#'grasshopper weather? what's that?'

[fictionadventurer]

Reading On the Banks of Plum Creek as a child: Wow, it's so great that Laura and Mary get to live in this awesome new house instead of that weird little underground dugout.

Reading On the Banks of Plum Creek as an adult: PA INGALLS!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING??? YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS!! The dugout is FINE!! You can wait a year until you actually HAVE a wheat crop and the money from it!! Why do you so shamelessly court disaster??

[violetteshoneybee]

WIP. (remus lupin x reader)

remus lupin x reader

In which the marauders and their girls are on summer holiday in South of France and Remus realises he wants you.

Warnings: fluff (maybe smut, we’ll see); not proofread!!

Remus had no idea when he agreed to go to the Potter’s summer house in south of France that the summer holidays would go like this. He thought it would be just the four of them boys in a little house. But he did underestimate the Potters wealth a bit.

The taxi stopped in front of the iron gates of a three-story house. The path to the front door was lined by pine trees. Remus could hear some repetitive melody coming from the trees. He attributed that to some kind of grasshopper. The scorching sun, although filtered by the branches, was making the boy’s head ache and sweat. And the noise from what he had gathered to be a cigale was worsening it. Still, he was pleased to discover the house with its walls made of put-together stone, its shutters needing fresh paint, and the small fountain beside the floral arrangement that would go all around the building. James had pushed its faucet to bathe his head in cold water, but Remus was focused on something else now. He had seen someone in the window. Someone he didn’t know would be here.

The door opened in a hurry, and all he could think was, when did he miss that information?

“We were starting to worry, what took you so long?”

“James had forgotten his pacifier, that’s what took us so long. You know how he is when he doesn’t have it.” Sirius climbed the stairs, his sunglasses in his hair and his bag on the shoulder. “Insufferable!” He muttered loud enough for the four girls to hear.

Remus combed his fingers through his hair and took a long breath before opening his mouth

“Well! Hello-”

“What are you doing here? I thought it was just us four!” Peter asked joining Sirius and the others inside.

You stayed in the corner of the door looking at the two boys left.

“Had a nice trip?”

Remus nodded. You looked ethereal in your blue and white sundress, your hair braided together.

“And you? You didn’t wait too long? Lils is not mad right?”

“Don’t start, Prongs.” Remus lifted his luggage. “I like the dress”

“You’ll get burned if you don’t put sunscreen on, Potter.”

“It’s alright, Evans. He’s a big guy.”

“I have some sunscreen if you'd like.”

James shook his head no, not glancing at them, his arm covering his eyes to cover himself. He had decided he was done with Lily Evans. Too much running around, not enough results, he said. And, too busy becoming a better guy, he was not seeing how Lily’s attention toward him had changed. That’s what everyone understood, though.

Remus’s gaze turned from his three friends to the girl getting in the water. You chuckled a bit listening to Lily’s attempt at catching James attention.

“Not too cold?”

You immersed yourself fully in the pool and let yourself float around.

“It’s parfait!”

Remus smiled at your French pronunciation. You and Sirius had been going around throwing random French words in conversation since the first day of the holidays.

“Is it? Should I join you?” You shook your head.

“Don’t ruin it. It feels good like this.” You hummed plunging your head underneath the surface.

Remus looked at how your body moved expertly under the water. The way your hair floated above your shoulders and how sunshine seemed to rain on your back as you swam. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from you. Away from your legs moving so delicately under the water like a dance he did not know of.

He watched you like this the whole time you were enjoying the nice and cool pool in the back garden of the house. He was sitting on a lounging chair in the shadow of a pine tree. He had kept his shirt on despite the warm weather, too embarrassed to show his scarred body. Remus’s face was already reddened by the sun, and some freckles had started to appear on his nose and cheeks. You had found them quite adorable on him. It betrayed his soft personality that you loved so much.

You had been in love with Remus for two years now. Stealing glances at him when you could, but keeping your feelings for yourself. You were worried you might ruin your bond and your friend group dynamic. As if getting serious with Remus would stop you from enjoying time with the others. Particularly if Remus were to reject you. You couldn’t even think of how your friendship would go after that without being embarrassed to death. Still, from time to time, when you were brave enough, you would attempt to flirt with Remus. Just to see if you had a chance, or if he really was too good for you. You were wondering at that moment, fully aware of the attention on your body, if you could say something to him. Your face was red just at the thought of it.

“My eyes are higher, Rem.” You managed to say without stuttering too much. You had swum to him and were now looking up at him through your lashes.

Remus was speechless. You looked so innocent, so beautiful at that moment. He wanted to take a picture of you, just to keep you in his wallet, and maybe, just maybe, sometimes say to strangers, “That’s my girlfriend, isn’t she beautiful?” He dreamed of that, of saying you were his.

Dividers credit to @cafekitsune

Tag list : @innerloverpainter

[mouthfullofmunson]

Pest Eddie returns! :)

This time, husband edition!!

:)

Now that you are finally “settled down” and live together it seems like almost every time Eddie takes a smoke break outside late at night he brings in some furry creature

And not something nice

Like a little kitten or a dog with no owner

Opossums, a raccoon once, once he brought in two mice, he’s brought in spiders before, grasshoppers, worms, snakes

And he tries SO hard not to take no for an answer, but after touring you for almost an hour with whatever creature he’s brought in he smiles and goes “happy wife, happy life!” And takes the monster back outside

After to get married he’s very very excited to be able to officially call you his wife

Because well, he never thought he’d be a married man!

And for the first month of your marriage anytime you’re out he’s always pulling your hand up and showing the ring off to strangers “I’ve got a wife, no thanks!” And he specifically does it to old men, especially the ones who want to stair at his with his long hair, his tattoos, and his dark clothings

Or sometimes if you lean in and wrap your arm around his or even sit back down next to him after leaving your table to run to the bathroom or something he will make sure to say loud enough “what are you doing, lady? I’ve got a wife!”

Just because he likes to embarrass you as much as he can to see your cheeks get red and apologize to everyone around you

And he always get the same reply, “you’re such a little shit” between gritted teeth

Speaking of him being a little shit

I always just kind of think of him having a career as a tattoo artist, I’m not exactly sure why, I think it’s because he likes to doodles, and it fits him pretty well

But since he’s a tattoo artist, a lot of time before bed he’s pulling out his sketch book, just thinking of ideas for his flash book or maybe sketching a new tattoo for himself, or just doodling to doodle

But he will turn the sketch book over to you, showing off a sketch of boobs in the corner of his book “guess who’s?” And he laughs, slapping his knee and giggling

And he has definitely come home before with your name covering his neck saying “look, sweetheart. Finally got something for you.” And your jaw drops, trying to figure out weather to start screaming or book a appointment to remove it

“Is that fucking real, Eddie? Do not tell me that’s real I swear to god I’ll get the divorce papers”

And he starts chuckling, shaking his head “it’s just a stencil. It’ll wash off. I just thought It’d be funny! You should’ve seen your face!”

He’s SUCHHH a pest I can’t get over it

I can just imagine him coming out of the shower before bed, usually he’s in just his plaid boxers to go to sleep but this time he comes out in your pink lace panties and he acts like nothing is different until you spot him, and he turns around showing off his ass “I think they look pretty good!”

And when you’re changing, or when he sees you naked or half naked at all really he’s snapping photos, a smile on his pretty face while he snaps as many as he can until he hears you yell “someone has to develop those, you know! They have to see that!” He rolls his eyes, laughing and snapping one last photo before shoving the camera away

And when he’s on the phone with you he either does one of two different things

He answer the phone with “how are the kids?” Really just to throw you off and annoy you

Or in the middle of you talking he will give you a deep sign “fuck baby, keep talking I’m almost there.” 9/10 times you hang up and he smiles until you call back a minute later

And the most pest like thing he does

Well when you’re out with your family and he’s getting a little bored and feeling VERYYYY annoying he will randomly stand up, with a large smile on his face (you, already in the know of what he’s about to pull is trying to yank him back down to his seat weather that be in a restaurant or in your dining room) then announced that you’re pregnant- with twins if he wants the extra shock factor

When you and Eddie announced that you were getting married your families did not believe you at all and it took the whole dinner to convince them it was true, even with the ring they were still skeptical and you knew Eddie was to blame for crying wolf so many times

Shockingly, your family still loves him

And he lovessss to lie

He will come home, trying to hide his mischievous smirk while he tells you

“Nancy got married?!”

“Dustin got suzie pregnant?!”

“You slept with Steve?!”

“Mike and eleven got eloped?!”

“Hopper and Joyce broke up?!”

“I got fired?!”

“You’re pregnant?!”

And he gets you for about 5 seconds each time before you realize he’s full of shit and you throw whatever soft object is close enough to you

Well that’s all I have for now! Thank you guys sm for the support I’ve gotten on all my pest Eddie posts! You guys really seem to love our little pest 🥹💘

If you have any pest-husband eddie thoughts, I’d absolutely love to hear them!!!

:)

[raevenlyreads]

Seasonal Circle Read Sample

For the Seasonal Circle Spread, the entire deck is spread out in a circle and key points along the wheel are read. Usually this spread is read from turn of season to turn of season (from start of spring to start of summer, for example), but it can be done at any time. I use my intuition to determine the best start and end points if this reading is done mid-season.

For this reading (done mid-May), I read a teeny bit back to hit May Day, then forward for the 1st of June, Solstice, 1st of July, 1st of August, and the potential rewards to be reaped in the upcoming season thereafter.

Want your own Seasonal Circle Spread? Check out my ko-fi page

Read on for the full spread and interpretations

May Day

May Day brought you the energy of the Hierophant. A good time to get things in order, you may already have felt this season bringing focus for new projects and building new habits.

First of June

June comes in with the energy of the Ten of Pentacles. Goals you have been working towards for a long time are coming into fruition.

Solstice

Solstice (June 20th this year) will bring a shift in fortunes. If you've made good use of the Hierophant and Ten of Pentacles energy, you will be prepared to weather the storms and reap the rewards of fortune smiling upon you.

First of July

The Four of Pentacles warns us to be careful of being miserly. Perhaps you put something away in preparation for the turning of The Wheel; now is the time to reevaluate using it. What is held onto is never lost, but it never grows, either.

First of August

The Moon suggests that all is not as it seems. Beware of tricksters, or deals that seem too good to be true.

Upcoming Season

If you play this season right, you will be rewarded with a new opportunity in the next. A new friendship or partnership is on the horizon, provided you've not stretched yourself too thin. This summer’s lesson is discernment, being able to determine true gold from all else that glitters. Recall the ant and the grasshopper, and remember that there is a balance to be had between work and play. While the ant may be full all winter, we are not ants. There is bounty enough to store some away for later and also to use some of your resources now to live your life and enjoy it.

-

Big thank you to all my volunteer querents for allowing me to use their readings for samples. You can find more samples under the tag #raevs sample reads, and can learn more about commissioning me for a read on my ko-fi page (or send me an ask here, I love answering questions about readings, decks, and all things tarot!)

[onenicebugperday]

@galacticnova3​ submitted: Another honorary bug, this one being a yellow garden spider! Or yellow garden spiders, I should say. I rescued the first girl from our pool; I’d noticed her web on the side before and liked checking in on her, but found that a fallen branch had knocked her home down. She was clinging to a piece of it and the branch in the water, so I found a long stick to get her out, assuming she’d grab on and hang out on the stick to dry like other pool-going spiders I’d encountered in the past. She decided the stick wasn’t good enough though and traveled all the way up to my hand.

I ended up moving her to our patio to help her avoid repeating the unfortunate pool incident, and she decided to set up right by the stairs. This was her a couple days after, putting the orb in orb weaver because I had offered her a big “sorry you had to move” grasshopper. By this point I had gotten attached and named her Vandalism because my dad didn’t like her choice of housing location and I had to convince him to leave her be.

She laid four egg sacs in that location before moving to a different part of the patio, where she eventually laid a fifth that was about half the size of the others. I wasn’t sure if any of them were viable, until she had decided to move. I thought a bird had gotten her because her web was destroyed like something had flown through it and she was nowhere to be found around the area. As soon as I announced her passing my dad told me to take down what was left, eggs included, and in the process the oldest of the three ended up ripping. Imagine my surprise when little babies started spilling out! I ended up putting that first torn sac on a nearby oak tree, since the rough bark would hold it easily and give the not-quite-ready spiderlings places to hide. Then a couple days later I noticed Vandalism was actually alive and had set up in a different spot, though she later moved from that and laid the fifth egg sac.

She has since passed, but I’ve been keeping two of the sacs safe indoors, those being the fourth and fifth ones; the second and third were given to my mom for her yard. Originally I had the big one in my vivarium and the small one in a ziploc bag, but I underestimated how far along the babies were and hadn’t considered the fact that they can fit through the terrarium lid. This became apparent when I went to brush my hair and teeth after watering the vivarium, only to be delayed because I spotted a baby in my hair and subsequently found a bunch exploring the shelf. Behold: a tiny graffiti!

Now both eggs(which are both healthy, babies have been confirmed in the small one!) are in the ziploc bag, but a few babies have been left in the vivarium both because moving them would be difficult and because I figure those that get out can’t get far without wind to carry them, so I can just put them back if they stray away. They’re all doing well and I’m hoping to be able to release them when the weather warms up and they’ll be safe from cold snaps and starvation. Crossing my fingers most of them survive until then!

I love Vandalism!!! She is big and beautiful and I’m glad you rescued her from the pool. Her giant web is very impressive, good for her. RIP tho. And her babies!!! Too tiny...criminally small. Godspeed little spiders! I hope lots of them survive until the spring :)

[dimalink]

Bicycle – a cool summer moment

This summer, I start to ride with bicycle. I have Movix model of bicycle. China mountain bicycle. So, I have already, sometime with riding with it. And I am glad. Excellent bicycle. To ride at the country house. You can even be faster. Breaks works. Everything like it should to be.

Changing speed – everything exists. You can move pedals easy. You can do it with some force. Different modes. Different speed. Everything works fine. So, with this bicycle, I start my roads.

Last time, I was with bicycle more then a 10 years ago. So, this is new activity. A country house thing to do. It is bicycle. From time to time to ride with it along the countryside roads.

Along the field, for example, to move. Just like under the hot sun. With one side of the road. There are some grasshoppers different. And you are moving along the countryside road. In a most hot part of the day. Beautiful!

Or in another side – along the forest. It is more narrow road, already. And a forest. With a big trees. So, I have never think about this, but trees - they are very high. So, this view makes an impression too.

Bicycle can help to improve your physical health. To upgrade a psycho state too. So, it is a very useful load.

So, several times, I try to make as long ride as I can. Now in the end of the season. Just not long ride time. To move. Min 15-20. To watch a views. I make several stop. And that’s all – I am happy. So, it is rather good start!

But, it was a moment, I think, maybe, I have a ride about one hour about a countryside roads. Of course, I do a break time in the road, to have some relax.

Country house and bicycle – it is excellent combination! Especially when summer - it is so sunny! So, this year a September - it is very hot. Count, that august is to continue. So, it is a warm little days! Moment of little positive!

Some joy moment from summer. To ride fast with bicycle! By the roads. To watch a views. Field, forest, road ahead. To take a break. It is very bright moment from a summer!

And also, it is remarkable moment for memory. I start a bicycle at summer 2024 year. At the country house. After a long pause. Start!

Weather is excellent! Warm. Sunny. Everything is bright and joy and colorful. And you are going with a bicycle. Not fast. Not moving fast, and just ride, to move forward. You can rotate pedals several times to faster speed. To be faster. And to feel the moment of riding – moment of a ride.

Bicycle moves you for some time by the road. Cool emotions! And, later to make a stop and take a breath. To watch a beautiful view. And again – forward! Take a place! And go for a road! Somewhere, forward to move by the roads!  Carefree and cool moment!

Sometimes it happens, a cars move at your side by the road. It happens – no cars at all, sometimes. It depends about the road. Which you select. And everything is green. And sky is blue. And sun is bright. Sunlight is everywhere. And you move forward. And forward.

So, it is good to get when it is enough, and it is a time to go back. Something like you are going in a far, far and far! It is so endless process. Alice from wonderland. My fav fairytale. So, ride – and be excite – what an interesting tree is growing here! And before - you never take a notice about this! Everything is so interesting and sunny! So, it is good to summer never ends!

Field and forest. Sand under the shoes. So, a lots of everything – you can to see! Plants and trees! Everything is green! And such a positive! Excellent time! With a bicycle – country house is having a more positive sides!

Dima Link is making retro videogames, apps, a little of music, write stories, and some retro more.

WEBSITE: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html ITCHIO: https://dimalink.itch.io/ GAMEJOLT: https://gamejolt.com/@DimaLink/games

TUMBLR: https://dimalink.tumblr.com/ BLOGGER: https://dimalinkeng.blogspot.com/ MASTODON: https://mastodon.social/@DimaLink

[loosingmoreletters]

for the ask game? your current favorite ship, and meeting on a train ride au

this couldn’t ever be anything but an ORV fic

Kim Dokja didn’t want to feel uncharitable, but the last thing he needed right now was his train getting delayed because someone had decided to end their life in such an inconvenient way. There were neater solutions to it, though he supposed jumping in front of a train was at least more effective than jumping out of a window.

But honestly, Kim Dokja couldn’t care less. He just wanted to go home and, well, figure out what he was supposed to do with the rest of his life. Maybe he should just read Three Ways to Survive the Apocalypse again? Even if the novel had disappeared from the website, Kim Dokja had copied and saved a version on it on his laptop at home. He had left the author many comments, been its only true commenter. It was a story written just for him, he could allow himself this indulgence, especially if he would pay for the novel in the future.

And then, finally, an announcement rang out.

Telling all passengers on the train. Telling all passengers on the train. E-Everyone run away… Run…!

What?

The moment the announcement was finished, the inside of the carriage became a mess, people standing up and screaming. Kim Dokja checked his phone, wondering if there was some other news appearing, yet he saw nothing but the usual weather forecast, the random game apps he had downloaded. And then the time switched from 6:59 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

At once, the darkness grew heavier, oppressing, the weight of the world bearing down on him as slowly a figure emerged.

[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]

[The main scenario has started.]

Familiar words rang out and Kim Dokja held his breath as a scene he’d only ever pictured in his head and drawn clumsily in school notebooks blurred into reality. A small fluffy creature floated above their heads and it proclaimed horrors Kim Dokja had seen as his salvation for over a decade. As people needlessly pestered the dokkaebi, Kim Dokja sat still. This was just like his novel. A train, a monster—

Kim Dokja raised his head, searching for the number of the train carriage. Which one had he boarded?

[3707]

Oh.

This story could only have one ending, could it? And it wasn’t one he was meant to see.

The subway became a bloodbath before the main scenario even started. Had Kim Dokja not read this story before, would he have reacted the same way? Would he be smeared against the glass windows now, dead before the story even really began?

Kim Dokja calmly put his phone in his pocket. Only he knew the future and if he was lucky enough, had proven himself faithful enough to his reason for living, then maybe he’d be allowed to live past the prologue.

A small window emerged in front of everyone’s blank eyes.

[The main scenario has arrived!]

The dokkaebi smiled bloodthirstily before it bowed. [I look forward to an interesting story.]

The next moment, the screaming started again. Kim Dokja turned to the left, the very end of the carriage, from where the people were starting to drop like flies. No question then where the protagonist was. Kim Dokja turned to his right. He hadn’t noticed it before, but the person next to him, they hadn’t moved at all either, had they?

There sat a boy, probably not even middle school aged, holding a box of grasshoppers. Wirely, Kim Dokja thought that he’d need the power boost to face the protagonist.

“Let me,” he told the boy and took the box from him. He opened it just so to get a single one out and pressed it into the boy’s hand. “Now squeeze.”

The boy did as told on reflex, his widening a moment later. With that, Kim Dokja had done his part, repaid the debt he owed the kid. Another particularly gruesome scream and a glance towards the left told him he didn’t have much time. Quickly he reached within the box, squishing all the insects and eggs inside.

[You have killed a living thing.]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]

Rapidly, the notifications rang out, and just as quickly, Kim Dokja invested them, and that not a moment too late as the last person standing between him and the protagonist was easily tossed aside.

Kim Dokja grimaced and pushed the kid behind him.

Yoo Joonghyuk stared at him with cold narrow eyes, as if searching for something. “Unusual.”

Somehow, Kim Dokja couldn’t keep from grinning. “Did that not happen in your last regression?”

It was only thanks to his added speed that Kim Dokja evaded Yoo Joonghyuk reaching for him. Yoo Joonghyuk might have killed more people than anyone else on this train, but it was Kim Dokja who’d win the trophy for mass murder, having killed the most living beings.

“What do you know?”

“More than you,” Kim Dokja replied. “I can definitely lead you to the end of scenarios. Make me your companion, Yoo Joonghyuk. You won’t regret it.”

The protagonist’s eyes widened.

Yes, Kim Dokja thought. This is what I stayed alive for.

[henqtic]

morning sun . xavier thorpe x black!reader . wc: 641.

summary: spending a lazy summery morning in bed with xavier.

note: this is a love note to the summer, please hurry up i can’t stand this weather anymore

·:*₊‧ masterlist . taglist form . request works . ·:*₊‧✩

Every day, right when the moon had started to settle into bed and the sun would take its place, Xavier would rise and watch as morning poured in through his windows.

It was beautiful to him, to watch the world wake up.

To see the birds start to fly past, hear the sound of grasshoppers rubbing their legs together and the ‘hoo-ing’ of owls. His favorite part of it all was seeing the flowers he kept on his dresser straighten themselves out and reach for the light outside.

It was different in the summer, when he was in the comfort of his room, and in the comfort of your arms— cuddled up in his bed; warm, and free of worry.

His hums were soft from above, his chest rising and falling beneath you as he filled up the quietness of his house. The rhythm of his heartbeat kept you afloat, a pretty melody flowing through the ear that pressed against his chest.

You’d gone to sleep in a comfortable position, with one of his arms holding you down gently by the small of your back, and the other occupied as his fingers wrapped around the mini twists you planned on keeping in for at least the next week.

The silk lined bonnet that once sat on your head was long gone by now, hiding somewhere in his blankets that smelled of rich vanilla and hints of whatever it was he used in all of the drawings that hung on his walls.

It would be an easy task, really, just to fake sleep and waste away the daylight in his arms.

But he always wanted to seize the day, to go to the park, or on a walk, to one of the numerous popup carnivals or even a water park you had to drive two hours to and back from.

And for the fake sleeping, he knew you better than that.

He watched with a knowing smile on his face as the sunlight trickled down from your forehead to your eyelashes. It caressed the apples of your cheeks and poured down to cover your body like a blanket. Your lips quirked upwards at his stare, into a smile you tried your best to keep down.

“So,” Xavier started, you could almost hear the smirk in his voice, “What do we plan on doing all day?”

He waited while you drew in a deep breath and hummed, feigning thought. His nails still scratched at your scalp, and his head tilted so that he could finally look you in the eyes.

You smiled at his appearance, hair all ruffled into a mess, eyes half lidded and low, and lips plump and practically calling out to be kissed.

“Oh I don’t know, maybe just stay here until the hunger becomes too much?”

“And why should we do that?”

“Because you’re my incredibly sweet, beautiful, kind, and handsome boyfriend who would make me a thousand times happier if I could just cuddle with him all day.”

"That's all I have to do to make you happy?"

You hummed.

Xavier Thorpe wasn’t built to withstand flattery, evident as a beaming smile overcame his face and he had to look up to the ceiling to conceal his laughter. If you blinked, you could miss the rose-tinted blush that brushed across his cheeks.

“So is that a yes?”

You didn't hear him say a word, but a feather light kiss found its way to you, familiar as his hand reached beneath your shirt and gently grasped your waist, keeping you pressed against him. You shifted upwards, just enough to straddle him, tangling your fingers in his hair.

He kissed around your whole face, on your hairline, between your eyes, and your nose bridge— until there was no open skin left and loud and childish giggles disrupted that previous silence.

🔖— !! @pandoraneverland​ @mollysolo​ @wxnderingthoughts​ @oliviah-25​ @instabull​ 

༊ @henqticstudy — follow and turn on notifications for this blog to only get notified when a work is posted ( or just fill out the taglist form )

thank you for reading, every single like and reblog is appreciated  🌷 !

[poetics-tracy]

July is lemonade skies and heavy

rains, and an unyielding sense

of time - it is either unmoving: humidity

settling in on a breezeless day,

or it is speeding by: cicadas wailing

their last before surrendering the season

to the crickets and grasshoppers.

I feel like two people in summer,

the self I want to be (she is listening

to the insects and the birds and quietly

watching the storm on the horizon)

and the person I so often am (she is

running late, again, or she is sick, again,

and she is hurrying through the rain

thinking about acid and microplastics

and how she's probably lucky there

are no windows in her office, so she

can't watch the growing puddles

instead of working), and the disconnect

is so strong that July becomes two

Julys. Lemonade skies become

haze and smog, and there is endless

drought and threat of fire. And loneliness,

without the conversations of birds

and summer creatures. July is asking me

what's next, and I do not know because

I must first survive this. I must weather

these hot days and find hope in them.

I must allow myself to be as many

selves as I need to be in a multitude

of Julys.

[whitecatindisguise]

Secondary Heroes

7. A Change Of Approach

The evening sun was almost gone, the sky on the east already dark with first stars showing. Cracking of fire could be heard between cricketing of grasshoppers and hooting of owls. The weather was warm and it didn't seem to be changing anytime soon, which was good, considering the two vulpines sitting in the darkening forest.

Tails poked out his tongue, the habit he unconsciously built indicating he was focusing on the task at hand. Right now, he was going through the information he managed to acquire from Eggman's base. He didn't have time to check exactly what he was downloading before, being on a time crunch and everything. That meant he had to sort through tons of files and articles, deciding what was relevant and useful to their problem, and which bits he could ignore.

On the other side of the fire pit he could see Kitsunami, his tongue also poking out in concentration, hunching over a lock, a lockpick in his paws.

Keep reading on AO3

[spanishskulduggery]

Most Essential Vocabulary #3

Part 3 of some of the most essential Spanish vocabulary!

This time I decided to go with mostly nouns - animals (minus fish/marine life for the most part), metals, materials, fabrics, and basic weather expressions!

There are always going to be words I miss, but these are some of the most common ones you come across. Though if you’re watching nature documentaries or getting into crafting you might find other words or more specific words than these; still, this is a good baseline for things you’ll come across in everyday Spanish

Los Animales  [Animals]

el perro = dog la perra = dog [f] / bitch [the literal word for “female dog” Spanish-speakers do call their female dogs perra or perrita; but it is also the insult “bitch”]

el gato = cat la gata = cat [f] [again sometimes some unsavory elements to la gata but still very common]

perrito/a = puppy

gatito/a = kitten

el cachorro = puppy, pup el cachorro = pup / baby animal [mammals; it’s not specifically dogs]

el pájaro = bird

el loro = parrot

el lagarto = lizard la lagartija = lizard [small]

la tortuga = turtle / tortoise [large land turtles are sometimes called el galápago like the islands]

la serpiente = snake

el ratón, la rata = mouse / rat [interchangeable at this point]

el erizo = hedgehog

el hurón = ferret

la cobaya = guinea pig [in the medical sense too!] el cuy / el cuyo = guinea pig [South America] el conejillo de Indias = guinea pig [lit. “little rabbit from the Indies”; occasional, but not standard]

el conejo, la coneja = rabbit

el pez = fish [as opposed to el pescado “fish” which is fish you eat, aka “seafood”]

el reptil = reptile

el ave = bird

el mamífero = mammal

la mascota = pet [and “mascot” for teams]

gruñir = to growl

masticar = to bite

ladrar = to bark

maullar = to meow

arañar = to scratch

lamer = to lick

acariciar = to pet / to caress

Also, not totally necessary unless it is - el sabueso is “hound” while el galgo is “greyhound” or “running dog”

~

Los Insectos [Insects]

el insecto = insect

el bicho = bug [sometimes means something very different in other countries but it is generally “bug”]

la mariposa = butterfly

la hormiga = ant el hormiguero = anthill

el gusano = worm / maggot

la oruga = caterpillar

el ciempiés = centipede [lit. “hundred feet”, just like what “centipede” means]

la mosca = fly

el mosquito = mosquito

la araña = spider la telaraña = web, spiderweb, cobweb [lit. “spider fabric”]

la abeja = bee la colmena = hive, beehive el panal = honeycomb la reina = queen

el enjambre = swarm

la avispa = wasp

el zángano = drone el obrero, la obrera = worker

la picadura = bug bite / sting

la mantis (religiosa) = (praying) mantis

el escorpión = scorpion el alacrán = scorpion

el caracol = snail

el saltamontes = grasshopper

el grillo = cricket

la langosta = locust [also the word for “lobster”, which is unfortunate]

la cucaracha = cockroach

la pulga = flea

el escarabajo = beetle / scarab

la luciérnaga = firefly, lightning bug

la libélula = dragonfly

la mariquita = ladybug [lit. “little Mary”, because ladybugs are linked to Mary in Christianity in many languages]

I know some of these aren’t technically insects don’t @ me

~

Las Aves [Birds]

el pájaro = bird

el ave, las aves = bird, birds [technically feminine; umbrella term] (el) ave rapaz, las aves rapaces = birds of prey las aves acuáticas = waterfowl [lit. “aquatic birds”] las aves marinas = seabirds

el águila = eagle [technically feminine] el águila calva = bald eagle

el gorrión = sparrow

la golondrina = swallow

la alondra = lark

el petirrojo = robin

la urraca = magpie

el buitre = vulture

el pájaro carpintero = woodpecker [lit. “carpenter bird”]

la paloma = dove / pigeon

el pavo = turkey

el pavo real = peacock la pava real = peahen

el ganso = goose

el pato / la pata = duck

el pollo = chicken

el gallo = rooster

la gallina = hen

la gaviota = seagull

el cisne = swan

la garza = heron

la grulla = crane

el cuervo = crow

la corneja = raven [but usuallly cuervo; even in literature, Poe’s “The Raven” is El Cuervo]

el búho = owl

la lechuza = owl [the ones with flatter faces; those owls... think Hedwig from HP]

el cucú = cuckoo

el loro = parrot [sometimes el papagayo]

la cotorra = parrot [regional, such as las cotorras de Murcia]

el avestruz = ostrich

el pingüino = penguin

el ala, las alas = wings [technically feminine]

la aleta = flipper

el pico = beak

la garra = talon, claw

la pluma = feather [or “pen”, since it all originally came from the idea of a “quill” which is pluma]

el huevo = egg

el nido = nest

el polluelo = chick, baby bird

~

Los Animales De la Granja / Domésticos [Farm (Animals) / Domesticated Animals]

el ganado = livestock / cattle

la vaca = cow el toro = bull

el buey = ox

el caballo = horse la yegua =  mare

el establo / la caballeriza = stable, stables

el potro, la potra = foal / colt, filly [baby horse]

el ganso, la gansa = goose

el pollo = chicken el gallo = rooster la gallina = hen

el gallinero = chicken coop

el palomar = pigeon coop

el cerdo, la cerda = pig, sow el puerco, la puerca = pig, sow

el chiquero = sty, pen / pigsty, pigpen 

el corral = corral

el carnero = ram

la oveja = sheep

la cabra = goat

el cordero = lamb el borrego = lamb, yearling

el rebaño = flock (of sheep)

el asno / el burro = donkey

la mula = mule

dar de comer (al animal) = to feed (an animal)

ordeñar = to milk (an animal)

montar = to ride (an animal/bike)

a caballo = on horseback montar a caballo = to ride on a horse, horseback riding

~

Los Animales Salvajes [Wild Animals]

el lobo, la loba = wolf

el oso, la osa = bear el osenzo / osito/a = bear cub, cub el oso negro = black bear el oso pardo = grizzly bear, brown bear el oso panda / el panda = panda bear el oso polar = polar bear

la serpiente = snake la víbora = viper, venomous snake [poisonous snake, used almost like a generic name]

venenoso/a = poisonous, venomous no venenoso/a = non-venomous, not poisonous

el búfalo = buffalo

el buey, los bueyes = ox, oxen

el bisonte = bison

el jabalí = boar

el mono, la mona = monkey

el simio = ape, simian

el chimpancé = chimpanzee

la gorila = gorilla

el león = lion la leona = lioness

el tigre = tiger la tigresa = tiger [f], tigress

el línce = lynx

el elefante, la elefanta = elephant

la jirafa = giraffe

la cebra = zebra

el cocodrilo = crocodile

el caimán / el aligátor = caiman / alligator [sometimes it has other names that are regional]

el hipopótamo = hippopotamus

el rinoceronte = rhinoceros

el leopardo = leopard

el ciervo, la cierva = deer, stag / deer, doe el venado, la venada = deer, stag / deer, doe

el alce = elk / moose

el reno = reindeer

la ardilla = squirrel

la nutria = otter

el zorro = fox [the female form is la zorra which is “female fox” or “vixen”; also a very mean insult like “bitch”]

el conejo, la coneja = rabbit

la liebre = hare, rabbit

el mapache = racoon

la comadreja = weasel

el castor = beaver

el canguro = kangaroo [also a slang word for “babysitter”]

la hiena = hyena

el chacal = jackal 

el murciélago = bat

la foca = seal

la morsa = walrus

el delfín = dolphin

la ballena = whale

el asta = antler [technically feminine]

el cuerno = horn

el colmillo = fang el colmillo = tusk [boar, elephant, etc]

el hocico = snout / nose (of an animal)

la garra = claw

la zarpa = claw (feline)

la guarida = lair, den

la madriguera = den, lair, hideout

el depredador = predator

la presa = prey [la presa also means “reservoir” or “dam”]

el macho = male

la hembra = female

salvaje = wild / savage

manso/a = tame

la manada = pack / herd [generally the word for “a group of animals”, so you see it everywhere for animals but the most common example is la manada de lobos “wolf pack”]

-

Los Metales [Metals]

el metal = metal

metálico/a = metallic

el oro = gold

la plata = silver

el bronce = bronze

el cobre = copper

el plomo = lead

el hierro = iron

el acero = steel

el aluminio = aluminum / aluminium

el zinc / el zinco / el cinco = zinc

el platino = platinum

la lata / el estaño = tin / tinplate / tinfoil [la lata also means “a can” as in food]

el latón = brass

You will also find that el hierro “iron” is used very idiomatically just like in English to mean “strong” such as la Dama de Hierro “Iron Lady” which was the nickname for Margaret Thatcher; or the translation of Xiran Jay Zhao’s book la Viuda de Hierro “Iron Widow”

And many metals or things made out of metal can be called férreo, férrico, or ferroso. A common example is el ferrocarril or la vía férrea for “railroad” or “railway”. 

In etymology, you also see this linked to el herrero, la herrera “smith” or la herrerería “blacksmith” or the metal section of a hardware store; and the word for “hardware store” is sometimes el ferretero 

Additionally, though not metals some general materials:

el carbón = coal el carboncillo = charcoal [charcoal is also el carbón vegetal “plant coal”, el carbón de leña “firewood coal”] 

el papel = paper

el cartón = cardboard

el cristal = crystal / glass [more formal is el vidrio “glass”]

el cuarzo = quartz

el diamante = diamond

el rubí = ruby

la esmeralda = emerald

el zafiro = sapphire

el ópalo = opal

la amatista = amethyst

el topacio = topaz

el ámbar = amber

la joya = jewel

la gema = gem

la perla = pearl

el nácar = nacre, mother-of-pearl

el yeso = gypsum, plaster [also a “cast” for broken bones, which were made out of plaster] el revoque = plaster

la madera = wood

el plástico = plastic

el pegamento = glue, paste

la resina = resin

el ébano = ebony

el marfil = ivory

el mármol = marble

la piedra = stone

la arena = sand

el ladrillo = brick

la arcilla = clay

la arenisca = sandstone

la caliza = limestone la cal = limestone, lime

el granito = granite

el alquitrán = tar

el hueso = bone

la mina = mine

la veta = vein (for metals)

cavar = to dig

forjar = to forge fraguar = to forge [interchangeable; la forja “forge” and la fragua “forge” are also interchangeable]

la aleación = alloy

el crisol = melting pot, crucible

-

La Tela [Fabric]

la tela = fabric

la fibra = fiber

el hilo = thread / string / yarn

la aguja = needle

la cinta = ribbon

la seda = silk

el algodón = cotton

la lana = wool / yarn

el terciopelo = velvet

el encaje = lace

la red = net, fishnet

el poliéster = polyester

a lunares / de lunares = polkadot, with dots [lit. “with circular”]

a rayas / de rayas = striped, with stripes [lit. “with lines”] de raya fina / de raya diplomática = pinstripe

a cuadros = checkered, gingham, plaid escocés / tartán = plaid [lit. “Scottish”] / tartan cuadriculado/a = checkered [lit. “with little squares”]

la piel = leather [lit. “skin”] el cuero = leather [formal]

el pelo = fur, hair la piel = fur / hide las pieles sintéticas / la piel falsa = faux fur, synthetic fur, fake fur

la gamuza = suede

orgánico/a = organic

artificial = artificial, manmade

sintético/a = synthetic

coser = to sew

cortar = to cut

tejer = to knit

ajustar = to tighten / to adjust

You may find something like un abrigo de piel which would be like a “fur coat”, as opposed to una chaqueta de cuero “leather jacket”, as opposed to a “fur jacket”

The issue here is that la piel is “skin” but it also means “pelt” or “animal hide” [el pellejo is another one] which has fur attached, so depending on the context it could be “leather” or “fur” for materials depending on context

-

El Tiempo / El Clima [Weather]

el sol = sun

la nube = cloud

la lluvia = rain / rainfall

el aguacero = downpour

el hielo = ice

la nieve = snow la nevada = snowfall

el viento = wind

la ventisca = blizzard

el vendaval = strong wind, gale

el remolino = whirlwind / whirlpool / swirl

el granizo = hail

la tormenta = storm la tormenta eléctrica = thunderstorm la tormenta de arena = sandstorm

la tempestad = big storm

el trueno = thunder

el rayo = lightning bolt

el relámpago = lightning flash

el tornado = tornado

el ciclón = cyclone, tornado

el tifón = typhoon

el monzón = monsoon

el huracán = hurricane

~

hacer sol = to be sunny soleado/a = sunny

nublar(se) = to be cloudy nublado/a = cloudy

llover = to rain lluvioso/a = rainy

nevar = to snow

granizar = to hail

hacer viento = to be windy

tronar = to thunder / to boom, to be very loud

hacer frío = to be cold (weather)

hacer calor = to be hot (weather)

asomar(se) una tormenta = “for a storm to be brewing”

caer un rayo = for lightning to strike [lit. “for a bolt to fall”]

~

la estación = season [or “station”]

la primevera = spring de primavera / primaveral = springtime, spring [adj]

el verano = summer de verano / veraniego/a = summertime, summery, summer [adj]

el otoño = autumn, fall de otoño / otoñal = fall, autumn, autumnal [adj]

el invierno = winter de invierno / invernal = winter, wintry [adj]

-

La Transportación [Transportation]

la transportación = transportation

conducir = to drive [also “to guide” or “to conduct”] manejar = to drive [also sometimes “to manipulate”, or “to work by hand”]

el conductor, la conductora = driver / conducter

el carro = car [general Latin America] el coche = car [Spain and parts of Latin America, still understood] el auto = car [often South America but still understood; short for automóvil “automobile” which is also “self-moving” literally]

la carretera = highway / roadway / motorway [lit. “car-way” or “place for carts”]

la autopista = highway / roadway / motorway  [lit. “car-track” or “road/track for cars]

el camión, la camioneta = truck [regionally dependent [el camión is sometimes “very big truck” like the 18-wheelers, while la camioneta is sometimes a smaller truck that a regular person might drive; all regional but all makes sense]

la furgoneta = van / pick-up truck [regional; large car]

arrancar = to start a car (or machinery) [arrancar is actually “to yank” or “pull up/out”, but with many machines originally having a lever you had to “pull” the word became arrancar for starting machinery]

acelerar = to accelerate, to speed up

decelerar = to decelerate, to slow down

parar = to stop

dar (la/una) vuelta = to turn around / to make a U-turn

dar marcha atrás = to reverse, to drive in reverse retroceder = to go backwards

el autobús, el bus = bus

el taxi = taxi

el avión = plane, airplane

el helicóptero = helicopter

el aeropuerto = airport

el boleto / el billete / el pasaje = ticket (for a plane) [boleto and billete refer to a “slip of paper”, while el pasaje is literally “passage” or “fare”]

el pasajero, la pasajera = passenger

el viajante, la viajante = traveler 

el asiento = seat

la parada = a stop, a layover

el tren = train

la estación de tren = train station

el andén = platform (often for trains)

el ferrocarril = railroad, railway

la vía férrea = railroad, railway, tracks [lit. “iron way”]

el metro = subway, “tube”, metro [short for el metropólitano “metropolitan” which literally  means “inside the city”]

el subterráneo / el subte = subway / “underground” [regional for “subway”, usually Rioplatense Spanish; it’s literally “subterranean” or “underground” which is a basic enough adjective, but here it’s “the underground” as subway slang]

el túnel = tunnel

la bicicleta = bicycle la bici = bike (abbreviation)

la motocicleta = motorcycle la moto = motorcycle / motor bike (abbreviation)

ir = to go irse = to go away, to leave

marchar(se) = to go away

viajar = to travel, to voyage

volver = to return

de ida = one way el/un pasaje de ida = a one way trip/ticket

de vuelta = back / coming back el/un pasaje de vuelta = return trip/ticket

de ida y vuelta = round trip

¡Buen viaje! = “Have a good trip!” / Bon voyage!

[humunanunga]

Preaching to the choir to talk about climate change, I know, so I just wanna share some millennial perspective for folks who'd be too young or too urban to have witnessed these kinds of ecological changes. I'm 30 now, in 2023, and I'm from the southern post oak savannahs in Texas.

Growing up, spring was characterized by the lovebugs swarming to mate. Gas stations would be especially packed by them, attracted to the smell of their own smeared bodies being wiped off of everyone's windshields. My grandmother saw maybe one this year.

Growing up, summer was characterized by droves of cicadas, junebugs, grasshoppers and the black-and-yellow argiope, a web spider that grows big enough to eat them. This had been one of the quietest summers I can ever recall. I didn't hear the wee-oo-wee-oo of scissorgrinder cicadas at all this year. I saw grasshoppers but not a single argiope. I saw maybe one junebug.

Growing up, autumn got frost in the mornings. I would have to wait for the windshield to defrost to go to school. Texas was always warm in the summer, but it was still normal to get cooler-than-tropical weather during the cold months. The last time I can recall morning frost was at least ten years ago.

Growing up, winter still didn't usually give us more than one day of snow toward February, but we did get ice and sleet. It was normal to see my breath outside. The polar vortices were unusual, but warm winters are also unusual even in Texas. They're a very recent occurrence.

A lot of users on this platform were born after these changes already passed, or else grew up in the city. If climate change were reversed tomorrow, it would be a shock to the system how much more fuller the air would be with wings and songs during the warm months, and how much icier the cold months would be. I don't know how to express to anyone younger than me how much emptier, quieter, the trees and grasses are compared to however old I'd have been when they were born.

What's happened has already happened, but. I dunno. It's still important to remember what else is different or missing, especially in order to better envision what recovery will look like.

[writingpaperghost]

As From the One, All Things Are Born (Chapter 1)

Chapter 1: Goodbye Gold, Graduate to Grasshopper

Ten years ago, Geryon betrayed the Alchemist Association, taking off with the work of another alchemist and the one hundred Chemies in the Association's possession at the time. Now, ten years later, the Chemies have appeared again, and so has the Gotchadriver, in the hands of three dolls created by Geryon. The situation is far from ideal, but Fuga Kudo has no choice but to place some trust in the creations of his former associate. With another trio seeking out the Chemies and after the Gotchadriver, it's more important than ever to find the Chemies. What really happened ten years ago? Who are Mary, Anselm, and Agatho, the three after the Chemy cards, and why?

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/59460031/chapters/151640380

Grey skies, as usual – the weather here, in the Ouroboros Realm, could be nothing else, the snake in the sky consuming its own tail, darkness seeping out to darken the sky. It was a bold place to hide, especially for so long, below the door that sealed the darkness away. But there were few places they could go that they would not be easily found and this was the best, ultimately. Lachesis had grown bored of this world, really, but she wouldn’t leave her master or her sisters, either.

On the other side of the warehouse they had transformed into their home, for the time, Master Geryon and Atropos worked, their voices quiet and unending. They would regularly talk for hours at a time on their work, tinkering with that silly Driver that they’d taken when they fled ten years ago, alongside the Chemies. Truthfully, Lachesis had never known for certain what Atropos’ purpose was, but if she had to guess, she’d say to be Master Geryon’s assistant. Though it wouldn’t explain why he chose to make her look like a child.

Between the three of them, Clotho sparred with Wrestler-G – she didn’t tend to fight in the style of wrestling, but he was one of the Chemies that she would spar with. Practice, she would always say, to make sure she stayed ready for whenever they were found again. They had been here for a while, years having passed since they’d last been found… still, no one trusted that to last.

“Clover…?” From Lachesis’ lap, Happyclover peered up, clearly aware she was losing herself in her thoughts. Happyclover was one of the Chemies that Lachesis had always preferred the company of, not that she was particularly fond of most of them. They were why they were hiding here, after all. Why they were always skirting danger…

Lachesis shook her head, “It’s nothing,” She said quietly, making some attempt to not catch her sisters’ or creator’s attention. Clotho continued her spar, and Master Geryon and Atropos continued their work, so they must not have heard her.

There’s a certain clinking sound that Lachesis knows is Master Geryon cleaning up, meaning he and Atropos must be done with their experiments. That was quick, Lachesis was fairly certain they had only been at it a few hours, at most. Usually, they spent most of the day working, or at least, the Ouroboros Realm’s equivalent of the day.

“I believe we have finished our adjustments,” Master Geryon said, handing the Gotchadriver to Atropos. Of course, they had finished their adjustments more than once before, over the past ten years. But Master Geryon spoke with a certain confidence, every time, that Lachesis could never help but believe him. In all reality, they’d probably be back at it in a day or two.

Atropos returns the Gotchadriver to where they kept it, kept close in case they were found and had to make a quick exit. One day, Lachesis would hold the Gotchadriver for herself, become the one to use it… but that day, at this rate, wouldn’t be for a long time, and Lachesis didn’t mind.

Somewhere in the distance, Lachesis thinks she hears the crackle of fire.

---

Fuga always looked forward to when his students arrived at the Alchemist Academy. He found great fulfillment in nurturing the future of alchemy, even if there was there was always… challenges. Not always bad challenges, but challenges nevertheless. And given the small nature of the Furasu branch – at present, there were only two students – it allowed him to make sure his students got the help they needed.

Despite being on two very different ends of a personality spectrum, Icho and Tsuruhara got along swimmingly. Icho could be loud, often boisterous and excited about her alchemy. Tsuruhara, on the other hand, was quiet, often relying on his tablet to talk, though he too could get quite excitable when it came to alchemy, and especially Chemies.

They were fairly good students, occasionally they got into some shenanigans, but rarely did they ever really find trouble. Of course, nowadays, trouble was hard to find, especially at a school this small. The worst that could really happen was a transmutation gone wrong.

Today though… something was off. It wasn’t his students, it was something in Fuga’s gut that told him that something wasn’t right. But everything seemed to be in order at both schools, and Icho and Tsuruhara were both accounted for. So then, what was it? Or perhaps Fuga was just becoming paranoid.

“Y’know,” he hears Icho say to Tsuruhara, her voice hushed, like she was trying to be subtle. “I always wondered why someone like Mr. Kudo ended up teaching.”

Tsuruhara glanced at her, then back to his alchemy, “Does it matter?” He responded in his usual whisper.

“And at a tiny little school like this,” Icho continued, almost like Tsuruhara had said nothing at all. “Aren’t cha a little curious?”

“Renge…”

Fuga figured it was a good time to get their attention, “Icho, Tsuruhara, how has your assignment been going?”

Icho answered first, a little sheepish, “Well… it’s gettin’ there.” Which Fuga knew by now was Icho for she had hit a slight roadblock and didn’t quite want to admit it yet.

---

“I heard something,” Clotho said, ceasing her movements. As soon as she spoke, the Chemies all fled.

Master Geryon quickly retrieved the Gotchadriver, handing it to Lachesis, to her surprise. “Lachesis, it’s time.”

She looked down at it, “Is it… really ready to face him?”

“It will have to be,” He responded, pushing Atropos behind himself. “I suspect our time of running has come to an end.”

Swiftly, a young woman dressed in black and white landed beside Clotho, swinging her leg up and kicking Clotho in the chest. “He’s right.” She said, eyes still locked on Clotho.

A moment later, black flames erupt around Lachesis, prompting her to hold the Gotchadriver close. “Just hand over the belt and make this easy,” A man dressed in black and purple with a frightening, almost mechanical looking mask, emerged, his hand engulfed in the same black flames.

Then in came a young man, dressed in teal and black, with goggles covering his eyes, though failing to hide the bandages over his left eye. He looked around, seeming just a bit unsure of what to do. His gaze landed on Master Geryon and Atropos.

These three were… new. In the ten years they’d been on the run, they’d never seen them before.

The young woman called out, “Agatho, help Anselm get the Gotchadriver!”

“Right!” The young man, Agatho, responded, hurrying over to Anselm and Lachesis.

He’s cut off by a golden rod speeding past him, between him and the other two. Master Geryon was rushing over now, attempting to intervene. Atropos stayed where she stood, out of the way of the fight. Agatho seemed surprised by the sudden disruption, before reaching his hand out and transmuting a staff out of a nearby poll.

Lachesis dodged out of Anselm’s grasp once more, ducking beneath his arms and braving the flames and rushing through them. They burnt at the ends of her clothes, and she could feel the heat against her skin, but better on the other side of them than stuck in the ring with Anselm. She fought better with a weapon, after all, and the Chemies were too far away for her to use the Gotchadriver.

The young woman pushed Clotho back, causing her to stumble beside Lachesis. They’d never seen someone who could match Clotho’s bare strength, was these three really alchemists? Agatho must be, or at least capable of alchemy, but these flames and that woman… it was hard to say what they were.

Agatho’s staff broke under the force of a swing from Master Geryon’s own. Master Geryon began to swing again, this time nothing to stop his attack from hitting Agatho, when flames erupted around him, Anselm turning his attention to Master Geryon.

The woman hurried over, “Agatho, are you alright?”

“I- I’m fine, Mary.” He seemed to glance at the broken pieces of pipe that had once been his staff, “I guess I still need to work on-“

“Later,” Anselm hissed, then turned his head over to Lachesis and Clotho, “Hand over the Gotchadriver or your creator will burn.” The flames seemed to encroach closer to Master Geryon.

“Take it and run,” Master Geryon called, “Atropos, set the Chemies loose.”

Freeing the Chemies now, they’d flee to who knows where, open a gate to the real world… but better they be scattered than in the hands of these three, certainly. Atropos eyed the ever-closer flames, “Master Geryon…”

“I’m entrusting this to you three,”

Mary frowned, watching as Atropos hurried off, surely to where the Chemies were kept so that they could be freed. Her eyes narrowed, and not taking her eyes off of Atropos she said, “Anselm, make the traitor burn.”

Seeming surprised by that, Agatho looked at her, “Wait, we’re not really going to-“

The flames were on Master Geryon now. He didn’t scream, not quite, but the sounds of his pain would stay in Lachesis’ mind for a long time. Mary and Anselm seemed unphased, but Agatho, even with his eyes obscured, had this distinct look of horror on his face.

“Master Geryon,” Lachesis took a step towards him, before Clotho grabbed her arm, tightly.

“You know what we have to do,” She said, then began pulled Lachesis away. “We have to protect that belt and the Chemies. That’s what Master Geryon wants.”

Pushing past Agatho, Mary began to run towards them, her arm already pulled back in a punch. Before she could hit either of them, she was stopped by a shimmering fog. That was Atropos, returned from freeing the Chemies.

“Atropos!” Clotho called, “You can get us to the human world, right?”

“I can, but…” She glanced over at Master Geryon, a brief moment of seeming distress on her face before she turned her back to them, and a portal to the human world appeared.

Hurrying forward now, still gripping Lachesis’ arm, Clotho grabs Atropos’ wrist and rushes them through the portal. Atropos spares one last glanced at the black flames, which had now consumed Master Geryon.

It had been ten years since the sisters had been in the human world. The portal had brought them out on a rooftop, from there they could still see Chemies fleeing the Ouroboros Realm. Chaos. The alchemists would hate how much Chemies were being seen right now. The sisters would need to find the Chemies first, make sure there was no way for them or the Gotchadriver to fall into the wrong hands.

“We need to find the Chemies,” Clotho said. Despite all that had happened, she still seemed to remain calm.

Relaxing her grip on the Gotchadriver, Lachesis responded, “That’s easier said than done. The alchemists will notice this soon, too…”

“Lachesis,” Atropos turned to face them. In one hand, she held two Chemy Cards, in the other, she held a golden cube. It had been Master Geryon’s, but she must have picked up at some point during the commotion. Atropos holds the Chemy Cards out to Lachesis, “These will allow you to use the Gotchadriver.”

Lachesis took them, staring intently at the two Chemies. Hopper-1 and Steamliner, two Chemies she wasn’t the most familiar with, but she’d take Atropos’ word that they’d allow her to use the Gotchadriver. They seemed… less than thrilled about her, but most Chemies felt that way with her and her sisters, at first. They knew they weren’t human, but something far worse, for a Chemy at least.

“Let’s head there,” Clotho gestured to nearby, where a commotion was obvious. “There’s clearly a lot of Chemies there. Lachesis and I will deal with any Malgams that might appear, but let’s focus on trying to gather as many Chemies as we can.”

Despite it being Clotho who had made the suggestion, Lachesis took the lead. She was a Kamen Rider now, after all, the fate of the Chemies and who knows what else in her hands. She couldn’t let her younger sister show her up. If there was a Malgam… it was Lachesis’ responsibility, even if Clotho might help.

Most of the humans had run far away by the time the three sisters arrived. Most of the Chemies had left, too. They were too slow, it seemed, despite the commotion just a couple minutes before. Still, something didn’t feel quite right… It was eerily quiet and empty, too much so.

Then footsteps, and out from behind a pillar comes Mary. “We won’t let you get away with the Gotchadriver so easily,” She appears to be alone, right now.

Scowling at her, Clotho called, “Then why did you come alone?”

“Because now, I have this,” Mary holds up a Chemy Card, the cries of Kamantis ringing out. The Alchemist Ring on her hand glowed, engulfing the Chemy, and then her. The monster that emerged wasn’t a Malgam though – while there was certainly malice, that wasn’t what had taken over the Chemy. That was alchemy. Mary had transmuted herself and the Chemy.

Perhaps she was human after all.

Taking a step forward, Lachesis placed the Gotchadriver around her waist, a belt appearing from it so it could secure itself. She then held up Hopper-1 and Steamliner’s Chemy Cards, giving each a quick kiss before slotting them into the Driver.

Hopper-1! Steamliner! Gotchanko! Steamhopper!

The two Chemies emerged from the Driver, appearing around her. While Lachesis had experienced the power of Chemies before… it was never like this. This was different, not filled with malice or any other dark emotions. Instead, there was this new… hot and bubbly feeling. Lachesis didn’t know what it was, but it felt like it burned within her. Maybe it was Steamliner’s steam.

This armor that formed around her… this was Kamen Rider Gotchard.

“This is the power of the Gotchadriver…” Mary seemed to examine her closely, for a moment, “It doesn’t matter. I’ll take it.” She then rushed forward, swinging her bladed arm.

Lachesis dodged to the side, Clotho doing the same to stay away from the attack. Clotho then ran and punched Mary, though she was unphased. Atropos, it seemed, had the mind to get away from the fight, though Lachesis couldn’t see where she had gone.

It was time to find out just what Gotchard could do.

---

“Mr. Kudo, look!” Tsuruhara called, voice ringing out from his tablet, Issac. He did something, and then on one of the screens in the classroom, a video appeared. A portal in the sky, on the other side another world could be seen, with hanging flasks and a snake eating its own tail in the sky. And from that portal, one after another, came out Chemies.

After ten years, the Chemies had appeared again. Something told Fuga that Geryon hadn’t let them go for no reason.

With all the Chemies out now, presumably, that meant there were suddenly a hundred Chemies loose in the city. It would be a doozy to clean up all the memories of this, but worse would be the chance of a Malgam. That was something his students certainly weren’t prepared to handle, yet.

“Tsuruhara, Icho, stay here.” He turned towards the door, “I’ll investigate.” Without a word more, he hurried out. They needed to get a handle on the Chemies before someone got hurt. Before there was suddenly a Malgam loose in the city and not enough trained alchemists around to safely deal with it.

If only Geryon hadn’t taken off with the Gotchadriver too… and who knew where that could be now. Still in his hands? Or in someone elses? There were too many things they didn’t know yet.

He managed to seal a few Chemies, erasing the memories of any civilians he found who had saw them, along the way. Then he hears the sound of a fight, leading him to a plaza. Below him, there was a fight – someone using the Gotchadriver, accompanied by a woman in black and gold, fought what must have been a Malgam, though from here Fuga couldn’t sense any malice. That might have just meant that the Malgam wasn’t very strong.

To see the Gotchadriver in action – to finally, after all these years see Kamen Rider Gotchard, was… something, certainly. A powerful alchemy, and he didn’t even know who was using it.

There’s movement beside him, and then a young voice, “Such amazing alchemy. To think this is only a fraction of what the Gotchadriver is capable of.” Now standing beside him was a girl, with short black hair and a black and gold dress. There was something… familiar about her.

She looked up at him, and then he realized. This girl… she was one of Geryon’s dolls, the first he thinks, despite her young appearance. Surprised, he said, “Atropos?”

“It’s been a while, Fuga Kudo,” She responded. She held a gold cube in one hand, Fuga recognized it as being Geryon’s. Why did she have it and not him? She looked back out on the fight, “Aren’t my sisters doing well? Even with that girl having become such a strange Malgam…”

He followed her gaze back to the fight. “Strange Malgam?” From here, he couldn’t find anything too unusual about it.

“It wasn’t malice that created it… no, it was alchemy, I’m sure of it.” She rotated the cube in her hands, piece by piece. Since all the sides were gold, the rotations made little difference in its appearance. “It’s almost a match for my sisters.”

A Malgam created from alchemy and not malice? It wasn’t impossible, certainly, but few alchemists would choose to transmute themselves and a Chemy like this.

Now that Atropos has identified Gotchard and the woman as her sisters, Fuga can determine the woman is Clotho, based on what he can see of her appearance. That meant Gotchard must be Lachesis. He’d admit, he didn’t know much about them, having rarely interacted with any of the three, back before Geryon betrayed the Alchemist Association.

Gotchard jumps into the air and kicks the Malgam. It separates the Chemy, which Fuga quickly seals. It brings the two sisters and the young woman who had once been the Malgam’s attention towards him. Seeming annoyed, though, the young woman ran off and disappeared. Lachesis and Clotho ran up the stairs.

“Atropos!” Clotho called out, then glared at Fuga as she’d gotten closer, “Stay away from her.”

Fuga held up his hands, still holding Kamantis’ Chemy Card in one hand. “I don’t intend to hurt the three of you.”

“We’ll see about that,” Clotho didn’t take her eyes off him as Atropos walked over to join her sisters.

Once she’d returned to her sisters, Atropos said, “You remember Kudo.” Less so a question and more a statement. As though they’d surely remember him.

Lachesis, taking the Driver off her waist and holding it up, responded, “He made this, ten years ago.”

“I did,” Fuga confirmed, though he knew it was unnecessary. “Where’s Geryon?”

That caused a strange reaction in the sisters. A dour expression on Atropos’ usually neutral face, a stiffening and slight frown from Lachesis. Clotho remained the most neutral, answering, “He’s dead. That girl, Mary, and the two others that had been with her killed him.”

“They’ll pay for it,” Atropos added, more than a hint of anger lacing her voice.

“But,” Lachesis added, “Our first priority is to keep this and the Chemies as far away from the three as possible.”

The three had been hidden for ten years, along with Geryon. But the Association knew them and would likely interfere if they found them. Fuga didn’t know how much he trusted Geryon and the sisters, but he knew in this instance, he trusted the Association not to misuse Gotchard’s power even less. Even with three of them, gathering all of the Chemies would be difficult, on their own.

But with help… “Let me help you,” Fuga said, “You can come join the academy, and we can help you find all the Chemies.”

That elicited suspicious looks, the three sisters’ attention on him once more.

Pursing her lips, Lachesis asked, “Why should we trust you? You’re an alchemist, and perhaps you’ve forgotten, but our master betrayed you.”

“I worked with Geryon, ten years ago. And while I cannot deny the evidence that was found against him… I also doubt that his ‘betrayal’ was what it was made out to be. He had no reason to abandon his research.” And if Fuga were being honest, he had always held out hope that he and Geryon might be able to work together again, towards a future where Chemies and humans could live together in peace. That had never quite been Geryon’s goal, to Fuga’s knowledge, but they goals had aligned close enough that it made sense to work together before. He never wanted to believe that things had changed that much.

Still, the sisters didn’t seem convinced, Clotho’s hands tightened into fists, Lachesis bringing the Driver back down towards her waist. But again, it was Atropos who approached him. “I assume, then, that neither you nor your students would tell the Alchemist Association about us?”

Neither Tsuruhara nor Icho would have any reason to think they should, but even if they realized what the sisters were, Fuga was confident he could convince them not to report it. “It’s a small class, they wouldn’t. And I wouldn’t be offering if I intended to report you to the Association.”

“Sisters,” Atropos looked back at Clotho and Lachesis, “I believe that the aid of Kudo and his students would greatly increase our ability to gather the Chemies.”

Lachesis looked between Atropos and Fuga, clearly contemplating. “Well, if Atropos thinks so…”

Clotho moved closer to him, still glaring, “Don’t try anything.”

“Of course not,” Fuga agreed, giving them a warm smile, “I have no intention of tricking or harming you.”

“Lead the way, then.” Lachesis responded, “It’s better than standing around here.”

---

“That Kamen Rider is strong,” Mary said.

“But not stronger than you, right?” Agatho replied, his goggles now pulled up, though his right eye was still bandaged.

Mary frowned, “I wasn’t prepared for her, this time, but… we’ll see.” She glanced to where Anselm worked, tinkering away at something they couldn’t see. “I might need Anselm and his flames, next time.”

Anselm grunted, “The sooner we can get that Driver, the easier it will be to gather the Chemies.”

“Of course,” Mary agreed.

Quietly, Agatho added, “I wonder what will happen then…?”

[karizard-ao3]

I hope you're enjoying your camping trip 😊

Hello! Thank you! I did have a good time. I really have to start wearing long pants when I camp though because I have welts on my calves from thistles or bug bites or something, and I'm not sure which is the culprit.

It was pretty hot so we spent a lot of time relaxing at the campsite and reading or playing games. We saw a lot of animals. A few different kinds of lizards, a snake, a bunch of grasshoppers, some different beetles, a deer, a family of wild turkeys, some rabbits, a mourning dove, and I saw some kind of hawk! But I couldn't get a good look so I'm not sure what species. I think maybe it was a red-tailed hawk? It was pretty big.

One thing that kind of annoyed me was that there were signs all over the campsite that we were restricted to propane fires only because of the dry weather where we were camping but one group lit a bonfire, had tiki torches burning all around their campsite, and set off fireworks (after quiet hours). I don't normally care much what other people do but I feel like it's common courtesy not to do things that could spark a wildfire in places where wildfires are common.

They didn't start a fire, though, so I guess all is well.

But yeah, I had a good time. It was nice getting to hang out in my hammock and do some reading and write a little bit in secret. I had some pretty good brainstorms, I think!

[cloudbattrolls]

Blood in the Cut

Gliese Benral | Present Night

Gliese gritted her teeth as she walked through the forest. The weather was nice; cool with just a hint of humidity, and she could hear the distant sounds of construction. A few bugs zipped through the air.

“You always know when I’m close.” She muttered. “Somehow.”

“Not every time.”

Came the voice she’d expected from behind her, but she still jumped a little as she turned to see the false maroon.

“Yeah, okay!” She said with a bark of laughter. It merely tilted its head, expression neutral.

She sucked in a breath. 

“Anyway. I guess…as much as I hate it…I have to admit you were right. I shouldn’t have seen Quilis then.” She said with a grimace.

It nodded.

“It was not personal. I would have turned away anyone who came.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “Poor Quil…she’s really not the best at standing up for herself or saying no. Girl could use a moirail, or an ashmate, or something.” She said with a shake of her head. “Trouble is finding someone in her age range.”

It nodded again. God, it felt weird to be agreeing with it.

“Anyway.” She said, coming up to it and poking its shoulder. “I wanna fight you.”

It blinked.

“All right.”

She snort-laughed.

“Wow, that was easy. And Quil was so disapproving.” She said with a smirk.

“Not here, though.” It said. “I don’t want to damage the forest.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Damn, just how wild do you get? Nah, don’t tell me, I wanna see for myself.”

“Do you know a good place?” It said. “It can’t be anywhere too close to anyone else. I don’t want to be seen by another troll, if possible.”

Her eyebrows raised, if possible, even higher. 

“Yeah, we can fight in my hedge maze - well, the part of it that burned down a while ago. I still haven’t gotten to regrowing that yet. But if you slice up some of the other bushes it’s okay. I was thinking of remodeling the whole thing anyway.”

It nodded. “That works.”

“My signmate might see you, though.”

It thought about that, hand to one cheek. “As long as there’s some cover.”

“Great, time’s a-wasting, let’s go.”

She walked back to her waiting lusus, not bothering to turn around and see if Eileit was following, then jumped on the hare’s back, looked around, and -

-hey, where did it go.

She shrugged. Either it had lied to her or it hadn’t, and it seemed to be able to hide and reappear really easily for whatever reason.

She made her way back to the burned-out part of her maze, several dozen square feet of bare earth between the green hedges bordering it. Sure enough, a minute or so after she arrived and got off her lusus…

…there it was when she turned around, looking at everything with interest.

She shook her head in wonder.

“Man, what the fuck are you.”

It either didn’t hear her (doubtful), or it didn’t want to answer, much more interested in chasing a grasshopper it had found. Haredad watched it a moment, then retreated so that he was away from the fight. 

Gliese smirked. Well, if it wanted to be caught off guard…

The blueblood took out her scythe and ran for it.

It leapt into the air, spreading great metallic wings that hadn’t been there a few moments ago. Gliese switched to her gun, aiming at the bladelike ‘feathers’ as it dodged and flipped, evading most of her shots. The few that did hit didn’t do much damage; they warped a few feathers, but it seemed unbothered.

She whooped in the joy of a challenge, and it dove for her - she took out her scythe and jabbed it directly through the neck as she ducked just in time.

Red liquid leaked out, but not nearly at the rate a troll’s blood would, nor did it seem to bother the creature. It splashed to the ground and on her, and the hare troll grinned in excitement as her foe wheeled away and she swapped out her flamethrower instead, waiting for Eileit to get close enough for a good blast.

Which of course is when it disappeared.

“Oh, you bitch.” She said, mildly annoyed but mostly fascinated. It had just sort of…shimmered out of existence.

The rush of air as it flew by again was just enough to warn her to duck, but she knew as soon as she fired that she’d missed it.

Then she found herself picked up and carried into the air, cold wind streaming past her ears and face and making her eyes weep as it held her firmly, visible once more. Its wingbeats were steady and quieter than they should’ve been, she realized - how?

The gash on its neck was open…but there was no real flesh beneath it, no veins or muscle. Just…synthetic gray stuff she recognized from her fleet training, structures that were model-perfect but nonfunctional. It was creepy as hell, but also fascinating.

Gliese put her flamethrower away and took out a knife instead, jabbing at Eileit’s eye.

It let the hit happen, and simply looked at her a moment before pulling the knife out of its face with its free hand and putting it away. The eye had lost its light, cracked like a screen, but began repairing itself as she watched. Creating small metallic and crystalline lines of…cells? It couldn’t be, could it?

“Not smart, Gliese, what if I dropped you?”

“I have skeletons to catch me.” She said smugly. “Besides. I can tell you’re waaaay holding back. You won’t drop me.”

It shook her gently. She let her head bob around for the gag.

“Ah, uh oh, my thinkpan, it’s dying. Medic.”

It snorted. “I think we’re done for now.”

“What, nooo.” She whined. “This is fun.” 

The blueblood wiped her eyes, because damn the wind was getting to her - aaaand down they went, Eileit gently depositing her on the ground as its wings folded back up and disappeared. Somehow it had manifested them over its clothes, as far as she could tell.

“Why didn’t you use your magic?” It asked, now a few feet away from her.

“Why didn’t you go all out?” The mage said in return. “I was testing the waters. Plus, it’s a bad idea to get too reliant on the stuff. I coped without magic for sweeps, I don’t want it making me sloppy.”

It nodded.

“If I went all out it would kill you.” It said bluntly. “As you can tell, I was designed for combat.”

“No you weren’t.” Gliese retorted, point-blank. “I dunno what exactly you were made for, but it wasn’t that, though yeah, I can tell you’re no slouch. You don’t act like a real killbot. 

Your tactics are more diversionary, meant to isolate and capture, geared toward concealing you. You could’ve had me instantly and you chose to let me fight. You could’ve restrained me with both arms or had a blade to my throat. You could’ve snuck up on me from the first go. 

I don’t believe you don’t know how to do those things; I think you intentionally chose not to.”

It was silent for a few moments. “Quite the theory.” It said.

She grinned. “I know you won’t tell me anything. But I know this shit, I’m ex-fleet. Fuck those bastards, but I did learn some things there.”

It turned away.

“Why did you leave?” It asked.

“Cause fuck ‘em.” She said bluntly. “I was conscripted, I tried to cope and make the best of it, but…it sucks. It all fucking sucks, for everyone who’s part of it. Lowbloods most of all, but all of us. Every single blood color shoved into that miserable fucking machine.”

She paused.

“Uh. No offense.”

It laughed, sharp and amused as it turned back to face her.

“None taken.” It said, sounding genuine if deeply entertained.

“Wow, good, cause I was about to feel like, robot casteist.” She deadpanned. “You’re not a robot, though, are you?”

“No.” It agreed.

“Not gonna tell me what you really are, are you?”

“No.” It said again, amused. “I haven’t even told Quilis, not that they’ve asked. It’s safer that way, for me and everyone else.”

“Ah, so you aren’t imperial, huh. And they don’t know about you.”

It went silent. The pause stretched as its expression became unreadable.

“Please keep that to yourself.” It said softly. “If you do nothing else, please keep that to yourself.”

“Ah, another secret for our pile. Yeah, don’t sweat it.” She said, patting its shoulder. “You aren’t so bad, huh? Funny freaky toaster.”

It made a ding noise as a real toaster oven would and Gliese cracked up.

“That is hysterical.” She said, between fits of laughter. “Holy shit, how many noises can you do? No, wait - can you like, mimic voices?”

“Can you like, mimic voices?” It said back to her, the imitation of the necromancer’s tones nearly perfect.

She clapped her hands. “Oh, we are going to pull so many pranks. You, me, bothering people. You cannot tell me that wouldn’t be fun.”

“I’ll help you with a prank if you tell me something I’d like to know.” It said, placid.

“Yeah, sure, what is it?”

“Where can I get real maple and marshmallow flavoring?”

She blinked.

“You don’t eat, do you?”

It shook its head.

“No. It’s for a friend. They make candies.”

She grinned. “Aw, that’s sweet. Literally.”

It looked at her, and she raised her hands in defeat. “Hey, my moirail likes puns, bad humor’s contagious.”

“I have died. Badly.” It deadpanned. “Cause of death: being pun-ished.”

The blueblood put a hand to her chest in mock agony. “Oooh, that hurt. You and Nan can never meet, I’d wind up stabbing myself in the eye.”

“Objective acquired: meet Nan.”

She squinted at it.

“Okay, now you’re just fucking with me.”

“Data not found.”

The hare troll pushed the false maroon, who toppled over rigidly for the bit and played a cartoon coconut thunk noise, and it took a while before Gliese stopped laughing.

[dimalink]

Lizard at the stone

Three dimensional scene for today. Based on lizard and a country house. So, look, a lizard came to a water. And lizard runs at the stone. Lizard goes through a bushes and a grass. And sit comfortable at the stones now. Sunny day only begins.

So good to sit at the stone. And near – it is a water. There is something like a good refreshing cold. You can drink a little of water. And so good summer. Everywhere it is so hot weather. Birds are singing. Grasshoppers in the grass. Very different bugs. Some of them are friends to the lizard.

Lizard is sitting at the stone. And lizard is watching about what is going on here. It is river to flow. A wind makes a grass to make some noise. It is so exciting about a thing that summer only begins! And ahead, there are lots of summer days! Lizard can sleep here at the stones. Water makes a calm noises. And it is so good to sit here.

And it is also idea to jump at the stones and see where the river leads. Maybe, it is something interesting! Some kind of a little wood. Or big stone.

Except the picture itself. I can to remember a game about a frog – Frogger. There were also a three dimensional games. Something like Frogger 3D. For example. You need to jump as a frog over the wood, to cross a river. So, I start to think here, it can be a simple videogame about a lizard, that is traveling across the river. Jumping by stones. For example. And maybe even lizard can swim. To have some cool idea, for imagination a little.

Dima Link is making retro videogames, apps, a little of music, write stories, and some retro more.

WEBSITE: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html ITCHIO: https://dimalink.itch.io/ GAMEJOLT: https://gamejolt.com/@DimaLink/games

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