#Goat Ruff

[my-friend-meowth]

Afrikanpikkuvuohi (Capra aegagrus hircus) African pygmy goat

Przewalskinhevonen (Equus przewalskii) Przewalski's horse

Kulaani (Equus hemionus kulan) Mongolian wild ass

Jakki (Bos grunniens) Yak

Härkägemssi (Budorcas taxicolor) Takin

Karhu (Ursus arctos) Brown bear

Metsäpeura (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) Finnish forest reindeer

Suokukko (Calidris pugnax) Ruff

Kaksikyttyräinen kameli (Camelus bactrianus) Bactrian camel

Berberiapina (Macaca sylvanus) Barbary macaque

[thatonegrimm]

COULD WE GET SAJA BOYS AND THEIR WEIRD QUIRKS?:O (LIKE MYSTERY’S BARKING). LIKE MAYBE BABY SOMETIMES SNEEZES OUT FIRE OR SOMETHING (SEPARATE)

-⭐️

AH ⭐ Anon! I couldn’t help myself—I rushed to this one as soon as I could LMAO 😭 Here you go! 💌

🌙 Saja Boys x Reader – Their Weird Quirks

They were hot. They were powerful. They were demons.

And they were so, so weird sometimes.

--------------------------

🧿 Jinu 

You had no idea Jinu talked in his sleep until the third week of living together.

At first, it sounded like murmuring.

Then it got… weirder.

One night, as you were brushing your teeth, you heard him muttering in the next room.

You crept closer.

“...Zynahar…Karev-nu...Shial,” he whispered. Then louder: “DO NOT UNSEAL THE GLYPH.”

You froze. “...What glyph?”

Jinu sat bolt upright in bed. “WHO TOUCHED THE GOAT.”

“What goat?!” you cried, now very awake.

He blinked at you, looked around… and promptly collapsed back into the pillows.

Next morning, he squinted at you over his mug. “I didn’t say anything weird, did I?”

You didn’t answer.

You just ordered a baby monitor with a night recording feature.

For research.

--------------------------

💪 Abby 

You were halfway through making scrambled eggs when Abby strolled into the kitchen, plucked a raw egg from the carton, cracked it with his teeth—and crunched the whole thing down.

Shell and all.

You nearly dropped your spatula.

“...Did you just eat the whole egg?”

“Mhm,” he replied, completely unfazed. “Calcium.”

“That’s not how—”

“It’s efficient.”

He shrugged and grabbed another one.

You watched in awe and horror as he chewed like it was a protein bar. “Want one?”

You slowly shook your head. “Do I look like I crave calcium that much?”

He just winked and popped a third egg in his mouth like a Tic Tac.

--------------------------

📚 Mystery 

You’d heard rumors from the others. But you didn’t believe it until it happened.

It was quiet. Peaceful. You were both reading.

Then, without breaking eye contact from the book, Mystery let out a single, perfectly-executed “Ruff.”

You blinked. “Did you just bark?”

“...No,” he said.

“You absolutely just barked.”

“I think you’re projecting.”

You stared at him.

He barked again—short, sharp, like a warning.

Then calmly turned the page.

You said nothing. Just kept reading.

The next day, you heard him growl at a bird outside like a territorial cat.

You’ve stopped asking questions.

--------------------------

💋 Romance 

You opened the bathroom cabinet looking for bandages and were nearly crushed by a wall of pastel candles.

Romance peeked around the doorframe, holding a new one labeled “Midnight Rain on Venetian Silk.”

“Don’t judge me.”

You turned slowly. “Is this where all our shelf space went?”

He pouted. “Some people hoard trauma. I hoard aroma.”

You opened another drawer. More candles.

The oven? Full of candles.

Your closet? Candles.

He followed you like a guilty puppy. “I light them based on mood. Or outfit. Or lunch. Or if the weather makes me emotionally sensitive—”

You held up one labeled “Vanilla Regret.”

He snatched it back. “That one’s personal.”

--------------------------

🔥 Baby 

You thought the scorch marks on the curtains were a design choice until Baby let out a sharp, sudden:

“HhH’TSHHHEWW!”

—followed by a burst of literal flame.

You dropped your mug. “WHAT THE—”

He sniffled and looked mildly offended. “You try holding in a hellsneeze.”

“YOU SNEEZE FIRE?!”

“Only when it’s dusty,” he muttered, rubbing his nose with the back of his sleeve. “Or if I get emotional.”

You watched as the corner of the rug smoldered. “We need to babyproof the house.”

“I am the baby.”

“Exactly.”

He sneezed again and set the remote on fire.

You now carry a spray bottle labeled “Baby (Mildly) Misbehaving.”

--------------------------

M-List

[lewisvinga]

feline fine | alex albon x fem! reader

summary; alex and his veterinarian girlfriend soft launch using animal puns but no one could figure it out

fc; various girls on pinterest

warnings; ?

notes; requested! oh how i love to do smaus

taglist; @namgification

masterlist !

liked by landonorris, georgerussell63 and others

alex_albon: what do you call a pile of cats? a meowtain

username: the caption???

username: omg the kittens🥹🥹🥹

username: when he’s a cat person>>

georgerussell63: surprised rusty let her old him

alex_albon: rusty quite fond of her icl, i think it’s all the treat she buys for him

username: the cat in the last slide looks so grumpy 😭

landonorris: ask her if she can look at my pet

alex_albon: she says an picture of a jack russell terrier with george’s face on it is not a pet

username: she????

username: alex in his soft launch era??

liked by yourbestfriend, and others

yourusername: why don’t cats play poker in the jungle? too many cheetahs

username: the caption😭😭

yourbestfriend: both of you are so corny , i cant w u 😭

yourusername: hey ! i’m a vet! animal puns are mandatory !

yourbestfriend: but he’s not a vet?

yourusername: well …. that i can’t explain

username: HE??

username: swear i’ve seen those cats before…

username: the best vet itw 💗💗 liked by yourusername !

liked by logansargeant, landonorris, and others!

alex_albon: what do you call a dog magician? a labracadabrador!

username: the last picture…. WHO IS SHE??

username: another pet pun??😭

username: wait so alex has a gf??

logansargeant: so that’s why you asked me for a dog pun….

alex_albon: to be fair you also googled it

landonorris: buddy>>>

alex_albon: he behaved well at the vet, maybe it’s bc she was his doctor😌

landonorris: buddy the goat🐐

username: wait, alex’s gf is a vet??? who could she be???

liked by yourbestfriend, and others

yourusername: is your dog always tired? maybe it’s just a bit ruff around the edges.

username: WHO IS THAT MISS Y/N??

username: bro i need to know who ur dating

yourbestfriend: ew he’s shirtless

yourusername: i like him like this 🙎‍♀️

username: the puppies🥹🥹

username: definitely recommend going to her clinic!! my cat usually hates going to the vet but y/n made her feel so calm and safe!!❤️❤️ liked by yourusername

username: i hope he’s as good of a person as y/n is!!

username: AIFKSOFKSOCOSKXL

username: that man looks awfully familiar….

liked by yourusername, carmenmmundt, and others

alex_albon: are you a cat? because you’re feline fine

tagged; yourusername

yourusername: this is the best caption so far me thinks

alex_albon: thank u i used my brain for this 🤓

yourusername: love u bf❤️‍🔥

alex_albon: love u gf❤️‍🔥

username: wait… HES DATING Y/N?

username: should’ve seen this sooner bc they both kept posting animal puns out of no where😭😭😭

username: my faves are dating??😩

carmenmmundt: double date soon🙈

georgerussell63: no alex stinks

alex_albon: no george is smellier

yourusername: screw george and alex bby , me n u let’s go on a date🤭

carmenmmundt: better than a double date😫

alex_albon: no stealing my y/n.

username: feeling stupid now that i realize that y/n kept posting his pets on her insta with the same corny puns…..

[cryptidstealingyourcreditcard]

the gang as mythical beings based off of vibes and nothing else:

disclaimer‼️‼️ i do not know everything about different mythologies and i will probably get some things wrong or inaccurate��️ i am going off of previous knowledge and little to no research‼️

hiccup- titan (god/primordal being/sometimes giant) (greek mythology)

astrid- selkie (seal shapeshifter) (scottish and irish mythology)

fishlegs- faun (half human half goat, forest spirits) (roman mythology)

snotlout- tengu (i’m gonna be honest i don’t know too much about tengu) (bird-like humanoid appearance, could be reincarnated spirits of narcissists) (japanese mythology)

ruff & tuff- seelie fae (considered more “good” than unseelie, tricksters, look human usually) (scottish mythology)

bonus:

dagur- unseelie fae (considered “evil”, tricksters, look human usually) (scottish mythology)

heather- nymph (nature spirit) (greek mythology)

gustav- imp (little humanoids, troublemakers) (german/european mythology)

ryker & viggo- jötun (giants) (norse mythology)

as always, tell me if i get anything wrong!! while i do love and enjoy studying mythology, i have a pretty limited memory and knowledge

mythology was a special interest when i was younger lol

[lightryi]

Dragons of Pyrrhia (headcanon designs)

• Skywings:

-The shape of thorns on the spine is similar to the feathers of birds

-Narrow pupil, giving dragons very good vision, allowing to see a clear picture at long distances

-Arrow point, able to drive through the opponent with a sharp push

-The shape of the wings is similar to that of a bird

-Are the best flying dragons

-High ears, good hearing but inferior to sand and night dragons

-Very sharp claws, thorns, horns

-Pent face; the upper jaw may have various shapes, reminiscent of beaks of different birds

-Height reaches 4 meters

*The design was based on common European dragons and birds

• Mudwings:

-Rounded horns of various forms (like the horns of sheep, buffalo, bulls and goats). Necessary for defense

-The keeper of the horned nest is bigger than the other dragons from one clutch

-Large lower fangs, needed for eating and defense

-A large, rectangular muzzle with raised nostrils facing upwards so that the earthy could breathe, being almost entirely in water or mud and only looking at the top of its head

-Very mobile ears, necessary to discharge dirt/water that has entered

-Solid scale, which in some way pulls the face, because of which the grounders look almost emotionless and dark (this feature appears with age, so dragons look too cheerful and emotional against their background)

-On the sides of the neck and tail are thorns, same as on the back, extra protection for weak spots of the dragon

-Massive tail with a cluster of large thorns at the end, some kind of a pin necessary for protection. The tail itself is very mobile

-Although they are predatory animals, their pupils have square

-In general, the earthlings are slow moving, fly worse than other dragons due to their massive and heavy

-Some of the largest dragons, second only to ice, due to their short limbs and neck (reaching up to 5 meters)

*The design was based on ankylosaurus, crocodiles and artiodactyls

• Seawings:

-Long, massive tail with fins that may differ in different individuals

-Behind the ears is a fin with luminous appendages

-Round/oval eye

-Round, flat face (in the perspective where I drew this not very noticeable), giving a more rounded shape to the whole body

-There is a sexual dimorphism (external differences of the sexes). The distribution of the proboscis on the mordocus is different: in males they are near the nostrils, in females on the chin. With age the proboscis becomes longer

-2 row of teeth

-No earshell

-Horns often turn in

-Luminous glands and patterns are not only necessary for underwater communication, but also for attracting marine life in the dark

-They have, like earthen, rather short limbs. Only in the case of marine this feature is caused by frequent presence in water, where they use the tail more often than the paws for movement

-Also, the flying is not very good. But unlike the earthly, they have another reason, namely the anatomy of the wings, which is more adapted to swimming (plays the role of certain fins) than for flying

-Not too big, can reach a maximum of 2.5 meters

*The design was based on sharks, deep sea fish and partly dolphins

• Rainwings:

-Snake face (or more precisely, face of a cobra)

-Clawfoot

-The hind legs have a specific structure: 3 long fingers and one opposite finger located on the other end of the paw (structure like bird's feet)

-Double nostrils

-Huge ruffs, which in the stressful environment is fully opened and gives the dragon magnitude

-Eye structure closer to the snake

-Movable thorns on the neck (play the same role as the ruffs)

-Long horns with multiple ends, which resemble tree branches

-The horns themselves are brown in color, with few scales on them to completely change their color. Horns are usually hidden among the same branches, which have grown in the forest

-Long flexible neck, able to writhe like a snake

-The eye also has a collar resemblance, is some protection of the eye from branches and other foreign objects

-Claw on the thumb of wings is very long, the end slightly bent. It is necessary to grab with the help of wings branches

-Height reaches 3 meters

*The design was based on snakes, chameleons, dilophosaurus (Jurassic Park ver.), geckos, flying foxes and partly tropical birds

• Nightwings:

-Nose of a bat giving dragons good sense

-Huge ears, thanks to which they have a sensitive ear, the best among all dragons

-In addition to silver teardrop scale may have a star on his forehead, which shows the ability to see the future

-There are night with black teardrop and stars indicating that the dragon was born during the moon, but the egg was hidden from their light, because of which the night ability is not and only the black scales indicates its lost ability

-The lower part of the body, from the neck to the beginning of the tail, is present with a small fur that was previously necessary for warming itself and eggs (due to the low temperatures at night, during which the night wakes). But due to the relocation first to the volcanic island, then to the rainforest, the wool became practically useless

-There is a glare in the pupils, it does not affect the vision

-Good night vision, besides their eyes can shine in the dark (like cats)

-Structure of the hind feet specific: 4 long fingers (much longer than rainwing) and one opposite finger. This is necessary for strong coupling between branches and other surfaces

-Claws on the hind legs are also much sharper than on the front (for the same reason as the leg structure itself)

-Small web on the wings between the thumb and the rest. Need to use thumb to grab objects (similarly rainwings)

-Not too big, reach a maximum of 2-3 meters, but there are exceptions

*The design was based on the work of chiroptera, especially bats

• Sandwings:

-The upper fangs are very close to the nostrils, creating the illusion that they seem to grow from the nose

-Long ears, necessary for heat transfer and to prevent overheating. (the crest, presumably, also plays a similar role) Also add a dragon's pretty good hearing

-More than half of the body is covered with hard scales. Such armor is more necessary for dragonets, whose poison is much weaker than the adult dragons. For protection they curl into a ball, pointing up the tail with a spike. Because of their hard from the genus scales it is difficult to pierce them. By old age, these scales become much softer than in childhood

-End of the tail, namely a thorn, similar in structure to the tail of a scorpion

-Crest has the property of "flattening", so many individuals have some streaks

-Growth reaches 3.5-5 meters

*Design based on girdle-tail lizards and scorpions

• Icewings:

-Narrow-eyed

-The body is covered with sharp scales, from which protrude thorns

-Ear shell, like in the seawings, missing

-Large antlers, resembling deer antlers

-Very long limbs that make their gait remotely resemble a deer

-Have a pointed nose

-There are clumps of scales above the eyes, similar to eyebrows

-There are some small, soft thorns at the beginning of the neck

-The largest dragons in Pyrrhia, capable of reaching almost 6 meters

*Design was created partly based on the appearance of reindeer

[bethanythebogwitch]

Origins of legendary Pokemon: gen V

I am once again covering the real-life inspirations of legendary and mythical Pokemon, this time covering those introduced in generation V (plus Enamorus). For previous entries see Gen IV, III, II, and I. For previous series I did like this see all fish Pokemon, all non-fish aquatics, and all starters.

The Swords of Justice all all based on different ungulates (hoofed mammals) and the three musketeers from the novel of the same name. Cobalion is based on Athos, the oldest of the musketeers who acted as the leader of the group. Its steel typing references Athos's title "Count de la Fère" where "Fère" is a pun on "fer", french for "iron". Physically, its upright, twisting horns look like those of antelopes like the greater kudu and common eland or the markhor, a wild goat. The ruff on its neck also looks like a cravat, a bit of old-school fashion. Terakkion is based on Porthos, the larges and strongest of the musketeers. Its rock typing comes from Porthos's title "du Vallon de Bracieux de Pierrefonds" where "pierre" means "stone". Physically it is based on a bull. Virizion is based on Aramis, the greatest swordsman of the musketeers, as well as the most feminine and romantic. Its grass yping comes from Aramis's real name René d'Herblay, which contains "herb". Its head also resembles a tricorne hat. Physically it resembles a gazelle.

(Image: a greater Kudu. It is a deer-like animal with two long, spiraling horns that point up into the air. It is brown but with stripes on its face, along the back, and down the sides. End ID)

(Image: a black bull. It has two horns that emerge from the sides of its head and curl around to face front. End ID)

(Image: a gazelle. It is a brown, deer-like animal with a shorter face, long neck, and two straight horns pointing into the air. End ID)

Keldeo is based on d'Atragnan, the fourth member of the musketeers who joins them during the course of the novel. Like d'Atragnan, it is the youngest member of the group, a fourth addition to a trio, and doesn't follow the naming scheme of the others. It's feather-like tail is based on d'Atragnan's feathered cap. Physically, Keldeo is based on a unicorn and it draws from the Scottish legend of the kelpie and the Chinese legend of the qilin. Like the kelpie, Keldeo is a legendary, horse-like creature that is associated with water. Kelpies were generally depicted as hostile to humans and Keldeo was orphaned by humans during a battle. The qilin is a creature describes as a horse-like dragon or dragon-like horse that was often depicted with a backwards-curving horn and the ability to walk over water.

(Image: art of a kelpie by Linley Barba. It looks like a black horse with wet, almost seaweed-like hair. End ID)

Like I did with the Regis, I'm including Enamorus with the other members of its group even though it debuted in a later generation. The Forces of Nature have a number of inspirations. In their human-like Incarnate forms, they resemble pop culture depictions of genies while their Therian forms they are based on the Four Symbols, a quartet of animals from Chinese mythology who represented different cardinal directions. Enamorous is Xuánwǔ, the black tortoise of the north, who was often depicted with a snake wrapped around its shell. Thundurus is Qīnglóng, the azure dragon of the east. Tornadus is Zhūquè, the vermillion bird of the south. Landorus is Báihǔ, the white tiger of the west. The four also represent the Anemoi, Greek gods of the four winds who were often associated with the seasons. Thundurus is Notus, the south wind who brings summer storms. Tornadus is the north wind Boreas, who brings winter. Enamorus is the west wind Zehyros, who is associated with flowers and spring and works for the love god Eros. That leaves Landorus as the east wind Eurus, who brings dry air and is associated with crops. Ken Sugimori also stated that the group are associated with Japanese gods, with Tornadus being the wind god Fujin, Thundurus being the thunder god Raijin and Landorus being a land god he didn't name but is probably Inari, god of harvests. This statement came out before Enamorous debuted, but it could be associated with the fertility god Ugajin. The original three are also assocaited with wind storms, thunderstorms, and sandstorms. Enamorus doesn't correspond to a storm, but they do say that love is in the air. The reveal glass being what is used to change forms implies inspiration from the Chinese myths of Yaoguai, animals and plants who spent thousands of years cultivating power to become gods. Their original forms can still be revealed with a demon-detecting mirror.

(image: an artistic depiction of the Four Symbols by RootOfAllLight on Wikipedia. They are the four animals drawn in dark blue on white, each enclosed in a circle and centered around a dot. End ID)

The Tao Trio are based on Yin and Yang, opposing yet interconnected forces that form the universe in Taoism. Reshiram represents Yang, which is associated with the color white and femininity while Zekrom represents Yin, which is associated with the color black and masculinity. Commentary from the developers indicates that Zekrom was designed to look more masculine and Reshiram was designed to look more feminine. Zekrom is also designed to look mechanical while Reshiram looks biological. Like Yin and Yang, the two dragons oppose each other but are still two parts of the greater whole that is the original dragon from which the two split. They also may draw from other mythological dualities. In Zoroastrianism there are two equally powerful deities that oppose each other, with Ahura Mazda representing light and truth (and therefor Reshiram) and Ahriman representing lies and darkness (and therefore Zekrom). Alchemy has the concept of two dragons, one black and one white, that oppose and yet complete each other. They are commonly depicted as a white, fluffy dragon with two wings and a black, scaly dragon with four limbs. Use of the elements that dragons represented was beleived to lead to the creation of a philosopher's stone, which may have inspired the stones the grasons are sealed in. The two stones may also draw from the Jewish concept of the Urim and Thummim, who were often depicted as black and white stones. Kyurem is the broken form of the original dragon that Zekrom and Reshiram split from and therefore represents Wuji, the absence of Yin and Yang. In some forms of Taoism, Wuji was the original state of the universe from which Yin and Yang sprung. It seeks to reunite with Reshiran and Zekrom to return to its original state, which, in the Taoist metaphor, would mean returning the universe to Wuji.

(Left image: the symbol of Yin and Yang: a circle divided into two segments, one whit and one black. A dot of the other color is in each color's half. Right image: art of the two dragons in alchemic mythology. They are depicted as two serpents, one white and with bird wings and one black with four legs, each biting the other's tail. End ID)

Victini is the Mew clone of gen V and it is themes around fire and victory. Physically, it represents the symbol of V for victory, with its hears making a V shape and it doing the V sign with one hand in its official art. It may also be based on Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory and triumph. Its fire typing also draws from the idea of the eternal flame, which symbolizes perseverance and victory. Victini is found in Liberty Garden, which is off the coast of Castelia City, which is based on New York City. This makes Liberty Garden the counterpart to Liberty Island, the home of the Statue of Liberty. Victini's fire typing likely represents the torch that the statue holds. Finally, Victini's rabbit-eared appearance comes from usagi-ringo, a technique of skinning apple slices to make them look like rabbit ears. This could be a shout-out to NYC's nickname of the Big Apple.

(Image: apple slices cut in usagi-ringo style. The skin of each slice has been cut so that a wedge is missing and the tips of the remaining skin rise into the air to look like rabbit ears. End ID)

Meloetta is also sort of a Mew clone. It has the small size and psychic typing down, as well as the 600 BST, but its stats are not all 100s like the other Mew clones. It is based on the nine Muses, a group of Greek Goddesses who acted as patrons for the arts and sciences. Accounts differ on which Muse patronized which art. Meloetta's Aria form represents song and would be associated with Euterpe and Polyhymnia while the Pirouette form's focus on dance would associate it with Polyhymnia and Terpsichore. Meloetta's hair looks like sheet music and its hands look like music notes. Aria form is based on a singer and has a structure that look's like a microphone headset. Pirouette form is based on a ballerina or flamenco dancer and appears to be wearing a tutu.

(Image: an artistic depiction of the nine Muses showing them as women dressed in robes carrying different objects related to their crafts. Sourced from worldhistory.org. End ID)

Genesect is based on giant, prehistoric bugs from the Carboniferous period. Its dex entries put it as being from 300 million years ago, which would be the tail end of the Carboniferous. Bugs could get much larger in the Carboniferous due to extremely high levels of oxygen in the atmosphere. Bugs don't actively breathe the way tetrapods do, they rely on oxygen entering the body through tiny holes in the exoskeleton called spiracles. The larger the spiracles, the more oxygen the bug can get, but the weaker the exoskeleton becomes. In the Carboniferous, oxygen levels were high enough to have giant bugs without needing to make their spiracles so big they would compromise the body's integrity. Ironically, despite being based on the largest bugs in geologic history, there are many modern bug Pokemon that are larger than Genesect. Genesect being a resurrected extinct species is likely a reference to Jurassic Park. The cyborg elements are shout outs to science-fiction stories where animals are weaponized.

Image: a photo of two men standing next to a life-sized model of Arthropleura, an over 8-feet long millipede from the Carboniferous period. end ID)

[pippitworld]

cookin up guys for a new monster of the week style campain i might get to play soon <3

and the text: Zucchini Fritter: he/him, 32 yo, tabaxi, rogue, charlatan

literal snake oil salesman

"actually! i have just the thing for that!"

compulsive thief of daggers

short round ears, goat eyes, wide head, weak chin, big neck ruff, bob tail, several knives, 4'3"

ps hes the first guy i ever made for a ttrpg, just dusted him off and spiffed him up a bit since its been 5 years and i understand things better now :) 😼

[deletedscenegirl]

wildlight.

chapter twelve – the calm

in which a girl raised to be a weapon learns how to heal instead. in which dragons trust her more than people ever did. in which she meets a boy who speaks in firelight and stubborn hope, and maybe — just maybe — she lets herself be loved. a story about magic, softness, survival, and the slow, terrifying choice to stay. 🐉 oc x hiccup · slowburn · between httyd 1 & 2 🕯️ found family · dragon lore · enemies to “don’t leave”

It began, as most small catastrophes on Berk did, with the twins.

More specifically—with exploding yak dung. Astrid had just stepped into the training ring, halfway through adjusting her bracer straps, when it detonated beneath her left boot.

There was a muffled BOOM.

Then a wet splatter.

Then a silence so stunned, even Stormfly froze mid-wingbeat, one talon suspended in the air like she wasn’t sure whether to land or take off again.

And then came the smell. Sulfur. Fermented oats. Wet wool. Possibly goat cheese. Possibly death.

Somewhere beyond the ring, Tuffnut screamed with laughter so forceful he collapsed off the fence and landed with a bone-rattling thud in the mud. Ruffnut was howling, tears streaming down her soot-smudged cheeks, one hand slapping the other in chaotic applause.

Astrid blinked once. Slowly.

She looked down.

Her left boot was covered in what could only be described as tactical biological warfare. Her jaw twitched. Then her face stilled. Not calm—still—in the same way lightning stills the air just before it strikes.

“YOU’RE DEAD,” she snarled.

The twins bolted in opposite directions, screaming.

“It was Tuff’s idea!” Ruffnut cried.

“LIES,” Tuffnut yelled, diving behind a barrel. “You said—and I quote—‘I wish Astrid would explode more.’”

“Out of rage, not yak droppings!” Ruff shrieked, gagging as she ran.

Astrid stormed off the ring, boots squelching, face carved from murder and ancestral fury.

Kaela found her ten minutes later in the armory, elbow-deep in a steaming bucket of scalding water, furiously scrubbing her leg like she was prepping to storm a fortress alone.

“You’ve got that ‘vengeful warrior queen about to lay siege to a kingdom’ look,” Kaela said, casually leaning against the doorframe.

“They glued my boot shut last week,” Astrid growled through clenched teeth. “With tree sap. Then filled it with sand eels.”

Kaela nodded with the grim understanding of someone who’d once fought a war against twelve rogue trappers and two enchanted boars. “You want humiliation or destruction?”

Astrid paused. Looked up. Considered.

“…Both.”

The plan took forty-eight hours.

Six buckets of fresh eels. One rune subtly modified to cause temporary itching when activated by dragon saliva. And a delicious amount of coordination.

It was laid in the stables—where the twins, ever predictable, dumped their saddles post-patrol. Just before sunset, Tuffnut strolled in with the unwarranted confidence of a man who had never known consequence. Ruffnut followed, arguing about whether or not Meatlug could be bribed with licorice.

“Hey… why does my saddle look wet?” Tuffnut asked, poking the leather.

“Probably Hookfang drool,” Ruffnut replied absently. “Or your own drool. Hard to say.”

“But it’s glowing,” he muttered.

“Yours too…” Ruffnut blinked. “Why is it—?”

WHOOSH.

Both saddles burst into a low flare of blue rune-light. The glow shimmered. Three seconds. Just enough. Then—

“WHY AM I ITCHING?!”

“WHY DO I SMELL LIKE EEL SWEAT?!”

“IT’S IN MY SHIRT!”

Tuffnut was clawing at his tunic like it had turned traitor. Ruffnut screamed and tried to dunk her head in the trough. Barf & Belch added their own shrieks of confusion and chaos.

From the shadows, Astrid and Kaela emerged in silent synchronicity, arms crossed, faces like carved obsidian. Kaela didn’t smile. “Next time, don’t weaponize fermented dung.”

Astrid tilted her head. “Or maybe just don’t start wars you can’t finish.”

The twins plotted revenge for seven days. The itching lasted ten. Tuffnut took to sleeping shirtless in the snow barrel. Ruffnut briefly began speaking in limericks. No one intervened.

Fishlegs was less chaotic—but no less loyal.

He began appearing in Kaela’s herb garden like a pilgrim approaching a sacred shrine, journal clutched like scripture, reverence thick in his voice.

“Is it true the rune for fire shares a root with the one for song?” he asked one afternoon.

“Only in the old dialect,” Kaela replied, brushing dirt from her palms. “When dragons were written about as spirits. Not weapons.”

Fishlegs’ eyes widened. “That’s… that’s beautiful.”

She tilted her head. “Language usually is.”

From then on, he came daily. Sometimes ten minutes. Sometimes until the torches lit along the cliff paths and Veilstorm’s snoring echoed into the sea.

One afternoon, he squinted at a rune Kaela was carving into bark. “Is that… Veilstorm’s name?”

She stiffened. “You can read that?”

“Sort of. I’m learning. But—yeah. It’s… stunning.”

Her hand curled slightly over the carving. “Don’t say it aloud.”

“Why?”

“Because names have weight,” she said softly. “And hers isn’t yours to carry.”

Fishlegs straightened. “Understood.”

The next day, he brought roasted chestnuts and placed them beside her sketchbook. “In exchange for your wisdom,” he said solemnly.

Kaela laughed. A small, surprised sound. But real.

Gobber was more practical. “You call that a hammer grip?” he barked, watching her swing down on an iron bar. Kaela grunted, adjusted her stance. Slammed again. The clang rang like thunder. “Better,” he muttered. Then, after a pause: “You’re sharper than most of my blades.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t let it go to your head,” he added, stomping off. “Still don’t trust magic.”

“Neither do I,” she muttered.

Satisfied, he threw her a set of bent tongs. “Fix those. And don’t burn my forge down.”

“No promises.”

A week later, he handed her a new pair of gloves. “Not a gift. Just… don’t want you blistering like Hiccup and whining for tea.” She wore them every time she stepped inside the forge after that.

Kaela settled slowly. Berk welcomed her the only way it knew how: through chaos. Through teasing. Through gifts unspoken. Through fights and forgiveness and shared silence under dragon wings.

She still flew Veilstorm at dusk. Still trained alone at dawn. Still wandered the cliffs when the voices grew too loud.

But now… There were footprints beside hers in the sand. Extra cups beside her tea. Tools left neatly by the forge.

And Hiccup? He never made a big deal of it.

But when their paths crossed—on patrol, on repairs, at the edge of the rookery—they filled the space beside each other naturally. Like two people who had unknowingly been orbiting the same gravity.

“You’ve got soot on your face,” she murmured once, watching him wipe sweat from his brow.

“Yeah?” She stepped closer. Reached up. Brushed her thumb along his jaw. “Better?”

“You missed a spot.”

She smirked. “Liar.”

He didn’t move.

The race began, like most things on Berk, with a challenge and a goat bell.“I can outfly Hookfang!” Snotlout declared one morning. “Easily. Probably blindfolded.”

“You couldn’t outrun a snail,” Astrid muttered.

“That’s slander.”

“That’s accurate.”

By sundown, a finish line had been marked into the sand. By next week, it was official: The Great Berk Dragon Race. Toothless. Stormfly. Hookfang. Meatlug. Barf & Belch. And this time—Veilstorm.

Kaela stood on the cliff’s edge, hair pulled back, shoulders squared. No cloak. No braid armor. Just wind and salt and something fierce flickering behind her eyes.

She placed one hand on Veilstorm’s flank, murmured something low, rhythmic, almost reverent. “Not for them,” she said. “Just for us.”

Then they were airborne. Hiccup saw her from the watchtower. The bell rang. Dragons soared. And something in him stopped.

She wasn’t the fastest. She wasn’t the loudest. But her face— The sky catching in her braid. The wild, crooked grin. The way she leaned into the wind like it was an old friend. Like she'd remembered what it meant to breathe.

To be free.

“You’re staring,” Astrid said flatly beside him.

“I’m in trouble,” Hiccup muttered.

Astrid smirked like he already knew. “Oh yeah?”

Veilstorm tore through the clouds like she’d been born in them. Kaela laughed once—sharp, real, reckless. No one heard it over the wind. But Hiccup did. She wasn’t racing. She was remembering.

And gods help him—so was he.

They didn’t win.

Technically, Snotlout did — though the word “win” applied very loosely in this context, as he had declared himself victor by deploying a net trap in the middle of the second lap.

Yes, a net. Tossed directly in Astrid’s path. Followed by the words, yelled with excessive confidence, “TACTICAL OBSTACLE!”

To which Astrid responded by launching off Stormfly midair and nearly breaking his jaw before Gobber bodily intercepted her mid-swing, shouting something about “not during the race, for Thor’s sake.”

The net, for what it was worth, caught fire in the next thirty seconds from Hookfang’s exhaust, and Snotlout’s shirt followed suit.

But none of that really mattered.

Because Kaela and Veilstorm touched down moments later — breathless, salt-washed, skin kissed by the golden spill of sunset — and there was no sharpness in her shoulders. No flint in her spine. No lingering edge to her expression.

She wasn’t flying to win.

And for the first time in weeks — weeks full of long silences, clenched jaws, veiled glances and bruised ribs and half-swallowed grief — she was smiling.

Not just the polite kind, or the self-protective half-curved smirk she gave when someone said something absurd. A real smile. Slow. Full-bodied. Lopsided and sunlit and entirely, unguardedly hers.

Hiccup didn’t think.

He didn’t pause to check how fast he was walking. Didn’t weigh if it was the right moment. He just moved. And reached her before her boots had fully hit the sand.

“You looked happy,” he said, voice casual — or trying to be, even though it was painfully obvious he’d been watching the whole time. (He had. The entire time. He’d missed nothing.)

Kaela exhaled, chest rising, wind still tugging loose strands from her braid. Her skin was flushed from the flight — from the sky, from the salt, from the kind of laughter you forget is inside you until it bursts free.

“I was,” she said. And then — softer, as if she surprised herself with the truth of it:

“I am.”

The ache in his chest was immediate. Sharp. Hot. Beautiful.

It bloomed beneath his ribs with the kind of weight he couldn’t name — only feel. And it filled every space where worry used to live.

He nodded, hand hanging stupidly at his side. He wanted — gods, he wanted — to reach out. To touch her arm. Her hand. Something. Just enough to anchor himself to this moment.

But he didn’t.

Kaela either didn’t notice… or did, and let him off the hook with mercy. “We should do that again,” she said lightly.

He blinked. “The race?”

Her smile curved a little deeper, a little more private. “The flying. Just… to fly.”

His throat closed around something unspoken. “Yeah,” he said, voice scratchy. “Yeah. We should.”

Toothless padded past then, snuffling gently at Veilstorm’s side. She returned the gesture with a low, satisfied rumble, wings folding in like curtains at the end of a long, proud performance. Her tail thumped once in the sand. Not quite peace. But close.

Kaela turned slightly toward him — sun glowing against her cheek, her braid half unraveled — and tilted her head. “You’re staring again.”

“I know.”

“Trouble?” she teased.

His answer came low, honest. Immediate. “So much.”

And she didn’t look away.

That night, Berk celebrated the only way it knew how. With food. With fire. With noise loud enough to rattle the hills.

Torches flared in every window. Roasting spits turned above glowing pits. Tables groaned beneath platters of meat, barrels of mead, and dishes that looked suspiciously unidentifiable. Gobber dusted off an ancient, slightly cursed lute and began strumming what may once have been a love ballad — though by the third verse, it had devolved into a deeply offensive limerick about goats.

No one complained.

Children shrieked through the square waving sticks of sparkroot like swords. Meatlug stole a loaf of rye bread from three separate tables. Snotlout tried to arm-wrestle a yak and promptly lost. Ruffnut attempted to ride a sheep. Tuffnut built a throne out of fish barrels and declared himself King of the Feast.

It was loud. Chaotic. Gloriously unhinged.

And warm. The kind of warm that stuck to your skin and soaked into your bones. That pulled you in like a tide. That reminded you — sometimes — that you were still alive.

Kaela didn’t sit at the edge of the square that night. She didn’t hover by the shadows or slip quietly toward the cliffs when no one was looking.

Tonight, she sat at the long table. Right beside Hiccup.

Close enough that their shoulders brushed every time she laughed — which was often, thanks to the twins and the particularly scandalous game of charades they’d invented using only vegetables.

Her braid was still windblown. Her cheeks still pink from sun and sea. And behind one ear — nestled with surprising care — was a soft pink flower. Ruffnut’s doing. Apparently a peace offering. Or a prank. Or both.

Veilstorm lay curled just behind them, belly full of fish, tail flicking gently. Her wings tucked around herself like a dragon who knew exactly how impressive she’d been, and didn’t need to prove anything anymore.

Across the firepit, Astrid caught Kaela’s eye and grinned. “Come on. Dance.”

Kaela froze. “I don’t—”

But the music changed then. It sped up. One of those untamed, foot-stomping, tankard-clanging Viking songs that turned even the fiercest warriors into drunken fools and spilled half the ale in the village.

Astrid was already standing. Already grabbing her wrist. Kaela opened her mouth to protest — failed. Because Astrid spun her into the circle without permission, both hands clasped, grinning like a woman possessed.

“You’re not bad at this!” Astrid shouted over the music.

“You’re drunk!”

“You need to let go!”

And somehow — she did. Kaela danced. Not well. Not gracefully. But fully. With arms tangled and shoulders bumping and cheeks flushed from wine and firelight and the rare, dizzying freedom of not being in control.

Not protecting. Not calculating. Not surviving. Just being. The Riders joined in one by one.

Tuffnut screamed something about “wing physics” and windmilled his arms. Fishlegs moved like he was being attacked by invisible bees. Snotlout attempted a backflip, failed, and claimed it was on purpose. Gobber’s playing grew louder. The laughter grew wilder.

And in the middle of it all — Kaela laughed. Not cautiously. Not politely. A real laugh. Sharp and bright and echoing over the firelight.

Hiccup felt it hit his chest like a hook. He didn’t dance. Didn’t move. Just watched — cup in hand, smile caught in the corners of his mouth — like he didn’t dare blink.

When her eyes found his across the swirl of fire and color — he was already looking. And he didn’t look away.

Much later, when the songs had slowed and the embers were low and the children had finally fallen asleep in mead barrels and straw, he found her again.

Near the edge of the square. Arms loosely folded. The flower still tucked behind her ear. The last of the firelight painted her in copper and gold.

“Didn’t know you could dance,” he said, voice quiet now, like the night itself.

She didn’t turn. Just smiled slightly. “Didn’t know I could either.”

A pause. Soft. Safe. Then — almost shyly — she said, “Come here.” He hesitated only a moment.

Then stepped close. And she let him.

Her arms wrapped around his ribs. His found their way to her back, tentative, then certain. She fit beneath his chin like she belonged there.

They didn’t speak. They didn’t sway, not really. Just stood there — holding, being held — her braid brushing his chest with every breath.

She was warm.

Solid.

Here.

After a long moment, her voice broke the stillness. “This is dangerous.”

He didn’t let go. “Why?”

Her breath trembled against him. “Because it’s starting to feel like home.”

He closed his eyes. “Then let it.”

They didn’t hear Stoick until the boots crunched softly behind them. “You’re a better dancer than your old man,” he rumbled.

Hiccup startled. “I doubt that.”

“You’d be right,” Stoick said, eyes twinkling.

Kaela straightened, only a little. Tried to look composed. The flower behind her ear quivered in the breeze. She offered a polite smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Stoick studied her. “You’ve come a long way,” he said gently. “From the girl who barely looked anyone in the eye.”

“I’m still working on it.”

“Aren’t we all.” He paused. Then: “But it suits you.”

Kaela’s mouth quirked. “Does it?”

“Aye. Berk’s a hard place. But it holds onto people. Especially the ones who need holding.”

She looked down. “I didn’t come here to be held,” she said softly. “Didn’t think I could be.”

His voice softened like thunder losing its teeth. “That’s the thing about healing,” Stoick said. “It sneaks up on you.”

Kaela didn’t reply. But her hand tightened where it rested against Hiccup’s chest. Stoick glanced between them, a corner of his mouth twitching. “Just… don’t make me explain it to Gobber if you two elope in secret.”

“Dad—”

“Good night, son. Kaela.” And with a nod, he disappeared into the last of the firelight.

When it was quiet again, the silence changed shape. Kaela leaned her head against Hiccup’s shoulder. He held her like she might disappear.

“He likes you,” he said.

“He terrifies me.”

“That means he really likes you.”

She laughed — low, worn at the edges. But real. “It’s still dangerous,” she murmured.

“I know.”

“I don’t think I can stop it anymore.”

“I don’t want you to.”

She looked up at him then. Her face was still marked by weather and worry. Still bruised by everything she’d lost. But there was something else there too. Something unguarded. “Don’t let me run again,” she whispered.

“I won’t.” He reached up. His hand brushed a curl behind her ear. Gentle. Slow. Sure. And when he leaned in — asking with every inch — she didn’t flinch.

Didn’t doubt.

Didn’t run.| She met him halfway. Their kiss wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t practiced or poised. It was soft. Hesitant. Real. Like two people remembering what it meant to be touched and not hurt.

And for the first time in a very, very long time…

She let herself stay.

[hockeylovee12]

Crossing Enemy Lines

Chapter Five

Luke Hughes x Original Character

November 14th, 2023

In the middle of a vast lecture hall at NYU, Jordan sits in her 9 AM economics class, struggling to stay focused as her professors' monotone voice drones on about opportunity cost. 

Suddenly she feels her phone buzzing in the back pocket of her blue jeans, a welcomed distraction. 

She quickly glances around the room, making sure her professor or his TA’s aren't watching and carefully grabs her phone, sliding it underneath her notebook. 

She unlocks the screen, and sees a text from Luke: Hey what are you up to?

A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth as she types out her response.

Trying not to fall asleep in econ. It’s so boring

She hits send and tries to refocus on the lecture, but her phone buzzes again almost immediately.

Luke: Those classes are the worst. Last year at Michigan I had a 9am for stats. It sucked and my professor kinda sounded like one of those drowning goats from YouTube. 

Jordan stifles a laugh, her shoulders shaking. Her friend, Taylor, sitting next to her, nudges her shoulder and leans in, whispering, "What's so funny?"

Jordan shrugs, trying to play it cool. "Oh, nothing. Just a meme I saw earlier."

Taylor raises an eyebrow, not entirely convinced, but turns back to face the front of the class. Jordan looks down at her phone and types out another message: OMG stop you’re making me laugh. 

Luke's response comes quickly.

Luke: Mission accomplished then. 😎 I'm just picturing you in class, trying to hold it together. It's a pretty cute mental image.

Jordan feels a blush creeping up her neck as she reads his words. She bites her lip, trying to suppress the giddy smile threatening to spread across her face.

Jordan: You're going to get me in trouble! But I have to admit, it's a lot more fun texting you than listening to this lecture.

She hits send and looks up, only to find her professor staring directly at her, a stern expression on his face.

"Class, I know it's early," he says, his voice carrying across the lecture hall, "but please put your phones away. This information is important and will be on your upcoming test."

Jordan feels her cheeks heat up as a few of her classmates glance in her direction. She smirks sheepishly and puts her phone back in her pocket, mouthing a silent "sorry" to the professor.

As she tries to refocus on the lecture, her thoughts keep drifting back to Luke. She can’t help but feel a slight thrill, at the thought of him picturing her, even when they’re apart. 

The rest of the class seems to drag on forever, but Jordan finds herself feeling lighter and happier, despite the boring subject matter. She knows it's because of Luke, because of the way he can make her laugh and smile even from a distance.

As the professor finally dismisses them, Jordan gathers her things and heads out of the lecture hall, already pulling her phone out to see if Luke has texted her again. 

*****

The New Jersey Devils players gather in the video room, going over video footage, from their match from last night against the Red Wings. 

Coach Ruff stands at the front of the room, laser pointer in hand, breaking down the team's performance.

"Okay, guys," Ruff says, pausing the video on a particular play. "Let's take a look at this shift. Nico, great job on the backcheck here. You managed to break up their odd-man rush and turn the play around."

Nico nods, a small smile on his face, as he receives a few head pats and shoulder claps from his teammates.

Ruff continues his analysis, and in the midst of him discussing the power play, something Luke should really pay attention to considering he’s on the first unit, Luke feels his phone buzz in his pocket.

His hand twitches, itching to reach for it, but he knows better than to check his messages during a team meeting. He tries to focus on the video, on Ruff's words, but his mind keeps drifting to thoughts of Jordan and what she might be texting him about.

Finally, after what feels like an eternity, Ruff wraps up the meeting. "Alright, boys, that's it for today. Remember, we've got a big game coming up against Columbus. Let's make sure we're sharp and ready to go."

The team murmurs in agreement and starts to file out of the room. 

Luke is one of the first ones out, making a beeline for the locker room. 

He walks to his stall, taking a seat and pulling out his phone to check his messages. 

Sure enough, there's a text from Jordan. He opens it eagerly.

Jordan: Just saw a dog on campus that looked exactly like you. 

Luke laughs out loud, shaking his head as he types out his response.

Luke: Oh yeah? Was it incredibly handsome and charming? 

Jordan's reply comes quickly.

Jordan: Nah, it was just really goofy-looking. 

Luke: Wow, rude. See if I ever compare you to a cute animal again. 

Jordan: Aww, I'm sorry. You're much cuter than any dog. Forgive me? 🥺

Luke grins, feeling a warmth spreading through his chest.

Luke: I suppose I can let it slide this time. But only because you admitted I'm cute. 

As he hits send, he hears someone clear their throat. He looks up to see John standing there, a knowing smirk on his face.

"Texting your girlfriend again, Hughesy?" John teases, leaning against the stall.

Luke rolls his eyes. "She's not my girlfriend. And mind your own business, Johnny."

"Oooh, defensive," Tyler chimes in across the room. "Must be serious."

"Who are you texting, Lukey?" Jesper asks, looking up from his stall.

Luke sighs, pocketing his phone. "No one. Just a friend." he claims, causing his teammates to exchange some looks.

Luke stands up, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder. "I gotta go find Jack. See you guys tomorrow."

“See ya later, Romeo!” Nate shouts as Luke walks out of the locker room, he rolls his eyes before walking towards the trainer’s room, knowing Jack is probably there. 

He can feel his phone buzzing in his pocket again and he smiles, having a pretty good idea who it's from. 

*****

Jordan settles into her bed, propping her phone up against a pillow as she waits for Luke to answer her Facetime call. After a few rings, his face appears on the screen, a warm smile spreading across his features.

"Hey, you," he greets her, his voice soft and intimate in the quiet of his room.

"Hey yourself," Jordan replies, feeling a flutter in her stomach at the sight of him. "How was your day?"

Luke sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Busy. We had a long practice today, and Coach really worked us hard. I'm pretty wiped."

Jordan nods sympathetically. "I know the feeling. I've been studying all day, got like five tests coming up. I feel like my brain is going to melt out of my ears."

Luke chuckles, “I’m sure you’ll do great” 

Jordan feels a blush creeping up her neck. "I don't know about that. But thanks for the vote of confidence."

They fall into easy conversation, trading stories about their days. Jordan complains about her homework and Luke tells her about the prank war that's been brewing in the Devils locker room.

"I swear, if I find one more rubber snake in my skates, I'm going to lose it," he laughs, shaking his head.

Jordan giggles. "Maybe you should retaliate. Put some itching powder in their gear"

Luke's eyes widen. "You’re an evil genius, you know” 

Jordan laughs. 

“Hey Jordan?” Jacob’s voice cuts through the screen as the door to her room bursts open. Luke freezes for a moment on the other line, before, quickly clicking the buttons to hide his camera and mute his microphone. 

Jordan turns her phone face down on her lap, “What’s up?” Jordan says trying to come off as casual as possible

“Kelly is going out tonight, so it’s just us for dinner. Any preferences?” Jacob asks 

Jordan lets a small smile cross her face as she shakes her head. 

“Whatcha up to?” Jacob questions a smirk dancing on his lips 

“Nothing just chatting with a friend about homework” Jordan lies

“Mhmm, ok well I’m gonna make salmon then, sounds good?” 

“Ya sounds good” Jordan says, Jacob smiles again, before leaving the room, shutting her door completely-which is a very rare thing for a sibling to do. 

“He’s gone” Jordan says her voice hushed as she flips her phone back over. 

Luke unmutes himself and turns the camera back on “That was kinda close” Luke exhales

“Ya, but don’t worry, he just thinks it’s some guy from school” Jordan whispers 

"Does he know about date?" Luke asks 

"He just knows I'm going on one on Saturday" Jordan explains

“Ok good, I should probably get going though, Jack’s gonna be back any minute with our dinner” Luke says

“Ya me too, but I’ll talk to later ya?” Jordan asks 

“Definitely, bye Jordan” 

“Bye, Luke” She responds, letting his name fall off her tongue in a hushed tone. 

*****

November 15th, 2023

Jordan’s 10 AM psychology class is in full swing, as her professor goes on and on about the different types of validity, for probably like the millionth time. 

Her notebook is open in front of her but her pencil hasn't touched the page in minutes, as her professor's voice fades into the background and her mind drifts to thoughts of Luke and their upcoming date.

She pictures the restaurant he mentioned, which she had done a quick google search of prior, it’s a rather nice italian/seafood place, located away from the city.

She imagines the way he’ll look, with his tall frame, his curly hair, which kinda reminds her of a poodle, but in a cute, charming way. 

Jordan's thoughts turn to her outfit, and she mentally rifles through her closet, trying to decide what to wear, even though this date is still three days away. 

She wants something that screams come and get me, but not desperate, or easy, definitely not easy. Something that will make her feel confident and beautiful. 

Maybe that navy blue dress she bought last summer, the one with the straight neckline and the tight skirt. Or maybe her favorite pair of dark-wash jeans, paired with a fun strapless corset and her leather jacket.

As she loses herself in thought, she has that faint feeling that her name is being called, then a small nudge to the shoulder, by the classmate to her left, forces her to regain focus. 

“-rdan, are you with us?” 

Jordan blinks realizing her professor is staring directly at her, an expectant expression on his face.

“I’m sorry what?” she asks, feeling a blush creep up her neck.

Her professor sighs, a hint of exasperation in his voice. “I asked you to explain the difference between content and criterion related validity.” 

Jordan's mind goes blank, and she feels a surge of panic rising in her chest. She knows she should know this, they've gone over it in class before, and she’s seen it in her notes but right now all she can think about is Luke and their date.

Her classmate nudges her gently with her elbow, again, a concerned look on her face. Jordan takes a deep breath, trying to focus.

“Uh, I’m sorry I don’t know the answer” she admits, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Her professor lets out a heavy sigh “This is a key concept, we’ve been talking about for weeks. You need to learn if you would like to pass this class, please stop daydreaming and pay attention” He scolds towards Jordan. 

Jordan sinks lower in her seat, feeling a mix of shame and frustration wash over her. 

*****

Jack and Luke sit comfortably inside Jack’s range rover, heading towards the Prudential Center, to meet with their team, before their flight to Columbus. 

Luke is in the passenger seat, his phone in his hand as he texts back and forth with Jordan. 

Jordan: Are you excited to go to Ohio? 

Luke Nope, I hate Ohio

Jordan: How do you hate a state? 

Luke: I’m from Michigan, Michigan doesn’t like Ohio. 

Jordan: Just a general overall hatred?

Luke: Nah, it's a whole thing. Pretty sure it's in our state constitution that we have to hate Ohio. I think it's right after the part about cherishing our Great Lakes and wearing socks with sandals. Jordan: Note to self: Never wear Ohio colors around Luke 

Luke chuckles softly at Jordan's last message, a goofy grin spreading across his face. Jack glances over at him, raising an eyebrow.

"Who you texting?" he asks, a note of curiosity in his voice.

Luke quickly locks his phone, slipping it into his pocket. "No one," he says, trying to sound casual.

Jack gives him a look, clearly not buying it. "Seriously, man, Tell me."

Luke sighs, shifting in his seat. "It's just a girl, okay? No big deal."

"A girl, huh?" Jack presses, a hint of a smirk on his face. "The same girl from the bar the other night? You guys make up?"

Luke feels his cheeks heat up, and he looks out the window, trying to hide his smile. "Maybe," he admits.

Jack laughs, shaking his head. "I knew it! So, when are you gonna see her again?"

Luke hesitates, he can tell Jack about the date, just to get him off his back, just don’t give away details, 

"We have a date on Saturday," he says, trying to sound nonchalant. 

Jack's eyes widen, and he lets out a low whistle. "Damn, Lukey, moving fast!"

Luke rolls his eyes, feeling his face flush even more. "Shut it, Jack. It's not a big deal."

But he knows that’s a lie. 

“ Come on, kid, you've been grinning at your phone like an idiot for days. It's obviously a big deal.” 

“Shut it” Luke scoffs

“Oh come on, give me the details, what are y’all up to?” Jack presses,  with  a wide grin plastered across his face. 

“Don’t worry about it” Luke says

Jack's eyes leave the road, and shift towards Luke “Why all the secrecy?” Jack asks, curiouss

“No secrecy I just don’t wanna tell you” Luke shrugs

“You tell me everything” Jack retorts, with a chuckle of disbelief.

“Ok well I wanna keep this to myself” Luke explains, avoiding eye contact

Jack pauses for a moment, “Alright, Lukey” Jack says, shifting his vision back to the road, “Well I’m here if you want any advice.” 

A smile crosses Luke’s laugh as he speaks, his voice laced with a teasing tone, “I think I’m alright, I’d like this relationship to last longer than two weeks” 

Jack glances at him, before throwing a light punch to Luke’s shoulder.

 “Jerk” Luke mutters, and Jack smirks. 

They pull into the parking lot of the Prudential Center, and he grabs his bag and heads inside to meet up with his teammates, he can't wipe the smile off his face, can't shake the giddy anticipation building in his chest, for Saturday. 

*****

Hours later, Jordan sits cross-legged on her bed, a canvas propped up on her lap and a palette of colorful paints carefully balanced beside her.

 She's working on a piece for her art class, a vibrant abstract that's slowly taking shape under her careful brushstrokes and that was supposed to be due yesterday, but thankfully she received an extension on it, because she was a little distracted. 

In her ear, she listens as Luke’s laughter mingles with the soft sounds of a running shower. Alex is in the room seeing as how room checks have already been done, and that last thing Luke wanted was to give his teammates another reason to tease him.  

"So, who's your favorite artist?" Luke asks, his voice echoing slightly off the bathroom tiles.

Jordan hums thoughtfully, dabbing a bit of blue paint onto the canvas. "That's a tough one. I love so many different styles and periods. But if I had to pick just one, I'd probably say Van Gogh. There's just something about the way he captures emotion and movement in his brushstrokes, you know?"

"Yeah, I can see that," Luke agrees.

They talk about their favorite paintings, the museums they'd love to visit someday. Jordan tells Luke about her dream of studying abroad in Paris, of spending her days wandering the halls of the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay.

"What about you?" she asks, switching to a smaller brush for some detailing work. "If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?"

Luke is quiet for a moment.

"Iceland," he says finally, his voice a little muffled as he dries his face. "I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights, to hike through those crazy landscapes with the glaciers and the hot springs. Plus, I hear the people there are really friendly and laid-back."

Jordan smiles, picturing Luke bundled up in a puffy coat and hiking boots, his breath fogging in the crisp Icelandic air. "That sounds amazing," she says softly. "Maybe, someday we should go together” 

There's a beat of silence on the other end of the line, and Jordan feels her cheeks heat up, worried that she's overstepped. But then Luke chuckles, and she can hear the smile in his voice.

"I'd like that," he says warmly. "We could rent one of those little cabins, spend our days exploring and our nights curled up by the fire."

Jordan's heart flutters at the thought, at the easy way Luke includes her in his future plans. She knows it's still early, that they're just getting to know each other, but somehow it feels right, like pieces of a puzzle clicking into place.

"So, did you have any pets growing up?" Luke asks, changing the subject.

Jordan laughs, setting her paintbrush down and leaning back against her pillows. "Oh, yeah. We always had dogs in my family. Golden retrievers, mostly. They were like our unofficial mascots."

She tells him about Bubba, the rambunctious puppy who chewed up all her favorite stuffed animals, and Ginger, the gentle old soul who used to sleep at the foot of her bed every night.

"What about you?" she asks, curious. "Any childhood pets?"

Luke groans, and Jordan can practically hear him shaking his head. "No, no pets for me. Although one time, my brother found a lizard in our backyard and decided to adopt it."

"A lizard?" Jordan giggles, trying to picture a young Luke with a scaly companion.

"Yeah, he named it Godzilla and everything. But then one day, he thought it would be hilarious to put it on my head while I was sleeping. I woke up with this thing crawling all over my face, and I've hated lizards ever since."

Jordan bursts out laughing, imagining the look of terror on Luke's face as he wakes up to a lizard on his head. "Oh my god, that's terrible," she gasps out between giggles. "Your poor brother, though. He was probably devastated when you didn't want to be Godzilla's co-parent."

"Hey, he's the one who ruined it by using the lizard for evil," Luke protests, but Jordan can hear the laughter in his voice. "Besides, I think he was better off an orphan, than having my brother be his parent" 

They dissolve into laughter again, the kind that makes Jordan's cheeks ache and her eyes water. It's the kind of laughter that comes from a place of pure joy, of feeling completely at ease with another person.

As their giggles subside, Jordan realizes that she's been talking to Luke for over half an hour, and that her painting is long forgotten on the bed beside her.

“I should let you go, don't you have a game tomorrow?” She asks 

“Ya, you gonna watch me play?” Luke asks, a smile crossing his lips

Jordan know’s she’s got class tomorrow, from 9-3, but Luke plays at 2, she hesitates before responding “yes” 

“Sounds good, goodnight Jordan” 

“Goodnight Luke” 

*****

November 16th, 2023

Jordan wakes up to the sound of Jacob knocking on her door. She glances at her phone and sees that it's 8 AM. 

“Come in,” Jordan calls out, sitting up in bed.

Jacob opens the door and peeks his head in. "Hey, Jordy. Kelly already left for work and I’m heading to skate, so I wanted to see if you want a ride to campus?” 

Jordan hesitates for a moment, then shakes her head. "No, thanks. I think I'm just going to walk today.”

Jacob nods, a smile on his face. "Alright, Have a good day, I'll see you tonight after the game."

Thanks, Jake. Good luck today!" Jordan calls out as Jacob closes the door behind him.

Once she hears the front door close, Jordan flops back onto her bed, a grin spreading across her face. She has no intention of going to class today - not when Luke and the Devils are playing at 2 PM.

She grabs her phone and sends a quick text to Luke.

Jordan: Good luck today, superstar! I'll be cheering you on from my bed.

Luke: Haha, thanks, Jordan, I’ll try to score for you ;)

Jordan smiles, before setting her phone. 

She spends the next few hours working on some homework assignments, trying to stay focused despite the anticipation building in her chest.

Finally, 2 PM rolls around, and Jordan settles onto her bed with her laptop, ready to watch the game. She puts in her headphones and pulls up the streaming site, her eyes immediately scanning the ice for Luke's familiar figure.

The game is intense from the start, both teams fighting hard for every inch of ice. Jordan finds herself on the edge of her seat, her heart racing with every shot on goal.

And then, halfway through the second period, it happens. Luke gets the puck on his stick, weaves through the defenders like they're standing still, and snaps a shot past the goalie's glove.

"Yes!" Jordan cheers.

She's so caught up in the moment, so focused on Luke, that she almost doesn't hear her bedroom door opening behind her.

"Jordan?"

Jordan jumps, her heart leaping into her throat as she quickly slams her laptop shut and yanks out her headphones. She looks up to see Kelly standing in the doorway, a confused look on her face.

"Kelly! Hi! I didn't hear you come in," Jordan stammers, trying to catch her breath.

Kelly frowns, glancing at the laptop on the bed. "I thought you had class today? What are you doing home?"

Jordan's mind races, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. "Oh, my 2pm was canceled so I decided to come back and get some studying done.”

Kelly nods slowly, there's a hint of suspicion in her eyes. "I see. And the cheering?” 

“Just uh finally understood my econ homework” Jordan says, forcing a laugh, hoping it doesn't sound as fake as it feels. Kelly studies her for a long moment, and Jordan holds her breath, praying that her sister-in-law will buy the lie.

Kelly nods, and her smile widens “Ok, well don’t let me keep you from studying, I’ll be in the living room if you need anything” 

Jordan nods, relief washing over her. "Will do, Thanks, Kel."

As Kelly leaves the room, closing the door behind her, Jordan lets out a shaky breath. She knows she won't be able to watch the rest of the game now, not with Kelly home and the risk of getting caught.

With a sigh, she grabs her phone and sends a quick text to Luke.

Jordan: Ugh, had to stop watching. Kelly came home early and almost caught me. But I saw your goal! You were amazing out there. Can't wait to hear all about it later.

She sets her phone aside and tries to focus on her homework, for real this time. 

*****

After a thrilling 5-2 victory over the Blue Jackets, the Devils' locker room is buzzing with energy and excitement. Luke, still riding the high of his first multi point night, with a  goal and two assists, and is grinning from ear to ear as he towels off his sweaty hair.

"Luke!" a member of the Devils' PR team calls out, poking his head into the locker room. "Media wants to talk to you. You're up for post-game."

Luke nods, taking a deep breath and trying to compose himself. 

He follows the PR rep out to the media scrum, where a cluster of reporters and cameras are waiting for him. He takes his place in front of the backdrop, the Devils' logo prominently displayed behind him.

"Luke, congrats on the big win tonight," one of the reporters says, holding out a microphone. “You’ve scored a goal your last two games now, what has contributed to your improved performance?” 

Luke grins, shrugging modestly. "Just feeling good, I guess. When the team's playing well, it's easy to feed off that energy. We've been working hard in practice, and it's starting to translate onto the ice."

The questions continue for a few more minutes, ranging from his thoughts on the team's defensive performance to his personal goals for the rest of the season. Luke answers them all with poise and professionalism, even as his mind keeps drifting back to Jordan, to the way her voice sounds when she's cheering him on.

Finally, the PR rep signals that the interview is over, and Luke makes his way back to the locker room, a spring in his step and a glint in his eye.

As he enters the room, he's greeted by a chorus of cheers and wolf whistles from his teammates.

"Rusty!" Dawson calls out, grinning broadly.

"Two apples and a goal, Hughesy? You're making the rest of us look bad," Jesper teases, tossing a ball of tape at Luke's head.

Luke laughs, ducking out of the way and flipping Jesper off good-naturedly. "Hey, someone's gotta carry you slugs to victory."

"Oh, is that right?" Nico chimes in, raising an eyebrow. "And here I thought you were just trying to impress a certain someone."

Luke feels his cheeks heat up, and he shoots a glare at Jack, who's sitting in his stall with a shit-eating grin on his face.

"You told them?" he hisses, his voice low.

Jack shrugs, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "I might have mentioned that you have a big date coming up."

Luke groans, burying his face in his hands as his teammates start to hoot and holler around him.

"Lukey's got a girlfriend, Lukey's got a girlfriend!" Nate singsongs, doing a little dance in his skates.

"She's not my girlfriend," Luke mumbles, but he can't quite keep the smile off his face. "We haven't even gone out yet."

"But you want her to be your girlfriend," Dawson says, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Come on, Hughesy, spill the beans. What's she like? Is she hot?"

Luke scoffs, and rolls his eyes, hoping his silence is enough of an answer, which it is, but only because coach comes in the room, and tells them to hurry up because they gotta get to the plane. 

*****

November 17th, 2023

Jordan emerges from her bedroom, dressed and ready for her English Lit class. She's wearing a comfortable but cute outfit - her favorite pair of jeans, a cozy sweater, and a pair of ankle boots. Her hair is pulled back into a messy bun, and she's got a backpack slung over one shoulder.

As she walks into the living room, she sees Jacob and Kelly sitting at the breakfast table, sipping coffee and chatting quietly. They both look up as she enters, smiling warmly.

"Morning, Jords," Jacob greets her, setting down his mug. "You're up early."

Jordan shrugs, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "Yeah, I've got class at 9. Figured I should probably be on time for once."

Kelly chuckles, shaking her head. "I still don't know how you manage to function at that hour. When I was in college, I avoided 9 AMs like the plague."

Jordan grins, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter. "It's not so bad once you get used to it. Plus, my teacher is pretty cool. He makes the lectures interesting."

Jacob nods, taking another sip of his coffee. "Speaking of class, what happened yesterday? I thought you had a full day, but Kelly said you were home when she got back."

Jordan feels a flicker of panic in her chest, but she tries to keep her expression neutral. "Oh, yeah, my last class got canceled. The teacher sent an email the night before, but I didn't see it until I was already on campus for my second class. So i just came back” 

She takes a bite of her apple, chewing slowly to give herself a moment to compose her thoughts.

Jacob studies her for a minute, as if he’s looking for something. 

She glances at the clock on the wall, realizing that she needs to get going if she wants to make it to class on time. "Alright, I should probably head out” 

Jacob stands up, stretching his arms above his head. "You want a ride? I'm heading to the rink for practice, but I can drop you off on the way."

Jordan hesitates for a moment, tempted by the offer, before deciding to decline, “That’s okay, I think I’ll walk” 

Jacob shrugs, grabbing his keys from the counter. "Suit yourself. Have a good day, Jords. Learn something new."

Jordan laughs, rolling her eyes. "I'll do my best.."

*****

Luke sits in his stall, methodically taping his stick as he goes through his pre-game routine. Around him, the locker room is a buzz of activity - teammates stretching, chatting, getting into the right headspace for the game ahead.

But Luke barely notices the noise, his mind a million miles away. He can't stop thinking about Jordan, wondering what she's doing right now.

He takes a deep breath, trying to center himself. He knows he needs to focus, needs to be fully present for the game ahead. The Flyers are a tough opponent. 

But even as he tries to push thoughts of Jordan aside, he can't quite shake the butterflies in his stomach, the giddy anticipation that comes with the promise of seeing her again soon.

Suddenly, his coach's voice cuts through the chatter, calling the team to attention. It's time to hit the ice, to put everything else aside and focus on the task at hand.

Luke stands up, grabbing his helmet and gloves and falling into line behind his teammates. As they make their way down the tunnel and onto the ice, he feels a familiar rush of adrenaline, the roar of the crowd washing over him like a wave.

The first period is a blur of motion and speed, the puck bouncing from stick to stick like a rubber bullet. Luke is in the zone, his skates carving through the ice like blades, his mind completely focused on the game.

But the Flyers are relentless, their forecheck suffocating and their defense stifling. The Devils struggle to gain any momentum, their passes just a little off, their shots just a little wide.

As the buzzer sounds for the end of the period, Luke skates off the ice feeling frustrated and drained. They're down 1-0, and he knows they need to find a way to turn things around if they want to have any chance of winning.

In the locker room, the coach tries to rally the troops, his voice stern but encouraging. "We're not out of this yet, boys," he says, looking each player in the eye. "We need to simplify our game, get pucks deep and work harder on the forecheck. We can still win this."

Luke nods, wiping the sweat from his brow and taking a long swig of water. He knows the coach is right, knows that they have the skill and the determination to come back from this deficit.

But as the second period starts, it becomes clear that the Flyers have other ideas. They come out flying, their skates a blur as they swarm the Devils' zone like angry bees.

Luke does his best to keep up, defend rushes and create chances for his team. But the Flyers are relentless, and before he knows it, they're down 3-0, the game slipping away from them like sand through an hourglass.

As the second intermission rolls around, the mood in the locker room is grim. Guys are hanging their heads, muttering curses under their breath. The coach tries to keep things positive, but even he seems to be running out of words.

Luke sits in his stall, his head in his hands. He can't help but feel like he's letting his team down, like he should be doing more to turn the tide.

But even as he tries to rally himself, to find that extra gear that will help him push through the fatigue and the frustration, his mind keeps drifting back to Jordan.

He wonders if she's watching the game, if she's cheering him on from her couch or her bedroom. He pictures her face, the way her eyes light up when she smiles, the way her laugh makes his heart skip a beat.

And somehow, for the first time in his life, he feels like there’s more to life than hockey, and he doesn’t know if he should be ecstatic or terrified. 

As the final buzzer sounds and the Devils skate off the ice with their heads held low, Luke feels a sense of disappointment wash over him. It's never easy to lose, especially at home in front of your own fans.

But as he makes his way back to the locker room, he feels his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulls it out to see a text from Jordan, a simple message that makes his heart swell with warmth.

You played your heart out tonight. I'm so proud of you. Can't wait to see you tomorrow.

[o-craven-canto]

A list of animal species that are likely to survive in a heavily urbanized and polluted Earth, from Successors of Mankind: The world after the sixth extinction (Pavel Volkov, 2018)

Mainly “weed” species have survived: fast-growing, early and intensively breeding, living not for long, easily adapting and unpretentious ones... One of the largest species on the Earth after the civilization epoch is human itself. The second-largest species is a goat. In some places of the Earth pigs also have survived... [as well as] rodents, bats, insectivores, hares and rabbits... In Asia macaques, and in Africa baboons have survived. In Americas from among local New World monkeys capuchins have survived. Among prosimians only African bushbabies still exist. From among carnivorans mustelids, smaller cats, dogs and raccoons were lucky to survive. In tropics mongooses also exist. Among birds the period of global ecological crisis was successfully gone through by dominant species of corvids... gulls, rock pigeons and various songbirds. Some widespread species of ducks, few species of herons, sandpipers and rails have escaped the extinction. At coasts of oceans of Northern hemisphere not numerous species of alcid birds, and in Southern hemisphere penguins persist. Among reptiles, adders, rattlesnakes, rather numerous colubrids, some widespread species of geckoes, lacertid lizards and monitor lizards (in Old World) and teiids (in New World) have survived. Sea turtles have died out completely, but in tropical rivers freshwater turtles, and in deserted areas tortoises still exist. Because of intensive hunting crocodiles have almost completely died out – only very degenerated caimans in tropics of America have remained. Among amphibians tropical forest species have almost completely disappeared. There are only widespread unspecialized species from temperate latitudes, and in tropics only species from drier habitats. Among freshwater fishes in epoch of biological crisis kinds which in human epoch could be named as “rough” ones dominate: these are small cyprinids, perches and ruffes, Chinese sleepers. It is possible to find worldwide in the appropriate climatic conditions feral populations of carps and tilapias. Among predatory fishes of temperate latitudes pikes have successfully survived. In tropics worldwide snakeheads (both native and introduced), and also live-bearing mosquitofish and [guppies?] prosper... The majority of survived sea fishes is represented by coastal inhabitants. Pelagic fishes have become extinct because of overfishing and the collapse of feed supplies. Pollution of ocean has caused disappearance of numerous planktonic invertebrates, and also of fishes, whose juvenile stages of development passed in plankton... [and] of abyssal fishes depending completely on organic matter sinking from the surface... Reef-building corals with firm skeleton have disappeared... smaller species of crustaceans prosper now: extinction of whales, sea birds and pelagic schooling fishes has resulted in fast restoration of their number. And an ecological role of fishes of open ocean had been taken by cephalopods... in oceans numerous squid schools swim. But there is nobody to catch them now – sperm whales, dolphins and large predatory fishes had become extinct. A diversity of insects and spiders at the genus and species level had been badly affected... But at the family level there were actually no losses... Many of them have been acclimatized in new places and have not died out even in epoch of biological crisis.

Following, on survival of domesticated species after the collapse of human civilization:

One of secrets of success of survived species was to keep closer to humans and to landscapes changed by people, but to depend on humans as little as possible... the most part of domesticated animals had died out in parallel with collapse of human civilization. The specialized breeds adapted to animal industry were gone for one generation. Decorative breeds have disappeared just as quickly. Only few primitive breeds of sheeps and goats, and also semi-feral rural chickens from tropical areas of the Earth have managed to survive. Cats managed to survive even easier: they have simply settled back to the wild... In the same way... many cultivated plants have quickly died out; descendants of only few of them, least changed by agriculture, have survived... they were in full dependence on humans and have simply died out without them. In due course of development of human civilization around of human buildings and in cultural landscapes there was a certain complex of animal and plant species which did not become domestic, but were capable to exist in the environment changed by people – these are so-called synanthropes... Those kinds, that were too dependent on humans, have died out very soon. Most well known of them are cockroaches. When there were no heated rooms, their area was reduced up to climatic zones with mild winter. Rats and mice have gone through only brief period of triumph, feasting on the rests of human provisions... in searches of prey owls, cats and small mustelid predators came to abandoned and collapsing cities. They have literally specified to rodents their place in ecosystem: they have turned to prey again, and their triumph was over as soon, as it started.

[montrosepretty]

Weird Asks: 20, 28, 38, 64, 95

20. preferred place to write (i.e., in a note book, on your laptop, sketchpad, post-it notes, etc.)?

It used to be my phone, but something changed in the past year and now i need to be on my laptop to really be productive and #lockin when i write... but i still oft write drabbles on my phone

28. five songs to describe you?

Umm god for some reason this kind of question is the hardest for me. is it like. songs i relate to? songs that could be about me? I decided to go with vibe based. songs with devo energy

A Mysterious Place - Kirk Osamayo (i asked sierra for devo songs and this was her pick. yeah)

Crucified - Army of Lovers (obvious)

Getting into Knives - the Mountain Goats (for my knife #myknife)

My Microphone - Poppy (if you haven't heard this one it's just very frantic. which is How It Feels)

Creep - Jinx Monsoon (yes. specifically the jinx cover. also crowdsourced from sierra)

38. lemonade or tea?

arnold palmer #nonbinary

64. favorite website from your childhood?

Ohhh the pbs kids games were my shit back in the day. There was this one where you got to build rollercoasters with ruff ruffman of fetch with ruff ruffman and i was so dialed in

95. favorite app on your phone?

It would be tumblr except my phone fucking hates the tumblr app, so i'm usually on the browser version. so it's going to be musi (ily musi 🥰)

[totaldrama-showdowns]

Here's the list of Valid Submissions that unfortunately could not be featured in the bracket proper! Invalid Submission will have their own post

Scaryemma (Scary Girl x Emma) (2)

"Scary Girl wants to be "normal", Emma is the closest thing to a "normal" girl on the island… I know what I'm getting at"

"why not?"

Calulia (Julia x Caleb) (2)

"she was the only one who could make him interesting"

"ngl those last few episodes. they got real. 5 minutes together and insanely more compelling and dynamic than priyaleb"

Mkaleb (MK x Caleb) (2)

"screw total drama and all its fans I hope they get exactly one more season and MK marries a man /ref"

"I like that mk is small and caleb is tall. that's all"

Axelle (Nichelle x Axel) (2)

"axel is the opposite of bowie"

Juliayne (Julia x Wayne) (2)

"Everyone wants rice cakes at a party"

"because i wanna start drama"

Wipper (Ripper x Wayne) (2)

"real ones know 😎"

Chulia (Julia x Chase) (2)

""i could fix him" says woman who is worse"

"They would date each other for clout and hate every minute of it it would be so funny"

Damichelle (Damien x Nichelle) (2)

"Damien and Nichelle are seen to interact through to season, they encouraged each other in challenges and seem to just have a great chemistry all around. Damien is also a DnD player (which requires good acting/roleplaying skills), and Nichelle is an actor! Just imagine the potential.. overall their canon interactions are just a treat to watch and while it's not really popular I love them nonethelesss."

Zeepper (Zee x Ripper)

"Zipper"

Priya and Zee… Pee if you will

"we were robbed of the peeleb love triangle"

Calipper (Ripper x Caleb)

Chaleb (Chase x Caleb)

"Two men who's names begin with C and are 5 letters wrong and ruin the lives of their respective love interests. Fuck chase and Caleb they deserve each other"

Emmjuliayne (Julia x Emma x Wayne)

"blonde polycule"

Ripelle (Ripper x Nichelle)

"Nichelle would teach him stunts:)"

that one girl intern and that one guy intern

"love can flourish behind the scenes, can’t it?"

Chipper (Chase x Ripper)

Wintern (Wayne x The Female Intern)

"He was nice to her :-)"

Milliechelle (Millie x Nichelle)

"Girl failure x Girl failure <3"

Rippemma (Emma x Ripper)

ScaryK (MK x Scary Girl)

"if they teamed up mk could steal so much more and i think she deserves to"

Chowie (Caleb x Hezekias x Bowie)

"It'd be so funny if they beat chase X Bowie"

Caxel (Axel x Caleb)

"Mwahahahahahah"

Prikate (Priya x MK)

ScaryZee (Zee x Scary Girl)

"idk but i saw this and started shipping https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fmore-zee-x-scary-girl-since-yall-love-it-v0-00h7aqq6kava1.png%3Fs%3D5cf331157af4761c67837f01ba4152a37e40765c"

Traffic Light Trio (Wayne x Damien x Zee)

Mkuliayne (Julia x Wayne x MK)

Bowaleb (Bowie x Caleb)

"caleb would be so much better gay"

Scarprillie (Priya x Millie x Scary Girl)

"episode 4 of season 1 had so much yuri potential"

Prillemma (Priya x Millie x Emma)

"wholesome yuri polycule!"

Chase/the two guys from his channel

"Chase is totally the kind of thing to flirt and make out with guys as part of the videos…and contribute exactly zero thoughts toward the implications of that"

Olivia Von Trashpanda x the bear in episode 2

"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE"

Polycule of all of MacArthur's dogs

"Ruff ruff 🐕🐕🐕🐩🐩🐶🐶🐾🐾🐾🐕🐕🐕bark grrrrrrr😡😡😡😡"

Damien's sheep × Goats in s1 finale

"I think it speaks for itself"

This is the section of submissions that, according to the rules, were valid, but were not valid in my heart.

Shamy (Scary girl, nicHelle, Axel, Millie, priYa)

"I fucking love shamy"

Marmaduke (Millie x Axel x Ripper x emMA x Damien x jUlia x mK x zEe

"I'm gonna kill that fucking dog"

Marmafield (Millie x Axel x Ripper x emMA x prFIya x zEe x nicheLle x Damien

"In this world it's just us"

pilk (Priya x mILlie x mK)

"just like real pilk you don't know how good it is until the second try"

Chillie (Millie x Chase)

"IM SO COLD🥶🥶🥶SO CHILLIE UP IN HERE"

Chiya (Priya x Chase)

"Chiya pudding chiya seed c"

Ashley (Axel x chaSe x Hezekias x nichelLE x priYa) and all of them hang out with aroace MK. Mary Kate and Ashley (Olsen)

"Full house sweep idk I can't remember what those girls were in"

Key (mK x calEb x priYa) x Zee

"I got the Key, I got the Zeecret"

chicken juice (CHase x nIChelle x mK x damiEN) (JUlia x rIpper x Caleb x Emma)

"Chicken juice is sooo good make a broth bitch!"

[berrypass-de-murdler]

2 - 62 The Dog Spa Murder Spree

1000 total likes!!!

Happy to announce that the Murdle cartoon will also be posted on AO3 now! :D I don't.... think that means anything to anyone but uh yeah!

DON'T READ THE EPISODES WITHOUT READING THE BOOKS!!

PERSON: [over the phone] INSPECTOR IRRATINO!! IRRATINO: JESUS FU- Heeeeeelllo! PERSON: Here, at the luxury dog spa - someone TRIED to murder a dog! They didn’t manage, but I couldn’t see who it was… with Logico gone, you’re our only hope!

Irratino does a double take. A DOG?! This can’t wait. 

IRRATINO: I’m sorry, Logico!!

Good to know he has priorities. When he arrives, Mauve, Ivory, Dusty, and a cardboard stick figure have lost their own dogs.

MAUVE: OH. Irratino. You’re going to help me now, because I’ve lost my WOOKIE. IVORY: Arr-Ro? Where’s Arr-Ro?! DUSTY: [unhinged wailing] IRRATINO: WAIT WAIT stop everybody stop. Who are you? CARDBOARD FIGURE: Oh, me. I’m Grayscale, CPA. I work in marketing. IRRATINO: … GRAYSCALE: [slow zoom-in on nonexistent face, faint bloody screaming and grinding sounds] IRRATINO: …Cool. GRAYSCALE: I’m looking for my poodle, Phoebe.

Irratino not only has to solve this murder, he needs to find his friends’ dogs, a task they cannot do themselves for some reason. First, he scrys into a fluorescent bulb, very much damaging his eyes. But all he can see is Mauve casually collecting her tears in an emerald dog bowl.

IRRATINO: Um… MAUVE: [HIIIISSSSSS]

Director Dusty is equally miserable, crying on a small bed with a cat laying on top of him.

DUSTY: I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M GONNA DO WITHOUT RUFF-RUFF.  IRRATINO: Hey, they just got lost in the complex. We’re going to find them. DUSTY: I HOPE SO… THIS OLD CAT AIN’T GOT A SPECK OF RUFF-RUFF’S CHARM…

The cat suddenly yowls, sinking its claws into his bare stomach. He lets out an ear piercing shriek.

IVORY: Oh my GOD-UH! Everyone’s so fucking LOUD, they’ll scare away all the dogs, and I NEED my ARR-RO! I know how to get him back.

She brings out a GIANT bone out of hammerspace. 

IRRATINO: WAIT! YOU CAN’T DO THAT!

A whole pack of dogs swarms her, trampling her alive! 

GRAYSCALE: [attempt at enthusiasm] Phoebe, it’s you.

He reunites with her.

GRAYSCALE: You are my only friend.

This guy is making everyone uncomfortable. But Ruff-Ruff runs by to lick Dusty’s wounds, and Mauve is greeted by a squirming noodle dog that really looks like her in a weird way.

MAUVE: WOOKIEEEEE. [picks her up] MY WOOKIE IS HERE… HAHAHAHAHAH

Irratino looks at her and she hisses again. 

Ivory is on the ground, barely conscious. She is… a lot more injured than they initially thought. But a giant shadow looms over her, and breathes directly in her face… 

IVORY: [cough] Arr-Ro? 

She reaches out and caresses his face, and promptly dies.

EVERYONE: [scream] IVORY: [sits up] UGH!! You’re so, FUCKING LOUD!!

It’s good that everyone’s reunited with their dogs, but who did the near-murder? A voicemail from Logico!

LOGICO: Hey. Inspector. I just saw on the news that you broke into Drakonia yesterday. With all due respect, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! IT’S BEEN SO FUCKING LONG, HAVE YOU EVEN BEEN CHECKING YOUR PHONE?! WHY HAVEN’T YOU CALLED BACK?! Anyway, this reminds me of that Great Dane that Editor Ivory always used to bring to meetings. I don’t know why it reminds me of that, it just does. Must be some ‘esoteric’ significance. GET. BACK. TO ME. Please~ <3

Irratino doesn’t message back. But thank god he knows Logico’s alive. And he feels a little bad for forgetting him for a day to deal with dog murder attempts.

IRRATINO: Grayscale CPA! I knew you were too basic to just be a regular guy. You tried to kill a DOG! GRAYSCALE: Ok, you got me. I’ll make a deal with you. If you let me off with a warning, I’ll tell you where you can find a lead about Logico’s disappearance. IRRATINO: Sure.

Grayscale gives the goat lord a map. Irratino gives the gray man an arrest! He’s dragged away in handcuffs.

GRAYSCALE: But we had a deal. IRRATINO: [deep cowboy voice] I don’t negotiate with wannabe dog murderers. GRAYSCALE: I wasn’t even going to murder the dog. I just-

Nobody cares.

The end!

Hoping the cartoon can reach a wider audience on AO3, there seems to be a lot of Murdle fanfics there

And apologies for not reading much if any fanfiction myself. I feel like I'm obligated to, it's just I uh

I'm scared and I don't want to

(I'll read it if my friends made it lol)

The power of Goat Lord compels you!

See you next time murdlers!

[earthnashes]

Good morning/afternoon/evening,

Im so excited for the melons adventure launch. Do you think you'll do this with loz, mlp, fnf, or your other Mario stuff?

TLDR: maybe, but def no time soon. Themed launches/ store merch will be largely original work + the sequel/extras to Melon's Adventure.

Long answer: I won't say no 'cuz I do have a lot of good foundations to jump off of from the mentioned headcanon works I did. However I'm still burnt out on Fandom related work; I have no desire to work on them, so it's unlikely as of right now. Melon's Adventure gets a pass because it is 100% a story I want to tell and very much enjoy working on; not to say the others weren't BUT the goals behind them differed in comparison (worldbuilding vs storytelling), and the work for them kinda stopped being for my personal enjoyment and became a chore.

What I can say with confidence is my shop will be updatee regularly AND themed launches will be a thing!

The format will also be largely the same: small merch, posters, and an illustrated storybook for large/new launches, new designs and extras (like considering a very short side story) for extensions of current launches. As of right now, confirmed future launches is for the sequel to Melon's Adventure, Feathers and Flowers, Billy Goat's Ruff, some themed character design/lineart base packs, and a few original-themed packs that's purely merch based. 👌

[salamanderinspace]

Caught one! I love how, when you tap him, his little ruff crackles with electricity. A+ animation. Best boy GOAT etc

[watermelon-aegis]

PARG in song: ruff n tuff. no shirt. dirt on shoulders

PARG in trailer: hehe goat