FanFiction.Net - Novocain's fanfiction

In Rockland

2009-11-24T04:37:22-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Kakashi H. & Minato N.
Chapters: 2, Words: 7,074, Reviews: 18 Updated: 11-24-09 Published: 10-7-09
Status: In-Progress

Sometimes Kakashi feels that his existence as a whole is just a series of unfunny punchlines told by someone's great-uncle at parties. "He is sleeping in the cafe when Namikaze Minato burns his way into his life." AU within an AU, folks.

the doors

2009-10-13T02:42:20-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Kakashi H. & Minato N.
Chapters: 1, Words: 435, Reviews: 4 Published: 10-13-09
Status: Complete

.:Kakashi wears the Leaf tattooed into his lungs:. Because there is strength and there is weakness and there are the reasons for both. Or not, as the case may be. Team Seven never was. AU

These Are All Things You Don't Understand

2009-08-22T05:26:55-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Tragedy
Pairing: Kakashi H. & Minato N.
Chapters: 11, Words: 35,336, Reviews: 266 Updated: 8-22-09 Published: 4-7-08
Status: In-Progress

Prostitution and assassination and the way of the shinobi are for Kakashi, and firsts and lasts and middles will never involve those nimble hands or chapped lips stretching in a bright, happy smile against his hip. There is no other choice, Sandaime says.

Bruitism

2009-02-18T12:41:20-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Draco M. & Luna L.
Chapters: 1, Words: 4,005, Reviews: 23 Published: 2-18-09
Status: Complete

On the things that don't make sense and matter anyway but never like they really should, never like hugeness and the world and power. "Gods are for mudbloods and muggles, Lovegood." Written for DutchAver

look lovely for the liars

2009-01-08T03:33:55-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Fred W. & George W.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,542, Reviews: 11 Published: 1-8-09
Status: Complete

.:Fred is glaring now, brown eyes hot and slitted and furious, and George feels himself beginning to match:. Written for HellsAngel101. Edited 3.12.09

Ouzo

2008-12-23T00:54:54-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Sirius B. & Ginny W.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,440, Reviews: 9 Published: 12-23-08
Status: Complete

He does not speak at the funeral. Written for AlinaLotus

Gesellschaft

2008-11-05T19:34:01-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General
Pairing: Ginny W. & Severus S.
Chapters: 1, Words: 10,373, Reviews: 12 Published: 11-5-08
Status: Complete

Snape in this dive with her is a hallucination, so Ginny actually talks to him. She starts by saying hi, like this: "Hi, Ace." ::This is how they did it all wrong.:: AU. Written for AlinaLotus. Loosely connected to YOUR ZEN IS FALSE

See Crows Fly This Life

2008-10-18T18:28:01-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Minato N. & Kakashi H.
Chapters: 1, Words: 3,972, Reviews: 13 Published: 10-18-08
Status: Complete

You understand? "He promised to never be that stupid. He promised not to love like that and not to gleefully destroy potential happiness with a yen for putting his own personal spin on masochism." Namikaze Minato settled for silver medal in so many ways.

Here Are Your Answers

2008-06-26T11:02:30-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Humor/Tragedy
Pairing: Kakashi H.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,773, Reviews: 16 Published: 6-26-08
Status: Complete

."There are no right decisions here in this forest with one student dying and enemy shinobi waiting ahead." Written for Zhang Sizheng's birthday.

your ZEN is false

2008-06-25T19:20:32-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Romance/Horror
Pairing: Lily Evans P. & Bellatrix L.
Chapters: 5, Words: 8,119, Reviews: 44 Updated: 6-25-08 Published: 6-13-08
Status: Complete

This is Lily. This is madness and stupidity and desperation and sado-masochism in the most foolish of ways. This is not-understanding and pretending. This is falsity. She could have said no. :Loosely connected to GESELLSCHAFT: Femmeslash and het

AshShaytan

2008-06-13T03:16:54-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Horror
Pairing: Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 673, Reviews: 31 Published: 6-13-08
Status: In-Progress

You think you have read this story before, but this is not that story. There is no heroic, self-conscious boy, and the bossy Mudblood never does have friends. The freckled boy never comes out of his brothers’ shadows, and - but that would be telling.

Vicious Cycles Make You Laugh

2008-04-22T01:02:57-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Horror
Pairing: Iruka U. & Orochimaru
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,074, Reviews: 9 Published: 4-22-08
Status: Complete

The truth lodges bitter-tasting in his throat.

Tilt the Glint and Wish, Doll

2008-04-18T22:24:24-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Angst/General
Pairing: Hermione G.
Chapters: 1, Words: 945, Reviews: 3 Published: 4-18-08
Status: In-Progress

You see, the Saviour and You-Know-Who both died that night at Godric's Hollow. Hermione is worth something, but all she is worth is everything that she never became.

Feathers and Gilt Are So Effective

2008-04-14T23:56:31-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Romance/Angst
Pairing: Parvati P. & Lavender B.
Chapters: 1, Words: 813, Reviews: 8 Published: 4-14-08
Status: Complete

She is poisoned and sickened by the stench of rotted secrets and shame, but she has a lovely French perfume and it's okay. Femmeslash.

Grasp Only Your Whiskey Bottle

2008-04-07T17:27:39-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Hermione G. & Severus S.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,050, Reviews: 5 Published: 4-7-08
Status: Complete

She is a very clever girl. Written for Saphira.

Add Truth to the List of Empty Words

2008-03-20T19:25:17-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Harry P. & Rowena R.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,911, Reviews: 7 Published: 3-20-08
Status: Complete

They miss each other on the way, the proverbial two ships passing in the night, and kiss the false images they hold. Written for Lord Baron Shae Black.

I Adore the Sight of Your Broken Metaphors

2008-03-03T21:51:27-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Avatar: Last Airbender
Language: English, Rated: K+
Genres: General
Pairing: Azula
Chapters: 1, Words: 773, Reviews: 9 Published: 3-3-08
Status: Complete

And forever is only a lifetime.

Breathing Dust and Desperation

2008-02-28T20:45:35-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Tragedy
Pairing: Hermione G. & Ginny W.
Chapters: 2, Words: 2,553, Reviews: 23 Updated: 2-28-08 Published: 2-25-08
Status: Complete

This is a love story. .:She says, Are you listening? I would live for you, she says. Are you listening?:. Femmeslash.

How to Lose at Life

2008-02-21T22:02:07-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Tragedy/General
Pairing: Ron W.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,444, Reviews: 13 Published: 2-21-08
Status: Complete

He remembers being naive enough to think that death is the worst thing that can happen to a person, but it is a distant, faded memory. Written for Cateagle.

Ten Reasons Insanity Tastes Better

2008-02-14T14:54:04-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Shikamaru N.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,462, Reviews: 9 Published: 2-14-08
Status: Complete

They are all ninja. Ninja do not break and they do not cry and they do not wake up from midday naps gasping for breath. The worst thing about tragedy is having to live with it, and Shikamaru knows this too well.

Stukkend

2008-02-07T15:48:56-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Hermione G. & Angelina J.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,573, Reviews: 3 Published: 2-7-08
Status: Complete

Femmeslash. Drug use. 'It's really hard to tell if we win or lose,' Hermione would have said to the unlistening air if she had been sober. 'Sometimes we do both, or neither, and sometimes we just lose and never know it.'

Kartong

2008-01-26T00:08:45-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General
Pairing: Lavender B.
Chapters: 1, Words: 993, Reviews: 5 Published: 1-26-08
Status: Complete

Once upon a time would be nice, but Lavender knew better than fairytales a long time ago. Her cheeks hurt. Requested by Vanir.

Keuse

2008-01-23T20:54:57-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Hermione G. & Padma P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,866, Reviews: 7 Published: 1-23-08
Status: Complete

..She closes her eyes as the camera flashes. It won't do to be crying in her wedding pictures, after all.. Hermione and Padma. Femmeslash. Gift fic for Addictive Passion.

Avsaknad

2008-01-04T21:02:09-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Angst
Chapters: 1, Words: 897, Reviews: 7 Published: 1-4-08
Status: Complete

..Blaise will understand, but he will desperately wish he didn't.. Requestfic for Professional Scatterbrain. Companionish to Muet and Taceo.

Cinq

2007-12-27T09:08:18-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Humor/Angst
Pairing: Naruto U.
Chapters: 1, Words: 829, Reviews: 7 Published: 12-27-07
Status: In-Progress

Five things that never happened to Naruto.

Ogenblik

2007-12-25T09:07:54-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General
Pairing: Parvati P. & Padma P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,099, Reviews: 8 Published: 12-25-07
Status: Complete

So it's wrong and they know it but don't care anymore. They have been undone and resewn, and their new cotton stuffing still has burrs left in it. Parvati and Padma and Harry. The war recreated them, and wrong is just a word. Incest. Threesome. Gift fic

Moeg

2007-12-23T03:05:19-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Angst/General
Pairing: Minato N. & Kakashi H.
Chapters: 1, Words: 452, Reviews: 9 Published: 12-23-07
Status: Complete

Kakashi and the Yondaime. Because ninja die for money and bad luck and good luck and sabotage and pride and honor and boredom and spite and the name of a village. Death is so cheap, and the Yondaime won't accept what Kakashi's offering.

Fuaim

2007-12-16T23:31:41-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Angst/Horror
Pairing: Harry P. & Voldemort
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,204, Reviews: 12 Published: 12-16-07
Status: Complete

..I don't know how to be me without you. It's barely a whisper, bitterreluctant and torn from Harry's throat so dangerously.. On the easy steps of going a bit mad. On the simple steps of going too far. On screwing the world and how to notcare.

Svalg

2007-11-15T07:50:24-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Horror
Pairing: Iruka U.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,364, Reviews: 17 Published: 11-15-07
Status: Complete

[The blood gets everywhere. It stains his clothes until he doesn't even bother replacing them anymore. It gets in the groove of his headband and mats his hair and sinks into his pores and dries under his nails.] Iruka misses the academy.

Mildern

2007-11-12T07:41:43-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Tragedy/Supernatural
Pairing: Remus L.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,479, Reviews: 5 Published: 11-12-07
Status: Complete

[The moonshine grows as what little Remus there is dilutes like iced tea left in the sun.] We are hollow men, and all that's left of him is the wolf and the moonshine. Requestfic for hpfan23.

Freisetzen

2007-11-09T11:04:23-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Fullmetal Alchemist
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Edward E. & A. Heidrich
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,596, Reviews: 25 Published: 11-9-07
Status: Complete

Edward has never been too old to lie to himself.

Desséchant

2007-11-08T08:02:51-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Horror/Tragedy
Pairing: Sasuke U. & Naruto U.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,235, Reviews: 19 Published: 11-8-07
Status: Complete

[He is fifteen years old and quite sure that it will never be possible to hate himself more than he does at this exact moment. He is wrong. He is so very wrong.] Eleven truths about Sasuke, and they don't get much more terrible than this, children.

Gevær

2007-10-15T07:44:40-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Adventure/Horror
Pairing: Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,595, Reviews: 10 Published: 10-15-07
Status: Complete

[He was angry, he was bitter, and he wanted to slaughter Voldemort, Voldemort's minions, and said minions' children just to be thorough. Luckily, Harry had a gun.] Request fic for DarkHercules.

Waarheid

2007-10-15T07:21:29-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Hermione G. & Draco M.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,136, Reviews: 13 Published: 10-15-07
Status: Complete

[She would rather guzzle whiskey like water and have drunken sex against the Black tapestry with her skirt rucked up and his trousers unzipped and her knickers torn enough for easy access but not enough to fall to her ankles until after.] Escapism and war

Hjerte

2007-10-03T07:50:23-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Peter Pan
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Tragedy/General
Pairing: Wendy D.
Chapters: 1, Words: 802, Reviews: 6 Published: 10-3-07
Status: Complete

[All we ask for here is that you give us your heart.] Being a broken woman is so much more terrible than Wendy had ever thought it would be.

Baik

2007-09-23T20:46:54-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Horror
Pairing: Orochimaru
Chapters: 1, Words: 907, Reviews: 12 Published: 9-23-07
Status: Complete

[Pretty words don’t mean a thing. Keep your eyes on him. Keep your eyes on him.] Orochimaru twists into you so naturally. Your castle will melt. Your bridge will wilt, and you. Won't. Care. [Pretty words mean everything.] For ChildOfDarkness15.

Oblivious

2007-09-22T00:49:45-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Humor/Drama
Pairing: Severus S. & Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 3,958, Reviews: 25 Published: 9-22-07
Status: Complete

[“It throbs,” Harry whimpered. “Put me out of my misery, please. I’m begging you! Do you get off on torture?” There was a choked sound from Snape’s vicinity.] Wherein Harry is oblivious, Snape is horny, and Luna makes bets with Hogwarts. Humor fic.

Kvæle

2007-09-19T01:20:35-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Avatar: Last Airbender
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Tragedy/Horror
Pairing: Katara & Zuko
Chapters: 1, Words: 901, Reviews: 27 Published: 9-19-07
Status: Complete

Katara stayed exactly where she was – flat on her back, staring at the stars but not seeing them. She doesn't care anymore. There's no hope in the world. For the world.

Duister

2007-09-17T21:14:23-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Tragedy/General
Pairing: Harry P. & Viktor K.
Chapters: 1, Words: 922, Reviews: 8 Published: 9-17-07
Status: Complete

[God, I can’t believe I just wrote that. I don’t know – I don’t know a lot of things, but – but nothing. She’s dead. She’s dead dead dead fucking dead.] Viktor gets a dark letter that leads to a dark day. Written for Joji Sada.

Taceo

2007-09-16T23:06:50-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Angst/Humor
Pairing: Luna L.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,156, Reviews: 13 Published: 9-16-07
Status: Complete

[A tiny fairy carried Luna's wand to her, panting. It was not a peaceful sort of silence.] . Gift fic for Her Royal Banditness. Companion to Muet.

Muet

2007-09-10T22:36:35-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: Luna L. & Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 845, Reviews: 16 Published: 9-10-07
Status: Complete

[When her mum finally managed to kill herself during one of her crazy, brilliant experiments, Luna did not say, “I expected it.” Neither did she make any allusions to fantastical creatures.] Written in 10Truthy format. Ten things Luna never said.

Halhatatlan

2007-09-10T15:56:46-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Horror/General
Pairing: Ginny W. & Tom R. Jr.
Chapters: 1, Words: 695, Reviews: 9 Published: 9-10-07
Status: Complete

[go on stick the knife up her mudblood cunt you blood traitor.] Ginny, on the madness of Tom. She would know, wouldn't she? Dark and strange. For Naruka, who asked for a Tomcentered fic. Best I could do, love.

Verskillend

2007-09-05T12:51:06-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Horror/Tragedy
Pairing: Harry P. & Severus S.
Chapters: 1, Words: 922, Reviews: 6 Published: 9-5-07
Status: Complete

[Harry doesn’t realize reality until he sees a redhead falling to the mud with a soundless cry, until the girl isn’t standing beside Harry anymore because her throat is sliced open and a splatter of her blood is all over his face.] Three different paths.

Cado

2007-08-08T16:16:40-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Angst/General
Pairing: Sakura H.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,150, Reviews: 7 Published: 8-8-07
Status: Complete

[You got strong and killed your dream because it was a lie that was going to drag you down. This is how the mighty fall.] Her team is dead, one by her hand. Sakura has let go, but not really, and she destroys her life for nothing. Twisted.

Defetiscor

2007-08-04T05:21:38-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Hermione G. & Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 470, Reviews: 4 Published: 8-4-07
Status: Complete

[The man’s hoarse, ruined voice says, “I’m tired of life.”] Hermione only wishes that her perfect memory had failed her, that her brain had repressed the memories. She's too tired to hate.

Adiabatic

2007-07-20T19:41:18-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Naruto
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Drama/General
Pairing: Hana I. & Itachi U.
Chapters: 1, Words: 814, Reviews: 9 Published: 7-20-07
Status: Complete

[He had smelled like blood and steel and oranges and something else she could never name.] Itachi never did say goodbye.

Ludibrium

2007-07-17T22:11:09-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Saiyuki
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: General
Pairing: G. Sanzo & Goku S.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,178, Reviews: 4 Published: 7-17-07
Status: Complete

REVAMPED AND REWRITTEN AS OF 4.22.09 "They will never give in to it, of course. The Merciful Goddess knows this, and se is freaking ephemeral, so se is obviously right." Se never thought it would go so far. Maybe Shangri-la is screwed.

Allodynia

2007-07-07T18:03:59-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Peter Pan
Language: English, Rated: K
Genres: Tragedy/General
Pairing: Peter Pan & Wendy D.
Chapters: 1, Words: 667, Reviews: 12 Published: 7-7-07
Status: Complete

The boy doesn't come anymore. In the dead of the night, she lies awake, waitingwaitingwaiting. A story in which sleep and life are both things for other people.

Hollow Girl

2007-05-31T11:00:36-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Hermione G.
Chapters: 1, Words: 584, Reviews: 7 Published: 5-31-07
Status: Complete

[The problem with burying herself in books is that she knows what is out there, and she knows she cannot touch it.] Hermione knows she is going to die.

Cliché

2007-04-21T03:48:21-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: K+
Genres: General
Pairing: Draco M. & Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 212, Reviews: 4 Published: 4-21-07
Status: Complete

Harry comes home one day and finds a letter. [Because the truth is cliché.]

Death Wish

2007-03-10T11:12:32-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: General/Angst
Pairing: Harry P.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,381, Reviews: 7 Published: 3-10-07
Status: Complete

[All of it is dancing with Death, dancing and getting the impression that the Death God has a grip on you and likes it, wants to fuck you.] They didn't let him die.

Oneiro

2007-03-01T12:15:14-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Labyrinth
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Angst/Tragedy
Chapters: 1, Words: 451, Reviews: 9 Published: 3-1-07
Status: Complete

Sarah doesn't dream anymore.

Flinch

2007-02-26T20:36:20-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: M
Genres: Angst
Chapters: 1, Words: 186, Reviews: 4 Published: 2-26-07
Status: Complete

[When you really think about it, maybe that flinch deep in your soul isn't the worst damage from the whole debacle.] In the aftermath, you decide to stop thinking.

Sometimes

2007-02-21T10:03:35-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Angst/General
Chapters: 1, Words: 196, Reviews: 8 Published: 2-21-07
Status: In-Progress

Sometimes, the past never stops mattering.

Clouds

2007-02-21T09:11:05-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Tragedy/General
Pairing: Harry P. & Lucius M.
Chapters: 1, Words: 2,357, Reviews: 6 Published: 2-21-07
Status: In-Progress

[You fly and you fall, but sometimes you fall and don't get back up again, and sometimes you don't even want to. The clouds mock you, and you were once sucked into a black hole...] HPLM

Grab A French Model, Of Course

2007-02-01T02:18:03-08:00

Author: Novocain
Category: Harry Potter
Language: English, Rated: T
Genres: Drama/Humor
Pairing: Harry P. & Draco M.
Chapters: 1, Words: 1,611, Reviews: 33 Published: 2-1-07
Status: Complete

Harry tells a few postwar truths. [I've spilled so much blood that I'm surprised I don't still smell like it, and sometimes I see splashes of crimson on my clothes, and it's. Not. Fair. I'm eighteen going on Vietnam veteran...]