#(These poor otters though)

[wachinyeya]

Birds Sing Anew After Residents of New Orleans Ninth Ward Restore 40-Acre Wetland to Historic Glory https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/birds-sing-anew-from-within-40-acre-wetland-restored-by-residents-of-n-orleans-historic-lower-ninth/

The Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans has recently witnessed an incredible eco-renaissance following decades of damage and neglect.

Led by a local community development group, a 40-acre wetlands park has been restored to glories past with hundreds of local trees that attract over a hundred species of birds, plus joggers, picnickers, and nature lovers besides.

The story begins with Rashida Ferdinand, founder of Sankofa Community Development Corporation (CDC). Growing up in this historic part of New Orleans, where Black homeownership thrived, where Fats Domino was born, and where locals routinely went out into the wetlands to catch fish and crustaceans, she watched as it suffered from years of neglect.

Poor drainage, ruined roads, illegal trash dumping, and unmitigated damage from hurricanes slowly wasted the wetland away until it was a derelict eyesore.

In the name of restoring this wild heritage indicative of the culture in the Lower Ninth, and in order to protect her communities from flooding, Ferdinand founded the Sankofa CDC, and in 2014 entered into an agreement with the City of New Orleans for the restoration of Sankofa—a 40-acre section of neglected wetlands in the heart of the Lower Ninth.

The loss of Sankofa’s potential to dampen flooding from storms meant that over the years dozens of houses and properties were flooded and damaged beyond the ability of the inhabitants to recover. Forced out by a combination of nature’s fury and government failure, the cultural heritage of the community was receding along with the floodwaters.

Ferdinand knew that restoring natural flood barriers like Sankofa was key to protecting her community.

“Hurricane protection is a major concern in the community, but there’s a lack of trust in the infrastructure systems that are supposed to protect us,” Ferdinand told the Audubon Society.

Today, Sankofa Wetlands Park is a sight to behold. Hiking trails snake through a smattering of ponds and creeks, where bald cypresses and water tupelo trees continue to grow and cling to the ground even during storms. Picnic benches have appeared, wheelchair-accessible trails connect sections of the park to parts of the Lower Ninth, and local businesses are seeing more visitors.

Visiting birders have recorded sightings of over 100 species of songbirds, ducks, near-shore waders of all kinds, egrets, and herons, and the park also acts as a home and refuge for otters, beavers, and a variety of amphibians and reptiles.

It needed a lot of work though. Thousands of invasive tallow trees had to be uprooted. 27,000 cubic meters of illegally dumped trash compacted into the dirt had to be removed. A 60-year-old canal dug by the US Army Corps of Engineers had to be disconnected, and all new native flora had to be planted by hand.

Audubon says that Ferdinand routinely can’t believe her eyes when she looks at the transformation of Sankofa into its current state.

“Seeing butterflies, birds, and other pollinators in the park is a sign of a healthy ecosystem,” she says. “All we had to do was create the right conditions.”

Slated for official completion in 2025 with an outdoor amphitheater, interpretive signage, and additional trails, Ferdinand and the CDC have their eyes set on an even larger area of wetlands to the north of Sankofa.

Along the way, Ferdinand and the CDC attracted many helping hands, and entered into many partnerships, But the catalyst for change arose from the spirit and determination of one woman in the right place at the right time, for the benefit of hundreds in this historic heart of a historic city.

[idkfitememate]

Fox!Creator in inazuma at the temple, it could start with just meeting yae, she's being her usual sassy fox self, and then we could meet Raiden who's visiting yae? Or maybe we go with yae to mess with gorou, and in the process meet kokomi? Ooh or we go with her to a meeting and meet the kamisato siblings! Or perhaps kujou Sara went with Raiden? Kirara delivers a package to narukami shrine? Maybe we go with her to yae publishing house and run into itto and shinobu and the arataki gang, in the street beetle fighting? Or they're going with itto to buy the lastest miss hina advice book! Idk just some ideas that sprang to mind as soon as I saw that creator could be fox lol, hope you like at least one of them :D

Raiden Shogun Encounter

૮꒰˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶꒱ა Pairings : GN! Fox Reader x Inazuma

૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა W.K. : 411

໒꒰ྀིᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ꒱ྀི১ Tags/CW&TW : Fluff & crack

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : Welcome to the crew Fox!Creator! ໒꒰ྀིᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ꒱ྀི১

Today there was supposed to be another ‘execution’. (Vision taking)

Instead, there was a small fox sleeping on the Raiden Shogun’s platform, blocking her path.

That fox, was you.

Honestly? People thought she’d kick poor you, but instead she gently pushed you with her foot. (‘Still technically a kick.’ Some people in the crowd thought)

But the small fox with a strikingly large tail didn’t budge. In fact, you swatted at her shoe, turning over and… lying. On her shoe.

She glanced at her guards - who shrugged- before nudging you again. This time, however, you made a noise of disagreement, and swatted at her leg.

With your claws.

Effectively ripping the fabric.

…Uh oh.

Her eyes narrowed, and forced you off with a little more force, forcing you to awake. Naturally, you were just a little pissy that you nap was rudely interrupted by some prissy bitch with ass shorts, so you did the only logical thing a god in fox form would do.

Summon ancient yōkai, no duh.

Large oni with red and blue skin emerged from the bushes, their bodies imbedded with the power of geo, causing rampant chaos. Kitsune appeared from the shadows, luring men and women alike away for… let’s just say mischief. Kappa stole children away into the water, forcing them to swim home, laughing at their misery.

What? You didn’t actually want to kill people! Killing causes death, man! That shit kills you!

Glancing back up at the Shogun, you shook your body and licked at your fur, looking for someone.

“HEY!!! LITTLE FOX!!! OVER HERE!!!!” There he was.

Sticking your tail up at the Shogun, you jumped off the platform, and moved onto the Main Street, weaving through the crowd running from oni, and finally making it to your friend.

Arataki Itto. Your numero uno.

Holding a palm out, you quickly scale his body, laying down around his shoulders, resting your head on his. Felling your tail getting scratched, you noted that Shinobu was also here. Neat.

“YEAH!! TAKE THAT RAIDEN SHOGUN!! YOU GOT TAKEN OUT BY A FOX HAHAHAHA!!!!”

Normally you would’ve taken offense… if you weren’t already asleep again.

And with that, the Itto gang ran off, leaving a now extremely pissed off Shogun. Though a chuckle sounded behind her.

“Well then, a new fox.~ Whatever shall we do?~”

“Not now, Yae.”

All that matters to you was that your little group was safe, and that you could sleep in peace.

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : Itto Gang normally: 🎉🥳🎈🎁🎁🪅🪩👯‍♂️👯‍♀️👯🍾🎊🎈🎁🎈🍾🥳🍾👯🎊🎊🍾🎁🎁👯‍♂️🍾👯‍♀️🍾🎁🪅🪅🪩🪩🎁🎊🥳

Fox!Creator: 😴

Itto Gang after seeing them asleep: 🎉🥳🎈🎁🎁🪅🪩👯‍♂️👯‍♀️👯🍾🎊🎈🎁🎈🍾🥳🍾👯🎊🎊🍾🎁🎁👯‍♂️🍾👯‍♀️🍾🎁🪅🪅🪩🪩🎁🎊🥳

Hehe. Chaos Boar, pampered Otter, parental Tiger, eepy Fox! All that’s left is Liyue! Let’s see who gets here first!~ ໒꒰ྀི ܸ. .ܸ ꒱ྀི১ !!

[bethanythebogwitch]

I am a survivor of Florida, having gone to college there for 4.5 years. There's a lot (a LOT) to not like about Florida, but the wildlife is not one of those things. So for this Wet Beast Wednesday, I'm gonna talk about the most famous Florida resident, the manatee. And why stop there? I'll discuss all the sirenians in one go.

(image: three manatees facing the camera. They are rotund, resembling a potato in shape. Their heads are smaller and end in squarish snouts. They have two flippers at the front of the head. The tail is flat, wide, and round. They are grey all over)

The sirenians are a taxonomic order of marine mammals consisting of 4 living members: three species of manatee and the dugong. They are the only herbivorous order of marine mammals, a trait that has given the the nickname "sea cows". The name Sirenia comes from the sirens of greek myth. In the original story, the sirens were bird with the heads and breasts of women, but later stories turned them into mermaids and that's the version that's stuck. There are unconfirmed stories that European sailors (the most common story uses Christopher Columbus) mistook manatees for mermaids, which is why they're named after sirens.

(image: a manatee facing the camera. Its face is visible, revealing two nostrils on a broad, flat shout covered in whiskers. It's eyes are located above the snout and are small and black. It is grey, but has patches of greenish algae growing on it)

Sirenians all have a pretty similar body plan. They are fusiform (bulky in the middle and narrower at the ends) and very bulky animals not built for speed. They don't ned to be fast (though are capable of short bursts of speed) because unlike other marine mammals, they are herbivorous. The vast majority of a sirenian's diet consists of sea grass and most of the rest is other aquatic plants. All species have been known to supplement their diet with invertebrates, mostly during times of poor food availability. When feeding, they move their snouts through the sediment, letting sensory bristles detect plants. They then use their flexible and muscular lips to pull up the sea grass, roots and all. While an individual can eat up to 15% of their body weight a day, they are known to seek out seagrass patches with higher nitrogen content instead of eating everything they can get. This reliance on seagrass limits the range of sirenians to shallow coastal areas, rivers, and estuaries in warm climates. Hearing and touch (with the bristles that cover their bodies) are their main senses. Their eyes are weak, making them almost blind. Sirenians are large, with the largest ever known, Stellar's sea cow, growing up to 10 meters (33 ft) and 11 tons. Mature sirenians are large enough to have no natural predators. Like all marine mammals not named sea otters, sirenians have a thick layer of blubber to keep them warm. Their bones are extremely dense and likely act as ballast to counteract the buoyancy of the blubber. In the marine mammal breath-holding competition, sirenians do pretty bad. They can hold their breath for about 15 minutes at max.

(image: a dugong. It is similar in appearance to a manatee, but skinnier. Its tail is a fluke with two points. Its head is larger and the snout and mouth point downwards)

Sirenian reproduction is somewhat poorly-understood. They only have a single calf at a time (with a gestation period of about a year) and mothers will raise them for one to two years. Calves mature quickly, reaching sexual maturity in around 2-5 years in manatees and 8 years in dugongs, though most females do not give birth until between 6 and 15 years. Their nipples are located behind the flippers, making a nursing calf appear to be sucking its mother's armpit. Sirenians are solitary animals who typically only congregate in groups when females are in estrus. Males are believed to compete for the right to mate and may engage in lekking. Lekking is when a male will claim a territory and mate with females in this territory while chasing opposing males out. Sirenians live long lives, with the oldest known individual being a female dugong that lived to 73. Despite how long they live, each female will only get pregnant a few times in her life.

(image: a manatee mother with calf. The calf looks like a smaller version of the mother and is suckling, making it appear to be biting the mother's armpit)

As with all marine mammals, sirenians are descended from land mammals. The study of sirenian evolution has led to a surprising conclusion: the closest relatives of sirenians are elephants. It sounds weird, but there is substantial DNA evidence supporting this conclusion. In addition, the tusks of a dugong (see below) and flexible and prehensile lips of sirenians are based on the same structures as the tusks and trunks of elephants. It gets better, the next closest relative of both groups are the hyraxes, who look more like rodents than anything that should be related to an elephant or a manatee. All three are part of a clade called paenungulata, which is part of a clade called afrotheria. The other main group within afrotheria is afroinsectiphilia, which consists of aardvarks and various shrews. The afrotherian family reunions must be wild.

(image: a scientific diagram showing a cladogram of afrotheria and the groups within it. source)

The dugong (Dugong dugon) is the last surviving member of its family, which also included the now extinct giant Stellar's sea cow. The easiest way to tell a dugong apart from a manatee is its tail, which is shaped like a dolphin's fluke instead of the round tails of manatees. Internally, there are also multiple differences, many of them relating to the skull. The skull has a very distinct shape, with the upper jaw bending down at a sharp angle. The tip of the upper jaw has two short tusks emerging from it. These tusks are found in moth males and females, but develop differently. In males, they emerge when the calf reaches sexual maturity, while those of females only emerge later in life and sometimes not at all. It is believed that these tusks are used by males to fight over females, as males are often found with scars matching the shape of the tusks. Dugong teeth as simpler than those of manatees, being simple pegs. While manatee teeth will be replaced continuously through life, dugongs only get one set and have to make it count. Dugongs reach an average length of 3 m (10 ft) and 420 kg (930 lbs). Dugongs have the largest range of any sirenian, stretching from east Africa to the Solomon islands east of Australia. This range is fragmented rather than continuous and dugongs are separated into multiple isolated populations. The largest population is believed to exist in northern Australia.

(image: a dugong feeding on seagrass, seen from the front. It's snout is being dragged through the sediment, leaving a cloud of dirt behind it. Small yellow fish surround it)

The west Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) does not live in west India. It lives in North America. I dunno who named it, but you had one job. The species is divided into two subspecies: the Florida manatee (T. m. latriostris) found in the Gulf of Mexico and east coast of the United States, and the Antillean manatee (T. m. manatus) found in the Caribbean and down south to Brazil. The Antillean subspecies is much more poorly known compared to the Florida subspecies. The Florida manatee may be the most well-studied of all manatees due to the extensive conservation efforts regarding them since the 1970s. Like other manatees, the WI manatee has a round, paddle-like tail and fingernails on its flippers. Their diaphragms are divided into two hemidiaphragms, each of which contracts one lung. They have the northernmost territory of all manatees, which comes with some consequences. They are susceptible to stress and even death when exposed to water under 20 degrees C (68 F). They travel south during winter, usually to southern Florida, but conservationists still have to rehabilitate manatees harmed by cool water every year.

(image: tourists in transparent kayaks observing a west Indian manatee swim below them)

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is the only sirenian that lives entirely in freshwater, residing in the Amazon river basin. They move seasonally inhabiting flooded areas during the wet season and lakes during the dry season. They fast during the dry season, subsisting off of their fat stores. There are believed to be multiple relatively isolated populations of Amazonian manatee, but studying them is difficult due to them preferring to live in areas away from humans. The Amazonian manatee is the smallest sirenian, reaching between 160 and 230 cm (5 ft 4 in to 7 ft 7 in) and 120 to 270 kg (265 to 595 lbs). Scientist Marc van Roosmalen has proposed the existence of a related species, the dwarf manatee, that lives only in one tributary of Aripuanã river, which is in the habitat range of the Amazonian manatee. Their existence is debated, but most manatee scientists think that they are misidentified juvenile Amazonian manatees.

(image: an Amazonian manatee with calf, seen from ahead and below. they have the same body plan as the above images, but are a darker grey with a white patch on the stomach)

The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is the only species found in the old world, in west Africa from Senegal to Angola. They occupy the largest range of habitats of all sirenians, from tropical islands to flooded forests, to offshore sand flats, to lakes and rivers. They will swim up river during the wet season and back down during dry season. Some isolated populations live exclusively in rivers, never venturing out to sea. They are the most omnivorous of the sirenians, seeking out invertebrates to eat and stealing fish from nets. Many cultural groups in their range consider the African manatee sacred, some saying they used to be people and that killing one requires paying a penance. Mami Wata, a water spirit revered in throughout west, central, and south Africa, has been identified with manatees by some folklorists.

(image: an African manatee seen from the side in an aquarium. It looks almost identical to the west Indian manatee)

All sirenians are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, except for the Antillean manatee, which is endangered. As they have few to no predators as adults, the primary threats for all sirenians come from humans. Boat strikes and getting tangled in nets kills and injures many individuals, possibly more than die of natural causes. This is not helped by them lacking fear responses to predators, meaning they don't flee from humans and boats. All species were historically hunted for their meat, blubber, and bones, reducing their populations. While all species are now legally protected, poaching and legal hunting by indigenous groups still occurs. They are also threatened by habitat loss as coastal development, pollution, and climate change reduces the range of seagrass. Damming has also reduced their ability to travel up rivers, cutting off valuable feeding ground. Learning about freshwater ecology will make you despise dams. In the United States, the west Indian manatee has become an icon of conservation, especially in Florida, where they have extensive legal protections. Controversially, the US government reduced their legal protections in 2017, much to the ire of many conservation groups. The manatee is the state marine mammal of Florida, presumably narrowly beating out dolphins and meth heads wandering around the everglades.

(image: two juvenile manatees who were abandoned by their mothers. They are being bottle fed by employees of the Cincinnati zoo. Ideally, they will be able to be released into the wild once weaned)

[i-woke-up-at-4am-for-this]

Otter Neuvillette

Neuvillette x GN!Reader

Summary: There is one secret about Neuvillette that no one in Teyvat knows: he has the remarkable ability to shape-shift into a cute sea otter. This unique ability is a reflection of his deep connection to water and his desire for moments of solitude and peace.

One fateful day, as you collect data on plant species along the coast, you come across a disturbing scene. A lone sea otter, under attack by Fontemer Aberrant Crabs, struggles for its life.

A/N: This is my first time writing ^^

On an idyllic day in the tranquil Beryl Region, you were leisurely gathering data on the local plant species. The gentle rhythm of your exploration led you to the shoreline, where an unsettling sight unfolded before you. A lone sea otter, besieged by a group of menacing Fontemer Aberrant Crabs, fought desperately for its life. Without a second thought, you sprang into action, unaware that this seemingly ordinary otter concealed an extraordinary identity—the very Chief Justice of Fontaine, Monsieur Neuvillette himself.

Approaching the scene, you raised your voice to divert the crabs' attention away from the distressed otter. "Hey!" you shouted, flinging rocks towards the aggressors to protect the otter. As the crabs retreated into the ocean, you cautiously approached the otter, who had huddled into a protective ball, concealing its face with its paws.  "Hey there, little buddy," you whispered soothingly, crouching down to its level and tenderly caressing its head. With gentle strokes, you comforted the otter, who responded with a soft chirp, its eyes filled with gratitude.

Concerned for the otter's well-being, you inquired, though fully aware that animals couldn't comprehend human language, "Where's your family, buddy?" However, your attention was soon drawn to the otter's wounded arm, a clear reminder of the recent struggle. "Oh, you poor thing," you sympathized, "Let me tend to your injuries before you swim back home." Scooping the otter gently into your arms, you made your way back to your nearby campsite, your heart touched by the vulnerable creature in your care.

Settling the otter on a soft blanket at your campsite, you meticulously cleansed its wounds with a clean cloth, offering solace and relief from its pain. The otter seemed to find comfort in your presence, nuzzling its body and face against your hands as you tenderly attended to its injuries.

"Are you hungry, little one?" you inquired, rummaging through your supplies and offering a raw fish. To your surprise, the otter seemed uninterested in the fish but eagerly eyed a plate of sandwiches you had prepared for dinner. "You prefer a tuna sandwich, perhaps?"

The otter's eyes widened with anticipation upon spotting the tuna sandwich, and it chirped with enthusiasm, extending a paw toward the plate, as if imploring you to share. With a warm smile, you obliged, offering the otter the prized sandwich, which it eagerly devoured. It was evident that this was a particular culinary delight for the otter.

Even after savoring its meal to satisfaction, the otter continued to nuzzle and seek your companionship, its eyes conveying a heartfelt desire to remain by your side. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a soothing glow across the landscape, you contemplated the otter's silent plea, tempted to let it spend the night alongside you.

"Hmm... You still need time to heal," you mused, gently petting the otter, your fingers tracing its unique features, "Maybe you can sleep with me. It's dangerous for you to be out alone at night." While your heart longed to keep this adorable creature with you, your conscience reminded you of the importance of wildlife preservation. "Animals belong in the wild, and I think I could get into trouble if I keep one for myself," you sighed, resigned to your role as a temporary protector, "Oh well, I'm going to cuddle with you to my heart's content tonight, my little baby!" With that, you bestowed a gentle kiss upon the otter's fluffy cheek.

The otter responded with an affectionate nuzzle, its whiskers fluttering with delight. As the sun dipped below the horizon, you and the otter nestled against each other, lulled by the soothing sounds of the ocean.

Morning arrived, and you woke up feeling a weight on your chest. Groggily, your hand began to explore the unexpected presence, and you muttered, "Baby, you feel so heavy." Your eyes snapped open as your fingers encountered smooth, silky hair, not fur. To your astonishment, you discovered the Chief Justice, Monsieur Neuvillette, lying on your chest.

Gasping in disbelief, you opened your eyes to behold the Chief Justice, his supple body nestled within your embrace. His expression mirrored your shock, a deep shade of crimson flushing across his face. "Er... it's.... It's not what it looks like," he stammered, his gaze shifting away in embarrassment. He struggled to find words to explain the unexpected situation, his composure faltering. "I... um... I..."

Your cheeks burned with a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. "Monsieur Neuvillette? Why are you here?" you inquired, staring at the Chief Justice, utterly perplexed. He still appeared flustered, and you urged him to collect his thoughts.

Recalling that you had tended to an injured otter, not the Chief Justice, and not recalling any alcoholic consumption, a wild idea crossed your mind. "I know it sounds crazy, but... were you the otter I saved yesterday?"

The Chief Justice furrowed his brows, his face reddening. "Ah... you remember?" he admitted with a quiet sigh. "Yes, I was indeed the otter you saved yesterday." He confessed, his embarrassment palpable. "It was an accident. I thought I'd just transform briefly to calm myself down, not expecting you to actually..." He stuttered awkwardly.

It was a revelation beyond your wildest imagination—the typically stoic Chief Justice harboring such an adorable and unexpected secret. You couldn't help but chuckle softly to yourself. "It's fine; I only did what was right," you assured him. However, the proximity of his body atop yours was causing a different kind of fluster. "Um... Monsieur Neuvillette, do you need something to cover yourself?" You averted your gaze, your cheeks now sporting a deep blush, and it was then that you both realized the rather compromising position you were in.

With a light chuckle, Neuvillette acknowledged his state of undress, his own cheeks flushed. "Er... ah... y-yes, please," he replied, turning away to search for a cloth to preserve his modesty. Once found, he hastily draped it over himself, providing a semblance of cover. He let out a sigh of relief, rubbing the back of his neck, his nervousness still evident. "Ahem... th-thank you."

It became apparent that Monsieur Neuvillette had no immediate intention of returning to the Court of Fontaine. "You're welcome to stay here a bit longer until your injuries heal," you offered, extending a welcoming smile.

Neuvillette's expression softened, a small smile gracing his lips. "If it's alright with you… I'd like to stay a while longer to finish recovering, that is" he admitted, his tone still somewhat awkward. The allure of your tranquil campsite seemed to be drawing him in, despite his official duties.

You patted the makeshift bed, inviting him to join you, and Neuvillette accepted the gesture, his body sinking into the mattress. He smiled, letting out another sigh of relaxation as he gazed up at the sky. "It's remarkably peaceful here," Neuvillette remarked. "Much better than my office at the Court of Fontaine." He sighed deeply, a sense of calm enveloping him. Your proximity offered a sense of peace that contrasted starkly with his usual courtroom environment.

As you scooted closer to him and wrapped your arms around him, Neuvillette's heart raced with a strange mix of emotions. He felt both comforted and unsettled, unable to fully comprehend the feelings that had arisen within him. His eyes met the serene horizon, and he sighed, trying to make sense of it all.

"It's hard to believe that even in your non-otter form, you're still quite adorable, Monsieur Neuvillette," you whispered, closing your eyes and drifting back to sleep.

Neuvillette blushed once more, his heart pounding in his chest as he lay beside you. The warmth of your embrace filled him with both comfort and a newfound sense of vulnerability. He allowed himself to enjoy the moment, not fully comprehending the depth of his feelings. As he closed his eyes and drifted into slumber once more, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for this unexpected connection.

[more-than-a-princess]

Sonia, for as much as she tried to experience what was a normal life, was often called naïve. The sheer belief that chores and errands were something fun, something to marvel at, and that the opinion of the efficiency of trains and convenience stores making it easier for people without a household staff to go about their day-to-day lives was not only naïve but fucking stupid. That said, as she stepped onto the escalators heading for the top floor, she stared at Kanata, taking every bit of personal composure she had not to do the same thing to him. Was he simply naïve, or did he really have no idea how politics worked? Not that most teenagers had an intimate look into politics: you either had to be born into it, inheriting it, or have enough money to invest in making a difference. Kanata, Sonia thought, didn't fall into any of the above categories: still, was there nothing to be said for a simple act of negotiation?

"Kanata-san, when you meet fans through handshake greets or otherwise," Sonia asked quietly. She needed to phrase it in a way she hoped he would understand, drawing on what she knew of the idol world from her friend Sayaka Maizono's stories. It wasn't the sort of thing she ever spoke of with Eichi: they commiserated in the demands of their respective families over meals and experiences said families would never be caught dead engaging in. "Are you close friends with each and every one of those people? Or do some of them simply want your signature, or a photo, or a handshake, without divulging your most personal thoughts and opinions to them? They want to say they've met you, but it's not really an opportunity to come to know you."

She turned the corner, heading to the next bank of escalators. Thankfully, most visitors were far more preoccupied with the various tanks and pools to care about their conversation. It wasn't the sort of commentary she wanted on record, but Kanata was a friend. She didn't want to leave him in the dark like a child, hidden away from the real conversation and reality of life. "That's what it's like for me, many of my appearances and interviews. It's not really a friendship, it is a business relationship, a negotiation." One that, if she said the wrong word, or held her hands or handbag the wrong way, or didn't smile with just the right amount of luster, she would be analyzed and scrutinized in the press until a more interesting scandal came along.

Still, it wasn't necessarily insincere: it was simply the job. One she was born into and needed to inherit one day. Sonia smiled, both at the otters and Kanata, who seemed just as entertained by their brown eyes and sweet expressions as they swam playfully in their enclosure. "Oh, so you will inherit an aquarium one day then!" She clarified. So they did have something in common: they were both the next generation of a legacy. "Truth be told, my family isn't fond of me bringing anyone to visit at home unless they're thoroughly vetted and have my parents' approval. Simply attempting to have my entire class flown to Novoselic for my 18th birthday has been an ordeal enough, though my mother won't rest until I've invited Byakuya Togami and he accepts." There was a better chance of hell freezing over than Sonia and Byakuya hitting it off without any hitch whatsoever, but she chose not to mention that.

"But I know what it's like to have a strict family who doesn't approve of things, including a normal education and seeing much of the world on your own," She assured him, tracing a fingertip against the plexiglass of the tank. She'd captured one of the otters' attention, the animal now swimming against the other side of the glass to try and catch her finger. "I didn't attend a regular school until middle school, and I could only have friends over from the 'right, aristocratic families,' as my mother puts it." Being trotted out for various political and influential visitors, that too was something Sonia understood, before she needed to be seen and not heard. Mostly, she simply didn't want Kanata to think he was alone in an odd upbringing. No, he had a friend who thought his entire tale was, perhaps disturbingly, normal.

"Do you want to visit the penguins, and maybe tell me about your friend Madara-san?" She smiled, looking towards an eager group of penguins about to be fed their afternoon meal. "He must be very important if he helped you chart your own course in life! I am very intrigued, and perhaps a bit envious of such a thing."

“I wonder how often you are surrounded by… friends… when you do your meet-and-greets… Because I have… Looked into some of your public appearances a little, because I was curious. It seemed so very… Um…” Kanata waved his hand about vaguely, not finding the words for what he wanted to convey, which was that her public speeches and audiences seemed more isolated. The one he had watched had been a video taped in Novoselic, he guessed, perhaps at the castle. It had been a short news clip so the quality had been good, nothing amateurish about it, but things still seemed… Distant. Somehow. “Ah… I… Am sorry. I do not know how to say this,” he finally admitted with slumping shoulders. Alas, speaking was still hard for him from time to time, there were still words and turns of phrases that he was unfamiliar with.

Following Sonia’s lead happily, Kanata made sure to stay as close to her as possible, given his somewhat slow and unsteady gait. It was like he had a constant case of sea legs whenever he was in a situation where he didn’t feel one hundred percent comfortable. As soon as they were inside the aquarium proper, he knew he’d pick himself up unconsciously. It always seemed to happen that way. “If you were to ever stop learning… I think you would stop… Um… Growing. Not your body, but your mind. I think as long as you learn, as long as you are… Yes. A student… Then I think that you are alive. If you do not… Learn… Can you even say that you live? I wonder…”

The inside of the building was cool and comforting, the blue light coming from the tanks familiar and beautiful. There was a certain serenity that settled across Kanata’s features that hadn’t been there before and it seemed that he got lost in his own thoughts for a moment, staring at one of the tanks. That was, until Sonia’s startled questions reached him and he turned his attention toward her. He stepped onto the escalator, hand gripping the railing tightly. “Well… I… Yes, we own… the Aoumi Aquarium. It is not very big and we’re trying to… Well. Stay afloat.” He smiled briefly at the unintentional pun. “I feel very much at home there, with my little sea friends… And I like working with them very much. They are innocent and beautiful and they always listen. But…” He pried his hand away from the escalator railing once they reached the second floor and willed himself to relax. “I am not sure my family would allow me to take a girl friend to visit. And I did not… I did not wish to provoke them. Also, I wanted to come here, because I have never been here before…”

Arriving at the third floor elicited an excited little squeal from Kanata and he trotted on over to the otter pen, waving cheerfully at the squash-faced little critters. His smile thinned out at Sonia’s question though and he slowly straightened himself up, tucking tropical blue strands of hair behind his ear as he turned to face her.

“I suppose… I have never been in school. Not before High School. It is kind of silly, but my family is very… Old fashioned? Or… Should I perhaps say… Odd…?” He seemed to stumble over his words, trying to find the right ones. He wanted to tell her more about himself, it was only fair after all, but at the same time… He vaguely understood that some things were a bit strange to talk about and you never knew how people would react to certain circumstances in his past. “I mostly… Well, I mostly lived in this one room. I had a couple of playmates so I was not… Alone? All the time? And the grown-ups would come and have me bless them or beg me for things, so it was alright, really.”

“One of my playmates… Madara… He made me really… No. He inspired me. To become an idol. So I… Wanted out. And I came to Yumenosaki Academy.” Kanata smiled quickly, trying to make light of the conversation. “And then I met you~!”

[boundinparchment]

Sand and Shells

In which you receive a gift from a friend, who may be more than he seems.

Pure Neuvillette fluff. Dedicated to @surveyycorps because otters are adorable.

Sometimes, you came to this beach outside the city to think. Not always the same time and not always the same day of the week, but nonetheless, it was a ritual. Rain or shine, this was your spot.

You removed your shoes, settled onto the sand, and stuck your feet in the water. Like always. Work was particularly difficult right now; you needed solutions to problems, not short-term fixes, and it was impossible to think at your desk. Especially when the tension and frustration was so thick, you would need a claymore to cut through it. Your supervisor answered to the Chief Justice and you had a feeling that perhaps certain things were being hidden to save face.

As if that would spare a dismissal or a lawsuit.

The Court didn’t take anything lightly, especially clerical errors from poor management.

Resting your cheek on your knee, you stared off into the distance, watching the sun on the ripples of water. It was quiet out this way. The occasional otter, a school of fish, or some crabs but otherwise, you were entirely unbothered.

That was, until you made eye contact with an otter nearby. It tilted its head, watching you. In its paws, a pink shell. Probably lunch.

You gave a small smile and waved. Otters were always fun to watch, especially in their true element underwater, where they glided and flipped and soared. To your surprise, the otter tilted its head in the other direction and gave a distinct chirp before it darted off.

Guess these guys aren’t too used to human company, you thought.

You shifted, clearing your head further and running your fingers through the sand. So lost in thought, you didn’t hear the putter patter of paws on sand nor the chirp; you jumped when you saw the flash of blue and white as a shell was laid at your feet. The otter squeaked but remained close by, watching you on hind legs.

It wasn’t scared after all…

In fact, its eyes were different too. Not inky black at all but silver and purple…more like a melusine…

“Is this for me?” you asked, picking up the shell. “Thank you. I ate already though. You should have it.”

The otter shook its head. When you didn’t open it, it took out a rock from a fur pocket and brought it over.

“If you insist…”

Prying open the shell, you didn’t see the typical meat at all, but rather a pearl, black as night. Pearls themselves were rare out here, let alone those of different color. You plucked it out carefully and marveled at its iridescence.

You smiled and looked back at the otter. Clearly it wanted approval. It understand human speech, to some extent. How odd.

“Thank you. It’s very pretty. I’ll keep it safe. Take your rock back, you need that.”

Offering the stone in the flat of your hand, the otter took it and tucked it back into its pocket. With a chirp and a squeak, it walked away back towards the water; it looked back once and waved before departing back smoothly into the lake.

What an odd little fellow.

You held up the pearl again. There was a jeweler on the way back to your office. Rings would get in the way…a necklace, then. Why let such a beautiful pearl go to waste?

Weeks later, upon a surprise inspection, your supervisor was fired. Chief Justice Neuvillette would, to the best of his schedule, oversee the transition. He spent time getting to know names and faces, and when he came to you, your heart stopped.

His eyes were always so captivating but…surely…

“Black pearls are quite rare. The jeweler did a lovely job…they’re difficult to work with.”

You swallowed and pressed your fingers to the pearl, cold against your skin.

“It‘s from a friend. I doubt I’ll ever meet them again, so I wear it to remember them.”

“Ah. Then they’re quite lucky to have someone as thoughtful as you.”

You would remember that smile, soft and genuine, for days to come.

[ashensgrotto]

Never Had a Friend (Like Me) - Part 2

Original art piece by pfbatakopd on twitter (Used only for Header. Do NOT REPOST ORIGINAL ART)

Part 1 Part 2 (You Are Here) Part 3

YandereSoulmate! AU:

Part 1 (Am I Feeling Love?)

Part 2 (Protective)

Part 3A & Part 3B (Poor Unfortunate Souls)

Characters: Azul Ashengrotto X F!Reader

Word Count: 9,105

Synopsis: A chance for redemption comes in the form of a wish…

Author’s Notes: Ok, here we go. I received an anonymous message in my inbox for the next part of the Yandere!Soulmate series and I was actually going to work on it - but with the arrival of GloMas, working on the next part of ‘Raison D’être,’ wanting to finish “Weren’t You Aware, Angelfish?”, AND the holidays, time got away from me and I forgot about Scarabia’s segment for a short while. 

However, because you all seem to enjoy this and want to know if the tako has redeemed himself - I figured I would work to get this part done. Now, warning - Pompefiore’s part is going to take a bit of time to complete because I will have to wiggle my way through my memory bank and replay a few parts of it (which is approx 76 chapters in length for those players who haven’t made it that far into the game yet) since I’m working so deep into Ignihyde’s chapter right now (which is a doozy - I’m still in chapter 67-tower 1, oof help).

This one is also going to be split into three parts - I promise it will not be a long wait for the second & third parts as this is my Christmas gift to all of my readers <3

Thank you all for your continued support!

Warnings are as follows: yandere behaviors, manipulation, imprisonment, & hypnosis

***

… Mister Kalim, sir, have a wish? Or two? Or Three?

I’m on the job, you big nabob.

You ain’t never had a friend like me.

***

“Well done, Jade,” Azul praised, “How did the ‘talk’ with Kalim go?”

It was the first night of being in Scarabia in the vacant room the Grim and (Y/N) had originally been held hostage in. Apparently, it was routine in Scarabia to have all of the students locked within their dorm rooms - hence the reason as to why the concept was foreign to both Grim and (Y/N) as the two of them never felt the need to lock their doors at night (though Azul did while (Y/N) had lived in Octavinelle for security purposes - but he would never tell her to begin with.)

True to his word, Azul started sniffing around straight away, using Jade to talk to Kalim while he and Floyd distracted Jamil with a game of mancala.

“It was just as you expected, I’m afraid,” Jade answered, placing his hands behind his back as he gave his report, “It’s very likely that Kalim is being magically mind-controlled to make him act out erratically.”

“That would explain the sea otter’s rapid changes in behavior,” Floyd nodded in agreement.

“But how is that even possible?” Grim asked.

“Grim, that’s like asking how you can stomach twenty cans of tuna in twenty minutes,” (Y/N) answered, looking toward the trio, “I’m assuming it’s similar to your ultimate magic, Jade.”

“To an extent, yes,” Jade nodded in agreement, “The closest you might get would be with Ruggie’s ‘Laugh with Me.’ That ultimate magic allows Ruggie to manipulate a person’s body to do what he wants them to. There’s also hypnosis magic that works in the same sense, but it takes control of a target’s mind and requires a far higher degree of skill and power. Very few mages are even capable of using it because of the amount of skill required to even cast it.”

“You gotta have skills and power on par with Azul for that,” Floyd added.

“But even I would be hard-pressed to control living creatures with their own egos like humans,” Azul argued, “I still prefer to give them the chance to think it over before signing one of my deals.”

“But I doubt anyone in Scarabia is half as good as you, Azul,” Grim piped up, “Even Kalim’s big signature is just a glorified waterspout…”

“Grim, ‘Oasis Maker’ is a very talented frame of magic,” (Y/N) sighed, looking at the others, “Though, I do agree… even Jamil’s score levels are relatively average on the school’s grading scale.”

“I wouldn’t be too hasty to make assumptions,” Azul chidded, “There’s an old saying in the sea that we have in the sea which states ‘a clever hawk hides its talons.’”

“So the brings us to the big question, who’s controllin’ sea otter and why?” Floyd asked.

“I’m afraid I won’t be much help there,” Jade shook his head, “I couldn’t get any answers from him.”

“Speaking of which,” (Y/n) asked suddenly, “What exactly… does your signature spell do?”

“Oh? Have you seen it before?” Grim asked curiously.

“Only once - I think we had a patron at the lounge that was behaving quite, um… indecently?” you admit, “It was like he suddenly just spilled what was on his mind as soon as Jade got close to him.”

Jade sighs, “My unique magic is one that would make most people guarded around me if they knew what it did, specifically - I’m not a fan of revealing it, but (Y/n) hit it pretty hard on the nose. It’s called ‘Shock the Heart’ - it allows me to force the truth out of a target that might be hiding something. The drawback is that the spell can only be used once on a target - once I use it, I can’t use it on them again, and it only works on those with a weak mental vulnerability or loosely guarded minds. Those like Azul who are weary, or have high resistance to magic, are effective against the spell - hence my signature spell is very limited in scope.”

“It works great on guys cowerin’ in fear or bawlin’ like babies,” Floyd grinned, showing off his row of sharp teeth.

“The way those two smile scare the daylights outta me,” Grim looked at you, “I still can’t believe you lived with these three for three months!”

“They’re not that bad,” you mumble under your breath, “...mostly.”

Azul coughed, “Jade, what were you able to find out? If anything?”

“Kalim’s always been the type to open up to others - it’s one of the reasons why he was selected to be the headwarden. Thus, my spell worked on him flawlessly - however, when I asked him if he knew the name of the student using hypnosis magic on him and if he would tell me, he claimed that he must never tell anyone. He made some sort of promise to this student long ago, so he couldn’t reveal it.”

“Oh how hysterical!” Azul snorted, “Your signature spell was thwarted by Kalim’s strength of character!”

“It would seem that way,” Jade admitted.

“And here I thought the sea otter would sing like a canary,” Floyd hit his hand over his forehead, “Just when you think you know a guy!”

“...I would assume that it’s a promise he keeps close to his heart,” you think out loud.

Azul looks at you, eyes widening, “(Y/N)! You genius angelfish! That’s it!”

“What’s it?” you ask.

“I have an idea,” Azul answered, “I have a hunch at who our little serpent schemer is… and how to pull him out of hiding, but first - Floyd, I’ll need your help.”

“My help?” Floyd looked flabbergasted.

“Yes, I need to borrow your signature spell.”

Jade, Floyd, Grim, and you blinked in surprise.

“Azul, pardon me for asking,” Jade spoke after a moment of stunned silence, “but why in the world are you asking for Floyd’s ‘Bind the Heart’?”

“Because I intend on using myself as bait,” Azul answered.

“Azul! You can’t!” you could contain yourself at the thought of Azul stepping in harm’s way.

“(Y/n), listen to me,” Azul took your hand, “This won’t be like the last time, I promise. I’m one of the strongest mages here right now, so I have to do this. Floyd’s ‘Bind the Heart’ will allow me the protection from hypnosis when we have to face off against our little viper. I don’t intend on him gaining control over anyone any longer - not even you.”

“I hate to admit it, but Azul is right,” Floyd answered, scratching the back of his head, “As much as I hate to admit, it would give us an advantage as well.”

“What do you mean, Floyd?” Jade asked.

“I’m always goin’ off about how great my signature spell is an’ showin’ it,” Floyd shrugged his shoulder, “So, if I swap something with Azul an’ give him my signature spell - no one will know that he has it, least of all our target.”

“But you’ll have to feign ignorance, all of you,” Azul answered, “If you can’t, this trap won’t work - this is the one shot we have.”

“Alright, though I’m not really seeing where this is going…” Grim sighed, resting his paws on his hips.

“You will eventually, Grim,” Azul answered, “Now, Floyd. Are you ready? I’ll give you something that will be an adequate replacement for the time being.”

“Sure, octy - whenever you’re ready.”

“How many times must I…? Never mind.”

Azul closed his eyes and took a deep breath as magic began to gather around him.

“The song ceases, the sun sets… I extend my benevolent hand to you poor unfortunate souls… Now, to business! It’s a Deal!”

***

Azul always knew how to practice patience - it was something he learned over the years during his searches for his soulmate. He may have been desperate during his childhood years, searching every day and night for that special someone that was destined to stay by his side, but that didn’t change the fact that he was preparing for this moment specifically.

All day, Azul kept one eye on his target, watching them as he, Floyd, and Jade began to slowly rile him up with their constant assistance toward Kalim - helping the Scarabia housewarden with memorization spells, training routines, and homework that had been assigned over the holiday weekend, keeping him busy and away from the one person who was to be held responsible for the mess the dorm was now in. By mid-afternoon, the trap was set and Azul walked down the hall towards the kitchens with the suspect beside him.

“The students' completion rate for these assignments is up fifteen percent from yesterday,” Azul commented amicably, “Those are some statistically significant results, in my opinion. Believe it or not, (Y/N) and Grim both told me that Kalim was going through some rough patches, his mood swings pretty drastic - even compared to Floyd’s… but he’s been acting pretty calm since we arrived. Isn’t it wonderful that Kalim’s regained the faith of Scarabia’s students, Jamil?”

“...No. No, it isn’t,” Jamil hissed quietly.

“It’s not?” Azul feigned surprise.

“No offense, but I can’t let you people stay in Scarabia any longer,” Jamil stopped and glared at Azul hard, “It’s time you went back under the sea.”

‘Got you,’ Azul thought before asking, “Where did this come from, Jamil? Have I done something to offend you?”

“...You made eye contact with me. Fool,” Jamil’s wicked grin spread across his features, “The one you behold is your master. When I ask you a question, you will answer. When I give you a command, you will assent. Snake Whisper.”

Azul felt the magic coiling around him, a small murmur of ‘Bind the Heart’ rejected the magic - now… it was time to play.

Azul feigned pain until he could see you and Jade hiding out of the corner of his eye, making sure that the two of you could see everything - his cell phone held securely in Jade’s grip as the stream began. He feigned falling into Jamil’s magic, opening his eyes to reveal Jamil’s control over his mind and body. He slightly slumped his shoulders, giving the illusion that he was no longer in control.

As he did so, Jamil began to rant - playing right into the octomer’s hands

“Because of you, all my carefully laid plans have gone up in smoke! All I needed was a little more nudging from those two dimwits and the students would’ve kicked Kalim out,” Jamil growled, “Do you have any idea how much painstaking effort I put into laying the groundwork for that?”

Azul did not respond, though he wanted to give a few choice words to Jamil about calling his sweet angelfish a ‘dimwit’ - but he would have to wait for that.

“Azul - you returned all your contractually stolen powers back to their rightful owners recently, right?” Jamil asked suddenly.

“Yes, master,” Azul responded, thinking, ‘Where are you going with… ah, I see…’

“Tch. So much for using you as my own personal genie of the lamp,” Jamil scoffed, reaching up and rubbing his chin, “Your unique magic is quite a valuable asset… but it would be hard to keep you controlled long-term.”

“Master,” Azul’s voice spoke up, “I remember the contents of the contracts.”

“What?” Jamil looked at Azul in surprise.

“I remember all the secrets of the people I made contracts with - their troubles, their weakness, their desires.”

“What a… twisted collection. I see I made the right choice not to make friends with you,” Jamil smiled cruelly, “Tell me, does this intellectual cache of yours include the headmage’s secrets?”

Azul grinned internally, baiting Jamil even more, “Of course, master. I know one thing he would never want others to learn. Do you wish to know his secret?”

“Oh, abso-lutely!” Jamil’s smile broadened, “Once I have the headmage’s weakness in my grasp, I’ll finally be free. I’ll kick Kalim out of school and become Scarabia’s housewarden myself!”

“... And there we have it.”

Azul watched, a knowing smirk appearing on his face as Jamil whipped around to face Jade, his face contorted in confusion.

“So you finally show your true colors!” Grim pressed his paws onto his hips as he glared up at Jamil from between you and Jade, “I bet you thought you were real slick, pullin’ the wool over our eyes!”

“H-how… how much..?”

“All of it,” you answered, “Start to finish.”

“And live streamed to the world from Azul’s smartphone,” Jade waved the phone at Jamil as footsteps entered the hallway with many Scarabia students appearing, “Azul’s Magicam livestream presently had five thousand active viewers. It’s currently trending under the topic: ‘A Certain Magicians’ School’s Dirty Little Secret’.”

Voices began echoing around Jamil, the students of the Scarabia dorm demanding to know the truth and why Jamil - their own vice warden - would deceive them.

“Y-you… you’ve got it all wrong!” Jamil shouted, his fear and apprehensiveness growing.

“Don’t even try to talk your way out of this one,” Jade folded his arms across his chest, “The mind control magic you used on Azul is hard evidence.”

Everyone looked at Azul - who kept his silent slumped state, continuing to pretend to be under Jamil’s magic still.

“Jamil, it’s been you all along,” Jade continued, pulling everyone’s attention back to him, “You’ve been using your signature spell on Kalim and making him throw Scarabia into chaos!”

Jamil tsked, smearing, “I was trying to avoid escalating matters, but you leave me no choice - Azul, I command you! Subdue and restrain them all!”

“Yes, master,” Azul answered, taking a step forward.

You took a step back with Jade, Grim darting behind you as you looked at Azul pleading, momentarily forgetting that Azul wasn’t really under Jamil’s power, “Azul, no. You don’t want to do this. Please! Snap out of it!”

“Pleading with him won’t help you, (Y/N)!” Jamil laughed, “He’s my loyal minion now.”

‘And… now,’ Azul took another step forward, before spinning around and pointing his cane at Jamil, “You wish I was.”

“What?!”

Azul looked over his shoulder and winked at you, relieved to see your smile as he turned his attention back toward Jamil, “You told me the funniest thing earlier - allow me to return the favor. You think I’m an arrogant mage, but you were sorely mistaken. An embarrassing misjudgment for the vice warden of Scarabia - the dorm that is supposed to embody the spirit of mindfulness.”

“I know I made eye contact with you! I had you in my control!”

“Please, I’m a competent mage and you know it,” Azul frowned, keeping his cane pointed at Jamil, “I always prepare for the eventualities before I act - right Floyd?”

“I think you let your guard down a little too soon there, sea snake,” Floyd appeared, his voice sounding more baritone than before - almost like a tuba was speaking.

Azul snickered softly as your eyebrows raised up into your hairline, “That’s… what you exchanged with Floyd for his signature spell?”

“Pretty cool, huh?” Floyd said with a grin.

“Shall I explain it?” Azul asked, keeping his focus on Jamil, “In exchange for a vocal adjustment, Floyd gave me his unique magic, ‘Bind the Heart’ - it jams or blocks an opponent’s magic and diverts it elsewhere. Hence - I used it to evade your mind spell, then pretended to be in your hold and got you to spill your intentions while you gloated.”

Jamil gritted his teeth, glaring at them as Kalim appeared, the housewarden asking politely to tell him that it was true, that Jamil would never do anything like that, that it was just blackout spells because of how tired he was. But the silence from the vice warden was short-lived.

Azul felt you stiffen beside him, your hand suddenly gripping Azul’s overcoat, “(Y/N)? What’s wrong?”

You met his gaze and Azul knew.

An overblot was approaching.

He turned to Jade and Floyd, “Jade, Floyd, ready yourselves.”

“The one you behold is your master… When I ask you a question, you will answer. When I give you a command, you will assent! Snake Whisper!”

At Jamil’s command, the Scarabia dorm turned on its guests and its headwarden.

Azul was quick to pull you and Grim behind him as a shield of water protected the three of you from a rain of fire, “Mediocre, nothing! He’s easily one of the top mages in the entire school - to say nothing of Scarabia.”

Floyd grumbled, “I keep squeezin’ em but they keep gettin’ back up - are they zombies or somethin’?”

“That’s just part of ‘Snake Whisper’,” you explain, as if your eyes are seeing the internal workings of the spell, “It forces a target to continue to obey the commands - like a puppet on a string. Even though they might feel pain and are internally trying to avoid as well as fight the spell, their minds and bodies are not completely their own anymore.”

“Jamil! Please stop!” Kalim begged as he blocked an attack, “You can have what you want! You can be the housewarden! I’ll go home to my family!”

“What? You thought that would work? My spell won’t be broken so easily,” Jamil snickered as black ink and heavy energy surrounded him, “Not as long as you exist in this world… Kalim.”

“Jamil! You’re courting danger!” Jade begged, eyes widening, “If you keep using your signature spell, you’ll exceed you blot tolerance-”

“SHUT UP AND DON’T ORDER ME AROUND!”

The air became heavy as a dark shadow came over Scarabia. Azul pulled you closer as several dark shapes began to shift - the housewarden of Octavinelle watching in horror as a creature appeared before them. Hovering above the ground in ancient Viziar garb of black and red was Jamil, cloaked in darkness with hair that now took on the shapes of small black vipers - a dark shadow that took on the form of a dark genie hovering behind him, as if awaiting his command.

“He’s overblotted!” Azul gritted his teeth, “The negative energy is swelling up… Everyone! Steel yourselves!”

“I have no need for an incompetent king or a con artist,” the twisted voice of Jamil spoke, “Your personality flaws give me ADEQUATE cause… to send you packing on a one-way trip to the ends of the earth! So long! Ex-Housewarden Kalim! A-hahahahaha!”

The next thing Azul knew, he was airborne.

[littlemissagere]

Hiii hello!!! i hope youre having a good day :•) If it isnt too much trouble, id love regressor Neuvillette headcanons ^_^ please and thank you so much!!!

Oh.. My.. GOSHHHH!!!! IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THISSS >:'D /vvpos

—————+ Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, Don’t Cry…

——— ; 🌊 🐉 ✨ Neuvillette regressor headcanons!

🌊 I believe Neuvillette is an infant Regressor / New born regressor. Around 0-3, 4 at the oldest!

🐳 When the court cases overwhelm him, sometimes he will regress. Due to this, he always has a small stuffie in his pocket or at his station.

🌊 Freminet mentioned the little phrase “Hydro Dragon, Hydro Dragon, don’t cry”.. this is like a lullaby to Neuvillette, it brings him a lot of comfort when little.

🐳 Has a playroom / Nursery that has a crib, and lots of stuffies

🌊 He is a very sensitive person, and even more so when regressed. If he is masking his regression and someone gets mad at him even in the slightest, he will go to his office and cry. . .

🐳 He can’t talk well when little, so it’s usually just whines, babbles, and noises or gestures to get what he needs

🌊 He loves to be held, rocked, carried.. though sometimes it’s a bit difficult due to his size! Though, he has gotten custom things made for himself, that usually stay hidden in his nursery.

🐳 He has a blankie he chews on, that makes crackling sounds

🌊 He LOVES being read stories, even if it’s the exact same one every time

🐳 He doesn’t like Bath time sometimes, since he has to wash his hair

🌊 He is very observant, and quiet even when regressed

🐳 He regressed during a court case once, and one of the people yelled at him… during the break, it was raining… poor Neuvi' need up crying.

🌊 Some of his friends and assistants know he regresses, and help him when little (and eventually he will have his own place in the TeaPot!)

🐳 He loves having a warm drink in his bottle, not milk though.. it makes his tummy upset. :'<

🌊 He has a lot of sensory issues, and needs a lot of help and understanding

🐳 Has an otter Onesie, and Stuffy

———~

Thank you for reading <3

[orcinus-veterinarius]

Hi! I’m currently working on a big, detailed Blackfish rebuttal, which means lots of rabbit holes. I recently started rereading John Hargrove’s book (ugh). He talks about how the original Shamu died of pyometra and septicemia, claiming that it was something that, apparently, would almost never happen in the wild. The obvious implication here is that captivity caused these conditions, and/or that such is common with captive orcas. However, obviously septicemia can be caused by a variety of things, wild or not. As for pyometra, he doesn’t provide other examples of captive orcas suffering pyometra, nor have I been able to find other examples described in peer reviewed literature. It seems that that isn’t particularly common in cetaceans period, whether they’re wild or not, but I’m also not a marine mammal veterinarian. Since you’d know better about cetacean medicine, I was wondering if you knew anything more about this.

Ooh, that'll be interesting! I'd love to read it!

You're correct that Shamu is the only reported case of pyometra in a killer whale, wild or captive. The CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine makes no mention of pyometra in cetaceans, although it does occur in both wild and captive pinnipeds and has been reported in sea otters and sirenians. Pyometra is typically the result of bacteria migrating up the vaginal tract into the uterus, which at certain times is more susceptible to infection due to normal hormonal fluctuations. Theoretically, anything with a uterus can get pyometra, though some species are more commonly affected than others.

I would hedge to bet that pyometra is rare in cetaceans because of their truly unusual reproductive anatomy. Females have a lot of redundant tissue in their vaginal tract, creating "false cervixes" and overall making it a lot more difficult for anything to reach the uterus.

See all those extra recesses around the cervix?

I did find this case report on a necropsy of a wild short-beaked common dolphin. Pyometra was one of many nasty issues afflicting the poor girl, so it can indeed occur in nature. Since this individual was suffering from co-infections of bacteria and cetacean morbillivirus, she was clearly immunocompromised. It's highly likely Shamu was as well.

Overall, pyometra of cetaceans (including orcas) appears to be quite rare in both the wild and managed care. Shamu was the very first orca intentionally captured for public display, nearly 60 years ago, and only survived six years in captivity before her death at approximately age 10. Virtually nothing was known about killer whale husbandry at the time, so it's not at all unreasonable to assume that poor husbandry, nutrition, and stress negatively impacted her immune function to the point she succumbed to pyometra.

However, it's a weak argument on Hargrove's part to compare the SeaWorld of today (with multiple orcas now in their 30s, 40s, and 50s) to the SeaWorld of the 1960s, and their very first whale at that. Especially using a condition that has not been reported in a captive orca since.

[sleepingorchids]

Some Octonauts headcanons!

Cap. Barnacles: basically the dad of the whole crew, also the oldest alongside prof. Inkling

Selva: Pansexual, Loves the Vegimals so much, they call her their 'auntie'. Loves studying botany in watercolor paintings. Has her own flower garden and book shelves full of plant books.

Kwazii: ADHD, Trans man, gets over-confident when playing cards, board games, looses every one of them. Parents died not long after he joined the octonaut's, which is why he doesn't speak of them

Peso: actually has a very nice singing voice! Is too shy to show it to the crew or any other's though. Loves his mom very much, definitely a mama's boy.

Dashi: bisexual, Also sings very well, likes to hum while working.

Tracker: straight (?) Very oblivious (we love him) probably accidentally breaks his glasses on a regular basis.

Tweak: Lesbian, trans woman. Loves playing video games in her room late at night instead of sleeping. Tired of everyone (Kwazii) crashing the GUP's

Shellington: Austistic, Pansexual, info dumps whenever he gets the chance (cannon tbh) sleep deprived, help this poor otter

Koshi: Just assumes that Shell and Dashi are dating, doesn't question it much

Pinto: probably has ADHD since he's easily distracted by creatures

Prof inkling: one of the oldest crew members, uses a wheelchair on land

Marsh: tells dad jokes constantly, tweak gets tired of them

[wizisbored]

wip wednesday sentences for 30/10

content warning for implied slavery in netherborne

nimona centaur au @twyrewolf, @allofthebeanz, @stonemaskedtaliesin

“I was afraid you’d say something like that. Saints help that poor man.” And with that, she opens the door.

Regardless of her feelings on the centaur, Nimona can’t deny that seeing Ballister Boldheart in real life for the first time is strange. He’s pixels in the shape of another dickhead on TV, he’s ink on a propaganda poster, he’s a name on her squireship paperwork. And also, apparently, he’s an actual flesh-and-blood seal brown warmblood standing in the doorway, looking right at her as they breathe the same air.

Not that she’d in a thousand years admit that. She holds his gaze, stone-faced, and does not stand.

“Sir Boldheart,” the Matron greets, moving to the side as she holds the door open.

netherborne @hurricanebreeze, @quietly-sleeping, @lizhly @tamsinswriting, @sourb0i

“A…Arrhythmia,” Skye whimpers.

“So she’d be cheap, that’s something.” He turns to address the room at large. “Any reason the rest of you would be?”

Prudence and Bertha glance at each other. “Uh- Jock said…”

“Her heart’s defective, I’m down an arm, and they’re untrained teenagers,” Jock rattles off. “Sir.”

“And I’ve got something else for you to hold against Takta,” Lydia says bitterly.

“Yeah? Spill.”

“Well- I saw him bringing those three in, and I tried to get him to help, so they asked if he knew me. He said I was a stray.”

The receding red rushes back. “Oh, that fucking- which one did he have?”

Lydia takes another step away from him. “Prudence and Bertha.”

“Yeah, cause I know their names!”

rabies time @enigma-the-mysterious, @zyrafowe-sny, @violet-prism-creatively, @circus-complex @somefishycat, @shelfthe-reader, @asha10100101010, @whimsicalmeerkat

“Stop- stop looking at me like that, leave me alone!”

Ballister steps back, his hand raised. “Okay, Okay, sorry. I’m not gonna touch you, kid.”

“Back. Off.”

“I’m backing off, I’m backing off.”

She watches him, eyes locked on as he goes to join Ambrosius on the other side of the room. Again, he’s unnerved. Nimona has never been something he’d call predictable, but she is understandable, with practice. He can feel that understanding slipping.

Big white eyes watch him from across the room. Predator or prey, he can’t tell.

He supposes he and Ambrosius will just have to figure out how to go about breakfast with a rabid otter in the sink.

///

That night, it's Ballister’s turn.

He's woken by some sort of commotion from the direction of the bathroom, and blearily clambers out of bed. Nimona didn’t seem too bad when he turned in for the night, he could get within a foot of her at least, get more than one-word responses. Hopefully she’s just tripped, and she’ll be enough in her right mind when he finds her to easily settle.

What he finds is a little pink fawn sprawled on the bathroom floor, the room stinking of vomit.

“Oh, Nim,” he mumbles as he kneels beside her. “You with me, kid?”

Her eyes snap open, hazy for a moment, and then she locks onto him and immediately she’s scrambling to get her gangly fawn legs under her on the tiles.

“Whoa, whoa, it’s okay. It’s just me, you’re safe.”

She scrambles to the far wall, staring, legs splayed. Her mouth is hanging open, her breathing ragged, a small sliver of drool hanging from her lip.

blood red @enigma-the-mysterious, @loyal-house-of-lupin, @oriharaizayadividesintoslytherin, @kallisto-k

It’s nice, he finds, to be able to consult the horse - too tight, too loose, too forward or back? Though, he could do without the teasing.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, with mock sympathy. “Don’t know how to fit a saddle, cowboy?”

“I’m still not a cowboy,” Ballister says, as he fastens her breast collar. He finds his eye drawn to the four-pointed star on her shoulder as he does. He’d assumed it was a compass when he first saw it, with the N standing for North, but now he’s not so sure.

“Is this a real brand?” he asks.

“Am I a real horse?”

“I don’t know why I bother.”

He walks a circle around her, giving the saddle fit one last look over, before he stops at her side. Only now does he appreciate how much his sheer panic helped him get on her back earlier - how on earth did he get his foot all the way up to the stirrup with the other still on the ground?

bugebroph @eriquin, @auburnlaughter, @kalira, @post-and-out

Behind the mask, she beams. “I always made Beej tell me about his jobs when he got back, so I picked stuff up from him. But that’s just his methods, I’ve done my own research too, and that wasn’t easy. The librarian’s filing system is actively hostile.”

“There’s an afterlife library?” Adam says, practically lighting up at the thought.

“Yeah, it’s great! Would be better if the librarian didn’t hate me.”

“Oh no, did something happen?” Barbab asks gently.

Lydia shrugs. “Well, since his system is so dogshit I just keep books I like ‘cause I’d never see them again if I returned them. We’ve both got our reasons.”

“Have you tried talking to him about it?”

She grimaces. “He’s way too fond of bringing up my bloodline for any decent conversations to happen.”

[correctproseka]

Omg for the ship thing can I suggest a poly?? MinoKohaShiho?

Oh not then,,, MinoKoha, KohaShiho, and MinoShiho VBSJFJ

(Can you guess who this is)

Oh no i wonder who this anon is....

Anyways

Who said “I love you” first

Id say its Minori, she probably says it platonically to the most dumbass shit ever as a way of saying thanks so she just accidentally says it romantically when they're cuddling one day

Who would have the other’s picture as their phone background

Both Shiho and Kohane. Kohane likes to take pictures of her partners and Shiho is a simp.

Who leaves notes written in fog on the bathroom mirror

Minori and Kohane

Who buys the other cheesy gifts

Kohane and Shiho, Shiho probably has given them all matching keychains of an otter (for Minori), a hamster (for Kohane) and a wolf for herself

Who initiated the first kiss

Depends on an individual ship way here.

Minoshiho was Shiho, Kohashiho was Kohane, Minokoha was Minori.

Overall, it was Kohane kissing Shiho first though.

Who kisses the other awake in the morning

Shiho and Kohane gotta join up to kiss Minori awake or else Minori oversleeps her very loud alarm clock

Who starts tickle fights

Minori or Kohane, its usually Kohane or Shiho winning though

Who asks who if they can join the other in the shower

Kohane, i feel like she's the most casual out of them about intimacy

Who surprises the other in the middle of the day at work with lunch

Kohane actually, technically doesn't have a big work schedule differently from Minori, and is not as autistic about practicing as Shiho, so she tends to remind them to eat by showing up with a bento

Who was nervous and shy on the first date

The most nervous? Minori. She was so nervous she didnt see the floor and fell down the stairs.

They did have an awesome time in the hospital afterwards though, Minori couldn't stop laughing at the situation /hj

Who kills/takes out the spiders

Kohane, animals are her friends she's a disney princess she gets close and the animals just "oh my bad maam im making your partners uncomfortable? Im leaving goodbyee" and she doesn't have to say a thing /j

Who loudly proclaims their love when they’re drunk

Minori. Please someone save that poor girl. Also Kohane. Also Shiho. All of them. They start sobbing about how much they love each other

[aliceismypixie]

The villain of my story ∥ Ten days granted

Summary - "The villain will always be the villain if the hero tells the story" or atleast that's what they say. No one knew why you became what you are. But you wanted your revenge on Isabella Marie Swan and you were ready to do anything to have it.

Pairing - Twilight x villain!reader

Pronoun - she/her (but can be read as a male reader or gn reader)

Warning - The reader is an immortal child, swearing, talk of kidnapping, brief mention of killing, my poor writing skill for hunting, mention blood, Edward being full of himself

Words count - 1.66k~

Set - After Breaking-Dawn Part 2

Chapter 2 - Masterlist

You were annoyed. You had Ratatouille Renesmee in your lair for five days now and honestly, she was slowly making you regret ever kidnapping her.

"So you don't want to kill me ?"

"No."

"But you want my mommy ?"

"Yes."

"Why ?"

"Because."

"Because is not a reason. Really you could have targeted someone with a family weaker than ours.".

"I have good reasons."

"What are they ? It's kind of boring here don't you think ? You should add some colors on your wall !"

"No."

"Why not ?"

"Because I say so."

"But it's boring !"

"Shut up."

"That's a bad word !!"

"SHUT THE F― oh my God, kids nowaday."

"You look younger than I though."

"I'll burn the kid today." A groan escaped your lips as you turned away to grab your coat and out on your hood.

"Imma go on a little hunt. Stay in your cage and try to find something to distract you in your tiny space." You walked out as the girl started to speak again.

"Hey, don't leave me alone ! That's not very kind !"

The moment you closed the door, you finally felt like you could breathe. How was that kid Isabella's daughter ? She was so talkative while her mother was probably the most awkward introvert you've ever got to meet. But when you were younger, people always prefered a shy introvert who loved to read than a loud extrovert who jumped on trees.

Rolling your eyes at the thought, you made your way toward the entrance of the wood and jumped on a few trees. It was always better up there, that way you could see your prey any human much better. And as if your thought summoned them, a couple walked in the forest. They were dressed in a bunch of hiking equipment so they were probably here to see the awesome view the mountain offered them once they reached the top. Sadly they would never get the chance to.

Following behind them quietly, you always vomit your dinner hearing their cringe lovey-dovey discussion. The couple was talking about their movie date a week before and it was an awkward date and also an annoying one. Because honestly, who goes to the movie theater to watch a documentary on otters ?

"I love you bug-a-boo~"

"And I love you more winnie poo~"

"No ! Me bug-a-boo !"

"Me winnie-poo !"

"No―"

"Both of you are dead now anyways." You jumped off the trees you were on and you pinned them both on the ground with your feet smoothly.

"Who am I going to eat first ?" You smirked at their horrified expression and lowered yourself before taking a deep breath.

"You love alcohol don't you ?" You asked the man and his eyes widened while his girlfriend glared at him.

"What !? I thought you stopped ?!" She claimed and you rose and eyebrow surprised.

"Man you lied to your girl ? That's kinda low." You pointed out and the woman huffed before looking away from her boyfriend and you smirked.

"She cheated on me three times with all my boys !" He claimed and you looked at the girl in surprise.

"Damn, low blow girl." You acknowledged and the girl gasped dramatically before glaring at her boyfriend or ex-boyfriend whatever.

"Both of you are dead anyways."

Screams echoed through the forest and then there were two bodies, lying lifelessly on the ground, a bunch of claw marks on their bodies along with a few burns but no blood coming out of their injuries. Their blood got drained and the bear that clawed them was already jumping from trees to trees to go back home.

On your way back, you crossed a deer drinking some water and you stopped on your track. For the past five days she was there, Renasberry didn't eat all because she was brainwashed into their weird aff vegetarian diet or because the hybrid weird kid wanted human's food. But you needed to keep her alive somehow. A silent groan escaped your lips as your eyes the deer before you and prepared yourself to kill it.

Snapping its neck was an easy part honestly, especially since you just feet, carrying it to your super villain's lair was also an easy part, opening the door though, was kind of harder. But you were a super villain so you guess what you did ? A badass kick in the door and busted in.

The weird hybrid kid named Rasputin turned toward the door in shock and you rolled your eyes before dumping the deer in her cage and creating a new fire door for your lair.

"Eat up. You're paler than your mom when she was able to be sick." You glared before turning away and the kid looked at you with a teasy grin.

"You got me some food ! It's because you care~" Renesmee teased and you rolled your eyes annoyed.

"No I don't."

"You so do."

"Do not !"

"So do !"

"Do not !"

"Do not !"

"So do !" You replied and the kid smirked at you while you realized what you just said and a groan escaped your lips once again.

"How the fuck did I fall for that stupid two year old trick ?" You muttered.

"You said a bad word !"

"SHUT UP AND EAT !"

The Cullen's household wasn't happy anymore. You know how Bella used to say that her life was a nightmare before meeting Edward because now she has a handsome rich vampire husband ? Well now she thought that her life was worse because she lost her beautiful super rare hybrid daughter.

"We couldn't find her anywhere." Jasper announced seriously as him, Emmett and Seth arrived in the living room and Edward rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Seeing his brother's reaction's Emmett felt his own anger starting to rose up. Yes, Emmett wasn't the type to get annoyed or angry, except if you won against him in video games, but he wasn't annoyed for that. No, the big bad himbo vampire was annoyed because Edward was acting like he was the only one affected by the disappearance of ReNameMe, sorry oh my goodness, your author may have a problem with Razzel Dazzel's real name, Renesmee. Edward was acting like Rosalie wasn't isolating herself in her room out of guilt and refused to face anyone. See Emmett was usually very playful. That was until his wife was hurting and everyone just ignored it.

But was Emmett McCarty Cullen the main character ? No, you guessed it. He was probably the most underrated sibling of the Cullen's family but let's not talk about that.

Reading the thoughts of his brother, Edward glared at him from his seat on the couch and scoffed.

"Well I'm sorry, if your wife would have kept a eye on my daughter we wouldn't be here !" The golden brunet expressed and Emmett growled.

"Hey ! Rose did what she could ! You should have kept on eye on Renesmee she is your daughter after all ! Don't put everything on my wife !" Emmett's eyes turned darker as he was ready to jump on his brother.

Seeing the outbrust about to happen, Alice decided to take Jasper out of the room. The empath was already overwhelmed enough by everyone in the room, he didn't need to feel the emotions of the fight as a plus. Seth followed shortly after them, believe it or not he thought of them like his second parents. Leah followed her brother obviously, leaving Esme, Carlisle, Bella, Jacob, Edward and Emmett in the living room.

"Everyone calm down." Esme tried to sooth the atmosphere miserably.

Poor woman hated to see her children hurting and she hated even more to see them fight each other. Over the past few years, it has been hard for everyone between the hunters, the newborns army, the pregnancy and all the drama following the Volturi, Esme's caring nature couldn't help but worry for her children. But people oftenly forget that she existed too. She was Dr. Cullen's wife, not Esme, just Dr. Cullen's wife, so let's not make a big deal about her and how she might feel after all those years, yes ?

"No Esme, I'm sorry but Edward here needs to know that he is not the only one being hella worried about Nessie." Jacob butt in and Edward growled at him before getting up and face the alpha.

"If you were so worried you would have run faster !"

"And if you were so worried you wouldn't have let your daughter in the guard of other people ! Especially if you're not gonna assume your mistake after it !"

"I'm going to―"

"Boys ! Please ! Don't fight each other. Not now." Bella begged and the two turned toward her pleading eyes before getting off each other.

Like usual, Bella was the peacemaker between the two boys. Were they supposed to be adult now ? Yes they were. But the main character is the hero in every situation am I not right ? So let's make Bella act like the perfectly not-awkward-anymore-super-powerful-vampire-newborn main character that she is.

"Emmett, go check on Rosalie yes ?" Carlisle told his second son who simply huffed before being taken out of the room by his adopted mother.

"Edward, I know that you're frustrated but we're all soing our best to find her. And Jacob, I know that your imprint link makes you act up but we need to calm down and sit to think about a way to get Renesmee back without any harm." Carlisle announced when suddenly Seth ran back into the room, a familiar type of half burned letters in hands and a horrified expression on his face.

"Carlisle ! This was by the entrance of the wood. The child's sent is all over it." The young shifter exclaimed and Edward snatched the letter from his hands before that his expression fell and the words of the letter rolled off his tongue.

"'Fighting each other for five days, losing her more for five days. You had ten days granted. Tic, tac, fire and flames'."

Chapter 4

[willtheweaver]

A writer’s guide to forests: from the poles to the tropics, part 8

We’ve made it to the tropics. I hope you enjoyed this, and found it useful in your writing.

Tropical rainforest

Probably the most recognizable of forest environment, and among the most threatened.

Location-Latin America, Africa, Australia, Indonesia, and the Pacific islands in between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Many forests have been felled or heavily altered by human activity.

Climate-Subtropical to tropical, with conditions being wet year round. Rain does not fall all the time, with a defined rainy and dry season. (What’s the difference? Rainy season has rain almost daily while in the dry season you will have to make do with high humidity and morning fog) At higher elevations, nights are cooler, though still well above freezing, and mist and rain are more common(this is why mountainous RF are called cloud forests)

Plant life- This is a tree dominated environment. The understory and forest floor are dark, unless trees have recently fallen. Many small plants are arboreal, nestled in the upper branches of trees. Vines and other climbers use larger plants as scaffolding. In areas of poor soil, tropical pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp.) and bladderworts (Utricularia spp.) get much needed nutrients from animal sources.

Animal life- Rainforests are the most biodiverse environments on Earth. Insects are everywhere, as are the animals that eat them. Birds and primates can be found from the canopy to the forest floor. The moist conditions make for an ideal habitat for frogs and toads. Apex predators are the big cats-think jaguars, tigers and leopards. Some species of herbivores can be quite large; Africa is home to gorillas and forest elephants, while the island of Borneo, Sumatra, and Java support rhinos and orangutans (though the further of these species is uncertain)Waterways are home to all sorts of fish(there are more species in the Amazon river than in the Atlantic Ocean), and larger animals, such as otters, crocodilians, and even river dolphins. Isolated islands have far fewer mammal species, with bats being the only ones, but hardy insects, reptiles, and birds making up the majority of the biomass. Deforestation and the introduction of invasive species have caused the extinction of many animal species, with island forests being the hardest hit.

How the forest affects the story- When one thinks of societies in the tropics, it usually is through the lens of western stereotypes designed to shock audiences and give ‘civilization’ something to conquer. Avoid this at all cost! There is more to the forest. Before the Spanish conquest, the Amazon was home to cities, and the agricultural societies of New Guinea are believed to be contemporaries with the farmers of Mesopotamia.

Grain does not do well in the tropics, so farming will be based around plants such as açaí, coconuts, taro, breadfruit, bananas, and manioc. These can be supplemented by hunting and fishing, but long term storage will have to be addressed. High humidity is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi, so organic material will have to be kept dry so they don’t rot. The concentration of microorganisms also means that good hygiene is needed to avoid disease.

Settlement will always cause disruption, and the extent of your character’s activities can have a big impact on the forest, and your story. And remember, the activity of a small village will be different to that of large scale logging. Management, use, and abuse of the rainforest can be a driving factor in the plot. How will your characters react? Is the threat from outside or from within? The destruction of the rainforest is one of the main factors, along with unmitigated greenhouse gas emissions that is causing the current climate crisis. Can your characters do better? Or will you create a cautionary tale that shows us the grim future we are currently barreling towards? (That choice, my dear writers, is completely up to you)

[angelsfalling16]

Thank you for the tag @you-remind-me-of-the-babe :)

I'm working on completely rewriting a fic that I never finished, and I'm loving it. I've decided to expand it in both directions, adding new details about the backstory and possibly too many personal feelings that may later get cut, but it's been a lot of fun, so here is a look at that (or actually two looks):

I end up in a bar, too poor to get drunk, but enough change floating around in my pocket to buy a drink to at least take the edge off of the pain I hate myself for feeling.

The bar isn't too crowded, but there are enough people around that I don't feel like everyone's eyes will be on me if I put my head down on the bar. I do end up regretting that move though when it lands in something sticky and slightly damp. But it's too late. I've already committed and I can't be damned to lift my head and face the consequences of my actions.

“Bad day?” a posh voice that grits my nerves asks.

I ignore them because I don't have the patience for people with voices that are so close to the one I want to hear most right now.

**

“It was in the paper this morning. Your parents seem very proud of you and ‘excited to share your love with the world.’” I hope I don’t sound as bitter as I feel. I don’t know why I’m feeling so hurt about it. I never even had a chance with him, and it was only a crush, so why do I feel like I lost out on an opportunity here?

“Fuck,” he says under his breath before finishing his drink in one go.

It’s not quite the reaction I was expecting.

Why does he seem upset? Shouldn’t he be happy? Ecstatic? Exuberant? Some other word that describes the opposite of the way I’ve been feeling recently?

Tagging: @cutestkilla @orange-peony @ic3-que3n @roomwithanopenfire @aristocratic-otter @iamamythologicalcreature @palimpsessed @jasonfunderberkerthefrogexists @messofthejess @bookish-bogwitch @moodandmist @artsyunderstudy

[ask-theredcrown]

[A dark-furred otter suddenly appeared before you, fallen on the ground and breathing heavily. Her body was covered in torn flesh, fur soaked in blood, deep gashes that exposed some of her innards. Though these wounds quickly heal over and close as the afterlife begins to set in on this poor soul. She took a few moments to recognize something was different now, but did finally stand up. Her eyes laid on your towering figure, you could see her heart sink for a moment. Her features were quite youthful, but she was certainly not a child. She took a bit to collect herself in silence, her face turning from you. Finally, after a few moments, her mouth opened.]

"So that's it, huh? It's just... over."

[She laughs awkwardly, looking down as if expecting to look down on the land below.]

"I'm just.. gone now. Left to be a rotting corpse. Ugly, disturbing... and that's the way most will remember me, isn't it? I.. didn't know many people."

[She lets out a sigh, avoiding looking at the towering figure before her, not letting herself process everything fully. She doesn't even seem to fully believe it.]

"No soul is just a rotting corpse... Life means much more than just waiting for death..."

"Tell me, little one... What is your story? What brings you here?"