#and overall much more focused on their surroundings than Roomie

[itzscribz]

Some Neko designs from Mage’s Neko roommate series !! The ending of the latest episode was really sweet, and I’m in love with their dynamic in general

Might rework the roommate’s fit a bit, feels like something’s missing (mayyybe freckles too ?)

[min-rei]

Summary: Cars and Driving for the Demon Brothers

Type: Headcanon

Characters: All brothers

Warnings: none

Fandom: Obey Me

Setting

The House of Lamentation sits on a large lot. An old road winds its way down the side of the property from the main street and serves as the driveway. Trees interlock their branches above the cracked pavement until you reach an iron gate. If you can get in, you'll drive through the woods, down into a tunnel, and into the underground parking garage beneath the house. It's a relatively small garage by parking garage standards but large for a house. Inside there are four cars with space for two more as well as a car lift and an elevator.

Lucifer technically has two vehicles: his car and the family car. It is one of the cars parked in the garage.

Lucifer drives a black luxury sedan with chrome accents. It has dark grey leather interior, heated seats, smart connections, and a roomy interior.

Despite having the capability to talk on his DDD hands free while he drives, he has not set it up. He likes to play music quietly while he drives or just ride in silence. Yes, it would be useful to be able to multitask while driving with his workload; however, he enjoys the peaceful break way too much to give it up.

Lucifer has done very little to personalize his car. The only things he's done is store a small bottle of demonus in his trunk for emergencies and replace the hood emblem with a chrome statue of himself in demon form flying.

Lucifer suffers a mild case of road rage from time to time. Despite this he is the second best driver, mostly because he couldn't stand to be seen as a bad driver.

He is also the brother that drives most often. He's very strict about having his cars maintenanced on time.

Lucifer does eat and drink in his car but very carefully. No one else is allowed to.

Lucifer walks or flies about as often as he uses his car, maybe slightly less. He finds it both annoying and helpful to walk around RADs campus for example, because he gets a better feel for what's going on but then he also runs the risk of having to talk to idiots or being waylaid by Diavolo or his brothers.

**The family car is a large minivan. The other brothers were supposed to chip in to help pay for it, but not a single one did. Lucifer rarely drives this vehicle unless he's going on a group trip. However, since he bought it he controls how it is used and by whom. It is the second car in the underground garage.

Mammon is surprisingly (or not) the best driver.

He uses the lift in the underground garage that goes up to his room to park his car in his loft.

He drives a silver coupe sports car, the Demonio 666 Lexura. Whereas Lucifer's car is designed for luxury, style, practicality, and comfort, Mammon's car is designed for speed and style. It's main features surround the engine which cause it to be able to go super fast, but the interior is a little cramped because it's a two seater. It does have smart connections and a few comforts such as heated seats though.

Mammon blasts his music while he drives.

He doesn't speed, despite having the fastest car, and is overall, a very careful driver.

He refuses to text, but he does receive calls through his smart connections hands free. He does this so Lucifer doesn't get too pissed trying to reach him and eventually so he can take MC's calls as well.

But he prefers not to talk while driving. His car is his baby, and he will do anything to keep her safe! This is one reason why he's the best and safest driver.

Mammon has more patience while driving and a lot of control over his anger in general. Despite being generally impulsive, he drives similar to how he never lets his demon form out accidentally. He's cautious and other than the music completely focused on the road.

If you ask him he'll ramble at length about being one with his car.

He likes driving and will use his car at least once a week just to use it. He also has his car maintained properly. Slightly more often than necessary.

He wipes her down after every drive.

His interior is black leather. He has personalized his car by hanging dice from the rear view mirror, but smaller than the human world version. His floor mats feature playing cards, and he has yellow covers on the part of the seat that you sit on.

Mammon allows no one, not even himself, to eat or drink in his car.

Despite using his car often, he does walk more than using it both to preserve the car and to socialize and be seen. Plus he HATES paying for parking.

Levi doesn't own a car. He does use the family car most often out of any of the brothers besides Lucifer.

Driving gives Levi severe anxiety. It means he's going out into the world, he can't play his games to escape while driving, and he actually just doesn't like it. He'd much rather play a racing simulation game than actually drive.

He rarely needs to go far from home or school though, so he rarely needs to drive. And if he does, the likelihood that his brothers are also going and therefore Lucifer is driving is high.

He plays music to distract himself or listens to fandom based podcasts.

Still, the entire time he's thinking more about his games, anime, and manga he'd rather be lost in than the road so he ends up not being a great driver but also not terrible. Wandering mind, meet forcibly focused attention due to anxiety.

If he asks Lucifer to use the family car, he is likely to be told yes in comparison to the others.

Levi does suffer from random road rage. If he's cut off, he will either freak out in an anxiety way or go demon form and start fuming. Totally depends on his headspace at that moment.

He prefers walking where he can use his headset and handheld games or DDD while walking.

Satan saved up and bought his own car because he refuses to ask Lucifer's permission to use the family car.

It's not much to speak of: a used, dark green sedan. It's the third car in the underground garage.

The power windows don't work on one of the back windows. Basically it's a beater. He doesn't care though. It works fine.

He uses it when he has a lot to carry or far to go. It's purely for practicality and a sense of independence.

His car has a weirdly patterned navy and yellow upholstery that was there when he bought it and he never changed it.

He doesn't have smart connections for talking and usually blasts music or listens to smartypants podcasts. He had to rig it to work with his DDD.

He always forgets to get his car serviced on time and it is starting to show.

Satan is a bad driver. You probably shouldn't mention it though.

He has terrible road rage and he's impatient. He just wants to get from point A to point B and how dare you get in his way. He also speeds. He's not the worst driver of the seven though.

He eats in his car and lets the trash pile up.

Satan honestly prefers walking. It's calming for him especially in comparison to how not calming his driving is.

He also likes running into people and maintaining his social connections. He likes discovering new stores and exploring.

Satan's car is the least used besides the family car for these reasons.

Satan loses his keys a lot.

Besides trash he also keeps a lot of books and cat supplies in his car. If he sees a cat he will pull over.

Asmo also owns his own car. It's the final vehicle in the garage.

He has a pink, two-door convertible with a backseat bench. It has soft, creamy white interior, smart connections, and light pink decals along the sides.

Asmo bought this car for two purposes.

The first, of course, is to be seen in it. He likes to drive around slowly with the top down looking cute AF in his cute AF car.

Secondly, he got the car to carry his multitude of shopping bags when he goes on a big spree.

Asmo is hands down the worst driver at least some of the time.

The mirrors are very distracting for him.

He's not allowed to text and drive but does anyway.

He also is not allowed to drink and drive, but he sucks at planning that out because even if he goes out to just clothes shop, there's no telling whether or not he'll run into someone and want to grab a drink. How can he deny his adoring fans?

Lucifer is very strict with him about all of this though. Asmo owns the car, but Lucifer took his keys away frequently anyway. After a while Asmo decided it was better to just walk most of the time. The best shopping district and bars are rather close anyway and so is school.

Besides it's easier to be seen when he walks, and it gives him the freedom to drink and text as much as he wants.

He is much better behaved now than he used to be when it comes to driving but mostly because he doesn't do it often and is afraid of having his keys taken and being strung up from the ceiling. That is NOT how he likes to be tied up!

Asmo has custom floor mats, loads of emergency beauty supplies, and lots of water in his car.

Asmo drinks beverages with lids but doesn't eat in his car.

He wouldn't be caught dead driving the family minivan (even though it's a nicer one).

He always forgets to have his car maintenanced until Lucifer reminds him.

Beel doesn't know how to drive. He's the only brother that doesn't know. Belphie, Lucifer, and Mammon have all tried to teach him, but Beel is resistant.

When would he ever go far enough away without his family that he'd need to drive himself? He can just carry whatever heavy or large thing he needs to. It doesn't matter that it's a couch and it's miles away. Beel is strong.

Plus if he's driving he can't eat. He'd rather be able to set that couch down and have a snack periodically.

Also he figures he can always fly and really isn't that better and faster than dealing with traffic?

Not that Beel has road rage or anything. He doesn't. He would probably be a great driver if he applied himself and ate beforehand, but let's be real, he'd have to make a ton of pit stops to refuel his belly anyway and he'd get distracted by every restaurant he passed.

No, walking is better in his mind and none of his brothers can convince him otherwise.

They tried saying "Well what if I need you to drive me to go get my car from the shop?" You know what Beel said? "I can just carry your car home if I have to." He then shrugged and took another bite of his burger.

He does co-pilot for Belphie on rare occasions. He isn't supposed to eat in the family car but does anyway.

When Asmo is on his best behavior Belphie becomes the worst driver.

He's not really a bad driver... when he's awake. But the purr of the engine and the vibrations lull him to sleep easily.

He is not allowed to drive without someone in the passenger seat who will keep him awake.

Because of this he only occasionally drives. And since he'd have to ask Lucifer for permission to use the family car, these days he's even more reluctant.

He doesn’t have his own car. Why would he? He almost never drives and straight up isn’t allowed to by himself.

Besides, driving is such a pain. He'd much rather whine until one of his brothers drives him while he sleeps in the back or just sleep while Beel carries him.

Walking at least gives him something to do to stay awake. Kinda.

The family car is a dark blue minivan. It has two bench seats in the back that technically fit three demons each plus the the two seats in the front. It seats a total of eight and has room for storing things behind the back bench.

It isn't customized in any way, though Belphie, Levi, and Mammon all (who borrows it if he is transporting something too large for his sports car) get annoyed with how each other leave the radio.

Belphie thinks the backseats are pretty comfortable to nap on.

The car lift in the garage goes up to Mammon's room, but the elevator lets out onto the ground floor at the House of Lamentation. You can park your car in one of the two available spots and head up when you visit.

[finnefjy253]

The Anatomy of a Great Aquariums

What Dimension Fish Tank Do You Need For Your Fish?

Fish tanks have really been around considering that old times. The first fish utilized in a water storage tank was the fish that the Romans made use of to tidy up their ships, so they would certainly not obtain seasick.

Today, aquariums are most preferred in America and in Europe, particularly in Spain, where they are called Aquasubs de España specifically. A regular Fish tank will certainly hold regarding 500 gallons of water and have two varieties of goldfish, generally fish with a single collection of fins or fish with several different collections of fins. Various other goldfish commonly made use of in an Aquarium are the rainbow rainbowfish, the Siamese fighting fish and the typical guppy. These 3 fish are all component of the household of fish and their specific characteristics will make them appropriate to reside in an Aquarium

Most Fish tanks will certainly have a filter, although some do not, as the filters have a tendency to harm the fragile tropical plants that the fish require in order to make it through as well as thrive. If you get a Fish tank that is not developed with filter, you can end up with your fish dying because of the absence of filtration. An aquarium without filters is finest for fish that will grow gradually, as they will be better able to cope with the reduced light degrees in a huge aquarium without filters than those that Aquatech Aquarium Service will grow rapidly and have to adapt to a more continuous amount of light.

You need to additionally take into consideration the size of your Fish tank and how much sunshine it obtains throughout the day, because light is essential for the health as well as advancement of goldfish as well as plants. Goldfish with big eyes and fins that will cover the majority of the container, as an example, require much more light and need to have the most sunlight in order to expand healthy and balanced.

As a whole larger fish tanks normally require even more area than smaller ones, due to the fact that larger fish need even more area and bigger containers tend to be a lot more roomy. This is since bigger fish need even more room to swim freely. Smaller fish may be great in smaller sized tanks, but these fish will frequently come to be stressed as well as incapable to endure in large containers of water unless you keep a continuous supply of food.

There are numerous variables that will influence whether a large or tiny fish tank will certainly be suitable for your fish, consisting of the environment and what type of fish you have in there. Generally exotic fish will require even more room to walk around freely as well as to maintain themselves healthy as well as alive, while fish in a chilly environment will need much less area. The only way to tell if your fish will certainly endure in is to keep adding and removing your fish from the water at periods in order to see exactly how their bodies create as well as adapt to a change of atmosphere. Although there is not enough room for this sort of experiment in a small tank, there is room enough in a big fish tank for a couple of fish that are the same species.

Most of your decisions about the dimension of your Fish tank will have to rely upon the quantity of room that you have offered. There is always a trade off, and also your fish will thank you for making that choice, although it is an excellent concept to maintain a fish that is not utilized to residing in a big container in a smaller sized tank if you have some space in your aquarium. As soon as you have a large enough fish tank, you can then add a few other species of fish right into the mix, yet you need to likewise make sure that you don't load the aquarium as well complete or that the fish will certainly all compete for the exact same resources.

Before you purchase a Fish tank in Los Angeles, it is essential to make certain that you have a checklist of what you wish to keep there. It will certainly conserve you time in the future if you have a checklist before you shop.

Just how to Layout Your Own Aquarium.

For centuries, the concept of the 'water component' was used to embellish Aquariums. The water element is additionally called chi or 'wind'. If you wish to make a Fish tank, checked out the following pointers thoroughly.

Traditional Feng Shui and also Aquariums are based on the concept that a favorable water aspect is to be discovered in a location of wealth. Fish tanks are traditionally seen as a feng-shui cure for wealth and wealth. According to feng-shui regulations, the right positioning of a fish tank is intended to draw the 'wind' energy of riches into your room. This is why most Chinese dining establishments and also financial institutions include large fish tanks. An excellent style must encourage a sensation of wide range, a sensation that makes you feel comfy, a feeling of health, and a feeling that makes you intend to return.

In a Fish tank, the water element is essential due to the fact that it provides oxygen that is essential for all creatures in your Aquarium. To create your very own Aquarium, you can make use of the Water component to improve the total shade and also charm of your area.

For the Water element, put the base or walls where you intend to focus on the riches component. Area a big fish tank plant at the base of your table and location small, shiny stones in addition to the aquarium plant. Ensure these stones are all of the same dimension as well as weight to make sure that they look like a falls. Area other decorations around the space that mirror your water component, such as big potted plants or a rug with leaves on it.

For the air aspect, area small plants and floating objects at the top of your workdesk or table. You can likewise place plants and rocks in your bedroom to attain the exact same result. Select colors as well as textures of the plants that will certainly fit together, such as a mix of purple and also brownish, or a mix of blue and also eco-friendly. For the Air aspect, you may want to put plants that resemble haze or smoke. There are also plants that have the capacity to change right into a misty cloud and also make any kind of room show up smaller, similar to a mirage.

For the Planet aspect, place huge plants and rocks where you would love to promote the element of prosperity. The shades associated with success are white, gray, black, as well as gold, and also these colors are the colors that are normally seen on some Chinese coins. Area the largest plants in the facility of your area, however leave some hidden so they can not diminish your overall style. Location rocks in numerous places around your space to balance the components, such as on the ceiling, the floor, and also around the edges of home windows.

The Air component can be produced using your shades for your plants' surroundings and your Fish tanks. To cancel the water element, placed smaller sized, decorative plants as well as rocks in a number of locations, including in the center of the flooring, on tables and chairs, and on shelves. If the water component is the water component, put larger plants around the corners, under the water, under lights, as well as in the edges of areas.

As you can see, one of the most essential facet of creating Aquariums is making sure they're positioned in a location that has an abundance of wide range. The even more riches you have, the far better.

There are lots of companies out there that have Aquaculture firms and also designs aquariums for those that are simply starting. These firms are the best choice for those that are simply starting their own aquarium or have actually never belonged of this type of service prior to.

Another choice that many people choose is a hobby Aquaculture business that focuses on this industry. These companies will give you the abilities to design as well as develop your very own aquarium as well as will certainly guide you with the whole procedure.

It is very essential to keep in mind that Aquariums can be designed for virtually any aquarium. dimension, as well as for nearly any type of water aspect.

By utilizing the above details, you will be able to make a choice that will ideal fit your requirements as well as will be an excellent equilibrium of the components. For a full plan of exactly how to do this, you can take a look at our web site listed below.

What Dimension Aquarium Do You Need For Your Fish?

Fish tanks have in fact been around because old times. The initial fish used in a water storage tank was the fish that the Romans utilized to clean up their ships, so they would certainly not get nauseous.

Today, fish tanks are most popular in America and in Europe, especially in Spain, where they are called Aquasubs de España respectively. A typical Aquarium will hold about 500 gallons of water as well as include two types of fish, usually fish with a single collection of fins or fish with numerous various collections of fins. Other fish generally utilized in an Aquarium are the rainbow rainbow fish, the Siamese battling fish and the common guppy. These three fish are all part of the household of fish and also their particular qualities will certainly make them suitable to stay in an Aquarium.

A lot of Fish tanks will certainly have a filter, although some do not, as the filters have a tendency to damage the fragile tropical plants that the fish require in order to survive as well as prosper. If you acquire an Aquaria that is not constructed with filter, you might end up with your fish passing away due to the lack of purification. An aquarium without filters is best for fish that will certainly grow slowly, as they will be better able to manage the low light levels in a big fish tank without filters than those that will grow quickly and also have to get used to a much more consistent amount of light.

You need to also consider the size of your Aquarium as well as how much sunshine it obtains throughout the day, since light is essential for the health and wellness and growth of goldfish and plants. Goldfish with huge eyes and fins that will cover most of the container, as an example, need a lot more light as well as need to have the most sunshine in order to expand healthy and balanced.

As a whole larger aquariums normally call for more space than smaller sized Fish tank since bigger fish require even more room and also bigger tanks tend to be extra roomy. This is since bigger fish require even more room to swim openly. Smaller fish may be fine in smaller sized tanks, yet these fish will frequently end up being stressed out as well as unable to endure in large tanks of water unless you keep a consistent supply of food.

There are lots of elements that will affect whether a huge or little aquarium will be suitable for your fish, consisting of the climate and what type of fish you have in there. Generally exotic fish will require even more room to walk around easily and to maintain themselves healthy and balanced and active, while fish in a cool environment will require much less space. The only method to tell if your fish will make it through in an aquarium is to maintain including and also eliminating your fish from the water at periods to see how their bodies establish and also adapt to a modification of setting. Although there is not nearly enough space for this sort of experiment in a small storage tank, there is room enough in a big fish tank for a few fish that coincide species.

A lot of your decisions concerning the dimension of your Fish tank will need to rely on the amount of space that you have offered. There is constantly a trade off, and also your fish will certainly thanks for making that decision, although it is a great suggestion to keep a fish that is not used to living in a huge container in a smaller storage tank if you have some space in your aquarium. As soon as you have a large adequate fish tank, you can after that add some other types of fish into the mix, however you must additionally ensure that you don't load the fish tank too full or that the fish will certainly all complete for the exact same resources.

Before you purchase a Fish tank, it is very important to see to it that you have a checklist of what you want to keep there. It will save you time in the long term if you have a listing before you shop.

What Dimension Fish Tank Do You Need For Your Fish?

Fish tanks have really been around because old times. The very first fish made use of in a water tank was the fish that the Romans made use of to tidy up their ships, so they would not get seasick.

Today, aquariums are most preferred in America and also in Europe, specifically in Spain, where they are called Aquasubs de España specifically. A normal Fish tank will hold regarding 500 gallons of water as well as have 2 types of goldfish, typically goldfish with a single collection of fins or fish with several different collections of fins. Other goldfish commonly utilized in a Fish tank are the rainbow rainbow fish, the Siamese battling fish as well as the usual guppy. These three fish are all part of the household of fish and also their details qualities will make them appropriate to live in an Aquarium.

The majority of Fish tanks will have a filter, although some do not, as the filters tend to damage the delicate exotic plants that the fish call for in order to survive and also grow. If you purchase an Aquaria that is not developed with filter, you can end up with your fish dying as a result of the absence of purification. An aquarium without filters is best for fish that will grow slowly, as they will be better able to deal with the low light degrees in a large fish tank without filters than those who will expand quickly and also need to get used to an extra continuous amount of light.

You need to also consider the size of your Fish tank and also how much sunshine it gets throughout the day, considering that light is very important for the wellness and also growth of goldfish and plants. Fish with large eyes and also fins that will certainly cover most of the tank, as an example, need much more light and also require to have the most sunshine in order to expand healthy and balanced.

In general bigger aquariums usually call for more area than smaller Fish tank since larger fish need more area and larger tanks have a tendency to be a lot more sizable. This is due to the fact that bigger fish require even more area to swim openly. Smaller sized fish might be fine in smaller sized tanks, however these fish will certainly commonly end up being stressed out and also incapable to make it through in huge storage tanks of water unless you keep a consistent supply of food.

There are many aspects that will certainly influence whether a big or small fish tank will certainly appropriate for your fish, including the climate and what kind of fish you have in there. In general exotic fish will need more room to walk around easily and to maintain themselves healthy and balanced as well as alive, while fish in a cold climate will require much less area. The only means to inform if your fish will certainly survive in an aquarium is to maintain adding as well as removing your fish from the water at intervals to see exactly how their bodies develop as well as adapt to an adjustment of setting. Although there is not enough area for this kind of experiment in a little storage tank, there is room sufficient in a large fish tank for a few fish that are the same species.

Most of your choices about the dimension of your Fish tank will certainly need to rely upon the quantity of area that you have readily available. There is always a trade off, as well as your fish will certainly thank you for making that choice, although it is a great idea to keep a fish that is not utilized to living in a huge storage tank in a smaller sized tank if you have some area in your fish tank. Once you have a big enough aquarium, you can after that include some other species of fish into the mix, however you must additionally see to it that you don't fill the fish tank also full or that the fish will all compete for the same resources.

Before you purchase a Fish tank, it is important to see to it that you have a list of what you would love to keep there. It will save you time in the future if you have a checklist prior to you go shopping.

[ghost-chance]

ANLoL Gallery of Memories: “But is it art?”

Part of the fun with my “A New Lease on Life” series has been the Gallery of Memories - when the main storyline hits another milestone (review count, view count, etc) I write up a oneshot to go along with the main storyline and post it in the GoM. Lately I’ve had to put that on hold (half out of lack of inspiration, half because I just haven’t had time) but we’ve gotten some pretty entertaining moments out of it so far! I have no plans of posting the entire ANLoL story on Tumblr (as it can already be found in two other places and is past 50 chapters, OY) but I do intend to continue posting excerpts and GoM oneshots.

This one's short but sweet and focuses on a much-neglected pairing - Leonardo and Beverly! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Rated high-T for some a brief moment involving discussion of a sexual nature and plenty of suggestive dialogue.

    Suggested Listening: Michael Nyman/Jeroen van Veen "Why?," Lifehouse "Hourglass"   

                  …but is it art?  

From the first time Leonardo found himself in the Hardy cousins' loft, he was struck by the vast collection of artwork filling every available space. Some people collect antiques and oddities—others collect sports memorabilia and creepy faceless angel statues. Beverly's hobby is different: she collects brushstrokes and brass, ink and glaze, reproductions of known masterpieces and one-of-a-kind wonders from local artists. The countless gems lining the walls and shelves make the roomy loft seem more art gallery than home, but Leo's never felt out of place within these walls.

Even after so much time in her company, so many months doting on her while she recovered and so many more months working up the courage to offer her his heart, Beverly is an enigma to Leo. Outwardly, she is cool, collected, classy and cultured in a world of people who throw caution and self-respect to the wind. Her smooth, precise speech stands out amongst the many accents that tint New York. Her expressions are always genuine but hold just enough back to make others question her sincerity. Even more confusing is her remarkable ability to effortlessly tie Leo's tongue in knots, twist his words around with a single arched eyebrow, and pry the most sensitive of information out of him without so much as a pinch. Beverly confuses Leo as much as she enthralls him, and he looks forward to many more years of being absolutely bewildered by her. In the meantime, though, he wishes he could just once see what's going on in her head.

"The new grouping is nearly complete," the bespectacled woman relates leading him over to a small corner of the private parlor. "We never have guests here—my students only ever see the classroom, and we rarely have visitors upstairs—so you're the first to see this." She trails to a stop next to a surprisingly bare wall—or, rather, the trio of new prints surrounding a tall display stand with a cast replica of a much larger statue. The topmost print, a traditional Japanese woodblock print of a mist-shrouded mountain crowned with blooming trees—is familiar. As children, he and his brothers discovered a battered copy of that image in a discarded calendar and gave it to Splinter for Father's Day; though it is worn well past its prime, the page still hangs in the dojo.

With an elusive smile, Beverly explains the prints on the left and right and the cast replica to her captive one-turtle audience. "La Fornarina," Beverly names the painting of a dark-eyed and well-endowed woman—bare to the waist and seemingly reaching for one naked breast. "It was painted by and depicts the mistress of one Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino." She sweeps around to the opposite painting—a detailed portion of a much larger image, it centered around two large figures, one surrounded by creepy cherubs and the other hovering with its rear bared to the viewer. "A single small portion of Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni's masterpiece, the Genesis displays in the Sistine Chapel: “Creation of the sun, moon, and planets." Despite her reverent eyes seeking out the slightest nuances of color and detail in the print, her mutant lover can't tear his eyes from the two pink-garbed ass cheeks presented by the sassy figure on the left. He's starting to see a pattern here…

"Lastly," Beverly finishes, resting her hand gently on the display stand with a sly grin, “David, the most well-known work of master sculptor Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi." Leo has to force himself to follow her gesture to the replica statue, recalling all too well the disturbingly shrunken naked genitalia the original statue bore. This dread falls away in a shudder of relief; at least this replica was given a handy fig leaf.

It isn't until he registers her raised eyebrow and amused smile that he realizes the other connection. The three pieces all featured some unnerving nudity and suggestive behaviors from their subjects, but the artists' names were ones he knew well. Raphael—Michelangelo—Donatello—but no Leonardo? "I think you're missing one," he remarks with what he hopes comes across as a flirtatious smile; Bev's soft, husky laughter tells him it's probably closer to a 'you forgot me?' face.

"That's why I brought you here, Silly," she explains teasingly and leads him over to the bay window, daintily seating herself on the vintage blue mohair sofa. "The others already chose their contribution to the family gallery. I'm just waiting for yours. Have you a favorite of your namesake's work?"

"Hold on," he argues gesturing back to the grouping again, still standing but at least not pacing. "You're asking me to pick something that'll fit in? None of Da Vinci's work would fit that grouping—he didn't—he wasn't—"

"Perverse?" Bev supplies innocently, and Leo cringes. "There is a fine line between perversion and artistic nudity, and all of those pieces toe the line, if barely." She chuckles at some secret thought, collects her tablet from the coffee table, and pulls up an image search. "As for his supposed refusal to engage in perversion, Hogosha…"

Leo warily accepts the tablet and glances down at the screen…only to gape in horror at the sketch sprawling out across the screen. With nowhere near the amount of grace Beverly showed, he fairly collapses onto the sofa next to her, the wooden frame cracking in protest at the sudden increase in weight. Nearby, he hears Bosco utter a displeased groan at the noise, clearly woken from a deep sleep. Desperate for the travesty before him to be a sick joke, Leo swipes down the screen to inspect the title and artist. Leonardo Da Vinci - Studies Of The Sexual Act And Male Sexual Organ. NO! No, no, no, NO! He swipes back upward again, cringing at the vivid anatomical sketch and the gory details it relays for his viewing torture.

Suddenly it all makes sense. When he and his brothers were children, Leo took great pride in reminding his three brothers that their namesakes made art of naked people, but Da Vinci had some class! The first time he overheard this declaration, their father broke out in a suspiciously sudden bout of loud barking coughs, made an excuse about needing some air, and hurried off before his sons could follow. At the time, the eldest took this as evidence that Splinter was ashamed of his younger sons' namesake artists' lascivious artwork. Now—faced with the traumatizing image of two bodies with missing limbs copulating right in front of him, complete with an x-ray vision peepshow of the internal goings-on—Leo realizes without a doubt their father just wasn't sure how to correct the misunderstanding without giving his sons nightmares. As if he wasn't already embarrassed by his childish behavior before, now he's proven himself completely hopeless in the eyes of his lovely cultured woman.

"Can we not hang that one?" The statement comes out deadpan, but Beverly only chuckles at him as she closes the tab of horrors.

"Whichever of his works will join the rest is your choice," she reminds, molasses-brown eyes gleaming with amusement. "Your brothers made their choices based on things they value—bravery without shame, humor in the face of censure, determination to rise above all challenges—all that remains is for you to choose what you would have displayed with them. Once all five of your treasures are on display, Bree and I will approach the rest for their own additions…without you, after all, Bree and I would never have met Mercy and Amber - just think of all the girl talk we’d miss out on." Leo meets her eyes in confusion; once again, she blindsided him without the slightest warning.

This time when he surveys the three artworks on the opposite wall, he looks beyond the breasts, butt-cheeks, and too-small fig leaf. Margherita Luti bares her breasts to the viewer, but holds her head high as if in defiance of his judgment; he could almost see Raphael in that pride. The grizzled deity in the clouds is stern and seems ill-tempered, but the incarnation of the moon seems more intent on playful antics—much like Mikey when Leo starts lecturing him. David stands triumphant over the severed head of his enemy Goliath but seems to pay it no notice, instead lost in thought and seemingly contemplating the meaning of life. Similarly, Donatello has a way of mentally distancing himself from the violence that fills their lives in favor of pursuing knowledge—capable and skilled, but overall uninterested. Leo blinks in surprise, stunned at what this second viewing revealed; how can he ever match up to his brothers' ingenuity in their choices?

It hits him like a sucker punch to the jaw; he turns to address Beverly, a faint tinge of muddy pink blooming in his cheeks as their thighs touch, if barely. "You said to choose something that reflects something I value?" he confirms. "May I borrow that?" She dutifully passes him the tablet, studying him intently for the slightest sign of his thoughts. After a short internet search, Leonardo passes the device back to her, his choice open on the screen.

"The Mona Lisa?" his lover asks without emphasis. "You value recognition and longevity?" He smiles and shakes his head in the negative. One calloused hand rises to her cheek, tentatively brushes a sleek black curl back behind her ear, then trails southward to cup the soft curve of her chin.

"What I value is a certain woman," he admits with a teasing smile. "One with dark eyes and darker hair, and a smile that never gives anything away." Her heart flutters at the unspoken words in her lover's pale blue eyes. "I value you, Beverly…you, your faith in me, your odd tastes in art, and your Mona Lisa smile." Beverly's molasses-brown eyes shimmer behind her glasses but drift shut as he urges her to meet his lips. The kiss is sweet, slow, and chaste, a tender mingling that makes her heart both ache and sing and as always, it ends too soon. Catching their breath and silently urging their hearts to stop racing so quickly, the ninja and his lady hold one another's eyes, unspoken promises passing between them.

"I have odd tastes in art, you say?" Bev teases once she's sure she can formulate words around the butterflies in her stomach. "You wouldn't happen to be referring to my affinity for Bosch and Von Goff, would you?" A sheepish smile tells her she hit the nail on the head. "Odd to one mind is delightful to another," she reminds gracefully standing and pacing away to stare out the sheer-shaded bay window; the older man comes to meet her and reverently brushes her long wavy hair away from her nape. "There is a lesson in that, Leonardo," Beverly points out breathlessly, driven to distraction by the warm lips tracing a path between the goosebumps spreading along her neck. "No matter how skillfully a piece may be executed, if it consistently fails to elicit either wonder or discomfort, is it even art, to begin with?"

There's that elusive smile again, Leo muses slipping his arms around her middle and just breathing her in. He is her blind spot and she is his, but in moments like this, it seems like the rest of the world is blind and they are the only ones with sight.

                     Notes:        

*Jerome Bosch and Von Goff – Equivalent of Hieronymus Bosch, a favorite of Beverly's, and the artist we know as Vincent Van Gogh.

*Mohair – silky fabric or fibers made from the hair of the Angora goat. Mohair is very shiny and silky but durable and resilient. In this instance, I'm referring specifically to a mohair velveteen upholstery – a relative of mine had a piece of furniture upholstered in red mohair velveteen years back, and good grief it was gorgeous! It's still in pretty good shape, too, so the resilience is impressive!

Leo always struck me as the sort to be a total softy with the one he loves—we're talkin' rose petals, neck rubs, bubble baths, and calling her sweet nicknames. Seeing as this occurs pretty early in his eventual relationship with Beverly—before any serious physical affection—you get an early glance at this softer side of Leo. She'll bring him out of his shell eventually - figuratively AND literally! XD

A brief character run-down for new readers:

Beverly and Briallen [“Bree”] Hardy are cousins and live together. Bev and Bree are both art lovers and have turned their shared loft into a sort of personal art gallery. Though most of the prints they have hanging are Impressionist and modern art, there are a lot of particularly horrifying examples of Flemish Renaissance pieces by Beverly’s favorite artist, “Jerome Bosch.”

Bree is a college student working toward an elementary education degree in between dates with Michelangelo. She’s a gamer who bakes junk food to relax, she’s a natural with kids, and if you get on her bad side, she will prank you to kingdom come.

Beverly is a former high school orchestra teacher/tutor who has lingering vision problems related to a brain abscess which nearly killed her; those issues are Homonymous hemianopsia and vertical diplopia, and while she’s not legally blind, her vision is affected enough for Bree to have insisted on Bev taking on a service dog. Because of her near-death and subsequent health problems, Beverly decided to not return to the school system, and instead, devotes herself to giving private music lessons and tutoring for hire. Leo saved Beverly’s life before the main story ever began, and they’ve slowly made their way together.

“El Bosco,” or simply “Bosco” is Bev’s service dog - a slightly moody ‘seeing-eye’ training washout whose main job is to help Bev accommodate for her decreased vision on the left field and keep people (and vehicles, buildings, objects, etc) from entering her blind spots.

Amber and Mercy are complicated at best, but to simplify it as much as possible, Mercy is Raphael’s bristly plant-obsessed girlfriend and Amber is Donatello’s slightly unstable half-Celt lover. They are an acquired taste.