#average cat owner behavior | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bonefall · 9 months ago

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i can’t help that feel like 350 calories per cat per day across 5 clans (150 some odd cats!!!) is more prey than there is! even with really generous cooking estimates you’d need to catch a rabbit or two or a large fish or something per clan every single day of the year. i feel like that would really mess up prey populations, wouldn’t it? i know animals have a lot of babies, but 3,650 rabbits’ worth of calories every year (not to mention what other predators like foxes, snakes, and hawks are eating) feels like too much for one territory. are we assuming that there’s more prey than there is or do i just not know how much offspring animals produce?

WELL, there's a lot of factors here, but you are actually organically figuring out something true and horrifying. BB!Cats are sapient, able to understand their impact on the environment and ergo manage it, but feral domestic cats are devastating to local ecosystems.

Not even because of caloric need btw just because of how much they hunt, and their odd behaviors.

The Bad

There is a reason why predator populations are so massively outnumbered by prey species. One rabbit would feed a single cat for days, but one colony is typically 3 - 15 cats. Most predators are solitary, or have "loose" social structures spread out over many partially overlapping territories covering miles (like alligators)! but something changed when cats were domesticated, and they now seek out dense social units unlike their wild ancestors.

That's why the only social wild cats are lions. Lion prides are extremely flexible, ranging from 3 to upwards of 30 members, and their populations are going to depend completely on how much prey they have access to. Even the shocking "infanticide" thing that male lions are notorious for serves an ecological purpose; less lions means more meat, so every cub that isn't yours is a future rival.

(tangent: the largest lion prides actually set up in major migration "hubs," where there is a constant influx of traveling animals. Not really an "ecosystem" where the pride can damage the population.)

But now domestic cats are doing this, in ecosystems that can't support them and never had predators that behave like them. They compete with the local mesopredators ("middle" hunters that hunt small game but are killed by larger predators. Ex: raptors, snakes, caniforms like foxes or raccoons, etc) and put extra pressure on prey populations.

But that's not the worst part.

In nature, there are Predator-Prey cycles. When there's too many predators, they decrease the prey population. When there's not enough prey, the predators starve and their population lowers. Here is a graph of this phenomenon;

In this way, starvation is required for an ecosystem to stay healthy. It's how nature regulates.

But human beings feed cat colonies.

So colonies end up hitting DOZENS of cats. Upwards of 30 in a tiny area. The sizes you see in canon WC and in BB are TWICE the size of what a feral cat colony typically reaches. In the real world, this is because humans feed them. They HAVE to starve to lower the population, and make no mistake, these are slow, painful deaths.

"But, if we feed the colony, then they're not hunting the local prey, right? Because they're not hungry?" INCORRECT. THEY ARE ANIMALS. Cats are not humans with our sense of morality and long-term consequences. Hunting is only partially driven by hunger, it's also driven by prey drive. Even an outdoor cat, who gets all their meals at home, is killing an average of 90 animals a year.

(note: you may hear the number "they kill 3.5 animals a day." That is a misreading of this study which says 3.5 animals a month based on owner reports; but better study shows they only bring about 18% of their kills home.)

I could get into why I'm actually not a big fan of TNR as a conservation strategy because of this, but in a nutshell, the best solution to feral cat population management overall is (expensive) high-intensity TNR (70% or more) PAIRED with (inexpensive) removal/euthanasia and other methods (like banning colony feeding). PURE high-intensity TNR takes up to 30 years to remove a cat colony in computer simulations. And they keep killing wild animals that whole time.

(tangent: you may come across articles that say that killing feral cats doesn't work. This is often based on this Tasmanian case study by Lazenby et all, where they trapped and removed cats, only to find an influx of subordinate "satellite" individuals that filled the vacuum that the previously established individuals left and increased the overall population. This is a well-documented phenomenon of predator control. They don't tell you that this is short-term and also happens with TNR, just over a longer timeline, as discussed in the above studies, and the solution is to mix methods and make sure that these programs are carried out systemically, NOT ONLY in one limited range.)

So... feral cat colonies with totally realistic needs are very harmful to local ecosystems. They are animals, and they are an invasive species. Keep your cats indoors please

The Good

But BB!Cats and Canon!Cats aren't just animals. These are cats with governments and religion. They do understand long-term consequences.

Even on the page in-canon, they show an understanding that prey comes from breeding (unlike, say, a medieval human who believed in spontaneous generation), WindClan doesn't disturb lapwings during their nesting season showing a basic understanding of ecology, and they even have a law against food waste. Like it or not, these aren't realistic cats. They are small humans with a fuzzy little kitty coat tossed over them.

So we can actually reasonably assume that Clan cats are modifying their behavior so they aren't the ecosystem-shredders that their real-world counterparts are, like;

Hunting over a wider area and having a large territory (so to address you directly anon, their territories are not as small as you might think they are)

Taking the pressure off specific areas by sending their hunting patrols to various parts of their territory

Avoiding hunting animals during their breeding and nesting seasons.

Not killing animals that are pregnant or nursing

Leaving baby animals alone so they grow into bigger food items

Not killing what they don't plan to eat

Intentionally varying their diet so they take a little from many populations.

Hunting animals that real cats don't usually target, like fawns, seagulls, and young boars.

Breeding their own prey, if you're willing to do a little domestication innovation

If you're VERY cool, give them fire. go on. do it. 20% to 50% caloric increase is prettyyy cooool~

But also, you may be underestimating just how many babies prey species produce. Let's use rabbits because these things are insane. They weren't lying, rabbits can breed like rabbits.

European rabbits (and all the domestic breeds they are descended from) have a double womb. That means that when they've given birth to their litter of 4 - 12 babies (usually 6), they can already be pregnant with the next. Gestation is a month. These babies are able to leave their mothers at 2 months and can breed by 4 months. They can have 10 litters a year.

So a SINGLE rabbit COULD have well over 100 bunnies a year... but rabbit warrens are usually 10 - 50, mostly females, plus a bunch of bucks who are more solitary and more likely to travel around. And you're gonna have multiple warrens on a territory.

Low litter estimate, small warren; 10 x 4 x 10 = 400 bunnies. Big litter estimate, big warren; 50 x 12 x 10 = 6,000 bunnies.

That said, most estimates say they functionally end up with 20 adult children a year, which then go on to breed at four months. That's still 200 rabbits a year coming out of that small warren ALONE, and isn't counting the fact that those children are also going to have children of their own.

(though, rabbits in particular are facing a massive crisis in england and even across europe because of two diseases that hit them one after another OTL but it's not related to predation.)

Don't forget that a territory also has more than just rabbits. This is also happening with mice, rats, ducks, sparrows, voles, etc. Like I said, if your cats just diversify the prey they hunt in response to population changes, they'll be golden. In BB I even have a role dedicated to this now; the Head of Hunting, who is tasked with assessing this sort of thing.

SO, to answer you directly;

Feral Cats Bad

WC characters have more in common with a small human than a cat

Pure carnivores are pretty demanding on their ecosystems

There is plenty an intelligent creature can do to reduce their impact on the ecosystem

Their territories could still support them along with the other predators

You did underestimate just how many babies prey animals have, though

Overall, they would be fine. You COULD overhunt a territory, but not with basic prey management practices.

#bone babble #clan culture #nutrition guide

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ametrictonofaudacity · 2 years ago

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Gaps 3

Yandere Platonic Batfam x Mentally Ill/Forgetful Reader

Warning: This is a yandere work, and as such, contains themes of obsession and unhealthy relationships. This particular snippet from Gaps will be an escalation, since this is a series, so trigger warning for kidnapping, non-consensual drugging, obsessive behaviors and manipulation.

There was a half full bottle of psychiatric meds in the glove box of your car. You have absolutely no clue when this got there, buried as it was under your insurance information, registration, and car owners manual, but it was there.

You turn the bottle over in your hands, reading the small label. Prazosin. You were glad to have some extra, in case Bruce hadn’t been able to get your refill this month. He had been good about it, the past couple of months while you waited for your appointment at the DMV, but it was always good to have spares, just in case. And something in your stomach urged you not to rely on the billionaire too much.

You pocket the bottle of pills. Sure, your script had been changed from prazosin to nitrazepam, by Dr. Leslie Thompkins since she was the only person that would treat you without an ID, but you didn’t like how the nitrazepam left you sluggish the next morning. You also didn’t like the thought of just how vulnerable you would be, in such a deep sleep.

Your cell phone rings. You pick up on the first ring, humming.

“(Y/N).” It was Damian. A bit of a surprise, since he didn’t really seek you out, but not an entirely unwelcome one. “You used to have a cat, correct?”

You snort. Of course one of the few times Damian calls you, it was about an animal. You didn’t expect anything less.

“Yeah. I had a Maine Coon kitten for a while before I moved. She was the sweetest little thing too, would always climb onto my shoulders whenever I got home from work.”

“What happened to her?”

“When I moved, I had to give her to my roommate. I visit her whenever I go to Bludhaven.” You explain, beginning your nightly routine. You brush the knots out of your hair, root around for your pajamas, drop two tablets in your hand.

“I see. I’m sorry you had to leave her behind.”

You smile, glancing at the time. The two tablets go down easy, and you double and triple check your locks. In Gotham, it didn’t hurt to be vigilant.

“It’s not a problem. I do have work tomorrow, so I’m gonna turn in, okay?”

“Of course. Get some rest, (Y/N).” He says it like it’s practically a demand, and you laugh when the line goes dead.

You drift off to sleep, eventually, your limbs heavy and numb.

——————

Your woken up by the sound of your bedroom door creaking open. Your heart stops, before thundering in your chest, slamming fast against your ribs.

Your mind races, and you force yourself to breath slow and deep, feigning sleep. The average thief wouldn’t bother to kill a sleeping person, but who knew what would happen if they thought there were witnesses. Carefully, you shift, making sure the movement looked to be the shifting of a sleeping body.

There’s a sound of crackling above you, and you don’t know what that means before the intruder speaks.

“You sure you got the dosage right? They’re moving around a lot for someone who’s sedated.” A modulated voice, indistinguishable thanks to the static. Your stomach drops, and it takes everything you have not to stiffen in terror. No average thief would have a fucking voice modulator. And what did they mean, the dosage? What the fuck did they mean?

Your fingers close around the handle of the small folding knife you kept under your pillow.

“It’s not full sedation. They’ll sleep deeply enough that we can move freely, but too high of a dosage would cause issues.” A low, gravelly voice and you feel your breath hitch. Both voices go quiet.

You hear a soft rattle as a pill bottle is picked up. Your heart hammers in your throat. You can’t remember which bottle of meds was by your bedside.

“Didn’t you get them put on nitrazepam?”

“Yes.”

“Old man, this isn’t nitrazepam. It’s an old script of prazosin.”

Silence. Deafening silence. Your eyes snap open.

You don’t even give yourself time to process the fact that there were two of Gotham’s vigilantes in your room. You don’t give yourself time to panic, or feel betrayed, because if you do, you won’t stop. You’ll be frozen and defenseless and unable to do anything.

You lunge up, throwing the blankets off yourself, and you try to twist away when the goddamn Red Hood lunges to catch you, only for his arm to wrap around your waist, yanking you back. The small fold out knife clatters to the ground, and a hand wraps around your wrist.

“Why don’t we all just cool off, yeah? No more stabbing attempts.” He sounds almost amused, but there’s an edge of danger in his voice that makes you shudder. He releases you, and you stagger away from him.

Batman hovers in the corner of the room, and even though he is the furthest from you, he feels so much closer.

“You got my script changed. Why?” Your voice is trembling, and you grimace. You don’t like the way you sound far too vulnerable.

“The old man is paranoid as hell, that’s why.” Hood grumbles, crossing his arms. He leans back, giving you space, and even though you know you aren’t any safer, you appreciate it.

“Hood. Now is not the time.” Batman growls, and Hood snorts.

“When would be the time old man? We would have avoided all of this if we had just gone with my plan.” Hood points out. You have no idea what he means.

“They weren’t ready.” Batman snaps, and you don’t know what that means. “This isn’t the place for this discussion, Hood.”

He turns to you, and for a moment, hesitates. The moment passes, and he lifts his hands, tugging back his cowl.

You stare. Staring back at you with intense blue eyes is Bruce Wayne.

So many things click in your mind. The inexplicable cancelling of your appointments. The paranoia. The way you had been struggling to work past the constant fear you were being watched. The way your things went missing when you needed them.

“(Y/N), I know you’re confused right now. Just let me explain.” Bruce says gently, and you shake your head, backing up.

“I don’t want to hear anything you have to say right now. You.. how long have you been breaking into my apartment? How long have you been using my meds to do it? And why?!”

“(Y/N), you barely manage to function on a day to day basis. I was just insuring your safety.”

“My safety?! Arguably I would be even more vulnerable SEDATED in an apartment in Gotham? Why do you think I check my locks so often? Why I have lists, of every possible thing I could need? I KNOW how to take care of myself, but clearly I made some sort of mistake when met all of you!” You shriek, and there are hot, ugly tears streaming down your face.

You didn’t need this, you didn’t need him, and you certainly did not need him pulling the strings on your life.

“Alright, you clearly can’t handle this old man.” Hood turns to you, arms crossed. “Listen, I get it. Batman’s a controlling, manipulative bastard. But we aren’t having this discussion here.”

You yell when his hand closes around your arm, and raise your hand to slap him away. He tugs you forward, twisting your arm behind your back and holding it there, and you yell.

A sharp pain in your neck, and your vision blurs.

You feel your knees buckle, feel yourself start to sag.

Gloved hands hold you up, and your head spins. Armored arms scoop you up, and you push at the thick Kevlar.

The last thing you see before unconsciousness takes you is white lenses staring down.

#yandere x reader #yandere dc #yandere platonic x reader #yandere platonic batfam

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would-this-pokemon-be-a-friend · 1 year ago

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I love this blog so much!! I have always assumed Skitty and Delcatty would be perfect pets!! What is your verdict?

[Thank you very, very much! I flipped a coin to decide which to cover first!]

Good news! Skitties would indeed make excellent pets! Is it because they are basically just cats? Yes! And cats are excellent pets!

Well, in all honesty, they are a bit bigger than the average house cat. The average skitty is almost twice the weight of my real-world cat, and my cat’s on a diet! That being said, at only two feet tall and twenty-four pounds, a skitty certainly isn’t too big to be a house pet. You may need bigger things than you’d need for a normal cat — a bigger carrier, a bigger bed, more food — and it might be hard to get them off your lap when you need to get up, but their size doesn’t affect their score too much. You’ll also need to invest in a pretty big cat tree: wild skitties make their home in the forest, resting in the holes of trees (Sapphire).

When it comes to their personalities and behaviors….they’re cats. The pokédex explains that while it is sometimes difficult to earn their trust (FireRed/LeafGreen), they get along really well with human owners and are actually popular pets all around the world (Sapphire, Emerald, FireRed/LeafGreen). Skitties are super playful, and will chase anything that moves (Ruby). They won’t be picky about toys! Skitties are often seen becoming fascinated with their own bouncy tails, and will chase them around in circles until they become dizzy (Ruby).

Skitties are, predictably, not really any more dangerous than a house cat. If you can withstand scratches and bites from an angry house cat, you’re probably okay. Like real-world cats, skitties will let you know if they’re really angry before they attack by proofing up their tails and growling (Emerald), so if you pay attention to their body language you should be able to avoid getting attacked.

So, yeah. Skitties are essentially real-world cats, just a little bigger. They’d make excellent pets. Yes, I’m a cat person.

#pokémon #pokemon #skitty #pkmn irl #PR-A

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mymoodwriting · 11 months ago

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Request for Anon (Yandere Hybrid Juyeon) 4.9k, yandere, hybrid, claw marks, bruising, non-con, alcohol, tipsy behavior, assault, manipulation (@starillusion13)

“Happy Birthday!”

You screamed with joy as you entered your apartment. All your friends had gathered around to throw you a surprise party for your birthday. Of course they knew where the spare key was, so it was easy to let themselves in and set everything up. They all came over to hug you and wish you well.

“Okay, I know it’s early, but we have a special present for you in your room.”

“It better not be a stripper.”

“You’d kill us if we did that.”

“You know it.”

Your friends led you over to your bedroom, having you close your eyes as you stepped in. When you opened them you saw a cute little cat hybrid sitting on your bed. He offered you a big smile and came over to hug you.

“You got me a hybrid?”

“Gotta start somewhere with the lonely cat lady thing.”

“Ya!”

“Kidding, but we thought it would be nice to have someone around.”

“Thanks.”

The party had only just begun, so you let the hybrid wander around the house and get to know the place while you hung out with friends. It was a great night, and it wasn’t until the early morning that everyone headed out. You were exhausted but happy nonetheless. Once everyone was gone you did a bit of cleaning and then got in the shower. You dried off and collapsed into bed, ready to sleep the day away. Just as you were drifting off you felt the bed dip and opened your eyes to see your new hybrid crawling in, a cute smile on their face. You reached over to pet their head softly.

“Do you have a name cutie, or shall I give you one?”

“I’m Juyeon.”

“Pretty, I like it. I’m y/n. Are you from a shelter?”

“Yes.”

“Have you had an owner before?”

“No.”

“Hm, I’ll admit, I’ve never had a pet before, but I will do my best to take care of you.”

Juyeon leaned closer to nuzzle your face, making you giggle. The two of you wound up sleeping together. It was the weekend and you usually preferred to stay in bed, but you still had some clean up to do. When you got up Juyeon was still sound asleep, so you let him rest. As you finished cleaning up you heard some footsteps, seeing a sleepy Juyeon coming into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.” Juyeon yawned.

“Are you hungry?”

“Hm.”

“What can you eat? Do you have any diet restrictions?”

“No. I can eat normal food. I don’t know if I’m allergic to anything though.”

“Right. We’ll have something simple for breakfast then.”

You made some eggs, which Juyeon happily ate. As you two had breakfast you looked over Juyeon’s paperwork. Everything was done for the adoption, but you still needed to take him to the vet and register him. Of course he wasn’t a fan of that, but he had to go. You stayed as he got all his shots and then finished up the rest of his papers. Afterwards you got lunch and went shopping, getting Juyeon some clothes and toys. He insisted on a collar though, wanting to proudly show he had a home.

You got to know each other more over the weekend, the two of you beginning a new chapter of your lives together. Juyeon was a big cuddler, so whenever you sat down he’d find you and wrap you up in his arms. He was very well behaved and communicated with you if he had any concerns or was curious about something. He was very cute, and it was such a nice treat to have him welcome you home everyday. Of course he didn’t want to be some average pet, so he was always wanting to take on new tasks. He’d help around the house, watched you as you cooked so he could do it too, even watched some videos to see what else he could do for you.

It felt like he was more of a companion and friend than some pet, and that was great on both ends. Since he was so well behaved there was no problem taking him out with you when you went shopping. He also had plenty of things to entertain himself with in the house while you were gone. And when you were around he stuck very close. He’d go so far as to sit on the floor in the bathroom while you took a bath, with a blindfold on of course. He was the best present you ever had, and you really thought nothing would ever bother him, but there had to be something.

“Juyeon.”

“Hm?”

“I’m having a friend over tonight.”

“A friend?”

“Yeah. I have this big project at work that needs to get finished and he’s helping me out with it.”

“He?”

“Yup. He’ll be coming home with me later today.”

“Oh… okay… are you gonna lock me in the room?”

“What? No. Why would I do that? You’re the best behaved kitty in the world. I’ll see you later.”

🖤

You did double check with your coworker to make sure they were alright with coming over to your place, and that they weren’t allergic to cats. You called out to Juyeon when you got home, making sure he greeted your guest and wouldn’t just pop up later and scare them. The two of you settled in the living room, going over the details of the project. On occasion Juyeon would come over, hovering around you, and unbeknownst to you, throwing glares at your coworker. His purrs and nuzzling would get your attention and you’d have to politely ask him not to distract you as this was very important work.

“Excuse me for a moment, Jacob.”

“Yeah, no problem.”

Once you were gone Juyeon pounced on the couch, taking your seat. At first Jacob paid the cat no attention, but he could feel the feline’s stare burrowing into him.

“Hi kitty.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Okay… then-”

“What’s your goal?”

“Huh?”

“What do you want from y/n?”

“Uh, right now I just want to finish this project. Or at least make good progress today.”

“And nothing else?”

“Wait, I see what this is. Are you worried I’m going to date your owner?”

“You’re not gonna date her.”

“I’m just here to work. I have no other intentions.”

“Then leave.”

“Excuse me?”

“Get out. I don’t want you anywhere near y/n.”

“Awe, is someone jealous?”

Juyeon hissed before hearing your approaching footsteps. He quickly scrambled away, leaving Jacob with a little chuckle. Unfortunately Juyeon’s warning was ignored, and this wasn’t gonna be the last time he heard about this Jacob. A few days later Juyeon overheard you talking on the phone.

“Yeah I can talk, what’s up, Jacob?”

Juyeon’s ears perked up when he heard the name. You were in the kitchen making dinner, so he quietly made his way over, listening in on the conversation.

“Yeah, I’m free this Friday… I’m down for dinner… that sounds great, I’ll see you tomorrow, okay, bye now.”

Juyeon didn’t like any of that at all. Since Jacob had just laughed in his face before he knew he couldn’t just ask you not to go, but he could do something else. While you were away at work Friday morning Juyeon went through your things, finding your makeup. Now of course he had no idea what he was doing, but he just needed to borrow a bit. When he heard you at the door he scrambled to your room and hid under the blankets. He didn’t answer you as you called for him, and eventually you made your way to him.

“Juyeon, baby, are you alright?”

It was strange for Juyeon not to greet you at the door, and finding him curled up in bed worried you. As you pulled back the blankets you could see him shaking, breathing a bit uneven, slightly pale. You reached over to touch his head, feeling that he was hotter than usual.

“Juyeon, are you sick?”

Juyeon merely whimpered, trying to pull up the blanket. You tucked him back in and went to get the thermometer, wanting to check his temperature. You stepped away for a moment when your phone rang, seeing that it was Jacob.

“Hey, Jacob, I’m glad you called. I’m afraid I’m gonna have to rain-check on dinner.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. I just got home and Juyeon seems to be running a fever. I can’t leave him by himself.”

“No, no, I get it. You got your priorities as a cat mom. We can go out for dinner some other time.”

“Thanks.”

“You have a great weekend, hope Juyeon gets better.”

“You too, bye-bye now.”

Juyeon couldn’t help the smile on his face. He came first in your life, and that was all he needed to know. You took care of him over the weekend, glad to see he recovered and didn’t require a visit to the vets office. Although by the end of next week you felt quite ill, needing to stay in bed. Juyeon was more than happy to look after you, glad he could return the favor. You did find it a bit silly, having your pet looking after you, but it was just another reason to adore him. You really were grateful to have Juyeon in your life.

While Juyeon was making you some soup he heard a knock at the door. He wasn’t expecting anyone, and you hadn’t mentioned any guests or deliveries. Still, he didn’t want the noise to wake you so he rushed over, opening the door without thinking. That was his mistake as he was now staring at Jacob. The boy had a smile on his face which quickly turned coy when he saw Juyeon open the door.

“Hey, I came by to drop off some food and medicine for y/n. Is it alright if I come in?”

“No. She’s sleeping.”

“Oh, well could you at least-”

“She’s already taking medicine, so she doesn’t need anymore, and I’m cooking for her.”

“You know how to cook?”

“Juyeon… who is it?”

You had heard some commotion, realizing Juyeon was talking to someone. You tried calling out to Juyeon but he didn’t hear you so you got up. When you stepped out into the hall you noticed Juyeon was at the door so you made your way over.

“Y/n! You shouldn’t be out of bed!”

“It’s okay, I’m not that sick.” You noticed Jacob out in the hall. “Jacob, what are you doing here?”

“You mentioned you were feeling a bit under the weather the other day so I thought I’d stop by to check on you. Glad I did, I brought you some medicine, and porridge.”

“Thank you, I really appreciate it.”

“No problem. I hope you get better soon.”

“She will.” Juyeon assured. “Goodbye now.”

Jacob tried to hand you the things he had brought but Juyeon took them instead, shutting the door in Jacob’s face. He ushered you back to bed, tucking you in this time and telling you he’d be back in a bit after he checked on the food. As he stepped out he heard a knock again. Juyeon rolled his eyes and went to answer, Jacob still standing there.

“What?”

“I just wanted to talk to you for a moment.”

“About? This better be quick.”

“Yeah, yeah, I just wanted to tell you to be careful.”

“Huh?”

“You should be nice to the people around y/n, you don’t want her getting the wrong impression about you. You’re just her pet after all.”

“Is this some kind of threat?”

“Just a warning.”

“Well, in that case, fuck off.” Juyeon hissed. “I don’t like you, and I don’t want you anywhere near y/n. If you try anything, you’ll regret it.”

“We’ll see about that.”

🖤

You got better over the weekend and returned to work as normal on Monday. The big project you had been working on before was finally done and had been approved. It was great to be done with that and move on to the next one.

“So, y/n, how’s Juyeon?”

“Oh he’s great!”

When Jacob asked you about Juyeon you excitedly pulled out your phone and showed him some pictures.

“He’s so cute.”

“How did you get him again?��

“Juyeon was a birthday gift from my friends. They told me I could use a companion and should start on the lonely cat lady vibes.”

“I see. Did your friends get him from a shelter?”

“Yeah.”

“And you’re sure he didn’t have any previous owners?”

“What? Why?”

“I’ve heard some shelters will lie about the hybrid’s history just to get them adopted. Sometimes the hybrid bounces around from one place to another, or even attacks their owner.”

“Juyeon is not like that.”

“You should still be careful, you haven’t had him that long. He’s not just a cat, but part human you know.”

“… well yeah…”

You couldn’t shake Jacob’s words, even though they were ridiculous. You had heard stories of hybrids getting aggressive with people, even their owners. Juyeon had been nothing but sweet with you, but there were things you came to question. You left Juyeon alone everyday with no restrictions. He knew where the spare key was, and did a lot of things around the house so you never paid much attention to anything. When you came home that day Juyeon happily greeted you, but your eyes darted elsewhere.

Nothing seemed to be out of place, and there wasn’t anything new that you didn’t recognize. You were honestly just being paranoid and tried to put it out of your mind, but these thoughts persisted. Juyeon had made something for dinner, and you cautiously ate. Come bed time you told Juyeon you still felt sick and asked him to sleep in his own room. He usually slept with you, but he understood the request, even if it upset him. Without really meaning to you kept a bit of a distance from Juyeon, becoming more curious and concerned.

“Juyeon.”

“Hm?”

“What do you do all day?”

“What do you mean?”

“Besides waiting for me, what do you do? Watch TV? Cook? Go out with friends? Bring friends over…”

“What!? Go out? I… there’s nowhere I’d want to go without you… I just sleep, maybe clean a bit, but not much. Why?”

“No reason, just curious since I leave you alone all day.”

“I don’t mind. You come home to me at the end of the day.”

“Yeah.”

“Is everything okay though?”

“Huh? Yeah, why?”

“You… you’ve been a bit distant… and… well… did I do something wrong?”

“No. Not at all.”

“Did something happen?”

“I…” You sighed. “One of my coworkers told me to be weary of hybrids and stuff, and I let it get to my head. I’m sorry. There’s no reason I shouldn’t trust you.”

“Oh… who said that?”

“It was just-”

“Jacob?”

“… how do you know that?”

“He doesn’t like me.”

“Huh?”

“When he was here last time… he kept giving me looks… I wanted him to leave… I wanted to tell you something but… you said the project was important…”

“Oh, Juyeon, I’m so sorry.” You went over to hug him. “I had no idea he was like that.”

“It’s not your fault… not everyone likes hybrids…”

“I like you, I like you a lot Juyeon. I’d never want someone like that to be near you. I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner.”

“I know I’m just a hybrid… and he’s… a person…”

“That doesn’t mean anything. You deserve just as much love and respect as anyone else.”

You grabbed Juyeon’s face, softly petting him and getting a smile out of him. You felt awful for having hurt him. You wanted to make it up to him, making his favorites and showering him with love and attention.

“You love me… right?”

“Juyeon, of course. You’re the best kitty I could ever ask for.”

Even though you kept apologizing to Juyeon, you still had to do the right thing. When you had a chance you asked to speak to Jacob in private. The two of you went over to an empty conference room. You weren’t sure how to bring up the subject, but he provided a perfect segway.

“How’s Juyeon?”

“That’s the thing… do you have a problem with hybrids?”

“What?”

“The other day you had told me to be weary of hybrids and that messed me up.”

“Why? Did Juyeon-”

“No! He’s a good hybrid, and hasn’t done anything bad. He was worried I hated him.”

“I-”

“Just cause you have a problem with hybrids doesn’t mean you need to push that onto me.”

“I’m not! Why are you so protective over him?”

“Cause he’s my hybrid? Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Are you sure there’s not more?”

“Excuse me? What the hell are you implying.”

“I’ve heard-”

“You know what, nevermind. Just keep your prejudices to yourself.”

🖤

There was a slight tension between you and Jacob going forward but you kept things professional. You were coworkers above all, and no one commented on your relationship either.

“Juyeon, I’m gonna be out late tonight, so-”

“What? Why!?”

“Company dinner.”

“Do you have to go?” Juyeon whined. “I don’t wanna be alone.”

“It’s not something I can avoid.”

“But… please…”

“Juyeon.”

“Just go for a little bit, and then come home.”

“I… well I guess that’s not a bad idea.”

“See! Then together we can order food and watch TV, that sounds way better!”

“Okay. I’ll be home a little late tonight.”

“Awesome.”

Juyeon was very excited for the evening, so he made sure to clean up and set the mood. He had a few ideas for snacks and food, which would be decided later. There was still a couple hours before you got home, so Juyeon took a nap to help pass the time. For you work was simple, like any other day, and everyone was excited for the team dinner. At the end of the day you all went to a restaurant together. A round of drinks were ordered, and you only had a few with some light snacks. You stayed for a while before apologizing and excusing yourself.

“What do you mean you’re leaving?” A coworker asked. “The night is still young.”

“I know, but I promised Juyeon I wouldn’t be out late. I don’t want to leave him alone either.”

“He can take care of himself.” Jacob commented.

You threw a glare his way. “I’ll see you all next week.”

You waved goodbye to the others and made your way home. Juyeon happily greeted you and jumped into your arms.

“Hi, hi, I’m home.”

“Finally!” Juyeon whined. “You took forever.”

“But I’m here now.”

“Yeah, and why do you smell like alcohol?”

“I had a few drinks, but I’m okay. So, what movie have you picked out? And what are we having?”

You changed into some comfy clothes, ordering food and plopping down on the couch. Soon enough Juyeon joined you and pulled you close for cuddles. He got the door when the food arrived, making sure you were all comfy. Even though you both had been looking forward to the night, it had been a long day for you, plus some drinks, it wasn’t long before you were dozing off. Juyeon didn’t mind though, letting you rest in his arms. He softly ran his fingers through your hair, breathing in your scent.

“You should stay here with me.” Juyeon mumbled. “Where I can keep an eye on you, always. The world doesn’t deserve you.”

Juyeon leaned in close, pressing a soft kiss to your head. A giggle escaped your lips, and he found it so cute. He pressed a few more kisses against your skin, liking where things were going. Yet he had to restrain himself. Holding you in his arms was enough for now. His hands trailed around your body. He couldn’t help how smooth your skin was, and decided to do something a little risky. He drew out his claws, pushing down your shirt just a bit to expose your shoulder. Then he lightly nicked your skin, drawing the letter J on your back. He stared at the mark with a content smile, his own little stamp.

When the movie ended Juyeon helped you to bed, gently laying you down and letting you sleep while he cleaned up. He joined you when he was done, cuddling with you in his arms. Come morning he thought to let you sleep in, but to his surprise by the time he woke up you were already out of bed and in the kitchen. He sleepily made his way over to you, coming up from behind to hug you and rest his head on your shoulder. You chuckled and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

“I’m sorry about last night.”

“It’s okay, it was nice to just be with you.”

“I can make it up to you today. Whatever you want to do.”

“Anything?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Drinks?”

“You wanna drink?”

“I want to try it, at least once.”

“Hm. I’ll have to double check to make sure it’s safe, but alright.”

“Really!?”

“Sure.”

Juyeon was so excited he kissed your cheek, getting a chuckle out of you. He cautiously peeked under your shirt to see the mark he made, pressing a soft kiss against it. You promised drinks, so you double checked to make sure if anything in particular would be bad for his health, then the two of you went out to shop. There were a variety of drinks to choose from and flavors, so Juyeon was very excited as he browsed. You bought some food as well and made your way home. Juyeon set everything up again like last night and brought over some glasses, happily letting you pour him a drink.

“To the best owner ever.” Juyeon toasted.

“To the best hybrid ever.”

You watched Juyeon take a sip fist, seeing that sour face of his and laughing. Still, he persisted and you drank from your glass as well. The two of you settle on the couch, having a few drinks in you before you started getting ditzy. You were a lightweight, and Juyeon kept up with you a decent amount. He seemed to be taking the alcohol better than you. Since he liked your state so much he put on some music and pulled you close to slow dance, guiding your hand.

“Isn’t this perfect?” Juyeon mumbled. “Just me and you.”

“Hm…”

“It should always be this way. I don’t need anyone else, and neither do you.”

“Juyeon.”

“Yes?”

“You’re cute.”

“As are you.” Juyeon nuzzled your neck. “You’re mine.”

“Mine…”

Juyeon started pressing soft kisses to your neck, his lips trailing up until they met yours. He leaned in close, hungry for a deep taste of you. It wasn’t until you were both out of breath that he pulled away. He knew you were tipsy and probably wouldn’t remember the night, but he didn’t care. In this moment you were all his.

🖤

“Juyeon…”

“Good morning.”

“Hm…”

You opened your eyes, finding yourself wrapped up in Juyeon’s arms. You snuggled against him, trying to ignore the bits of hangover you were feeling.

“Did you sleep alright?” Juyeon asked.

“Yeah… you?”

“Never better.”

“Shall I get some hangover soup?”

“We can go get some in a bit.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

“Juyeon…”

“Hm?”

“Your anniversary is coming up.”

“My anniversary?”

“Six months of us being together… six months since I got you…”

“Wow, has it been that long?”

“Yeah, we should celebrate. What do you say?”

“Sure. We can have a party.”

“Cool. I’ll invite my friends over. I’m sure they’d love to see you.”

“That sounds fun.”

“Awesome!”

You were excited to celebrate Juyeon, and he was too. You talked about what to prepare, and you went over the guest list with him, already knowing who to black list. Through the week you mentioned your party to your coworkers, and you also texted your friends. Everyone was excited to come over and see Juyeon again, especially now that he’s grown. Although even if you were happy for the weekend, someone was keeping an eye on you.

Ever since the company dinner Jacob had been weary of your home life. Leaving early for a pet, that was ridiculous, and some of the other employees thought so too. Still, after the last conversation you two had, Jacob figured it was best to keep a distance. Maybe he was wrong in being suspicious or he was simply sticking his nose in someone else’s business. Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. He had heard rumors of you throwing a little party for Juyeon, and of course he wasn’t invited. There wasn’t really a problem with that until he noticed something odd. Jacob was passing by your desk when he noticed a purple mark just under the collar of your shirt.

“Are you okay?”

“Huh?”

“What happened to your neck?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You have a bruise.”

Jacob reached over and pulled down your collar, seeing the purple mark and recognizing it as a hickey. Then he noticed a scratch, seeing the letter J.

“What the hell are you doing!?”

You jumped up from your seat and shoved Jacob away from you. For days now you two hadn’t really spoken, and now he’s just yanking on your clothes. Your screaming brought forth a crowd, and everyone wanted to know what was going on.

“What is your problem?”

“You have a bruise and-”

“That doesn’t give you the right to touch me!”

“I-”

“Stay away from me!”

You had to put the whole incident with Jacob behind you and just focus on happier things. When you got home Juyeon greeted you, excited for the night, and he also greeted the guests as they arrived. He was getting all the attention as he was the star of the party. Although he did keep you close, still a bit nervous with all these people around. It was a good night until the party crasher showed up. It was Juyeon’s only concern.

“Who let you in?”

You noticed Jacob by the door, rushing over to him before anyone noticed something was up. You tried to shove him out, but he held his ground. He grabbed your arm and pulled you closer to him.

“Jacob!”

“Has he been hurting you?”

“What?!”

“I told you hybrids could be dangerous.”

“Jacob-”

“You have a bruise, no, a fucken hickey! And claw marks, are you-”

“What are you talking about?”

“Haven’t you noticed? Or… you haven’t seen it, have you?”

“I don’t-”

“No one invited you!”

Juyeon was quick to notice you were gone, and then began to hear some low yelling. He quickly rushed over and pulled you away from Jacob, hissing.

“You! What have you been doing to y/n!? She’s all marked up and bruised because of you!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

It was pissing Juyeon off that Jacob even knew about such things, but that wasn’t important right now. The two were glaring at each other, and you tugged at Juyeon, but he wouldn’t budge.

“Jacob, I need you to leave, or I’ll call security.”

“Call them, your hybrid needs to be removed!”

“Jacob!”

“Take that back!”

Juyeon didn’t hesitate to jump at Jacob, claws out. He scratched his face a bit before you yanked him back.

“Juyeon, stop it!”

“I want him gone!” Juyeon yelled. “If I see him again-”

“Juyeon, that’s enough, come on. This isn’t-”

Juyeon pulled you close and away from Jacob, hissing at the boy. You had to pull him further into the house, having drawn attention. It seemed the party was over. Some of your other coworkers took Jacob, and then it was just you and Juyeon. You were relieved the issue was over, for now, and collapsed to the floor.

“Y/n…” Juyeon mumbled. “I… I’m sorry…”

“Are you okay?”

“I am… what about you? I didn’t mean to ruin the night…”

“It’s not your fault. This was your party and I… I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t invite him, right?”

“No, no I didn’t…”

“What was he doing here?”

“He said I had bruises and marks on my back, but I feel fine. He keeps trying to push this idea that you’ve hurt me.”

“I would never do such a thing.” Juyeon whined.

“I know, I know.”

“Maybe you should get another job.”

“You know that’s not a bad idea.”

“Work from home maybe.”

You chuckled. “So I don’t leave the house?”

“That would be ideal.”

“I’ll consider it. We should still make the most of the night, it was your party after all.”

“It’s okay.”

“Come on, I did get you a cake.”

You got up and took Juyeon’s hand, taking him over to the kitchen. You got the cake out of the fridge, getting a candle and lighting it as well. Juyeon watched you with wide eyes, a precious smile on his face.

“Happy six month anniversary.” You smiled. “Make a wish.”

Juyeon closed his eyes and made his wish before blowing out the candles and then leaned over to press a kiss on your cheek. Things may not have gone to plan this night, but he was happy nonetheless.

“What did you wish for?”

“I just wish to have you in my life.”

“I already am.”

“Then my wish came true.”

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fuggerbucket · 1 year ago

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Info/HC's about my h!teenage Ren and Stephen(Stimpy) AU:

Ren is mixed with mexican and german descent. Although his family is mainly a spanish speaking household. (Last name has been passed down generations) While Stephen is just white..🫠

Stephen first noticed Ren behind the school trying to light a cigarette, and hasn't left him alone ever since

Ren is a junior (16/17) while Stephen is a sophomore (15)

Unknown to everyone (since he hasn't told anyone) Ren transferred into this highschool a few months ago. For almost all his life he has been attending behavior modification facilities and/or been attending programs to fix him. He was one of the more popular people over there since he was huge trouble. (I don't want this to sound like he was a "cool badboy😈😝" he had/has serious issues.)

Everyone views Ren as odd. Like that one person you see in highschool sitting at the most random secluded spot ever. Being like "wth"

Stephen's family is high middle-class, while Ren's family is not extremely poor but struggles financially.

Ren's neighbor used to have a pet chihuahua, one day it escaped from their house and was running around. Ren wanting to do good chased it and picked it up, on his way to return it to his owner. It didn't end well since that chihuahua ended up biting a small chunk of Ren's ear off.

My AU takes place in 2002, but at the same time might be sometimes modernized.

Stephen has a chubby cat named Stimpy! (hehe)

Despite skipping school a lot and barely paying attention to teachers. Ren is smart. Like you'd be surprised knowing he is intelligent. While Stephen has a harder time understanding school work than the average student. He has a short attention span when it comes to school.

Ren takes anger management classes and is known there for having a really bad meltdown one time when speaking about his feelings.

Stephen has a pretty good home life, although his father is a bit absent.

Ren's father name is Pedro Christoph Höek. His mother name is Valentina Angel Pérez.

The school counselor calls Ren into her office regularly just to check up on him. She's the very rare person that Ren doesn't seem to mind.

Stephen had 2 past non serious relationships in middle school. Usually lasted for about 1 month or less. Ren used to date a girl he met at one of his troubled teens programs. It lasted for 6 months and he was the one to break up with her because she was too clingy.

Well guys this is all I can write for now, I hope you guys find this interesting to read!

Sorry if there's any spelling errors! (*ﾟДﾟ)

#im so sleepy goodnight you goobers #ren höek #ren & stimpy #stimpson j cat #stimpy #ren and stimpy #rempy #alternate universe #writing #humanized version #headcanons #lore

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saturnniidae · 5 months ago

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I'm a very big fan of cat!Toothless in modern AUs, but I also love the idea of him still being a reptile. A skink or bearded dragon or snake maybe. Like Hiccup just brings his weird ass pet lizard everywhere with him, maybe it has one of those little harnesses, or he's just got this massive snake on his shoulder that he baby talks to like a kitten (average reptile owner behavior)

#*him leaning against toothless' tank thats larger than the average requirement (only the best for toothless)* oh bud we're really in it now #idk i love the idea of scrawny little nerd hiccup just chilling with his massive snake or vaguely threatening looking lizard #(vaguely threatening bc beardies and skinks have resting bitch fave but theyre sweeties)#httyd #hiccup haddock #httyd modern au #lizard toothless

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valentinesdaydate98 · 5 months ago

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The Secret in the Diner

Word count: 4.1k

Fandom: 91 Days

Pairing: Angelo Lagusa x reader

Disclaimer: English is not my native language, so I apologize in advance for any grammar and/or spelling mistakes. The main love interest has a name, but I try not to be too descriptive. Thank you!

The chilly winds welcomed Joan with caresses on her flushed face as she strolled to her favorite diner on a quiet and late morning. What an agonizingly long morning! The dreadful crows of her roosters woke her from her deep slumber. Her house cats, who scratched her bedroom door, collided with the loud squeaks and playful nature of her little piglets outside her room. This morning was rougher than usual. The only thing pushing her through was her morning prayer. She prayed for a break from her mundane, soul-sucking life. In a rare turn of events, her neighbor offered to look after her animals for a day. After years of being trapped in her barn, she felt blessed by her neighbor’s offer. There is so much freedom, yet so little time. So little that she didn’t bother to change her disheveled clothes as she traveled deep into the city, away from her lonesome little town.

As Joan entered the diner, she greeted the friendly waitress, who ran up to Joan, surprised by Joan’s rare visits.

“Good morning, Joan; it’s been a while. I assume business is booming, right?” The waitress asked.

Joan chuckled at the question. “Well, I wouldn’t say it’s booming, but it’s doing decent. Same customers and all, ma’am,” Joan said as her southern accent blossomed.

“Ma’am? Oh, please. You make me sound like I’m your grandmother. Just call me by my name,” the waitress said.

“Sorry, ma’am.” Joan snickered as she heard the waitress groan.

During their conversation, Joan couldn’t help but let her eyes roam around the diner. Architecture-wise, everything had remained unchanged since her last visit. The same old, yet beautiful, paintings of previous owners adorn the walls. The sound of jazz music from the record player was soothing the worries Joan carries in her heart. It’s the same genre her mother adored listening to and dancing to with Joan’s father. She couldn’t help but clutch onto her cross necklace as she looked around.

Then everything came to a halt as her eyes met the dull pair of eyes of a gentleman with a cap on. The colorful atmosphere of the diner, in contrast with his almost black-and-white clothing, made him stick out like a sore thumb. He had a creepy aura that the average individual would stay away from. His pale porcelain skin and the small bags under his eyes. His face displayed a bored expression. However, in a split second, she noticed the blood behind his eyes. His soul is calling out for someone—someone to comfort him. For once, ease the burden off of his body. But how does one get his attention?

“Wow, what a handsome lad!” Joan exclaimed.

Margaret shrieked before she slapped her hand on Joan’s mouth and gripped her wrist, hoping the men didn’t hear Joan’s comments. The gentlemen didn’t seem to hear the ladies as they conversed.

“You can’t say such things out loud, Joan,” the waitress said.

“What? I’m stating the obvious. He’s a real sheik. Do you know who that gentleman is?” Joan asked as her heartbeat blocked out the sound of jazz music.

“No clue. I assume both are new in town. I’ve never seen those fellas before.” Margaret said.

Joan clapped at the revelation. “Splendid, I wish to speak with them both, particularly with the gentleman with the flat cap. I bet he knows how to treat a lady,” Joan said, with hearts floating around her head as she pulled away from Margaret’s tight grip. Margaret stood there, annoyed by her friend’s immodest thoughts and behavior. Oh, how she wanted to tug on Joan’s earlobe and scold her like a child. Unfortunately, once Joan was interested in a man, nothing would stop her from snatching him. Margaret sighed in defeat before returning to work.

Little did the ladies know, Joan would speak with Angelo Lagusa, the dangerous mafia member.

“Good morning, gentlemen. If it’s not any trouble, may I join you both for breakfast?” Joan asked as she sat up straight in her chair.

There was a pregnant pause as one of the two men looked dumbfounded at the request of a stranger. It’s not often a woman requests to spend time with both men.

The hazel-eyed man shrugged his shoulders before responding to her question. “Knock yourself out,” he said with a dull voice as he ate his breakfast. His bored attitude broke Joan into a sweat.

His partner, fortunately, had a more enthusiastic attitude about her request.

“What a lovely lady you are, and you have an adorable accent, too. Don’t worry about him; he’s a hardass. The name’s Nero, and this little fella is Avilio,” Nero said as he slapped Avilio’s back, though Avilio’s stoic expression remained.

“Pleased to meet you, sir; I’m Joan. Thank you both for letting me stay,” she stuttered, taken aback by the man’s preppy behavior. He went to shake her hand as she introduced herself to Nero and his friend? Sure, let’s go with that. What’s interesting is that Nero’s aura was stranger and creepier than Avilio’s. It was almost like she had seen him before, which was impossible. However, the icky feeling inside her was burdening her. She swore she felt this way before as an adolescent.

“Ah, a polite girl. If I didn’t have my hands tied up on business, I would’ve asked you out on a date.” Nero teased as he caressed her chin.

“Oh, I don’t think you can handle me, mister Nero. I’m a bit of a wild beast,” Joan said in a sultry voice as she fluttered her eyelashes.

“I have all the time in the world to get to know you, babe. Give me a time and a place.” Nero winked at her.

“You realize you don’t have time to fool around, right? Don’t get her hopes up,” Avilio reminded Nero, which resulted in Nero groaning and Avilio rolling his eyes.

“And you, newsboy? You’re rather quiet. Why is that?” Joan asked, trying to break the iceberg with him while she tugged on his suspenders.

Avilio shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing to add to the conversation, that’s all,” he said in a monotone voice that made Joan grind her teeth. She let go of his suspenders, slapping them across his chest. He can’t be this plain! What a blank canvas of a personality!

“I hate to bother you, little missy, but do you know any cheap motels nearby?” Nero asked.

“Not that I’m aware of. There is a small town, Khota, that has an auto camp. You can stay for free there,” Joan explained.

“Perfect, let’s go,” Avilio said as he stood up to put on his coat, leaving his half-eaten breakfast on the table.

“Aww, leaving already? Don’t you want to stay a bit?” Joan asked with a sultry voice as she crossed her legs.

However, Avilio looked unimpressed at her attempts at flirting. “Sorry, but we have business to attend to,” he said.

Joan whined at his insistence. “Can I come with you guys, please?” She pouted as she fluttered her eyelashes.

Before Avilio responded, a large, muscular man who reeked of cigarettes bumped into him. Though unfamiliar with Avilio, the sight of the man boiled Joan’s blood.

“Move it, bud. I ain’t got all day. Oh, Joan, it’s been a while. I see you’ve taken off those shackles. Are you still friends with those pigs of yours?” The man poked fun at her, earning him a glare.

“Not today, Mike. You know, it’s rare for me to have a day off. And for your information, those pigs are lovelier to be around than you,” she said.

Judging by the visible sweat marks on his clothing, despite the chilly winds and the foul odor from his mouth, Mike had been drinking earlier. He was the worst type of drunk—an excitable flirt.

“Ah, so you’re free tonight? It must be my lucky day. Hmmm, how much?” Mike smirked before eating Avilio’s half-eaten breakfast.

“Excuse me?” Joan asked, clutching her fists.

“What? A man has urges, and you do, too. I know you’re short on money, Doll, so do we have a deal?” Mike asked as he licked her lips and winked.

“Forgive me, Father.” Joan took off her cross necklace before she tossed the half-empty cup of coffee into Mike’s face. The burning sensation of the coffee made Mike scream in agonizing pain. Her action made everyone in the diner jump, especially Avilio.

Mike slammed his fists onto the table, breaking the table in half, and got up from his seat. With the fiery rage of Joan’s rejection, adding to his humiliation, he was ready to fight back. However, before he could comment on what happened, someone interrupted him.

“You got some nerve to ask her that, you low-life. Is this what you do for a living? Harass women until you get some pity favors? Frankly, that’s pathetic,” Avilio defended Joan, leading to Mike pushing Avilio against the wall, squeezing his throat, and turning poor Avilio red as an apple. The choked breathing echoed in the restaurant. Avilio’s nails scratched Mike’s hands and wrists, begging for an escape.

Joan, to save Avilio, grabbed a wine bottle from the restaurant and smashed it on top of Mike’s head. The liquid spilled all over the white floor and Mike’s coat. By a miracle, Mike let go of Avilio’s throat as he soothed his head. Joan stole Mike’s gun, pointing toward him without a shred of anxiety.

“If you’re smart enough, then the wine will be the only thing spilled on these floors,” Joan said with venom. “Get out, and don’t you ever think of touching my friend again,” she demanded of him.

Mike, shaken by her change of behavior, ran away, leaving a trail of footsteps. But cleanliness was not the most important thing on her mind.

“Are you alright, Avilio?” Joan rushed towards him, examining him for any injuries.

Avilio nodded and smiled at her. Though it was a small gesture, she felt excited that their potential relationship was growing. “You saved me back there; thank you,” he said, ruffling her hair.

“Joan!” Margaret shouted. “Are you alright, darling? He didn’t hurt you, right?” Margaret asked as she examined Joan.

“I apologize, babe, but we have to go now. We hope to see you around!” Nero shouted as he dragged poor Avilio away from the restaurant. However, Avilio glanced through the diner’s windows and noticed a strange man crawling underneath the chairs the three were sitting on. He scoffed as he saw an older man with ripped clothes and dirt on his run-down, open-toed boots stealing Joan’s cross necklace. That forgetful girl!

“Wait for me here, Nero,” Avilio instructed as he ripped away from Nero’s grip and rushed inside the diner. When he arrived, he rolled his eyes as Avilio noticed that Joan and Margaret had disappeared, but he needed to act quickly. So, he kicked the stranger’s stomach and stepped on his wrist.

“What are you doing? You know that’s not yours, right?” Avilio asked, glaring down as he stepped harder on the man’s wrist, setting the necklace free, and the man howled in pain. Avilio was close to breaking his wrist until the man apologized profusely.

“Let’s go, Avilio!” Nero shouted outside the restaurant, leaving Avilio to snatch the necklace and run back to the car.

“Hey, doesn’t that belong to that Joan girl?” Nero asked as he sat in the passenger’s seat and noticed the necklace wrapped around his partner’s wrist.

“It did. I couldn’t find Joan inside, and we had to go.” Avilio shrugged his shoulders as he turned on the engine.

“I don’t know much about jewelry, but I bet that necklace can make us millionaires by selling it,” Nero said, hinting at his partner.

“We’re not doing that. We’re coming back here tomorrow,” Avilio declared, making Nero groan in annoyance. “We have other ways of making dough,” Avilio said as he drove them to the small town, though at a snail’s speed to avoid a collision and because of the grey clouds covering the sky.

The next morning came with harsh winds complementing well with the grey sky. The pale, lonely girl with heavy bags under her eyes was biking back to the diner with lots of food in her basket from her farm. When the owner caught wind of what had occurred, he made a deal with Joan. She needs to compensate for the damages, he won’t press any charges against her. They settled on her bringing the diner food from her barn free of charge, which she had no problem with.

“I’m sorry again, Margaret,” Joan said as she put the food in its rightful place. “I hope I brought enough food.”

“I’m sure the owner is happy with the free food. Be careful next time, please! You’re lucky the owner didn’t ban you from his diner or press any charges,” Margaret scolded before her eyes widened as she noticed the missing family artifact on Joan. “Darling, you took off your necklace?” Margaret asked before Joan clutched Margaret’s apron and heard her friend’s sniffles.

“I lost it, Margaret. I lost my necklace. Mother and father, they’re gone,” she sniffled. “I looked everywhere, from the deepest soils of my farm to every drawer in my house. It’s gone! For the love of God, have you seen it, Margaret? Please?” Joan asked as she was on her knees, clutching onto Margaret as her tears poured down like a waterfall.

“I’m sorry, darling, but the last time I saw it, you had it on yesterday,” Margaret explained.

“Damn it! I’m an idiot!” Joan exclaimed as she shook Margaret.

A ring from the front doorbell interrupted their conversation.

“Please don’t tell me you both are fighting. It’s early morning.” The familiar voice of Nero echoed, causing Joan to shriek. Once she sees Avilio, she aggressively wipes her tears with her friend’s apron.

“Wow, you’re both back? How unexpected. Why are you back?” Joan asked as she used her hair as a shield to hide her bloodshed and puffy eyes.

“It’s a diner. What do people do at diners?” Avilio asked sarcastically.

“Right,” she says, clearing her throat. “I’m sorry, that was a dumb question,” she said in a trembling voice.

Avilio slowly tugs her hair behind her ears, exposing the bloodshed eyes and the tears on her cheeks. “Are you alright?” he asked, caressing Joan’s cheek.

Before she could respond, Nero jumped into the conversation.

“Sorry to interrupt this little moment, but we have to get going soon, Avilio,” Nero said. “I’ll be in the car. Just hurry up,” he said before rushing out of the diner.

“You’re leaving?” Joan asked.

“Yeah, we had to leave for business,” Avilio explained.

“Here, Avilio, I want you to have this,” she said as she rushed to grab a napkin and a pen. “In the short time I met you, you truly excited me like no one else would. Call me whenever you want. I prefer you to call during the nighttime,” Joan winked.

Avilio glanced at the napkin before folding it and placing it inside his pocket.

He took out a piece of paper and, at first, Joan believed he was writing a number for her to call. But after a few minutes of hearing the pen scratching the paper, her body tensed up as a million thoughts flooded through her head. Could it be a letter? What for? Is he rejecting her?

However, her thoughts drowned out as Avilio handed the paper to her.

“You’re a good girl, Joan. Be careful who you associate yourself with. It would be disheartening to read the papers and have your death be the headline,” Avilio said. “You can read that note and decide if you still want to associate with me.”

Joan looked puzzled as she read the letter. It started with basic information about him, like his real name being Angelo Lagusa and not Avilio. But then her jaw dropped to the floor at what he wrote next. Avilio went to school and church with her, yet he never introduced himself to her. He just watched her from afar.

It started on a harsh winter morning with icicles on every doorknob and feet of snow. They were trapped inside the church. The church authorities announced they would stay inside until it was safe to go home. Angelo’s little brother, Luce, was tensed throughout the morning. Luce kept biting his nails and his fingertips, clinging tightly to his big brother, and taking shaky breaths. Then the lights began to flicker, causing Luce to cry with his nails digging into Angelo’s skin. It wasn’t until they both heard the piano playing in the music room nearby. The soft hands of a young girl played Chopin as she glanced at the window, where the harsh winds pushed the tree branches into the window. A teary-eyed Luce walked up to her with awe in his eyes, leaving Angelo debating with himself. Grab his brother and potentially expose himself to the stranger. Or stay where he was? Luckily, Angelo didn’t have to decide since his little brother clapped in the middle of the girl’s performance. A loud thud and a hiss from the girl caused Luce to apologize excessively.

“It’s ok; it’s ok. I didn’t hear you come in, sweetie.” She reassured the little boy as she rubbed her knee. “A nasty storm outside, no?”

Luce nodded as he bit his nails.

“Everything will be alright as long as we are in the house of the Lord.”she said.

Before Luce responded, the power went out, causing him to cry.

Both Angelo, who was behind the door of the music room, and the girl’s heart ached at Luce’s cries. The girl gently picked him up and rocked him in her arms.

“It’s ok, sweetie. You’re safe. I’ll protect you; nothing will hurt you.” She declared before she had an idea. She carefully seated back down, with the crying boy on her lap, and played one of her favorite pieces. The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Soon the cries turned into sniffles and later giggles.

The small interaction between the stranger and his little brother made Angelo’s heart race, warming his body despite the freezing temperature. Even with his serious demeanor, the storm outside shook him up, but her aura provided a calming presence. Who’s that girl?

“I’m Luce. What’s your name?” He asked as he clutched onto her shirt.

“I’m Joan. I’m new here. Nice to meet you, Luce,” she said with a smile.

A few months later, Luce and Joan had a brother-and-sister-like relationship. A piano lesson followed every church meeting. Their first Christmas went by, and a special boy’s birthday went by. Angelo, who still hid behind any corner in every room, observed all the individuals were in. Angelo grew to like Joan, despite not interacting before. How can he not like a girl who treats his little brother kindly? If only he had the guts to talk to her. But he disregarded any attempt to talk to her. He never imagined that feeling intimated by a girl would make him feel ecstatic.

But then, they canceled his scheduled piano lessons forever. He found out when Luce came crying to Angelo, announcing that Joan wouldn’t be coming back to church as rumors spread about the reason. Some say it is because her family has moved; others say she got kicked out of the church because of her behavior. Despite all the badmouth and rumors, there was no answer to the question. What happened to Joan? In the end, no one knew the tragedy of her family’s death. She stared down at the lifeless bodies of her mother and father before she ran away from her home. A brutal murder from the Venetti family.

“Do you still want to hang around me?”

“You have my number, no?” she asked in a playful voice. Although what Avilio had written shocked her, she understood his motive. The Venetti family has killed her family. She prays that Avilio, no, Angelo, achieves his goal. Not just for his family, but for hers.

She heard a groan from Angelo’s mouth as his teeth held onto a cigarette as he rummaged through his pockets.

“Hmm?”

Oh, so that’s where his lighter went. He couldn’t help but smirk. The student learned from the master. It’s funny how a small action can light a flame.

“Keep it,” Angelo said.

“Are you sure? This lighter looks pricy,” Joan explained.

Angelo hummed in response as he rummaged through his coat pocket. “Would you accept this instead?” He asked, which left Joan choking on air. The golden cross necklace with a ruby rose-colored heart. It’s her family’s cross necklace in his hand.

“You found it? Where did you find it?” She asked as she cradled the necklace.

“Next time, be careful where you place it. You put it on the table, but I suppose it fell to the ground as you pummeled that man. You know, some shmuck tried to sell it. He was a real pain about it, too,” Angelo explained.

Joan thanked him repeatedly as she embraced him tightly. “Thank you so much. My family thanks you. You’re such a sweetheart,” she said before pecking his cheek, leaving Angelo feeling a tingle on his cheek and his heart warming up. The same feeling he felt when he first saw her. Finally, a breaking point!

Nero whistled at the sight of his partner receiving affection, resulting in Angelo scoffing and rolling his eyes. Joan giggled at their interaction before placing another kiss on his cheek. The kiss blossomed another rosy-red blush on his face. Joan’s warm lips on his cold cheek caused butterflies to fly around his stomach. The smooth jazz playing lessened the tension in his shoulders.

“Time is running out, Avilio,” Nero reminded him.

Angelo cleared his throat. “I didn’t think you were the religious type.”

“I’m not really. My father made this necklace for my mother, and she gave me this necklace before they both passed away.” She explained and then kissed the cross. “You saved my mother and father. Thank you!”

Angelo chuckled. “I didn’t save anyone, but I appreciate your kindness,” he said before Angelo sighed. “Be careful out there, Joan. I’ll see you around.” he pecked her cheek. An almost innocent smile and glowing eyes reveal a sweet side to him. Her heart match the sound of the Chopin record scratched on the record player from seeing him walk away.

“Thank you for everything. You gave my brother a happy life before his was cut short,” he said before leaving the diner, returning to the car with his partner.

A quiet pause followed as she stared, dumbfounded by everything that occurred. The letter, the kiss, their goodbyes. It all hit her like a tsunami. Wait, he was Luce’s brother?

“So, any luck, darling?” Margaret eagerly asked as her heels woke Joan up from her flashback. After a long pause, Joan glanced back before sighing.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s more of a one-sided affair,” Joan explained as she tugged the paper close to her chest.

“I’m sorry to hear, dear. Don’t be so down. As they say, there are plenty of fish in the sea,” Margaret said as she caressed Joan’s back. “Well, at least you got something from him. What is that? A phone number? Maybe you still have a chance.”

“Oh, yes, definitely,” Joan lied as she folded the paper and stuffed it inside her paper. “Still, I haven’t even gotten to dance with him,” Joan pouted.

“Darling, I know you long enough to know that you wanted to do more than dance with him. Honestly, you’re going to get yourself in trouble,” Margaret teased as she pinched Joan’s ear, earning Margaret a giggle from her friend.

So long, Angelo.

As Nero drives them away from the diner, Angelo glances back at the note and contemplates what to do. The rapid heartbeat when she was near and the chest ache, knowing he may never see her again, were all real. And that kiss—that sweet and innocent kiss on his cheek. It’s the first time he’s received affection from another person and possibly the last time. He rubbed his temple as he crumbled the paper.

“Do you plan on calling her?” Nero asked as he stopped at a red light.

“Not sure,” Angelo said as he shrugged his shoulders.

“Hey, if you don’t want to call her, don’t throw that paper out. Let me keep it,” Nero asked, feeling giddy about the potential of speaking with Joan again.

“Just focus on driving,” Angelo said dryly as he stuffed the paper in his pocket and stared into the baby blue sky, covered by the smoke of his lit cigarette. A storm was approaching.

#anime and manga #91 days #91 days x reader #angelo lagusa #Angelo Lagusa x reader #Angelo x reader

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