#60s male green eyes

[sophrosynesworld]

The Night Shift (Part 6)

Part One:

You exhale softly, swiping your badge over the scanner. A quick flicker of green replaces the red, followed by a sharp click that echoes down the otherwise silent corridor. Your fingertips brush against the cool, barely-blue walls as you walk, searching for something to keep you grounded. You’re exhausted, a bone deep type of tired. The thought of how much longer you can keep going nags at the edges of your mind.

A stretcher races past, a nurse from the burn unit on top performing relentless chest compressions as an alarm code begins to scream through the air. You pause, watching them vanish behind a curtain, the code team already in motion. You turn, forcing your legs to carry you down another hallway toward your unit.

You press the hand sanitizer dispenser, the cool gel spreading between your palms as you push through the last set of doors. Relief hits when you see the once blood-stained hallway now spotless.

“This is a professional workplace!” Haruto’s voice booms, startling you as he shakes a half-empty bag of chips. “Stealing food is a serious offense!”

"I wish he’d just get laid already," Airi's voice comes from behind, making you jump. She’s finally out of her scrubs, wearing a pair of denim jeans and an oversized hospital 10K t-shirt.

You chuckle, though it takes more effort than it should. "That would require him being nice first."

Airi smirks. “You think he’s going to track you down?”

“Dynamight?” You ask, unsure who she means, leaning against the wall as Airi rolls her eyes, her expression silently saying, of course.

“Who knows? I saw him earlier—he took a rough hit. They probably shipped him off to another hospital for treatment.”

Airi frowns, adjusting her oversized tote bag before crossing her arms as she follows you toward the ambulance entrance. You stop at the back, joining the line of residents as they wait, leaning against the wall while watching the incoming victim. The morning sun streams through the large bay windows, a reminder that you're now 19 hours into this shift.

“Aren’t you off work?” you ask, giving her a puzzled look. “Why are you still here?”

“I’m waiting for Naomi. We’re going to walk home together.”

You glance down at your watch, cracking a joke about your overtime pay, but Airi doesn’t respond. You turn to ask her something, but her expression freezes you in place—her mouth slightly open, eyes wide as she reaches for your hand.

“What is it?” you ask, but she doesn’t answer. Her gaze is locked on the entrance. Your gaze shifts to follow where she’s looking, your mouth falling open in disbelief.

“Holy shit.”

Dynamight stumbles into the ambulance bay, clutching his abdomen, his hair matted with blood and hero costume torn. Frantic crimson eyes scan the room—until they land on yours.

His mouth opens, a silent plea trembling on his lips as he stumbles forward, one hand outstretched, desperate.

“Please.”

The EMTs rush in alongside a gurney, guiding it toward the trauma bay. “Male, mid-twenties. Presenting with hematemesis. Fluctuating between alert and unresponsive but has been out for the last 8 minutes ."

You’re already moving, pushing through the crowd toward Bakugo. His glassy eyes, aren’t on you anymore—they’re fixed on the gurney being wheeled away. You gently cup his face in your hands, pulling his focus to you.

“You don’t want to see that.”

"Please."

The word is so quiet, nearly swallowed by the chaos around the two of you.

"What is it? Are you hurt?" you ask, looking over him for injuries.

He shakes his head, voice barely a whisper. "Save him."

You look over to see the gurney turning into bay six. Airi’s voice fades into the background, drowned out by the relentless ringing in your ears as you edge closer to the bed. Time drags, each second an eternity until the moment you tug on your gloves.

"Blood pressure's dropping, 90/60 on arrival. Tachycardic, heart rate’s at 170. Peripheral pulses are weak. We’ve started an IV in route." Everyone grabs hold of the gurney, moving in unison as you prepare to transfer the patient to the bed. As you lift, your heart skips a beat. Your eyes widen for a moment. You didn't recognize him at first, but dying before you is the number one hero—Deku.

Suddenly, his monitors scream with alarms, signaling trouble.

"Prepare for intubation!" Another doctor calls out while your stethoscope presses against Izuku's chest, the distant, irregular rhythm thrumming beneath your fingertips. His lungs gurgle with fluid, the faint crackle of blood seeping into the tissue unmistakable.

"I’d like to take the lead on this, if that’s alright with you, Dr. Kobayashi," you say, barely glancing up to meet his concerned, older eyes.

"Are you sure?" Dr. Kobayashi questions, his brow furrowed. "You look worse than half the patients that roll into this place."

"Heart rate’s at 210 and rising!" someone from the crash team calls out, eyes glued to the monitor.

"Failure isn't an option with this one." you reply, laser-focused on the task at hand, unaware of the man watching you in agonizing slow motion. "Push 6 milligrams of Adenosine, followed by 20 of saline into the large vein."

"I can do this" You reassure him. You don't have a choice.

The nurse swiftly administers the dose, while the senior doctor takes a step back, waiting for your instruction.

"I need a 14-gauge needle!" you command, eyes flicking to the nurses around you. "Set up a central line and prep an ultrasound for his abdomen," you order before beginning the thoracostomy.

The team falls in sync with you, trusting your lead without question. Your mind races, analyzing every possible outcome, desperate to pull Midoriya back from the edge of death.

Then his heart monitor flatlines.

"He’s in cardiac arrest!" someone shouts.

But you don’t hesitate. "Start compressions!"

Sakura jumps into action, beginning CPR as someone else gels the defibrillator handing the paddles off to you.

"Clear!" you shout, pressing the paddles to his chest.

His body jerks with the shock, but the flatline holds steady, unmoved.

The room is a blur of frantic motion and deafening alarms, but one voice cuts through the chaos.

"Get up, damn it! Don’t you dare die on me, Deku!" Katsuki's voice is raw, choked with emotion as he struggles against two other men both trying to hold him back. Katsuki’s wild, desperate eyes are locked on Midoriya’s limp body.

"Bakugo, stop! They’re doing everything they can." The number 6 hero, Red Riot, tries to comfort him, his face etched with pain as he tightens his grip on Katsuki’s arm, urging him to calm down. Beside him, the 14th hero, Chargebolt, rests trembling hands on Katsuki’s shoulders, his own eyes brimming with unshed tears.

But Katsuki can’t be consoled. His voice cracks as he yells, "Why the hell isn’t she using her quirk?! She could save him!"

You hear him, feel the weight of his accusation like a punch to the chest. But you can’t look at him. Not now.

You close your eyes for a split second, steadying yourself. Your quirk could help, but with how weak you are, you're not sure how far you could make it.

"Charge to 250."

Another shock. Another flatline.

Katsuki’s voice pierces the air again, louder, more desperate. "Do something!" His knees nearly buckle, Kirishima barely holding him upright as the anguish in his voice shatters what little resolve you have left.

"I know you can do it," Katsuki pleads, as his gaze locks onto you. "Why aren’t you helping him?"

You hesitate, hands trembling, torn between the logical part of your mind and the emotional whirlwind inside you. You want to help. You want to save him.

"Clear!" you shout again, trying to block out Katsuki’s voice, trying to focus on Midoriya.

Another jolt.

Another flatline.

How long can you hold back before risking everything?

The decision hits you like a wave. You drop the paddles, your hands trembling as you press them to Midoriya’s chest. The flatline still wails, cutting through your soul, but you close your eyes and push past the noise, letting your quirk flood through you. Warmth spreads from your fingertips, coursing into Midoriya’s body.

Your energy surges forward, a lifeline desperately trying to knit together the broken pieces inside him. You feel his cracked ribs, his blood soaked lungs, the trauma to his spine. You pour everything you have into him, your breath growing shallow as the drain begins to take its toll.

Katsuki’s figure becomes distant, just a murmur in the background as your vision begins to blur. You barely hear Airi and Rina pleading. Everything fades into the background, your slowing pulse pounding in your ears, your hands now numb. The world tilts, darkness edging into your vision.

And then—pain.

A sudden jolt courses through you, like lightning striking your core. Your eyes snap open, gasping for air as your heart races. Your quirk explodes with power, racing out of your palms.

You stumble, barely holding yourself up, turning your head to see the figure standing beside you. Chargebolt has pushed though the staff, his hand lightly resting on your arm, electricity still sparking from his fingertips. His eyes are wide with concern.

"I hope I didn't hurt you Doc," he says, eyes wide and bloodshot. "I think this might work."

The electric charge buzzing through your body reignites your senses, snapping you back to focus. Denki channels his power into you, not unbearably painful, just enough to give you the necessary strength.

With a renewed surge of energy, you press your hands back onto Midoriya’s chest. Your quirk flows again, stronger this time, bolstered by Denki’s electricity. You feel the pieces of Midoriya’s body slowly coming together.

His chest stirs beneath your hands.

"Come on," you whisper, your heart pounding. "Come back to us."

Katsuki stops yelling for a moment, his eyes widening as he watches. You can feel the weight of everyone’s hope pressing down on you.

Then—a flicker. Midoriya’s heart monitor beeps once.

then twice.

"I’ve got rhythm!" someone calls out, their voice distant, almost muffled. Dr. Kobayashi quickly steps in, taking over as you reel from the effort.

A wave of cheers follows as you remove your hands and step back, but it feels detached, like it's happening underwater. Your legs move on autopilot, guiding you back too the sterile corridor, past the buzzing fluorescent lights that feel too harsh.

You stumble, instinctively scanning your badge into the isolated hallway, the one that leads to the breakroom. Each step feeling heavier than the last. Sweat drips down your face, stumbling as you instinctively reach for the wall, trying to steady yourself. The world is spinning too fast.

The sounds of the hospital fade into nothingness as blackness swallows you whole.

Tags: Tags: @simplyraeblue @moonfloweronmars @kalulakunundrum @froggy-crystal @msjaeger @crystalssncw @dragonscribble @gina239 @abcdefbeom @bakugonnathrowitback

[ambrosialdesire]

the minotaur

18+ DARK CONTENT BELOW, MINORS AND BLANK BLOGS DNI

𓆩♡𓆪 ACHELOUS "LOUIS" BELLOCK   ↳ nickname: louis (pronouced lewis)

𓆩♡𓆪 AGE   ↳ ~2040 years old (relatively young for minotaurs); 41 years old in human years

𓆩♡𓆪 BIRTHDAY   ↳ april 30th

𓆩♡𓆪 HEIGHT   ↳ 6'10'' (human), 8' (minotaur)

𓆩♡𓆪 SPECIES   ↳ minotaur; currently disguised as a human

𓆩♡𓆪 CAREER   ↳ rancher/farmer: specializes in juice and animal based products (such as cheeses, milk, wool, etc.)

𓆩♡𓆪 AREA OF RESIDENCE   ↳ wicklow ranch on the outerskirts of the neighboring town winterborough (~250 miles away from the city Lunaris)

𓆩♡𓆪 APPEARANCE (i'm bad at describing since i rely on memory + drawings)   ↳ human             — a heavy set, tan male with fluffy dark brown hair             — dark olive green eyes, very tired looking/relaxed             — long scar going down his right eye             — low maintenance: retains a short beard, chest/body hair, arm hair, leg hair, etc. he's just a very hairy dude.             — calloused hands, very work-worn             — back scars from past; mostly healed over but still prominent in sight and touch             — ear piercings on his right ear             — nipple piercings, usually horseshoe shaped (got them when he still was under human ownership and still keeps them on as a reminder)   ↳ partial transformation             — relatively the same, height becomes slightly taller by a few inches             — horns grow in; pale ivory in color and smooth to the touch             — lower canines grow out; left canine is slightly chipped             — tail grows back, still able to be hidden in his pants             — slight more hairier             — nails on hands start turning black (hoof color)   ↳ minotaur             — head turns into a complete bull/cow head; brown fur, floppy ears, horns + canines grow all out to max size             — legs turn into bull/cow legs, feet turn into hooves             — torso + arms stay relatively human in appearance             — height is at full standing length             — long tail is fully grown out             — has to wear a loincloth due to having no clothes at this size             — considered to be an "abnormal" minotaur due to his underbite/outgrown canines and his tail (he's seen depictions of his species and he believes he's abnormal)

𓆩♡𓆪 PERSONALITY (i'm also really bad at explaining this lmfao)   ↳ achelous considers himself a rather isolated man. once scorned and feared by mankind, and used for his immense strength prior to the creation/reliance to machinery, achelous shares no fondness for them at all. most of these feelings hasn't changed even a little as the years went on, and he continues to try and keep contact with the townspeople at a minimum. he's not unnecessarily or outright violent towards the ~30k town population in particular as they're rather peaceful, but when it comes to city folk or outside tourists, his somewhat calm demeanor changes drastically towards them.

  ↳ achelous believes that he is a cruel monster, but the townspeople do not think the same. they genuinely believe that he's rather a sweet gentleman, seeing that he's a big softie towards the children and the elderly. he's actually more indifferent and hostile to adult men and women, having the belief that they are the cruelest when humans are in their 20s-60s.

  ↳ achelous is a particular rule follower, especially on his ranch. break his rules, he'll break you until you follow them correctly.

  ↳ he's stoic and straight to the point, there will never be a day where he sugarcoats his words. lying to him is similar to breaking the rules, so he's not fond of not being honest.

  ↳ achelous has a pretty even temperament unless there's a rule breaker, annoying human from the city/outside, or brats. his punishments are down right cruel, and that's coming from someone that had personally experienced the worst from humanity.

  ↳ achelous can have his flirty moments, but only if he's wasted from the alcohol he makes since normal alcohol isn't strong enough. his attempts are rather poor due to his lack of socializing and picking up cues, so he normally comes off as sleazy with an ego, but he's really trying his best.

  ↳ though it may not seem like it most of the time, achelous is rather possessive and protective over the one he loves. he has pretty conservative views when it comes to having a family, believing that the man must provide for the woman while the woman takes care of the kids and the home. his cruel words and actions make it so his love stays (as that's the only form of affection he learned how to portray), and his last resort is usually harming/threatening/killing the one closest to his love.

  ↳ achelous is a good convincer, it's why his products are usually sought after in the farmer's market every sunday. it's technically not lying when what he says and believes is true.

  ↳ of course, achelous prefers not to socialize unless it's absolutely necessary, but he's so good at fixing things and helping others out accidentally that he's constantly requested around for his assistance. he doesn't really want to do it, but if it gets them off his back and property, he will.

  ↳ achelous is hard-working, he hates bad/lazy workers and prefers to do things his own way. that's why there's no other farmhands/workers besides him, not including his obvious distaste for humans. from 5:30 am to 7:30 pm, he follows his routine to a tee every day. sundays are his breaks, even if he technically doesn't really need it.

  ↳ he's the most fatherly out of all my posted ocs, probably due to the face that he's the one that's completely determined and decently stable enough to start a family. achelous has also been waiting for the same species as him, but since he never seen another minotaur for most of his life, his patience is growing thin and he may have to take to a human mate the longer he waits.

  ↳ achelous has extreme guilt/shame over his true form, it's why he managed to find a witch to help him appear more human (ironic isn't it). to him, it's a protectant from being even more outcasted, despite his consistent insistence to be left alone. his partial/full transformation only comes out when his emotions become extremely high (mostly out of anger, but can come out in states of high arousal). he has quite the steady composure, and is very in-tune with his emotions, giving him that needed control.

𓆩♡𓆪 ABILITIES   ↳ extreme strength             — can lift up multiple logs or hay bales without struggle             — occasionally lifts up his animals to make sure they're right where they need to be   ↳ intelligence/experience             — due to his long-lived life and the experiences he's gone through, he's rather quickly decisive on what to do/say             — this unfortunately makes him the "i-told-you-so"/"this-is-what-you-get" type   ↳ heightened senses             — minotaurs have near perfect vision and heightened senses (taste and scent especially)             — due to this, achelous has quick reflexes and reacts to situations accordingly. this can also make him vulnerable to extremely strong smells or sudden bright lights.   ↳ endurance/speed             — achelous rarely or doesn't even get tired, sometimes his daily routine gets finished earlier if he's at the top of his game. he merely fakes exhaustion to look less suspicious to the townspeople, that's the only time he lies to them since it's for his protection.             — due to his species type, he's rather quick on his feet. not as much as normal minotaurs (if there are) due to his heftier build.

𓆩♡𓆪 BACKGROUND   ↳ around the start of the roman empire years, achelous was born to a lower class family. to their horror, he was born with a calf's head and legs, believing that their gods have spited them even more. rather than killing him to be done with it, they chose to sell their newborn to a higher status family, seeing that he'd be used for their entertainment. there was never such a creature as him, only passing legends and stories, no one truly thought that a minotaur could possibly exist. they were paid a good sum, and achelous' fate was finally sealed. as he grew up, he was tormented with their mockery, forced to work in the fields from day to night with no breaks. achelous was the face of jokes and laughs during their lavish parties, food constantly thrown at his face and being tossed about for their amusement. this so-called family of his abused the poor minotaur, making sure that he knew his place and how disgusting he was to everyone around. even as they dragged him around publicly, he was forced to wear a hood and cloak, but his size was impossible to hide and the people around would tear at his disguise to taunt jeers at him, constantly leaving him filthy and bloody at the end of the day. it's strange though. no matter how much he was hit, how many wounds they left on his back, achelous never fought back. he himself never knew why, even to this day.

  ↳ as the empire finally fell apart, achelous managed to finally escape, not without burning the house down and making sure he saw his abusers' faces contort as they burned alive while he ran off. hiding in a boat traveling to where england is now, he stayed there for years underneath the docks, surviving on whatever he was able to find, until he heard word of travel to "india" and managed to sneak onto the next boat going there. once he reached the americas, he traveled further into the south, around where mississippi, tennessee, alabama, and georgia is currently located. achelous finally found the freedom is wanted for so long, finally building his own home and farm, ensuring that no other human may make their way on his land.

  ↳ this peace didn't last long, well, to him at least it didn't. at this time, he had previously sought out a witch that was able to alter his appearance semi-permanently, so long as he didn't lose control of himself. achelous now is roughly 2000 years old, and a town had begun to be built nearby his ranch. winterborough, from what he's heard from others as he sold his products at the market, a new town for new beginnings. he didn't care, so long as they didn't bother him or figure out he lived there. they figured it out. the first group of townspeople decided to greet him, since they're the ones sorta causing a disturbance as the homes and buildings were still being constructed. to achelous' surprise, they were kind, offering him gifts and words of praise about the work he's done for himself. he's... he's never experience this before, he could tell that they were being genuine from their smiles and expressions. hm... maybe these humans weren't so bad. as the years went on, they never quite questioned his origins or why it seems that he never quite ages the same as them, achelous brought them a good amount of financial stability in their small town and he was overall just a great guy, even if he was a little antisocial.

  ↳ achelous is still not openly fond of humankind in general, but he is rather protective over winterborough and its residents. it had grown into a place where he thought of as a warm home, minus his ranch. he actually knows everyone by name, who's family member belongs to which; achelous cares deeply, even if he doesn't show it. the townspeople all know him as well, they like to say that he's their guardian (which is mostly right since there's barely any crime in their town). they all adore and deeply trust achelous for what he has done for them, but they still don't know his true nature, his true form. all in all, the townspeople and achelous' relationship towards one another is symbiotic.

𓆩♡𓆪 OTHER INFO   ↳ achelous shows up to every town event, to everyone's surprise. they know he's not really fond of interacting with everyone, but his intentions are to ensure that the tourists/city folk isn't causing any trouble for them. he hates crowds, but he hates newcomers even more.

  ↳ the town only knows him as louis bellock, achelous thinks they don't have the ability to pronounce his actual name, so he lets them call him louis. bellock was made up on the spot when he was asked.

  ↳ when the first townspeople met achelous, he was a complete rugged mess. all his hair was completely outgrown, his clothes were mostly in rags, and he kinda smelled like dirt and grass. he was pretty frightening as a first appearance, and they also kinda assumed he was a squatter before he clarified that he was the owner of the ranch. it was then achelous decided he had to keep a decent appearance.

  ↳ his voice is on the lower octave, very gruff and rough. achelous almost has a complete southern accent, but still has hints of a greek/roman one that occasionally slips out. he's also very blunt sounding, almost as if he's bored or very uninterested with a conversation, and he'll usually only talk in a few words or less if possible. sometimes it'll come out scratchy or crackly if he hasn't spoke in a while.

  ↳ achelous owns 2 kangal shepherd dogs and 2 bernese mountain dogs, they're all male.             — agre (kangal)             — hyrcanus (kangal)             — nebrophonos (bernese)             — ichnobates (bernese)

  ↳ achelous had to teach himself how to read and write, and thanks to the library and this new-fangle internet, he managed to learn much quicker. his penmanship isn't the best, but it's still legible.

  ↳ achelous's sexual orientation can be considered to be aroace since he never met anyone like him and most humans disgust him anyways. however, due to his conservative values, he's more interested with the female gender. he's also kinda still a virgin, due to the fact that he literally has no experience with romance/sex in general.

  ↳ achelous is skilled at the guitar (he had years to learn and perfect it), and he'll often play it deep into the night in front of the fireplace.

(will continue to update this whenever i get ideas)

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

[sparklingfireflyy]

Success stories 4 :

🌸🌸 Appearance : 🌸🌸

Rosy cheeks

Desired appearance

Glittery skin

🌸🌸 Multiples : 🌸🌸

New appearance + a house + revising deaths + new car

Rich bf + living in Dubai with family + learning new language + dream body + being good at manifesting + social butterfly + jade green eyes + changing hair type

Facial glow up + long hair + athletic hourglass body + being only child + mind control powers + intelligence + avoiding injury + sp getting free from jail + good school life - desired apartment

100k robux + white kitten + desired powers + being witch

Living with best friend + desired school + desired appearance + soulmate + desired parents behavior + great grades + crystals + bunny

Old crushes + compliments + follows + calls + pretty privilege + revising past grades

$500 + desired appearance + good school life + good home life

Apple green eyes + freckles + 10000 dollars

🌸🌸 Illogical : 🌸🌸

Shifting

Shifting

🌸🌸 Void : 🌸🌸

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🌸🌸 Others : 🌸🌸

Being biologically male

Texted by influencer

£ 200

Woke up with dream life

Crush confessing

Woke up with dream life

Parents never being smokers

[silveryclear]

♟️Yandere Villain x Hero Reader part 1

♟️ Male Yandere Villain X Female Hero Reader

♟️ CW: Smut build up, coercion, manipulation, implied kidnapping, obsessive behavior

♟️ 2.4 k words

You were a rookie superhero graced with the powers of flight, great strength, and agility. You also had a great heart and the motivation to help people. In less than a year, you had managed to capture the hearts of all the beloved citizens that lived in the city you grew up in. Your debut as a hero was nothing short of a success! People loved you, authorities respected you, and most of all, you managed to reduce crimes committed by supervillains by 60%! In honor of your heroic efforts, the city had organized a ball in your honor, a masquerade one to be exact. This gave you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the celebration without being in the center of attention. Ironic enough, you were never one to participate in places with large crowds. But the city had put in so much work for you, you couldn’t not attend.

The party was bustling by the time you arrived. Already was there a large crowd waltzing in the middle of the ballroom, the band playing wondrous music. Your eyes flit over the crowd, admiring each and every mask as well as their matching dresses and suits. People were talking, dancing, eating… just generally enjoying their night. And you can’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment wash over you, knowing that you’ve contributed to the safety and peace of mind of thousands of people. Although, a small, anxious part of you couldn’t be quelled so easily. You knew this is temporary, just a fleeting moment of tranquility before disaster strikes again. In your mind, this disaster takes the form of a person. A very evil person. One of the very cunning villains that have managed to wreak havoc for years without getting caught once.

Hades.

He has never shown his face, not once. The information the police have of him is virtually non existent, and the information that they do have are mostly rumors. But one thing is for certain: he has never has done any of the dirty work himself. He always has contacts, pawns, and a whole lot of power. A fitting name for someone who is considered “The King of the Underworld”. It is said that he just gazes from above (or below) at the chaos he has engineered, like it’s some twisted game of chess for him. And while you’re not one to ever back down from a fight, you can’t help but shiver at the thought of him taking you on as his new opponent. With all the attention you’ve garnered, your assumption isn’t far fetched.

However, you might’ve underestimated just how long this match had gone for.

And if you were even a player at all.

In the middle of your anxious thoughts, you felt a tap on your shoulder, promptly breaking you out of your inner turmoil. You quickly turn around and come face to face with piercing green eyes. Anything that you had meant to say died in your throat as soon as your eyes met his… and the rest of him. He stood tall, towering over you even with your 4 inch heels. He was also dressed to kill— wearing a black fitting suit with a black dress shirt with a few open buttons to show off his collar and part of his chest. The suit was lined up with green, intricate embellishments that matched his mask and complimented his eyes stunningly. His hair was neatly styled in twists and he even wore jewelry and smokey eyes that made his dark complexion glow. This man was drop dead gorgeous.

His lips broke out in a charming smile and you felt yourself get—metaphorically— shot in the heart.

“Are you alright? You’ve been staring off into space for a while…” The man spoke in a low, sultry voice that made your insides quiver.

You cough and chuckle nervously, flustered for being caught ogling this fine man like a creep. “Y-Yes! I’m sorry, you caught me off guard. I was… thinking about work.” You sputter, trying to find an excuse that wasn’t necessarily false.

He chuckles, still gazing at you with those magnetic eyes. “Ah, so that’s what had you twisting your beautiful face in worry. I was hoping that you would do me the honor of joining me for a dance? I think you could use a break from your worries, we are at the ball of the year, aren’t we?”

You can feel your cheeks heat up from the compliment and you feel nervous, but excited to dance with this alluring mystery man. You smile. “That, we are. A dance may be just what I need.”

He smiles back, stretching out his large hand for you to take. “May I?”

You place your hand in his, his palm smooth, as opposed to yours that has been calloused from all your training and hero work. Fingers brush against the palm of your hand and he smiles kindly. “Indeed, the hands of hard working woman.” He says before bringing your hand towards his lips, kissing the back of your hand gently as the looks firmly into your eyes. Your face heats up once again and you can’t bring yourself to look away.

This goes beyond what you expected from this ball.

The man pulls you the dance floor in the center of the ballroom, holding your hand and hip as you glided on the dance floor along with the music.

“How are you feeling now? I hope I’m doing a good job at keeping those thoughts away.” He smiles and twirls you around and brings you back into his arms.

You giggle, actually allowing yourself to enjoy the party that was meant for you. “I’m actually having fun. I don’t particularly like being around large crowds, but you’ve made it enjoyable. Thank you.” You give him a genuine smile.

You swore you saw something dark, something primal flash in his eyes, but it disappeared as quickly as it came. “Not a fan of crowds, huh? Can’t say I’m fond of them either. I work remotely so these are the only moments where I engage with the masses.”

“Lucky.” You mutter playfully.

He laughs, a deep, melodic sound that made your heart race. “I wouldn’t say that. I mean, if I hadn’t crawled out of my cave tonight, I wouldn’t have met you~” He gives you a twirl and pulls you closer, stepping back in sync.

Damn. He’s smooth.

“Besides, how could I pass up the chance of dancing with the city’s greatest hero without interruption~?”

Your step falters and stumble backwards, bracing yourself for a fall that never comes. Instead, you’re held by the mysterious man who has made the fall into a dip, making it seem part of the dance. He smiles coyly. “Did I say something wrong?”

You’re pulled back up and you feel that same sinking sensation that you had earlier. You compose yourself and clear your throat. “How did you know it was me?”

“Oh, I’m something of a fanboy. I could recognize you in a heartbeat.” He smiles, yet, it doesn’t comfort you.

“Everyone here is a fan, yet you’re the only one who recognized me.” You narrow your eyes in suspicion.

You can feel him pull you closer, your bodies close enough to feel his quickened heartbeat. You could only make sure your steps were in sync as you looked over his shoulder. He places one hand on your back, his fingers running down your spine and kept a firm grip on your hip. You shiver, not sure if it’s from delight or fear. His lips suddenly hover above your ear as he whispers, “True, but I’m your biggest fan~”

You sense a change in his demeanor, although subtle, you learned to catch these subtleties from your experience fighting villains. However, it wasn’t enough to detect this one fast enough.

You take a sharp breath. “Who are you?”

He twirls you again and brings you face to face with him. He grins devilishly. “What does your gut say~?”

You breathing becomes ragged and you feel your blood run cold as your worst fears had come to life.

You just danced and flirted with the devil himself.

You try to pull away from him but he makes sure to keep a tight hold on you while still maintaining the facade of dancing.

"Now, now, the dance isn't over and we can't have our Great Hero looking too out of sorts. No one would know the city is safe and in good hands if they see you panicking on the dance floor. And who knows what I just might do if that were to happen." Your eyes widen and Hades laughs darkly as he continues to dance with you in close proximity, his eyes lingering on the features of your face and the shape of your body. "I was worried you wouldn’t have recognize me at all. I've always wanted to dance with you, Hero."

Your body trembles and your breathing grows erratic. You can feel his hold loosening slightly and his hand rub your back comfortingly as he whispers soothing words into your ear. “That’s it, baby… just breathe…” For your sake, you forget who the words are coming from as you focus on your breathing.

Once you feel calm, you grit your teeth. And scowl at him. “Do you get a kick out of making me look like a fool?”

Hades hums and grins devilishly. "I do, especially when getting the satisfaction of knowing I fooled the city's hero into dancing and flirting with me. Fitting for the one responsible for all my misery."

He continues holding you close to his chest and brings his face inches from your face with a wicked laugh. He gets even closer so when he speaks you feel his breath on your ear. “But I will be honest, dancing with you, feeling your body pressed against mine, seeing you flustered up close… fills me with another type of type of satisfaction~”

You glare at him as you keep dancing. You pretend everything is fine as to not arouse any suspicion from the rest of the crowd. “What do you want?”

Hades laughs wickedly, his dark green eyes shining in the dim lights of the dance floor. “That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it?” He then puts a hand on your hip and grips tightly, bringing you closer. “I came to collect my prize~”

You furrow your eyebrows and look over at him, confused. “What are you talking about? What prize?”

Hades grins, finding your confusion amusing. “Why, you, of course~” He caresses your face gently as if handling a work of art. His eyes roam your body hungrily. “And you are all wrapped up and pretty for me too~”

You swat his hand away and scowl. “You must be out of your damn mind if you think for a second that I’d go anywhere with you.”

His grin only turns more sinister as he grabs your face tightly and pulls you face to face. Your eyes widen and you feel your body begin to tremble again. “I think it‘ll do you well to learn some manners. Especially when you, dear Hero, are mine.”

“I don’t owe you anything, you brute!” You growl at him. Even in your position, you will never submit to a villain.

He chuckles darkly and his grip on your face tightens. “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong, my darling Hero. You owe me everything.”

Hades stares at your confused expression with amusement. The grip on your face disappears and he returns to dancing with you as if nothing had happened. His piercing green eyes stare back at yours, demanding your attention. “You see, little hero, I have powers beyond your comprehension, superpowers and earthly powers alike. I control every single person inside and out of this building.” He grips your hip and pulls you closer, grinning madly. “I have your beloved city under my thumb.”

With every word he utters, the feeing of dread and fear continues to build up in the pit of your stomach.

Hades twirls you and brings you back towards him, your steps out of sync, but he manages to dance through it quite proficiently. “Do you know what that means?” He whispers, breath fanning your face gently. “Do you understand what I’m trying to imply?”

You stare back at him, holding his gaze as you nod.

He grins widely. “Tell me.” He demands with a smooth voice.

You take a sharp breath. “I-I became a hero… because of you.” As you said it out loud you felt the feeling helplessness slowly latch onto you— breaking you. Behind the words you uttered, lies a hidden truth: For every great source of good in the world, there’s an even greater source of darkness pulling it’s strings.

“Good girl~” He coos and pinches your cheek. “Such a good girl. Did you really think it was that easy to become a hero? You never questioned why everything went so smoothly.” He chuckles and caresses your cheek softly. “That’s how I knew you’d make the perfect toy for me to sway the masses~”

You feel like you’re about to throw up. Tears brim your eyes and you bite your lip to hold back a sob.

Hades’s face softens slightly as he pulls you into his chest and rubs your back soothingly. “Don’t cry, little hero. I know your little fantasy world collapsed— But I’ll help you see the beauty in the world I’ve created. After all,”

He leans back and grabs your chin. “I created it just for you~”

Hades pulls you into a hot, sensual kiss— groaning once his lips touched yours, deepening the kiss, delving his tongue into your warm mouth and tasting you. His kiss only grew with intensity once he finally got a taste of you after craving you all night. You can only stand there and take it as if you feel an incredible force keeping you from leaving.

Hades pulls away from the kiss and your breath hitches once you gaze into his eyes. The lust and possessiveness that he had restrained during the evening now emanated from him in waves. His breathing is ragged and his pupils are dilated. The feeling of dread you felt before was nothing compared to what you’re feeling right now.

He pulls you close, holding you tightly against his body, like a viper wrapping its coils around their prey. Hades whispers seductively, “You are mine, little hero. And I’ll make sure to show you tonight just how much I crave you.”

You overestimated your role in this game. You were never a player. Just like everyone else, you are just another piece in a game of chess you weren’t even aware was happening . And you were his final piece to acquire.

Just like that, you were his. As you were always meant to be.

[hvrricqneeee]

BREAKING DOWN HOUSE OF THE DRAGON SCENES

House of the Dragon did a lot of things wrong, but one of the scenes I think was the best in season 2 was the scene between Davos Blackwood and Aeron Bracken. The contextualisation of why certain houses declare for which side was a nice touch.

“The assize of-“

“Fuck the assize, and fuck you.”

For those who don’t know what an assize is, here is the Google definiton:

a court which formerly sat at intervals in each county of England and Wales to administer the civil and criminal law. In 1972 the civil jurisdiction of assizes was transferred to the High Court, and the criminal jurisdiction to the Crown Court.

In the context of House of the Dragon, “The Assize” refers to the Great Council of 101 AC.

A little context for the show onlies: The Great Council of 101 AC was convened by old King Jaehaerys I Targaryen after the unexpected death of his son and heir Baelon Targaryen, so that the lords of the Seven Kingdoms could settle on who should succeed him on the Iron Throne.

We saw a short clip of this in the pilot episode when Emma D’arcy does their voice over.

“As the first century of the Targaryen dynasty came to a close, the health of the Old King, Jaehaerys, was failing. In those days, House Targaryen stood at the height of its strength with 10 adult dragons under its yoke. No power in the world could stand against it. King Jaehaerys reigned over nearly 60 years of peace and prosperity. But tragedy had claimed both his sons, leaving his succession in doubt. So, in the year 101, the Old King called a Great Council to choose an heir. Over a thousand lords made the journey to Harrenhal. Fourteen succession claims were heard but only two were truly considered: Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, the King’s eldest descendant, and her younger cousin, Prince Viserys Targaryen, the King’s eldest male descendant. Rhaenys, a woman, would not inherit the Iron Throne. The lords instead chose Viserys… my father. Jaehaerys called the Great Council to prevent a war being fought over his succession. For he knew the cold truth. The only thing that could tear down the House of the Dragon… was itself.”

According to Archmaester Gyldayn, in the eyes of many, the council of 101 AC established an iron precedent on matters of succession: that the Iron Throne could not pass to a woman, or to a male descendant of a woman.

After ascending the throne, King Viserys I Targaryen named his daughter Rhaenyra, his only surviving child by his first marriage, as his heir after the death of his second born son, Prince Baelon. After three sons had been born in his second marriage, Viserys was asked about the succession repeatedly, but he chose to ignore the precedents of 101 AC, and Rhaenyra remained his heir. In 109 AC Viserys dismissed Ser Otto Hightower, his Hand of the King, because Otto kept asking the king about the matter.

Following the death of Viserys, at the start of the coup for the throne by the greens, Viserys's small council examined the annals of the Great Council. They determined that the houses which had dissented during the Great Council were likely to support the claim of Rhaenyra Targaryen instead of Aegon II Targaryen. Among others, the greens accurately predicted that the Starks would side with Rhaenyra due to how they voted at the Great Council.

The Great Council determined who would side where pretty much.

In Fire and Blood, the two front runners for the throne were Viserys and Laenor, but in the show, it was Viserys and Rhaenys, so for the sake of this comparison, we’ll have to presume that those who sided with Laenor would have sided with Rhaenys.

Known supporters of Laenor/Rhaenys:

Lord Blackwood

Lord Ellard Stark

Lord Corlys Velaryon

Lord Boremund Baratheon

Lord Celtigar

Lord Bar Emmon

Lord Manderly

Lord Dustin

Of this list, we see that house Blackwood declares for Rhaenyra (affirmed by the words of Davos Blackwood), House Stark declares for Rhaenyra (sending men and keeping the oath sworn to King Viserys when he named Rhaenyra heir), House Velaryon supports Rhaenyra, Lord Bar Emmon has a seat on Rhaenyra’s council, House Manderly swears to Rhaenyra under the premise that Joffrey will one day marry one of Lord Manderly’s daughters, House Dustin swears to Rhaenyra, Lord Barton’s Celtigar becomes Rhaenyra’s master of coin (this is the guy she slaps guys, just to clarify). The only house on this list that does not declare for Rhaenyra is House Baratheon, and that is because Aemond Targaryen becomes betrothed to one of Lord Borros’ daughters (Floris, the youngest) in exchange for loyalty to The Greens.

Known supporters of Viserys:

Lord Tymond Lannister

Lord Peake

Lord Grover Tully

Prince Daemon Targaryen

To evaluate this list, The Lannisters declare for the greens (with Tyland Lannister sitting the small council as master of ships while Viserys was alive and master of coin later on). Lord Peake is succeeded by his son Unwin Peake (a regent of Aegon III and Hand of the King) who declares for the greens. House Tully had supported Viserys Targaryen, however, in the dance, declares for Rhaenyra.

It is a relatively short list of known declarations for the respective front runners, so we cannot properly ascertain the level of change and discrepancies between the declarations of The Assize and the declarations of The Dance.

However, it’s fairly indicative that whatever a house voted at The Assize, they were likely to vote upon the same pretext during The Dance (supporters of Rhaenys/Laenor supported Rhaenyra, and supporters of Viserys supported Aegon).

In the interaction between Davos and Aeron, we hear that House Bracken declared for Aegon, and House Blackwood refutes Aegon’s claim and therefore, unofficially declares for Rhaenyra. We know that House Blackwood declared in line with previous choices since the Blackwoods sided with Rhaenys/Laenor at The Assize, but we are given no information about why the Brackens sided with the greens.

Perhaps it was because they might have sided with Viserys at the council and old habits die hard, or perhaps it was because of the rumour that Rhaenyra was responsible for Jaehaerys’ death (Aeron references this when calling Rhaenyra a ‘babekiller’), or perhaps it was because of the longstanding rivalry between the Brackens and the blackwoods.

“We've had a hundred peaces with the Brackens, many sealed with marriages. There's Blackwood blood in every Bracken, and Bracken blood in every Blackwood. The Old King's Peace lasted half a century. But then some fresh quarrel broke out, and the old wounds opened and began to bleed again. That's how it always happens, my father says. So long as men remember the wrongs done to their forebears, no peace will ever last. So we go on century after century, with us hating the Brackens and them hating us. My father says there will never be an end to it.” - Hoster Blackwood to Jaime Lannister

The rivalry between the houses is ancient and would be a plausible reason for their opposed alliances during the dance.

The scene between Davos and Aeron contextualised the great houses choosing sides, and expanded the show to the world beyond The Red Keep, Dragonstone and Driftmark. Suddenly, ordinary nobles mattered and their opinions on the succession mattered too. Their disagreements and quarrels mattered too. It highlighted how a familial dispute founded in Hightower ambitions and decades of plans of usurpations had such a dramatic impact on the wider Westerosi world.

The battle of the burning mill is the first time that we really feel the tragedy that this civil war will bring. It’s the first time that we realise how much the Iron Throne will cost both sides and the price of power.

[artificialcorby]

× Christmas Eve ×

He had thought about this day so many times. Had imagined walking up to the familiar green door of his parents' house, heels clicking on the stone path towards it. Simon following right behind.

In his dreams they had matching scarves. He doesn't even know why. In some of his dreams they held hands after he rang the door, waiting for it to open.

In a few dreams he was greeted with a smile. As if there was nothing about bringing along another man, holding his hand, entering the house he grew up in. A home to both of them now.

But once or twice he dreamt how the face of his mother froze. As did his own.

"This is Simon. He is-...

"We're...."

He'd struggle for words while his mother's expression would fall, turning into a mask of utter disgust. Before she'd slam the door into his face and he could hear her crying.

This is usually the moment he wakes. Sometimes covered in sweat. Sometimes with just a single wet stain on his pillow, where his tears dropped from his face onto the fabric.

~

The house is decorated. But not overly. There's a wreath at the door, just like every year for as long as he can remember, a small tree with lights in the front yard, the Christmas tree visible in the window facing the street, more lights in the windows. The entire place radiates warmth, despite the light drizzle and the wind outside.

The walk up to the door has never felt so long. Never felt so heavy. His heart is pounding in his chest. His palms are sweaty. Johnny has a key, but rings the bell anyway, letting go of Simon’s hand when he does.

~

“They don’t know….” Soap said out of nowhere after several minutes of driving in silence.

“What do you mean?” Ghost inquired, not taking his eyes off the road.

“Me parents. I haven’t told them.” Johnny’s eyes were cast down to his hands in his lap.

Ghost didn’t need any more words of explanation. He understood. They never talked about it before, but he figured that Johnny wasn’t out to his parents yet.

Reaching over, Simon took the other’s hand into his, brought it up to scarred lips, placed gentle kisses on knuckles.

“Did you plan to tell them today?” he then asked softly.

“I don’t know.” Soap replied.

Did he? A part of him wanted to. A part of him tried to over the past few weeks. But he never found the right time. And he could never picture a positive outcome. Not the way they kept asking him about a potential girlfriend or when he wanted to start a family.

~

A small woman in her late 50s or perhaps early 60s with rosy cheeks opens the door, beaming at Johnny, holding out her arms to cup his face with her hands. And Johnny smiles. Smiles like Ghost has never seen him smile before. The woman's voice is loud, high pitched, but full of joy when she greets her son, gushing over him before he even gets to set foot into the house. Johnny still just smiles patiently, leaning in when his mother stands on her toes to squish and kiss his face as if he's just eight years old.

"Maw, that's Lieutenant Simon Riley." he motions at Ghost when they finally make it inside. "A telt ye aboot 'im."

The woman doesn’t lose her smile. But she keeps her distance when she greets Simon. Maybe it’s because Johnny asked them in advance to tone it down a little. Maybe it’s because he introduced him as his commanding officer. Or it’s because of something else entirely. The scars maybe? The reasons remain unclear.

“Iain, haud fashin’ yersel’ wi’ the fucken’ tree and git yer arse o’er here. Oor laddie’s hame.” she suddenly yells, turning her head towards the living room door.

“Johnny?” sounds a male voice from the living room. “Were ye meddlin’ wi’ the lights last year? They fucken’ pooched!”

“Naw, Ah didnae touch ‘em. Ye did, as aye.” Johnny responds exasperated, rolling his eyes and giving Simon an apologetic look.

“We got a guest.” his mother reminds. And his father calls from the living room. “Ah’m unner the bloody tree Isi, Ah cannae sup hands richt noo.”

Now it’s Johnny who raises his voice. “Haw, will ye yins no haud yer wheesht? Ye’re embarrassin’ me!”

Rubbing his face afterwards, he almost regrets bringing Simon into this. He should have known.

But much to his own surprise, he hears his Lieutenant chuckle next to him. Looking up he even sees him smile.

Simon takes his coat off, handing it to Soap, saying. “I’ll go say hello and see if I can help.”

The puzzled look on Soap’s face when Ghost walks away must speak volumes, since it makes his mother laugh.

Maybe he stresses too much about everything. Maybe it’s all going to be fine.

Maybe.

He stands in the door frame for a moment, watching a scene he would never have dared to dream of: His Lieutenant crouching in front of the tree, talking to the pair of legs sticking out from beneath it. The two of them talking like this isn’t the first time he brought Simon home.

“He’s no sae bad, is he?” his mother speaks quietly behind him.

“Nae… he’s not.” Johnny answers without realising. His mind is miles away.

“He’s a braw yin, too.”

Johnny’s face goes pale and he slowly turns to look over his shoulder, down at the woman behind him. The surging panic in his eyes is met with a warm smile and a comforting hand rubbing his back. No further words are spoken when he fully turns and crumbles into a much needed embrace, sobbing quietly at his mother’s shoulder.

“Ye didnae think Ah didnae ken me lad, did ye?”

Johnny doesn’t answer. And there is no answer needed.

Of course she knew. Mothers always do.

× end ×

[villainousif]

Villainous

This is Rated 16+, please be aware of this before continuing

This game will contain

Blood and violence, death, manipulation, child abuse, trauma, vulgar language and implicit sexual content, suggestive mature content

Fate can be great and bad. Born into a cruel and unfair world, life was never great nor did it get better, always bringing you into a downward spiral. Death was at your door, and it was time for judgement.

Yet judgement was never casted for you lived another day but how far can you run before it consumes you whole and kills you right where you stand? How long before you pay the ultimate price for your crimes? Your fate is sealed.

SYNOPSIS

Cursed is what you've heard since you were a small child abandoned in a cruel world. What could you do but survive hopeless? The world laughed at you and threw things at you, but you were saved by mother she showed you love. All you have to do now is listen to your mother; after all, She is the only one who can wash away your sins.

DEMO FEATURES

Play a cursed MC and future villain with uncontrollable powers and an uncontrollable craving for blood.

Customizable MC: name, gender (male, female, non-binary), appearance,

Manipulate and destroy those around you play the victim

Listen to mother

5 Potential Romance Options

Survive

DEMO TBA

Main Cast

King Derek (53)

- King Derek is not present in the lives of Amalia and Amir since he is preoccupied with Kingdom matters and battles.

Mother Cordelia (44)

- The woman who adopted you and nurtured you as her own is kind and compassionate, and she appears to be rather younger for her age.

Teacher Esmerelda (60)

 - The twins’ teacher since childhood She is sweet and humble, yet she is strict and only does what she believes is proper and ideal.

More characters will be added as the story goes on + more information on them

ROs

Princess Amalia [ISFP] (23)

- A carefree and enthusiastic princess, a ray of sunshine 

- Small in height with wavy long platinum blonde hair, bright ocean blue eyes, honey complexion, and a lithe figure with dimples

- Amalia, prince Amir’s twin sister, is reckless and full of energy. She enjoys crowded areas and doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty. She spends most of her time exploring or horseback riding. She is known for her breathtaking beauty and heavenly smile, as well as her unconditional loving attitude.

Prince Amir [INFJ] (23)

- A quiet and calm prince 

- Wavy hip long platinum blonde hair, dark blue eyes, honey complexion, and a tall, mesomorph figure

- Amir, the twin brother of Princess Amalia, is the polar opposite of his sister; he is more cautious and instinctive; he prefers peaceful places and spends much of his time reading or training; and he is known for his intelligence and serene attitude, always appearing to be perfect.

Commander Erica [ENTJ] (25)

- A commander who is open-minded, intuitive, and judgmental.

- Curled medium-length black hair, bright orange eyes, dark brown complexion, inverted triangle physique, with scars all over

- Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army Erica is a nice and laid-back person who enjoys the entertainment and has a sweet spot for cutesy things. She spends much of her time with her army or out touring; she is known for her raw strength, laid-back demeanor, and accomplishments.

Servant Caius [ESFP] (24)

- A charming and flirtatious servant

- Dark brown short curly hair tangled hair, brown eyes, tanned skin, athletic physique, medium height, and a beauty mark under his left eye

- An imperial palace servant Caius is a humorous and charming flirt who enjoys open places and people. He spends the most of his time working or chatting with strangers. He is known for his confidence and playboy tendencies. 

Wizard Wren (20)

- A prideful and arrogant wizard

- Straight long dark red hair, mismatched green and purple eyes, ivory complexion, and a slim frame low in height with an eyepatch on the left eye.

- A wizard of the Empire Wren is direct and ruthless; they prefer tiny spaces and spend the most of their time casting spells or conducting magical matters; they are known for being powerful and arrogant.

[bethanythebogwitch]

Wet Beast Wednesday: invasive carp

I've mentioned on a few posts that in a previous job I helped remove invasive carp from the Mississippi river and drainage. For this Wet Beast Wednesday I'll discuss the three species that I personally helped remove: the silver carp, bighead carp, and grass carp. The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and block carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) are also invasive in North America, but I didn't remove either of those: the black carp because they haven't made it as far north as the area I worked and the common carp because the state governments where we worked considered them commercially important species. All the invasive species collectively described in America as invasive carp or Asian carp are large fish from the family Cyprinidae who are native to east Asia. They have been introduced to areas far beyond their native range for use in aquaculture and for food. Carp aquaculture in China goes back over a thousand years and the three species plus the black carp are known as the "four domesticated fish" for their importance in food and traditional medicine. The carp were introduced to America to clean aquacultural and decorative ponds and quickly escaped into the river system. They are now highly invasive throughout the Mississippi river basin and have also spread into other river systems, including the Illinois and Ohio rivers. All the introduced carp species are considered highly invasive due to outcompeting native species, lacing predators as adults, and their hardiness allowing them to thrive in harsh conditions.

This picture isn't informative at all, I just thought it was funny (image: a close-up of the head of a silver carp, showing its eye and large, open mouth)

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) made up the majority of the carp I caught. In their native range (from Vietnam to eastern Siberia), silver carp are actually considered threatened due to overfishing and habitat loss. Outside of their native range, they have become highly invasive in multiple parts of the world. Silver carp notable for their large head and silvery scales, which become brighter in healthier fish. They reach an average of 60-100 cm (24-39 in) and 9 kg (20 lbs), but can reach a maximum size of 140 cm (55 in/4.6 ft) and 50 kg (110 lbs). They are filter-feeders, primarily dining on phytoplankton but also eating zooplankton and organic particles. To catch food, they use specialized gill rakers that have fused together into a spongy surface and is coated with mucus that traps particles. As with all Cyprinids, silver carp lack stomachs, instead having their intestines attaching directly to the esophagus. Lacking a stomach makes the fish less efficient in their digestion and they feed near constantly. Silver carp were introduced to America to clean blue-green algae from ponds, aquaculture facilities, and water treatment plants. They consume so much plankton that they can outcompete local species, such as freshwater mussels, paddlefish, buffalo, and shad, as well as larval fish of most species.

(image: a silver carp being held by a person (offscreen). The fish is seen from the side. It is a large fish with a silver color. Its head is relatively large and has no scales. The eye is unusually low on the head)

Silver carp migrate upriver to broadcast spawn, with their eggs and larvae being washed downstream where they grow in shallow waters like floodplains. Silver carp trapped in places without flowing water will not spawn, instead reabsorbing their gametes. Males have rough skin on the front of their pectoral fins, which they will scrape against the bellies of female to induce them to release their eggs. Females that have spawned at least once often have scars on their bellies that can be used to identify that they have reproduced. Silver carp reach sexual maturity between ages 4 to 6 and can live up to 20 years.

I believe I can fly! (image: a silver carp in profile midway through a jump out of the water)

Silver carp are famous for leaping out of the water when startled. They can reach up to 3 m (10 ft) out of the water, though larger individuals are less likely to jump. The sound of boat engines can easily spook the carp into jumping and there are many videos out there of boats moving through rivers surrounded with dozens to hundreds of jumping carp. The jumping behavior combined with the sheer size of the fish makes them a hazard to boaters, as colliding with a carp can damage boats and cause serious injury. Interestingly, carp in their native range are much less likely to jump than those in North America. The reason for this in unknown though it could be because carp in America live in much higher population densities than those at home. It is also possible that the carp first introduced to America happened to have a trait making them more likely to jump and this trait has been passed down to most modern carp.

(image: a small boat with three people on it. In the foreground, dozens of silver carp are jumping out of the water, causing the water to become frothy)

(gif description: a man is sitting on a running boat. A silver carp jumps in from the right side of the frame and hits him in the face, knocking his baseball cap off)

The bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) is closely related to the silver carp, enough so that they can hybridize to make fertile offspring. Bighead carp have darker scales and larger heads, but what really makes them stand out is their size. They reach an average of 60-100 cm (2-3 ft) and 18 kg (40 lbs) but can reach a maximum of 160 cm (5.2 ft) and 50 kg (110 lbs). They fill a similar ecological nice to silver carp, both species being filter feeders with specialized gill rakers used to filter out plankton. Bighead carp prefer zooplankton in contrast to silver carp targeting phytoplankton. They are highly valuable in aquaculture as they grow quickly, allowing for a lot of meat to be developed relatively quickly. Like silver carp, they swim up river to spawn and reach sexual maturity between 2 and 3 years. They can live up to 16 years. Bighead carp will also jump, but are less likely to do so, especially once they mature, and are therefore less notorious than silver carp.

(image: two bighead carp underwater, one closer and to the bottom right and one farther away at the top left. They are very similar in appearance to the silver carp, but have larger heads and darker scales, making them look brown. The closer fish has its mouth open)

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) were the species I caught the least. They can be distinguished from the other two with their long, skinny, and round bodies, larger sales, and green coloration. Unlike the other two, grass carp are herbivores with teeth that feed on aquatic vegetation, though they also consume detritus and invertebrates in smaller amounts. Grass carp can eat up to a few times their weight in food a day. Grass carp can destroy whole patches of aquatic vegetation, which removes food sources for other animal, removes refuges for fish and other animals to hide, and can drastically alter the trophic web of local areas. They live in still ponds or rivers with slow currents, but move into fast-flowing rivers and swim upstream to spawn. They can reach between 60 and 100 cm (23.5 - 39.5 in) on average, but can get up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and 45 kg (100 lbs). Grass carp were first introduced to America to act as weed control in ponds before escaping into the wild. It is still possible to import grass carp for weed control, which is astonishing to me since thats how we got into this mess in the first place. Grass carp are highly valuable in fisheries and are used as a food source throughout their native range. They are the most farmed fish by biomass, with over 5 million tonnes of grass carp produced in fisheries every year. The second most farmed fish is the silver carp.

(image: a grass carp underwater. Its body is slender and torpedo-shaped, with large, distinct, green scales. Its head is scaleless and its eye is level with its mouth. A second fish is peeking into frame at the bottom right)

One of the problems with controlling carp in America is the lack of a market for them. They are not commonly eaten in America despite being a major food source in China and other parts of east Asia. This is in part because of the association the phrase "Asian carp" has with the common carp, which was introduced to North America before the other species and is generally considered to have poor-quality meat. Because there is no market for invasive carp, fishermen do not bother removing them from the rivers and many do not bother taking the time to kill the ones they do catch. A few conservation efforts are attempting to make a market for the carp so that fishermen will take them. When I was at my last job, we gave the carp we caught to someone who used them for fertilizer and bait. A current effort by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to rebrand the carp as Copi (from copious) in an attempt to get around the stigma that carp tastes bad and get Americans to start eating them. Copi is currently being sold in or distributed to multiple states and DC. The project has already exceeded the expected amount of fish removed in weight for the first year. Other rebrand attempts include Silverfin, the perfect catche, and (my personal favorite) Kentucky tuna. This rebranding is part of a major push to try to keep the carp out of the Great Lakes, though grass carp have already gotten into Lake Erie. If you can't beat them, eat them.

Image: the copi logo. It is the word "copi" written in a dark blue, blocky, minimalistic font. The letter O is replaced by a simplistic drawing of a light blue fish, whose tail forms the curve in the letter C)

[aoioozora]

Adelheid's Faceclaim

When I first drew Adelheid, I used Henry Cavill's facial features as reference and softened them a little to suit the female face as you can see below.

But as I kept drawing her and refining her features, she got a little more rugged, slightly bit masculine and now I think she looks similar to Clint Eastwood in the 60s.

Now it's not everyday a female OC had a male face-claim but man I tried to think of any famous actress that would match Heidi's face, but I couldn't (even harder when you rarely watch movies).

The closest I could get was to Eastwood.

She has the same sharp nose and downturned eyes, albeit her eyes are green.

She has the same brown hair. While Eastwood's face is longer and more rectangular, Heidi's is shorter and more square.

If Eastwood was born a woman, Adelheid would look just like her.

For reference: most recent sketches.

[missvelvetsstuff]

Fandom leap

Chapter 6

Winter Soldier x Reader

Notes: Here is my contribution to the Fandom Leap collaboration, my first. I'm excited and a bit nervous about posting this after reading those who came before me. I hope I can live up to the standard they have set.

Thank you to @supraveng for letting me take part in this very cool idea.

Hope y'all like it.

Likes, comments and reblogs are always appreciated.

Check out the full story.

Series Masterlist

Chapter 5

*Last* You sigh as you soak in this moment, this feeling in your heart, the smell of Sam and the feeling of his hands gripping onto your hips. Just as quickly as all of those feelings went through you, they all went away and that eerie familiar feeling rose up on your throat.

No, not now. Please, not now! And before your head could wrap around what was going on, you were torn away from Sam but his presence still lingered on your skin*

You shook your head and groaned, the leaps seemed to be taking more of a toll each time.

You were sitting on the bed in a dark bedroom but could hear sounds in the house, music and talking, like a party. You sat up and looked around, unable to see much with just the sliver of light from under the door. It was a nice room, not too fancy but clean with solid wood furniture and crisp bedding.

A half opened door led to a bathroom and there was another door you figured was a closet. You looked down at yourself and realized you needed some clothes as yours were dirty and ragged.

You got up and went into the bathroom to take a quick shower to keep from drawing attention to yourself. The hot water definitely helped clear your head some.

You found a single, white dress alone in the closet, that fit you well but was an older style, maybe 60's and some white flats. You hurried to fix your hair and when you were satisfied moved towards the door with the light underneath.

You grabbed the doorknob and took a deep breath before carefully opening the door and stepping into a lit hallway. You followed the sounds, noting how dated and campy the orange, green and yellow decor was before stepping into a loud room full of people, also looking dated and campy. Beehive hair, brightly colored dresses and men with skinny neck ties. You chuckled at the idea of happening into some theme party but the more you looked around and heard bits of conversations you considered the possibility of jumping to yet another era. The talk of the space race and Frank Sinatra solidifying that idea.

You looked around, walking carefully through the groups of people, mostly all male or all female. No one seemed to be surprised at your appearance, simply nodding at you before returning to their conversations. A couple gave you small smiles but their eyes were all empty.

You noticed a small group speaking another language, it sounded Russian but you couldn't decipher anything they said until one man looked towards the back of the house and whispered one word.

"Soldat"

You turned in the direction he was looking but couldn't see anything from your vantage point. Before you could try to speak to anyone the chatter stilled and the record playing scratched and landed on a different song. Then the gunfire started and you froze for a moment before bolting back down the hall to go out the window of the bedroom you had started in.  When you realized the window was barred you tried to think calmly but the gunfire stopped and heavy footsteps came closer and stopped at the bedroom door which slammed open.

You froze, holding your breath until you saw the Winter Soldier taking up the doorway. A whispered "Bucky" left your lips before you could stop it.

He looked at you coldly "Who's Bucky?"

You shivered, hoping you could reach him somehow because you were obviously no match for him and forced a soft smile "You are. James Buchanan Barnes or Bucky to your friends."

He shook his head "I have no friends"

Your smile turned sad "I know it doesn't seem like it but you do."

"No, no friends, no family. Only missions. You are my mission. The girl in the white dress."

Your stomach dropped and your breath caught as you shook your head quickly

"No. No. Please, I'm not supposed to be here. I woke up in this room but I'm not part of whatever they were doing. I just threw on the only dress in the closet." you waved vaguely towards the party which was quiet except the music was still playing.

"Where are you supposed to be?" He cocked his head, eyes puzzled but softer.

"I'm from" you stammered "It's, it's really complicated and unbelievable."

Your heart thumped out of your chest and you wished you could do something for him during whatever time you had here, try to ease some of his suffering.

There was also some hope since he hadn't killed you yet. You looked him over and decided to change the subject

"You're hurt. We should get out of here. Is there a safe house nearby? I could clean that cut on your arm."

He shrugged "I'll be fine. Follow me."

You struggled to follow him through the house, trying to avoid the bodies without actually looking at them. The smell was already making you queasy and you were relieved when you made it outside. Until you felt the chill and saw snow on the ground. You weren't dressed for this.

He turned around to grab your arm "Hurry up or I'll have to kill you."

Then mounted a motorcycle and looked at you expectantly. You really weren't dressed for that.

You looked down at your dress, not thrilled with wearing it on the back of a motorcycle, much less in this cold but there weren't any other choices so you held the skirt down the best you could and climbed on behind him. He gave you his helmet and you barely had time to secure it and grab onto him before he peeled away from the house.

You looked around while he drove, trying to keep your mind off the cold. You were in the middle of nowhere with buildings here and there but mostly snowy trees and hills. The view didn't change until he slowed down and pulled onto a dirt road, driving awhile longer before stopping in front of a small cabin.

When he turned the motorcycle off you struggled off of the bike with aching cold arms and legs then removed the helmet, offering it to him. He just grunted and headed into the cabin so you followed him quietly and as quickly as you could move.

The interior wasn't any fancier than the exterior but it was warm and dry after the back of a bike at night in a dress. One room, single bed in the corner, wood stove with a small sink next to it, counter with a pair of barstools.

Bucky quickly made a fire while you looked for a first aid kit. When you found it in the tiny bathroom you asked him to sit so you could sew up his arm.

He shook his head "I can do it, I don't need any help."

You smiled at him "I'm sure you can but I want to help. To thank you for getting me out of there."

He frowned "But that's-"

You placed a finger over his mouth "Please? I want to help you."

He shrugged and grunted as he took off his tactical suit leaving him in a tank top and briefs. He sat heavily on one of the stools, waiting.

You carefully cleaned the cut on his bicep, trying not to hurt him. He flinched when you wiped it with antiseptic and clenched his jaw as you carefully stitched it together. As soon as you finished stitching and started cleaning up the mess he jerked away from you and went into the bathroom. You heard him start the shower.

You put the first aid kit away and went to the kitchen area after your stomach growled, looking for something to quiet it.  You found a couple of cans of stew and a pot to warm them in but no can opener anywhere.

As you looked all over the kitchen for a can opener and tried to figure out how to open the cans, Bucky came up behind you, reached around with one of his knives and cut both cans open. Your heart stopped while you waited to see what he was doing with the knife. Then it raced at how smoothly he moved with it, that was pretty hot.

You emptied the cans into a small metal pot and warmed the food up then poured half each into two bowls you had washed. Adding spoons you offered one of the bowls to him.

As you ate he stared at you, contemplatively. You started feeling uncomfortable but before you could say anything he spoke up.

"Tell me your unbelievable story."

You shook your head "It's pretty out there. You'll think I'm nuts."

"I've seen some pretty crazy things so try me."

You could tell he wasn't really asking anymore and sighed "I'm from an alternate universe. Apparently there are many realities and for some reason I've been shifting from one to another for the last few days. I've been to realities that are fiction in mine."

He looked at you skeptically "so I'm supposed to believe that you just shifted into that room? And just happened to be wearing the only white dress in the entire party?"

She shrugged "I told you it was unbelievable but it's the truth. Who was the woman in the white dress supposed to be?"

Bucky sighed "My mission. They don't give me much in the way of details. Sometimes there's a picture or description but this time all I got was the woman in white. That's you."

She nodded "Ok, I get it. What are you supposed to do with me?"

He shrugged again "Dunno. The mission was, eliminate the partygoers, get the girl in the white dress and bring her to the safe house. Here."

He ate a few more bites before speaking again.

"What do you mean about realities that are fiction in yours?"

Her brow furrowed as she tried to figure out how to explain "Well, where I'm from the Winter Soldier is from a comic book about super heroes. We don't have enhanced people or anything."

He was silent again as he finished his food. He stood up, took your empty bowl and tossed them into the sink. "You need some rest"

"Wait, what's going to happen to me? I don't want to wait around to become some Hydra prisoner. I need to get out of here."

He scoffed "Where will you go? You'll freeze out there dressed like that. I don't have any choice. You're my mission and aren't going anywhere so go lay on the bed and rest."

You stood there motionless trying to calculate an escape but you knew it was hopeless and slumped over in defeat as he pushed you towards the bed.

You took your shoes off and sat on the bed, it was small and lumpy but he stood over you so you couldn't get up. With a sigh you lay down and tried to get comfortable.

Bucky sat on the side of the bed and looked at you expectantly.

You stared back "What?"

"Could you make some room for me? I would like some rest too."

Your heart sped up "But wait you want to...here....with me? But I-"

"Shut up and move over"

He laid down, facing you and you fidgeted, trying not to touch him on the narrow bed but it was impossible.

He sighed again "Jesus Christ, just relax I'm not going to hurt you."

He pulled a scratchy blanket up to your shoulders, wrapped his arm around you and pulled you flush against him so you were chest to chest. He smelled so good, fresh like outside with a hint of musk and was so warm.

You started to relax into him and right before you fell asleep felt him kiss your forehead and whisper "I'm sorry."

It seemed like only a few minutes later when you were shocked awake by a rush of cold air and a bright light. You covered your face with your arm and felt your heart freeze when you heard that voice.

"Well miss, seems like you might have been in the wrong place at the wrong time

Unfortunately for you, I don't have the time to figure out what happened so you will have to do." It sounded like Arnim Zola, which meant you were in big trouble.

Bucky just sat there, wanting to protect you but knowing what will happen if he tried.

Rough arms pulled you away from him and handcuffed your wrists behind your back. You turned to look at Bucky, to show him you would be alright, and were gripped by the sadness and regret in his eyes. You saw tears fill them, like they had yours, and forced a sad smile before you were turned away from him.

As you were pulled to standing, for the first time since this all started, you were relieved to feel a shift coming on.

@supraveng @potterhead2207 @jamneuromain @herdreamywasteland @vibraniumarm06-bucket @imyourbratzdoll @swiftlymoniquesblog @rosedpetal @crazyunsexycool @nickfowlerrr @unabashed-lover-of-fictional-men

Chapter 7

[syncopein3d]

Left Alone 7: Riddles

Tropes/content warnings: M for mature themes overall. Vampire whumpee/caretaker, male whumpee/caretaker, non-binary whumpee/caretaker, general morbidity. There will be a lot of play with, and discussion of, the concept of consent in this series, as it applies to many topics. There will be angst. Vampire biting can be painful, platonic, or NSFW and I'm not sure what direction that will take, but Tolly will definitely continue to fantasize about subtextually or literally sex-murdering Arden, as vampires often do.

If you would like to be added to, or removed from, the tag list of this series, please let me know!

Part 6: Regeneration

Tolly drank.

The taste of cold pig’s blood only got worse as his senses grew more acute, but more years rolled away. His face began to gently fill out, flesh and muscle building over the bones under his questing fingers. By the time he had consumed the full gallon, eight to sixteen ounces at a time in between washing with body wipes, he looked to be in his mid-thirties. He held up the lantern to look at his reflection in the metallic surface. He had a high-boned, angular face, but it was the face a living man would have, a face he knew. He was still unnaturally pale, but he might pass for someone alive and very ill. His lips, unfortunately, were still fuller than he felt was masculine, but it couldn’t be helped.

Now his irises were pale green, if he tilted the lamp so light could reach into the deep sockets under a heavy brow. Flecks of amber showed, if one were to look very closely. The hand that shoved the empty gallon jug into the bag in front of him was a big man's hand, bony, with old scars across the knuckles. The talons were still not human. They were yellowish now, at least, but it needed a special grooming kit to trim them.

It took almost the entire box of body wipes to remove the accumulated grime, scrubbing himself until his new skin felt raw, but at last he was satisfied that his flesh matched his new hair. He used the last few on his chair and table, naked in the cold air that he could actually feel now, before he put the books and lantern there. Only then did he dress. The clothes were loose and there were no shoes – he imagined Arden furtively hurrying through a thrift and forgetting, as if anyone would care they were buying things too big for them – but the sensation of clean, intact fabric against his body was so overwhelming that he had to pause and just stand for several minutes, unbreathing, as the tears flowed.

He staunched them with his sleeve at last. There was no one to see his weakness, something that Nicholas would have rolled his eyes at. Come now, Bard. Are we not men?

There was a blue tarpaulin folded in the bottom of the shopping bag. Arden had forgotten to mention this, or Tolly had upset them before they got to it. He stood staring at the eye-searingly bright color for a while before he opened the package and smoothed it out over his rug. Now there was a clean place to roll out the mummy bag. That was black, with a dark red flannel lining.

Tolly shamefacedly considered bringing Marguerite de Valois into the bag with him. It was the 1969 Limited Editions Printing, probably worth less than $60 in this decade, but that was a lot of money to Arden. It wasn’t as if he tossed and turned in that sleep of death, but he should treat his savior’s belongings with respect.

Your savior. The one you are planning to deliciously murder the moment you are free from this cell?

Yes, but they brought me books. Soft things.

Perhaps there is a way to let them live. Perhaps there is a way to have just a taste.

But I WILL have a taste. Even if I have to wait. Nicholas will not win, damn his eyes. I need it. I need it!

In the end, gratitude and guilt momentarily won out and he sat at the table with the lantern, carefully smoothing each page as he read. When he began to grow heavy, he lined it up carefully with the others, all arranged on the table. Then he nudged the trash bag as close to the barrier as he could and crept into the sleeping bag. He had debated if he was allowed to keep the shopping bag, but ultimately decided Arden would have said if they needed it back. He left it sitting carefully folded under The Collected Sherlock Holmes.

With the sleeping bag zipped, and the hood up, there was soft flannel around him on every side. Tolly turned on his side and buried his face in it, sternly abjuring himself not to shed further tears that might dampen the fabric.

Perhaps because he had fed so much, he did not dream that day. When he woke, even the taste had perished from his mouth and throat, burnt up. His teeth were clean. He realized, as he looked at them in the distorted curve of the lantern, that with a little effort he could retract his canines again. They withdrew politely to a length that even a mortal would find ordinary. They were still sharp, but most people wouldn’t notice that.

He combed his talons through his hair as beat he could. He wasn’t happy with it, but it would have to do. He wasn’t sure he would even see Arden that night. He still forced down the lingering fear that they would not come back at all. He had mismanaged their last conversation, but –

The basement door opened. Tolly’s head came up, nostrils dilated. To his immense shame, the canines he had just retracted betrayed him immediately as the scent of human blood wafted down ahead of Arden’s footsteps. His sense of smell had fully recovered. He could identify the brands of their deodorant, shampoo, makeup – cheap except for the eyeliner.

As they drew nearer, he could hear their heart beating, too: light, slightly fast. In another day he would be able to tell it apart from the sound of every other heart on earth.

He brought the chair back in front of his rug, turned it around so he could sit with his arms resting on the back, and turned the lamp on, moving slowly and deliberately. It had been so long since he’d heard a heart beating.

Descending footsteps paused at the click and at the light washing out into the basement, but Arden eventually resumed. They stopped in front of the barrier, one hand resting on the outside doorpost. Today they had a gray cotton hoodie on over their baggy shirt and jeans. They looked at him from heavy, puffy eyes, taking in the changes.

“You’re different now,” Arden said. There was a note of uncertainty. They had begun by talking with a dusty, withered corpse. Now they were faced with someone who looked barely older than themselves, bigger, broader, so very male when they so very much did not want to be that, Tolly thought. He had been right to present himself below their eye level. His present form was more threatening than the old one.

Tolly inclined his head, trying not to be distracted by a living thing exhaling into his space. Coffee. Water with electrolytes and a little artificial sweetener. Nothing else recently.

“I am substantially better. I will always be in your debt for that,” he said.

“I told you, you paid me much more than it was worth.” Arden looked at Tolly’s hands, eyes roving over his scarred knuckles, his talons. He watched color rise into their face as their heart accelerated just a little.

“Not to me,” Black Tolly said.

“What ring were you talking about?” Arden asked abruptly. “The first time I saw you, you said something about a ring, too.” They were paler than usual. He was certain it wasn’t just the light.

“The Eye of Rule, Nicholas called it,” Tolly said. “You’ll know it if you see it. The star ruby is ten carats. I’m certain he would have wanted you to have it, if he left you this house.”

“He left me a message,” Arden said. “In the piano. He used to hide messages for me there when I was a kid. If I could guess which key he’d give me a star sticker, and if I got enough stars he’d give me something. It might be candy, or a book or – for a while I thought he was working up to something creepy.” They turned away abruptly, and then swayed, grabbing at the post of the door. Tolly was acutely aware of the vein pulsing in the back of their hand.

“You’re not well,” he said gently. “How long since you’ve slept? Since you’ve eaten?”

“The whole thing is just too weird. I can’t - that’s not what I came down here for,” Arden said. Tolly was still, debating with himself. One stumble and they were both done for. But he didn’t want to scare them away again, either.

“He wouldn’t have hurt you,” Tolly said. “I wouldn’t call him a good man, but he wouldn’t have interfered with a relation or a child. I’m sure he had plans for you, but not like that.”

“I think so, too. But I don’t know what this means. I hoped, since you knew him – “ They made an awkward gesture, reluctantly turning back to face him.

“Of course,” Tolly said. “Read me the message.”

They dug into a pocket for a folded piece of paper and opened it up with shaking hands.

“If you want to earn a star,

The key to a greater gift,

You’ll have to risk a red one

And abandon all your thrift.”

“For someone who considered himself so clever, he never did learn proper meter, but he always loved riddles and tricks.” In spite of everything, he couldn’t keep a reminiscent tone from his voice. “I’m not sure what ‘risk a red one’ would mean, but Nicholas liked coins. Did he ever give you one?”

“More than one. But he probably knew I would still be carrying around the two aegina drachmas,” Arden said. A smile twitched onto their lips and away, there and gone like lightning. Tolly found himself momentarily stunned, not quite hearing part of the next sentence.

“- Not real, they’re replicas, but I loved them as a kid because they have a turtle and you can feel it with your fingers.” They dug in another pocket and came out with two irregular round coins, each with a turtle so thick it was almost three dimensional molded into one side.

“Is there anything in this house you can fit one of those into?” Tolly asked.

“Sure, this place is incredibly cluttered. But the red thing means something dangerous or not allowed. He’d give me red stars for touching the stove or getting into his room, things like that, and if I got five red stars, he said I wouldn’t be allowed to visit for a week. I never did,” they added, eyes blankly focused on the middle distance.

“If I were you, I would start in his closet or bath, then,” Tolly said.

They nodded, the very dark eyes flickering back to his face. “Thanks. I, uh. I ordered you a phone. It’s pay-as-you-go, so it’ll work until you can pick a carrier. It’s supposed to get here tomorrow.” Their eyes darted to his socks. “Shit. I should get you some shoes, too.”

“When I have a phone, I can order my own things to this address, if you don’t mind the annoyance of deliveries,” Tolly said.

“Not a big deal, Tolly. Like I said, it’s the least I can - ”

“Not a safe thing to continue saying to the monster in your basement,” Tolly said.

“But I’m out here. And you’re still stuck in there,” Arden said. “Are you thirsty? How often do you need a drink?”

Tolly caught himself looking at Arden’s throat and politely redirected his gaze to their face again. “Oh, I’ll always be thirsty,” Tolly said dryly. “It is the nature of the beast. But I can maintain in my current health on about sixteen ounces of animal blood or four ounces of human blood per week. The other gallon should last me eight weeks in sedentary conditions, if you wouldn’t mind bringing me a glass in a few days. Go on. Find the ring. Eat and sleep, please.”

“Yeah, yeah.” They waved him off, looking away, but they were blushing again.

Part 8: Faint

@fleur-a-whump, @bitchaknso

[sketchyfrogzz]

◆Eriguchi Sisi◆ x Mechanic! Reader (platonic)

If you guys don't know who Eriguchi Sisi is,she is my Vocaloid oc! You will be able to find oit more about her in this post! @myvirtuallove hope you like it ! 😊 Reader can be male,female,gender neutral,whatever! As long as everyone is comfortable!

Enjoy!

A irritated sigh escaped your lips as you took in the sight of you broken locker,certain items that have disappeared from your sight.Yet the rest of your stuff had been neatly organised,not how you put it,of course,it was even cleaner than before.However that didn't waver the irritation coursing through your veins,only to be snapped out of it by the voice of another staff member.

"She did it again?" Their voice rang through the hallway as they walked over,observing the broken door of the locker.A low whistle came put of them as they went even closer to the door,moving it so it could face you. "Looks like she's been packing a punch." They commented,as you rubbed your temples and turned to the exit.

This had been the fourth time this week,and it was only Tuesday.Yes,the manager had informed you and others of Eriguchi's recent behaviour,but still,it pissed you off.But what could you do? The company was paying you big bucks just to fix up some wonky mechanisms and wires around the place but that didn't mean you'd allow some robot to steal your stuff! You had rights to!

●

Eriguchi Sisi,she had never had the chance to share the same popularity as other vocaloids like Hatsune Miku,but she still had her own set of fans.

Adjusting her weight on the bed,she inspected the phone in her hands.She had seen these before,when her fans would ask for a picture,or when they would record her at a performance.Her eyes went over little details thr phone had to hold,curiosity eventually winning over as her eyes darkened,all but the small red dot in her pupil.

[Scanning item...]

[Lost item: Identified]

[Phone: Belonging to (Your Name) from the Mechanic Department.Usage: 60%]

A small hum left her throat as she placed the phone down,reaching out to grab a watch that was on the table along with the other stolen objects.Her eyes scanned each one,but yet she felt empty.She needed to know more,but how?

Creak...

Eriguchi snapped her head towards the door,only for her eyes to fall upon your frame as you turned your attention to your phone and the rest of the items huddled on Eriguchi's table.You clenched the handle of your tool box as her eyes were drained of colour as she slumped over her chair,the watch falling out of her hand and hitting the floor below.

She shut herself down,typical. A frown etched onto your lips as you placed your tool box next to Eriguchi,walking behind her.Using your screwdriver,her skin plate came of with a click! As the wires were exposed to your vision,you placed it on the floor,reaching for your tool box.

Despite Eriguchi being shut down,the tension in the air didn't get any thinner.Your breath hitched as you added the instructed code into her data,clicking the green button,causing Eriguchi's body to jolt a bit.

[System Update: Successfull]

You sighed in relief,quickly attaching the back plate on and quickly gathering your stuff.Looking at the table,you quickly snatched your phone and the rest of the stolen objects as you quickly made your way to the door.

◆

[System Rebooting...Updating System...]

[System Update complete.Initiating power up sequence]

Sisi's eyes filled with colour as she took in the sight of you leaving her room.Her confusion increased as she saw an empty table,which previously had the stolen items placed on it.Standing up,Sisi walked towards the door,her heels clicking as she grabbed the doorknob,turning it and peeking out.Your figure got smaller as you walked off with a quickened pace,the feeling of Sisi's eyes on you adding to the panic that had already set place in your mind.

■

Turning around a corner,your heartbeat slightly slowed down,letting out a loud sigh.Turning around,you saw that Sisi's room door was open,yet she didn't seem to be anywhere.Maybe she went elsewhere,probably going to steal more stuff.Whatever,it wasn't your problem,you just needed to-

"Hi!"

Letting out a startled yelp,you spun around to come in contact with Sisi's eyes.She had leaned down as she was now inches away from your face,her pupils dilating as she observed your schoked state.

"Did I scare you? Your heartbeat increased by 25%!" She stated,letting out a voice recorded giggled when you failed to reply.She stood up,interlocking her fingers together.

"Sorry! I just wanted to ask you a question,[Your Name]." Sisi admitted,rubbing the back of her head sheepishly as you raises an eyebrow.

"And that is?"

◇●◇

"So humans don't live forever like me?" Sisi questioned,kicking her legs against the rug.You stiffled a chuckle at her curiosity.

"You won't live forever either,Sisi.I mean,you will live longer than humans,but eventually your body will run out of power and them well,you shut off forever." You explained,a sweat rolling down your forehead as Sisi's face paled.

"..."

"..."

"Forget I said that-"

"..."

"Could I ask another question?"

◆

And that's it! Might make a part two when Sisi asks more questions,but overall I love writing for her (　＾∀＾)

Hope you all enjoyed this and if your curious,drop a ask in my ask box,it's currently open for questions about my ocs (or just come over and say hi!!)

[midnightmagicks]

Thank you for the tag @avampyone !! <3

Tagging: Anyone who is interested! <3 If you see this, do it :point:

—𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒔

Name: E'mal Khama (Birth name: (that he doesn't know) Kari Brotiðgrein/Brotinngrein Nicknames: One(1) single nickname that only @shadesofblades Baatu is allowed to call him: Mally/Molly Age: 55-60 (Give or take. Being adopted at a young age makes this Difficult) Nameday: 25th Sun of the Sixth Umbral Moon (Starlight baby <3) Race: Rava Viera Gender: Trans male Orientation: Gay gay homosexual gay Profession: Travelling entertainer, dancer, and duelist

—𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔

Hair: Black. Very shiny and well taken care of. Eyes: Violet colored right eye and a blinded left eye. Skin: A warm tan-ish tone. Tattoos/scars: A tattoo on his forehead that often hides behind his hair. Two scars on either side of his chest (fantasy top surgery babey)

—𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚

Parents: E'dona Khama: Adoptive Mother (Alive) E'wyn Khama: Adoptive Father (Alive) Siege Einar/Vísyr Djt-Rok: Biological Father (Alive! E'mal has no idea though) Sunna Brotiðgrein/Brotinngrein: Biological Mother (Deceased) Siblings: Several. All assumed deceased. Grandparents: Unknown biologically and adoptive. In-laws and Other: Unknown Pets: Wisteria, his darling chocobo and Eclair, his white whittret.

—𝒔𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔

Abilities: Always one to give his all to a performance, E'mal has mastered the arts of Dancer and Red Mage in combo. He has learned to weave the magicks together to make shows surely able to capture the attention of passing crowds. But more than just street dancing, he is a capable fighter should he need to protect himself. Just....a little more flamboyantly than most. Hobbies: E'mal enjoys baking! He loves making sweets for his friends. He also enjoys fishing though he would NEVER admit that out loud. Another thing he enjoys is singing. That surprisingly doesn't come up as often as one would think in his performances as those are usually focused on the dancing and magic aspects.

—𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒔

Most Positive Trait(s): Adventurous and Social Most Negative Trait(s): Self-neglectful and Emotionally Suppressed

—𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒔

Colors: Red, purple, gold, green Smells: Lavender, sugary-sweet scents, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc etc), leather

Textures: Velvet, Silk, Jewels. Rose Petals, Tree Bark, Fur Drinks: Spiced Teas, Fruity Alcohols, Hot Cocoa

—𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒆𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔

Smokes: No. Drinks: Occasionally. Socially. Drugs: No. Mount Issuance: His loyal and excitable adventuring companion, Wisteria. The light purple chocobo with an equally dramatic personality to E'mal. Been Arrested: No, but he almost was his first time in Ishgard lmao. Thanks Ezie for preventing that one.

[alexanders-pokemon-adventure]

Because of my recent egg situation with my Dustox String Bean (see here) I’m make an info post about what to expected if your interested in one of the wurmple when they hatch. Just some General things anyone should know if they decide they want one.

“Apatura Iris Stellatarum” variant wurple are native to Galar , Kolas and much of the surrounding regions on the Great Peninsula. Generally shy in this part of their evolution .Their preferred diet is made of mostly bedstraw and Willow leaves, but will eat most hardy greens and standard herbivore bug pokemon mix sold at most pokemarts . Abug type like its standard counterpart this variant of Wurmple generally processes the ability “Compound Eye” or “Shield Dust”. Like most variants of wurmple can potentially evolve down two routs. The routs are colloquially called “purple emperor “ and the “hummingbird hawk”

Hummingbird hawk route

The Cascoon of this line are of the cocoon-less variety and Prefer to spend this duration of this part of life hidden in brush ,fallen leaves or close to the ground partial burrowed in soil . During this time of their life they will generally only consume water , absorbed by the thin more absorbent lines on their chrysalis .When threatened can slowly shimmy itself to another location. A bug type like their standard counterpart this variety generally possesses the ability “sturdy“

The Dustox of the this variant are excellent flyers . Their wings move so fast they’re barely visible when in motion and they can move directionally 360° in flight .Able to make rapid turns and dynamic maneuvers without changing their acceleration. One of the fastest variants of Dustox They’re top speed cabs around 60 mph .The diets at this stage in the evolution consist mainly of nectar that they uses their straw like tongue to collect, but they will eat any easily available fruit material that has been softened enough with time. Apatura Iris Stellartarum-Dustox are a Poison / Flying type and generally possess the ability “Speed boost” or “poison touch”.

Purple Emperor route

Silcoon of the Apatura Iris Stellartarum variant like their cascoon counterpart are of the cocoon-less variety meaning their Chrysalis structure is exposed. They prefer to spend this part of their life camouflage on leafy trees (Willow trees generally) , they don’t generally eat during this portion of their life and will absorb moisture through The outer tissue of their pupa exposed through the gaps in their chrysalis. Like the standard counterpart they are a bug type and generally possess the ability “sturdy”. ��

The Beautifly of this variant are comparatively aggressive to their standard counterpart , actively territorial and omnivores. males and females of this variant will fight Each other to to maintain their Territories . Preferring a diet of tree sap, honeydew ,dung, urine and carrion, Apatura Iris Stellartarum beautifly can eat Standard omnivore bug type mix sold at most PokéMarts. possessing a comparatively longer abdomen compared to their standard counterpart it allows them to flex and enhance striking motion from their arms and feet. Apatura Iris Stellartarum Beautifly are a fighting /fairy type and generally possess either the ability “Reckless” or “Cute Charm”.

[oldfacesnewdawnoffical]

Geranium / Alder / Outlaw / Crooked / “Rhema” Crookedstorm

Orator (formerly a weaver, formerly a ranger of Windover) of the Riverward Faction (as of: the start of A Dream of Destiny)

A massive, thickset, thick-furred, fluffy fawn-silver classic tabby tom with tufted ears, an especially fluffy tail, and green eyes. The left side of his face is heavily scarred and somewhat screwed upwards, with some teeth protruding. Along his sides are other scars, and at his right hind leg there is a prominent “x” mark. His left ear is torn.

Ears pierced with carved snail shells. Wears salmon-scale and fish leather armor around his throat and around his torso, braided with blue cloth, snail shells, and smooth river stones; also wears forepaw braces of the same material. Braids the fur of his tail and mane with willow fronds and blue cloth.

Occasionally wears a circlet of braided reeds and cattail fronds, interwoven with willow fronds, decorated with swan down feathers, small blue-colored stones, and silver fish scales, and inlaid with a small shard of the starstone for ceremonial purposes. *

•─────⋅ᓚᘏᗢ⋅─────•

Son of Rainface† and Aroges Shellheart†. Nephew of Rhema Hailstep†. Brother of Oakheart. Ex-mate of Rhema Rainfall of the Woodruff. Partner of Willowbreeze† of the Moorswept. Father of Mistfoot, Fogtongue, and Lavender (via Rainfall), and Drizzle (via Willowbreeze).

Trained by Cedarpelt†. Trained by Fleck. Trained Sedgesplash and Growlclaw.

132 moons old (equivalent to a 60 year old)

Determined, Patient, Insightful | ENFP-T

Cis Male // Demisexual // (He/They/His)

Runaan - The Dragon Prince - Jonathan Holmes

Name implies a physically twisted cat who is free-spirited and with a strong moral compass.

* (I’ll add his ceremonial circlet later,, have no energy to currently draw it ^^’)

[svampira]

wardrobe e makeup per elias e face e stature per il suo sire :3

ask game

miaoo ciao green

> Elias

wardrobe: How big is your character's wardrobe? Do they wear things threadbare, or can they afford new clothes often? Are they any good at mending and repairing their own clothing?

Human Elias had a whole walk in wardrobe that was still filled to the brim and extremely messy, with most of his clothing being the kind of gaudy luxury brand stuff a nouveau rich teen would buy + fast fashion from brand deals he never actually wore. As a vampire though he barely even has his own money since all the work he does for the camarilla goes through diamila, but she just buys him stuff when he asks😑 his wardrobe isn't as big and he's kinda forced to buy mostly fast fashion cause > diamila while pretty well off isn't even nearly as rich as Elias was > he just has to replace everything every week since he destroys or gets blood on everything he wears.

makeup: Does your OC wear makeup? How often? What kind? Why do they wear makeup, and do they like it?

He doesn't! Older versions of him did but I feel like it doesn't make sense for him to. He wouldn't be opposed to someone else putting make up on him for fun, but he'd be annoyed with anything too heavy and he wouldn't see the point of lighter make up.

>Mattia

face: Describe your OC's face. What's their smile like? Are their orbs cerulean? What would someone notice first when looking at them?

Appearance wise Mattia just comes across as really warm and likeable... he has a squarish face and kind, down turned eyes, completely black just like Elias's but they used to be brown. The first things people notice would be his ever present big ass smile or his huge salt and pepper curly hair. I was thinking of so many italian male celebrities when I was designing him ngl but I shant say which ones in particular. Also my guitar teacher in middle school who I still think was the most handsome man I've ever seen.

stature: What's your OC's body type? How tall are they? Do they wear clothing to accentuate their look or do they try to mask it?

He's got a pretty average build! Not that tall (like 1.75m > 5'8/5'9), not particularly muscular but he has wide shoulders (cause I don't know how to draw shoulders any other way) and respectful arms from hauling paint buckets or smtg. He dresses in a way that's flattering to him but he was in his mid to late 30s in 2004 when he was turned and died when he was almost 60 he was naut wearing crop tops