#These are some of the more unique breeds I had at the top of my mind

[mysterysoulrider]

Ooh I definitely have some fun breeds I'd love to see in the game!

Dutch harness horse (tuigpaard) They're originally bred as a driving horse but they make great riding horses too. They carry themself exceptionally well with great suspension and high knees especially in trot. Also they come in so many colors. Most common are chestnut, bay and black but they also come with creme, roans and greys. Some even have sabino, rabicano or (extra rare) tobiano markings.

Shetland pony And I don't mean the fancy american kind I mean the cute fluffy, chunky companions. They're brave, strong, curious pons. They're just adorable with their thick coat/mane and little legs. We obviously wouldn't be able to ride them but they could be like a sort of pet. They would follow you around while you ride another horse or you can lead them. And most important: you'd be able to cuddle them.

Dutch draft (or belgian draft (closely related)) I don't think they need an explanation. Just chonk. Also I grew up seeing them around a lot as I'm dutch so they're special to me. They come in bay, chestnut and black with the possibility of roan.

Irish draught Once again I love me a good strong horse. And this breed to me seems like the perfect blend of sporty and draft. I just love the way they look. They also have a wide variety of coat colors with gray and chestnut as most common.

< Przewalski and Konik > Both of these breeds are wild or semi-wild. I think it would be really cool to see some more wild looking breeds in sso as we don't have that right now. I know they're not ridden irl but that's why it would be nice to be able to do that ingame.

oh my god guess who disappeared again

ANYWAYS.

what is a horse breed not yet in the game that you would love to see added?

[spr1ngbunni]

Stress Relief (William Afton x Reader)

☼☽⋆｡°✧ ✧⋆°｡☾☼ ☼☽⋆｡°✧ ✧⋆°｡☾☼ ☼☽⋆｡°✧ ✧⋆°｡☾☼

Summary: Reader is stressed out as usual and William takes things into his own hands to relieve your stress.

Tags: nsfw, smut, vaginal sex, overstimulation, corruption, daddy kink, drugging (but the reader is into it LMAO), age regression if you squint, choking, multiple orgasms, creampie, breeding kink, toys, soft!dom!William, submissive!soft!reader

author’s note: AAAAAAA here’s my first William x Reader smut fic i’m a bit shy to post this tbh 🤧. This definitely isn’t for everyone as there’s some very self indulgent kinks but regardless I hope you enjoy!! Also no beta LETS GOOOOOO

Word count: 4k

You & William have been dating for a few weeks now, and you couldn't have asked for a better lover. He was the richest man in Hurricane, with an empire so great he could care for you, a whole family and more. His tall frame domineered in every room he was in. His usual bored, uninterested gaze always turned to one filled with love and admiration when pointed in your direction. William considered himself God, a man who created life itself, and every person in Hurricane was so much lesser than him, less smart, less powerful, less brilliant, except for you. You were his treasure, his most precious belonging. You belonged to him. Such a darling little thing for Mr. Afton.

You were always so kind to him, and he adored your sweet voice, kind eyes and he believed you to be absolutely ravishing. You had to be his, all his, and you took to his advances so well.

William had never loved like this before. Hell, he didn't even know a love like this could exist. William Afton was a whore, and despite this, his many partners in the past could never amount to how you made him feel.

Really there was nothing like it. He had remembered the first time he held you- you were a crying touch starved mess, and William’s gentle affection brought you to tears. And in his embrace sparked a unique, unforgettable and esoteric feeling. As you cried, you couldn't help but feel like a kid again, running to your Dad for comfort… and for William, he was a Father again, holding his newborn baby as they cried and cried. Gently rocking you in his arms to soothe your quivering, emotional self.

Since then the dynamics really shifted between you and William. Whereas he becomes more of a dom and caretaker than a traditional boyfriend. And you have loved it so much. Some people may say he was too controlling… But it was a comfort to you. You were always stressed, worrying about every little thing, and what kind of Daddy would he be if he didn’t help his baby bunny? So of course Daddy will help you out, pick out what you’re gonna wear for the day, what to eat… All he wanted was the best for his baby.

Which is why he made you a special little gift. You have been stressing out more than usual as of late, so William has taken the executive decision to remove every last bit of stress from you. And with this-

William held up a mechanical device underneath the blinding bulb of the overhead lamp sitting above his workbench. He inspected it for any imperfections. The device itself was sleek and smooth, a plastic outer shell, in the shape of an egg-like structure. The top had an opening, fit with soft smooth silicone. The opening was no more than a few inches deep, and at the base of the toy was a more phallic silicone object. All waterproof and skin safe of course.

William smiled at himself in self satisfaction. He had made great unbelievable advancements with his robotics, so certainly machines of this nature wouldn't be difficult for him to replicate.

Toys were no new thing for you and William, but it would be the first time he built one for you. Completely tailored to your body, your greatest weakest points all taken into account upon creation. To have William’s precious baby bunny come undone from his own creations, was an exhilarating thought. One that practically made his pants tighten at the mere thought.

After feeling satisfied with the aesthetics of it, William decided to try the power. A few second long press of the button and the little toy came to life. A soft humming resonated through the workshop, and William carefully examined the toy. Pressing the opening to his hand he smiled.

Just the right amount of vacuum pressure, vibration, and the pulsating inner core really tied it all together. His hand slid to the phallic object on the other end of the toy, wrapping around it tight, imagining his hand to be your inner core gripping onto it. He smiled once more as his hand ached, just knowing the thousands of nerve endings in your cute little pussy would be no match.

Yes this will do. This certainly will do.

It would take away his baby bunny’s stress but even their mind as well… Though this was no concern for William, you are his bunny after all, and that includes having ownership over your mind. He’ll take good care of it as he does you…

Though his little excursion didn't end there. Once the toy was all set he grabbed a miscellaneous dime bag, filled with crystalline substances and headed upstairs into the kitchen.

He loves his baby bunny he really does. And he’s so proud of them for working so hard. But his bunny works too hard sometimes, not knowing when to stop. Even he struggled to get his bunny to rest.. Some nights William had to physically pull you away from work and into bed… and with the amount of stress you’ve been harboring as of late… William wasn’t taking any chances! So of course he needed to take things into his own hands.

He was cooking dinner for you, and upon plating the servings did he make sure to incorporate a decent dose of the crystallized powder into your serving. He hummed in satisfaction and returned to waiting for your arrival.

☼☽⋆｡°✧ ✧⋆°｡☾☼

The familiar sound of the door locks unlatching brought upon William’s attention.

“I’m homee !” your voice called out, completely intertwined with stress and exhaustion.

Oh poor baby, you sounded so stressed..

William rushed over to greet you, cupping your face in his hands and pressing kisses all over.

“Welcome home Sweetie”

You giggled at the sensation of his beard and kisses tickling your face. You wrapped your arms around him tight as he showered you with his love.

William rubbed your back soothingly and gave you a gentle pat.

“Aww my poor baby…”, he cooed, running his hands through your hair soothingly.

“I can feel the tension in you…Why don't you let me take good care of you. I made dinner already so why don’t we get all cleaned up and eat hm?”

You pull yourself slightly away from him, not enough to fully separate yourself from him and nod.

“Yes.. that would be so nice” you respond, the sound of exhaustion in your voice apparent.

William hummed in satisfaction and scooped you up to head towards the bathroom. He turned the knob on the shower on and began to gingerly undress you, leaving gentle kisses on your bare skin whenever exposed. He really had to hold himself back from going overboard, there would be plenty of time for that later, but for now he just needed to care for his bunny a little bit.

Once declothed the both of you entered the shower, water now hot enough to your liking. You found yourself hugging Will again, feeling affectionate. The vague weariness in your limbs causing you to lean into him exhaustively.

“My poor baby, all stressed and tired” William squeezes you tight before running his hands down your body. He reached over for the soap to begin cleaning you, keeping you close.

Letting William bathe you like this was always so intimate and sweet. It really highlighted the more gentle side of himself. The way he worked was focused, methodical, similar to him cleaning his animatronics, and with that spark in his eye. That spark that said “This is mine”

Once clean, you both head to the kitchen to eat. You already feel so much better, the heat from the water and Will’s gentle affection soothing your body and mind.

You sat down at the table already feeling much better, and now noticing your hunger. Will returned from the kitchen with two plates of food, setting yours right in front of you.

“Aw Will, it’s so sweet of you to have cooked for us, its like you’re the housewife for a change” you joke, as Will cooking was rare. You tended to cook for the both of you like the sweet housewife you were to him.

Will chuckled in response “You’ll always be my little housewife bunny, plus, how could I not take care of my baby?”

You smile at his words and begin to eat.

“This is delicious! Thank you again Will” though you noticed something was off with the aftertaste. It was almost sour. Maybe William wasn’t the best cook but you paid no mind to it. You just pushed past it and continued to finish your plate.

“You don’t have to thank me bunny, I’m just taking care of you” he smiled.

As you finished your plate, you noticed the beginnings of a sensation pooling in your stomach. You could feel your head start to feel a bit hazy. It felt as if… something was kicking in? You shook your head, choosing to ignore it and finish your meal.

But the feelings only increased. Your vision shifted in and out of focus and you squirmed in your seat.

“What’s the matter?” William reached across the table and grasped your hand, rubbing soothing circles onto the back of it.

“I’m-I’m fine really, just a little dizzy” you go to stand up and thats when it really hits you.

You stumbled and Will was quick to catch you, getting up from his seat and headed towards you, wrapping you tight in his arms.

“Whoa there sweetie ! Be careful !”

“Aahh Will, I feel weird, like something is kicking in” You hold onto the man tight, feeling your head go more and more numb. The warm feelings increased and spread throughout your whole body. Being so close to Will and simply just touching him made it worse. Did being this close to him always feel this good?

His scent; cigarettes, cologne and a secret third thing that was just so purely William filled your senses as he held you close. And the tactile feeling of his soft shirt and warmth of his body was just so intoxicating.

“W…..Will, Did you drug the food…? I’m not mad… just wondering..” You nuzzle him affectionately and glance up at him with those sweet eyes of yours.

He smiles at you in return, petting you lovingly.

“Aww baby I had to! You were so stressed and upset I couldn’t just leave you like that… and you’re a very good bunny you always are.. but sometimes you don’t listen and won’t rest.. So Daddy needed to give you special medicine to help you relax is all. I just want the best for you”

You let out a soft whine as the drug continues to assault your system, and Will’s sweet words bounce around in your brain, registering purely as pleasure.

“Daddyyy… I love you Daddy… so good to me.. taking care of me like this”

You couldnt help but feel a rush of excitement over the situation. How Will loved you. Loved you so much he’d do anything to make you feel better. To even go as far as to drug you as a way to release you from your stress had your head spinning and your pussy throbbing.

“Now sweet bunny why don’t we get you to bed hm? So Daddy can help scrub away whatever stressful little things are left in that pretty head of yours”

William scooped you up once again and took you to the bedroom, making sure to leave a long kiss on your forehead, pouring all his love into it.

“There we are…. Now how are you feeling?”

Daddy sat on the bed as you lay next to him.

He gazed down at you, gently petting your hair, occasionally running his thumb across your cheek affectionately.

“Mm feeling all floaty… its nice…. want.. want Daddy closer” You reached out to him, wanting to hold him close.

“Of course darling” William moved across the bed to hold you tight, increasing his petting to your whole body. He ran his hands down your arms, your side, down your thighs and back up, repeating the motion, each time creeping closer and closer to your inner thighs.

All you could do was babble and whine as you regressed into a more docile and dumbed down version of yourself. High off the pleasure from the chemicals of the drug and your Daddy’s gentle touches and words.

William loved seeing you like this, all dumb and sweet for him. Seeing every last bit of stress leave your face, seeing you relax into him, unable to even form coherent sentences. He leaned down to kiss your face again, in between muttering words of praise.

“My bunny, so good for me”

You wriggled and whined, feeling increasingly needy as he continued. Eventually you couldn’t take it and captured his lips in a deep kiss.

Though you were the one who initiated the kiss, you were quickly put into submission as William took control, holding you firmly in place as he kissed you so deeply.

His hand dips in between your thighs as he lightly sucks on your tongue, rubbing gently over your clothed clit.

William smiled through the kiss and pressed his hand harder onto your cunt. He didnt move for a few seconds, but held his hand still, pressing into the dampening fabric. The firm pressure of his hand on your crotch made your head melt even further. Feeling the edges of your mind slip away as he continues rubbing you deeper into submission.

“Aww is my baby getting needy?”

You continue to make sweet noises for him, and he gently shushes and pets your hair, slipping his hand into your panties to touch you directly.

Your reaction is immediate.

You gasp out as your head spins. The feeling of his fingers on you is such a simple action, yet its breaking you apart.

“Such a good bunny for Daddy, taking pleasure so well” William kisses your forehead and removes his hand from your crotch and roughly pulls your panties down and off of your body. Then, he aligns his hips with your crotch and begins to grind against your bare cunt.

You can feel yourself soaking the front of his pants, the rough fabric and his hardening cock grinding into your overly sensitive pussy.

“Ddadddyyy too much ahhh—!” you cry out as he roughly ruts against you.

Your head still spinning you feel William grip your hips and push them against his, ignoring your cry.

“You’re all mine bunny, this cute little cunt of yours belongs to me ”

William wraps his arm around your waist and pushes you ever closer to him. His hips began to increase in pace as you start to cry out for him over and over. Leading into an explosive climax, you cum all over him, feeling a rush of wetness between the both of you.

William continues grinding into you, overstimulating you but not too much.

This was just the beginning, and he couldn’t get too carried away just yet. And look how cute you were, cumming all over his clothed hard crotch.

William kisses your forehead, and leans close to your ear and speaks lowly,

“Darling, I have a surprise for you,”

“Wha? Daddy?” You barely could register what he was saying to you, your mind melded with the drug and the overwhelming high of post orgasm bliss and overstimulation.

William reached into the nightstand to reveal a lewd looking object, clearly a sex toy that he himself had engineered.

“This is made especially for you my princess,” he leaned back over to you on the bed and started peppering your face with kisses.

Sliding his hand down your body he gently rubbed you again, and with his other hand clicked on the toy.

A humming vibrating noise filled the room along with your uneven breaths, your brain now registering just what he was talking about.

William went on to explain the toys functionality, in the same way he would go on about his own animatronic creations. Methodical and professional, his voice confident and unwavering as if he didn’t have a trembling little bunny beneath him.

“This here is for your clit. The opening is fit with soft silicone. I just know how sensitive you are there sweetie, its one of your weakest points and Daddy just can’t help but play with it hm?”

“When I place it on you,” William held the toy firmly against you,

“there’ll be a bit of vacuum suction and vibration of course, all meant to overwhelm your cute little clit with pleasure”

Before you even had the chance to respond William clicked the toy on, and your response was immediate.

“Dadddyyyyyy—!”

Your clit is sucked up gently into the toy exposing every sensitive nerve to devilish vibration.

Your hips jerk upwards and William pins you down firmly, pressing the toy ever so slightly harder into your supple flesh.

Its pleasure like you’ve never felt before. Your weakest point manipulated solely by your Daddy’s creation.

You writhe under his grasp, crying out broken moans and whines of “Daddy” fully melting underneath his assault directly on your clit. And it just keeps going.

It’s only seconds before you’re cumming again, and again, and again. Completely overwhelmed with continuous orgasms, your body unable to handle the newfound pleasure that has been bestowed upon you.

“Shhh sweetie its okay. Just keep cumming for Daddy alright?” William’s voice is sickeningly sweet, laced with lust as he continues pushing his creation harder onto your clit, upping the power even more.

“Too much Daddy— its too—!” tears slip out your eyes, completely overwhelmed with mind numbing pleasure.

“Aww my poor baby” William leans down to capture your lips in a deep kiss to shush you, wiping away your tears. You can barely kiss him back, just crying out as he dominates your whole being completely.

After he pulls a few more orgasms out of you he finally puts the toy to rest. He kisses you deeply, his feverish movements now slow and intimate. He sets the toy aside and rubs his hands soothingly up and down your body. He breaks his kiss with you and gently wipes your tears away. He then kisses down your body, leaving marks at your neck, down your chest, kissing softly on your tummy.

Once his face greets your overstimulated, swollen pussy he gently pushes a single digit into you. You’re tight, but due to your arousal and subsequent orgasms you’re cunt is more receptive to the intrusion.

He pushes his finger in and out slowly as you begin to whine again when his finger curls just right inside of you. He stretches you out slowly and fully, inserting another finger.

“Good bunny, taking my fingers so well”

Once he feels satisfied with his work, he reaches back for the toy, this time his attention on the other side of the object. He clicks on the button and teases your entrance with it. Your clit still buzzing and your head still melting, you cry out as you feel William push in the vibrator. Your walls clench against the vibrating toy, already feeling pleasure heat you up once again.

William wraps you into his arms and kisses you again as the toy assaults your insides.

At this point your head is mush, overwhelmed with so much bliss as Daddy cares for you. Every worry and every bit of stress you carried completely melting out of you. Your head lulls and William holds you up

“Don’t go out on me now sweetie, Daddy isn’t done with you yet. I still have to breed that tight little cunt of yours”

“Daddyyy please—-“

“Wanna feel you deep inside—!”

You whine out feeling your cunt overwhelmed with pleasure as the toy inside you continues to buzz. It feels so good but it isn’t Daddy. And you want Daddy’s thick cock and virile seed inside of you, desperately.

“No need to beg sweetheart Daddy’s got you” he pulls the toy out of you, then undoing his belt and fly, pulling his straining cock out his pants. He strokes himself a few times kissing the corners of your mouth as you gasp for breath.

He lines himself up with your heated core and slowly pushes himself in. Savoring the feeling of your tight heat with every inch.

“Biiiig stretch bunny” William completely sheaths himself inside of you, and you can feel your walls stretch to accommodate his large size. He’s much bigger than the toy so its quite the fit. You feel him snug against your cervix and you let out a drawn out moan as you’re completely filled with Daddy’s cock.

“Nggghhhh… so deep Daddy”

Slowly and firmly he presses even deeper before sliding out slightly. Sensually and gently fucking into you.

Your head spins, your breath quickens, your mind completely hazy as you take your Daddy’s cock so deep inside.

William presses his forehead against yours and intertwines his fingers with your trembling hands.

“My sweet baby bunny, you’re so good for me”

You can only moan in response, completely incoherent as the drug pulses through your veins and pleasure spreading from your cunt to your entire body.

William languidly fucks into you, wrapping his arms around you tight. He lifts your hips and pulls all the way out leaving your hole clenching on nothing for a brief second before he slams himself in again. This time rough and even deeper, practically bruising your cervix.

You cry out as William ruts into you at a rough pace, all his inhibitions gone. He loved toying with you, but he’s just been aching to be inside you all day.

“Ahh— Haah Daddyyy—!”

“Good bunny taking Daddy’s cock so well. Gonna breed you so fucking good”

William continues his brutal pace, bringing one of his hands to your throat and pressing down firmly. You gasp and squirm under his touch, bringing your hands to his, feeling the strength of his grip on your sensitive neck.

Your head becomes impossibly even hazier as Daddy presses his hand tighter onto your throat. You glance up at him and see nothing but love and adoration in his eyes. His precious bunny was being so good for him. Taking his cock so well while he choked you. He truly loved you so much.

Your hips lift up to take him as deep as possible, lewd wet sounds filling the room. Nothing but pleasure is coursing through your veins and in that pretty little head of yours.

“Look at my baby bunny, taking a proper fucking from Daddy, yeah?”

“Ahh- Haah fuck so good Daddy!”

William releases your throat from his grip and reaches over and grabs the toy again, pressing it on once more.

You gasp for air and once the sound of vibration hits your ears you feel yourself ache again.

“Daddy I can’t-“

before you even finish your sentence the toy is back on your clit, sucking and vibrating the oversensitive nub.

You cry out a broken scream as the sensations of being ruthlessly bred and your clit stimulated at the same time overwhelming your poor bunny brain as you cum all over again, clenching around William’s cock.

“Feels good doesn’t it princess?”

“Gonna fill your womb with my cum. Gonna make you a mommy” William groans out, watching your fucked out expression as he rams himself deep inside you.

Your mind goes nearly blank at the thought of carrying his child and William notices, and that look alone brings him to the edge. He curses as he feels himself spill inside you, thrusting and pushing his cum deep into your womb. He leans into the crook of your neck and groans as he feels you squeeze him so nicely.

“Such a nice hole for me to fuck…such a pretty womb all for Daddy to ruin”

“Mmm—! Daddyyy love you so muuuuch—!” You cry out, wrapping your arms around him tight, tears spilling out your eyes once more.

“Love you too bunny” William kisses you deeply, keeping eye contact with you as he does. You cum around his cock again, milking him for all he’s worth. He keeps lazily thrusting and sets the toy aside, settling on rubbing your sensitive nub in slow, soothing circles.

You continue to throb and clench around him involuntarily, softly panting in your post orgasm bliss.

“Mmm my pretty bunny”

William pets your hair softly, moving a strand out of your face.

You’re completely gone at this point, William having corrupted you completely and fully. Turning his sweet little stressed bunny into his pleasure filled fucktoy.

He kisses you again, gently and soft.

“Love you my sweet princess” he whispers, watching as you lose consciousness there in his arms.

[kedreeva]

outside preening and train displays for breeding season do peafowl show affection and bond with each other in any ways unique to them? do they ever engage in play or other activities?

They actually don't do a lot of preening each other, most of it is preening themselves in the same location. They inspect each others faces, and parasite pick (or sometimes pick loose feathers), but they don't do allopreening like parrots or some other birds do.

They don't have a lot of bonding activities, beyond just... hanging out. They loaf together, they walk around together, they talk to each other. Hens, even when they don't have babies, will sometimes pick up a "treat" and do the "good treat!!!!" call while holding it near the ground, until one of the other hens comes to get it.

The coolest thing they do for bonding is what I call playing chase. They have a stance where their chest comes down, butt comes up (but not "display" up, just raised), and their wings fold out slightly. It looks remarkably like a dog slapping their paws down into "play with me" stance, and it's much the same message- "Let's play!" They will hop/flutter in this stance, and then go bouncing and hopping around, and anyone nearby may join in chasing them or being chased. This tends to happen more when they're young, before sexual maturity, but the older hens do it when they have a close friend or two. I still see Eris and Artemis and Stella and Aris and Arcana, and OCCASIONALLY Stan doing it, just not as often/readily as the babies will do it (they do it almost every morning when I let them out of the coops and they are overcome with excitement about it).

I got a quick free-range game of it on film once!

That's Corona up front... she never plays. She's the most Serious bird I own. But you can see how they are bouncing and have their wings out and loose, and their brother comes RACING over to join them, and they both bounce up really high and dramatically when they see him, but they aren't flying away, they're circling around to him.

And here's the difference in another gif- when Stella's sister (right side, brown lady) comes running over, Stella thinks she's instigating play, so she starts bouncing and running to her brother, but he doesn't want to play right now, so he doesn't engage.

here's baby artemis engaged in chase with me, coming to chase me lol

I have a few videos somewhere of my hand-raised babies playing chase with me. I want to get more videos of the outdoors ones playing, but it's so random and I don't have time to get my camera out, so it's like... if they do it while I already have my camera out and running in video. But it's my favorite thing they do, they look so silly.

They also will pick up and drop/throw around shed feathers, but I'm not sure if that's "play" behavior so much as "food testing" behavior. But, Beep had a bunch of cat toys, some of which she probably COULD have eaten (like her bluejay), but she would just pick them up and shake them/throw them, which is much the same as they do with feathers or small sticks.

Again, I don't know that I would classify it as play, and it may not be unique to them, but it is an interesting activity.

Last one I can think of off the top of my head is climbing things. They love jumping up and around on things. Games of chase that can include Being High Up are the best games. Corona, as serious as she is, still gets very happy to jump up and down on stuff. I think if I installed a fowl swing in her enclosure, she'd use it.

I'm sure there are others neat behaviors, but those are the first few I thought of.

[inviouswriting]

Zhongli hc’s

Since I wrote them in my last chapter for my story. I thought it’d be fun to include them in their own post.

sfw and smut.

sfw - 

This man loves luxury things and this extends to you. There is no shortage of things he’ll buy because he thinks you’ll enjoy them. A tea he thinks you’ll enjoy, a pair of earrings that look stunning. He dotes on you and his wallet suffers.

During dating he stops at nothing to ensure every experience is different. One date will have you walking around the entire city of Liyue Harbor ending at the top of Yuijing Terrace to watch the sunset together. Another will have you scaling high mountain paths to visit Mt. Aocang to visit the adepti when he’s serious about you.

Zhongli is the type to enjoy hand touching and will get touch-starved when he hasn’t had his fix of feeling you at some point in the day. He favors hand touches the most since it can be subtle or as intimate as they get between you and him.

He will buy matching perfumes or even have them made for you two. Something unique to the both of you that you can identify among and smile fondly at the memories it triggers. 

Any stone jewelry he gives you, he has made himself. He’ll be sly about it too, he’ll ask your opinion on a stone and what you’d like for a jewelry item. Then in a few weeks he has made it from the stone you like. He favors cor lapis and noctilucous jade for making items from. Cor lapis a little more since he can make it resonate. Any wedding bands between you has cor lapis infused and he painstakingly etched geo symbols all throughout it to his liking and tiny engravings of endearing words or a pet name he calls you.

Bathing he has a meticulous routine for that long hair of his. He soaks it in water with infusions of tea leaves, sandalwood and silk flower to ensure the scent lingers long afterwards. He’ll also pamper you well with washing you from head to toe.

Sleeping, he enjoys holding you in his sleep. He ensures you are asleep before he ever let’s go or shifts in his own sleep. 

smut - below the cut 

Oviposition kink, collaring, bdsm elements, size difference, breed kink, and mostly for fem!reader, genderswap elements.

He retains wonderful control over that shapeshifting ability, he loves using it too. So double-dick is something he does enjoy. He looks for any excuse to make you happy, if you express you want both holes filled, he’ll gladly do so.

Zhongli also enjoys stone eggs and aphrodisiac usage. He loves stone eggs he found to put inside of you and watch as you push them out, he has also made these ones and takes great pleasure in making them resonate in your body. They’re covered usually in an aphrodisiac that leaves you sensitive and begging for him to actually breed you.

That shapeshifting ability of his, if there is ever a time you want to indulge in wanting a female body against yours. He’s more than happy to tap into his old forms and indulge. It is also a fun time to get back at him for exploiting all your sensitive spots.

He’s a firm believer in negotiating bdsm before you two engage, it’s never spontaneous for indulging in it because it is a built of trust. The collar you wear symbolizes that during it. He also will get you a serious collar made of gold and has his symbol to it. You don’t take this off when at big social gatherings and it wards people off if they know who he was that you are thoroughly claimed by a Geo archon.

I believe he’d have firm control over whether he can get anyone pregnant. So if you express you want a child he’ll gladly give you one, if you never want one, he makes sure you never are. Giving someone a life is a serious commitment and he’d only do that with someone he thoroughly wants to build that life with and when they express want for one.

So guilt free sex and feeling him fill you is something he loves the most. He loves to see it drip and also thoroughly enjoys playing with you on saying he’s going to breed you full. Just that breeding comes in the form of the eggs he pushes into you and then watches as you writhe all sensitive to expel them.

“Come on my love, you said you wanted me to breed you. You can handle a few eggs, do I need to get bigger ones? Hmm.. I think I do.” Is what you’ll hear before he pushes the one you were about to get out back in to watch you do it again while holding onto the leash on your collar to make you look him in his eyes while he does it.

“Good girl. Now again.”

[mirai-e-jump]

Beautiful Catalog Vol.3 ft. Kamen Rider Ryuki Cast Members Takashi Hagino x Ryohei Interviews & Photoshoot (translations below)

Publication: September 30, 2003

Takashi Hagino (Takeshi Asakura/Kamen Rider Ouja)

-I no longer make impulse purchases, like when it comes to snake print clothing (laughs)-

With a bright smile on his face, Hagino-san entered the studio. His pure white, rough style was perfectly balanced with the grass zori (sandals) on his feet, which was a unique choice! At first glance, it looks loose, with only the innerwear fitting to his body, but, it gives off a masculine feel. Against the natural materials, his silver accessories stand out.

Hagino: Fashion…..I'm not too picky about it~

He mutters to himself. His style is modest, contrary to his seemingly carefully coordinated choices.

"First off is the staff's favorite, here he is wearing a fluffy knit sweater."

Hagino: Uwah, who's that, me? My hair's all curly (laughs).

"We were most interested about this one. The growing reactions from those around you saying, "Cute~!," caused you to look nervous, which in turn made you look even cuter."

Hagino: During the time of that shoot, I was asked, "Please hold this plushie." Do I have to? It seems that stuff like that is becoming pretty common these days (laughs).

"What's your favorite fashion to wear?"

Hagino: Last year, all I wore was black. Black tanktops and such. Right now, I really want to wear whites. It's nice isn't it~? White! The other day, I saw Beckham wearing white on the cover of some magazine. He was also wearing pants like the ones I wore today. I thought, "Let's do this! I have the same fashion sense as Beckham" (laughs). From now on, I want you to call me Beckham (laughs).

"B-Beckham?? You want us to…..? Next, a jacket with fur that gives off an affectionate big brother feel. It's a very refreshing look!"

Hagino: I feel like I've never worn something like this either. It has a natural feel, like when you go out to walk your dog. By the way, the other day, for two days straight, I went to this pet store and was obsessed with this half chihuahua and papillon breed. When I looked at them, they hid in embarrassment. It was so cute! I was really hesitating whether to buy them or not, but the price for such a small and cute dog was 380,000 yen ($2,500)! The store is open until late in the morning, so I spend alot of time there. The shiba inu's and all the other dogs are just so cute to look at.

"Do you ever make impulse purchases?"

Hagino: Not anymore. Due to the "advice" of some store employees, I no longer buy snake print clothing (laughs). At the time, clothing with snake patterns were hard to come by, so when they saw me looking they said, "That'll look good on you~." They said, "We'll lower the price (alot)~." I thought, "Alright then~," and bought it. If you go shopping with friends, you'll have someone to stop you, but if you don't and go alone, you'll end up getting stuff that you can't afford. It's dangerous (laughs). I had to learn that recently.

"I'm not very particular when it comes to brands, but, the ones I like are Jil Sander and Dolce & Gabbana."

Hagino: I can't afford to buy all that because it's expensive, but, I do think it's really cool. Lately, I've been thinking that it would be nice to dress in a more formal way for such occasions. Wouldn't you want to try it? A dinner party on the roof of a building with a swimming pool. I'd even prepare business cards with a alot of lies on them (laughs).

"With fashion, Hagino-san says, "It's fun, it's like playing a game." What do you wear when you go to bed or to just relax?"

Hagino: It's either denim shorts or cargo shorts. I'll wear a T-shirt or tank top on top, which I'll take off when it's hot. The rest of the time I wear tracksuits (laughs). When I go to work, I'll wear either a T-shirt and jeans or tracksuit. I like to be able to change into my costume quickly and then take it easy.

"Finally, this last outfit is a multi striped suit with a strong sense of personality. With his hair up, he's transformed into abit of a bad boy. The manager said he looks like, "A respected elder brother." Hikawa Kiyoshi-kun from our office wore a similar suit for his "Zundoko Bushi" MV, but the vibe is totally different."

Hagino: It's so cool, the look reminds me of Lenny Kravitz! He's fashionable and looks good in fur, T-shirts, and all kinds of strange stuff. Compared to when I was first wearing the knit sweater, I feel like I've relaxed abit. It feels like I'm back (laughs).

"By the way, I hear you're very particular with your eyebrows."

Hagino: If I forget to draw my eyebrows before going out, I feel very uncomfortable (laughs). When I draw it myself, it's like a straight line. I'm not improving at all. I don't check my whole appearance in the mirror before going out, but I always pay attention to my eyebrows (laughs).

-I'll be a prince! But before that, I'd like to play a dirty role-

"He started doing karate about 3 years ago because he was attracted to the civility of the sport after playing many detective roles in the past. He takes time out of his busy schedule to attend karate, which he says helps him maintain his health and improve his voice for stage plays."

Hagino: I'm currently a yellow belt (6 kyu). I hope to be green this year, and brown within the next two years. Even before shooting for the photobook, I ran a marathon, went to karate, and did push ups when I'd wake up in the morning……that all I keep doing (laughs). Surprisingly, I don't mind doing these things.

His photobook, "Actor, Takashi Hagino," is filled with emotional and sensitive words that resonate with the heart.

"You say so many wonderful words."

Hagino: I wondered, "What can I do with this photobook?" I thought maybe I could include some words or afew sentences. But, it felt like, "As soon as you add color to a painting, it's ruined." I thought it'd be more interesting to write down what I was currently thinking, like a time capsule, so that later on I can say, "This is who I was!" I personally really like the poem "Confirmation."

"What's your favorite outfit in the photobook?"

Hagino: I liked the denim jacket~. That guy near the swingset, he may have been more offended by the unlikely setting of swings, rather than the fashion I was wearing (laughs).

"How was the stage play, "Yokosuka Dobuita Story," in which you played the leading role?"

Hagino: I really enjoy the stage experience. I also like the live feel of it. Since the foundation of a play is the stage…..I fully felt the determination of everyone around me, and while it was fun, I also fully enjoyed the live conflict that only a stage play can bring. I thought that as the rehearsals continued, I could feel so much of the warmth, cheerfulness, and sadness coming out of them.

"What do you think of Joji, the role you played?"

Hagino: In the beginning, he wasn't a nice guy…..but, he was a good guy. I think I was able to show him having fun and being sincere, so I'd like to add more variety if I ever play a role like that again.

"What scene was most memorable?"

Hagino: In the proposal scene with Kaori, played by Junko Mihara-san, she changed the way she spoke each time we performed it, and did so with different tricks, such as sulking or teasing. Gradually, our rhythm and breathing become the same, and my lines came out without being conscious of it. The scenes with Mihara-san were alot of fun to do.

"It's been announced that you'll play the role of the prince in the Cinderella musical. A bad prince…what's that about?"

Hagino: Quiet! (laughs). I don't think that's it, I think it's just a regular prince, but the script hasn't come in yet, so I don't know all the details. I am looking forward to the dancing in the musical. Although, I'm worried about singing. You know how the dialogue suddenly flows into a ballad like song with, "Why~"? I become nervous the moment, "Why~," comes up (laughs). But. I'll keep practicing and show you the fairy tale prince in all his glory.

"Will the prince's costume be……white tights?"

Hagino: My manager told me that if I wore white tights, right here (his crotch), would look really cool (laughs). No, rather, it's a wonderful fairy tale like costume. The show will be held in more than 20 locations across the country, so please look forward to it!

"What kind of roles do you want to play in the future?"

Hagino: Since I've already decided to play a prince, I'd like to play a serious and grim role before that. Something like a dirty role.

In his photobook, Hagino-san affirms that he loves humans, as he wrote, "Are you a human being? If you're a human, then you must be a wonderful one." This love for people is what makes his acting so refined, as he focuses on the essence of humans. We're really looking forward to seeing him as a fairy tale prince and in serious roles.

Ryohei (Shuichi Kitaoka/Kamen Rider Zolda)

-Is this too subtle? When it comes to this coordination, I think I should do my best.-

In a quiet studio located in a certain part of Tokyo, the sound of a camera shutter clicking resonates. The sounds are followed by rhythmical changes in facial expressions, poses, and overall atmosphere, creating the rich and colorful, "Ryohei World," almost like a perfectly beautiful picture were being painted.

Within the light, he strikes perfectly balanced poses that'll take your breath away, while occasionally trying to make us laugh by crossing his eyes and saying, "This is what real coordination looks like!"

While casually flapping his white coat, he says:

Ryohei: About 2-3 years ago, I used to wear clothes like these all the time during the Fall and Winter, but now, I don't wear them anymore. It's exhausting to wear them all day, don't you think? These days, I think it's better to dress comfortably. I wonder, have my shoulders become more relaxed as I've gotten older? Well, it's nice doing something like this once in awhile! It makes me feel motivated to strike the perfect poses.

"You picked out that coat."

Ryohei: The length is perfect! This half coat actually is a half coat. For some reason, usually, a half coat is a short coat, and a long coat is a half coat (laughs).

"Were there any problems with the size?"

Ryohei: No matter how big the clothes are, when I wear them, I always think, "These are way too small!" I do adore more loose fitting clothes. I can't pull off the look though (laughs).

"While not being particular about brands, Ryohei-san says, "I don't think something being expensive makes it better." He enjoys buying secondhand clothes, with sneakers making up half of his collection. He also claims to have about 50 pairs of unopened shoes. Today, he's wearing stylish leather sneakers."

Ryohei: I love sneakers. I sometimes think, "Even if they last a lifetime, I wonder, do I have enough?" I'll also put them in their box and stack them, it's really cool to look at (laughs). I don't really do it anymore, but there was a time when I used to pick out clothes that matched my shoes.

"Do you check your whole appearance in the mirror before going out?"

Ryohei: That's essential. Sometimes I'll dress in a way that makes me think, "Is this too subtle?," Although, I'm usually pretty ok with it. Fashion is like an extension of my hobby, so I think I should be doing my best at it. During the times I go on a date with a girlfriend, I think I should only make decisions when I really have too.

"Do you make snap decisions for a date??"

Ryohei: It depends on how long we've been together, but in the early stages of a relationship, a man wants to make a big impression (laughs). Well, if you've been together for 3-4 years, I think, "Alright, who cares~."

"That's terrible?!" (said by the entire female staff)

Ryohei: I don't think you have to be so cool in front of your partner all the time……I think it's okay to just look natural. So, it's not terrible, it's really not (laughs).

"What if after 3-4 years, she's wearing something she doesn't really care for?"

Ryohei: Well, that's exactly who I am. That's why I think we'd be compatible (laughs). You do your best at first, and once you're familiar with them, it doesn't matter what you look like.

"Do you care about your hairstyle?"

Ryohei: For me, I'm not particular with hair, so everyday my hairstyle is slightly different. When I go for a straight perm, my hair loses all its volume and flattens, regardless of how thick my hair is. A tip I can give, is to only use your hair dryer on areas that are particularly annoying and have strong frizz. It's easier to set up the look that way.

"Your eyebrows have a nice shape to them."

Ryohei: I don't do anything with my eyebrows. I don't want them being thin. It makes me lose the "impact" of my face and causes my appearance to change (laughs).

During the chair sitting shoot, the chair was too low compared to Ryohei's height, so he brought out a stepladder by himself, making it a very interesting shoot. Wearing a knit hat, Ryohei's beautiful face looked even more attractive, and he looked like a European college boy with an unfamiliar expression on his face.

"What is key to dressing well?"

Ryohei: I don't have any particular stances…..but, I don't want to be outdone by clothes. I want to make an effort to wear them, and even if I think they don't look good on me, I'll try and find a way to make them look good.

"You seem to be very good at posing."

Ryohei: During my time staying at motels, I studied my poses by looking in the mirror, so I wouldn't have to do them on set and feel embarrassed. It's like it's already been ingrained in my head. If I don't do them properly, the photographer won't be able to take any photos.

"While at Hagino-san's house, the two of them once practiced posing together while looking in the mirror. During the shoot, Hagino-san laughed and said, "Posing by Ryohei!," and he did the same pose Ryohei did, showing that they seem to get along really well. What advice do you have for for making your appearance look more beautiful?"

Ryohei: Pose standing slightly diagonal…doing so will make you look thinner. Always think of ways to make your appearance more slim (laughs).

"When did you first discover your style?"

Ryohei:…..I still haven't found it (laughs).

"Normally, wouldn't you discover fashion in the same way a girl would?"

Ryohei: Hmmm……It think it's alittle different from that (laughs). Rather than about clothes, I was thinking more about how to make people laugh and how to entertain them. When it comes to the clothes I'm wearing now, I don't think I can say whether they're good or bad. I might say later, "Why did I think this was cool to wear?" Fashion is an indifferent thing for me, but it's like a time capsule that reflects that moment in time……It's something that reminds me of who I was at one point.

-The action was difficult. Since my reach is different, it's difficult to get the timing right.-

"How was it working with veteran actors (Natori Yuko, etc) on "The Woman Prosecutor of Kyoto"?"

Ryohei: There was alot to learn just by listening and watching. The way they said their lines, it was so natural, me on the other hand, I'm still trying to perform well. In my head, I can see it all very well. But, it's hard to actually do it. On set, we called her "Professor Natori," since we had alot to learn from her.

"You made your first attempt as a voice actor in "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED," correct?"

Ryohei: Actors can make facial expressions while speaking, right? It's easy to tell when someone's "angry" because they speaks in an angry tone and has an angry expression on their face. I looked at the voice actors and thought that they're skilled at manipulating their voices. They do whatever they want. The way they react, the way they breath…..as an actor, I've learned alot from them.

"I heard that the shooting for the upcoming film, "Bird's Eye," in which you play the lead role, was difficult due to wire acting."

Ryohei: It was quite difficult. But, it was something of a challenge for myself.

"Please tell us some highlights of the film."

Ryohei: It's an action film. But, I only had 3 days to practice. I couldn't even meet the person I was going to be working with until the day of filming. Being so tall, I had a different reach from my partner, so it was very difficult to find the correct timing. When you punch, you take a step forward, right? But when I step forward, I get too close, so I end up performing a limp punch (laughs). I'm sure there must have been a better way to do it, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to do any research.

"The way you beat them up was impressive though."

Ryohei: I was mostly on the receiving end (laughs). RIKIYA-kun (Kawaguchi Rikiya), who played Tsuyoshi, used to box, so as expected, his punches were excellent.

After the photo shoot, Ryohei-san went to the waiting room. Among the outfits there, he found a pair of yellow pants with purple square patterns on it, and his eyes started to sparkle.

Ryohei: This, it's amazing! I want to wear it right now! Can I try this on?

Just as Ryohei enjoys fashion with a carefree attitude, and takes on challenges with an open mind, while also exploring new areas as an actor one after another, absorbing them naturally and without hesitation. His sincere attitude to cherish every moment and his mischievous spirit of challenge expands "Ryohei's World" endlessly, by giving off a refreshing charm. We won't take our eyes off his future challenges.

[seokka0o]

┈┈┈ ֺ ࣭ 𝔗𝔥𝔯𝔢𝔢𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢 ࣭ ֺ ┈┈┈

🎃 ᴅᴀʏ 21

ᴛʜʀᴇᴇsᴏᴍᴇ

Goo Gunil 🎃 Oh Seungmin 🎃 Afab!Reader

Warning: unprotected sex; Anal Sex; breeding; spanking; messy sex; Oral;

English is not my first language, so there may be some grammar errors

Gunil held your legs, keeping them wide open for him, the strength of his arms leaving you in that position without the option of moving too much, he was dedicated to penetrating you, simple moans, the color of his eyes were dark, gunil was like a lion outside from the cage, and you felt it with all the precision in the world, your eyes seeing stars from so much force he invested. Your eyes rolling to the back of your head every time he growled a little louder in your direction, dedicating all his effort in the gym, now in fucking you really well.

"I would also like to have that kind of devotion" Seungmin commented with a sweet tone of voice, but it wasn't pleasant in the way it should be. Gunil chuckled, tired from the effort and without leaving you let go of him to change your position. You tiredly turned around carefully and got on all fours, looking into Seungmin's deep and also dark eyes; His hand on his hard cock, masturbating, then he hit his cock on your cheek, and smiled without saying anything, and then you opened your mouth.

"Cute " Seungmin fixed your hair and put his dick inside your mouth, his fingers going into your hair and then he held "breathe"

It was the last warning he gave before starting to fuck your mouth, gunil followed in the same rhythm, hitting his hips with precision, making the impacts mix, the way you moaned on Seungmin's dick made him fall his head back in the pleasurable sensation that was his effort to maintain.

"Fuck, you do this so well" Seungmin grumbled as Gunil grab your ass with his thick fingers, squeezing with a violence unique to him, followed by loud and accurate slaps hitting you uninterruptedly. Your eyes rolled back into the back of your head again, your body being broken with no mercy.

"My hyung is going to cum, y/n, take it all in and keep it safe" Seungmin whispered to you, slowing down his thrusts to let you suck him more calmly, just keeping the caresses simple, on your strands of hair, soon your insides were warmed by the liquid from him, a keen moan running through your lips, you were filled and grunted on seungmin's cock, as soon as gunil left, seungmin did the same, caressing the top of your head

"It's time, sweet" seungmin moved to the side and lay down on the bed, you moved onto seungmin's lap and fit into him, letting it slide, letting him feel all the gunil liquid drip from your entrance while he did the work of getting there to the limit. "Ready?"

You nod a little awkwardly and lean towards Seungmin and then get on all fours, he holds you by your hips and Gunil climbs over you, you feel the lubricant drip, your leg wobbles when he fits his dick in your hole

"Shh shh" Seungmin caressed your face and pulled you into a kiss as gunil slipped inside, feeling the tightness making him go crazy, because he was still hard everything seemed to double in sensation, you felt split in the middle, you needed for a while until gunil stopped to let you rest, he applied more lubricant and caressed your ass

"We can?" Seungmin asked after breaking the kiss and you, your face already practically wet with tears, nodded, contracting around Seungmin.

"Y-Yes" you said

Seungmin smiled delicately and then gave the signal to Gunil, so they started to fuck you simultaneously, you felt your body at the peak of sensations, the noises once again mixing, both Gunil and Seungmin kept you in position, holding your body for not giving in, everything seemed to burn, your neurons were fucked out, any and all conditions of doing something backfired, they were doubling the sequence with each orgasm you had in the process, you barely knew what was or wasn't an orgasm.

"Y/n, it's going so well,right?" gunil greeted with a sarcastic smile on his face "So hungry taking two dicks at the same time"

"So dedicated" Seungmin said lastly, leaving a light slap on your face, holding the sequence, soon his body began to respond with more need and then he lay down completely, Gunil took the lead in holding you so he wouldn't end up falling and Losing his reasoning, Seungmin soon came moving up his hips more aimlessly, short moans followed by curses that resulted in him reaching his limit, leaving that entire area of ​​cum inside you. Soon after Gunil came again, all over your ass, falling to the side, Seungmin allowed you to fall on top of him, laughing quietly.

"That was fucking crazy" you said breathless

[fictionadventurer]

Top 5 tropes, top 5 dog breeds, top 5 saints

Tropes

I have forgotten every single trope, and can't decide exactly what counts as a trope, so I'm just going to list five story elements that usually capture my interest.

The tension between idealism and practicality

Morally upright heroes

Trickster heroes who use their powers for good

Time travel (specifically when time travel is explored as a story element, rather than just as a means to get to another time)

Arranged marriage romances

Dog Breeds

Mostly listing types of dogs I've known personally and had good experiences with

Collie

Black lab

Golden retriever

German shepherd

Basset hound

Saints

Since I've made this list a few times before, I'm going to list some saints who have captured my attention lately.

St. Thomas Aquinas: Mentions of him kept popping up in my life, and Chesterton's bio of him made me love him as a person. Plus, some prayers by him have become important parts of my prayer routine lately.

St. Frances de Sales: I read only the first part of his very first book of apologetics before it went back to the library, but since then, I think about it at least on a weekly, if not a daily basis.

St. Michael: He's always been a presence in my family's devotions (several family members have him as a patron, and he's patron of a local parish), but looking up Michaelmas traditions this week drew me to him in a much more personal way.

St. Mary Magdalene: I've always liked her, but lately I've been drawn to her in a more unique way

St. Theresa of Calcutta: I saw a documentary about her that felt very relevant to my life and work, so I've felt a new closeness to her since then.

[imaginmatrix]

Maybe it's my playing Stardew Valley, but I'd certainly like to see a nice Percabeth fic set in a remote, countryside farm town

Annabeth sat on the grass at the top of the overlook.

The small town was a cluster of scattered lights below, the rolling fields of farms rippling like ocean waves in the breeze, leading down to sandy beaches and the true sea it mirrored.

Forests and mountains encased the little community, less a wall of hostility to keep out strangers, and more a protective hug from a loved one, ensuring those in the valley felt secure. Safe.

Percy slumped down beside her, handing over a beer he’d snagged from the six pack in the back of his truck, her second of the night. Most of the evening had already been spent watching the explosion of color the sunset always brought fade to the cool blue of summer twilight.

Crickets chirped. Fireflies began to flick on their lights. A frog sang a song in its gruff, throaty voice. Annabeth cleared her throat.

“So do you come up here a lot?” She asked, trying her best not to look at him, because if she looked at him… it would only invite trouble.

She felt Percy’s shrug, “More so lately.”

“Mm.” Annabeth hummed, taking a sip from her bottle.

Percy Jackson never struck her as a country boy. From the moment Annabeth laid eyes on him in his jeans, converse, and blue Henley, he had emitted an energy that felt unmistakably “city.”

But he was far more down to earth than the men she’d interacted with throughout her life, unconcerned with networking, who knew who, or which restaurants and clubs would be “in” that weekend— not that there were clubs here, and small town gossip was an entirely different breed than what she was used to.

Still.

“So you’re an artist?” Percy interrupted her thoughts.

“Yes.” Annabeth frowned, “Well, no… sort of?”

His laugh sent electricity through her chest, the zap of static after dragging one’s feet on carpet. “How can someone be only ‘sort of’ an artist?”

She unsuccessfully bit back a smile, “I haven’t been doing much art since coming here.”

It seemed like a good idea at the time— a sabbatical from the firm, a chance to rekindle her creativity, find her passion for a dream career that had lost its shine the past half-decade, a relaxing getaway to a small town, in a little cabin, no one to interrupt her…

Except it seemed she left inspiration back in New York.

It hadn’t fit in her luggage.

“I hear that 90% of being an artist is not actually making art, so you’re on the right track.” The way he nudged her shoulder nearly tempted Annabeth into turning her head those few centimeters to meet his gaze, see his face, those green eyes, that black curly hair— no. She had to be firm with herself.

So instead, Annabeth laughed, and she took another swig, “God. I hope that’s true.”

“What do you draw? Or… paint, or whatever?”

The million dollar question.

“I… I’m trying to figure it out.”

She could imagine the way he must be raising his eyebrows at that answer, “People? Places?”

“Buildings.” Annabeth sighed, “I’m an architect.”

“Seems pretty straightforward.” She cringed. Percy paused. “…or not.”

Another sigh tugged at her lungs, but she beat it back down, “It is, usually. But… it all looks the same these days.”

“Buildings?”

“Yeah.” She tilted her eyes to the night sky, so much clearer than back home, “I’m sick of them and I need to find some way to get inspired again because— I mean— Skyscrapers? Giant vertical rectangles. Strip malls? Giant horizontal rectangles. Businesses want to fit in— and so do celebrities, if you’re lucky enough to work with one on some fancy mansion.”

“You’ve built for celebrities?”

“One.” Annabeth admitted, “But everything is so… sterile. Even interiors, which used to still have character when the buildings themselves stopped being unique, and now they’re all minimalist and shades of grey and glass doors, plain marble lobbies or open floor concepts—“

“Used to work in one of those.”

Annabeth blinked, finally inclining her face toward Percy though she still avoided a direct look, “Did you?”

“Yeah. In the same city as you, it looks like.” He pinched the brim of the Yankees cap atop Annabeth’s head, tugging it down teasingly, “Couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do with my life after high school, so I kind of floated around to different things. Ended up in a tech startup, even though computers hate me— it was mostly answering phones and trying to convince people to buy useless warranties they didn’t need.”

“Why did you leave?” Annabeth immediately felt stupid for asking the question. Everything he recounted sounded absolutely miserable.

But Percy didn’t seem to think the same, his answer earnest, “It was a few years ago, and I was already looking for a new job; it didn’t cross my mind to ditch the city entirely, it’s— it was my home, but uh…” he cleared his throat. “I made a promise to someone. So now I’m here.”

Her curiosity was piqued, but Annabeth didn’t pry, figuring it was a sensitive topic. “Do you like the Valley?”

“Far more than I thought I would.”

“Me too.” She paused, “Do you think you’ll stay here?”

“Maybe.”

Maybe.

The word made her emotions churn in a way she absolutely did not want to analyze at the moment.

They stared out at the valley again.

“God this view is beautiful.” Annabeth breathed, breaking the silence.

“Absolutely.”

Then Annabeth made the mistake of turning her head to look at him, the action she’d been avoiding since he invited her to go for a drive, and Percy’s gaze was already on her. Their eyes met. Neither moved to break the delicate string that tentatively began to connect them.

Annabeth’s mind was a whirlwind. This is why it had been so dangerous to look. This is what she was scared of.

Because with him looking like that— no, with him looking at her like that— if his “maybe” response to her question of staying here became a “definitely”…

Then what would she do?

But it was too late. She was leaning in, and Percy was as well, and Annabeth knew she couldn’t, wouldn’t stop herself, because that delicate string was growing stronger, a spider web to a fishing line to a sewing thread to a length of yarn and on and on and on—

So she kissed him. She breathed in his scent, sea salt, and sweat, and lavender from the brush he’d toppled into earlier that night. She tasted his lips, warm and chapped, but not uncomfortably so, a friction in the softness that promised something more that made Annabeth’s skin prickle with anticipation. She kissed him, and let him kiss her, and maybe this would bring that much needed passion back to her life.

But she knew she was a fool.

Because in that moment, even knowing that this— whatever “this” was— could only lead to heartbreak and misery and pain, she made the decision to choose it.

Choose this.

Choose him.

Even if just for the next two months she was here.

Even if just for tonight.

*****

Okay you made me make a series of oneshots on AO3, so here it is there too

[theabsentmindedwriter]

Ankha, my version and my thoughts.

Unless you lived under a rock this cat villager needs no introductions in the animal crossing community. One of the more well known and popular villagers in the series. Well...in more ways than one.

I mean as designs go she is pretty recognizable. It's also no surprise either she is one of my favorites as well. Top of the list really, surprisingly enough in my first animal crossing game. New Leaf, she was one of my starting villagers. I grown quite attached and fond of her during my time with the game. Way before she reached main stream popularity. So I can say I loved her before she was popular. Hehe. Of course her design in new leaf looked more like this.

(Worship the cat!)

In all seriousness, I am quite attached to her. So it's no surprise she is a main character in my animal crossing story series. While everyone has a specfic head Canon for her. I took an interesting route with the available information on her. One where she is presumes to be around 3000 years old.

Well I ran with that idea and created an interesting take on Ankha. Instead of being a regal queen. This Ankha is a child of priests and was born a chosen immortal of the Goddess Bastet. She stopped aging when she turned 23 and from the first story was actually 1,964 years old during the very story. This change from the information given was mainly a result of Cleopatra being mentioned.

I know there is more than one Cleopatra, but I know the one mentioned is the famous one we all know. Having Ankha being born around her age the time difference resulted in the age you see now. I guess you can say this is the mote accurate age number than an estimate. At least to the best of my ability.

Her parents are something I had to make up. Her father being a priest of Anubis and her mother being a Priestess of Sehkmet. Her father was anubian Jackal and her mother a lioness. How did this end up making a cat offspring? Well you can thank Bastet for that one. Being a very CLOSE friend of the two. Which probably explains why Ankha is the eldest of 10 children.

Personality wise, Ankha runs quite deep. Even more so than I initially intended. Now I didn't forget the snooty personality trait in the game. But I did only make it a part of the whole. Ankha is a kind and compassionate woman at her core, but still retain some of her royal like feel. Just not to a high extent. Due to having lived as long as she did. So she had time to refine herself, but also experience both good and quite bad things in her life. So there is some aloofness in there, but she is wiser than she let's on at times. Granted she still has choice words for people who get on her nerves or anger her. This cat has claws still.

Apperance wise, well I didn't want to use just the straight animal crossing cartoon style. I have turned her and the other animal folks into a more anthro style for my story. (Yes I am a furry so what). Though in the case of Ankha here she has the more balanced of the human and cat furry traits. If you been around the internet you would know what I mean. If you don't know what I mean, then basically traditional anthro cat head with human-cat mix hands and feet. This is mainly the fact that Bastet is this way herself. Despite the human hands and feet she still retains semi retractable nails and paw pads. As cat breeds go I always thought she might be an Abyssian despite her unique coloring. Also the fact her fur is short and fine to a point where you think there might not be fur unless you look closely.

Her navy blue bands on her arms and legs are part of her fur color pattern, but she has worn bracers to mess with people. I also gave her Amber colored eyes for whatever reason. Just thought it looked nice, but she can change the color of it with magic. There is a noticeable large Ankh symbol on her back which is a mark of a egypitan chosen immortal. It also contains her blessings she received from Bastet.

She does have hair as seen on her design and the three yellow gold lines are naturally part of the color pattern. As for her actual skin color (under the fur, paw pads, nose). It's dark gold based on her actual in game model.

(This is an easy to miss detail)

Now for her overall physical apperance. While I loved to go into deeper details that I wrote in my notes. That would take too long to explain. In short her overall physical body is essentially befitting a goddess. Fit, sexy, and still shapely in the right places. Now I won't sugar coat it, I went this direction because I wanted to. No special reason for that. It just so happens though it make sense within the world of my story though.

Now here are surprising physical bits about her. I made 5'8" tall (or 172.7cm for you metric folks). Now this is because of her mother's genetics which made her above average in height and also physically stronger than she looks. That lion strength is no joke.

Hehe God I am not sure honestly what possessed me to make her that tall. Nor am I willing to reverse it. It's fine how it is.

As for story significance. Well she is one of the main characters for a reason. Usually in there on the action with Nacho and even have some story plots relating to her status as an immortal. Though she was written in the first story as Nacho's love interest in mind before I added more and more to make her more interesting.

She is protective of Nacho and Isabelle because of old trauma she suffered. Which never really went away for her, but just managed to lessen its effects as stories progress. I don't say more because it's kinda spoilery. But there is plenty of depth with her that just kinda came naturally the more I thought about it. With her long lived life, experiences and potential untapped traits not yet explained. Of course there is only so many opportunities to do so when writing.

Overall, I am surprised how much I made her into her own character fitting for the series. Doing my best to make sure she is a great character while being interesting. There is more of her I can talk about, but this post went on long enough. So it will be a seperate post. Thank you for your time.

[riplever]

King Deshret/Aether: Golden Ratio fic (Hermaphrodite Angel AU) - Summary of Tweets

Link to fic, chapter 1 of 3 

Link to Hermaphrodite Angel AU write-up 

This is Master post that will be constantly updated with every new brain fart I mean plot bunny tweet that I release on the internet. It’ll contain spoilers or shall I say previews of the future chapters, is subject to change, and will also contain some post-mortem reflection. 

Tweet Bunnies Recap 

#1 Original idea + Deshret/Alhaitham characterization: 

Dark and nsfw #alhaither alhaitham, a king both then (deshret) and now, persistently rubbing aether's stomach and murmuring "You are the most important thing in my life." Is he talking about their love or his lover? Neither. He cares only that the child in the womb [1/2]

Post-mortem/fun fact: In my most OG idea, the subject of this obsession was actually Cyno because of his forebear, Kasala. Alhaitham was going to lose his mind after sitting on the throne, which would then lead to this sequence of events 

#2 Follow-up + preview of chapter 1 

NSFW #alhaither Alhaitham = Al-Ahmar, the king captures, claims and breeds a demigod offspring by his golden angel bride #mpreg: Every meeting is calculated, and there is no such thing as chance. The King's astronomer's charted the path of the brightest star in the sky [1/4]

Post-mortem/fun fact: The fic was written already, I tweeted this to generate interest 

#3 Fic published but I deleted the original tweet with terrifying ease by accident 🙂 See replacement tweet in #6 below 

#4 Some truth on Aether’s side of story + preview of chapter 2 

#Alhaither golden angel concubine breeding AU [sequel]: Present life, history repeats

Invisible phermones, visible beauty - as a divine vessel, Aether’s body has the biological ability to arouse and magnetize. In both lifetimes, Alhaitham has always been conquered [1/6]

Post-mortem: Not sure if I still want those specific candidates as Aether’s other partners, still plotting this. 

#5 Doctor’s report of 2nd pregnancy + vote for your choice of doctor

NSFW #alhaither / #aetherharem hermaphrodite angel concubine mpreg AU [sequel]: Present life, second chance 

No doctor has ever attended to Aether’s pregnancy, but if the had had one, this is what the reports would have said: [0/9]

Post mortem: Dotorre and Tighnari tied for top doctor’s choice! I think this field (celestial/alien bodies & obstetrics) is more Dotorre but tone of voice is more Tighnari. Don’t know enough about Baizhu to judge if I’m being honest.

#6 Replacement “Fic Published” tweet if you’ll like to give it traction + preview of chapter 2

《Golden Ratio》#alhaither fic, mpreg, dark, viewer discretion advised - - Alhaitham is King Deshret theory 

- Aether is a hermaphrodite angel, captured by the king for biological slavery

- 3 chapters 

- [preview in next tweet on chpt 2] 

- http://archiveofourown.org/works/43077789

#7 Two more truths, part 1: Morax - Aether active as celestial concubine of other partners (or ”Suns”) throughout Teyvatian history 

#zhongther #aetherharem mpreg Angel Aether fic - 1/2 history: 

 The ambition to utilize aeons is a kingly one, and not unique to King Deshret. He is not the first of such ambitions, and will not be the last. 

 This divine womb has played concubine to more kings than one [1/7]

Post mortem: 52% of readers chose Aether as the one with more agency in this relationship he had with Morax!! Thank you for voting! 

#8 Two more truths, part 2: Pierro

#pierrother #aetherharem (mpreg) - 2/2 of history 

A kingly ambition is not restricted to kings. Sometimes they belonged to the men scorned by the powers that be. 

 2. Pierro, Black Sun dynsasty 

 The left hand of the K’haenriahan king is a desperately busy man. [1/8]

#9 Morax’s perspective while Aether was pregnant + WIP of chapter 3

#zhongther 🔞🫃🥚

Conventionally, dragon young hatched from eggs. They are a highly intelligent species, able to fend for themselves from that moment forth. 

 In his human form however, and having become accustomed to mortal ways, Morax wanted more for his child. [1/6]

Ratios of Unions

1) Aether to King Deshret is 

Golden Sun (alien, superior) to Red Sun (Teyvatian, envy) 

2) Aether to Morax is 

Silver Moon (anima) to Golden Sun (animus) 

3) Aether to Pierro is 

Eclipse (Black) to Sun (light) 

to be updated! 

[markmybirds]

A Request for Ko-fi for my best girl Tesla

Hello! I don't usually post my own unique things on Tumblr anymore. Unless, someone has tagged me in a bandwagon survey. I don't generally post my art up anymore either so here we go! I'm an artist, I used to post to my other blog @owldrawathing . Markmybirds is actually my artist handle however, I don't use it for my art tumblr because I created the name for Tumblr initially.

Ok now that I've Overshared in Neurospicy. For the TL;DR: Our dog Tesla that we have had in our family for almost 12 years got diagnosed with a Sarcoma Tumour. Here is my Ko-fi link, please spread the word that I am taking commissions and selling prints of existing artwork for her surgery and pathology.

For the More Overshare Edition cause you want to learn about this beautiful dog and her family. Miss Tesla Umbreon came into my husband and I's lives as a late birthday gift to Cody (the husband). We were living in Ottawa and I took him into Gatineau, QC on the pretense that we were visiting puppies to just look and have some time with cute puppies. They were perfect, I would have loved to adopt a CKC dog for us but an Australian Shepherd breeder had an oops litter. I wanted an Aussie and Cody wanted a Lab for our first dog. His parents bred labs and I am a sucker for shepherd breeds. Long story short we picked out Tesla, our bundle of joy, as she was the quietest bean in the litter and the only puppy who was sold on coming home with us right away, just.. You know she was only just under 1 month when we visited her litter. You see the oops litter, well. She was born from an Aussie/Lab (with the smallest dollop of Border Collie) mix and an Australian Shepherd. She was the perfect oops for Cody and I. Tesla has been with us since she was 2 and a half months old. She has always been the best dog. We had a lot of darkness in that year she came to us, we were blessed by her and her now late cat-bro Kain for giving us a great big light in dark times. The past almost 12 years have been the best. She has been with us all throughout our Undergrads in University, our marriage, the birth of our daughter and she has been helping us raise our now five year old. Tesla has the patience of a saint, and although she is an anxious girl for horrible loud sounds she puts others first before her fears. We have never heard her growl or viciously bark at anyone or anything.

Two weeks ago we made an appointment after finding a new old lady bump that was sus. She has a few lumps and bumps that have just stuck around. However, getting this one tested has returned to us the fact it is a Sarcoma/Malignant Tumour. We are trying to raise funds through art and chainmaille jewellery done by my husband. Visit my Ko-fi (links at top of post) for my art commission information. and if you're interested in mobius earrings or a chainmaille bracelet done by my husband please don't be shy to inquire~!

[radiant-flutterbun]

Lair Review for @dragonwysper​

First impressions: You have a neatly organized lair with a lot of varied dragons!

Velkurpeni

Oooo she’s cool! I love your art in her bio! It’s very pretty! As for the dragon herself, the Victor’s skull is definitely what makes this dragon. It shows so much personality. However I do feel like some of her apparel is a bit too busy, especially with all those halos layered over each other. Unless you were going for a chaotic energy with the layering? I also love the new space scene for her!

Prazdnota

A space child! If I could steal this dragon I 100% would. Starcon on veils goes hard and plum is a GREAT color. I had no idea plum gave a blue gradient effect for constellation on veils. I’m in love with the look. And the accent doesn’t distract from the natural beauty of the dragon, but enhances it.

Jeffrey

Omg a Jeff the Killer fandragon. I did not expect to see a creepypasta inspired dragon. You did a great job at making him look like the character! I even thought of Jeff the Killer before looking at his name or bio.

Jack

I appreciate a nice basic/basic dragon now and then! Cobalt smirch looks good with steel! I can also relate to tough breeding projects when you’re trying to get a nonexistent combo. I was working on my own rare color combo project with special eyes when the eye update happened too. Congrats on completing your boy!

Seedeater

Oh this is a fun looking dragon! I like how you’ve layered all the feathered apparel. This dragon is Extra Birb and I love them. I’ve never heard of the Seedeater creepypasta before but I do appreciate a neat creepy bird creature.

Alpijskija

A nice frosty dragon! They look nice and cozy for the winter in their arctic apparel. The steampunk wings and goggles were also a nice addition! I was honesyly surprised that their primary was oilslick because with the combo of their apparel and the white from piebald you can hardly see any of the oilslick on them! It’s a neat affect that makes them look more wintery!

Rubin

This lad has a fun ID! That’s a lot of 4s! I like how the bloodstone cascades match his berry opal. The purple birdskull goes surprisingly well with the helpful healer’s apparel.

Wysper

A spooky look! I LOVE the layering of the sanddune rags, bone crown and antlers! It gives this guy such a unique look. It’s extremely well done! The fuchsia ghost on top of black crystal is also such a good look I love contrasting bright colors on top of dark and ghost is one of the best genes to do that! Everything about how you’ve dressed him is very good, but the smokeswirl really ties everything together.

Ohen

This dragon is on fire! Ironic considering they’re an ice dragon. I love the effect of sunshine smoke over oilslick. I also like how well the apparel blends into the dragon. It’s subtle yet helps the dragon pop. The haunting apparel really help give this dragon that ‘on fire’ look. the accent is also simple but effective. The antlers from the accent gives them such a unique look!

Marjanka

Is that a WEED dragon? Highly illegal. I am reporting you to the mods. I’m joking, I’m joking. I enjoy the funny weed dragon.This is a perfect dragon for the Marva eyes and I’m loving the addition of all the plants and the mushrooms.

[awesomelyanxiouspanda]

A Fiercely Bleeding Heart (Lucifer/OFC): Chapter 6

Story summary: Emery (Our lovely OFC) owns a thriving coffee shop smack dab in the middle of Monroe City, Mo. She’s well known for her unique coffee drinks and her “coffee charity”. What happens when a woman with too much heart- and not nearly enough common sense- comes across the fallen archangel in his mostly human state? Will Lucifer behave, or will he bite the hand that (quite literally) feeds him?

Warnings/Tags: Loosely based around S.13 E. 13! Plus size OC, OC is gullible and a big softie, Lucifer in his nearly human form, Soft Lucifer, Dean and Sam cosplaying FBI agents again, Canon typical violence, Non-Canon compliant story line, Soulmate AU-ish?, canon typical cursing, NOT a slow burn, not beta’d we die like our king Crowley, smut, vaginal fingering, oral sex (male receiving), unprotected smut, commitments are made, soulmate bonds are formed, praise kink, Luci can dirty talk with the best of them (we all know his sass would be sinful in bed),  little bit of drama, some self-esteem issues, possessive Lucifer, breeding kink, dom/sub themes, pet names (such as princess, good girl, and little one)

A/N: Just a little bit of drama to spice things up, because who doesn't love a possessive Lucifer?! Don’t worry, we’ve got a chapter that isn’t fully smut coming up too, where we introduce our lovely Winchester brothers back into the fray!!

During the first week, it was easy to make excuses for why I hadn’t seen Lucifer. With the recent change back into power, I had no doubt that he was busy.

The second week was when I started to get worried. I wished I had a way to call him but he didn’t exactly have a phone. So I did the next best thing and tried to pray to him, unsure if it would even work, and was rewarded with more silence.

The third week was when I gave up hope. Reality began to set in painfully hard. All that soulmate shit was most likely a lie. I had just been an experiment for him. He was obviously just feeling the remnants from his almost-human life, and I was the easiest one around to take it out on. It hurt to accept but I knew the quicker I did, the easier the pain would fade; Much like ripping off a bandaid. It was at the end of the third week when I gave in to my baser urges, the need to seek out a distraction from the ridiculous heartbreak I was feeling.

It seemed like fate that Harry walked into my shop that day. I’d seen him around a few times, though he certainly wasn’t a daily regular. He’d always caught my eye because he had long very curly red hair that he kept pulled back into a low ponytail, not to mention he was quite gorgeous, with a very cute grin. Of course, I wasn’t sure if he’d be as receptive to my advances so, instead of being upfront, I wrote my number on the cup with a little note saying, “I think you’re cute. If you’re single and would want to go out sometime, call me! If not, have a wonderful day, and enjoy your coffee! Emery.”

I was beyond surprised when I got a text from him within the hour, inviting me out to dinner that night at Elmo’s- a local cozy Italian bar and restaurant. I wasted no time agreeing and spent the rest of my shift giddy with anticipation, the sensation only increasing in spades once I got off. It might have been presumptuous, but I stopped at the local lingerie shop on the way home to pick out something special. After a quick shower, I managed to find a nice black sleeveless top that cut low enough to barely cover my new bra and paired it with a silky red shawl and a short black skirt, topped off with black lace heels. Once I finished up my makeup and hair, I couldn’t deny that I looked pretty damn good.

“Lucifer, eat your heart out,” I muttered as I snagged up my keys and purse.

…

“Uh… Is it me, or am I getting the death stare?” Harry asked.

Brows furrowing in confusion, I tried to casually look toward where he gestured but all subtly was thrown out the window when I spotted the perpetrator. Lucifer gave a little finger wave from the bar before lifting one eyebrow and crooking his index in a come hither motion.

“God damn it!” I huffed under my breath.

I shot an apologetic smile toward Harry as I got to my feet.

“Give me just a moment, I’ll get rid of him,” I told him.

Before I could get even one step away, he caught my wrist and pulled me back. There was a strange expression of frustration and sadness in the redhead’s eyes that instantly made my gut churn.

“He’s an ex, right? Look, you’re hot, but I’m not into this whole hard-to-get routine nor into playing second fiddle to-”

“No!” I cut him off sharply, “He’s not… not an ex, really. It’s hard to explain but I promise I’m just going to tell him to fuck off then I’ll be right back.”

Harry shook his head as he stood and jerked his wallet out.

“Don’t bother. The moment you chose to approach him instead of staying with me? This was over,” he sighed.

Scoffing in disbelief, I watched as he slapped a fifty onto the table and left without another word.

“God damn it!” I cursed for a second time.

Anger lit a fire in my belly and I was almost certain my emotions were written clearly on my face as I approached the adonis at the bar, if the smirk on his lips was any indication. I stopped within arms reach, ready to unleash all hell onto the king of hell, but my words were silenced the second Lucifer wrapped an arm around my waist and jerked me in close. Despite my rage and frustration at being cockblocked, I couldn’t control the way my heart instantly went into overdrive and the heat that warmed my cheeks. The sensation of his lips against my neck coupled with how he kept my chest pinned to his only made matters that much worse. Damn, I’d missed that.

He smelled good, way too fucking good; all warm spices and citruses that made my skin buzz in want.

“Keep glaring at me like that and I’ll take you here and now,” he breathed into my ear, “Human standards be damned.”

There was no doubt in my mind that, had he not been holding me, I would have been a puddle on the floor with the way my knees weakened. Rather than give into my baser desires, I managed to wriggle my hands between our bodies and pushed away from his firm chest. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was a flash of hurt in his eyes before that arrogant exterior came back.

“Lucifer, you can’t- Fuck, you can’t just go MIA for four weeks then randomly come back, ruin my date, and say shit like that!” I hissed.

Even as I said it, I knew there was no truth in my words. The way his icy blues stared into my soul broke through any resolve I had left. That damned smirk made me want to both throttle and kiss him simultaneously. I hated how weak I was to him. If I were Superman, he would have been my kryptonite, and what’s worse was that he knew it.

The hand still resting on my lower back began tracing designs against my shirt and shivers crawled up my spine deliciously. It took all of my resolve not to give in and beg him to do as he had threatened.

“Listen, I’m sorry, but there were some world-ending problems that were- ya know- pretty important to handle,” he sighed.

“I get that, Lucifer, but you couldn’t have bothered to call, shoot a text, or, hell, even answer my prayer?” I shot back.

He winced at that before dragging me back in. I gave up attempting to resist and instead allowed myself this little moment, wrapping my hands together behind his neck, relishing in the feel of his firm shoulders underneath my arms.

“Okay, okay, yeah, I guess I could have, but in my defense, this-” he pauses to gesture between the two of us, “This whole human attachment thing? This isn’t my usual schtick, okay? Before my little trip, emotions were the farthest thing from my mind. Still would be if it weren’t for the Nick situation here.”

Right. Soulmates. I wasn’t even sure it was true anymore, but either way, the concept was still hard to wrap my head around. My tongue darted out to wet my lips nervously as his eyes slowly raked up and down my form in the silence. The weight made it feel like so much more than just his gaze was touching me.

“But there’s something I need you to understand. That shit you just tried to pull, princess? It isn’t going to happen.”

“Wha-”

His free hand suddenly wound into the back of my hair, pulling the strands along the nape of my neck taunt before he jerked me closer once more.

“This was me being nice. Next time? Next time I’ll rip the still-beating heart from his chest and fuck you next to his corpse,” he whispered, “Don’t forget, you belong to me now.”

I felt almost ill at the mental image and yet, lust pooled heavily between my thighs at the threat. The fact that he wanted me all to himself, enough to do bodily harm to keep me as his alone? It was disgusting. It was erotic. It sure as fuck wasn’t healthy, but some disturbed part of me secretly loved the thrill. Did that make me a bad person? Probably. Fuck, he’d already killed a prince of hell over me. Granted, it was more than just to protect me, but his feelings for me were the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back, and that knowledge was overwhelming.

I was brought back into the now as I felt his face against mine. Being so close to him, I could feel the way he shuddered as he ran his nose along my ear and it sent goosebumps across my skin.

“Damn it, Emery, I can smell the way you’re reacting to me,” he murmured, “Just give in and come back with me already. Let me make up the last few weeks to you, properly.”

Swallowing hard, I strongly debated against it, but the soft press of his lips against my throat, and the scrape of his beard along my skin, sealed the deal. I had wanted to make him wait as much as he had done me, wanted to give some kind of petty payback, but I couldn’t do it. Not when he was touching me, when I wanted nothing more than combust into a pile of ash under the emotions plaguing my heart.

“Okay,” I finally answered with a little nod, “Let’s go.”

With a snap, we were suddenly somewhere much quieter. The chatter of other diners and the sounds of the restaurant were replaced with a somber silence. It took a second for my stomach to settle from the plane shift but, once I could open my eyes, I found the same room we had been in before. A sudden bout of nerves made it hard to think and the reality of the situation had my mind spinning. But then his hands were on me again and it was all washed away.

“I missed you,” he whispered as his lips brushed my forehead gently, “I wanted to come see you so many times.”

Taking a deep breath, I reached up and cupped his jaw, letting my thumbs rub over the scruff tenderly before giving in to my urges. Thankfully he didn’t resist, let me guide him down as I popped up as far as possible onto my tiptoes. The moment our lips touched, it was like he’d never been away. All my anger and sadness fell way to desperate adoration and lust. He lifted his hand as if to snap but I quickly grabbed his fingers to stop him, knowing what he was about to do.

“What-”

“I spend sixty dollars on this lingerie and someone is damn well going to appreciate it,” I explained with a sigh.

His eyebrows shot up at that before a sly smirk tilted up his lips.

“By all means.”

He backed away before plopping on the edge of the bed, gesturing toward me symbolically as he reclined back on his hands. He painted a picture of patience as I nervously pulled off my silky shawl.

It was still hard to believe he wanted me, despite having been in his bed weeks ago, but the way his eyes traveled over my form said it all. I just had to believe; to put faith in the fact that he had actually come back, and hadn’t abandoned me like I had feared.

Taking a deep, steadying, breath, I took off my shirt next and dropped it to the floor, exposing the black lace hugging my breasts perfectly, cleavage made even more prominent by the light padding in the bottom and accentuated by the crisscross of satin low in front. I couldn’t resist cupping the fabric, pushing my cleavage even more together, before tracing down the middle of my stomach.

The ragged breath he took in gave me the confidence to peek at him and I was thoroughly pleased to see that familiar expression of arousal, bottom lip bit seductively between his teeth as he shifted more upright. My fear of rejection slowly slipped away. A little smile crossed my face when I turned around and hooked my thumbs in my skirt, drawing it down teasingly slow until it passed the widest part of my hips before letting it drop to the floor. I knew how good the cheeky panties looked on my ample curves, all black lacy fabric with the same crisscross of ribbon along my tailbone.

“And now, I want to kill him more.”

I spun around, shocked at how close he sounded now, only to come face to chest with him. Fingers grabbed my jaw roughly and jerked my head back, nose pressing against mine as he let out a sigh.

“He dared to try to touch what’s mine. Knowing he would have seen you like this…”

His eyes flashed red and I couldn’t help the moan that escaped. I really shouldn’t like that, that possessiveness. Why did I like that?! Shame unfurled in my gut, mixing potently with the lust, forming into some twisted guilty pleasure.  

“Well,” I said as I swallowed hard, “He didn’t, okay? And to be honest, I don’t even know if I could have gone through with it anyway. I just kept hoping he’d be enough to distract me from how much I missed you and- and the thought that you might not come back.”

With a blink, red irises gave way to soft blues that melted my soul to bits.

“Of course, I was coming back,” he retorted.

A humorless chuckle escaped as I bit back, “Lucifer, you gotta see this from my point of view. I’m not exactly the most desirable to humans, let alone angels-”

“Archangel,” he cut in, pointing to himself with a cute smirk.

I rolled my eyes in exasperation before continuing on, “Any way, I know I’m not dog ugly but between the fact I’m awkward as hell and overweight, I’ve never been anybody’s first choice of partner. A quick fuck or even a secret affair, sure, but never as a long-term choice. So… just, forgive me if I have some issues trusting the fact that a drop-dead gorgeous archangel- The one and only Lucifer- actually sees me as more than a means to an end at best, and an annoyance at worst.”

He only stared at me in silence for a long moment before his grip on my face relaxed. He tsked softly as his hands came to my waist and he pulled our bodies firmly together.

“We’re gonna have to work on that self-confidence if you’re gonna be the queen of hell,” he sighed, “Listen, doll, if I didn’t find you absolutely irresistible, I wouldn’t be here. I’m sure you’ve gotta understand that somewhere in that pretty little head of yours.”

Though it was hard to believe, I knew I would just have to. He had a good point, anyway. No one could make Lucifer do what he didn’t want to, could they? And it wasn’t like he’d lied to me yet. As for the other bit-

“Wait, queen of hell?!” I squeaked out in shock.

A gruff little chuckle fled his mouth into mine as he captured my lips, and I had to moan back in turn. It felt so good to have him again. Four weeks without him had felt like an eternity. I found myself questioning if it was the supposed soulmate pull, or if I truly just desired him that much, but threw the question out the window as his fingers fleshed out over the dips in my sides possessively. What did the reason matter when it felt this good?

His teeth bit into my lower lip and pulled back until I let out a whimper. When he finally released his hold, he spoke softly.

“When everything is ready, you’ll be right there at my side. Perk of being soulmates with the King of Hell, baby.”

Before I could respond, he spun us around and sent me flying back onto the bed. My arms immediately flew over my head and were pinned down just like before. Someone definitely had a bondage kink.

“Until then, I believe I have some making up to do,” he purred as he slid between my legs.

The sensation of his chilly fingers sliding down my arms both tickled and sent shocks down my spine. I was able to hold some semblance of control over myself for a while, until his fingers slid down past the dips of my underarms and traced the lacy edge of my bra. A whimper fraught with desire escaped before I could stop it.

“This looks absolutely incredible on you. I’m almost sad to have to take it off,” he muttered as one finger slipped just slightly under the cup.

Without thinking, I arched into his touch in search of more; more friction, more him. The snap of his fingers was the only warning I got before I felt my nipples harden under the cool air of the room. There wasn’t even a full second before his fingers splayed across my breasts, squeezing and caressing and touching in ways that made my core clench in need.

To my surprise, he seemed much more content with moving on faster than last time, and I was almost disappointed until I felt his lips against my ribs. My heart thundered hard in my chest as he made a slow line down my torso, moving left and right, methodically placing little love bites and kisses until he shifted further down the bed. Eyes fluttering open in disbelief, I watched through lowered lids as he placed a sharp nip on my lower belly before doing the same on each hip.

“These, though, these are staying on for now.”

Feeling his breath through the lace nearly had me jumping out of my skin, but I managed to hold back with just a whimper. His arms slid under, jerking me down and hooking around my thighs. There was a tense silence in the air as he dragged the tip of his tongue torturously slow across the waistband of my panties, then followed the same pace straight down my covered slit.

“Now, princess, I need you to be a good girl and let me know what feels good, understand?” he demanded huskily, fingers tugging the lace aside, leaving me intimately exposed.

“Y-Yes,” I replied, voice hardly higher than a whisper.

The first tentative stroke of his tongue had me gasping. The next felt more sure, more confident, tracing slowly up and down my folds until finally, he came back up to my clit. A self-satisfied moan rumbled up from him when I jerked against my bonds and instinctively arched into his touch, and he instantly repeated the motion.

“There!” I managed to whimper between gasps.

It had been an unbearably long time since anyone had gone down on me, and those moments had been few and far between with selfish lovers, yet I already knew Lucifer was better at it than anyone I’d had before. As he curled his tongue in ways I’d never felt before, I couldn’t help but melt into the bed with a mewl. It was unfair how naturally good he was at all of this, how he could turn me into putty with just a few touches.

My breath caught in anticipation when he withdrew his hand from my hip and came out in a shaky moan when his fingers slid up and down my entrance.

“O-Ooh, yesss,” I whined softly, “Please!”

When he finally slipped them in, I nearly cried in relief. His fingers were so thick and long, and mixed with his sinful tongue it was almost too much to handle. I tried to tell him as such but my words got lost in the chorus of moans flooding forth as he crooked his fingers up against that one sweet spot of nerves. I couldn’t help but clench and grind down against his hand for more, never wanting it to end but feeling that familiar coil growing tighter by the second.  

“That’s right, little one. Let me taste you.”

The sudden low timbre of his voice echoing through my mind gave me that last little push over the ledge. His voice was always sexy but hearing it in such a perfectly intimate way, knowing why he was unable to talk out loud, it did inexplicable things. Every nerve in my body lit on fire as I stilled beneath him, sobbing but oh so content to let him drag out my high as long as possible.

When it became too much, I couldn’t help but wriggle my hips back into the bed with a pathetic whine. He finally relented when I was near tears but I wasn’t even given a second to breathe, an invisible force rolling me over onto my knees; leaving me to rest on my forearms with my hands still bound above my head awkwardly so that I had to hang my head between my shoulders.

Big hands took hold of my hips as he knelt in place behind me and I couldn’t resist prostrating myself further, arching back until I brushed up against his cock.

“Absolutely divine,” Lucifer purred, nails tracing sharp lines up my back, “How could you ever think that I’d want to leave this?”

I wasn’t sure if the question was rhetorical but I withheld my opinion nonetheless, not wanting to ruin the moment with my self-esteem issues. My thoughts were derailed into a better place as I felt hot kisses trailing up my spine.

“Lucifer,” I whined with a little shake of my hips, “Please.”

“Fuck, I love it when you beg for me,” he breathed against my shoulder.

Reaching between us, he hastily lined up his cock and thrust in. There was no hesitation this time. A cry left my lips as he sunk in as far as possible, fingers digging painfully hard into my hips. Thankfully, it was much easier to adjust to him this time, but there was still no denying the burning ache of being stretched beyond my limits.

“Thank fuck, finally,” I gasped mindlessly.

“Hmm? What was that?” Lucifer asked.

As he slowly pulled out, I couldn’t resist following him with my hips, silently pleading with him to come back but he easily held me still. I was no match for his strength.

“Answer me, what did you say?” he demanded.

“I- I said thank fuck,” I replied quickly in hopes that he would drop it.

“And why did you say that?”

Thankfully he was merciful enough to sink back into me but it was nowhere near as fast or hard as I wanted.

“Because… Because I’ve been thinking about this since you took me back home,” I admitted weakly, nails digging into my palms in restraint.

One hand left my hips to trail up my spine, winding into my curls and yanking back before I could brace for the impact and an embarrassing yelp resounded in the air.

“Tell me more,” he ordered.

I was pinned in the most awkward position possible but it was more than perfect when he finally started up a slow pace. Brows furrowing in concentration, I tried to find the words to answer him but all I could bring forth were senseless pleas.

“Come on, little one,” he taunted, “I know it’s hard to think, but you can do it. Use that pretty mouth to tell me exactly what you thought about.”

My lips parted in an almost silent moan before I gathered my wits enough about me to reply.

“Thi-This. I spent every night wishing you were there in bed with me,” I whined, pushing back into his thrusts.

He let out a low groan and asked, “Did you touch yourself thinking about me? Was my princess that desperate for me?”

The way my muscles clenched at those words had us both moaning. Memories of my frantic attempts at masturbating flowed through my mind with frustration.

A little hum was all I could manage before I bit out, “It wasn’t enough.”

“Of course it wasn’t,” he laughed huskily, “And to think you were going to let that pathetic waste of a meat sack touch you. Don’t you get it, Emery? You belong to me now. Nobody will ever be able to make you feel like I can.”

As if to prove his point, he suddenly slammed in as far as possible, pain blossoming deliciously around the edges of pleasure. He released my hair finally to catch his balance as he fell over me, forehead resting against my shoulder as his other hand resurfaced between my thighs.

I had to relish in the intimacy as much as the bliss curling in my belly. Feeling his body against mine, how big he was in comparison, his sweat, his breath, the coolness of his skin, it was all so much. A soft keening noise rumbled from low in my throat as I shifted my hips wider, lowering my upper body as far as possible to the mattress and handing him control of the entirety of my body.

“Oh fuck, that’s it. Shit! I can’t- Father help me. Need you to come, Emery. Let me fill you, baby.”

And that was all it took. As the world came crumbling down around me, my lips sang his praises, asininely begging him to make good on his words. I knew he hadn't been literal and yet, at that moment, I wanted nothing more than for him to come so deep inside me that it never left. And I told him such, filthy pleas of being bred and ruined flying in ways I’d never expressed before.

“You have no idea what you’re asking for, little one,” he snarled, low and deadly into my ear.

I quickly shook my head and gasped out, “I do! I do! Lucifer, please, come in me! Please-”

“Shhh, fuck, baby, okay,” he hissed, “Just remember you asked for this.”

“Yes! Please!”

All rhythm was lost, shifting to something more primal and animalistic as he pounded me into the bed. It was almost to the point of being too painful, but the way he was moaning above me, the way he felt inside of me… The sweet lament of my name made it all worth it. I clenched down around him and backed into his hips, praying that I could give him even a fraction of the pleasure he’d blessed me with.

It was dangerous and addicting. Every throb of his cock and stutter of his hips only made me want that much more. It wasn’t until he came to a full stop, sweaty and panting against my back, that some semblance of my brain came back. Before I could even begin to question if I regretted my choices, soft lips trailed fluttering kisses across my shoulders.

“Can an angel- sorry, archangel- even get a human pregnant?” I asked curiously.

Lucifer paused and took a heavy breath before resuming his previous trek across my skin.

“Yeah, we can,” he murmured softly.

"Huh, interesting."

I chewed on my lower lip as I thought everything over. When I realized I wasn't upset by the thought, I pushed back against him, an action that made us both groan, and moved him away just enough to flip onto my back and pull him back down into an easy kiss.

“You don’t plan on disappearing for weeks again, do you?” I asked teasingly.

There was a flash in his eyes before he smirked.

“Be careful with that attitude, princess,” he threatened quietly, “Unless you’re already ready for round two?”

Just the thought of having him again so soon made my body ache in the best and worst ways.

Groaning, I tossed an arm over my eyes and bit out, “Give a girl at least ten minutes, huh?!”  

[gre7n]

Written Interview about Esports Coaching

What qualities and skills do you think are most important for an esports coach to possess?

The most important skill to have as a coach comes down to one thing: are you willing to improve. How else are your players supposed to learn what it means to evolve and change their gameplay if you yourself won’t budge on your methods. Understand and learn more about the game, think critically about the interactions you have with players, and truly consider whether or not they learned what you are attempting to teach. If the answer is no, you will  have to swallow your pride and figure out why, or else your efforts will continue to fail. It’s also important to strive for novelty when inside a system of coaching, whether it be unique methods of conveying information, or a new strategy to employ for the team. Putting yourself in uncomfortable and new territory is always a good thing and should be something that is actively understood to be exactly what breeds genius, especially in a brand new and burgeoning field of competition. No one has all the answers yet. On top of this, it is really important for a coach to have good relationships with the players. If they don’t respect you as a person of character or as a person they simply want to be around, they will fail to learn a lot of key crucial skills. Someone who sets an example by action will be impossible to ignore and leads to explosive results.

How has the role of the esports coach evolved over time?

While this is not my particular area of expertise, I would imagine that esports coaching started early on through player lead coaching of their own gameplay. Through time and practice, certain individuals likely began to stand out in their ability to analyze and think critically of gameplay. One thing to note is that in my experience, lots of players will actually substitute thinking about their gameplay at all with a coach, thus off-loading all of the work they could be doing. If this isn’t recognized then it can lead to a lack of agency by the players to actually understand anything and it will take forever for improvement to occur. The role of esports coach tends to not be as involved as it should be in terms of personal relationships, but a shift in that direction is possible in the future.

Can you discuss your experience coaching esports teams, and how you approach coaching different types of players?

My direct experience of coaching starts as of about 8 months ago when I started coaching for the local NWFSC Raider Esports team. That being said, I had coincidentally spent the past 5-6 months considering my path as a player at a somewhat high level of competition and realized a lot of my shortcomings as a player. This is turn led to many conversations with friends about the process of improvement and what it means to genuinely sit down and put full focus into gameplay and attempt to correct mistakes as actively as possible. As for coaching of different types of players, the first thing to realize is that every single player is going to be different and their own “case file” of sorts. The most important thing you can do for any one person’s improvement is have a genuine relationship with them as a person, and allow them to share some of their deepest fears and concerns about themself and life. If you can be fluid in these conversations, it will open up a huge pathway of understanding what drives a person not just in success but in their failures. This way you can tailor what you say to be uniquely impactful to them as an individual. That being said of course, there are certain stereotypes and archetypes that come up over time but no matter what its important to realize you simply do not know everything about your players, and there is always more to consider and learn. As a coach in a “serious” environment, your job is 40% game, and 60% interpersonal.

What are some common challenges that esports coaches face, and how do you overcome them?

One of the largest issues I struggle with is complacency, but that comes with a direct knowledge that I simply can not justify spending ALL my time doing it. When the efforts are not paid, it means your full attention can not be given to the team and thus stagnation will be inevitable in some sense. Another view of this issue comes from an incorrect assumption that this is the only deciding factor on if one should give as much effort as they can. Even despite this fact, many will use it as an excuse to not do as much as they know they still can, even if not paid. If you coach and genuinely want to be good at what you do, its not even just about quantity, but quality of coaching. More focused and directed improvement will always output more, even if you can’t put your whole livelihood in. Another challenge stems from the fact that many people in the industry earned their way without “proper education”. While this has advantages in that the coaches tend to be self sufficient, it can lead to unprofessional behavior, or common mistakes that coaching theory has long since identified and put an end to, especially if the issues are deep and personal.

What are the most important things for a coach to keep in mind when developing strategies for their team?

The most important thing to keep in mind is A: The strengths of your players and what they enjoy putting time and effort into (or how to entice your players into trying more) and B: What you know you can teach well as a coach. It’s good to start on the right foot and reach a stride as soon as possible that works for everyone so that the process can be perfected. Then, later, you should be able to challenge yourself as a team and as a coach to come up with ways to make everyone more versatile and capable across a wider spectrum of strategies that can be molded and adapted. The reality will set in that you can apply these seemingly separate strategies in other situations that represent microcosms of those ideas.

Can you describe a particularly successful coaching moment or experience that you've had in esports?

Probably the most “successful” moment I had was in the environment I was able to set for the team in terms of expectations and relationships the players have with each other. I was able to establish from the very beginning that the most important goal for all of us is improvement. That is the magic word that we will all surround every issue we encounter. On top of that, there was a dedication to enjoyment of the process itself which helped with long term burnout and motivation and allowed the players to aid each other in that process as well.

How do you manage conflicts within the team, and what methods do you use to resolve them?

Because of the established relationship to improvement as a central tenet, it was possible to leverage that shared value in every tense situation that came up. Suddenly there's a shift in perspective that an issue being experienced is not one vs another, but us against the problem. While the knowledge of the importance of said perspective is helpful, it can not be overstated how crucial it is to remain eternally vigilant as a coach in moments that require it. If no one else is being logical and understanding of the emotions, the responsibility falls upon you or else everything has the potential to break down and destroy people’s mental. You as a coach have to live the idea of improvement and understanding in every aspect of your life, or else you will not have the courage to be decisive in the moments that really require it.

What are the most important metrics or indicators of success for an esports coach?

How much do your players practice and improve on their own? Can they ask each other for help when they need it? Do your vods reviews feel more conversational? Or are they simply attempting to “memorize” the information they are passively engaging with.  Players should be able to think for themself, and you as a coach should be primarily focusing on fostering that personal sovereignty. When they come to you, it should be specific questions they have come to a realization on their own about. Questions that you can finally use your knowledge of them as a player and a person to answer in a way that engages with their optimal zone of development. All of this is to say that improvement is the best indicator of success. That being said, success is a byproduct of improvement. Many many people and players will strive for the success itself and forget the intricate and delicate process that underlies true personal growth.

How do you work with other staff, such as analysts or sports psychologists, to support your team's success?

For the time being, I have not engaged with staff in this way yet. It has been a one man army for me and my team. That being said, I would make sure as best I could that an understanding was reached just the same as I have with my players. Really the only thing that would change would be the amount of work I could potentially offset to others, but I think as the lead role of coach, you should be able to do all of those tasks to some degree on your own (including playing the game itself)

How do you stay up to date with the latest developments and changes in the esports industry, and how do you adapt your coaching strategies accordingly?

Most people in the esports industry are incredibly secretive on practices and strategies of improvement. Currently, competition is viewed as a me first environment because no one wants to help someone else edge them out of winnings or a job. Short term it allows certain people to specialize and maintain their status but long term it hurts development as an industry and can even lead to potential abuse or misconduct or simply just mistakes as the process is hidden behind doors away from public scrutiny. In some sense this is okay and good as it allows mistakes to happen with comfort, but if there is something lacking in the understanding of what is truly important, you can get issues such as coaches saying “women players are distractions to my male players, thus they can’t be on the team” which is true only because they allow such a culture on their teams. For these reasons  I’m weary of following any steps laid out by professionals in the field for the time being and instead choose to follow my own intuition first and foremost. That being said, I still seek out what people are saying and attempt to use my intuition and logic actively to decide if certain information is useful to me and my situation. Ultimately that is the same process I teach to my players in their gameplay and it helps me stay vigilant and knowledgeable about the industry around me.

[charanchula]

Pick a Pet.

So! I have a 4x45x60cm (18x18x24″) bioactive terrarium awaiting a resident.

I was initially going to get dart frogs, but I just can’t stand handling the fruit flies anymore. I can’t do it. I CAN’T!

So now I’m turning to other options.

I already have a peacock day gecko, pacman frog, three stenodactylus sthenodactylus, and a number of tarantulas. I’ll be getting some mourning geckos as well once the small terrarium is finished.

I’m planning on getting a cuban false chameleon for a second terrarium I have; this is a guy I’ll be able to handle, if I want, so the other resident doesn’t need to be handleable.

Handling isn’t that important to me, I know a lot of reptiles don’t like it.

Likewise, I’m not interested in breeding. If it happens, it happens, otherwise I’m not bothered.

Diet wise, I already feed dubia roaches and crickets to my current animals, and I’ll be getting snails for my false chameleon, so I’m not too leery about feeder insects, except for fruit flies, who are the bane of my life. NO FRUIT FLIES.

Maintenance-wise, I’ll be setting up an automatic misting system, and the terrariums will be bioactive so they’ll have clean up crews for the majority of the mess.

Nominees are:

TOKAY GECKO

Pros: top of my list, unique looking, personality, feisty, easy to feed, not too expensive

Cons: defensive/aggressive, might be hard to wrangle, nocturnal ?

I’m probably going to go with this option. Tokay’s are notorious for being unhandleable, but  handleability isn’t on my list of requirements, so I don’t care. A nice contrast to the false chameleon?

MADAGASCAN DAY GECKO

Pros: cute as hell, large and attractive, pretty, personable, curious, diurnal, very easy to feed (powder foods), can be trained to climb onto your hand

Cons: already have a day gecko, a little more costly, not handleable because they can drop their tails but also SLOUGH OFF THEIR SKIN NO NO

If I had an extra terrarium I’d get one, but dudes, the skin. THE SKIN. I can’t take it, I’d never want to hurt an animal and I can’t stand the idea of accidentally causing this. Also very similar to my existing peacock gecko

CHAHOUA GECKO

Pros: easy care, basically a big version of a crested gecko, handleable, unusual and I think they’re pretty

Cons: SO expensive, on this list by a tenuous grasp because of that, not as drawn to them as the above two, EXPENSIVE, costs money, I’m poor and this gecko is expensive, did I mention expensive?

We’re talking £300 to £500 for a pair; they’re also hard to find NOT in a pair, for some reason.

RED-EYED TREE FROG

Pros: frog!, very pretty, unique, fun to have, doesn’t eat fruit flies, sweet, appeal of another frog

Cons: small in an enclosure (I can’t remember if you can keep a pair or trio together), hides, mid-pricey, I’m not as drawn to them as the top two geckos

Close to my original dart frog idea, but they don’t need to eat fruit flies. A classic amphibian, but I’m not sure I want another one. Would it be better to keep to geckos?

Looking forward to seeing your opinions!

POLL HERE

[dansnaturepictures]

1/12/22-Winchester and home part 2 of 2: Flora and fauna-Peregrines, Mute Swans and more

Key species seen today:

Cleavers-A plant I’ve seen well so often this week it was good to see some again in Winchester.

Grey Squirrels-In a period of time I’m seeing them so often in Abbey Gardens I saw them well here today and also saw two running up and down a tree in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral quite closely and they kept going up to each other as though play fighting which was fascinating. It was great to see them make contact an interesting bit of behaviour. I took the third and fourth pictures in this photoset of the ones at Winchester Cathedral. 

Blackbird and Wren-I got a great view of one in particular and saw a few more by the River Itchen for the former taking the seventh picture in this photoset of it and saw Wren extremely well at Abbey Gardens getting fantastic views of it not for the first time here.

Mute Swan-As I ate eating lunch at the river it was lovely to see two waddling Mute Swans on the blue and golden in the sun water, this is the closest I’ve ever seen them to where I eat lunch near Winchester City Mill I think. An outstanding wild moment of my day, I took the eighth picture in this photoset of one.

Peregrine Falcon-In the busy month December is I knew I had to try early to take a photo of a Winchester Peregrine in a twelfth and final month this year. Just like in October it wasn’t looking hopeful on the lunch break but as if by magic right at the end of lunch I noticed the majestic Winnie the female Peregrine on top of St. Thomas Church, her figure looming large like a grand statue. I was overjoyed to watch her again and take some photos two weeks on from getting some November shots of her here. The final two pictures in this photoset two of the ones I got today. To say for the first time that I photographed a Peregrine in Winchester in every month of the year is phenomenal. As I mentioned in the first of my wildlife and photography highlights posts of the year that posted earlier I have had an incredible year for these marvelous birds and I have loved seeing them so much in 2022. The photographing them in every month of a year was a goal pre-pandemic, it’s a nice challenge as you’re not always gonna see them in central Winchester outside the constant days of them being around in breeding season and I was on track for three months of 2020 until the pandemic rightly meant working from home. I have documented multiple times how much working from home home and my lunch time and evening Lakeside walks and what it has done for my hobby means to me, but I’m so thrilled to do to the Peregrine photo in every month thing in the hybrid working system in 2022. I have such a unique relationship with the Peregrine and get a lot of passion out of seeing and trying for photos of them. I also saw; Black-headed Gulls on the green out the front nicely, Dunnock I believe possibly the one that comes into the garden going into the forsythia hedge a bit further along this morning, Pied Wagtail well near the cathedral at lunch time, possible Fieldfare by the river too, Robin, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, thistle with its flower about to emerge, purple deadnettle, more lovely groundsel, yarrow, garlic or common penny cress, bramble, periwinkle, stinking iris with the red fruit which is shown in the sixth picture in this photoset with some I saw at Abbey Gardens alongside further along the street, possible crane’s-bill in the second picture in this photoset, other flowers, beautiful rose hips looking moody in the misty morning light, mallow and winter heliotrope leaves and others including some shown in the first picture in this photoset. I also heard Herring Gull at home and in Winchester, and singing and calling birds I couldn’t quite tell what by Lakeside and at the station this morning respectively. I took the fifth picture in this photoset of a pretty bush at Abbey Gardens a possible goldenrain tree. 

Part 1 of today’s posts about the landscape is here: https://dansnaturepictures.tumblr.com/post/702469855752929280/11222-winchester-and-home-part-1-of-2