#both the real birb

[thecourtjester12]

So pretttyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Eastern-Screech Owl

[sage-is-in-fact-very-tired]

you know. holding ari's little comment of "part of me also does feel bad" and their continued comment that they (Icarus) just want to make fable *proud* and its just not happening, so so gently. I'm holding it and shaking it. because current a lot of people really want Icarus *dead* - and I have no doubt ari is in a similar boat (she mentions she would've stabbed them if it wouldn't immediately get her killed), but also ari can at least understand where Icarus is coming from, as someone with a godly parent. and I shake that. and and and - this is the first time *anyone* has out loud admitted that about icarus. This is this first time anyone has outright said (or even implied) that all of this, all they're doing, is to make fable proud. and I hold that so gently.

(something about how ari and icarus are far more similar than either of them will probably *ever* realize; something about how ari understands better than most what Icarus is currently going through. something about how Icarus currently *hates* ari, but some part of ari cares for them so deeply. something about how, maybe when this is all over, they can be friends - and maybe bit by *agonizing* bit, they can help each other heal.)

[theriu]

It's wooing week in the River household and Puddeglum and Truancy are being SO FREAKIN PICTURESQUE AND CUTE I CAN'T

Turning the shelf over my desk into a dang Hallmark card!!!

AND THEY FOUND THEIR WAY ONTO THE MINI HAMMOCK IN THE BATHROOM HNNNGH

[myriad--starlings]

didn't kill me, can't kill me. still alive bitches. still kicking, still enjoying life despite it all. and oh how fucking sweet the taste of it all is. like the first long drink of water after a year of thirst. like a cool breeze on the neck in the hot sun. like the first break of light after the depths of night. I am alive alive alive alive despite EVERYTHING and I have so many years ahead of me. so what if I lost a year? if it's taking me time to recover? my healing deserves my energy as much as my creation. piece by piece. piece by piece. I am becoming again. like a tree, leafing out after the winter. watch me stretch for the sun as I feel her warmth again. watch me drink up the rain as she visits me again. I am determined to flourish.

[flesh-archivist]

No one can convince me that jerma985 is real. He was made up on the internet and jerma the person is just photoshops of this guy in various sense. You could tell me any real fact about this man and I'll just assume that you or someone else made it up.

This being said, I enjoy it greatly and can't wait to see more

[rebloggingrexan]

R.M. Renfield my beloved

(click for better quality)

[starmocha]

Part of my sing little birdie aka birb dad + birb baby series, but I'm yapping bullet points real quick (idk I may rewrite this into a proper story one day. I'm trying to stay focused and in a specific mindset rn for my dragon!Sylus AU 😔👍). Something about the last part of Sylus' event triggered this thought, so let's get into it.

Taking Little Birdie to the Amusement Park

It's Sylus' daughter's first time at the amusement park. She is three and excited, but not because of the rides and attractions

It's one of the rare occasions where she has both mom and dad together spending time with her

Sylus lavishes his daughter with attention and indulges in her whims

If baby girl wants Daddy to wear silly headbands and glasses, then he will in a heartbeat

He buys her whatever she wants at giftshops even if she doesn't ask

Man is basically doing the "buying my child whatever she touches" trend (MC is exasperated once she finds out, but lets it go since this is a special day for their family)

He is the one riding the rides with her as MC photographs everything

He lifts her onto her chosen horse on the carousel and stays by her side

"So, my little birdie, this is the trusty steed you have chosen? A fine horse indeed."

Baby girl is having the time of her life on kiddie rides

The best part about having a tall dad is riding his shoulders. Little Miss has the best view at the park. 🥹🫶

Sylus isn't concerned about losing her.

Onychinus henchmen are lurking around the park posing as guests, staff members, or mascots 😭👍

Personal babysitters bodyguards Luke and Kieran are always nearby to keep their eyes on their precious Little Miss

Dressed as Smiley Dino and Sunny Dino, they are suffocating in their suits (rip 😔), but Little Miss' laughter and excitement makes it all worth it

"Daddy, Daddy, Smiley Dino and Sunny Dino hugged me!"

(Later Luke & Kieran @ MC: say Miss Hunter...would it be possible if we get copies of that photo? 👉👈)

Mephisto is also always perched near the toddler to keep an eye on her and will report to Sylus about any concerns

You do not want to mess with this bird. He has beef with pigeons on a daily basis. 💀 He won't hesitate to take you on either not to mention Sylus is always giving him weird upgrades

Basically don't mess with this child. She has the protection of Onychinus and you do not want to meet her dad. Or worse. Her mom.

Around mid-afternoon, nap time is near. It's been hours at the park, lots of overindulgence, lots of walking. The sun is blazing hot, and baby girl is dozing off on Sylus' shoulder trying to stay awake.

He and MC find a nice shady area to rest for a bit and just have a nice quiet family/couple moment as their daughter naps in Sylus' arms

In the evening they have a meal at one of the restaurants as a family. Baby girl is rambling excitedly about her favorite parts of the day (spoiler alert: it's everything)

"Mommy...Daddy...can we do today again? 🥺"

Sylus & MC:

When there is a fireworks show, baby girl is sitting on Sylus' shoulders pointing at the sky in awe

Sylus leans down to MC, asking with a smirk, "Remember the last time we watched fireworks at that restaurant together?"

"Mommy, Daddy, look, look!"

Little birdie doesn't even realize she is tugging on her dad's hair. Sylus laughs it off. Her joy is his joy.

Sylus isn't really paying attention to the fireworks. He gazes at his wife's awestruck expression and smiles as his daughter laughs. He wonders if he had traded away all of his bad luck because right now, in this moment, he felt pretty damn lucky.

He hopes this is a core memory for his daughter, but even if she grows up and forgets this day, Sylus won't. This memory will stay with him for the rest of his life, her laughter and smiles were his to keep, his to cherish.

(As for the rest of Onychinus, this is their core memories, seeing their precious Little Miss having the family day she deserves 😭🫶)

[officialdaydreamer00]

𝙴𝙻𝚈𝚂𝙸𝚄𝙼

"The final resting place of heroes and the virtuous.

When the concept of reincarnation gained currency in the classical world, the two Elysian realms were sometimes tiered — a soul which had won passage three times to the netherworld Elysium would, with their fourth death, be transferred to the Islands of the Blessed to dwell with the heroes of myth for all eternity.

Blessed be, the destination of two fated lovers..."

finally closing the book, you let out a soft sigh. it wasn't that you didn't enjoy mythology stories like such, far from it exactly. yet somehow, it always gave you a sense of familiarity, as if you had been through it before.

you shook your head. mythology were just stories people of ancient civilisations made up for their beliefs, of course. that was just a silly thought you had, right?

... right?

you felt a pair of arms snaked around your waist, warm and gentle as if you were made from porcelain. a familiar scent that belonged to your beloved, the comfort of which your confused soul sought for. lips leaving a fleeting kiss to your tensed neck, murmuring a voice, beautiful and soothing, you yearned to hear.

"i'm home."

right, you smiled. it didn't matter much, as long as he was still by your side.

"welcome home."

as long as your bond still prevailed.

your fated, your beloved.

𝙴𝙻𝚈𝚂𝙸𝚄𝙼 — 𝙰 200+ 𝙵𝙾𝙻𝙻𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁𝚂 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽𝚃

(From 20th to 30th of November)

— by Lovejoy Studios

A Twisted Wonderland AU sets in an inestimable timeline, where the gods are very much real. And you, dear one, and your beloved are reunited at last, after centuries old of godly tragedies.

𝙰𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝:

In Elysium, you may decide who shall play the god, and who shall play the human. Of course, both can be gods, or both can be humans.

I unfortunately cannot stop the tragedies you might have faced in your first lives, though, for Greek mythology shows no mercy for its heroes. That, dear one, you have to figure out yourself.

𝚁𝚞𝚕𝚎𝚜:

• You have to reblog this post, and spread the word to the best of your abilities. The more people who knows, the more effective it shall be.

• Seek the Oracle of Delphi and tell her your wishes. You may need to specify your beloved one, and a scenario you had in mind, else the Oracle would tell you a... less than appeal vision. However, if that is what you wanted, then I will not stop you.

• Examples of what your ask should be like:

"What is my destiny with Malleus Draconia? Would it end with us happily in love and dancing the night away under the night sky?"

or

"Tell me my destiny with Jade Leech. Would he truly be my fated one, had we ended up like Theseus and Ariadne?"

Be as creative and detailed as you wish, dear one. I am not here to hinder you from finding your destined end.

May the Fates be kind to you.

format is inspired by the great mage of misery, @ceruleancattail

🏷️ @azulashengrottospiano @aqua-beam @siren-serenity @dove-da-birb @shinysparklesapphires @vioisgoinginsane @shyhaya @hisui-dreamer @axvwriter @names-are-dumb @leonistic @iseethatimicy @cecilebutcher @moonlit-midnight @krenenbaker @ryker-writes @cookiesandbiscuits @minimallyminnie @xen-blank @cave-of-jade @mermaidfanficlibrary @taruruchi @thehollowwriter @edith-is-apparently-a-cat @wordycheesecake @enigmatic-pers @jaylleoo14

note: i might not write for characters i find hard to characterise correctly (i.e. pomefiore trio, jamil, leona) but i will try my best to

[cloudcountry]

Fem cater w/ a reader who’s camera shy? Idk I’m thinking bout fem cater

SUMMARY: you're camera shy and cater compromises!

COMMENTS: i'm camera shy ourgh i hate pictures. everyone in my life loves pictures though so i try to be cooperative KJAGSDKASG

Cater isn’t about to let a totally cammable moment with you go to waste, whether you’re camera shy or not! She���ll research different poses that leave her the center focus or have the both of you in the background somewhere.

She'll place her hands in the shape of a heart over your face if you’d prefer that, responding to any comment asking why she did that with “it’s a secret!~ <3”

It’s easy to take pictures with her, she’ll never judge you for any of your preferences. If you’re comfortable throwing up a peace sign with a close lipped smile, or holding some sort of book over your face, or hiding most of your body in her arms, she’ll do whatever it takes.

Honestly? I think Cater would just be happy to have someone to show off. You’re letting her take pictures whenever she wants to, regardless of the occasion (every day is an occasion, she thinks) and she loves you for it.

She loves you for a lot of other things too. She loves the way her shiny orange lip tint shimmers on your skin, she loves the way you giggle when her hair tickles your neck, she loves the way your fingers curl around your sleeves when you feel shy.

She loves the way you look in pictures too, so mysterious and beautiful, so lovely just like a rose from Heartslabyul’s gardens. Cater tells you so every time she wraps up one of her photo snapping moments, cooing over the pictures like they’re precious treasures.

Oh, and don’t worry, she’ll certainly save some loving for the real you too, showering you in tangerine flavored kisses and nuzzling against your warm cheeks.

TAGLIST -> cater's cuties . . . @vivigoesinsane @identity-theft-101 @dove-da-birb

[askmovieslate]

Seriously, this movie kicks some real ass.

The way they do everything they can with the concept, the very creative set pieces, the fact that is both incredibly over the top and yet paced so well. It manages to be both incredibly mature and incredibly juvenile at the same time. It shows that Eli Roth has the chops to be a great horror director, far from the times of "Cabin Fever", and that also he was so sick of working in "Borderlands" he needed to get away from it with some good ol' holiday horror.

This one's gonna go up there next to "Krampus" and "Trick 'r Treat" as that one holiday movie you watch to get a spook and have fun.

Oh and, regarding Jamesy, don't worry. He'll be ok. He volunteered after all, didn't you, you Feather duster?

Jamesy: *muffled panic birb noises*

See? He's alright. Get ready! We have five more buckets like this.

Jamesy: *birb noises of absolute panic*

[salternateunreality2]

AGSZC Adopt an Emotional Support Cat for Sephiroth

From the @strayheartless archives <3

Thanks @heraldofcrow and @altocat for the grammar help!

---------------------------------

It doesn’t go as planned.

They go to the shelter to try to find a kitten, but Sephiroth finds something even better: a feral momma cat with a single living kitten because all her other babies died. He and she stare at each other for a solid 15 minutes through the bars, until AGZC find them.

Genesis: THERE you are. Sephiroth, the adoptable kittens are this way.

Sephiroth: This one.

Zack: Oh, sorry bud, this one says the kitten is too young to leave his mother.

Sephiroth: No, this cat. The kitten can come too. *has not broken eye contact yet*

Angeal: Sweetheart, this says she’s feral and not up for adoption, and neither is her kitten. Come on, let’s go look at the ones that are available, ok?

Sephiroth: This one.

Cloud: *Looks at Seph. Looks at the cat. Looks at the kitten. Looks at Seph.* This one.

Angeal, Genesis, and Zack can all be stubborn, but they are faced with the immovable object that is Sephiroth with a fixation and the unstoppable force that is Cloud protecting someone. They convince the shelter staff they can take care of both the mother and the baby. Yes, even though she’s feral. Yes, they know they can’t be separated. Yes, they will handle medicating the feral cat.

—

Momma cat immediately adopts Sephiroth as a second kitten. Then Cloud as her third. The first kitten grows up and is weaned and becomes Zack’s dog-cat. He’s friendly and cuddly and likes to play fetch, and his momma likes him, but knows he’s going to be ok on his own. Not her other kittens though. They clearly still need her.

She comes and yowls at Genesis and Angeal when Seph and Cloud need something she can't get them. She yowls at Genesis to go hunting with her to provide for the babies, and at Angeal to figure out what's wrong when they won't eat the nice mice she brings them.

She accepts Zack as a puppy, disciplines him, and comforts him when needed, but her attention belongs to her tall baby and her baby birb first.

Her new sons are idiots, but they’re HER idiots.

Sephiroth calls her “Mother Cat”. Cloud calls her “Cat”. Genesis insists she needs a REAL name (it’s only decent), and writes down "Serafina" on the vet papers. Sephiroth falls in love with him all over again.

If either Sephiroth or Cloud starts hyperventilating, she comes and sits on her boy and purrs until he calms down. If they ignore important things like feeding time or petting-the-cat time, she starts kneading her paws. If they still ignore her, she brings out the claws. She’s not shy about making sure they take care of her and then themselves.

She nips Zack when one of her boys is overstimulated and he's too loud.

She hisses nonstop at the vacuum and stands between it and her babies until they take her to another apartment, at which point she bathes them until they (and she) calm down.

Serafina: YOWL.

Angeal: Hi Serafina. Is one of them being an idiot?

Serafina: YOWL. *walks to the dining table*

Sephiroth: *hunched over a pile of manuscripts, hair a mess, muttering*

Serafina: YOWL.

Angeal: Seph, honey, have you been up all night again?

Sephiroth: …it’s…morning? Wh- *voice cracks* -at day?

Angeal: Wednesday.

Sephiroth: Oh *cough* just one night then.

Angeal: And you haven’t had water since…? Actually, don’t answer that. Clean up your papers, you need to eat, hydrate, and sleep. No, no arguing. Serafina is worried, you need to reassure her.

Sephiroth: Oh! Of course.

—--

Serafina: YOWL.

Genesis: Yes, my Lady Serafina?

Serafina: YOWL. *leads him to the front door, where Cloud is swaying and trying to put on his boots*

Genesis: Cloud Strife, when was the last time you ate?

Cloud: h-Huh? Gen? When did you get here? 

Genesis: Eat. When.

Cloud: ummmmm…breakfast?

Genesis: Yesterday?

Cloud: ……maybe?

Genesis: Sit down before you fall down. You know mako enhancements require more calories. No, stay there and I’ll get you a shake and a bar. Yes, I know you have work. You won’t be any use passed out or dead. Now thank your second mother for saving your life. *stomps off huffily*

[critical-birb]

Do you think that since Rito live in The Cold Region™ they would have a tradition of sauna?

Because if you want to clean yourself and not freeze to death during an actually cold winter you either heat the water, get it preheated from hot sptings, or don't use water at all (sandbaths). Pruning can only take you so far I feel.

And I am not sure which one is better.

Oooh omg I love that - I am stealing this idea. So, obviously with real birds, depending on species they clean themselves different ways. Most birds really do just preen - birds don't sweat, so their skin doesn't usually remain moist or build up bacteria. They have a 'preening oil gland' at the base of their tail (think weird butt nipple that secretes oil - you're welcome.) Typically they coat their beak in this oil, then 'zip and unzip' their feathers by sort of scrubbing them back and forth to remove any dirt/dust/grime from the feathers - it both acts like a soap by lubricating dirt molicules and helps to insulate the feathers from water. Small birds and birds in warm climates will often dunk themselves in shalow bodies of water - although it's theorised the pratise is more about cooling themselves off. However it does provide some level of cleaning especially if feathers have become heavily soiled. However, they typically only coat their outer layer of feathers and shake themselves dry in fast intervals to avoid themselves becoming soaked. (People who own birbs will know these little bastards can't regulate their body tempretures super well so if they get soaked, they can get too cold and keel over). Then there is also sand baths - which is about using small molecules to dislodge grime. Real birds preen...pretty much constantly, and obviously Rito are rather large and have a hell of a lot more feathers than say, a sparrow. So just preening simply wouldn't be fesable unless they spent every waking hour doing it. However you're totally right, in the cold regions there would be no fesable way to submerge themselves in water - even in hot springs, because it would take them hours to dry off and they would succum to the cold, especially if Rito function like real birds and have a hard time regularing body temp. So having a sauna - particularily a dry sauna, would be sort of vital. I like imagining they bathe communally in hotsprings at certain times of the day/week and then spend an hour or two in little saunas to dry off their feathers. Birds also raise their feathers when they get too hot to try to allow heat to escape - so they'd all be sat in there all fluffed up like pompoms and have to preen themselves/oneanother after to smooth them back down and recoat them in oil. What a wonderful mental image.

[myriad--starlings]

Don't touch me. You shouldn't touch me. I wasn't born good but I thought I still could be. You know, I actually like when the captain talked about how heaven was on merit; as long as you do good things, maybe you can one day be good... But then they said we don't believe in that anymore and it's only what's in your heart that matters. Just when I think I got it right, they changed it. I can try hard, but I think... God knows my heart isn't really in it. And that was my only shot right?

Mom taught me not to touch others. It's just polite, you know. And dad taught me to not let others touch me. You gotta protect yourself if you're a girl, you know. But if it's only what I feel inside that matters, what am I supposed to do? I can't stop that kind of touch. So what if I just stop trying not to, you know? It feels so strange and weird and bad to stop but I could, I really could, I think? And how nice that would be.

— Jupiter

I want to touch. I want to be touched. I want to hurt. I want to be hurt. And if you feel the same way you're as bad as me. I was hoping you'd say, 'get behind me' or 'I rebuke you' like you're supposed to. Won't you let me feel like a real devil for once?

— Jupiter

y'know?

Jupiter from we know the devil moments. feeling it out here.

[hasturstoad]

a summary of things I associate with Bump, canonical and hcs

warning: possible triggering topics

so? I've actually done that! can't say I'm entirely glad with the colors, and I didn't manage to put all the stuff on the art, but yeah here it is.

the explanation of the choice of the stuff:

sable marten (on the left) represents Bump himself. a little (yet dangerous in its own ways) carnivorous mustelid mf with cool dark fur, which is considered as one of the most valuable and beautiful furs? hell yeah. it was a little bit hard to do the coloring, because the darkest shade of real sable martens' fur is actually dark brown. I tried to mix the natural appearance of the animal with Bump's hair color and make it as realistic as possible, so here we go.

biblically accurate Frewin doesn't exist, he can't hurt you. okay, maybe I should not try to make that adorable little imp to look semi-realistic. but yeah, Frewin.

wormwood. according to some sources, this plant symbolizes bitterness filling the world during dark and troubled times. as I know, Bump's childhood was in the same time with the start of Belos's regime and things happening before it; could a person who witnessed all the bitterness themselves and was affected by it bring that bitterness through all their lifetime?

also, I personally hc that Bump smells like wormwood. also ink, paper and a little bit wood due to Frewin.

green & purple as the background. light green is the color of Hieronymus's spell circles. dark greyish purple? genuinely dunno, just associated it with him in some ways.

shattered razor blade. as I've already said, he was born in troubled times. he needed to be protected... and he weren't. his nails were always naturally hard and a little bit too sharp, so maybe an extra little bit of sharpness would be good, Hiero thought? so, tiny and extremely sharp pieces of a blade. his first weapon. he needed that.

the bandage roll. he's pretty much familiar with bandages, he used stuff like that multiple times. he still keeps extra bandages and bandaids somewhere, in case someone else would need that.

the dagger. the same dagger he brought to dissect Luz in that episode, the same dagger he literally keeps somewhere on the shelf in his office. the first thing he appeared with.

magpie feathers. also, that birb is one of my associations with Bump. it's the bird who spreads the word; and I think he has the way with words. also the birb has cool jet black head and even cooler long blueish tail. it makes a bit disturbing yet funny noises. I believe in magpie Bump supremacy.

that blue principal uniform thingie? well, I think it doesn't need explanation.

the stress toy. I think the reason the same stress toy that was exploded by Eda magically appeared in one of the following scenes was that the vice principal just had a few of those octopus stress toys. maybe it was his personal favorite one. feeling like he had/has A LOT of fidget toys of all kinds, and still uses his stress toys. sometimes Frewin steals them.

that badge he wore during Them's the Breaks, Kid.

the tiny maroon thing? I dunno what it is but I like it. Bump keeps it in the office for some reason:

dear, I have no idea what the hell are you, but you look cool

the Hooty patch. it was probably given to him by Lilith; her and Bump have pretty good relationship (Lilith was his student, he's, like, very proud of her. also they greet each other during the Watching and Dreaming finale), and I think he had enough bad experience with Eda and her pranks to not take any stuff she gives to him.

the blue worm on a string, Frewin's favorite toy. Bump doesn't remember when and where he has gotten it, but they both like it.

the notebook. Hieronymus has been using such notebooks for a lot of time, I guess it started when he was the vice principal. he just writes The Stuff there, sometimes notes, sometimes venting of some sort, sometimes even a kind of a diary. at first the notebooks' sheets were mostly empty: Bump was afraid of Faust finding them. he keeps a whole stack of those notebooks somewhere to read them someday; that 'day' has never happened. once he'll do it: tomorrow, tomorrow again, the next week... well, for now the notebooks are waiting their time.

the Abomination goo. I don't think he was in the Coven willingly and really had the choice of what Coven to be in, due to the fact that he has used the Coven magic like two times on screen (the first time the goo was the closest thing in his reach, the second when he needed to carry a heavy thing). but yeah, here it is.

he got his sigil when he was a teen, everyone was sigiled randomly no matter of the age back then; that was a messy time of reforms, after all. Hiero was basically forced to be a member of a random Coven. when he was in his early 20s, studying for being a teacher (the subject was not related to any Coven), he tried to change his coven to the Oracle, because he thought he'd be better in the OC than in the Coven he didn't choose to be in. well, he didn't succeed. Bump has learned to find other ways of using magic, and he rarely used his Coven one. when sigil removing became accessible, Bump was one of the first ones to remove the sigil. it was risky; Hieronymus was glad though.

the papers. doesn't need explanation as well, I guess.

the glove, the single one that he was wearing during the Watching and Dreaming finale. I really like the idea of Bump wearing the single gardening glove on his right hand, so the left wrist - now without a sigil - stays uncovered. show that you're free now. tell your past oppressors to suck a d-ck. yeahhh.

also the glove is like the last thing he has been seen with throughout the show. starting with a dagger, ending with a gardening glove.

to say in conclusion: I've tried to make this piece as much non-headcanonical as I could and I've fallen miserably. so instead of it you have the whole stash of my hcs. haha hehe

[amethystfairy1]

i love how you portray the hybrids’ trauma in traveling thieves! so many fics tend to place the skyblings in similar situations but only grian has trauma while pearl is unaffected, but it’s nice how you’ve incorporated both her girlboss personality with her trauma.

that said, i’ve been absolutely loving the treebark fic! martyn is so head over heels for ren even if he doesn’t know it yet heh

I'm so glad you like how I've portrayed it!

Yeah, I've noticed that! I think it's a real shame. I mean, you can tell with one look at the series that I certainly enjoy tossing some angst at Grian, especially when he's in 'adorable birb that could kill you' form, but also like...Pearl is a girlboss, that's a big part of her character, but I think that's also why I've tried to give her circumstances within the AU that allow her to maintain that persona. It makes logical sense within what she's experienced, and her experience has been different enough from Grian's to explain their differing mental states. Or so I hope! So I'm glad you think so!

Yay Treebark! I have so many plans for them it's gonna be so much fun, please look forward to it!

[witchofthesouls]

OH MY STARS! WE TOTALLY NEED SOME WRITING OF BIRB JACK WITH SOUNDWAVE. :000

More AU of a Cyber!Earth!Au with the Darbys directly under Soundwave’s care.

The being that was once June Darby was a dangerous creature.

That ferity hadn't disappeared once he managed to coax her out of that endless dream. Within her, old human sensibilities of civilian life and civilization warred with the new instincts that were capable of devouring everything in its path.

Nor had Soundwave wanted to suppress those instincts fully. To tame them. No; it would serve them both well among the Decepticons and the strange, new world they were navigating. They needed to simply nurture the bridge and guide the process. Ease it.

The inhibition collar had done little to quell the microtransformations as she armed the edges of her robes with serrations, masking it with a deceptive gentleness as the sparklings hid by her legs whenever one of the more foolish mechs attempted anything.

(If anyone was stupid enough to think that June Darby was any less dangerous in a femme root-mode. That the collar was enough after her rampage across the ship as she hunted after her stolen child. It was their own passage to the Unmaker.)

Her son, Jack, echoed it.

Optics blown wide with the white pupil mechanisms drowned out everything else, the sparkling's frame shifted and rippled between the metal of shadowed hull and his own physical body as he mimicked the crooning birds perched upon his shoulder.

Croaking and chattering. A mix between organic ruffling feathers with metal plates sliding and soft transformation seams. It was difficult to discern between the sparkling and the birds. Only the multiple optics popped out of the seamless blend.

In the gleam of those dark, shiny optics, Soundwave saw the reflection of that strange robed figure.

Jack's mouth moved, but it wasn't words, just a spill of noise. Not even birdsong or a close mimicry. A mix of pattering rain, distant rolling thunder, and a gentle breeze through swaying branches.

The boy met his visor and seared into his mind was yellow robes standing within a clearing where many of the mining operations had disappeared. Something writhing behind them, dissected limbs with peeled musculature and fuel lines neatly entwined with one of the metal trees.

Soundwave quietly filed away the abomination that was Silas. Breakdown's paintjob, no matter the degradation, was a custom one by Knock Out's hands.

The spymaster kneeled down. He ignored the hissing birds as they ruffled up. What mattered was Jack's reaction, and Soundwave had poured so much work into ensuring his charge was comfortable in his presence. A careful prod to allow their EM fields to overlap. Jack didn't pull away as Soundwave anchored into his space, circling the sharp, bizarre notes as the birds became more distressed.

Jack's main attention was pinned to the distant figure calling for him (and his mother), but a small part still focused on Soundwave.

"Jack." Soundwave played out the haunting recording of June's many-layered voices of her monstrous alt-mode. "Jack. Jack. Jack. Where are you?"

The sparkling finally blinked. Connection severing. That grey-blue hue returned as he tentatively stepped into Soundwave's reach. He ignored the shrill squawking and crash of teeth and data-cables as Soundwave crushed the blackbirds and their foreign influence as Jack curled into his hold. Like a puppet with severed strings.

Luminosity hissed from the corner before barreling over, clambering across Soundwave's back-plating as she pushed her own quelling danger senses into them. She spoke in rapid squeaks and chirps, punctuated with hard flaps of her wingspan as Jack pressed himself deeper into Soundwave's hug. His mind jumbled in strange breaks as Jack attempted to reorder himself, and Soundwave gently reinforced the lowered mental defenses, sweeping away the scent of ashes and the boiling-freezing imprints.

Of course, the birds weren't real. Even with his speed and the sensation of crushing them, Soundwave felt only the walls of the ship.