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saekkas · 11 months

Text

𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄

summary: rin's becoming more human the longer he's with you. he doesn't mind at all.

tags: f!reader, merfolk au, shark mermaid hybrid rin, human reader, strangers to lovers, fluff, falling in love, cultural differences, kissing.

wc: 2k

notes: i'm honestly very proud of this. i hope i did rinnie justice!

rin normally doesn't care about anything else but hunting, it's a given with how quickly he's growing. only months before his eleventh birthday, rin's already outgrown the other merchildren in his pod.

his tail is getting bigger, stronger, and he's starting to catch up to the wild orcas roaming the big blue seas which he calls home. it's a pretty thing, sleek and smooth but scaly.

black as the hair on his head with coralline blue and teal swirling up the limb, he looks like the fearsome predator he is. not only that, but his skin is also becoming thicker even his sharp nails can't scratch through them like they used to.

what he most prides in himself though, are his teeth. shark teeth are unique in the way they shred, falling out every year to signify their age. rin collects his, keeping every single one on his neck, wrapped around a long piece of netting he found near the shore.

he has ten wrapped around his neck, proudly showing off their sharpness and glimmer to anyone who passes.

the coral reefs are beautiful this time of year, they're teeming with life and growing into their colors. rin's laying among one, absentmindedly running his finger through an anemone, watching as the clown fish scatter at his motions.

the sun is bright ahead, casting a light that shines directly on him. he loves the feeling. basking under the sun yet not burning because of his skin.

minutes or even hours go by. rin can never seem to tell the time, not when the current flows through his gills. he almost falls asleep right where he is when a shadow passes up head. rin's eyes flutter open and it only takes him a moment to propel himself to the surface, his hands tightly gripping at what he assumes to be a seal.

he flinches when your scream pierces his ears. even though the sound is cloudy under water, rin moves back, letting his hands fall to his sides. his dorsal fin breaches the water as he circles you, keeping his distance before swimming closer.

only to receive a kick to the face.

rin grunts, feeling the telltale signs of a tooth shredding. he keeps it in one hand, letting his tail push him out of the water. his head pops out, bright teal eyes and messy flock of dark hair surrounding his visage. he's surprised you don't react as dramatically as you did.

rin isn't as interested with humans as the rest of his pod but he's followed enough fishing boats around to understand and speak their language.

he eyes you, stiff as a plank on your surfing board. you're a small thing, weak looking, and pruned. he wonders what you're doing out in the middle of the ocean all alone.

at first, all that comes out of his mouth are hums and growls. he's trying to communicate the best he can but when you start to lift a leg again, which rin thinks is meant to be a threat, he stops.

"are you a merman?" your voice is shaky at best, as is your entire body. your hands clench around the shells you've been collecting, ready to throw it at the unfamiliar creature. "my grandparents used to tell me about you. i didn't think you were real."

fascination replaces the fear in your eyes, and rin feels himself stiffen. you look to be the same age he is, and you have nothing to protect yourself with. he sighs internally, letting out a low chirp that you seem to perk at.

"can you talk?" you use your legs, kicking against the calm waters to bring yourself closer to him. rin leans back, cautiously flicking water at your face with his tail. you giggle at his action. "i won't hurt you. in fact, you're the one who could hurt me if you wanted to."

he calms a little at that. rin has always been the cautious one, especially with the way humans use their machines to trap his kind for amusement. he nods, pointing at you and then at himself, speaking lowly, "i thought you were a seal. please don't swim alone like this."

he dives back into the depths, only looking back at your form one last time when he hears you yell something at him. your name. rin smiles, clenching the tooth wrapped around his palm, and swims back home.

the seasons pass, the necklace around rin's neck becoming heavier as he grows. he's recently turned twenty-one yet there are only twenty pieces of his teeth dangling around his neck.

he doesn't wear the eleventh one because of you.

through the years, rin's become verily acquainted with your presence. friendship, you had called it. at first it was another accidental meeting between the two of you when he was out hunting near the shore. one thing led to another and rin finds himself too used to your laughter, the little quirks that you possess, and the differences between your worlds.

he's a full-grown shark now. his shoulders have broadened, his tail a sight to behold. he has the ability to roam the oceans, swim across the world, yet the waters feel empty without you beside him. rin has to shake the thought out of his head when he hears your voice calling out.

the waters of the open ocean ripple when you kick and slam your feet, and it has rin shaking his head. he launches himself at your board, hearing your maniacal laughter when he breaches the surface. he tips your surfboard, effectively sending you right into the water.

"that's no fair!" you push the wet hair out of your face, splashing rin when his head pops out of the water. "i never get to surprise you."

rin flicks his tail, sending a wave of water right at your face. he chuckles lowly when you splutter. humans and their need for air never seem to not amuse him.

"my brother can probably hear you at the bottom of the ocean with how loud you were being."

you snort, waving your hand nonchalantly. "i'm sure sae is comfortably unaware of my presence in his secret cave."

rin only chuckles at that, swimming closer to wrap a hand around your waist, pushing you up against his chest.

that's another thing rin has become acquainted with ever since meeting you. skin ship. the act of touching itself is uncommon among shark folk. gentle caresses and acts of service are reserved only for family or mates. with strangers and even friends, aggression is usually what he uses; play fights, hunting, preying.

and here he is, letting you touch him and take away all his time as if it were a normality.

the worst part about it? rin feels as if he wants it, needs it. he can barely spend an entire day without you, your smile and gentle touches soothe him in ways he can't understand. he hates to admit it, but sae was right. he's been too blind all this time, like a guppy threading through murky waters.

he just needs to own up to it.

"hello? earth to rin?"

his eyes come back into focus, solely fixed on you. there's a smile on your face, your feet softly kicking against the water. the sun is setting behind you, and rin feels his heart beat out of his chest at the sight.

he hums, a mere flick of his tail sending you both forward. he wraps his arms around your waist tighter, careful with his nails, and helps you stay afloat against the water.

he wonders if you can feel the thrumming in his chest against yours.

"someone's distracted today," you hum, wrapping your arms around his neck.

moments of intimacy between you are sparce but they're special, especially on days where you both want nothing but to float away in the sea. his nails, pointed and sharp, trail up your waist and settle on your lower back.

he's not sure what's making you shiver. the cold temperature or his touch.

"something special happen?"

rin nuzzles his nose against your neck, right where your gills are supposed to be if you were like him. a low rumble sounds deep in his chest, one you recognize to be a greeting. one he never forgets to gift you.

"i have something for you." his voice by your neck is low, deep as the ocean you swim in. you feel his hands roam down to your thighs, guiding them to wrap around his waist. when they do, you hear him sigh, his dorsal fin slumping in content.

you watch with amusement, lifting a finger to caress the limb. it makes him groan, wrapping his hands around you tighter, before suddenly diving down into the depths, bringing you with him.

his movement are fast, and you try to keep your eyes open, even when the salt stings. rin does this often. most times when he's flustered or something's bothering him. today, you assume, it's a combination of both.

when he breaches the surface, you inhale as much oxygen as you can. looking around, you see that he's brought you onto a small stack of land that's covered in sand, surrounded by miles of water.

"i have something for you," he repeats, his eyes unblinking as he stares at you. "i want you to have it."

you let him open your palm, watch as he drops a necklace decorated with pearls and a single tooth in the middle.

"is this," you gasp, looking at the necklace around his neck and back to, what is now, yours. "rin. you didn't have to."

"i didn't." he nods as he says his words, now shyly avoiding your gaze. his dorsal fin stands rigid against his back, his tail anxiously wrapping around one of your legs. he's so different yet so similar to you, in so many ways. "i wanted to."

"thank you," you whisper softly, leaning over to where he sits by the edge of the water. "i want to give you something too."

"what is it?" his tail flicks against your thigh, the texture smooth and scaly, hefty above the skin. it's a weight you're used to. a weight that grounds you. "i'd like anything you give me."

there's the beginnings of a blush on rin's cheek and you silently giggle, wondering whether shark folk are always so brash and obvious with their words.

"well, i'll hold you to it."

rin hesitates, freezing when you lift a hand to his neck, gently caressing the gills on the area. he blinks, as if in a daze as your hand moves to his face, lingering on his cheek.

he's never let anyone come this close before. you've never come this close before. it feels foreign yet so much like home. he sighs, closing his eyes and slumping most of his weight on you, nuzzling his face into your hold.

he feels you lean down and blinks his eyes open when there's a gentle pressure on his lips. it leaves him tingling and he looks at you with wide eyes. "what did you do? what was that?"

"it's called a kiss." you swipe the hair that's covering his eyes away, still keeping a hand on his cheek. "it's what humans do to express their affection."

rin tilts his head, his tail coiling around your leg tighter. "you have affections for me?"

"i do," you say before laughing when he coos suddenly. he dives into the water right after, hiding his blush as only half of his head pops out.

"i have affections for you too." the sound of his voice is muffled by the water, but his excitement is clear with the way he's shaking. almost like a fish out of sea. a rin out of his element. "i liked that.. kiss too. can we do it again?"

"we can do it as many times as you want," you answer with a grin, tapping your thigh with a hand. "i can't kiss you when you're all the way there, though."

rin waddles closer to you, pulling himself onto the sand. letting his tail curl around your body, he smiles with sharp teeth as you pull him into another kiss. he can definitely get used to this.

#blue lock x reader #blue lock imagines #blue lock fluff #itoshi rin x reader #itoshi rin imagines #rin x reader #rin imagines #itoshi rin fluff #itoshi rin x you #itoshi rin x y/n #bllk x y/n #bllk x female reader #bllk x you #bllk x reader #blue lock x you #blue lock x y/n #blue lock x female reader #blue lock headcanons #rin fluff

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chaoticspeedrun · 1 year

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Donnie x fem! Reader The little merturtle 2

Summary: Prince Donatello was the third of four brothers, the prince of an underwater yokai city, but he has always been searching for something else far more interesting than the mystic arts he is used to, he wants to know everything about the human world, their traditions, their creations... But when he finds himself entranced by a human princess it might just be the last push he needs to make his dream of exploring the land a reality.

"You started stirring slightly, your eyes fluttering open while you reached up to hold the scaly hand on your face, Donnie knew he had to leave immediately, he knew he should be back in the water, he couldn’t let you see him! But maybe…he wanted you to see him."

Warnings: Angst with a happy ending, tooth-rotting fluff

PREV • MASTERLIST • NEXT

Curiosity killed the turtle

“Stand fast!” A sailor called out from up on the mast as the rain started to fall and most of the lights on the boat went out “Secure the riggin’!”

You bolted up from the edge of the boat where you were sitting and hurried to help the sailors who rushed about to avoid what the sudden storm could cause.

The next lightning bolt to hit the sky was too close for comfort and the waves grew wilder and more dangerous, you pulled ropes with all the strength you could muster, accumulated from your love of traveling the sea to secure everything.

Leo and Donnie were holding tightly to the ledge on the boat where they had been sitting when Mikey suddenly popped up on it “Woah! The wind’s all of a sudden on the move here! Yo!” he called loudly to his brothers before slipping and falling back on the water next to Raph.

“Donnie! Leo! Come back down here!” Raph called out from the water.

At that moment the boat moved wildly hit by a wave that enveloped it almost fully, making the sailors above lose their footing, you managed to make your way over to the helm and turn the wheel that had been left to turn on its own the other way around, attempting to keep the ship on course.

Donnie and Leo fell back on the sea, reuniting with their two brothers and they all watched as a lightning bolt hit the ship, instantly setting the sails and mast it hit on fire to the dismay of the crew above, unable to direct the ship it hit a huge rock, opening an enormous hole at the base of the boat and kicking most of its crew out of it, they fell into the water as did you with a scream, the statue of yourself submerging rapidly into the waters.

Casey swam along with some of the crew on the surface of the water when you called out for her and helped her up into one of the life-saver boats with some other sailors, you were grateful at seeing your friend safe on the boat when you heard a familiar barking coming from the ship and when you turned you realized Mayhem was still trapped in it and unable to get out due to the flames.

“Mayhem!” You yelled before recklessly, going back into the water and swimming your way back to the ship, climbing the stairs at the side and onto the deck, one of the masts however was unable to stand any longer, burnt and now falling in your direction, it crashed onto the deck, breaking the wood, you managed to avoid it just barely, but the fire made its way to the fireworks still saved down there.

You found your pet and called for Mayhem to come into your arms, it did, being caught by you but as you made your way out of the boat your foot went through one of the weakened planks, making you stumble and Mayhem fell out of your arms and into the water, Mayhem swam to safety but your foot was stuck on the deck, you desperately tried to pull it out but the flames finally engulfed the gunpowder and the boat exploded with you still inside and Casey screaming out your name from below in the small boat.

The four merturtles gasped in terror at the catastrophe but Donnie made his way to the remainders of the ship that were falling into the water, eyes wide with worry and Shelldon left behind with his brothers calling out to him.

Donnie looked around the surface, between the barrels, rope, and pieces of wood floating when finally he found you unconscious and falling off from a piece of wood into the water. He quickly submerged himself, swimming your way and taking you into his arms, pulling you back to the surface.

Donnie made his way to the shore with you in his arms, hoping that you were still alive against everything he’d seen happen.

His brothers, and Shelldon who now laid on Mikey’s shoulder, followed him silently from a little way behind, the shore wasn’t too close but by the time you’d reached it the sun was coming up and the storm was gone.

Green arms and a purple tail pushed themselves along the sand to make sure you wouldn’t be touched by the water if the waves increased, Donnie’s obsidian eyes looking at you and searching, worried that you might be dead, that your little crusade had been as bad as it had seemed from where he’d seen it.

With a hand he reached out to your neck and chest trying to find a pulse, hopefully, humans had the same tell-tale signs as most yokai to make sure they were okay, or he would have no idea what to do.

The merturtle sighed deeply in relief when he found a pulse and saw your chest rise up and down slowly, you were alive and you were breathing! He laughed in relief, running a hand over his face trying to calm down from the stress of the situation a moment ago.

He’d been so worried for a stranger, it wasn’t common for him, the less empathic of his siblings, to care so much about what happened to a stranger and yet he’d been the one of them to jump to your rescue impulsively, and for a human! Oh, he could already hear the enraged voice of his father in his mind, telling him how dangerous humans were.

But looking at you, laying there after what happened…you had worried about everyone on that ship, making sure they were safe before you yourself were, hell, you’d even gone back into an extremely dangerous situation, just to save your pet?! He couldn’t decide if it was just dumb or brave, considering where that had taken you, and yet he admired it, he’d admired your attitude during the situation, your determination.

But one thing he was sure of, you weren’t a monster or a barbarian, how could someone like you be everything his father claimed humans were?

His mind screamed at him that the way you had acted before was endearing, but he tried to keep those thoughts at the back of his mind, untouched, it was ridiculous, he should just leave now that he knew you were safe, Raph was probably in the middle of a panic attack by now.

Except when his hand left his face, and you were once again the sole focus of his stare, his heart trembled in his chest.

You were beautiful, he couldn’t help but compare you to the many yokai he’d seen, even the ones who’d been there to get his or his brother’s attention, there was a wide variation of yokai and merpeople around his life, but never had he been so entranced by someone as he was by you, even Leo had managed to catch onto that and Donnie hadn’t even defended himself to say otherwise, he couldn’t think of a way to deny it at the moment, despite how full of snark and biting retorts he usually was.

How could he? Was it just the craving for the unknown that made you so interesting to him? Your feat of bravery before where you had saved so many people and still gone back for your pet? Your wide-open smile as you danced so beautifully on the deck?

He remembered the twist he felt on his stomach when he’d heard you laugh.

The thoughts on the back of his mind that he was trying so hard to keep there –Because they were ridiculous, because he didn’t know you at all, because he had never been so attracted to someone and it scared him— burst out and he melted, with one hand reaching out to your face, his fingers trailing softly down your cheek.

He was ridiculous, but couldn’t he indulge in that ridiculousness for just a moment? Just a moment to indulge himself in his lifelong fantasies of being on land, and just maybe enjoying that with you, how bad could that be?

“What wouldn’t I give to live up top? Right here in your world” He mumbled wistfully “To learn everything there is to learn, maybe…you’d guide me? You could show me and teach me…”

Vaguely he thought of April, dear April who had a limit on what she could teach him, cursed long ago by his father to limit their interactions though they’d found some loopholes.

“You’re a princess after all, if anyone knows the land, wouldn’t that be you?” He asked thoughtfully “If I could walk, if I could run, if I could spend all day in the sun…would you smile at me?” A tiny smile made its way into his face, Donnie was ignorant of his brothers laying on a couple of rocks and looking at him with extreme surprise.

Mikey had stars in his eyes, finding the situation so romantic! Leo had a smile on his face, but it was weary, and worried, a frown on his brow for he had never seen his twin act like that, and when he did it was with a human? Leo thought sadly –while glancing at his older brother who looked panicky and borderline angry at the interaction— that this could only end in tragedy.

You started stirring slightly, your eyes fluttering open while you reached up to hold the scaly hand on your face, Donnie knew he had to leave immediately, he knew he should be back in the water, he couldn’t let you see him!

But maybe…he wanted you to see him.

And through this war in his head, you opened your eyes, lidded, and looking back at him with the sun on his back stopping you from seeing much more than a silhouette.

“What would I give to know more of your world…of you” the thought slipped his lips as he got lost in your eyes.

The moment didn’t last, Donnie heard Mayhem making his way to where you were, followed closely by Casey who called your name, and finally, his common sense kicked in, quickly he made his way back to the ocean, disappearing under the water before he could be seen by them.

You raised your head enough to see Donnie’s tail disappear into the water when Mayhem reached you and started licking your face, you couldn’t get your eyes off the sea, off the place where he had just disappeared, Casey reached you, a rare smile wide on her face as she saw you, safe.

“Oh, Y/N, you surely delight in the sadistic strain to my blood pressure, don’t you?” she asked, helping you up, you held your head, feeling a throbbing pain make its way quickly onto it.

“A-a guy saved me,” You said, your eyes opening more as you stared out at the sea, ignoring Casey’s words as you tried to put the puzzle pieces together “he…he was talking to me” you claimed, getting out of Casey’s grasp and walking closer to the water, your heart was beating rapidly and you couldn’t tell if it was because of the lack of oxygen you had experienced.

Bam, it hit you, like lightning.

It had been mostly a joke when you’d said so at first, how you would find the right guy, but you knew you would be able to tell, you could just tell “He had the most beautiful voice…” You swooned before your knees started giving out of you from the catastrophe you had just endured.

Casey held you in her arms, chuckling slightly “Ma’am, I think you swallowed a bit too much seawater, off we go” she said, helping you stand with an arm around her shoulders “Come on Mayhem.” She finished guiding you back to the castle and you didn’t say much else, but you couldn’t keep the voice of your savior out of your mind.

Said savior still watched you, along with his brothers from behind one of the rocks on the shore, his heart that had already endured so many twists and turns that day only beating that much harsher at your words, he had been selfish in wanting you to see him, but your reaction to it, to his voice, made him want to scream in joy, his tail making rapid movements under the water, stimming in the overwhelming emotions he was feeling.

“We just gonna forget this whole thing happened, got it?” Raph asked making a closing motion with both arms “Pops will never know! You won’t tell him” He said pointing at Mikey and Leo firmly “I won’t tell him, and nothing ever happened!” He finished confidently before his gaze ended up back on Donnie who wasn’t listening at all with a dreamy expression on his face.

Donnie raised himself up further on the rock, his eyes never leaving your form, his little indulgence had opened the gates for something he couldn’t stop anymore “I don’t know when or how but somehow I’ll find a way to explore the land, to explore the human world” He claimed with a soft grin “Just you wait, one day I’ll be part of your world” he finished softly ignoring the various looks on his brother’s faces, probably even forgetting he wasn’t alone.

His determination had never been greater, it felt so real, so close, so doable even if he didn’t have a method at all, the possibility had never felt this way, like he just had to do it, to finally follow his dreams regardless of what anyone said.

Because how could a world that had raised you be so terrible?

However, none of the turtles noticed the two sets of eyes following them closely, Huginn and Muninn showing their master through their eyes all that had just happened.

Big Mama giggled “Oh no no no no no, I can’t stand it, it’s too easy!” She said thrilled with Draxum smirking beside her “The boy is in love with a human! And not just any human, a princess!” Big Mama laid herself down with a terrible grin on her face “Oh isn’t this just ironic, Lou will just love that.”

Draxum spoke “And his brothers, so loyal, would surely do anything for their dear brother to avoid the terrible fate that you have probably already concocted for him” he hummed, a smirk growing on his face as he made a couple of vines bring him some glass bottles, glowing in a scary fuchsia and green “Like let’s say, their freedom?”

A couple of days later, Leo, Mikey, and Raph were hanging around their living room, Mikey playing around with some seashells, trying to find a way to stick them together, Leo staring at himself in the mirror and Raph looking at a curtain of seaweed.

“Donnie! Come out, you’ve been there all morning” Raph called out at the curtain, sure already that his brother had probably not slept much, as usual.

Donnie emerged from the curtains humming softly, no groans, no smart retorts, no frown on his forehead.

Raph would have worried way less if he had done any of those things.

Leo and Mikey looked at each other knowingly when Donnie just took a flower from a rock and started playing with its petals, not in the way he’d normally examine and study his plants, just, gazing at it and floating away.

Donnie bumped into their father then “Oh whoops, morning pops” he said jovially before leaving them all behind, the flower in his hand suddenly forgotten and floating right there as he left the room, humming once again.

“Oh, he’s got it bad” Leo chuckled.

Splinter looked at his son questioningly “What? What does purple got?” He asked, Leo’s eyes widened, and his grin was tense as he realized what he had just done.

He was about to change the subject when Mikey, bless his heart, who hadn’t noticed Raph making panicky attempts behind their dad for him to shut up spoke “Oh isn’t it obvious dad? Donnie’s in love!” Mikey said happily to the dismay of his brothers.

“Purple? In love?” Splinter grinned wide, believing that out of his sons, the one colored purple would be the last of them to ever experience such a feeling, Splinter could already hear wedding bells!

Raph and Leo glared at Mikey as their dad left and they quickly made their way to Donnie who was resting on a rock by the reef, deep in thought as he looked up, ideas running through his mind.

“Donnie—” Raph called out only to be interrupted by Donnie who was now sitting straight and looking at his brother with a grin.

“I have to see her again, tonight!” He stated with a firm nod like it was just a clear fact “April knows where the castle is, she can tell me if there’s a water source nearby.”

“Donnie!” Raph called exasperated while his brother swam around still speaking of plans.

“I mean of course I need to know more about her, it would be stupid to expect anything to flourish from two people who don’t know one another, it’s imperative that we meet multiple times for a crush to develop into something more solid.” Donnie nodded, continuing his rant to himself.

“Will you get your head out of the clouds and back in the water where it belongs?” Raph asked putting a hand on Donnie’s shoulder.

And still, Donnie wasn’t listening “I’ll swim up to the castle, then Shelldon will splash around to get her attention, or maybe he can walk over to her, though it would take much longer, but it’d be a softer approach, and then we’ll go—”

“Down here is your home!” Raph groaned angrily, placing himself in front of Donnie to finally stop him “Donnie listen to me, the human world is a mess! Life under the sea is better than anything they have up top.”

Mikey and Leo pulled Donnie to sit back on the rock while their elder brother tried to make a point.

“Goin’ up there would just be a big mistake, just look around you, Donnie! Isn’t the hidden city already interesting enough? Life for yokai up there is unheard of, they chase us, they kill us, the world up there is dry and boring, magicless and strict” Raphael attempted the convincing, Donnie rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, looking at his brother like he wanted to say something “They work all day up there, under the sun just slaving themselves while we have every resource we need to just chill all day”

“Maybe I don’t want to just ‘chill’ all day” Donnie grumbled under his breath.

“Life is sweet here, full of variety while the humans can’t understand anything but themselves.”

As his brother kept up his lecture, Mikey nudged Leo’s side and though he was apprehensive Leo eventually nodded, unwilling to listen to more of Raph’s lecture, they both whispered at Donnie to follow them and the three left quietly without the eldest noticing.

“You see Donnie? You already have so many things you love down here! The balls held at the castle and the botanic garden under the—” When Raph turned around, he noticed there was no one listening there anymore and he sighed “somebody’s gotta nail his tail to the ground” he grunted”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!” A little seahorse called out to Raph.

“Woah, hey, what’s up buddy?” he asked while the seahorse recovered from his hurry.

“I’ve been looking all over for you, I’ve got an urgent message from the king, he wants to see you right away! Something about Donatello” The seahorse scrambled away once again leaving Raph gasping loudly.

“He knows” Raph lamented in panic.

At the castle, King Splinter looked at the flower his son had left behind, chuckling while he thought “Let’s see now, who could the lucky yokai be to have gotten the attention of my son with the highest standards of all?” He hummed “Hmm it has to be someone of high class of course” Splinter nodded wisely before noticing Raphael at the entrance of the throne room.

“My son! Come here, come” He signaled and the merturtle made his way over to the king, slowly and fumbling with his fingers.

“Okay Raph, ya can’t overreact, stay calm man” He whispered to himself, directing a big unnatural grin to his father “Heeeey pops! How’s it going?”

Splinter was thankfully too distracted to notice and continued “Yes, Red, I’m concerned about Purple, like you boys saw in the morning, daydreaming, humming to himself, and I am sure you boys know the person in question for this attitude of his, hmm?”

“Oh, well, I—”

“Raphael…” Splinter dragged “I know you boys are trying to keep it from me, it is okay my son, what you are hiding about your brother, you can tell me can’t you?”

What to Splinter was reassurance in case they were worried about his reaction to the love interest –maybe it was a merman instead of a mermaid? He wouldn’t judge his son for that— to Raph sounded like he was being coerced into telling the truth of what he already knows, and Raphael was a bad liar, he folded.

“Raph tried to stop him pops! But he wouldn’t listen, even when Raph told him humans were dangerous, they are bad, they’re trouble! You’ve told me stories so many times, but Donnie, he is just so smitten—”

“Humans?” Splinter raised his voice face directly in front of his son “What about humans?!”

And Raph realized he’d messed up badly.

The three other merturtles were making their way to the cave Donnie had made his sanctuary, Mikey and Leo stopping at the entrance dramatically.

“So, what is this? GASP, no, did you guys rearrange my treasures again?” Donnie groaned trying to swim past them, but Mikey blocked him.

“Now Donald, why would we do that?” He asked innocently and Leo snorted.

“Yeah, why would we do that after going almost deaf the last time? How ungrateful” Leo said rubbing the slit where his hearing canal was.

“Then what is this all about?” Donnie asked, arms crossed.

“Well,” Mikey dragged out “we got you a little something, just, close your eyes?”

Donnie sighed but reluctantly complied, trying to peak slightly but being covered by Mikey’s hand as he guided him inside the cave, the sound of the rock sliding back closed behind him was heard before Mikey finally let go.

“Okay, open them!”

Donnie complied and his eyes went immediately wide with surprise, right in front of him, illuminated delicately by the beam of light entering the cave from above was your statue, the statue left behind from the wreckage of the ship that night, It was almost true to size and he relished in how beautifully it presented you, heroic and determined like you had been that night, though it lacked your smile.

“Ta-dah!” Shelldon said swimming around the figure of the statue “Isn’t this cool dude?”

“You guys did this?” Donnie asked in surprise, turning to his orange-coded brother who chuckled before responding.

“Well, I did have the idea to bring it here, but Leo’s the one who found it, oh and Shelldon supervised” Mikey nudged the blue-coded one who rubbed the back of his neck while Shelldon nodded.

“Yeah well, even though I don’t want to, ya know, indulge this impossible romance—yeouch!” Leo rubbed his arm where Mikey had just hit him before rolling his eyes and smirking lazily at his purple brother “Okay fine, I went looking for it, happy?” he directed the last part at Mikey “I thought you’d probably like to have something from her.”

Donnie grinned wide at his two brothers, hesitating for a second, not knowing what to say and surprised that they would have done something like this, especially Leo whom he’d expected to just be downright teasing about the whole thing.

Which, he hadn’t been, at all, it had been a couple of days after the shipwreck and not a chirp had come out of Leo in the meantime, Donnie found it weird but was grateful for the temporary peace, so he returned the favor not saying anything and just turned back to the statue.

“It looks just like her, it even has her eyes” Donnie smiled, committing every detail of the statue to memory “Of course, a statue made out of rock can’t be perfect but the artist definitely knew what they were doing, her beauty was well captured” he was chuckling slightly, turning around to look at his brothers when he caught sight of who was behind them, he gasped in horror at the sight of his father, right there in his secret treasure cove “Papa?”

Splinter looked angry, angrier than he’d ever seen and Donnie wanted to curl into himself at the sight, Shelldon did hide behind your statue and Donnie briefly noticed that Raph was right behind his father “I consider myself to be a reasonable yokai” Splinter spoke in a low and dangerous tone, the voice was sending chills through Donnie’s shell and he unconsciously swam back a bit “I set certain rules and I expect those rules to be obeyed” Before Donnie could even mutter an answer Splinter continued “Is it true you rescued a human from drowning?” “I had to—!”

“Contact between the human world and the mer-world is strictly forbidden! Donatello, you know that! Everyone knows that!”

“She would have died!” Donnie cried out.

“One less human to worry about!” Splinter spat.

“You don’t even know her! How can you make yourself the judge and executioner of a whole entire race?!” Donnie said exasperated, tears welling in his eyes.

“I don’t need to know her! Spineless, savage, harpooning yokai eaters, if they can judge lives so different from theirs why can’t I do the same? I at least know more about them than they know of us!” Splinter spoke loudly, waving his trident around.

“How would you?!” Donnie yelled.

“Because I was human once!” Splinter yelled out, the sound of gasps resounding through the cave as the four brothers looked at their father with eyes open wide.

“W-what?” Donnie had heard the rumor, hell the whole castle had heard it, but it was the dumbest thing he and his brothers had ever heard, or that’s what he had thought his whole life.

Splinter sighed, running a hand through his fur before speaking again “Long ago I was an important figure in the human world, I had everything until I was tricked by someone I loved” Splinter frowned deeply “I was used as a source of entertainment for humans, surrounded by only violence, but even then I didn’t hate them, it wasn’t until I was turned into this, trying to save four lives from a mad-man where I realized who was truly on my side.” Splinter signaled to them, making it clear who those four lives were. “The moment I took this appearance everyone I thought I could trust turned their back on me, worse than that, they chased me, tried to capture me calling me a monster, the humans who knew about the yokai hidden in the sea made weapons and ways to get rid of them however possible, their whole race, celebrating those who would show up with the skin of a yokai as a hero” Mikey looked like he was about to throw up, Donnie looked horrified and Splinter softened “Everything I’ve done is only to protect you from them, that human you saved may have been grateful the moment she breathed, but once she realizes who saved her she won’t look at you as a hero but a monster.”

Splinter tried to reach out for Donnie, but Donnie shook his head violently, unwilling to believe that was true “But I love her!” His words stumbled out and the moment they did Donnie blanched while his brothers gasped loudly or looked at him scared.

Splinter looked enraged once again “Is that true? Is that truly whom you were sighing for?” He asked disbelievingly “Have you lost your mind?! She’s a human! You’re a Merturtle!”

“I don’t care” Donnie managed to say, his head hanging low but his frown firm.

“So help me, Donatello! I am going to get through to you” The king raised his trident up, the weapon shining brightly as he wielded it “And if this is the only way, so be it” The trident’s light engulfed the cave and was pointed straight to a globe which shattered in pieces, hit by its power.

“NO!” Donnie screamed at his father; Mikey rushed over to his side to hold him while the tears finally spilled from Donnie’s eyes.

Splinter pointed his trident the other way, hitting more of Donnie’s treasures, accumulated from ages since he was but a child, they blew up in little pieces, others melting in their place, losing their form completely, Leo rushed over to his father with wild worried eyes.

“Dad, stop! You know you’ll regret it later!” He tried calling but his father didn’t speak, hitting with bolts more of the treasures, Raph looked terrified at the destruction and Donnie kept calling out for him to stop.

Donnie got out of Mikey’s grasp and reached his father, trying to stop his arms as they pointed the trident over to the statue of you “Dad, please! Don’t!”

The bolt hit its mark directly and it crumbled from the inside, the whole of it in dust, tiny crumbly pieces devoid of form or sense falling through the cove.

It felt like all his hopes and dreams had just been shattered right before him, it almost was so in a sense, everything Donnie had ever longed for and the idea of you in the first place, gone in only an instant, he crumbled to the floor of the cove, his palms covering his eyes tightly as a sob wracked its way through his throat.

His brothers floated there uselessly, looking at the wreck that was made of their brother and avoiding their father’s eyes as he made his way out of the cove, not without turning back to look at his son once before leaving.

It sometimes bothered Splinter how on mark Leonardo usually was, he thought as regret started filling his body, but he continued, thinking the harshness would at least keep his family safe.

Raph felt the worst of all, nearing Donnie slowly to apologize “Donnie, I—”

“Just go away” Donnie gritted through his teeth “go away goawaygoaway” he rushed his words out angrily, his face still deep into the palms of his hands, Donnie knew the moment he looked up he would tear out his frustrations on his older brother, screaming, thrashing violently, and why wouldn’t he? It had been Raph’s fault in the first place that his father had found out at all, Donnie thought bitterly.

Raph winced visibly and lowered his arm from reaching out to his brother, he glanced up at the other two, who looked conflicted but knew better than to overwhelm Donnie with their presence at that moment, they followed Raph, who looked defeated, out of the place, leaving Donnie to process his feelings himself.

Shelldon though, stayed behind, close to the cove for when Donnie was ready to come out.

Donnie wasn’t as alone as he’d thought he was though, two pairs of eyes staring intently at his form, knowing that this was the chance they had been waiting for.

#rise donnie x reader #rottmnt donnie x reader #rottmnt x reader #rottmnt fanfiction #rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rise! donnie #rottmnt donatello x reader #donatello x reader #donnie x reader #The little mermaid AU #Donnie TLM AU

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ghostxrose · 4 months

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One Life After Another, Forevermore | Bakugo Katsuki x Reader

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five (final)

Note ~ Hello, Lovelies! I hope that you all have been enjoying the series so far! I cannot express enough just how much I appreciate every like, comment and re-blog, so thank you all so much! This part will be shorter than the last two with only about 3.3k words, but I hope that you enjoy it all the same! <3

Tags/Warnings ~ Fem!Reader, Reincarnation, Soulmates, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Fluff, Emotional, Temporary Character Deaths, Depictions of Injuries, Potentially Triggering Content, No Use of Y/N, Hurts So Good (let me know if I should tag anything else <3)

You weren’t sure how long you had spent in limbo waiting for Katsuki.

It could have been seconds.

It could have been years.

You prayed it had been years for Kazuki’s sake. That sweet little boy deserved to have at least one parent to guide him through life.

You had also prayed that Katsuki had lived the rest of that life as well as he could have even if you weren’t by his side.

Even though your time in limbo was indeterminate, you spent it wondering when you and Katsuki would get a full lifetime together...

Because once you got one whole lifetime together, from meeting until death by old age, it was guaranteed that every single life afterward would be like that.

You were tired of one or both of you dying young, never able to finish out the lifetime together.

In the eyes of the Goddess of Fate, you were both still young souls, but the pain of losing one’s Eternal Love in horrible ways over and over again can make it feel as though one is much older than they are.

...

For 500 years, you had lived on an Earth where humans did not exist. Large creatures with massive wings, scales covering their bodies, breath made of fire, and the ability to communicate telepathically were at the top of the food chain during this reality. And you were born as one of those magnificent creatures.

The scales that covered your body were a deep midnight purple and had an iridescent shine in the sunlight, and the scales of your underbelly were a dark blue. The horns protruding from your head along with the claws on your hands and feet were pitch black. The massive wings on your back were iridescent black along the ridges of bones while the webbing was the same dark blue of your underbelly scales. The fire you could breathe from your sharp-tooth-filled mouth was violet in color and molten hot. Your eyes were violet with cracks of piercing blue, the same as they had always been.

Just like your previous lives, your mother showed you endless love while your father ignored your existence. The family, or more appropriately called flight, of dragons you were born into was fairly large and decently powerful. Not long after you hatched you were thrilled to discover that you had some familiar souls surrounding you. Souls such as; Izuku, Ochaco, Shoto, Momo, Tsu, Iida, Itsuka, and Tetsutetsu.

It puzzled you that they remembered you from their previous lives. That was one of a few firsts in that new life you were living. Another first had been entering that new life with more than just your parents, Katsuki, and Katsuki’s parents as familiar souls you could recognize. You guessed that the group of souls you met in your previous life that now surround you were either new souls cast down to Earth by the Goddess of Fate or you all were simply too spread out to run into any of them in any of your other lives. Either way, it made you realize just how much you seemed to learn about reincarnation with each new life you lived.

In that life of giant scaly beings, though, you decided to let Katsuki come to you. It had been a few lives since he was the one to find you so you wanted to see how long it would take your Love to set out on a journey to reunite with you. You could spare the patience and quite frankly you thought that it could be entertaining. You wondered if he would travel by himself or if he would bring others with him. You hoped he would finally reconnect with the red-haired friend he had during your Mermaid lifetime. Katsuki had seemed to really like that soul and you missed the cheerful energy the redhead always carried.

So you spent 500 years learning the ways of your flight, roughhousing with your friends, doing the tasks assigned to you by the elder dragons, and maturing. Dragons were known to live for a long time, the end of their lifespan reaching anywhere from 1,500 years to 2,000 years. Once a dragon had reached the age of about 500 years old they were considered mature adult dragons. At that age, they could leave their flight and go off on their own, join another flight, or stay within their birth-flight. They could do whatever they wanted to, even find a mate.

That world of dragons was much more peaceful than one would think. Dragons from all across the world had gotten along, so wars were simply not a thing. Sure, there were small fights occasionally either within flights or between two different flights. But that was just what would happen when one dragon touched another dragon’s treasures.

Peaceful. That’s what it had been like when you woke up to the routine sound of the flight elders’ roarings and wake-up calls echoing through the air. Early morning rays of dawn were slipping into the mouth of your cave when you opened your eyes. You let out a long huff as you stretched your sleepy body then stood up and made your way out of your cave. You sluggishly made your way to your flight’s field of sunbathing rocks. You found yours then laid yourself out on top of it, ready to soak in the warmth of the rising sun. Ochaco, Izuku, and Momo along with your other friends joined you and lounged out on their own rocks not long after you had arrived.

It was your flight’s morning ritual; the elders would go around to wake everyone, and then you all prepared for the day by letting your cold-blooded bodies heat up in the rising sun together. It was like a community bonding type thing done before everyone headed off to do their tasks. It was common for most to chat idly as you all splayed out on your rocks and gained energy from the sun’s golden rays.

Like most mornings, you chatted with Izuku, Momo, Tetsutetsu, and Shoto about where you would be hunting that day. That was the main task the five of you were assigned to do by the elders. Every morning, midday, and evening you and the other four members of your group would go out and bring back loads of meat for the whole flight.

As your bodies woke up and became more energized and warm, your little friend group got more rambunctious like usual. Playful swipes at each other, teasing words, and small puffs of smoke or fire had ensued like you were all still young whelplings. You and Tetsutetsu were probably the worst out of the bunch; constantly throwing teasing remarks back and forth, play-fighting every chance you got, and spitting harmless flames at each other. It was safe to say that you and Tetsutetsu were best friends in that lifetime.

As soon as the communal sunbathing was over and everyone was warmed up and energized, you and the other hunters set off to gather breakfast. The five of you flew down to a valley that you hadn’t hunted in lately and split up to hunt on your own for a while. When the five of you met back up, each of you carrying a few dead creatures, Izuku took inventory of everything everyone had caught. He deemed it just shy of being enough for the whole flight and suggested that you all try to gather more during the flight back.

Your group had been successful in grabbing more creatures on your way back to the flight and were praised gratefully by the elders. The five of you plus a couple of the elders distributed the food amongst eagerly waiting flight members before settling down and eating for yourselves.

The rest of the day continued on as normal as any other day of your life. You sunbathed a bit more with Ochaco, Momo, and Tsu. You went searching for treasures to add to your hoard with Izuku and Shoto. You had a strength competition with Tetsutetsu that you most definitely won (read as; lost) and had proven to the stubborn silver-scaled dragon once again that you can(t) beat him. You did your tasks and even went to the hot springs with your mother. That night as you curled up in the darkness of your cave preparing for slumber, you let the feeling of near-contentment settle over you even though you knew you wouldn’t breach full-contentment without Katsuki there.

You awoke later that night, moonbeams spilling into your cave from the full moon hanging at its highest point in the sky. The sounds of another dragon shuffling around your cave sent you into attack mode. If there was one thing about your flight it was that everybody respected everybody else's space, nobody just wandered in and out of others’ caves. So with that knowledge at the forefront of your mind, you launched yourself at the strange dragon rifling through your small bit of territory.

The both of you tumbled out of your cave and you pinned the stranger to the ground as warning growls rumbled loudly through your chest. You built up an inferno within your chest and was ready to release it when the invader spoke.

“Wait! Please, wait! I know that wasn’t very kind of me to do, just walking into your cave without permission, but I mean you no harm!” The dragon beneath you pleaded.

You glared down at him for a few moments as you took in his words then got off of the strange invader. Once he was upright again you took in his features the best you could in the light of the moon.

His body was all red, the scales of his underbelly a darker shade of red than the rest of him. His horns were the same shade of red as his body and his claws seemed to be gray in color. His eyes were red as well, similar to Katsuki’s, but a different shade. Before you could ask the invader anything about who he was or why he was there, angered roars and telepathic shouts echoed through the canyon and within your mind.

Different colored flames could be seen lighting up the night from a few different caves and you began to panic slightly. The red dragon you had tackled took off towards Izuku’s cave where bright green and bright orange flames had been spilling from. You wanted to make sure that your friend was okay so you took off, following after the red dragon.

When you got to the ledge of Izuku’s cave the green and black dragon himself and another dragon tumbled out. The other dragon that Izuku seemed to be fighting was covered in black scales, its underbelly a bright shade of orange.

You and the red dragon dove towards your respective friends and pulled the two fighting dragons apart. You stood protectively in front of Izuku, glaring at the two invaders when your eyes met the ones of the dragon that the red dragon had been holding back.

“Katsuki..?” You asked telepathically in disbelief.

Immediately, the crimson-eyed black and orange dragon stopped struggling against his friend and looked at you.

“Fucking finally! Yes, it’s me, Violet!” Katsuki telepathically yelled in relief.

Before you could say anything else to him, other members of your flight were exiting their caves. Most were curious about what all the commotion was about and a few were hauling other invaders out of their caves while demanding to know what was going on. You let out an annoyed huff while looking back at Katsuki, wondering if he knew or cared about the drama he caused.

“Don’t huff at me, damn it! I was just trying to find you!” Katsuki agitatedly shouted at you telepathically, giving you your answer.

After a long discussion with the elders, you convinced them that the foreign dragons were not here to harm anybody and did not pose a threat to the flight. The elders even graciously granted the outsiders permission to use a few of the empty caves to rest in so long as they didn’t cause any more ruckus. You, the outsiders, and even Katsuki thanked the elders then you led the outsiders to the caves they could stay in for the rest of the night.

You wanted to be petty over the headache Katsuki caused you that night and not let him sleep in your cave with you but one look and you gave into his silent pleas. You and he made sure his friends were settled before you led him back to your cave. Once inside, you both wordlessly curled up next to each other and fell into the best slumber you ever had during that lifetime.

The next morning when you awoke to the elders' calls you decided that you didn’t want to join the rest of the flight for morning sunbathing. You simply didn’t want to deal with all of the questions that your friends would have. So, you and Katsuki moved to the ledge that extended from the mouth of your cave and laid out next to each other as you awaited the warm rays of the sun.

“So, who are the members of your little band of troublemakers, my Love?” You teasingly asked Katsuki. He huffed annoyedly as he shifted his body to lay his head on your shoulder.

“The red one is Eijiro, you might remember him from your mer life. He was the redhead that always came around to bug me, that hasn’t changed apparently.” Katsuki said in feigned annoyance and you hit him lightly with your tail.

“The yellow and black one is Denki, he’s kinda dumb but entertaining. The all-black one is Hanta, he said he knew you from our previous life. And the pink and yellow one is Mina, she’s just as annoying as Eijiro. They all insisted on traveling with me and I couldn’t manage to get them off my tail at any point along the way.” Kastuki finished explaining and you huffed a laugh.

“You said Hanta remembers me? It's probably because he was one of the cooks, and also one of my friends from my life in the castle, last lifetime. Do any of the others remember their previous lives at all? My group of friends here all seem to remember me from our last life along with some having memories of their other past lives.” You told him as you both moved to sprawl out and let the sun hit your bodies fully.

“Well, Eijiro remembers you and me from the life you were a Mer. Denki and his Eternal Love are possibly new souls because they don’t seem to have memories of previous lives. And Mina is actually Eijiro’s Eternal Love, we just never got to meet her during the lifetime you were a mer. But she has memories of her previous lives. I’d say, out of both of our groups, you and I may be the oldest souls.” Katsuki told you and you hummed in agreement.

You shifted your body so that you were tucked into Katsuki’s side and he wrapped a wing around you, “Tell me, Kats..” You started.

“What, my Violet?” His gruff voice asked gently within your mind.

“Did you and Kazuki live a good life?” You asked forlornly as a cold sadness that not even the warm sunshine could thaw settled over you.

“We did, my Love. It was fucking painful at times without you there but I made sure our kid knew he was loved by not only me but you as well. He was so strong just like you told me he’d be and.. and he was just like you in so many ways. He had my god-awful attitude sometimes but most of the time he was just like you.” Katsuki told you, a sadly nostalgic and awe-filled tone in his voice.

Your heart ached at Katsuki’s words and you wished so very desperately that you could have lived that lifetime with them.

“Did you-” You began to ask but Katsuki cut you off knowing what the question was.

“Yes, Violet. Kazuki had his pops around until he was about 23 then I got sick. It was a bad illness that was rolling through the other kingdoms until it finally hit ours. Damn me for saying this, but my body was too weak to fight it off and once I got it, my body just quit on me. But I left that lifetime not worrying about our son because I knew that he was strong like his pops and brave like his mother.” Katsuki said in a slightly somber tone, his voice thick like he could cry if that was something dragons were capable of.

“Kats..” Your voice cried even if your eyes could not and Katsuki curled around you tighter.

“It’s okay, my Violet. We will see our son again. We will have our peaceful forever together as a family. I’m not sure when but I know that we will.” Katsuki soothingly murmured to you as his head nuzzled against yours.

You hadn’t realized at the time that your Love’s words would ring true during that lifetime.

Shortly after Katsuki had found you in that lifetime you, your Love, and both of your groups of friends had set off to start your own flight. Your flight had found a spot of free territory and settled there. You and Katsuki had each other, and your friends had their mates.

The years went on and on, full of both happy times and tragic ones. You and Katsuki welcomed the arrival of Kazuki in that lifetime with overwhelming amounts of joy in your hearts. You had rejoiced the day that the little dragon had hatched out of his egg. He had your midnight purple scales covering most of his body except for the burnt orange of his underbelly scales. He had his father’s crimson-colored eyes and a lot of your personality. He was just as Katsuki had described him being many years before when he had found you in that lifetime.

The bad times were rough on everybody. You and Katsuki had to watch your friends lose their Eternal Loves in sad or horrible ways. You both knew what that gut-wrenching pain felt like but you also knew that there was no way to help your friends. Just like both of yours, your friends’ lives rested in the hands of the Goddess of Fate.

You and Katsuki lived that lifetime with a healthy dose of fear that you could be ripped from each other’s arms within a moment's notice but something miraculous happened...

Curled up into each other, neither of your old bodies willing to move anymore and your breaths shallow and labored, you and Katsuki looked at each other and knew.

You both had finally made it.

You looked into Katsuki’s eyes, the sun setting behind where you both were lying in that grassy field, and you felt so many emotions at once.

“We made it, Kats.” You told him, your voice soft and quiet.

“We did, my Violet. We made it to our peaceful forever together.” Katsuki rasped.

“I love you, Kats. Don’t forget to look for me.” You whispered as your eyes closed peacefully.

“I’ll never forget, my Violet. I love you.” Katsuki whispered back, joining you in closing his eyes and giving in to the familiar pull of death.

Though this time, for the first time, you both peacefully welcomed death knowing that when you find each other again in your next life and the one after that and the one after that.. That you will have the whole lifetime together.

Author's Note ~ Just one more part after this one, Lovelies! I feel like I rushed with putting this out for you all, but with all of the feedback and love that has come from you all so far I couldn't keep myself from posting! I'm also a very impatient person, haha. Let me know your thoughts on the series so far and/or if you want to be added to the tag list! Much love and appreciation, My Lovelies!! <3

Tag List ~ @damnirina @queenpiranhadon

#One Life After Another Forevermore #katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugou x reader #bakugou katsuki x you #bakugo brain rot #bakugo katuski #bnha bakugou #mha bakugo katsuki #mha bakugou #bakugou katsuki x y/n #mha #bnha #my hero academia #fanfic #dragons

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thek1ngtalks · 1 year

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Meeting...

PT 1. @writerofthewinds asked and I shall answer

Jason Grace

You meet Jason Grace before he leaves Lupa's training.

You were only 6 when you had found your way to Lupa. You were being chased by monsters, scaly and sharp-toothed, when she had leapt into it's path and she single (pawedly?) handedly destroyed them into golden dust

You were taken back to her den, a little sniffly and injured, and she began training you immediately.

You weren't the only one she was training though. There was another boy with blond hair and a thin scar on his lip. He growled at you when he saw you, like he was a real wolf like Lupa

He didn't seem very nice but he was the only other person there so you still talked to him, even though he'd only respond in snarls.

You'd fight together and against each other often and it quickly became obvious just how stronger he was. You couldn't beat him in a fight but you two at least worked damn well together

You had asked Lupa once how old he was only to find out that he was a few months older than you, which felt like a stab to the gut. How dare he be older than you on top of being stronger

You only worked harder to stand on the same level as him, which seemed to please Lupa

Eventually, though you're not sure when, he had stopped snarling at you when you talked to him. You were succeeding in domesticating him! Now he was actually talking in broken sentences, though it was mostly to Lupa, occasionally he would respond to you

Of course he had started training under Lupa far earlier than you and one day she had taken him with her on a hunt and came back without him. You weren't allowed to ask where he went, she'd only reveal it when you passed your own training.

For the next year you had trained until finally gotten as far as Lupa could take you and she guided you toward Camp Jupiter.

You're greeted to Jason Grace, the Praetor instead of Jason, the feral kid. He is still quiet but there is no sharp snaggle-toothed snarling, though his stare is still as deep and menacing as a wolf's. He's,,, different.

You're unsure how you feel about that until you watch him for the first time standing as an imposing figure watching over the Field of Mars, lips pressed tightly together. He is the perfect praetor and you hate it.

You manage to meet him face-to-face after a good two weeks. He was alone for once, which meant this was a your only chance unless you wanted to wait another century for this miracle.

He had recognized you immediately and then there was a hint of the same kid who was more wolf than boy. His tense shoulders roll back and he stand in a more familiar stance, one much looser and relaxed.

His jaw loosens and you greet him first, following Lupa's way of greeting. A ducked head, pressing nose to cheek before half-stepping back. Jason follows like second nature even though your centurion told you that no one used that greeting anymore.

You spend an hour talking the same way you used to, where you did all the work and Jason responded in huffs, growls, one worded replies. It was familiar to you even after so much time.

You continue to chase after him even though he's so busy.

Actually, the reason you keep bothering him is because he's so busy. He is so young, he is barely older than you, and you know you couldn't do half of what he has to so you do the only thing you can.

You're there for him.

For a kid whose entire life has been abandonment, change, danger, you offer yourself a pillar of stability. If a rope snaps on a suspension bridge the whole thing falls down so you took up the job of fixing the ropes, protecting the bridge.

You both quickly developed an almost codependency on one another but admittedly, you're both stronger together than apart.

And years later, when you're both 18, Jason goes missing. One day he's there and the next it's like he disappeared.

You make quick work and pick up his slack. After so long of shadowing him you've almost subconsciously learnt the job of a praetor, so even though you lack the credentials you've assisted Reyna through it all.

More than once you've acted as each other's crutch, a large part of both of you missing— trying to forcibly mend the gap with meetings and paper work. It doesn't work well but you both manage to last, albeit haphazardly.

And when a boy with windswept hair and sea green eyes comes into the picture, things look up. You start learning to be independent, to be a leader, and then a giant war ship arrives. You see Jason, his new friends, and his girlfriend Piper, a lovely girl you're sure but it all feels like a betrayal. When he looks at you, it is with the same Praetor Jason Grace stare. There is no snaggle tooth, not even a nod.

And then he's off again with a fiery exit and you and Reyna are left to pick up the pieces again. You're both working to stop Octavian from pulling any cheep tricks when Reyna has to break the ancient law to chase after Jason and now it's just you.

You work hard against Octavian but there's not much you can stop without being a Praetor yourself. When he dies though, you do feel a little better.

After the war cools down and everyone starts licking their wounds, Jason is the one to go and find you. He talks low and smooth, asks why he can't seem to get you out of his mind, asks what you meant to him. When you tell him you were best friends, he shakes his head and says there has to be something more.

He tells you his plans to leave Camp Jupiter and how Piper broke up with him. You can't help being mad at him for abandoning you again but you're proud too because this, this is the Jason you had met all those years ago, feral and unashamed.

After a month of working to bring his memory back he kisses you, cradling your face between two scarred hands, and you wonder if this was something the old Jason would've done. You stop wondering when his eyes meet yours and you know, maybe this has always been inevitable for you two.

When you meet his friends as partners the only thing they do is get on his case about taking too long. Piper, who you've since learned is a bad bitch, whole heartedly approves and things are looking bright.

And happily ever after, no other books after that. It ends there. Shoo Apollo, go away.

{《☆》}

[This is,,, longer than Percy's and Nico's combined idek how brainrot maybe]

[Anyways hint for what I'm working on next because I can't keep my mouth shut: ✨️ soulmates ✨️, do with that what you will (aka what i mentioned last time i just never got started on it ngl)]

[L0v3, k1ng]

#k1ng talks #k1ng writes #pjo #jason pjo #jason grace #jason grace pjo #pjo x reader #pjo jason #jason grace x reader #jason x reader #jason grace x gn reader #jason x gn reader #jason grace x male reader #jason x male reader #jason grace x gender-neutral reader #jason x gender-neutral reader #lmaoo had to cover all my bases

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wheredidalltheusersgo · 5 months

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The Stranded and The Scaly.

Chapter 7 Day 7: Not alone.

Content warnings for chapter: Blood, slight gore, graphic description of wound

Geoff awoke with a yawn. Ezekiel was sleeping, curled up next to him. He drowsily pet Ezekiel on the head, and he received a rough purr in return. He had to admit, Zeke was pretty cute as a mutant.

He felt a bit grimey, though. Maybe he and Ezekiel could take a quick bath in that stream nearby?

He gently prodded Ezekiel awake.

The feral boy opened one eye and looked at Geoff with a curious expression. "Need something?"

"Uh, I was just thinking that we should probably take a bath, dude." Geoff fidgeted with a lock of his hair. Ezekiel nodded and got up before stripping down to his boxers. Geoff did the same. The feral boy then carefully lifted Geoff and carried him over to the stream. He lowered the blonde into the water and let him lean against a nearby boulder.

"Could you pass me my duffel bag, Zeke?" Geoff pointed to the bag sitting near where he had been resting. Ezekiel skittered over to the bag and brought it back to Geoff.

"It's a good thing I brought a bath kit, eh Zeke?" Ezekiel only nodded in response. Geoff opened the bag and pulled out a sponge and a small bottle of soap. Ezekiel waded into the water and sat in front of Geoff, who poured a bit of soap on the sponge and beckoned Ezekiel closer. "C'mon, I don't bite." Ezekiel scooted forwards until he was somewhat sitting between Geoff's legs. Geoff reached out with the sponge and began to scrub at Ezekiel's pale green skin, whistling a faint tune as he did so.

Ezekiel leaned into the contact with a happy grin. Geoff inspected Zeke's claws and gently cleaned the dirt out from under them.

Ezekiel swayed slightly as he began to fall asleep from the soothing touches, the blonde boy noticed and chuckled. "Don't start snoozing on me, sleepyhead!" Ezekiel's eyes snapped open at the sound of Geoff's voice. "We still have more to do today." Ezekiel nodded quickly and looked around for something to focus on, but his eyes landed on the slightly pink scars underneath the other boy's pecs.

He gently traced a claw along the scars and looked up at Geoff with a worried expression. "Hurt?"

Geoff smiled. "Nah, I'm not hurt. Those healed about two years ago."

"What they from?" Ezekiel questioned.

"Right, you don't know much about this topic... Well, I guess it's better to tell you now-" Geoff paused and ran his fingers through his hair as he leaned back and took a deep breath. "I'm trans. I wasn't born a dude, but I transitioned to one because being a dude made me happy." Ezekiel listened quietly and kept eye contact with Geoff. "I took testosterone and got top surgery to remove my tits." He explained while fidgeting with his hair. "So, yeah. That's what I am. That's what I've been for a while."

Ezekiel was silent for a few moments, but then he gave Geoff a thumbs-up and a grin. "Understand."

Geoff sighed in relief. "Thanks, homeschool. Let's finish our bath, yeah?" Ezekiel nodded and Geoff gently turned him around to scrub his back.

After a bit, Geoff finished scrubbing the mutant boy clean, who then took the sponge from him. "Sit still, I clean now." The blonde did as he asked and sat still as the other boy gently washed him off in return. Soon enough, that was done too, but Ezekiel stared at the bandages on Geoff's leg with concern.

"Need replace." The mutant boy lifted Geoff up and sat him down on the rocky edge of the stream so he could inspect his wounded leg. He carefully unwrapped the bloodied bandages and silently stared at the wound. It was almost grotesque. The tooth marks were deep, and despite some of the dried blood that had crusted around the wound, there were still small amounts of fresh blood emerging from the punctures in the flesh.

Geoff gagged and forced himself to look away. Ezekiel quickly ran off, got the first aid kit he had stolen from the medical tent, and brought it back to the party boy.

Geoff refused to look at the wound while Ezekiel began to carefully clean it with a small bottle of hydrogen peroxide and cotton pad from the kit. "Hurry up!.. it hurts!!.." Geoff whined. Zeke gently patted Geoff's thigh to soothe him. "Almost done." He spoke quietly and put the bottle and bloody cotton pad away.

Finally, he wrapped the wound tightly with gauze and bandages. Geoff sighed in relief and looked back at Ezekiel.

"Thanks, buddy. I really owe you one...." Geoff managed to say before he fainted and fell back onto the ground.

Zeke sighed, so much for "having things to do today." He carried Geoff back over to the sleeping bag and set him down after drying him off with a towel from the duffel bag.

He sat next to the unconscious boy and checked his heartbeat again. Satisfied with the results, he left the cave to go scavenge for materials.

-----

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crimsonsongbird · 11 months

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SIDON'S SUPPORT

To summon Sidon’s unconditional support to help you through a difficult time. Inspired by Prince Sidon from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

What You Will Need:

1 bowl of clean water

Sea salt, 1 tsp

1 hand towel

1 small shark tooth, any species

1 4in x 4in square of red fabric, any design

💧 Settle in a quiet, comfortable place where you will no be disturbed or distracted. Ensure that all your spell ingredients are within reach and you are in an area that is water safe in case of spillage.

💧 Place the bowl of water in front of you and add one teaspoon of sea salt. Stir until completely dissolved. Then place your hands in the bowl of salt water. Feel the cool water against your skin and imagine you are traveling to the Zora Domain. Inhale the salty scent of the water. Feel the cool breeze in your hair. Hear the rush of the waves.

💧 Once you have the location in mind, remove your hands from the water and dry them with the hand towel. Set both the bowl and towel aside. You won’t be needing them again.

💧 Now take the shark tooth, careful of the sharp edges, and wrap your hands around it. Think of Sidon’s sharp, glistening smile and how that smile makes you feel. What would it mean to have his unconditional support and confidence in you? Would you feel more confident in yourself? More capable? Would you feel truly supported, like you can take on any calamity that obstructs your path? Let all of those thoughts and feelings wash over you, flowing from your mind, to your heart, then to your hand and into the shark tooth. Continue until you feel that the tooth is full of his supportive energy.

💧 Reach over and grab the square of red fabric and set it on the ground before you. Carefully place the shark tooth on top of it. Think of the color red and how it symbolizes the color of Sidon’s scaly flesh. It is also the color of passion, motivation, confidence, and energy. Allow each of these colorful meanings to envelop the shark tooth, both figuratively and literally, as you wrap the tooth up in the cloth.

💧 Once the tooth is completely enveloped with fabric, press the bundle to your lips and seal the spell with a chaste kiss.

💧 The spell is now complete. Clean up your area and remember to carry the wrapped tooth with you for extra support during difficult times.

#pop culture witchcraft #pop culture spells #pop culture magic #pop culture practices #witchcraft ;; spells #spells #legend of zelda #loz spells #sidon #my spell #my post #my work #gif

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evolutionsvoid · 8 months

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The people fear the dragons, for they are large, powerful and have a knack for burning entire villages down. How could anyone gaze upon such an incredible, deadly beast and not feel terror grip their heart? Even those who never laid eyes on one have a healthy fear of them, as the many stories and legends inform them of their lethal prowess. Teeth like daggers, claws like swords, wings that could blot out the sun and a horrid breath that can reduce the strongest of fortresses to slag and ash. It is no surprise that these monsters have been immortalized in art, story and folklore. But one must be wary of such thoughts and obsessions, as we tend to focus on the big and blunt, while ignoring the small insidious things that lurk in the background. Dragons are vast and many, their species seemingly without end, yet most only see and hear of the great ones. Those that strike fear in our hearts yet dazzle our minds when we see their magnificent size and prowess. Some believe beauty can only come from bright colors and that danger is only found in the beasts far bigger than us. After all, what could be worse then a winged, fire-breathing monster bigger than a house? It turns out, lots of things....

There continues to be debate on if these creatures are real dragons or not, perhaps some horribly twisted kin that were malformed by magic. Or perhaps a vile species looking to capitalize on a widely feared and infamous look. Regardless, they are wicked beasts that fly upon a foul wind, striking from the shadows and taking those who walk alone. When not on the hunt, they dwell in dark abandoned places, like damp caves, forgotten towers and dilapidated buildings. They wait for the sun to set and for night to cloak their efforts. When darkness covers the land, they take to the wing and hunt. They taste the air for the traces of their preferred prey: Man. When the scent is found, they dive down and strike with blinding speed. Their spiked tail shoots forth, seeking to inject their targets with a powerful neurotoxin, which paralyzes the muscles and leaves prey helpless. They will dodge the desperate thrashing and flailing of their victims, constantly harassing them until they can get a single stab into their flesh. When their prey is downed, they will grab onto their bodies and clamber onto their backs. The spine is what they want, and the underside of their bodies split like jaws lined with eager teeth to latch on. Bony spikes drive into the flesh, anchoring them to their host, while their small head wriggles towards the base of the skull. Tooth and suction will let them clamp down, and their horrible tongue will burrow in to violate the brain. When their hold is complete, they secrete a digestive compound that breaks down both the host's flesh and their own bony hide. It won't be long til the slurry mixes together and congeals, effectively fusing the two creatures together. The wretched wyrm does not want to be separated from its tortured host, especially since there is so much to do.

With the creature latched on and fused, it hijacks the body of its victim and drives them to the nearest hiding place. They prefer shelter similar to their roosting lairs, but will settle on any forgotten corner to find peace. When their prey is taken far from prying eyes and angry mobs, they begin to inject a transformative fluid into their veins and skull. Within this liquid lies their own essence, and it begins to infect their flesh and bones. Over the course of days, the victim can only watch in silent horror as their body contorts and their skin hardens into monstrous growths. Hardened plates of petrified skin, horribly claws of jutting bone and twisted horns fashioned from fused hair. With each passing day, they begin to look less like human, and more like some terrible hybrid between mammal and armored lizard. Some people call them "lizardmen" or "dragonfolk," for their dry scaly skin, patchy plates and spiny look, but what they really are are humans wrenched into some unnatural shape by the parasite that grows further into their flesh. Some people think them more like ghastly gargoyles, horrible mockeries of both dragon and man, twisting their elegant features and brilliant minds into some misshapen gurgling wretch. When the transformation is far enough for their limbs to resume function, the new found monstrosity will be gripped by a terrible hunger. All those growths and changes used up a lot of energy, so they need to replenish. Plus, they will need all the nutrients they can get for what comes next...

Stumbling from their hiding place, these warped dragon men tear after prey with reckless abandon, thrown into an wild frenzy when they smell meat. They chase after prey with unnatural speed, snarling and hissing like ravenous beasts. Though their wings are far too small for real flight, they aid in great jumps, combining with their powerful legs to launch themselves at victims. When they are upon their food, they will look to jab them with the same venomous tail that doomed them with this fate. Wicked claws and powerful jaws rip frozen prey to shreds, and they gobble down every morsel as if it was the last. When the final scrap is devoured, they are on to the next, gorging themselves in this bloody feeding frenzy. They will hunt all night long, until their bellies are bloated and their bodies soaked in blood and flecks of meat. Or until some merciful soul cuts them down and frees them from this nightmare. Such a task, however, is not easy, as the raging beast views all creatures as food, and can easily rip armored knights in half in their madness. Some survivors of these fights even claim that these dragon men monstrosities have their own burning "breath," as they vomit a geyser of boiling bile during the struggle. If they are not slain and their bellies are filled, they limp back to their hiding place and begin to grow their kin.

Within their bodies, the eggs of the wyrm will begin to form and multiply, fed by the night's feast of blood and flesh. They develop within the bowels, shaped into wet tumors the size of walnuts. The intestines will soon be packed to bursting with these unborn parasites, growing as many as possible to ensure their horrid lineage survives. In a final violation of the host's dignity and tortured flesh, the whole mass is violently excreted from the anus, sprayed upon the ground and walls in a clumpy crimson shower. Depending on the strength and health of the monstrosity, this act may kill them and their bodies become food for the soon to be newborns. For those that survive, they will be forced back out into the night again to feed and reproduce, ensuring the land is never free from their terrible presence.

They are blight upon the land and its people, one many vow to destroy. Knights and legendary warriors go out to slay these abominations and burn their eggs to ash, yet these stories are never told. The painters do not shape their colors into these wyrms and their doomed hosts. The bards do not regal crowds with the terror inducing transformation and ghastly abilities. Art is not always about beauty, and folklore does not shy away from the grim, but perhaps there are subjects too wretched and foul to hang upon your wall and share with the local tavern....

------------------------------------------

"Parasitic Wyrm"

Goodness, I wanted to post so many more dragon things for Smaugust, but busy schedule and god awful heat really drained me! But no worries, as they will still show up in short time! Just won't be thematic!

For this fella, I was really pondering on if to include this in the Wrong Table world or perhaps another, but never settled on a decision. So for now it dwells in the ether. Eventually I will come to a real decision!

And jeepers creepers! Where did I ever come up with this design? (Har har)

#dragon #monster #creature #parasite #art #drawing #parasite dragon #body horror

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heyimdove · 6 months

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I am of the (minority?) opinion that you can and should make your GO fanart look like absolutely ANYTHING you want. I just want the fanart- do whatever. Skinny Azi? Female-presenting versions that don’t look like their male presentations? Someone is fatter/shorter/taller/lankier/scaly/pointy-eared/vampire-toothed/inexplicably hairy?? Aziraphale is a stump and Crowley is a pool noodle?? Suddenly they’re both the twinkiest twinks to ever twinkle? DO IT. I WANT TO SEE IT ALL they can be WHATEVER THEY WANT and their bodies are like t-shirts they can change!

I want to see Azi eating persimmons in Gaya confederacy Korea. I want to see them in an Arizona 60’s rodeo in kitschy pastel leathers. I want to see them brown-skinned in schentis as the pyramids rise. I want to see it all and I want to see how they look in your brain in whatever scenarios you cook up.

Put them in relationships that hurt my feelings!!! Show me how they look when they’re crying/dead/fighting/hurting each other— it will make me sad and I won’t like it! Put them in the onceler’s clothes! It will RUIN my day! But you should do it anyway if you want to because it’s your life and your time and you get to do what you want with it. And if I don’t like it I can just mute you. Easy as pie.

#just saying #I love your fanart #good omens #aziracrow #obviously cp is the exception here

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pkmnherpetology · 1 year

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let’s take a look at chewtle, which has the dubious distinction of being among the ugliest herp pokémon.

you may have heard the common misconception that chewtle has a single, large tooth in the front of its mouth. this is incorrect.

what we see here is the beginnings of the beak they will develop as they grow older.

if you look closely, you can see that the claws on their feet and the “tooth” growing out of their mouth are the same material. this is because the “tooth” is actually a keratin sheath beginning to emerge. as the chewtle grows, the sheath, which covers the bone structure of the skull, will begin to match the pigmentation of the rest of the chewtle’s head and develop a scaly exterior.

#.txt #pokémon #pkmn irl #chewtle #[this is a tough post to make. turtles don’t have teeth and trying to explain this design is difficult.]

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ghoulangerlee · 4 days

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take aim by sleep token is 100% a sunshine song

ive been thinking about this all day since take aim came on this morning on the way to school. fic thing below the read more :) sorry if its a little wonky, i havent written in a couple weeks

sunshine x cumulus x cirrus :)

her hands are overly warm sometimes, fire bubbling beneath her skin in a way she can't describe; the heat of them leaving behind redness whenever she cups Cumulus's cheeks in them; she soothes it away with a kiss, a rush of cool air against hot skin.

Cumulus smiles at her, sweet and small, leaning in for another kiss as her own hands come up to rest over the backs of Sunshine's, pouring love and affection in through their bond until there's a low rumbling of a once buried instinct vibrating her chest.

she wasn't the type to purr before being summoned; fighting tooth and nail to survive in the pit, but something about being surrounded by love, by her pack, it makes her want to give into her inhibitions.

(and she does, sometimes. in the quietness of her bedroom, curled up together with Cumulus, her ear resting over where Cumulus's heart is strong, beating loud and steady in her chest.

she's safe here.)

sometimes sunshine forgets she's more air than fire, even though the fire rushes heady in her veins, her temper catching and making her the more volatile one between the three of them; cirrus-sunshine-cumulus.

they're a trio now, sunshine welcomed into their fold so soon after her summoning. she doesn't have feathers like Cumulus or Cirrus or even Swiss, instead, she's got patches of scaly skin hidden beneath her clothes, clusters of scales gathered in the hollow of her throat, creeping up the sides of her neck; they're a coppery color similar to her hair.

it doesn't bother her that she looks more fire than she actually feels, but sometimes she wishes she had the soft feathers that Cumulus has, downy and gently against skin.

even when Cirrus coos at her and nuzzles in under her throat, cheek pressed against her overly warm scales, a happy and content sound, she often wonders if Cirrus is just humoring her eclectic parts.

she remembers being summoned, the questioning nudge of a somewhat territorial fire ghoul; she knows what she looks like and what she had looked like to Dew when they'd first met, her curls fanned out like a mane, her wings spread wide; they weren't feathered like the other air ghouls, but leathery, marking her closer to one of His creatures than the other ghouls.

there had been a somewhat wild look in her eyes when she'd landed on the surface, excited to be out of the pits, ready to be part of something other than strife.

the girls had accepted her in almost immediately, staking claim to her in a way that had eased something inside of her; she wasn't territorial by nature, having two fire ghouls even one that's only somewhat half of one, could be tricky, difficult, but she was mostly air and for all of her vices that settled her down, evened our turbulent emotions out enough to make it seem normal.

to make her seem normal.

except when she wasn't, but this was something that the others, that her pack had come to love about her, attuned to her moods so intimately.

Cirrus and Cumulus were her rocks though. the ones who kept her steady, kept her present even when the heat kept licking at her skin over and over and over.

able to give a firm hand when needed, the two of them typically handled Sunshine with gentle touches, they weren't afraid of her, of what she could do if left unchecked, if the fire beneath her skin broke free from its confines.

Sunshine's eyes flutter closed and Cirrus chirps softly, pressing a kiss to the cluster of coppery scales against her throat as the bed dips and Cumulus fits herself right into the nest, curling an arm over Cirrus and resting her head on Sunshine's pillow as the scent of calmness surrounds them.

somewhere deep in Sunshine's chest, a ragged purr rattles its way out.

#sunshine ghoulette #sunshine/cirrus/cumulus #cumulus ghoulette #cirrus ghoulette #the band ghost fic #my writing

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is-the-snake-video-cute · 1 year

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this isn’t a husbandry question, but do you know why snakes are considered only a suborder taxonomically rather than a full order? It seems like the order squamates is diverse enough that I’d expect it be split into one order for snakes and another for lizards

The general consensus among herpetologists is that squamates, while a very diverse group, have similarities strong enough that it's more useful to consider them all part of the same order rather than split it up. There are actually three suborders in Squamata: snakes, lizards, and amphisbaenians. They all have things that tell us they're members of the same lineage:

Scales. Squamates are also called "scaled reptiles" becuase they all have scaly skin that must be shed every so often. This makes squamates distinct from other reptiles, like crocodilians, who have scutes instead.

Kinetic quadrate bones - they all have bones in their skulls that make it possible to move the upper jaw independently from the rest of the skull. Not every squamate can, but their skull structure makes it possible.

The potential for venom. Not every squamate is venomous (not by a long shot, only about 15% of snakes are venomous and that number is even smaller for lizards), but something like 60% of all squamates belong to clades with venomous members somewhere in their lineage.

Taken all together, these three things that all squamates share tell us that they are extremely closely related and considering them as one order altogether can tell us a great deal about how all squamates evolved. If we considered snakes as their own order instead of a suborder, then we'd lose some perspective on how interrelated all three suborders are.

If we take a look at the single sister order to Squamata, the rhynchocephalians, we can see why no squamates are distinct enough to warrant becoming their own order. Rhynchocephalians, unlike all squamates, have a distinct tooth type, have fused skull bones, do not have the potential for venom, and have a unique skeletal structure including hourglass-shaped vertebrae and gastralia. Snakes are a little different from other squamates, but they're not that different!

#not a rating #reptile taxonomy #snake taxonomy #reptile evolution

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baldurspeen69420 · 9 months

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I wrote fanfiction and now im making it your problem

"There you are now, Noir. Doesn't that feel better? Don't you feel handsome?"

Shadowheart ran the fine-tooth comb through the black cat's thick fur. He purred and stretched himself on their bed, his tiny pink toes splayed in satisfaction.

"Darling, I love you, really. But don't you think you're spoiling your beast a bit?" Astarion was lounging in the plush chair across from them, one leg propped over the armrest as he thumbed disinterestedly through a novel. "Cats are clever. You inflate his ego too much he's bound to revolt against us, I'd wager."

"He would never, he has me wrapped around his little claw and he knows it."

Noir trilled and rolled languidly, his eyes round and inky. What was it Gale had said about Shadowheart herself so long ago? Eyes as deep as the Darklake? Like mother, like son.

It had been such a long time, hadn't it? A year now since the Netherbrain crashed into the ocean outside Baldur's Gate, a year since their odd team had parted ways. Gale going back to Waterdeep, Wyll and Karlach to the Hells, Lae'zel riding the astral sea on dragon back. . . Then there was only her and Astarion, no grand purpose waiting for them after the culmination of their journey. An orphaned woman still regaining her memories and a vampire spawn with no master.

So they went together, returning to nights of an all too familiar darkness. But things were . . . different.

For one thing, they no longer traveled together out of sheer circumstance and survival, but instead as friends. Genuinely.

They had despised each other at the start of everything. Shadowheart could still remember the cold of Astarion's blade against her neck upon stumbling across his crashed pod outside the Nautiloid. The desperation that led her to drive her head against his skull to escape. The moment of standoff before their tadpoles connected, before memories of dimly lit streets and gnawing hunger filled her mind. And then there were the weeks after. Her suspicion, his ire.

She called him petulant, selfish, self-aggrandizing, foppish, and ridiculous. He called her stubborn, stupid, prudish, and worst of all, an utter bore.

But time passed. They fought battles, traveled miles. She checked his more chaotic impulses, he made her laugh. And now here they were, sharing a room in a dingy inn south of Neverwinter. Plus the cat Shadowheart had added to their little duo to Astarion's very vocal annoyance. But she pretended she hadn't seen him stroking the feline's head when he thought her out of eyeshot.

"What is it you're reading, anyway?" Shadowheart asked, leaning over to try to see the cover.

"Nothing much, just the book I found under your bed when you went out." He replied. "What is it? Lust of the Triton Prince?"

"You!-" The tips of her ears burned red as she sat up to try to snatch the novel away. Astarion lifted it out of reach with a tut.

"Oh come on, I'm just about to get to the good part. He's about to present Devina with his scaly trident. I'm too invested to put it down now!"

"What in the hells are you doing rooting around under my bed?" Shadowheart demanded. "Can I not have an ounce of personal space?"

"If you didn't stash little tidbits like this around, I'd have no reason to go scrounging, would I? Let me read, please?"

She huffed. "You can borrow it for tonight, but mind yourself next time. I think you're acting very bold for someone within guiding bolt range."

"You would never." Astarion didn't even look up. And he was right, of course, she wouldn't.

Shadowheart leaned herself back onto the bed with a sigh. He was like an annoying little bloodsucking brother. But he was her annoying little bloodsucking brother, all things considered. "Since you're this far already, how do you feel about Prince Neptunias?"

"Ugh, gods, don't get me started." He rolled his eyes. "He's beyond irritating. The whole nobleman's honor thing makes me gag. There's not a chance he'd really be half as interesting in bed as the author writes him. Now Larius on the other hand . . ."

"You're not even supposed to like Larius, he only cares about his family fortune."

"I just see a man who knows what he wants. And really, what's wrong with that? If the author didn't want you to root for him, they shouldn't have made him so attractive."

It was a fair point, his introduction always made Shadowheart a little weak in the knees. Something about the blue eyes and the duelist boots, perhaps.

Once the sun had set they were off on the road again. Shadow had gotten used to sleeping during the day on Astarion's schedule. It wasn't as if they had much of a choice, seeing as how he'd be reduced to embers if they went out into the sunlight. But this journey was meant to change that. They were going to find a cure for his vampirism, and she was going to recover a relic of Selune in the process.

As they walked, her eyes wandered up toward the stars. She thought about an old friend once more, the image of her silver sword raised to the heavens.

"I do wonder what Lae'zel is doing up there, right now. Cleaving through hordes of Beholders perhaps?"

"If I had to guess, I would say she's covered in blood and spearing a few of Vlaakith's little minions. I'm sure she's in her element." Astarion replied.

Noir rested heavily in Shadowheart's bag, leaning against her side and keeping some potions warm under his weight. Another fragment of the past bubbled to the surface of Shadowheart's mind.

"And these pets, what purpose do they serve?" Lae'zel had asked, tiny nose in the air as usual.

"They're dumb animals to feel superior to." Astarion said.

Shadow wrinkled her nose at the two of them. "How about comfort? Companionship? Do any of those words mean anything to either of you?"

"I'd rather find my comfort and companionship in a strong set of arms, but I guess not everyone gets that opportunity, do they Shadowheart?" He snarked.

Lae'zel nodded. "The spawn speaks truth. No base creature could compare to the pleasures of flesh and tongue."

"You're both disgusting. Are you incapable of thinking beyond your genitals in any scenario?"

"I'd never dream of it and I find the very insinuation insulting." Astarion drawled.

What night had that been? Just before the raid on the goblin camp? It had to be, she could remember the bowl of stew in her hands that Gale had labored over half the evening. And the special ingredient Karlach had generously added in an attempt to be helpful. That was how Shadowheart learned she had no spice tolerance and a burning hatred for Elturel hot pepper.

She had also watched their Githyanki companion directly dunk her hand into a scorching pot of stew to fish out a few chunks of meat, to Shadowheart and Astarion's fascination and disgust. No one touched the leftovers after that.

A cold rush of wind brought the cleric back to the present moment. She breathed in the smell of the dewy grass and adjusted a strap of her armor.

"I wonder if we'll see her again." She said, more to herself than Astarion in particular.

"Who's to say? Stranger things have happened. I'm more curious if they've made a fitting shrine to me yet. Didn't she say she'd memorialize us as liberators of her people? We really ought to get proper recognition for our efforts."

They walked in silence a moment until Astarion broke it.

"I do miss her too, you know."

"I know," Shadowheart said. "I can read between the lines with you."

The vampire scoffed. "Is it so easy? I need to become more mysterious, give you a challenge again."

"As if." She rolled her eyes and turned her face away to smile.

#baldur's gate #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 #bg3 spoilers #astarion #shadowheart #they're friends your honor #feel free to yell at me for misinterpreting their behaviors and personalities #and for my grammar

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