#and then we just hang out and i pet him or groom him or love on him

[quarterlifekitty]

lol would it be weird if you made a ‘scene’ between tramp soap or…

since we all seen and read many scenes about hybrids or wtv

OR! if youre not up to that then can you extend on reader having a litter. About the owners reaction being totally flabbergasted at the growing roundness that was randomly thrown upon them and the difference in soaps behavior, extra protective, clingy and always there!!!

and the owners panicking when its time to have the litter, stressed from the sounds and reactions from reader

(NOT to be weird anything, im a vet and love when rescue animals have babies)

You know I actually just realized the other day that I’ve been weirdly chaste abt the hybrid shit lol. I’m used to thinking abt being a catgirl or a bunnygirl or a doggirl getting FUCKED. But then I accidentally wrote nothing fucked up and nasty lmao.

In other words, you’re not weird.

cw: hybrids being fucking horny

Johnny does start hanging around initially because he loves your scent. A young, fertile lady. And he’s not going to deny it— he’s a slut, and he’s got a thing for debutants. Spoiled girls, dressed up in bows and collars, perfectly groomed— perfect for getting ruffled.

And when he first start meeting with you every morning, he has ulterior motives. He’s planning on hitting it and quitting it. He’s dreaming of you pinned under him, taking his knot as he fills you— probably for the first time in your life.

(If it’s not, he’ll bet you’ve only had cold, clinical fucking— some high-born, boring stud picked out just so your owners can have little yous running around. It would make sense— you’re clearly pedigree.)

He’s used to girls like you treating him like a tramp, calling him a mutt, but finding themselves bent over and begging for it anyways.

So he’s a little caught off guard when you’re sweet. Bringing him treats from inside, playing with him in the yard, trying your best to introduce him to Price and Nik, oblivious to how they regard him as a nuisance at best. It just makes him want you so much more.

He decides to take it slow with you. He can tell you’re a little shy. He can’t help but growl a little, deep in his chest, at the sounds you make when he paws at your breasts while he kisses you. (It was laughably easy to get you addicted to kissing, you were already so affectionate to him).

He’s been visiting for a few weeks by the time you spread your legs and let him push his tongue into you, lots of him saying “you’ll like it, I promise, hen”. And he’s smug as hell when you cuddle into him after he makes you cum, kissing him and grinding against him instinctually.

The timeline of things just happens to play out in a proper way. He’s become a right house pet by the time he dicks you down for real. A bit of a play chase for a bit, to get you excited, then he can’t hold himself back anymore. He’s rutting his hard, leaking cock against your wet cunt, teasing the tip against your clit until you beg him for it.

“You wan’ me to fuck you, hen? Shove my knot in you and give you pups? Lassie, you dinnae ken how long I’ve wanted to do this.”

Thankfully, your owners were out that day.

[toxicanonymity]

Apple Blossom. Left in Lincoln, pt. 4

7.5k / dads best friend!Joel x virgin!Reader 

story master list / joel miller master list

His cheeks turned a little pink and his eyes lit up. He handed you the rag.   "What?" you asked. “Nothin',” he said softly and shook his head. “You sure are pretty, darlin’. That’s all.” He dried his hands then gave your butt a squeeze. The moment of domesticity almost made you forget the town was rotting away beneath your feet. 

WARNINGS: I8+ mdni, slow-burn horror w/ potentially disturbing implicit content, big girthy age gap (20s/50s), plot, angst, toxic/dark fluff, gaslighting, manipulation, pressure, grooming, grinding, fingering, oral M receiving, pet names and praise.  Very TOXIC, dark Joel. Impaired editing.

You fell asleep in Joel’s arms and woke up alone in your bed.  The apple blossom was gone from your night stand. You showered and got dressed. You couldn’t find your baseball cap and realized the last time you wore it was in Joel’s orchard.  When you came downstairs, Bill and Frank's bedroom door was open.  Before you could investigate, you heard screeching outside, then cursing. You ran to the door.  Joel was waving his arms and a crow was flying away from him.  He had a screwdriver in one hand. He stood up and smoothed his shirt and a feather floated away from him.  He was wearing Frank's clothes with his hair freshly slicked back from a shower.    

You went outside and looked down at the open vent. You asked, “How’d you get it to come out?”

Joel shrugged with his arms hanging heavy at his sides.  "Nowhere else to go. Gotta be patient sometimes.” He bent one knee and put the hand with the screwdriver on his hip, looking up at the roof of the house. He squinted at the chimney.  “I reckon we left the fireplace vent open the other night.” 

You approached Joel and he extended his free hand for a hug.  He stroked your head and looked at you lovingly.  You were still taking that in -  the fact that Joel told you he loved you.  He gave you a kiss on the head and inhaled your scent.  Then he went to screw the vent back into the side of the house, and your eyes followed his ass.  That was one thing about Joel always having his shirt tucked in - You were very aware of his ass. He was so muscular, almost statuesque to you. His proportions reminded you of classic art. 

Joel glanced back as he bent over and your cheeks burned as you looked away from his body.  

“Can we plant the strawberries today?” You asked.

“Not the season, darlin’. Won’t survive.”

“Ours are still alive," you said. 

“Really?” he asked skeptically. 

"Yeah, they just never fruited."

“Show me.”  Joel finished screwing the vent back into place then stood up and brushed off his knees.  

You led him to the failed strawberry patch and showed him the plants. 

“Well I’ll be damned,” Joel said and squatted down to finger the leaves.  "You wanna bring’em, guess we can try it."

You were excited to surprise Frank and Bill with fresh strawberries. Once they fruited, maybe you could transplant them somewhere at home too. 

"Grab a spade and bucket outta the shed. Some of that cloth, too." 

You returned with the requested supplies and Joel said, "Alright, I’ll work on this and you can pick some veggies to take with us if ya want." 

“We’re not coming back today?” 

“Not ‘til we figure out what’s goin’ on, darlin’.” He put his hands on his knees and stood back up with a groan.  “Anything else you wanna plant from here? Arugula?”  

You were still processing the idea of leaving home for multiple days.  “Sure. Wait, what if we get the computers back up to check the cameras?” you asked. “Then we can see if it’s safe.” 

He wiped his brow with the back of the flannel sleeve.  “Just looked at ‘em. All static. Lines must've been cut.  Been down at least a few days." 

"What??" A pit formed in your stomach.  This whole time, you should’ve been even more scared than you were.  Joel sensed your fear. He stepped forward and put his arm around you.  He cradled your head against him.  He smelled a little like Frank.  

“It’s okay, baby. I’m not leavin’ you again," he reassured you.  The low vibration of his voice in his chest was an extra layer to the hug. 

You tried to shake off the dark mood that fell over you. "Can we make apple juice?” you asked.  

“Sure we can, peaches.”

-

Joel uprooted some strawberry and arugula while you picked vegetables then brought them inside.  You got out the empty apple juice jar to take with you and took the cider jar out of the fridge, too.  

Joel walked in and froze. “You’re not drinkin’ that, are ya?” 

“No,” you said, but you didn’t want to offend him since he brewed it.  “Not right now.”

“But you did?” He stepped forward and looked so serious.  Your face went cold.

“Well, no-”

"You shouldn’t be drinkin’ without me, darlin’.  It’s not safe.”  There was an air of judgment in his  voice. You were embarrassed, but shouldn't have been.  You were old enough to drink and your house was full of wine. You could have a drink alone if you wanted to.  Joel extended his hand and looked at you sternly. “Gimme that.”  You felt defensive as if you had done something wrong. Even knowing you hadn't.  You suddenly realized you had no idea where his bottle of whiskey was that he left there days ago.   He might have thought you drank it, too.  You were mortified. 

“I was just gonna pour it out so we could use the jar,” you explained as he opened the cider.  Joel's face softened and he poured it out in the sink. 

“Got plenty of jars at home, baby. Good idea though."  He rinsed the jar then patted the back of your head tenderly. It wasn't enough to soothe the feeling of being scolded, but the feeling would fade. You had bigger things to worry about anyway. He just wanted to keep you safe. 

-

On the walk to Joel’s house, you told him all about the night before.  How Abe didn’t come by, then you heard Abe's truck, but didn’t see him.  You told him about the songs playing on the radio station, which gave you chills to even think about.  

Joel heard the distress in your voice and stopped dead in his tracks, disturbed.  “Sorry I wasn’t there, darlin’.  Never shoulda left ya." He took a deep, ragged breath in. He cupped your cheek.   “Guess I didn’t wanna be a bother if ya didn't want me stickin' around.” 

You felt a wave of guilt for sending him home each night.  You imagined him walking alone in the dark worrying about you, thinking he was bothering you.  

"It's okay, Joel," you reassured him.  "I should've asked you to stay." 

"It's not okay, baby.”  He shook his head at himself, then looked at you with grave concern.  “What if somethin' happened?" 

"Well, I guess it didn’t.  I'm okay," you said. 

He sighed and cradled the back of your head.

"But I'm worried about Abe," you added. 

Joel dropped his hand, and looked off into the distance, jaw muscle flexing.  

"What if he's in trouble?" you asked. 

Joel took a deep breath and looked in the direction of Abe’s property.  "Tell ya what, darlin'. I'll go check on him today, how’s that sound?”

The distress melted away from your face. “Thank you,” you gushed and wrapped him in a hug.  He kissed the top of your head.

A bird cried and both of you turned toward the sound.  It was a crow.  It followed you the rest of the way to Joel's house, squawking obnoxiously.  

-

It was your first time being in Joel’s house.  It was about as neat and clean as you expected for the most part.  It smelled woodsy and nutty, like pine and almonds, and faintly of apples.  He led you upstairs to a spare bedroom and left you there to get settled in. He said to let him know if you needed anything.  

You walked around the room and picked things up. There was a dresser, a vanity, and a mirror.  On top of the vanity was a jewelry box and a hairbrush.  A stationary set.  There was a stool at the vanity and a box fan on the floor.  

Everything was so perfect and comfortable. It was what you imagined a hotel might be like. Clean and cozy. You sat down on the neatly made bed and took your shoes off. Joel came back a few minutes later and stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He looked around the room then nervously put his hands in his pockets.  He asked, "What do you think?" 

"It's amazing." 

He looked relieved.  He came over to sit next to you on the bed.  "Good," he said.  He smiled and his eyes scanned your body.  He caressed your neck and planted a kiss on your cheek.  

"Can we pick apples to make the juice today?"

"Not today, darlin'. Not 'til we're sure it's safe." He raised your hand to his mouth and kissed it.  "Got some apples in the kitchen, though." 

-

Joel made lunch and told you about the different improvements he made to the house and orchard in the past few years.   You asked for a tour and he said you could have one after he knew the community was secure.  He got up and took the dishes to the sink.  He turned on the water to wash them and you got up and volunteered to do them instead. It seemed only fair since he made lunch. You stood next to him at the sink and reached for the rag. His cheeks turned a little pink and his eyes lit up. He hesitantly handed you the rag with a slight smile.    

“What?” you asked. 

“Nothin',” he said softly and shook his head, looking at the floor.  He looked back up at you and sucked his bottom lip.  “You sure are pretty, darlin’. That’s all.” He dried his hands on a clean towel, then gave your butt a little squeeze. You smiled and giggled silently.  The moment of domesticity made you forget the town was rotting away beneath your feet. 

Joel moved to stand close behind you and put his hands on your hips.  He spoke softly into the crown of your head.  “I'll go take a look around the neighborhood and check on Abe.”  

You turned your head and nodded, “thank you, Joel.” 

His voice got low and serious, but remained gentle.  “Stay here. Don't go outside.” 

You nodded again. 

“You don't answer the door for anyone but me.  Real important, okay?"

You put down the dish in your hand and turned around to face him fully. "Okay."

"Even if you think you know 'em. Don't know who could be infected." He swallowed regretfully. 

You nodded in agreement, "Okay."

His hands on either side of your hips casually caged you against the sink.  He gently pressed his hips, then his lips into yours.

“Back before sundown,” he muttered. 

He put on a jacket, went down to the cellar, and returned with two firearms. He handed you a pistol, put on his jacket, and kissed you goodbye.  He winked as he left, then locked the door behind him from the outside.  

-

While Joel was out, you got curious and bored. You  walked around the house.  The first door you tried to open was locked.  The second one led down to the cellar.  You took a few steps down and tried to reach the light string that hung from the ceiling.  it swung away.  After another step down, the door behind you began to close.  You panicked and lunged up the stairs to keep it open.  That was stupid. You could have gotten locked in.  You scurried up the stairs back into the living room.  Once you caught your breath, you shut the door behind you and didn't go back.   

Another door was a closet.  Jackets, hats, boots. You saw an old Red Sox hat and your heart skipped a beat.  Your first thought was Jesse.  Your heart pounded in your chest and you weren’t sure why.  It was probably yours.  Joel must have scooped it up when you left it in the orchard.  It could have faded from the elements.  You had the strongest urge to touch and smell the hat, but you didn’t dare disturb it.  Joel seemed like the type to know exactly how things were. You didn't want him to know you were snooping.  

You didn’t try any more doors after that.  You went back to the kitchen.  You opened the pantry and there were two crates of jars, one of them locked. You looked around the opposite counter from where you had been doing the dishes.  A basket of apples, a jar of apple seeds. A fresh branch in a vase of water with a budding blossom.  You held up the vase and smelled the bud. 

You were startled from the moment by a faint scraping and clinking sound outside.  You fumbled the vase and almost dropped it but caught it.  Your pulse sped up and your eyes darted to the window.  You put the vase down and walked to the kitchen door which looked out into the backyard and orchard.  You put your hand on the knob, then changed your mind, Joel’s cautionary words fresh in your ears.  You stood at the window and looked.  You didn’t see anything.  You heard it again. It sounded like it was coming from the back of the orchard, which you couldn’t see.  All you saw was dirt, grass, a fire pit, neat rows of tree after tree, dead leaves tumbling across the ground with the wind.  Maybe it was the wind.  

When you heard it again, you were unsettled enough to step away from the window.  You went back up to the bedroom, figuring it was the safest place.  You covered yourself in the quilt and hugged one of several pillows, waiting for Joel's return, hiding, praying no one was around.  Hoping no one could possibly know you were there.  Grateful you weren't home alone at a time like this. You kept the bedroom door open so you'd be able to see trouble if it came. 

-

You dozed off and awoke when the back door to the kitchen unlocked downstairs.  Your heart raced and it took a moment to remember where you were.  It was almost dusk outside.  You quietly slid out from under the quilt and prepared to cautiously venture downstairs, assuming it was Joel who just came in the house.  A door closed downstairs, then the water heater turned on. You pulled the quilt back over you and turned off the light, waiting in the dark. After about ten minutes of lying there slowing your heart rate, the water turned off. A few minutes later, a door opened downstairs again. You wished you could fast forward to the next time you'd be in Joel's arms. 

You felt a presence.  "Joel?" It came out far quieter than you intended, but you were too afraid to repeat it louder. The stairs quietly creaked with padded footsteps. The creaking got closer and closer, then stopped.  You sat frozen, looking at a looming shadow in the hall, trying to make sense of it as Joel’s silhouette. The shape looked jagged, angry, nothing like him.  

“Peaches?” his voice made you jump; it was much closer than you thought.  Your hand came to your chest as he stepped into view and asked, “You okay? Thought you might be nappin', didn't wanna wake ya up.'” 

"I'm okay," you said and took a deep breath. "What's going on?"

Joel approached the bed and sat down with his hand on your knee. He was freshly showered and dressed in his own clothes again.  

"I think Abe left, darlin'."    

"Left?? Why??" 

"I dunno, sugar. It was like he just packed up." 

You were stunned. Abe couldn't possibly have packed up and left. This didn't explain anything at all.  You'd have to see it to believe it.  

"No. He wouldn't just leave," you said and got de ja vu. You were quiet. Nothing felt right.  You spent the whole afternoon scared and alone, and now this?

"Sorry, peaches. Didn't know you were close."

"We weren't. I just - I'm surprised. He didn't say anything this week, did he?"

"Sure didn't." 

"Just like Jesse,” you whispered. 

Joel inhaled through his nose as though calming himself. 

“I don't understand it," you said. 

Joel was quiet for a moment.  "People leave, darlin'. But I promise you I won't.  Not ever." 

You mustered half a grateful smile and indulged him. “Promise?”

"Never.”  He looked gravely serious.  “Not unless I take you with me,” he said softer. 

“Thanks,” you said. 

He shook his head.  “I mean it, peaches.  Nothin' in this world could take me away from you." He stroked your thigh and leaned in for a much-needed kiss. 

Then he put his arm around you, rubbed your shoulder, and leaned his temple against yours.  You sat side by side on the bed in silence for a minute, then Joel said, “been a rough day or two, huh?" 

You nodded pensively. 

"I know what we need." 

"What?" 

"How 'bout a special dinner?” he lifted your chin with his finger and your eyes met his affectionately. "There she is." 

"Okay."

"Put on somethin' nice, I'll get cookin'."

“Oh, I didn’t bring much,” you said, embarrassed. 

“Let's check the closet,” he said with a wink. "See what got left behind." 

He kissed you on the head and stood up. It was a shallow closet that rolled open from two doors to expose a single rack of clothes.  He rolled open the left door and there were five or six dresses. They didn't look like anything Ellie or Tess would wear and you didn't know who else could have left them behind. Whoever lived there before, you supposed.   

Joel pulled out two coathangers. A floral wrap dress and a low cut burgundy sweater dress. "See what ya like," he said softly with a sparkle in his eye.  "Take your time. I'll get cookin'." He winked and put the hangers back in the closet before leaving you to the task. 

You stayed seated on the bed and stared into space for a while, thinking about Abe.  Then you got up and put on the burgundy dress. It was a perfect fit. You stood in front of the vanity as the smell of fried rabbit wafted upstairs. You primped yourself and touched your neck, looking yourself in the eyes.  You wanted to be happy, but your eyes were sad.  You opened a dresser drawer looking for socks.  Sure enough, there was a small drawer full of socks and stockings.  Another drawer full of underwear, and even the same type of fabric washable pads you had to use for your period. You dreaded your period coming in a few days. That probably wasn't helping your mood.

-

Joel served a candlelit dinner at a card table in his living room. He said it was safer away from the windows at night.  He wanted to give it another day or two to make sure the community was safe.  He was walking to the table with a bottle of wine and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw you in the dress. He put down the bottle and said. "My lands, peaches." He wet his lips. "C'mere, gorgeous." He rubbed your forearms with his thumbs and looked you up and down. "You're so goddamn beautiful," he whispered. 

"You look nice, too," you said. He chuckled. He wasn't wearing anything out of the ordinary but he always looked nice. He took your head in both hands and kissed you softly.  Then he looked at you again, wrapped his arms around you, and kissed you harder with an "Mmm," into your mouth. 

He pulled out your chair for you at the table. He poured your wine, served you salad with no cucumbers, rabbit, eggplant, and applesauce. The salad dressing was incredible. He made it himself. "secret's in the basil" he said proudly. "Gotta mash it up real good, let the flavor out. If ya like it, we got more to plant out back.  Rosemary, too. Make us a little herb garden.” You smiled. The applesauce was amazing, too. 

He got up and retrieved a stone bowl from the counter. "Fresh cinnamon sticks.  I crush’em up dry first. Then add just a little apple to the cinnamon, mash it up so it’s all wet, then add that to the rest at the end."  He tasted the cinnamon mixture with his finger.  “Kinda spicy.”  He dipped his pinky for more and held it up to your mouth.   "Go on," he said.  You held eye contact with him as your tongue met his pinky. The cinnamon was strong.  Delicious.  He took a deep breath as you sucked his digit clean. "Good girl," he whispered, watching you in a trance. He put the bowl back on the counter.  “Use it for cobbler, too. We can make some if ya want.”  You never knew Joel was such a good chef.  

-

You ate quietly. You wanted to let Joel’s nice dinner take your mind off things, but it didn't.  You didn't want to grill him about Abe's house or say anything negative at all since he put so much effort into the meal. He put so much effort into making you feel good in general.  So you tried to pretend you were okay, but he sensed your mood.  

After cleaning up from dinner, the two of you sat down on his sofa in the living room.  He brought whiskey and a bag of pills and put them on the coffee table with two glasses. “Need a good night’s sleep,” he muttered as he sat down and poured a glass.  “How ‘bout you?” 

You didn’t say anything. 

“What’s wrong, peaches?”

You were quiet, but he didn’t let you off the hook.  He looked at you, expecting an answer.  Finally, you blurted out, “I’m lonely.”

Joel looked confused.  “We’re together now, baby."

The tears welled up over your eyes.  “Not right this second. I mean in general.”

Joel swallowed, then nodded.  “Must get lonely on your own.  Why don’t you stay here with me?” He took a sip, put down his drink, and scooted closer.  He rubbed your back.  

You ignored his offer, frustrated that he didn't get it or didn’t care. “Everyone's gone,” you said and started to cry.  “Everyone left.”

Joel’s face darkened and his jaw clenched. His body tensed and he stopped rubbing your back.  He sank back into the sofa and clasped his hands in his lap.  You turned around to face him, expecting more comfort, but he didn’t look at you or open his arms.  

“Not sure what to say to that, peaches," he said flatly.  He took another sip of his drink.  "You mean the world to me, and it sounds like I’m nobody to you.” 

“Of course not,” you said.  Your heart dropped at your foolishness.  Here was the one person you had left.  The best person who could possibly be left.  Someone who would take care of you no matter what it took.  Someone who cared more about you than anything or anyone else.  And instead of being grateful, you acted like he was nothing. 

Joel nodded slowly, looking down with a scowl.  He swallowed. 

You said, "I just miss them, that's all."

His eyes intensified and he took a deep, calming breath. 

“Bill and Frank, I mean,” you clarified, desperate not to make it worse. 

"I know ya do," he said in a near whisper, still looking down.  

You continued, your tears slowing but not stopping.  "It doesn't feel right here with everyone gone." 

“Doesn’t feel right here,” he repeated.  He raised his eyebrows and bit his tongue, sticking it into his cheek. 

You looked away, sensing that you hurt him but unsure what to do.   You sat in silence for what felt like several minutes, both of you looking straight ahead. Your back felt so cold without him comforting you.  

When you looked back at Joel, his eyes were glistening.  “You're enough for me, peaches.” His voice cracked.  “You’re all I need in the world.” He dabbed his eye and your heart broke. "Nothin' feels more right than bein' with you. I love you that much.”

No one ever made you feel that way before, like you were their entire world.  His affection overwhelmed you.  It felt like he cared as much about you as Bill and Frank, just in a different way.  

"I love you too, Joel." You squeezed his thigh reassuringly. 

“No, darlin'.  I’m in love with you. I don’t care about anything else.” 

You turned toward him and tried to meet his eyes.  “I’m in love with you, too.” 

He finally stroked your back.  “You might think so, darlin’.” He sighed.  “And I ‘preciate you sayin’ it. . . But when you say,  ‘it doesn’t feel right here’. . .” He dabbed his eye again.  “I gotta wonder.”

“I do, Joel.” 

“I dunno if you understand love, darlin’.  Or you wouldn’t say that.  And you wouldn’t feel lonely.” 

You were overwhelmed and confused.  It didn’t make sense to you. “I wouldn’t miss my parents?”

“Course you’d miss’em,” he conceded.  “But you wouldn’t feel lonely.” 

“Guess that’s what I meant,” you said.  He nodded and his face warmed slightly. "Plus, I'm worried about Frank," you said and started crying again. Something was tugging at your gut.  You felt worse, not better.

Joel started to say something, but didn't. He rubbed your back. “I know, darlin’. He poured you a glass of whiskey and composed himself. “They’d be proud of ya, how you’re doin’.”  

You laughed through your tears. “Sorry,” you sniffled. “I didn’t mean I was lonely. I’m not.” 

“Okay, darlin’,” he whispered

You couldn’t tell if he really forgave you.  Your whole face felt tense. 

-

Joel looked at you and a look of deep concern washed across his face, realizing how bad he made you feel.  “Hey, hey. . . . c’mere. . . “  He rubbed your back.  You scooted closer and hugged him from the side.  He brought your far leg into his lap so you were twisted over him. “Shhhh,” he said and kissed your forehead, but something was still off about him.  “It’s okay, baby.”  He softened but still felt more distant than usual, like he wasn’t sure he could believe you.  The distance made you panic. 

“I love you, I really do,”  you said.  

He drank the rest of his whiskey and bent forward to put the glass down, then stretched his arm out on top of the sofa.  You tucked one leg under yourself and rested the other leg over his lap.  He draped his hand on your knee, but didn’t make a move to pull you closer.  You climbed into his lap, suddenly more concerned about his feelings than anything else.  

You wanted to be closer to him, as close as possible.  You wanted him wrapped around you, inside you.  You wanted to be a part of him and for him to be a part of you.  You kissed him on the cheek.  He smiled but didn’t look at you, not really.  He looked at your eyes but it felt like he was looking past them.  “Joel,” you whined, eyes welling up at the lack of validation.   You cupped his face in both your hands and kissed him.  His lips pressed softly into yours.  You looked back and forth between his eyes, trying to connect enough to show him how much you meant it. 

“I wanna be with you,” you whispered.  “I don’t care about anything else.” 

Something behind his eyes flickered on.  “You mean that, peaches? You don’t care about anything else?” 

You nodded and pressed your lips into his again. 

He asked, “You sure?” 

“Yeah, I’m sure.” 

His hands embraced your back and the affection returned to his eyes full-force like it was in the morning.  He wet his lips. 

“Good,” he whispered.  “It’s you and me, darlin’. We only got each other.” 

You nodded. 

-

He looked from your eyes to your mouth and back, closed his eyes, cradled the back of your head, and kissed you deeply.  He held you and kissed you, the taste of whiskey fading after a few seconds as your mouths combined.  He pulled you closer into his lap and his jeans hardened against your dress and panties, making your core tingle.  He moaned into your mouth and your panties moistened rapidly.  His cock was big, and feeling it get so hard just for you made you feel special. Earlier, when you said you wanted him inside you, he said you were still being shy with him.  He said you hadn’t even touched it yet, that you weren’t giving him everything.  

You wanted to show him you could give him everything.  His big hands pulled you close and his hips lifted your body as he licked into your mouth. His hard cock pressed perfectly against your clit as his hips moved.  You reached down and unbuttoned his jeans, then tugged his shirt up and he let you untuck it.  He was truly in the moment.  He was yours.  You gently grabbed at the bulge in his jeans – it was more than a handful – and he thrust into your palm with a sigh. 

You broke the kiss to unzip his jeans, and he watched you like it was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.  You slid your hand into his pants and softly gasped as you felt the stiff outline of his cock through his boxers.  His hips lifted into your hand with a soft grunt and he said, “Givin’ me everything, aren’t ya baby?”

You nodded earnestly.  He slid his hand between your legs, ghosting your clit over your panties, making you moan.  

“Wanna make you feel good,” you whispered, groping his hard cock and feeling a wet spot at the tip.  

“Always feel good when I'm with you, darlin’.” 

“Want it in my mouth,” you said.  

He inhaled sharply. “Fuck, darlin’.”  His eyes widened. “That what you want?”

“Yeah,” you nodded and got down on the carpet. 

You got out of the way while he took his jeans off for you.  

He spread his knees again and pulled the waistband of his boxers down below his balls.  He wrapped his fingers around the shaft with his thumb at the tip.  Butterflies swarmed between your legs at the sight of his strong hand holding his cock at attention for you. You nestled yourself between his legs.  

“You sure?��� he asked and looked you over. 

You wet your lips and nodded without taking your eyes off his imposing cock. 

“Alright, darlin’.” He looked at you with pride and curiosity. 

You held his cock at the base and opened your mouth, hovering over the tip. 

“Just a little kiss,” he murmured. 

You pressed your lips against the tip and kissed it, sucking the salty precum into your mouth. 

“Good girl,” he sighed. “Now a little at a time.” 

You wrapped your lips around the tip and licked it, looking up at his face for approval.  The look on his face made you wet.  Joel sighed and tried not to lift his hips. “Good. Doin’ great, baby.” 

You sucked a little more of him into your mouth. He was so big, the head alone seemed to stretch your jaw. 

“Good, baby.  Nice and slow, not too much.” His velvety tip grazed the roof of your mouth.  You throbbed between the legs, wishing so badly to have him there instead.  But you had to show him you could give him everything.  

You braced the shaft at the base and the humidity of his salt and pepper hair made you throb more. You sucked and tongued his shaft and looked up at him for approval. 

“Good girl,” he nodded.  His validation made you slurp more of him into your mouth, a little too much, and you started gagging. 

“Easy, darlin’, hold on,” he chuckled.  “Take a breather,” he said.  

You were a little embarrassed.  “I wanna do it,” you whispered. 

“Okay,” he smiled.  “How ‘bout you lick it, get it real wet for us.” 

You salivated at the sight of his cock in his hand and licked him from base to tip three times -  once on the underside, and once from each side.  

“Now use your hand, darlin’.” You hesitantly wrapped your fingers and thumb around his shaft and he swelled into your hand.  His cock dwarfed your fingers, making you wetter. You were salivating.

You asked, “Are you sure you don’t want my mouth?”

“Darlin’, I love your hands.” 

He covered your hand with his and stroked himself with it. 

His hips thrust into your hand and it was so easy to imagine yourself impaled on his cock, it was all you could think about.  

“Give it another kiss, baby.” 

You brought the tip into your mouth again, then licked his cock from base to tip and sucked the head again, curiously tonguing the salty slit. You left as much saliva as you could.  

“Good girl,” he murmured and took your hand in his again. 

You ached to have him inside you. You wet your lips thirstily. 

He watched your face as his breath grew heavier. “Whatcha thinkin’ bout, peaches?”

You had a feeling he knew.  You looked down at his cock then back up at him, then away.  

“Don’t be shy, baby.” 

You looked up and made eye contact. “Putting our bodies together,” you said breathily and watched his face melt into a puddle of want. 

He inhaled through his nose, then murmured, “Want that real bad, don’t ya?” 

You nodded.

“Why’s that, darlin’?” His lips glistened and his eyes were half-lidded. 

“Wanna feel you inside me.” 

He breathed heavier as your hands slid up and down on his shaft.  He asked, “How ya think it’s gonna feel?” 

“I’m gonna be full of you. Attached to you.” 

“Yeah, you will,”  he nodded.  His grip tightened around your hand as he stroked himself. “You’ll be so full of me, baby. ..” 

“I really wanna be,” you whispered. You wanted it so bad you could cry.  “I need to be.”

“You will be, baby,” he said soothingly.  “You want your mouth filled up now?”

“Yeah,” you hovered your mouth near his cock again.  

“Go ‘head, baby.  Take it, it’s yours.” He took his hand away and put it gently on the back of your head.  

You sucked the tip of his cock into your mouth again and made eye contact as you sucked.  

He groaned and his thumb stroked the nape of your neck, then he lifted his hips and erupted in your mouth.  His warm, salty spend hit the roof of your mouth, then the tip slid back along your palate, and he pulsed again.  More cum hit the back of your throat.  Your eyes watered and you swallowed. 

“You did so good, baby.” 

-

He tucked his cock into his boxers and spooned you on the sofa.  

“Why’s it feel so good, doing that?” you asked.  

“Doin’ what?”

“Just having it in my mouth.”

“S’posed to, baby.  Your body’s gettin’ ready for mine.” His words sent a pang of desire between your legs. “Turns you on, right?” He reached under your dress and stroked your panties from the outside.  He felt the dampness and murmured, “Guess it does.” 

“A lot,” you said.  He began stroking your clit rhythmically over the cotton.  Your hips started to move on their own in his hand. You moaned softly. 

He slid his hand into the front of your panties and thumbed your soft curls.  “It’s ‘cause your special parts think I’m fixin’ to put mine right here.” He dipped his middle finger into the pool of wetness hanging at your entrance. 

“I wish you would,” you sighed.  

He groaned softly at those words, the blood already flowing back to his loins.  “You really do, huh?” His voice was low and soft. “You really wanna be full of me.” He wet his fingers with your slick and began gently circling your clit. “Attached to me.” 

“Yeah,” you said. “More than anything.” 

“Love hearin’ that, peaches.”  He held you tighter. 

“I wanna give you everything,” you said. 

“Gotta be ready, darlin’,” he said into the crown of your head.  

“I’m ready.”

“Your body too, angel.” You could hear the smile in his voice. 

“My body wants yours so bad,” you whined.

“Wantin’ it’s not enough, baby.”

You groaned in frustration. 

“Well. . . you tell me, darlin’.  You’ve had it in your mouth now.  Think it’ll fit in this sweet little hole?”  he swirled his finger around. 

“I dunno,” you sighed.   Your body didn’t care, it wanted whatever he would give you. “I’m sorry,” you muttered.

“For what?”

“Not having my body ready.” 

“Oh peaches, I’m glad you’re not.  It’ll be a privilege gettin’ you there.” He gently circled your clit. 

“Really?”

“Of course, darlin’,” he said softly. “Sometimes they bloom late for a reason.” He dipped his finger into your wetness again. “And this one’s just for me, ain’t it?”

“Yeah,” you whispered.  

“We’ll get there, baby.  We’ll get there in time.” 

“Okay,” you sighed. 

“Let’s see how much you can handle,” he said. “See what it’ll take to get there.” 

“Yeah,” you said.  “Please.” You lifted your thigh to make more room for his hand.

He slowly slid half his middle finger into your tight, wet heat. You moaned at his first intrusion. 

He sucked air in through his teeth.  “How’s that feel, baby?” 

“I want more.” 

He took a deep breath and pushed his finger all the way in.

You whimpered, “yeah,” as your body adjusted. 

“God damn,” he whispered as your cunt hugged his digit. 

He curled his finger just slightly and you moaned again. “It’s so thick,” you said.  

“See? Got a long way to go.” His cock twitched against your ass.

“No, it feels good,” you said as he slowly moved his finger inside you.  “I want more.”  

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” you answered impatiently.  

“Just one more.”  You squinted in frustration.  Why just one more? 

He took his middle finger out and flattened it alongside his ring finger.  He slid them up and down your slippery seam before slowly plunging them inside together. It was a tight squeeze.   “God damn,” he breathed. He paused half-way in. 

“Feels so good,” you panted.  “Keep going,” you begged. 

“Don’t wanna hurt ya.”

“Doesn’t hurt at all.”

He slowly sank his two fingers into you completely.  “Real snug,” he muttered. “You sure it doesn’t hurt?”

“Too snug? Is that bad?”

“No, no, not at all, baby. But it’s gonna take time to be ready.” He began to move the heel of his palm against your clit and you grinded back against it.  

“God, Joel,” you sighed. 

“Gonna take time,” he repeated.  “‘fore you’re ready for this,” he said with a thrust of his hips, grinding himself into your ass, already fully erect again. He thrust against you again with a soft grunt. 

You asked “You want it too, don’t you?” 

“Course I do, baby,” he panted. “Gotta feel good for both of us, though. Gotta do it right.” He kissed your head and curled his fingers inside you, digging the meat of his hand against your clit again. “Gotta be real special.”

Your clit twitched against his hand and he said, “C’mon, baby,” moving his hand at a slow rhythm. “Every time you come, gets us closer to what we want.” 

“Really?”

“Yeah, sugar.”  He breathed heavily with his body enveloping yours, pumping his fingers deep in your cunt, pressing his palm against your clit. 

You let your hips grind back unrestrained. 

“There ya go, darlin’,” he said, pressing his hard cock against you as he moved his fingers.  “Yeah, just like that.” 

You closed your eyes and pretended his fingers were his cock. You knew his cock would feel even better. 

“Can’t wait to be inside ya, baby,” he whispered. “Nothin’ I want more.” He slowly pumped his fingers deeper into you as your body opened up for him.  “Wanna slide into this tight little hole,” he panted, his cock rutting gently against your ass.  “Want you wrapped around me.” He rubbed his palm against your front. “Yeah. . .wrapped so tight around me, baby. Like ya can’t pull us apart”  Your hips grinded into his hand with your climax in sight. “Gonna have you so full of me,” he breathed, then he moaned with a harder thrust against you.   “Joined together,” he added. “Forever, baby. It’s forever,” he whispered in your ear.  “Me and you.” You whined on the edge of your climax.  “C’mon, baby,” he whispered, pumping his fingers, rocking his palm, grinding against your ass. 

He thrust against your ass with a grunt, and his grunt in your ear was enough for you to see stars.  “Joel,” you whined. 

“Yeah,” he said as your climax seized you. You whimpered as you came. “Yeah, I got ya, baby,” he whispered.  “Good girl.” He kissed your head. 

-

He held you and caressed you as you bathed in the afterglow. It gave you clarity on how wrong you were earlier.  You felt the things he felt.  You realized how hurt you would have been if he said the same things – That he was lonely, that it didn’t feel right there.  

“I’m not lonely,” you whispered.  “And of course it feels right, bein’ with you.”

“Okay, baby.”  He kissed your head.  

“Guess I meant the town didn’t feel. . .”  You meant the town. Your stomach dropped as you realized it.

The town. If Abe was really gone, you and Joel were the only two people left in Lincoln.  Joel was the town.  You couldn’t put your finger on why, but you felt like you might be sick.  

“I know, darlin’,” he said obliviously. “But in a way, it’s nice we have this time together.”  His arms tightened around you. “Silver lining.  Right?”  He sighed. “We’re together, don’t care about nothin’ else.” 

“Right,” you whispered and tried not to think about it.  You shivered and Joel rubbed your arms.  “It’s chilly down here. Let’s get you tucked into bed.” 

-

Joel showed you the restroom and your toiletries and towels.  He offered you a painkiller to help you sleep. You didn’t want to take it, but he left it on the nightstand with a glass of whiskey in case you needed it.  “Know it’s weird, sleepin’ somewhere new,” he said. He took a nightgown out of the dresser for you.  He kissed you good night, then shut your door behind him.  

You woke up in the middle of the night when you heard something metal clang then rumble outside.  You felt safer with Joel in the house, but you wanted his arms around you. Maybe he’d let you climb in his bed.  Surely he wouldn’t turn you away.  He was being a gentleman, offering you a bed of your own. You opened your bedroom door as quietly as possible and gathered the courage to go downstairs.  

Downstairs, you pushed his bedroom door open.  “Joel?” you whispered. He didn’t answer. “Joel?” There was a flickering glow outside his window, which made it harder to see the inside of the room until your eyes adjusted.  

He wasn’t in bed.  Not the bathroom, either.  You sat down on his bed and smoothed your hand over his pillow.  You dipped your nose into the cotton and inhaled his scent, closing your eyes.  It gave you a rush of comfort.  A metal clang jolted you back to the moment and the flickering light brightened for a moment.  Your heart raced.  You carefully peeked out the window and faintly saw what looked to be the silhouette of Joel standing over a burning barrel.  You felt like you should go back upstairs, as much as you wanted to curl up in his bed, inhaling his scent.  

Your heart was beating too fast to get back to sleep, and you didn’t know why.  You paced around the room and looked out the window.   You sat at the vanity.  You looked in the drawers.  You were waiting to hear the door open downstairs.  Then you could pretend to come down for the first time.  Joel would comfort you, kiss you, cuddle you to sleep.  But the door didn’t open downstairs.  You paced more and sat on the bed.  You opened the closet and looked at the dresses again. You held one up in the mirror. 

You opened the other closet door and something caught your eye.  In the back, on the very last hanger, there was a dress that made your breath hitch.  White with lace sleeves.  The longer you looked at it, the more butterflies gathered in your chest.  Maybe your eyes betrayed you.  It was too dark to tell.  You closed the closet, took the painkiller, and got back in bed.  You listened out for the door and tried to conjure the feeling of Joel’s arms around you. That was all you wanted. 

-

Thank you so much for reading and engaging! Thank you for your patience, too.  I love you guys!!!

I'm not sure if there will be one more part or two; I have to see how it writes. I feel like probably two, but it could be one long one with a little bit of a time jump.

-

All Joel: @ethanhoewke @silkiers @eiviea @evyiione @xdaddysprincessxx @queerly-anxious @chernayawidow @ambassadortotrilliusprime @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog @jasminespringtime @romanarose  @fandomsfallnomore @djarinxore @lokanda @blackvelveteen1339   @manazo @wolvesandvampires  @taeslarityy @str84pedro @kyloispunk @filthfairy @fieryglutenfreechickennoodles @harriedandharassed @moonlightdivine @worhols @fan-fiction-floozy @cutesyscreenname @weddingfairy @pedropascal-whore @spideysimpossiblegirl @feministfanboi @gracieispunk @prettypartyfavor 

Lincoln: @fan-fiction-floozy @ivyblxnde @lhymer1995 @sugarspiceanthrax @isimpforfictionalmen @zynbsblogg @swedishscumfuck @sadgirlstoohightocare @steveharringtonswh0re @skythighs @aoziety @leeeesahhh @jupitersmoon-cal @peekymoon @dtfawn 

(ct'd in comments or reblogs)

[ryuichirou]

how would the TWST boys react if they were chosen by the cat distribution system and a stray cat choose them to be its cat dad?

Today I decided that it’s time to write about something delightful lol I keep smiling every time I remember that we have this ask in our askbox… Thank you for waiting, Anon! I’m sorry it took this long.

Maaaybe I’ll write more hc posts next week… I try to write at least two per week, but there are so many good prompts that I should probably try to do more.

Anyways! Once again my bias is clear because I am a poor soul that loves cats but doesn’t own one, so spoiler alert: all the boys end up loving cats as well lol But I think it’s fair… How does one not like cats? Don’t ask Ciel.

Riddle – his first instinct is to refuse poor cat’s attempts to hang out because his mother never let him own a cat: they claw furniture, they bite, and Riddle has allergies! Or… he thought he did. He didn’t get any reaction from the cat, so maybe that was a lie?? Anyways, he would melt almost immediately because a fluffy creature wanting to be his friend is something that Riddle always wished for. He loves animals and taking care of them, so there is no way he is letting go of that cat! Of course he has to get used to it because a cat would never follow any rules, and sometimes it would get frustrating for Riddle, but… whenever a cat wants to play with him or cuddle with him, Riddle giggles like the happiest kid in the world. No one is allowed to pet his cat without his permission.

Ace – he will brag about it a lot. He’ll take the cat everywhere and always have it either on his lap or on his shoulders. He’ll always talk about just how much the cat purrs for him and him only, and how cool of a person he is because the cat clearly chose him specifically to be his owner. The cat really does like him a lot, but it doesn’t mean that Ace doesn’t get scratched or bitten all the time lol Also, at some point it will become the freshmen’s cat that everyone takes care of a little, and Ace would start to constantly remind everyone that this is in fact HIS cat!

Deuce – aw, he would probably be a little awkward at first. He strikes me as someone who is more of a dog person and doesn’t have much experience with cats… He would be very careful around it, as if he isn’t just afraid to hurt the cat, he doesn’t even want to offend it somehow. Of course he would swear that he’ll take care of the cat and be very responsible about it! But it will take a while for him to take it inside the dorm; he’ll just feed it and hang out with it outside at first… until the weather gets too cold.

Trey – he would have this “why me though?” vibe to his reaction, but he would still be kind of happy. Maybe he shouldn’t have fed it, now it follows him around everywhere… Trey says that this isn’t really his cat, but keeps taking care of it anyway. He never expected to be this delighted to have a cat. He would get much more into it than he expected, to be honest. He’ll probably feed it with home-made treats and give it toys that he made himself…

Cater – OF COURSE he’ll start taking selfies with this cat. OF COURSE. After some time he might even make a separate account for the cat, to see if it would surpass his follower count. Other than that, he would cuddle the cat a lot, talk to it, play with it, dress it up all cutely and meme-y. I think it would be very good for Cater to own a cat… He needs to learn how to take care of it properly though, so some assistance might be necessary lol

Leona – would he even care? Maybe a little bit, but he would act like he doesn’t care at all. He doesn’t even know who the fuck this cat is, it just appeared suddenly and now lives in his room. It can stay or leave, doesn’t make any difference to Leona. In actuality though, on some level he does appreciate the companionship of another cat sleeping next to him or on top of him and grooming his ears. But only when no one sees it or comments on it. He could chat with the cat btw, but he just doesn’t – for the most time they hang out in silence.

Ruggie – another cat to take care of?? And also, another mouth to feed?? Well that can’t be helped, it’s not like he is going to throw the poor thing away. I think he will manage to train it to do all kinds of tricks, like stealing stuff from others’ pockets or sneaking things away for Ruggie… the cat will be his partner in crime lol He would also probably have conversations with it, since it’s easier for him to talk to animals.

Jack – not only a dog-person, but also literally a dog, so he might have a hard time at first understanding that cat’s behavior. He is probably going to act like he isn’t interested at first, but jokes on him, because this only makes the cat more into him. He will literally sit all alone, radiating “don’t talk to me” aura, and the cat would think that this is exactly where it wants to sit – on Jack’s lap. Even though Jack is a tsundere, he is going to warm up eventually… and even while he is in his denial phase, he will take care of the cat by keeping it fed and letting it inside when it’s cold. Speaking of cold, Jack is very warm, so the cat loves him a lot…

Azul – “I don’t have time for this” at first, with all the reasons why having a cat is a bad idea popping up in his head at once. Similarly to Riddle’s mom’s mantra: it ruins furniture, it causes allergies, it sheds, it doesn’t behave… but he would also break very quickly, probably the moment the cat starts rubbing against his leg or purring at him. Azul would probably make quite a drastic 180 degree turn and enter his “a cartoon villain with a cat on his lap that he pets menacingly” phase by the end of his first day with the said cat. It feels good. It feels correct to pet a fluffy purring creature while you’re humiliating someone who is indebted to you. Also, of course he is going to treat the cat like royalty and get it all the best things… and also train it like a dog at the same time.

Floyd – people would think that he isn’t responsible enough to own a pet, but actually a cat would probably be the best pick for him. At first he would get all excited because this little buddy just suddenly decided to hang out with him. Floyd would just suddenly start appearing everywhere with a cat on his shoulder like he is a pirate or something. But then both the cat and Floyd would lose interest in each other, until they meet again and decide that they want to hang out again lol But while Floyd and cat are together, he takes it everywhere, plays with it a lot, races with it, cuddles it, smooches it, throws it in the air and catches it. Some of Floyd’s games aren’t the best for the cat, so Floyd ends up getting scratched and hissed at quite often, but for some reason the cat still adores him enough to let him do anything with it, even hold it upside-down.

Jade – it’s easy to picture him being a cat-lover because of the Sebastian parallels lol I think he would really enjoy owning a cat, and he would make it everyone else’s problem. Just like Floyd, he would walk around with a cat on his shoulders, but he would always mention it: please don’t mind my cat, he just loves me very much. I hope you are not bothered by my cat’s presence, he won’t bother us, I swear. Also, I think because Jade would actually try to properly take care of the cat, he would encounter some unpredictable issues, like a cat refusing to eat certain cat food or eating something it’s not supposed to eat. Jade would have a couple of moments that would make him fuss over it and even though he wouldn’t enjoy it… he likes the unpredictability. Keep chewing on random things, cat! But not too much, please.

Kalim – he would be so happy and excited!! It’s like making a friend, but a new kind of friend, a very fluffy one! Kalim is probably way too cuddly for the cat’s liking, so sometimes he would get confused by it running away from him. He just wants the cat to be happy… he would buy 5 cat towers, 30 toys and a bunch of cool accessories for the cat during the very first day of owning it (then he’ll buy more)! And 10 beds, so the cat could pick whichever it likes most (it sleeps in Kalim’s bed of course)!! And of course he will ask Jamil to learn how to cook delicious meals for the cat. He would try to feed the cat his own food first, but of course would stop once he learns that the cat shouldn’t eat spicy food…

Jamil – another one who would think that he doesn’t have time or energy to take care of another thing at first, but would warm up very quickly. He would tsundere up a bit when Kalim says that he is happy that Jamil has a little fluffy friend now, but after a while he will realise that Kalim is kind of right… a cat is even better than a friend. Hanging out with it doesn’t take as much energy, in fact, Jamil feels very energised after petting it and playing with it. Wow… a cat would do wonders to Jamil’s psyche…! He would both cuddle with it and let it sleep in his bed at night, and play a lot of active games with it whenever he has time for it.

Vil – despite how busy he always is, I think he would accept the cat immediately. The cat clearly chose him – it’s only fair that it’s Vil’s responsibility to take care of it now… I don’t think Vil has a lot of experience with cats, but he would read a lot of books and articles to make sure that the cat lives a good life in his dorm. He wouldn’t be as excessive as Kalim, but… he might have gotten carried away with the stuff that he got for the cat. But all of it is very necessary! The best cat food (he’ll ditch it after a while and start cooking for the cat himself), the best sleeping place, the best toys to make sure that the cat is active and healthy. He will also bathe it, brush its fur every day, trim its nails… Vil’s cat is going to be such a wonderfully groomed cat that knows all kinds of tricks and is very smart and well-behaved… but also Vil’s capricious baby that hates everyone other than him lol

Rook – oh, he wouldn’t consider himself an owner, he would always say that he is a companion to his cat lol He wouldn’t get surprised when the cat suddenly starts to follow him around, but he would act so flattered and honoured! Such a beautiful creature decided to illuminate his life with its presence. Rook is pretty good at talking to animals, so he would have conversations with his cat… While sitting in a tree together lol He would feed it of course, but he would also hunt with it and would prefer for it to catch its own prey. He also doesn’t want to trim its nails or groom it more than necessary, but alas, if it wants to live in Pomefiore with him, it has to follow Vil’s rules~ Rook wouldn’t want to anger the queen with an ill-behaved and dirty cat, right? Maybe he would prefer to keep the cat outside though, to keep it as undomesticated as possible. A weirdo…

Epel – he would be so happy! It’s been a while since he owned a pet, and this is the first time he has a cat. He would pet and cuddle it a lot, even if it’s still dirty… Of course, his first instinct would be to feed it and to bring it to his room. But he would also probably be anxious to bring it to the dorm: what if Vil sees it and takes it away… and even if Vil doesn’t see it, Rook is definitely going to notice the cat smell or something, and he will snitch on him! Anyways, he won’t be able to keep it a secret for a long time, but the cat will do some damage lol Surprisingly, Epel will only get scolded for not being a proper owner, so as long as he does better, the cat can stay. But it probably means that his senpai will start taking care of the cat as well. Epel will be a bit jealous, it’s his cat after all…

Idia – he’d die. He’d be so happy. A cat that doesn’t hate him? A cat that wants to hang out? A cat that FOLLOWS HIM TO HIS ROOM AND STAYS THERE? HIS CAT? Idia would feel like he spent all of his luck points that he had saved up for these 18 years. Or was it good karma? Anyways, Idia now spends all his time building cat towers and automatic feeders and toys and all kinds of gadgets for his cool new cat. At first he wouldn’t be as good at talking to a cat, and it would be very obvious that he is a bit worried when he pets it and doesn’t want to scare it away, but he’ll start cuddling with it pretty quickly. He’s so happy… It doesn’t feel real, it doesn’t feel real at all. Even when he gets used to the cat and stops being so awkward around it, he will still feel such huge wave of happiness every time he sees it, as if every time he sees it is the first time…

Ortho – this is the first time he has a fluffy friend, well, other than Grim of course! And Lucius isn’t very friendly with him either, so this is a pretty new experience! Of course, partially he would be excited because if he owns a cat, it’s Idia’s cat as well, and he knows how much Idia loves cats. But also, this is such a good opportunity to make a proper cat-to-human translator!.. It’s weird with Ortho. He has all the info he needs, and he is very good at some things, but somehow… petting and interacting with a cat is a bit difficult. Why doesn’t kitty want to eat this food? Why did it pee in the wrong place? What’s going on? I think he’ll end up asking Trein for advice a lot, and this will be a good experience for everyone involved. Also, his cat loves him more when his processor gets hot lol he is a walking heater.

Lilia – he would be happy at first and show off and brag because now he isn’t just cute, he’s double cute! With a cute cat on his head/shoulders! But at the same time, I don’t know if he is the best person to have a cat. I feel like he is one of those who try to feed it with milk, but also knowing Lilia, he literally makes those he cares for drink milk from a mug. Maybe he’d act differently with a cat, but it surely will be an adventure for this poor animal lol He plays with it similarly to how Floyd plays with his cat, and just like with Floyd, somehow it makes the cat very attached to him. Sometimes Lilia cuddles it and kisses it a lot, but a lot of times it’s the cat that gets clingy with Lilia and wants to sleep with its head on his shoulder. Acting like a baby, smh…

Silver – aw, he would be so good. Similarly to Rook, he would consider a cat to be a companion, but he would also try to be very responsible with his he takes care of it. He would take it to Diasomnia and let it sleep in his bed, wouldn’t do much grooming or brushing, but he would do his best in terms of playing with it and feeding it well, I think. Especially the latter lol But the majority of time the cat would just cuddle up and sleep with him whenever he’s dozing off.

Sebek – he has better things to do than to indulge in these games!! He says as he brings the cat home with a bunch of books with all the necessary information on how to take care of a cat!! Did he also fall victim of cute paws and purring? Maybe! But it won’t affect his performance as Malleus’ guard in a slightest! I think he will try to train the cat, and he might even succeed to some degree, but his cat won’t be as well-trained as Vil’s or Azul’s. Maybe the cat just doesn’t take him seriously and just wants to make biscuits on his stomach while sleeping on his lap… Sebek would seethe, but won’t move until the cat leaves :(

Malleus – the cat isn’t afraid of him? Oh he would be so delighted. He was very happy about the goat in the Glorious Masquerade event, and I think his reaction would be similar here: first amusement, a little surprise, but then he would get so tickled and excited for this new companionship. The cat would be allowed to seemingly disrespect Malleus by positioning itself on his horns, leaving fur on his garment, playing with his hair, and Malleus would laugh… until the cat scratches him. Then Malleus would start sulking. But he’ll get over it, he’s not a baby.

[pengychan]

[Baldur’s Gate III] Hell to Pay, Ch. 33

Illustration by @raphaels-little-beast

Title: Hell to Pay Summary: Assassinating an archdevil is a daunting task, even for the heroes of Baldur’s Gate. Some inside help from ‘the devil they know’ would be good, if not for the detail their last meeting ended with said devil dead in his own home. Or did it? Characters: Raphael, the Dark Urge, Astarion, Haarlep, Halsin, Karlach, Wyll. Rating: E Status: In progress

All chapters will be tagged as ‘hell to pay’ on my blog. Also on Ao3.

*** Aaaand the bombshell dropped. (Also because Raphael wasn't having a bad enough time: there is a brief mention of child grooming towards the end of the chapter. It's not descriptive or anything, just a brief flashback, but it's there.) ***

Raphael was hanging limply from his chained wrists, both shoulders pulled out of their sockets and blood running in rivulets down his back, when Enver Flymm first arrived at the House of Hope.

He was in no state to greet guests, naked and bloody, covered in gashes and bites and bruises, still shivering from the last orgasm-- the Archduchess -- Haarlep had wrung out of him. That, and he had no voice left; when a rather hesitant archivist called from outside to let him know one of his warlocks had arrived with a prisoner and wished to speak with him, all he could push past his throat was a groan. 

Haarlep chuckled, and shed the Archduchess’ likeness before calling out on his behalf. “The master is a little occupied at the moment. Do tell them to settle in the hall, he’ll be with them… well. Not in a minute. But he’ll be there.”

Raphael had groaned again when Haarlep slid into the pool, and turned to face him. He was chained to the columns by the edge of the water, and they leaned in before tilting up his chin. They took in the sight of his sweat-slicked brow, the blood where he’d bitten into his own lip, and ran a hand through disheveled hair before they leaned in, licking the salt of his tears with a forked tongue. 

“My, what a mess you are. Positively pathetic. You never look more alluring than when you’re like this, you know.” They ran their tongue across his bleeding lip, and reached over behind him to grasp the base of the plug they’d pushed inside him right at the start - “can’t have you be naugthy and fuck yourself with your own tail, can we, pet?” - to pull it out with a yank. 

Raphael jerked and let out a hoarse cry, unable to quite tell, among the many aches and pains, that had exactly made him scream. Haarlep dropped the plug, and took a hold of Raphael’s hair to tilt his head back, forcing him to face them. Raphael looked at them through a veil of tears, and saw they were grinning. He was grinning. Himself, unchained, powerful.

“Maybe I should make myself look significantly older, and go in your stead to hear what he wants. See what it’s all about while you writhe here. Maybe I’ll fuck your warlock with your body. Would you like that? Oh, of course you would. You just won’t admit it, because you’re a brat .” There was a slap, for good measure, making Raphael’s head whip to the side. 

Then Haarlep snapped their fingers, the chains burned away, and Raphael crumpled forward into their waiting arms. They held him easily: he was in his human form. He’d wanted to feel small, and Haarlep loved how easily that skin bruised. “But you’re my little brat, aren’t you?”

Raphael could only manage a whine as they pulled him against their chest, and into the water; healing began almost immediately, the gashes the flail left on his back beginning to close, the bite marks starting to fade away. The whine turned into a sigh of relief, and Raphael tilted back his head to look up at his own face, young and powerful and in control. 

“Archduke,” he whispered, reaching up to run his fingers across a cheekbone.

Haarlep’s smile widened. “Your archduke,” they said. “And you are mine.”

I am no one’s. I am the master here, Raphael thought, as always when Haarlep made that remark, but the words never left him; he hadn’t bothered to utter them in more time than he cared to recall. Not because it was untrue - it wasn’t - but because in those moments, still raw and sensitive, he feared he’d speak it aloud and not believe it himself. 

Instead he grumbled something about insolence, breathed in deep, and let the water do its healing, let Haarlep wash his newly healed back, his chest. “That useless archivist didn’t even say which warlock it was. I certainly hope it’s important.” 

“I’m sure it can wait,” Haarlep sing-sang, and their hand slid down Raphael’s stomach, down his thigh. He hummed in agreement and opened his eyes to meet their gaze. 

“Lie to me,” he whispered, and savored the response almost as much as he did the touch, and the long, languorous kiss that followed.

***

Duchess Baalphegor was standing above the frozen corpse of an abishai when they reached the courtyard. 

There was little left of the Shattered Castle around that courtyard, truth be told, hence the… not terribly imaginative name. Broken-down spires of what had been a mighty citadel, once; crumbling columns all around that may have once held up vaulted ceilings, now long gone.

Perched atop an iceberg, the Shattered Castle had been shattered long before Raphael ever drew his first breath; the truth of how that had come to be was lost to time and ice, although there were tales it had once been the stronghold of a duke who’d dared defy Mephistopheles, and had been promptly crushed in turn.

To the daring adventurers who may reach those ruins - and in Raphael’s books, daring adventurer was simply a polite euphemism for utter imbeciles - it would appear that the only thing intact was the statue of a massive abishai with crystal-white wings. But of course it was no statue; rather, it was a guardian assigned to patrol those ruins by Mephisto himself. 

Raphael did not know to what end, and clearly asking the abishai itself was no longer an option, as it lay broken at Baalphegor’s feet. She must have heard them coming, with the snow and ice crunching under their boots, but did not turn until Adonides stopped some distance away and sank on one knee. 

Raphael did the same, not truly looking to anger anybody else in that layer of Baator; the others were quick to follow suit, and bow their heads. With the exception of Astarion and Durge, their breath turned to ice each time they exhaled. 

“Lady Baalphegor,” Adonides spoke. “I have brought Raphael, and the daring adventurers who have accompanied him thus far.”

Daring adventurers. Of course he had to choose those words. An apt description if there ever was one; anyone with half a functioning brain would have deserted him long ago. 

At the center of the courtyard, Duchess Baalphegor was the only spot of color in a world of white, clad in red and black silks. Her red hair fell down her shoulders in soft curls that the wind did not seem to touch; snowflakes, too, seemed to slide off without truly touching her. When she turned to face them, she did so with the same effortless grace he recalled. Regal, despite her small stature, despite the fact she was Mephistopheles’ consort no longer.

“Please, stand, all of you. I didn’t have you come all this way to kneel on ice - it would be terrible form of me,” she said. Her voice was low and soft, but perfectly audible. Her gaze shifted to Raphael’s left, and she smiled. “Hello, Haarlep. I must commend you on a job well done. Against such overwhelming odds, I was unsure it was reasonable of me to expect you’d be able to bring your master here alive. And yet, here you both stand.”

Haarlep smiled-- no, grinned back. Since when did they have such familiarity with the consort-- former consort of Mephistopheles? As Raphael looked at them, startled, they shrugged. “I had help along the way. A lot of it, to be honest.”

“Ah, yes. The intrepid adventurers.” A hint of an amused smile, and she bowed her head. “I heard much of you, and I was looking forward to meeting you. Almost as much as I looked forward to seeing you again.” She stepped forward, closer, and suddenly it was as though they were beneath a dome; the snow and ice falling from the sky no longer touched them. It did not stop the bitter cold, unpleasant even though they all had some form of protection from it. “You have come a long way, Raphael. Although I fear there is still some way for you to go yet. The way to Mephistar is treacherous. Surely Adonides has informed you of the ambush.”

“I did, Lady Baalphegor,” Adonides spoke, bowing his head. “It seems that Mephistopheles took more steps than we were aware. He sent Lady Antilia to lead Raphael into the ambush.”

Duchess Baalphegor was not easily surprised; when it did happen, she rarely let it show. And to the untrained eye, she did not seem taken aback… but Raphael’s eye was trained as it could be. The slightest flaring of her nostrils, the tiniest widening of her eyes, and he could tell that the news came as a surprise to her. “And she failed, I reckon?”

“She did,” Raphael spoke. He said nothing else; he did not need to.

“... I take it to mean that she will not return to Mephistar, with or without you.”

“No.”

A pause, and she walked up to him, close enough to reach up and cup his face.  Even in his human form he was taller than her. Her hand was warm as it had been on their very first meeting, when she’d tilted up his chin and complimented his horns.

“Let me look at you, little one,” she’d said. “A handsome young devil if I’ve ever seen one. You look quite a lot like your father.”

Now, looking at a face that he knew he shared with his mortal mother, her voice was far more somber. “You took no joy in it.” A statement, not a question. “It is a sad loss. But she was always devoted to Mephisto. Her fate was sealed the moment she was given the mission.”

Raphael met her gaze, and did not pull away. Something about the warmth of that hand made him want to lean his cheek into it, close his eyes, and break again. He did none of those things. “Did you know that she was his daughter?”

A shake of her head. “Did she tell you as much herself?” she asked, and sighed at his nod. “I did not know. I suspected, but there was never any certainty. Mephisto treasured her more than any child he sired before or since, yet never acknowledged her as his. A living contradiction, always. It’s his greatness and his ruin. A shame that it had to be hers as well.”

It didn’t have to be, Raphael almost said, but he held his tongue. “She played the double spy on Baalzebul, and he entrusted her to guide me to Cania. That is how she was able to intercept me when we went to the Lord of the Seventh seeking passage. Did you not know?”

Baalphegor sighed, and pulled her hand away from his cheek, but she did not step back nor did she avoid his gaze. “As much as it vexes me to admit it, no. I did not know she had such a role at the court of the Seventh.” A smile. “I suppose it’s a credit to her. If you’re a known spy, you’re not doing a very good job at it; she clearly was excellent. Perhaps this was always the role Maphistopheles planned for her. It would explain how come she was never acknowledged even if raised at court - easier to become a false spy with no cumbersome connections to her name, I’d imagine.”

I am nothing if not loyal. 

Raphael grimaced at the memory, and forced himself to change subject before the lump forming in his throat became painful. “Why have you done all this?” he asked. “Surely it’s not out of concern for me. You’re going to get something out of having me whole again, and in your debt.”

A chuckle, if faint. “One may argue you already are in my debt. You proved your mettle at Bel’s service, and earned your post as Steward of Avernus - I will not dispute that, not intend to diminish your merits. But you must have known I was the reason why he took you under his wing rather than having you at the front lines from the very beginning.”

He’d known that, of course. He still recalled how she’d allowed him to travel to the Bronze Citadel from Mephistar rather than facing the grueling march across all layers with the troops; he recalled the letter she had told him to hand to Bel, and how he’d known from the start at least part of it was about him.

“Lady Baalphegor says you’re a good learner,” the archduke of Avernus had said. “So for now watch, and learn.”

Everything that had come after, he’d earned. But that one chance, the one that had started it all, he owed to her. Yes, he’d been in her debt all along; and now that debt would be repaid… all that Raphael did not know was how.  “I recall,” he spoke, very slowly. “And I recall that you took a keen interest in me from the beginning. What I could never understand was why.  Mephistopheles sired countless children, and most perished. I never knew you to intercede.”

Duchess Baalphegor exhaled, and looked up at the snow and ice whirling above them, as though she could see something in it that no one else could. “... Your father is older than most beings, save immortal, can imagine,” she said. “Not as old as Ao, of course, or of Shar and her silvery sister - not even close - but very old regardless. And he has sired children in the thousands, be it through means of seduction, trickery, or coercion. Many were powerful. All were ambitious. It brought most of them to their grave.”

“All your siblings were and are the same, all those yet to be born will be the same,” Mephistopheles had told him, a very long time ago. “And all of you will meet your end for it, one way or another.”

"Did you ever grieve a single one of them?”

Raphael pressed his lips together. “I have been told as much,” was all he said. 

Beelphegor nodded. “And none of it is untrue. Mephisto’s blood is powerful. You have much in common with your siblings, but one thing.” She held up her hand, and a small white flame danced on her palm. “Not a single one of them could control hellfire without that ability being personally bestowed upon them by Mephistopheles himself. And then there was you. An halfbreed child of thirteen born of a mere human, with no training or true knowledge of Baator, channeling the profane essence of the Hells out of sheer instinct. I need you to understand this, Raphael - no such thing had ever happened before because it should not be possible .”

For a few moments, Raphael could only stare at her. His mouth felt dry. “I never told anyone that. None but--”

“And Lady Antilia told none in turn, as far as I am aware. I heard what happened from your own lips, child. You spoke loudly enough to be heard through the door as I stepped before it, seeking you.”

It was amusing, in a way. Antilia had been so concerned word may get out, and that he may become a subject of who knew what experiments at the hands of the Dean of the School of Hellfire - or even Mephisto himself? - that she’d sworn him to silence… right after word was already out. It could have spelled his end, that. And yet…

“Of course, that convinced me that you should be observed carefully,” Baalphegor continued. “You never used hellfire in the years to follow, and I’d heard you express some doubt that it had indeed been hellfire which you summoned in a moment of grave danger. I was almost convinced it may be a fluke, or that perhaps you’d mistaken simple fire for something more… until of course, your father tried to make an example out of you. Surely you recall?”

Of course. It was impossible to forget: his sire standing before him with hellfire dancing on his palm, grasp unyielding around his throat.

Let it be your last lesson.

“... My first ascension.”

“Yes. He did not know of your natural affinity with hellfire, and he was quite surprised when it did not kill you. In turn, can you imagine my surprise when I found out that somehow, you had ascended? ” A laugh, startlingly sincere. “Oh, no, I don’t think you can quite picture my face when I heard that. Or his - you left a deep scratch across the bridge of his nose, you know? He was really quite cross about it.” Another laugh, before her expression turned serious again. Mostly serious, at least. A half-smile was never too far from her lips. “Ascension is something no half-fiend had ever mastered before, to my knowledge. And again, you did so purely out of instinct. You were shaping up to be quite the gifted young devil.”

“... And so you ensured I had a better chance to survive the Blood War than Mephisto was willing to give me.”

“That I did. You were something extraordinary, even if your lord father so stubbornly refused to see it. I followed your rise at Bel’s court with great interest - and all that came after, of course. Most recently, how close you came to the Crown of Karsus… and how you fell.”

Raphael scoffed. “A riveting tale to follow, certainly,” he said. “But it still does not answer my question - why did you decide that tale was not to end in Mephistopheles’ maw?”

“Why, we need both halves of you alive, of course, if you’re to ever be whole again.”

“This keenness to see me alive and whole surely does not stem out of your kind heart.”

A gentle smile. “Obviously not. Neither my dearest friend nor my bitterest enemy would accuse me of having a kind heart - although I have been known to be generous, when I don’t have reason not to be. Your mother and other mortal souls who bore my consort children can attest to that.”

Raphael almost scowled at those words - but only almost. He knew better than to show too plainly his feelings on the matter… particularly as he, himself, did not know what to name those feelings. His mortal mother had been nothing to him for long, if not a shadow hanging over him, making him the reason for so much grief. 

He’d glimpsed her only briefly when she’d given him the ring, but he did not know who he was looking at. His fiend half, it seemed, was by now familiar with her… but he, as he was now, knew nothing of her. What was she to him, and what would he be to her? What would she do, what would she say once they met?

Will she see her own face, or only what Mephistopheles did to her? What I did to her, ripping her apart on my way out?

“What did you promise that woman in exchange for help?” was all he could ask in the end.

“A chance to spite Mephisto. As good a reason as any, and she was quite eager to do that.”

A simple question, a simple answer. He could have left it at that; it would have been wise to, perhaps. And yet… “Surely she was not the only one among your attendants who’d have loved a chance to spite him.”

“No,” she agreed, “but spiting Mephisto carries a risk, always. She is your mother. I suspected she would wish to aid her son, had spite not been a powerful enough motivator.”

Is she? And am I? We share a face and nothing else, for all I know. 

Lord Starspire’s letter claimed otherwise, but perhaps it had been only the wishful thinking of an old widower. Raphael frowned. “I was in Mephistar for years. She could have approached me, if my fate was ever any concern of hers.”

Baalphegor tilted her head, as though considering his words. “She may have, yes. But she did not. Was it so unwise? You were so desperate to erase everything of your mortal heritage, and she was living-- well, enduring proof of it. You may have erased her, too.”

He might have; it was what he’d done to old Nan, after all. Raphael knew better than to argue against that point, and he said nothing as his sire’s former consort continued.

“Make no mistake, she always denied holding any love for you when questioned, and I saw no deception in her words; whether because it was true or because she believed it to be true, I do not know. She recoiled from you, certainly, and who can blame her? A devil spawn put into her womb to tear her open from inside - it seems a most unpleasant business. Perhaps you did repulse her. Yet when word spread you’d almost been killed with hellfire, so long ago, she asked to accompany me when I visited you.”

“She…?”

“She stood behind me for the entire encounter, but you never once looked her way. I suspect the fact Mephistopheles tried to destroy you as he’d destroyed her opened her eyes to the fact you were both at his mercy, always. She still feared you, of course - but with how close she has grown to your other half as of late, I’d say that fear is well and truly in the past.”

A few paces behind him, Adonides cleared his throat. “That is indeed very lucky for us. I was not expecting her help to be instrumental again, yet plans change.”

Raphael turned. “She’s a powerless mortal soul. How would she figure in your grand plan?”

That caused Adonides to frown, but he did not let annoyance show in his voice. “I can take you to Mephistar, undetected, deep below into Nargus and to the vaults. I can ensure you are hidden from sight and able to slip in the vaults, once Mephistopheles is away from the citadel and Chamberlain Barbas is made to chase a false lead to find the incubus. But the ascended fiend is a volatile creature, and it’s not guaranteed to meekly merge with you. However, she can calm it. Reason with it, even. She has to be present.”

Raphael suppressed the urge to hurl a spell at him - no reason in particular, he simply could never stand Adonides any more than Adonides could stand him - and looked at Baalphegor. “You have yet to tell me why you’re helping me. What do you expect of me in return?”

“If you cannot tell, it is not something I am at liberty to disclose. Nor you, Haarlep,” she added, glancing over at them. “Suffice to say, we have a task for you that you can only hope to accomplish as your own true self.”

We, she said.Raphael narrowed his eyes. “Why me, out of everyone?”

“That is for someone else to tell you, once you’re again worthy to be in his presence.” 

“My command over hellfire does figure in this, surely, or you would not have brought it up.”

“And surely, this is not the full extent of your intuition.”

Very well. If she wanted him to speak plain, speak plain he should. “... The Lord Below is behind all this,” he said. A statement, not a question. So much of what happened in Avernus pointed to the involvement of someone well above just Bel, well above only Baalphegor.

Baalphegor tilted her head. There was a quick twist of her lips, and no denial. “You are lucky he found that little plan of yours concerning the Crown of Karsus amusing as well as doomed. Had he not, you’d have been reduced to ashes before Mephisto could touch you.”

Raphael had enough sense to ignore the jab and not say aloud that his plan had been anything but little and that if he’d had the Crown-- if he could take Avernus first, turn other archdevils to his side once they witnessed his power, and then march on Nessus…

“And what does the big guy himself want from him?” Karlach asked, in the unmistakable tone of someone who’d take up an axe on the big guy in question if she did not like the answer. Only to be promptly reduced to nothing, but Raphael could if anything appreciate the gesture.

Or at least he would have, if not for the grip of something in his throat, foreboding as a storm building up at sea with no land in sight. A test, they had called it, to see if he lived to prove himself capable of the task ahead of him… and the test had been taking down the Archdevil of Avernus herself. Ending the reign of Zariel, a mere test. What task could be greater, more perilous, more insurmountable than taking down the Lord of the First?

“The obsession with hellfire has become a madness in your father.”

“What I fail to see is how aiding Raphael’s escape fits into that. Surely there are other ways to undermine the Lord of the Eighth.”

It was never just about undermining him, was it? Oh no. Admodeus would not put so many chess pieces in motion for so little. Zariel developed a weakness, and she had to go. Mephistopheles has finally crossed a line that Admodeus can no longer ignore, and… and…

Somehow, part of him had suspected as much for some time, but he hadn’t dared consciously think of it. It was too much to imagine, let alone to speak. So he did not speak it - no, no, surely he was wrong - but something had to show on his face, for Baalphegor smiled. 

“I suspect that Raphael will need no explanation, after all,” she said, replying to Karlach without looking at her. Raphael met her gaze, realization sinking in, and he laughed. 

His laughter echoed across the Shattered Castle for what felt like a very long time.

***

The first thing about Enver Flymm that caught Raphael’s eye was the vacant gaze beneath a mop of unruly black hair, the slack face, the drool dripping down from the corner of his mouth. 

“Stop doing that!” Caedric, one of his warlocks and frankly a mediocre one at that, was screaming in the boy’s face to no reaction at all. However, when he lifted a hand to strike, there was something - a flinch the child could not suppress, even as he remained still, not lifting his hands to shield his face nor acknowledging Caedric in any other, more obvious way. “No one will fall for it, you hear me, you little bast--!”

“And a good afternoon to you, Caedric. May I ask you to explain what made you decide to drop by uninvited? Concisely, if possible. I have little time to waste.”

Caedric winced and turned, falling over himself to bow and apologize for the intrusion. Raphael - now in his fiendish form, dressed and fully healed after making them wait for the best part of an hour - barely listened to him. His gaze remained fixed on the boy. 

Acting the idiot, clearly, and better than he’d expect from most mortals - let alone a child no older than perhaps eight or nine. But not quite good enough to fool a devil; the minute movement of his eyes as he looked at him, and the tightening fists resting on his knees as he sat at the table, surrounded by wandering souls and the skeletal remains of what had been a mason and architect intent on sweeping floors… all of it gave the ruse away. 

“I bought him for good coin in Baldur’s Gate,” Caedric was saying. “His parents had debts, and they were willing to sell him off. He’s clever, and builds contraptions that--”

“Does not look terribly clever to me,” Raphael cut him off, as though he did not know any better. It would be clear to half an idiot that the vacant stare was a ruse to try and seem worthless, someone to just throw back in the Material plane with scarcely a thought. 

Caedric was, unfortunately, slightly less than half an entire idiot and rushed to explain that the boy was pretending as though Raphael hadn’t worked it out for himself at first glance. “He is pretending, master, that is all. It proves that he is clever. A little scalding of his fingers and--”

“Why have you brought a child here?” Raphael cut him off, turning to face the man. He’d accepted to put him under contract and grant him powers to for no reason other than Korrilla, who’d decided to bet him three soul coins on the fact he wouldn’t last more than a year on the job before regretting it and trying to find a way out of it. If he proved her right in the eleventh month of his servitude, Raphael would be distinctly annoyed.

Caedric swallowed. “So that he may serve you, master. As a pageboy and then more, if he’s clever enough. He can be of use, I am sure. I made sure his parents signed this…”

The contract was indeed for the sale of a human boy called Enver Flymm, born at the beginning of the Year of the Mithral Hammer to Dravo and Sally Flymm. The buyer was listed as the warlock’s master, rather than Cardric himself. The boy was now his, body and soul. He raised an eyebrow. “Were they aware they were selling their son to a devil’s servant?”

“Yes, master. They were in desperate need of coin. Only asked where they needed to sign.”

Raphael chuckled. “What admirable practicality. Most mortals forego any logic when it comes to their offspring,” he said, and nodded. “Very well. You are dismissed.”

As expected, he did not disappear. “I was wondering, master,” he said, lowering his head, “if in exchange for this gift a… revision of my contract may be arranged.”

Ah yes, he obviously offered up another’s soul because he wanted out - and before the year was over. To Raphael’s annoyance, it appeared that Korrilla had won that bet. Still, the irritation was tempered by curiosity about this new servant, as well as the recreational time he’d enjoyed earlier. So he nodded, waving a hand in dismissal. “Yes, that can be arranged. I’ll call upon you when I have time,” he said, making a mental note of thinking of a mission that he could not possibly survive. He would make that his last requirement before he ended their contract, and enjoy watching him fail before collecting the soul he was owed. “Now begone.”

Another bow and he was gone, leaving behind only the boy, and the wandering souls all around. Raphael smiled and crouched before the child, who clearly struggled to keep up the act, the vacant stare. When he met his gaze, he trembled. 

“I suspect you didn’t receive much of a welcome to my House of Hope, Enver. A dreadful first impression, was it not? But you should not worry. There is much worth learning here, if you’re useful enough to keep alive.” No response; only that distant stare. Still trying to pass himself off as broken, useless, not worth keeping. He sighed. “The first lesson, child, is  that you cannot lie to me .” His mind closed like a snare on the boy, causing him to stiffen and gasp, eyes widening. The falsely vacant stare, which had wavered before, turned to pure terror. 

He struggled to keep Raphael out of his mind, and it was a valiant struggle - but no more effective than a cockroach trying to stave off the boot coming down to crush it. 

There were images, feelings, disjointed thoughts. The streets of Baldur’s Gate, a cobbler’s shop, toys made out of scraps from his father’s work to entertain himself. The blow that knocked out one of his baby teeth when he took good leather instead of scraps; the toys growing more complex, mechanical. His latest creation crushed under his mother’s broom, her voice repeating that she should have ended him in the womb, that dreadful child - foolish, hateful, needy, wicked - she’d borne but never loved.

Menacing men and women coming into the shop, speaking to his parents with hushed voices - and then louder the next time they came, and louder yet the next, until they shouted. The offer came from his mother’s lips.  “You can have the boy! He’s clever and crafty, he can be useful--” “Do we look like bloody Zhentarim to you? It’s the coin you owe us or your blood!”

And then the warlock, who’d been passing by and heard the screams, or so he said. Offering coin enough to settle their debts, in exchange for their son, and a contract signed in a heartbeat. They hadn’t even looked at him for a last glance when the warlock took him away. He’d wanted to scream how much he hated them, how he would return and show them--

“Oh my. Not the most outstanding family, I must say.” Raphael released his grip on Enver’s mind, causing him to fall back against the back of the chair with another gasp. The ruse now over, he just looked at him with wide eyes. A scared boy, but one with promise; Raphael had seen enough, and he’d always had a knack for spotting potential. There was ambition, too, a certain ruthlessness that could make him useful indeed once he was old enough. 

Until then, he supposed a page boy would fit right in at the House of Hope. He’d task Nubaldin with bringing him up to speed, and he’d see in time how he may serve him further. Should he disappoint, he’d make a fine meal for hellhounds. “But you ought to be thankful. This is most certainly a step up from a cobbler’s shop in the slums. Do you know what a page boy is?”

The boy nodded, and Raphael smiled as a burst of flames grazed the child, causing him to cry out. He was not hurt - only a bit of his hair was scorched off in what Raphael frankly saw as an improvement. Still, the message was clear: he could burn him if he wished to, and angering him was easy as well as unwise. “I expect answers to be given with words, boy.”

“Yes-- yes! I know what it is!” he spoke, his voice high and terrified, uselessly shielding his face with his arms. Raphael chuckled, and stood again.

“Ah, he speaks at last.” He spread his arms and wings, looking down at the boy as he trembled into the chair. “Welcome to the House of Hope, Enver Flymm. I am Raphael.”

The boy stared, and even through the terror his mouth twisted. “Just Enver,” he spat. 

“Not keen to carry the name of those who sold you off to the Hells? Understandable, I suppose. Very well, Enver. Go on, fill your plate. Eat and drink, before I call someone to show you the ropes. And then make sure you learn fast, boy. For your own good, you understand.”

The look that gained him was so full of loathing for someone so young - so much potential indeed! - that Raphael couldn’t help but laugh.

***

Raphael laughed and laughed and laughed.

Later on his companions would admit he had sounded ‘more than a little hysterical’, but at the moment they seemed at various stages of confusion and dawning comprehension, and none of them spoke. Not that Raphael would have noticed if they’d begun to scream as one: all he could hear was his own laughter, his own blood rushing in his ears. 

He laughed and laughed and laughed with no mirth whatsoever. He laughed because it was the only thing he could do other than scream. His every limb felt very heavy, the cold emptiness where half of his soul was not ached, and his head was empty of all thought but of his father. 

When he’d first seen on his throne as the Cold Lord, when he’d been the Lord of Hellfire with a hand around his throat; of the glimpse of something he’d seen beneath the façade - ancient and terrible, the flash of too many needle-like fangs like those of a fish of the deep - and of the much closer look at that aspect of his he’d had later, crushed in his grip, held above a gigantic maw.

The Lord of the Eighth. The Lord of No Mercy. Duke of Brimstone, Archduke of Cania, Archmage of the Hells. Older than Baator itself, second to none but Asmodeus. 

“Surely, this is a jest.” Raphael’s voice came out a choking noise through laughter that had turned into something else, something uglier. He tried to imagine it - Cania, the Hells, the world without Mephistopheles - and he could see nothing; only the blinding whiteness of the snow and ice whirling all around them.

Baalphegor’s voice was quiet, yet as merciless as the cold. “Amusing as it may have been to follow your misadventures, none of what transpired was done in jest.”

This is to be my punishment, is it not? For the Crown, for daring to think I could rule the Hells in his stead.

“You’re asking the impossible,” Raphael whispered. It could not be done. Mephistopheles couldn’t die. Even in his grandest dreams he was beaten, perhaps bleeding, and alive to see him triumph, kneeling before him. Seething and humiliated, in some dreams even marveling at his son’s power-- begging forgiveness for dismissing him, for all the disdain, for never seeing him as he was -- but alive. Never, not once, had Raphael imagined him dead - by his hand or any other.

Unaware of his thoughts, or perhaps entirely aware, Lady Baalphegor - Mephistopheles’ long-time consort, now calling for his death - shook her head. “Not me. The Lord Below. You can be certain I take no joy in knowing his demise draws near. Nor does Asmodeus, but he knows it is what must be done. And he does not ask, Raphael.”

Something cold beneath his knees - the ice, the snow. If there was any heat pulsing beneath the surface, he did not feel it. He looked up at Baalphegor, dread in every fiber of his being. “There are quicker ways to kill me than setting me against Mephistopheles,” he choked. “I stand no chance.”

“I believe the Archfiend would beg to differ, were he in the habit of begging.”

“You’re sending me to die.”

“He’s sending you to fight. You’d have to either way, child of Mephisto. If you flee, your father will not rest until you’re dead. Especially now that Antilia’s blood is on your hands.”

Raphael almost felt it now, the blood going from hot to cold, turning sticky, never coming off his hands. He swallowed. “He sent her against me.” His voice was raspy, barely audible. “I had no choice.”

“Do you think that will matter to him? He will not blame himself for long - he never could, even when he knew the mistake was entirely his own. Believe me, I would know.” A distant smile. “His fury may turn inwards, for a time. It is a terrible thing, torn robes and broken flesh, lines across skin and blood boiling as it hits the ice, one burst of uncontrolled magic after the other. But then it will turn outwards, to you. And again you’ll have no choice but to fight or die. All you can control is whether you’ll take the fight to him, or wait for Mephisto to hunt you down.”

“Lord Bel--”

“The Lord of the First would try to shield you, yes. He likes you well enough. He may even succeed for a time. But the Serpentine Order is everywhere; one slip is all it takes. Mephisto would have you, Raphael. Perhaps not within a year or ten, but he’d have you and the more he has to wait for his revenge, the more you’ll feel his wrath before you’re allowed to die.”

That was true; Raphael knew it even as his mind struggled, like a beast in a trap, to find any response, any other solution. He found neither. He had to force his next words out through a knot in his throat. “Why me?”

A shake of her head. “The Lord Below will tell you, if he’s so inclined, once you’re whole again. He is not unreasonable, child. You won’t be thrown against your father right away. You’ll need help even once whole again, and help you shall get. Past the help your companions may give you, if they’re so inclined.”

Somehow, Raphael had almost forgotten there were others there aside for himself and Baalphegor. He turned, still reeling, kneeling on the frozen ground. They stood only a few paces away, staring in silence, a grave expression on their faces. 

Well. On most of them. “I mean-- am I the only one who sort of assumed kicking Pisstopheles’ ass was gonna be on the menu from the start if we didn’t ditch him at the Citadel?” Karlach spoke, and grinned when she met Raphael’s gaze. “We took down an archdevil already, what’s another? We came all this way, and I have a big fuck-off axe.”

It took Raphael a few seconds to realize that the unpleasant braying nose he heard had come from his own throat, and that it was the closest approximation to laughter he could manage. “I highly doubt,” he managed in the end, “that your - as you charmingly put it - big fuck-off axe is going to cut it. Quite literally as well as figuratively.”

“Bullshit. Archdevils bleed like everyone else if you hit them hard enough.”

“Oh, that they do,” Astarion spoke, and tilted his head as though considering something. “I rather hoped we could avoid making too much of a mess, to be honest, but ah well. Where Durge goes, I go, and I’m ready to bet that their mind is set. What would an archdevil’s blood taste like, I wonder?”

“A single drop might very well kill you, I fear.”

“Must you always be such a spoilsport, Wyll?”

With the crunch of ice beneath boots, Durge walked up to Raphael, sank to a knee before him. Even like this, they towered over him. “Surely you cannot be such a fool to have thought, for a moment, that I’d let you face him alone.”

The knot in Raphael’s throat tightened. His scoff did not sound like a scoff at all. “I suppose I should have learned by now not to underestimate your madness. You’ll perish, too.”

“You used to be confident enough in your odds against him.”

“When an all-powerful Crown capable of imbuing me with godly powers was part of the equation. I don’t suppose Mystra would allow us to borrow it if we ask politely enough.”

“... Probably not.”

He almost laughed again at the absurdity of the situation. Almost. “We stand no chance.”

“I heard that before. Not least from you,” they said, and held out a hand. “Get up. We’ll make you whole again, first thing. Then-- we’ll work something out,” they added, clearly having read Astarion Ancunín’s non-existent guide to set up non-existent plans. “We usually do.”

And for all his dread, worst of all was the dismay at the task before him and the gut-wrenching realization that he had never wanted his sire dead. He’d only wanted to see him kneel, and call him-- archduke son of mine tell me you love me -- lord. He opened his mouth but he found that, for once, he did not know what to say. 

So he kept quiet, took Durge’s hand, and let them help him up to his feet again. He did not protest as Baalphegor and Adonides explained that they’d be taken to Mephistar soon, and that until then they may rest in a hidden chamber underneath the Shattered Castle.

 Indeed, for a long time he barely spoke. What difference would it make? The die was cast, and his fate was sealed.

There was truly nothing left to say.

***

Devoid of wandering souls, servants, children, and even the oaf he’d picked to work there as an archivist - he had a name, he supposed, but he could never be bothered to remember it - the Archive was blissfully silent, save for the scratch of Raphael’s quill on paper. 

The work was done for the day, a rather important contract concluded before he’d even returned to the House of Hope and headed to the boudoir for a proper celebration. Caedric’s decision to bring him the boy had rather sidetracked his plans for the late afternoon - see if Hope’s skin had grown back at last, and see if she was keen to be flayed again rather than accepting his most generous offer to serve him - so in the end, he didn’t get much else done. 

The boy had been sent to Nubaldin for what would probably turn out to be a steep learning curve - but wasn’t everything steep in the Hells, lessons and prices alike? - and Korrilla had somehow learned of the new arrival and the circumstances. She had come to find him, and not too subtly let him know he was welcome to pay up on their bet concerning Caedric at his earliest convenience. Raphael had sighed, handing her the soul coins.

“Needless to say, I shall have Caedric’s soul regardless.”

“Of course you will. Got to say, I’d expected him to throw someone else under the carriage to try and get released from contract. Wasn’t counting on that someone being a kid. Doubt anyone will mourn  when you tear the soul from his body. Where’s the poor bastard?”

“Nubaldin will show him what his duties are from now on.”

“Nubaldin? Kid’s going to be a walking bruise by the time the lessons are done.”

“Is your bleeding heart offering to take the unfortunate child under your wing?” 

A scoff. “Gods, no. And I think I’ll leave now before you get any more ideas like that.”

Raphael bit back a comment on how her sister may have been up for the task if she wasn’t a little tied up at the moment. She did leave, and for a time everything was silent while he kept writing. Business transactions, events of note, his observations on both.

He was so focused on the task at hand he did not hear the steps until Haarlep was right behind him, putting their hands on his shoulders. “Are you not coming to bed, master? It’s starting to feel very lonesome in there.”

“Are your soulless dolls not entertaining you enough?” Raphael asked, and bit back a groan when Haarlep’s hands clenched on his shoulders, thumbs digging into his back muscles. 

“Not nearly enough,” they lamented. “I sent them all away. You’re a lot more fun to unravel.”

“I’d say you’ve unraveled me plenty today.”

A sigh. “And I barely got a thanks for it! Nothing at all. Nubaldin got a present-- ”

“Nubaldin got a charge. I doubt he'll enjoy having to teach anything to a child.”

“... A mortal child, is it? A rare thing in the Hells. I am not sure I’ve ever seen one.”

“They look like any human, but smaller and with annoying voices.” A pause. “ More annoying.”

Haarlep made a face. “Ah, then I doubt he’ll have a good time with Nubaldin, dour as he is.”

Raphael scoffed and set down his quill, waiting for the ink to dry. 

“No one is in Avernus to have a good time, Haarlep. The boy will either learn fast or perish. When he fails, he’ll earn himself a beating and carry the marks of punishment for a time. The Hells have worse to offer than a heavy-handed gnome. There are--”

There are worse ways to learn lessons in the Hells, he almost said, but words remained stuck in his throat. Suddenly he was no longer in his House of Hope, no longer in Avernus. He was in Cania on the day he turned four-and-ten, with a cup of Infernal wine in his belly and another half-emptied cup in his hands - about to learn quite the harsh lesson indeed. He sat on something soft and there were hands on his shoulders, like Haarlep’s own were now.

But the esteemed Magistrate Bele’s hands had been smooth and almost cold when they slid under his shirt. There had been that soft voice telling him how clever he was, how resourceful, and yet more he could not catch - but it was praise and he’d ached for it. A hand had guided the cup to his mouth, to have him drink more, and he had. Bele had called him a little prince, and told him he should celebrate properly, what a shame that none but him had marked the occasion. Then the cup was empty, the hand on his shoulder pushed him down--

“Raphael?” Haarlep’s voice cut through it all in the same moment Raphael tasted blood on his tongue. It took him a few moments to realize he was biting down into his fist hard enough to grind his teeth against bones. Steaming blood dripped on his diary, covering the ink.

Raphael muttered a curse, and held his bleeding hand away from the table. A muttered spell, and the skin healed. He scowled, and pushed the memory in the back of his mind, pushed the question in the back of his mind-- did Mephistopheles know? -- to stand, abruptly.

“Very well. I’ll entertain you.” He snapped the diary shut and turned to face Haarlep, holding back the urge to tear off his own skin as he tore skin off Hope not long before. They blinked, taken aback but not overly surprised. It was not the first time they witnessed a reaction they did not quite understand… and which they would not understand. There were few things  Raphael had kept from Haarlep; how he allowed Bele to make a fool of him was one of them. 

A grin. “Oh, I thought you’d never--”

“The Archduchess. Now.”

The grin froze, not in dismay but certainly in surprise. “Twice in a day? Are you certain?”

“I am.” He grasped Haarlep’s chin. “This time, I forbid you to stop until you see my bones. ”

Haarlep stared for a few moments, as though trying to work out what exactly was going on in Raphael’s mind. They found no answer, but in the end they clearly decided they did not care.

“As my little brat desires,” they replied, and leaned in to kiss Raphael - softly at first, and then  deep, stroking his tongue with their own until he was light-headed and trembling, already half hard in his trousers - from their saliva, and from what was to come.

It was then that they allowed themself to change. The Archduchess bit into Raphael’s lower lip with sharp teeth, drawing more blood. Raphael groaned, and the Archduchess grasped a horn, pushing him in the middle of the room, forcing him onto the mosaic of his own ascended form. The symbol of his power, a legacy taken rather than given, now but a stage to bring him low. Raphael shivered, and barely cried out when a kick sent him sprawling.

“Undress,” the Archduchess’ voice orderer, a snap in the air telling him she already had the flail in hand. “Kneel. Face to the floor. Now, pet. Don’t make me ask twice.”

He did make her ask twice, of course, so he could taste the punishment that followed. As hot blood dripped on cold marble and widened to hide the effigy of his ascended form - the mosaic showed it as it should have been, unmarred, still with all its eyes - Raphael screamed and screamed and screamed, his mind finally empty again.

It was a relief.

***

It took three days before they received word that they would be taken to the vaults within hours. Mephistopheles had been called to Nessus by Admodeus alongside others to officially recognize Bel as Lord of the First; Barbas was following a fake lead suggesting Haarlep hid in Phlegethos at Fierna and Belial’s court. The way was as clear as it was ever going to be. 

Raphael had nodded at the news, but he had not said much else. He’d been silent for the best part of the past days, except for brief responses to Durge or Haarlep. At one point Astarion had resorted to throwing a snowball to his head just to see if that would get any reaction out of him, if only some undignified sputtering, to no avail. He’d looked at him, muttered something about how that was the most puerile thing he’d witnessed any of them doing yet - behind him, Karlach was making snow angels - and that had been it. 

As they made their last preparations inside the chamber of ice beneath the Shattered Castle where they had been sheltering - hopefully they would not have to fight, but it never hurt to be ready - he was still silent. Wyll had thought he’d be looking forward to finally taking the other half of his soul back, but obviously the knowledge of what he’d have to do afterwards - kill his sire, the Lord of the Eighth and Archmage of the Hells - was all that consumed him. 

So, when he approached to see that he was sharpening the rapier he’d given him, Wyll decided not to address that . After all, that was not the day they’d face Mephistopheles.

“You know, I never asked what your mother’s name is,” he said instead, sitting next to Raphael and giving him pause. “As we’re going to meet her shortly, I think it would be proper.”

Raphael was quiet for a moment, but he responded without looking at him. “Dalah Starspire.”

“Starspire, like the mountains in Tethyr?”

“Yes. Her husband’s family took its name from the mountain range.” Raphael’s hand went to the locket at his neck. “But she was from Cormyr, just south of the Storm Horns mountains.”

“Ah, like-- that ‘down came the claw’ lullaby? Did you learn it from her?”

Raphael scoffed. “In a sense. I have no memory of her, and I highly doubt she had time for that while dying. But she did have a book of poetry and rhymes from her land. It was given to me when I turned seven.” A pause, a frown. He stared down at the rapier in his hands.  “There was a lot I was not told. Her husband was not inclined to speak of her.”

That was something Wyll could understand: he knew next to nothing of his mother, if not that her name had been Francesca and that his father had loved her something fierce. Ulder Ravengard had grieved her so deeply, he could rarely say much more; the pain in his eyes kept Wyll from asking more. But when he spoke of her death to his son, he lied. 

A fever took her shortly after your birth, he’d said. It had not taken Wyll too long to learn that she’d died in childbirth, and that his father had lied so he would not feel guilty for it. Wyll did tend to take on more burdens than he ought to, but he had enough sense not to feel guilt for something that had been entirely beyond his control. Yet he’d wondered if his father had thought it a fair exchange, his wife gone for the sake of one son. He’d never said anything to that effect, but Wyll still tried to do his best at everything, to be a son he could be proud of. 

The memory ached in his chest, but Wyll chased it away and managed a smile. “Well, isn’t it lucky that you’ll get to hear it from her?” 

“... Perhaps. But taking the other half of my soul remains my priority. Once I am whole again, I may be afforded the dignity to at least put up a fight when Mephistopheles inevitably destroys me.” Raphael’s features twisted a moment in something Wyll could not quite decipher before he pressed his lips together and sheathed the rapier. “Adonides is coming.”

There was the sudden sound of wind in the middle of the room, and that whirlwind of snow and ice that heralded the arrival of the Steward of Cania. Wyll took in a long breath and stood.

“Come on. It’s time to go take your soul back,” he said, and held down a hand.

Raphael said nothing, but he did take it.

*** "Of course I love my father. Without him, whom would I have to strive against?" — Glasya, daughter of Asmodeus. ***

[Back to Chapter 32]

[On to Chapter 34]

[Back to Start]

[ofmdsalt]

i really enjoyed con and taika’s implied backstory/headcanons for izzy and ed’s past and how they met at kids, grew up together etc etc and i was always really bummed that we never get a flashback to see that.

then I saw the fandom discourse and it’s sheer unerring devotion to misread every single one of Izzy’s relationships & interactions in the worst possible faith, and I’m pretty sure that if we’d gotten that flashback in canon, the gentlebeardies would say some shit like “it’s so clear now that Izzy groomed Ed from the beginning” because that is level of media illiteracy we are at.

hey op! if you have any links to where con and taika have talked about their backstories for there characters, i'd love to check them out and see what they said!

the one part on Taika's take on Ed and Izzy's relationship is him saying to Con that they were like Jesus and Judas Iscariot from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar and i for one find this imagery very interesting! indulge me for a moment here.

many people raised within a Christian context and/or society all likely know of the story of Jesus and Judas. Judas, as one of the original 12 disciples, being the one to eventually betray Jesus and lead the Romans to him in the Garden of Gethsemane all for 30 pieces of silver. the guilt of this leads Judas into killing himself. the interpretation of his character is predominantly about how bad he is. how evil he is. how he is responsible for Jesus' death and it's largely simplified his character. i prefer more modern interpretations of him, and i think Jesus Christ Superstar made him a much more nuanced character than say others media have done (Mel Gibson's fairly antisemitic Passion of the Christ comes to mind when it sort of also supports the over-simplification of Judas' role in Jesus crucifixion)

but this is all to say the interpretation i like the most comes from the understanding of Judas being more concerned and hesitant about Jesus when he started kicking up more attention. more attention directed at them. like clearly Judas was comfortable with what Jesus was saying and preaching. he stuck around long enough to be called a disciple, but the moment those words turned into actions? when Jesus started flipping tables in the temple? when he started miraculously healing and calling people back from the dead? well, now, hang on, Teacher. all this noise will draw the ire of the Romans. is that what we want? is that what you are calling us to do? what if they come and jail us? what if they kill us? Jesus' radicalism in a time of oppression may have scared those too willing to keep their head down. consume some radical materials on the side, but otherwise not stick their necks out too far out of fear they would get themselves killed. i mean, Peter likewise denied ever knowing Jesus for fear that he would be crucified too.

but even after all that, Jesus was killed. murdered by the state for his beliefs. perhaps Judas didn't think they would take it that far. that he wouldn't be made a message, but he was. and it's that grief that pushed Judas into committing suicide

going back to the parallels of Ed and Izzy, it's easy to see where Taika would get this inspiration. Jesus Christ Superstar starts with Judas warning Jesus against Mary Magdalene because accepting a prostitute would go against his teachings. Izzy is frustrated by Ed's growing fascination with Stede because it goes against his teachings of keeping pets on board, and Izzy tries to get Ed to see how Stede is nothing more than a pet project to Ed. and pets are not allowed.

i can see Izzy's frustration with Ed's changing path of being more "why would you give up the image of Blackbeard when that fearsome reputation has kept you and your crew safe for all this time? why would you give it up to be this gentleman? to be this fish out of water?" just as Judas might wonder why Jesus is as outspoken as he is. why draw more attention to yourself? why make yourself a deliberate target in this way? why why why?

Judas does what he thinks is best in the moment and so does Izzy, but Izzy doesn't let Ed go to his doom. he pays his bail and tries to show him why it's dangerous for people like them to give up on the things that have kept them safe. even if those ways of being are no longer required. the world has changed, is changing, and they should change with it.

it's a tragedy what they have become. too used to the pain and violence that has become a reality for them to even see that there is another way of existing.

all we can do now is speculate on how Ed and Izzy came to meet and how they came to be friends. how they came to be what they are. i think there's a lot of potential for people to play around with who they were, how they rose to infamy, and how they ultimately destroyed each other. it was mutual self-destruction and it's frustrating to see how certain other fans try to over simplify the relationship. either by removing Ed's agency entirely to say that it was all Izzy's doing, despite how they also assert that Izzy is actually a terrible planner and has never done anything successful in his life ever.

im sure David and co had more plans for Ed and Stede flashbacks as they did throughout s1. it would've been interesting to see how Ed took on the name Blackbeard. where he started. where it all came together because we all know how it fell apart

[4kennels]

My Life as a Dog

dawgboy4MASTER@aol.com

Chapter #1

Synopsis: A story of innocent young college boy changes his status to be a dog for a scientific experiment.

I have a powerful recurring fantasy image of myself. In the image, I am a pet dog. I have always loved animals and treasure my memories growing up with a pet golden retriever.

I loved that golden and he loved me. He was my prized possession. Through teenage triumphs and disappointments, I always knew that I had one true and loyal friend. I often told my pet about how lucky he was to be such a loved and treasured possession. I told him how lucky he was to have none of my worldly concerns. After all, I was his entire world. All he had to do is make me happy.

I missed my pet while I was away at college. I visited home as often as I could. I felt more than a bit guilty that I rushed home not to see my family, but to see my loyal pet. I was crushed when, in the middle of my junior year, he died.

A part of me died also. I felt guilt at not being with him for the last two and one half years or even at the end.

I had to go on. I returned to school and threw myself into my studies. I had been a psych major for the last year with a minor in biology. My friends drifted away as I focused more and more of my energies on my classes. I spent so much time in classes and hanging around the labs that I soon got to know the faculty quite well.

One of the professors and I seemed to hit it off on both an academic and personal plain. He was older and handsome and very intense when it came to his work. He taught three courses and spent the rest of his time working on grant research. What really got my attention was the fact that his test subjects were all canine.

I eventually applied for and got the job as his lab assistant. The job primarily involved feeding, cleaning up and grooming the dogs that were used in the professor's experiments. That was just fine with me. I would also get a chance to help out once in a while with his experiments.

The professor, William, was researching conscience and subconscious behavior programming techniques applied to animals. A lot of what we did was very reminiscent of puppy obedience school. It was only later that I learned that his major funding was coming from the CIA.

One day, he asked me if I wanted to earn a modest testing fee by helping him with one of his his projects. I eagerly agreed and reported to his lab early that Saturday. I was taken to an unused classroom and asked to fill out an extensive questionnaire. I was told that following that, I would be interviewed and then the testing would begin.

I was disappointed that the project did not involve the dogs which I had naturally grown quite close to. He told me that this phase of his work strictly involved human subjects.

The questionnaire covered a lot of personal background data including family, hobbies and interests. It even asked if I had any close friends, either a girl friend or a boy friend. Eventually the questions became more abstract and I realized that I was taking a very thorough psychological screening test.

I answered the questions as well and as honestly as I could. In fact it was a bit embarrassing when asked about my feelings toward animals and any special pets. I felt like I was betraying confidences between me and my pet.

Finally I finished the questionnaire. I realized that I had been watched because as soon as I set my pencil down, William came back into the room.

The next two hours were spent with me pouring out my soul to the professor in response to his constantly probing questions. Before I knew about it I was talking about my pet and how much I missed him and the closeness of our owner/pet relationship.

With this completed, I was told that there were two more tests to complete. The first was a brief medical examination including a blood test and extensive physical measurements. The second was a kind of word association game using a series of pictures.

The pictures ranged from the fairly abstract ink spot variety to some very strange and explicit pictures of sex and fetishes. The last picture and the one that really struck a nerve showed a man sitting in a comfortable chair reading his newspaper. Next to him on a lamp table was a drink. He was looking up from his paper and gazing thoughtfully at the image to his side. A small cocker spaniel was sitting up in a classic begging pose trying with all of its being to get his attention and to please its master. Sitting a couple of feet from the dog was a young man about my age. He was naked except for a studded dog collar padlocked tightly about his neck. He was up on his kneels with his hands drawn in front of him in exactly the same pose as the dog. He too was facing the man in the chair. But he was stealing a side ways glance at the dog.

I was asked to look at the man's face and explain as well as I could what he was thinking at that moment.

After some brief reflection, I said that he was embarrassed to be reduced to the same social status as the dog. But apparently proud to be his pet. He was obviously committed to pleasing his master. His look at the dog told me that he was feeling competitive with the dog and a bit jealous of the real canine.

The professor looked at me a little bit strangely as I interpreted the drawing. He seemed pleased by my responses.

There were more pictures, but soon the professor announced that we had done enough for the day. I was told that I had done very well and to come back tomorrow to discuss the results of the test. I was paid and dismissed.

That night I had a vivid dream about that last picture and of course I played the role of the collared man. I woke up and continued my dream in a semi waking state. Before I realized it, I had rubbed my self to a very satisfying orgasm. I couldn't get that picture and my resulting orgasm out of my mind for the rest of the morning.

That afternoon, I returned to the professor's lab. I was asked to wait in the room containing all of the dogs' cages. I didn't mind a bit and took the opportunity to scratch behind the ears of all of my little friends.

The professor then joined me and said that he wanted to follow up on yesterday's testing with one more procedure. I agreed and allowed myself to be put into a hypnotic trance. I woke up in what appeared to me to be seconds and felt very refreshed. I had no memory of what had occurred while I was in the trance.

The professor then confessed that I had not really been taking part in an experiment. He was in fact screening people for his next experiment. He had screened over a hundred people and narrowed the field down to two. Me and another guy on campus.

He later told me that his screening criteria included finding someone who would have an academic or professional interest in his behavior modification experiments, a person who liked being around and handling dogs, a person who was very open to subconscious programming such as hypnosis and someone with clear submissive tendencies. I blushed and objected to the last characterization, but knew it to be true.

We talked at length about his study and his goals to better understand the human mind. To test his understanding of the human mind, William had to demonstrate the ability to shape it and control it. Apparently the control aspect of his experiments was what kept the government's grant money coming in.

With this background, he asked me if I wanted to hear his proposal. He prepared me to be shocked. He also admitted that he had implanted several suggestions when I was under the hypnotic trance to help me understand and appreciate what he was about to tell me.

He explained that his research and animal experiments were done. They had been a great success. The dogs had helped him to demonstrate his theories and their application to the University and more importantly the Government.

The University was reluctant to take the next step with human trials. It threatening to shut him down when the Government Agent spoke up. The University was overruled and ordered to assist the professor to mount a full fledged demonstration with a human subject.

The project would demonstrate the professor's techniques to modify a human subject's behavior and to alter certain of the subject's personality traits.

The Government saw that the results would have far reaching applications ranging from criminal reform to covert government operations. The Agent wanted the toughest test that could be devised of the professor's theories.

The Agent reasoned that it wouldn't prove very much if one set of human characteristics were simply substituted for others He insisted that the personality transference should go deeper and involve an alternate personality completely alien to the subject. Looking around at the lab animals, he came up with the ultimate test of the professor's approach.

William explained that the Agent pulled him aside and privately asked how confident he was of his theories. Could William make a person take on the behavior and personality of say an animal? The answer was yes, but the process was not really designed for that.

The Agent apparently had his own agenda and would not listen to William's protests. The agent announced that the project funding would continue if and only if a human subject was conditioned to live for a full year as a dog.

William told me that both he and the University argued in vain. In the end the University was told to either support this project or lose all of their grant work. William was told that he had two choices only.

·==continue the experiment in the University setting

OR

===he would be forced to continue in an isolated government facility

Eventually both the University and William agreed to proceed with the human trials portion of the project.

I should have been stunned, but for some reason I calmly absorbed the fantastic story that William told me. I actually found myself wondering what it would be like to undergo this process and be a dog. Hell some of my closest friends had been dogs.

William said that he would not blame me if I simply got up and left. I insisted that I was OK and wanted to hear more. What I had heard so far intrigued me and I was curious about how they planned to proceed.

He assured me that all effects of the conditioning would be reversible. William said that I would be paid very well for my participation. I would receive full room and board, be granted 30 credits and have $100,000 deposited into my account for completing the trial. Jokingly, he also said that I would probably become famous. The downside was that I would have to take a year off from regular classes and probably delay my graduation by a semester or more. I would also not be able to see friends and family for the duration of the project.

As in any experiment with human volunteers, a number of legal releases and other documents would have to be executed by me and my parents.

I was concerned about what my parent's reaction would be, but William assured my that the Government would persuade them.

The release that I would have to sign sent shivers up and down my spine. William was not kidding, I would be a dog in every way for a full year. The release included:

==My statement that I have agreed to suspend for the term of one year all of my rights and privileges as a human being and citizen of the country and state.

==My agreement and revocable permission to be treated as an animal in all aspects by the professor and his assignees.

==My acknowledgement that I would enjoy the protection of the animal human statutes and all rules and regulations concerning experimentation with lab animals.

==My permission for medical tests and otHis procedures.

== My agreement that I would undergo a rigorous canine training program which would include, but not be limited to, physical correction and subconscious programming.

William explained that part of the experiment involved my canine role outside of the lab. He said that school authorities would be advised and a feature story on the experiment would be run in the school and local newspaper. This way, I would cause less of a public sensation when seen being led on my leash.

He told me that I would be dressed in a transparent spandex bodysuit during the experiment. The only other thing that I would be wearing would be a special dog collar. The collar contains electronic monitoring and control equipment. William showed me the suit and collar.

I ran my fingers over the leather and metal of the collar and felt the shiny and tight body suit.

Lingering perhaps a little too long with the articles, William suggested that I take them home tonight. William then told me to sleep on his proposal and see him at 10:00am the next morning. There would be one more test if I agreed. The Government agent would be there and would want to meet the two candidates for the experiment.

Once again I had several vivid dreams of myself immersed in the dog role. The dreams were probably stimulated by my nighttime attire. Yes, I was already wearing the body stocking and the collar. The collar seemed to fit me exactly over the body stocking and had been difficult to get clasped. I dreamt that William was holding my leash in a puppy obedience class. I also dreamt that I was being taken for a walk across campus. Oddly, everyone we encountered treated me as a dog.

When I got up, I discovered that I had apparently jammed the collar's lock on the neck of the body stocking. Thank goodness that the stocking was fitted with a open crotch area.

Feeling quite embarrassed, I put a raincoat over the collar and bodysuit. Donning a pair tennis shoes, I set out for William's office for the third morning in a row.

William took one look at me without the raincoat and said that he would guess that my answer was yes. Turning beet red, I confirmed his assumption.

Without warning, William reached for what looked like a TV remote control. Following his pressing of a switch, I felt a tingling sensation emanating from the collar. Without any conscious thought, I dropped to my knees. I also found that I could not stand and could not talk.

He briefly tested my vocal ability finding that I was reduced to barking and growls. Reaching down to me, he attached a chain leash to my collar and led me into another room.

I was being "introduced" to the government agent. Apparently he liked what he saw. I was released from the collar's control and told that I could have the job if I wanted it. It would start in one week once all of the paperwork and medical lab work was completed.

Once we were alone again, William explained the function of the collar. Apparently I had been given a number of post hypnotic suggestions that could be individually triggered by the collar. The actual experiment would include this type and other control techniques.

William then reviewed all of the legal papers and a checklist for putting my things in storage, subletting my apartment and other things. I would have to work quickly to be ready in a week.

William sent me on my way. Once again I took the collar and bodysuit. I hoped that they would stimulate more dreams of my like as a dog

END OF CHAPTER #1

Hope you are enjoying…shall i continue.

[stickycave]

Growing Obsessions

Summary:

An average school day living with your mom and stepdad Jack. He's been a great partner to your mom, and an attentive dad to you over the last three years, everyday is a good day when you're his little sunshine.

Pairings: Stepdad!Jack/Stepchild!Reader

🎀 ︵‿୨❣️୧‿︵ 🎀

CW: Underage, reader is 12 - Slow corruption - Stealth grooming - Non-con come eating - Underwear stealing - Jack in general being a sneaky creep to one of the two people he loves most in the world 💕- cancer is mentioned in one sentence but no one is sick

“Sundrop, time to wake up sweetheart,” a soft voice beckons you awake with a gentle tap on your shoulder.

You blink your eyes open, yawning.

“Aw, school again?”

He chuckles and pets your hair.

“Yes, again, sweetie. But only one more day and then it’s the weekend. You can do one more day, can’t you?”

You grumble and rub the sand out of your eyes.

“I guess. Just one more day.”

He grins and kisses the top of your head.

“That’s my little Sunshine, such a brave ray of light,” he chuckles when you groan, feeling too old for that kind of talk now but he’s not ready to let it go yet, “alright, I’ll get breakfast ready.”

Leaving you alone to get dressed.

You’re greeted at the table by Jack and your mother doting over one another. She cups his face as they stare lovingly at one another, he tips her chin up to kiss her as they whisper sweet nothings to one another.

“Ew, can you guys do that when I’m at school at least,” your complaints are only halfhearted. It’s nice to see how happy your mom is, and Jack has says it’s good for you to see what a loving couple looks like. They both laugh at your preformative disgust, your mother apologizing.

“Come on and get some food, you have a big day ahead of you.”

Sitting at your regular spot and digging into breakfast, you roll your eyes, “you mean sitting at a desk all day? Yup, so busy.”

“It will be for your brain,” Jack ruffles your hair.

You spend a picturesque morning with your mother and Jack, talking about plans for the day. Almost every weekday morning has been like this for three years now, Jack moving in when you were only nine. It’s been three years since then, you started calling him dad after the first year, you’re 12 now.

Jack checks his watch, “alright Sunny, we better get going, wouldn’t want you to be late.”

You and your mom kiss each other on the cheek as you wish each other a good day and you meet Jack in the car.

You make sure to buckle up, staring out the window at the passing scenery as the hanging air freshener makes everything smell of cotton candy. He hums a song as he drives.

“Is that one you’re gonna teach the elementary kids today?” You’re in middle school now, but Jack’s music class was one of your favorites back in elementary school, he always made it so fun!

“That’s right. You know, if you ever wanted to pick up music again, I would be happy to be your teacher a second time,” his focus is on the road as he pats your shoulder.

“Oh, maybe! I think there’s an instrument I want to try.”

“Really? That’s great, we can talk all about it after school.”

The car pulls up, kids milling about the grounds before the first bell rings. You unlock your seat belt and turn to face him, “thanks for the ride, Dad,” you tilt your head upwards as he leans down to meet you in the middle for your goodbye kiss. You part your lips and welcome the familiar taste of sugar and blueberries as his tongue slips into your mouth. You used to hate anything blueberry flavoured when you were little, but when he taught you how to do a family kiss, it grew on you. You return the kiss with a suck on his tongue, easier now that you’re a bit older and it doesn’t fill your entire mouth, that has him sighing into you.

He pulls back, presses one more soft peck to your lips, and swipes a thump over them, wiping away any stray saliva. He speaks to you in a tender voice, looking at you in a way that always makes you feel like the most special person in the world, “of course, Sunbeam. Have a good day, I'll pick you up like always.”

The day grinds on, nothing significant happening through the day other than your friend Cassie got a boyfriend at the beginning of the day and was single again by the end of it… that and something your friends talked about weighs on your mind…

The final bell rings, and outside waiting for you is Jack, standing on the grass and waving to you with a smile.

“There’s my ray of light! How was your day?” He turns to walk back to the car but is stopped by your hand grabbing his, tugging on it to turn him back around. He concedes, stopping in his tracks and facing you, “Sunspot? Everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything’s okay, just,” you squeeze his hand, fidgeting in place a bit as you think of what you want to ask.

He lowers himself onto one knee to be at the same eye level as you. You’re not as little as you once were, but still much smaller than Jack.

“What is it, sweetie? You know you can tell me anything,” he squeezes your hand back and rests the other on your hip comfortingly, as if you’re about to waltz.

“Jude’s stepdad is kinda,” you hesitate on how to describe the things Jude vented about, “mean to him and his mom. And Lily says the same about her stepmom. So why are you so nice to me and mom? Obviously, the whole evil stepparent thing is just in stories, but all my friends say…” you trail off. It’s just confusing, why are other stepparents so mean when Jack isn’t?

A look of understand falls across his face. He cups your cheek.

“I’m very sorry for Jude and Lily. I don’t know why their stepparents aren’t as nice to them as they should be. But I know why I work really hard every day to make sure you and your mom are happy and loved. I think you know why to; can you take a guess for me?”

“Because,” you take a deep breath and sigh, “you love Mom and me.”

His thumb pets your cheek, and he tilts his head in a smile, “exactly. I love your mom so, so much,” his voice tightens a bit with emotion just thinking about it, “she is the most important person in the whole world to me.”

“And me?” You stare at your shoes, uncertain for a moment where that leaves you. You’re glad he loves your mom as much as he does, but he’s also the only real dad you have.

“And you are a part of your mother, an extension of her,” you’re tugged into a hug, your own arms readily wrapping around him as well, “and I love you every bit as much as I adore her and I’m so excited to see you grow into your own wonderful person, to be so proud of who you are and will be,” Jack presses his face into your neck as he squeezes you, a hand over your shoulder, the other on your butt to give you a full body squeeze of comfort.

“I love you to, dad,” you feel a brief peck to your neck and giggle, he’s always liked tickling you with kisses. You push his face away, “Dad! No fair!”

He winks playfully and stands back up, “just keeping you on your toes, cutie pie,” with a roll of your eyes at the nickname, you both head for the car.

“Don’t call me that! I’m not a little kid anymore, I’ll be 13, a teenager, in a few months!”

🎀 ︵‿୨❣️୧‿︵ 🎀

You spent your evening artfully avoiding homework until dinner time.

Taking a seat, everyone talks about their day as Jack adds the sauce to your meal like he does every night. It’s a salty white sauce, something about extra vitamins and protein for your growing body. Dinner is comfort food tonight and when you comment how good it is, he makes the same joke as usual.

“The secret ingredient is love, my love for my two darlings,” mom groans and rolls her eyes with a grin and you wonder when the last time you saw her frown was.

After dinner you wash your hands and go to your room to change into some cozy clothes. As you start to strip, there’s a knock on your door.

“Dad?”

“Yes, it’s me. Is it okay if I come in?”

“Yeah, but do we really have to do it tonight? I wanna watch a show before bed.”

“Alright, I’ll make it quick then,” the door creaks open and close behind him. His eyes take note that your shirt is already off, exposing your chest for him as he sits with you on your bed.

“Are your hands warm this time?”

“Yes, I promise they’re warm this time, now hold still and you can go watch your show.”

You nod, expecting him to keep his promise as you push your chest out. His hands warm and firm cup and caress you, his eyes in focused concentration.

“It feels like you check me and give me chest massages all the time now.”

“I know it feels that way, but as you get older it’s only going to be more important,” his hands apply pressure, fingers digging into the tender skin of your chest, “it’s rare but anyone with any kind of body can develop lumps or cancer in their chest. I just want to make sure you’re healthy and help prevent anything from happening to you.”

It didn’t used to bother you when you were nine or even eleven, but lately it’s been harder not to squirm and feel warm when he checks and massages you. He kneads the area thoroughly, carefully making sure there’s nothing unusual as he pulls the tissue of your flesh this way and that with his diligent fingers. You yelp in a voice you don’t know if you’ve used before as his thumbs press into your nipples, causing unfamiliar shocks through your body.

“Dad!”

“Sorry Sunshine, I thought I felt something.”

“Yeah, my nipples!”

You shiver, taking a deep breath. Glancing at his face you see an odd expression you don’t know the name of as he teases the bottoms of the little buds that have perked up like usual, but there’s a red tint to his cheeks. He blinks a few times and lets you go, leaving an almost tingling sensation behind and an odd urge for you to hold your chest yourself.

“Alright, you’re in the clear. See? Quick, just like I promised. I’ll let you finish changing and the TV’s all yours until bedtime-- I mean curfew.”

You nod decisively, about to correct him before he did so himself.

Once he’s gone, you finish changing, noting the annoying sticky substance in your Bluey themed underwear. That keeps happening, a little bit of sticky stuff coming out of you and making your underwear dirty, but you have no idea why. Oh well, probably more puberty junk. For a moment, you consider throwing them away, Bluey is for little kids! But you do still really like them… and it’s not like your friends will ever know to tease you about it! So, you drop them in the dirty laundry bin.

🎀 ︵‿୨❣️୧‿︵ 🎀

Yawning, you’ve already said good night to both parents, kissing mom on the cheek and hugging Jack where he squeezes your whole body again. Now, you crawl into bed but even with the lights off you notice that while the rest of your dirty clothes still sit in the bin, waiting for laundry day, your underwear is missing. Dad must have grabbed them; he washes everyone's underwear ever few days by hand in the sink. Says it’s better for the fabric and elastic so they don’t get torn up in the washer. When you find his underwear in the laundry while helping mom with chores, you both are sure to scold him for forgetting to take care of his own clothes as well as he takes care of the both of yours.

You roll over and close your eyes, knowing in the morning you’ll be woken up by Jack again and get to enjoy the weekend. You hear your parents laugh together down the hall. You must be pretty lucky, your family so full of warmth and love and joy.

You can’t wait to wake up again.

(AN: Wasn't able to find a way to work it in this one (maybe the future), but Jack's white sauce that's obviously his come with some spices is because while you are your mothers child which is the reason he's just as obsessed with you, you do still have some of your bio father in you and this is Jack's way of making sure he's apart of you as well 🥰)

[foreverforgally]

In The Garden

A Gally Fanfic; Chapter 4

The kiss

Summary - Quinn Abigail Allen is the first female ever to grace the presence of the Glade. At first the tensions between her and keeper Gally are high, the enemies to lovers trope creeps through her life. Will she give into the trope? Or will she chose the love triangle?

Warnings - Maybe smut in different chapters or hints of sexual activity. Fluff! Angst! I am definitely not a good writer! Short chapter!

A few weeks went by in the Glade and ultimately I had been chosen as a Builder. Although we worked together, there wasn’t much speaking happening between me and Gally.

Everytime I figured we were going to address the situation, he would order me around like I was any other Builder that worked under him. He was actively avoiding me.

Outside of “work”, I didn’t have much to do in my very little free time. I did however make a few good friends. Elijah was a slicer, however his job was primarily to raise the livestock.

Elijah was tall, strong and his locks were a messy dirty gold color. "You busy today Eli?" His back faced me, he was planted on a stool, caring to one of the Glades many sheep's.

"Yeah sorry Q, Winston has us doing double time." He turned around on his chair, he beamed at me while giving me the bad news.

"Boring, can't those shanks give you a break," I walked along the wall of the shed, touching and playing with various tools.

"Aren't you supposed to be building... Y'know, as a builder?" He chuckled, turning back and putting his attention into the animal.

"Yeah, well Gally's in a mood, just yells incoherent nonsense and expects a corporate office." Bending down, I grabbed one of the piglet and held it into my chest.

"Soo you came to bother me instead of your job?" Elijah turned and smirked at me, hanging off his chair with a brush in his hand.

I rolled my eyes and put the piglet down. "You've never minded my company," I softly stated, "I just can't handle him when he doesn't want to talk to me." I had walked over to his stool, grasping his locks with my fingers, brushing and braiding.

Over time, while spending it with Elijah, we grew close. Our relationship was strange, we had already developed nicknames for one another and were comfortable with friendly physical touch.

"And how's that going for you?" His tone softening from the teasing, enjoying the sensation of the mini head message.

"He's infuriating, It's always his way or no way." By this time, I had my own stool and I spent my time taking my nerves out on Eli's hair.

"I mean, every time I get any percentage of close to starting a conversation, he just changes the subject to work," I babbled, "Ever since the 'almost kisses' and him becoming my keeper, he's completely belittled my existence." | dropped my hands in frustration.

"Wasn't he doing that before hand?" He raised his eyebrows in genuine question, turning his head to look back at me. I slapped the back of his head and he ducked out, holding the spot I hit.

"Ow!" He sassed at me, "You have no brain cells Eli." | stood up from my stool and walked back to the piglet.

"Are you interested in that pig?" He stood up aswell, The sheep being well groomed and ready for sheering.

I shrugged, she was cute. "I don't know, I like her spots." I smiled down at the piglet, she was a white pig with black spots, it particularly tickled her snout.

"Take her." He suggested, shrugging like it was such a casual offer. "Woah Elijah, I can't just take a pig. What, What would I even do with her?" The said pig bounced around and made little squeaks as her tail danced around.

"I don't know, probably give her a better life than we could, y/know, unless you're into eating your pets." He chuckled and I grimaced.

"Even if I did take her, what would I even do with her?" I questioned, watching her run around and squeal. "Keep her here, I’ll take care of her for you." He persisted.

What if the Glade needed this adorable, cute pig? "You promise it's not a big deal?" I wanted to make sure we wouldn't become a problem for him.

"Quinn, I promise from my death bed, that l'll take care of that pig," He smiled, "No questions asked." He scooped her up, gently placing her into my arms.

My face contorted in the sweet gesture, "Thanks Eli," I hugged him hard with an umph, his arms slowly wrapping around me securely.

"Anytime Q." He whispered into my hair. I pulled away and he kept his gaze on my eyes, running down to my lips. "What're you going to call her?" He asked softly, eyebrows raising.

" think I'll name her Sadie, cute right?" I looked down the pig in my arms. "Beautiful." His arms were still wrapped around my waist, gaze never leaving mine.

"Am I interrupting something?" Jesus can I just have one moment without someone walking in? I separated from Elijah's touch, him being more hesitant.

"Gally, I was just-" I hesitated, "Getting back to your post? You've been gone for over thirty minutes." He accused, his body looked tense and I knew I was in trouble.

"Right." I retorted, "I'Il see you later Elijah." I handed Sadie back to him, He looked down at me feeling sorry for me. I walked past Gally wordlessly, shoving my shoulder into his as I made it out of the shed.

Right in the middle of the Glade, Gally grabbed me by my upper arm and pulled me towards him. "What were you doing." He pressed angerly, "What does it matter to you Gally?” I spat his name out like venom, having enough of his attitude.

He scoffed, making random noises instead of answering my question. I scoffed, "Typical." I started to walk away, but his grip on my arm tightened and he pulled me back.

He did what I never thought he could do, He kissed me.

He grabbed me by the back of my head and placed his hand on my hip, smashing his lips into mine. All the tension we had evaporated in that one moment, that soft moment.

His lips moved in synch with my movements, his lips soft and wet. He pulled away slowly, our eyes still closed and the sounds of our breathing accelerating. I was so awestruck; I couldn't mutter a word.

He pulled away quickly, eyes shot up in shock and he removed himself from my body. “You just kissed me.” I gasped, feeling the tingle of my lips fade away.

“Yeah I did.” Gally was also shocked by his actions. Although the situation we’re in forces us to act like adults, we’re still children at heart.

“I have to go.. I’m super busy right now.” I stuttered out and ran away from Gally, and heart pacing out of my chest.

I left him there, I didn’t know what to say to him after that. It was everything I’ve wanted since i’ve been here and I just ran.

“Woah woah, why are you in a rush?” Newt stop in front of me, concern splat on his face as my breathing accelerated.

“He kissed me, he kissed me like on the lips and I just ran away I didn’t know what to say-“ I rambled fastly, “Quinn calm down, take a breath. What happened?” He looked me in the eyes with concern.

“Gally and I kissed in the middle of the Glade.” I finally said to him, His form was taken aback.

“Well good goin y’a shank, even if it’s with Gally but good goin.” He was proud of me, I don’t know why it didn’t feel right when I felt like I’ve been in this situation before.

I took a second to think about what had happened in the last few weeks. So much tension, to none at all, and finally to a kiss that’s been long overdue. It felt good.

“Yeah I, I guess I should be happy.” A smile grew on my face and Newt patted my back. “He kissed me.” I giggled out and and bit my lip.

Newt grimaced and shoved me into a bush. “Don’t be gross klunk.” Newt left me in the bush a walked away, how fucking rude.

“You look like a fucking muppet.” I muttered and picked myself out of the bush.

“We kissed.”

[shocked-collar]

Ren's the type of man to groom you over online games. The way he can take control of a lobby, the way you attract him with how well you listen and behave- it's just fun for you. Someone who knows what they're doing and who knows how to win the game taking charge because he knows he can. Feeling seen and admired because he recognized your strengths and weaknesses and put you in a specific, coordinated area because of it... But it's so much more to him.

You get praised for you performance. And when you fuck it up, he's very energetic. Basic gamer rage for a moment, before calming down and "Aaagh, that's alright. Next time!". An instant buddy. A stranger you feel the need to defend to other players, because "At least he's actually trying!" and oh god, the things it does to him.

You two become in-game friends. Every time you come online, you're sent a lobby invitation. You two get close. You meet his other friends, he meets yours. Soon enough, you've built an entire team of people on your side. You guys feel great! You feel like one of those famous, competitive teams! And Ren is never shy to tell you how good of a job you do.

Soon enough it's not just the game. It's your social media. You've added each other, and can now peer into each others lives. He loves talking to you. Tells you all the time how pretty you are in all your pictures. Comments on all your posts, likes everything, tags you in things.. Notices how close you two live to each other. He becomes pushy. He wants to talk all the time. His patience is thinning with you. He's almost possessive over you.

"So you played with [---] all day? And didn't invite me?" "Where were you? I missed you..." "Do you even like me anymore? I know we spoke 8 hrs ago, but you sounded cold.." "Fine. Yeah. Go play with [---]. No, I'm not mad, it's okay, just go do whatever you want." "You know I've got problems with being lonely.. You know I can't help it.."

One day, "an opportunity to meet" arises. He's going on a small trip and passing through your area, so you two get to hang out in real life! It's exciting, meeting such a good online friend you've had a while. The meeting is so nice. Ren is a lot smaller than you thought he would be, but his hugs are so strong! Once again, he is complimenting your features, and now, your figure. You two hangout at home for a while. You have fun showing him around, introducing him to any pets you may have, any things you hold dear- and he is very respectful. But he wants to see more.

You offer to take him to see some signature, fun areas in town. He's very excited! It's about an hour into the walk that his colors begin to show. He's got you all alone.

He pins you to the wall and takes you as he likes. Rapes you til your knees can no longer hold your weight. Makes you a mess like you've never been before. A friend you trusted, a friend you've had a while. He hurts you in such an evil way, and leaves you with a kiss. Even when you limp yourself home, you can still feel his hands on your body. You can still feel him inside. Can still feel the choke in the back of your throat, and the bruising he undoubtedly left in your tummy.

You are recovering mentally. Quiet, frozen days roll by, just waiting to be okay again. It's not like he didn't know. In fact, it's what got him off. You've never seen such evil out of a seemingly normal person, not personally. Sometimes you have nightmares about it, and wake up aroused. And now, you can't even go to your best online friend for help, because he did it. You feel like you're drowning. You're so lonely. It's too much to process.

You turn your brain off for a while. For the first time in a week or two, you pick up your controller, and turn on your game. Just a casual play is all you want. You come online.

'You've been invited to a lobby!'

[butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway]

Amara Day 4

The lil ladies have been struggling because Jaxxine so BADLY wants to be best friends with Amara, but Amara is still uncomfortable with being close to others. It's actually kinda funny to watch because Jaxxi will do her lil play stretch and squeak in front of Amara and Amara will get really happy for a second, all soft ears and wiggly tail, before she remembers to be scared. She's been hanging out on the bed with all of us pretty consistently, although she still tends to slide under the bed when she gets overstimulated.

We've officially put in an order for her ID tags, safety patches, and fieldtrip harness for the end of the month (bless Chewy's autoship for the convenience of just tossing in an extra thing here and there to your next shipment so you don't have to keep thinking about it)

She's got Do Not Pet patches, a leather utility harness, a leather collar, and ID tags with our info, her name, and the quote "Scared, not Scary". I found a tag that's shaped like a bee hive and engraved "sweet as honey" which is just so stinkin cute.

Today we've been doing a lot of careful socializing, and I know this series is about Amara, but I am just SO proud of Jaxxine and Tobi, and how they're interacting with Amara. Tobi can be kinda reactive himself, because he's always had chronic "tiny dog" anxiety, and has spent significantly more time socializing with cats than with dogs. And Jaxxi of course is an infinitely excitable lil baby gorl who has never met a friend she didn't love. In their own unique ways, their base temperaments were likely to be tough on Amara.

But much to my delight, both Tobi and Jaxxine have been so respectful of Amara's boundaries, and so firm-but-gentle about their own. Tobi has repeatedly tried to herd Amara in and out of the house for potty trips because he noticed she wasn't going on her own and he was worried. He kept running back to her, giving a lil yap, and then trotting back to the deck, only to turn back around and try again whenever she got anxious and stopped following him. Jaxxine has been so attentive to Amara's communication, and so snuggly with her whenever it's allowed. I'm so proud of my lil lovebugs and how well regulated and polite they've become. Amara has been visibly relaxing more and more each day, and despite her lingering trauma responses, she has mostly settled into a foundation of security with us.

I'm also really pleased with how resilient Amara's health seems to be. Four days into a healthy kibble, ground rabbit, and nutritional supplement milk has already started to restore a nice lustre to her fur, reduced the impact of her muscle fatigue/distressed movement, and reduced her dry nose. I'm still seeing a fair amount of scarring on the tips of her ears, but I'm hoping to start introducing her to more involved medical care and grooming this weekend. I'm thinking probably daily astringent cleansing and a carrier oil or whipped butter moisturizer massaged in via scar tissue scrungling. We have roses and crab apples, so maybe I can press some blossom oil for her. If not, I'll whip some shea.

We've got a lot left to work on, but I'm feeling very optimistic about Amara's responsiveness to care.

[softquietsteadylove]

Would you do another one for the Thenamesh Dressage AU?

Thena frowned as she made her way to the stables. She was here to check on Olympia before their afternoon training, as well as just spend some quality time with her horse.

"And so then I said, no, I dare you to do it!"

Thena tilted her head, her ponytail swaying against her shoulders. She knew that voice, despite having only spoken with him a few times by now. He was chatting with someone very casually. Maybe he was on break.

"We all do dumb things when we're young, though--right?"

Whomever he was speaking with didn't offer a reply. At least, not one that she could hear.

"Ah," he laughed, "you're still young. You have time for that kinda thing."

Thena approached as she heard the tapping of Olympia's fresh horseshoes being applied. "Gilgamesh?"

"Thena!" he looked up from scraping the mare's hooves out, waving at her with his farrier hammer. "Nice to see you!"

He had been talking to Olympia.

It seemed hard to believe, but there was not a single other soul present in the stables this early. Just him and Olympia, tied up to the post and letting Gil attend to her hoof care.

Thena looked at her mare, who bobbed her head lightly. "I'm sorry to interrupt your...riveting conversation."

Gilgamesh leaned up from Olympia's rear hoof and swiped at his forehead with his rolled up sleeve. He really was massive. "Well, it's mostly ,e blah-blah-blah-ing away. But this sweet girl has been indulgent of it so far, right?"

Olympia snorted, shaking her head faintly and stomping out her newly adorned hooves.

"Perhaps she likes taking part in your talks," Thena suggested with a light smile, running her hand over Olympia's coat, which only seemed to become softer and shinier. "I'm not the most talkative, even when it's just us."

"Do you play any music or anything when you hang out?" he asked with a shrug, not at all judging her quieter nature.

Perhaps it was his attachment to the horses that made him call it 'hanging out' when he was with them. It felt so...affectionate. Thena moved around her horse to inspect the work he'd done so far, "I suppose I ask her how she's feeling, tell her what to expect for training for the day."

"You could tell her some jokes."

Thena looked over Olympia's back at the taller man. She was sure her expression was frosty, at best. "Jokes?"

"Yeah," he smiled back at her, not at all intimidated by her prickly personality. He nudged Olympia's jaw, "hey, when's the best time to make a dentist appointment?"

Olympia blinked at him.

"Tooth-hurty!"

Thena sighed; right, 2:30... Despite the positively dreadful punchline, Gil laughed from his belly, and Olympia joined in his delight, knickering and bobbing her head even with her bridle in her mouth. Thena shook her head, running her hand over Olympia's mane to keep her from tugging at the reins too much. "Okay, all right...it was not nearly that funny."

"You're right," Gil wound down from his laughter, still smiling, "but she loves 'em. I've started reading an old joke book to her while we're grooming, just 'cause she likes them so much."

Thena sighed again, although she could feel a smile threatening to emerge on her face. She could just imagine him telling her horse truly awful jokes and little riddles and limericks as he shampooed her.

"I think she just likes to hear people laughing," he shrugged as he finished brushing her far side and finally laid her saddle blanket over her back. "It is the best medicine, y'know."

"Indeed," Thena drawled as he untied her reins and petted her nose gently. Olympia relished his touch, which still surprised Thena to a degree. He handed over the reins with a smile, "I'll try playing videos with laugh tracks for her."

"That's a great idea!" Gilgamesh beamed at her openly. He was such an open book, this caretaker. He walked alongside them as Thena led Olympia to her personal stable, the mare's lunch in his hand. "It's nice that you come in here to spend time with her. I swear I can't convince any of the riders to just hang out in here to save my life."

"Hm," Thena looked down at the bend of Olympia's legs as they clopped along. "Some of the other club members are...more career driven."

What she meant was that they didn't care enough about their horses, seeing them only as vehicles for the competitions they entered. She frowned upon it, and she wasn't afraid to make that opinion known. But the thing with rich equestrians was that they didn't much care what was thought of them.

"She misses you," Gil said lightly, shrugging his wide shoulders as he switched Olympia's food bucket between hands. "That's why I try to talk to her and stuff while we're here."

Thena smiled. The idea that he had begun the - rather odd - habit for her horse's comfort was kind of cute. "I appreciate your concern for her. I miss her too when I'm home."

Gil opened the door to the stall that was the champions', Olympia happily trotting into her little haybed with a fresh set of horseshoes on and her tail brushed. "Ooh, feelin' fancy?"

Olympia whinnied at him, free of her bridle.

"Settle down," Thena directed her gently, attempting to calm the mare. "You have food to eat."

"Smells good, right?" Gil grinned, wafting the bucket under Olympia's nose before hanging it up for her. "Fresh apple juice, a few chopped up carrots, some protein mix."

Thena watched as Olympia did indeed tear into her food, chosen and mixed lovingly by the caretaker. It was nothing like when Thena had chosen her food mix and had to argue with her everyday to eat it. "Unbelievable."

"What?"

Thena rolled her eyes, watching from a safe distance as Olympia ate, "that my horse adores you so much more than me."

"Hey," he denied gently, tilting his head at her, "I'm just, like, the fun babysitter, or the cool teacher, or something. She knows that you're her family."

Thena smiled. She certainly liked to think of it like that, even if her fellow riders liked to act like she was insane for having such a bond with her horse. "If I could fit her into my one bedroom apartment, I would."

Gil let out another deep laugh. It seemed the other horses were also used to this sound from him. "I know what you mean. I've got room and board here for the job, so I don't have much better an option."

Thena furrowed her brows, "they keep you here at the club? That seems-"

"It's not bad," he shrugged, cutting her off before she could voice how borderline unethical that seemed. How did he ever 'go home' after work if he lived here? "The cabin they gave me on the grounds is nice, and everything is covered under my salary."

"Still," Thena murmured, although Gil was already moving forward to collect Olympia's bucket for her.

"What a good girl," he cooed, getting nudged in the face to receive sloppy horse kisses to his cheek. "Okay, okay, you're welcome."

Thena laughed faintly as he walked out with the empty bucket, swiping at his ear, "you are a flirt."

Olympia flicked her tail in denial.

Thena glanced briefly in the direction the caretaker had disappeared. "I suppose I can see why you're...fond of him."

Olympia tilted her head to stare at her with one of her massive eyes.

Thena scratched her cheek, "but that does not mean I am going to read you dad jokes."

[rainninpain]

My boyfriend of four years cheated on me and thr only reason I ever found out was because he paid this female for sex it was a regular thing between them for several years before he met me. Ive been struggling for awhile with my mental health and was actually in the hospital when he fucked this bitch. He didn't pay her all of what he owed so she messaged me to tell me what they did and to tell me her youngest kid was his.

Before the revelation of cheating came about I handed him my phone one night so he could look something up, I was grooming my dog. He not only looked up what we needed he went to my texts messages and looked for messages between another ex bf and a former fiance. There were inappropriate messages from them talking about sex but there was never any acting on it as opposed to be actually physically got with this chick.

Anyhow for months and months he tried to find more and more ways to make me that bad guy when he crossed the physical line. I never denied those texts were inappropriate in a relationship, but he found ways to continuously find ways to read my emails and messages. First i locked the phone, than my tablet, than my car from when my phone was on blue tooth and than finally my smart watch.

I had been sexually assaulted and he didnt seem to care he pressured me more and more about how we werent habing sex and he needed intimacy and blah blah. He brought this shit up over and over for two years. I asked him repeatedly to table the conversation about our sex life and intimacy but he wouldnt.

Two weeks ago I called him out on the fact that he rarely listened to me when talking to him about anything. He didn't say anything. I asked him how often he was talking to the chick he fucked he said rarely. I already knew that was a lie but wanted him to be honest and he wasn't. Than i saw she was coming to town to visit whatever family she has here and i asked him and he lied again. He than got pissed off at me for telling him she couldnt come in our home nor was i going to allow him to take our vehicle to go see her and/or give her a ride. He laughed and called me dumb.

I asked what normal woman would be ok with their partner talking too and hanging out with the woman they cheated with?! He said probably none.

A week goes buy and I am no longer able to fight with him.about this but asked why he can't just be honest. The next night he sends me a text message, couldnt even tell me in person that he isnt in love with me and hasnt been and all this other fucked up shit. We just bought a $500,000 home and hes planning to move out and take the only car we have and leave me fucked. Tonight he tells me his pos alcoholic former bestfriend got his army disability money and he will be leaving even sooner cus the friend owes him $10,000. I asked if he told Josh we aren't together and he says yeah and wtf does it matter since Josh and I dont even speak anymore. I had to deal with Josh's shit for almost 2 years because of my bf. Josh is an alcoholic and caused so many issues.

This is not the first time Justin hurt me i nearly died in 2017 because of him and a friend bullying me. I NEVER should have trusted him again but I have bpd and didn't want to be alone and he promised he would never hurt me again and yet thats all he has done. My dad died 4 May 2021 and my mom 19 April 2022. So i have had nothing but fucked up shit for awhile now. Which is why my mind goes to the darkest and impulsive places. I hate life more and more everyday. My mom was my bestfriend and we were there for eachother and never abandoned. Now not only she is gone but my dad to and I am alone in this world because I trusted someone I shouldn't have. A pos like him. I should have known better....here i am alone in an expensive house with tons of pets a place I thought i would be happy because we bought it and got this specifically for my mom becauae it is handicap accessible but she died two months after moving in.

I truly no longer care about anyone and anything. The more I allow myself to feel things the more pain I end up in. I just want it all to stop. SI is on my mind constantly. The method I'd use so it would guarantee no coming back. The other times I called my doctor and she called 911.

I'm a fucking idiot and an absolute failure at everything. I can't even work because my mental health. I quit working after my first suicide attempt on 7 February 2016. That attempt was the worst of all and I wasn't expected to make it. Why I did I have no clue. I guess I was a puece of shit person in another life and this is KARMA or maybe its just karma for all the shit ive done my entire life.

I always want to help people and everything I ever did that was good never happened in other peoples eyes. I am the villain. I sacrificed half my life to take care of my addict sisters kids and yet my plder sister who actually did the fucked up shit before and after the kids mom died gets all the credit for everything I did. Thats an entire other situation but it all culminates to now and what I am dealing with. I don't know or understand why everyone hates me, why they abandon me, why the hurt me, what is wrong with me?!? I don't belong on this Earth. All I have is constant unbearable pain from loss, grief, depression, anxiety, sadness, trauma, ptsd, bpd, bipolar. What is the point in continuing to live this miserable life?! No one misses me. No one even talked to me at my mothers funeral.not even the other siblings!

[allylikethecat]

Sleepover Saturday (Sunday)

Tell me about how you got into the equestrian world! I know nothing about horses and what being an equestrian entails

Happy Sleepover Saturday (Sunday) (but now really Monday...)

Thank you for sending this in! I'm sorry for not getting to it yesterday! I do think it's funny though because your question is about me getting into the equestrian world and I didn't look at any asks yesterday because I was at a horse show 😂 I apologize for this being SO LONG horses are like my favorite thing lol.

Anyway! I've always been obsessed with horses, but didn't have the opportunity to ride super regularly as a kid because I grew up in a metropolitan city. I had a neighbor growing up that would take pity on me and let me tag along to the barn with her, and take lessons / ride her retired mare but I never got to compete or really advance as much as I wanted to. My parents are NOT into animals at all and were very much just not into the idea of it? I was dumped into literally every other sport / activity as a child (I actually sailed competitively for a little bit in high school and for fun a little bit in college and also was super into scuba diving for a bit there before I blew out my ear drum lol).

After I graduated college I moved to an area for my job where horses were a lot more accessible and the first thing I did with my adult money was start taking regular riding lessons. From there I met my wonderful trainer and also Pop and ended up impulsively buying him. Which, don't recommend BUT it all worked out for me. He is my absolute best friend and is so down for every ridiculous idea I come up with and I have been lucky enough to be able to travel and show him at various rated shows in the Western half of the US. He is my heart horse and the absolute love of my life and I don't think I would have made it through all the covid lock downs without him. 🥰

I usually try and ride 5-6 days a week (the barn is closed one day a week) and he lives at a full care boutique show barn which means his "people" handle all of his day to day care (cleaning his stall / feeding him / turning him out every day / riding him when I don't / managing his vet care and farrier schedule / his magnawave appointments because he's spoiled). Days that I ride I'll go up after work and groom him, tack him up and either hack him on the flat (he's getting older so we do a lot of bending to keep him loose!) or have a lesson. I usually try and take one flat lesson a week and one jumping lesson (he doesn't jump more than once a week unless we are at a show). If the weather is nice I also try and take him out on a trail ride a few times a month. Then I'll cool him out, groom him again, and then we'll hang out either grazing or eating treats and getting pets in his stall.

Thank you so much for sending this ask and indulging me in my horse girlness! I'm excited post the Equestrian AU after I finish the Christmas fic! I hope you have a very happy Monday and a great week!

❤️Ally

[abirddogmoment]

In what way does Mav fit your idea of a perfect dog/companion? And in what ways not? I’m asking because I’m interested in a brittany and want to do similar activities as you do (lots of outdoor exploring mostly, maybe dabble in some dog sports on the weekends) thanks for your time!

Mav is a truly great adventure companion, especially for “weekend warrior” people like me. This might get a bit long so I’m throwing it under a cut:

(ps I stole this photo)

Reasons why Mav makes a good adventure companion:

He is enthusiastic and very happy to be involved no matter what we’re doing

He has stamina and can keep up easily if we want to go all day

He genuinely enjoys being out, especially if he is off-leash

He responds well to consistent training and is legitimately very smart

He can settle extremely well in the car or at camp

He can entertain himself when we’re busy

He isn’t obnoxiously demanding attention or food during downtime

He is portable in case of emergency (35lbs/15kgs)

He is SUPREMELY adaptable (this is my absolute favourite thing about Maverick) and can adjust to random meal and bedtimes, to weird transportation (like five days in a canoe), to basically any stranger, in just about every environment I’ve tried

Reasons why Mav isn’t the best adventure companion:

The brain cells live in the nose; I will always be competing against the environment for his attention

He can be a flight risk due to prey drive and can only be off-leash in certain conditions

He has no self-preservation or pacing; he can and has injured and exhausted himself because he’d rather chase stuff than slow down and live

He is overly excited when greeting people and dogs which might not be ideal if trails are busy

He doesn’t have very good cold tolerance in general

Brittanies in general seem to be phenomenal dogs; Mav certainly is. He has a really, really great temperament for adventures or sports (Mav has tried beginner level agility, barn hunt, dock diving, and amateur nosework. His fave is barn hunt) in that he can chill in hit crate until his turn to run, run with all the enthusiasm in the world, wiggle and say hi to strangers, then return to his crate until his next run. Or he can chill in a crate in the car for eleven hours until we get to where we want to launch a canoe, sit in a canoe, then run around sniffing some sand until it’s time for bed. He is filled with love and enthusiasm no matter what we’re doing or who we’re with. He is genuinely a very easy dog.

CAVEAT:

Badly-bred brittanies can be nervy as all hell. Go with a good breeder with sound temperaments FOR SURE

I admittedly dropped the ball on some pretty critical training with puppy!Mav, but I focused SO MUCH on foundations so he would make a good companion. I enforced settling and self-entertaining and adaptability in new environments to set him up for success

Mav had his recall proofed with an ecollar and it’s still not 100%, and we’ve been working on it for over 2 years now. I don’t know a single brittany owner that trusts their dog off-leash, and every single one I know has used an ecollar to proof/train recall

IN CONCLUSION I would recommend a brittany to someone who wants an adventure or sports dog! They aren’t known for being high-drive dogs (I put Mav at a solid medium, Miles thinks he’s a low/medium) but they probably could be if you really worked on it. I’d say they’re pretty high-energy dogs, but it’s very manageable if you work on settling along with some significant exercise every day (or few days if you do brain games in between). 

Let me know if you have more questions!

[bambambunny]

FATUI CAT :D

I am here to deliver on my promise of cat!reader headcannons, under the cut cuz its long

Tw: none i think??? If there is then pls tell me

Relationships: Platonic harbingers / reader

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pierro

Scary

Just say away if you dont particularly like him

He probably wont mind, he’s too busy to care about a cat of all things.

But like if you do like him, i recommend snoozing in his lap.

He’s got a lot of paperwork to do so its unlikely that he moves around a lot.

Its giving villain in a turning chair menacingly stroking a cat while giving an order to a nervous henchmen to inconvenience the heroes. 

You could try yelling at him and only quieting down when he pets you or lets you onto is lap

But, depending on his mood, he might just kick you out of his office

Would assign some poor Fatui henchman to take care of you so you have a constant guardian even if the other harbingers arent there. 

Dottore

Again

Scary

If you, as a cat, show human-like intelligence dottore will certainly pick up on it

Personally, as someone who likes cats and science, I would hang out with him

But like bad vibes

The worst vibes imaginable from this man.

Dont touch the chemicals he has.

We dont know what it is but just to be safe, assume all of them are acid.

Columbina

I love her sm 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺

Gives the most satisfying scritches and sings the sweetest songs

She’s one of the most safest harbingers to nap around

She’d put clips and bows in your fur regardless of gender.

Spends like 5 hours singing and grooming you like she doesnt have work to do.

No one has the guts to interrupt her though.

Capitano

Even though he’s scary i have a hc he’s nicer than he looks.

He isnt around Zapolyarny palace very often bc he’s out doing military campaigns and what not

But when he is at the palace, its safe to hang out with him

He’d have no issue with you catching a ride on his shoulders.

I also like to think he has a pyro vision(if he has one) and so he’s warmer than most

Perfect for a cat in snezhnaya. 

I think he’s nicer than he looks and it would be funny for the tiny cat to run straight to the big scary harbinger for pets and cuddles.

Pulcinella 

Its grandpa time babey

He gives you only the highest quality cat food.

You spend the day with him and you leave with 5 extra pounds just from the amount of treats he gives you.

You dont even have to do tricks or anything he just rewards you for existing.

He’d give you a kitty version of the harbinger coats, sponsored by Pantalone. 

Scaramouche

Oh this is fun

You know how cats are just assholes sometimes and like do things specifically to piss you off

Yeah do that

Swipe at his hat tassles

Get on a cabinet and yell, mocking him for being so tiny

Rest assured that he will torment you in return

Like i love scaramouche so much, he’s my baby, id adopt him a million times over if i could

But i can only restrain the bastard instinct for so long

He told the fatui in charge of you to make sure you leave him alone and is so close to killing him when you inevitably waltz around the corner.

Sandrone

You’re not allowed in her workshop

No ifs ands or buts

Her robots are to delicate to risk getting knocked over by a cat

If you’re really insistent on watching her then she might allow you to watch from the door

But thats it

Outside of the workshop though, she wouldnt mind letting you in her lap while she is carried around by her robot. 

Just dont jump off without letting her know before hand

You might get crushed by the robot

If you manage to make her like you and look sad enough, she might make a robotic toy for you.

Maybe a robot cat friend or a mouse for you to chase.

It keeps you occupied and lets Sandrone make another robot, win-win!

Signora

She does seem a bit cold at first

Feels like the type to not like animals bc of how messy they are, etc.

But she will warm up to you quicker than say Pierro or Sandrone.

Another source of heat in this frigid country.

She sends one of those fire moths to go with you and it is very much appreciated.

Girls night with Her and Columbina hanging out and taking care of you ^-^

Pantalone

As mentioned in the original post, i think Pantalone likes cats

He’d spoil you so bad lmao

Doesnt matter if you’re mean or nice or apathetic

He has a corner in his office dedicated to you.

Its got a box of toys, the softest bed money can buy, the most elaborate cat tree imaginable like wtf man, one of them self cleaning litter boxes, a water fountain, and an automatic feeder.

The feeder is on a schedule but that doesnt really matter because Pantalone will give you treats anyways.

He even gives you your own allowance from the fatui treasury.

He gives you one of those cat collars with the little bell.

Arlecchino 

You could hint to her that you want to go to the orphanage.

Everytime someone mentions it, give a little chirp and stare at her intently.

She’ll probably get the idea and set aside a week or so for you go to the orphanage to play with the kids.

They’re all very gentle with you and like to call you a mini snow leopard.

Arlecchino thinks its kinda cute but she wont say it.

Tartaglia

The bastard instinct returns

I like to think that he isnt present when the other harbingers found cat!reader

Imagine he arrives heavily wounded and is confined to bed rest 

And like, when the doctor gives the go ahead for guests, cat!reader jumps onto the bed and starts purring up a storm

Cats purr to comfort others as well as to show happiness

Childe’s barely conscious but the fluffy thing is comfy and he cant move so might as well let it stay.

When he does wake up he’s more than a little surprised to find a cat in his bed

You have a collar so he assumes you already belong to someone, pets you and then lets you out of the room while he goes over to see what the other harbingers are doing.

Khdsgoiewjrlksjf might try making this a longer fic if i have the skills but anyways-

Very nice to you

A bit rough on the playing but hey, it helps hone your hunting skills

Not that you need to hunt, you get fed regularly and i doubt there’s much mice in Zapolyarny palace. 

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------

And thats all i got. If yall want, feel free to expand on the concept or send some asks for more specific interactions! This is the first time ive done anything like this so i hope its good enough. 

Tag list:

@etherisy @franc-1-s

[second-star-to-motunui]

How Do Animals Love?

✨Feat. Savanaclaw; Leona Kingscholar, Ruggie Bucchi, Jack Howl. Bonus; Chenya✨

How do they give affection to their lover with their animal sides? Let’s find out!

They/Them pronouns for reader. MC is referred to as Yuu.

TW: Minor-ish NSFW for Ruggie’s part? Hyena affection is… interesting.

Lions show affection with head rubbing, grooming and licking!

When Leona sees Yuu, he pulls them into an embrace so he can nuzzle against their neck or lick their face. His cheek and forehead kisses turn into licks very fast!

Leona likes combing Yuu’s hair with his fingers and/or licking their neck until they fall asleep with him. Especially in the mornings! Their bedhead and sleepy face is so precious, Leona just wants to smother them in love. Lions often lay in comfy piles together, so he gets Yuu to cuddle with him every chance he gets.

“G’morning, herbivore… Aww, you still look tired. Come closer, let me at that cute face. What do say we sleep in a bit longer?”

Apparently… hyenas show affection by licking each other’s genitalia? Possibly? Well, however they do it, affection doesn’t occur often anyway seeing as male hyenas are treated like shit in their packs.

Despite that, Ruggie is very affectionate and loving. He shares food with Yuu! That’s a definite sign of his love.

Once him and Yuu are close enough, something Ruggie loves to do is lay between their thighs so he can leave all the kisses and love bites he can. It doesn’t matter what kind of body Yuu has; thick or thin their thighs are his favorite part of their body!

“Hhmm, didja say something? Your thighs are so soft and squishy… Let me just… nom! Shishishi, you’re so cute! I’m a lil hungry, wanna go grab a bite? I mooched some cash offa’ Leona earlier!”

Wolves show affection by gently nibbling each other’s faces and rubbing against each other!

Jack is shy about showing affection in public unless someone is making eyes at Yuu. Otherwise, he’ll stand over Yuu in a protective manner or carry them on his shoulder. The way his tail wags when he’s around them gives away how happy he is!

Once they’re alone together, Jack loves cuddling Yuu and gently nomming on their cheeks. He turns into an absolute PUPPY when they lays on top of him, Jack can’t stop nuzzling them!

“Oh, Yuu! Ah—Sorry, I just finished Spelldrive, I’m a little dirty. Do you wanna hang out in my dorm room for a bit? Hm? … Grrr, come here for a sec… hup. Those other students are staring at you. I just wanted to make sure they know you’re mine.”

Cats show affection with purring, cuddling, grooming and so many other things! Cats are so loving!

It’s normal for Chenya to suddenly appear beside Yuu and curl up in their lap, no matter how small they are compared to him. He loves wrapping them in the biggest hugs and licking their cheek. If they pet his ears, Chenya will trill, chirp and mew like the happy kitty he is! Yuu is so darn cute, Chenya can’t help but grab their face and smother them in kisses!

Whenever Yuu is having a bad day, Chenya will book it to NRC from RSA just so he can cuddle with them. He makes the softest purrs to soothe his lover while he wraps his tail around them. Chenya will drop everything to give Yuu some love.

“Surprrrrise! Did you miss me my lil kitten? Hm? What’s a matter? Awww, feeling blue today? C’mere, I’ve got you. Prrr… prrr… Say, wanna hang at RSA today? I bet you could use a lil break from this dreary ol place!”