#Mocking Bird Method

[maiiuelle]

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rafe cameron is not known for giving heartfelt apologies, but after what he had done to you last week, he couldn’t shake the sick feeling in his stomach.

he tried all his usual methods of letting go — starting with more meaningless hook ups, cocaine, and partying. it felt natural to try to move on like you were just another fling, after all you were never officially together. it worked enough to keep him occupied, but ultimately, it only made him feel worse to pretend you meant nothing to him. it serves as a constant reminder of exactly how he made you feel that night — like nothing.

the intrusive memory of what happened haunts him. before the incident, you were really growing on him. he made you his main girl without meaning to, inviting you to the club and out golfing just because he genuinely wanted you there beside him. by the time he realized he had real feelings for you, it felt like everyone else already knew.

you made him feel vulnerable, and it scared him. being so public with you put his emotions out on display. he had to remind himself that you weren’t his girlfriend, you were just supposed to be another girl he had on his roster. he has a big ego and an even bigger reputation, and in an attempt to protect that rather than you, he continued on with his bachelor lifestyle.

he never imagined you’d show up that night — he hoped brushing you off would shoo you away, save you from the inevitable realization he isn’t as great as he makes himself out to be. instead, you made him face you head on, and he would remember the devastated look on your face forever.

the nonchalant mask finally slips when his friends start asking where you went, having noticed your sudden absence. after all that time of trying to suppress his guilt, it struck a nerve just hearing your name. “who’s asking? ‘cause—cause i know it’s none of your fuckin’ business what she’s up to.”

topper lifts his hands in surrender, eyeing kelce. “woah. chill, man. i was just wondering, i thought you were into that chick.”

kelce snickers, taking the chance to finally get payback for every time rafe mocked them for chasing after girls. “what? did she dump you or something?”

rafe just pushes out of his seat, waving them off as he finishes what’s left in his glass. he doesn’t spare his friends another glance despite their boisterous protests, instead just addressing the bartender on his way out. “put it on cameron.”

he can’t handle it anymore, he has to do something.

it’s officially been a week since you last saw rafe. like clockwork the early birds begin to sing songs as they welcome the brand new day, the sun just starting to rise above the horizon. you’re still awake from the night before, unable to sleep with how your mind is racing.

you had been holding it together much better than rafe — to the public, you’re thriving. you go out with your friends every night, looking better than ever at yacht parties and the island club. it’s freeing to spend more time with your girl friends again, but you really can’t stand to spend any time by yourself.

thats why the nights are the worst, when you’re stuck alone in the silent solitude of your bedroom. that’s where you are now, wrapped up in your duvet with puffy eyes from crying all night over him. you just couldn’t wrap your head around the betrayal — after you thought you truly knew him, he turned out to be exactly how everyone said he was. manipulative, slimy, and selfish. your heart aches at your own ignorance, feeling stupid for not seeing the now obvious red flags.

to try to get your mind off of him, even just for a second, you tune into the gentle tapping of morning rain on your windowsill. in an overtired daze, you dream of being a princess locked away in a tower with your heroic lover waiting below, tossing stones at your window to garner your attention.

you don’t let it play on for too long, cutting it off abruptly by pulling your pillow over your face, silently scolding yourself. your infatuation with romance novels is what got you into this mess in the first place, making you delusively believe that rafe cameron was your prince charming. so stupid.

but, the tapping grows louder, your silly fantasy rebelling against you, refusing to disappear. in a fit of exhausted frustration, you grab the pillow off your head and throw it across the room, watching as it lands flat on the floor just short of the window, just in time for one of the shiny stones from your garden to hit the glass. then another, and another.

it couldn’t be. you can’t believe your eyes, especially after a long night of sobbing and zero sleep. you slowly slip out of your bed, walking up to the window cautiously.

“oh, you have to be joking.” you look down from your bedroom window to see none other than rafe standing in your lawn with a hand full of rocks and his truck parked on the curb. he’s clearly had a long night too, swaying on his feet and deflating when he sees you appear in the window.

“baby! baby — please talk to me!” he shouts, and you rush to push your window open. your father already hates the camerons, and you don’t want to deal with that confrontation if he wakes him up this early in the morning.

“shhh!” you press your finger to your lips, practically pushing your whole upper body out the window urgently to whisper-shout at him. “what are you thinking? my dad’s gonna kill you!”

“baby, i—i need to talk to you, please.” rafe whines, dropping the rest of the stones in his hand so he can push his bangs back. desperation looks strange on him, in your state of shock you hold up a hand to silence him and give yourself a second to weigh your options. you could get him back for what he did right now, do exactly what he did to you — you could scream at him to leave, to never speak to you again, and go get your father to handle the rest.

but instead, you just roll your eyes. so stupid. “just.. just wait a second.” you sigh as you shut the window quietly, closing your eyes for a moment of pause. before you change your mind, you march to your bedroom door, grabbing your fluffy robe and slipping it over your shoulders followed by your slippers.

you would never do any of that to him, not with the way you still feel about him, no matter how frustrating that is. you wish he could just be dead to you, but that’s not how you feel. the least you could do is hear out what he has to say for himself, even big bad rafe cameron deserves a second chance.

you take a deep breath as you slip down the stairs quietly, bracing yourself to face him. you open the front door, pulling your robe tighter over your nightgown to fight the cold morning air that bites at your skin as you sneak outside.

rafe rushes toward you, holding his head in anguish. “baby, listen to me. i—i know i screwed up, alright? i—”

“stop!” you thump your foot on the front porch, glaring at him from the top of the wooden steps. just because you’re kind enough to give him the time of day doesn’t mean he’s off the hook. he listens, pausing with wide eyes as he looks you over. he really is a mess, tears falling from his eyes and mixing with the morning rain that’s already soaked his hair and shirt. “god, rafe. what is going on with you?”

“i’m a fuckin’ idiot.” he cries, his face twisting as he sobs. “we had something good, right? and—and i fucked it all up. i did. it’s all my fault.”

you stand there with your arms crossed in front of you like a shield.“how do you think i feel? i thought you cared, meanwhile you’re lying to me and fucking some other girl?” you frown, staring him down. “you.. you humiliated me!”

“i know, i know — trust me, i know!” he grits his teeth, spinning on his heel in frustration before pacing back toward you. “you’ve got no idea, alright? i promise you, i’ve torn myself apart enough over this. just—” he strains, sucking in a shaky deep breath and forcing it out, trying to calm down. “i need you. okay?”

“oh really? how am i supposed to trust you?” you spit, venom in your voice. seeing him grovel at your front steps is oddly satisfying, even though the deep hurt in his voice is twisting your stomach.

“baby, look at me!” rafe drags his hands down his wet shirt, looking at you like a puppy dog stuck out in the rain. “i’m a fuckin’ mess without you. look, i—i took advantage of the situation, alright, i admit that. but i can’t breathe without you.” he stops, fidgeting anxiously as he waits for a response. you’re frozen, equally as shocked as him at his words. the anxiety gets the better of him and he steps forward, moving up the steps toward you. seeing your teary, red eyes stings in his chest. “c’mere, okay? let’s just — let’s just put this all behind us, right?”

“rafe—”

“nah, nah. it’s alright, c’mere.” he coos, and you kick yourself because you don’t back away, instead letting him come up on your porch and put his arms out for you. you blink up at him with your doe eyes, the sympathetic look on his face melting your defense. you just crumble into his arms, having been so desperate for him to comfort you exactly how he his now. “c’mon, there you go. you’re my girl. my girl.”

could you give him another chance?

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[hermiones-amortentia]

Hermione's arc as a character in books

More I grow up more I realise what a disappointing character Hermione became in the last two books. Rowling ruined her whole character with narrative bias. If only she could let her face consequences for things and she learned from them.. what a great complex character she could have been.

PS- we meet Hermione, a socially awkard bookworm who is quite intelligent and shows she can break rules but most of the time she is obsessed with rules. We see Hermione panicking under pressure. So what flaws Hermione has in the 1st book?

Socially awkward, freezes under pressure, too bossy, rule follower, close minded. A character with strengths and flaws. 9.5/10.

COS- Hermione has a crush on an incompetent teacher. She learns books can be misleading. Looks can be deceiving. Still more competent than most of the teachers and figures out who the slytherin monster is. She is still uptight. But a bit less. Ron's influence is working.

Awesome character. 9/10(.5 deducted away bcz she brews a NEWT level potion. Not impossible. But very unlikely)

POA- narrative bias start but only slightly. Throughout that book Hermione refuses to control her cat and even drops him on Ron's bed despite Ron's warning. But she does apologise to Ron. She hugs him. later scabbers turns out to be Peter. So readers sub consciously side with her even though she is 100% wrong. She goes behind Harry's back and reports the firebolt. But it turns out she is right again. It was sent by Sirius. And Harry and Ron come across as assholes.

Still she helps Sirius to escape with buckbeak. 8.5/10.

GOF- everyone is dying to date an int Quidditch star. Hermione is totally uninterested. But whom does he choose? Hermione!!!! Hermione just use hair potion and wears a pretty dress robes. Bam!! She is the most beautiful person at the ball. Even Draco and pansy, her school bullies are stunned.

Ron comes across as an asshole for not seeing her beauty and treating her terribly. Ron thinks Krum is using her. Hermione thinks Krum is great. AGAIN she is right. Krum has no ill intention. He is the prince charming and treats Hermione with all the respect, kindness. But Hermione rejects him even though he is on the paper is written to be much much much more desirable than her canon love interest. Just show me a single character flaw of Krum(except for having strong affinity towards underage girls) I will be waiting. You can't. Bcz Krum is a plot device to stroke JKR's ego. Yes. Hermione is JKR.

She also stands by Harry's side when Ron and everyone else turns on Harry. She kidnaps Skeeter and puts her in a jar. Kidnaps a human being!! But who does the narrative side with? Her. Bcz Rita is a nasty, vile destructive bitch who needs to learn her lesson.

She also starts to fight against house elf enslavement. But atleast narrative shows her method is all wrong. 6/10.

OOTP- Hermione is lot less uptight now. Good character development. She is also socially less awkward. She arranges DA meetings. She meets new ppl and she hardly ever loses patience with Harry when he is shouting at her and Ron 24/7. She is a lot snipy towards Ron in this book idk why. May be she hates that she is falling in love with him when he seems to vibe in his own world.

She scars a girl's face. Who does the narrative side with? Her. Bcz Marietta is a snitch.

She tells Harry voldy is trying to trap him. And she is right. As usual. Sirius dies bcz of Harry's idiocy. She also knits hats and tries to force them on elves. But again narrative shows that her method is wrong. 7/10.

HBP- the limit of bias. She attacks Ron with birds for dating lav. But who does get the blame? RON. The passage ends with 'Harry thought he heard a sob'. That means forget that Hermione attacked Ron with birds. Forget that Ron is in pain. Hermione is crying. She is the victim. Feel for her. Not him.

She laughs 'unkindly' at his moustache. Ron mocks her back. She starts crying. Who does Harry side with? Hermione.

And don't get me started on Ron/Lav. While Krum's sole pupose is to show how superior he is to Ron. Lavender's sole purpose is to show why Hermione is superior to her in every way and what an idiot Ron is for not seeing it. Their kissing scenes are written with phrases 'plunger being withdrawn from the sink'

She tells Harry the HBP book is dangerous. Again she is right. Harry almost murders malfoy. But she denies that malfoy is a DE and she is proven wrong afterwards. 3/10. HBP is my least favourite book.

DH- she does the 90% work during their camping trip. She rescues them from Lovegood's house. She rescues them from the ministry. So now she is great under pressure.

She also lies to Bellatrix while being crucioed. She denies Hallows existence. But Harry proves her wrong.

And the most crucial one. Ron breaks under pressure. He leaves. Hermione stays. Again she proves she is 'better' than Ron.

By the end of DH she has little to no flaw. She has overcome most of her flaws she has in PS. 6/10.

This is Hermione's whole arc. She didnt live up to the expectation. She was a much much better character in the 1st 3 books. But the narrative bias hindered her growth by justifying her all wrongdoings. I still love the 1st 3 book Hermione. The latter version is disappointing.

And the less I will talk about that one dimensional mary sue in movies more it will be better.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Humans infecting animals infecting humans − from COVID-19 to bird flu, preventing pandemics requires protecting all species - Published Sept 4, 2024

I remember back in 2022, someone mocked me for worrying about zoonosis of new coivd strains. The science backs up my thoughts once again: We have to protect *everyone,* even critters, from disease to prevent future pandemics.

Authors Anna Fagre Veterinary Microbiologist and Wildlife Epidemiologist, Colorado State University

Sadie Jane Ryan Professor of Medical Geography, University of Florida

When the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020, humans had been the only species with reported cases of the disease. While early genetic analyses pointed to horseshoe bats as the evolutionary hosts of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, no reports had yet surfaced indicating it could be transmitted from humans to other animal species.

Less than two weeks later, a report from Belgium marked the first infection in a domestic cat – presumably by its owner. Summer 2020 saw news of COVID-19 outbreaks and subsequent cullings in mink farms across Europe and fears of similar calls for culling in North America. Humans and other animals on and around mink farms tested positive, raising questions about the potential for a secondary wildlife reservoir of COVID-19. That is, the virus could infect and establish a transmission cycle in a different species than the one in which it originated.

For example, spillback has been a long-standing threat to endangered great apes, even among populations with infrequent human contact. The chimpanzees of Gombe National Park, made famous by Jane Goodall’s work, have suffered outbreaks of measles and other respiratory diseases likely resulting from environmental persistence of pathogens spread by people living nearby or by ecotourists.

We are researchers who study the mechanisms driving cross-species disease transmission and how disease affects both wildlife conservation and people. Emerging outbreaks have underscored the importance of understanding how threats to wildlife health shape the emergence and spread of zoonotic pathogens. Our research suggests that looking at historical outbreaks can help predict and prevent the next pandemic.

Spillback has happened before Our research group wanted to assess how often spillback had been reported in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis not only allows us to identify specific trends or barriers in reporting spillback events but also helps us understand where new emergent threats are most likely.

We examined historical spillback events involving different groups of pathogens across the animal kingdom, accounting for variations in geography, methods and sample sizes. We synthesized scientific reports of spillback across nearly a century prior to the COVID-19 pandemic – from the 1920s to 2019 – which included diseases ranging from salmonella and intestinal parasites to human tuberculosis, influenza and polio.

We were also interested in determining whether detection and reporting bias might influence what’s known about human-to-animal pathogen transmission. Charismatic megafauna – often defined as larger mammals such as pandas, gorillas, elephants and whales that evoke emotion in people – tend to be overrepresented in wildlife epidemiology and conservation efforts. They receive more public attention and funding than smaller and less visible species.

Complicating this further are difficulties in monitoring wild populations of small animals, as they decompose quickly and are frequently scavenged by larger animals. This drastically reduces the time window during which researchers can investigate outbreaks and collect samples.

The results of our historical analysis support our suspicions that most reports described outbreaks in large charismatic megafauna. Many were captive, such as in zoos or rehabilitation centers, or semi-captive, such as well-studied great apes.

Despite the litany of papers published on new pathogens discovered in bats and rodents, the number of studies examining pathogens transmitted from humans to these animals was scant. However, small mammals occupying diverse ecological niches, including animals that live near human dwellings – such as deer mice, rats and skunks – may be more likely to not only share their pathogens with people but also to be infected by human pathogens.

COVID-19 and pandemic flu In our historical analysis of spillback prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the only evidence we found supporting the establishment of a human pathogen in a wildlife population were two 2019 reports describing H1N1 infection in striped skunks. Like coronaviruses, influenza A viruses such as H1N1 are adept at switching hosts and can infect a broad range of species.

Unlike coronaviruses, however, their widespread transmission is facilitated by migratory waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Exactly how these skunks became infected with H1N1 and for how long remains unclear.

Shortly after we completed the analysis for our study, reports describing widespread COVID-19 infection of white-tailed deer throughout North America began surfacing in November 2021. In some areas, the prevalence of infection was as high as 80% despite little evidence of sickness in the deer.

This ubiquitous mammal has effectively become a secondary reservoir of COVID-19 in North America. Further, genetic evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 evolves three times faster in white-tailed deer than in humans, potentially increasing the risk of seeding new variants into humans and other animals. There is already evidence of deer-to-human transmission of a previously unseen variant of COVID-19.

There are over 30 million white-tailed deer in North America, many in agricultural and suburban areas. Surveillance efforts to monitor viral evolution in white-tailed deer can help identify emerging variants and further transmission from deer populations into people or domestic animals.

Investigations into related species revealed that the risk of spillback varies. For instance, white-tailed deer and mule deer are highly susceptible to COVID-19 in the lab, while elk are not.

H5N1 and the US dairy herd Since 2022, the spread of H5N1 has affected a broad range of avian and mammalian species around the globe – foxes, skunks, raccoons, opossums, polar bears, coyotes and seals, to name a few. Some of these populations are threatened or endangered, and aggressive surveillance efforts to monitor viral spread are ongoing.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the presence of H5N1 in the milk of dairy cows. Genetic analyses point to an introduction of the virus into cows as early as December 2023, probably in the Texas Panhandle. Since then, it has affected 178 livestock herds in 13 states as of August 2024.

How the virus got into dairy cow populations remains undetermined, but it was likely by migratory waterfowl infected with the virus. Efforts to delineate exactly how the virus moves among and between herds are underway, though it appears contaminated milking equipment rather than aerosol transmission, may be the culprit.

Given the ability of influenza A viruses such as avian flu to infect a broad range of species, it is critical that surveillance efforts target not only dairy cows but also animals living on or around affected farms. Monitoring high-risk areas for cross-species transmission, such as where livestock, wildlife and people interact, provides information not only about how widespread a disease is in a given population – in this case, dairy cows – but also allows researchers to identify susceptible species that come into contact with them.

To date, H5N1 has been detected in several animals found dead on affected dairy farms, including cats, birds and a raccoon. As of August 2024, four people in close contact with infected dairy cows have tested positive, one of whom developed respiratory symptoms. Other wildlife and domestic animal species are still at risk. Similar surveillance efforts are underway to monitor H5N1 transmission from poultry to humans.

Humans are only 1 part of the network The language often used to describe cross-species transmission fails to encapsulate its complexity and nuances. Given the number of species that have been infected with COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, many scientists have called for limiting the use of the terms spillover and spillback because they describe the transmission of pathogens to and from humans. This suggests that disease and its implications begin and end with humans.

Considering humans as one node in a large network of transmission possibilities can help researchers more effectively monitor COVID-19, H5N1 and other emerging zoonoses. This includes systems-thinking approaches such as One Health or Planetary Health that capture human interdependence with the health of the total environment.

[gauloiseblue]

John Price as a arm candy personal bodyguard

General HQ | Part I | Part II

(Enemy to friend to lover AU)

He never planned to be anyone's bodyguard, but here he is, standing beside his wife like a guard dog

To tell the truth, she doesn't really need his protection, but sometimes there's moment when she becomes a target for black market dealers

She has an extensive collection of antiques, and some of them are priceless

So naturally, it becomes his job to keep them safe as well

It's not really a challenge for him because he's used to keeping the military assets safe. He knows all of the tricks and methods to store them and guard them during transport.

Other than that, his days are mostly filled with domestic kind of life

He'd complete his daily training, practice his rifle skill (mainly for hunting birds or deers), and help her with her work

Although he easily adapted into his new life, he's still not used to living in luxury. He has slept on the wet ground of a forest, used to eating the bland ratios, and lived in constant danger. But now, he gets to live comfortably

To cope with it, he sometimes goes on a camping trip for several days. He prefers to do it alone because he doesn't want his wife to get sick when the weather turns bad.

The only luxury that he allows himself to indulge in is having an expensive cigar

Of course, he does it only moderately. For a reason that his wife hates the smell

Whenever they're invited to a party, she'll book him an appointment for suit fitting. He'd complain to her, saying that he had more than enough suit, but she'd win the argument every time

While they might have different views in life, they share the same frame of mind, and have their desires align. She wants a loyal companion, and he wants to devote himself to the right person

One night, as they lay in bed, breathless and tired, she told him that to love someone is to constantly be disappointed by your partner a million times. She asked him if she had already disappointed him enough, and he told her he never expected her of anything in the first place

He knew that her wife kept a personal note in her drawer, and he only opened it once, when they're on the verge of separation. That was the last time that he ever doubted her, the first time he allowed himself to be fooled by his own feelings

You see, he's always the man with rationality, so to allow himself to be controlled by his heart is almost the same as betraying himself

He never regrets his decision, even to this day

Since he's the only one who's retired, his team would visit him from time to time, if their schedule allows them, that is

Soap would joke that if someone had told him years ago that his captain would settle down with her, he'd laugh at their face, asking them what kind of drug they took

(He said it because they both had a rough start. They hated each other on their first meeting)

While it's common for ex special force member to work as a bodyguard, it's rare for them to settle down with someone, let alone marrying the person they work for

Which makes his story into some kind of legend in the army

He'd roll his eyes at every comment about them, but she found it amusing that people either mock him, or wish to be as lucky as him

Sometimes, when his pride takes over, he reminds himself that arrogance won't lead him anywhere in life

But his love will guide him somewhere. Eventually

[ms-scarletwings]

Other people: *mocking the assumed foolishness and negligence of Clockwerk to knowingly pull a Batman’s parents on Sly Cooper* *complaining about what is assumed to be a cheap writing excuse to explain Sly’s survival of the Fiendish’s Five’s attack on his home*

Me: But actually? No? It wouldn’t have been smarter on Clockwerk’s part to “finish the job” with Sly back then. Clockwerk pigeonholed himself into a fruitless job that is not meant to be finished.

Like if you really want to ponder on it, Clockwerk could be forced, in a way, to ensure the continuation of the cooper line, not the end of it. When you define and depend your whole existence on that which you hate, what do you have left when the object of your ire is no more? Clockwork would have died if his hate was ever allowed to diminish or find resolution. He’s like a ghost bound only to his power and body by a single remaining tether, and that tether is the drive to tread on the grave of the Cooper Clan’s legacy.

He doesn’t loathe them personally, he hates everything they represent and stand for, because he once envied it to the point of madness. That’s why he sundered the Thievious Raccoonus and left our Cooper untouched. He told you so himself. Notice how coincidentally the attack was timed on the very day Sly was meant to inherit the book? It was all about letting the boy learn what it meant to be a Cooper and then ripping away from him the access to everything his ancestors learned and built to help him carry that torch.

This gamble of his, this experiment he planned out that involved letting Connor’s son escape the slaughter, that’s the way he keeps himself going while staring down the barrel of the only real threat to his immortality. Killing them all, he reckoned in his centuries of reflection, wouldn’t fulfill his vendetta. He wanted to prove without any shadow of doubt that there was nothing about the Coopers that made them inherently superior to him- who himself was once only an owl. He was after their reputation. Murder was one of many methods, but complete humiliation was the actual goal. Clockwerk was probably snickering to himself all the way from the volcano for years, giddy at the thought of this child he reduced from the son of a master thief to an orphaned pauper. What he wanted was for Sly to live on… live on and be the last pathetic, miserable shred of the Cooper memory that Clockwerk could compare himself to once he has achieved everything him and the Five had set out to accomplish.

Giving their line the final glory of a tragic and sudden end like that after one unlucky slip of Connor’s vigilance was more than he could stomach. His greatest enemies don’t deserve to be remembered with that honor intact. Had Sly moved on and done literally anything else with his life but successfully take up that mantle and reap revenge, then the bird would have won. He would have never been bothered again by the owl either, I bet. Clockwerk just had to take that (astronomically unlikely) risk to see the boy’s potential through. It’s the only reason that dark force has kept him going literally up to and through the second game.

[liketwoswansinbalance]

Thoughts That Go Whump in the Night for Rafal

Note: I tried to find as many torture methods as I could that involved the bird motif. Do not search for these if you do not want visual representations of them.

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Caught in a snare trap like a dumb woodcock à la Hamlet.

Eyes plucked out by doves à la "Cinderella."

Bird-who-was-formerly-a-ghost-boy-now-reincarnated drops a millstone onto his head à la "The Juniper Tree."

Transformed into a bird and stabbed by pins on a windowsill upon landing à la "The Canary Prince."

Chased by geese in the park.

Hitchcock-style bird attacks.

Viking blood eagle execution method. (When the rib cage was broken and opened, the lungs allegedly fluttered like "wings.")

Gibbeted in a cage.

Cucking and ducking stool.

A mock-Icarus scenario, flying too close to the sun and overheating, perhaps afflicted by the drip of burning wax.

Tarred and feathered à la American Revolution.

Bound to a rock to have his liver feasted on by an eagle everyday à la Prometheus.

Pau de arara or "parrot's perch," a stress position. (Bird sellers use it for transporting birds.)

White torture. (A form of psychological torture and sensory deprivation—everything in sight is white. Would be halfway decent camouflage, actually.)

The whirligig. (It has a whimsical name, yet it involves a spinning cage.)

Strappado or "pigeon torture."

Live burial. (Self-explanatory. Fits the vibes of TLEA.)

Second Circle of Hell. (Whipped around in an endless cyclone, representing Rafal's wind motif. That motif is actually more present in the main series than in the prequels and it featured in an OTK flashback.)

Seventh Circle of Hell. (Preyed on by harpies.)

Stymphalian birds. (Sorry to the Stymphs, but they were originally man-eating in classical mythology.)

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I feel like all this shouldn't need a disclaimer, but obviously, don't try any of this at home, not that anyone could in most cases. These ideas are for strictly fictional purposes.

Also, suppose Vulcan could've used any of these? I have another post with less graphic mentions of torture here.

[silvergolddraco28]

Done For- Roleplay with @sanityisinthemusic

Chapter 2 God of Life

There was a loud knocking early the next morning. "Hey, wake up. I brought breakfast, and I'm supposed to take the cub back with me," a bossy woman's voice called through the door.

Wukong scowled as he got up from the floor having woken up late in the night unable to sleep and decided to simply meditate. He carefully picked up the cub sleeping on the bed and wrapped him up in the Scarlet red scarf once more as a makeshift swaddle. Wukong opened the door partly glad the seal he had used still allowed for those outside to make themselves known after knocking.

A bird demoness was holding a tray of bruised, misshapen, wrinkly fruits and a glass of water. "Open the door already."

“I did,” Wukong replied, taking the tray with ease by his tail while the demoness huffed, taking the cub from his arms with force and carrying the little cub like he was disease-infested.

“Needs a bath before Our Lord sees it.” she huffed. “You are a stable hand today so eat then find the horses you can't miss their stench you smell just like it.”

Wukong scowled. "Don't put him in any kind of deep water. If anything happens to him, you're first." He shut the door, tail wrapping around his leg anxiously. He sighed, picking through to find the least bad fruit and sniffing the water before tentatively sipping it. 'At least this is clean enough. Guess they don't keep bad water around.'

Finishing what little he could, he begrudgingly puts on the stable clothes and walks out to try to find the stables. And take his time doing so.

Eventually, he found his way to the stables taking note of how there was just one stable hand waiting with a pile of tools and a bin. The stable boy grinned. “Well well well if it isn't the Race Traitor finally getting Karma for killing his kind. These are your tools ‘top quality’ for you. You’ll have a full run of the place as the rest of the hands have the day off and our Lord was gracious enough to attach a watching shadow to keep an eye on you.” the stable boy grinned as he explained things.

"I have to do it all myself?" Wukong looked around the stables, frowning. It wasn't small. And with the collar on, he couldn't afford to make clones to help him. "Who decided nobody else was working?"

“Need to know and you are not the one that needs to know. Have a good day cleaning Dirty Monkey.” the demon waved his hand walking past the insulted and slurred at Wukong.

He grits his teeth but ignores the urge to punch the jerk and grab a shovel. Today was going to be a long, long day.

‘White, black, brown, mixed repeat.’ Wukong thought as he moved each horse methodically out of their stalls to a small pasture to wait while he cleaned out the old straw and any manure. He was able to get through about twenty horses until a shadow clone of the Shadow Lord popped up from the closet shadow with a fussy and hungry Cub.

"How is your first day on the job, Stable Boy?" The Shadow Lord approached, doing his best to hold the squirming little cub in his arms without squeezing too hard. "Afraid you're going to need to take a break so you can do your second job."

“Peachy. Twenty-five horses down.” Wukong replied heading over to a buck of clean water and washing off his hands before returning to collect the fussy cup opening part of his uniform up to allow Mk access to his breast.

"Fo think you were capable of labor. Wonder how you'll handle the rest of the jobs that were lined up for you?" The Lord mused, smirking.

“I’ll see what is in store if today is going to be on repeat for the remainder of my stay.” Wukong flatly stated. “Whose idea was it to send all the stable hands away and leave just me alone?”

"Oh come now, you're the Great Monkey King! Great Sage, Loyal Pet of Heaven." The Lord spread his arms wide, a mocking tone in his voice. "You shouldn't need the help of demons for a few basic chores."

Wukong scowled but didn't comment on the slander of his titles. “Fine if that's how it will be then surely the Lord of Shadows can manage to feed the young Cub on his own. You have your milk.”

"Oh dear, I didn't think the Great Monkey King would even abandon his cub." The Lord sighed dramatically before stepping forward, hands reaching for the cub. "Well give him here then, I'll just raise him myself."

Wukong turned his body away with a small growl. “Over my corpse.”

"That can be arranged." Shadows shot out from under Wukong, wrapping around his legs and dragging him to his knees. Macaqur grabbed his hair and pulled it back as he knelt behind him. "Don't say things you don't mean, you're not in any position to be uncooperative."

Wukong grits his teeth as the cub finishes, getting taken by the Shadow Lord and disappearing into the shadows with Wukong being released. “Shit…” Wukong cursed to himself while golden tears pooled in his eyes and dropped to the ground.

()()()()()

Wukong hissed as he stretched himself out from the grueling week of labor and acted as the Lord’s personal messenger bird when he had accidentally shifted into a hawk after breathing in too much dust and sneezing one of the minor and annoying side effects of his powers.

Today was the day he would be ‘training’ with the guards and he already knew they had something rather bold planned from their smirks whenever he passed a guard over the past week.

‘Something worse than just labor will happen today… I just know it.’ Wukong thought as he dressed in the training garb.

"Hey, let's get going already. Can't train without the punching bag." Someone laughed outside of the room after banging on the door. "Or what, the Great Sage just scared to fight without his powers?"

Wukong scowled at the insult as he opened the door getting grabbed by the shoulders and held in a rather tight headlock that was making him see spots as air was denied to his lungs.

"Wow, you're as weak as everyone's been saying, huh traitor?" The wolf demon growled out in amusement as he started dragging the Sage toward the training yard like that. "Training's gonna be fun."

“We got to put him in armor first! It should be coming right out of the forge any second piping hot and ready to be molded right into the Traitor’s skin.” Another pipped up grinning.

"Let's not bother with the training weapons today. We need more practice with the real thing, right?" Another piped up.

“Get the good ones that can even cut through Dragon scales.”

"Enough, all of you!" The bear demon whom Wukong had met on his first day roared. The field went silent, and the knights all straightened. "I understand you're all looking forward to today, but keep in mind this is still training. Focus!"

Wukong managed to break from the grasp around his neck rubbing at the dark and ugly bruise rapidly forming under the thin fur from the last week of pure stress and labor.

"Heads up." Was the only warning the big bear gave before tossing a wooden staff at Wukong. "I expect you to put your all in today. Your combat skills are well known and I want my troops to be ready for if real threat like you get in traitor." He pointed a finger toward a pile of armor. "That should be about as much armor as you normally wear. You don't stop today until I tell you to stop, got it?"

“Yes Sir,” Wukong replied neutrally heading over to the pile of old and weak armor. None of it would give him any protection at all so he sighed and turned away from the armor testing the training staff in his hands. ‘This will break if I try to hit anyone with it with my full strength.’ Wukong grimaced at how all the odds were stacked against him.

"Alright everyone, warmups are over. We're starting with one on one spare and then groups can try their hand. Everyone line up, I'll be choosing who's going when." The large bear called from in front of a ring of packed dirt, flattened out from hundreds, maybe thousands of sparring matches. He looked at Wukong and pointed to the circle. "Get ready traitor. My soldiers don't hold back."

“I don't expect them to,” Wukong replied as he entered the center of the circle and took a relaxed stance with the wooden staff angled against his side and back.

One after another, the bear sends in warriors for Wukong to fight. The moment one is knocked down, another fight starts. The bear just keeps calling out names.

This keeps going until one soldier gets a lucky hit… a sword right into Wukong’s gut spilling bright golden blood onto the dirt and making it shake and crack as thick greenery sprang to life sucking up the blood as Nature reacted to one of its being harmed.

You dare harm a Sage of Nature’s Chosen Vessel! The earth seemed to rumble with waves of angry energy rippling up from deep underground.

"HALT!" The bear demon roared as the demon who'd successfully stabbed Sun Wukong staggered backward, leaving his sword behind. Several others had been rushing forward when the command froze them in place. The bear lifted his great head. "My Lord! Your presence is needed at the training grounds!"

A neat instant later the shadow of the bear darkened, seeming to open. The bear stayed perfectly still as the Shadow Lord Macaque stepped out of his portal.

He only took a moment to take in the scene before he strode forward and ripped the sword from the King's stomach, using his shadows to block the wound. "Call for the medics, we'll need to treat him." At his calm order, the knights rushed to action. Macaque knelt on one knee in front of the wounded king, ignoring the blood soaking into his robes. "You'll be treated. Now calm the Earth's magic."

“Careful there… don't get that on your skin or risk being immortal,” Wukong warned with a weak smirk as he placed his hand on the gold blood-soaked ground causing his skin and fur to shift into magma-like stone with golden veins and bright gold-tinted bronze fur up towards his elbow while his eyes turned a solid green-tinted gold.

:I’m fine, Old One. Just paying back old dues for my reckless youth and being judged by a Vessel of Shades.: Wukong ‘spoke’ to the earth ignoring the pain coming from the shackle on his other wrist while the wound on his stomach knit closed with not a trace behind.

Macaque hummed. "I'll keep that in mind." He stood, his robes still tinted gold. "Once the medical team has checked you over and you've had some time, we need to talk."

“I'm fine. I don't need a healer and I can come with you now to talk without making you wait.” Wukong stated.

"More worried about what a healer might find, or what I might say to others?" Macaque raised an eyebrow.

“Bad experiences with healers in the past,” Wukong stated with a voice devoid of emotion.

"Very well then, your loss." Macaque looked at his warriors. "Clean this place up and get back to training." He ordered. The Bear demon nodded shapely and started shouting orders.

Macaque dropped them through a portal into his living quarters, where a shadow clone was rocking a sleeping cub. "Sit down wherever you'd like." Macaque walked over to the clone, gently taking the cub from it as it disappeared.

Wukong simply took a seat in a comfy-looking chair curling up in his soft fabric and plush feeling material that soothed some of his aches and pains. “What is it you wish to speak to me about unless it's just because of that minor accident in the training field,” Wukong questioned.

"I wouldn't call that minor, personally." Macaque takes a seat on the couch opposite Wukong, leaning back to let the child rest more comfortably on his chest. "What exactly are you, Sun Wukong?"

“What everyone thinks I am. A fool of a monkey that takes any and every blame without question and fulfills the tasks of righting the blame.” Wukong shrugged. “That is my life. If you want the real answer I suggest you use a nine-ring privacy seal. Not many know beyond Life and Nature.”

Macaque frowned slightly before sighing. "That will take a moment, though within my domain it feels excessive. I would know if anyone was listening." Still, the Shadow rises to his feet and approaches the King. "Are you in any shape to hold the cub, or will another of my shadow clones be required? He only tolerates them for so long."

“I can hold him,” Wukong assured taking the cub with a soft and happy rumble from his chest while his tail wagged in joy.

Macaque nodded, leaving the King with his cub as he began the arduous process of creating such an intensive seal. He used his magic to cover everything throughout the room, taking great care in the process. When he'd finally finished the setup, he called upon his shadow magic that was within the runes. They flared a bright purple. "Done." He went back to his seat. "Are you satisfied with this? Will you answer the question now?"

“Tell me what you know and I will fill in the rest.”

He hummed. "You have a strong connection to the earth. It seemed to react to your blood. It almost felt as though the earth wanted to swallow the training grounds. Your blood also has the power to turn someone immortal purely by being absorbed into the skin, which I've never heard of. And that sort of golden blood I believe to be associated with the highest levels of divinity, which is odd when you were a demon last I checked."

“I might be called a demon because of my eyes but I fall neither under the realm of demon nor celestial. I'm the Primordial Monkey of Stone one of four beings that fall outside of the natural order of the world.” Wukong stated.

"So you are the Stone Monkey." Macaque tilted his head studying him for a moment. Then he placed his hand on his chest. "I am also one of the primordial beings, the Six-Eared Macaque who can hear past, present, and future. But my blood does not flow gold or have such power as yours does, so that does not answer my question."

“The title of Sage comes with the connections to the natural elements especially when one like myself has spent a long time alone in on an island cut off from human interference. As for why my blood is as good as my fur? The result of eating an orchard’s worth of immortal peaches several barrels of immortal wine and a few bottles of immortal pills that were then cooked inside of me over nearly fifty celestial days. My blood didn't fully change until several years after I finished my task from Bubhha. Numa then claimed me as a Vessel of Life and her blood child.”

"So your connection to the earth is similar to my connection with the wind. I can understand that much at least. I'm impressed you kept much of this quiet enough that even the winds didn't pick up on it to share with me." He leaned back further onto the couch, crossing his legs. "I can see why you'd worry about this getting out. If the wrong people managed to capture you the way I have, they'd do far worse than what's happened to you during your stay here."

“That’s just the tip of the ice. While my blood can turn someone immortal it has to be pure blood otherwise it's a very powerful healing ‘potion’ when mixed with anything else and consumed. My blood also creates fruit-bearing trees of immortality when intentionally spilled on the soil. My blood can also be used as a substitute for runic ink.” Wukong listed off.

"You're comfortable telling your captor all of this?" Macaque asked, raising an eyebrow at the stone monkey.

“The Wind has been listening since the start. They control information the best and if you are their interpreter then it would only be a matter of time before you had found out on your own.” Wukong replied as he habitually brought his wrist up to his mouth and bit down drinking his blood to supplement the missed lunch and breakfast and to wake himself up from falling into a healing slumber.

Macaque raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing?"

“Eating. Most of my food has been rotten or already eaten by the time it gets to me so I need to get creative. Even an immortal has natural limits they can't ignore for long.” Wukong replied.

Macaque hummed, glancing from Wukong to the cub in his arms. "And you're still able to produce enough milk off of little more than blood?"

“More or less.” Wukong shrugged.

Macaque sighed. "I'll have a word with the kitchen staff about at least keeping you well enough fed that the cub isn't at risk. I doubt it will do anything for the rumors they try so hard to hide from me, but there's little that can be done about that."

“What like the Dirty Monkey and the Mud Monkey insults or the whore and prostitute slurs? I nearly punched someone for slapping my ass while cleaning the palace and nearly castrated another for trying to order me into their bed.” Wukong vented looking a bit flush in the face.

"You're close with the second one," He admitted, but I doubt you'd hear this one with how quietly they whisper it. They're convinced your cub in mind and that you came to demand what I did in protecting you and 'our' cub from your many enemies." He paused. "Though that is where a lot of the rumors are of you being an easy lay."

Wukong snorted at that. “I’d castrate anyone before they dared to have me in bed and even then I've punted many that tried to take my hand by force,” Wukong stated as he nuzzled Mk his tail curling around him while his eyes grew rather heavy. He didn't last much longer as he finally crashed curled up in the soft chair and deep sleep while holding Mk close in a protective yet gentle hold while a gentle yet heavy lavender-smelling breeze played with his mane.

Macaque studied the god sleeping in his sitting room. "By the 10 Kings, I've captured a god." He couldn't say if this was worth the trouble, but they'd need to be a bit more careful with him from now on. He couldn't afford for anyone else to realize the truth.

Macaque stood from his seat and dismissed the barrier. He silently opened the large window in his sitting area, letting the wind rush in and take th secret so the day back out with it, snippets of the conversation he'd just had rushing past his ears, lightening the heavy atmosphere. "My friend, you've been keeping secrets from me again. So send my secrets high, higher than any bird could ever hope to fly, and never bring it back down." The wind fluttered his hair, pushed past his ears, and then it passed.

He turned back around, leaning against the window frame as he studied his captive and the cub tucked in his arms that seemed to share their attributes somehow. "Now, what to do with the two of you."

The wind flowed back into the room with soft giggling echoing in the wind as it whispered of things yet to come.

”Baba! Put me down!” a child’s voice laughed.

“Moon you're going to make Mk too hyper to put to bed on time.” the amused voice of Wukong chuckled. “Why don't you put on a shadow play about how you became a God of Souls to balance my status as a God of Life?”

Macaque sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening as he continued to stare at the two others in the room. "What?" He walked over to the two, kneeling in front of them. "But that's not possible..."

It's not as though he couldn't admit the Monkey King was handsome, but he had few friends, particularly within his territory. He frowned, eyeing the cub. Slowly, he reached out and ran his fingers over the little one's ears. 'If what Wukong said I'd true, that future is likely to change if they leave the island.' Having Wukong as his partner would bring too much danger to his kingdom. It would be a huge risk.

The wind swirled around him again bringing another set of whispers.

”Put him down, Azure! This is between you and me leave my Cub out of this! You got what you wanted now let Mihou out of that Soul Lantern!” Wukong’s voice seemed to ring with protective rage. While a cub’s cries rung in the background.

“You know I can't do that Brother. Not if I intend to make you my Empress and keep the competition away. Pitty how you found a monkey just like yourself in power to join you on the mountain yet so uninformed of your proper potential.”

A low growl rumbled in his throat. 'Azure... Azure Lion? I've heard the name, did he crawl out of the Diyu after Wukong killed him? They were in that brotherhood together.' He took his hand back and began to pace. He'd never allow someone to lay a hand on his lantern. He'd sooner kill Azure on sight. 'But why would I leave my home for Flower Fruit Mountain?' He froze, going back to the window. "I won't allow them to destroy my island. Come for me if you dare Azure Lion, or whoever else might be coming. I'll rip you to shreds." He vowed to the wind.

This place of too small for you. Your growth has stunted. You’ll grow far more and far stronger out beyond this barrier with the Vessel of Life. The wind soothingly ‘spoke’ to the black monkey. This Kingdom has stilted. It's arrogance has been shown. They call the Vessel of Life a traitor when the Vessel was tortured to turn against those who would not understand his bleeding heart nor hear his grief and suffering. The Gods judged him, the demons damn him and the mortals respect him… but none love him.

Macaque hummed, tail flicking uncertainty. The wind has always advised him toward what was best for him. But this was asking a lot of him. "You ask Mr to give up everything I've built for myself, for the sake of the one being in the three realms with no allies, only admirers, and a long list of bitter enemies." He sighed. "We shall see how things go. I trust your council, but if I take a mate it will be because I respect them, not for power." He smiled at nothing. "You have been good to me already in that department."

He closed the window, ending the conversation for now before turning back to the pair. His eyes softened as they landed on the little monkey. He sighed, approaching Wukong to take the cub from his sleeping form. A blanket fell through a portal, resting over the Sage's sleeping form as the dark monkey cradled the cub that shouldn't look so much like him. "Rest, God King, your cub is safe with me." He went to sit, and as an afterthought, he sent a shadow to collect him some sort of lunch. Enough for two.

[lancedoncrimsonwings]

Augusnippets Day 20

Path of Comfort Prompt; Alt. "Gentle Touch"

Day 20 of @augusnippets August 2024 Whump writing challenge! (Augusnippets Masterlist)

Characters;

- POV: Lancelot - The Weeping Monk

- Caretaker: Gawain - The Green Knight

(Character Masterlist)

(Ao3 Link)

Wordcount; 607

TWs; Tending to wounds, referenced self-flagellation, lashings

"I can help, if you'd like?"

Lancelot looked up to see Gawain standing at the entrance of their tent. Too preoccupied attempting to fold himself like an origami bird in order to salve the wounds on his back, he hadn't noticed the Green Knight's approach.

"I can... do it..." Lancelot huffed, cheeks flaming in embarassment at being caught like this.

Gawain held his hands up in mock surrender, ducking past him further into the tent. Lancelot heard the telltale signs of water being poured into the washbasin, the methodical scrape of knife against cheek as the Knight began to shave.

After several more minutes of wishing he had eyes in the back of his head, or perhaps that he could detatch one of his arms, Lancelot had managed to smear salve on approximately four-and-a-half of the lashings, as well as into his hair somehow and all up one of his arms.

Lancelot sighed, raising his eyes to the heavens in a silent plea for mercy, glancing back when he heard the knife thud softly as Gawain placed it down and stood.

"Let me."

Lancelot sighed again, but begrudingly nodded permission, willing himself to relax though he found it nigh on impossible. It was strange, he thought, the difference in how willing he was to hurt himself unhesitatingly, yet waiting for pain given by another had him arguably more nervous.

As anticipated, Gawain's touch was indeed painful. Lancelot couldn't help but tense to keep still despite trying not to react at all.

Lancelot was, by nature, intimately familiar with pain. This sensation at a base level was indeed the same as ever, yet it had a depth to it most unlike anything he had experienced before, the gentleness of how Gawain tended to him... 

It was oddly comforting. Soothing even.

"Gods, I wish all my patients were as well behaved as you are..."

"Well... behaved?" Lancelot repeated slowly, raising an eyebrow.

Gawain chuckled behind him.

"Aye. They never stay so bloody still."

Lancelot heard a distinctly impressed note in Gawain's voice, unable to resist closing his eyes to the feel of Gawain's soft but sure touches. Unbidden, he wondered if Gawain had a lover somewhere. He'd certainly revealed nothing of himself despite being tortured, yet it felt too personal a question for Lancelot to ask, so he remained silent. He knew Fey had odd customs, not least that it made no difference to most if one was man or woman, or even both, neither, or somewhere in between. Perhaps his lover was a man, given the ease with which his hands roamed Lancelot's back...

"Is it nice where you are?" Gawain asked, mildly.

"I- What?" 

"Is it nice? In your thoughts. You look very... lost in them." 

Lancelot didn't have an answer for that, but gave a wry laugh all the same. Usually, the answer was a quite definite no. Sometimes he'd rather be anywhere but in his own head.

In this instance he certainly had zero intentions of admitting he'd been pondering whether or not the Green Knight was single... Yet the way in which he'd spoken suggested Gawain may have guessed at their subject. 

You're just being paranoid now...

Now that his mind had gone down this particular road, he couldn't deny Gawain's gentle touch was beginning to set a fire through his veins, something else he daren't say. He bit back an involuntary groan as pain mingled with pleasure.

"Sorry, Ashman."

Lancelot smiled slightly at the apology, as unneeded as it was it was nice of Gawain to offer it. Perhaps if he focused on the pain, it would stop his traitorous mind from wandering...

Whoops, posted this one REAL early, yes I was meant to put it in my drafts for tomorrow when I'm at work, no, I did not in fact click "save to drafts"... oops.

An alternate prompt because I was really struggling to write for the given prompts, but I had two ideas I couldn't pick between for Day 23 so I wrote one of them for today!

As always, thanks for reading, onto the next!

[bluerogueanna]

Another way I write my stories and ideas is by abusing my computer's basic notepad program. The poor thing has seen some nasty stuff, incomplete ideas and unoriginal ideas. My laptop died with a dozen or so unfinished stories. And while most of this I just write for fun, to read on my own when the WiFi is down or wathever, I have done some fairly interesting things on my computers.

Recently I also started doing some 3D models, inspired by great people here that do great low-poly stuff that resembles the 64 and 128 bit era of games I love so much. I'm still finding my own style but I love doing little 3D fellows, it's addicting. But that's a post for another day, today I just wanted to share some quick basic ideas I've been thinking about. I wanna post them here but like with the rest, I just wanna make sure they're readable. Like with my blog, I tend to ramble and go on tangents while writing my stories.

In a way, I do it for myself to give me a nice guide for when I eventually draw the characters and worlds. But wathever I end up writing or not, I always think of how it would look like for someone else if they were reading it online or on a magazine, stuff like that.

I'll share the stories in greater detail sometime next week, but here are the basic general ideas for these three stories. I'm quite proud of them and I even made tons of reference art for them. For one in particular I even made mock-ups for the protagonists as characters for a romhack/mod I'm constantly working on.

Enough rambling, I think.

The first story I wanted to share is about a "Witch" who recently moved out to a newly bought cabin by the mountains. Sorrounded by trees, wildlife and caves, the woman wanted to research nature by directly living around the beings she wanted to document and write extensive reports on. The world she lives in is full of interesting beings, magic and creatures of all sizes. She hopes to become an important figure in the world of scientific advancement and ecological preservation efforts. As soon as she has moved all her gear and notes, a corvid of some kind makes a nest within her home. She makes them her first subject and begins taking notes on the little bird's life, its diet and behaviour. She can't help but become friends with the bird as it builds a family right by her bedroom window. She expected the change in her life to lead to a peaceful and reclusive existence. But she would get more and more visits, some becoming permanent residents within her increasingly constricted home. Ever the optimist, the "Witch" takes every change as an opportunity to broaden the scope of her research. She would have the chance to closely examine life forms that not many have even seen up-close, while also dealing with sudden changes to what she imagined as a comfortable solitary life.

Next, a story about a strange cult of some sort. In an otherwise quiet and peaceful city, people have noticed strange pamphlets and signs posted all over the many public parks. Some officials call the displays vandalism, the local church calls it heresy and the public thinks it's just some sort of circus or similar performance. In truth, the papers were posted in hopes of recruiting members for a new religion, one where "the true sinners would finally face justice" and claiming to have a place where people would never feel rejected, neglected or abandoned. Where nobody would be taking advantage of their faith or their good will. A place for the people in need to enjoy a decent life. Many citizens dismiss it as some sort of mockery of their own beliefs. But nobody already religious takes it seriously enough to do anything about it. And the few who decide to find the new group to see if they were telling the truth would quickly see that not only was this new religion serious about their mission, but it already had dozens of followers from all over the country. Their devotion perplexed many who didn't understand their convictions or their methods. But anyone interested would witness true justice enacted by a deity who listened to their prayers.

Lastly, a story that touches on sensitive topics and tragedy. A mercenary who has worked her entire life to protect the hides of unsavory individuals gets tired of saving the lives of unworthy people and moves out of the city she grew up in, hoping to find different kinds of clients. On her way to a neighbouring Queendom, she bumps into a girl wearing barely anything other than a hood to cover her face and some sturdy-looking boots. The girl is on her way to a city close to the Queendom and after walking together for a while, she hires the mercenary to escort her safely to her destination. At first, the mercenary just can't understand why she asked for protection. The girl could use magic and was good with a sword. But soon it would become clear that she was being followed. Whoever she was, there were all kinds of creeps out to get her. And she notices none of them want to hurt the girl, they want to take her away alive. And because the mercenary couldn't have worse luck, whenever she did a good deed on her way to the Queendom and was about to be rewarded for her efforts, the girl's attackers would quickly scare away everyone with their violent and vulgar actions. Through her many attempted kidnappings, it was discovered she wasn't royalty, but that she had some kind of rare blood that they wanted to extract out of her. And the mercenary wanted two things out of the girl. She demanded to know what the girl really was and she wanted her to make up for all the rewards she missed out on because of the constant harrassment from her would-be abductors.

Any and all feedback is appreciated. Thanks for reading!

[scribble-dribble-writes]

To save a mocking bird (2)

<<<Prev Next>>>

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Plot: Hux has been captured and taken to the rebel base

Warnings: none

Word count: 1500

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Chapter 2

The landing was a little rough given that Ajan Kloss was a jungle moon with torrential rains and a humid climate. The descent was during a storm with the comfort of the cover of night, with the tracker already destroyed, the First Order could not track their way here. General Hux was very much ‘missing in action’.

Marjorie let down the ramp and went back to the cargo unit to check on her prisoner, although she didn’t quite like calling him that. All this was just an odd intervention of events. He was a learned man but also one wanted for his crimes and for justice to prevail, she had done her part.

He was now seated, his hands on his lap, his eyes covered by his hair but she could tell his gaze was distant. He was seething and scheming, although to everyone else he would look like someone who had lost the will to fight. Having known his rough childhood, she was certain of one thing. He never ran out of his will power and whatever he had now set his mind, he was going to accomplish.

Marjorie approached him carefully, not sure if he had picked up a tool or a metal shard to arm himself. “You are going to pay for what you did.”, he said with such precision without even looking at her.

“Since you are a man of protocol, I wish to inform you that your attempts to escape from here are futile. Your signal will not reach your fleet and neither will you be let out of our sight.”, she responded kindly placing her hand on his cuff gently to check on it but instead he reeled it back like he was a wounded animal.

“Never,”, his eyes found hers and something in her spirit whispered that he belonged to the jungle, a wild cat.

“Touch me.”, he straightened as though he never admitted defeat.

Marjorie put her hands up in defense agreeing to his wishes and he settled.

“I do have to take you to the base.”, she spoke to him. He didn’t care to respond.

“It is also only a while before the rain picks up again.”, she continued and his brows furrowed.

He was annoyed, he wanted a blaster or a grenade or maybe if he had been an unkempt fisherman his nails would have been long and with that he could have…

His eyes found her face, her skin tan like the sun had favoured her to bestow her with colour which he had not been so fortunate to receive, he couldn’t for some reason bear the thought of causing her pain. In all his life and in the brief moment she had interacted with him, she had been the one to speak kindly to him even when he behaved in such ill manner.

“I”, she started softly, her fingers fidgeting with the end of the zipper in her jacket before her dark eyes found his.

“am also afraid of the dark.”, she said plainly but he didn’t need further explanation. It was uncanny and yet in an ironic sense comforting for two enemies to share a similar fear.

The humid air here was causing him to sweat, his uniform was too thick making his neck itch. He wasn’t on his fleet anymore and it wasn’t cold anymore either. It had started to feel warm, reminding him of his planet, of the sun and sea. All this was starting to become painful, more that having been captured because it was making memories resurface that he wasn’t so interested in reliving.

He was here, he had been caught, and there was nothing he could do right this instant. He will have to wait till morning to learn of the methods here to use it to his advantage. So he got up reluctantly, there was no use putting up a fight now and it was then he caught the glimpse of her smile, for the slightest second his mind relished this reward to his action.

Marjorie felt relieved, she hadn’t been home in months and all she wanted to do now was get to her room to have a sleep. So when he stood up, she couldn’t help herself as she smiled at his compliance before coming to realize just how tall he was as he stood next to her.

If she stumbled into his arms, by accident, and if he caught her, by accident, his chin would rest comfortably over her head while her ear would be planted on his chest to listen to the sound of his heart beat. She stepped away and his eyes followed her, he was rumored to not have a heart and she wasn’t too keen to find out. She gestured for him to walk ahead and he did.

Most individuals had been dismissed for the day but the tent was still lit, the one reserved for meetings or gatherings. Marjorie had to do her duty of filing forms of Hux’s capture and get him into a proper cell before she could head home. But as she filled out his details, she was surprised to see him distracted, observing the few who were around them but it was then she noticed the looks he had been receiving, scowling faces greeted him to which he turned away.

“Could you give him a change of clothes and something to eat?”, Marjorie informed the volunteer who stood behind the counter. The woman was hesitant at first, not willing to give him anything having noticed his uniform but Marjorie cleared her throat to remind the woman of her station to which then she complied, passing him a brown worn out aviator jumpsuit.

He was intrigued by her actions. By law, he was a criminal in this base and yet she was taking care of him. He sniffed, what a fool, he thought. Her generosity was going to be her downfall and that tender heart of hers was going to be an easy tool in his hands as he plotted for his escape.

“I will not be wearing that.”, he grumbled but instead she thanked the volunteer, took the uniform and food package to lead him to his allocated cell.

The cell door opened after she slotted the key in it and turned to him to remove his cuffs. The object slid away and his long fingers wrapped around his wrists, making her notice that he was human enough to have irritated skin.

She didn’t have to tell him or instruct him again, he walked in on his own as she stood there by the open door.

“The jumpsuits are more comfortable than what the First Order gives you, besides much more relevant for the climate you are in.”, she folded her arms having placed the supplies next to him. He took a seat to then rest his head against the wall. She was right on this occasion, he needed something to eat and the air was unforgiving to his uniform. But he wasn't grateful for her actions, he was entitled to it. His sole motto was to take, to procure because that was how you accumulate power. He couldn't understand her mannerisms, why she went out of her way to be...

to be gentle? If he was in her shoes, he could bet on the stars that his prisoners would be treated differently.

She observed his calm demeanor and his green eyes taking in her words but she had been right, beneath all the compliance was that anger and hatred. She inhaled deeply as he scrutinized her.

“I know it is not my place and that my words mean nothing to you. But by morning, even after discovering your absence, there will be a new General, commanding a position that you had fought to climb to.”, she explained and there it was, the waver in his eyes, his lips turning into a thin line. It was the truth, he knew it too.

He knew all of it, the hierarchy within the First Order. But some part of him continued to hold out hope. That in someway he was still,

“I am valuable to them, they will send out probes for me.”, he said folding his arms but to his response, she gave him a tired smile as shook her head, her dark long hair contained in a precisely woven braid, as though he was a maniac and maybe he was, because he was contemplating of changing into that hideous outfit.

“Goodnight, General. Hope you have a better time with your assigned officer than you had with me.”, she cooed as she walked away and he almost got up, to wrap his fingers around the cold metal of the cell door, to ask her to not leave. But he didn’t.

That's the thing with kindness and everything good, everytime he allowed himself to relish it in the scarcity he found it, it will always be taken away from him.

“Oh, beware the bugs.”, she said finally and he sat there, slowly pulling his legs to himself sure that his father was laughing from his grave. Because after everything, he was still the same little boy who sat alone in a locked room when all he had strived for was to be seen and yet it was in his story that he always be cast away.

[danco110]

“That’s not…Ahem, Guildmaster Lazav, I’m afraid I’m going to need a little more information than that.”

The Dimir guildmaster frowned at his informant. “And why is that, Forty? Still neglecting to read our manual on how to find Dimir spies, are we?”

“…Well, yes,” the spy groaned through their gritted teeth. “But that’s not the point! Even with magical methods of detection, that’d still leave me squinting my eyes at a crowd - conspicuously, might I add - for several minutes!”

Lazav tapped his chin thoughtfully. When he spoke, his tone was almost surprised.

“Magical…ah, I see. My apologies, Forty. The memory wipe from your last debriefing must have reached too far back. I rescind my concern.”

Forty opened their mouth to speak, but thought better of it at the last second, and reconsidered their words. “All right, so, does that mean you’ll actually drop the cloak and dagger for a second, and tell me how to get in touch with our informants in the field?”

“Drop the act? Never,” Lazav smirked. “But I can at least help you in the latter regard.”

Forty waved their hands to their sides expectantly. Lazav was silent for a time, thinking of what to say.

“Just…contact those you can visibly identify with House Dimir. I’ll…follow after you and snag the rest.”

“Or,” Forty groaned, “you could just give me a damn list and-”

“Enough! I have given my command. You would do well to follow it.”

Forty rolled their eyes. “Okay. And, pray tell, how would I ‘visibly identify’ our guys?”

“By the watermark.”

“By- What!”

“…Oh right. I guess she doesn’t have one. Never mind. Look, here.”

Lazav seized Forty by the shoulder and turned them to face his pointing finger. He gestured past a Boros angel visibly ignoring the pair, to a woman muttering to herself as she walked down the street. A flock of ethereal birds of blue mana followed in her wake.

“Just…get the obvious ones. Like I said, I’ll follow up on the rest.”

Forty again rolled their eyes, and gave a mocking salute. “Yes, sir,” they droned, as they left the alleyway.

[possiblylando]

Sukuna and Mahito, Polar Opposites of Evil. [Spoilers for Shibuya, Light Spoilers for chapters 212+]

I find it really hard to get upset at Sukuna being a piece of shit because he's like a Hurricane. He shows up wrecks shit and leaves. Once the storm passes Sukuna is actually a "decent" guy (as decent as a cannibal mass murderer can be). He could've continued to mock Jogo after absolutely humiliating but instead he reassures his existence and strength. Same for Maki in the latest chapter. What he does is completely of his own will and with the goal of inflicting suffering but it feels less outwardly malicious then it does with other antagonists in the series.

Meanwhile Mahito is consistently a malicious dirtbag. Maybe it says more about me but there where points during his Shibuya Massacre where I had to take a break because I began to feel nauseous from the shit he was doing. Yet I never really felt that during Sukuna's domain expansion killing just as many if not more. Mahito revels in his actions and does them to brutally specifically to spite Itadori. There's also a major difference in the way they commit their atrocities. Everything Mahito is up close and personal. He thrives on suffering and would prefer to make everything slow and painful instead of quick kills. Mahito is strong and yet chooses to use underhanded tactics to get the advantage which is usually only something "weak" characters do.

Meanwhile everything Sukuna does is quick. He rarely fucks around when he's actually trying to kill someone. The most we've really seen him mess with people was against Fushiguro (Who he was actively trying not to kill) and Jogo. Even while killing Itadori in the Mindspace it's INSTANT a single panel and it's over.

The biggest thing which separates them is how personal they are with their actions. With everything Sukuna does there's a level of detachment. Whenever he isn't facing someone who's at least in the same ballpark of strength he just ends it. Meanwhile Mahito takes completely unbridled joy in his actions. Everything he does brings him some level of pleasure. There's rarely a panel where Mahito isn't smiling. The best way I can put it is the difference between a Sentient Hurricane and a Serial Killer. Sukuna steps on bugs while Mahito kills birds.

Sukuna was "merciful" enough to allow Panda & Co to escape the meteor. Never in a million years would Mahito pull a stunt like this. Additionally he saved Fushiguro from being killed by Haruta and Mahoraga. We know the reason for this now and it's far from merciful. Mahito and Sukuna are arguably the two big bads of Shibuya. You could argue Kenjaku is as well but he really only does anything at the beginning and end. We get intentional parallels drawn between them as early as their first appearances. Chapter 27 brings the best panel of this. I'm sure you all know it.

Both Mahito and Sukuna hold an inhuman desire to watch Itadori suffer. Even if their methods are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum, They both boil down to the same thesis statement: "It's your fault all these people died."

[ducknotinarow]

2012 Karai - All Symbol Headcanons please uwu

| Send me a symbol and I will write a headcanon about…  For multimuse blogs, please specify!

Personally speaking Karai is a very big favorite of mine being always in-between as an ally and enemy of the turtles. 2012's take is a favorite of mine though I do still sort of prefer 03's back story. Personal hot take I just don't care for her being Splinters daughter Miwa. It didn't really go anywhere and I am sad that she never got to like bond with the turtles after the reavel and such? Sure they risk a lot to try and save her but really only Mikey seems to see her like a sister. Which is sad to me I feel we could have seen some fun dynamics with her more included. But I won't get into that XD once again this is mostly going towards the Foot!Casey au. But anything not outright directed to that can be applied to Karai over all.

𝓕 : My muse’s handwriting. (Is it good, bad, difficult to decipher, do they prefer writing by hand or with the help of some form of machine, e.t.c.) 

"A steady hand is needed when you deal with weapons." From Karai's hand writing we can she is sensible, even tempered and rational. She can be optimistic. well also being discreet and value silence. She notice everything and pays great attention to detail. Karai is a careful, methodical thinker.

Which I would say is a fitting result on here handwriting. Before I break down into that i'm sure you noticed the lack of a surname in her's that is on purpose. As Karai tries to sever her ties with her father even dropping her name, despite Karai needing to be kept to the shadows and such her father dose hold some ties mainly in Japan. So Karai legally gets emancipated. She is of age to be able to do it after all.

back to her hand writing results, Karai is a sensible person she likes to have all the information before she acts. She isn't often motivated by her own emotions even openly dissing her father on his obsession saying he needs a hobby. Karai can hold her temper and act much more rational. But she can sometimes get trigger into actting on her own emotions where they too much and this is when she tends to go against her usual ways. Jumping in head first with no plan or course of action her drive is to hurt. Surprisingly she can be pretty optimistic but thats a survival tactic being the daughter of Shredder offers a pretty bleck life so anything that can be something good to hold on to she needs too. Rather it's finally getting justice for her mother to making sure her Brother and sister finally can be free. Taking into account she is a kunoichi discreet and silence is just ingrained into her. Along with her need to pay attention to detail.

As how shes able to pick apart April's lies about the turtles when mention she has four brothers who speak Japaneses and such. Or how she is too damn aware of how people carry themselves able to mock the body language needed to fool others. When her emotions are not ruling her actions she very good at planning steps ahead. Able to get the better of many for her thought and plans alone. Emotions are her only true weak spot.

✈ : My muse and  traveling. (If they do it frequently and why, if they never left their home town, e.t.c.)

"I really only been to Japan and New York." Karai didn't outright join Shredder until a bit later she grew up in Japan where Shredder main base for the foot clan resides and a lot of her training was. She later moved to New York so she could join her father on his revenge mission. Working as his right hand almost. Outside of this Karai hasn't travel around too much in her life. But it's something she would love to do more.

✿ : My muse and nature. (If they are an ‘outdoorsy type’, like the sound of bird’s singing, if they have never set foot in a forest, e.t.c.) 

"I know how to survive if having to go into the woods if that's what you mean?" Sort of, Karai isn't big on camping and such shes a tad prissy this way. Not that she'll be against it she just ain't having much fun sleeping in the dirt. She rather stay up and play look out. So no she isn't all to connected to nature. Funny considering she is part snake now?

☼ : My muse’s first memory. (Where it was, who was with them, how this memory makes them feel, e.t.c.) 

"First memory? it could be a dream but I swear it's real. Looking at a women with long dark hair telling me sorry."

Karai's first memory is also the day she lost her mother int the fire. Her mother was trapped in the building that ended up getting set on fire thanks to the fights going on. Her mother was trapped under some of the roofs structure trapped her. She just has the word sorry trapped in her mind. Karai is positive that memory is the day she lost her mother. The vague memory just fits so while to the photo she has of her mother. But for all she knows she made up that memory.

☙ : My muse’s favourite food. (Bonus: A memory, be it good or bad, associated with said food.)

"If a certain red colored turtle hurts my brother? I know someone who can make them into turtle soup for me."

It will be turtle soup if Raph ever hurts Casey. But I would say her favorite food is Baozi. She prefers them with bean paste more of treat but sell eat the kinds with meat and veggies as well. If going more savory she likes pork. In part it's why she took so well to the pizza goyza almost being close to her own favorite food. It's something easy to eat and you don't really need to sit down and eat.

♬ : My muse and music. (What type of music they like listening to and in what context, what music they would never listen to, e.t.c.)

"hmm not big on music anything that's good is fine, i just have natural good taste."

Karai come across ver underground music lover, indie artis and such she not to fixed on a style of music punk rock may be a norm but sometimes she'll branch out.

I feel Karai is the type to indulge her lost childhood healing towards her inner child she has a guilty pleasure enjoyment for musical songs from Disney movies, shows and more. Can blame it on watching those kind of movies with angel but she can and has been caught humming them to herself at times. And sometimes the songs hit her a bit too close to home.

↺ : My muse and the past. (Do they live in the past and struggle to let go of past grievances, or move on more easily, is there anything in their past they want to forget, e.t.c.) 

"I guess I do when it come to my mother." Karai never got to know her mother, take from her when she was just a baby. Karai often tries to hold anything she can as a connection to her even down to the flower she claims is her favorite. Purely based on knowing her mother loved them. Karai dosen't care much for her fathers vendetta against Yoshi, not till he tells her he killed her mother then she sees them as her enemy. April stating she lost her own mother was also enough to trip her up and give the lesser experienced fighter a chance to beat her. Karai often wonders if shes anything close to the person her mother would want her to be.

Karai after things with Casey goes down even more so worries about this, feeling she is willing to sell her soul to be rid of the demon she now see's their father as. She is certain her mother wouldn't want her to let revenge eat away at her. But she could have lost someone important to her someone who sort of filled the void left by her mother in her life. She Nearly lost Casey because of Shredder same as she lost her mother to him. Letting him live means her loved ones will always be in danger.

She may not be too different from her father in the end stuck in the past and letting revenge become an obession.

☾ : My muse and sleep. (How much they sleep, how much they wish to sleep, if there is something that never fails to put them to sleep, e.t.c.) 

"Periodically, I sleep through the night most I don't. I must be alert often after all."

Karai is pretty light sleeper something she was trained as when studding under her teacher. She never knew when he would strike so she got used to sleeping as light as possible that way she could both work off little sleep leaving a moment of weakness out of her but also meaning when she can sleep she only dose in short periods of time. She gets by with a near like nap like of sleep.

✧ : My muse and art. (If they have an artistic side or not and why, favourite artist if they have one, e.t.c.) 

"Eh not my thing, next?"

Shes no artist but I like to think she likes looking at Casey's drawings as they grew up.

❃ : My muse and social media. (If the muse is/would be on social media and why/why not, their general opinion on it, e.t.c.) 

"I'm in the foot clan we don't do that?"

Casey might use some but Karia not really at all, she only joined twitter as an act of rebellion since they are meant to not take part of the world and remain unknown and hidden from it. Thier father pissed her off one night so see made an e-mail and a twitter. Pretty sure she had to get Casey to help with both. As mentioned she only has Twitter and she hardly looks at it when she dose it's most just for aesthetic posts from Japan or China. Or overly decorated weapons.

Eventually she starts using it to follow indie musicians and find out where they are holding shows that she will sneak out to go watch. She still not all to versed in how twitter works she can't figure out how to save the cool poster made up for flyers for a lot of the musicians get made up on to her phone. Casey don't be rude please show her again u-u

✉  : My muse and others. (If they social and outgoing or more introverted, and why. If they prefer communicating with others face to face or in written form, e.t.c.). 

"I'm clearly a people person?"

She is far from a people person. Karai may be very observant which is a great skill but she knows nothing on interacting with people. This is actually why she wasn't picked for the mission to betray the turtles. She lacks social skills very very badly and it's not hard to see why. She isn't too good about blending in either. Shes very stand offish and cold. And a clear required taste not someone who can go behind enemy lies and not come across as a possible threat.

This even extends to her and Casey. She may be able to tell he is lonely but she doesn't understand past this why he keeps away so much. She can easily read a person buuuut interaction comfort and just stuff most people learn from growing up? even empathy? shes has a glaring spot of lacking that skill set. It's a big part of why it's a miracle she even has Shin as a friend.

▶ : My muse and level of education. (If the muse has some form of education, what education they perhaps wish they had, e.t.c.). 

"All my schooling is home, dad wasn't cutting corners and made sure the best of the best taught me." More reason why she is bad at interactiong and even just acting her age she never went to a public school always home school with best teachers money could buy. Karai is very smart she graduated early even. As stated she is very good with computers with their piratical uses and can even trick Donatello or least give him an annoyance so that's where I would set her intelligence.

◐ : My muse and animals. (If they like animals and treat them well, do not care for them at all, e.t.c.). 

"hmm I did want a pet as a kid." Karai was lonely of course she wanted something like a cat or a dog but she never got one. But that didn't stop her from getting attached to stray animals here and there. Sneaking food out to alley cats and homeless dogs. She has a bit of a soft spot for them.

❒ : My muse and gifts. (If they are good/bad at finding gifts, good/bad at receiving gifts, good/bad at wrapping gifts, e.t.c.) 

"Five finger discount works well." I feel like despite being rich Karai knows how to steal and dose it way to often it's fun she doesn't even want the stuff but sometimes it hard to not steal? So lets just say when she is feel extra nice Casey may be gifted better eyeliner and such and Angel new dolls or things that she can use for her dolls. So I'd say shes a good gift giver and long as you don't care where it comes from? Just enjoy the present.

☘ : My muse’s relation with their family. (If they speak with each other and how much, if they are close or estranged, e.t.c.). 

"It's well, yeah."

Mother- Karai's mother is her whole world, she never met her but she is always on her mind and carried in her heart. Desperately hopes to avenge her own mother's death by killing her true killer. Even though she doesn't know what her mother was actually like, she cares deeply for her and is even carries a torn-off, dilapidated photo of her mother around with her. And Karai wishes to be more like her but she has become her father instead and choose to which is worse but she rather burn in hell if she can right somethings.

Father- actually quite complicated. She seems to fear the Shredder at certain times, but obeys him. She doesn't hold much respect for him more out like most teens with their parents. Often makes remarks and argue with him. But she still saved him a very times when he could have died still seeing him as her father first. Until she learns how he has been treating Casey and that its the reason Casey goes to kill himself.

Angel- Her younger sister, she and Angel bond over the fact neither of them ever got to met their mother. Sometimes it's hard to understand a connection you should have with someone you never even met. Karai on her own end has a tend more of a motherly older sister approach to Angel because of this. It's why shes in comparison nice to Casey. She often can be found brushing Angel's hair and styling it, if Angel dose wish to make her own like Karais she would help with dying it even. Angel could ask anything of Karai nearly and she would do it with out hesitation. She wants Angel to get what she and Casey didn't the pleasure of being a kid.

Casey- Karai and Casey are the same age but Casey is older only by a bit so for a few times during the year he is older. Despite this all Karai dose learn to sort of lean on Casey as if he is the older sibling. She's not the best as being open and vulnerable but she has exposed this side to Casey. Telling him about her mother and such at least something he relates to with her on and over. Casey is a very soft and caring person and Karai honestly could out right tease him by saying he acts like a mom but she dosen't because she likes that about him. How he worries about her and gets on her case even. Casey is a lot of things to Karai. So she will do anything for him as well, she would have helped him with the turtle even without their bet. When she dose find him after his suicide attempt she sees that she could have lost someone who has impacted her life in ways she wasn't aware of before. And its the last straw for her when it comes to their abusive father.

[d-field22-blog]

First Appearance: Man of Steel #3 (November, 1986)

Story: Ever since she was a little girl, Margaret Pye and her parents we're not financially sound, and whenever her mother would bring home even the cheapest piece of jewelry, Maggie was immediately drawn to the shine in which the ring would deliver. Over the years, the fascination for shiny objects would grow and grow, and often whenever her classmates would show off their own expensive jewelry, Maggie would be immediately drawn to the shiny diamonds, and gold necklaces. Often she would attempt to steal them from her classmates, and would often be mocked for her habits and was then called Magpie. The name and habits would only fester when she reached high school, and her skill of thieving would begin to rise. For the entirety of her high school years, she would admire the objects from afar as she would spy on each of her classmates, and would learn their locker combinations. The first piece she would steal was an emerald ring from her school bully, Samantha Johns. Next was a sapphire necklace from Sam's girlfriend Brittany Barrows, and a pair of pearl earrings from Tameka Roberts, and this was only the tip of the Iceberg for Magpie. She would even rob the school board of their shiny valuables; not even the principle's solid gold watch was safe from the Magpie. According to rumor, Pye had acquired nearly 700,000 dollars worth of stolen jewelry and many other objects which shined bright like a diamond. To avoid suspicion from the student body, Margaret had in her trips from school would either steal, buy, or make her own counterfeit jewelry in an effort to fool the victim that what they wore was still their legitimate prize, and if one was to suspect her, she would leave her stolen prize in another student's locker in an effort to throw anyone off of her trail. Most times, those methods worked swimmingly in her favor, until one day Margaret had become to greedy and careless. One hot Monday morning, Margaret was caught with her hand in the cookie jar after being set up by Sam, Brittany, and Tameka who had overheard her bragging to herself about the emerald ring Pye had stolen and witnessed her leaving the office of the city councilor with a pair of silver earrings. falsely spread rumors about a pearl necklace; one of which was so large that it could shine as bright as the sun. In the end, Margaret was met with half of the student body getting their own ounce of revenge, and leaving her beaten, and not only expelled from her high school, but was arrested for thievery and for framing others with the fake replicas. Since then, the obsession would take complete control of her, as she was often seen trying to steal the guards leys, as well as their badges in an effort to claim shiny things again. Most times she would sent to solitary confinement repeatedly. For her, it was a miracle that she had gotten out of prison, while for others it was a curse. For many years later, her old school bully was selling a grapefruit sized moonstone which shinned like the moon in the light. However what Sam and her wife Brittany had not known, was that the night before, ye had stolen the stone and replaced it with another replica, only this time this one was quite deadly. When Sam had set the stone onto the booth for auction, the stone had exploded, killing Sam in the process. All that was left behind in the crime scene was a grieving Brittany, a lone feather from the bird which gave her the name she had long since been cursed to carry, and a bewildered playboy who would eventually seal the thief's fate when the feather would fall right into his hand, and an equally shocked patron who was quite impressed with the crime, and witnessed the feather of the bird and sought to make hire this criminal to his own services.

Real name: Margaret Pye Occupation: Professional Criminal Base of Operation: Gotham City Eyes: Blue Hair: Red, White(wig) Height: 5ft 7n Weight: 120lbs

Attributes: Known for having a compulsion for stealing any object which is shiny. Suffers from both Kleptomania and Shiny Object Syndrome. Uses fakes which not only look similar to the stolen object, but are also known to explode. Harbors a fierce hatred/ rivalry with Catwoman. Skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Uses the custom claws of her design for her endeavors and for combat. High intelligence despite certain circumstances. Often works as both her own agent, but also a well trusted thief of the Penguin.

Dream voice actress: Rachel Matthews.

Featured song: Pretty Shiny Things by Kassi Ashton

Notes:

One of the rogues that I find to be a bit underrated, Magpie totally deserves more respect than she deserves. Well maybe not the older incarnation, but the newer one is a bit cooler. Though writers do use her these days, I'm still waiting for a definitive Magpie story. Plus Batman needs more women in his rogues gallery.

So the design is based in not only the newer take, but also a bit of the classic look in terms of the glasses, belt, and a little bit in her gloves.

I'm gonna have to admit something. I DO NOT like Beware the Batman. I don't like the CGI, 60 percent of the characters designs, like Batman's for example, and I don't like how they used Pyg. I mean I don't know what the hell they did to Lazlo, but that eco-terrorist thing, was not Pyg. He should have just been left alone, and that goes for Anarky too. I mean really. What were they thinking in making him this Batman's arch enemy?! If anyone, it should have been Two-Face. But oh wait, they didn't start using him until near the end of the season/run! Same for Penguin who pretty much got the shaft as a poster and a mere mention. I really hate how the classic rogues got screwed over, and don't even get me started on the whole Joker situation. That is a can of worms all on it's own. But what I did like ewas the updated Magpie design. Though I didn't like how they tried to make her of all people Catwoman of this shoe and those nails. Just why? So that's kind of why I opted for the gloves being the key to her nails, and straight out of her fingers like the mutant from X-Men, whose name escapes me.

Although I do like the updated design they gave to Magpie back in Beware the Batman, I do admit that they should have tones it down. So I went with what you see above.

[quincyhorst]

I return to post again and Tumblr's UI becomes a nightmare. Why.

-----

Because of his short height, Shine became a victim of constant stigmatizing since childhood. Being seen younger than he actually was (And thus "weaker"), this led to people either mocking him or infantilizing him to an uncomfortable extent. Hating to be always treated either way, for a long while he tried to prove his own worth by any method possible. He'd constantly practice sports to improve his physical skills, he'd always try to do tasks/housechores without help from caregivers or parents, and even within school, he'd always try to study things in advance just so he could have greater notes. This did help to tone things down (Not always), and his parents seemed satisfied over his dedication to studies; but it's true that this routine started to pay a toll on his physical and mental health, which all collapsed entirely in his late adolescence.

When adulthood came and with an entirely different direction on life, plus with a more "acceptable" height, Shine still tried to keep a cool persona within his new university classmates. His way of studying had loosened up a bit since then (Minus when finals are happening), but he kept "masking" many parts of himself to the world.

However, there's many weaknesses to this mask that have persisted no matter the age. And the most common is... Cats. No matter if its in Queensland or Perth, if Shine ever stumbles upon a street kitty, he will inmediately go like "...Pspspspspspspsps...". He just finds them cute, what can I say.

Unfortunately, none of his circumstances have allowed him to have a pet. If it wasn't that his family just really hates pets, he would have adopted so many stray animals. And even later on when residing in grandma Sun's house, neither she has allowed him to bring a creature inside, her excuse being "They will disturb the nearby birds". At least he can give them a temporal residence in the garden, that's a thing...

[witchcraftandburialdirt]

“Stop? Why? Don’t you want them to pay for what they did to you?”

VIOLENTLY PROTECTIVE SENTENCE STARTERS ═══ CANON VERSE ═══

Robin's smaller hand slid along the crux of Jhin's wrist as he sat beside him, easing into their usual comfortable position atop the cushioned chaise lounge within the garden. How long had Jhin been awake for..? Robin hadn't even felt him leave their silk-sheet covered bed. Despite this curiosity, his sparkling green eyes traveled over Jhin's sketches, noticing elaborate, delicious plans for a performance, one that almost made the healer's stomach twist. However it was...not for the reason one might initially think. His fingertips caressed their way upwards, each touch like a petal brushing against his skin, and he finally cooed up towards the artist,

"Because they don't deserve to be made into your art, your art is so beautiful...boorish individuals don't deserve to be crafted so carefully by your hand, that is a waste of your talent and time."

He whispered in the ear of the devil with that low siren voice, his tone sweet and honeyed with promises of Jhin's worth, of his art's worth and of...worse things to come. Whether or not Robin knew what he was encouraging did not matter, not when his words denoted his approval of such things; of an ugly, pointless death. Only people truly worthy of Khada's time were deserving of the spectacle caused by the assassin's elaborate, methodical planning. These people....they deserved no such kindness as a breathtaking death....they deserved something abominable, something quick and harsh to match the way they decided to live, brutal and hateful.

A simple knife to their necks would do--but those words were never spoken aloud.

His bewitching gaze lowered once more, highlighted by his lashes as pliant fingers languidly removed the pencil from Jhin's hand, his movements full of reverance as he brought the artist's silver knuckle upwards to be kissed by soft lips. They flutter against his skin twice, eager to remark their adoration while he lifts his stare once more to meet such gorgeous heterochromic eyes; his lips part, longing for something to press on, perhaps even to kiss him fully, but he held restrain. Robin smiled with ease as their fingers interlocked, cementing the intimate proximity between them both as the birds around them sung their aubade within the white light of dawn.

One might be foolish enough to presume that this was all some vile manipulation that the artist had carefully concocted within the healer's mind, that this level of cruel intention was only born out of the most monstrous of people. No... There was no rescue needed from the black pit, not when it had been dug long ago by his own hands--only now having an outlet that lacked judgment or argues of morality. No, Jhin simply listened and accepted that darkness, how could Robin not share those wicked thoughts when they were treated with such veneration? He truly does wonder how long ago he finally surrendered into this feeling, or if it had been meant to be so his entire life; warmth through acceptance. Open arms to the blackest parts of his soul...the imperfect stains along his being. A ready ear that would not mock or think less of him. But--he would not plant too many seeds, that would overcrowd Jhin's mind with ideas...best to lay the foundation. And so, he moved away.

"I'll make us a pot of tea, we can discuss some further ideas..." Oh what sweet seduction laced his words as the morning light danced along the wintry wisps of hair adorning his head; now grown out in their security. Finally, the very tips of his fingers abandoned Jhin's, leaving behind a tension within their wake, one that could only be cured when he was to return into those unholy, hellbound hands. His snowbird spared him one last lingering glance, the ends of his lips curling affectionately before he slipped inside their home, preparing the tea as he promised.