#//i would make the blue fit's fur coat be black or white

[icybreaths]

|| Neka ||

[cowboydisaster]

I have a prompt idea if you're still looking for some! How about the reader finding and taking an itty bitty kitten that was orphaned and Arthur's real grumpy about it at first but then she finds him asleep on the couch with the kitten curled up on his chest and he's got a hand over it protectively or something. I know that's not really Christmas-y, but I thought it would be cute! Looking forward to all your writings as always 🥰

* ˚ ✦ Moonlight * ˚ ✦

pairing: arthur morgan x f! reader

word count: 1k

a/n: Sorry this was late, it's been a madhouse around here. Anyways, i love this prompt and it makes me want a house cat SO bad. i also love grumpy arthur and if you couldn't tell already, domesticity is my roman empire rn.

cowboydisaster's christmas countdown: THREE days 'till christmas!

christmas countdown┊main masterlist┊rdr2 masterlist

“No.” Arthur growls, voice stern, resolve set. Your eyes are as big as dinner plates as you continue pleading and begging. Your lip juts out, even, testing his patience, shaking his resolve.  Arthur is notoriously bad at telling you no. When you’d asked for a second baby, he’d willingly agreed. When you’d asked for the house, and the farm, he’d made it happen for you. But this?

“Please, Arthur… Where else is he supposed to go?” You whisper so as not to wake the baby, sleeping soundly in her bassinet. 

“I don’t give a damn. Not here.” Arthur grumbles, placing his tools from work on the table. You follow him around the kitchen like a shadow as he opens and closes cupboards and drawers, putting away all his items from the day. 

Arthur is pointedly trying not to look at the little black ball of fur nestled in your arms. He’s afraid that if he catches a glimpse of those big, sad eyes, he’ll agree with you, and he’ll have an extra mouth to feed.

“Where’d you find it, anyways?” Arthur says, turning, sighing as you push the teeny kitten up towards his face, holding it under its little armpits. 

“I found him stranded on the road back from the market. Look at him, Arthur. He’s not well. We’ll have to feed him.” You plead. Arthur’s fingers pinch the bridge of his nose as he stops and turns around. You nearly run into his back, stopping just in time. 

Arthur gets a good glimpse at the little feller then. He’s just a little cat, probably only a few months old. He’s far too skinny, and his jet black coat is ruffled and dirty from the elements. You hold the cat out to show Arthur, and then he sees the little, white, crescent-shaped mark that adorns his forehead, right between his blue eyes. Arthur releases the bridge of his nose, sighing grumpily. When his eyes crack open, and he sees your pleading face, perfectly matching the cat’s expression, he gives up. 

“Goddammit, fine. Jus’ throw him in the spare room, n’ I’ll find him some fish or somethin’.” Arthur says, rather dramatically, in your opinion. You hold the kitten close to your chest, your spare arm wrapping around the man’s neck. 

“Oh, thank you, Arthur!!” You smile, kissing him quickly before popping down from your tiptoes. 

“Yeah, well don’t get all cheery just yet. We’re tossin’ him back out in the snow as soon as he’s good and healthy.”

— — — 

The rocking chair swings back and forth quietly. Your hand gently taps your daughter’s back, and you hum quietly. She’d woken you and Arthur up in a fit, hungry, raising her little fists into the air and giving you both hell. But now, her little belly is full, and a peaceful silence has fallen over the house once more. The moonlight streaking through the windows tells you that it’s early morning, and you sigh at another night’s lack of sleep. 

“Easy, baby.” You whisper, quietly and slowly standing from the rocking chair, swaying her in your arms until you reach her bassinet. 

“Good night, my sweet girl.” You whisper sweetly, pressing a kiss to her little forehead, brushing some peach fuzz out of her face. 

You push the nursery door open quietly, eager to find your place next to Arthur in bed again.  But a few steps down the hall,  you stop in your tracks, a familiar voice coming from the living room. 

“Yeah, well you’re a right bastard, y’know that?” Arthur whispers, and you suppress a laugh, peeking around the corner. 

Arthur is sitting on the couch, feet propped up on the coffee table. Laying on his chest, nuzzled against his thick arm, is the little kitten. He purrs loudly, eyes closed, awfully content in your husband’s arms. Your heart melts in its cavern at the sight, and you watch the scene play out with bright eyes. 

“The lady is puttin’ the lil’ one back to bed, I figure I might as well do somethin’. So, make no mistakes, partner. We ain’t friends.” He whispers to the kitten, but contrary to his harsh words, Arthur’s finger scratches gently behind the kitten’s ear, pulling deep rumbles and purrs from the little animal. A few moments go by with Arthur’s hand resting protectively on the little cat. 

“Y’know, you are kinda cute�� But don’t tell the missus I said that. I don’t want her thinkin’ I’ve gone soft.”  

You suppress a chuckle. 

“I reckon we should call you Moon… cause you got a little one right between them big eyes.” Arthur hums, eyelids growing heavy the longer he rests on the couch. You clear your throat gently, making him aware of your presence before stepping into the living room. 

“Didn’t see you there.” Arthur says, sitting straight on the couch, cheeks tinted pink. 

“She’s asleep.” You smile, “I see you’re making friends.”

Arthur exhales sharply, a huff of a laugh, “Me and the cat? Nah, he uh– he wouldn’t stop hollerin’ so I tried holdin’ him.” Arthur excuses, hand still wrapped protectively around the sleeping animal. 

“Right.” You raise an eyebrow, “You comin’ back to bed, then?” 

Arthur hesitates, looking up at you, then down to Moon. 

“I’ll be in shortly, sweetheart. Just gonna stay out here a little longer with him so he doesn’t go wakin’ you or the kids up.”

You smirk, “Alright then, Arthur.” 

 A kiss is planted to his lips before you head to the bedroom, and he sinks back down on the couch with Moon tucked into his arm. 

Five minutes turn to ten, and ten to thirty. And when you wake up to start breakfast, your husband is still cuddled up on the couch. Snores fall from his lips, matching the time of little content purrs coming from Moon, sleeping in a little ball right on Arthur’s chest.  So much for not giving a damn. You chuckle to yourself.

taglist: @margofiore @mrsarthurmorgan7 @woman-with-no-name @tillith @luvliewriting @pine4pple-b0i @photo1030 @dudsparrow @holyratrimony @twola @calcarius445 [to be added or removed, shoot me an ask! :)]

[cuddlyhell]

Sparklecare: Rediagnosis - Cuddles

decided i wanted to finally get around to making some stuff for Rediagnosis, so i made a reference sheet with some lore for Cuddles! it's only fitting we start out talking about my favorite character :P

i'll put a image description below this cut i don't think the image description would fit in the limit, so the description below will be describing the image and text clearly while the image description itself will be a transcript.

i'm also going to be adding onto to this post later with a deeper explanation of his character, the changes i made to him and why i made them.

[Description]

Cuddles is a 4 feet tall naked mole rat/bunny hybrid anthery. He is, assumedly, around 40 years old. He is a bisexual transgender man who goes by he/him pronouns. He is the owner & head doctor of Sparklecare Hospital.

Cuddles is a fully pink-skinned and furred anthery, with white spots across certain parts of his body, signifying actual fur which appears glittery. (These areas include his ears, tail, the tops of his feet, as well as tiny amounts on his collar/neck and cheeks.) He has a chubby torso, contrasted by his skinny legs and arms. His hands are wrinkled, with yellow, small yet sharp claws protruding from four fingers on each hand. His feet are quite long, a little wrinkled, and are obviously stitched onto him below the knees. Despite having no paw pads on his hands, he has hot pink ones on his feet; three for each toe and one other, the metacarpal pad (the biggest, centermost one), which is shaped like a heart. His tail is outrageously large, essentially being the same size of him, even reaching over his head a tad. It's fur is incredibly curly, fluffy, and a little untamed, akin to cotton candy.

His face is only a little bit chubby, his snout is quite stubby and is wrinkled at the bridge of his nose. Three whiskers protrude from either one of his cheeks in any given time. (I suppose like Mickey Mouse ears?) The line of his lips is, seemingly, naturally wrinkled or mishappen near the corners; resulting in a slightly crooked smile. His lips are also formed like a cat's. His many teeth are yellow, much like his claws, as well as being incredibly long and sharp. He has shorter, yet still sharp, buckteeth. His eyes are large and off-putting, due to his sclera being pure black, his relatively small irises are hot-pink with small, heart-shaped, black pupils. His ears, much like his feet, are obviously stitched onto his head where there were most likely no ears before to begin with. They are long, bunny-esque ears which hang down just below his head, lay flat and limp against either side of his head and are, of course, heart-shaped with hot-pink inner ears, which are also heart-shaped.

Cuddles wears an undershirt with pure blue accents on the collar and hem, the entire shirt is also covered in a rainbow polka-dot pattern. He wears his staff badge on the left side of his chest on his undershirt, attached to a custom-made badge reel of a hot-pink heart, split down the middle in one single crack, which appears to be stitched back together. (This is a purposefully stylistic design, it's not actually broken.) Over his undershirt is a large, wrinkled doctor's coat with popped-out collars. Resting on the bridge of his snout is a pair of solid, pure red reading glasses. He also wears a red, short skirt. (The skirt was a random element I threw in on a whim as I wanted him to wear actual clothing on his lower body, I may replace the skirt with something else later.)

Other notes about Cuddles are as follows: He actually does need glasses to read, this is due to his naturally poor eyesight by being born a mole rat. He dislikes wearing them all the time but is overall fine with them. Despite being yellow, his teeth and nails are simply naturally colored like that. He actually pretty good at hygiene, he just.. tend to get really messy with his work.. and he tends to be so busy with said work, that he forgets to wash off, from time to time. He has top surgery scars shaped like two halves of a heart.

[mamadarama]

Kuro and Madara both seem like maine coons but Madara(and also Leo ) also give me calico vibes. Kuro also fits the norwegian forest cat.

Himeru is one of those freaky ass lanky oriental cats or a russian blue

Adonis is an egyptian mau or a siamese, Kaoru is an orange, Rei is a regular black cat but with weirdly shiny fur and Kouga is a cat who was raised by pitbulls and will not accept the reality that he’s not a pitbull

Keito is a regular european/domestic shorthair but with a weirdly green tint to it

I would say Mika is a khao manee due to the eyes but he is big eyed dark brown colored LaPerm( the specific image I have in mind is one of the pictures in The Cat Encyclopedia and I’m not even sure if it’s for that breed)

Tori is a munchkin

OK OKOK SO i actually already have breed hcs for everyone bc im so autistic abt cats i was gonna wait to talk abt them as i made the cat designs but progress is going really slow on those and now that someone is talking to me about it i cant make myself shut up . i agree with a lot of these !!! im just gonna go ahead and list all of my hcs though bc im insane (these are my somewhat realistic color hcs for what they would be if i didnt choose to make them all candy colored when i draw them lol)

(disclaimer: this is on appearance alone, not all these breeds and mutations are ethical, not all these colors actually appear in the breed stated or are combinations that dont exist, and some of these colors/breeds are extinct)

gonna put this under a readmore cuz its ...... a lot (i woulda added pics too but theres definitely way more than 10 cats here)

fine

eichi - ragdoll, cream point, important to note he is a purebred show cat

wataru - oriental longhair, blue bicolor harlequin

tori - munchkin/british shorthair, dilute calico

yuzuru - domestic shorthair (feral TNR), tuxedo, otter like coat texture

-------

trickstar

subaru - abyssinian, cinnamon

hokuto - american bobtail, black with blue undertones and low white

makoto - scottish fold, golden, non breed standard (longer face)

mao - ragamuffin, red with high white

-------

akatsuki

kuro - siberian, black smoke striped tabby

keito - domestic shorthair, brown mackerel tabby with low white

souma - japanese bobtail, brown broken mackerel tabby with high white

-------

eden

nagisa - maine coon, light gray sokoke tabby

hiyori - laperm, silver sunshine agouti with low white

ibara - chausie (feral), blue cream

jun - thai pisaat, black ticked tabby, kinked tail (pisaat characteristic)

-------

undead

rei - oriental longhair, black (looks brown in sunlight), long teeth (this isnt a mutation, some cats just have longer teeth than others— my design is inspired by mingus the panther, a black oriental shorthair that was popular on the internet for his huge fangs)

kaoru - turkish van, medium longhair, red chinchilla tabby/white

adonis - arabian mau, but with toyger coloration

koga - lykoi, dark gray/black roan, thinks hes a wolf due to being raised with dogs and the lykoi being known as the "werewolf cat"

-------

knights

leo - domestic shorthair, dense coat, medium white calico, long teeth

izumi - domestic shorthair, lilac striped tabby with low white

arashi - singapura, breed standard

ritsu - bombay, non breed standard (longer face) long teeth like rei but slightly shorter

tsukasa - ragamuffin, chocolate tabby with medium white, higher rufousing

-------

crazy:b

rinne - chausie, red grizzled tabby, high rufousing

niki - nebelung, non breed standard (shorter fur)

himeru - domestic shorthair, blue solid, small rounded ear mutation

kohaku - longhair american bobtail, sunshine lilac lynx point

-------

alkaloid

hiiro - chausie, red grizzled tabby (darker tabby than rinne), high rufousing

aira - ragdoll, cream point, non breed standard (shorter fur)

tatsumi - australian mist, silver spotted

mayoi - oriental siamese, seal tortie point, non breed standard (shorter face) edit: hes more of a balinese tbh

-------

rab*its

nazuna - somali, fawn, notably smaller than average

tomoya - domestic shorthair, fawn based caramel classic tabby

hajime - russian blue, breed standard

mitsuru - kurilian bobtail, chocolate solid

-------

valkyrie

shu - donskoy (brush), warm gray with white

mika - appears to be a kurilian bobtail, actually domestic longhair (medium), black heavy tortie, odd eyes and bobtail mutation (khao manee cats do have odd eyes, but can only be white. also mikas backstory lends itself to him being a randombred)

-------

2wink

theyre twins, so both are red classic tabby domestic shorthairs. theyre somewhat smaller than most cats .

-------

switch

natsume - domestic shorthair, red solid with minimal white

tsumugi - american wirehair, solid chocolate and white, non breed standard (longer fur)

sora - highlander, golden classic tabby with white, ringtail mutation

-------

ryuseitai

chiaki - havana brown, chocolate

kanata - turkish van, blue classic tabby/white

tetora - bengal/abyssinian, zorro mask charcoal bengal with high roufusing

shinobu - domestic shorthair, black/medium white spotted, somewhat short tail

midori - domestic (medium) longhair, fawn based caramel solid with white

-------

MaM and others

madara - maine coon, calico (my design for him is based off dawntreader texas calboy, a male calico maine coon that was the subject of controversy among cat show judges for being a genetic anomaly)

(madaras name actually means calico cat!! madara (斑) means spots and mikejima (三毛縞) means tricolored stripes, with "mike" often referring to calico and tortoiseshell cats. as a kid he also had the nickname "mikekun" in reference to his tendency to startle people by sneaking up on them silently like a cat)

anzu - british shorthair, chocolate tortie with medium white

jin - domestic (short) longhair (stray), dark gray, rough fur texture

akiomi - oriental longhair, fawn

kaname - british shorthair, blue solid, non breed standard (longer face)

[simplysedusa]

How I imagine the Rowdyruff Boys would dress

(credit to Pinterest for all the pictures)

(tw: drug symbolism)

Brick Keane

Brick's style is usually minimalistic and layered, with a bit of a 90's inspired vibe as seen in his love for flannels, denim jackets, and those Hawaiian shirts he seems to make look cool. Between the girls and his brothers, he sticks to his respective color the most, there's almost always a hint of red on him somewhere. Any kind of designs on his clothes are either very simple and small, or rather unique and/or retro. He doesn't do clothes with brand labels plastered on the front, Brick believes he's too cool to wear popular brands that everyone else likes. He likes his clothes loosely fitted, not too tight or too baggy. Any kind of devil imagery is a huge plus for him, as to remind the citizens/peers/classmates who his creator is. I'd like to think that When Brick was middle school aged, he had started collecting a bunch of Boston Red Sox hats in a variety of colors such as black, red, white, beige, or some combo of the aforementioned, completely unaware that they were affiliated with a sports team. Once he found out, he went with the lie that he was a fan and now he watches their games reluctantly so he doesn't look like a poser. He still rocks with his original plain red cap proudly though.

Boomer Keane

Boomer wouldn't admit it, and he probably doesn't know it, but a part of his style is a bit inspired by Brick's. Layered and simple at times, the key distinction between the two is coloring: lighter denim and brighter colors. Even the Hawaiian shirts are brighter in terms of theme and color as well. But usually, his style is rather athletic and preppy, like one of those boys in a fraternity, the ones who "had to do it to 'em". Unless it's snowing, there's a good chance you'll see Boomer in shorts (yes he's one of those). Boomer also has some rather random pieces of clothing such as an American flag hoodie (he thought it looked good on him, and tbh, what doesn't?), overalls, or pink baggy acid wash jeans (that Blossom, Bubbles, and surprisingly Buttercup all LOVE). I'd also like to think that subconsciously Boomer picks up clothes that have red, blue, and green in them as a way to convince himself that he fits in with his brother and is a part of the team. He's a whore for cardigans and letterman jackets as well.

Butch Keane

Somehow, Butch has managed to take punk grunge and enfuse the style with his love for athletic brands and clothes (with a bit of Brick's influence as well occasionally, that what happens when the leader of the group is constantly telling the other two that they can't dress) and combine the two. His fits have a tendency to be LOUD! Chaotic. And either very baggy or perfectly fitted as if it were tailored to him. His closet makes Buttercup's dress code violations look like a slap on the wrist; one of his favorite hoodies portrays a guy with green fingers chopping cocaine (as pictured below). Occasionally, he might dawn a shirt that might reference sex in some way (he definitely has a "This is a very serious text post with no hidden meaning" shirt or hoodie in his closet somewhere). Butch probably owns the most leathered clothes between him and his brothers, and he has no problem with that. He's also the most proactively dressed between the three brothers with his love for sleeveless shirts, crop tops, tight tanks, and ripped jeans that might expose most of his legs (he gotta show off the gains somehow). While his female counterpart outgrew her obsession for camo print, Butch has yet to. He also loves utility jackets and any kind of coat with fur (he isn't sure/doesn't care if it's real or not, but he lies to Bubbles every time she asks just to get her off his back).

[randomwriteronline]

The wind bit down on his biceps, on his throat, on each of his joints, slithering beneath his clothes as he struggled trudging through the thick snow obstructing his legs and his vision.

A piercing warble rippled through the blizzard, digging all the way into the very core of his brain: a splotch of color in the snow, a green shape amidst the blizzard, purple curls upon it, and above it, suspended in the air, a wide dented vermillion sickle that almost resembled a smile.

The lopsided crescent opened into a candid wound: another cry stabbed into his very heart.

He could recognize it now, as the winds picked up around him - a face, a face in the snow, white and bloodless behind that elated crimson grin, a pale face melting in the clouds cast overhead, a face, a face, a face...

His own face.

The Vermillion Bird descended upon him like a fury, green wings outstretched, and the man collapsed in the cold.

-

Their claws scratched at the mountain's sides while they coiled around them, grasping the rock tight: they rammed into one another and started fighting much like cubs do before they have yet learned to hunt, jaws open wide, throats a-rumbling, nails pulling fabric and hair without sinking into either.

Warm air wafted over them, and they pulled apart with an innocence to their expression that betrayed their faultless crime.

She furrowed her brows at them; serious expression lost again in a second, she pounced over them to make them squawk and hiss and slither away from her.

"Unfair!" cried the Southern Wind, ruffling green feathers.

"Unfair indeed!" nodded the Eastern Wind, blue scales shining in the sun: "A surprise attack is unfair indeed!"

"And what am I to say, for you've done the same to me before?" asked the Western Wind, orange fur still glistening from the morning dew. "Should I cry and tear my hair, like the both of you?"

"You are unfair, Eldest Sister!"

"Unfair! Unfair! Unfair!"

"Oh, cease your howling, Younger Twin! Eldest Brother doesn't need your rockus to find us!"

"Yes she does, yes she does!"

"She does indeed, Eldest Sister! How else is she to find us otherwise, when the Witch has taken her from us? Oh! Oh! Will she even find us here, upon the mountain? Oh, poor Eldest Brother! How is she ever to find us?"

"By following your booming thunder, Older Twin!"

The three turned sharply.

A young man struggled up the slope, hands all red from the strain of climbing cliffs; of his jacket one sleeve fit upon one arm, and in the same way the shirt beneath it was worn, so that half of his chest would be free; four holes dug into his neck, two on each side, barely hidden away by his necklace - and on his face charcoal lips opened in a toothy square smile under blacked out eyes.

The twins rushed upon him, almost striking him down; their sister lifted him into the air with her strong arms, as though the weight of the three of them amounted to nothing.

"Eldest Brother!" they all cried, teeth clacking around blue hair with curious relief, "Is it really you?"

"Of course it is," Adaman's body spoke with the voice of the Northern Wind: "Who else could it be, my siblings?"

"Oh joy! Oh joy!"

And all four bit each other gently for a while, as it had been centuries since they had last been allowed to be all together at once in one way or another.

At last the Northern Wind pulled her siblings off of herself, all four nestling down on the grass of Mount Coronet: "And so?" she grinned with her wide charcoal grin, "Why have you called us all here, Younger Twin? What is so important?"

The Southern Wind flapped his wings excitedly: "I saw it! I saw it! The Yellow Emperor is here!"

"The Emperor!" his siblings cried: "Are you certain? Where?"

"In the lands of ice! I saw it! I saw it! In human shape. White body. Black coat. Looks verrry much like us!"

"Us who?"

"Us two!"

"You and me?"

"Me and you!"

"Is that so, Eldest Brother?" the Western Wind asked softly, turning her eyes onto Adaman's. "Did it look like that?"

The Northern Wind hummed thoughtfully: "It's been ages since I last saw it, Eldest Sister" she said slowly, "I do not remember its appearance clearly, nor if it ever molded itself in human shape like us. But I do remember the black and white, and it would make sense forit to bear a resemblance between us. What else did you see?"

"Nothing! The humans got it. The humans have it. But the Vessel of Erosion is with them. It will not be bound! We will not lose it again."

"The Vessel of Ignition is one of them, too," the Eastern Wind remembered suddenly: "When apart from the sea, she lives in the lands of ice. We will have our eyes upon them! We shall keep watch over it and ensure it is not bound."

A powerful wind picked up, winding all around them until it was almost a tornado.

"Alas!" they all cried: "The witch has found us! Our time is gone!"

The four winds scattered, claws reaching out one last time to hold onto each other for just a moment more before their own domain sent them away, away, far away.

Adaman seized.

He fell to his knees and hands onto the ground as a horrid cough wrecked his chest and throat, spitting black mud from his eyes and mouth and nose and neck; he puked the possession in long painful hacks, tensing each muscle of his body to squeeze every last drop of that rotting sweet taste from himself until he could once again breathe through clean lungs, until at last it was all gone, and he could collapse for his brother to find - exhausted, barely awake, in a pool of nauseatingly odorous blooms.

[stromuprisahat]

Genya was mentioned wearing slippers at least twice('…she looked down at her (satin?) slippers'; '…mud-splattered slippers') while the other characters like Tatiana and Alina wear boots. It would be interesting if Tatiana purposefully only gave Genya indoor slippers so she was stuck at the Grand Palace all the time. Like even if she was allowed to go to the Little Palace it's very hard for her to do it because she literally doesn't have the tools to be among her own kin. It would really highlight Tatiana's isolation and abuse of Genya.

While interesting concept, I think it's more about Genya's position of palace servant, than specific intentions regarding her person.

You don't need boots inside the Palace, and Genya's place is in Queen's service. She's even supposed to sleep in Grand Palace.

(Besides, I don't think Tatiana considers Grisha a community. I don't think she really thinks about them at all, unless they're in front of her salad.)

The Queen does have a party to attend that night. After I’ve changed my mud-spattered slippers and rid myself of the scent of the stables, I find her seated at her dressing table, a maid tending to her hair. ... When I bend to adjust the bows on her [the Queen's] slippers, she absently rests a hand on my shoulder—almost a caress, or maybe a scratch behind the ears. ... I wash my face, take down my hair, toe off my satin slippers so that I can feel the grooves of the cool wood floor beneath my feet.

The Tailor

So we know Tatiana is wearing slippers too. But so is Alina:

I threw off the heavy covers and slid my feet into the little fur-lined slippers set out by the bed. ... In the other boxes on my bed, we found golden silk slippers, glittering jet and gold earrings, and a thick fur muff. ... She examined the toes of her satin slippers.

Shadow and Bone- Chapters 8 & 14

Those are two occasions. Once when she's in her own room, once when she's preparing for the Winter Fete- celebration held inside the Palace. Otherwise she's wearing boots:

In a few moments, I was dressed in a clean tunic and trousers, soft leather boots, and a gray coat. With disappointment, I realized it was just a clean version of my army uniform.  ... When I opened the door, a servant was waiting with a stack of clothing, a pair of boots, and a dark blue kefta draped over her arm. ... But to call them boots didn’t seem right. I’d owned boots. These were something else entirely, made of the softest black leather and fitted perfectly to my calves.

Shadow and Bone- Chapters 6 & 8

Second Army has high-quality boots for every day, but boots nevertheless. Shoes to work and fight in.

Once more we see Alina in slippers:

If it had been winter, I would have been wearing boots, but I was in summer slippers and his fingers closed over my bare leg. 

Siege and Storm- Chapter 11

... when she's on Nikolai's election campaign, therefore in representative clothes, not battle-ready. Or running-ready.

And once more Genya- on the ship in second book she has true SA uniform:

She sighed and studied the toes of her boots. “I missed you,” she said.

Siege and Storm- Chapter 2

Which could mean she got them only once out of the Queen's influence, but also once she's out in the field.

There's also a mention of spring slippers Alina wore in the orphanage, so I assume those are ordinary light shoes for when you don't need to protect your feet too much.

Or when you're supposed to flaunt the fact you're not in need of solid footwear, either as a rich person, or their household servant (Genya, or even Grisha being showed-off once a year).

It's like making those in your service wear white adorned with gold. It shows you can afford to dress them that way, and they have it better than some ordinary peasants or no need to wear practical stuff (so it's a job to kill for).

[thisrobinisred]

Technically two chapters in and I still don’t know exactly what I’m doing lmao- I finally decided to make Childe be Gleb but I’m going down a platonic route instead of the original

I haven’t even figured out who I’m going to choose to be Lilly as none of the people I ship venti with have the same personality as her- But enough about that! Also Kaeya and Albedo will actually interact next chapter-

Warnings: Could be ooc, might not make sense at times, follows the plot of Anastasia the musical (hence the use of dialogue and lyrics from it), a few mentions of death I think this is all I need to note?

Words: 3762

Chapter 1 - A Rumor in Snezhnaya

The Neva Flows

A New Wind Blows

And soon it will be spring

Khaenri’ah? - 1927

Making his way through the crowd, the man shifted the flat-cap that was resting on his head. He had dark skin and long, blue hair that was pulled into a ponytail, draped over his shoulder. Majority of the people, that he was swerving in between, were cheering; their pride and joy present in the tone of their voices. Muttering to himself, the man came to a halt when the crowds became thicker. Amidst the sea of people, a single raised podium peered out of the mix of heads and hats. Proudly displayed on front of the podium was a banner with the revolution’s insignia stitched into it; just the sight was enough to repulse him.

Only a few minutes later did a man appear on the podium, holding his head up; prompting the audience to go completely silent, only coughs and slight shuffles could be heard. Just like the other fatui members, he was wearing a large, white and black coat lined with fur. His fiery ginger hair stood out amongst the monotone backdrops of the city, and country for that matter. If the man recalled correctly, then this would make this fatuus Childe, the eleventh of the fatui harbingers (who now governed this horrendous nation). Before speaking, Childe cleared his throat, a serious expression - that didn’t quite fit his face - present. His lips were drawn into a straight line and his eyebrows were furrowed - not a single speck of light seemed to reflect or shine in his eyes.

“We hear you Comrades! The Revolution hears you!” his voice boomed over the crowded plaza, his young age present in his voice.

“Yes our way is long, and the journey will be hard. After all, the chains of the Kreideprinz were heavy.” 

The blue-haired man muttered something under his breath, pulling his flat cap lower. Despite his displeasure at listening to this speech, he made no attempt to move away.

THUD!

Childe slammed his fist against the top of the podium, catching quite a few people off-guard.

“For three long centuries we were bound and entangled in them! Forced to watch them take but never give back! However-!”

“We have broken them!” An animalistic grin breaking out onto his face, it seemed almost unnatural - it made him look crazed. Almost as if planned,  the crowd erupted into applauses and colourful cries. 

From where he stood in the crowd, the man grimaced.

Psychopaths. the lot of them. If this is who’s in control, then, Archons save us.

Leaving no delay, the fatui harbinger continued on with his speech.

“Together, as one, We will forge a new Nation! A fair and compassionate Nation, one that will be the envy of the world!” He was clearly passionate about his cause, continuously making gestures with his hands and arms.

“That is the promise we have made, comrade to comrade.”

“The Kreideprinz’s Khaenri’ah, is now the people’s…”

“Snezhnaya!” Childe proudly exclaimed, his grin still spread from ear to ear.

Taking one last look at the overly happy “Snezhnayans”, the blue-haired man stormed past numerous people: some seemingly mortified, still scarred by what’s now “Snezhnaya’s” history. Making his way through the alleyways and back routes that had been ingrained in his head since a young age, the man began to complain out loud - for all who wanted to hear.

“They can call it Snezhnaya but it will always be Khaenri’ah! New name, same old empty stomachs!” 

His eyes were narrowed; furrowed eyebrows pushing them down slightly further than they already were. He had lowered his pace, yet that didn’t make a difference considering he was walking with long strides. A variety of people threw all sorts of looks at him - ranging from fear, anger and confusion. He decided it would be best to keep his rants for himself, in the safety of his mind. Countless times the fatui had told them that a brighter day would be dawning and that it was, apparently, at hand. Just the thought made him roll his eyes. It was ironic, most days the only weather they received was snow, rain or just miles of raging, grey clouds. If he had any actual faith in the gods, he might’ve even said that it was a punishment from Celestia itself. Much like the last few times he walked these paths, he noticed more houses and tents empty unlike the other days. Quite often it would be those who openly spoke out or resisted the revolution’s changes. After all… 

He who argues disappears.

Mumbling and muttering some more to himself, the man stumbled out onto one of the many overcrowded streets. 

“Hail our brave new land!” A group of bystanders cheered, causing a chorus of people to follow suit, whether it was out of commitment or fear was yet to be decided. In a mocking tone, he joined in their chants and exclamations; to be honest, he held no respect towards thier new leaders - or the revolution. 

People were claiming that Snezhnaya was a nation on the rise, one that was flourishing; he would have to disagree considering the countless people still living in poverty and famine.

“It’s really very friendly!” And that was only if you didn’t mind the spies.

He often overheard people claiming that they were “good and loyal” comrades. It also seemed that suddenly everyone’s favourite colour was red. In the grand scheme of things, their entire situation was gravely underestimated when the people first revolted. Somehow, majority assumed that everything would be better without proper leaders or any important figures. Even ten years later, the economy was still in shambles. It no longer surprised him whenever he heard stories about two dozen or so strangers all having to be crammed into two small rooms. The damned fatui still had the nerves to turn a complete blind eye towards it.

“Everyone will now be seen as equals!” Yeah- as if.

Unfortunately, this appeared to be the apparent price “Snezhnayan’s” would have to pay for their glorious revolution. One thing that nearly every citizen agreed upon, and were thankful for, was the gossip that would spread around their pitiful city. Even as the blue-haired man headed towards his desired location, he couldn’t help but listen in to the many conversations people were immersed in.

“Have you heard?”

“There’s a new rumour going round the *whole* of Snezhnaya!”

“You couldn’t possibly not at least have heard parts of it.”

“You do know what people are saying on the street?”

“Well…”

“Although the King did not survive, one son may be still alive.”

He nearly stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening slightly. He *needed* to know more.

“The Prince Albedo. But please do not repeat-!”

A slight smile creeped onto his face whilst he continued to keep his head down low. Making his way through the other streets, he kept finding out more and more about the rumours concerning the supposedly late Prince Albedo.

“They say her royal grandmama will pay a royal sum to someone who can bring the prince back!”

That was when he got an idea, one that he didn’t realise would completely change his life. Rushing down the street, he quickly barged into the small building; gathering his thoughts for just a moment.

Only a seconds later someone else barged inside, a shorter man with dark, blueish-green hair that was pulled into two short braids at the front. He seemed dishevelled (the first thing that was unusual about him today) and a horror-stricken expression had been painted onto his face (and that was the second thing that seemed unusual about him today). Before he could ask what was wrong, the other man cut him off.

“Kaeya!” He half shrieked and shouted, “They’ve closed another border! We should’ve gotten out of Snezhnaya whilst we still could!”. He had placed his hands on Kaeya’s shoulders, shaking him as if that would help get his point across. Once more Kaeya’s eyes narrowed as he began to fiddle with the end of his ponytail. Inhaling and exhaling slowly, he calmed himself down - putting his usual fake smirk on. Kaeya’s know-it-all smile was often used as a defence; it would often be fake, a way of faking confidence, a way of pretending he had it all under control. The shorter man continued to pace around the small room, his hat threatening to slip off of his head.

“Khaenri’ah was lovely whilst royalty was in!” He stated, which was something that the two of them knew very well.

“I called myself a count, as though I’d always been! I hobnobbed with the royals,” he continued to recall whilst his lips tugged upwards ever so slightly, clearly reminiscing about years that had passed. Within a matter of seconds it changed into a frown.

“But then a change of luck-! The king is dead, the royals fled and comrade now we’re stuck!”

The man had turned to face Kaeya whilst he said that, once again shaking him by his shoulders. Debating it in his head once more, Kaeya realised that his idea might actually be their one way out of this hell-hole.

“Venti,” Kaeya spoke, a grin dawning on his face. Venti had loosened his grip on Kaeya’s shoulders, allowing his arms to drop by his sides. One of Venti’s eyebrows raised whilst he waited for Kaeya to continue speaking.

“I’ve been thinking about the prince Albedo.” Kaeya announced, his confidence not wavering in the slightest. Almost immediately, Venti’s face practically dropped.

“Not you too, Kaeya!” He groaned, Venti covered his face with his hands - already sick of hearing the constant whispers of a prince who was meant to be dead. Slouching slightly, Kaeya placed a hand on Venti’s back, his other hand making gestures as he began to sell his plan to the (no-longer) Count - Venti.

“Sure, it’s a rumour, purely a mystery, but-! It’s the Prince Albedo who will help us fly!” Kaeya proclaimed, a grin had spread right across his face. Venti started to catch onto what Kaeya was suggesting; his eyes widening slightly for a few seconds. Kaeya picked a red scarf up from the table in the corner of the room and begun wrapping it around his neck, even whilst doing this he didn’t stop speaking.

“You and I, friend,” Kaeya exclaimed as he quickly shot his arm out and pointed at Venti.

“Will go down, in history!” Kaeya claimed, flinging both of his arms up in the air, a genuine smile on his face. He pulled the door open and gestured for venti to go through, giving him a dramatic small bow as Venti passed by. Venti’s lips were curled into a small, yet smug, smile. Side-by-side, the two of them walked down the overly-packed streets of the city. In an attempt to keep up with the taller man, Venti had to do a sort of jog. The wind whistled in his ears, which was a surprisingly calming sound amidst the chaos of the always-awake city. Venti’s gaze flickered over to his friend, who (to nobody’s surprise) was still rambling.

“We’ll find a boy to the play the part and teach him what to say, dress him up! And take him to Fontaine.” He over-exaggerated a fake accent on the last word. His head was tilted slightly as he turned it to look at Venti, who greeted him with a grin.

“Imagine the reward his old grandmama would pay!” Venti exclaimed, clearly onboard with the idea now. 

“Who else could pull it off but you and me!” The two exclaimed as they linked arms.

The two men passed the now mainly empty plaza, only the likes of Childe and a few stragglers were left there. They walked off into the distance, disappearing into the haze created by the swirling snow.

Near the podium at the centre of the small plaza, a man (most likely around Kaeya’s age) had a broom in his hand. He had a long, brown coat on and a hat that loosely fit his head. His skin was as pale as chalk, making his ashy-blonde hair stand out. It was kind of long, just going past his shoulders, with a single short braid in it. Brushing the street clear of snow and other debris - he was making an attempt at keeping his head down.

BANG!

“NO!” He shrieked as he collapsed on the floor, bringing his hands up to his head and covering his ears. His broom clattered somewhere near him. Somebody was approaching him, he could tell this from the soft crunches in the snow.

“It was a truck backfiring comrade, that’s all it was.” Childe spoke to the man curled up on the cobbled floor. He lifted his head up to look at him, moving his hands from his ears. Very slowly, he pushed himself up onto his knees, still not saying a single word. Childe had bent down and picked up the stray broom before walking over to him.

“Those days are over, neighbour against neighbour.” He claimed in an almost monotone voice, one that didn’t exactly sound reassuring. Childe hooked his arm under the man’s and pulled him up.

“You have nothing to be afraid of.”

It was quite ironic, considering the man could barely stand with his legs threatening to collapse under him any second. Childe’s hand lingered on the man’s arm for a few moments more, his eyes narrowing. Was it concern? Or was it just pity? He retracted his hand, looking over the details of the man’s appearance and expression. He looked…on edge, to say the least.

“You’re shaking….” He spoke despite it being an obvious fact to both of them. The man’s eyes flickered everywhere, skittering even, refusing to look at Childe directly. Quite ironically, the over-confident fatui harbinger began to stumble over his own words.

“….There’s a tea shop just steps from here-“ 

“Thank you-!” The man shouted as he attempted to snatch the broom from him. The sudden outburst nearly caused Childe to jump, prompting a raised eyebrow from him.

“What’s your hurry?” Childe questioned the man, refusing to let go of the broom.

“I can’t lose this job, they’re not easy to come by.” He quickly explained in hopes of being allowed to go. Throughout the entire exchange he had kept his eyes towards the floor, making him seem scared of everything. Childe loosened his grip on the handle, he was still unable to figure this man out. He seemed familiar, almost like a memory he never really knew - he shook the thought off whilst he watched the man walk away. Both of the man’s knuckles were turning white due to how tight his grip was. Just as he was about to turn the corner, down another street, the man turned his head around. It was then that Childe noticed his bright blue eyes, well, they weren’t quite blue but they weren’t exactly green either. Whatever colour they were, they were astonishingly bright; they surely didn’t fit the bleak landscape of this once-glorious nation.

“Thank you.” The man managed to say, still not offering up a smile. Before Childe could say anything, he had disappeared into the blur of grey and brown coats and hats.

“I- I’m here everyday!” Childe shouted, gesturing at the podium despite the man being long gone now. He felt his cheeks heat up slightly, feeling like a complete fool. Unsurprisingly, this wasn’t the first time he had managed to embarrass himself whilst on the job.

Somewhere on the opposite side of the city, Kaeya and Venti could be found perusing through one of the many less… favourable markets on the outskirts of the city. It was a wonder that the fatui hadn’t intervened with these practices at all during the past ten years. Occasionally they would stop to look at what merchants (although thieves would probably be a better way of describing them though) were offering. Even ten years on since that blood-filled night, people still somehow managed to find items that belonged to the likes of counts, countesses and even the Kreideprinz’s to sell off. One man was attempting to sell a count’s pyjamas whilst another was trying to sell a painting that he swore was Kreideprinz. Stood in the centre of the market, another one of these thieves was selling their wares. His hand was held up high, clasped in it was a small metal trinket of sorts.

“I found this in a palace, initialled with an A!” He announced, a smug smile already settled onto his grime covered face. 

“It could be Albedo’s! Now what will someone pay?”

Kaeya dropped down low as he skimmed shelves, every now and then swerving through the crowds or stepping over clutters of stolen trinkets.

“We need something of his to show the old lady…” Kaeya thought out loud, carefully examining items that were on offer. Venti looked at him from the corner of his eyes, one eyebrow was raised.

“There’s more to being Albedo than wearing a tiara, Kaeya.” He spat out, most likely irritated from how long this whole ordeal was taking. Kaeya had turned away from him, already moving onto the next merchant.

“Not much. Look how many people you fooled.” Kaeya countered causing Venti’s mouth to open and quickly close again. Just to add salt to the wound, he hadn’t even bothered to look at him whilst saying that. Kaeya’s eyes landed on the man in the centre.

“How much is that music box?” He inquired as he approached the man, who pulled the lump of finely decorated metal closer to his chest.

“Ah! The music box! It’s genuine Kreideprinz, I could never part with it!” He declared, the tone of his voice suggesting that he was putting on a play. Reaching into the satchel that hung over his shoulder, Kaeya pulled something out with a smirk on his face.

“Two cans of beans, comrade?” Kaeya offered as he held out the cans. The man looked at the music box and then to the cans and then back to the music box.

“Done.” He accepted, the two men proceeded to exchange items.

Venti and Kaeya began heading in the opposite direction of the markets, done with their business for the day. Kaeya was meticulously inspecting the metal music box, noting all the trimmings, its curves and the places where old paint had begun to flake off. Both of them still had a grin on their faces. 

“Do you believe in fairytales, Venti?” Kaeya asked whilst he held the music box in front of his only visible eye. Venti closed his eyes - the smile still present.

“Once upon a time, I did.” He answered, shoving his hands into the small pockets of his coat. Quickly turning his body around, Kaeya was directly facing Venti once more, his eyes shining brightly with something that Venti could only assume was determination.

“We’re going to create a fairytale the whole world will believe!” Kaeya exclaimed before moving next to venti again. He firmly patted Venti on the back causing the other man to cough slightly; not that Kaeya noticed anyways.

“Now it’s risky, but not more than usual.” He spoke out loud what they were both thinking. Whilst talking, Kaeya had picked up his pace, prompting Venti to walk quickly as well.

“We’ll need tickets, we’ll need papers, we’ll need nerves of steel!” 

With every word Kaeya said, Venti nodded. The two men had reached the plaza once again, this time it was bustling with energy; it was quite funny how much difference an hour could make.

“Yes it’s risky, *a lot* more than usual!” Venti laughed, placing a hand on the back of Kaeya’s shoulder. His eyes now also shared that same light of determination as Kaeya’s - backing out of this wasn’t an option for either of them now.

“We’ll try to cross the border with our princes and our plot,” Kaeya spoke up, throwing what was - presumably - a wink towards Venti (however it was almost impossible to tell due to one of his eyes being covered by an eyepatch and a curtain of blue hair).

“Hopefully disaster won’t ensue,” Venti mumbled, slightly scratching the back of his head, a sheepish grin on his face.

“With luck it will all go smoothly,” Kaeya nodded whilst he shoved the music box into his satchel.

“And with luck we won’t be shot!” Venti laughed once more, constantly switching between confidence and a lightly more cautious mind. Kaeya shrugged before laughing himself.

“Who else could pull it off but me and you?” They both stated as if it was a matter of fact.

“We’ll be rich!” Kaeya exclaimed as he patted Venti’s shoulder.

“We’ll be rich!” Venti repeated whilst he returned the gesture. Both of their grins reached both of their ears, something they noticed as they turned to face each other.

“We’ll be out!”

“We’ll be out!!”

The idea of getting out of this god forsaken nation caused Venti to feel a sort of calming sensation. Just the thought of the taste of freedom possibly being so near them made him want to smile even more.

“And Snezhnaya will have some more to talk about!” The two men declared, shaking hands. 

As the two men laughed, the plaza around them was alive with waves of whispers and excited murmurs.

“I heard it from a person who assured me it was absolutely true!”

“Have you heard? There’s a rumour in Snezhnaya,”

“Have you heard? Comrade what do you suppose?”

“A fascinating Mystery!” Venti commented, placing his hands on his hips, a smug look appearing on his face.

“The biggest con in history!” Kaeya proclaimed as he flung his arms up in the air; what appeared to be genuine joy showing on his face.

“The Prince Albedo!

  Alive?

  Or Dead?”

“Who knows!?”

Majority of the crowd dispersed after they noticed a familiar red-head appearing on the podium once more.

Kaeya and Venti shared a knowing look, both raising a singular finger to their lips. The taller one had began to snigger with Venti soon following suit.

“I’m assuming you will be able to sort out the other needed part of  our plan?” Kaeya asked whilst the two began walking away, their day starting to become a distant memory.

“Just trust me, I have my ways *and* connections.” Venti answered, nudging him with his elbow. Kaeya simply chuckled in response whilst he took his flat-cap off.

Previous - Next

[marv3l-drag0ns]

Technoblade cosplay planning (top secret) (my eyes only) (unless you wanna talk to me about it :eyes:)

Ok so im the biggest pignoblade supporter but thats gonna be technically hard and ill need to make a mask. Previous plans involve modifying a dinomask ala skulldog fursuit to make a boar skull and then have longer pink mane around it. merit!

However i already have tusks and i kinda wanna do a long hair wig for him so i might cave and do human techno. choices.

I want to give him a thigh chainmail (drawing to follow) because i think that sounds awesome. I also need to see if I can find calf high brown or black boots that actually fit my calf so. ill probably have to order them full price. sad. but i can make the chainmail! glad :D (new skill tree to pursue)

I'm probably also going to delve into making a cow-lion-boar combination tail (i have drawings with what i want, itll probably be thin felt a little stuffing around a wire core with a tuft of fur (maybe brushed yarn?) at the end to make it fluffy)

AND THEN THE BEST PART THE ONE IVE BEEN COLELCTING PARTS FOR!!!!!!!! I have this awesome red coat that i actually. cannot find who made it. but its so awesome and i want to use it for the techno cosplay, with either a rabbit fur ruff (white fur) or with the sheepskin scraps i got at the rummage sale a month ago. HOWEVER. new idea emerged recently.

I saw. a GORGEOUS. half cloak with a very full and fluffy pure white fur ruff (however i think it was fox fur which ive heard is a) more expensive and b) often fur farmed?) at the ren faire it was such a gorgeous deep wine color and the fur was so flufy AND!!!! it had cloak clasps that were golden chain and had blue crystals in the pin part and i immediately thought ''oh eyes of ender for sure!'' !!!!!!!!! and i also recently saw a tiktok from a shop advertising a longer red cloak that had a super cool pattern and way of securing it but thats also really expensive so i might have to learn how to make a combination of all three by myself (i love diy and im also not rich enough to get this).

Also the eye of ender amulet i painted would be really good, and i want to search for a dangly green jewel earing as well as some other ones either to put in the techno ears id have to make (this is seriously going to be the cosplay i learn to make fursuit gear lmao) or decide which ones to put in my ears (so also potentially clip on earrings since i only have the lobes).

was there anything else.... OH PROP MAKING i cant decide on what prop i want to make so we'll see what happens.

but yeah!!!!! im super excited and theres so many cool skills for me to learn and also a really fun cosplay ive been wanting to do for 2-3 years iirc. so we'll see!

[royalberryarts]

The Child of Knowledge

A one-shot of @bluest-planet and my own OCs meeting; Yoruhua, an ancient being of darkness, is on the run from the warriors of light after having helped Vanitas. Upon arriving in Arendelle, they happen upon two children— one of which, they realise, is not so different from them.

Sneek Preview:

The familiar crunch of snow accompanied the white and blue horizon as Yoruhua made her way outside of the cave. It was Vanitas' turn to rest while she scouted ahead. What she didn't anticipate, however, was the scent that wafted amidst the smell of pine and ice.

It was similar to Vanitas', but there was something else. The bitterness was the same, the anger… but there was joy, love and warmth that the boy had lacked. Yet, Yoruhua could tell— Their darkness is strong, potent… and unnaturally prominent.

And that wasn't all. There was something else in the air, a general sensation of something off. Not quite wrong, but it was strange and it certainly wasn't right. It was against nature, all that contradicted his own understanding of the heart, soul, mind and body. This one was… Peculiar, new, weird. She couldn't shake the urge to investigate, and investigate is exactly what she did.

★★★

Zorya pushed herself forward. She had heard tell of a disturbance from the warriors of light and seeing how she was in the area already, she'd may as well search the surrounding worlds for this "dark disturbance".

"Slow down…" Yoru chimed behind her. The boy, curled up layers of warm coats and furs, shivered from the cold. Meanwhile, Zorya was in her element. She didn't feel the chill as much as her friend did, and even when she did, there wasn't much she had to do in order to warm herself.

Without glancing back, Zorya slowed her pace. "Sorry. I was just thinking."

"About what everyone told us?" Yoru asked, tilting his head amidst the pile of clothes that made him look more like a walking pillow.

"Yeah… They said Ventus could feel Vanitas again, even after he had been killed in the Keyblade Graveyard. And then Terra and Riku were attacked by something." Zorya tried to recall what she had heard, but it was only vague. She still didn't know much either besides what Yen Sid had informed the two of— or more specifically, informed Lorena of, who then passed it onto the two of them.

"Does this mean Vanitas is back?" Yoru asked, though he didn't know all that much about this Vanitas fellow to begin with. "Can't we just reason with him? It's not like Xehanort is still here."

Zorya hummed in thought. No, she thought, he's not. But his scars and the fear he instilled likely remain. It's hard to forget how to stop fighting after you've been made to for so long.

The girl shook her head. Speculation was pointless right now, all that mattered was checking the facts and making sure the world wasn't in any danger.

"Who knows. We'll have to find out when we find him, or if we do." Zorya spoke calmly despite the irritation in the back of her mind. She didn't like how Vanitas and Xehanort reminded her of herself and… him; the man who raised her. Perhaps it would be better to not find him at all, or maybe it would be better to find him later, once he's had time to consider his situation and himself.

★★★

Yoruhua recalled stories of that city. It was a place of ancient research and wisdom; Clades Lunae, the city of knowledge. It was there, he recalled, that educated men once sought to understand the light and darkness of the world, yet always fell short. They were simply people who watched, curious, as her own siblings existed beyond their sight and reach. But he had heard stories. And it was those stories that came to mind as they looked down at the two figures that walked through the snow— that girl in particular.

Ginger hair cropped to her shoulders, tied back by a black ribbon. Her clothes weren't fitted for the cold; a sleeveless shirt, long pants and simple boots, though the bandages on her left arm and right shoulder may have deterred some of the chill, though likely not much. Her skin was fair and pale, freckled and scarred; a burn curving down her left cheek from under her eye to her chin. What stood out the most were her eyes; an eerie pale blue that instantly reminded Yoruhua of the moon that bore all life; dark or light. Yet, they thought, a brow furrowing in confusion, their scent is undeniably human. They are not a being of light or dark, a naturally born human, and yet…

[Read the rest on Ao3]

[tummymoth]

Of (Tattoo) Guns N' Roses (2)

Chapter 2: Black Leather (read on Ao3 here)

Chapter Summary: Xie Lian has embraced the idea of living with Ruoye wholeheartedly. On his way home he stumbles upon another animal (again). He contacts the owner hoping to find them.

Additional Info: Florist! Xie Lian x Tattoo Artist!Hua Cheng, roommate!Mu Qing, personal trainer!Feng Xin, some FengQing as a treat for us, strong language, meet-cute

A/N: The fated encounter is upon us ψ(｀∇´)ψ

Word Count: 4,922

<Previous Next>

Rock ballads gently sounded from the CD player sitting on the windowsill as Xie Lian closed up shop for the day. Over the past couple of days, he had—thankfully—managed to clear out most of the clutter that had accumulated over the week, wilted leaves and all, and was sweeping up stray flower cuttings in the back room. Ruoye observed patiently from where he sat on his perch as his owner tidied up, blue eyes unblinking. 

He had been coming to work with Xie Lian for several days now and was seemingly unwilling to let him leave the apartment without him. The florist had tried to leave him at home with a sweater he wore often—maybe then, Ruoye would’ve at least had something that smelled like him, and he wouldn’t be too anxious without him around.

 An ired call from Mu Qing last week complaining about incessant yowling quickly proved that to be an unsuccessful idea. 

“If this keeps up, that thing’s going to develop serious issues in the head,” he had insisted, much to the florist’s chagrin. “I’m going to start developing serious issues in my head.”

“Ruoye has been chatty ever since I found him. Maybe that’s just how he is…?” It was a feeble argument, but it was all Xie Lian had.

 A noise of frustration could be heard from the other side of the line. Xie Lian could almost picture Mu Qing pinching the bridge of his nose while he tried to formulate a response that wasn’t too harsh. He tended to be quick to anger, but he always made it a point to not say anything offensive—unless it came to Feng Xin, of course.

“Xie Lian, there’s a difference between being chatty and yelling his head off.”

“Is there any way you could keep him calm until I get home?” the florist meekly requested. “I’m really sorry he’s causing a fuss on your day off.” 

“He won’t let me—” a distant yowl was heard in the background, followed by an aggravated sigh. “He won’t let me within five feet of him before he starts spitting. And as tempting as it is to be cut to ribbons by a cat mid-meltdown, I value my arms, thank you very much.” 

And so, both men had reached the understanding that Ruoye would accompany Xie Lian to work—if only to preserve the collective sanity of both cat and roommate. 

Once Xie Lian had locked the back door, he grabbed his sweater off of the coat rack along with Ruoye’s leash and harness. 

“Ruoye, come!” The delicate sound of metal against metal rang out as he shook the harness. It didn’t take long for him to hear the dull thump! of paws landing on hardwood. Ruoye’s tail hung loosely in the air, long white fur bouncing with each step as he padded his way toward Xie Lian. 

Once he knelt and set the harness down on the floor, Ruoye sat down beside it and let the florist slide it over his back. After a few seconds of fiddling with the straps to ensure it was a snug fit, Xie Lian rewarded him with a treat—Ruoye was especially fond of the dehydrated pieces of chicken he had picked up from the pet store. Oddly enough, the cat didn’t mind the feeling of a harness secured around his body. Positive reinforcement probably didn’t hurt, but once it had been established that the mass of grey fabric didn’t pose an immediate threat, Ruoye had taken quite a liking to it. 

“Okay, now shake?”

Ruoye blinked at the hand extended toward him, not making any signs of movement. 

Laughing despite himself, Xie Lian gestured at the cat’s front paws. “C’mon, just like we practiced this morning, little one. You need to give me one of them.” 

It took a couple more seconds and instances of tapping the floor to get the message through, but he was rewarded for his patience with a small paw gently swatting at his right palm. Claws retracted, of course.

“Good boy,” he praised, smiling and letting him eat a treat from his other hand. He extended his right hand again, just for good measure. “One more time?” 

Ruoye made a couple of tentative motions in the air—almost swiping at nothing—before he gingerly placed his paw in Xie Lian’s hand. He smiled when he saw that Ruoye’s eyes never left his face. He was quicker this time. That was good.

“You learn fast,” he mused proudly as he gave Ruoye another scratch behind the ears. He hoisted himself up and, with leash in hand, made his way toward the door. “Come, time to go home.”

The door swung shut behind them, and Xie Lian locked it. Both cat and florist stepped out into an evening buzzing with the energy of a city’s nightlife gradually beginning. Most traditional businesses had already started closing their doors for the day, save for restaurants and a few miscellaneous stores. Cars whizzed past him as he made his way down the sidewalk, Ruoye trekking slightly ahead of him.

The cat wasn’t fond of loud noises, and cars were no exception. It had taken a few days of just walking together outside to get him acclimated enough to the point where he wasn’t shaking and pressing himself against Xie Lian’s legs with every step they took. For the most part, he had grown used to the steady growl of car engines driving past. Looking at him now, Ruoye seemed almost relaxed.

whHIRRR! 

Ruoye immediately shrank into himself. With flat ears and fur standing on end, he pressed himself against the sidewalk as best as he could while a delivery truck thundered down the city street. Xie Lian could hardly blame him for being so startled, the noise was enough to make his teeth chatter inside his skull. 

He knelt beside the cat once the truck had passed and gingerly laid a hand on his head to soothe him. Aside from the tremors vibrating through him from head to toe, Ruoye was frozen in fear. Bystanders could almost mistake him for a puff of white fluff. He gently smoothed his fur down and tried to wriggle a hand under his belly to pick him up, but the poor thing was adamant about staying low to the ground. It was about five minutes before Ruoye decided to stop digging his claws into the concrete and allowed Xie Lian to lift him into his arms. 

With the cat firmly pressed against his chest and cradled in his arms, he could feel the constant twitching of overly tensed muscles. He about calming him down as best as he could with hushed reassurances and pets along his body. It wasn’t hard to walk home while carrying Ruoye by any means, but they had made so much progress with him walking with the harness, he didn’t want all of their hard work and practice to go to waste.  

Eventually, the traffic died down enough that Ruoye wasn’t digging his claws into Xie Lian’s shirt (and skin) out of panic every time a car drove past. He was still unwilling to be put down, but Xie Lian figured that some progress was better than none at all. They would just have to work on walking again tomorrow, and he was okay with that. Maybe once he was able to give Ruoye some basic training, he could slowly start to build his tolerance against being left home for small amounts of time. Just for Mu Qing’s sake, in case Xie Lian had to be away and couldn’t take Ruoye with him.

The sun had finally sunk below the horizon when Xie Lian spotted movement from the corner of his eye. He didn’t think much of it. Streetlights cast weird-looking shadows on the pavement all the time, and there were always people bustling about at this hour. That is, until he heard the mad scampering of legs and saw that a mass of darkness was rapidly headed his way. He whipped around to face it, unsure of what to even expect, when—

What felt like pure muscle hurtled into his legs and effectively knocked them out from under him. His arms splayed out as he tried to find something, anything, to hold onto and break his fall. He was unable to keep carrying Ruoye and could only hope that he would land on his feet while Xie Lian landed flat on his rear. Before he could do or say anything to react, he felt the onslaught of a slobbery tongue on his face and sputtered at the unsavory feeling of the wet muscle on his skin. 

This definitely wasn’t one of the stray cats he usually came across.

The shock was enough for him to regain his bearings, so he pushed his arms out in hopes of making the furry assailant back off. Undeterred, the dog continued to surge forward and lick his face, whining loudly all the while. It had two paws firmly planted against his chest, and the enthusiastic creature somehow managed to concentrate all of its weight onto those two points. 

Amid of this attack, he distantly wondered where Ruoye went and prayed to whatever deity that was willing to listen that he hadn’t run off. 

“Okay, okay,” he wheezed once the dog had calmed down enough to let Xie Lian gently push him away. “That’s more than enough.” He didn’t have anything on his person that could act as a napkin, so he could only attempt to wipe the drool off his face with the hem of his shirt before getting a good look at the perpetrator. 

The dog before him was a pitbull with a lustrous coat of jet-black fur and ears that were slightly pulled back. It didn’t have any markings or flaws in its coat and when Xie Lian looked it over, the dog didn’t seem to have any injuries that needed attending to. As a matter of fact, there wasn’t a single flaw on its skin aside from the healed-over socket where its left eye should have been. In the shine coming from the streetlamps, its remaining eye was a striking, rust-red brown. 

Overcome with a sense of worry, Xie Lian cupped the dog's face (upon further examination he found that she was female) and smoothed over the fur on her head. 

“Are you okay, little one? You’re not in any pain are you?” A whining dog desperately looking for someone kind in the middle of a busy sidewalk—with a missing eye, no less—would have normally been a cause for concern, but her shining coat and strong build suggested that she had quite the luxurious diet. Strays certainly didn’t eat this well. 

A glint of silver caught his eye, and he craned his neck down. Secured around her neck was a black leather collar that looked to be of exceptional make, judging from the sharp and curved designs that had been carved onto the material. The name “Eming” (what an eccentric name) was engraved onto a circular silver tag. Xie Lian found a phone number on the back of the tag and sighed in relief before he locked eyes with the dog—Eming—again. 

“Don’t tell me you ran away from home,” he murmured as he punched the numbers into his phone, laughing when she tried to lunge at his face for another round of kisses. “No, no—that’s enough—Eming! I need to get you home” From the corner of his eye, he spotted Ruoye sitting close by as he observed his poor owner being licked to death. 

“Ruoye, come!” he called out, feeling a swell of pride when the cat responded by trotting over to his side before seating himself beside him. 

Almost as if she had just now noticed his presence, Eming froze in her attempts to give the florist’s face a tongue bath and snapped her head toward Ruoye. Xie Lian didn’t think it was possible, but it seemed as if her tail started wagging even faster as she cautiously approached the cat with wide eyes. Ruoye peered back at her blankly. The only movement coming from him was his tail languidly flicking in the air. 

She seemed like a friendly-mannered dog, but Xie Lian didn’t want either animal spooking the other in any case. Right after he hit the call button, he scooped Ruoye up in his arms to keep Eming from getting him within sniffing distance. 

The line rang twice, thrice, then a couple of times more. 

“The number you have dialed, is not available… After the tone, please record your message.”

Xie Lian sighed with a defeated smile on his face. So much for getting this dog home to its owner before the end of the night. 

Beep!

“Erm, hello! My name is Xie Lian, and I believe I found your dog Eming—well, more like she found me—” he chuckled to himself before clearing his throat. “On the corner of…” He craned his neck to look up at the street signs “…forty-sixth and eighth street? Please call me back as soon as you can. I’m not gonna bring her to a shelter or anything but it is quite late out. I’ll sure to keep her safe in the meantime. Thank you—”

Eming was sniffing around his ankle where the hem of his trousers ended. Her cold nose, compounded with the threat of being licked, effectively interrupted Xie Lian as he jerked his foot away in surprise and let out what was decidedly a rather inelegant noise. 

“Ah… thank you for your time!” He concluded before hurriedly ending the call. Sighing again, he looked down at Eming and smiled at her wagging tail before giving her a pat on the head. 

“My place isn’t much, but I’m sure you won’t mind staying the night, right?”

Upon coming home, Xie Lian had barely opened the door before Eming shot past him and into the apartment in a black, excited blur. She careened into the living area, narrowly missed the couch, and went about sniffing every corner of the apartment with a fervor fueled purely by nervous energy. Once he had set Ruoye down, he was perfectly content in letting her inspect the apartment to her heart’s content, only following her around to make sure she didn’t try to eat anything she wasn’t supposed to. 

After a few moments, she had taken a special interest in the TV stand in the living room—more specifically, the game consoles that sat underneath it. 

“If this is another animal you’re bringing into the apartment, I’m taking your name off the lease,” Mu Qing announced from where he sat on the couch. Xie Lian looked up at him to see that he was nose-deep in a copy of the novel he was reading for the week, Fahrenheit 451 (the last time Feng Xin had come over for dinner, Xie Lian had insisted that attending a book club was nothing to be ashamed of, but Mu Qing staunchly denied the very idea. This wasn’t exactly helping his case). 

Xie Lian laughed at his roommate’s joke. “Can you even do that as a tenant?” 

“I’ll find a way.” He looked up from his book. Nothing on the other man’s face held any implication of humor.

“…” Well, Xie Lian certainly didn’t want to be a homeless man, joke or not. He laughed nervously and waved away the idea. “Don’t worry, I’m just waiting on a call from her owner. She bumped into me on the way home, and I didn’t want to leave her outside for the night.” 

“I won’t be able to babysit.” Mu Qing had off tomorrow but after the debacle with Ruoye, it was apparent that he wasn’t willing to do a repeat. 

“I’ll bring both of them to work with me,” Xie Lian said before he chuckled to himself a bit as he watched Eming nose at the foot of the couch, much to Mu Qing’s displeasure. “Eming is a good girl, I’m sure she won’t be a problem.

Eming meant well, Xie Lian was sure of it, but meaning well was an entirely different thing from doing well. 

She got along fine enough with Ruoye once she realized he didn’t respond well to sudden movements. If she moved ever so slowly, she could sniff at the cat and even push her luck by licking him once or twice. Much to Ruoye’s credit, he was quite tolerant of her amount of energy and didn’t lift so much as a paw to scratch at her. 

But unlike Ruoye, who was content to sit on a windowsill or perch himself on one of the many shelves around the shop to watch the florist at work, Eming couldn’t sit still. When Xie Lian had first clocked in for work, she insisted on examining each and every flower her nose could reach. He wouldn’t have minded under normal circumstances, but her aggressive sniffing led to more than a few of his hydrangeas sacrificing their petals. 

“Ah, Eming…” he trailed off when he saw the massacre that had resulted in a pile of velvety petals on the floor and let a sigh escape from his chest. 

At least hydrangeas were cheap. 

To prevent further casualties from happening in his shop, he decided to put a few of the arrangements he was in the process of finishing on hold to rearrange the flowers in the back. 

A cold, wet nose poked at his ankle and Xie Lian just about jumped out of his skin with a yelp. Looking down, he saw that it was just the rambunctious dog nosing at his pant leg, her tail furiously wagging while she let out small whines. Xie Lian couldn’t help but laugh a little bit at the sight and give her a few pats on the head, watching in amusement as she continued to sniff around his shoes and began to lick at the floor. 

“Eming, no!” At the sound of Xie Lian’s voice, Eming immediately stopped nosing at the flower petals and snapped her head toward him. 

The petals had already been swept to the side, but there were a couple that Xie Lian had missed in his eagerness to start rearranging the flowers in hopes of keeping them firmly out of Eming’s reach. He was no dog expert, but Xie Lian knew that certain flowers were deadly to certain animals—he just didn’t know which flowers in particular were toxic. It was safest to just err on the side of caution and just keep Eming away from all of them.  

“Ah, those are no good for you,” he scolded and walked to the other side of the room. “Come. Stay here while I clean up.” Much to his quiet delight, Eming plodded on and followed him, sticking close to his left side. 

“Can you sit here for me?” 

She peered up at him with a smile on her face, her tail still wagging as she remained standing. 

“Sit…?”

Eming sat. 

“Stay.”

Eming stayed.

“What a good listener you are,” he marveled. Xie Lian gave her affectionate scratches behind the ears before going about his work again. It was only a few minutes before he heard a muffled thumping coming from behind him. He turned around with incredulity on his face. What on earth could that be…?

It was Eming’s tail moving at near-light speed and thwacking against the wall behind her. As a matter of fact, her entire body seemed to be vibrating with the amount of energy she was unable to contain. Every few seconds or so she would slightly change her sitting position, whether it was by adjusting her hind legs or shifting the weight on her front paws from side to side. 

Xie Lian’s heart nearly melted at the sight of her trying her absolute best to listen to a command. 

What a good girl, her owner must’ve trained her well, he thought to himself before turning back around. He was in the middle of placing a bundle of roses into a bucket higher up when his phone started to buzz in his pocket. 

Xie Lian hastily wiped wet hands on his apron before pulling it out to see an unknown number. Seeing as he was the only one running the shop, he didn’t see the point in having a completely separate landline for his business. Of course, there was always the risk of having a bunch of spam callers contacting him at ungodly hours, but this was probably a customer. 

“Thank you so much for calling Royal Florals,” he chirped with a smile. “You’re currently speaking to Xie Lian, how can I help you?”

There was a pregnant pause before whoever was on the other end of the line cleared their throat awkwardly. 

“You said my dog was with you?” The speaker’s words were halting and a little bit awkward, but he had this kind of deep and gentle voice that was quite pleasant to Xie Lian’s ears. He was sure that whoever this was had a very soothing way of speaking. Maybe he had the makings of a good singer—not the showy, operatic type, but of a crooner who sang soft jazz with warm, dulcet tones.

“Oh…” It took a moment for Xie Lian to remember himself. “Oh! Yes! I was worried when I first saw her because of how much she was crying, but she seems exceptionally well taken care of.”

The man sighed over the phone. “She’s dramatic like that… I’d like to apologize on her behalf.” 

“Oh, no apology is necessary!” Xie Lian waved his hand dismissively despite the man not being able to see him doing so. 

“I hate to trouble you, but can I pick her up within the next hour? I’m fully booked until we close after that, and I can’t have her being a nuisance to you for that long.” Xie Lian could detect a pained undercurrent in the man’s tone. 

“Not a nuisance at all,” he insisted. “She’s actually been a joy since she followed me home.” 

“She followed you home…?” he sounded vaguely disturbed at this.

“Mhm! She’s a very well-behaved girl, very affectionate. Eming got along great with my cat too, and Ruoye is usually very skittish.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I would think that you’re trying to sell my own dog to me,” he cracked wryly. 

“Does it really seem like that?” Xie Lian laughed awkwardly. “That wasn’t my intention.”

“It’s nothing to worry about, I thought it was funny.” 

“Ah…” It took Xie Lian a few more seconds to remember the whole point of the phone call. “But yes, you’re more than welcome to stop by. Do you know where Royal Florals is located?” he asked before hastily adding on, “I brought her to my work with me to keep an eye on her.”  

  “I”m familiar with the store. Again, thank you for looking after her. Eming can be a bit much.”

Once the two men exchanged pleasantries before hanging up, Xie Lian was struck with the sudden urge to clean and tidy up the rest of the shop. It was in the middle of the process of tidying up said shop that he heard the door chime.

“I’ll be out there in just a second!” he called out as he hurriedly finished setting the remaining flowers in their proper bucket. As he was drying his hands on his apron, he opened his mouth to welcome whoever had decided to stop by.

“Thank you so much for waiting! How can I help you?” 

The first thing he noticed was the black leather eyepatch the man wore. Well no—the first thing he noticed was how he needed to crane his neck up to meet the man’s eyes. The second thing he noticed was the eyepatch. Not with judgment by any means, but it was a rather unusual fashion statement. But Xie Lian reasoned to himself that people came in with all sorts of eclectic styles—He Xuan the regular and his affinity for jet-black attire being one of them—so in the end, this wasn’t all that strange. The eye that wasn’t hidden away was bright with something Xie Lian wasn’t quite able to put his finger on. Was it ambition? Intellect? Mischief? 

He made note of the brilliant red of his shin-length peacoat, along with what looked to be meticulously crafted silver necklaces worn in layers around the man’s neck. 

The first necklace, the shortest, was rather robust. Each link looked as if it had wicked barbs, and formed a chain resembling a vine of thorns. These thorns led to a glittering silver butterfly pendant at the center. The second necklace was of a more delicate make. A simple silver chain, thin and light, hung loosely around his neck and had a crystal-clear ring hanging from it.

Despite his trousers being oversized, it was obvious they were tailored and hemmed to fit him and cinch at his waist faultlessly. The tattoos peeking out from his sleeves and crawling up his neck also looked to be expertly done. 

Xie Lian was the last person to base a first impression on how wealthy someone appeared to be, but it was abundantly clear to him that this man had a lot of money. Or at the very least, he knew how to dress in order to flaunt it.

“Yes, I’m here for my dog…”

As if that was her cue, a soft whine sounded out from the back of the shop. Xie Lian looked back at Eming and laughed fondly. The poor thing was practically quaking while excitement rolled off of her in waves.

“She’s very vocal,” the florist acknowledged lightly as her whines rose in both pitch and volume.

The man sighed. “She’s impossible. Again, thank you for looking after her. I owe you,” he responded, voice low as he held his hand out to shake Xie Lian’s. 

When he took it, it was shocking how frigid the man’s hand was. Surely it wasn’t that cold outside? He looked warmly dressed too, so maybe he just naturally ran on the cooler side. 

“Oh, it was nothing, really—”

“I hope she didn’t do anything to ruin your flowers, they’re quite beautiful,” the man continued, his eye taking time to survey the interior of the shop before it landed on a bouquet. The exorbitant flowers served as the centerpiece to the front of the shop, adding brightness with their warm and bright color. Each bloom and stalk was arranged into a fan shape and gave off the impression of opulence and finery. 

Upon seeing him look at his work with such inquiry, Xie Lian couldn’t help but feel—ah, what was the word—shy. A couple of blossoms were sat slightly askew from the wind blowing into and around the shop due to customers constantly coming and going, they weren’t really worthy of the label, “beautiful”. 

After another round of insisting that Eming was no trouble at all and that she was actually “quite a sweet girl,” the man turned toward the back room and produced a red leash—the same shade as his coat—from his pocket. 

“Eming, come!” 

Finally able to release the pent-up energy she had been storing for what seemed to be millennia (really, it had only been thirty minutes since Xie Lian had told her to sit and received the man’s call), she jumped to her feet and bolted toward the man with an enthusiasm that could only be likened to the force of a tidal wave. He almost laughed aloud at the sheer speed she was able to reach. It looked as if her feet didn’t even touch the ground as she zoomed toward her owner.

At the last possible second before she would’ve collided with his knees, Eming came to a sudden stop at the man’s left side and sat. He knelt down and clipped the leash to her collar, and Xie Lian couldn’t help but think to himself that they were both quite a sight to behold, what with his stern expression staring at Eming smiling with tongue lolled out the side of her mouth while she panted. 

“C’mon, you little bastard,” he said as he stood up and made his way to the door. “Before you do something stupid like going around and poking your other eye out or bothering the nice man.” He turned back to Xie Lian and offered him a smile and a wave before heading out the door. 

The florist waved back. “Come again soon!” he called out after them before stopping dead in his tracks. 

It was what he said to everyone who visited the shop, but that was awfully presumptuous of him, wasn’t it? To say “come again soon.” What was the man going to come back for, his dog? Did Xie Lian come off as insisting that he come back to buy an arrangement from him? Ah, and he didn’t even bother to ask for the man’s name either…

Before he could spiral and overthink, he hastily headed to the back to resume the arrangements that were put on hold earlier. If he busied his hands, his mind wouldn’t have enough leeway to wander. Yes, that would work. Ruoye meowed from his sun-basking spot on the windowsill and pulled him from his thoughts. When they met eyes, Xie Lian couldn’t help but smile at the cat and give him a scratch behind the ears. The way Ruoye purred and leaned into his hands was just so nice. 

His smile widened. 

And he thinks I’m nice, too.

<Previous Next>

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

She Has My Heart: A One-Shot

What have Leah and Clover been up too since we last saw them in that cute three-bedroom house in VT?

Leah Clearwater x Black!Female!OC. 

CW/TW: Talks of miscarriages (a little crass at point too). Please skip as necessary.

Series

-----Three Years Later----

Seth’s not sure what to expect when the door swings open. The last he heard there was just a lot of waiting. And waiting. And…more waiting. He hadn’t been able to fly back for the baby shower on account of cost and Black Pack responsibilities. Though, he and his mother did send a gift. The thing about it though is that Seth had a promise. Not that anyone knew of it but Seth knew. 

 “You’re shaking,” Sue comments, smoothing a fly away behind Seth’s ear. 

He’d let it grow out some. It is a reckless tasks, given how his coat in wolf-form was shaggy now too. But Seth sort of liked the freedom it gave him. He was phasing less frequently  so it didn’t matter much about the length of his fur anyway. Seth could see his old self--the one that was truly chipper as the inky strands started to fall across his face. It’s not to say that Seth’s lost any of his sunny disposition. There’s still the joke that his smile might actually blind someone. But the nights he spent mourning his father, the nights spent clawing at his skin for being a shifter aren’t as easy to hide from himself. 

Seth almost feels like he could reach back--when looking at his reflection--and touch the kid he once was with the longer tresses. Like maybe a part of him has never gone away,  just buried to only now be unearthed--sweeped gently when he pulls his hair back.  Seth could now excavate, digging and brushing gently at the depths that time had tucked away. And perhaps the hair is only ever going to be a temporary fix.  Jacob would want him to cut it again soon. Not that Seth thought he’d let it grow much longer than it already was at his cheeks. 

But is is nice. Even if only for a small little while. 

“It’s my nephew. I want to make a good first impression,” Seth returns. 

“He’s a baby. He’s already impressed,” Sue laughs. 

But it’s not just any baby. It’s Leah and Clover’s baby--rainbow baby to be exact. After two miscarriages, Seth figured that maybe they would give up. But Clover insisted. He wonders if Clover’s insistence to try for a last time is out of spite, attempting to prove something since it would’ve been Leah’s eggs again they attempted with. But science, or spite, doesn’t really matter. What does is the fact that the only thing between Seth and his nephew right now is a door. A singular green door, made of three plates, no less than six screws, a knob, frosted windows on the side. A singular man-made object. But yet instead a barrier. 

The green door creaks open, gentle at first and through the crack Seth catches Clover’s voice, “I need a shirt!”

Leah laughs for a moment. “It might help first to actually get off the couch.”

It doesn’t really matter when the house opens to him fully and there, strapped to Leah’s slightly turned back is him--Nova. His cheeks are full, eyes blinking but clearly on the verge of closing. He’s tucked in closely to the board--the blanket holding him is white and navy blue embroidered. “Look at you,” Sue coos, waving gently at the baby. 

“I love him. Already. We’re going to be best buds,” Seth remarks, awe painting his voice. “Can I wear--” 

“Yeah, you can. C’mon  in,” Leah laughs, interrupting the question before it’s fully asked. 

The living room greets Sue and Seth to the arches of the kitchen directly behind the sofa. The house is relatively small. Bigger than what Seth and Leah grew up in by at least a couple hundred square feet. But small enough that it doesn’t over impose. And all the while, in the background of Sue coddling up to Clover--forcing her to stay seated--Seth is ducked into the night of Nova’s eyes. 

“He’s so tiny,” Seth laughs, tucking the strands that fall out from behind his ear yet again. “Like, he looks like he could fit in just my palm.”

“You should’ve seen him fresh. Hearty at eight pounds, but much smaller than now,” Leah comments, gingerly slipping Nova off her back. 

It’s only been two months. How Nova could be any smaller is beyond Seth. “Hi, Seth,” Clover calls out. 

The sound of his name brings Seth back to the living room. He waves at Clover. The ginger in her hair has faded at the roots, giving into the dark brown of her natural curls. It looks shorter than usual, lifted up near her chin where it normally settled at her shoulders. But she looks bright in the face, a smile that feels genuine on Seth’s skin. “You look good for dealing with a newborn. Newborn baby, I mean,” Seth corrects. 

“Thanks,” Clover offers. A tuft of laughter that escapes her as well.  “Thankfully, it’s been pretty quiet on that front.”

“I’d hope so!” Seth teases. 

Clover waives for him to sit, next to her. There’s clattering behind them coming from the kitchen. Leah and his mother’s voice whisper above the rushing water and the click of a machine. Seth’s slow in his descent but he settles and Nova blinks up at him. The blinks get slower, a pout forming for half a second but Seth finds the gentle brush of his knuckle to Nova’s cheek does the trick. 

“How does it feel?” Clover whispers.  

“He’s…tiny.”

“Well, yeah, besides that. He’ll be up there with you in no time. Just give him some time. But that’s not what I’m asking,” Clover laughs, resting her chin to Seth’s shoulder. “How do you feel?”

Nova roots just a hair into Seth’s touch. How immediate to know he loves someone. How immediate Seth knows that he’d drop anything and everything just to hear Nova gurgles. A bond. One that if he were ever to tell he felt for Leah would have to be tortured out of him. But not for Nova. Not for his nephew. “Feels…surreal. Am I dreaming?”

“Nope. Not in the slightest.”

“What does he do all day?”

“Right now--sleep. Eats. Shits. Sleeps. Wets himself. Eats again. Shits again.”

Seth snorts at the list. “Okay, so maybe not the best question. But he really is living the life, ya know?”

“Yeah I’m sure that’s the shifter instincts. Gotta start him young.”

There’s space between her words. They grow after and softer as she speaks. Seth glances over from Nova in his lap to Clover. Her eyes are shut. “I’ve been told I’m pretty comfy.” It’s an offer. An easy way for Clover to bow out of any obligation to host. “I’m sure Nova must feed regularly--day or night.”

“God, does he,” she snorts. 

“I don’t think Seth is going to let him out of his sight. If you need a nap, take it, love,” Leah states, placing a cup of tea in front of Seth. Her gaze ignores him though and zeroes in on Clover. 

“I don’t,” a yawn interrupts her. “I don’t need to be told twice.”

“By some accounts, I think you were,” Seth whispers. 

Clover’s whack at his side is weak and she pushes away to burrow into the corner of the couch. Before Seth can offer to scoot over some, to give her room, a snore echoes. Leah’s up just a fast and adjusts the pillow and presses a kiss to her temple. She still looks the same. Seth’s not sure why he thought the years would age her so significantly. It was just three, well maybe a tad over three if he could fully recount the month they moved from Washington. It was spring, that much he knows. 

But Leah still looks the same. The same bob. The same pout. 

“You’re phasing still aren’t you?” Seth asks.

Leah nods. “I stopped for a year and a half to try and conceive but I’d been phasing for so long we don’t think the pause really helped at all.” Still behind the couch, she rest her cheek in the cushion of Clover’s hair. “I only tried once. Clover tried all the rest of the way.”

Seth blinks. He hadn’t known that. “So both were Clover?”

Leah nods. “Well, yeah, two of three. Technically, I think. It’s a little awkward. Because while it was a fertilized embryo that they transplanted into me. It was dicey on if it would ever have a fighting chance--it was like 70 against us. 30 for. We took the change anyway but both times with Clover we got results on the at-home pregnancy tests. Went to the doctors test looked good and then before Week 12, there was a lot of sitting on toilets.”

“God,” Seth huffs. “Leah. That’s horrible. How can you say that?”

She shrugs. “It’s  true. And it’s heartbreaking. Literally everything we were trying so hard was just gone before we could do anything about it. But that’s the reality. That’s where we were. Crying over toilet bowls. At night, sometimes, when I was sure Clover was asleep, I’d go out chase the moon. Shockingly, phasing kept my sane. And I’ll never admit that again. Never.”

Seth surrenders to the pointed finger. “Understood. I definitely won’t let it slip during a run with Jake.”

Leah flicks his ear. “Asshat.”

“Hey, hey, young ears here,” Seth returns, covering Nova’s ears. 

“I just--it felt so unfair that we’d been trying for this one thing and couldn’t get it. And the only thing that made sense were the trees, the moon. Phasing meant I didn’t have to think about my wife at home. I didn’t have to think about the bedroom that haunted us. And I’d be back well before sunrise. So do not,” Leath huffs, watching the slack of Seth’s jaw. 

“I didn’t even say anything.” Leah’s arched brow is killer and Seth hurriedly turns back to Nova. “Your mom’s got the evil stare perfected. Be warned,” Seth informs to Nova. 

“You were thinking it. I could hear it,” Leah laughs. “I was always thinking about Clover though. It’s safe to say when I’m not working she occupies about hmm 65% of my brain.”

“Is that why I don’t ever get calls but once a week?” Sue pipes up. “Hmm, I’m very disappointed,” she grins over the mouth of her mug. 

Leah gapes for a moment before popping her head up around Seth’s shoulder to look at her mom in the singular seater. “Mom, there’s a three hour difference. You get angry if I call you at 7 because it’s too late for me here at 10.”

“You need your rest,” Sue retorts. 

“I go in from 8 to 5 every single day. I can spare a two hour conversation with you occasionally,” Leah defends. 

“See that’s your problem. Mom easily needs 3 hours at minimum,” Seth comments. 

“Seth gets it,” Sue waves to him with the comment. Leah sighs and apologizes softly. Seth laughs, knowing there’s no real winning. But it’s like home. It feels like home again in a way that Seth hadn’t even realized he’d missed. 

Around him Leah and Sue bicker--lightheartedly--for just another minute or so, but Seth takes the moment to speak to Nova. Clover’s snores punctuate the faint argument at the most inopportune times but it’s a welcomed cacophony of sounds. Nova’s blinks have ceased. His eyes shut now fully, face lax under Seth’s touch. 

“So you’re used to it already, huh? A pro, I see.” 

“Yeah, unc, with the way my mom’s bicker I’ve learned to drown it out,” Leah teases in a terrible rendition of a bassier voice. The giggles escape Seth with no hesitation. Leah’s laughter mixes with his, but she nudges his shoulder. “Hungry?”

“No, I’m good,” Seth answers when he catches his breath. 

“Whatever’s in the kitchen is free range when you get hungry. I’ve got dishes to do since both of them are down for a nap.”

Seth nods. “Thanks, Leah.”

“We’ve got a tiny deck too if you want some fresh air. Nova sleeps like Dad in that recliner in the sun.”

Seth snorts at the mental image of his father settled into the brown recliner, almost swallowed by the chair but still holding his own in the race of size. Occasionally, a cap would cover his face. But most of the time he’d put on a game--one he didn’t care about but was promising Billy he’d watch so they could talk about it next--and he’d fall asleep within minutes. Even if the TV wasn’t home, if he sat down for too long in the chair, he’d fall asleep. That old recliner, fabric worn in the arms, creaked with every sit. But it had a grip on their father that was most definitely otherworldly. 

Seth takes the note as an invitation and stands again. It’s not hard--getting Nova onto his back. But Seth is slow in his push further into the house. He runs into the office first. The office, which also has a bed that folds out, much like the sofa in the living room is exactly how Leah described it. Two wide bookshelves make up the west wall that borders the half bathroom. Has a desk that faces the window to look outside, the side yard from the looks of it. There’s a lot of light in the room. A single seater with ottoman in the opposite corner as the bookshelves, a coffee like table in the middle of the room. On it, there’s more books, magazines. It feels a bit more lived in than the living room, but still hollow with space that could be filled in. 

Across the hall is the full bathroom but next to the otherside of the half bath is Nova’s room and nursery. Nova’s ceiling is painted a dark blue with white sparkles--stars, Seth assumes. “Do you know all the constellations yet, buddy?” Seth asks. He gets no answer of course, but it doesn't slow him down as he takes in the tan dresser, rocking chair, bookshelf, and opened closet. The open closet is something he has no doubts Leah’s started to do. Diapers are stacked near the changing table. 

“Easy access, can’t be made,” Seth comments to himself. 

Seth knows right across from Nova’s room is the main bedroom. He’s thankful the door is shut. “Who knows what we might’ve seen in your moms’ room.”

“I heard that,” Leah hollers. 

A soft grunt echoes from Seth’s back and he shushes gently, reaching back to pat at Nova’s stomach. It’s a shot in the dark, but the gesture is just enough to keep Nova from rousing fully. Seth takes the side door out the deck, back tracking a little to the side of the office. 

The sun is bright and when directly in the rays warms. There’s some shade but Seth’s sure to keep Nova in the warmth as the May air still has a bit of a chill. The trees are quiet, not even a rustle in their leaves. Though, the trees don’t quite feel like the same echo of those in Washington. This are still trying to change--bringing more green but still echoes of orange and red. The container gardens are exploding--well one of them is.

There’s leaves falling over the 2x4’s. But it’s nice to see the crops still holding on well. They might be the reminiscents of the last winter hauls. The other one looks a bit emptier but Seth assumes from Leah’s recounting that it’s just been planted and soon the winter crops will get tilled and prepared for summer too after a small reprieve. There’s some metal coverings which Seth assumes is meant to keep bugs and critters from getting too close. Though he wonders if Leah takes to marking the edges of the lands. It would work work for a good deal of creatures who might want a snack. 

“I wonder what your favorite veggie will be,” Seth questions to the still air. “What will be your favorite season, Nova? Hmm?” Seth looks back and Nova’s still faithfully asleep. He thinks maybe what could be considered the faintest hints of a smile in on his nephew’s face. “Will you think it’s strange? Two moms? The phasing? I hope Leah brings you up on the stories. I don’t think she’ll stop phasing now. Not with you around. Maybe you won’t care. You’ll only know some kissing the scrapes and someone fixing you your favorite lunch. You’ll run from the bus stop laughing about what some kid said and you won’t ever think what others are thinking about.

I just don’t want anything bad for you. You know? I want you to wear your braids. Wear your beads. That’s an order mister.” Seth laughs at himself. The weight of Nova on his back feels like it’s alway supposed to be there when Seth leans into the railing. “Who am I kidding? I know technically Blacks are alphas, but with your moms’ you’re unstoppable kid. Lightning really.”

A breeze--chilly, but loose--comes by. It carries nothing with it--no bugs, no warnings. The clouds stay white and fluffy. For how long, Seth’s not even sure. He gets a plate of food at some point and eats it slowly. 

“Do you think you’ll like construction trucks? I remember I had a serious truck phase,” Seth mutters. Nova, now cradled into Seth’s arm, awake and taking in the sight of someone new only blinks. Seth’s kept him wrapped up tightly as to avoid the chill that’s settling with the creeping evening sun. 

“Oh, maybe you have such a truck phase you become a firefighter? I think that would be cool.”

Nova blinks, shifting just a hair a little bit closer. 

“Oh, do we like that idea?”

Nova’s brow furrows for a moment. His tiny body tenses for a moment. 

“Thinking hard about it.”

Nova huffs. Seth laughs a little then inhales. “Oh, oh, I see why you were thinking so hard. Just pooped all over my idea.”

Seth carries Nova and the plate back inside. “Who wants to teach me how to change a diaper?” he asks as he crosses into the living room. 

Clover raises her hand and it’s immediately pushed back down by Sue. “I’ll teach ya, Seth,” Sue grins, scooping Nova out of Seth’s arm. “You’ve been hogging him since we got here.”

“Does everyone think I’m broken?” Clover laughs. “I literally pushed a baby out of me. I think I’m so not broken.”

Leah’s voice is soft. “You’re not, babe. But you said you were going to actually let people help. Besides it’s Mom. She won’t let Seth hurt Nova. She’d kill him. Instantly, if he tried.”

Seth pouts. “He’s my nephew! I would never attempt such a thing. Wouldn’t think of it.”

“Careful, Leah,” Clover warns. “There’s no rain until Monday in the forecast. We don’t need it to show up early because you’re being mean to Seth.”

“Someone cares about me,” Seth huffs. 

“Seth, you coming are not?” Sue calls out. 

“Diaper time! I’m coming.”

[ariajonesstyle]

LEATHER JACKET IN DIFFERENT COLORS: STYLE IN VERSATILITY

It is well known that the black and brown colors are the most famous and common colors in leather jacket and they never goes out of trend as well. Leather jacket comes in other colors too which are also available in market. Both men and women adores leather jacket in various colors. The leather jacket is never out of style but the color and design trend of leather jacket changes with time. You can find leather jacket in colors such as black, brown, red, white, blue, green, grey, tan, beige, khaki, cream, yellow, etc. There is several styles of leather jacket available in market such as leather moto jacket, leather trench coat, leather fur jacket, leather bomber jacket, etc.

RED LEATHER JACKET

If you are interested in red leather jacket as after back and brown red is the next color of leather jacket which is famous among people. Red is also a bold color to try something new with. Although red leather jacket is not considered a classic as black or brown leather jacket but it is surely a good thing to try something amazing. If you think that wearing red leather jacket would be different from current trend, you still want a red leather jacket look then you can wear something trendy with red leather jacket to look into trend while following your choice.

CAMEL LEATHER JACKET

Camel leather jacket is very much popular and favorite among women’s as it has a vast ranging palette from pastel yellow to coffee brown. It is available in many colors including khaki, brown, cream, white and black. You can effortlessly pair your camel leather jacket with metallic, pastels, hues, neon, etc. Camel leather jacket is surely an apparel for winters or cold days of the year.

Although, camel color was introduced after World War I, camel colored outfits became part of mainstream fashion twenty years after World War II. It also became easily available when meagre and camel hair was easily available in market. Initially, camel colored outfits were part of armed forces. After some time it became popular among common people and they started liking it.

BROWN SUEDE LEATHER JACKET

Brown Suede leather jackets are mostly worn during winter and fall season. It is also a staple in many wardrobes. The cleaning methods of suede leather are quite complicated. Brown is one of the classic and common colors you can find leather jacket in. brown is also a versatile color which will help you style various fall or winter styles. You can use brown leather jacket as an overcoat in winters whenever you are heading out.

BLUE LEATHER JACKET

Blue leather jacket can be used to style yourself in variety of styles from laid-back, casual, street-style, smart casual, or business casual outfits. Leather jacket also comes in variety of styles such as bomber, rider, café racer, etc. to make you look pretty. When selecting a leather jacket in blue, go for a shade that goes greatest with your skin tone and personality. If you are into minimalistic style, then a simple navy blue leather jacket is fit for you. While a bright blue leather jacket outfit would look unspoiled for someone with a delicate style. With so many choices of colors and styles, it gives you a lot of options to try out.

In winters, you can try out using sweaters to make your blue leather jacket attire look good. The two colors which would look great with blue leather jacket are white and beige. Well if you are into both of them then you can go with simple and plain black sweater. For a vibrant look, go with knit sweater. Well, choosing other colors is up to you according to your need.

ORANGE LEATHER JACKET

Orange leather jacket is indeed a unique choice for the people who really wants to stand out from others. Both men and women wear orange leather jacket. It is a recent color which we can see in spotlight these days. Orange may not be as versatile color as black or brown leather jacket but they surely are worth trying. The best colors to pair with orange leather jacket is black and white.

GREEN LEATHER JACKET

Green colored jackets are often seen as apparels that can complement your body type, body shape and your skin color. These days many bikers are using green biker jackets. You also can wear green leather jacket in any major or minor event. These days using different green shaded apparels you can easily style yourself to stand out of crowd.

If you are now interested in green leather jacket then you should first know of different leather types so that you will not make any mistake in the process. It will help you to choose your type of leather green jacket carefully. Like if you are looking for a tough and durable green leather jacket you should go for cow leather jacket but if you are interested in soft leather then you should go for lamb skin leather jacket.

[crazyblondelife]

A Touch of Color and My Wishlist for February

"“It’s realizing that a great dream is not as good as a great memory. The dream can be had by anyone. The memory – must be made.”"  -- Eric Thomas

I wanted to start this post…even though it’s a fashion post, with a little inspiration! I’m trying to be very conscious of how I’m spending my time and purposefully creating memories in my life!

Now, on to Spring trends, my wishlist and another understated outfit idea for Valentine’s Day!

When I can’t think of anything else to wear…I put on a pair of jeans! I just keep buying them but I would like to expand my fashion options this spring and find other kinds of bottoms to wear. It’s so much easier in summer because there are pretty dresses to wear but I hate nothing more than to be cold.

I recently did a big closet clean out and let go of so many things, which does make getting dressed easier, but now I’m feeling the need to find a few really great “investment” pieces that are colorful and classic and that I will keep for4ever!

Keep scrolling for a few things I’ve been eyeing recently that might just show up really soon and also for details on this affordable look I’m wearing here!

The one part of this outfit that I would't necessarily put in the “affordable” category are my Gucci shoes, but I would put them in the “keep forever” category. I’m sure I’ll wear them until I wear them out and they elevate any outfit I choose to put them with! When I bought these in Paris, I was looking for something classic that could be worn with a number of different looks! These shoes check all of those boxes plus they’re veryh comfortable. For the coming spring season, I’m dying over these retro pumps from Gucci, but I also found these that are much less expensive (although the heel is higher) and these from Tory Burch that are very cute!

The cute (and warm) faux fur jacket that I’m wearing is from Abercrombie and was purchased last season! I’t so neutral that I’ve worn it with everything and I think it looks much more expensive that it actually was! I’ve linked several in the boutique below that you may like! My jeans are new from Mother (the Hustler Ankle Fray) and they are more iight weight making them perfect for spring! They don’t look like ankle on me so just remember that I’m 5;4” if you order and I’m wearing a size 25 so they fit true to size.

The sweater is a cardigan from Loft and is on major sale right now! I love it because of the creamy color and just a touch of red and pink trim so it would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, or any day! I would also wear this with off white jeans for a more spring time look!

Soon, I’ll be doing a full trend report for spring, but in case you’re wondering…the trends for spring 2023 include sheer fabrics, low rise waists (finally they’re back and I’m all in), sequins, cobalt blue, boudoir detailing (think corsets and lace), black for summer, heart motifs, (groundbreaking) florals, fringe and more fringe, candy pink, ombre in red, orange and yellow, tailoring in soft shades such as green and grey,

It seems that Covid is officially over when it comes to fashion and we’re going to be dressing up (in color) and going out!

Enjoy the boutique below if you’re looking to do a little closet refresh. Many of the items are reasonably priced with a few fun exceptions! I especially love the short trench coat from Abercrombie and the beautiful and very feminine sling back heel from Veronica Beard!

Thanks so much for reading! Leave a comment and let me know what trends you’ll be wearing for spring 2023 (if any)!

[trendywears56]

Where to get Where best jackets to wear?

The weather is cooling down, and jackets are getting much more used. A good jacket can make a huge difference in your day-to-day life, but finding the right one can take time and effort. There are many factors to consider when looking for the right jacket, including material, colour, and style. In this article, I'll share tips on finding the best jacket that fits your needs!

Buy a Jacket If You Don't Own One

A jacket is an essential part of a man's wardrobe, and you can wear it in all seasons. So if you don't have one yet, buy one today. The right jacket will make you look good at any time of year and on any occasion. But, of course, when shopping for a new jacket, you'll want to focus on what style best fits your body type—but first, let's talk about colour!

Most men choose navy blue or black jackets as their go-to colours because they're versatile enough to fit almost any situation: black looks great with suits or jeans; navy blue works well with most pants and shirts (except white). However, these colours are only some options available when considering which shade would work best for your needs. 

If this sounds overwhelming, but you still want something unique, try burgundy reds or emerald greens. These shades aren't relatively standard but remain versatile enough for many occasions, such as weddings or business meetings, where colleagues may ask why anyone would wear those colours together. But remember: nothing says "I didn't think this whole thing through" louder than wearing mismatched clothes from different eras.

Buy Trendy Jackets for Men at Getketch

You will find a fantastic collection of jackets for men at Getketch - a leading online jacket store in India. They have a wide range of jackets for men and women, and you can easily find the perfect jacket from their vast collection.

Getketch has jackets in different styles, colours, and sizes, making it convenient for you to get precisely what you want. Their jackets are available in different fabrics like wool, cotton, linen and more. They also have different brands like Ketch, Highlander, Locomotive, etc. In addition, you can choose from different types of jackets like tuxedo jackets, bomber jackets, bomber jackets with fur hoods etc.

How to choose a perfect-fitting Jacket for men at Getketch?

A perfect-fitting jacket is not just a matter of aesthetics. The right jacket can make you feel better about yourself and make you look more stylish. Choosing the correct coat type for your needs is essential because many different jackets are available today. So, choose a coat that fits you well and is comfortable to wear, lightweight but durable enough to withstand the elements, and lasts for years without showing signs of wear.

Conclusion

Now that you know all about jackets, you should be ready to pick one out. Understanding how to choose the right jacket for your body type is essential, so make sure you've been through our guide before heading out into town.

[emeraldhazeidentity]

@salamiimommy was kind enough to ask for my thoughts behind why I chose each cat's designs, so here you go. I'll pop it below a read more, though, since it gets long ^^;

I know I could have translated their colours literally, making each one a direct version of their Sans counterpart. But i wanted to see if I could translate their designs into more realistic coats.

Disclaimer: I know I forgot to include the cats' collars with their name tags on them. Oops.

Blot and Midnight were the two easiest cats to design based on their descriptions. Blot is described as a "small, brown-and-white-furred cat" that "had black splotches on his paw and cheek" and "green eyes". I immediately thought of a young tabby and white cat for him, with the long gangly legs of a cat no older than 18 months old.

Midnight is described as a "midnight black cat" with "strangely goopy-looking fur", that "was missing an eye", while the other one was "cyan". Straight away I pictured Midnight as a domestic longhair, the kind who's coat is a little dishevelled and greasy from age, but still looks elegant and composed. I had to have him loafing XD

Terror was described as a "much larger cat that was missing his ear and one of his eyes" with "fur [that] was so soft". I thought a Norwegian Forest Cat would be perfect for him, and he got a mostly white coat with a couple of small black patches to break it up and add some interest.

Soot is described as "the ash-colored one" that "tends to sneak around" so I automatically pcitured him as a grey cat. I drew him scratching his ear, as though he heard a whisper behind him that tickled his ear :D

Glitch is described as "a larger black cat with yellow rings on his legs and tail" and "mismatched eyes". Since I'm going for realism, I decided to make him a rare male tortoiseshell, with the ginger markings concentrating in ring-like patterns on his legs and tail. He's also described as the "resident anti-social kitty", so I tried to make him look grumpy with a swishing tail.

Cherry is described as "the red and gold mix." That made me think of the deep red coat of Abyssinian cats, so that was what I based his design and markings off. He's looking back with some level of concern at Lingo.

Vex is described as "the white one with a red patch on his cheek". That made me think of a white cat with a few small ginger patches on him, so in addition to the patch on his cheek, I gave him a ginger ear tip and some faint ginger stripes on the tip of his tail. I wanted to add more, but that felt like taking too much liberty with the design.

Menace is described in Chapter 26 as "the cat with the black stripes on his face". I know in Chapter 46 he's specifically called a "white cat", but a) I drew this before that chapter came out, and b) I was trying for realistic coat patterns, so a grey tabby felt the most fitting for him. Of course with a name like 'Menace' he had to be stalking poor Vex ^^;

Daylight is described as "the golden cat" "from the same litter" as Midnight. I tried to give him slightly longer fur to show he was Midnight's littermate, while I interpreted his colour as a sandy tan. I couldn't resist giving him a little pale patch on his forehead to resemble his circlet.

Sky is described as "the one with the blue paws and tail". I chose to interpret this as a blue colourpoint, so naturally he got a blue-grey face mask and ears, too. And, of course, bright blue eyes. His coat is also an off-cream instead of plain white, for variety.

Lingo was the trickiest. He's described as "unexpectedly garishly colored" with "unnaturally brightly colored fur" and "pale pink eyes...[with] pupils were more like a snake’s than a cat’s." I suppose I could have just thrown a bunch of neon colours at him and called it a day, but I was trying to stick to my rule of realistic coats. Despite that, he still ended up as a sparklecat, but I tried to go for a calico/chimera look for him, with a white face patch to explain his pale pink eyes.

And then lastly we have the newest kitty from Chapter 46, Gene. He's described as a "white cat" that "only had one eye" that was "red-to-blue" in colour. I opted for orange instead of red, since that's a more natural cat eye colour, and made it half and half. Also, "a patch of fur on his chest was gone where he had a large red scar", so that was easy enough to do. He's a bit more of an off-white colour, since he's been living as a stray before coming to Ccino's.

Hope my reasoning for these designs made a little sense ^^;

A little bit more Fanart for the phenomenal fic For the Forgotten Ones by Im_Sorry_Buddy, this time of Ccino's cats from Chapter 26.

Full disclosure: I know next to nothing about Fluffytale, so sorry if these aren't quite right. There's a fair amount of artistic license gone into these cats, but this is how I interpreted them from the fic descriptions. I tried to make them as realistic as possible in their designs (except Lingo: he's a proud sparklecat ^^;)

If anyone really wants, I can go into detail about why I chose each cat's breed/colour etc, but for now I'll leave it here and not bombard you with walls of text, lol

I used references to help me get the various poses and colours right.