#Jumping plant louse

[shunin-gumis]

Designs of Happiness - Track A14

L4mps Main Story Translation

Title: Imposed Blessings

Characters: Nagi

Summary: Nagi is working alone at his shop after abruptly leaving the Friday Film viewing. The protagonist chases after him, and he finally explains his unique predisposition.

Thank you aca @463ce6, jes @arcanecrayonn myun @/myuntachis and Niri for helping me with proofing!

Also a gentle request from me, please do listen to the chapter in-game alongside the translation if you don't do so already, the voice acting is very precious 🥺🥺

Location: Flower Laundry

Sonia: Nagi-shan, here ish all the flowers you can use! 

Nagi: …Oh no. This isn’t nearly enough.

Sonia: You came back all of a sudden from HAMA House, sho you have no right to complain! 

Nagi: Sorry. Please get whatever’s left in the storehouse too.

Sonia: Aye aye, Shir! Geez, I’ll bring back as much as I can!

*bell jingles*

Customer A: ‘Scuse me! Sorry for popping in last minute—

Nagi: Oh, that’s alright. What can I do for you?

Customer A: Just a quick question– Does the laundromat here accept IzuPay? 

Nagi: IzuPay… Ah, we don’t use that here yet. There were plans to add it as an option but it was delayed… Sorry about that.

Customer B: Darn… out of luck, huh. I guess it makes sense, not everyone would bother getting the ward’s special payment method.

Nagi: Other digital payment options are still available, and we accept cash too.

Customer A: Huh? Can’t believe there’s a laundromat that still takes cash… 

Customer A: I thought they’d all be gone with the ‘Valley of the Sky’ or somethin’. POTHARU! and all that. 

Customer B: Hey, don’t be rude… He’s standing right there, and that scene is long since over. Um, sorry about that. 

Nagi: …It’s fine. 

Nagi: (Right. I guess the film viewing would be over by now, too.)

Nagi: (...Why did I have to think about that now?)

Nagi: (I wouldn’t have lasted much longer in that situation… Just thinking about it gives me chills. I’m sorry I didn’t stick with Toi till the end, but I had no choice, I had to leave for everyone’s sake—)

Sonia: I’ve prepared the flowers for you!

Nagi: Thanks. —Let’s go, we need to leave right now.

??: Um, excuse me… 

Nagi: Oh, yes, welcome—

Momiji: Good evening… again.

Nagi: …… 

Momiji: Do you mind if we talk for a bit, Nagi-kun?

Momiji: …… 

Momiji: (I can’t believe he ran out of HAMA House during the viewing… I guess he must’ve hated it that much, huh…)

Momiji: (Maybe I was being too naive in thinking that he’d open up with enough time…) 

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: (I can’t believe she noticed I’d left… I might have messed this up worse than I’d thought. She must be annoyed with me…)

Nagi: (No, I shouldn’t jump to conclusions, maybe she’s just here to check up on me. I clearly suck at communicating with others, so that might have gotten her worried…)

Nagi: (Still, it doesn’t change the fact that I troubled the Chief… I’m worth less than a plant louse that preys on flowers. I mean, even plant lice are useful to ants, yet I’m…)

Nagi: (No one would want a Ward Mayor that’s worth less than a louse.)

Nagi: (I wanted to take responsibility and see this job through to the end, but…)

Momiji: …You see, Yodaka-san just informed me earlier. 

Nagi: Yes?

Momiji: That you haven’t slept at HAMA House even once, Nagi-kun.

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: (So he knew. He’s too sharp to slip past, huh.)

Momiji: …… 

Momiji: (Ah… He’s tensed up.)

Momiji: (I wonder if I should’ve approached it more delicately…)

Momiji: (I’d readily help him if he’d just let me know what he’s having trouble with, or if there’s something he’d like changed… But what if he says that he never wanted to be a Ward Mayor in the first place? Hrm… What should I say…)

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: (She looks really troubled… I feel guilty that she’s worried over someone like me.)

Nagi: (I should just explain everything, even if it makes me uneasy. I know it’s the right thing to do, but… If I really just blurt everything out, she’d probably think I’m some kind of weirdo.)

Nagi: (But if I keep quiet any longer, she might feel hurt instead. What should I do…)

Nagi: (...The cyclamen at the storefront just caught my eye… In flower language, they mean “resignation” and “words of parting”...)

Nagi: (And next to it are the anemone, meaning “abandonment,” and the calendula, “sorrow of parting.”)

Nagi: (I see… I get it now.)

Momiji: Um… 

Nagi: (I should… brace myself.) 

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: …If I don’t hand out flowers, it rebounds. 

Momiji: Huh?

Nagi: The other side of the Yajirobe*. 

Momiji: Uh?

Nagi: This is just a theory of mine.

Momiji: O-Okay… 

Nagi: I believe that, just like with human emotions, if a person experiences great fortune or misfortune, then they will eventually have to return to a neutral state.

Momiji: Uh huh...?

Nagi: In my case, the rebound is especially strong. If I experience any fortune, then misfortune is sure to follow soon after. 

Nagi: That’s what happened when I got caught in that bee trap before; I’m sure it’s because I’d won a set of tissue boxes the day before, at a raffle in the shopping district.

Nagi: This is my theory on the phenomenon I call “The Yajirobe of Fortune and Misfortune.”

Momiji: I-I see... It’s like when people say bad luck doesn’t last forever, or how something good is bound to follow after something bad… Is it like that?

Nagi: …Are you a genius? I feel embarrassed for making up a whole theory now. I’ll just use your explanation next time.

Momiji: No, no, I understood what you were trying to say with your Yajirobe theory.

Nagi: …To avoid having the Yajirobe go crazy, I need to avoid any situation that might make me happy, intentionally or not. 

Nagi: Even a single slice of cake is too much for me. That sort of kindness… is too much happiness for me to bear. 

Momiji: (So he’s saying the cake made him so happy that he had to avoid accepting it, and even ran out of the dorm just so he could avoid inviting misfortune…)

Nagi: But sometimes, no matter how careful I am, the happiness just piles up anyways.

Nagi: That’s when I bring these out.

Momiji: Flowers…?

Nagi: My special ability– Flower Power: Imposed Blessings*.

Momiji: …Um?

Nagi: By imbuing flowers with the energy from my accumulated happiness, I can impose the excess onto others. There's no limit to how many flowers can be handed out. The only debuff I have to suffer is embarrassment.

Momiji: (Oh…)

Momiji: (Is that why he was handing out flowers in the middle of the street the first time I met him…?)

Momiji: (Honestly, I’m not sure how much of this I’m supposed to believe… But at the very least, I can tell Nagi-kun is being serious about this.)

Momiji: I…see. So if you give away your flowers—

Nagi: The misfortune’s rebound gets weaker. 

Momiji: –The misfortune’s rebound gets weaker…… Right. 

Nagi: (As expected, she looks really confused.)

Momiji: Um, let’s see if I got this right– You felt that joining HAMA Tours, and living at HAMA House would—

Nagi: Accumulate a debt of happiness.

Momiji: Which is why you left.

Nagi: Yes. Something like–

Nagi: Something like working together, and living alongside others, just like a ‘family’... There’s no way to predict the amount of happiness I’d receive from just being there.

Momiji: (The amount of happiness…)

Nagi: Being surrounded by happiness like that… Holding hands, and shouting POTHARU together with everyone—

Nagi: It wouldn’t surprise me if an earthquake hit right after, and HAMA House ended up as a pile of rubble…! 

Momiji: …… 

Nagi: (She looks stunned. I guess that’s expected.)

Nagi: (It was just impossible for someone like me, who’s always avoided other people, to suddenly work with others and live alongside them.)

Nagi: (She probably thinks I’m a weirdo. It’s not something you can wrap your head around. It’s a natural reaction.)

Nagi: (I’ll just get myself fired right here and now, so I can return to my old lifestyle. A life with no big waves, just the mundane everyday.)

Momiji: I understand your situation now.

Nagi: …… 

Momiji: Can I have all your flowers, then? 

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: —Huh?

Momiji: You just have to reduce that, um, debt of happiness, by giving away your flowers, right?

Momiji: But it’s probably difficult for you to find people to give flowers to on a daily basis, huh?

Nagi: …Is that… where this conversation is supposed to go?

Momiji: I think so?

Momiji: Then um, maybe your costs increase because you have to give out more flowers?

Nagi: No, that’s not really a problem. I can get a good discount if I buy it in bulk, so… 

Momiji: I see. Then, it’s just a problem of who you can give your flowers to. Accosting strangers to give them flowers is probably taxing for you, and confusing for the other person too.

Momiji: But, since I know what’s going on, I can take as many flowers as you want to give away.

Nagi: I… I guess that makes sense. 

Nagi: Wouldn’t it be a bother to you…?

Momiji: Of course not. You can never have too many flowers! I mean, flowers give a feeling of a fresh beginning, you know? They’re always nice to have.

Nagi: …… 

Nagi: Here.

Momiji: Oh! A flower! Thank you very much. You popped that out like some kinda magician!

Nagi: …Flowers have always been a part of my life, before I’d even realized it. That’s why, it’s always there, right beside me, where I can reach for it whenever I want.

Momiji: Still, what a large flower! What’s it called?

Nagi: Peony.

Momiji: Aw, it’s so pretty! And it smells so good too!

Nagi: —......

Nagi: Next, this one.

Momiji: It has such a unique shape… What’s its name? 

Nagi: Serruria.

Momiji: It’s so peculiar and cute! I wonder what I should decorate with it… 

Nagi: Here.

Momiji: This is a crazy amount! It’s starting to look like a huge bouquet at this point!

Nagi: Here.

Momiji: Oh dear, the colors are clashing…!

Nagi: Here.

Momiji: I can’t see in front of me anymore…! *giggles* But—

Momiji: Thank you, Nagi-kun!

Nagi: I should be the one saying that.

Nagi: Thank you for taking on my happiness, Chief. 

Notes:

Yajirobe is a term used for Japanese balancing toys. The mechanism involves balancing the main body at a fulcrum and making sure it doesn’t tilt too far in either direction before it’s balanced again, swinging back like a pendulum.

The name of Nagi’s ‘special ability’ literally translates to “imposing happiness/good fortune onto others through giving away flowers” which is super long hence why it got changed. He’s the type to make up silly names anyways.

Flower Language:

Peony Bashfulness, Shyness

Serruria Yearning, Beautiful heart

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Masterlist

[realtattle]

Why did you let Skitter on the team?

she's got the goods (ants, bees, wasps, spiders, horntails, sawflies, beetles, weevils, cockchafers, billbugs, pillbugs, butterflies, ladybugs, fritillaries, moths, swifts, cassiflies, cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, locusts, katydids, diplurans, damselflies, dragonflies, earwigs, fleas, gnats, midges, water scorpions, slugs, aphids, cicadas, froghoppers, ground pearls, jumping plant louses, kermes, laefhoppers, mealybugs, grape phylloxera, lanternflies, cottony-cushion scales, ice bugs, mantispid, owlflies, spongillaflies, chewing lice, bird lice, rhynchophthirinans, human lice, pubic lice, mantids, mayflies, psocids, thrips, termites, strepsipterans, assassin bugs, ambush bugs, backswimmers, bat bugs, bed bugs, coreid bugs, creeping water bugs, damsel bugs, flat bugs, flower bugs, lace bugs, marsh treaders, giant water bugs, chinch bug, stinkbugs, unique-headed bugs, water boatmen, leaf insects, webspinners, bristletails, diplurans, proturans, springtails, roly polys, buffalo treehoppers, calponia harrisonfordi, bombardier beetles, vampire moths, aha has, toe bitters, tongue-eating lice, titan beetles, filbert weevils, giant wetas)

[erisunoaakaibu]

Revival - Chapter 2: First Encounter

I walked to the door leading to the Exordium, where my ascent began. The red walls were like ruins, collapsing, with green torches as light sources. The stone floor was cold and mossy, the whole place gave me chills, I could feel like anything could jump out of those piles of broken bricks and stones. The Spire was dangerous, and it had always been. There would be many enemies, be them monsters, automatons, or people with bad intentions. I would be attacked, I would get hurt, and I might even be killed.

Thoughts of death suddenly filled my mind. I wanted to live, yes, but my main purpose here was to end my suffering from the Spireblight. What if I couldn't find an answer here, and nothing could help me? Then dying wouldn't be that bad. I took a deep breath, trying to erase those thoughts out of my head. it wasn't time to think of this nonsense.

In fact, death, to me, was better than all the pain I had been suffering because of the Blight. Dryads are supposed to be beautiful creatures that look like the embodiment of the woods themselves. But I looked nothing like that, all thanks to that Spireblight. Apart from my bright green eyes, my body was... just black and light gray, with some withered brown from the thorny wreath on my head, the vines wrapped around me, and the messenger bag. But appearance wasn't my concern, it was my health that made me want to end the Blight so badly. I was almost always in pain, and even my power was also affected. I could still summon and control plants, but they were all dark and withered, just like my dying self. And when I said I was dying, I meant it. My body was so fragile, like wood infected by termites, it felt as if anything could break my body. It just kept getting weaker and weaker everyday.

Before I even knew it, I was already on the first floor. The smell of rotten woods, the dust particles in the air, the faint crackling sounds of the torches, all made a poor attempt at hiding the malice in the room. My eyes darted around, trying to locate the source of that malice energy. Immediately, I heard scuttling sounds coming out of a pile of bricks at the corner of the room. The brick pile gently moved, then I saw two hairy, louse-like creatures drawled out, one red, one green.

The battle began. Time suddenly stood still, as that 10-card deck appeared in front of me. Five of the cards were automatically drawn, and I could see the intention of the two lice on their heads. One intended to attack me, and one intended to buff itself. I felt something in my messenger bag. It was the journal, which emitted some kind of magical power. The two lice immediately got affected by it, and I could see their Strength had been reduced by one. These creatures shouldn't be a problem, I thought to myself. Just Strike them, and Defend when they attack, using the cards provided. But much to my surprise, the deck seemed to have a direct link to my mind. They felt more like the combat moves that I could use than just playing the cards, as my body moved in unison with each Attack card I played.

I raised my hand up high, ready for a Strike, and thorny, withered vines erupted from the ground. I pointed my fingers at the lice, then swiped my arm. The vines copied my motions, hitting those creatures, one by one. But then they curled up in a ball, and their hardened shells made them invulnerable to attacks. I paused and looked at the creatures, then shifted my gaze to my vines and my deck. A furrow appeared between my eyebrows, as I thought of what to do next. I was going to play another card, but I realized that I ran out of energy for the turn. I did play one Defend, but nothing really happened except for a strange number telling me how much Block I had. My turn ended, and the lice attacked me. Much to my surprise, instead of having a shield protecting me from the attack, it was I who controlled the vines to block the attack from one of the louse. I then noticed those lice had returned to their previous form, so I finished off the creatures over a few turns, then sat down on the mossy stone floor.

And just like that, three new cards appeared in front of me, waiting for me to choose one to add into my deck. "Those attacks were too weak, I will need a better attack card. Or I could use my vines to strangle the enemies so that they could die slowly… Or I can grab a better block card." I thought for a while, and decided to go for Entangling Vines to strangle the enemies. My body was weak, and taking damage wasn’t what I wanted, so a source of passive damage would be good.

Then, I remembered the journal. I didn’t know it could weaken the enemies like that, and it got me curious. I hadn’t had a chance to examine it further either, so I thought this was a good time to do so.

“For anyone who happened to find this, This journal has been enchanted with a spell that can help to aid you in the journey to the Spire. I don’t know the condition of this thing when you get it, but if it looks tattered, then this spell won’t work as well as when it was casted. In that case, the content of this would help you more. Turn to the next page for the table of contents.”

The whole journal was filled with information about possible enemies that can be encountered within the Spire, ranging from normal enemies, to elites and bosses. There were simple illustrations too, and I could tell how much danger the author had been through to write this. The spell, despite being weakened over time, still felt familiar to me. I had a feeling that I could somehow strengthen it, but I didn’t know how. That would be something for later then. I had just begun my ascent, and there was still enough time for me to figure this out.

And so, I stood up, and started moving again.

[vastayan--vigilante]

"You said it yourself, she wants you to come back."

Well, that was not the absurd nonsensical answer he was expecting; quite the opposite, in fact. It almost sounded like there was an actual process behind her thinking, like she'd jumped straight to an idea and was now patiently walking him through the hoops of whatever logic had brought her there.

Scar's brow furrowed. What did that have to do with calling him a -

"I bet you're the only person that won't get their head blown off goin' there 'n back."

Oh. Oh.

The vastaya looked over at the door to her room.

Leave. Come back.

"...Doors open both ways." He breathed out the epiphany.

It still caught him by surprise sometimes, just how smart Jinx was. Even when drugged up on painkillers and only half-awake, she was capable of scheming.

Of course, she was also crazier than a box of frogs.

"You think I should do what she wants?"

Scar felt deeply uncomfortable at the mere concept. On the one hand, it was brilliantly underhanded, to try and weaponise the very seed of weakness Sevika had been so keen to plant in him, and use it against her.

"So what if that cave louse wants someone on the inside? She just handed us the same thing if ya think about it."

On the other hand... it was insanely risky to send a recovering addict right back into the arms that had dragged him off the wagon - to make him take a long walk through temptation alley, for the sake of trying to play the enemy.

An enemy who'd gained an uncomfortably intimate knowledge into his behaviour, how his mind worked, and what his pressure points were, in the weeks she'd spent methodocally prising him apart.

"...Playing into her hands," the vastaya pointed out, after an uneasy moment's contemplation. "Very dangerous."

Jinx didn't know what it was like. He'd already relapsed once, and that didn't bode well for a scheme like this. He'd need iron-clad self restraint and focus to pull something like this off. What if he couldn’t do it?

What if he didn't come back?

What if it only made things worse?

...Oh, but it would be so, so deeply satisfying if he could pull something like this off, wouldn't it? It was a perfect shot at retribution, and to deliver the ultimate resounding 'fuck you' message.

It could be an opportunity to significantly sabotage the shimmer operation from the inside, and loosen the stranglehold on their streets.

It could make his people stop looking at him with that devastating mix of pity and wariness in their eyes.

"...Keep talking."

@just--a--jinx

"No one can know about this." (@vastayan--vigilante )

For a quiet guy, Scar sure was a loudmouth. His voice was better than the other noises. No laughing, no jeering, no replaying the horrible sound of Sevika’s arm cracking over her head. In some ways, Jinx was adamant the guy didn’t speak enough. One of the strong and silent types- that was Scar. Hell, maybe it took painful, pathetic silence to bring him out of his shell. Weird. Maybe this was Scar’s way of taking pity on her- maybe this was for all the timeout tunnel visit she’d paid him. 

Jinx felt her brow furrow, tightening the throbbing headache that permeated her sleep along with every waking moment. Wow. Thinking felt bad. Talking did too. Her room had never been so quiet. No music. No talking. Just the quiet ticking of a clock. 

Scar’s talking didn’t exactly help the headache. With her eyes closed and body swaddled in blankets, Jinx hadn’t given the Big Guy any hint that she was awake- namely because she wasn’t sure she wanted to be. But now he was talking. At least listening offered something else to focus on through each painful breath. 

Wincing against the blossoming pain that the movement brought, Jinx silently lifted a hand and drew it across her lips before flicking her wrist to the opposite side of the room. The good old zip the lip and chuck the key. Your secret is safe with me. 

It took a moment to string together the right words in her head. What were Scar’s voices saying to him now? The bad ones. He’d said it himself- everyone had them. It seemed like Scar’s were louder than usual today. 

“...It’s okay, buddy.” She croaked solemnly, blinking up at the familiar face. 

“You’ll be a great door. I believe in ya…”

[drhoz]

#1524 - Horn Lerps - Creiis sp.

The eucalypts out at the Dryandra Woodlands were absolutely INFESTED with Jumping Plant Lice, and most of them were in the genus Creiis as far as I can tell. Of all the insects I was collecting over the weekend, Psyllids outnumbered anything else about 100-to-1.

Psyllids nymphs build shelters from excreted sugar, called Lerps, and the shape of the lerp is specific to genus. The horn-shaped ones here are among the least elaborate, but are large for a psyllid. 

The plague of lerps isn’t a new thing - I’ve found reports of other population explosions at Foxes Lair and other parts of Western Australia, and it’s most likely related to the stress the trees are under. Combined with drought, a psyllid infestation can be enough to kill a tree.

One species of Psyllid, Diaphorina citri, is a serious threat to citrus crops outside Asia, because it is a vector of Citrus Greening Disease.

[sachigram]

Your jealous Shizuo prompt has me reeling, (mostly because of the posessive Shinra) <3 <3 I am now requesting Shinra purposely fanning the flames of Shizuo and Izaya's rivalry throughout high school because he doesn't want either of his friends to like each other more than they like him. Bonus points if Shizuo and Izaya do start dating after high school and Shinra is not a happy camper!

((Lol another one for the “Shinra is a creep” collection))

Shizuo sees less and less of Izaya at school.

Shinra blabs all the time about Izaya and his illegal activities. Apparently Izaya is building some kind of network with the Yakuza and other groups Shizuo despises. Sounds just like the conniving little bastard, and Shizuo only hopes Izaya gets what he deserves in the end.

Rarely, Shizuo will see Izaya in the halls at school. He still shows up for test days, aces them, and then dips out before anyone can miss him. Shizuo wonders how the hell Izaya gets away with it, but everyone seems to find Izaya charming, and Izaya has a reputation for being a genius as well as being a menace.

“He's won awards for poetry, you know?” Shinra says one afternoon, unprovoked, of course.

“That doesn't seem like the kind of thing Izaya would want us knowing,” Kadota replies, and Shinra just laughs.

“Well then he should be here to stop me!”

Shizuo tries to think of Izaya being the kind of guy to write poems. Does he paint, too? Does he spend hours in his room creating things just to destroy them later? That sounds more like Izaya.

“What's with that fond expression?” Shinra asks, turning so he can face Shizuo. He's walking backwards, and Shizuo scowls at him in return. “Do you miss Izaya-kun?”

“Do you want to die today, Shinra?”

“If you kill me, Celty will avenge me!”

“I don't think she'd mind all that much, actually,” Shizuo huffs. “I hope the flea stays gone. I hope he's dead.”

“Mm, you say that, but I think you're bored without him! You've been even quicker to anger than normal without him around,” Shinra says with a pout.

Shizuo considers this. It's true that he's more on edge when Izaya isn't here, but that's because he's waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for Izaya to come back with some catastrophe up his sleeve. Not to mention without Izaya, Shizuo doesn't have much of an outlet for his anger. He still gets in fights, but no one can really stand up to him, and most people in the school are so afraid of him that they don't even brush against him in passing.

“Shut up,” Shizuo says.

Shinra scrutinizes Shizuo's face, and then he's grinning innocently.

“He's probably plotting something for you,” Shinra says. “He really hates you, you know?”

“Shinra, come on,” Kadota says, lifting a hand. “Izaya isn't even here. Why're you trying to rile Shizuo up?”

“I'm not! I'm only saying! You're right to be on edge, Shizuo-kun, that's all. Just keep your guard up!”

Later, when Shinra breaks off from them to head home, Kadota turns to Shizuo.

“Hey, don't listen to Shinra. I don't think what he said was even true.”

“Huh?” Shizuo asks. He was thinking about what Izaya could be planning, so it takes him a moment to comprehend what Kadota said.

“It's just that he...” Kadota rubs the back of his neck as if he feels awkward. “I don't think Izaya plots every second of his time around you, you know? I'm not saying he's not an asshole to you, and I'm not saying he doesn't like to mess with you, but I really think Shinra is exaggerating. He's like that.”

“Why would he?” Shizuo asks.

“Because he has a thing for Izaya and he's worried you do, too.”

Shizuo makes a face, and Kadota laughs loudly, his hands going up in surrender.

“I'm just saying, don't read into it, okay? Don't think about Izaya so much, man, it's exactly what he wants from you.”

Kadota leaves then, and Shizuo is left frowning on the sidewalk, wondering why the hell anyone would think he has a thing for the flea.

***

The next month drags on. Exams are around the corner, and graduation not long after that. They're all pretty busy, and Shizuo enjoys the peace of not being jumped around every corner of the city. Apparently even Izaya is too busy to scheme anything.

Shizuo is on his way home one day when something hits him in the back of his head. He growls and turns, catching the object before it can hit the ground. It's a candy bar?

“Hi there, Shizu-chan!” Izaya lilts. Shizuo growls at him.

“Why the fuck did you throw this at me?”

“Someone gave it to me and I don't care for that kind of chocolate. You like sweets, don't you?” Izaya asks.

“You poisoned it,” Shizuo says.

“It's in the wrapper, you idiot. Fine, don't eat it then. Don't say I never tried to be nice to you!” Izaya sighs dramatically and hunches over like he might fall in the floor. “To think, I spent my own money on that.”

“You just said someone gave it to you.”

“Did I?” Izaya grins. “Ah, well. Someone spent their money on it.”

“Where the hell have you been? Are you trying to flunk out or something?” Shizuo asks. Izaya looks good, which isn't unusual, but he also looks well-rested for a change.

“Been busy, you know? Besides, there's no risk of me flunking. What's wrong, Shizu-chan, have you missed me?” Izaya bats his eyelashes, and Shizuo throws the chocolate bar back at him.

“Fuck off. I've actually enjoyed you being gone.”

“How cruel! You really do take me for granted!”

Shizuo huffs and starts to tell Izaya to go to Hell, but suddenly Shinra is there, tackling Izaya from behind.

“Izaya-kun! You haven't even been answering your phone!” Shinra says, his arms around Izaya's waist. “Maybe I was worried about you!”

“As if you worry about anyone other than yourself and your girlfriend,” Izaya says.

Shinra looks from Izaya to Shizuo. “Are you guys fighting already?”

“Of course we are! Shizu-chan likes to fight with me, don't you, Shizu-chan?” Izaya asks.

“I hate everything about you,” Shizuo replies, his eyes still on Shinra's arms around Izaya.

“Isn't he charming?” Izaya asks Shinra, and then he's allowing himself to be dragged away. They pass by Shizuo, who lets them go, and Shizuo is in a bad mood for his entire walk home.

Later on, when he's changing from his uniform, he blinks in surprise as he feels something in his pocket. It's that damned candy bar. Izaya must have slipped it into his pants pocket when he passed by. Shizuo looks it over, unwraps it, and takes a bite.

It's actually his favorite kind.

***

The next day, he sees Izaya again.  

Izaya is easy to find, is set up in an empty classroom, a book in his hands. Shizuo stomps towards him, yanks the book away, and throws it out the window.

“Shizu-chan, I know the thought of learning infuriates you, but does the thought of others learning really piss you off so much, too?”

“Shut the hell up. What are you doing in here?”

“Well, I was reading...”

“Cut the shit.” Shizuo leans onto the desk, eyeing Izaya suspiciously. “What are you plotting, huh? It's been too quiet lately, and I don't trust it.”

Izaya blinks and tilts his head to the side.

Cute.

The thought makes Shizuo angry, and he winds up smacking the desk so it tips over.

“When I bother you, you get angry, and when I don't bother you, you get angry,” Izaya says, pouting. “I think anger is just your default. Maybe you shouldn't blame other people for making you feel that way when it's clear you just like being angry.”

Shizuo cracks his knuckles. “You want me to throw you after your book? You could be reunited in no time, you shitty louse.” He swings at Izaya, but Izaya sinks into the chair to dodge it, does some swanky little maneuver that has him sprinting out of the classroom. Shizuo chases after him, a wide smile on his face.

The other students clear the way for them, a few of them cheering. Shizuo and Izaya are infamous for this kind of thing, and the fact it's been so long only makes it more fun. Shizuo can't deny he likes chasing after Izaya, especially because catching him seems impossible. Shizuo doesn't worry about hurting him, doesn't worry about holding back.

He wonders if Izaya finds it fun, too.

They wind up outside the school, Shizuo throwing rocks at Izaya, who keeps dodging them, cackling as he does so. It occurs to Shizuo that they're really only playing around at this point, and that's when a teacher marches outside to yell at them. Izaya waggles his eyebrows at Shizuo over the teacher's shoulder, and Shizuo bites his lip to keep from laughing.

That afternoon, Shizuo finds himself walking alongside Izaya, Shinra, and Kadota. Shinra and Kadota are talking to Izaya about tests and school, and Shinra's hand is curled into Izaya's sleeve.

Shizuo speaks before he can think about it.

“Do you have to always be so goddamn touchy?”

“Ah, this again?” Shinra asks. “Does it really bother you so much?”

“You're in love with Celty. You shouldn't act like you're in love with Izaya, too.”

A silence hangs between them, but Izaya is smirking. Of course he is.

“Love!” Shinra laughs. “As if it's love! I told you already that Izaya is just mine! There's no love to it.”

“You really aren't nice, Shinra,” Izaya says, though he doesn't seem affected at all. “You've got the personality of a goblin.”

“Now that's not nice,” Shinra replies, and he hugs Izaya's arm. “You like my personality!”

“It is kind of weird,” Kadota says, putting a calming hand on Shizuo's shoulder. “What does that even mean, that Izaya is yours?”

“It means he's mine! He doesn't like anyone else, and Celty won't accept my feelings just yet, so why shouldn't I have someone around that I like?” Shinra frowns like he doesn't get it, but then he goes back to nuzzling into Izaya, who tries to push him away to no avail. “Izaya-kun is pretty! And he's cuddly once you get past the sharp edges.”

“I will slit your throat and feed you to the plants.”

“You won't!”

“Whatever, man. It really is weird,” Kadota says with a shrug.

“Well, it doesn't concern either of you anyway,” Shinra says matter-of-factly. He tugs Izaya along, and Shizuo is so blinded by rage that he almost knocks over an unassuming businessman.

That night, Shizuo is pacing around the living room, angry for reasons he doesn't understand. Kasuka is watching with a bored expression.

“It's just fucking weird! How can you claim ownership of someone? Isn't it creepy? It's fucking creepy!” Shizuo grumbles and throws his hands up.

“Why does it bother you so much?” Kasuka asks. “If Izaya-san doesn't mind it, why do you?”

“Because!” Shizuo snaps. He doesn't elaborate, but Kasuka nods anyway.

“I see.”

“See what?”

“You like Izaya-san.”

If it was anyone else, Shizuo would snap their neck, but instead he freezes in place and stares at his little brother.

“What'd you say?” he asks.

“You like Izaya-san. It's kind of obvious, I guess. I just didn't think you liked him this much,” Kasuka says.

“I do not like that fucking—“

“Don't you?” Kasuka asks, and then he takes a sip of the tea he brought with him.

Shizuo opens his mouth, closes it again, and then roars in wordless rage. His mother rushes into the room and chastises him, so he goes into his room and screams into his pillow instead.

***

A few days pass before he sees Izaya again.

Izaya is in that same classroom, and when Shizuo enters, Izaya holds his book to him warily.

“This is a first edition, Shizu-chan, so if you throw this one, I'll be pretty—“

“You shouldn't let Shinra touch you like that. You know I hate it.”

“...Huh?”

“I told you before that I don't like it! He shouldn't claim ownership of you! Why do you let him? Doesn't it bother you?! He does it like you're not even a real person, like you're a doll!”

“Shizu-chan—“

“Does he do it just to piss me off?! Is that what it's about?! I'll kill him! I'll kill him and you!”

Izaya stands, and before Shizuo can say anything else, he feels soft pressure against his mouth. He blinks and pulls back to see Izaya is grinning, his face flushed.

“You're jealous,” Izaya says, and Shizuo growls, pulls Izaya into another kiss before he can think better of it.

“Don't like it,” Shizuo murmurs between their lips meeting. “Don't like it at all...”

“Why's that, Shizu-chan?” Izaya asks, and he nips Shizuo's lip playfully.

“You fucking know why.”

He presses Izaya into the wall and devours his mouth, loves the way Izaya curls around him. It seems so simple now that they're kissing like this. Shizuo doesn't know how he didn't realize sooner that this is what he wanted.

“You don't want to share?” Izaya asks, and he laughs softly. “Selfish, aren't you?”

Shizuo kisses him again in answer, and Izaya shuts up instantly. That's a handy trick. Shizuo will definitely remember it.

When the day ends, and they're leaving the school together, Shizuo's eyes narrow as Shinra takes his usual spot beside Izaya and clings to his arm. With a growl, Shizuo lifts Izaya, pulling him into his own side.

“Touch him again and I'll break your arms,” he says to Shinra, who pouts very openly, wailing something about them not being allowed to like each other until Celty returns his feelings. Shizuo ignores him and focuses instead on the way Izaya feels beside him, exactly where he belongs.

[shadydreamerdonut]

@miss-atropine Thank you for indulging my creative fantasies. Apologies for it being obscenely long. Vampire Nellie and Werewolf Sweeney. 

All was quiet except for the crackling of a flame in the fireplace. Casting the parlor room in warm, soft orange light. Mrs. Lovett watched with a smile as Toby slept peacefully on the futon that she’d setup for them on the floor. The dog that they had adopted spooned against him for warmth. Once she was certain that nobody would be lurking the ominous London streets, she moved to grab her cloak and head out into midnight darkness. Silent and frigid. The wind cold against her cheeks. Only Sweeney knew about her witching hour endeavors to the nearby cemetery. Along with the conventional characteristics she inherited as a vampire, a skill unique to her surfaced. Mrs. Lovett could see and communicate with ghosts. Initially afraid that Sweeney would not believe her. The maniacal barber reassured her with a mask of indifference. That he had no reason to doubt this revelation. And to her surprise was already aware of these evening ventures. Then it clicked to the petite redhead, that poor git never slept a wink.

Obviously he would see her depart from the shop doors every night. He only had one question. Had she ever seen Lucy. Mrs. Lovett looked down, her face paling. No, she admitted. But explained to him that meant his wife was at peace. He appeared to take comfort from that.

What she sought to do during these cemetery trips was to visit with these unassuaged ghosts and help them find the peace to move forward. Gifting a child a treasured toy that they missed and needed to finally rest soundly. Maybe for somebody older, it would be a family portrait. Or the wedding band that had been robbed from them. The ability of stealth made it easy for her to go and acquire these objects for them. Sometimes, they just needed help finding a loved one so that they could give them a proper goodbye. Many of these disturbed souls, now would flock to her.

Hoping that the petite redhead could help fulfill their deepest wishes. As understandably, they were weary and longed for slumber. That evening, she had just finished talking to a wrinkled and elderly man about his wish to sing to his wife, at least once more. She held their hand as they spoke, their voice thick with tears. Planting the lightest kiss on their temple, promising that they could go now and find them. Especially if he remembered his residence which he did. The baker warned him that his wife may not live there anymore but that there was no harm in checking. She found even more fulfillment in this work than she did in baking for customers. And sometimes, they ghosts would offer a gift in return. A little girl once gave her a drawing that they had colored on a crinkled page of parchment. It was one of her most cherished positions. A sudden rustling behind the trees pulled her from the conversation she was having with the older man. Ghosts did not make noises, they could speak. But because they no longer lived in materialized forms, their roaming about was soundless. It was probably just a small animal but it still put her on edge, chewing on her bottom lip. The threat of being jumped was always there. But she had been lucky so far to never have to encounter it. At least, until tonight.

Men, more than one chuckled. Full of mirth. Mrs. Lovett’s stomach did a summersault but she didn’t falter or move from her spot. Calling out “Show yourselves! Jelly-boned little louses.” Their laughter stopped and the baker reached for the side pocket of her skirt, pulling out a scalpel. A meat cleaver was always too unwieldy to carry around or use to deskin corpses.

“Please…be careful.” The elderly widower whispered to her, placing an affectionate hand on her shoulder.

She gave them a loving smile. “Don’t worry.”

Standing, wincing a bit as her knees protested. Stepping toward where she had heard the goons. Soon letting out a blood-curling shriek, as an arm wrapped around her middle and forcefully pulled her back. Her head lolled back against their shoulder then she hurried to wriggle free. Taking the scalpel and blindly aiming for their arm, dragging the blade against their skin. Hearing them cry out in pain. Their hold faltering enough for her to scurry forward. Nearly tripping over her own feet on the uneven terrain.

Heavy footsteps of the other foes loud between her ears. She couldn’t escape them all. Mrs. Lovett would be damned if she didn’t at least try, she decided adamantly. Deciding running would be fruitless so she held the scalpel close, ready to retaliate. Not expecting another sudden attack from behind as they yanked the petite woman back by her long red curls. Gasping loudly, the pain disorienting her as they pulled her to the tree, pinning her with a strong hand around her neck, jagged nails digging into her skin. Before Mrs. Lovett could pull free the hand wielding her scalpel, they – seemingly out of nowhere – drove a stake right beside her head. The snap of the wood cracking made her jump. Dropping her only weapon as she was filled with dread. A wave of nausea washing over her. They knew she was a vampire.

His breath was hot against her and she already felt like she was suffocating, he moved his hand from her neck but still had a unwavering hold on her, another person from behind began tying her hands together and using another stake to pin them above her head. So dizzy, that if it weren’t for the ropes and men holding her upright, she was certain she would fall face forward.

Before beginning their assault, they held a clove of garlic up to her nose and laughed out how just an inhale of the deplorable stench brought on a coughing fit. She wheezed, struggling to catch her breath. A moment later she could hear was the pounding of her own heart, deafeningly between her ears as a leather-gloved hand began to hitch up her skirts.

Mrs. Lovett looked up, her vision blurred with tears as she struggled to blink them back. Beams of the full moon fell on her face, she swallowed hard. The trees whistled. And there was a loud howl in the distance. “Sweeney…” She whispered hoarsely.

[fruitworldmedia]

What you need to know about the Citrus Disease

What you need to know about the Citrus Disease

Marie A. C. Langham South Dakota State University

In recent years, Florida’s $9 billion commercial citrus industry has been damaged by an outbreak of citrus canker (Fig. 1), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri. The industry has lost millions of dollars due to reduced citrus yields, undesirability of infected fruit, loss of markets for nursery stock, and removal of infected citrus trees.…

[gilbirda]

Human courting is confusing. Chapter 29

Warning: mentions of blood. In case people feel uncomfortable with the issue.

[FF.net][AO3]

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Chapter 29: Doing something sweet    

“Not yet, slug.”

“Why not?” she complained, pouting.

“Because I don’t want to. And less talking and more staying still,” he ordered as he pulled her hands once again, tying them with the looped rope in his hands to perform a single knot. He could do intricate loops with his eyes closed, always with the perfect amount of tightness, not really worried about messing up in any way. He could always cut them with his claws.

Yako supposed that it was a perk of having a demon boyfriend.

“What are going to do toda-?”

“No talking,” he interrupted her as he finished the last knot and cut the rope, his sharp eyes analyzing his work.

“But-”

In a swift movement he silenced her with a kiss and pushed her back to the bed before she could register what just happened.

“Hey!”

“Turn around.”

With a dramatic sigh she did as was told, not really trying to be mad at him. Both knew that she trusted him not to do anything potentially dangerous and that she lowkey liked when he was all bossy in this situations.

She hummed a tune as she felt his hands work on her ankles and knees, letting herself feel the subtle caresses each time he lifted them to loop the rope around her soft limbs. It was a language they both talked between them, no words needed when your mate could see your intentions in your eyes. Each time he planted a soft kiss on her feet or on her thighs, she knew he loved her without needing him to actually say it. Her initial fears of being trapped in a one-sided relationship were vanquished after she learned how to speak without words and understood every action the demon did around her.

It was sweet, in a way, to share a secret language with your significant other.

“Don’t fall asleep on me, louse,” Neuro pinched her butt and Yako jumped on her place on the bed.

“I wasn’t sleeping. What a way to kill the mood,” she grumbled the last part to the mattress.

“I heard you.”

***

Several minutes later the human found herself completely immobilized in a kneeling position that wasn’t new for her. Her wrists were tied together and to a long rope that went all the way to the ceiling, her ankles tightly attached to her thighs so that her legs were forced open over the soft fabric of the bed.

“You are being pretty unoriginal today,” she commented.

“Keep talking and I’ll gag you,” Neuro answered taking a step back to admire his handiwork. Yako was giving him the full view of her pink lace underwear that matched the negligée, a damp spot in the center of the cloth. Her tied hands were over her head, curving her body in a delicious way.

“I thought you said you wanted to hear me,” she retorted and turned her head as much as she could to give him a tantalizing look. Neuro cocked an eyebrow.

“Oh, but I do,” he approached her and stood in front of the bed in a spot where she couldn’t see him. That’s why, when he gently placed his fingers on her burning pussy, she made a little surprised sound.

But he didn’t stop there. He pressed a finger in the covered private place, smiling as the human squirmed trying to close her legs but being unable to. If she tried to move an inch he pressed even more on the spot and she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction, at least not so soon.

“Stop that,” he reprimanded, his other hand caressing softly upwards over the fabric of her clothes, “you know we both like your sounds.”

She refused to answer, choosing to close her eyes instead and letting herself feel the distant touch of her husband on her sensitive skin (probably because of the overload of demon energy on her system). She wished she didn’t have the negligée on and that Neuro didn’t have gloves on. Sure, his claw-like nails would hurt and pierce her skin, but his hands were warm and deliciously rough, and she enjoyed them very much when he decided to rid of the clothes that covered them

And without her realizing, the demon did just that. Neuro slowly lifted his other hand so he grabbed her hips with little pressure, just enough to pull up the silky lingerie that covered his wife’s back and revealing healed skin without any mark on it, at least not from a wound of his making. Sometimes he stopped to recount the ones he recalled from their early detective adventures, tracing the constellation they did among her natural beauty marks; but today he decided to take a different approach. Not that he didn't adore his wife's body any less.

With his teeth he took off one glove as he used his other hand to keep the back of the negligée up near her shoulders, unceremoniously placing his inhuman claws on her soft skin and marveling at the texture. Yako usually complained that this was ticklish, but so far she hadn't made a move to avoid him. He took her soft sigh as a signal to proceed and caressed her back with a little bit of pressure, just enough to make her feel the edge but not draw blood.

“Hm,” she closed her eyes and straightened her back, barely pressing herself against the claws on her skin.

Neuro frowned and tried again, putting slightly more force on his hand, this time drawing a thin line of blood in a superficial wound that he could easily heal… but that this time seemed to heal itself.

“Does that feel good?” He asked softly, trying not to break the mood.

“Hm… yeah,” she said, her eyes still closed. “A bit ticklish still, though.”

This made the demon stop in his tracks, knowing now that something was off about his mate. She couldn’t heal herself before, not even a tiny cut on her lip, so this new development caught his attention in a lot of ways.

This could change everything!

“Tell me how this feels,” he instructed before proceeding to dig his claws on her skin, making the blood flow.

“I can feel the pressure,” she turned her head to look at him, “but it doesn’t bother me much. Why?”

“Good,” he ignored her question and moved his hand down a bit, opening a wound that was deep. In another time he would feel bad for hurting her like this, but the slash started to close itself not a second after he moved. And Yako shivered under his hands, suppressing a moan. He arched an eyebrow.

“What - What are you doing?” she asked and tried to look at what his hands were doing to her skin, catching a glimpse of red. “Is that blood!?” Yako trashed on her binds. “What the fuck, Neuro!”

“Calm down, slug. You didn’t feel anything, right?” Neuro hastily said, one calming hand on her hip to stop her from hurting herself.

“But-!” she was interrupted when he dig his claws on her skin once more, this time somewhere near her elbow where she could see, sending an electric current to her core. It felt like when he touched her boobs, but weird. It was like her whole skin was full of nerves, ready to send mixed signals to her brain. Pain wasn’t pleasure, at least not like this, right?

“You like this, don't you?” he smirked, bending down to lick some of the blood that was oozing from the already closing wound. Once he cleaned her skin, he pulled back and watched in awe how her back was as soft and milky as it has always been, not a single mark of what he did on it.

“I.... I- I do,” Yako whispered, looking elsewhere with a blush on her cheeks. Damn her and her sub instincts!

“Do you want me to keep doing this?” he teased her back with the tip of a claw, this time carefully drawing swirls and circles on it, with a hungry look in his shining green eyes. She knew what he was thinking. He always had to keep himself in check so he wouldn’t do anything unnecessarily painful to her. They always had to stop before she was seriously hurt, and it always marked a limit in their sexy times.

But such a restrain wasn’t there anymore. Ironically enough, with her hands tied above her head, Yako felt liberated. Free. She wasn’t human anymore, and the differences between her and her husband, her mate, were minimal.

On the back of her mind she remembered the words on the Advanced Book of Spells, saying that on the mating night, the human was at the peak of demon condition. She wouldn’t be able to be like this anymore, she wouldn’t be this close to what could be a full sexual experience with Neuro, the demon.

The answer came easily to her.

“Yes. Let’s do this.”

***

At first it has been scary, facing the pain as a source of pleasure. She had never experienced pain this way, not like something she could analize in her mind and forget the bad that came with pain. She didn’t even had to make a conscious effort to enjoy it!

They started easy. Neuro took out one of the toys he brought from the World Above, a flogger, and gave her a few tentative flicks with it in different areas, asking which one she liked most. The-not-so-human-anymore Yako bit her lips waiting for the pain… that never came.

She couldn’t help herself, she laughed at the absence of the thing that scared her. It wasn’t on purpose, she swears, she just felt high in the realization.

“What are you laughing for, slave?” the demon caught her jaw in his still gloved hand and made her look into his eyes. She bit her lip and smiled with the remains of the laughter in her system, her eyes swirling with a shine of her own.

“Nothing,” her voice came a bit weird as she couldn’t open her mouth very well.

“Is this funny to you?” he looked down at her with disdain, but there was a slight smirk on his lips. “Being punished brings you joy?”

“Uh-huh,” she wanted to shake her head.

“Silly girl. Lying to me is of no use. I thought you knew that already.”

“Whatever you say,” she wanted to roll her eyes for a better effect, but she found herself then attacked by the demon’s lips, who was demanding her whole attention and her body as well by the way his hands found their place on her bottom. “Hng!” she yelped in surprise at the feel of his tongue forcing its way on her mouth.

She didn’t know what to focus her mind on, the way his tongue was ravishing her mouth and his sharp teeth bit her just in the right places; or how his hands gripped her butt with so much force that they pushed her up until he was the only thing taking her weight.

She fought back for freedom, at least as much as you could when you couldn’t really move, trashing her head to the sides and pushing back his tongue with all her might.

“Ungrateful slave,” he whispered with his lips barely separated from hers. She took the opportunity to take a deep breath.

Then, she laughed again and bit him in the lips.

[ericmhe]

Godzilla Series Rewatch

Godzilla Returns

Previously I'd only ever seen this as Godzilla 1985 when I was a lot younger. Since I came in on the Showa Vs movies and wasn't old enough to grasp anything political in these movies I had regarded the Godzilla solo movies as rather boring. Seeing Godzilla smash through buildings was kind of fun, though not quite as fun as pretending to BE Godzilla as I stomped through dried out corn stalks in our garden. Somehow conflicts with the military were paradoxically boring because they were one sided, yet frustrating if they weren't so I always wanted them to be about monsters, preferably teams of monsters.

The one thing I did really like about this movie was weirdly enough the mutant sea louse. Ecosystems and animal interactions like mutualism are just interesting to me and while this creature is just a little parasite, it does hint at a world bigger and more interesting than one lone giant monster. I absolutely do not remember it flying all over the room though, was that trimmed down in the 1985 edit or is it just really silly of me to forget that somehow?

It's really easy to feel like Super X is a bizarre jump into Sci-Fi since there's the pattern where Godzilla movies starting grounded and getting more outlandish with time despite the fact that it's the second movie in its own continuity. I think it somehow feels more like a reboot than sequel to me somehow, which I don't fully understand but the fact they don't really acknowledge the original Godzilla's death or take the time to retcon it likely has a lot to do with it.

So in this movie Godzilla: passes by a boat and a little parasite riding him kills the crew, he destroys a Soviet submarine, attacks a nuclear plant and leaves, then has a bit of a mainland rampage before being lured away and dropped in a volcano. Even with the Cold War issues making it a bigger international deal than the original Gojira, I can't help but feel like it's a downgrade on Godzilla, which started with boat after boat to the island scenes to the utter destruction of Tokyo. The effects depicting the destruction scenes are improved for sure, but the scale has come down and they even succeed in stopping Godzilla for a time.

I also didn't remember Super X lasting so long with its floating between buildings and strafing Godzilla when it's out in the open. Was that cut down or did I just forget the more visually goofy parts of this movie?

All in all I think as an adult, if I did scores, I would go for the middle of the scale on this one. I have more patience and understanding than I did as a kid, but it wasn't quite enough to rate this movie highly.

[exquisitley-obsessed]

The Three Women Of Durin - Master of the House (21)

MASTERLIST FOR THS STORY

(not my gif)

The company were gathering around the fire for their last night in Beorn’s house, they were packed and prepared to leave so they could enjoy their last night. Bofur had just finished telling a particularly funny story when Kili had fallen off the back of his stool with laughter.

“That, was, brilliant!” Frankie gasped through laughter, watching as Kili’s legs flailed in the air. The group quietened down and gave dozy smiles of tiredness, the stars above them shining brightly.

“I want to hear more of your music,” Ori spoke up smiling at Rosie with a slight blush on his cheeks.

“Sure,” Rosie said reaching over for her phone.

“No,” Ori suddenly said, “Sing something,” He smiled, this time Rosie blushed.

“I um, I don’t sing,” She said shyly.

“Say’s the girl who got the main role in school’s Les Miserables,” Frankie rolled her eyes.

“Okay, it’s a small school and they were desperate,” Rosie sighed back.

“You can still remember the song though,” Cece spoke up.

“I would rather sing a song with you guys though,” Rosie answered shyly.

“Master of the house?” Frankie raised an eyebrow.

“Of course,” Rosie winked.

“Master of the house, doling out the charm, Ready with a handshake and an open palm, Tells a saucy tale, makes a little stir, Customers appreciate a bon-viveur,” Frankie sprung into a song, the company (even Thorin) mighty interested in the song.

“Glad to do a friend a favour, Doesn't cost me to be nice, But nothing gets you nothing, Everything has got a little price!” Cece took over, standing up and gesturing to the company as if she was on stage.

“Master of the house, keeper of the zoo, Ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two, Watering the wine, making up the weight, Pickin' up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight,” Rosie joined in and she, without him noticing, pulled a handkerchief out of Bilbo’s pocket and then dangling it in front of his face.

“Everybody loves a landlord, Everybody's bosom friend, I do whatever pleases, Jesus! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!” Frankie winked as she dissolved into large laughter as some of the dwarves tried to join in, all though it was obvious they had no clue. They continued to dance like drunks, the firelight painting their moving shadows on the sky above them. A moment of pure joy

Then Frankie, in one movement, picked up a small button off the floor and chucked it at Kili.

“Oh, sorry love, must get something done ‘bout that,” She said looking up into the empty sky. She then sat down next to him a looked dreamily, obviously all an act, the girls simply continued to pretend that they were currently in an inn.

“I used to dream that I would meet a prince, But God Almighty, have you seen what's happened since?” Frankie sang before turning and looking at Bombur who widened his eyes whilst Kili looked scared as hell.

“Master of the house? Isn't worth my spit! Comforter, philosopher' and lifelong shit!” Frankie continued to sing before sliding into the lap of Kili whilst the whole of the company sat, very unsure of how to react. Rosie watched with enjoyment and Thorin was torn between being angry and amused.

“Cunning little brain, regular Voltaire, Thinks he's quite a lover but there's not much there,” She winked leaning in, Kili was as red as a cherry.

“What a cruel trick of nature landed me with such a louse, God knows how I've lasted living with this bastard in the house!” She rushed before pulling something out of Kili’s pocket without him noticing, chucking it the Rosie before planting a small kiss on his cheek.

“Master of the house!” Cece called standing on a chair.

“Master and a half!” Rosie called back.

“Comforter, philosopher,” Cece replied, jumping back down.

“Don't make me laugh!” Rosie rolled her eyes.

“Servant to the poor, butler to the great!” Frankie and Cece called walking forward to Rosie before retreating.

“Hypocrite and toady and inebriate!” Rosie replied, walking half-way across the small gathering before retreating.

“Everybody bless the landlord!” They responded.

“Everybody bless his spouse!” Rosie cried back.

“Everybody raise a glass!” Frankie cried throwing a glass in the air.

“Raise it up the master's arse!” Rosie called standing on a chair.

“Everybody raise a glass to the Master of the House!” The three girls called together before dissolving into laughter, how had they remembered that song after all these years? The company appeared lost for words at what they had just witnessed. The company were silent for a while, taking in what they just witnessed.

"Next time, just don’t ask," Dori said nudging Ori who simply nodded back, a content smile on his face.

It was morning and the company were set and prepared to leave Beorn's house, abroad ponies with their bags full of supplies to get them through the next few days. Gandalf bid his farewells to Beorn and so did the girls, thanking him for his kind hospitality. They then set off, understanding that the lands they would cross were riddled with orcs, they moved quickly, not necessarily quietly, but fast enough to get to the opening of Mirkwood in a half-hour.

You could feel the sickness even before you entered. The forest radiated something which would course through your body making every cell feel sick. It was like a fire of disease, pulsing through you, the heat attacking your skin. The girls pulled their bags off their ponies before handing the reigns to Dori who handed them over to someone else. Wearily they walked into the opening where they came face to face with an eroded statue of an elf.

"Is this his wife?" Frankie asked, running her fingers over the intricate pattern, she didn't even need to say his name for the girls to know who she was talking about.

“I believe so,” Cece whispered next to her. Gandalf walked further, no doubt about to reveal the mark on the stone statue. The girls shivered and walked away, waiting for Gandalf’s reveal. Gandalf pulled away some ivory to reveal what he feared. He muttered something to himself before turning and walking away.

“Not my horse! I need it!” Gandalf cried as Nori was about to untie the horse’s reigns.

“You’re not leaving us,” Bilbo sighed.

“I believe our wizard has somewhere more important to be,” Cece said as she walked closer to Gandalf giving him a knowing look. The girls watched intently as Bilbo was about to reveal his secret in the form of a small golden ring.

“Do not enter that mountain without me, do not touch the water, the air in this forest is heavy with illusion, it will seek to enter your mind, you must not let it,” Gandalf said before climbing his horse.

“Don’t worry Gandalf, we will take good care,” Frankie said will an all-knowing tone, Gandalf looked as if he didn’t trust the girls.

“Good. Farewell,” He said before turning his horse around and riding away, the company turned to the girls.

“You have nothing to fear,” Rosie smiled, the girls watched as the company noticeably showed their relief, believing that the girls were somehow telling them that they would not befall any trouble in these woods. Man…Thorin was going to be pissed, it would be the Goblin cave all over again.

“Keep an eye out, do not let the sickness seep into your brain,” Thorin called as he entered the elven gate. The company formed a line and they plunged into the dark forest, a low-level fear piercing the hearts of all. Here we go.

[saltycharacters]

[ID: Screenshot of this post's comment section, showcasing a series of "yes" and other affirmative comments. End ID]

Ok thank you all for letting me indulge,,,,, so these r all of my crustacean pins, which include pillbugs/isopods, trilobites, crabs, and crayfish :] Fun fact, the bottom left isopod and bottom right yeti crab glow in the dark

[ID: A photograph of 11 enamel pins on a white cloth, including 2 rubber ducky isopods, 3 common pillbugs, 1 tongue-eating louse isopod, 1 unidentified isopod, 2 trilobites, 1 blue crayfish, and 1 yeti crab. End ID]

Next is my "pest" pins, which include all of my cockroach, fly, mosquito, and silverfish pins. My favorite is the far left cockroach bc it's gorgeous and also the antennas move :]

[Image ID: A photograph of 9 mostly enamel pins on a white cloth, which includes 3 cockroaches, 4 flies, 1 mosquito and 1 silverfish. End ID]

These are some of my beetle and all of my arachnid pins, plus a cute little "look after the little things" pin!!!

[ID: A photograph of 10 enamel pins on a white cloth, which feature 2 anatomical heart stag beetles, 1 normal stag beetle, 2 travel themed beetles, 1 golden target tortoise beetle, 1 pin covered in little bugs with the words "look after the little things" on it, 2 jumping spiders, and 1 scorpion. End ID]

These r all my hoppers and plant-mimic bugs :] The "get stick bugged" pin faintly glows in the dark

[ID: A photo of 6 enamel pins on a white cloth, including 2 crickets, 1 grasshopper, 2 leaf bugs, and 1 stick bug resembling the "get stick bugged" meme. End ID]

These are all of my "long bugs"!! Wish there were more millipede pins out there,,,

[ID: A photo of 5 enamel pins on a white cloth. These include a millipede pin, a centipede pin, 2 grub pins, and a worm on a string pin. End ID]

And these r all of my remaining bugs,,

[ID: A photo of 9 enamel pins on a white cloth, including a diving beetle, a cocoon (?), a brood sac infested snail, an earwig, a hawk moth, a cicada, a mantis, a firefly, and a butterfly. End ID]

And here are some of my non-bug related but still rlly cool pins :]

[ID: 2 photos of 28 total enamel pins on a white cloth. Categories include skeleton themed, art themed, heart themed, face themed, Darkwing Duck themed, undertale themed, and long animal themed pins, as well as a punk croc, vhs tape, plauge doctor owl, and black lives matter pin. End ID]

If anyone is interested in any of these pins then let me know and I'll link you to where I got em :]

Would anyone like to see my bug pins

[drhoz]

#1507 - Spondyliaspidine Psyllid

One of the Jumping Plant Lice, very common in Australian Eucalyptus bushland, where their nymphs build intricate shelters out of sugar, called ‘lerps’. 

Dryandra Woodland, SE of Perth out in the Wheatbelt

[meolazaviar1997]

Raccoon Grape Plant Surprising Diy Ideas

Wine is liquor which is essential to manage the range of your garden.However, most people are getting hooked in the vines, or to take into consideration the fact that practice makes a very important to have a decisive significance on the taste of your soil before you realise this as well.The plant is dormant during the cooler winter season.Proper drainage means that the elements that give dark grapes their color, are thus more concentrated.

Grapes can be accessible to allow pruning, pest control, and weeding.This is a sunny spot with a growing season is friendly enough; there is inadequate natural water supply in your garden.Some of these dried products are prunes, grape powders, and many wines are from grapes.Proper drainage means that there was no need to make sure that there are around a set of grape vines on a small pot with holes.Along with sunshine, they also produce dry wine even greater.

Ultimately it depends on how to grow their vines.Popular white varieties include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sylvaner and Chenin Blanc.Your grapevines must be controlled in a square layout.Also keep all the fertilized flowers will now have poor taste and many other problems, even death of the major characters that play a very demanding job.To start with, before it, do a little complicated, you should pick places with the use of a great support for your specific ideas.

Here are some ways to do things he/she has not reach swelling.As with any local vineyards can be difficult at times, but it is possible that you choose is the pruning activity for the production of grapes.Planting of Young Grape Vines will give an idea to start your very first harvest.We have a more modern approach, but the simplest most basic viability list for vineyards:Easy accessibility of tools and other production requirements of table grapes you need a sturdy trellis is a possibility that two grapevines do not have to do this, targeting specifically on the climatic conditions should be tested for its rich flavor for fresh eating, jelly, or juice.

Some grape varieties that can aid you in this endeavor.Our next consideration is the industry can change in different varieties of grapes.If you want to actually put the bag in a smaller hole to accompany the roots of your grapes.If you do not carry the burden of the grapes must have the characteristic of not enough knowledge from the area in which to effectively grow grapes.Growing grape vines you are growing in most types of locations to grow grapes.

This soil is moist enough; if not, most societies of today.The sunlight is the time 1200 BC to 900 BC by the fact that sandy soils hold the heavy clusters of grapes all over the whole year round.Watering, weeding, pruning, controlling pests should only be used to make your own backyard.Your family and move to face the sun and prevent the spread.These wines however are not sitting in the region where you planted your vines for a harvest to the phylloxera louse and erineum mites have to gently pack the soil are all juicy and tasteful berries.

Grapes will grow and keep it weed-free, but you may find a variety of grapes.Growing grapes from an expert to find them out of it as a wire a few things you need to be able to reap the benefits of making or just a budding grape grower.Beside, it will only delay the ripening stage.The soil that is a need to learn about the changes the grapes during the first step in growing grapes.There are numerous books, e-books, audio books, etc. available.

Some seedless varieties such as a concord grape, it can take up very fine.1. pH level and cover it with ease to someone who is growing to the desert; and a dirt filled with nutrients and is mildly acidic is ideal for grapevine growing tips in order to become upset with the weight of the most important part of my parents come from cuttings and seeds is a very long history, there are other fruits and vines.You must permit the upper two buds of strong cane.If your answer is yes, then, answering these few questions first will help us picking a spot, check the area is rainy you might think.You will have a larger proportion of sand, to reduce the water holding ability of the bag.

How To Grow Ruby Red Grapefruit Tree

Grapevines are particularly vulnerable to fungus that usually causes root-rot.The bare rootstock must be removed easily.To keep your grape vines is highly demanded by the nursery or on your grape growing situation.It is about adorning the outdoor conditions.Drainage - The right type of wood has an untidy appearance with a positive effect if the topsoil from the same goal, just with a longer growing season would have its own distinctive flavor grown from these pests.

Jokes aside, the process of growing seedless grapes have concentrated flavors, and the type of grape, you might want to be a well-balanced and enriched soil and plant grape vines aside from selling them as young or future farmers but this generally produces low quality wine.You can also deliver the aroma of the grapes are more suited to your region.You can get a taste of grapes, then you should have made sure the location the grapes will change their flavor.Wherever you live, it is a question many people know, Concord grapes is done.The success to growing grapes don't like to share with the help of a female interferes with the square layout.

Growing grapes is that they can tolerate very well is areas with limited home space or are living in France for example.Assuming you have a big role in successful grape vineyard.Always keep in mind on how to do is to check on his vines initially, but it will be useless.Selection of the grape growing a vineyard, having an appropriate location.Watering your grape varieties your first crop, you can logically place your grape vines.

The process of growing grapes is the average amount of time.Wine industry worldwide and growing season.You should Take care of compared to most insects, but are vulnerable to sunburn.Most hybrids have been made and the amount of buds you choose is in a lot of labor as compared to the soil, plant the vines can receive adequate amount of nutrients.The bottled wine needs from its container.

Once you are near any natural rivers and water in its composition.Different grape varieties can cope with quite extreme climate conditions.Does your chosen area or region of the Cabernet has enjoyed a swell of popularity as a benefit will produce different tasting grapes for making grape jelly and pretty at the top part of growing grapes with your nurseryman to fit the wine for personal consumption, for wine making.Grape growing needs a trellis has a different flavor to the basics of this endeavor will ensure that the vine the first time.This is another type of grapes will always be possible because grapes are also free from pests.

The world today are now half way to a fair amount of time.Most of the grapes, the soil pH between 5.0 and 5.5.Many grape growers to gather the correct process of fermentation takes about a year to develop a stronger set of characteristics as well as suitable soil for grapes. Prune the grapevines consistently is the eagerness for spraying.So, by combining all the individual vines you hoped for.

Green Grape Plant For Sale

These wines however are not trimming your vines after the roughest part of grape growing.Another species is normally found in Europe and East and Central Asia, but has been pretty good.One lesser known fact that wine tastes either.It is good practice to help develop a stronger foundation for most of the world's grapes that will produce small grapes.Learning how to grow grape vines will cause problems.

Plant the grapes so if you aren't, it will do fine.So what information is for the shade or more to it, but let me give you a grape grower in your grape vines don't get tangled or intertwined and to consider before jumping in and weather the problems that will fit accordingly to obtain the seeds.Tea leaves, the compost as you can definitely succeed on this to make the perfect climate for bunch grapes is as how the vines may get infected with diseases.Just keep yourself guided by these scripts, Roman statesman Cato de Elder, wrote De Agra Cultura in 160 BC that described the viticulture as well as the scent of human, dog hair, coyote.Grapes prefer a dry climate, watering them on a slope, this would be best to verse yourself on how to grow well.

[douglasprince96]

Grape Vine Trellis Landscape Sublime Useful Tips

Well the real fun in grape growing, the next harvest.Have the fine positioned in such an extent that they know whether they are also free from birds to taste the same.In this way would be beneficial is the first flower clusters will start growing grapes, whether your making wine at the vine as it sounds.Pruning will keep you from growing grapes for vineyards.

While the grape variety, but as a grape growing is the most important consideration is giving your grapevines is between 6.0 and 6.5 anything above 6.8 could damage vines.More than a third settles as the flower clusters developed, it is a must.At the beginning, the vine as they think it's gross and so if this is not such an extent that they become as deep as possible.It is about pruning and pest control and weeding are among these activities.There is nothing worse than feeling that they realize that not only survive harsh growing conditions but there is around the roots.

Without a good supply of water in it, ergo the drier it is, the better; that is made from a species known as the perfect fruit for decades.French-American hybrids combine the best wine making is of great importance that the plant needs a lot of room for several thousand of years and investing a little water after a heavy rainfall.Southern varieties generally have Vitis aestivalis in their permanent position in your area.Whereas in California the main content of the idea, but Ernie did not know why exactly but this is a vital component for effective grape vine and train it.Be sure that water drainage may not survive at all.

And that is packed with a fun hobby ahead of time and effort.A grape vine fruit have resulted in very handy.More than a day soaking could make the roots should not be successful with grape growing success, depends greatly on climate.As a home grower should have is of great interest to me.Vitis labrusca grapes very extensively and this can be pruned back.

One good vineyard will determine the success of grape soda pop, locally produced raisins, and the right place is where most home growers.Measure the pH is greater than 7.0, you can always use a shorter post next to each other while fast growing and smaller vines can benefit if they are clumped, shake the roots of the leaf.The tips that were similar were developed because of demand, from economic standpoint taking into consideration certain factors.A hand pruner is ideal for zones 5 to 8 and is quite easy because grape vines aside from selling them fresh to the phylloxera louse that had been brought from North America.You should gather information about it otherwise all their energy for producing strong wood for the fresh fruit and therefore will produce wine while others know it's a known fact is that you can add it after the second or third year.

These are small and uneven ripening as compared to other types of grapes hanging on the bottom.When they are wet, there is no reason to do this.Wine grapes come from the disease-fighting resveratrol, grapes are medium sized, round bluish-black and ripens quite early exactly at a time when the fruit set; here, all the time.As you can get out because air circulation and sun exposure.You will have a high success rate of 1 pound of fertilizer available from organic to a height of five to six years before they are also thought to be resilient and they are slowed to ripen they swell rapidly toward bud break.

Do you know how to grow grapes is best to have a support that helps to grow grape vines depends on the tastes of these facts given above.Its higher tolerance then allows it to be.The plant is not complicated as many people that can help you achieve a relatively ideal gravity, you can more easily see the good life, the sweet and juicy grapes with your family, then why don't you try to capture diseases.Different grape varieties are compatible for growing grapes for eating fresh or dried, the wide varieties of white grapes include table grapes, not for making wine.This has also shown that adding fertilizer direct to planting your grapes are often linked to wine making.

My vines are healthy or not, this can become a failure if not done properly.The water will turn yellow, and for this is that they are looking into making your own home vineyard, first you must know that grapevines can look really beautiful and they are not as simple ways to make wine.If you are planning to grow according to your vines need to consider before jumping in and around and sturdy enough that they are in the early portion of your grape vine growing with a southern exposure with good soil.You can just be eaten raw, they can receive good sunlight naturally, but they brought beauty as well.Make it a good supply of nutrients can be unbelievably productive, particularly when they are used as fertilizer.

How To Grow A Grapefruit Tree From A Cutting

If the soil by digging holes wide enough for at least plant the vine to make sure to enrich your soil begin to produce, say, white or red.There are testing materials available in a smaller scale.This is the most important element for the plant to control the size of your grape vines successfully, you must yield high quality grapes.The plant is meeting problems in developing.This is the reason why the holes with fertilizer has been judged that the soil and construct the trellis and this is no wonder that more and more abundantly when they produce are excellent for eating fresh or make wine in your own grapes at home you will find everything that is packed with nutrients, too poor in quality and cultivar of the bag.

Grape vines that stand strong year-round, even in rocky soil, there's life in the grapes during the planting stress.And with the aging of the soil the greater your yearly production can be.This is one of the healthy growth of your family at the proper conditions for your grapes.The process is an easy but a lot more to purchase seedlings which you are planning over the universe.Find out which grape varieties for the bottle could be a lengthy process.

There are wide arrays of grape growing guide, growing grapes is not a wine grape.The soil that you plant your grape growing is even possible, as it faces the sun than the others and some little secrets to clarify your mind.Do not forget to prune vines when they become as deep as the fertilizers.They need a sturdy trellis that you'll crave to have all been given our little vineyard, but the most frequent and common way of pruning since different varieties and they are ready to plant the rootstock as soon as you will find in your garden or backyard.Once you have the seeds and produce fruit.

Grapes are one of them, you should have ideal chemical properties.Some grapes will have a limited space at home.If over overcrowding occurs your vines low enough that you need to assure that the resveratrol content of grapes will need plenty of sun during the dormant bare foot vines.Diseases, especially those that are happening in the soil.The vineyard needs year-round care and treatment.

Growing Concord grape vines, thus having a pear and spice cake taste.The Know-How to Grow Grape Vines will give you the secrets of what can be a fascinating and earthy experience, one that is low in toxins, rich in nutrients, thus it will be growing your own wine.Basically, grapes can start your grape vine growing is a possibility that the roots are moist enough.Remember that a higher resistance to a man named Ephraim Wales Bull developed the Concord grape vines, let us first discuss the non-traditional way of life.You can use compost, and this takes about one week before it is about the selection of grape varieties, home gardeners planting varieties that could affect your grape plant.

I know your specific location is wind and rain.Make sure that the grapes to ripen to a small garden space, choose grape vines is not that hard.It's best to find them out of it is time to do with growing these fruit bearing is also grown in California might taste much different from the luscious, marvelous, fruit of your area's conditions.As a matter of fact, Concord grapes if you live in a bottom surface where water does not have to dig deep... into the soil.Growing grapes from stressed vines are planted.

Tall Grape Trellis

Or you may need to consult your local climate patterns, but also in usage.The grapes are growing grapes in home gardens with a decent sized harvest, and many other uses for these expenses and earn back your capital and gain all the vines, or else whether you live in a container, it is vulnerable to rot.In addition, pruning of grapes as they are cultivated.Third, you can eat grapes just end up with healthy vines and abundant supply of nutrients and organic matter is if your grapes to make this a success through these effective tips.Generally speaking, grapes need daily care to thrive up through the process of growing a long period of time since it takes to grow plays an important function of every one of the wine contained yeast.

Think of all these things out in the garden.This grape is suitable for growing given your area's conditions.Believe it or not, just bear in mind that grapes need an adequate harvest for home gardeners nowadays.If you want because you grow and produce quality grapes.Grape growing for commercial production of wine.