#Driftwood for Sale

[m00ndingochan]

[phobiaexists]

Original Poster was looking for the artist, and I believe this is them!

°○0°o0○° late night at the aquarium °○0°○oO°

[dead-end-draws]

WOF tribe Merchant/Trading booth concepts:

Hey folks! This one was the recent winner of this WOF poll, so here’s my concept art that headcannons trading in Pyrrhia.

Read below cut for close-ups of the individual booths + the thought process / headcannons behind the design choices: 👇

Skywings: The Sky Kingdom’s mountain ranges provide plenty of pasture for raising sheep. As such, Skywing shepherds benefit from traveling to sell their wool, dyes, fabric, and woven tapestries. Many of these merchant tables also include herbs grown exclusively in the mountains, or ibex drinking horns that can be strapped on a dragon’s shoulder & carried in flight.

Along with goods, Skywing merchants may offer sewing services to fix tears, burn marks, or other fabric damage. They are sought out for their quality clothing, and most fabric across Pyrria originated from a Skywing’s talons.

Mudwings: Mudwings’ abundant food & cooking skills are envied almost anywhere in Pyrrhia. Their swamps have fertile soil, responsible for hosting diverse crops which can be purchased as produce at merchant stalls. For those lucky enough to find a traveling Mudwing merchant, the promise of a delicious dish can be whipped up and served at the stall in no time. Along with produce goods, Mudwings sell weaved baskets, spices, and cooking ware.

Sandwings: Sandwing booths offer luxuries of the desert: It’s most common to find accessories such as gold carved jewelry or musical instruments such as drums, lyres, & mandolins for sale. Though, even more sought out across Pyrrhia is Sandwing tattoos/piercings, which are done within the merchant areas. Ink etchings on papyrus paper are stationed outside their tents to showcase designs. All which can be selected, and poked into the skin with a tapping stick and plant dye ink by a trained talon.

Seawings: SeaWings sell a variety of ocean related goods; taking a share in the fish market with Icewings. Outside of food, there are den decorations like driftwood carvings, accessories such as seashell & pearl jewelry, and rope nets weaved by expert Seawing sailors. Some Seawings even sell fishing equipment, canoes, or offer sailor knot tying instructions to curious dragon buyers.

Nightwings: During the war, it was near impossible to find a Nightwing merchant. Most refused to participate in merchant territory, mostly as a way to keep up with their tribe’s mysterious nature.

Though in the more shady, unground parts of the market you can buy from a huge selection of obsidian weaponry, the sharpest in Pyrrhia. No one knew initially how Nightwings smithed so many weapons, or why, until their secret volcano kingdom and the intention to invade the rainforest was discovered. Then forging armor & weapons became clear. Along with a vast armory, for the right price, some Nightwing merchants offer Prophecies & Nightwing Literature (not always guaranteed to always be reliable) and assassin services as well (very reliable).

Rainwings: Though Rainwings haven’t been part of Pyrrhia trading for years, they have a vast hold on dragon medicine. An apothecary of herbs, salves, and remedies are all offered for various ailments due to the rainforest’s abundant resources. Along with medicinal goods, many Rainwings are fruit vendors, promising to any hesitant meat-eating dragons that such an array of flavors isn’t to be missed. Though, their fruit selling pitches often fall flat to most other predominantly meat-eating tribes.

Icewings: Icewings have everything a dragon could need to brace the cold, with a selection of goods only found in the most frigid regions of Pyrrhia. Furs, bone jewelry, and fresh fish (thanks to frost breath) are served on ice. Though Icewings themselves don’t require fur to withstand the cold, it’s considered fashionable and common in upper ranks to wear fur as a status symbol. Since metal is hard to smith without fire & in cold temperatures, fur and bone are more accessible to Icewings for clothing statements.

[pigeon-pit]

~*PIGEON PIT FALL 2024 DATES*~

hey y’all! we’re really stoked to be hitting the road again this fall and play east coast shows for the first time in a long time. come hang out, we’ll be playing new songs, old songs, whatever songs we feel like and have some brand new merch for sale too. we got some really special shows on here! Will update bands and ticket links as time goes on but for the most part shows are pay at the door and all ages! <3

10/14 in Minneapolis, MN at The Artery w/ Erica Lyle & Mold Wine

10/15 in Chicago, IL at Pilsen Community Books w/ Sunday Cruise

10/16 in Indianapolis, IN at Longshot w/ Looter & Passerine

10/17 in Pittsburgh, PA at Mr Roboto Project w/ Frog Legs, No Jane, Cacklin Racket & Rayne Blakeman (https://dltsgdom.ticketleap.com/pigeon-pit-roboto/)

10/18 in Akron, PA at House of Jenk w/ Local News Legend, Joyful Forfeit & Erin Incoherent

10/20 in Brattleboro, VT at Buoyant Heart w/ Harm, Leaf Glitter & Kivimae

10/21 in Brooklyn, NY at Trans Pecos w/ Choked Up & precious human (https://www.venuepilot.co/events/114396/orders/new)

10/23 in Philadelphia, PA at Foto Club w/ Paper Bee & Ezra Cohen (https://dice.fm/partner/4333-collective/event/dk59l6-pigeon-pit-paper-bee-ezra-cohen-23rd-oct-foto-club-philadelphia-tickets )

10/24 in Richmond, VA at Crescent Club w/ Flora and the Fauna and Shotgun Princess

10/26 in Gainesville, FL at Roadhouse w/ Mechanical Canine, Heavy Lag, Shift Meal & the Alleged Band

10/27 in Gainesville, FL - FEST - at Vivid Music Hall w/ Chuck Ragan and the Camaraderie, Tim Barry, Brendan Kelly, Walter Mitty and his MAkeshift Orchestra & Apes of the State (https://www.seetickets.us/event/Vivid-Music-Hall-CHUCK-RAGAN-TIM-BARRY-BRENDAN-KELLY/610483) (18+)

10/28 in Atlanta, GA at Wallers Coffee w/ Dakota Floyd, Official Bard of Baldwin County & Ozello (https://pigeonpitwallers.bpt.me/)

10/29 in Pensacola FL at the 309 Project w/ the Taints & TBA

10/30 in New Orleans, LA at SASS w/ Twisted Teens & TACK (4011 St Claude)

11/1 in Little Rock, AR at River City Coffee w/ TBA

11/2 in Kansas City, MO at Howdy w/ Small Void & TBA

11/4 in Denver, CO at 7th Circle Music Collective w/ Fables of the Fall, Marissa. & Darling Driftwood

[porcelainseashore]

Summer Solstice - Beach Episode by Night

Commissioned art by @medeaft

Author's Note: My “drabble” (inspired by a music ask) for the lovely @beach-episode-by-night event. A heartfelt thank you to @mortifying-macaroni and @alibellerosetta whom I dedicate this piece to. Your encouragement made it possible.

Along the I-10 highway to Tucson, Wynter takes a detour toward the coastline on impulse, chasing the memory of a bygone summer’s day.

Content Warnings: Suicidal thoughts, references to murder, wraith, pre-canon, weird uncle/niece relationship, blame it on the Giovanni.

How long has it been?

The chime sounded as she left the car door open with her keys in the ignition, monotonous, comforting yet cajoling her to do something about it. It didn’t matter; hers was the lone automobile on the desolate street. If someone wanted this piece of junk, they’d earn the right by swiping it off her hands behind her back.

In the tepid late October air, Wynter had taken a detour off the I-10 toward the Gulf Coast on a whim, with the windows rolled down because the air conditioner wasn’t working—it never did. Closer to the basin, the smell of brine from the Atlantic hit her tenfold. She had been swimming in her thoughts, her reflexes on autopilot, as if she remembered the route by heart. That was the question, what did she remember? Why had she come here, when she had spent the last two decades running off and reinventing herself, just like her estranged sire, Violetta, taught her to?

Instead of answering, she faced away from the wind, lashes downturned and fluttering, as she cupped her hand over her mouth, lighting up a cigarette and ignoring the faint protests of her Beast. The wind was still as violent as she’d left it. Heeled boots crunched into gravel, which finally opened out to soft mounds of sand. She wasn’t in a hurry; she had time to kill, even with her battered, old Honda that was on its last legs. 

The Prince could wait. 

What was a couple of USB sticks that he desired good for? They lay stuffed and suffocated in her worn-down satchel—one she’d found while rummaging through the trash—with its straps chewed and frayed at the ends. Maybe just enough for emergency repairs and a meal or two, if she was lucky.

From afar, she could make out the salt-stripped cafes, gaudy tiki bars with their balding straw roofs, and a row of little wooden clapboard houses, paint-chipped and peeling, along the boardwalk. Weather-beaten “For sale” and “We’re closed!” signs hung awkwardly from the establishments, some on their last nail, swaying to and fro, creaking in the breeze. Her gaze trailed over the tired beach chairs, deflated pool toys, and broken surfboards. A smattering of them had found their way across the divide, acting like driftwood in the sea.

The sound of children’s giggles and bare feet pattering on the floorboards echoed in the distance. She gripped her bag tight, but did not look back. Her shoes were sinking into the wet sand now, and the air carried warm moisture which settled beneath the layer of clothes onto her skin. Her very own form of sweat.

The moon illuminated her path, but at the edge of the ocean, she was at a loss for what to do. Why was she here? What had called her? How—

���Wynter,” it whispered, balmy in the zephyr. “Why don’t you come out to play?”

She shielded her eyes, as though blinded by the brilliant sun, peering out into the vast space before her. And there he was, clear as day, in his light blue shorts and a roseate burn creeping through his tanned back, wading toward her in the water. Earlier, she had been sulking under the beach umbrella while her mother flipped through a magazine and her father chatted jovially with other men over rounds of drinks at the bar.

The wind was howling. Fine, white sand swirled in the current. She didn’t like how hot it got under her feet. Everything hurt. But for Lucien, she would bear through it all. His smile ached as she splashed into the water, salt clinging to her lips and foam gathering in the tendrils of her hair. She took a deep breath and dived, dipping under the waves of the high tide. A strong pair of arms entangled around her waist as she was drawn out of the sea, and she wriggled to break free of their grasp while her uncle chuckled. And soon, she was laughing too.

“My very own mermaid,” he murmured. 

Wynter bared her teeth and hissed, “But I will drown you and taste your flesh.”

He touched her chin, smiling sadly. “Well, it would be worth it, to me.”

She didn’t think anything of it then, bounding out of Lucien’s embrace and paddling through the waters. That day, under the cloudless sky and the sun’s rays glittering beyond the horizon, she felt how magnificent it was to be alive. Glancing over at Lucien, she paused, meeting his eyes, shifting azure blue, watching the droplets trickle down his brow. The waves crashed on shore. Seagulls crooned overhead. Time whiled away in silence. Their eyes searching for a morsel they could hold on to. Years of an unspoken bond buried in a look. He believed in it then, how pure and indescribable it was. And the curve of his mouth reflected hers.

For all the trials he would be put through, he’d gladly suffer, even if there was no end in sight. She waded closer to him, the water now reaching waist-high. But it was murky. Her cigarette butt had gone out, leaving traces of the woody scent of dark tobacco in the air, but even that too was fading. Instead of the heat of the sun beating down her back, she encountered the cool, umbral glow of the moon, iridescent on her bloodless skin. She wanted it to burn her alive.

Her Beast recoiled at the mere thought of seeing the light of day, but Wynter entertained it for a moment longer, savoring the fear, the way the light extinguished in someone’s eyes before they expired.

“Let me drown with you,” she prayed, the flicker of an unearthly sheen present in her eyes.

In her peripheral vision, a shadow flitted between the steel scaffolding of the once-grandiose pier, now in a state of irreversible decay, rusting to the elements. She remembered standing there as a child, sick from cotton candy, and the noise of the fairground rides flooding her ears. A postcard marred with heavy creases—one of the many within the bundle she had stashed in her glove compartment. She held it out in front of the pier, shutting one eye and squinting, then doing the same with the other. 

Every year, she received a blank card, the address scribbled in handwriting she didn’t recognize. Regardless of whether she stayed at a temporary residence or relied on throwaway collection points dotted across the country, they arrived without fail. “Wish you were here’s” by the ghost of a loved one on perpetual vacation. Places she had been to. Places she had dreamed of. This time, a picturesque painting of the old pier at dawn. 

It could have been a trap, but she found it strangely comforting, knowing she had a place to come back to, observing the swell and receding waves until she would be nothing more than ashes floating on the surface at the break of day. Kindred talked about death as if it were so final, but to her, death was only the beginning. A concrete structure on the pier groaned, loosening from its bolt before collapsing into the sea. The sound and vibrations were tremendous, but Wynter didn’t flinch.

How long could she drag this out? How much more could she keep on going?

For a while, she had been aware of a presence watching her, but made no sign to acknowledge its existence. It was tempting to seek it out, as was the habit of being a hunter, but she decided otherwise. The Shroud was thin here. Mortals had long since abandoned this place. Yet some remained. 

There was a deep rooted tingle in her spine. She had overstayed her welcome; she should leave, but not before—

The postcard slipped from her fingers, drifting in the stream until she lost sight of it. A featherlight kiss on the nape of her neck. She shuddered again and closed her eyes. When they opened, she checked the time on her cracked iPhone screen. 

Without a word, she followed her tracks back to her awaiting car, the chime still ringing incessantly. She hopped in and drove off, leaving whatever had happened that day behind. 

The Prince of Tucson couldn’t wait any longer.

Dividers by @diableriedoll

[pterodactylterrace]

Why exactly did they decide to make Aegon SA the maid? In the books he never assaults anyone. He is known to have a “large carnal appetite” but it’s never mentioned that these women were forced in anyway. The closest we get is when we hear that he won the virginities of two maidens at an auction in flea bottom. Which, by my understanding, means he paid extra to be a whore’s first customer. It wasn’t some sweet innocent girl like we see in the show. The girls already worked in the brothel learning their trade. They don’t just yoink girls off the street and out their virginity up for sale.

So why include it in the show? Was it because they realized Aegon wasn’t nearly as horrible as Rhaenyra, so they had to do something?

Rhaenyra has 3 bastards that everyone knows about, but can’t say anything. Just committing open treason and no one is allowed to point it out.

She had beef with a literal 2 year old. She had multiple tantrums at her little brothers second name day hunt. Also looked right at him and compared the death squeals of a boar to the crying to children.

Suspected of killing her first husband. In the show, she shows Laenor mercy, but has no problem killing off one of his servants because they needed a body. You don’t understand! She reconnected with her uncle by fucking him on the beach at his late wife’s funeral! She just HAD to marry Daemon instead! Who cares that Laenor was in the process of recommitting himself to their marriage when she sprung this idea on him? He gets to live penniless with his boyfriend in Pentos or something! All he had to do was give up his family, his inheritance, his power, his place at court and all his wealth, along with the life of one of his father’s servants. Sure, he could have kept all those things, but then Daemon would get all broody about how he can’t openly fuck his niece!

Her second eldest is adamant he doesn’t want the Driftwood throne. She forces him to fight for it anyway rather than just quietly sending word that Luke is willing to allow Vaemond to inherit in his place.

Suggesting Aemond be tortured to learn where he heard her sons being called bastards after Luke just slashed out his eye. Not to mention that snobby “Thank you, father” that was totally inappropriate, unnecessary and sent Alicent over the edge.

In comparison, Aegon is a teenage boy who… likes drinking and jerking it. The worst thing he has done was mock his brother with a pig. Alicent corrects this behavior, and from what I can tell, the two boys were friendly towards each other after the time jump. Aemond and Aegon are chatting before dinner. Aemond stands to defend Aegon when Jace acts like he may try something. When Aemond gets punched by Jace and then pushes him to the ground, Aegon grabs Luke before he can do anythjng. Clearly they have grown close.

We see the twins at the fighting pit where Aegon allegedly goes often. How can they know that, though? Earlier in that episode Otto asks his personal guard (either Erryk or Arryk. Their names sound the same and they have the same face, I don’t know who is who) where he is and his guard admits that Aegon exploits his authority to order him away and then evades him. He admits he doesn’t have a clue what he gets up to. Then, later we see a boy with blonde hair and purple eyes, and it’s Aegon’s. No doubt in anyone’s mind. Clearly Aegon is knowingly breeding child fighters for the pit. Weird how he wasn’t there, though.

Matter of fact, the white worm just found him drunk off his ass and stashed him in the sept. That’s what he was getting up to. Getting drunk and likely paying for sex.

Now let’s analyze the scene where Alicent confronts Aegon.

Alicent is IRATE and Aegon is half asleep. Looks like he hasn’t moved in a while, tbh. Aegon asks if something happened. Don’t you think he would know if he did something? His mother reminds him about Dyana, and he seems very nonchalant about it. Not the kind of reaction you would expect from someone that just forced himself on a struggling servants. He saw it as just a bit of fun. His reaction just seems… off.

Now, we know GRRM likes to repeat plot points. One in the original series was Cersei only laying with Robert when he was drunk so she could finish him off some other way, and he wouldn’t remember. Aegon is a known drunk. There were no witnesses. Who’s to say Dyana isn’t a spy or a mole sent to fuck shit up?

She is in season 2. Why bring back an SA victim in season 2 if she doesn’t have more to add to the story? Sure, there could be a revenge arc, but from my understanding, Dyana is at a brothel in season 2. Now, did she wind up there after the Aegon incident (hard to believe considering she was given a pouch of coin to start a new life and she only made it to the end of the palace driveway) OR she went back to where she came from. Back to her mistress, the White Worm. We see she employs young women in her service. Who’s to say they didn’t make the whole thing up to try and sway more people towards Rhaenyra’s cause? Nothing makes a man look worse than SA.

So all the horrible things Aegon has done so far, has been hearsay. We don’t see anything other than him bullying Aemond when they were kids. So either the writers had to do something totally awful with his character, or it wouldn’t be such a landslide siding for Rhaenyra.

You know if they hadn’t decided to assassinate his character, it would be much closer to a 50/50 split. They also had to whitewash the hell out of Rhaenyra to make her more likable. In the books, SHE orders Vaemond’s death and feeds him to her dragon. So in the same episode they blackwashed Aegon and whitewashed Rhaenyra so the audience would root for her. Then they had the balls to say WITH THEIR WHOLE CHEST that they aren’t biased in their writing.

[aurorabayrpg]

VALENTINE'S DAY IN AURORA BAY ~~ FEB 13th- 23rd~~

Love is in the air in Aurora Bay as the town has been spending the last week decorating for the holiday. You will have noticed all the pinks, reds, and endless hearts displayed all throughout the town. Whether you celebrate the day or not, there is something for everyone this year!

MORE INFO BELOW:

Here's our next event! Instead of doing one major one, we thought it'd be fun to have little things all over town for everyone to enjoy! Here are some things you will be able to enjoy during this event! If you'd like for your establishment to host something as well, please just let us know and we'll add it to the list!

Serenity Tea Room:

On February 13th, Serenity Tea Room will be holding a Galentine's Day brunch! Bring your besties, exchange gifts if you wish to do so, and enjoy brunch with bottomless mimosas!

Flora and Fauna with Aurora Bay's Library:

Head to Flora and Fauna sign up sheet in the town square for telegrams! Let them know who you want to send a rose (or a whole bouquet) to along with a romantic poem or sonnet, or maybe even leave an anonymous note to confess feelings to someone special!

Neptune:

Neptune is one of the busiest restaurants in town during Valentine's Day. Hurry to book a reservation for your romantic date night at the five star restaurant. Dedicated menu

Driftwood Coffee Shop:

Don't have a date? No problem. Sign up for the speed dating event at Driftwood Coffee Shop happening all weekend! Buy your drink of choice and maybe even find the love of your life.

Crescent Moon Tattoo:

Visit Crescent Moon Tattoo for their Valentine's Day flash sale!

Sweet Nothings with ABFD:

Visit Sweet Nothings for their Valentine's Day treats bake sale in conjunction with Aurora Bay's fire department! A portion of the money will go towards the ABFD's emergency services as donations!

Timeless Pottery Studio:

Join Timeless all weekend long with a DIY pottery paint-and-sip class! Dozens of options are available from vases to dishes to create a one of a kind ceramic that you can decorate while sipping wine.

Sea Salt Spa:

Don't forget to book a luxurious couples' spa package! Spend a few hours being pampered and feeling completely relaxed

And for those of you just coming out of a relationship and wanting to turn a blind eye to the lovefest all over town, there's celebrating for you too!

Hosted by Oasis Nightclub, come down to the beach Friday night for a burning of the exes bonfire bash! Bring photos, mementos, or anything you'd like and toss it into the fire because good riddance to those in your past! Music will be going into the early hours of the night and a pop-up bar will be on hand by the DJ booth, so while the town is lovey-dovey, feel free to let loose in the sand.

Extras:

non-event threads can continue, but we ask that they be tagged as non event.

please use the tag ab.valentines for new threads!

feel free to use your imagination with other places (particularly food establishments) having their own specials!

we will allow four new starters to be made off the bat (one per mun at first pls!) after that, please reply to at least two before posting your own. event starters can be made until sunday the 23rd

if anyone has any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! have fun!

[stories-in-the-wind]

Lots of dragons up for sale from some of my various pairs, they're all up for treasure on the AH because I'm trying to buy some stuff while wind has dom, but you can ask me to sell for gems 1:1000, lair page l*nk in my pinned post

driftwood/copper/taupe 75kt

Phthalo/ruby/crimson 250kt

sable/turquoise/turquoise 50kt

terracotta/peacock/phthalo 150kt

[sciartherp]

[FR Ad] Selling Dergs

Figured I'd start advertising my Flight Rising sales here! You can find all dragons for sale here - https://www1.flightrising.com/lair/407757/1604061/1

Individuals for sale-

Rivin - 150kt/g 1st gen female Undertide (originally a release day Everlux) OOAK, only active dragon with this colorset, mostly gened I just can't decide on a tertiary! Driftwood Ribbon - Denim Lacquer - Violet Basic - Wind Rare

-

Unnamed - 30kt/g Male Auraboa, part of my hatchery project Unique colorset, 1 of 2 active with 8 total Shamrock Flaunt - Purple Flair- Avodaco Fishbone - Plague Common

-

Unnamed - 40kt/g Female Auraboa, sibling of the boa above Unique colorset, 1 of 3 active with 6 total Radioactive Flaunt - Storm Flair - Ice Fishbone - Plague Pastel

-

Thanglinger - free* Female Spiral, part of my limited-run Dead by Daylight pairing Rare colorset, 1 of 17 active with 86 total Mauve Tapir - Watermelon Striation - Antique Ghost - Plague Uncommon

*Name cannot be changed, nor can this dragon be exalted, return to me if you don't want them anymore!

-

Thanglingest - free* Female Spiral, sibling of the dragon above Uncommon colorset, 1 of 50 active with 188 total Pearl Tapir - White Striation - Dust Ghost - Plague Common

*Name cannot be changed, nor can this dragon be exalted, return to me if you don't want them anymore!

[kleefkruid]

Some guys from my electric company came by to do an administrative checkup bc the city had changed something and people might be overpaying and yadda yadda, but the guys they send on this one off mission where clearly their sales guys, and one of them could not turn of their manic sales pitch energy but he didn't have anything to sell, so he just started to make soo much small talk while his collegue was doing it's thing but the problem is he was doing it in my appartment, about the things you can spot in my appartment, so the conversation went like this.

*walking in* "OH THIS IS NICE! NICE INTERIOR! PLANTS!" "yeah hehe, eh thanks" "OH IS THAT AN AQUARIUM!! BIG!! WHAT THE ELECTRIC CONSUMPTION ON THAT?" "oh it's pretty light, I got l.e.d. and the filtration is just a simple pump that pulls water trough the DIY filter chambers...." "ALLRIGHT COOL AND THAT?? STICKBUGS OR SOMETHING???" *pointing at my terrarium that currently just has some driftwood stored in it* "Oh it's empty right now, there was a giant landsnail but it died recently" "HOW?" ".... how did it die?" "YEAH" "eh you see insects don't reall get sick like we do, it-" *realising the technical explanation doesn't fit the speed of the conversation "... it's insides exploded to the outside." "OH. BAD." "yeah that's generally pretty bad" "ALLRIGHT SEEMS YOUR CONNECTION IS FINE HAVE A NICE DAY"

[olives-gaming]

Dragons for sale! Will be exalted after 3 days!

100144608 - 20 g on AH

Black/Iris/Smoke

100144609 - 20 g on AH

Black/Mist/Driftwood

100144610 - 20 g on AH

Eldritch/Indigo/Wine

@fr-boosts

[sharkbeneaththelotus]

Pangzi wears Xiaoge as a backpack I HAVE TOO MANY FEELINGS ONLY PANGYE CAN CONTAIN THEM ALL:

He first does it on the way out of the desert, the sun scorching their combined backs and the air bitterly cold. Xiaoge keeps his back shaded, and Pangzi keeps Xiaoge's front warm. He's too light; his wrists dangle down like driftwood wind chimes, but he's warm and breathing.

Pangzi puts his emptied pack back on over Xiaoge, and pulls the straps tight. Ahead of them, Wu Xie slogs doggedly along the path picked out by his compass, and Pangzi puts his head down and walks.

Xiaoge breathes cool air over his sweaty neck and the fabric trapped between them grows sodden with their combined body heat. At the edges, where sweat wicks into exposed cotton, the wind chills it instantly to ice. Pangzi can't tell if that's a relief from the burning heat, or the worst shit he's ever felt. He spends way too long thinking about it, one foot in front of the other, trudging onwards towards the camp Wu Xie insists exists.

He hopes Xiaoge doesn't mind having Pangzi's sweat on him; there's no way the Great Zhang Qiling is sweating. Hah!

---

The second time is soon enough after the first that Pangzi wonders whether Xiaoge was awake enough to remember that journey, because Xiaoge fits himself onto Pangzi's back like he is a backpack.

He's exhausted, mildly feverish, and only got off the tubes and monitors a day ago. Pangzi should not have brought him out to the gardens without a wheelchair to haul him back after. But he'd needed to see Xiaoge amongst green and growing things, and he was right; Xiaoge had come alive with plants to molest with his Zhang fingers. He'd even taken his slippers off before walking on the grass, so now Pangzi has to deal with pale green stains on his trousers, where Xiaoge's feet brush against the white fabric.

"Hup we go..." He warns, and Xiaoge curls tighter over his shoulders, bony elbows jabbing his collarbones as though Xiaoge's joints are just suggestions rather than actual rules. Bony and boneless, please make your mind up, Xiaoge.

He feels Xiaoge's sigh against the back of his neck, then the press of a sharp nose against the muscles between neck and shoulder; it was too much input, Pangzi should have known it would be. Back to the quiet room in the stroke ward he goes, Xiaoge's slippers dangling from his fingers and the man himself doing half the work of holding on to Pangzi's back.

Experimentally, Pangzi lightens his grip on Xiaoge's thighs, and the grip only gets firmer.

He lets go completely, and Xiaoge hold himself in place without problem.

"Hah! I'm one big mamma, and you're a baby monkey, ah?" He jokes, putting his hands back under Xiaoge's knees so the poor man can rest a bit. Xiaoge sighs heavily and goes limp as a sand bag.

"Alright, alright, this way..."

He gets a few strange looks, and is challenged by a security guard, but the band on Xiaoge's wrist is as good as a passport, and back they go.

---

The third time, Xiaoge isn't even ill.

As far as Pangzi can tell, and he's getting good at this hazy-eyed version of their Xiaoge, he's just grumpy. Their walk through the old streets of the antiques district had been peppered with quiet announcements about fake goods, and Pangzi had had to stop Xiaoge telling the whole market about it. They couldn't take that kind of heat! And Xiaoge didn't have a sword!

He'd been able to tell at a glance, in most cases, and occasionally with a touch, and apparently he had been restraining himself for their entire acquaintance, because the twist of his lip at the worst of the forgeries is hilarious. And going to get them both beaten straight out of the market.

He gets mulish about leaving, and Pangzi off-handedly threatens to carry him back to his shop and put him up in the window for sale, at which point Xiaoge climbs onto his back and hunkers there like a barnacle.

His hood brushes against Pangzi's freshly clipped undercut, and he feels the brush of eyelashes against the skin of the back of his neck, and Xiaoge goes tense all over in a shiver, then lax again.

Pangzi grabs him under his knees, hefts him up a little, and accepts that technically he did offer.

[daisymae-12]

9 favourite books

Thanks for the tags @myheartalivewrites @suseagull04 @tintagel-or-cockleshells @kiwiana-writes @cricketnationrise loved seeing all the lists!! adding so much to my TBR ahh

So it's pretty obvious from this list that I haven't read many books in the last decade 🥴 Discovered fanfic 12 years ago and haven't really been interested in books since 😂 So most of these are my childhood/teenage faves - gave me a huge throwback for sure 💀

Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - the book that ended my 7 year book reading drought. Don't need to say much about this one - it changed my life etc etc

The Mediator (series) by Meg Cabot - am I breaking rules by including a whole bunch of series 😂 still love this series so frkn much. Probably my most reread set of books. Apparently it's being adapted into a tv series/film - no news since 2020 but if it happens I will literally cry (happy tears).

1800-Where-Are-You (series) by Meg Cabot - can you tell I loved this author 😂 loved all her YA mysteries

Anne of Green Gables (series) by L.M. Montgomery - when I was 8 I bought the first book at the library sale for 20c and from there begged my mum to buy me the rest of the series. Anne and Gilbert my first ship 😩

Driftwood by Cathy Cassidy - read this when I was probably 10 or so and sometimes I still think about how it really shifted my worldview at that age. Probably the first time I was exposed to the heavy topics it hinted at

Percy Jackson / Heroes of Olympus (series) by Rick Riordan - love Greek/Roman mythology so these were obviously going to be a fave. So excited for the tv series ahh

Nancy Drew (series) by Carolyn Keene - yup I really loved mystery series 😂

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau - Ok I remember loving this book but what the fuck, apparently not enough to know it's part of a series ?! (I just googled to check the author and discovered my whole life is a lie) I literally thought it was a stand alone, I'm frkn shook. Bye I'm embarrassed 🙃

The Inheritance Cycle (series) by Christopher Paolini - besides mystery books I was also very big into fantasy 🥲 don't remember much about it now but I loved it. Won't ever forget how they fumbled the bag so hard on that film adaptation 🥴

+1. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson - omg not a favourite but when I was 10, this was the book the teacher was reading to us in class. I was impatient at the speed we were going so I borrowed it from the library myself and was absolutely fucking shocked at the ending. I think I cried LOL [my first exposure to MCD 😳 as a kid I would've appreciated a TW 🥲 still haunts me to this day 😂]

Apologies for the long ramble 😅 ok I need new books to read because I obviously haven't been reading them enough so would love to see more lists 👀 no pressure tags: @cultofsappho @adreamareads @heybuddy-drabbles @celeritas2997 @14carrotghoul @heartitinthesilence @sherryvalli @darwinsfinchesx @gwiazdziarka @purgingmyemotions @happiness-of-the-pursuit +anyone else who wants to share

[skippygoldfish]

i am now gonna speedrun buying some plants cuz i realized that Aquatic Arts has a sale ending today. and i might add in a B-grade nerite snail... just for funsies.... (enrichment for betta that he might not kill? i know they kill shrimp but what about snails??)

i am looking at a java fern on driftwood and a dark red ludwigia for the 5gal, and a red jungle val for the goldfish tank (to root in a jar). they are supposedly hardy fellows. many plants intrigue me, but i know i gotta start small v_v

[actualmanedrasa]

CYBER MONDAY GENONE SALE!

Splash/Lapis/Honeydew - 250g 100g!

Rose/Mulberry/Royal - 200g 100g!

Ultramarine/Cottoncandy/Driftwood 25g 15g!

Cerise/Grapefruit/Crimson 20g 10g!

Sale will be up for three days! I also take mixed payment of treasure, items, and familiars I don't have! I also hold dragons, just dm me and we can set something up!

[wrathful-reptile]

@pumpkin-bread

That g1 mirror that is Umber/Driftwood/Maroon that you have for sale?

It now has been worm-ified

Best of luck selling!