#Highly Colourful Birds

[subbalakshmisastry]

Highly Excited Blue & Gold Macaws

[reasonsforhope]

"In short:

Victorian farmers and volunteers have planted 750,000 trees to restore habitat for a critically endangered bird.

The Regent Honeyeater Project has brought together volunteers from all walks of life since it was launched in the 1990s.

What's next?

An ornithologist says the project is working wonders for the species and other wildlife.

--

John Paul Murphy is not an ecologist, but he knows a thing or two about trees.

The young cattle farmer from Winton in north-east Victoria has helped plant more than 750,000 trees as part of the Regent Honeyeater Project.

"Our involvement as a family goes back to the early 1990s, when the project first kicked off," Mr Murphy said.

The regent honeyeater is a critically endangered bird known for its black-and-bright-yellow colouring.

"Back in the day, millions of these birds would darken the sky from Adelaide up to Queensland," ornithologist Maggie Watson said.

"They're quite large compared to other honeyeaters, are highly nectar-dependent, and are one of the main pollinators of eucalypt trees."

Dr Watson, based in Burrumbuttock, New South Wales, said habitat fragmentation was a major reason the bird was threatened.

"When people started clearing farmland as part of colonisation in the 1800s, they removed all the productive, nectar-producing trees," she said.

"So that essentially wiped out the regent honeyeater's main food-base."

'Great for all wildlife'

Benalla cattle farmer and Regent Honeyeater Project president Rob Richardson said agriculture had claimed its share of the environment.

"We've destroyed a lot of habitat to create grazing and cropping land to the point where there are less than 500 wild regent honeyeaters left in Australia," he said.

"So now we're trying to restore the balance.

"We propagate all the trees in our plant nursery, and then plant them across the landscape to establish vegetation corridors."

Dr Watson said the project would significantly benefit the regent honeyeater population.

"The birds need to have 'roads' to get to flowering trees like eucalypts, and those roads happen to be other trees — so the more you plant, the better," she said.

"Tackling habitat fragmentation is great for all wildlife."

Huge volunteer effort

Mr Richardson said local volunteers were at the heart of the project.

"Over the last 30 years we've had many farmers donate land to be revegetated and over 40,000 volunteers help plant all the trees," he said.

Mr Murphy said the volunteers came from all walks of life.

"At our planting days, I've met university students, doctors, lawyers, biologists … and many of them come back year after year," he said.

Mr Murphy said it was nice to have a chance to get to know with people he may not otherwise have met.

"Farming can be pretty isolating," he said.

"But when you're planting, learning, and just getting your hands dirty together, the conversations you have are really unique.""

-via ABC News Australia, December 2, 2024

[gay-dorito-dust]

Hey um if it's cool could I request, Welt, Dan Heng, Jing Yuan, Gallager and Aventurine reacting to reader to questioning their interest in them?

An example: The confession

Them: I have feelings for you Reader: ... Um *shocked*.. I feel the same but.. *trails off* Them: but? Reader: *squints* you sure? About me? Please reconsider your choice. Them: ...

thank you if you decide to do this! No pressure though!

Jing yuan would raise a brow before vaguely asking you to come with him somewhere he had been meaning to show you for a while and thought that now was the perfect time.

The place where he takes you was just like any other flower garden you’ve been to before but from the way the light glinted off of the waters surface, to the way the flowers blossomed in a variety of unique colours, and other small things like that made the flower garden look ethereal.

Jing yuan chuckled at your expression.

‘You see why I brought you here?’ He asks.

‘…no, not really, why?’ You replied, looking at him in confusion.

‘I’m trying to show you that while you may not think yourself as anything special, much like this flower garden, there are a multitude of unique things tailored to you that make you shine in the eyes of the ones who views you highly.’ He responded as he lends his hand out for a bird to perch on and softly smiled as it moved up to his shoulder where it sat comfortably, trying its hardest not to fall asleep.

‘For every flower is a beauty to behold regardless of their shapes, their size or their colour that even a daffodil can be considered of equal beauty of a roses in someone’s eyes.’ Jing Yuan continues, looking at you from the corner of his eye to see whether his words were sinking in. ‘And my flower believes themself to be a withering daffodil but to me, they’re a rose unlike any other. Stubborn, strong willed, but.’

‘But?’ You echoed, nervousness creeping through your veins as Jing Yuan moved in front of you and leant forward so that he was right next to your ear.

‘But they refuse to accept words of their worth and beauty from someone who cares about them very much, but I hope to change that soon enough, if they let me.’ He whispers as he presses a kiss to your cheek and pulling away to plant a kiss to your forehead.

Dan heng

While he’s happy that you felt the same way towards him, but felt his heart sink when you told him to reconsider his feelings for you.

‘If you are not ready for a relationship, then I understand, but I wish that you wouldn’t look down upon yourself when you’re anything but what your mind is telling you that you are.’ He says as he holds your face, thumbs caressing your cheeks as his eyes shone with concern. ‘Just know that I’ll always be by your side to resolve any issue you may have, for I do not wish for you to be burdened by this alone when I can help lessen it’s impact on you.’ He adds.

Dan Heng would do anything and everything in his power to make you see just how much you meant to him, even if it meant asking March to pull up pictures where his infatuation with you was glaringly obvious.

He would bring you poetry books and read out verses that perfectly describe his innermost thoughts and feelings towards you and how he views you on a daily basis. Dan Heng feels as though he could never convey just how truly unique and magnificent you were on his own. He’s tried but compared to the works of acclaimed poets, it just lacked fluidity in terms of the flow of words.

Everything else fades away when you entered his peripheral vision, almost as though he was made to notice your presence no matter where you were, only to just stare at you with a look that could only be akin to someone who had just found their other half after so long.

Welt would sit you down somewhere and want to talk about it because he truly didn’t think that these were your own words coming from your mouth.

He believes they were someone else’s and he hated that you had started believing this person’s words as reality, when they were the furthest thing from the truth in his eyes.

He wants to help you unlearn what everybody else has thought of you in the past because it doesn’t matter, their words hold no weight until you allow it to. No one’s perception of you was in any way shape or form a reflection of the real you, for every person you’ve ever had a positive effect on posses a different perceptions of you.

The only person who knew the real you was you but it was obvious to Welt that you might’ve forgotten who that version of you was by worrying yourself to death about the thoughts and opinions of everyone else. So Welt was more then happy to help you see that you were so much more then what you think.

He doesn’t know who wronged you in the past but they’ve left everlasting damage on your tender soul, but he was going to do everything he could in his power to show you the you that he sees every time upon seeing you.

Gallagher

‘I’ve got nothing to reconsider when it comes to you sweetheart.’ Gallagher was quick to tell you as he grabbed one of your hands, squeezing it. ‘Nothing at all.’

‘But-‘ you started.

‘No ifs, ands or buts.’ He interrupts you. ‘You’re prefect the way you are and I won’t hear otherwise because I’ll always go out of my way to remind you as to why i care about you, okay?’ He says as he lifted your hand to press a kiss to the back of it. ‘Just let me take care of you and get rid of those pesky thoughts residing in your head by telling them to fuck off.’

You couldn’t help but chuckle at this as you allowed yourself to find comfort in Gallagher’s side as you were greeted by his bodily warmth that made you into melting further against him. ‘I just don’t want to be a bother to you that’s all.’ You murmured, insecurity making your throat tightened, rendering it hard to swallow.

Gallagher felt his heart break for you as he brought his arms to your waist to rub soothing patterns into your side as he presses his face to the side of your head, pressed reassuring kisses there as he whispered sweet nothings as to why you were perfect, beautiful, sweet and caring of all whom you come across, whether they were deserving of it or not.

Aventurine

He understands more then you knew because the moment you admitted to liking him in the same breath as berating yourself, he was about to ask what was it about him that you liked exactly.

You were both in the same boat that was about to capsize from your shared self hatred for yourselves, but Aventurine would be damned if he let you think of yourself in any negative light when you’ve been nothing but a beacon of pure, genuine light for him since first introductions.

He’d much rather be the one drowning in self doubt than you.

He’d have you stand in front of a mirror and asks what you see.

‘Someone who’s lost themselves along the way,’ you answered solemnly, ‘someone who’s lost sight of who they once were because they were too caught up in the opinions of others and waiting on them hand and foot, only to revive nothing but scraps.’ You added and Aventurine couldn’t help but feel himself becoming infuriated, not at you but at the people who have made you feel as though you were lesser than, who made you feel as though you should be outcasted because you didn’t fit into their narrative.

However the sound of your sniffling brought him out of his need to get back at these people for you and saw that you were beginning to tear up and was quick to wipe them away before they fell. ‘Don’t weep for people who don’t have a heart, for they’ll always think themselves superior by materialistic means that they will inevitably loose to time and bad decisions.’ He tells you as he rests his head on your shoulder, looking at you through the mirrors reflective surface. ‘You on the other hand have something that they could never hope to obtain via money.’ He adds.

‘And what’s that?’ You asked, looking into his eyes and noting that despite their dullness, they were still the most beautiful and expressive pair of eyes you have ever seen.

‘Empathy, humility, compassion, kindness and an appreciation for the simple things that many overlook and possess the ability to see the beauty in broken things.’ Aventurine replies, his voice becoming soft towards the end, clearly referring to himself, as he held onto you tighter as though you’d slip from his grasp much like everyone else had. ‘So don’t compare yourself to others who should be looking towards you as an example instead.’

You moved your head to properly look at him, not use to seeing this side of him, so serious and determined to make you see reason. ‘You really mean that?’

Aventurine smiles as he kisses you on the nose, chuckling. ‘Of course! You’re my good luck charm, I’d be hopeless and in a whole lot of trouble without you.’ He says as he presses another kiss to your nose, adoring your expression as you scrunched up your face, muttering under his breath. ‘Cute.’

[the-ancient-dragons]

Yummy little desert dragons, these overcomplicated SandWings are!

Like usual, Joy Ang and Tui are awesome, I've just added my own spice.

Details and explanation below.

Otherwise, next week are the RainWings - I think you'll really like them!

More overcomplicated dragons.

Where do I begin? I suppose with the elephant in the room: as a desert species, they need to be highly adapted to withstand the heat and control their body temperature, so I had tons of fun looking for references to use. Their sails would be used like elephant ears to cool off, by sending their blood into them to wave in the wind. Perhaps this would leave it tinted slightly red, perhaps not depending on the thickness of the structure. I chose backlighting for this piece to highlight the sail (the actual dragon isn't purple, it's just the contrasting colour of the shadows).

Speaking of the scales, perhaps you noticed the scales on the sail? I referenced basilisk lizards for this since their sails look pretty much exactly like SandWing sails, down to the folds and lines usually included in official artwork and fanart. In this piece the lines you see are actually the backlit tendons supporting the structure - based on frilled lizards, which you'll see again soon.

I also referenced pangolins (scale texture), thorny devils (the slight grooves on the sides of their temples that would direct rainwater into their mouths, and bearded dragons (for the little accessory spikes on the chin, mouth, eye ridge, and nose horn). The extra spikes on the mouth serve a double purpose to help rainwater pool and keep it from sliding past the mouth. Lastly, if you're curious about the extra dark points on its eyelid, those are slits in the scales to help it see in sandstorms. Camels have eyelashes but potoo birds have these slits which let them see even with closed eyes, which is important when the main weather you face daily is sand blowing in your face.

Again, imagine how creepy it would be to stumble upon what you think is a sleeping SandWing only for it to be wide awake and waiting for you to get closer... chomp!

[ranticore]

I wanted to keep drawing some pern dragon stuff because I'm now writing a full AU set in weyr but I didn't want to put this stuff on my main blog or patreon due to it being basically for my own reference, though i felt others would like it too! so here is My Take On Dragon Wings By Type...

It's no secret I love drawing bird wings and prefer them a lot over traditional dragon wings. Growing up, I read the pern books featuring cover art of dragonfly-like wings with lots of little translucent panels, which I always loved. So I thought I'd try to nail down some wing shapes & structures by blending those two things i like together. I am aware dragons fly by telekinesis but I prefer a more realistic type of creature design so I will be choosing to ignore that fact. I do not care about strict canon compliance but I do like to keep some of that framework there as well, for fun.

The wing is made up of three main sails, as well as a propatagium sail (in front of the elbow). They are relatively polymorphic and can expand or contract to an extent to change the shape of the wing in response to flight demands, like the wing of an airliner. The trailing edge can expand and the slots between the spars of the 1st wingsail can deepen or become shallower (where those are a feature). The main structural matrix is opaque, while the membranous 'sails' are translucent and let light through like stained glass. These are a bilayer of membrane with air sandwiched between, which forms part of the air sac & respiratory system.

It makes sense for the original engineers of dragons to diversify dragon wing types by colour so that when fighting Thread, there's a dragon for every conceivable aerial job.

[individual descriptions under the cut]

Queens have the longest wings, though the largest bronzes can rival them for surface area. Gold wings are high endurance - a queen can fly further than any other dragon in active level flight, leaving even the swiftest bronzes behind if they can't muster up the energy reserves to catch her. She is an effective flier at all elevations and can pass very low over terrain without issue as well; she is an expert at taking advantage of the ground effect, where extra lift is generated within one half of a wingspan above land. This way, she can pass low below the main wings fighting Thread to catch any stragglers without expending too much energy. However, she is not very agile and may need a bit of a run-up or cliff-edge to get airborne.

Bronzes are suited for command positions during Threadfall, rising highest and maintaining that altitude effortlessly by soaring on thermals. From this vantage point they can easily survey the wings of riders below and make tactical decisions to direct the tide of battle. They have the size and stamina to chase queens, but might find it difficult to keep up on the flat, so they continually select for fitter hatchlings as only the best manage to mate. It takes a very clever and agile bronze to catch a green, if they are so inclined.

Browns are swift, highly agile, and the fastest vertical fliers, ideal for diving through the Thread mass from top to bottom while the other types pass horizontally. During earlier Passes, browns were capable of using their speed to catch queens, but as queen & bronze endurance gradually increased, browns struggle to keep up if they haven't managed to immediately catch their mate in the starting scrum, which is unlikely due to the bulkier bronze dragons being able to shove the browns aside.

Blues are fast on the flat and nicely manoeuvrable, with enough endurance to last a full Threadfall. Good all-rounders with a characteristic vertical take-off, they work best in the horizontal plane in battle but really they can do a little bit of everything. They often beat browns to catch greens, being very precise in flight and almost as manoeuvrable as their green mates.

Greens make up for their low stamina with their extreme manoeuvrability. Their short and elliptical wings let them turn on a dime, hover, and even fly backwards if they are sufficiently skilled. They have the fastest wingbeats, flying with a distinct thrumming sound. Of all the types they are least likely to be hit by a stray Thread, but they tire easily on the flat and have no soaring ability at all, often tapping out midway through battle in favour of replacements. In battle, greens excel at catching odd and skewed clumps of Thread that don't fall as predicted, or ones that are missed by the other riders. Green mating flights are a whole different beast to gold mating flights, where extreme aerial acrobatics are favoured instead of endurance and altitude, and these flights may be over within seconds. You need to be able to withstand a Lot of G-force to be a green rider.

[callsign-mayhem]

sundress

Part one of my Heartbreak Feels So Good sequel series!

Pairing: Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw x Female!Reader Word count: 3.1k CW: Use of Y/N

Find the original series here!

It's been a week since you and Bradley confessed your feelings to each other on the beach. After an impromptu first date, Bradley takes you to a new Italian place on the seafront to wine and dine you like a true gentleman.

Natasha Trace was rarely wrong.

You stood in front of your full-length mirror, admiring your reflection—not just looking at it, but admiring it. 

You weren’t a vain person. It simply wasn’t in your nature. But something about this yellow dress—the one you were going to wear for Jake’s leaving drinks—made you feel confident. It had been so long since you’d felt this way that you’d almost forgotten what it was like. Maybe the dress had magical powers, or maybe yellow was just your colour. Either way, you were relieved to feel like someone worthy of dinner and drinks with Lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw. Nothing was worse than going on a date and feeling like you were punching above your weight. 

You had Nat to thank for this. She’d warned you off of wearing it for Jake’s leaving drinks the Friday before because she thought it better saved for a more special occasion. The white dress had walked so this one could run, and now there was no reason to stress about finding an outfit on the day of your first date. 

If you wanted to get technical, it was your second date with Bradley, but he didn’t class last Friday night as a date. You did, though. You were highly sentimental, and that night was more special to you because it was silly and spontaneous. Bradley thought it ungentlemanly, but it felt like something from a romance novel to you. 

After your confession and makeout session on the beach, you’d practically begged him to take you out for food since he wanted to do things properly. As a man of his word, you knew he wouldn’t budge, wouldn’t go home with you unless he’d had a meal with you first. As a way of cheating his system, you’d convinced him to take you to In-N-Out, and he’d agreed as long as you promised you’d do things by the book the following week. 

So he’d ordered an Uber, and when you arrived at the restaurant, you ordered more food than should have been allowed. You picked a booth in the window, and the two of you sat there until most of the food was gone, and you were both relatively sober. Bradley’s phone was dead, but the Daggers had been blowing yours up for two hours until you eventually had to answer. Neither of you wanted to reveal that you were technically on a date. Something about keeping it between the two of you made it feel more special and less pressurised, so you made up a lie and said Bradley had been sick and you’d taken him home before heading back to your apartment. You'd promised Jake you’d see him off Sunday morning and promptly turned your phone off. 

After that, you’d sat in the booth talking until closing time, enjoying getting to know each other all over again. Because you’d sobered up, neither of you wanted to rush each other into bed anymore. You liked the idea of taking things slow, savouring every little moment, and doing things as Bradley had initially wanted. But neither of you regretted your impromptu first date. 

Your phone pinged on your bedside, and you almost tripped over your feet in your haste to get to it. It was Bradley letting you know that he was leaving his and would be with you shortly. You were simply too excited to wait, so you grabbed your bag and hurried out the door. 

It was a gorgeous evening, typical of San Diego. Sunlight cascaded down through the trees surrounding your apartment block, creating intricate patterns on the pavement. Birds circled lackadaisically above, in no hurry to get to any particular destination. A group of teens whizzed down the road on brightly coloured rollerskates, laughing carelessly. It was crazy to think you weren’t sure about settling here initially. Now, you couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Bradley Bradshaw definitely had something to do with that. 

You heard the Bronco before you saw it. The low rumble of its engine was exciting and comforting, as was the man driving it. You could see him grinning as he pulled in, cheeks flushed from the heat of the evening. Before you could hurry over and open the passenger side door, he jumped out of the car to do it for you. He admired your sundress, shamelessly wolf-whistling as you walked over.

‘You look dazzling, Y/N.’ He said by way of greeting.

When you reached him, you stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He wore tan dress pants, a brown belt, and a crisp blue shirt. The first three buttons had been left undone, teasing the top of his Herculean chest. He’d rolled his sleeves up also, revealing his deliciously veiny forearms. 

Bradley Bradshaw was a well-wrapped gift, especially for you.

‘Thank you,’ you replied. ‘So do you.’ 

He grinned. ‘Our server’s gonna have to wear sunglasses.’

You laughed delightedly. ‘And everyone else in the restaurant, if you keep smiling like that.’ 

He helped you into the Bronco, buckling your seatbelt like he did the day of your breakup. It was a terrible day, but he’d made it better, as was his superpower.

During your drive to the restaurant, the two of you sang along to 80s classics—Karma Chameleon by Culture Club and Foriegner’s I Wanna Know What Love Is. Bradley made you feel comfortable enough that you weren’t embarrassed by your singing voice despite his sounding angelic. You were too overjoyed to be self-conscious, a clear signpost to Bradley being the one for you. With Elijah, you were always hyperaware of the way you came across. You overthought your appearance, the words you said, and even the tone of voice you said them in. And it wasn’t just because you wanted to control how he perceived you—it was because you had to be careful not to make him angry. 

Where being with Elijah exhausted you, being with Bradley breathed new life into your mind, body and soul. 

You arrived at the restaurant floating on cloud nine. He’d chosen a new Italian place right on the seafront. The interior was tasteful, and the views from the deck out back were worth dying for. As your server (who wasn’t wearing sunglasses yet) seated you, you silently hoped the menu was as well-cultivated as the place itself. You had the best seat right on the edge of the deck overlooking the ocean. Paired with your devilishly handsome date, it was already the perfect night, so if the food did end up being shit, you wouldn’t be too upset about it. 

‘Can I get you guys started with some drinks?’ The server asked with a smile.

‘Two Peronis with lime, please.’ Bradley responded, flashing her his movie star smile.

She disappeared to get your drinks, leaving the two of you alone. 

Bradley reached for your hand over the table, rubbing circles over your palm.

‘So,’ he said. ‘Our first date.’

‘Our first date was last week.’ You quipped. 

He smiled fondly, shaking his head. ‘That wasn’t a date.’

‘It was, and it was the best first date ever. I’ll die on this hill.’

‘Okay, fine, our first civilised date.’ 

Your drinks arrived, and you both busied yourself with the menu. You’d skipped lunch to ensure you had room for dinner tonight, and your stomach growled audibly. 

‘I’m going for the cannelloni.’ Bradley announced. 

‘I think I’m gonna get a pizza.’ You replied. ‘Shall we get garlic bread for the table?’

‘Is that even a question?’

After ordering your food, you chatted about work and your friends. You already knew each other’s histories—family and otherwise—on a friend level, at least. You were still discovering topics you’d never broached and details left out from stories already told. It was exciting getting to know one another again, not nerve-wracking at all. You didn’t feel like a fish out of water as you had with Elijah. 

The food arrived and was just as delicious as you’d hoped, if not more so. You ordered a glass of red wine and Bradley another Peroni. Since he was driving you home, you didn’t intend to drink any more. The waitress brought your drinks over, blocking your view of the double doors leading into the restaurant. You completely missed another server seating Penny and Maverick a few tables over. They spotted you before you were even aware of their presence. 

‘Is that Lieutenant Y/LN?’ Pete whispered. ‘With Bradley?’

Penny glanced at the two of you, eyebrow raised. ‘It is. They look like they’re on a date.’

Pete blinked in shock. ‘He didn’t tell me he was dating Y/N. He didn’t tell me he was dating anyone.’ 

‘He doesn’t have to tell you everything, honey.’

‘I know, but this is big.’ 

He had to admit, it was hurtful to find out something like this in such a manner. He and Bradley had only been getting closer since they arrived home from the mission that had ultimately saved their relationship. Pete would have thought he might have mentioned that he was seeing someone, especially since it was a Lieutenant under his command. 

‘From what I’ve heard, she’s only just gotten out of a relationship, which would mean that whatever’s going on between them is quite new.’ Penny pointed out, ever the voice of reason. ‘Maybe they’re not ready to share just yet.’ 

‘Maybe.’ Pete replied, frowning deeply. ‘Should we go over there?’

‘No.’ Penny hissed. ‘Did you listen to a word I just said? If they wanted us to know, they’d have told us. I’m sure the last thing they need is us ambushing them on what looks to be their first date.’

‘So we just sit here and pretend we haven’t seen them?’

‘Yes.’

You and Bradley were unaware of the conversation happening not ten feet away. You were too wrapped up in one another and the food in front of you to pay any mind to your surroundings, which was probably for the best. You’d agreed to keep things private for now, and it was working out quite well so far. Not having your friends involved alleviated some pressure to figure out precisely what was happening between you and where it was going; you could set the pace without any interference or judgement. Not to mention the thrill the two of you got from sneaking around and keeping such a massive secret from the rest of the Daggers. 

‘Are we ordering dessert?’ Bradley asked once you were finished with your meals.

‘Is that even a question?’ You mimicked with a grin.

‘Touché.’

You stood up. ‘I’m gonna go to the bathroom. Order for me?’

Bradley took the opportunity to admire your full form again. ‘What would you like?’

You refrained from saying 'you.' ‘Surprise me.’

You waltzed off to the bathroom—with a bit of extra sway of your hips for Bradley’s benefit. You couldn’t believe how well tonight was going. During your tumultuous relationship with Elijah, you’d promised yourself that if things didn’t work out between you, you would never date again. Why would you want to when it had proved to be such a monumental waste of time? But then Bradley had swooped in, and now you could reflect upon how wrong you’d been. There was a reason things hadn’t worked out between you and Elijah, and it wasn’t just because he was a massive twat. It was because you were never supposed to settle with him. Maybe it was too soon to say, but you wanted to believe that you weren’t supposed to settle with him because you were supposed to settle with Bradley. 

You exited the bathroom—which was just as showy as the restaurant itself—and headed back onto the deck. The later it got, the more people had arrived, and now only a few tables were free. You were wondering whether to text Natasha and ask if she wanted to come here for cocktails next weekend when you locked eyes with Captain Mitchell. He quickly glanced down at his dinner, clearly hoping you hadn’t clocked that it was him, and you hurried back to your table. 

‘Hey, sweet thing. I ordered you-’

‘Mav is here.’ You panicked, sliding back into your seat.

‘What?’ Bradley started looking around. 

‘On a date with Penny. Three tables to the right, just behind that lady with the big hair.’ 

Bradley leaned back so he could see past the big hair in question. ‘Well, shit.’ 

‘Guess the cat’s out of the bag.’ 

‘I’m gonna talk to him,’ Bradley announced. ‘Tell him not to say anything to the rest of the squad.’

‘Do you think he would?’

‘Not to be a gossip, but he might mention it thinking everyone else already knows.’

You nodded. ‘That makes sense.’

He leaned down and kissed your cheek. ‘I’ll be right back.’ 

Bradley couldn’t believe it. Of all the nights Mav could’ve taken Penny on a date, he chose tonight. At this very restaurant, no less. When they saw Bradley approaching their table, they were surprised to see him. If Bradley weren’t so good at reading between the lines, he’d have believed they had no idea he’d been sitting three tables away from them.

‘Bradley!’ Penny gushed. ‘You look handsome.’

‘Thank you, Pen.’ He smiled. ‘You look lovely as always.’

Maverick stood up, took Bradley’s hand, and hugged him. The short kind—the bro kind—involved a slap on the back. 

‘Nice to see you.’ Mav said. 

‘I saw you this morning.’ Bradley pointed out.

‘Is that Lieutenant Y/LN?’ Maverick asked coyly, glancing at you sitting alone. ‘I didn’t know the two of you were dating. Why didn’t you tell me?’

Penny glared at Mav, making Bradley think they’d discussed Maverick not saying exactly what he’d just said. 

‘We haven’t told anyone yet. This is our first date, and we kinda just wanna keep it on the down low for now.’

The look Penny shot Mav this time said: I told you so.

‘Y/N just got out of a pretty shitty relationship, so we’re taking things slow.’

Bradley didn’t know why he was telling Mav all this. He was rambling, trying to hide the awkwardness of the situation. 

‘Well, your secret’s safe with me.’ Mav assured him.

Bradley relaxed. ‘Thanks, Mav.’ 

‘You got a good one there, Rooster.’ Penny said. ‘Take care of her.’

‘I will, Pen. You don’t have to worry about that.’

They said their goodbyes, and Bradley headed back to you. The dessert had arrived: a large slice of tiramisu to share. You had been waiting patiently for him to return before digging in, a shiny silver spoon already in hand. 

‘He’s not going to say anything.’ Bradley said, sliding back into his seat. 

‘Whew. That’s a relief.’

He nodded. ‘But I think he was upset that I didn’t tell him about us.’

You frowned. ‘Did you tell him that we aren’t ready to go public? That this is-’

‘New? Yes.’ Bradley finished. 

‘Maybe we could do a double date soon?’ You proposed. ‘It might help make Mav feel a little more included, and it’d be good to get to know him better since you’re so close.’

Bradley brightened at the suggestion. ‘You’d do that?’

‘Of course I would.’ You replied earnestly. ‘And I’m not just suggesting it to make him feel better. I actually think it sounds nice.’

‘You’re amazing, you know that?’

‘Yes, I do.’ You smirked, digging into the tasty-looking tiramisu.

Bradley refused to let you pay half of dinner. You vowed to make him let you pay for something sometime soon, even though you knew it would be difficult. He was a true gentleman through and through. 

You spent the whole drive back to your apartment wondering whether to invite Bradley to come up with you and what it would mean if you did. You didn’t even know what you’d be insinuating if you did invite him up, let alone how he’d take it. Were you ready to sleep with him? Was he ready for that? By the time he pulled into your lot, you were steadily developing a stress headache. 

He parked the Bronco right in front of the doors leading into your foyer, so you wouldn’t have to walk that far.

He reached the centre console and took your hand, and you turned to face him.

‘Since we’re doing this properly,’ he started. ‘I’m not coming up with you.’

You looked down, blush creeping across your cheeks. Had he been reading your mind? In the moment of silence that followed Bradley’s declaration, your brain tried to ruin the fantastic night you’d had with self-deprecating thoughts. Briefly, your thoughts wandered back to the second half of your relationship with Elijah and how little sex you’d had, the fact that when you did have sex, it was always about him. It never even crossed his mind to go down on you, and you had to hope you finished before him because once he was done, it was always game over. 

Bradley put a finger on your chin, tilting your head up so he could see your face. 

‘What’s wrong, sweetness?’

‘Nothing.’ 

‘Where’d you go just then?’ He pressed. 

‘If you don’t want to be with me like that, it’s okay.’ You told him honestly. 

His expression went from shock to anger and then hurt in the space of two seconds. 

‘Why wouldn’t I?’

‘I don’t know.’ You murmured. 

You tried to look away, but he kept his fingers on your chin, forcing you to look at him. 

‘Listen to me. I want to be with you more than anything.’ He told you truthfully. ‘But I think we should go slow. I want to make sure we take things at the right pace.’

‘There’s no rushing something you want to last forever.’ You repeated from that night on the beach. 

‘Exactly that.’

You leaned over and kissed him slowly and sweetly in the spirit of not rushing things. There was no urgency, just passion. Now he’d reassured you, you knew he was right. You weren’t ready to take the next step yet, and savouring the build-up was good. For all you knew, all these first times with Bradley might be your last. 

‘I’ll walk you to the door.’ Bradley mumbled against your lips.

‘Are you sure you’re going to be able to resist coming up?’

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, you thought he might change his mind about not spending the night. ‘I can wait. You’re worth it.’ He said. ‘But one of these days, I want you to wear that sundress for me again.’

‘Why?’ You whispered.

‘Because I think it’s going to look so good on my bedroom floor.’

A/N: I've finally gotten around to writing the first part of my sequel series to Heartbreak Feels So Good. This one's short and sweet, but I'll be writing some longer parts as the series goes on. If anyone has any suggestions or requests for moments they'd like to see in future parts, please let me know! Also, let me know if you'd like to be removed/added to the taglist for this series.

Taglist:

@crowdedimagines

@sadgirlgiselle

@sleepy-writersblock

@lovelyygirl8

@my-therapist-hates-me

@primroseluna

@eloquentdreamer

@sgt-barnesveins

@daybleedsintonightfa11

[19burstraat]

Random SOC Trivia I Gathered On My Reread

I'll be using this for fics, but it's fun just to read!

Jesper does not hold alcohol well (though this is according to Kaz, who is not exactly impartial)

Wijnstraat, Nemstraat, Havenstraat, Ammberstraat are all street names if you want em

Van Eck has been involved in trying to clean up the Barrel; pious. (Allegedly pious, I doubt he really is)

1/5 Van Eck (or general Kerch trading?) vessels are lost at sea

Kaz arrested three times at ten, twice at eleven, once at fourteen. Does stints in jail but it does not say prison (ppl assume he's been to Hellgate / another prison but I don't think so. He'd never have shut the fuck up about it if he had; I assume the Stadhall Jail)

Kaz's cane is lead-lined. I wasn't sure if this was canon or fanon

Kaz runs book on prize fights, horses, and chance games. Floor boss at crow club since fifteen-ish. Youngest to run a betting shop and has doubled the profits.

Gambling halls: Treasure Chest, Golden Bend, Weddell's Riverboat, Silver Garter

West Stave brothels: The Blue Iris, The Forge, The Obscura, the Willow Switch, the House of Snow

Van Aakster is the widow mercher who sees Nina to ease his grief

Inej likes orange cakes in white paper

Black Tips tattoo is a hand with first and second fingers cut at the knuckle, Razorgulls is 5 birds in wedge formation

Nina Jesper and Kaz definitely all have the crow and cup; the others don't

Jordie seems to like books

ridderspel and spijker are arcade games

Bilge, clams, and wet stone smell in the Barrel (per Retvenko)

Kaz definitely is partial to dogs; Smeet's hounds and the grey dog the Hertzoon household had, the windup dogs, the metaphors. He loves a dog metaphor sorry ur not real babycakes you'd have loved thematic web weaving posts

Geldspin is the cotton mill in Zierfoort, Firma Allerbest is a cannery. Both in Alys' name

Wylan was 8 when Marya 'died'

the black veil tomb is carved like an ancient cargo ship

3 flying fish on a grave: government. Palm trees and snakes: spices.

Inej's mother braids her hair with orange ribbons (colour of persimmons)

University a series of buildings built around the Boekcanal and joined by Speaker's Bridge (where people debate and/or drink). Boeksplein four libraries built around a central courtyard and the Scholar's Fountain

Shipping container at third harbour is a Liddie hideout; Jam Tart House is an old hotel near the slat that the Razorgulls use

Long scar across Kaz's right knuckle

Violating contracts and interfering with the market can get you hanged in Kerch; same sentences as for murder (this is. Insane)

Haskell holds court with his mates at the Fair Weather Inn every week

Belendt is the second oldest Kerch city and sits on the Droombeld River

Jesper was 7 when Aditi died

Inej has an uncle (who seems to have some sort of ringmaster role) and cousins; Hanzi and Asha

Kaz convinced a locksmith in Klokstraat that he was the son of a wealthy merchant who highly valued his collection of priceless snuffboxes, and that's how he knows what locks the rich are using

Hubrecht Mohren, Master Thief of Pijl, who Kaz doesn't appear to think much of; one of Haskell's old cronies

Martin Van Eck, Wylan's great great grandfather, was a ship's captain, brought back a big shipment of spices from Eames Chin and started the Van Eck fortune

Kaz and Jesper (+ other Dregs boys) taught Inej to fight

Kaz and Jordie are from a town near Lij, as per the 'Johannus Rietveld' exposition, but Lij is seemingly the closest major city/county so it's easier to just say they're from Lij lol

The last time the Council of Tides appeared in public was 25 years prior to CK

Kaz found Filip running a monte game on Kelstraat; he also got the clerks who turned over fake info, the fake attorney, the man who gave them free hot chocolate

The spelling of Zentzbridge lapses to Zentsbridge, not sure which is right or if they're actually separate bridges or if there's a lot of wrong quotes floating around lol

Dryden house symbol is the golden wheat sheaf bound with a blue ribbon; Van Eck is the red laurel but we knew that

Kaz taught himself finance and gambling hall rules

Church of Barter roof is copper and long has turned green

Church of Barter built around the First Forge / The Mortar, which is a flat lump of rock that's supposedly Ghezen's altar

Ghezendaal Hospital is. Idk. a hospital. Just thought ppl might want the name

[city-of-ladies]

"The prominence of female divinity in Minoan culture might well have reflected the prominence of Minoan women in daily life. In Shang dynasty China, the authority of goddesses such as the Eastern and Western Mothers was echoed to some degree by the authority of women in elite society and even the army. Fu Jing and Fu Hao, wives of King Wu Ding, led men into battle before being honoured in death with monumental tombs containing the victims of human sacrifice, battle axes, knives and arrowheads. In Egypt, many of the images of Hatshepsut were destroyed or defaced after her death when her name was removed from the official list of rulers by her male successors, who sought to claim direct descent from her husband. It is possible that images of powerful Minoan women were subject to similar mistreatment.

While there is no evidence that Minoan women ruled in the same manner as Hatshepsut, or joined battle like the women of Shang China, the sheer number of artworks depicting them centrally placed and on a larger scale than men has prompted some historians to speculate that Minoan society was matriarchal or matrilineal. ‘Neopalatial Crete,’ writes one scholar, ‘presents the best candidate for a matriarchy – if one ever existed.’ There is nothing to say that the position of Minoan women was in any way secondary to that of men. 

Minoan women were certainly not confined to the weaving room. Sculptures show them playing lyres, flutes and zithers, sashaying in flounced chevron-patterned skirts and raising their arms in the air in ecstasy. In the ‘Grandstand Fresco’ from Knossos the women are more carefully delineated in paint than the men. Each woman has her own identity, her own style. The women appear to occupy the main rooms of the palace while the men congregate as an anonymous mass beyond. Women depicted seated – a sign of divinity or authority – are often being approached by men or animals. A highly enigmatic fresco at Thera (Santorini), for example, features a woman wearing large hoop earrings, a snake in her hair, and a neck-chain of ducks, sitting on a dais with a griffin beside her while a blue monkey pays her court.

 On a gold ring, a female deity, we may presume, is seated beneath a tree, where she receives flowers from two women. A smaller figure of a man with a double-headed axe over his head hovers between them.  By depicting the man beneath the axe, and on a smaller scale than the women, the engraver of the ring perhaps hoped to convey that he was a divine vision, almost a thought-bubble, originating in one of the female worshipper’s heads. Trees, as Arthur Evans recognised, were sacred in Minoan culture, and were perhaps believed to be capable of inspiring divine visions in those who honoured them. Such artworks contribute to the picture of Minoan women exerting considerable religious authority in the palace complexes and society more widely. 

Minoan women also played a crucial role in ritual. The early Minoans sometimes interred their dead twice by exhuming the bones of their family members and resettling them later in jars. The more usual custom, however, was to bury the dead in chamber tombs or stone beehive-shaped ‘tholos’ tombs, clay sarcophagi or, in the case of infants, under the floorboards of the home. The colourful paintings on a rare limestone sarcophagus from Hagia Triada, circa 1400 bc, show three men carrying young animals and a model boat to the deceased, who stands in front of his tomb, ready to receive his provisions for the afterlife. There are also three women present, the first of whom pours a libation into a cauldron placed between two upright axes mounted by birds; the second carries further vessels; the third – darker skinned like the men and thus possibly of lower social status – has a lyre. On the other side of the sarcophagus the women assist in the sacrifice of a bull on an altar. Other wall paintings show women involved in rituals of their own involving blood.  A fresco from Akrotiri features a group of women, one of whom sits beside a sunken room or ‘lustral basin’ with a bleeding foot. A tree also bleeds. It is possible that lustral basins were used for purification by women during or after menstruation."

The Missing Thread: A Women's History of the Ancient World, Daisy Dunn

[trocaine]

as   dessert,   my   bleeding   heart,   gushing   with   your   adoration

prologue﹕kisses and desserts are the finest methods to solve some problems in paradise, or so your sweetie appears to think.

warnings ⸻ food kink explicit content moderate descriptions of the reader's appearance missionary outdoor sex crying orgasm denial creampie cunnilingus.

rara notes﹔have fun reading. reblogs and interactions are highly appreciated.

any lady's face can be brightened by the combination of the sugary flavor of biscuits, the vivid color of candied fruits, and the allure of general sweetness! my words ring nothing but the thruth, my dear! let it be the whipped cream, so light and airy, melting on the tongue, the delicious eruption of flavor that occurs as you bite into the blossoming cherry on top of cake pieces. it wasn’t mere satisfaction that one would find in treating oneself with a little dessert at the end of the day⸻every taste becomes more decadent when money is involved. oh, how true that is. elevating an everyday moment of pleasure into a banquet worthy of being served at a grand table. whenever your guests are the weathered riffraff or the well-bred cream of the crop, dress up in your best rags and take a seat. the motto of today rings resonantly: ‘wine and dine till your stomach bursts due to endless gluttony!’ yet beneath the glamorous occasion; the glimmer and shine concealed the stark reality of bloodied hands scrambling for mere crumbles, standing in sharp contrast with the polished flush hands of the aristocracy that could afford to view the world as some sort of dashing paradise. let's eat, then! allow us to appreciate every bite! as the festivities go on and on till they cause your surroundings to spin like a malfunctioning carousel. “and what do you think of⸻...jayce? jayce!”

it was night that possessed traits that distinguished this particular one from past soirees. the air had been perfumed with a hefty mixture of aromatic scents; sapphire towers and daylilies with a hint of tea sandwiches, green tea, chocolate custard tarts with a burned caramelized layer on top of them and alfajores. including a small basket of fruits and picked cheeses. your garden, with its vibrant and lush foliage, appeared to stretch for eternity into the horizon. alongside the earlier mentioned flowers, a remarkable array of various plants had been tenderly tended to by attentive gardeners, each of which contributed a certain appeal to this enormous work of nature.

from the vigor of rosemary that was located at the entrance of the location to the colors belonging to the trails of freesias near the stream which had grayish stones placed at its sides. it formed a prickly sensory experience, a sequence of recurrent textures, odors, and sounds. think of the wet, rich soil, the singing of birds who have made their nests on top of the branches of trees that were no longer naked but instead coated with emerald-hued leaves. this nightfall was laden with an energy that was more than its indigo-colored skies that had the discolored, perigee moon as its recurring visitor. beneath the radiance of the orb of night, a couple was sitting on a crimson-coloured blanket, greedily taking in the love that was in the air. the kind that had the heart quaking against the bones of the ribcage, breaths coming in shortly and leaving as quickly, the trailing touch against skin would feel like a trail of fire with the sensation of getting burned being welcomed with open arms.

“did you even catch what i was asking of you, sweetie?” your figure was clad in something that could be easily described as ‘refined’. the dress on your physique featured a high neckline with long sleeves that reminded the man of the shapes of flower petals; the bodice had a row of buttons tailored into its lofty fabric trailing down to the waist that was cinched comfortably, followed by a floor-length, voluminous skirt that slid pleasantly over your legs. like the touch of a lover, the celestial light glided across your tanned skin. giving the coarse coils of your hair that you had wrapped upwards in a puff, with a ribbon that matched the color of your attire, a beautiful shine. and on top of your neck was a stunning pendant that jayce had not only gifted to you but also manufactured himself.

your gloved hand caressed softly against the slightly stubbled cheek of the esteemed scientist who was sitting across from you. although brief, the gesture conveyed familiarity. which was an obvious thing you would share with the inhabitant within your heart. by clearing your throat, the noise it let out was enough to bring his attention to the matter of hand. “you’ve been staring a lot. and barely touched the tea.” he moved his eyes toward the individual who had asked for his attention while maintaining a smile that was kind enough to avoid coming across as impolite. you. the gentlewoman who oh so happened to have her fingers in many prospering ‘pies’. the lady that made his heart weight lighter than the clouds. “i’m sorry,﹙name﹚. i had my head in the clouds. could you please repeat your question?” your heart sprang with cheer at the chuckle that escaped his lips as he composed his reply. however, you simply nodded in agreement while letting your hand grudgingly fall away from his face rather than speaking.

you took another few sips of the warm teacup in your gloved hand. the brim of the porcelain coming in contact with your mouth as the pale green liquid went down your throat.

“i asked you what your opinion was on the dishes here. i believe that the chefs have done an excellent job on the tea choice. it compliments the alfajores.” you said while gesturing to the mentioned delights with your unoccupied hand. “as a matter of fact, may i be frank with you?” ‘clink’ went the teacup as you placed it on its saucer, “you’ve been putting in quite the amount of hours in the academy. nearly missing this pressing rendezvous.” ouch! “if it wasn’t for the fact i pressed your assistant on reminding you, would you even have noticed?” that came off more biting than you wanted. you bite into the flesh of a cherry you've reached for in the basket. the dark red liquids ran down your chin.

night after night, particularly at the times when he had spent hours huddled up alongside his partner your heart ached for his return into your arms. surrounded with mountain-tall papers that were scrawled with all kinds of complex calculations and outmoded runes, bearing the brunt of a seemingly endless cycle of failures. their spirit remained unshakable even when the weeks started to blend together. even when more work was taking up space. but at last, after what seemed like an eternity of obstacles, it appeared that their unwavering pursuit for change had begun to bear its fruits in the end.

a discovery that paved the way for grand success. yet at the cost of such results, you were left with little time to spend with the dark-haired man. and tonight you wanted to get to the heart of the issue at hand. his large, calloused hands grappled around your digits with the kind of care that contradicts their appearance. he brushed the last of the beads of reddish juice off the corner of your lips with his thumb. it was through his gaze that you felt your barricades of mild irritation starting to crumble; ‘forgive me’ is what his eyes told as silence lingered by; aside from the slight sounds of the water's flow, which resided not so far away from where you were sitting. the warmth of his body shimmied down onto yours as jayce leaned in gently, enveloping you in an affectionate cocoon. every tiny adjustment in position, such as the way he angled his body to face you and form a barrier between you and the world around you, or the way he lightly ran his fingertips over the velvety smoothness of your cheek, said a thousand words.

a soft sigh left his mouth⸻an unguarded declaration that he wished to make amends for what had been frayed.

“i’m sorry,” he brought the back of your hand close to his lips, and the warmth of his lips pressing onto the surface deepened the cracks inside your defenses. ever the gentleman. “i truly am. and you’re right; i’ve let my work take up a lot of my time. after all, reaching the demands of the council is easier said than done. but,” he took a small breath before continuing as if gathering his thoughts amidst the weight of the moment. “that shouldn’t come at the cost of seeing you less. i will make it up to you. starting tonight and the rest of my life. i’m so sorry if i had made you feel like you were some sort of second thought, ﹙name﹚. you’ll always be my first priority, okay?”

to seal this claim, he kissed your forehead. the softness of his lips lingered like a whisper, and at that moment, the world around you appeared to have quieted down, or perhaps it was the quick hammering of your own heart that made the environment appear hushed while he waited for your response with bated breath. “...i suppose i can accept your attempt at kissing things better.” you tilted your head to the side in a feeble attempt forming a hard-to-get attitude, but it couldn’t hide away the smile that had the corners of your lips curling upwards. making it plain clear that your aloof façade of disinterest was nothing more than a cover for the joy that was bubbling up inside. “shall we continue eating then? i haven’t seen you try the chocolate custards. simply to die for.” “to die for? let’s see about that.”

hours have passed while you two were having a great time conversing. the topics of the discussions are? everything and anything that passed through your mind. the occasional chuckle, a gasp of amazement, and amusement heightened the intimacy that only grew with every second that went by. “and you haven’t told anyone about you being the actual reason why the academy added that particular rule? jayce, you naughty boy! who knew a guy like you could be rebellious?” you snuggled closer to the man's chest as he sat you between his legs, his arms wrapped around your upper torso. your teacups by now were half-empty with only a few of the dishes remaining untouched. his muscles were tensing and bulging, showcasing the strength that seems to emanate from every inch of him. you could feel the low vibrations running through his chest as he chuckled in response to your bewildered reaction to the story he was telling. and you couldn’t help yourself but melt further into his embrace because of it. “i wasn’t naughty!” his nut brown eyes narrowed hilariously as he pretended to be annoyed, but it was obvious that he was enjoying the lighthearted banter.

“it was an honest miscalculation on my part. but at least more safety regulations were put in place. so it’s a win-win for everyone, no?” “well that only became a concern in the first place because of your misdeeds.” a comfortable silence flowed over the both of you at once again. your body sagged by the gentle squeezes of his arms, and the tension in your muscles was starting to evaporate. you could feel the worries that you’ve allowed to plague your mind slip away⸻how you’ve missed this. the proximity, the warmth in the loving gestures, and even the beat of his chest going up and down when he breathes. “what has you in such a giggling mood all of the sudden?” you were giggling? goodness, you were not even taking in the fact how much the lack of his presence had affected you. but there he had you, giggling and sighing blissfully like a damsel with a crush on a good-looking prince charming. “you must be imagining things.” “am i now? and how sure are you with that, my dear?”

he nestled his head into the soft flesh of your neck. with a faint sigh, he inhaled deeply. taking in the scent that lazed over your skin. a fragrance that enveloped him like a shroud, has turned into a persistent reminder of home. powdery but tangy. it was enough to reduce the world to a mere murmur and make your body's warmth the focal point of attention. butterfly kisses began to make their introduction, making your hair stand up in delight. marks upon marks beginning to beautify your bronzed flesh.

“still believing that i was just imagining things, darling?” you felt yourself take in a sharp breath as his teeth trace over a particular sensitive spot. a flush of hotness enveloped your neck. the heat began making its path upwards, creeping onto your cheeks with a hue of dark maroon. “fine, fine! you’ve made your point!” as you bent forward to avoid his roguish attacks on your body, the laughter escaped your lips once more. “do you find it necessary to always want to prove yourself to be right, jayce?” your teasing remark gained the action of him shaking his head in amusement. “only when i know i am, honey. and you make it sound like you don’t relish in victory when proving me wrong fairly.” “me? relishing in victory? you must have confused me with some other lady.” “another lady? now you are just being a sweet hypocri⸻”

smooch! your lips, one of your greatest weapons, found their target. most of your fingers had taken a hold of themself at the side of his neck as you pressed him down your lips. the kiss was anything but harsh. all the bite you’ve been carrying has begun to slip out from the corner of your lips, tilting your head to the side to deepen the contact. jayce could taste it all. feel it all. the sweetness of the eaten desserts, the way his lips yield under the effort you poured behind the touch. how he felt as though he had been thrust down a long tunnel with no end in sight. he had put his hands around your arms and held on tight, being careful not to apply any force that would make you stop this dreamy, lovely moment you two were having.

his tongue continued exploring every nook and crack of your mouth, tasting and consuming the flavors that were something he could only describe as uniquely you. this kiss went beyond what one would consider mere hunger; he focused all of his might into making this kiss count. to make sure that his darling knew the depths of his enthusiasm. you felt your chest beginning to tighten from the lack of air you were getting out of the passionate snogging, and as much as you wished for the act of breathing to not be such an urgent necessity, you decided to pull away from him. a slender, shimmering string of saliva was what kept a connection between the both of you. as a quiet gasp left your kiss-swollen lips, your foreheads laid against each other, breaths blending into one, and your eyes glittered from the shared event. other than the hot jolt spreading in your chests and the whisper of what might happen next, nothing seems to matter at that time.

“d–do you want to continue this, jayce? out in the open?”

a faint squeal came out of your mouth as you felt yourself get pushed gently onto your back, large hands on the blanket, caging you beneath his body with his caramel-colored eyes that were drinking in every single detail on your face. he had a gaze like no other⸻well, that was your biased opinion regarding him. he had the kind of eyes that carried a depth within them that belittled his boyish appearance. their color seemed to reflect the mysteries of the cosmos itself. you couldn’t find the strength to pretend that you didn’t like where this path was leading you. “do i want it? my love, i want to make sure this night is unforgettable.” as he continues talking to you, you remain fixated on him, absorbing every word he utters with the kind of concentration some could describe as a little eerie. each flutter of your eyelashes caught the light, contrasting the gentle hues of your irises, creating a dance between shadow and light. it wasn't as though you were letting his words go in and out of your ears; rather, you were inwardly dissecting them to extract their essence. examining each and every heated emotion weaved through every single syllable.

“i want you to lose your mind in the most pleasurable of ways. to get drunk on the love i have for you alone. do you think you can handle that,﹙name﹚?” as he drew in close, the warmth of his breath touched your skin. he began to pepper delicate kisses all over your face and down your neck. every kiss he gave had a subtle hint of intensity, despite their overall tenderness and delicacy. every kiss from him causes a fluttering feeling across your entire body. his hands weren't doing much better as they ran over your figure in the meanwhile. exploring each line and curve with the intention of imprinting every feature of your body on his mind. he was opening your buttons one after the other. the silken fabric of your garments began to loosen over your shoulders, pushed down to reveal more of your dusky, rich skin to him, leaving you out to the warm air that did little to hide the excitement that was coursing through your veins.

“...but of course.” you answered swiftly. “who do you take me for?” as his mouth followed the line of your semi-transparent, thigh-high stockings from your ankles to the apex between the flesh of your thighs, you felt his hand seize hold of your ankles and straighten them. causing the layers of your skirt to fall over your chest. you felt a soft twitch going through your lower body as a feather-light brush of his mouth teased over the location where you wanted him to latch on the most. “can you not be such a tease!?” he was not put off by the snide tone that permeated what you were saying. it had the opposite effect instead. emboldening him to act all the more improperly than he already was; fostering the desire to misbehave. “you sound lovely when you act so bossy. if it becomes too much, tell me, okay?”

as you felt his fingers crawl beneath the textile of your underwear, his digits traced over the soaked contours of your outer lips that at this point were swollen to their maximum capacity, cupping a feel of your mound. “sha's tha pratteast theng out thera.” his words have been altered into downright gibberish by the time you felt his tongue laying flat against your cunt. his knees ached against the materials of the blanket beneath him, and his cockhead was throbbing against his briefs. while eating you out, his hands clutched and squeezed the flesh of your upper legs, which rested on his shoulders.

his tongue tip runs across the moist pair of lips between your thighs. your lower limbs twitched throughout the way his tongue licked, sucked, and occasionally left a nip on your pulsating clit. he is tempted to go deeper into your folds as your juices have started to trickle down over his wicked tongue, offering him a taste of you in the most personal way. “yo testi su guud.” ravenously slurping up the droplets of cloying desire that you had no control over. he looked up every now and again to see how much he was affecting you. his brown eyes grew darker with desire. jayce couldn't stop himself from enjoying the beautiful noises he was responsible for. your hand had a fistful of his hair pressing up farther into your pussy, your hips bucking against his mouth and the hard bone of his nose. adding more to the strong stimulation that made your dampened lips fall apart, made you feel hyper aware of the sweat that was rolling off your forehead and had your body feeling like it was placed in a pith of flames. wetting and staining his entire mouth area in the process. “damn you⸻mnhpf!” it was nearly too much. so unfair.

good grief, you could feel the man grinning while he persisted his maneuvers. he had you rushing to get past that delicious finish line simply due to his terrific technique. his pupils had dilated more than they had previously. the muscles surrounding your lower abdomen strain and shift. like a knot being pulled tighter and tighter. just ready and waiting for it to snap apart. his lungs burned from the exertion, which undoubtedly made him dizzy and caused sparks of white light to flicker in his eyes from the length of time he had spent licking between your legs. but making compromises is a necessary part of life, isn't it? moreover, it was definitely the perfect way to go out. . to see you looking so desperate for everything he could provide you one last time. “e’m nat denu yet huniy.” “i think i’m going t–to–oh gods⸻! jayce!” where there should’ve been an eruption of clear ejaculation coming, it didn’t arrive. instead you’ve received another surprise. one that had the incoming complaints die before they could take form on your tongue.

with his pants and briefs lowered sufficiently for his erection to spring free, the zipper down enough⸻the hardened flesh slapped against his hairy pelvis, leaving trails of his arousal dribbling down from the slit at his cockhead. he carefully lowered your legs off his shoulders, while he followed his action up by placing your hands onto your his, his dick kept ‘kissing’ your vagina by nudging his cockhead against your inner lips but without thrusting in, yet.

“﹙name﹚you don’t know how beautiful you look to me right now. well…you look beautiful at any moment of the day really. but right now you lok absolutely breath-taking.” his voice is heavy, raw, and utterly honest as he utters out the words. he ducked his head against yours. his hair sticking against your sweaty forehead. “my smart, beautiful, kind﹙name﹚. just look at that. the entirety of the world right in my arms.” “jayce, you absolute sap. was that truly needed?” your voice coming out as a weakened hiss as you tried hiding behind your hands but he wasn’t having any of it. “no, no. i want to see the face of the woman that makes my heart race so damn much. don’t hide it for me, please?” and who were you to not listen when that kind of tone was being used? in clear need for your favor but not a pushover per se. especially when there was something to gain from playing nice. “okay….i’ll take your words of flattery to heart. however, i’ll need you to actually start moving because i don’t know how long i can wait with your little friend rubbing against me.” and who was he not to attend to all of his lady's needs?

“easy there, hun. focus on your breathing. in and out. that’s it.” the man's deep thrusts kept your legs bouncing, as his veiny cock pushed open your thicken puckers. eliciting gasps and moans from the depths of your voice chords when he performs these movements. you firmly grasped the back of his shoulders with your fingers. your breaths mingled together as you struggled to keep up with the man by retaliating against his lengthy strokes. “you’re doing amazing.”

you could feel every vein, pulse, and thrust he delivered with his repetitive motions. he makes your warm inner walls spread apart so well via the impressive length and width of his cock. in spite of that, the true star of the evening was his immense cock's base, which obscenely kept your cunt fluttering around his thick shaft. you were soaking all over his length, creating a translucent circle of fluids that grew around the root, and wetting it heavily with your essence made it only easier to slip in and out. your jaw hung low, gasping for any crumbs of air you could get. “nghf⸻! hah!” it was driving you wild. to feel his heavy sack churn, jolt and twitch against your asshole that was squeezing onto nothing but emptiness while your pussy above it was receiving all sorts of fun.

the ecstasy that was flowing through him was only intensified by the sting of your nails as they drove into the tanned flesh of his thighs once your hands touched down there. “fuck..you are just wonderful…” he groans into your shoulder. his dick felt the pressure of your velvety passage contracting ad in return throbbed. the stretch made you feel completely full, and the veins were simply an extra bonus to the sensations you were having. “ngh! so good.” the snug enfold causing him to swallow thickly as his balls persistently tapped your asshole through his rapid maneuvers.

your earlobe was nipped by his lips, but the delicious sting was quickly relieved by his tongue. beads of cum started to form around your inner folds like cake frosting as the angry-red tip of his cock rubbed your sweet spot. smooching it, repeatedly grazing it, and causing bursts of white lights to momentarily block your eyesight. your puffy lips were bathed with his devotion.

“you are so deep in me. i love it.” you babbled. “i need you to–to go deeper.” you swallowed a lump of breath, allowing more moans to escape your moistened lips. your legs, with whatever strength you could muster in them, clung around his lion to push him down even deeper if that even were possible at this point. your body shook and twitched with a rush after each thrust. this exchange was so much more thrilling since you could see the contour of his cock completely submerged in your stomach. the amount of food you had consumed with him in the previous minutes made this encounter far more enjoyable. there was a nasty sense of satisfaction coming from having your wants tended by the man who had made it his goal to extensively impale your slit and fill it to the brim with his spunk. his tip brushing sweetly against your cervix. the vulgar kind of affection he laid down on you was making your hooded eyes go all crossed-eyed in pure, unadulterated lust.

“you want me deeper? i’ll gladly do so.” he whispered hoarsely in your ear as his movements didn’t flatter in speed. with a tiny upward curve of his eyebrow, jayce reached for your hand and placed it on the stomach area. the motion was as gentle as it was deliberate. “show me how deep you want it then.” with a slight shudder in your fingertips you brought it to a…not so reasonable level. but that didn’t stop you from being very ambitious. the little minx you were. “...think you can knock me over?” when you presented him with the challenge, he couldn't help but chuckle breathlessly. who was he to not rise up to the occasion? “knocking you over? i can do more than that. spread your legs apart for me. further. yeah, that's good.”

jayce is the kind of guy that won't stop until his objectives are done precisely. he won't make you regret giving him a bone, for sure. so, if that’s deep you want him to go? believe me when said that he will do anything to have you wholeheartedly satisfied.

the fact that his dick was back between your sobbing outer lips just fueled the yearning that was burning in your gut. through the unique position that he has you in, jayce feels him even more deeply as he thrusts up your bowels. keeping your body steady onto his figure by holding your leg up against his chest and the rest your figure remained laying on its side. your voice began to sound all the more hoarse and desperate with each loud ‘smack’, ‘twack’ and ‘plap’ pushing the need to climax at the forefront of your brain.

you took hold of the fabric of the blanket like it was a lifeline that grew more messy by the minute, your knuckles getting faintly lighter. sheer ecstasy sparked in your mind as your pulsing clit continued to be rubbed against the firm area of his fuzzy pelvis. cries and whimpers kept spouting out of your lips, eyes glassy with tears threatening to form at the corners of them. your cunt was doing such a good job on tightening around him. “hah, look at you. tightening up so well around me like a,” his voice came out hushed as he placed emphasis on his words by adding a little more vigor behind his powling. “good little vice.” your neck, which by now was covered in bite marks and hickeys, was tickled by the warmth of his breath. there isn't a single inch of your vulva that isn't completely covered with his pre-cum. jayce could feel his mouth watering as he wondered how those perked nipples would taste in his mouth, jumping up and down in his face with each thrust he delivered. damn it. that fat cunt of yours was working overtime on smothering his dick.

“ngh⸻ffuck! you’re getting a kick out of this, aren’t you?” your face has long been accepted to showing a drunken expression. a crooked grin served as the cherry on top. this man was pounding into your pussy, causing your body to become nearly unbearably hot and your head to bob. “don’t fucking stop. oh please. pleasepleaseplease.”

the temperatures have increased to a point that felt practically suffocating, turning the air around you into a shimmering, pungent mist of indecency. you had no idea what you were pleading for. to whom you were feverishly asking the question that had been pounding in your head for some time. that the gods grant you mercy⸻if only you could have him scratch that itch of having an orgasm crash over you like tidal wave. a high-pitched yelp got past your mouth before you could sniffle the noise. the repetitive kisses his big knob was leaving onto your cervix is what was the final nail in the coffin that was filled with nothing but shared ardor inside.

though the blood in your veins was speeding up in your ears, all you could truly focus on was the sound of the consistent slapping of skin against skin. goodness, the familiar tingles of his own imminent orgasm was making him go harder. tears infused with the arousal were rolling down your cheeks. “i’m⸻mngh-ph⸻hearing you sweets. i’m getting close too. please? please what, my love?”

the soft glow of the moon danced around the both of you, making your shadows stretch and intertwine. your necklace was twinkling alluringly beneath the light, each gem catching the flame’s flicker and reflecting it back. as you felt thrills of anticipation hovering over you like heavy, black clouds, your toes curled up. a rush of adrenaline ran through your veins, and your heart pounded against your ribs like a bird attempting to fly away. you had no doubt he could hear it. ‘ba bump’, ‘ba bump’, ‘ba bump’.

‘thump-bump’, ‘thump-bump’, ‘thump-bump’. don’t worry dear! he wasn’t doing any better either! “you know what i want. just ruin me. and build me up again.” you whispered to his lips; dragging him down before he could even form a reply to your statement and capturing his lips once again. like a moth that had finally arrived at the source of illumination it desperately longed for. that plea, so candied yet demanding, spurring him to use that final, strong push effectively. his shoulders shuttered wildly as his dewy balls cramped up and his arms squeezed your raised leg tightly as humanly possible.

“oh fuckin’ hell,” it simply kept coming. thick, sticky ropes of sperm flood down your eager hole, prompting to your own release to come soon after his, clobbering his dick from the top to the massive base of his groin. there were cries and moans coming from both sides as you two were liplocking. jayce made sure to include a few quick, slow thrusts to properly catch the rest of the sperm that was leaking out. because of how deeply delighted he had brought you to feel at this time, your vision was splattered with white blanks. red quickly followed, completing the sight of a kaleidoscope of colors you couldn't begin to name. in your depths, you could feel warm liquid splashing about. by now, the distinction between pleasure and pain had vanished.

he certainly did a number on you. the man drew himself out of your glistening cunt with reluctance, accompanied by a wet ‘squelch’, and took a good minute to take in what he had done to you. the sight of his dense cum, both heavy and cloudy, draining out in globs made his half-hard dick twitch in interest again. “...did i do a good job there,﹙name﹚?”

soft laughter arouse between the two of you. “well, you didn’t do horribly, jayce. excellent even. but,” you pushed yourself back up a little straighter by the back of your arms, smirking playfully. “improvement can always be made.” you made quick work of the clothing on his upper body; giving your eyes more of a show to take in. with a teasing glint in your eye, you swiftly grabbed the small cup of chocolate flan that had signs of being eaten, dipping your fingers onto the rich mixture once you had removed your gloves.

the creamy texture sat onto your digits properly while bringing it on the flesh of his chest and dragging it all over the warm surface. smearing a dollop of the sweet course over his pecs, lowering to his upper stomach and getting it down to his pelvis. his eyes winded with surprise, though he didn’t move away or told you to stop. “how about we add in a new element, hm? hold me onto my hips. i can barely feel my legs after experiencing so much of your eagerness.” “yes, ma’am.” he grabbed you by your hips and positioned you on his own as he went laying down on his back. your weight feeling like mere feathers to him. in an attempt to extract the most beautiful notes from his throat, you started to run your tongue over the brown deliciousness, and you were surprised at how splendidly he was able to sing them. filled with such crude passion.

his breath catches in his throat as he feels you flick the tip of your tongue against his erected nipple, leaving marks of your teeth onto it, sucking on it with gusto that brought tears to his eyes. it was surprising how much energy you seem to still have in you after all that had just transpired. his back arched off the piece of cloth, leaning closer to the sensual onrush of your mouth. it caused his partially stiff dick to start slowly standing up again with its tip desperately throbbing. the aftershocks of his climax still rippled through his body. “﹙name﹚can we dial it down a little? i don’t even think i got any left in me⸻” the bite on the side of his waist that you left led to the man letting out a strangled cry. you tilted your head oh so ‘innocently’, like you didn’t know what the big idea was. just plain cheeky.

“honey, i’ll give you all the time necessary for you to catch your breath. it’s just that this night is long from being over. but do stop me if things get a little too much.” you reached out for the ribbon from your head, shaking your head to tousle your hair in a preferable shape, leaning down to have your breasts pressing down against his chest⸻the brown pastry getting all over your skin. “give me your wrists, jayce.” and like the good boy you know him to be, the man didn’t break a sweat following your command. with nimble hands you made a tight enough knot with the silken fabric. “you know what word to use when things get hard, right? i want this to be good for both of us.”

“red.” you planted a kiss on his cheek in response to his remark. “good boy.”

[logosbot-tm-fics]

When Mumbo and Grian finally reunited, Grian went into what some would call "Full bird mode".

Suddenly he started to collect eggs, specifically the big dragon eggs, 32 of them to be exact. He built a nest in Mumbo's base, filling the vault with flowers and leaves.

The Hermits were rather confused as to Grian's sudden change in behaviour, whilst Mumbo watched in fascination.

He silently wondered if it had anything to do with the colourful rocks he had collected on his travels, rocks he later gave to Grian as a reunion gift.

If Mumbo were to actually look through the nest, he'd find the rocks hidden beneath leaves, as if they were highly valuable.

Truth be told, to Grian they were invaluable. Worth more than anything in the whole world. All because Mumbo gave them to him.

Not that Mumbo would understand this. He wouldn't understand why unless someone told him.

...he really needed to learn about avian courting rituals.

[consistantly-changing]

That took objectively too long to finish, but here's a detailing of Zestial

Note: this is not a redesign, it's me drawing what his outfit could look like if the show had a highly-detailed and realistic style.

Notes under cut:

Upper half:

Shift - loose fitting, short sleeves (?), grey or white, is only to make the corset comfortable to wear

Corset - men's, vest style, black possibly with dark green accents, the corset is purely shapewear and could partially work as armour if properly reinforced

Shirt - loose upper arms, buttons on forearms, wrist ruffles, high collar, blood red,

Cravat - wraps around chest, made of silk ruffles, has lace edging, tucks into vest, slightly darker red from the shirt

Vest - shoulder pads, deep neck, V-bottom, numerous buttons, dark grey

Jacket - high collar, form-fitting, buttons on wrists to ensure fit, deeper neck than vest, ends at ribs, tails on back, M-notch lapel, black

Cape - high collar, spiderweb inside, capelet attached on top (grey), hides wings. The cape has 6 vertical lines, those plus the outer edges of the cape make 8. There are six horizontal pieces of webbing on those lines, those plus the top and bottom of the cape also make 8.

Pin - spider shape, goes over cape unless cape isn't worn, then is worn on the cravat

Lower half:

Underwear - lace up at front, it contains no elastic as modern ones do

Stockings - knee high, they also contain no elastic and must be kept up with garters

Garters - rest at mid thigh

Pantaloons - poofy at thighs, form fitting on calves due to buttons, black

Belt - thick, goes beneath the vest, elaborate buckle hidden by vest, black or dark brown leather + silver buckle (the buckle is not made of silver)

Boots - black leather, very well worn, his feet are shaped like spider paws but the boots hide that

Bonus:

Hat - shortened to make it a more realistic style, red ribbon (colour match to cravat) tied around brim, the striped feather is from an overlord he felled, the second feather (original addition) is one he got from an exterminator (sources vary as to how he survived that), the skull is from an infant (he will not elaborate on the source of that), there is a small bird skull (original addition) as well. The hat is the only object he has kept his entire time in hell, hence why it is so thoroughly patched, he patched it with his own webbing

The cane he's holding is for fashion purposes (it may or may not contain a rapier)

[subbalakshmisastry]

Blue & Gold Macaws I Mimic Human Speech l Large Parrots l Mysore Zoo

[thecoiledserpent]

Can I also donate things for every planet? Or is it essentail only for the weak ones?

I dont have a problem donating things like every week for every planet when I can ofc.

:)

that's lovely! the best remedy is to feed animals, whether said planet is weak, malefic or maraka. you can't donate just about everything, but the following stated things can be, for everyone. other then that, i have a list of remedies to be done for the planets on my masterlist, check it out, it has some useful things. following animals can be fed in accordance with the planet to be remedied:

sun: birds can be fed with wheat grains, or cows with chapatis and jaggery

moon: respect mother first and foremost, otherwise no remedy will work. offering water to thirsty animals, or flour balls to fish, or feeding white cows (anything, but jaggery and chapatis are the norm)

mercury: feed green parrots, or free parrots from their cages. feeding cows with green fodder or green leaves is favourable, too. freeing little birds or parrots is highly beneficial and recommendable, especially if mercury is beneficial but afflicted in the chart. never keep little birds in your home, which will trap them.

venus: feeding cats milk, or offering candies to little girls. (don't be suspicious, please 😭 something good quality, preferably; doesn't have to be anything expensive, though). feeding fishes is also favourable.

mars: feeding gram (chana dal, small yellow pulses) or jaggery with chapati (or without it, it just makes it easier) to monkeys or cows

saturn: feeding black cows, or black dogs with buttered or oiled chapatis. feeding black dogs with milk or dog food is fine, too. just serve them, usually street dogs are better. looking after black or blue coloured fishes works, too.

rahu: feeding fishes with flour balls or fish food, or ants with a mixture of flour and grinded sugar. please offer this to ants at tree roots, to avoid making a mess and getting ants killed due to people stepping on them accidentally. looking after black or blue coloured fishes works, too.

ketu: adopting dogs or rabbits is recommended for ketu, but it is important to give them appropriate attention. if that is not possible, then feed cows and dogs with whatever you can.

i understand that in western countries it is not possible to have access to cows, in such a case, don't fret, simply do other remedies. but if its possible for some of you, then prioritise feeding cows with whatever's recommended, it always helps.

[otomehonyaku]

Diabolik Lovers Lost Eden Drama CD Translation ☽ Vol. 4 Mukami Saga ☽ Track 1・Feelings Towards Eden

Original title of this track: エデンへの想い Voiced by Sakurai Takahiro (Ruki), Suzuki Tatsuhisa (Yuma), Kishio Daisuke (Azusa), Kimura Ryōhei (Kou) English translation by @otomehonyaku Click here for the audio (as always, BIG thank you to @karleksmumskladdkaka!)

TRACK 1 ・TRACK 2 ・TRACK 3・TRACK 4・TRACK 5・AFTER STORY

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

This is the fourth volume of the Lost Eden drama CDs! I'll make separate posts for each track and update the links above as I go. I absolutely loved this first one—especially the narration by Ruki at the start of the track (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄) It was a blast to translate, so I wish you happy listening and reading along!

Please do not reuse or post my translations elsewhere or translate my work into other languages without my permission.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

00:00 Ruki: Banmaden—the Founders’ castle in the Demon World. A single woman was left behind there—Eve—who holds the most exceptional and highly sought-after blood in all of the Demon World. By orders of the First Bloods, she is waiting devotedly for someone to come and get her. Oh, she is forlorn. Hopelessly so. The biting cold of the stone castle will soon freeze over not only her body, but also her spirit. She waits and waits, endlessly, so long a time that it feels like forever. One day, out of the blue, the sounds of countless flapping wings reach her ears. Right away, she understands that her salvation is near. The flapping wings persuade her to follow them, and so she leaves the stone castle behind and follows the sounds deep into the Demon World forest. With nobody else to depend on, she lets the wings aid her on her quest to find her saviour.

01:31  Ruki: I had steeled myself for this, but when I took in the scenery with my own eyes, it still hit home. The ever-blooming flowers of Eden wilted, having lost their master and the nourishment he supplied them with. Eden’s rich waters were close to drying up. The water that had glistened with life before, sparkling like sand crystals when you cupped it with your hands, was dead. Filthy. I remembered once again, in vivid detail, that His powers had given life to this castle. Karl Heinz—the man I considered my father, the man I revered—is no longer in this world. And now we are losing Eden, too. 

02:25 Azusa: I feel a… tightness in my chest… Because of him, everything is changing… Yes… That day, we were called to Eden… We thought this was the place… that was considered paradise (1). It was the place where the seven-coloured birds would sing… Where the golden butterflies fluttered about… The place whose sweet, pleasant scent… calmed us… This place… will be gone soon… This place has been reduced to nothing…

03:52 Kou: I felt myself becoming hopeless. I probably wasn’t the only one. Because this place was our home. A place we could always return to. The place where He was always waiting for us. The man who showed us both kindness and a certain cold-hearted severity. Eden was a place we cherished unlike anything else. It was irreplaceable. But now, it looked nothing like we remembered it. It was said to be a sanctuary for the immortal, but…

04:40 Yuma: I used to think ‘home’ wasn’t a physical place, but I was reminded once again that it was quite nice to have a physical place to come home to. No matter where I looked, I saw nothing but death and decay. It made His death feel all the more real. For the first time, I realised that Eden was more important to me than I had ever thought.

05:16 Ruki: Eden has been reduced to rubble.

Kou: Stop it. Don’t say stuff like that.

Ruki: It’s the truth, isn’t it?

Yuma: It is, but you could’ve said it another way.

Ruki: Yeah.

Azusa: Ruki, doesn’t it make you sad?

Ruki: How so?

Kou: What do you mean, ‘how so’? This place was like home to us. A place where we made memories. How could you flat-out say it’s as good as ruined?

Azusa: Yeah.

Ruki: Let me turn that question around. Do you truly think this does not affect me in any way?

Kou: Of course not.

Ruki: Then you are correct. Of course I think it’s very unfortunate. Other than that, all I feel is resentment. How did it come to this? Eden must have a master. Why did He abandon his duty?

[Ruki punches a wall.]

Kou: Ruki…

Azusa: I’m sorry, Ruki… I never realised…

Yuma: We were a bit thoughtless…

Ruki: No, it’s alright. Either way, wallowing in sadness and anger will not improve this situation. We must do whatever we…

[A bat flies towards them.]

06:52 Kou: Huh? Is that a bat? It might be someone’s familiar.

Ruki: Be careful.  They might be the same species as we are, but do not let your guard down.

Azusa: It looks like it’s… holding a letter.

Yuma: Ah. I’ll take it, then. There we go.

[Yuma takes the letter from the familiar. The familiar takes off again.]

Yuma: Here.

Ruki: Thanks.

[Ruki takes the letter from Yuma.]

Ruki: Oh—this is…

Kou: Who’s it from?

Ruki: This is the Tsukinami family seal.

Azusa: It’s from… Carla?

Ruki: What on Earth could he want?

[Ruki opens the letter.]

Ruki: Ah…

Yuma: A letter from that Tsukinami bastard? That’s a surprise.

Kou: Yeah. It’s someone you would least expect a letter from.

Azusa: Ruki… What does it say?

Ruki: Hey, you three. You have to go to Banmaden. Now.

Yuma: What? Banmaden? The fuck’s goin’ on there?

Ruki: That woman—Eve—is waiting for us.

Kou: What’s Kitten doing in Banmaden? 

Ruki: I don’t know the details. Hurry. You have to go and get her right away.

Azusa: Yes… If she’s all by herself… she must be very lonely…

Yuma: I don’t know what the hell’s goin’ on, but… It can’t be helped. Let’s go.

Ruki: I’m counting on you. I will send out a familiar ahead of you to announce your arrival.

Kou: Alright!

Azusa: Wait here.

[The three brothers walk off.]

08:49 [Kou, Yuma and Azusa are flying to Banmaden. The translator is a little confused as to why they added airplane noises but thinks it’s funny to imagine that vampires sound like airplanes when they fly/levitate.]

Azusa: Still… It’s a little surprising, isn’t it?

Yuma: You mean that Tsukinami asshole?

Azusa: Yeah.

Kou: Why would that arrogant Carla want to leave Kitten in our care? Something must be wrong.

Yuma: Like what?

Kou: I’m not sure… I think it must have been an emergency. He probably had no other choice.

Azusa: I hope Eve… is alright, though…

Yuma: Ugh. Of course she is! Otherwise the guy wouldn’t have asked us to come get her, right?

Kou: Hmm…

Azusa: Oh—that’s Eve!

Yuma: See! I told you. Y’all are worrywarts. 

[Yuma dives towards Yui ahead of his brothers.]

Azusa: Yuma…! That’s not fair…

Kou: He’s calling us worrywarts, but he was clearly the most worried out of all of us.

Yuma: Huh? D’ya say something?

Kou: Nothing at all!

[Kou and Azusa follow Yuma.]

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

楽園（らくえん）: Lit. ‘paradise,’ i.e. the Japanese word for Eden.

[arthistoryanimalia]

#ManuscriptMonday :

“Solomon takes advice from the animals”

from partial copy of Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli) by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d. 1504-5), painting inscribed to Dhanu; Agra, Mughal India, c. 1595-1600.

Detached folio, ink, colours & gold on paper, Persian text in nasta`liq script with painting on recto.

Chester Beatty In 04.74

“Solomon was known for his great wisdom, and for his ability to speak with all creatures. One day, he had the opportunity to drink the water of life, and to live forever. Hesitating, he decided first to take advice from the animals and birds. They all gathered at his court, and discussed the great decision. The heron advised the king not to choose immortality. There was only enough water for one person, the bird said, so if Solomon were to drink it, then he would outlive everyone he loved.

This folio is from a copy of a highly-regarded Persian text, written by Husayn Va`izi Kashifi (d.1504-05), a preacher and scholar at the Timurid court in Herat (modern Afghanistan): <Lights of Canopus (Anvar-i Suhayli), a reworking of the animal fables Kalila and Dimna (Kalila wa Dimna)>. His patron was Amir Shaykh Suhayli, whose last name is punningly inserted into the new title. Writing in a sophisticated court style, Kashifi composed an updated version of these lively animal fables, which have a long transmission history going back to Persian, Arabic and Sanskrit texts. This manuscript was made in Mughal India, and features 96 paintings (mounted separately).”

[ranticore]

thinking about characters fursonas is always more fun to me than directly anthro-ifying them because it's not just a question of "what animal would they be" since before you can even ask that you have to figure out how they would pick a fursona, and i almost feel like that says more about a character than what animal they choose.

like. would they want an animal that represents their ideal self? something that represents how they see themself to be currently? and how well does that perception match up with these actual reality? or would they pick based on something less complicated like "favorite animal"/"movie character they liked”.

all that leadup to ask, how do you think your mvf guys would pick their fursonas?

💯💯💯 literally it's one of the most fun characterisation exercises you can do, it tells you SO much about them, how they view themselves, what they want others to think of them and so on. all that good stuff. and then you get to delve into furry subcultures, influential artists etc

so on to the actual fursoneys themselves

Jean-Baptiste - aforementioned hummingbird with a suit from idk clockworkcreature or something. the subculture/art style is realistic but very humanised, basically a bird head on a feathery human body, no wing-hands, with a Georgian style of dress (potentially with steampunk elements) and named after a famous scientist from the period. He would not be an artist, but he would be one of those ppl who's a bigtime engineer making huge money who invests heavily in commissions of art (usually traditional media like oils, colouring pencil, etc) and writing about this character, who is a kind of inventor/old-timey scientist with a highly detailed backstory and canon setting. He chose the hummingbird because it's beautiful, precise, and tenacious, and also just because he likes the 'rare fursona species' aura. He has VERY strong negative view on poodling (when someone wears a partial fursuit with their skin showing) and has been posting to the same old rp forum for the past 20 years. Rude and bitchy but one of those guys who always pays well and tips for commissions because money is no object. an important part of the economy

Bowman - exactly the opposite to everything above. His fursona is a retriever-ish dog called Dog or Mutt or something with a single-colour palette and the art style is new school big toothy grin etc. fursona exclusively wears board shorts. He draws at a beginner level and he's obviously having a blast with it. The muscles are very detailed (so's the bulge) & the art is clearly bara influenced, especially around the eyes. He wouldn't have any interest in suiting i don't think but you will find him at the furry rave in a neoprene harness. He wouldn't have much money to commission with and his twitter feed would be mostly reposts of other people's art (without permission)

Islin - ok you know that one genre of art style used exclusively by dragon furries where it's got realistic scale textures, backgrounds, and the ref sheets are usually incredibly detailed and the dragons in their anthro forms are always absurdly ripped. He can draw this, i know it in my heart. The design is pretty generic western dragon, all things considered, I don't think he has the imagination for more (sorry). Character's name is something appropriately fantasy-ish like Xyrgoryx. He could definitely take commissions as a side hustle but as a perfectionist and professional worrier it would overwhelm him easily. You would probably not find him at a convention at all, I'd say such spaces do not appeal to him. He's been on Furcadia tho.

Félix - generic twinky fox in a thin-lines washboard abs disney-inspired art style with an absurdly deep backstory which we never get to see because the character is only ever drawn being railed. He can draw but more importantly he knows how to take the commissioner's money and run, delete his account, and remake under a different username. Was able to afford a fullsuit from Made Fur You and that alone gave him enough clout to continually avoid allegations of past misbehaviour. Every so often someone goes "hey isn't that a known scammer" when they see him at a con but it never sticks. Later he would get cancelled immediately for saying he "didn't care about" right-wing furries as long as their art was cute.

Senca - Almost certainly a feline-based original species or hybrid. The art style is very goldenwolf with spiritual/neopagan influences, mostly traditional media and ACEOs in oil pastel so it's got a kind of smudgy look. Her character has the same name as her and she considers it a 'truesona' of sorts. She's an established artist and well-respected but struggles to keep up with what Tha Youth are doing and her personal website has looked the same since the year 2006. She has a realistic partial suit but doesn't wear it much anymore, preferring to vend at the dealer's den instead. She always knows way too much gossip about any given person you could point out to her but she insists she isn't involved in what she'll delicately & vaguely refer to as 'drama'.

Léa - she was attracted by the promise of easy entry into a supportive and friendly readymade community and bought an expensive Closed Species design to be her fursona. She tried to participate in events but instead got sucked into a cesspit of petty warfare between her CS community and a very similar CS with design elements that may have been inspired by hers (after all, 'dog with kinda long pointy ears and a big fluffy tail' is VERY copyrightable). She goes along with it, afraid of losing her space in the panopticon discord community by voicing a dissenting opinion and it'll eat her up from the inside. until one day she wakes up and realises she paid €400 to gossip and participate in a group that bans you from adding horns to your fursona's head (a legendary trait restricted to the CS owner and their favourite sycophants) whose main form of bonding ritual seems to be reposting their enemies' art to mock it and colour-pick to prove the palettes were copied. She explains all this to Bowman in one big tearful rant on their first offline date at Eurofurence and he helps her get away from that community.

Helena - that was her copyrighted closed species. and she IS litigious about it.

Erica - it's a pine marten in a modern sketchy "just got an ipad and procreate" style, really cute, fun design, good coordinating outfit, honestly ticks all the boxes but then 5 days after he posts that awesome themed ref sheet he's got a brand NEW fursona and this time it's a cute lil jackdaw, again lovely design all around looks great but wait no in 5 days time it's a roe deer, no wait it's an otter, it's a gecko, it's a

Pascal - a sick as hell cartoony golden eagle with an electric guitar and sunglasses and you can imagine it airbrushed onto the side of a campervan because that's where it lives. he's strictly offline, doesn't know what a furry is, never been on twitter, but he is 100% certain in his heart that this bird is a true representation of himself