to a new light. Endtown will need the new Flask.

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    Airolga  about 12 years ago

    Oh, Aaron. Now I MUST come to the US and kneel to you on your doorstep. You just wait. ;)

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  43. Idano
    Ida No  about 12 years ago

    Here’s a question. We know that Mallard produces flaky, “over-engineered technology that still misses the point”, which is not at the same level as that of the Topsiders. His dustcrawler monitor system consisted of a couple desks with a couple security rats and a couple monitors. Most of the crawlers stay near Endtown, and the monitors generally display dust sonar maps. (Which is why the rats didn’t know about the rocket.) Flask’s room, though, had close to 15 monitors, most with video images of at least one of the colonies. What if Flask was the one to develop some kind of a link (cabled or wireless) to the nearest dome using scavenged Topsider or Apex equipment, and had initially hacked the TSer servers to access surveillance video feeds? (The alternative would mean that she’d hijacked some of the dustcrawers for herself and blocked the transmissions from being displayed on the rats’ consoles.) Flask’s monitor room might be the ace in the hole Mallard needs to talk Linda into working for him.

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    JusSayin  about 12 years ago

    Aw, I really cannot improve or adapt the original:

    As Time Goes By You must remember this A kiss is just a kiss A sigh is just a sigh The fundamental things apply As time goes by And when two lovers woo They still say: “I love you” On that you can rely No matter what the future brings As time goes by Moonlight and love songs – never out of date Hearts full of passion – jealousy and hate Woman needs man – and man must have his mate That no one can deny It’s still the same old story A fight for love and glory A case of do or die The world will always welcome lovers As time goes by As Time Goes By Words and music by Herman Hupfeld, 1931. Immortalised in 1942.

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    dirtyoldlady1  about 12 years ago

    Here I am in South Tahoe. Enjoying the fun and games of not gambling. Tomorrow we are going to an October Fest at Camp Richardson. Free. At least it won’t be like the Renausaunts where they play in ruggen landscape;Can be reached in an emergency you can reach me at Dirtyoldlady1@gmail.comBlessed Be

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Here is a thought.Like Wally. Its all a dream. Flask is going to wake up.It will be before even going on the mission. A precognition dream. Then she could make different choices.It is just a thought. After all does she appear to be fading as a dream would fade.Had one of those once.Had a tank stuck in deep mud. Knew what I needed to do but could not view it. Dreamed the entire operation using three bulldozers and the tanks own equipment. We dug for 6 days prior. I dreamed that dream on the 6th night. The next morning I presented my plan. Had it out by the afternoon.Just a thought.To Dirtyoldlady1 have a good time. Tahoe is beautiful

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Still here now watching “Remember the Spartans” laughing my butt off.Just caught a nipple twister in slowmo. Always remember A Spartan always guards another Spartans rear.Kevin Sorbo kissing a man.Hilarious.The fat guy from Borat.Carmen Electra soooooo hot.I’m a barbie girl in a barbie worldThat is just soo funny.Loser says What. What?

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    To TSOJLinda working for Mallard.Interesting.That would be a worse mistake than probably allowing Flask with her revenge drive to become Security Head.Anyway Marx liked to carry her around anyway like a stuffed toy. I always had the idea Jackrabbit would like to be Security Head. It would serve his interest.Here is a thought.Wally takes over as Security Head. Flask goes to work with Prof Mallard.After all she is a scientist. That satellite is up there. That now is the greatest threat.

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Watching the end of Meet the SpartansSoooooo funny.Lets go to Hooters. Take from them everything and tip them nothing.

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Hello Sapphire.I personally would love a kiss from Flask. Instead I will just have the Blind Date to moon over.Did not see any one above my bid. I felt if I inspired it the least I could do was bid all I could for it. Never had anyone do that for me.EVER.I was prepared to make a stand.My only concern about the kiss would be the cat tongue. Ever been licked by a cat?Chucking right now.But been all over the world. Seen many strange things. I can handle anything just this side of deranged. But could handle that too. Been a rough day today. Lots of hurts to care for. Crisis Intervention and Grief Consuling can take a lot out of you.Humor helps. Good friends help. Just being noticed as alive helps.

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    Robert Nowall Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Well, from Flask’s first appearance, it did look to me like she was wearing lipstick…

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    To Nabu.That was the point. After all that. I think Marx got over the appearance. I was over it sometime ago. Was human? She was still human just the decoration had changed. I mean who could not fall for that face. C’mon, C’mon you know it. Now Allee it would be hard getting past those teeth. You know being gator and all. Crab guy would be a challenge for a girl I mean where?AND DID I NOT SAY THIS STORY ON GOCOMICS DRAWS THE POSTS. 88 or so. TSOJ will have some comments on this kissing. Sapphire will think its sweet. TSOJ still will bogart his chocolates and ice cream but I will continue to work on that and Sapphire will be the mediator to keep it friendly.

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    Darwinskeeper  about 12 years ago

    Being a Buddhist I find myself wondering if reincarnation might be involved. I wonder if some couple in Endtown (Al and Gustine maybe?) might soon be giving birth to an anthro feline. That would give Flask a chance to start over. Mind you, given my success at guessing where Aaron’s plotlines are headed. Probably not.

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    Darwinskeeper  about 12 years ago

    I remember the picture of a smiling Linda in an Endtown Security uniform in the Endtown Underground. It suggested to me that Linda some how managed to adjust to her new life and that she now worked for Endtown Security. She also refered to “…my friend Philomena…” which either suggests that the two of them came to some understanding or that she has somehow grown to understand the late Captain Flask.

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    mr_sherman Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Congratulations on getting your picture, Veteran. I enjoyed getting my “Morning Coffee”. I just remembered I offered to send Aaron Neathery a picture of it hangingon my home office wall.

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    mr_sherman Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Do anthros havelips? That reminds me of my own theories of how the virus works. The conscious mind has the first effect, reacting to fear of what a monstrous thing he or she may become, they become it. In the unconscious mind, the virus is probably a carrier of genomes from its last host, and so the person morphs into a similarity of that creature. But the genome cannot affect those genes where there isn’t a similarity. This would explain maintaining sentience and uniquely human characteristics such as head hair and voiceboxes, Which brings me to the term “Blackie”. Knowing this, PT2B could have asked Flask what color her hair was during conversations before her change. It quickly could have become a term of endearment. If I remember right, Petey responded to Flask’s voice when he said “Blackie?”. Since the voicebox is uniquely human, it would not have changed much, if at all and the only real inflection would be the resonance of the throat and sinuses. Ther would be an identifiable change, but not so much that a person wouldn’t recognize it, especially in one that chaned so little as Flask.So there’s my take on the biology of this environment.

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    Robert Nowall Premium Member about 12 years ago

    I suppose that would work if Petey-the-transporter heard with ears—-remember, he could overhear conversations many hundreds of yards away. I’m thinking he heard with some kind of sophisticated listening devices—-so whatever reminded Petey of “Blackie” wasn’t a matter of voice.

    Going over some old strips today, it started bothering me that we never got a name for Flask’s lover—-she spoke of calling his name, but not the name itself. I’d lay high odds that whatever it was, it wasn’t Petey…

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  58. Idano
    Ida No  about 12 years ago

    " I’d lay high odds that whatever it was, it wasn’t Petey…"Ookums.

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  59. Idano
    Ida No  about 12 years ago

    “TSOJ will have some comments on this kissing. Sapphire will think its sweet. TSOJ still will bogart his chocolates and ice cream”Actually, my first thought on initially seeing panel 4 was “mad make-up sex”. Followed by Marx belching up that explosion he swallowed and apologizing to Flask for spoiling the mood.No one touches the ice cream…

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    Level_Head  about 12 years ago

    The “no rest for the wicked” lineIs taken as a jokeIt’s usually understood just fineAs a self-deriding pokeYou’re “wicked” you are sayingWhen it’s back to work you goIt’s gentle wit, and stayingOn the light side. And they knowThat no insult’s intendedWhen the joke is aimed at themMarx, now that Flask’s befriendedSeems to say it on a whimBut while he’s full of nonsenseHe has moments that are wiseI think the story’s portentsAre for Flask in different guiseFor she had sought an endingAnd death was merely “rest”Perhaps AM’s intendingSome plan we haven’t guessed.=|====/ Level HeadVote for Endtown 2.0And for Doc Rat, tooThe Endtown ForumThe Endtown AuctionThe Endtown Books

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    Vet Premium Member about 12 years ago

    Read your Post TSOJ.Sitting here laughing my can off.Make up sex then barfing?THAT IS TOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!I said watch out for the cat tongue.But you did not mention the chocolates? Are you open there….maybe……a little………some?See you all Monday.

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    JusSayin  about 12 years ago

    Behold! A Pale Cat

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  63. Idano
    Ida No  about 12 years ago

    Hmm, I seem to have left my now empty box of chocolate unattended. I need to stop doing that in the future…

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