#so I thought I’d start adding some little koi fish

[iloveyoumorethansoup]

I love koi fish. I have a vivid memory of my grandparents having koi fish in their pond in the backyard. I was not born yet when there were fish in the pond. I remember them being orange and apparently they were

#I don’t know how I remember it #I’ve started collecting koi fish recently #my room is a little too teal and grey teen aesthetic #and everything is centered on my akko monet koi fish keyboard #so I thought I’d start adding some little koi fish #and all of the sudden one day I just like. remembered seeing those koi fish in the pond #and I was on the phone with my mom today and I’m like. were there fish in the pond in grandma’s yard? #and she said yeah. and I’m like were they koi fish? and she’s like well yeah #but I don’t think they were still in there after you were born #and I showed her a picture of some little ceramic koi fish. one was orange and she says yeah they looked like those #and I’m dead sure they were orange #and she says well maybe they were still there but they died so quickly and they were put in shortly after the pond was installed so Idk #and im like describing the memory and she goes well maybe you were alive #but I remember the pond always being there. I really don’t think I was born yet #my grandma who lived in that house recently died #and for whatever reason it’s only after she died that I could remember that. I’ve loved koi fish for years now so I’m not sure why I #only remembered afterwards. I don’t know. it’s weird. but it does make me miss my grandma a lot #rip grandma #I should fly home to see my grandpa. he isn’t doing very good #dementia is Not something u wanna see anyone go thru #0/10 would not recommend #not sure what wires in my head crossed to create that memory #but it’s a nice one #soup talks

[talkfastromance4]

/clementine/part 2: Ashton Irwin

Here is part 2! Thank you all for the love and kind words on part one of /clementine! Left it open ended, thinking of making this a series of dad!ashton so let me know if you’d like me to continue!🥰🧡

Read part one here

Word count: 3.8k

Warnings: mentions of pregnancy, morning sex

Masterlist

• • • •

A few weeks have passed, and their garden grew with more flowers, a two-person double hanging egg swing chair, and three new koi friends in the pond that she rightfully named Felix, Oscar and Patricia.

“Patricia?” Ashton asked scrunching his nose when the fish were delivered.

“Yes, Patricia, it’s the perfect name for her,” she responded with an indignant pout. “Did you know koi fish represent good luck, abundance and perseverance?”

“I didn’t,” he shook his head and watched her happily as she twiddled her fingers in the water. The fish swam up to her fingers out of curiosity, one of them (Ashton can’t remember the name) kissed her finger and she giggled. “Which one was that?”

“Felix. He’s going to be the fun one, I can tell.”

Every day since they received the fish, she’s been out in the garden for hours watching them and recording videos of them swimming. While he was working on some more music or video chatting with the guys she’d send him a snapchat with one of the fish peering up at him.

Patricia misses you, come say hi.

“Sorry guys, I gotta head outside. Patricia misses me,” Ashton tells the guys with a dramatic sigh.

“Who’s Patricia?” Luke asks stopping his guitar playing.

“One of his fish,” Michael chortles cuddling his face into Moose’s neck.

“Is Patricia really a fish?” Calum clarifies.

“Yes, Patricia is a fish. As is Felix and Oscar that Y/N so rightfully named them.”

“Oh, well good. I was gonna come over there and kick your ass if you were two timing Y/N,” Calum defends in her honor. The other three join in on laughter. As if Ashton would ever think of cheating on her, the notion of it was ridiculous.

“I would never,” Ashton shakes his head solemnly.

“Well, I guess your lady and fish need you,” Luke says picking back up on the song he was playing.

“They’re more her fish than mine.”

“Nah, they’re both of yours. Don’t kill them like your damn lemon tree,” Calum reminds him with a shake of his head.

“Fuckin’ lemon tree,” Ashton mutters then gets another message from her that’s just a string of fish emojis. “All right, I’ll talk to you later.”

He exits the video call then heads outside to the flower oasis where he spots her sitting on the swing leaning over her legs so she can peer at the pond. Ashton added another small pond with sand around the edges and it had lily pads floating on the water’s surface. He joins her on the swing, his hand finding homage to the center of her back while hers rests on his leg.

“See! She missed you, look,” she points to Patricia (the golden yellow one) is swimming away from the edge of the pond.

“She’s swimming away!” Ashton laughs rubbing her back affectionately.

“She poked her head to the surface when you came, you just didn’t see. Right Patty? How was the call?” she leans back in the chair folding her legs beneath her. Ashton pushes his feet on the stones so the swing moves.

“Good, good. We were actually talking about getting together for Halloween at Michael’s. Just something small.”

“That’ll be fun,” she sighs resting her head on his shoulder then lets out a big yawn.

“You’re still pretty tired, huh?” he asks in mild concern. Since putting the flower oasis together, she’s been more sleepy than normal, and he’s worried she might be getting sick. Did he overwork her? Was she still in that murky space of being neither here nor there?

“Yeah, but I’m not getting sick, I promise. I usually get a sore throat if that happens. I should be getting my period soon so that could be why.”

“Still, let’s get you some vitamins and orange juice,” he kisses the top of her head.

“Yes, doctor.”

**

She wakes up to a mug of steaming coffee next to her side of the bed and Ashton playing guitar outside carries into their room through the cracked window. It’s a clear, sunny day and while she stretches her chest and lower belly ache at the pull. Thinking nothing of it, she grabs her cup and heads outside to join Ashton on the swing.

“Morning my pretties,” she says to the koi fish who splash excitedly at the surface. She turns to Ashton and smiles, “Morning my other pretty.”

“Good morning sleepy girl,” he smiles shifting a little to the left so she can fit in the space next to him. “How are we feeling today?”

“Well rested.”

“Yeah?” he raises his eyebrows as he plucks at the chords.

“Mhm,” she hums sipping at her coffee.

“So, you won’t be asleep on the couch in about an hour and a half?”

“Nope.”

After breakfast she was fast asleep on the couch and Ashton couldn’t help but laugh at his prediction being accurate. He feels something nagging at him in the back of his mind that something is going on with her. The Halloween party at Michael’s is this Friday and she’s been so lethargic for almost a month now. She swears she feels fine and says her body clock must be off or this is her body’s way of catching up on sleep she’s missed.

Ashton thinks it’s neither because they haven’t been anywhere apart from the grocery store and a restaurant here and there. Last week they went to the costume store to pick up their matching ringmaster outfits (The Greatest Showman was on repeat for a straight week) and she yawned throughout the whole shopping process. Then, she was snoozing on the drive home.

“It’s creepy to watch someone sleep,” she mumbles but her eyes are still closed.

“If you’re talking to me then you’re not asleep.”

“I felt your eyes and it woke me up,” she frowns then pats the back of the couch cushions. “Come sleep with me.”

“I already slept last night,” he laughs, “like normal people do. Are you turning into a vampire or something where you sleep during the day?”

“Come here and I’ll bite you,” she smiles peeking at him through one of her eyes.

“Is that a threat or a promise?” he situates himself behind her, his arms and legs pulling her against his body. She drags his hand to her mouth biting into the side of his hand. “Ow! Hey!”

“Told you I’d bite you,” she sighs snuggling into his chest. “Watch the show and I’ll sleep.”

“Are you sure you’re--?”

“I’m fine. No sore throat and no fever. Just sleepy.”

“I heard mono starts out like this…”

“It does and I had it when I was eighteen. I’m still eating so my appetite hasn’t disappeared. Who have you kissed that you think I’d get mono?” her tone turns sharp, but he knows she’s teasing.

“You know what I mean,” he nibbles at her earlobe and she squeals.

“It’s not mono or the flu or the bubonic plague. I’m just sleepy for some reason. Now shush, let me sleep or I’ll get cranky.”

He falls silent but his mind is still whirring trying to figure out what could be wrong with her. It’s not normal to be this tired and sleep all the time, is it? Is there some kind of sleep disorder that was onset somehow? Is she becoming narcoleptic?

Eventually, his 0-100 reeling thoughts make him tired and he joins her in a long nap on the couch. The next time he opens his eyes the sky is a dusty pink; his mouth is stale, and his joints are sore from laying in the same position. He feels something tickling his forearm, so he opens his eyes to see her finger circling over one of his moons.

“Are you awake now?” she asks softly.

“Yup,” he groans as he stretches his limbs and pulls her tighter against him. “You’re too comfy and your sleepiness is catching.”

“Welcome to the dark side,” she kisses inside the crook of his elbow. “I’m hungry, can we order pizza for dinner?”

“Sure angel, anything you want.”

**

She wakes up to two things: one of them being Ashton’s finger tickling designs up and down her thigh and the other being an insatiable desire for him. To be close to him, feel his breath on her skin and his fingers on her body.

She rolls over planting herself on top of him and presses her lips to his in a needy kiss.

“Well, good morning,” he groans when she rubs his morning wood with her hand. His own hands slip under his tank top she’s wearing to grasp at her breasts.

She moans at the contact, sucking on his lower lip and grinds herself on top of him. His thumbs and forefingers pinch her nipples and she lets out a gasp not usually feeling stimulated that way. Normally it’s his suckling and scrape of his teeth that get her aroused, she squeezes his shaft in reaction and Ashton huffs.

He removes his hands from her breasts to hook his fingers beneath her underwear.

“Get this off,” he sighs. She lifts her hips yanking the material down her legs then yelps in pleasure at his finger slipping between her folds. “Did you wake up this wet, pretty one?”

He holds her chin carefully with his fingers, loving the way her mouth opens in a small ‘o’ as he teases her lips but his actions make her retaliate by slipping her own hand below his boxers to circle her thumb over his tip. Ashton’s mouth falls open as well, their bodies curving into one another to feel more of each other’s touch.

“Ash…” she whines trying to tug off his own underwear.

It’s not normal for them to have morning sex, she’s self-conscious about her breath and bed head regardless of how many times Ashton tells her she’s perfect, he feels himself leak at the thought of slipping inside her now. They work together to get his boxers off and she holds herself up with one hand while the other gripped his warm, hard cock and nudged it between her folds.

She pushes herself down on him, his tip prodding against her opening, her slick acting as lubricant. She bites her lip in concentration as she pulls him into her the same time she pushes on.

“I got it, baby,” his hand replaces hers and he rubs his tip up and down her opening, gathering more of her arousal.

A small moan erupts from her as he coaxes himself inside her warm walls. It takes a few tries since they haven’t done foreplay but when he slips all the way in the moan she makes is sinfully delicious. She lowers herself the rest of the way, arching her back as she does and Ashton groans as he molds with her body.

She’s warm and snug around him as she rocks on top of him, her fingers twisting into his hair while his grip her ass and waist. He lifts his head the same moment she lowers hers, their tongues mingling together desperately.

Her hips dip and rotate as she rides him, Ashton’s hands guiding her movements as their kiss deepens. Starting at a steady rhythm to only increase his momentum with each thrust, her moans escaping into his mouth.

“Just like that, baby,” he praises on her lips, their hips smacking together.

“Right there,” she mewls breathlessly, their bodies rocking faster.

It’s intimate and sensual the way they’re making love, he needs her closer with each squeeze and roll of her body and she wants to feel every part of him. Their movements become jerky as they chase their release. He feels her clench around him, and he knows as her moans increase in volume that she’s close, that he’s making her feel good.

Ashton slides his legs up, so she’s angled as he fucks into her quickly, his hips snapping in quick succession against hers. She gasps as she comes on top of him loving how deep he is inside her. He transitions his hands to her face, holding her head so he can kiss her, his thrusts changing from quick snaps to a rolling pump so she can catch her breath.

“Have some more for me?” he mutters, fingers knotting in her hair. She nods and his long pulls shift to quick snaps yet again. Her hips meet his, her moans are louder than before and her pussy pulses around him in bursts.

This position, along with doggy style, makes her have multiple orgasms because he hits the perfect spot each time. She’s met with wave after wave of pleasure that rolls into one another, each one greater than the last. She peeks at him through half-lidded eyes and Ashton’s self-control falters.

Any time she makes eye contact while they have sex takes him to another level entirely. And now, seeing her in the morning sun, her face glowing and flushed has him reeling.

His strong arms hug her tight to his body as he fucks her relentlessly, her mouth sucking on his neck in his sweet spot. He’s giving her all he’s got, his body exerting his never-ending love and desire for her makes the bed rock.

“Mmm…come for me, babe,” she whines.

The sound of command in her voice has him stop mid-thrust as he reaches his climax, the lower half of his body suspended up in the air. She clenches with each release he gives her; his grunts tickle her toes as she’s filled with his warmth.

When he’s finished, he slowly lowers himself back onto the bed and she collapses on top of him so they can catch their breath. Their bodies are sticky, breaths hot on each other’s necks and she stamps kisses to his bare shoulder. His fingers move over the bumps of her spine that are sheened with a light layer of sweat. The tank top is damp and with a huff she rises off him to tug it off.

“Made me too hot,” she grumbles settling back on his chest.

“You are too hot,” he grins, and she rolls her eyes and attempts to lift her hips so he can pull out of her.

“Wait, wait,” he stills her movement by gripping her waist. His hands are hot on her skin and it makes her body shiver in the best way. With a groan he rolls over so he’s on top of her and still inside of her. The cool air on his sweaty back feels wonderful and the sight of her naked and pleasured in front of him is a sight for sore eyes. “Fuck, look at you.”

He cups her cheek and pulls a kiss from her, their bodies warm and electric in a post-sex haze.

“Why’d you flip us over?”

“So when I pulled out we wouldn’t make a mess,” he grins cheekily. Holding himself up he pulls out of her slowly but his release dribbles out onto the sheets anyway. “Ah fuck, that wasn’t supposed to happen.”

She joins his giggles at his attempt of a no-clean-mess, then admires the way his necklaces dangle and his dark curls cling and frame to his face. There are small bite marks on his neck from her mouth and his chest shines from the sweat.

“Remind me why I don’t like morning sex?” she cocks her head to side as her eyes devour him once more. His body is glorious, and she feels like she has to pinch herself in reminder that he’s real every time she looks at him.

He slips off the bed to retrieve a towel from the bathroom, her eyes zero in on his bare ass as he walks away from her. When he returns he wipes at the inside of her thighs then folds the towel in half and places it beneath her hips to catch whatever else leaks out. Ashton lays next to her resting his palm on her stomach.

“Because you’re crazy in thinking I’ll be disgusted by your morning breath,” he rolls his eyes and pokes her nose.

“Oh…so how was it?”

“You really have to ask? That was one of the best sex experiences we’ve had.”

“No! I meant my morning breath!”

“Oh…it was tolerable,” he shrugs then busts out a loud laugh at the expression on her face. “I’m kidding! Your breath doesn’t smell, so please, if you ever want to have morning sex again don’t hesitate.”

For the rest of the week they started their days by having sex as soon as she woke up. She pulled him from his slumber in very intricate ways. She was still pretty sleepy throughout the day, but she was only napping once a day now instead of three times. When Halloween finally arrived and they were dressed for Michael’s Halloween party, Ashton couldn’t keep his eyes off her in her costume.

The ruffles of her skirt stopped at the perfect spot on her thighs and the corset she had on made him groan at the sight. Her lips were painted a desirable red and he reminded himself he had to behave while they were around their friends.

Upon their arrival they were ushered to the Halloween back drop to have their photos taken then she was whisked away from his arms by the girls for another slew of photos. The night is filled with good laughter and fun until Ashton saw Y/N sprint off towards the bathroom.

He follows her quickly and arrives in the bathroom just in time as she kneels over it. He holds her hair as he crouches next to her waiting for her to be finished. She doesn’t drink often but when she does she always has a good handle on what her limit is and stops before she has a chance to get sick.

He tears off a wad of toilet paper and wipes her mouth when she slumps against him, her black heels scraping against the tiled floor.

“One too many shots?” he asks, and she shakes her head.

“I haven’t had any alcohol,” she whispers, her voice hoarse from throwing up. “I don’t think the mini corn dogs agreed with me.” Her face twisted in disgust at the mention of the food, Ashton tilted her head up so he could look at her.

Her eyes aren’t glossy and completely focused on him.

“You haven’t drunk anything?”

“I had some 7up but that’s it, I wasn’t feeling that well on the way here and alcohol didn’t seem like a good idea.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t feeling well?”

“Because I was excited to see everyone and I thought it would pass,” she clears her throat then winces.

“How do you feel now?” he caresses her forehead, but she doesn’t feel feverish.

“Better now that I threw up,” she chuckles.

“Do you think you’ll be sick again?”

She sits up a little straighter then pushes herself off the floor. Ashton helps her stand, keeping a steady hold on her arms in case she’s wobbly but she’s sturdy enough.

“I don’t think so,” she rubs her stomach then looks up at him. She smooths his concern from his eyebrows smiling softly. “I’m fine now, I promise.”

“Maybe we should go home, let you rest—”

“No, we’ll stay until Luke will inevitably pass out on the kitchen floor. Let me rinse my mouth and I’ll meet you back out there.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go home?” he stresses his concern for her well-being.

“I’m positive.” She takes his hands in hers.

“And you’ll tell me if you’re not feeling well and we’ll go home?”

“Yes.”

Ashton looks her over one more time, as if there will be a sign of an illness but she looks perfect in her get up aside from the pale in her face from getting sick. He sighs then brings her hands to his lips, kissing them. “Fine. I’ll be downstairs waiting.”

Ashton’s brainstorming all the possibilities of what’s going on with Y/N when he returns to the party. While he’s thinking of illnesses Y/N’s counting days in her head over and over as she gargles the mouthwash. It isn’t until she spits into the sink and stares at her reflection that she knows what’s going on with her.

**

Ashton had some errands to run and started rattling off all that he bought to Y/N while he pulled the items from the bags. He gives her a quick kiss while he continues, completely oblivious to how distracted she is and her constant glance towards the backyard.

“What’d you do today?” he asks when he’s finished his story.

“Uh, I decorated a little in the flower garden. Can I show you?”

“Sure, let’s go,” he smiles then follows her outside.

She steps carefully on the stones and sits on the swinging chair waiting for Ashton to approach. His eyes scan over the space, taking in the multitudes of colorful flowers then he stops on the fishpond. Felix, Oscar and Patricia are swimming lazily in a circle with a small orange rose floating in the center. He doesn’t really notice what she’s decorated then stops short when he’s at the middle of the path.

On top of the rocks where the water bubbles down are four white ceramic vases filled with orange and white baby’s breath and a light green ribbon tied around the neck. Each vase is perched on its own rock and Ashton loves the simplicity of the arrangement she’s done.

“They’re beautiful, angel,” he compliments.

“Did you see what’s on the vases?”

Below the ribbons on each vase is a letter painted in black. Ashton’s eyes scan over each one about five times before he gasps, his eyes widening as he looks at her. The vases spell out ‘baby.’

“You’re pregnant?” he rushes towards her falling in the space next to her on the swing, his hand flying to her stomach.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispers nervously.

He lets out a ‘whoop’ of excitement jumping up from the swing so he can peer at the vases again. Then he lifts her in his arms spinning her around in joy.

“Careful! I’m feeling a little nauseous today,” she laughs, and he sets her down on her feet. He kisses her. “Are you happy?”

“Of course, I’m happy! When did you find out? How far are you? Do we need to go to the doctor?” he fires off, his hazel eyes alight.

“I found out after Halloween and I think I’m three months…since it’s December. I made an appointment for next week already,” she answers all of his questions. “That’s why I’ve been so tired, and sex crazed.”

“So, you aren’t sick, thank God. Instead you’re pregnant!” he kisses her feverishly again, his hand hovers over her stomach and he kneels once more. “There’s a baby in there,” he murmurs pressing a kiss to her lower belly. “Hi baby love, I’m so excited to meet you.”

She pulls him back to his feet so she can kiss him. All her worries and nerves float away in the wind because he wants this just as much as she does.

• • • •

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#ashton iriwn fic #ashton irwin fluff #ashton irwin smut #ashton fluff #ashton smut #dad!ashton #dad!sos #ashton irwin fic #ashton irwin one shot #ashton one shot #ashton 5sos #ashton 5sos writing #5sos writing

[haikyu-hoe]

Love From Abroad

Tendou Satori x reader

one shot, fluff

this is one of my first times writing, so feedback is appreciated! dm for requests :)

hope you like it!

———————————————————————

You’re an exchange student in Japan and today is your first day at Shiratorizawa Academy. You’re a second year. You’re quite nervous but you’re confident that you’ll make friends.

When you get to class, the teacher asks you to introduce yourself to the class.

“Hi i’m y/k, i’m from [your country] and i’ll be joining for the rest of the year”, you say with a shy wave.

You sit on an empty seat beside a black haired girl with cute chubby cheeks.

“Hi i’m Elen”, she says with a timid smile.

You smile back at her and the lesson begins. This is harder than the classes you had at your previous school but you think you’ll get used to it. After all, you’ve always been pretty smart.

At lunch you sit with Elen and a few of her friends from your class and they’re all super nice to you and even offer to give you a tout after classes end. You of course accept this offer gladly since you kinda got lost this morning...

During the tour, they show you many things.

“Here we have the library, over there is a place where you can study and there’s 3rd years to help you and over here is the sports wing”, explains Lin, one of Elen’s friends, a short girl with brown, wavy hair.

“Thanks for the tour! I really appreciate it”, you thank them with a big smile.

They then leave to walk home but you decide to stick around a bit more. As you wander in the corridors you get to the sports wing Lin talked about. Curious about how big it might be, you walk down the main corridor. You can hear balls thudding and smashing on the walls inside one of the gym. You push the door shyly and go sit on a bench with other spectators.

“Their volleyball team is pretty good... Well i did hear it was what they call a powerhouse school so...”, you think, kinda zoning out.

One of the players, Ushijima, seems to be the star of the team. But he’s not the one you’re looking at. A red haired funky boy caught your eyes. He’s so charismatic and his bandaged fingers just look so hot...

You listen closely and finally catch his name: Tendou Satori.

After practice ends, you get up to leave but someone shouts behind you. You turn around to see a black haired boy with a choppy haircut and... TENDOU?!

“OI!!”, they say enthusiastically.

“h- hi?”, you ask, unsure if they’re really talking to you (even though there’s no one around anymore).

“I’m Goshiki and he’s Tendou”, says the black haired boy. “That over there is Shirabu and that, of course, is Ushijima. Are you new around here? I don’t think we’ve ever seen you around before.”, he says with a bright smile.

“Yeah i’m new I just transferred from [your country]. I’m y/k by the way!”, you reply, holding out your hand.

Goshiki shakes it while Tendou just looks at you with some weird smile that is somehow so attractive?

“Y/k huh... want me to walk you home?”, Tendou says while getting extremely close to you.

“Sureee”, you say. “But aren’t you tired from practice?”

“Don’t worry, it’ll replace my stretching!”, he says happily. He then grabs his bag, puts his arms around your shoulders and guides you to the exit.

“He sure is a people person huh”, you think. You’re kinda lost in your thought but you catch a few things he’s saying. He’s a 3rd year in class 2, and he’s a middle blocker. He then goes on about the other team members and fun facts about the school.

“Soooo tell me about yourself nowwww”, he says with that weird smile again.

You blush a bit and scratch the back of your neck and reply “Well i’m new to everything here, but i made a few friends in my class. I’m in second year, class one. The team was really amazing today by the way”, you try to be nice to him.

His smile widens at those last words and you walk in a comfortable silence back home. You thank him and walk inside.

“fuck...”, you mutter to yourself. It didn’t even take a full day for you to be completely in love with this strange volleyball player.

[time skip]

The next morning, you hurry up to school so you can look at the gyms before going to class. You catch a glimpse of Tendou, but of course he doesn’t see you.

At lunch, you tell Elen and the others all about last night. Lin is especially excited and Akira even lets out a little squeal. They convince you to go to practice again tonight.

When you get to practice, you quietly sits on the spectator’s bench but Tendou still notices you and smirks at you with a slight wink.

Luckily he quickly turns back to the game so he doesn’t see you blushing like a tomato. Watching him is fun but you can’t wait till practice is over and you can talk to him.

At about 5 pm, he finally gets out of the boy’s changing room and walks up to you.

“Heyyyy~ were you waiting for me?”, he says in a teasing tone while raising one eyebrow.

You blush a bit and lightly punch his arm.

“Why would i wait for such an idiot” , you say with a smirk. He pretends that your words are breaking his heart and then laughs. You had heard him laugh before but never that way... it was so carefree, so... adorable...

On the way home, he catches you staring at him, lost in the admiration of his perfect self.

“you ok y/k?”, he asks.

“ye- yeah sorry”, you reply quickly and start looking in front of you.

“soooo are you free tomorrow” he suddenly asks. You most certainly didn’t expect this. Does he mean as a date?? Maybe he juste want to hang out, i mean you barely know each other right?

He looks at you amused by the confused look on your face and his grin gets wider. He lets out a little chuckle before adding “yes, as a date y/k”

You blush heavily. It’s no use trying to hide it, you’re like a volcano about to erupt.

“yes! I mean um of course”, you reply nervously. You scratch the back of your neck, something you do each time you’re nervous.

“Great” he says happily, in a sing-song voice. “I’ll pick you up at 11 alright?” he adds.

You nod your head. God what will you wear?? Will you hold hands? Kiss even? What will you guys even do? All these questions keep you awake that night but you still fall asleep after a while, so happy about that date.

[at 10 the next morning]

You wake up, grab some quick breakfast and jump in the shower. You have to look perfect for this. After carefully planning an outfit and doing your hair and makeup, you hear the doorbell ring. Your heart starts beating faster.

You open the door to see a casually dressed Tendou grinning widly at you. He’s wearing black ripped jeans, adidas shoes and a hoodie that matches his hair colour. It’s so weird seeing him without his school or volleyball uniform.

“hey y/k~ you look...” he looks you up and down while blushing before continuing. “...great. You look great.”

You just blush as he takes your hand and drags you along with him.

“where are we going, Tendou-kun?”, you ask in a shy voice.

As a reply, he simply smiles at you and whispers “you’ll see”.

Impatient to know where you’re going, you try to get him to walk faster. But Tendou is not in a hurry at all, and since he’s stronger than you, you have to follow his pace. No matter how much you whine, insist and plead, the red-haired noodle boy refuses to reveal where you’re going.

After about 20 minutes you get to a 50’s themed restaurant. The inside is amazing with its vintage jukebox, checkered floor, coca cola adds and Marylin Monroe posters on the walls, retro booths and milkshakes on the menu.

You sit down on a booth by the window and order a milkshake. You share it with two straws, and when you both lean in to take a sip, your faces get so close they almost touch... Tendou’s breath feels warm close to your lips.

He then leans back and crosses his arms behind his head and just stares at you.

“Why did you agree to come today, y/k-chan?”, asks Tendou. He looks eager to receive an answer but he also looks like he’d rather not know in fear of being disappointed.

You give out a light chuckle before answering.

“because i wanted to, of course! You’re the nicest guy i’ve met and ever since I first saw you play i knew you were special.” you reply calmly before taking another sip.

He blushes like mad but then leans in to take a sip too. As you both let go of the straws, he lifts your chin with one finger and lightly kisses your lips. You’re chocked at first but you kiss back after a few instants.

He suddenly breaks the kiss and leans back. He looks out the window, nervously scratching his crimson hair. You start to wonder if maybe he regrets it...

“y/k i’m sorry that was so sudden i should’ve asked please forgive me i didn’t mean to-” Tendou starts talking saying quickly but you cut him off.

“tendou.” He finally dares to glance at you. “i’m glad you did. And i hope you’ll do it again” you whisper the last part but he still hears you. It’s enough to put a gigantic grin on his face. He leans in closer to you over the table and rests his chin on his hands.

“Then would you mind if we did something next weekend?” he asks while raising an eyebrow.

“i’d love that, Tendou-kun”, you reply.

For the following week, he walks you home each night but nothing really happens. You just talk and laugh, realizing how much you love him.

When the weekend comes, you get butterflies in your stomach as you get ready in the morning. Tendou should arrive soon, so you have to hurry.

When the doorbell rings, your heart does a loophole. Tendou is standing on your porch, in his cute casual clothes. He winks at you after saying a sexy “hey” and grabs your hand to bring you to another mystery place.

As you walk, you can only focus on his hand in yours... his fingers are so long, his palm so huge... but it’s their perfect temperature that makes them so wonderful. And god let’s not get started on his eyes and hair...

Time goes by so quickly when you’re with him, so before you know it you’ve reached your destination.

“we’re heeeereeee!” sings Tendou.

It’s a wonderful park with a small pond in which several koi fishes are swimming. A few ducks also swim around them and there’s lovely benches all around.

You sit on one of them and rest your head on Tendou’s shoulder. You can’t see it but his whole face lights up at this gesture.

“say, y/k-chan” starts Tendou. You turn your face to look up to his. He takes both your hands in his before continuing. “would you let me be your boyfriend?”

Your cheeks flush bright pink as you reply “of- of course Tendou-chan!!”

He smirks before kissing you softly. As seconds pass, he kisses you more and more roughly until you both run out of breath.

He looks at you like you’re the most beautiful thing in the world while you’re both trying to catch your breath.

He cups your face softly and puts his forehead on yours. You look tenderly in each other’s eyes, before Tendou finally speaks.

“thank you y/k-chan... i feel so comfortable around you, you make me feel so lucky, so... so... so happy. I hope i’ll feel like this forever and that it’ll be reciprocated” he says as his eyes fill with water.

You raise a hand to wipe his tears as you reply “I’ll stay as long as you need me, Satori. You’re so dear to me, i’ve never felt this way before” you sweetly replying.

He blushes at the fact you used his first name and closes his eyes to appreciate the moment. When he opens them again, he leans in close to hug you tightly and as he does so, he kisses your neck.

When you part, he kisses your lips tenderly and you can feel him grin slightly. You stay in the park until the sun starts going down. He then walks you home like a true gentleman, putting one last kiss on your soft lips.

~the end~

#anime #haikyuu #haikyuu!! #haikyū!! #tendou x you #tendou satori #tendou fluff #tendou x reader #tendou oneshot #tendou fic #tendou fanfiction #tendou fanfic #tendo satori #haikyuu fanfic #haikyuu fic #anime fic #anime fanfic #shiratorizawa #guess monster

[nanasarea]

Love, Lux, and Tulips II

Prompt: Your mom and Jeno’s mom were best friends, so you grew up together as one big family and became best friends, but once you started Lux academy, you met your new crush Renjun, who became a tad jealous, to say the least.

Genre: fluff, angst, rich!au, magic!au

Pairing: childhood best friend!jeno x reader x classmate!renjun

Word count: 1.1k

a/n: we going renjun hours  + title credit to @neocitybynight​ 

remember you can still vote for endgame here

Tag list: @legendnct @mjlkau @neocrush​

series m.list / main m.list / ltt m.list / I  II  III IV V

“Don’t forget your bags!” Irene reminded as she handed you your bag. “Irene, I’m not 11 anymore, I think both Jeno and I can remember our bags.” You laughed, placing the napkin on your thighs onto the table and just as you did, Jeno almost sprinted past both of you. “Jeno!” You yelled “Yes?” he asked, holding the door handle “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Irene asked “Oh, right.” Jeno smiled nervously and walked back to you.

“Still not use to this whole bringing your own things to school thing.” He admitted “You’re adorable.” You ruffled his hair before you said your goodbyes to Irene and walked outside. “I heard you made a new friend.” Jeno said as you made your way towards the school. “You mean Renjun?” You asked, to which he nodded. “That would be the one. What’s he like?” He asked “He’s...sweet.” You said. 

Last week, you met Renjun for the first time when you were having a hard time choosing which fruit cup to get during lunch. “If I were you, I’d stay away from the pineapple fruit cups, they have a weird after taste.” You heard a voice behind you say. “Oh, thanks.” You said, turning your head towards and smiling. “No problem. You’re the new kid, right?” He asked “That would be me.” You laughed. 

“Hey, would you mind if I sat with you today? I only really know two people here and both of them have class right now.” You nervously asked “So I’m a last resort?” He asked, chuckling “No, no, of course not!” you panicked “I’m joking, of course you can sit with me.” He said, smiling “I’m Renjun, by the way.” He introduced himself. “Y/N.” You smiled. 

You spent half of lunch period eating and the other laughing at Renjun and his jokes. He told you about the school, it’s professors, classes, students and he casually slipped in some of his personal life. “So I told Hender, I’m only 5cm shorter than you, this does not mean you can call me little Huang.” He said “But aren’t you the youngest?” You asked “Therefor the little Huang could possibly be true?” You added, taking a bite of the mango slice “That means nothing.” He said before smiling fondly at you.

After class, he asked if you had time, because he wanted to show you something. “I don’t have time today, but I’m free tomorrow.” You smiled “Can you show me then?” You asked “Of course.” He smiled. So the next day, you met him outside the school near the bushes, where he asked you to meet him. 

“Hey.” He greeted “Hi.” You smiled “What did you wanna show me?” You asked, to which he extended his hand towards you. You hesitantly put your hand on top of his before he quickly pulled you after him into a nearby bush. “Wh-” “Please don’t tell anyone about this.” He cut you off smiling “Dissendium.” He whispered as the bush opened a small passageway, leaving you speechless.

“Cool, right?” he asked “V-very.” You agreed, not having a chance to take it all in, as he pulled you into the hidden garden. “What is this place?” You asked “It’s my secret little garden. I made it when I was like 13 and wanted to be alone after school for a bit.” He explained “Oh. It’s really pretty.” You admired the various flowers ranging from rose, crocus, violet, iris, lily to larkspur. 

There was also a small pond, with all sorts of koi fish swimming around. The small table and chairs had self-pouring tea and a tray of baked goods, the whole table was surrounded by a bunch of trees, mainly cherry blossoms, which caused the grass to be coated with pink petals. It looked like heaven on earth, especially with the birds light chirping and the scenery of all kinds of butterflies flying around.

 “You made all of this?” You asked “Not really, I just created the atmosphere, the animals just kinda got attracted to the place.” he answered, walking towards the table. “Want some tea?” He asked “Love to.” You answered “What kind you got?” You asked “This is a magical secret garden created by me, someone who has magical powers. I have every flavor.” He smiled.

With that, you ended up joining him for some after school tea almost every other day. You would talk and eat together. Sometimes he would even bring a picnic basket, so you would lay on the picnic blanket, enjoyed the food while talking about your days. You had to admit, Renjun turned out to be one of the most interesting people you had met. He was really fun and easy to talk to. He was the first real friend you made, all on your own, that is.

“Hey, can I ask you something?” Renjun asked “You just did, but when did me saying no ever stop you.” You laughed, causing the boy to roll his eyes while chuckling himself. “There’s this movie night that Lux is planning, it’s like a drive in.” Renjun explained “I was wondering and kinda hoping that you would like to go with me, maybe?” Renjun asked “Only if you want to, of course.” Renjun added, playing with the grapes on his plate.

“I’m, um, actually going with Jeno already-” You said, quietly. “But we can all go together if you’d like...” You insisted “Oh, no need. You two go.” Renjun refused, which is when he realized how close you and Jeno really were. He had heard that you were a 2 in 1 package deal, attached to the hip, inseparable, but he didn’t really believe it.

Sure, he had seen you two around. Walking together in the halls, basically hand in hand while joking around. You were almost always seen together, the only times he didn’t see you two together is when you and Renjun had lunch together or in the garden after school. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how many stories you talked about where Jeno made an appearance. There were many stories that you told where Jeno was the main character even. He was such a big part of your life.

He had heard that everyone expects you two to end up together, as you were the heirs of your wealthy families. It was expected of you two to be together or end up together at least, some even thought that your two families were planning on an arranged marriage, which was denied so many times, but that didn’t stop people from thinking that you and Jeno were practically married. Renjun knew that and he realized that his crush on you wasn’t one that he should have developed, if all the rumors were true.

How could they not be? You’ve known each other for so long, there are so many emotions involved, you were bound to catch feelings, unless.....

#nct-writers #nct fluff #nct series #nct scenario #nct au #nct x reader #nct dream fluff #nct dream series #nct dream scenario #nct dream au #nct dream x reader #llt #huang renjun x reader #huang renjun au #huang renjun scenario #huang renjun fluff #huang renjun series #magic au #lee jeno scenario #lee jeno fluff #lee jeno series #lee jeno x reader #lee jeno au

[yoongi-sugaglider]

Artemis Rising

The story of a Goddess and a Demi God,star crossed lovers whose story was lost to the complexity of history. The truth is they were wronged. All because of the jealousy of a brother. Can they escape their fate in a modern age? Can reincarnation allow her to finally reunite with the ones who loved her?

genre: angst ; reincarnation/Greek mythology au ; werewolf au

pairing: Yoongi x reader; ot7 x reader ; ft: Ateez

warnings: abusive relationship, physical abuse towards reader, vengeful ot7, inaccurate description of Ateez as aggressive (they’re sweet babies I swear! But Eomma needed a bad guy), fighting, character death, of age drinking (more to be added mayhaps?)

word count: 2493

A/n: Don’t forget to read the warnings!

tag list: @w1tchcraftt

Chapter 1​

I couldn’t help replaying Yoongi’s words in my head. Over and over the image of his desperate face resurfaced before me. I’d never seen him this bad.This desperate to force me to face the fears I was trying to hide even from myself.

But when I’d flinched away from his touch the way I had I’d instantly known he’d press me for answers. Answers that I wouldn’t be able to give him.

I had to leave him hanging. It was better if I kept denying it. I had to protect him. From the truth, from the pain of knowing and being unable to stop it. From Him…

Signaling to the driver I climbed into the back seat of the blacked out sedan, knowing that Mingi would take me home without question. The young man may have had his loyalties, but he was reliable in a way that previous bodyguards hadn’t been. He spoke very little, never made his presence overbearing, and was always on time.

I sighed as the muscles of my body relaxed, even if it was only on the silent car ride home. For the moment I was safe, protected from the ever watchful public eye and allowed to lose myself to my own thoughts.

It’d been 11 years. 11 years of knowing Yoongi and his brothers, 11 years of feeling the strange urge to go to them and allow them to whisk me away from my problems. But I knew running wouldn’t solve anything. I knew He’d find me no matter where I ran. So it was just...better if I complied...right?

The mansion loomed before me. A prison encased in gold trim and alabaster stone surrounded with lush gardens filled with deadly plants disguised as beautiful floral and even deadlier traps meant to maim instead of kill. Rock gardens filled with pools of quicksand and koi ponds filled with the deadliest fish known to man. It was a haven for evil, a nesting ground for the most poisonous creatures known to mankind. It was home.

The Mercedes pulled into the roundabout that encircled the nightshade patch. Beautiful little bell shaped flowers that were slowly going to seed to reveal the blackened berries of death reflected off the sedan’s mirror coated windows as Mingi hustled around the vehicle to open my door and allow me to step out.

I swung my purse over my shoulder, steeling myself in the hopes that he wasn’t home and that I’d be able to hustle to the kitchen to start on dinner.

Mingi trailed close behind me, nodding to Wooyoung and Yeosang, the brothers perpetually tasked with guarding the front doors of the mansion should He be off on business. I breathed an internal sigh of relief at the sight of the men, knowing I’d have time to prepare food as well as getting dressed and cleaned up.

A few hours later found me dressed to the nines, laying out the dishes I’d prepared for dinner. I’d opted for Greek style tonight, since he’d be flying to Athens in three days.

Dolmadakai, grape leaves stuffed with lamb and beef stood center, surrounded by fried tomato fritters and meatballs. To one side stood moussaka, minced meat covered in tomato sauce and layered with eggplant and a bechamel sauce that had taken me ages to get just right. I’d tossed together a quick greek salad, knowing he wouldn’t eat any of it but hoping to use it myself as an excuse to eat lightly tonight. Dessert was a homemade baklava, thin layers of flaky pastry dough surrounding a mixture of butter,sugar, and nuts covered in honey and roasted pistachios. I’d baked it that morning before going to see Yoongi and hoped the meal would be satisfying enough to waylay any questions that might come up during dinner.

I stared at the table, anxiety crawling up my throat and filling my body with a nervous energy that no amount of pacing in the kitchen could get rid of.I spent my next few moments twisting and turning the various plates, moving one dish after another around the table in order to present them just right when a knock at the dining room door drew my attention and spiked my heart rate.

“Miss...Hongjoong has returned.” San’s dulcet voice cut through me, his eyes piercing me as I swallowed harshly before making my way towards him.

“Get the 2009 Rothschild Pauillac from the cellar. I had it placed in the refrigerated room about an hour ago. Make sure the temperature is right and don’t you dare open it before I’m ready for you like last time.”

He grunted, squinting down at me as if pondering the idea of refusing my orders. After a moment of us staring each other down he turned and left, heading in the direction of the massive underground wine cellar.

I paused on my way upstairs, footsteps having been long ago muffled in the Persian carpet that lined the hall between the dining room and the rotunda. Turning to the 9 foot floor to ceiling mirror I adjusted the long sleeves of the cable knit turtleneck dress I’d chosen for the night. The crimson colored cashmere did well to hide the multiple bruises that littered my arms and the heavier makeup I’d chosen hid the coal colored bags beneath my eyes from far too many nights avoiding the night terrors I’d been prone to lately.

“Y/n, my love. Aren’t you looking stunning this evening.” The smooth voice sent a shrill scream of fear moving along my spine though I turned with a rim rod straight spine and a smile pressed thin along my lips to the man who’d called my attention.

“Good evening Hongjoong. I hope your day was pleasant?”

He approached me from the stairs, arms held wide as he waited for me to step into his reach. Icy cold fingers trailed up my spine, lighting the skin up my back with chill bumps despite the protection of the expensive cloth wrapping my figure in splendor. 

“My day’s been made a hundred times better now that you’re here in my arms.” He smiled down at me, though his eyes held a fiery depth to them that I just knew would spell trouble should I make one wrong move.

“I’ve prepared dinner. Would you like to retire to the dining room?”

He tilted his head to the side, eyes scanning my face as he lifted my chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Dinner? Hmm…” 

I waited patiently. Hongjoong didn’t like to be told what to do. It came from countless years of clawing his way to the top, to his current position as mayor and his deep set drive to push further. Making the most of himself, earning the power he wielded so easily, it came with a certain need for control. A need for those who claimed loyalty to him to follow a set amount of rules that included making any ideas seem like they’d come from him.

And yet tonight he didn’t question me. Instead choosing to smile and after placing a gentle kiss to my cheek he allowed me to lead him into the dining room and to his seat.

The room itself was filled with his most trusted guards. Though Mingi and Yunho had taken up the position of guarding the front and rear doors, San and Wooyoung now stood to either side of the chair designated for me, while Jungho and Yeosang stood to either side of Hongjoong’s seat. Seonghwa was nowhere to be found, though that wasn’t unusual as he was usually tasked as the head of security with walking the grounds to ensure that the outside security stayed on task with their duties.

The bottle of red wine I’d asked San to fetch me earlier stood beside my plate and I gave him a nod of appreciation, though he ignored me in favor of staring straight ahead as the others did. Waiting for Hongjoong to take his seat I turned to the spread, motioning at it with one hand while giving him a smile.

“Since you’re going to Greece soon I thought I’d make a few samples of some of their local fare. A few things to try out so you could…”

“Figure out what my favorites are before I get there?” His tone was flat, though when I glanced at him he was sending me his usual cold smile.

“Ah...y...yes.” 

With a nod from him I began serving out the food, head down and hands trembling as I made sure none of the foods were touching on his plate. Quick fingers moved across the table, ladling and serving everything before stepping back out of his reach should anything be found unsatisfactory.

He stared down at his plate for a moment, eyes intense as he took in the entirety of the meal.

“You may serve the wine.” Again that flat tone that had me moving without hesitation towards the wine bottle.

I kept my eyes down as I poured, shoulders stiff as I watched Hongjoong slowly reach for his fork out of the corner of my eye.

“Y/n…”

I paused in pouring the second glass, a river of fear running down my spine as the sound of my name fell from his lips.

“Is there bell pepper in these meatballs by chance?”

Slowly, ever so slowly, I set the wine bottle to the side, heart beating a million miles a second as I looked up and took in the glare of pure rage now pointed in my direction.

“I...well the recipe..”

“Peppers my love...what are the rules on peppers?”

“They...well you…”

The wine glasses went flying, spilling down the front of my dress as well as the once pristine white pants of Yeosang’s suit. Glass shattered across the ground and Hongjoong rose from his chair.

He stalked towards me, hand raised in warning as I scurried away from him. Yeosang grabbed me though, cutting off my retreat in an instant. Hongjoong snatched my arm out of Yeosang’s grip, dragging me back to the table and forcing me down into my chair.

“Stupid bitch!”

The slap that came next echoed through the room as a sting began to bloom across my cheek.

“I’ve told you once if I’ve told you a thousand times over. NO FUCKING PEPPERS IN MY GODDAMNED FOOD!”

I struggled to contain the whimper welling up in my throat,knowing that any sign of weakness would only serve to worsen his mood.

“I...I’m sorry Hongjoong. It won’t happen again…”

“You’re damned right it won’t.” Hongjoong signaled to the four guards and they cleared the room, serving only to heighten the growing terror within me.

“And I’m going to make damn well sure you remember exactly who it is you serve in this fucking household. If it’s the last thing I do.”

***

Yoongi sat alone in his room, eyes roaming the dark corners of his ceiling as his mind wandered the entirety of the last several days.

They’d just gotten off tour, exhausted from far too many layovers and crossed time zones. Within moments of stepping into their shared apartment they’d split off to their rooms, collapsing into feather soft beds and burying their faces in plush pillows to chase the elusive slumber they’d so long been lacking.

Yoongi though, had other priorities. He’d immediately headed to the seclusion of his studio, phone clicked to speed dial the number of his best friend.

She had answered right away, voice calm and even as always and a welcome balm to soothe the ache his body had endured throughout their time overseas. He’d sighed, leaning as far back as his chair would allow as he told her stories of their adventures and listened in turn to what she’d been up to over the weeks they’d been apart. The previous argument had been entirely forgotten in favor of the comfort they always found in each other’s company.

She was a writer, not well known but truly well loved by those who knew of her works. Mostly dealing in fantasy and romance, some of the things she would write about critics had always cited as seeming like stories straight out of history. Though unbeknownst to them, most of them actually had been.

Yoongi rolled over, tucking his arm beneath his head so that he could stare longingly at the painting that he’d purchased not long ago in Milan. The painting itself was of 16th century Italy, bold and bright colors littering the canvas in shades of coral vistas and flower shaped rainbows. But the colors and background weren’t why he’d spent almost 3 million on it. No, instead the woman standing at the edge of the Italian balcony, long dark hair blowing in the wind as she stared off at the seashore beyond was the focus of his attention.

He remembered it well, as the painting had been completed mere months before the woman had died in a most unfortunate fire of the very same villa she’d been standing in in the painting. The panic that had gripped him when Jungkook came rushing into their own shared villa to warn him of the fire still haunted him to this day. Right along with every other death of hers that he’d had to experience over the millennia.

“Yoongi. Manager’s calling for you.” Seokjin stood in the doorway, eyes frowning in the dark in an attempt to spot Yoongi. The lights framing the lone painting distracted him.

Seokjin walked further into the room, eyes trailing the ancient golden frame before focusing on the lone figure in the center of the canvas.

“Milan?” He turned to where Yoongi lay on the bed, eyes sad and filled with understanding as he watched the ancient wolf hum in acknowledgement.

“I found it hung in one of those tourist trap galleries next to an imitation Di Vinci. This is the original though. The one Tae painted…”

“Ah, I see…” Seokjin wandered over to the bed, perching on the edge to join Yoongi in staring at the exquisite work of art. Seokjin sighed, fingers reaching out to entangle with Yoongi’s much colder hand.

“Do you think this time will be different?” Despite the touchiness of the subject the taller man only half expected an answer.

True to form Yoongi chose to ignore it, releasing Jin’s hand and rolling over to stand up slowly. Stretching his arms in the air he turned back to Seokjin, his eyes glowing their haunting golden hue in the darkness. “You said the manager needed me?”

“Mmm...the sample you sent over got Namjoon’s parts added to it. They want you to give it a quick once over before they send it to the producers for mixing.”

Yoongi nodded. He gave the painting one last glance, a heavy sigh leaving him as the two left the room to continue with their day.

                                                     Chapter 3

#bts boulangerie #bts x reader #bts soulmate au #bts werewolf au #bts greek god au #bts mythology au #bts angst #ateez angst #ateez greek god au #bts min yoongi x reader #ateez hongjoong au

[monstersandmaw]

Male octomer x reader (nsfw) - Mermay story #3

Edit which I’m including in all my works after plagiarism and theft has taken place: I do not give my consent for my works to be used, copied, published, or posted anywhere. They are copyrighted and belong to me.

This has been up on my patreon now for a little while, and folks seemed to like him a lot over there, and the preview I posted got some excitement too, so I hope you’re ready for Caspian!

___

As first days went, this one wasn’t necessarily a complete disaster.

However, walking into the specially-designed meeting room at the aquatic and oceanography research station in Starfall Springs with a very suspicious looking (and entirely innocent) wet crotch, you did feel your cheeks heat up. The room itself reminded you strongly of a beach hut or the like, with scrubbed and white-washed wooden floors, and white-painted, ship-lap walls, and a wide window at one end, overlooking one of the sandy beaches of the wider curve of coastline that was Starfall Bay itself.

The research station was built right at the end of a rocky cob; a curving, protective wall which jutted out into the sea. A section of the floor of this room at the furthest end of the station had been cut away to allow a kind of trap door to be opened into the water itself, allowing for merfolk of all kinds to be present at meetings and consultations, without running the risk of drying out on land.

The merman who was currently resting with his huge, bulky, tanned arms on the lip of the opening took one look at your soaked jeans and hitched a lopsided, cheeky smirk. Your feet faltered at the sight of him; not only was he incredibly handsome, but he was also massive. He had dark hair that was cropped very close to his skull in a side-shave that revealed tapering ears which were attractively tinged with an inky purple tone at the tips, while the rest of his hair was longer on the top. Sections of it flopped into his warm, cocoa brown eyes, and your heart definitely lurched in its regular rhythms.

Below him, visible through the rippling water, you could see glimpses his lower body. He was not like the other merfolk you’d met so far since starting work at the station. Eight muscular tentacles billowed gently in the washing currents, the skin a rich, mulberry purple with paler, lilac undersides. You tried not to stare or flush any hotter.

The only other person in the room besides the two of you was Garreth. When the leader of the Starfall Bay Conservation Society saw the slightly soggy state of you, the werewolf tipped his head back and laughed. “I see Naomi forgot to warn you about the tap in the kitchen…” he chortled.

The octomer in the water chuckled softly to himself, a low, amused rumbling, and you rolled your eyes, shaking your head.

“Yeah,” you sighed. “Not my finest moment. Is everyone here?”

Garreth shook his head. “We’re still waiting on Elliott. He was supposed to have brought me the report on the plastic survey for this quarter, but he didn’t show up yesterday.”

The octomer snorted. “Probably forgot… or got distracted by pearl diving or something…” he said dismissively.

“Let’s hope he brings it with him today,” Garreth said. “Now,” he added, turning to you, “Let me introduce you properly to Caspian. He’s the newest of our three representatives and mediators between the merfolk and the land-folk. He’s also working on a joint project at the research laboratory which is measuring ocean temperatures and the effects on the coral reefs just offshore.”

“Awesome,” you said, stepping over hand holding out your hand. “Pleased to meet you.”

Caspian’s upper body was tanned a deep, nutmeg brown, and as you bent down, you saw a smattering of darker freckles across his cheekbones and down the length of his straight nose. His eyes were dark and kind, and they sparkled when he smiled. He really was huge though, you realised as you got close; had he been a human, he might have been pushing seven feet tall, with the broad shoulders and muscles to match.

His hand engulfed yours as he shook it, and his palms were rough and hard as a life-long sailor’s might be. “Looking forward to working with you on this project,” he said. “If our fourth member ever turns up…” He cocked his head slightly and you watched his tentacles tuck in so that he didn’t occupy quite so much space in the hatchway. “Ah… speak of the devil-fish…”

The final arrival shot into view with a stream of bubbles, a splash of water, and a burst of bright orange colour. He stuck his head above the surface, grabbed onto the side, slipped off, waved his long, floaty tail to bring him back to the edge and tried again. “Sorry I’m late!” he gasped. “I didn’t realise the time…”

Garreth laughed. “It’s alright, Elliott. We were kind of expecting you to be late.”

Elliott’s pale cheeks flushed almost as scarlet as his fiery tail, and he looked away. “I did bring the report this time though,” he said, shyly bringing out a clipboard with the report filled in with special pencil on waterproof paper.

The mer looked to be barely into his twenties, with long, flame-orange hair that was currently tied back with a length of seaweed at the nape of his slender neck. Sections of it had come loose, however, and they had plastered themselves to his alabaster face, half covering bright green eyes. Beside Caspian, he looked like an ornamental koi or betta fish, more suited to the safety of a secluded pond than the rough moods of the open sea.

Caspian, however, looked like he could weather anything the sea threw at him.

Your first assignment on the new project - monitoring the health of the reef, including pollution levels in the water - took you out into the field with him as your partner. You, of course, took the small RIB that the organisation owned, and Caspian had promised to meet you out there. True enough, as you slowed the small boat, he popped his head up above the water and grinned at you.

“You made it!” he called, waving.

“There was doubt?” you chuckled, cutting the engine and dropping the boat’s small anchor.

He only laughed. “You want me to check the anchor’s set ok?”

With a smile, you said, “Sure, if you wouldn’t mind.”

When he’d re-emerged, you passed him the various bits of equipment for data and sample collection and he dove down repeatedly, breaking the surface with minimal splash each time before handing you back whatever it was he’d collected for the project.

After the last sample had been stowed safely, he clicked his tongue at you and you looked round, puzzled. “Did I forget something?”

Caspian flashed you a broad grin. “Not exactly. Here…” and he handed you a shell.

At first, it looked like an ordinary scallop shell; pretty enough, but nothing special. Frowning with mingled confusion and curiosity, you turned it over and saw that the shell had a strange, dark colouring to it. The natural discolouration, however, resembled a little smiley face, with two eyes and a little curving, slightly wonky mouth that very much reminded you of someone… You held it up next to his face, laughing, and snapped a picture on your phone. “Looks just like you!” you said. “I didn’t know scallops painted portraits…”

Indignantly, Caspian cupped his hand and slapped it into the water, sending a large wave spraying straight at you. With a shriek, you lurched away from it, caught your calves on the side of the RIB, and fell backwards into the water.

Panic flared instantly and you flailed and sucked in a mouthful of water before you could stop yourself. In a rush of dark tentacles, Caspian grabbed you and practically threw you back into the RIB. Coughing violently, you rolled over onto your hands and knees, and he cursed.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean… I didn’t… Are you alright?”

You couldn't answer immediately, and when he got no response, he started to haul himself up onto the boat to get to you. The flimsy thing rocked alarmingly and then began to tip under his enormous weight, and you flapped your arm at him to try and get him to back off. It wasn’t going to sink, but he could still roll it enough that the contents - including you - might very well all roll out. You hadn’t the breath spare to tell him you just needed a moment.

He seemed to get the message and flopped disconsolately back into the water, still clinging to the side of the boat and staring at you with wide eyes.

With a tentative croak, you said, “I was not ready for that…!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think that… Well… I guess that’s it: I just didn’t think.”

You turned to look at him, your eyes stinging from the salt water, and still streaming from coughing so hard, and you saw the worry in his big brown eyes. You pushed yourself upright, sitting back onto your knees to catch your breath, and ran your hand through your dripping hair. “Good thing I dropped my phone into the boat when I fell,” you said wryly. “If I’d have lost that, you’d really be in trouble.”

His lopsided smile flickered back into life across his face as the worry receded, and you shook your head. “Are you alright?” he asked.

You nodded. “If you were a landfolk guy, I’d at least make you buy me a drink for that,” you grumbled. “Jeez, now everyone’s going to think I’m completely incompetent. Can’t work a simple tap on my first day; can’t stay in a simple boat on my second… ugh.”

“You can tell them I did it,” he said.

“Yeah?” you snorted, raising your eyebrows. “And who do you think they’ll believe? The handsome genius researcher, or the clumsy new kid?”

Caspian blinked at that. “What?”

“Yeah. Just what I thought. Look, I’m going to get these samples back to the station before they all get cross-contaminated or something, and get me into some warm, dry clothes. It might be summer, but the wind is freezing out here. I’ll… see you back at the station when the results are back, I guess.”

“Wait,” he called as you started towards the outboard. “Wait… are you angry with me?”

You’d started to shiver with the windchill on your soaked body. “No,” you sighed. “No, I’m not angry. I’m just… cold. And embarrassed, I guess. I’m not a very good swimmer and I panicked. Look, forget it, ok? I’ll see you soon.”

And with that, you just left him and turned the RIB back to the station.

Garreth was standing on the jetty, watching you come in, and when he saw the state of you, his eyes widened. “What the hell happened?”

“Caspian.”

The head of the team scowled. “What? Are you ok?”

“Fine,” you snapped. “Just cold.” You tossed him the line and he secured the RIB for you.

“I’ll sort all this,” he said, gesturing at the samples. “You go inside and get dried out.”

With a watery smile of thanks, you brushed past him and headed inside.

But of course, you had no spare clothes with you because you’d left the bag - which you’d deliberately put out that very morning for just such an emergency - in the hallway of your apartment. “Fuck!” you cursed as you realised where it was. “Fucking perfect.”

It was only then that you noticed that you were not alone. A very sheepish and unusual-looking creature was standing at the research station’s main entrance, staring straight at you. “Hello?” he said in a quavering tenor.

He was one of the strangest mer you’d yet encountered, with a large, orange shell behind him, and crab legs sticking out the bottom of it, while a humanoid torso rose out of the opening so that he looked a little like the mer equivalent of a drider or arachnid.

You turned to him and said, “Can I help you?”

“I… I’m here to talk to Garreth about some activities for the children’s summer camp… but if this is a bad time?”

“It’s a bad time for me, but not for him. He’s just tying up the RIB out back. He’ll be here in a moment, I’m sure.”

A second or two later, Garreth’s heavy boots on the wood announced his return. “Leo!” he grinned when he saw the hermit-crab mer standing there awkwardly, blushing and trying not to stare at your chest where your t-shirt was now plastered to your skin. Garreth turned to you and said, “Did you have some spare clothes?”

Miserably, you shook your head.

“Hang on. I’ve got a t-shirt you can borrow at least. You can hang anything else over the chains on the jetty. With this breeze and sun, they’ll be dry in no time. Just… tie them down well, ok? No need to lose them and have you going skinny dipping…”

You all snorted a laugh at that, and in no time you’d put on one of Garreth’s huge t-shirts and had hung your shorts over the little safety chain along the jetty. It felt a bit indecent to be sitting there in the sun wearing only your underwear and a colleague’s t-shirt, but there was no one there to gawp.

At least, you had thought you were alone until you glimpsed the smooth, billowing movements of a now-familiar octomer swimming through the waters of the harbour towards the station.

You’d been trailing your toes in the water, leaning back on your hands, but as he changed course and swam directly over to you, you sat forwards, hunching a bit and tugging the t-shirt down as far as you could. It still only grazed the top of your thighs. You felt the heat flushing from your face all the way down to your collarbones, even before he surfaced.

Caspian, for all his rugged size and good looks, appeared even more flustered and awkward than you as he stared at you. He couldn’t take his eyes off your bare legs for a very long time, and when he did, he swallowed thickly and took a couple of goes at speaking before anything actually came out. “So… uh… I… I hoped you’d still be here,” he finally said.

You just raised your eyebrows. He really didn’t deserve to be given such a hard time over this, but you were embarrassed.

The octomer smiled sweetly and said, “I… I had hoped our first job would go better… You see… I’ve never worked with a human before.”

“I thought you were doing a joint project with the research lab in town?” you asked, surprised.

He nodded. “I am. The team is composed of non-humans.”

“Oh.”

“You said… You said if I were landfolk you’d make me buy you a drink…”

“Huh, I did, didn’t I?” you smiled.

Caspian’s chocolate coloured eyes drifted downwards again and you watched the thick tentacles writhe below the water.

“Look, it’s fine,” you chirped before he could speak. “I fell overboard, I got wet, no harm done. Let’s put it behind us. But next time I’m definitely not standing up at all in that thing.”

He hitched a lopsided grin, conjuring a dimple in one tanned cheek. “Listen, if we’re starting over, I want to ask you a question. Do you know about the Moonlight Festival?”

You frowned and shook your head. “No.”

Caspian swallowed and licked his lips nervously. “Ok, well… it’s… it’s a long-held festival in the bay. On certain summer nights, the sea glows. Way back when, we used to think it was magic, but now we know it’s actually just bioluminescence caused by a species of dinoflagellate called Noctiluca scintillans…” he broke off at the slight smirk of amusement growing on your face. “Fuck. Way to take the ‘magic’ out of it. Look, it’s a big festival, and the sea glows, and the landfolk like it, and the merfolk come and piss around in the water, and it’s pretty. I thought maybe you’d like to come. With me. But…”

“Caspian,” you said, laughing softly. “You’re not at all what I expected, you know that?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, a touch defensively.

You took a deep, slow breath and shrugged. “I went to college with a lot of guys who looked like you.”

“There were octomer at your college?” he blurted.

“No!” you laughed, tipping your head back and cackling at the thought of a bunch of eight-limbed octomer flip-flopping down the corridor of a very human-orientated, landlocked college. “Oh man, I wish there had been. No, I just meant there were lots of big, handsome, sporty-looking guys who relied a lot on their looks and ‘charisma’ to get what they wanted. I honestly thought you were one of them… Clearly, I was very wrong.”

His face was a mask of confusion. On the one hand, he looked pleased, and on the other, somewhat deflated. “So I’m just a huge nerd?”

“You want to know something?”

“Go on then.”

“I’d rather go to a festival about bioluminescent plankton with a nerd than with one of those guys…”

Caspian bowed his head and rumbled a laugh. “Alight then. And I promise to behave this time…”

You stood, self-consciously holding the hem of the over-sized shirt close to your thighs, and looked down at him. His jaw was ever so slightly slack, and his eyes shone. You bit your lip, unwilling to entertain the idea that the huge octomer could be attracted to you, despite the evidence to the contrary. Deciding to be a little braver, you let go of the fabric of the shirt and let it blow about a little in the breeze.

Caspian’s throat bobbed and he ducked a little lower in the water. “I’ll… yeah I’ll see you then,” he mumbled, and then he vanished.

With a boost of confidence like that, you felt a little bolder about your choice of outfit for the festival. When the evening came round, it found you wandering down through Starfall Springs towards the beach wearing loose summer clothing and simple sandals. Little lanterns had been lit all along the beach, and you were astonished to see the sheer number of merfolk in the water. You’d not known there were so many who were willing to interact with the landfolk.

Like a pod of beached dolphins, some had even hauled themselves up onto the sand and were laughing and chatting with the landfolk, while others played about in the water. You could see a faint blue glow as they breached and splashed, but the sun was still up, and the full effect of the bioluminescence was not really visible yet.

You hadn’t been in Starfall Springs all that long, so you didn’t really know very many people. In fact, you didn’t know anyone outside of work at the research station yet, and that job was only a part time one that you’d secured until you could find another that was full time. Following your instincts, you headed away from the crowds and towards the research station at the far end of the bay.

You’d not arranged a place to meet Caspian for the festival, and since your fateful first trip, your schedules had not actually aligned. You figured that without having organised anything, the station was the logical place to go. Plus it stopped you looking like a lemon, standing on the beach on your own.

All was dark and quiet inside the station, and you didn’t even bother going inside. Instead, you made your way round the outside, following the boardwalk until it became the jetty, and sat down to watch the sunset with the curving wall of the cob behind you.

Time passed, accompanied by the rush and hiss of the sea, and of the laughter and music of the festival in the bay beyond the station. There was a lonely kind of peace to it, and you took your sandals off and trailed your toes in the water again. A silvery blue shimmer rippled through the water as you moved, and you smiled at the sight of it. You’d seen videos of the phenomenon before, but had never experienced it in person.

A shadow moved in the water and you instinctively recoiled, drawing your feet up. Sliding his head out of the water, Caspian looked up at you, his handsome face highlighted with blue and white lights as the bioluminescence ran off him. “Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

You lowered your legs back in and laughed. “It’s fine. I was a bit lost in thought anyway. You found me then…”

He smiled and swam closer, the water flashing in mesmeric pulses around his body. “I figured you’d come here,” was all he said in answer. He raised his hand and the plankton flashed across his fingers. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

“Mmhmm,” you nodded, swinging your feet back and forth and watching the lights dance.

Caspian watched your movements as though captivated.

“Can I ask you something?” you said after few moments.

“Sure.”

“When you said you’d never worked with a human before, does that also mean you’ve not really been around many humans at all?”

He flushed and looked away. “Is it that obvious?”

“You’re staring at my feet as though they’re something… alien.”

“I can’t imagine what they’re like, that’s all. What it’s like to have only two limbs… to walk… to… yeah. I’m sorry.” He broke off, scratching the back of his head.

“You can touch if you want,” you said, perhaps a little coyly.

He turned in the water and looked up at you with eyes wide and alive. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. Just don’t tickle me. I don’t want to kick you in the face.”

“You’re not that angry with me then, or you wouldn’t have warned me,” he grinned as he swam even closer and raised his hands in the water.

He slid his cool fingertips over your ankle and the top of your foot, and the moan you let out was not a sound you’d expected or intended to make.

“Is that ok?” he asked, touch faltering.

“Mmhmm,” you said. His fingers were surprisingly gentle, if tough, and as he closed his fingers and thumbs around both ankles and gripped experimentally, you inhaled sharply. If he’d wanted to, he could have dragged you off the jetty and into the water in a flash, but instead, he simply explored you with a stunning degree of reverence and delicacy.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, pulling himself slightly closer to you through the water. His limbs trailed behind him in the water, but you could see they were all flared wide, like an open parachute.

“So are you, Caspian,” you replied. “And you’re the most beautiful colour… you know that?”

He smiled and ran his palm up your calves.

You’d parted your legs before you knew what you were doing.

Caspian’s touch faltered and he looked away. “I…. probably shouldn’t…” he whispered.

“Caspian?”

“Yeah?” he said, his rich baritone hoarse and rasping all of a sudden.

“Can you… I mean… Can octomer leave the water at all? I know octopuses can, but… I actually don’t know all that much about your kind…”

He nodded. “Sure we can. Not indefinitely, but for a good amount of time. Why? You want me to come up there and join you?”

“I think it’d be easier than me trying to tread water…” you smiled.

“I’d hold you up,” he said, but he made his way towards one of the sturdy pilings which supported the jetty and latched his limbs around it. They were as muscular and powerful as the top half of his anatomy suggested, and with relatively little effort, he hauled himself up with a rush of glittering water.

Once he was on the wood of the jetty, with phosphorescent lights running down the lines of his bulky yet sinuous body, you felt your own mouth go very dry. He loomed over you while you remained seated, and he used his tentacle-like legs to pull himself towards you.

“Not too freaked out?” he said.

“Not at all.”

You turned to face him and he settled himself down beside you. You raised your hand and tentatively traced the lines of his collarbones and down his pecs, almost testing to see if he were really there, and not some salt-water hallucination. Caspian sucked in a breath at your touch, goosebumps prickling all across his torso.

“Ticklish?”

He shook his head, drops of sparkling water scattering around you.

“You like that?”

Mutely he nodded, and, feeling emboldened by his reaction, you continued to touch him, working lower and lower until you came to his hips. The skin at the transition between his human upper half and his octomer lower half was a bruised, inky purple, and the texture of it changed too, from smoothly human to a thick, tough sensation, almost like wet leather. His breathing hitched as you passed on down and shyly ran a fingertip along the top of one of his massive tentacles.

It coiled tightly and then went slack on the wood of the jetty. He started to keel over to one side, as if he were melting under your touch, and he barely caught himself on one arm. “Fuck…” he gasped. “Fuck, that feels so good.”

His head lolled backwards slightly and his lips parted to let loose ragged breaths.

You glanced down at his body and saw between his limbs that something else was becoming visible. When he saw you looking, he huffed an embarrassed laugh. “Look at the state you’ve got me into,” he snorted, and he started to pull back, pull away from you.

“Caspian, don’t…” you said. “You don’t have to… I… I want this… if you do…”

He fixed you with an unreadable look. “You mean it?”

You nodded. “You’re gorgeous, and funny, and intelligent… and… I trust you.”

He let out a shaky laugh and bit his lower lip hard. He put the flat of his hand gently onto your leg and began to slide it upwards, pushing the material of your clothes up with it, never breaking eye contact with you. He shifted closer on that writhing mass of limbs until he was rearing up above you. He let one tentacle slide around your ankle, and another began to creep up your inner thigh.

You tipped your head back and closed your eyes at the strange sensation of it. When he discovered a moment later how aroused you were, he moaned and rumbled something that might have been a half-swallowed curse. “You’re so warm,” he said, letting the tip of that tentacle play over your skin.

Fire shot up your spine the moment he began to circle and nudge you, and you arched your back. He caught your face tenderly in his hands and kissed you. His lips tasted of salt, but as his tongue found yours, you suddenly didn't mind. He continued to play with you while he kissed you, teasing you with the smooth, cool tip of his tentacle. When he sought out the heat of you more deeply, you felt yourself clench around him as he pushed gently inside you.

“More,” you gasped, loving the stretch of his tentacle inside you. “Please…”

He nodded and eased you down onto the jetty behind you so that you were lying flat on your back. He used two of his tentacles to undress you and then spread your legs, and once you were open for him, he began to squeeze around you, coiling and covering you with four of his limbs around each of your legs.

“Gods, you look so beautiful,” he said, face alight with wonder as he gazed at you. “You’re so beautiful…”

In the soft light you could see his cock now, flushed purple and fully hard, and weeping a pearly pre-come profusely down its length. It was shaped like a smaller tentacle, thick and ridged towards the base, with a more pointed head, and it coiled lazily in the summer air, drooling drops of his pre-come down onto your thighs. “Are you sure you want me to do this?” he asked.

You nodded.

With the highlights of bioluminescence in his hair and on his body, he looked incredible, and it was hard to believe he wasn’t some sea god or something, come ashore for the night as if out of a fairytale. As it was, you didn’t have time for any more lust-filled musings. He slipped the tip of his cock inside you and you gasped as he stretched you. The stretch grew until he filled you utterly, and as he seated himself fully inside you, he bowed his head over you, his whole body tense and taut.

“Gods, you’re so hot…” he hissed. “I mean… the heat of you is… it’s…” he shuddered and then began to move with an embarrassed chuckle as you grabbed his hips.

He started slowly, but soon his rhythm picked up pace. The tentacles that were wrapped around your bare legs began to grip you more and more tightly, each of the suction cups forming a delicious counterpoint to the intense pleasure that the ridges of his cock gave you as he pistoned in and out. His breathing deepened, quickening to match his pace as he lost himself in the feel of you, of being inside your heat. He used his hold on your legs for leverage, and tilted his own hips a little until he caught that spot inside you that made you see stars, and you yelled with pleasure.

“Yes! There… don’t stop… please don’t stop…” you whimpered, and he obliged. He fucked into you hard, the tip of his cock catching you over and over as you felt your orgasm building.

The white hot heat of it rushed up for you and as he squeezed your body just a little tighter with his muscular limbs, he grunted and tipped over the edge first. As the heat of his release filled you, you followed him a second later. Clinging to him, you felt yourself clenching around his cock, drawing his release from him. Caspian’s eyes rolled closed and he bellowed as he emptied himself into you in a series of powerful thrusts.

When he finally finished, he suddenly went limp, his tentacles losing all their strength and sliding off you, unfurling and falling to lie weakly on the jetty. Occasionally one would spasm and then lie quiet again. He just caught himself from crushing you completely, and propped himself up on shaking arms.

“Caspian?” you whispered, still dazed and still clenching around his cock whenever he shifted.

“Mm?”

“You ok?”

“Mm.” He swallowed. “You need me to move?”

“Not just yet.”

“Good, because I’m not sure I can… That was… That was incredible. You’re… You’re incredible.”

You smiled and kissed his forehead since it was all you could reach. He responded by nuzzling gently at your neck and kissing you there.

When he’d recovered, he rolled off you and lay on his back. You turned and watched him for a moment or two, enjoying the sight of his spent, glistening cock still lying openly amongst his limbs.

As you glanced down at your own body, you laughed and groaned at what you saw.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, cracking one eye open and looking at you.

You pointed at your legs. “Either I’m going to have to wear jeans tomorrow, or I’m going to have to say I’ve got chicken pox or something…”

He squinted, and when he saw the spiralling patterns of circles that the suckers of his tentacles had left on your skin, he laughed. Some of them, the ones where the tops of his limbs had been, were almost as big as the palm of your hand. “Sorry.”

You shrugged and lay back down beside him. “I might feel differently about them tomorrow, but right now, I couldn’t care less. You know, for your first time with a human, I’d say that was pretty good.”

“Being a scientist though, I can’t just rely on one experiment.”

You elbowed him hard in the ribs and he grunted. “I’m not a curiosity fuck, you know?”

“I know,” he replied, turning more serious. “But would you like me to do it again anyway?”

Turning your head to face him, you saw the way his eyes glittered playfully in the dark. “Yes,” you said very quietly, and you were met with a broad, happy smile. “Would you?”

One hand moved down his body to take his hardening cock in his fist. It writhed gently in his relaxed fingers, still covered in his come and once again leaking everywhere in anticipation of more. “Very much,” he said, and this time, it was you who straddled him.

************************************

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[ourimpavidheroine]

A scene that always sticks out to me would be when Wing is just on the floor, staring dumbstruck up at Nuo and Yumi just like someone go help him haha. And another would be Lin and Mako sitting at that lake and fishing, smoking their pipes. I dunno why but that one sticks with me. And one more would be Wu with Qi, scaring the shit out of Willow's husband in Chun's garden. Love it when Wu gets his king on!

Oh god, poor Wing. Chapter 2 of Dear Diary. That was a lot of fun to write!

"Are you a child?" she said, standing up on her tiptoes to throw another thwack to Tu's head. "And on His Majesty's brand new rug! Really!" She turned her gaze to Wei. "You must be one of the Beifong twins." Her tone said exactly how she felt about Beifong twins rolling about on my rug. (Hint: Not positively.)

"That one's Wei," said Huan mildly.

"On His Majesty's brand.new.rug," she repeated to Wei, who hung his head.

"Sorry," he mumbled.

Wing hadn't moved. He was still staring up at her, mouth gaping open like a koi. Wei kicked him, none too gently. "What's wrong with you? Get up!"

"Guuuuh," replied Wing. Nuo frowned down at him and he moaned.

"That one's Wing," added Huan.

"I see," said Nuo, slowly. "Are you injured?"

Wing made a strangled noise.

"Do you need assistance?" Nuo raised an eyebrow.

Wing opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Oh dear.

"Oh now, that's one of the saddest things I've ever seen," said Yumi, shaking her head from her spot by the door. "Someone go and do something for that poor boy."

Mako shook his head back at her before getting up and grabbing Wing by his tunic, yanking him up. "Come on, big guy," he said, and walked him over to a chair, pushing him so that he sat down. Wing looked at Mako, who patted him sympathetically on the shoulder. "It happens that way sometimes," he said.

The Lin and Mako one is from Chapter 9 of The Further Tales of Lin Beifong. I felt like I owed the two of them their own time together and went back and forth how I could do it without being sentimental. I was playing my Hou-Ting family Sims game (yes, I really am that big of a nerd) and my Lin and Mako Sims just up and went fishing together and BOOM! I had it.

Once they'd finished their breakfast, the Chief picked up a pole. "You ever been fishing before?" At Mako's shake of his head, she opened up the basket and showed him how to bait the hook before explaining and then demonstrating how to cast the pole. "Soft and easy, no need to fling the damn thing," she said, and after a few false starts Mako got the hang of it. She showed him how to hold it. "You start to feel a tug on the line, you give it a sharp jerk to set the hook and then start reeling it in. Net's there; I'll give you a hand since you're new at it and all." With that she cast her own pole and then sat down on her stool, surprising Mako to the core of his very being by pulling a pipe out of her jacket pocket and handing it over to him to light. At his look she shrugged. "Just a fishing thing." She pulled out another one and handed it to him without a word. Mako lit his up and sucked on it; the tobacco was unexpectedly sweet and smokey at the same time, far better tasting than the cigarettes he snuck behind Wu's back.

They sat there for a time, smoking their pipes and occasionally checking their hooks for bait. The morning air had a bit of a bite to it; it was chilly, but the air felt fresh and smelled divine. Mako was a city boy, through and through, but he thought, sitting there smoking that pipe, with the rising sun warm on his shoulders, that he'd never been anywhere more lovely or peaceful in his entire life.

The Chief tapped the ashes out of her pipe and then stowed it away. "I learned how to fish from Katara. Tenzin's mother, you know?" She smiled a little. "Aang was a vegetarian, of course, but Katara never had been and every once in awhile she'd sneak away and get a little fishing in. She'd taken Bumi with her once upon a time but he got older and joined the Navy and she used to take me after that."

They were silent for a time. The Chief put her pole between her clamped knees and poured herself a little tea, drinking it before shifting the pole back into her hands.

And yes, the scene in Lady Chun’s garden in Chapter 6 of A Song Of Spring And Autumn. I really wanted to show Wu’s brand of ruthlessness; I rewrote that scene a few times until it really felt right to me. (I also wanted to get across that the only reason Qi didn’t wholesale murder Willow right there was that they really liked Lady Chun and wouldn’t want to upset her. I think I managed.)

“Fuck His Majesty,” she sneered at me. “It’s just like you’ve said. No one needs anything from him. He’s just a liability at this point.”

Tsai went pale and started to sputter, his eyes bulging. “Your Majesty! I…I beg you, please…”

Qi was staring at Willow. I’d never seen that particular expression on Qi’s face before. It was a little frightening, Progeny. Qi is normally the calmest of people; I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I have seen Qi anything but completely unruffled. That is just Qi’s nature. The way Qi was staring at Willow, however, made me wonder if Qi had ever actually used any of those knives on another person. I am not sure if Qi was even breathing; Qi was that still and that focused on her. I turned my gaze towards Chun’s home and started to speak.

“Do you know your history, Tsai? History was my favorite subject, as it happens. In fact, I read through most of the historical tomes we had at the palace in Ba Sing Se and I can promise you that was no small feat. The library was extensive.” I brushed an imaginary piece of lint off of my trousers. “How much do you know about Hou-Ting XVI?” I flicked a glance towards Tsai. He was staring back at me in a kind of horror.

“Oh, history. Delightful,” spat out Willow. “What’s next? How to suck off policemen?” Tsai gasped. I ignored Willow and continued.

“Well, it was some time ago and there were, after all, a great many Hou-Tings before I took the throne, so I’ll forgive you for not knowing who she was off the top of your head.” I gestured dismissively with my hand. “No need to get into great detail, but the salient part of her history I wish to draw your attention to is that she fell in love and married an earthbender.” I tsked. “Terrific scandal at the time, of course. What if children of the union should be benders? You can simply imagine how people reacted. So a small group of nobles got together and decided to remedy the situation. Her husband was found dead one day not long after the wedding. He’d been poisoned.” I smiled. “Ah, nothing says Earth Kingdom nobility like a good poisoning! It’s one of the favored weapons, you know. In fact, that’s how my own father was done away with, although at the time it was widely put about that he accidentally choked to death.” I leaned over towards Tsai and whispered conspiratorially. “Don’t believe it. My great-aunt had him killed, compliments of the Dai Li.” I sat back up. “Well, that’s neither here nor there. Back to Hou-Ting XVI. She was, by all accounts, very distraught about the death of her husband. She abdicated, ensuring that her younger brother, Hou-Ting XVII, took the throne in her place. She left Ba Sing Se and disappeared. When asked, her brother told everyone that she had retired to a life of meditation and reflection.”

“Thrilling story,” said Willow, rolling her eyes.

“Oh no, that’s the tragic part. The thrilling part came later. You see, a series of accidents started happening to the families of the nobles who had plotted against her husband. A child who wandered away from her nanny, found drowned at the bottom of a well. A wife trampled in the street by out of control ostrich horses. An oldest son set upon by thieves, his throat cut. It wasn’t just immediate family, either. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins - entire families were slowly weeded out over the years. Never any of the nobles who had actually done the plotting, however. No, they were left alive. Of course they were.” I turned to look Tsai in the eyes and I smiled. It was most certainly not a nice smile. “They were meant to suffer. They were meant to see everything they had ever loved torn away from them, from the tiniest of babies to the oldest of grandmothers. These nobles, they finally went to her brother, Hou-Ting XVII, and begged him to help them, to somehow intervene on their behalf. He told them there was simply nothing he could do, that even a King cannot control fate. And then he told them that since they had no heirs, their lands and titles would be given to other families. They left the palace, nameless and destitute. Alone.”

Tsai was staring at me. I shrugged gracefully with one shoulder. “Mind you, no one ever saw Hou-Ting XVI again. So perhaps she really was living a life of meditation and reflection. It might have been just poor luck, hmm?”

“Your Majesty,” he whispered.

“Now of course these are civilized times we live in. I suppose if I wanted to show my displeasure I could threaten you with the untimely and public reveal of something faintly sordid, like the fact that you spend a great deal time at an establishment that caters to men of certain tastes.” I waggled my finger at him. “Not that I judge, mind you. After all, as has been clearly established, I do sordid things with a common policeman. What I don’t do, of course, is pay money to have commoners tie me up and beat me for sexual pleasure.” I glanced at Willow, who was staring at her husband, mouth open. “Oh, don’t look so shocked, Willow. After all, he’s not breaking any laws. The establishment itself is legal and pays its taxes. All on the up and up! After all, if you can’t satisfy him, then why begrudge him a little money for something that can?”

“You told me that the bruises were from training,” she said, and when he reached towards her she slapped at his hands, her face furious. “How could you? At that place? What will people say of you? What will people say of me?” She burst into tears before turning and running down the steps of the pavilion, back to the house.

“Secrets and lies,” I said sorrowfully. “They’ll ruin a marriage, you know. But never fear, dear Tsai.” He looked back at me, a stunned expression on his face. “Royalty does not engage in such squalid diversions as threats. Royalty certainly does not espouse blackmail.” I sniffed. “Nasty little thing, blackmail. Far beneath me, I assure you. No, I would never do that. That little tidbit will never go any further than this garden. You have my word.” I smiled at him. “My word as a prince of the house of Hou-Ting.” I let the smile drop, and I leaned towards him. “However, as a king? Well, I couldn’t guarantee what I might do as a king. Such fickle creatures, kings. They tend to think they can do anything they want to, kings. Not surprising, of course, seeing as they are above the law. Why, a king might even cut your wife’s filthy little tongue right out of her mouth for the insult she gave to the king’s consort and children, not to mention the king's dearest friend! No, it is probably best for everyone if I remain simply a Highness instead of a Majesty, don’t you agree?” I reached into my jacket and pulled a piece of paper from an inner pocket, holding it out to him. He automatically took it and unfolded it, looking down to read it. His face went even paler than before. I smiled at him again. “Perhaps you can convince your friends of the same. When you next meet, of course. Next week in Ba Sing Se, yes? At the suite at the Imperial Jade Hotel?”

“How…” he whispered, and I laughed. I was actually amused at that point, Progeny. It was a real laugh.

“Oh, come now! Tsai! Did you think I didn’t know? Did you really?”

“Your Maj-” He swallowed. “Your Highness. I apologize for any offense I may have -”

I cut him off with a hand wave. “Yes, yes, I know. Run on back to the house now, Tsai. This conversation no longer amuses me.” He bowed, deeply, and started to hurry away.

“Oh, but Tsai?”

He turned to look at me, his eyes haunted.

“The only reason we are even having this conversation is because of my love for Chun. I should genuinely hate to cause her a moment’s worth of pain for any reason whatsoever. That said, if you - or any of your friends - so much as touch a hair on any of my children’s precious heads, your lives will immediately be forfeit, without the benefit of conversation. Do I make myself entirely clear? I won’t say it again.”

He jerked out a nod and spun to make his way rapidly back towards the house. I closed my eyes. I sat for a few moments, simply breathing in the silence of the garden.

#my fanfiction #queeniedear

[artificialqueens]

Paper Hearts Chapter 3 (Branjie) - meggie

A/N: I keep saying I’m going to put this one on the back burner and focus on one of the 9,000 AU one-shots I want to write, but here we are.

Chapter Three: in which something has to change, Vanessa seizes an opportunity, and Brooke still can’t let go.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, either here or over on my personal tumblr @artificialmeggie. Or just come say hey or fangirl. That’s fine, too.

I also want to give a HUGE thank you to Q-tip for taking a look at this when I was having an existential crisis over this chapter (as you do) and assuaging my fears.

“I been thinking ‘bout you a lot,” Vanessa says to her the next time they’re alone, which is the next night, after they’ve wrapped filming for the day, after dinner, after a silent van ride back to the hotel where they’d held hands under the cover of Brooke Lynn’s jacket but avoided making eye contact because Silky had Vanjie and Plastique engaged in a conversation about wigs the entire way. The heat from their skin was nearly searing because the two of them have a secret now and it’s all Brooke’s been able to think about all day. She couldn’t even squeak out that stupid “Beyon-say what” line during filming because she’d been so preoccupied by it, her, them.

Actually, she’d pretty much bombed the entire challenge, if she’s being totally honest, and while she can’t blame Vanessa for her poor acting, she won’t lie and say she wasn’t a contributing factor.

They’re both lying on their stomachs on their respective balconies, hands stretched through the metal railings, the fingers of both hands laced together, and it isn’t the least bit comfortable, but it’s the most at home Brooke’s felt in this whole competition.

The dew fell hours ago, leaving Brooke’s shorts and the stiff white fabric of the hotel pillow where she rests her cheek damp and cool, and it has to be getting on toward two or three in the morning, but neither one of them has made any indication—despite trading stifled yawns every few minutes—that they want to go inside.

She’s come to revere these moments with Vanessa, treasure them. She tucks each one away in her memories and spends the next day replaying it, analyzing it, dissecting it for details she may have missed before. Vanjie’s like an expensive box of chocolate you get in your Christmas stocking; you want to devour the entire thing in one go, but you force yourself to draw it out, make it last, savor each piece individually so you can guarantee yourself that added pleasure when you most need it.

And boy, does Brooke want to devour Vanessa.

There are still traces of red lipstick around Vanessa’s mouth that are just visible in the moonlight and ambient glow of the city, and Brooke’s trying to convince herself that’s why she can’t look away from those full lips. It has absolutely nothing to do with their kiss. Nope. Nothing at all.

Except it has everything to do with their kiss, and she knows she’s just kidding herself because she wants more than anything to take Vanessa’s face in her hands, feel the stubble brush against the smooth skin of her palms, cradle her chin as they move their lips and tongues and mouths together while she kisses Vanessa like she deserves to be kissed.

So with all that going on in her head, she’s surprised at how measured and even her tone is when she responds, “Really?” like Vanessa hasn’t also been invading her every waking thought for the past eighteen hours.

“Mmm.” Vanjie releases one of her hands to trace patterns along the delicate skin of Brooke’s wrist. It’s driving her insane. “You distract me, mami.”

“Well, what do you suggest we do about it?” Brooke means for it to be teasing and flirtatious and contain a little bit of a hidden wink, a nod to what she know’s they’d both like to do about it, do to each other (not like they can act on it.), but Vanessa’s fingers are relentless, leaving trails of fire and wisps of smoke where they spark along the flash paper of Brooke’s skin. They’re combustible.

So instead of flirting, it sounds more like longing and yearning because the only time they’re truly alone is when they’re out here together like this, and this is hardly a way to further develop a relationship. It’s like prison, metal bars and all. And even some prisoners get conjugal visits, for god’s sake.

Vanessa sighs because she knows as well as Brooke Lynn does that there’s nothing they can do. At least for now, when they’re constantly monitored by either camera crews or production assistants or surrounded by the other queens or kept apart by a fifty-foot drop and two metal fences.

“I don’t know,” she finally says into the darkness and squeezes Brooke’s wrist. Sparking. Smoldering. “But sooner or later, we gotta figure something out. I can’t stand another seven weeks of being this close to you and not being able to be close to you.”

*****

Brooke decides overnight (or maybe first thing upon waking in the morning; it’s all a little fuzzy and she didn’t actually sleep that well) that Vanjie is absolutely right—something must be done; because as nice as holding hands on the van and balcony every morning, noon, and night is, Brooke wants to hold Vanessa, wants to take her tiny, delicate frame into her much larger, sturdier one and just protect her and kiss her forehead and nose and cheeks and pull her into her body as they fall asleep side by side, curled around each other.

Brooke bides her time while they paint for the runway (though she and Vanjie sneak tiny glimpses and glances and grins in the mirrors whenever possible) and waits patiently through their critiques (and how can she possibly ignore her, standing there in her rose-covered scales of truth, justice, and the American goddamn way?).

It’s unbearable. She might be a water sign, koi fish dancing across her body in this dress, but all she feels are flames licking at her feet, ignited and fanned by Vanjie’s Libra air, threatening to burn her from the inside if she doesn’t get some relief soon.

When production holds them backstage so Kahanna can have her final moment in the Werk Room, Vanessa finally seizes an opportunity when Brooke asks to use the restroom.

The PA nods and points in the general direction of the closest bathroom without looking up from her phone. “You need help?” the PA finally thinks to ask, but Vanjie brushes her off with a wave and winks at Brooke.

“I gotta go, too, so… I got it.”

Brooke tries to keep her smile contained as Vanessa falls into step beside her, and they’re walking so close together that their hands brush every few steps.

And then Vanjie’s hand is on the small of her back as Brooke twists the knob of the bathroom door and they tumble in together like horny teenagers—really, are they any better?—and thank god this restroom is single occupancy because Brooke is able to back Vanessa against the closed door and take her face in her hands and press their mouths together full-on like she’s been dying to do for the last day.

Ignition.

Vanessa’s hands are all over now, pulling Brooke closer to her, grasping as best she can at the slick blue and orange fabric of her dress, gripping through layers of panels and tights and padding in a vain attempt to make contact with skin and flesh, to pull them as close together as possible because this… This is what they meant by needing something to change, by not being able to spend seven weeks close without being close.

There’s heat and static and tiny moans and whimpers from both of them when their tongues meet, and Vanessa tastes like mint toothpaste and lipstick and something Brooke can’t quite place but thinks might just be her, and it’s then that she knows she wants more, more, more.

But then Vanessa pulls away and puts a hand to her mouth, and Brooke Lynn swallows hard because she knows exactly what the other is thinking. Because it’s good and real and intense, and honestly, it wouldn’t take much more than Vanessa asking her (or even just looking up at her with those glitter-lined eyes) for Brooke to strip their drag off, bend Vanjie over the sink, and pull her hair as she pounds into her from behind.

Hard.

Fast.

Relentless.

But they both deserve more than clandestine hookups in hidden bathrooms while a disinterested PA waits down the hall ten yards away.

They’re blazing.

They seem to make the decision silently, but together: if they’re doing this, they’re doing it right. So Vanessa reaches over and brushes a stray strand of Brooke’s hair back into place with a shy grin.

“Can’t have my jush looking out of place.” And then she presses her lips to the corner of Brooke’s mouth and they linger, arms wrapped around each other for as long as they dare. It’s not enough, but it’s something, it’s more.

When they pull apart, they stand side by side in the mirror as Brooke tries to salvage her lipstick, the soft nude shade now mottled with Vanjie’s vivid red. When she rubs it in enough it turns an acceptable shade of tannish-pink, and she prays that maybe none of the other girls will notice the change.

“Is it real obvious?” Vanjie asks almost timidly, after she’s taken a paper towel to her chin, trying her best to clean up where the red has bled into the foundation at her lip line. “I mean… Can you tell?”

Can she tell? Absolutely. And she wants nothing more than to kiss every trace of lipstick from Vanessa’s mouth. To kiss her hard and not stop until they’re both gasping for breath and all that’s left are swollen, plump lips on an already perfect mouth and neither one can remember what color their lipstick was when they started.

Can anyone else tell? Brooke thinks not and assures her as much. After all, it’s not like they’re wearing ninety-nine cent lipstick on the runway, for Christ’s sake. This stuff has some staying power.

They embrace for one last hug and one last slow, careful, lingering kiss to get them through until the next time (whenever it may be) and rejoin the rest of the girls, and Brooke can’t help but notice that A'keria eyes them carefully and her gaze flicks back and forth between them a few times before a smug smile fixes itself on her lips.

After they’re undressed and dedragged and wrapped for the night, Brooke is first to the van (as usual), but she can’t shake that image of A'keria and her little knowing grin. So she implores Nina and Shuga to sit in the back with her as they file in. No big deal, Brooke thinks, they always sit in different places.

But they haven’t, at least not her and Vanessa, not since Vanjie claimed her spot by Brooke’s side that morning after their first night on the balcony. They are always together. Always huddled in their own corner of the van, thighs brushing, fingers wrapped around each other but hidden from view, heads bent low as they talk about the day’s events, ignoring everyone else, everything else, staring at each other’s lips and into each other’s eyes and wishing, hoping, praying for any moment alone.

She thought they’d been so careful. Maybe they haven’t been careful enough. Maybe they’re a wildfire.

A'keria looks confused and maybe even a little disappointed as she climbs into the van and sees Brooke sandwiched between Nina and Shuga, but Vanessa… Vanessa’s radiant smile falls from her lips and she meets Brooke’s eyes for only a split second before Brooke feels far too guilty and has to look down at her lap and start picking superglue from her nail beds.

Vanjie sits in the front with A'keria and Silky, and she remains quiet for the entire ride. She’s hurt, and Brooke is responsible for that hurt, and that’s worse than anything A'keria thinks she might have seen.

Later than night, Brooke takes her usual midnight cigarette break before bed expecting to see Vanjie, talk to her, explain the situation, how she was feeling, how they really must start being more careful because A'keria might know and that would spell disaster for both of them, especially if—when—she tells someone else… But Vanessa never emerges from her room.

So Brooke Lynn smokes three cigarettes instead of one, alone in the middle of her balcony, gazing out on the lights of Los Angeles that lose some of their shine without Vanessa there beside her.

#rpdr fanfiction #brooke lynn hytes #vanessa vanjie mateo #branjie #slow burn #angst #paper hearts #meggie #on set fic #canon compliant #s11

[guavspetblog]

Hi there! I’m Alex, and I’ve had isopods for about five months. I started by getting some tropical dwarf whites (Trichorhina tomentosa) for my bioactive enclosure. I fell in love with the little crustaceans, so I recently started keeping them on their own. I’m working on getting a little tiny tank for my smooth dairy cows (Porcellio laevis), and they’ll be my first time keeping isopods as a pet rather than as a secondary inhabitant in a bioactive enclosure.

As with any pet I keep, I decided to make a care sheet. And since I have a blog dedicated to pets, I thought I’d share it!

Introduction

For those who don’t really know what isopods are, they are crustaceans that have many names, including roly polies, woodlice, pill bugs, sow bugs, and more (pill bugs and sow bugs are actually two different things!). They breathe through gills, so having a humid microclimate is a must. 

As pets, they make a great primary or secondary inhabitant of a naturalistic enclosure. They are often used in bioactive enclosures (such as for reptiles and amphibians) as a clean-up crew (CUC), eating dead plant material and animal waste. They also help aerate soil. When used this way, they are known as secondary inhabitants because they are not the “main” pet. 

However, they can be incredibly rewarding pets in themselves as primary inhabitants, meaning they are the sole or main animal in an enclosure. They are fascinating to watch, easy to care for, often inexpensive, and breed quite easily so that you only need to start with a small culture in order to have many! 

As a quick aside, if you follow these instructions and have a mixture of males and females, they will breed automatically. I was going to do a whole section on breeding, but literally. If they have space, if they have food, if they have cover, they’ll reproduce.

Checklist

Cork Bark/Hides

Cuttlebone or other calcium source 

Food (Repashy Bug Burger or Morning Wood)

Leaf Litter

Substrate

Tank/Container (at least 1 gallon)

Enclosure

One of the appealing things about many invertebrates is that they do not need a lot of space to thrive! For isopods, popular enclosure types include rubbermaid/ziploc containers, Zoo Med/Exo Terra terrariums, cricket keepers/faunariums, or aquariums. Try to aim for at least one gallon—they can work in less than that, but I’ve heard from multiple sources that reproductive success peaks at one to five gallons. If you are using an aquarium, make sure it doesn’t have silicone going to the top; isopods have used it to climb and escape. A lid is also highly recommended, but make sure there are some breathing holes if your container is airtight.

I personally have mine in a 1 gallon cricket keeper at the moment, although I will be getting them a nano Exo Terra on the weekend.

One thing to remember is that they are shy creatures that don’t like light. Some species are more outgoing than others, but they will get stressed if they have nowhere to hide or if they are constantly exposed to bright light. Throwing in a top layer of leaf litter over your substrate will provide food and cover, and two or three small pieces of cork bark or eggshell carton will provide enough hiding space that they won’t be stressed.

Since they breathe using gills, it is important to create a mini humidity gradient so they can regulate. Dwarf whites (Trichorhina tomentosa) need a lot of moisture as they come from tropical climates, whereas giant canyon isopods (Porcellio Dilatatus) need less humidity to survive. No matter the species, you should always have a relatively dry area (think fresh soil—it’s not wet, but it’s not sandy, either) and a moist area (not dripping, not mud, but enough that the isopods can get the water they need to breathe). This gradient of wet-to-dry within their enclosure will allow them to regulate whether they need less or more humidity, promoting natural behaviour. It’s fairly simple to do—using distilled or natural spring water, mist or pour some water more heavily on one end of the enclosure and only a little on the other end. I definitely advise getting a mister, though not the expensive ones from pet stores. I got mine at the garden section of Walmart for about $2, and it holds 1.5 litres. Depending on the specific species humidity requirement, the ventilation of your enclosure, and the substrate you use, mist them between once a day to once a week. As long as you have that gradient, you should be fine. And remember, while you don’t want to drown your isopods by flooding their enclosure, it is better for them to be a little too moist than too dry. Even a little bit of time in a place where the humidity is below 50% can permanently damage the gills. Research your species’ humidity needs and follow them carefully. Many do best at >60% humidity at a minimum.

Also, if high humidity is needed but your container has a lot of ventilation, you can cover openings with acrylic, glass, sponges, tape (make sure the sticky side won’t affect your lil guys!), or plastic wrap.

For substrate, I use my own homemade mix of organic composted soil, Eco Earth (coco fibre), Reptibark chips, pieces of leaf litter, and sphagnum moss. I find this works really well for my bioactive enclosures, including the isopods. It allows for natural behaviour such as burrowing, holds humidity, and provides a source of food via the Reptibark and leaf litter. You can use dried and sterilized oak, magnolia, and almond leaves. Basically anything reptile safe.

For cleaning, replace leaf litter and wood as needed, remove uneaten food after a day or two to prevent mold, and these guys can also be housed with springtails to create a bioactive (self-sustaining) enclosure. Completely replace the substrate every four to six months. To do this, you can lure some out with a piece of vegetable, then move the vegetable when it’s covered in isopods. Remove the hides and decor, also usually containing more isopods. Lastly, use a fine strainer to sift through the dirt. This will pick up a lot of stragglers (though not all). It’s common to lose some isopods during a clean, but as long as your population is otherwise healthy, it shouldn’t affect them too much.

Food

Isopods are detritivores and will eat just about anything. Include wood and sterilized, dried leaf litter in their enclosure that they can munch on. Feed them a protein source once a week, especially with Porcellio sp. They are protein aggressive and will cannibalize without a proper source of protein. Repashy’s Bug Burger or Morning Wood both work great. Feeding vegetables, such as squash, potatoes, zucchini, or carrots once a week will add variety to their diet. Dark leafy greens also give extra nutrients. I’ve heard people sometimes feed them fish food (okay, but not the best. Use a high quality pellet if you do) or dog food (no. Please don’t.).

Another important thing is that isopods need calcium for a healthy exoskeleton. Buy a cuttlebone in the bird or turtle section at the pet store, or use a calcium powder found in the reptile section with NO added vitamin D3.

Compatibility

As long as they have a proper food source, isopods are generally pretty peaceful creatures that can be housed with a variety of other animals. As I said at the beginning, they are often secondary inhabitants to reptiles or amphibians in bioactive tanks. With vertebrates and invertebrates alike, make sure you research the requirements of each species involved to make sure they’re compatible. Not all species are compatible due to humidity and space requirements, as well as aggression of both the isopods and the other species.

Also, since I recommend bioactive enclosures to keep isopods, I also definitely think most owners should keep their isopods with springtails! The springtails are another common CUC, as they will eat mold, compete with pests (like soil mites), and they are also usually very cheap.

For vertebrates, most reptiles and amphibians can be kept with smaller isopod species as a CUC. Be warned that some insectivorous animals may eat them though, which is why many people use dwarf whites (Trichorhina tomentosa), which spend most of their time burrowed in the substrate, as a CUC.

Invertebrates include:

Slugs and snails

Tarantulas 

Scorpions

Earthworms

Millipedes

Basically anything you can put in a bioactive is good with isopods. Some species are more protein aggressive, however, which can be a problem for smaller or moulting specimens.

Mixing species/morphs of isopods together can be done, but some may outcompete each other. And if two of the same species but different morphs are mixed, they may lose their distinctiveness.

Species

Armadillidium depressum: Yellow, 2 cm

Armadillidium granulatum: Granulated, 2.5 cm

Armadillidium klugii: Dubrovnik, Montenegro, 2.1 cm

Armadlillidium maculatum: Zebra, 1.5 cm

Aramdillidium nasatum: Peach, Grey, 1.4 cm

Armadillidium vulgare: Tangerine, 1.8 cm

Armadillo officinalis: 1.9 cm

Cubaris murina: Little Sea, 1.2 cm

Nagarus cristatus: Dwarf Striped, 1 cm

Oniscus asellus: Mardi Gras, Maple, 1.8 cm

Porcellio bolivari: 3 cm

Porcellio dilatatus: Giant Canyon, 1.9 cm

Porcellio expansus: Orange skirt, 3.5 cm

Porcellio flavomarginatus: 3 cm

Porcellio haasi: 3.2 cm

Porcellio hoffmannseggi: 4 cm

Porecellio laevis: White, Dairy Cow, Milkback, Orange, 1.6 cm

Porecellio ornatus: High Yellow, 2.5 cm

Porcellio scaber: Orange, Dalmatian, Calico, Grey, Black, Tortoiseshell, Koi, Laval, Orange Dalmatian, 1.5 cm

Porcellio silvestri: 2.5cm

Porcellio spatulatus: 2 cm

Porcellio spinicornis: 1.5 cm

Porcellio werneri: 2.5 cm

Porcellionides pruinosus: Powder Blue, Powder Orange, White Out, 1.2 cm

Trichorhina tomentosa: Dwarf White, 0.5 cm

Many others, including Rubber Ducky and Dwarf Purples (these don’t have a species, only a genus), along with thousands of morphs!

Resources

Tumblr has a lot of good information on pet keeping—if you know who’s reputable. @tser​, @morbidsmenagerie​ and @fimbry​ are all isopod keepers (to my knowledge). I don’t want to plug myself, but I will say I’m pretty good with research, have some experience, and like helping people—so don’t be afraid to shoot me an ask if you have a question or something to add! I’m always down to learn how to care for pets.

Good Online Resources

Glass Box Tropicals (Care Sheet)

Aquarimax Pets (YouTube Channel)

Aquarimax Pets (Care Sheet/Website)

Reptiliatus (YouTube Channel; link goes to isopod playlist)

NEHerp (Care Sheet)

#animals #isopod #information #guav speaks #invertebrate

[kimonobeat]

aiko bon: Official “Chiisana Marui Koujitsu” liner notes

aiko’s major label debut album, released April 21, 1999. The title of the album comes from a line in the first song, “Orange na Mangetsu”.

Orange na Mangetsu (オレンジな満月; Orange Full Moon)

Jet (ジェット)

Shiseikatsu (私生活; Private Life)

Utahime (歌姫; Diva)

Akai Kutsu (赤い靴; Red Shoes)

Ijiwaru na Tenshi yo Sekai wo Warae! (イジワルな天使よ 世界を笑え!; Mean Angel, Laugh at the World!)

Koi Ochiru Toki (恋墜ちる時; When You Fall in Love)

Natsu ni Muffler (夏にマフラー; Scarf in Summer)

Bob (ボブ)

Naki Mushi (ナキ・ムシ; Cry Baby)

Ashita (あした; Tomorrow)

(Thank you parasmichael for the commission!)

☑ The album as a whole

This was in 1999. When we were making this album I was sorta overwhelmed by just how awesome everything was: “Wow, a studio! Wow, a mic! Wow, oh my gosh, Tokyo!” We didn’t have just one set recording studio either; we recorded in a few different places. Plus, I didn’t have much time because I was still commuting from Osaka then. Because of that, my mental picture of recording it is that it was all pretty much over in the blink of an eye. There’s parts where my voice sounds nasally because we recorded when my vocals weren’t in great condition. (laughs) Oh, and it feels very ‘early’, doesn’t it? Back then I thought it was better to sing everything with force. Like, personally I don’t think you should sing very sharply or shrilly when the song itself is mild, but I used to think the stronger the better. I didn’t know a lot about laying off at certain points in the lyrics back then. What a trip down memory lane.

☑ Orange na Mangetsu

One thing I don’t really like is when people call this song “Oraman”. (laughs) I’m happy people even know this song exists enough to call it that, though. It was the opening theme song for the late-night Tokyo TV show “Gekkan Chikyuu TV (Monthly Earth TV)”. We shot a video for it thereーa sort of music video, if you will. It’s a rare video. I don’t even have it. Thanks to that, I had the chance to perform the song “Utahime” on the show. Back then I was up to my ears in work, so I appeared on the show covered in mud. I’m actually afraid of the moon. You know how sometimes you see it all big and amber-colored up in the sky? A long time ago, I often used to get so scared of seeing a big moon in the sky that I would cry. I’m still afraid of it to this day. I’m really scared that it’ll fall out of the sky or something. The song’s about how I want so badly for my feelings to be understood that I even go as far as to fearfully get a glimpse of it through the gap in my curtains and make a wish, even though I’m so scared of the moon. I used to be such a weakling back then. I used antiseptic for my throat so much that people would say my place smelled like a hospital when they came over. That’s why the word ‘antiseptic’ appears in the lyrics. The album title ‘chiisana marui koujitsu (a nice calm little day)’ appears in the lyrics too. I think that phrase represents what I personally consider to be a happy day well. I still find myself hoping that every single day continues to be full of happy things like these. Another thing I don’t really like was when this one comedian pronounced it as “Chiisana Marui Koupi”. It’s “Koujitsu”, not “Koupi!” Kind of feels like the album kicks off with drums, doesn’t it?

☑ Jet

Okay, first of all… Right around the time Shimayan had finished up the arrangement, I went over to his house and we recorded some vocals as a sort of demo. I was so happy when I listened that tape. I listened to it while running through Sangenjaya by myself. It just kinda made me feel like running. Like, “WE DID IIIIIIIT!” Anyway, I was running, and it felt so good that I knew then and there that this song would be a hit. It just felt so good when I was running that it felt done to me. It gets people really excited at my concerts, too. I guess the “d-dun!” part has a lot of impact. I also use the pronoun ‘boku (masculine ‘I’) in the song too, which is rare for me. The boy in “Jet” and the boy in “Boushi to Mizugi to Suiheisen” are one and the same. So the hair sticking out of the back of the girl’s hat is all messy and curled upーthat’s what the line “Because the messy hair on the back of your head are your wings” means. He’s looking at the hair sticking out of the back of the girl’s capーy’know, those messy hairs that are all over the placeーand looking at the way she lives her life, how incredibly free she is and how she really enjoys every single day of her life, and he sort of admires her for that. That’s why you also see the line “I know for sure you’ll fly” in the lyrics too. I guess I included it after it all just popped into my head once I came up with that visual because this song, “Jet” and “Boushi” are all especially candid. There are others like that too.

☑ Shiseikatsu

I’m really fond of the title and kept saying I wanted to make it the title of the album. Then when I was writing the title track, I was afraid of making the overall vibe of the album into just one thing and gave it up. When you write a title track, the radio stations definitely play the title track on the air. I didn’t really like the idea that the title track would set the image of the entire album even though there were all these other songs on it, you know what I mean? Now I get what everyone was saying to me then. Back then I didn’t understand why at all. Now I’m like, “Oh, so that’s why.” I definitely feel the things I wrote about in the lyrics. It’s an established part of me that I’m a bit afraid of, and because it kinda like, expresses that part of me to a T, I decided to call it “Private Life”. The one thing I really remember about this song was when the bridge over my molars came off when I had my very first solo concert at Nest in Shibuya. I stuck them back on with Poligrip. (laughs) Using Poligrip for the very first time at 23 years old. That was when I first learned that Poligrip was clear. You know how it’s always pink when you see it on TV? When I found out, I thought I’d made some kind of huge discovery and mentioned it during the MC portion of my concertーthat I was using Poligrip and it was clear! I showed everybody. They all went, “Whoa!!!” When I sang “Shiseikatsu” during that Poligrip concert, there was this one girl who was so stoked that she was dancing like she was at a club or something. I remember seeing her and singing while thinking to myself, “Oh wow… That makes me happy to see! I’m gonna keep working hard then!” I also really love the ad-libbing that doesn’t follow the melody at all, and also the ad-libbing in the second half of the song.

☑ Utahime

This is another one of those songs that stands out more than I ever thought it would. A lot of my fans tells me they like this song. Probably because I suddenly started sang this song during the opening of my first time on the national net show “All Night Nippon R” along with the line, “Nice to meet you. I’m aiko, who are you?” Because of that, some people found out about me for the first time through this song and not one of my singles. The people on the radio station really liked “Utahime”, so they asked me to sing it. Everyone gets super excited when I sing it at concerts, too. I still feel like this song’s gotten a lot more mileage than I ever thought it would. But, I’d like to be the kind of singer who’s able to surpass this song so I can continue singing in the future. This is one of those songs that I feel like I need to sing any time I sing at a concert. It was in the program at the concert when I developed those nodules [on my vocal chords]. When I sang the part that goes, “I might cry and cry~”, I couldn’t get the ‘and’ out. That was really painful for me. I figured everything’d be fine if I could just hit that note, but I definitely couldn’t. That was a huge shock for me. Singing this song used to make me feel super sad. I just couldn’t get over how shocked I was about it. Any time I thought about singing this song, the memory of it overpowered the song itself. The song makes me feel really sad, but also happy. I still hope I can be like the person in the song soon.

☑ Akai Kutsu See liner notes for ‘Naki Mushi’ single

☑ Ijiwaru na Tenshi yo Sekai wo Warae

Okay, so another thing I don’t really like (laughs) is when people call this song “Iji Ten”. Sounds like ikaten, doesn’t it? Like some kind of fried food, right? Sounds like a fried fish cake or something like that. I’ve always called it “Tenshi” which is the usual, but some people call it “Iji Ten”. There’s also a part in this song where I put my hands up in the air along with everyone in the audience. I never thought I’d get pretty much everyone to do it. I used to hope that writing this song would help me enjoy myself at concerts. I used to be really bad at writing cheerful songs in the beginning. I write my songs using my piano, and the more I try to sing in-tempo, the more I try to play the rhythm on my keyboard and the harder it gets hard for me to sing. It’s like my right hand’s flipping things with a spatula and my left hand’s doing shabu-shabu or something… But I really wanted to write an up-tempo song. That was my task, an up-tempo song. It still is. So yeah, that’s how this song came to be. I think I’ve been doing this song at concerts since my indie days, maybe. I remember doing the peace sign and thumbs-up since before I had my solo concert. After I debuted, I appeared at this event in Tokyo called “The Freedom Fool Fry”. I was there with about 4 supporting bands. It was my very first time performing in Tokyoーit was a great place to be a nobody, although I was there because they’d asked me to come. I was super happy to see everyone shuffle out there to see me. I was like, “Wow, people in Tokyo are so dang kind~” (laughs) Now a lot of people know the signs. Seeing that from the stage is one of the highlights of the show. It’s just super neat. It almost doesn’t feel over ‘til they do it. Anytime I leave this song off the setlist people always write, “Not doin’ it this time?” on the surveys. The melody moves around a lot in this song and key’s pretty high, so it’s a fight every time. Like, I wanna move around, but I also wanna sing. You know? It’s a fight to the finish every single time, one where everyone who came to the venue is grappling with that ‘seize the day!’ feeling.

☑ Koi Ochiru Toki

My voice was real nasally then. I almost think it might be a good thing when I listen to it now, but the song reminds me how frustrated I was with it at the time. I caught a cold while recording. This was back when I didn’t worry at all about what state my throat was in either, so I slept until about 5 minutes before I had to sing because I had both a cold and a fever. Then they woke me up, I got up, and sang. People told me that they didn’t understand the lyrics of this one song in particular. (laughs) “What’s square foam?” they asked. It’s hard having people ask what things are. I was like, “Don’t ask about every single lil’ thing!” (laughs) In my head, I imagine ‘when you fall in love’ as something impossible happening. That’s what I think falling in love is. You’ve got all these things swirling around in your head. Things are like a cartoon, or a comic stripーthat’s what ‘when you fall in love’ is like to me, so that’s what I wrote about. You feel it with your entire body, you inhale their scent. I was super shocked when I sang it at a concert for the first time in a while and everyone sang along. They had me worrying that I’d mess the lyrics up!

☑ Natsu ni Muffler

So hot it’s like wearing a scarf in the summerーthat’s what I was going for here! I’m expressing the way you feel when you like somebody. I feel like I don’t do anything that sounds even remotely like this now. It’s pretty refreshing, I like it a lot. The more I listened to this song, the more I fell in love with it. I mean, I’m the one who wrote it and all, but… When you listen to something, over time you gradually start seeing new sides to it. Like, I love how expressive the melody is, and I love how the feeling of being purely happy comes through well. I love the phrase “Lemme see the tan lines your watch left behind”ーit’s very realistic.

☑ Bob

I’m the one playing in this song, tee hee. (laughs) Hm, where’d I sing this again? Hitokuchizaka, maybe… ? It came together pretty much instantly so I said, “Hey, I wrote this song.” I remember recording it after showing it to them at Hitokuchizaka Studio and being told it sounded good. You can really tell it was fresh off the press when I recorded it too. Wow, that really takes me back! I sound like I’m saying “I sink” instead of “I think”, “mot” instead of “not”, and all the words are the kind you’d use in school. Thanks to this song, anytime I get letters people write “I sink” instead. I used to write it that way a lot myself, actually. My hair really was cut into a bob when I made this song. That’s why I wrote it! In this song I’m really trying hard to act tough. I’m just talking to myself but wish someone was listening… but I’m also acting tough. That’s because I feel that way 24/7. (laughs) Oh, and the Wurlitzer is just fantastic, isn’t it?

☑ Naki Mushi See liner notes for ‘Naki Mushi’ single

☑ Ashita See liner notes for ‘Ashita’ single

#aiko #aiko yanai #yanai aiko #chiisana marui koujitsu #translation #aiko bon

[dougtennapel]

I’ve always had a thing for amphibians. For most of my life I’ve raised newts, frogs, salamanders and toads. But this koi pond will be the largest expansion of my amphibian sanctuary dreams.

Below is a picture of my backyard as I started to plan out the koi pond. Our family put in all of the tile last year, so I already gained some experience with cutting stone and doing a little cement work. This area was either going to be a garden or a pond and I went with a pond. Little did I know that what I thought would take two weeks would become a monster month-and-a-half epic project!

I started with online research. I interviewed every koi pond owner who wanted to talk about it, and like bee keeping, koi pond owners are a cult unto themselves. They share techniques on water flow, algae control and plant choices. Everyone has an opinion and they are informed by experience. I gained knowledge by watching hours and hours of professional koi pond builders.

May 10th, 2018 I was on the brink of breaking ground. I decided to document each step of building my pond and here is the first entry:

Planning the Pond on paper

  I think by sketching. That’s just how my works after drawing my whole life.

I draw step by step illustrations to make the physics work in my mind. Here is a sketch I doodled in charcoal showing how the tile steps down to an inner shelf, covered in black plastic liner then covered in rocks:

There is a retaining wall in the backyard and the plan was to have the waterfall flow over the wall, but the wall was too high. I decided to rent a jackhammer and bust down part of the wall. I had to do this first because I didn’t want to blast cement everywhere after the pond was built. Of course, I later scrapped this waterfall design and wouldn’t need to tear down the wall.

Breaking the Wall. Jackhammer rental.

  My friend Beau and I did a lot of cement work, blocking in walls, building a stone staircase, and laying the cinderblock edge of the pond.

Here is the first attempt at the waterfall. I had two pre-formed pools that would spill into each other before dropping down into the main pond. I lined some of the pond with cinderblock and used old cement scraps to build up an island. I ended up ripping most of this out.

I contracted a plumber to put in a water line so the pond could auto-fill if the level got too low. This keeps the pump from drying and burning out if we’re on vacation and the heat evaporates a ton of water. I used the ditch the plumber dug to also run an overflow drain from where the pump would be down to my rain gutter line that moves the water off my property and down to the street gutter.

I tried to dig out the pond by shovel and the ground was full of rocks and clay. After a week of digging I barely got a foot deep and I was aiming to go at least three feet deep. I realized my hand digging efforts weren’t going to work.

The Ground Is too Hard!

So I rented a back hoe. Now, I’ve never built a koi pond and am not super handy with tools. Not naturally, anyway. So over the years I’ve done so many do-it-yourself projects that I’ve grown more confident. But renting a back hoe topped all of my equipment rentals! This is the smallest back hoe I could find.

Once I got the hang of digging with a big machine, it came pretty easy. I scooped out a month’s worth of digging in about three hours.

Running the Back Hoe!

I wasn’t the only one who was terrified…

Back Hoe BUNNY!

As I scooped out the soil and clay I exposed an old, broken sprinkler system that hadn’t worked in five years.

The hole was dug, and I cleaned up the edges making sure there was an outer ledge for tile and and inner ledge where I would pile up rocks to help carry the weight of the edging stone where people could stand.

I ordered the liner from a local plumbing and drain shop. The guy who worked the counter was helpful as he was known locally as “the pond guy.” He became my Ben Kenobi. I got my kids to help roll the 1,000 pounds of plastic over the empty hole. We added a little water to the bottom so the weight of the liquid naturally pushes the liner out to where it needs to be. The edges are secured by dropping a few rocks along the waterline at each stage which helps remove wrinkles.

By the first evening the kids decided I shouldn’t build a koi pond… they wanted a swimming pool! We checked the liner for  any sharp stones coming up from underneath. I started trimming the edges of the liner just so it was easier to manage. I also redesigned the waterfall by pulling the prefabricated tubs out and stacking a cascade of giant slab rock.

The edges were made up of huge slabs of field stone that overlap the liner and are cemented to pre-existing tile. I got the waterfall flowing after installing the pump where I learned a little bit about plumbing. This was the first time I did a lot of PVC cutting and gluing. There were leaks, I’d have to rip it out and do it all over again. The waterfall leaked so I put on more cement, it would crack again and leak again. I covered it in a poly-sealer and it would still leak. I finally ripped it all out and laid black liner over the waterfall and covered that with rock. Then it finally stopped leaking.

I got so excited with the progress of the pond and the pump working that I bought some junker goldfish and some plants to experiment with what would best survive.

Once the pond was done, I could hardly believe it. I cleaned up my tools and repaired the yard. There is still a lot more gardening work to do around the pond, but that’s for another day.

Clip of the finished pond

Oh, and what about the amphibian sanctuary? A bunch of tree frogs have already moved in. They sing every night and have laid hundreds of eggs in the pond… most of which are eaten by my fish!I caught a pic of this female croaking one night:

If you ever want to build a koi pond I say “go for it!” But I would also recommend starting on a much smaller pond, because you really can make a 4 foot pond look amazing. But I’m happy with mine and look forward to spend my time buffing it out instead of hauling rocks and driving back hoes.

Here is a smattering of links about me if you want more information:

For an overview of my career click here.

I don’t make koi ponds for a living, I make comics! You should check them out. Check out my 16 graphic novels at Amazon

While this is my more personal website, you might want to read more about my usual art here: More of my articles on my professional website.

How to Build a Koi Pond I've always had a thing for amphibians. For most of my life I've raised newts, frogs, salamanders and toads.

#Doug TenNapel #Doug TenNapel Earthworm Jim #How to make a Koi Pond

[batkatbrown]

MiniMerMcCree c11 ( aka Beyond the Sea)

Huge shoutout to the anons and  @drizzerey for supporting this chapter <3

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six | Part Seven| Part Eight | Part Nine | Part Ten

Now on Ao3!

The waves crashed around Hanzo’s boots, sweeping away the scarlet of his latest mission. It had not taken long. He was a professional hunter and the nest of drowners was easily enough to clear. The mix of worries that haunted him was not.

Hanzo reached down and fished in the cold water for his arrowhead. He had collected half of his quiver already but it did not do to waste resources. Fingers going numb, he managed to pull part of an arrow from the thick sands before it was lost forever.

The sea no longer seemed a place of safety and comfort.

Hanzo finished his hunt and left the beach after disposing of the monster’s bodies. The smoke of a cleansing spell rose behind him and trailed away in the afternoon’s breeze. Sunlight glanced off the waves and Hanzo narrowed his eyes as he climbed up the cliff above the coast. Handholds that others would not dare to try, he used with confidence and ease.

There was little he could not climb when he put his mind too it. Even with stiff fingers from the cold, he soon reached the crest. He turned at the top and settled into a seiza facing the water.

Somewhere in the shimmering depths, the secret to Jesse’s curse lay. Small pricks laced the horizon that hinted at little islands and sandbars. The witch could make a breathing potion. He chewed the inside of his cheek as his stomach rolled. He already owed her too much and with terms too vague for his liking.

He could make one himself but it would take time to gather the raw ingredients. He would need to find a proper grimoire to refresh himself on the incantations. His hand fell to one of several small pouches on his belt. The leather was warm from the sun and the magic that hummed through it.

It protected him from the acidic nature of drowner blood in the harvested claws. He would need them if he dared to try to create a spell powerful enough to grant him access to the dark recesses of the sea.

Footsteps far to his right raised Hanzo from his thoughts and he waited patiently till his contact stopped at his side. “I have completed the contract from the Whitehill Village.”

“You certainly have. We cannot thank you enough for your swift help.” The village elder knelt on her knees beside them. Her robe was worn thin but had once been regal. A pattern of waves was faded on the hem.

“You will recover the shipment.”

“Yes. Some will have been ruined by the water but most should be salvageable. We can pay you once the chests are dragged up. Our local divers are eager to get back in the water now that it is safe.”

Hanzo nodded, gaze lingering on the horizon. “This is our arrangement.” He hesitated, weighing what he knew of the woman and the village. “May I ask a question of you. Of a sensitive nature.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her weathered face crinkle with amusement. “We are old enough friends to venture into these waters.” She pulled out a small wax paper bag and offered the contents to him.

He gratefully took a bit of taffy and popped it into his mouth. It gave him an excuse to stall as he chewed and consider his words. Once the sweet was gone, he faced Lydia completely. The sea glass woven into her hair glimmered in the sun.

“Have you ever seen merpeople along this coast?”

“You know I have.” Her laugh was like the spattering of raindrops. “Once upon a time, they were common here. As common as they are anywhere before man colonized the beaches.”

“Do you know where they live in the sea?”

“The only way to find them, is to know someone that has already been there.”

-

Jesse splashed through the koi pond with a small herd of the golden fish following along. “That’s a good little filly,” He praised a small koi that was trying her best to stay at his side. He rubbed her scales above her eye where he just knew it must itch.

She glupped at him and slide across his side. He affectionately pet her back as she went by and the school rose to investigate a bug with unfortunate timing. He was proud of them. It had only taken a few hours and the rest of the food Hanzo had set out to get them to behave.

They weren’t dolphins or sharks, that was for sure, but he was glad to have a bit of familiarity. Would his little Bessie remember him if he ever made it home? He fought off a wave of sadness at thoughts of his life among the vibrant ocean hunting and fighting and chasing adventure at every turn.

That’s what got me into this mess, he sighed in a flurry of bubbles and sent the school of koi on their way. He would work more with them later if he got the chance. He just hoped he didn’t end up eating them all if the curse struck before Hanzo got home.

He swam from one end of the pond to the other, an eye on the sun the whole time. The fading rays turned the water orange and his heart began to thunder.

It didn’t last long as the back gate squeaked and Jesse darted over to look. “Hanzo, darlin!” Jesse waved excitedly to see Hanzo stepping through. He raised a hand and waved back and a smile rose to scrunch his cheeks. It was more beautiful than the sunset over the ocean on its best day.

“I have some good news.” Hanzo trotted over, instrument case bouncing slightly on his back. “Let us talk over dinner.”

“I’d love that, got a might bit of hunger going.” Jesse swam to the edge closest to Hanzo and didn’t resist when he was scooped up. He wriggled his rump into the middle of his palm and slung his good arm around Hanzo’s thumb. “What are we gonna eat for dinner?”

“Have you tired of salmon already?” Hanzo chuckled and cupped the merman tight to his chest. Jesse took the time to rub himself against the little vee of skin that peeked out beneath his shirt. It was warm and soft and he planted little kisses against it. It tasted like the sea, salt and brine and something spicy from what he had eaten for lunch.

“I was thinking maybe something with pasta?” Jesse licked his lips. “I used t’come on shore all the time t’get a big bowl of noodles.”

“Truly?”

“Wouldn’t lie to you, sweetheart.” Jesse blinked to adjust his eyes as they passed into the darkness of the house. Hanzo quickly turned the lights on and carried him through the house to the kitchen. Jesse pointed to the sink next to the stove. “I can swim there while you cook. I like t’see you working your magic.”

“Very well.” Hanzo filled the sink with lukewarm water and Jesse was happy to dive in. He splashed and wriggled to clean the pond water off. A few scales fluttered off and fell to the bottom of the sink. He frowned at them and absence scratched the patches on his shoulders. The shifting had strained his body and he’d be shedding for a while.

It poked at the vain streak that had been growing since living with Hanzo. He fusted with his hair as he rose above the surface and crossed his arms on the ledge. He rested his chin on it and studied Hanzo.

“I will make ramen tonight. If it is agreeable.”

“Ramen? I think I had something like that once. When i was roaming around Japan as a young buck.” He sniffed excitedly at the onions, garlic and spices Hanzo set out on the counter. “Oooh, can you put an egg in mine? I remember the eggs. Big pretty golden yolks.”

“I will put an egg in yours.” Hanzo chuckled and leaned down. His beautiful brown eyes crinkled in the corners and Jesse lifted himself higher from the water. “It will be as big as your head at least.”

“You’re making me drool,” Jesse waggled his eyebrows and cast his eyes over the hunter. Strong, sturdy shoulders shook with his laugh and a fingertip was pressed to Jesse’s chest. He leaned down to kiss the top and added a nibble for good measure in case Hanzo couldn’t feel it.

“It is a good thing you are so small. Or your fangs would be quite painful.” Hanzo teased with a flash of a smile as he started adding things to the pots on the stove.

“Oh darlin’,” Jesse preened, flashing his tail in slow undulating movements. “They can feel mighty nice, or so i’m told.”

Help fund the next chapter on ko-fi!

#mchanzo #overwatch #merman #minimerMcree #mercree #witch #curse #mermaid #magic #au #sfw

[vampirevodka-blog]

Automat (1927), Edward Hopper.

     The bells strewn over the door chime, announcing my arrival to the boy manning the counter. He’s not Elia—who would normally be here on a Tuesday afternoon, but he seems kind enough. I smile, politely, and he asks if there’s any way he could be of assistance.

“Yes, please, there’s a book I’ve been reading here, it’s called We All Looked Up? Elia leaves it behind the counter for me for whenever I can seal myself away for a little.” He ducks down under the countertop and I take the chance to tap out a few buttons on my phone screen—Do not Disturb. I rarely get the opportunity to visit this place anymore: it’s always something or other with work, or my parents, or university that grabs me by the arm and yanks me back every time I even think of escaping. Especially with Anthony’s kid on the way, and what with how busy my schedule has been up until now due to exam season…

“Ah, here it is. By ‘Tommy Wallach,’” he reads off the cover, his tongue cluck-ing on the ‘ch’ at the end rather than the smooth sh I’m familiar with my mother using, as well as using myself. He holds the book out to me, half-grinning, dimples etched into his cheeks. “Is it any good?”

“It’s…” I pause, considering, because how do you explain to an individual you’ve only just met that you’re reading a story that explores how human behavior may make people respond to an end of the world catastrophe? “It’s a bit sad, but it’s interesting.”

“Hm.” He glances down at a phone—presumably his own—that’s chimed from where it rests on the counter. His eyes flick back up to me, the hazel poorly concealing his sudden loss of interest, and he asks if I would like to order anything.

Tea. I ask for a cup of chamomile with honey, thank him, and find my way to the table I always sit at whenever I come here. The shop itself—Papercup, a place the size of a walk-in closet with books, records, newspapers, magazines lining the walls up to the ceilings—is situated right next to a little café that a friend and I used to frequent. We aren’t friends anymore, and I loved the aura Home Sweet Home had encompassed itself in: the couches and décor making even the most out-of-place individual feel genuinely at home. It hurt too much to return by myself, though—we had had memories in the little atrium with the fairy lights, the bathroom with the submarine-esque wallpaper and rounded mirrors. Once I thought I’d try and go back myself—they have the best sweet potatoes fries I have ever tasted—and found myself in a hurry to leave before any tears actually fell. I’d aimlessly stumbled around the streets of Mar Mikhael in just the right direction, because I found myself standing in front of a small little nook with a cherry-wood bench outside and glass windows for the exterior wall. Granted, it had been busier that day: jam-packed because of the rain, there had barely been enough room for me to stand, let alone do any reading. I didn’t mind, though; I had a fresh-baked scone that melted in my mouth and was surrounded by quiet conversations, stories shared over warm cups of coffee and fat slices of pound cake, and I fell absolutely in love. This place always felt magical, like one of the few gems left that the outside world hadn’t managed to get their slimy, greedy hands on yet, and the atmosphere was so heart achingly raw that I found myself fitting right in amongst the dusty records seamlessly. I settle back into my seat, relishing the faint scent of worn books and aged paper mingled with the bitter aroma of coffee, and felt content.

           There was a strict policy against smoking indoors, I soon discovered after I’d begun to frequent the coffee shop. Of the four tables that fit in the café, three were occupied: an old woman with a cat, a couple of girls at the seating right beside the window. Papercup had smelled like gingerbread—this had been right before Christmas, when everyone was out anxiously buying gifts and trampling over each other in department stores—and I’d opted for peppermint tea to fit the atmosphere. Elia—who had taken a liking to me ever since I’d asked if they had any books by Viriginia Woolf at hand—was seated across from me, a paintbrush shoved through her hair, precariously balancing her massive curls into a bun atop her head. There’d been the snick of a lighter and a spark of light off to the left; Elia was up like a flash and politely informing the elderly woman of how much trouble she’d get into if she allowed her to carry on inside, but that the woman would be more than welcome to finish her cigarette outside. The woman apologized and Elia helped her relocate outside, her fair falling out of place slightly after the effort of opening the fold-up table they keep in the back. She’d come back to the table, eyeballing the box of Marlboros that had magically appeared on the table while she’d been away (read: that I’d rapidly searched my bag to fish out, just because she was funny to annoy like that), and she locked me inside after closing hours while she’d chain-smoked the few left, making face through the window.

Because of this, I knew better than to even make such possessions visible—the staff was far too much like a family, and family members force you to share everything with them, even if you don’t want to. I’d already smoked before I turned onto this street. I start when my tea is placed before me, and the boy laughs, apologizing and returning to where he’d been perched behind the counter. It’s only the two of us in the place, but it’s not awkward at all: there’s a soft song on the speaker overhead that I can faintly recognize as one of the new ones by Harry Styles, and there’s the soft whirring and dripping coming from the coffee machines. It’s serene, and I set the book on the table, away from me a bit, and pull out my watercolors and sketch pad.

There are already thousands of sketches of this exact café, from this exact location, scattered throughout the pages. Some in colored pencil, one in acrylics—one of them, though. One of them is of a different side of Papercup, one late at night after closing hours where the overhead lights have been shut off and the coffee pots long since emptied and the entirety of the place blanketed in silence, the streetlights in the window making the rickety wooden ladder perched up against the bookshelf-wall look copper.

Sometimes I wish that I did work here, instead. That I accepted the job when Elia’s boss—Raul—had offered. Sure, the pay is nowhere near what I make at Roadster’s, and tips are basically a foreign concept, but at least the shifts aren’t anxiety-inducing and my co-workers would offer me a lousy greeting at the start of a shift. I bring my cup to my lips, breathing over it gently to cool the tea before taking a sip. I set down the mug and pick up my pencil, hand sliding along the paper, eyes on the point in the room where the glass and the bookshelf walls meet.

The bells chime and I’m startled out of my train of thought, eyes on the newcomer. Messy hair, a beanie. Oversized jean jacket and a crazed expression with a partly-opened mouth.

The customer blends seamlessly into the sketch and I request a cup of water from not-Elia. The song changes to the 1975 and I decide that today Papercup’s wallpaper will be lavender (in reality, the walls are a beautiful crème, but while that color’s nice in real life it’s such a bore to paint). The flowers in the vase at the front of the shop are sunflowers—vibrantly yellow and purposely bleeding outside the lines, bringing light to the entire establishment.  There are koi fish swimming in the empty spaces; bleeding vermillion and blue-black shadows cast on the walls. I give the books titles—Harry Potter, All the Bright Places, Ever Since New York. I’ve added a record player shoved up against one corner because it’s something I’ve felt this place was lacking since the beginning. I nurse my tea as a I wait for the colors to dry, before adding the final touches in white acrylic to give the painting—the room, the feeling—more depth.

It’s not the best I’ve done—the customer’s depiction is clearly rushed and nothing I would ever boast about—but the blurriness at the edges work. It feels right: fuzzy on the outermost parts, slightly removed from reality; the world within one of its own. One that is calming and not riddled with shouting family members and lousy customers and stressful coursework. One where fish fill the air with symbolism and intent and don’t poop all over pedestrians like birds tend to do.

My tea cup is taken, and I know that he’s refilling it again. I put away the art supplies, carefully making sure the paint is dry, and hum along to the soft lull filling the place.

I smile, happy with where I am. I open my book and begin to read where I’d left off, the top right corner of the page forming a small triangle to mark the spot. There were only a few cars out on the freeway, busted up…

#writers on tumblr #hey everybody I'm alive #this was an assignment someone paid me to do and I'm very proud of it so y'all get to see it too #edward hopper #art #quiet #peaceful #fashion #diy #food #cafe #coffee shop #quaint #vintage #art history #original character #spilled thoughts #spilled ink #spilled words #Spilled bullshit

[overactivemuse]

The Moonlight Flower and Sunlight Priestess

Rating: G

Fandom: Fire Emblem Fates.

Pairing: Sakura/Elise

Elise has finally convinced Camilla to let her come with her to Hoshido. While Camilla will be busy with boring things, Elise will be catching up with a friend she hasn't seen in a very long time.

It’s basically just super adorable fluff between two adorable princesses

Elise was quite glad she'd followed her big sister to Hoshido this time. She hadn't seen Sakura in over a year, and was really starting to miss her. Even if they hadn't been able to be as good of friends as they wanted, Elise still missed Sakura. Elise managed to convince those mean soldiers to let her play with Sakura, and she did so every time she could. They talked about how different their countries were, but also how similar they were. Even if Sakura was always so shy, they both cared deeply about all of their siblings, wished more than anything that all of this fighting could just stop.

Elise was jolted out of her memories by a painful, burning feeling on her leg. She'd gotten careless with her parasol, and the sun was now on her skin. Elise quickly shifted her parasol to cover herself, and hoped she wouldn't be burned. She couldn't see Sakura with a sunburn! Luckily, Elise and her big sister were close to the castle. Elise wouldn't have to worry about the sun much longer.

When Elise got to the castle, she closed her parasol. She was glad to inside, where it wasn't so horribly bright. Her big sister handed over her axe and gave her wyvern to the stable hand. Elise tried to do the same thing, but the guard only took her tome, and told her to keep her staff. Camilla went upstairs to go talk about important things with Queen Hinoka, so Elise went out to find Sakura. Elise didn't have to do much, because Sakura walked out into the hall not a second after Camilla had left.

Elise ran to Sakura as quickly as she could, and noticed that Sakura was just as excited to see Elise, even if she didn't show it. Elise jumped into a hug, sending both girls to the floor. Elise noticed that Sakura was blushing, and that all of the castle guard were staring at them. Elise got off the floor, and helped Sakura up to her feet. Elise wanted to go someplace where the guards wouldn't be staring at them, and she could tell Sakura wanted to too.

"Can we go to your room?" Elise said, trying not look at the guards.

"S-Sure," Sakura said, hesitating less than she usually did.

Elise grabbed Sakura's hand and ran off in the direction of Sakura's room. Elise already knew where it was, and was eager to catch up with her friend. When they got there, Elise opened the door and dragged Sakura inside. Sakura's room was very nice, and the floor was almost impossibly soft, but Elise didn't see any chairs, or even a bed!

Sakura sat down on a cushion next to a very low table, and Elise noticed that Sakura was still blushing. Elise sat down across the table from Sakura, and there was a very short silence.

"Where's your bed?" Asked Elise, who was still looking around the room in disbelief that this could really be a princess's bedroom.

"I-It's outside right now," Sakura said. Elise was confused. Why would you move a bed outside?

"I-it's different that the beds you have in Nohr," Sakura added. "It's flat, and it doesn't have legs. You need to hang it outside every day to keep the m-mites out."

Elise smiled. She'd learned another thing about Hoshido! Elise smiled, and her smile spread to Sakura quite quickly.

"You have to come to Nohr next time, so I can show you my room!" Elise yelled. "My bed has curtains on every side, and is super soft! I also have chairs with pink cushions on them! And my table is -"

Elise's excitement was cut short by a cry of pain. The setting sun was shining through Sakura's window, right onto Elise. Sakura stood up, and looked at Elise with worry plain on her face. Elise scrambled out of the sun, and noticed how badly burned her legs were.

"F-follow me," Sakura said. "I-I-I think I can help," she hastily added.

Elise followed Sakura out of the room, and through the halls into a room full of herbs. "W-wait here," Sakura said. Sakura then grabbed herbs from a few pots, put them all in a bowl. Sakura then poured a bit of water into the bowl, and crushed all the herbs into a fine paste.

"T-this might hurt a little, but it should help," Sakura said. Elise wasn't sure what was happening, but she saw Sakura take some of the paste from the bowl and put it on her legs. It hurt a bit when Sakura put the paste on, but then the burns stopped hurting.

"Thanks!" Elise said, trying to be cheerful, but she couldn't really be happy. After all, Sakura had seen her with a sunburn!

"Elise," Sakura began, "I-is something wrong?"

"You saw me with a sunburn! A princess shouldn't have a sunburn!" Elise replied. "I looked super uncool!"

"I-I thought it was cute," Sakura replied, blushing.

Something about the word cute made Elise blush for a change. Elise wasn't sure why, but she wanted Sakura to call her cute again. Whenever one of her siblings called her cute, she hated it. So why did she want Sakura to call her that?

"I-it should be dark soon," Sakura said. "W-we could go outside, i-if you w-want."

Elise remembered that there was a pond with fish in it outside. She hadn't been able to properly view it last time, but this would be the perfect opportunity!

"Why we go look at the fish in the pond outside?" Elise said.

"The koi pond would nice in moonlight!" Sakura said, seeming to have caught Elise's excitement.

Elise once again grabbed Sakura's hand, but this time it felt it was something more than just to keep the two of them together. Elise didn't want to run as fast as normally did. When Elise and Sakura arrived, it was dark, and they were the only ones here. Elise felt glad that it was just her and Sakura, though she had no idea why.

Elise and Sakura walked over a wooden bridge and to an island in the middle of the pond. They both sat down at the water's edge, just in time to see the full moon rise over the castle walls.

"C-can I rest my head on shoulder?" Sakura asked, her face redder than her hair.

"Sure thing!" Elise replied.

Sakura leaned onto Elise, and Elise leaned back. The reflection of the moon in the pond was beautiful, and Elise saw that the fish were swimming peacefully, in mesmerizing patterns.

But what really drew her eyes was Sakura. Elise didn't know what she was feeling, but she knew that it was something to do with Sakura. The way that Sakura looked out at the pond, the way that she blushed whenever their eyes met, Elise knew she wanted to see more of that.

"I really hope our countries get along better," Sakura said. "I want to be able to spend more time like this with y-you." Sakura paused. "Did that sound selfish?"

"No it didn't," Elise replied. "I'd like that more than anything in the world!"

#FEFEMSLASHWEEK #fire emblem fates #sakura #elise #sakura/elise #sakulise

[roxannarambles]

Acquired Taste - Epilogue

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Title: Acquired Taste

Author: Roxanna Rambles

Summary: When Heath defected from Bern’s wyvern knights and joined Eliwood’s group, he was very keen on keeping to himself, and for the most part, that was easy to do. However, a particular ex-assassin insisted on hounding him. It was extremely annoying. Heath hated it. And there was no way that was going to change. Nope.

Prev. Chapters: Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5  Chapter 6  Chapter 7  Chapter 8  Chapter 9  Chapter 10  Chapter11  Chapter 12

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Dawn was just beginning to break, low-floating clouds painted shades of pink and peach. Castle Pherae, perched atop a hill overlooking the town below, was only just starting to stir to life, a few early-risers going about their day. The grounds outside the castle still showed signs of the recent celebrations, confetti and debris sprinkled about, booths and seating areas still not cleared away entirely. Some of the castle staff were already getting to work with cleaning up the remaining mess or attending to other tasks.

A man with long, flowing lavender hair and a ragged cape was passing through the castle gardens, the morning dew of the rosebushes brushing against his pants as he moved past. He strode as if he had a destination intently in mind, but as he reached the center of the garden, he paused and surveyed the castle gardens contemplatively. His eye followed a few stray flower petals drifting down lazily into the koi pond, and the big, lumbering fish that nibbled curiously at them. He took a moment just to listen to the world around him. His heather eyes focused on nothing in particular as he drifted into reverie.

"UNCLE LEGAAAAULT!"

The man startled at the sudden shriek echoing across the garden, and turned to see the green-haired young woman in a purple cape bounding through the flowerbeds like her life depended upon it. She crashed full tilt into the man, throwing her arms about him in a hug and nearly knocking him backwards into the koi pond.

"Goodness gracious, Nino! We're both going to end up going for a swim if you aren't careful."

"DON'T GO!" she replied, squeezing him with her little arms. He smiled and patted her back.

"Nino, we talked about all of this yesterday. I wouldn't leave and never return again. We'll come back to visit, I promise."

She pulled out of her death-grip hug and looked up at him, sniffling.

"I-I know. But . . . it's going to be so lonely without you."

Legault put a hand on her shoulder and kindly guided her over to one of the garden benches near the pond. As he sat down beside her, he said,

"You won't be lonely. You're going to have all sorts of people around keeping you company. What about Jaffar? And Jan? And all the new friends you've made? Eliwood tells me that Erk has been helping you learn to read magic tomes. That sounds wonderful."

The young woman swung her feet restlessly and gazed down at the ground.

"It is. They've all been so nice to me. I'm . . . I'm so happy to have so many friends."

She pouted and looked up at him.

"But I still don't want you to go. There's not many people left from the Black Fang anymore. I still want my family around. A-after what happened with Mother and Father . . . a-and Linus, and Lloyd . . ."

Legault's expression darkened. He never knew what to say to this poor, sweet child when her bright eyes were clouded by pain that no one her age should have to endure. Any of his words seemed entirely meaningless in the face of that.

He slowly drew in a breath and spoke to her softly.

"I know."

After a moment, he added,

"But that's part of what we're doing. There could still be some Black Fang scattered out there. We can help them. It isn't . . ."

He sighed.

"Nothing we do can bring the others back. But maybe we can at least find the pieces that remain."

"Then bring me with you," Nino said in a rush,

"I can be useful, I promise! I can help you find them!"

"Nino," he answered kindly,

"You know I can't take you. It's going to be way too dangerous. That sort of life isn't for someone your age."

Nino seemed to bite back tears.

"You think I can't be useful?"

Legault shook his head,

"That isn't what I mean. You're a very talented young lady, I'm certain. But you deserve a life of stability. A chance to laugh, and play, and grow. Pherae will be perfect for you."

The young mage sighed, still frustrated, but she seemed to understand. After staring at the koi for a little while, she spoke up,

"All right, but you'd better write letters and stuff! And don't forget to visit! And also, be careful! You have to not die when you're out helping people, okay?"

Legault chuckled, leaning casually back against the bench.

"Don't worry. I have a very strong, very brave wyvern knight to watch my back."

She seemed to perk up at the mention.

"You mean Heath? He seems really nice! Whenever I talk to him, he doesn't say much, though."

"Mmm, well. He can be a quiet fellow. He just takes some time to open up to new people."

"He let me pet his wyvern, though!" Nino said, looking very enthusiastic. Legault smiled.

"That's a good place to start."

Nino went back to kicking her feet idly.

"You must be really good friends, 'cos I always see you both together. And you're going away together."

"Mmhmm. We are."

Legault gazed contemplatively out at the koi pond, his thoughts shifting over the recent, unexpected course his life had taken. After a while, he murmured,

"I'm not sure exactly what I did to deserve him, but I'm determined to try and keep doing it."

Nino blinked at him a moment, and then smiled goofily.

"You really like him, huh?"

Legault seemed to snap out of his daydreaming and straightened up a little in his seat.

"Er, well . . ."

"Does that mean I'm gonna get a new uncle?! Are you gonna get married?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Nino."

The girl gave him a scrutinizing look.

"Is that a yes or a maybe?"

Legault's gaze shifted nervously across the garden, and his eye fell upon a familiar figure moving across the castle grounds. He cleared his throat.

"Ah, speak of the devil. Maybe don't mention this last part of the conversation to Heath, Ni--"

"UNCLE HEATH!" Nino shouted gleefully, springing up from her seat and bounding over to the approaching knight. Legault sighed and followed after her, muttering,

"Ahh, hell."

The mage smacked into Heath's legs and hugged him, laughing. Heath gazed down at her, looking mildly puzzled.

"Um . . . hello, Nino."

His eyes lifted up to Legault as he approached and he added,

"I was wondering where you'd gotten to. We can delay if you need some extra time for farewells."

Upon reaching them, Legault leaned in a little and kissed Heath on the cheek near his ear, much to Nino's glee. He answered cheerfully,

"'Morning! That's okay. It's probably for the best not to make things too drawn out."

The knight glanced away, mumbling in an embarrassed tone,

"Legault. Not in front of the kid."

Legault chuckled.

"She's seen much worse."

Nino giggled and Heath shifted uncomfortably a moment before saying,

"Well, uh . . . I have Hyperion all packed up and ready to go, if you are."

Legault nodded.

"Ok, Nino. We're going to be on our way now."

"Wait!" she protested, looking dramatically between them,

"I want to see you take off! And I want to say goodbye to Hyperion too!"

The thief smiled down at her.

"All right, all right. Come along then."

The mossy-green wyvern was saddled up and waiting at the edge of the hill overlooking the town, knawing on a stick and looking bored. Nino jumped a little as they came upon her and she excitedly asked Heath permission to pet the beast; he nodded and she bounded over. She spent a little while cooing at the reptile and patting its snout, and Legault knew she mostly just wanted to delay the inevitable. Still, he felt she certainly deserved a few minutes of that peace.

When he felt they'd waited long enough, he gently coaxed the girl over, telling her it was time they get going. She flung herself at Legault again and hugged him fiercely, and then did the same for Heath.

Pulling out of the hug, she told him seriously,

"You be careful too! Help lots of people, but don't forget to take care of each other, too."

Heath smiled at her. He replied sincerely:

"I give you my word."

As Heath climbed into Hyperion's saddle, Legault commented,

"Ooh. You can count on that, Nino. I can't think of anything more sure in this world than Heath's word."

Nino started waving as Legault hopped up in the saddle behind Heath.

"Byyye!"

Legault returned the wave and warned her to step back a few paces so Hyperion wouldn't whack her with a tail. He felt hands take his own, and Heath wrapped Legault's arms around him.

"It's windy up there today, so hold on tight to me," he explained, settling Legault's hands on his waist. The knight looked at him over his shoulder, shooting him a dashing half-smile.

"I'd be pretty upset if I lost you up there."

Legault grinned, pulling himself close against Heath.

"Don't worry," he said to him,

"I'll be sure never to let go."

As the sun rose over Elibe, the wyvern took off into the sky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE END

#fire emblem #fe7 #legault #heath #legault/heath #mystuff #fanfic

[asheespiquantpeculiarities]

Assault On Various Fronts Pt 8

“But of course, lady,” he said, putting as much innuendo as he possibly could in the last word.

… what did I expect, really. What even.

I continued to smile evenly. He's not the first and won't be the last to be disrespectful.

He continued to fancifully divide and shuffle the cards while explaining his version of the game: “Three stacks, we each take one, leaving the third out. We shuffle after ten busts or win. Multiple cards in one throw are fine, the ranks go up. Start is aces. Questions, suggestions?”

He held out the deck for me to divide, I tipped the top for him to deal: “Ranks can be raised or dropped, variety is welcome, Sir,” it was a little boring otherwise, to be honest.

“As the lady luck wishes,” he finished dealing and set the third stack aside, as proposed

With a never-changing smile, I put down a ten and declared “One ace”

For him to nod and declare “Three Sevens” with the widest smile on his face.

“Two Eights,” which was actually true, were followed by “One Nine” and “Two Ten,” which was actually a Nine and a Queen, but he accepted with “Two Jack”

At which point... he was still smiling widely, but his eye twitched. I almost wanted to frown at the obvious sign, but shrugged: “I believe I have to declare you a Liar,” and turned his cards.

A Jack and a Seven... I... had another Seven as well. Hrm. Well, fine.

“Sooo, what is the question you wish to bestow on me, fair maiden~,” he batted his lashes at me.

I continued to smile while he took the cards: “What are the plans for me now, that Samil married me? What will I do in your country?”

“Two aces,” he put down two cards and snickered, “And... being a Wife, of course. With eeeeeverything that entails,” he raised his shoulders. And made a wavey gesture. He had not given me an answer.

“Three kings,” I put down three not-king-shaped-cards, “This was not a proper answer”

“But it was an answer. More specific questions get you better answers, I promise, I have nothing to work with yet,” he winked at me.

… what that was supposed to mean was anyone's guess.

“Also: Liar,” he upended my assortment of numbers and handed them back to me, together with his two real Aces.

Being asked told me more about him anyway: “Do you know how to dance,” he wriggled his eyebrows.

I put an ace down: “One Ace - and of course I have been educated in the art of ballroom entertainment,” I almost felt the consistent smile on my face this time. Non-answers would be a bit boring after a while, but at least the roll of his eyes was entertaining.

“One king. And I don't know if I'd call ballroom dances entertaining,” he had the art of sneering down pat.

“Some tastes simply need to be cultivated, Sir,” he did unfortunately did recognise the 'and you are not', even without emphasis... and grinned, eyes lighting up. He couldn't prove anything! “Two Queens,”

“I guess I'll pass,” and proceeded to put down “One King”

I... his eye twitched. So that meant he should be lying, but...

… ah, to hell with it: “Liar,” and when I turned, it was a king. So he did use the 'telltale signs' to bluff. Fair. I took the cards and he made a show out of 'thinking' about the next question.

Person. Calm.

“So, did you ever dance in a tavern?,” he looked at me gleefully.

And I sighed, indulging him: “I have never been in a tavern without an entourage of at least twenty people. I did, in fact, not dance in a tavern... and neither do I know how to do so. Two aces”

“Huh. Well, then you get a bonus as to what we are going to do with you when you are in our country: Sneak you out of the villa – in pants – and teach you sea shanties in the raunchiest tavern in town. Just the two of us!,” he had actually narrowed his eyes conspirationally at 'pants' and broken out the cheer at the end. “A king”

I got the impression he was definitely an actor. How good or bad... I was not sure, but this much emotion was not natural, my smile never changed – I took care of that – when I said: “I think the etiquette forbids me such endeavours, Sir, I hope you can forgive me. Two Queens”

“That is actually not true at all, my lady, it would be perfectly reasonable in my station to take you out for a night in town if I could provide the necessary protection. And, as it is, I can, so prepare for an interesting night out,” sometimes I had the impression his smile got wider than his face permitted. Also: The closed eyes made him even less trustworthy: “Also: Another king”

… was that on purpose? No one can be that inept at a polite conversation without it being on purpose. His accent was gone as well, now that I thought about it. Just kind of... slipped away. Hrm.

“One ace,” I paused for a second, then said: “It is not reasonable for a lady to wear pants,” it was not proper attire.

“Liar, liar,” he turned the card, revealing my... Eight, well, yeah, I somewhat got distracted, of course he had the other aces: “... buuut thankfully nothing to set fire to... but you ought to try one day. They are much more practical than dresses when riding, it's just such a hassle,” I didn't need the picture of this man in a dress in my head. He became more and more absurd with every second, I picked up the cards so I didn't need to look at him. It would be hard to keep a straight face.

“But since pants are not negotiable, I suppose you are able to ride side-saddle... do you think you could? If asked to get out of this confined space here?,” I almost changed my expression there. Was he trying to not be rude for once? Almost? Well, fine.

“... yes, I do think I am capable and willing. One ace”

He nodded and put a king down: “Mission accomplished on my part!,” he pumped his fist in an exaggerated victory-gesture. Huff.

“I suppose I can await such a proposal in the near future?,” I put down another ace.

“Don't you use the fanciest of words, such a delight,” the sarcasm dripped off his tongue, lord. He also put down four Sevens.

… apparently, we weren't playing for skill today. Simply shoving questions back and forth. Fine. I flipped the cards and gave him back the little stack: “Liar. And... what do you actually do in Samil's court? I will believe you are the 'honest man', but please also keep that in mind when answering my question”

He raised a brow, actually stopped stacking the cards for a second. Then continued with a shrug, voice a little less... expressive: “My my, putting me on the spot like that, how rude,” he sighed, “Mh... I'm also the one solving trouble in the inner ranks. My speciality is hiring the proper hands or simply taking care of it myself. My coat has many pockets, as you can see,” he nodded and put down two cards.

I didn't want to check this very second.

We played for a while in silence. So he was Samil's assassin. When looking at him, it was... still a little absurd. He looked like a gambler, general asshole and somewhat fashionable bastard, who is... eccentric... assassin didn't exactly come to mind. He... seemed genuinely cheery?

After a while, he said: “Liar, liar,” and smirked. Eyes closed. Hrm.

I handed him the cards. This had been a ten.

“How many people did you kill?,” which... well, not appropriate, but his existence wasn't appropriate.

“Rude, my lady,” he tilted his head, and put a card down, “... here we are, fresh from a field of war and you ask me how many people I killed”

“I'm not talking about those, Mazin,” I added on the stack.

He looked sour for a moment, then sighed: “... seven, up to date. Not counting the second hand orders... you got there fast, girl”

“I am aware assassins are a necessity. There is respect in the profession, and I have that, unlike you, apparently. We did agree on at least the usage of proper titles,” here I did frown, he should stick to his word.

He laughed again, mirth coming back to his eyes - he looked more animated. Hrm. Hrm.

“Yes, lady Gabrielle, we did, my apologies,” the bow was still just a mockery, “But I guess it's less of a mystery why he chose you, after all. He's full of surprises,” and he threw down 'Three Jack'

I called the bluff and asked: “Why do you point his choice of me as a wife out so often? What's up with that?,” I was somewhat glad for the change of theme, too.

“... well, I owe Velius a hundred bucks. That alone is worth pointing out. I said Samil would never find a woman he deems worthy. And for the last six years that rang exceptionally true. He's a bit odd with his tastes, after all. But now he fell head over heels for you... and it's ridiculous seeing him like that, after so very little time, too” he threw down the next card and shrugged.

“... the feeling's not mutual,” I had dropped my smile. And wrinkled my nose slightly. Which was unusual. Because keeping your smile was important. But... well, I may just as well.

He laughed freely: “I know, which is the best part. Because, well, you probably can't imagine, but usually girls flock to him. It's probably his looks, really”

I also noted that he took on my own accent and tried to use my speech patterns. It was strange. But it didn't seem too intentional. Weirdo.

The cards went back and forth and my next guess at 'lie' was a false one. But seriously, who can actually play four Tens.

And his question – spoken with a truly outrageous grin - was: “Did you know he wants to tattoo the scratches you gave him onto his face? He's so proud of his lady” he chuckled some more.

I grabbed all cards. Because that had been the tenth lie. And ignored the bloody question. It wasn't even one. And he had lied about throwing down Tens before. It was highly inappropriate anyway.

The ride was a long one. And I learned a few things about him. Like him being allergic to lilies and able to play violin. And banjo. There was also the fact that 'Velius' was the last blood brother. They were a bit at odds – and I'd see when I met him why.

He got to know that I actually was fond of lavender, too, that I liked to take care of Koi fishes and – after highly inappropriate prodding – also admitted that I might be interested in seeing a tavern in it's natural state.

Otherwise everything somehow devolved into backhanded compliments and some actual competition with the stupid game. It turned out we both were rather good at it. He could not see a single sign in my polite smiles and he was... frustratingly unpredictable. His expressions and speech patterns changed too often. There was no hint if it was due to a lie or truth.

Well, he was still an asshole with no sense for protocol – truly not, he had only once used the title with respect – but at least he could play card games.

… and I might get blackmail material from him if asked.

Maybe he wasn't the worst person to be around.

#assaultsonvariousfronts #SamilnGabe #GabenMazin #2020 words