#buoyancy the cat

[worsecats]

My name... is Bu-sama。

俺様の名前は... ブ様。

My size: Big.

身長: 大きい。

My intelligence: Also big (genius).

知能指数：それも大きい(天才)。

My hobby: Getting stuck in a room.

趣味: 部屋に閉じ込められること。

[snarp]

You don't want your cat to be smart. Smart cats will get bored. They will require that you entertain them. They will come up with ways to get your attention; and smart cats will get creative. When cats are creative, it puts everyone around them in danger; it also puts them in danger. You will have to go to the ER; the cat will have to go to the separate ER that is for cats; if the cat got especially creative, you will both have to do this at the same time. This may present logistical difficulties. Cats should not be smart. Watch out.

[thegeekgene]

Too cold for babies

[glowsticcc]

and that’s all i needed death fam hc lesgo

whole family dresses like they have a hot topic sponsorship, including tallulah, except it’s more the cottagecore stuff (except when she’s in emo mode, in which case she just goes full linkin park)

missa smells like death, but not in the cold, smelly rotten way, but warm, like sleep or the roses set on top of a gravestone (it’s one of phil’s favorite things about him)

missa and chayanne both have brown and heterochromatic eyes respectively, skull masks just make your eyes blue (personal design) (sans undertale???)

after missa was recognized as her father, tallulahs puppy dog eyes got 5 times more effective (wet cat trait is hereditary)

she taught chayanne and now they team up to make phil get them whatever they want 🌘^🌒

even if they all go to sleep on their section of the bed, they always wake up piled on top of each other 

chayanne got the “taller younger sibling” curse, and while insisting it’s because tallulahs horns make her taller, face to face he’s looking at her chin

missa is tuned to phil’s laugh, and if they are in a crowded room and he hears it its like that one clip of asap rocky hearing rihanna laugh during an interview 

chayanne smells like lemons. i have no reasoning for this but i know in my heart its true.

phil will just absentmindedly play with missas hair if their talking and close enough 

phil taught the kids how to swim, his hollow bones give him a lot of buoyancy 

in physical combat, tallulah and chayanne are always at each other’s backs, fighting in almost perfect sync with each other 

head bonks as shows of affection 

missas more of a cuddle bug and phil’s like one of those big dogs that you could push over and they’d be happy with it. phil could be having a separate conversation and missa would just come up from behind and snuggle him and phil wouldn’t bat an eye 

if i think of more ill add more in an edit yippee

[oh-sturg-art]

Day 1 of Fishuary!!! Started by @fish-daily :0

Prompt: Shark

—

Featuring my favorite shark species- the sand tiger shark!

Carcharias taurus is a species of mackerel shark. Despite their many names, they are not to be confused with tiger sharks or nurse sharks. The ‘sand’ references their coastal habitat, while the ‘tiger’ refers to their tendency to just. Eat. Everything.

Their appearance may be off-putting, as their teeth are so long and so sharp that they cannot close their mouth completely. However, they’re generally seen as scaredy cats!! They usually mind their own business and will actively avoid human contact- in fact, there has never been a recorded fatal sand tiger attack in the wild. Kids at the aquarium usually say they’re great white sharks, but they only grow up to about half the size of great white (6-10 feet).

Sand tigers are also the only known species of shark that will go to the surface of the water and swallow large intakes of air! Sharks do not have a swim bladder like other fish species, and sand tigers make their own by filling their stomachs with air. This allows them to swim slowly and silently, maintaining neutral buoyancy with very little effort; they can sneak up on prey and they won’t notice before it’s too late!

[bethanythebogwitch]

Today's Wet Beast Wednesday is about sea otters. I was originally going to do this last week in honor of the 24th birthday of Rosa, the world's oldest sea otter (and one of the oldest sea otters on record) but, well, I forgot. But better late than never.

(Image: a sea otter on its back, yawning)

The sea otter (Enhydra lutris) is one of only two otters to live in salt water, the other being the rare and poorly-understood marine otter (Lontra felina). Otters are aquatic mammals of the family Mustelidae, which makes them cousins to weasels, badgers, wolverines, and martens. While many mustelids can swim, otters have adapted to a primarily aquatic lifestyle. Sea otters are divided into three subspecies: the Asian sea otter (Enhydra lutris lutris) which lives from northernmost Japan up through the northwest Pacific, northern sea otter (E. l. kenyoni) which lives from Alaska down to Oregon, and the southern sea otter (E. l. nereis), found in California.

(image: a sea otter relaxing on a rock)

The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammals (only the marine otter is smaller), yet it is also the heaviest of all mustelids. Males are larger than females, averaging between 1.2 and 1.5 meters (3'11" to 4'11") and 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lbs). Females average 1 to 1.4 m (3'3" to 4'7") and 14 to 33 kg (31 to 73 lbs). I honestly thought they were around the size of cats and was surprised to find out how big they can get. Otters are the most recent of the marine mammals and have not developed the thick layer of blubber other marine mammals use to keep themselves warm. Instead, sea otters warm themselves with the densest fur of any mammal, with almost a million hairs per square inch. The fur has two distinct layers: a longer layer of waterproof guard hairs and a shorter underfur layer. The guard hairs keep the underfur dry and trap air between the layers. This air gets heated by the otters body heat and provides an extra layer of insulation. This is the same principle that wet suits work on. The air layer also provides some added buoyancy. Sea otters are positively buoyant and can float on the surface of the water. There are many other adaptations to an aquatic lifestyle that sea otter have. Their feet are webbed and have long digits, allowing them to act as flippers but also making them slower and more clumsy on land. The front claws have retractable claws and pads that let them grab onto slippery objects. When swimming, they use their entire real bodies, but primarily their hind feet, for propulsion. They can hold their breath for up to five minutes and have whiskers used to search for food in darker water. Their ears and nostrils close when submerged to keep water out. While sea otter can, and often do, move around on land, they are capable of living their entire lives in the water. Some evolutionary biologists think sea otters represent an early stage of marine mammal development and can compare them to more established marine mammals like cetaceans and pinnipeds.

(image: a wet weasel holding a sea urchin)

Sea otters are carnivores whose diet consists mostly of hard-shelled invertebrates, though they will also eat fish. They forage for food on the sea floor in dives that usually last a minute. Their paws give them an advantage over other marine mammals, who can only use their mouths for capturing prey. Otters by contrast can pick up and move rocks and dig into the sediment. They are the only marine mammals to catch prey with their paws instead of teeth. Otters carry prey to the surface and eat while floating on their backs. Famously, they use rocks to break open the hard shells of their prey, making them one of the relatively few mammals to use tools (though tool use is proving to be more common than previously thought). Under each arm is a pouch of loose skin that is used to hold prey and rocks. Each otter has a favorite rock that they carry with them. Sea otters have blunt teeth used to crush through prey's shells.

(image: an otter dining on crab)

While sea otters do spend a lot of time in groups, they are not considered truly social animals as they forage, groom, and defend themselves on their own instead of with help. Groups of otters are called rafts that typically have between 10 and 100 members, but can reach up to 2000 members. Rafts are single sex, each having only male or female members. When resting, raft members will hold hands to keep themselves from drifting apart. One social behavior they engage in is play, which is done frequently. Mating season happens in autumn. During summer and autumn, males will attempt to establish territories and push other males out. Females mover between territories at will. Males without territories will swim around and attempt to find females in heat. Males will attempt to mate with multiple females. During estrus, the males and females will bond through play and sometimes aggressive behavior. When mating, the male will bite the female's head, which can leave scars. Otters are capable of delayed embryo implantation, where they can wait for several months between conception and the embryo beginning development. Pregnancy lasts four months and typically results in a single pup. While males are absentee fathers, females are very caring mothers who spend almost all their time caring for their pups. The only time she leaves her pup will be when diving. The pup will be left floating on the surface, often wrapped with kelp to keep it from floating away. The baby will cry for its mother until she comes back. The mother will teach her pup how to dive and forage as it ages. Pups will stay with their mothers for 6 to 8 months (longer in colder areas), and sometimes until they are fully developed. Childless females will foster orphaned pups. Females reach sexual maturity at age 3-4 and males around age 5. They average 10 - 15 years in the wild and can live significantly longer in captivity. The oldest living sea otter is Rosa, living in the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who is 24 years old. The oldest sea otter on record was a female named Etika who lived to be 28.

(image: two sea otters holding hands)

(image: a sea otter mother sleeping with its baby on its stomach)

Sea otters are a classic example of an endangered species. They have been hunted throughout history for their fur. Eventually, this reduced the world population to less than 2000 individuals. They are now the target of conservation measures worldwide and local and international protections, which has helped the population rebound. They still have not regained their historical population or range, though reintroduction measures have helped them reestablish in historical territories. The southern sea otters are the most endangered. Famously, almost all southern sea otters alive today are descended from a group of 50 discovered in 1938, when the subspecies was almost extinct. Sea otters are classified as endangered by the IUCN. Sea otters are a keystone species, having a major ecological impact on their habitats. Famously in California, the near-extinction of southern sea otters resulted in a population boon of sea urchins (their primary prey) which proceeded to kill vast areas of kelp forest. Curren threats include predation, pollution, and habitat loss. Oil spills are particularly devastating to sea otters, as the oil destroys the air layer in their fur, destroying their ability to keep themselves warm.

(image: an employee with MBARI releasing a rehabilitated sea otter back into the wild)

[jennelikejennay]

Can Vulcans swim?

Arguments for:

They are very strong

They might learn at the Academy or something, even though they wouldn't have at home

Spock in a swimsuit 👀

Arguments against:

Their muscles and bones are very dense to be stronger than humans without being any bigger

Humans are close to neutral buoyancy, any denser and they'd sink like a stone

Plus I feel like they'd be creeped out by water, and their skin is not adapted to being wet

However:

Perhaps they handle the extra density by just swimming harder?

Because we DO see Spock fall into the Bay and he does NOT sink like a stone because he's alive in the next scene. Maybe he inflates his lungs a lot? Treads water in double time?

No firm conclusion but I still imagine Vulcans reacting to water like cats do.

[tomorrowxtogether]

Tomorrow X Together live at Lollapalooza 2023: returning boyband make headlining festivals look easy

Grant Park, Chicago, August 5: TXT bring new arrangements, surprises and stunning performances to their second appearance at the Chicago festival

Tomorrow X Together are no strangers to making history at Lollapalooza. Last year, the band became the first Korean act to ever perform at the Chicago festival and dazzled a huge crowd with live band versions of some of their most alternative-leaning tracks. Tonight (August 5), just 12 months on from that late afternoon set on one of Lolla’s smaller stages, TXT are back – and this time they’re making their mark as the first Korean group to headline here.

Returning with a live band again, the five-piece have built their set around two themes, those of “youth” and “rock”. “If you think of those two keywords, they remind you of Tomorrow X Together right away,” Hueningkai tells NME backstage before the group head over to the Bud Light stage. He’s not wrong, and tonight’s performance only reinforces that point, racing through a setlist full of big riffs, angst and giddy joy.

The latter begins early. After the opening two songs – fiery versions of ‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ and ‘Dear Sputnik’ – the members take a moment to introduce themselves to the crowd. As the camera pans to Hueningkai, he lifts his microphone to his mouth and, mimicking what is now becoming an inescapable tradition at K-pop shows in the US, ignites the first fervent round of barking. Moments later, Yeonjun looks out over the drizzle-soaked audience and declares: “The rain can stop, let’s fucking enjoy it.” The rain does not, in fact, stop, but that doesn’t prevent Grant Park from pouring all its energy into doing as the rapper says.

The idea of youth is ever-present throughout the setlist, the collection of songs shared tonight encapsulating all sides of it. It represents flirtations with temptation via an intoxicating ‘Devil By The Window’ and the world-ending feeling of a first break-up in ‘Good Boy Gone Bad’, which comes with a new and extended, jaw-dropping dance break. As Beomgyu does his now-traditional lighting of a rose and tossing it nonchalantly over his shoulder, huge flames burst up in front of the stage and the group launch into yet more intricate choreography.

But there are also the happier, warmer sides of youth showcased here too. Synth-pop banger ‘Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go’ might feature some of TXT’s least complex dance moves but, as Taehyun, Beomgyu and Soobin deliver them with exuberant grins on their faces, they feel like some of the most joyous. ‘Cat And Dog’ remains the group’s cutest song, while ‘Blue Spring’ – an unreleased song penned by all five members premiered during their Act: Sweet Mirage tour – captures the magic bond of friendship through the tumultuous time of growing up.

While TXT might not have been readily associated with rock when they first debuted, in recent years, they’ve leaned more and more into heavier sounds, with many of those songs aired tonight. ‘Wishlist’ is full of pure pop-punk buoyancy, the crowd head-banging along even as the rain gets heavier. ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER’, a song that always feels full of catharsis when it’s being screamed by thousands of fans, amplifies that release with an extended ending that becomes dizzyingly jubilant.

The live band help turn ‘Can’t You See Me?’ into a sludgy sledgehammer of a song that hits incredibly hard, sonically at least. That the group performs most of the song by standing still in a line across the stage feels like a missed opportunity to make this new rock version as ferocious as it can be. A return to the choreography at the end helps, but it can’t save it from feeling like the only flat part of the set.

TXT’s Lollapalooza headline moment might come in the midst of their Act: Sweet Mirage world tour, but they mix things up from that setlist and song arrangements to give Chicago plenty of surprises. There’s a ludicrously euphoric rendition of ‘Magic’ that finds the group upping the speed midway through for a high-octane dance break and a reunion with Coi Leray for ‘Happy Fools’ (plus a snippet of her own track ‘Players’). ‘Do It Like That’, the group’s recent collaboration with the Jonas Brothers, gets unveiled live for the first time, although the trio aren’t present to help out (“It would be awesome if they made it to perform it with us, but there’s always next time,” Taehyun says after).

Although this is TXT’s time to shine – which they do, blindingly – they make sure to give those who help make the performance what it is their flowers, and in full HD. Early in the set, they put the spotlight on their backing band, each musician’s name broadcast on the back screen as they take on a solo. Later, they do the same with their dancers, allowing them the chance to show off their moves while the crowd learns their names. It’s a humble gesture, but one that speaks volumes.

In their new Disney+ documentary Our Lost Summer, Yeonjun reflected on TXT’s last appearance at Lolla, saying they weren’t sure if they deserved their place on the bill. While they proved that to be wrong in 2022, this headline set shows they are more than worthy of this new, elevated slot on the line-up. Their performances are tight and impactful, their vocals phenomenal, and their stage presence nothing short of rockstar status.

As they wrap things up, Yeonjun describes the set as “a dream come true” before Taehyun asks the crowd to “follow us for the rest of our world tour, our new album and more amazing stuff”. To do that, though, TXT first need to leave the stage, but they linger on it for minutes after a final, thrilling ‘Sugar Rush Ride’ and after gold fireworks light up the sky in celebration of their huge achievement, thanking fans and initiating more barking. History never felt so giddily great.

Tomorrow X Together played:

‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ ‘Dear Sputnik’ ‘Tinnitus’ ‘Can’t You See Me?’ ‘Good Boy Gone Bad’ ‘Lonely Boy (The tattoo on my ring finger)’ ‘Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go’ ‘Anti-Romantic’ ‘Farewell, Neverland’ ‘Blue Spring’ ‘No Rules’ ‘Cat & Dog’ ‘Happy Fools’ ‘Players’ ‘Blue Hour’ ‘Wishlist’ ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER’ ‘Magic’ ‘Sugar Rush Ride’

[bylightofdawn]

Does anyone else get haunted by the knowledge that in a few hundred years from now (yes I'm gonna be an optimist and hope there will be humans in a few hundred years) that people are going to look back at our written words and laugh themselves silly over what they find? Sure if our digital age continues at least that might be slightly less awful to read but you know the amount of errors and misspellings we do because we've been taught 'hooked on phonics' and what have you. Which might be serviceable for learning how to read but is complete and utter shit for teaching people to spell?

And since we've frankly gotten lazy and so used to our little pocket computers auto correcting our spelling that if we have to actually write something out then we're fucked. So we know this NOW but imagine what people 500 or 100 years from now are going to think when they find exant writing and immediately lose their shit like we do over middle english? (much less old english) The general populace is pretty much oh, look at those silly, quaint and uneducated people putting their ye and their olde's into everything, etc. And like….completely ignoring the fact it was literally just a handful of languages thrown into a stew pot and left to melt into a bastardized version of SOMETHING. So we look at it and it just looks like a typo riddled hot mess to our modern eye.

Now imagine someone finding our exant modern writing examples and tell me they wouldn't do the same thing. All those desperate attempts at phonetically trying to spell certain words and our utter and miserable failures. Not to mention our SLANG, often completely centralized in certain areas. Philly's infamous Jawn comes to mind right off the top of my head. Or AAVE. I'm clearly speaking from a English speaking American POV but I know other languages and cultures have the same fun flavors and things that make language so endlessly fascinating.

Also imagine someone finding our tumblr blogs with our widdle meow meow and our blorbos, our baby girls and any of a dozen weird tumblr specific vernacular which is kinda it's own weird tumblr ecosystem dialect.

These poor bastards in the future are going to be SO CONFUSED. And at LEAST we have a centuries long record of how the English language has evolved and changed over the years to help guide us. But for dead languages or ones that don't have that rich history of documentation? Lets say some awful global event happens and we lose their history, they're going to be even more confused by our little meow meows because maybe something like the knowledge cats = meow survives because it's so prevelant. But why the fuck are we calling these random characters who have no feline features our little meow meows?

So yeah, that's the shit I think about sometimes. And it haunts me.

Also this entire post was brought to you by my struggling for a good four minutes to try and figure out how to spell buoyancy and the many fucked up and terrible attempts I made desperately trying to get close enough my spellchecker would understand wtf I was trying to type only for it to keep suggesting bouncy?

[ahungeringknife]

Posting original stuff for the first time always feels like the top of a roller coaster just before the drop for me :,D Info links are all at the bottom

====+====

The Zealous Servant | 1 | No place like home

====+====

If not for the feeling of his stomach in his throat Spayar wouldn't have even noticed when they came in for a landing. Two rows ahead someone threw up in a bucket and he was glad they'd waited until they landed. The small cabin started smelling like vomit almost immediately and several of Spayar's old platoon-mates started giving the person a hard time. They thought flying was bad they wouldn't have lasted one week in their platoon!

Before it could get too rowdy or a fight break out the doors were opened and the two flighters who'd brought them here started directing everyone out. Spayar got up and was out the cabin quickly to get out into the open sky. He'd seen it was gray skies from the window in the cabin and now landing the clouds seemed even lower than usual. He went over to the waiting area for his luggage with the rest of the passengers. It was already covered for the year for the rain. On the landing pad the two wyrms were stretching their legs from the flight and one was already starting to curl up like a sleeping cat, its bristles and razor scales and spines laying flat so it looked like a smooth dull gray stone. Porters were running around the back of the cabin, a aerodynamic cylinder with a couple of portholes and two doors, unloading the luggage.

A man he'd served time with knocked shoulders with him, "So you coming back for more fun, Hillsman?" he asked.

"As delightful as losing my gag reflex was-" he paused when the he laughed "- I have other civil work to do."

The man nodded slowly. "That was a dumb question, Fanger," another platoons-man said to the older man. She was Spayar's age. "Spayar's d'aelar to the Prince. You're lucky the Prince didn't pull rank to pull him out sooner." Spayar grimaced. She didn't have to say it so loudly as now some normal passengers were looking at him. It was too early in the morning for him to have to look dignified. He did square out his shoulders at least.

"Right. Forgot that. You talk way too normal to fit in with those stuffy nobles," the man clapped Spayar on the shoulder hard.

It's almost like I'm educated and know when it's better to dumb myself down, Spayar thought but didn't say. "Have to bring them down to my level sometimes," he said with his best charming grin.

"Hillsman?" one of the porters called as they'd brought the luggage from the back. He slipped out from the man's grip and collected his luggage, a back pack and a small carry trunk. He saw the faded buoyancy weave on both items put on there before the flight to keep the weight down and just reconnected the threads. The bag and trunk immediately weighed a third of their normal weight. He picked up the trunk one handed after slinging the pack over his shoulder and walked off the landing platform and down to the post office below.

It was busy already at the Central Office but mostly of postal people, the odd flighter boredly waiting around for their daily trips, or the bustling blue dressed messengers. A few people already were in line to send their mail. He paid none of them any mind. He just wanted to get home.

There were taxis waiting outside the post office after an air travel landing. He just took the first one, a petty cab pulled by what looked like an ostrich if not for a face like a rat and lacking any feathers and was instead brown furred and covered in a smattering of black and dark brown spots. The driver sat astride it while Spayar loaded in. "Where to, fella?" the driver asked.

"Synnerstock street, number sixteen, out in Bellringer," Spayar said and gratefully sat in the taxi.

"Roger," and the driver urged the Pol'cobb forward and they were off at a good speed joining the mostly foot traffic of the city in downtown Assarus.

The trip out to Bellringer was not short and Spayar just leaned back in the taxi and watched the city fly by. He hadn't been home in two years while serving time but everything seemed more or less the same. He'd have to feed the birds as soon as he got a chance. He'd kept in touch with his friends and accomplices via letter or Seeing spell when he could manage but there were some things you didn't want to talk about over something like letters or spell that could be tracked or spied upon.

"Can we go through South Garden?" he asked the driver as they were leaving the downtown area and it looked like the driver was about to take the longer, if more scenic, route along Riverside and Tradesmen.

"Roger," the driver said and took a different street. Spayar thought South Garden was a pretty neighborhood too. Lots of hanging flower baskets or grow boxes in their windows but the cramped quarters of the houses prevented those who lived here from having proper gardens. The awnings here over the street were more colorful than the ones downtown and caused the light on Spayar's dark skin to cast it into different glows.

Entering Belringer was obvious as South Garden's streets were winding but Belringer had been laid out by strict city planners. The roads were neat and straight and there was more room for gardens for the homes, more breathing room for the inhabitants.

"Thirteen was it, fella?" the driver asked over his shoulder.

"Sixteen," Spayar corrected.

"Roger." The taxi came to a stop a few moments later. "This place?" the driver clarified.

"Roger," Spayar said and climbed out of the taxi. He pulled out his wallet and paid the driver and once he'd removed his luggage the driver kicked the pol'cobb off again and they were trundling down the street once more.

Spayar looked at the building he'd been left in front of. The front was a workshop and store front of his father's and behind was a large two story house with a large connected garden hidden by a high wooden fence. The front door was through the garden unless he wanted to pass through the shop front and he really didn't.

Much to his annoyance the garden door wasn't locked. He remembered always scolding his siblings about making sure the door was locked when they left or came home. He bet it was Duren, or maybe Anora. She was the more forgetful of the Hillsman siblings. But it benefited him today as he didn't have to fish his key out and entered the garden. It was full of late summer growth and early autumn sprouts, some tended to in neat rows and others left to grow more wild.

He locked the door as he headed for the front door. It also wasn't locked. He walked right in and Spayar was greeted by the smell of his mother's cooking from the kitchen where he heard her moving around and probably making a mess of things. She was a good cook if not a very tidy one. Spayar closed the door softly and went around to the three quartered walled kitchen. She didn't notice him at first.

At least he thought she didn't. "Duren you just had breakfast, lunch isn't for a while yet, go back to helping your father," she said in her sweet accented Feylian, not looking at him. Spayar smiled to himself. She thought he was his little brother. Spayar hoped he hadn't gotten as tall as Spayar was already.

"I would but Duren's not here," Spayar said giving his mother such a fright she nearly threw the spoon she was using to tend to whatever was on the stove.

Relora spun and let out a cry. Spayar grinned when his mother rushed over and gave him a great hug. She felt slight in his arms when he hugged her back. She was saying something excitedly in Dirnine but Spayar hated to admit he had trouble following. "Let me see you my sweet," she proclaimed in Feylian and stepped back to take his face in both her hands.

"Amma," he said with a tired smile looking at her. She was a dark skinned Dirinnan with a few freckles on the sides of her face and around her temples framing sea glass green eyes. Her forehead was high and her long black hair was pulled back in a neat single pleat and then pinned into bun on the top of her head. Specific scars decorated the middle of forehead of a vertical straight line and two lines curved against the straight parts. Spayar didn't know the meaning of the scars but his mother usually touched them when she prayed. She said something in Dirnine. "Amma, I forget," he complained.

That made her laugh. "You've only been gone two years, Junior," she said, her teeth white in her smile.

"I'm a dumb foolish boy though, amma," he whined.

"Oh, my poor foolish mazuk," she said and fondly patted his cheek. She kissed him on the cheeks and between the eyes. "You just arrived?"

"Yes. Took a flight from Fort Fetari here in the predawn."

She frowned, "Isn't that dangerous."

"Mail wyrms fly in the dark, amma, it was fine," he said hoping to alleviate some fear. "I want to get some sleep before lunch? Before I have to get to work," he sighed.

She laughed softly. "And you work so hard, Junior," she said gently. "But try to take a few days off hmm?"

"I'll see how long I can avoid the Prince then," he told her like a secret and she didn't look impressed by that at all knowing such a thing was impossible. "I'll get that nap in at least."

"Alright. I'll have Duren wake you for lunch," and she hugged him one more time. "You can tell us all about your time served over lunch."

"Sure," he tried not to groan. He would much rather forget it if he was honest.

She let him go and Spayar scooped his trunk back up and went upstairs. Down the hall his door was opposite his sister Calli's and he could hear her in her own room. He went into his own room. It was as he left it. Bed made, things organized and put away, everything filed where it was supposed to go. His bookshelf was orderly and his mother had come in here a few times to refresh the room as there was no dust and it didn't smell like old cleaning. Two windows let in mid morning light despite the curtains and made the room very bright. An old mobile of the solar system hung from the ceiling in the corner. He set the lightened trunk and back pack down and went over to mobile. Lightly he reached up and touched the fifth planet on the mobile and connected an old weave on it. He half expected it to have faded but was pleasantly surprised it was still there. He didn't know why. Tassa had made this weave and she was the strongest weaver he'd ever met.

While nothing about the room changed it got considerably darker in the room as the magic sprang into life over the windows as an invisible spider web, not allowing as much light in as before. Perfect for when you wanted to take a nap during the day or if you were hung over from the night before and the suns were just too much.

Spayar didn't even bother taking off any of his clothes except his boots, coat, and belt before face planting onto his bed with a groan.

He was woken by a small, dense, body throwing itself onto him. He started awake as arms wrapped around him. "De-de, time to wake up!" Duren cried at the top of his voice making Spayar's ears ring.

"I'm awake," Spayar said with all the affection one would have for a problematic isopod. It wasn't that he didn't love his baby brother he just did not love being jumped on.

"Amma said it was time for lunch," Duren said brightly.

"So I surmised," Spayar said and tried to sit up, impossible with a small child clinging to his waist. "Duren-- we can't go to lunch if you don't let me go."

"But I like hugging you," Duren said looking at him with the same green eyes their mother had. "I missed you."

Spayar softened despite his desire to be annoyed. Duren had gotten bigger since the last he'd seen him, both taller and wider. He had to be what, seven? Eight? He thought it was eight. Still chubbier than a normal eight year old with baby weight. He was cute so Spayar didn't mind. "Yeah but I'm hungry. Aren't you? Working with dad doesn't work up an appetite? I should tell him he's slacking-

"No! We work a lot," Duren insisted and climbed off Spayar. Spayar got up and didn't mind when Duren grabbed his hand. "You didn't come through the shop," he said as Spayar left his room, Duren in tow. He didn't hear Calli in her room and figured Anora was at school.

"Doo'suvf talks," was all Spayar said, speaking of their father. "And I wanted to come home and sleep."

"Hmph," Duren wasn't impressed and Spayar let go of his hand so they could walk down the stairs. Duren trundled down the steps two at a time, hopping off the final three steps, "Amma! I got Junior," he proclaimed.

"Duren I've told you not to jump from the higher steps," Relora scolded Duren who pouted at her, puffing up his cheeks and lips. "It's dangerous, you could hurt yourself."

"But I didn't amma," Duren said.

Spayar left his mother to scold Duren and wandered towards the dining room and-

Sitting next to his sister was someone very out of place in a family home of dark skinned Dirinnans. Or it would have been if Von hadn't spent most of their childhood sneaking out of the Palace to come have meals and sleepovers at Spayar's. "You," he pointed at Von sitting next to Calli.

They both whipped around at his voice. Von pointed right back. "You. What are you doing here?"

"I live here!" Spayar cried and Calli giggled into her hand. "What's your excuse?"

"I was in the area," Von said with that annoyingly handsome smile of his that made him like a sunbeam.

"Lemp's ball sack you were," Spayar said and sat across from Von at the table. Vondugard Le'Acard was Spayar's best friend and the most beautiful man he'd ever laid eyes on. All fair golden skin and hair with the most intensely cerulean eyes he'd ever seen. When he smiled he had dimples and wore his hair at a fashionable length around the top of his ears with a long front fringe that today he had pinned back with a gaudy silver unicorn rampart clip. Spayar didn't usually go for white guys but Von was an exception. As he was with everything. He was also a Crown Prince of the Alliance.

"He always comes and has lunch with us on Siscest," Calli said thoughtfully, rightfully snitching on him immediately.

"Since when?"

Calli just shrugged. "A while? Probably since your presence was missed in the Palace."

"I get no peace with the two of you together," Von said, hand to his forehead. Calli giggled. Calli looked a lot like Spayar but took more after their mother than their father with a high forehead, graceful nose and delicate hands. She was also lighter skinned than Spayar like their father. Spayar got Relora's nearly eggplant dark skin while Calli was simply a rich deep brown. They both also had their father's black eyes. Duren was the only one who'd gotten Relora's green eyes. She and Von were the same age and he was suddenly reminded that meant they've both start their own time served this year.

Duren joined them then, sitting next to Spayar and flopped his head on the table, thoroughly chastised by their mother. "You never mentioned you visited so often," Spayar said to Von.

"Was it so important? You know writing long letters bores me," he said dismissively. Calli giggled again.

"Yeah well I--!!" Spayar ended in a yelp when he was nearly lifted, seat and all, up into the air from behind. "Doo--im, stop," he complained to his father who had enveloped him and was kissing him on the face. How utterly embarrassing.

His father released him with a deep laugh and patted Spayar's shoulder hard. "You snuck around the side then, Junior?" he asked.

"I'd rather die than let your apprentices see you do that," Spayar said, deadpan. Spayar Senior was a handsome man with a shaved head and was growing his beard out for winter. Spayar knew his father could look incredibly intimidating but when he smiled, like now, it was utterly charming and disarming. He wore a sleeveless shirt that showed off his wide shoulders and strong arms covered in scars too imprecise to be anything but weapon wounds. Spayar looked a lot like him except Senior's face had a more firm jaw and a wider mouth. He was missing a few teeth but had replaced them with gold making his smile flashier than even Spayar's.

"Ah but it is my job to embarrass you as your father," Senior said with a charming smile that Spayar could mirror, his accent less pronounced than Relora's.

"At least wait until after lunch," Relora appeared with a pot of rice and Spayar perked up. He hadn't had rice while serving time.

Senior said something in Dirnine Spayar parsed out as something like 'yes, my beloved' and was more horrified at how bad his home language was just after two years serving time than he was at his parents being lovey dovey. Senior sat at the head of the table as Relora went back into the kitchen and brought out a full baked goose stuffed with grains and vegetables from the smell.

"Now where is Anora, school should have-

"Amma, dooim, I'm home!" the front door crashed open when the last Hillsman child came home from school for lunch hour.

"You come here willingly every week?" Spayar asked Von over the commotion of Relora sweeping over to Anora who was excitedly talking about school. Spayar had to put up with this because he loved his family but Von was the crown prince.

Von just smiled his beautiful smile. "It's much more fun than having lunch with my sister." For a moment his face turned brittle but only because Spayar knew what he was looking for.

"Which one? The idiot or the bitch-

"Oooh, de-de that's a bad word," Duren said next to him.

"Junior," Senior said like a warning even as he was carving the goose.

"It's not bad. It's just a grown up word and I'm a grown up now," Spayar said and stuck his tongue out at Duren who did the same to him, making an extra gross face as he did to make Spayar snicker.

Anora and Relora arrived at the table with Anora being a whirlwind of excited voice and hands. She was talking to Relora non-stop even as Relora got her into a chair. She looked a spitting image of their mother with a lower forehead and Senior's dark eyes and skin. Her long wavy hair was done in braided pigtails today. She was completely oblivious to Spayar and Von at the table as she started talking to Calli next. Senior put some goose and stuffing on Spayar's plate.

"Are you just staying for lunch?" Spayar asked Von while three other conversations were happening. It was a pretty typical meal for the household and for Dirinnans and cross talk was to be expected.

"We could hang out," Von said as he was served.

"I need to feed the birds," Spayar scooped some rice onto his plate.

"Right. I forget you do that."

"You talk to our friends?"

"Everyone's still alive if that's what you're asking."

"Tassa around?"

Von grimaced. "I dunno. You know she isn't fond of me."

"I think you underestimate her," Spayar said casually. "Is she?"

"I haven't seen her. We don't run in the same friend group."

Right, you two don't talk unless I'm around, Spayar thought with an internal sigh.

"-- Junior? Have you been here the entire time?" Anora suddenly asked him.

He looked at his little sister. Middle child with way too much energy. "Yes," he said patiently.

"And you just sat there!"

"You were talking to Calli- oof," he grunted when Anora hugged him tightly. "Uh-huh," Spayar said when Anora started talking to him rapidly about school and math. Spayar was the only one she could talk about math too since he was the only one in the family any good at it other than her. Not for the first time he reminded himself to talk to Senior about getting her an apprenticeship with an alchemist. She was old enough. He was only half following though as he scooped lunch into his mouth, giving indications he was listening. Anora rarely wanted a full conversation, she just wanted to tell you about what she was excited about and she was excited about many things.

Anora had him captive the rest of lunch and he half listened to everyone else's conversations while keeping up with her telling him about algebra. Calli and Von were having a pleasant conversation about Calli's new job she was starting this week at a watch maker, the last one she'd had at a florist had fallen through. Senior was talking across the entire table to Relora in Dirnine that Spayar was vaguely aware was about work. Senior was also talking to Duren about what they'd be doing after lunch.

He was so glad to be home.

Von was sitting on Spayar's bed while Spayar was digging through his carry trunk. The sounds of the city outside were dampened and even the light seemed faded and diffused in the room as the purple sun of the mobile glowed softly with magic. The room was effectively sealed from outside viewing, hearing, or scrying by all but the most powerful magic users. Von was leaned back casually on one hand waiting for Spayar to find what he was looking for.

"You really going to feed the birds today?" Von asked as Spayar found what he was looking for.

"Mom wanted to go shopping. I volunteered," Spayar said peeling back a final layer of clothes. It was a simple locked box about the length of his forearm that he picked up and put on his desk. There was no key hole or any sort of actual mechanism to open it, where a key hole would be just a solid piece of metal. To open a safe box like this you needed to be a mettalurgist. It just happened metal ran in the family. Needing no spell or weave Spayar smeared the solid iron down from the lock opening and released the lid from the bottom. He opened the box and pulled out a letter in a sealed envelope from among the items inside. The envelope was sealed with magic that would also make them explode should someone not the intended person open them. The intended person being Spayar himself.

He opened the envelope. "From Councilman Milo Theron," he said as he handed the paper inside to Von. He closed the safe box after.

"Who?" Von asked as he took the papers.

"Sinso's friend in Galinsum," Spayar said as Von unfolded the letter. "Councilman, very high up. Sinso was working on something in secret along with trying to figure out the perfect formulae to make someone vomit on command," he ended with a sigh as Von started reading.

"Sinso was your contact in the Arm, right?" Von clarified.

"Yes. If you asked him I was his little stooge," Spayar said as he put the safe box up on a shelf where it had gone before he'd served his time.

"You're so good at it though I'm not surprised," Von teased him and Spayar rolled his eyes. Von read the letter and his brows slowly furrowed seriously. Spayar sat in his desk chair while Von read the multiple page letter. "Hmm," Von said after a few minutes. "That sounds quite like treason if I was the Governor of Galinsum," he said casually.

"So he fits right in with us," Spayar said seriously.

"Who's the Governor there again? Remind me," Von said even as he read the letter again.

"Jengin Albera," Spayar recited dutifully.

"Right, the 'immortal alchemist'," Von said distractedly. "He's not Feylon is he?"

"No."

"Have we met him?"

"I don't believe personally. He does attend some of your mother's balls and galas though," Spayar said. "We've been introduced at the very least."

"Hmm," Von was very seriously reading the letter again. "Never thought I'd see proper war alchemy."

"It's potentially quite devastating," Spayar said.

"Have you seen it?"

"It was something Sinso was working on yes. Him and other alchemists serving in the arm, away from Galinsum and their pacifism."

"Can you get a message to Theo reliably?"

"He accepts mail."

"Is it screened?"

"He's a Councilman, I imagine not," Spayar said thoughtfully. Von got up from the bed and came to the desk. Spayar turned around and shuffled some papers out. "Ink or pencil?"

"Ink well," Von said and Spayar knew what he was going to do. If Spayar knew Von any less he'd think it was a gross over display of power but Von's entire family was a gross over display of magical ability. The tips of Von's fingers glowed orange and became sharpened like needles and Spayar watched him stitch together a weave in moments and a few complicated hand motions. Then Von put a glowing finger to the page and ink jumped out of the well directly onto the paper. Von didn't have to speak or even write it, the words were transcribed directly to the paper at the same speed as his thoughts. He'd seen Von do this enough times to not be overly impressed but the speed he could construct a well spoken letter was more impressive than the magic.

Von paused, lifting his finger from the paper, just to check something in the letter Theo had sent before putting it back down and finishing the letter. Then he tugged on a piece of the weave and it snapped closed into the perfect size to fit into an envelope. "I'll send it off when I go shopping," Spayar said looking for an envelope.

"Pay for expedited. I want it in his hands tomorrow morning," stepping away from the desk.

"Of course," Spayar said as he hand wrote the staffs of the address with a pen.

"If Theo is courting me what's the odds other Councilmen are courting my siblings?" Von asked quietly.

"Sinso made it sound like most Councilmen aren't interested in treason for personal gain."

"Then why is Theo?" Von said and looked at the letter again. "And why me?" he was particularly surprised by that one.

"You have a d'aelar," Spayar said throwing his arm around the back of his chair to turn and look at Von.

Von whipped around, blue eyes wide for a moment, and then he smiled slightly. "I do," he said smugly. "Don't remind Teldin," he added. Spayar laughed. "Was that all the work for today?"

"Yes," Spayar said standing, grabbing the envelope.

"Good," and Von used a spell to light the letter on fire. It burned to a crisp into ashes but didn't even mark his perfect hand.

"You made a mess in my room," he said, looking down at the ashes.

"You'll forgive me," Von said with a cute smile like he never thought Spayar wouldn't. And damnit if he wasn't right. I'd forgive you anything, Spayar thought and it was both fond and frustrated with him. "So, feed the birds?"

"You're coming?"

"Probably not. It bores me. And I'm sure my minders are missing me-

Spayar put his hand to the bridge of his nose, "Of course," he said, squeezing. Von just snickered. He raised his hand and disconnected the weave around the purple sun of the mobile and light and sound returned fully to the room.

"Now that you're back home we can start work properly," Von said even as Spayar brushed the ashes up to throw them away.

"Again," Spayar sighed grabbing his rain coat and hat for the low hanging clouds outside.

"Yes. Again," Von said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I have ideas but I was waiting for you."

"Hopefully not on everything?" Spayar asked as they left his room.

"No. Just some big plays."

Calli's door opened as they were walking down the hall. "Junior," she called.

"Yeah?" he called back.

"You're going shopping for amma right?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm coming. Amma doesn't trust you not to take six years to do the shopping."

"I don't take six years," Spayar said with a slight roll of his eyes. But yes he did take longer to do the shopping only because he got the shopping done quickly and spent the rest of the day feeding the birds or people watching.

"Let me grab my coat," and she vanished back into her room.

"Still can't believe you came here every week to have lunch," Spayar mumbled to Von.

"Only for the cooking. I wouldn't bore your family with royal or court trivialities," Von said. "Even if Calli has raked me over the coals about it," he sighed.

"Why?"

"She has it in her mind-- ah Calli, is that the coat I got you?" Von asked, changing topics when Calli came out wearing a new rain coat of the sweetest pink color Spayar had ever seen, the outside shiny and waxed to keep the rain off.

Calli beamed even as she was pulling her long wavy hair up into a high tail. "Yes."

"You bought my sister a coat?"

"Seemed polite," Von shrugged.

"It was for National Day," Calli said quickly. National Day was a country wide holiday that marked the official first day the first Asuras, Sinou, had taken the throne almost two thousand years ago. It happened in high summer when the moon flowers bloomed along the Meltong. "He got Anora one too and Duren new rain boots."

"Didn't get me anything," Spayar complained.

"You were four provinces away," Von groaned. "What was I supposed to do?"

"I dunno, visit?" Spayar groused even as they headed down the stairs. Behind him Von was saying some groveling type of apology while Calli giggled. Spayar wasn't really upset but it was always a good time to tease Von. The prince needed it. "Mom, do you have your shopping list?" he called once down on the first floor, not quite sure where Relora was.

"It's on the table," her voice called from the sitting room.

Spayar scooped it up. "So you're coming," he pointed at Calli, "and what are you doing?" he pointed at Von.

"I'll find something to do. We're having a get together at Red Garter tonight, coming?"

"Maybe."

"Can I?" Calli asked.

"No," Spayar said immediately.

Calli rolled her eyes. "Why not?"

"Because it's a drug bar," Spayar said keeping his voice down so Relora didn't hear. He saw the tips of Calli's ears turn red. Unlike Spayar most of his siblings were quite sheltered and being raised by immigrants they didn't always have the same proclivities as typical Feylon. Especially at places like a bar. Also there would be boys there and Spayar couldn't get high or enjoy himself knowing some leech might touch his sister.

"I- fine," she huffed, cheeks puffing out slightly. She went and gathered up the shopping bags.

"Red Garter's not that bad," Von said quietly as they followed her.

"No," Spayar said again. "Unless you want to be the one keeping an eye on her?"

"What? No. She's your sister."

"Exactly. No."

"Will you two stop whispering and come on," Calli groaned. "The meteorologists said the rains were starting today."

"They say that every day starting the middle of J'dorr," Spayar said.

"And aren't they right?" Calli asked.

"Eh, sometimes," Spayar allowed and did follow Calli out. The clouds did seem much lower than earlier though so Spayar put the envelope into an inside pocket of his coat and put his hat on over his wavy hair.

"You didn't bring a rain coat Vondugard," Calli said as they stepped out from the porch and into the garden.

"Oh, I'll be fine," Von said cheerfully. "You know the rain doesn't bother me."

Calli just looked confused. "He's a warlock, Calli," Spayar said, unimpressed.

"So?" she blinked at them both even as a slight misting started to fall from the sky. She pulled up the hood of her rain coat. Von just once more coated his fingers in magic and made a complex weave. The rain began beading up on an invisible barrier he'd woven around himself. It was wide enough that any large enough drops didn't even touch him and just fell harmlessly off to the side.

Calli looked at Spayar, "You can't do that."

"I don't want to do that," Spayar huffed. "Show off," he told Von and headed for the street.

"Well what's the point of being Le'Acard if I can't show off sometimes?" Von said following after him. "And this is where I say farewell my Hillsman friends," he beamed all sunshine on a miserable day. Spayar hated his fool heart for fluttering. He'd known Von how many years and he still got all silly?

"Don't get into trouble," Spayar said.

"Me? I would never," and with a wave he walked off.

Spayar and Calli stood there for a moment watching him walk off, a spring in his step. "He's such a pain in the ass," Spayar declared and then turned and walked the other way. Calli laughed into her hand as she followed after Spayar.

====+====

Tag list: @full-on-sam @thegodsaredead

If you'd like to be pinged for this let me know. Replies or asks are fine. Reblogs would be wonderful and are encouraged. My ask box is open if you wanna know more~

ZS tag | Masterpost | References | Read it on AO3

[worsecats]

俺様のしっぽは俺様のものだ。

My excellent tail belongs to me alone.

[snarp]

Buoyancy sits on my lap, being petted, unpurring; a few minutes later, Duplicity walks over, nose-taps him, and settles in next to him; I pet Duplicity; Buoyancy begins to purr.

[gumballavocadoharry]

Daddy's boy; Jack Chambers

*Jack's father (or any other character beside the cast) is NOT in the don't worry darling movie franchise at all! This is a made up character to add to the plot and I don't want anything to be confused or taken out of context! Also small menton of daddy issues.* *Also extreme FLUFF!!!*

There he was. The cloying baby boy that had been awaiting them for months, was now in Alice's arms while her and her husband stared down at their bundle. Despite the baby now being visible to them, he always was in their hearts as they anxiously waited for him. His soft dark brown rich locks, and his opulent, elysian emerald, shamrock colored eyes that resembled glint diamonds.

He had watermelon blush lips, that curved into a small heart figure. The name chosen for this beautiful doll baby was, Roger. Roger Chester Chambers. His appearance was no accident despite his scarce features. Roger took after his father, Jack who had the same alluring green eyes and lavish brown hair was rather dapper himself.

The deep pumpkin dimples that indented the lad's cheeks were identical to his son's. But despite the sentimental feelings that decorated the room from the outside, it was incomparable to the caprizant feelings of cherishment, besotted lovesick the couple felt for their new baby. Jack especially locked eyes with his mini twin; watching the baby take soft yawns and smacks with his toothless mouth and twitch his pocket sized nose.

Love at first sight was just a euphemism for the rationale of Jack's very being of existence euphoria he felt that night once he held his son for the first time. It was surreal, yet a reverie of what was happening. Holding Roger close enough to hear his heartbeat was captivating to say the least, but it wasn't until he booped his nose with his, that sealed in their lifelong bond.

"I'm your daddy, little guy. You're so special and we're so proud of you," Jack continued, "I love you." He said softly, holding Roger close to him and savoring every moment of his purity pouring onto his son.

Fast forward to a few months......the newborn was now 4 months old, bouncing away in his crib, animatedly waiting for his bedtime story. Jack came into the sapphire colored bedroom with a pep in his step and heart eyes. His heart ruptured with love, upon seeing Roger's hands reaching towards his father to pick him up and hold him.

Roger looked with effervescent eyes upon seeing Jack's big hands reach for him under his arms gently and pick him up above his crib. Jack's unapologetic deep cooing accompanied by precious smacks of kisses to his chubby bubble cheeks. Jack sat down in the custom made seafoam green rocking chair and grabbed one of Roger's favorite books from the shelf.

He gently rocked along rythmatical, as he flipped through the pages of 'Hey diddle, diddle' reading with a slightly cartoonish voice much to Roger's amusement. "Okay little guy, the story's over so that means bedtime now," Roger gave way to a little whine, that moved Jack's heartstrings a little. "I know my little baby bear, but you need your rest so you can grow big and strong...like me." Jack was proud of himself for such a charming metaphorical use of an example.

He set the book aside and carefully picked Roger up and flew him over his crib. "Super baby is ready for a landing!" Jack's voice sounded of a radio announcer. Jack 'landed' Roger into his crib and looked in awe at the copy cat of him, squirming and gurgling.

"You really are something special Roger......and I know me and you are going to be best friends. And we'll tell stories and play together....and we'll be able to tell each other everything." Jack said the last line with feathered buoyancy. He looked into Roger's eyes; starry sparkles sparking in his eyes mixed with abyssal pride and intimate affection. Such contentment in this moment, is what sent Jack's finger into Roger's little hand. Roger played around with the large finger, sucking on it and squeezing it, sending a rippling effect of adoration through him.

It wasn't until Jack pulled his finger away, that he leaned his face in closer, lips puckering, inching closer to the baby's rosette cheek that he pressed a soundly, loud kissie onto. "Muah!" He pulled back to see Roger looking up at Jack, wondering what it was his father had just done. "Kissie kisses for my little bear." He said, in that pommy twang of his. "Goodnight....I love you. Very, very much." Jack's voice turned into a whisper towards the end his goodnight.

He casted a small gentle smile with a cheek pinch before walking out of Roger's bedroom for the night.

Fast forward a few years later.....now that baby boy, is an ornery but compassionate little boy. At 8 years old, Roger made his autonomy well known around the house. Jack, Alice and Susan all had the bear the brunt of Roger's echoing of him being 'Mr self-sufficient'. But of course no one really took it serious of Roger being mature, because he contradicted himself with his pranks and schemes.

And for awhile, it didn't really mean anything to Roger because...well...as promised he grew close with Jack. Jack never minded his barmy pranks as long as they weren't blatant foolish or insensitive. Roger loved crawling on Jack's lap and listening to his stories, or his head or foot rubs because of a 'headache' or 'sore foot'. Roger was still little enough to be held in Jack and Alice's arms and on occasion.........Susan. Something to his dismay.

But whether Roger liked to admit it or not, he loved when Jack held him in his arms and would carry him to bed and gently lay him down and tuck him in. Something Jack cherished as well with both his children.

After all, he was there for the first steps, first word, first boo-boo, first failed test, first nightmare and so on. Even Roger couldn't deny he was a daddy's boy, while Jack would twist it to daddy's 'little' boy. His reasoning was it was engraved on one of Roger's bibs as a baby.

This was something Jack never had as a child. His father was more of a tough, never had time for much fun type parent. His standard was a mangled, degenerate zealotry of what men should be like in his eyes. Jack could count on his fingers the time his father gave him compliments, he never received hugs or kisses from him; badgered about little incompetent things that were deemed 'feminine' gnawed at his father's pride.

It was his mother that showered him with the affection and softness. Jack always appreciated that, but still had a narrow tender gap in his heart that was for his father. He could be cold an though never violent or physical, and his advice at times was solid, his confined emotion didn't vapor into Jack's hypersensitive, empath persona. Like gasoline and water.

But Jack had made a promise to himself after one particular argument with his father, that he would be totally different. He would show his children love and affection, especially his son. To Jack, tears weren't just reserved for the girls, sobs weren't for the weak, and love was never a read between the lines....it was evident and it was gonna be there for his children to see......and believe.

So, when the bond that he formed with Roger at birth happened, he coddled it and nurtured it like he did with Susan as a baby. He played with Roger, fed him, changed him, kissed him, hugged him, tended to every boo-boo or tummy ache, rocked him to sleep in his arms and told him he loved his boy.

Even Roger could sense the feeling of love, shimmering down his spine whenever Jack would smile at him or share a laugh together.

But at school, Roger wanted things different. Roger wanted a straightforward handshake or pat on the shoulder. But today, things went a little sour. Brian and Max, the most popular boys in school had set their attention on Roger because of a prank he needed them for. A water balloon catapult. But Jack's cosmic love, reared itself when Roger accidently left his lunch in Jack's car.

"Roger!" Roger turned around to see his father running to him olympic style. "Baby bear, you forgot your lunch." Roger could sense his cheeks stinging the minute his father's presence entered the school yard. "Baby bear?" Max chuckled. Roger's face grew a darker shade of pink. Jack's gentle papa bear smile wasn't budging, despite Roger's manifested body language that wanted Jack to leave.

"Now, am I forgetting something?" He said with honeysuckle in his voice. "I don't think so, bye da-,"

"Your kiss!" Jack was trying to be jokester, but this situation was anything BUT funny to Roger. Jack cupped Roger's little face into his hands and kissed his forehead with sound. Pulling away, Roger had modest frown on his face, hearing the rippling effects of laughter being shared with Brian and Max before they walked away with a haughty patronizing tone.

"Daddy's boy!" Brian laughed, "His little baby bear couldn't survive without his lunch!"

Max joined in with kiss noises. "Is he gonna bring you your bottle and diaper? Daddy's baby needs his kissys, ha!" Roger's face became a raspberry color as he walked away from the two boys, completely side swiping the prank. Roger was sour the entire rest of day, and became sorer at Jack, for treating him ignominious in the company of his fellow peers. The chasten feeling that stained Roger once Jack had left and his 'friends' had mocked him ferociously was inordinate.

The entire school had eventually found out about Roger's run in with his 'daddy' and so that left everyone, with the partial exception of Susan to tease and mock him. "Daddy's boy," was a newfound nickname, everyone seemed to enjoy calling the boy.

It was like a giant D and B were ironed onto his shirt. "Don't focus on them Roger," Susan tried to comfort her brother. "They're probably just jealous." Roger kept his head down the entire day. His catastrophizing thoughts are what imagined him in a bonnet, pacifier and bib. He was in crowded assembly and everyone was laughing their heads off. The final nightmare was Jack swooping in, and kissing his face all over for the entire school to see. "My little baby." He cooed.

A scream erupted from Roger, in absolute terror of being undignified in public. "Mr. Chambers?" Roger shot his head up to reveal the concerned teacher standing above him. "Can you tell us what the answer to question 5 is?" Roger scanned the chalkboard, desperately ignoring his trepidation.

"Uh, 8?" To his surprise, he was correct. "Very good,"The teacher wrote the answer on the chalkboard. Roger thanked his lucky stars that he wouldn't have to suffer ant detentions due to the offence of not paying attention.

Once school was out, the fireworks started up again. Jack was standing right there, waiting for his kids to come scampering down the concrete hill, so he could squish them in paps bear hugs. Susan trotted down with ease, falling into her father's arms after the long rugged day at school.

Roger came in second, mind ruminating over other things, that he didn't feel the firm shove of Max, who had pushed him down the hill, tumbling as he went. As if his face wasn't already blushed from the prickly day at school, this last straw is what drew his sensitive side out.

This is what made Roger stream torrents of tears. He raced past his father and sister, hoping to make it home before he would just push himself down on the ground and cry like a fussy one year old. "Roger?" Distress took over Jack's voice as he looked to Susan for an explanation. The sun beat down on Roger's eyes, making the way home seem like a journey through the desert. Sniffles and spare tears ran through his cheeks, heading off on his chin as his tears dripped on the dry sidewalk.

The domestic green bel air pulled up beside Roger, slowly matching his walking speed. "Roger, what's wrong? I know you fell down.....but....why are you so sad?" Jack's baby voice protruded a little on the last ink of the sentence.

"Everyone was maki-" "Susan honey, let Roger tell it okay?" Jack gently reminded his earlier child. "Everyone was making fun of me...."

"Why?" Roger shrugged. Susan bit her lip to keep from spilling the beans. But it was Roger who looked to his sister for help. "Because....well....all the kids were calling him a daddy's boy," Jack's head shot back over to his sullen son.

The embarrassment took over Roger, which sent him running home at top speed. He ran upstairs to his bedroom, dashing so fast, that he couldn't even hear Alice greet him. She suspected something once she didn't see Susan or Jack follow in behind him, only a couple minutes later.

"Hey hon," Jack kissed Alice. "Hey mom," Alice kissed Susan. "Hey,......what's up with Roger?" Jack glanced towards upstairs, "That's what I'm trying to figure out." Jack followed pursuit on Roger's trail to his bedroom.

"Roger?" Jack's knock alerted the boy. "Can I come in?" Noise of sniffles came closer and closer until the door opened and Roger was standing behind it. "It's allergies," But Jack knew better. He escorted Roger to his bed after closing the bedroom door.

"What's up bud? Tell me," Jack smushed Roger's cheeks with his hands. "When.....you kissed me after bring me my lunch today at school, a bunch of kids started teasing me and calling me a daddy's boy. "Oh Roger....I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to get teased." Roger put his head in Jack's lap.

"I am a daddy's boy aren't I?" Jack giggled. "Well, we do have a special bond!" Jack rubbed Roger's head softly. "I remember, when you were just a baby....that little nose.....little chin.....but these vivid green eyes that were just so alert to everything because it was all so new...." Jack went into a nostalgic sentimental daze.

"And I made my goal with both of you kids that I would always be open with my love. I didn't have a father who would tell me 'I love you' or give me hugs or kisses....or foot rubs," Jack said with giggle and tickle to Roger's midriff, making him cough out a laugh.

Jack wrapped his arm around Roger. "I promised myself I wouldn't be like that. When you and Susan were born, it was the happiest day of my life. You both were pink and perfect, you smelled brand new....and that's when I knew I had this one shot to be one the most important people in your life to show you what unconditional love truly meant.....but I didn't mean to embarrasses you Roger. I respect that at your age, you want to have a certain image.....so.....if you want....I won't kiss you in public anymore."

Roger's stomach did cartwheels, not knowing whether this feeling was satisfaction of being treated like an adult, or unanticipated deflation of racked compunctious that kept him from enjoying his victory. He was now faced with a decision that he wouldn't be able to complain about with whatever pill he swallowed.

"I don't mind dad.....after all, it's not a huge deal." Jack's face brightened at the fingers crossed answer. Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, Roger. I love you so much and I want to clobber you to death in my sappy, mushy love.... Jack's thoughts ringed.

But instead, he expressed his gratitude in a papa bear hug that lasted for a long time. "I love you my bunny," Jack cooed, "I love you too daddy." Roger's heart fluttered at being a subject to Jack's closness.

It wasn't as smothering as he thought, it was still the same old warm blanket on a cold winter's day and breeze of cool air on hot summer day. Everything Roger needed.

To Jack, he would still always be that baby boy Jack met in the hospital one summer night, that changed his life forever.

And that baby boy.....didn't mind it so much like he thought he would.

[pb-dot]

Happy last STS before Halloween! What scares your characters? Feel free to keep this goofy, silly, fun or go serious and/or dark with it! Whatever Reese's your pieces. (Okay, I was trying to be funny there, but it's just ridiculous. 🤦‍♀️)

Happy STSpooksday!

Oh boy fears. We're running the gamut between serious and silly, as it just so happens there is a wide range of degree of seriousness in the fears of my characters.

Jake: Fears his loved ones dying. Them leaving or no longer liking him is preferable to them dying or suffering, and he has until very recently maintained no close relationships because of this fear.

13: He hasn't had the chance to experience this post-amnesia, but 13 has a deep, instinctual fear of the ocean. In his current state, this fear may grow stronger due to his poor buoyancy and concerns over corroding.

Mina: Is genuinely afraid of ghosts, apparitions or other living dead or haunting spirits. She doesn't believe in them, but she also knows that they may not care about that.

Delilah: Cockroaches and bugs are her bane. She relies on other people, preferably Mina to deal with any skittering interlopers.

One: She will not admit this under bribery or torture, but One is scared of street stoats. This semiurban mustelid became common in the city after pollution and overexploitation killed the local forests and the stoats moved their warrens to the deep trash piles and forgotten niches of the city.

10: Similarly to One, 10 will cause considerable physical damage to whoever puzzles it out if this is ever revealed, but he is afraid of birds.

Creator: Lives in constant fear of his creations, if slaves are not more appropriate, killing him or worse.

Three: like Mina, he is afraid of ghosts. The main difference is that he believes in ghosts wholeheartedly and that he's pretty sure they don't believe in him.

Four: Is deeply unsettled by blood and anything that exposes the human body as "the sloppily put-together wet bag of sausage that it is," to quote Four directly. He also has a history of fainting at the sight of his own blood in particular.

Tag List @ettawritesnstudies @mrbexwrites @teacupsandstarlight @anonymousfoz @wrenofthewords @sm-writes-chaos @dyrewrites @owlsandwich @olive-riggzey @athenswrites @kingkendrick7 @cat-esper

If you want to be put on the Tag List for this project, please interact with my Tag List Post

[piplupod]

I saw your tags on that dogs vs cats poll and wanted to tell you that poodles are actually known for being a hypoallergenic dog breed! I’m not sure why they are that way but yeah it’s usual for people who are allergic to dogs to still be fine around poodles

oh yeah !! it's just strange to me because every other dog breed that's said to be hypoallergenic i've still been allergic to 😅 i haven't been around All the dog breeds yet (but oh how i'd like to meet every dog breed out there!!), but I've been around a fair few and poodles (and one goldendoodle as a child) are the only ones I've never had an issue with !!

i'm just glad there's one breed that's consistently okay for me to be around so i have half a chance at having a dog one day!!

(also I think the reason they're considered hypoallergenic is due to the structure of their coat compared to other dogs - they've got a weird undercoat and technically have hair instead of fur! if you mix that with the curliness of their coat, they don't shed nearly as much as other dogs and therefore don't drop as much dander, which is the main allergen for people! - and the theorized reason why they have a such a unique coat is fascinating and has to do with their breed's history of being used as retriever dogs who would fetch ducks from out of cold water! it's also the reason for the traditional lion cut style - it keeps their vital organs warm in the water while also maintaining buoyancy!! :D)

[tobiasdrake]

Back in action! Four notes to find and... an amount of time to find them in!

Oh man, last night was a blast. Wasn't anticipating Artificer showing up with a chocolate, gooseberry, and banana pie. What a weirdass combination of flavors. Who would even?

But you know what? It worked.

I don't know why Prophet was so insistent on karaoke when he has the voice of a tortured cat.

Did you know Shopkeeper is a woman!? I've known her for 500 years and never even realized! Not once!

I wouldn't describe that as 'knowing someone for 500 years'. Though it was pretty fun to watch her kick your ass at that old Wheels machine you guys dug out.

Hey, it was my first time playing... anything like that, honestly. And you know what? I didn't lose my temper and start throwing hands, so that makes me a better student than the fucking moon. I'm choosing to be proud of that.

Oh cool. I think this was Yoyo's cottage. That's probably her pear tree with what is clearly a person imprisoned within it, ala Shopkeeper's "magic pear tree that imprisons those who steal from it" tale.

Wonder what ever happened to her? Probably died, I'm guessing. The Three Sisters are a weird metaphysical thing that happened one time but they aren't, like, immortal deities or something. I'm pretty sure they can grow old and die.

That's definitely Pyro. But I can't glide from here. And there's nothing to latch my graplou onto. What is there to...

...

I just had the worst idea ever.

HAHAHAHAHA HOLY SHIT IT DOES WORK LIKE THAT

How is the surface of the lava not melting my tabi?

Oh, they produce a weak little energy field to resist the liquid underneath. I just thought they used buoyancy. I. Realize now. What a stupid assumption that was. These are tabi, not mizugumo.

Nobody wants to talk about how they ended up at the site of their greatest fears. I'm beginning to think it's a masochism thing. They're too embarrassed to admit that they did this on purpose but then got stuck.

What.

What the fuck happened here?

Guys. Guys. Were you seriously waiting for this stupid flower to grow until you died!?

Oh my goddess, you were seriously waiting for this stupid flower to grow until you died. I will be right back, but retroactively.

...actually, while we're at it....

Fuck yes. This is a perfect spot for growing Astral Leaves. In that we know, 500 years from now, absolutely nothing will have changed.

Gonna make some tea and learn... something about... sharper eyesight? I think? I dunno, the elder somehow manages to be impressively boring when he talks. He opens his mouth and awareness flees from my brain.

...

Never mind. You two don't even know what I'm talking about. Point is, I'm going to brew a tea that's so good, I won't have to get contact lenses. ANYWAYS. Now that that's taken care of, let's tend to your dumbness.

Yes, the one that's in the ground over there. I have it right here. Please do not mind the temporal paradox; In any system of physics in which time travel is possible, there is absolutely nothing wrong with an object existing at two parallel points in space but separated by a great length of time between. Paradoxes are overrated.

Happy to be of service.

...out of curiosity, could I get a taste of that stew? I'm super curious to know what's in it.

...you know what, now that I think about it, it's visibly boiling so maybe I'll hold off until it cools.

Oh goddess, I know exactly where this is going. Guys. Guys. Let's not do anything that we're going to reg--

IS MY PELVIS SUPPOSED TO TASTE LIKE SHRAPNEL!?

Yeah, I had a feeling they'd punched me into one of these. What is this, the crystallized essence of my ruptured spleen?

...so. Yes. That's a yes, is what I'm hearing.

The power thistle made them so strong that their sheer overwhelming might crystallized into the tapestry of reality itself.

Okay. You know what? That's fair. If I was a Gym Bro, I'd wait 500 years for an herb like that too.