#but furry wet dream nonetheless

[triptychgardener]

What does becoming a furry in Homestuck mean? (In reference to your recent Nepeta post)

Okay so the thing is the way that Homestuck treats furries is honestly kind of equivalent to how it treats queerness. As in, Homestuck initially treats it like a joke or a thing to mostly sneer at. Homestuck was very much part of the wave of disaffected ironic assholes of the Newgrounds and Something Awful type, especially to start with, and that sort of relied on shitting on demographics that were seen as weird and permissible to find cringe and make fun of.

Jade comes onto the scene, and a lot of people sort of groan at her whole furry shtick. Jade is largely, however, just a pretty sincere character, and even though she feels some embarassment over the idea of BEING a furry (i.e. her distaste for the idea of actually wearing a fursuit) she nonetheless begins the admirable refrain of combining the finest qualities of humanity with the elegance and nobility of the animal kingdom.

Her earnest affection for all things anthropomorphic sets up more than just her excellent taste. And as much as she is a bit of a pattern-breaker, one pattern she doesn't break is that of having a Signature Animal.

The four beta kids have a bunch of different things associated with them: the four elements, four items, four musical instruments. But the animals are practically integral to who they are as people and characters.

John's attachment to the bunny is obvious, and helps to spur on one of the most emotional scenes in the comic. (For him. Him specifically.)

It's also something deeply precious to him, as it's a gift from every single one of his friends in a very roundabout fashion!

For Rose, Jaspers is half the reason she decided to play the game in the first place. She missed her dead cat so dearly she was willing to play a game that might end the world for it.

(Pictured above, Rose lying about her feelings, water is wet.)

Dave seems to at least feel some affection for crows, or at least shame when he kills them.

And his fusing to become Davesprite is what allows him to survive as a "copy" of the original Dave. Once again, Dave's disaffected irony giving way to the necessity of becoming a furry to save the world.

And for Jade, of course, Bec.

And it's notable that, by the end of the comic, at least THREE of our main beta kids have merged with their animals, and, in a way, become the best versions of themselves.

Jade obviously gets to achieve her dream of becoming a furry, and in doing so gaining power and agency that she was always denied due to her position in the story.

Davepeta, as I stated in a previous post, is the true Final Form of Dave, the pawn that made it to the end of the board, the only surviving character from Homestuck's "original" timeline, and is truly happy with themselves.

And Jasprose appears to have fully hurled herself through the walls Rose put up around herself to protect her image, and thus absolutely mortifies Rose. She just seems to be having a great time.

Homestuck evolved from a story that was deeply cynical and mean-spirited about furrydom, to a story where three of our four starting protagonists, in their truest most powerful forms, combine the qualities of man and beast to achieve self-actualization. And to bring this back around to queerness, these three characters also happen to be canonically queer. So there's that.

This isn't even to get into how this might relate to Troll Lusii and the concept of "growing up" to be more like one's parent on a planet raised by animals, but that's for another day.

[auclairedetoru]

May I request Levi crushing on a stranger he saw in the coffeeshop? (Idk if you accept nsfw requests but if you do, with wet dream pls)

Hi first nonnie~ thank you so much for sending in a request! I'm not comfortable with writing detailed nsfw, but I'll try my best to deliver your vision 🤍

⭒๋࣭ ⭑. Content warning : mention of wet dreams so MDNI!!

“fuck...” Levi mumbles to himself after he wakes up from another... Strange dream, hands wiping the sweat from his face as he tried to catch his breath.

This is the second time this has happened in a week. He doesn't want to admit it out loud, but he's been having wet dreams and they all include the same person, a person Levi shouldn't be thinking about to begin with for one specific reason,

She's a stranger.

Now, he wasn't a pervert, and anyone who knows him wouldn't describe him as one either. Levi's life behind the bedroom doors has been practically nonexisting lately, too focused on his nine to five so he can provide a comfortable life for himself and that little furry brat he calls his cat. His days of meeting new people and building a relationship are left far behind him in his college years, and he honestly couldn't care less about it all anymore. So why are his dreams showing a completely different story?

The stranger in his dream, he didn't even know her name. He sees her every morning at his neighborhood's coffee shop that she started frequenting around a month ago. He would walk in and find her sitting on the sunny spot facing the window.

The first thing he noticed about her was her choice of beverage, a modest cup of green tea, not his first choice - as he prefers black tea - but a good one nonetheless. She paired it with a millefeuille with strawberries, the marble top of it being white and pink. She always has her off white cross body bag on the table, a keychain of a pink pig with bunny ears (he thinks it's a weird combination of animals, but he admits that it's cute) hanging from it. He remembers exactly what he felt when he saw her face for the first time. She had a soft smile as she read something in her magazine, her cheeks covered in a blush that he believes is makeup, the shade suiting her tone perfectly, her nose scrunched as she took a bite off of her millefeuille, a hand delicately cupped under her chin to catch the crumbs. Levi felt his heart fluttering at the simple sight of her, which he tried his best to control but it ignored his deep breaths and continued its dance.

Why was she in his dreams? And that specific type of dreams as well? He never had them in his life, let alone with a total stranger! Levi was confused, drenched in sweat, and in need of a cold shower.

As he got ready for the day, his thoughts couldn't stop drifting towards the coffee shop stranger, so he let himself indulge in them for once. He thinks she's very pretty, gorgeous even. He thinks her voice might be as sweet as her smile, and he thinks her favourite colour would be pink, given that it's what she wore most. He wonders what her music taste would be, she gives off the vibes of someone who listens to Laufey, and he likes that thought, he hopes he's right about that because he enjoys Laufey too.

Is this what having a crush feels like? Based on the books he read, movies he watched and people's experiences he's been told about, everything adds up. The nerves at the thought of talking to her, his fluttering heart, the dream... It all made sense.

Levi has a crush on a stranger.

He wants to be wrong, he wants his heart and mind to be confused and got things mixed up. He could ask his therapist about it, but he knew himself well, he just didn't want to admit it. Still, he mastered the courage on his way to the coffee shop, hoping he wasn't too early and she'd already be there like always.

Levi decides he's going to approach her today, ask if he can take the seat across from her and start a conversation with her. He has always been told he's very well spoken and that conversations with him flow easily, he hopes he'd be able to do that when talking to her without his voice shaking.

Luck must be on his side, because when he opens the door and his eyes land on her usual spot, she is there, reading a magazine like always. He takes a deep breath and walks up to the barista telling him his usual order, but to not put it in a to-go cup. After the barista smiles at him and tells him his order would be ready shortly, he turns towards the fascinating stranger, and without allowing another thought to cross his mind, he walks towards her.

“is this seat taken ?”

Levi gives himself a mental pat on the back, he didn't stutter like he was afraid he'd do.

“not at all, you can have it.”

Shit, her voice isn't like he was expecting it to be, it's way better. It sounded smooth like butter gliding on fresh croissant, silky like the bed sheets his mother gave him as a house warming gift, soft like the way his cat's fur feels after a bath. His heart is about to beat out his chest and his hands are starting to get clammy with nerves but he's still playing it cool with his posture and his nonchalant way of speaking.

His lips are about to part and speak to her, but she beat him to it.

“I noticed you come here every day at the same time, and you always order the same thing.”

She noticed him!? And knew his order!? This is the last thing he expected to hear from her, in fact, he didn't expect her to talk to him at all, he thought he'd have to start the conversation!

“yeah, I used to make my own tea before I discovered this place, couldn't find the blend they use anywhere, apparently the owner makes it from scratch with his own leaves.”

She raises an eyebrow at that, clearly intrigued.

“I enjoy their green tea, certainly better than the ones at the grocery store. I wonder if their chamomile tea is just as good.”

Now it's Levi's turn to raise his eyebrow.

“Don't tell me you buy all your tea from the grocery store.”

“only chamomile! I drink my tea here now,” she defends herself, her pretty smile still on her face, “I don't know where else to buy it from, I'm new to town.”

“Perfect.” Levi thinks to himself. This can't get any better for him.

He casually grabs the cup of tea the barista placed in front of him a moment ago. His eyes still locked with hers despite feeling like he's about to pass out from nerves and excitement.

“how about you meet me here tomorrow? We can have our breakfast and I'll take you to my tea dealer, everything I can't get here I get from her, she's the best.”

The sweet angel in front of him giggles and he nearly melts in his seat. If only he can take that heavenly sound with him so he'd listen to it every chance he gets. It's better than any song he ever heard.

“how would I know this isn't your plan for killing me? You're a stranger after all.”

He places his cup back down after taking a sip.

“my name is Levi, Levi Ackerman. You are?”

“y/n y/l/n. It's nice to finally meet you, Levi.”

He feels like he's about to explode. He knows her name now, and it matches her so incredibly well. And the way she said his name? He never thought it would sound so beautiful until now.

“if you agree to come with me tomorrow, I'll let you search me before we go and I'll have my location turned on the whole time. Promise I won't try anything to hurt you.”

She looks down bashfully before nodding, agreeing to go with him wherever he is planning on taking her.

Levi discreetly sighs in relief seeing her agree. God, he couldn't even imagine hurting her, she's too delicate, too precious, he only wants to hold her close and hear her sweet giggles. To protect her from anything that could hurt her, whether it's big or small.

“now tell me, does Laufey happen to be your favourite artist?”

“how did you know!?”

A hint of a smile pulls at Levi's lips. He'll do anything to make her a part of his life and to keep her there forever.

[dellinah]

Hey remember when Bojack Horseman - the furry show where humans can have babies with horse people - tackled suicide better than literally any other show could ever hope to and did it perfectly?

The View From Halfway Down 

it’s all okay, it would be. were you not now halfway down.

[moon-catto]

Shifting into JJK Universe!

I had this crazy dream and decided to write it down but with a little twist sksksk 😃

Warning: none, fluff? Manga spoiler inside!

Masterlist

I got this crazy dream when I took a nap in the afternoon. I was doing my college assignments that I ignored for weeks. Tomorrow is the deadline so I literally speedrun my essay to prevent me from failing that class.

It was like 5 pm when I finally sent my essay via email to my professor, there's nothing special that time. But somehow the air feels a bit warmer and I can smell the subtle scent of wet grass because my windows are open. I can see the red sky outside where the sun is barely setting.

And something about it moved me. I pulled my chair closer to my window and sat there for a moment. I rested my chin on the windowsill as I enjoyed the light breeze of passing wind hit me gently.

Being a seventh semester student is tiring, I keep running here and there trying to keep everything together when it's clearly falling apart. I was too busy chasing after my diploma to see the world around me.

I forgot that the world can be so… beautiful.

A smile was curved on my face. It may look like a tired smile, but it feels blissful nonetheless. This simple moment is very precious, where I can breathe easily without worrying about my assignments and grades. I can just simply… breathe.

I wasn't tired, no. I have an even more heavy assignment before. This much doesn't tire me or maybe it's because I didn't realize just how tired I am? Perhaps that's why my eyelids feel so heavy right now.

I got a night class later… a light nap won't be a problem, right?

I'm not the type of person who dreams often. If I do, it would be an absurd type of dream, you know? Like the world is falling into a zombie outbreak and I'm the only human left. It usually ended with me running for my dear life with these left4dead zombies chasing for my ass.

Ugh, it was horrible. I don't wanna remember that dream again. Anyway the funny thing is, whenever I have these dreams I would always be able to access a side menu. Like an in-game menu where you can pause the world, resume the dream, skip the dream, or go back to the main menu a.k.a the real world. Of course, I was quick to choose to skip that dream— just to be chased by abnormal titans in another dream.

This time too, I was playing hide and seek with Huggy Wuggy from the Poppy Playtime game in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (I know. It was a very wild dream). He found out where I hid, so I tried to run away but my body feels so heavy like time got slowed down but that thing— that blue furry monster walked so quickly towards me and was about to eat me.

I screamed but my voice also pitched down because I'm still stuck in the slow down mode. Thanks to my super quick reflexes, I was able to press the side menu and skip the dream/sarcastic.

So that's why now I'm stuck in this white space. I'm finally able to breathe freely and my movement becomes normal.

I was about to fall because of the sudden change in space, but luckily I was held by someone.

"Geez, that scared the hell out of me." The person who held me said, His voice is surprisingly familiar. "You appeared here out of nowhere and screamed like you're getting possessed." He had the audacity to laugh at my misery. I would be throwing hands and legs at him if only I wasn't so shocked at the current moment.

I let out a coughing fit because of the building tension earlier. My chest feels so tight, it's painful. The pain is very vivid, just like when someone punched you right on your chest. "Holy shit. Should have not watched that youtuber gameplay last night." I muttered between coughs.

"Hey, you're okay? You look a bit pale there." He pushed my chin with his thumb to see my face. I squinted my eyes shut, in fear that he had a disfigured face or something. I don't really think I can handle another jumpscare right now.

Sensing my fear, his voice got softer.

"It's okay. You're okay. Nothing is going to happen to you."

I clearly remember the owner of this voice. Is it really him? Can I open my eyes? What if it's not him? I can count the occasions where I fall for this kind of sweet trap in other dreams, it doesn't end well to say the least.

"I promise."

Oh, wow. He sounds very reliable. Why do I feel like crying?

"Aw, look at you." He ruffled my hair. "You're crying. You were that scared?" I can hear him chuckle lightly. "What kind of monster did you see to make you this scared, huh…" Maybe he took pity on my pathetic self, that's why he's pulling me closer to him.

A bump. Is this… his chest? For your information, yes it was hard. Also, boii, you're going to kill me right here.

"Now you're laughing. Aren't you a weird girl." He hummed, he sounded amused even. Figures, he must've never seen such a weirdo in his life.

But No, you don't understand mister. This is the most delightful dream I ever had in my life. Like for real? I don't wanna this to end.

Get a grip. I immediately slapped myself to stop my concerning train of thoughts. Geez, in all of the people I could have met, I have to embarrass myself in front of him.

Ah, now I wish to disappear.

"Quiet now, aren't we?" I can feel his hands trying to remove my hands that covered my face. "Come on, that's not fair. I let you cry on my chest earlier."

After a bit of pulling and tugging, I finally gave up. He's just that irresistible and also very stubborn.

"Now we're talking!" I opened my eyes and was met with his blue ones. "You're feeling better?"

"... Dear lord."

"Ah? Wah! Why are you falling all of a sudden?!"

"I must've saved a nation from a disaster in my previous life…" I was limp in his arms. My body gave up just like that, there's no ounce of power left. My knees shook like a jelly and my vision is getting blurry because of the rush of serotonin in my veins.

"What are you talking about?" He's enjoying this weird situation. He's pulling my noodle arms and twisting my body as if I'm a kind of a marionette. "You're really weird." He says but he's laughing at my pathetic state. Guess being a clown for my whole life can be advantageous sometimes.

"Thank you." He finally let me sit on the white ground. Currently breathing heavily and in denial.

"Hmmmmmmmm…." He leaned closer. I should've known this man doesn't know the concept of personal space. "I've never seen you before." He then clapped his hand in an excited manner. "Then how about introducing ourselves?"

".... Okay."

"Me first! I'm Gojo Satoru! I'm 28 years old and I'm a teacher!" He extended his hand and I accepted it hesitantly, because I was in awe at the size difference of our hands.

"... I'm Y/N…"

"... And?"

"... I'm 21 years old…"

"Uh-huh."

"And uh, I'm a college student."

"Ah, what semester are you in right now?"

"Seventh semester."

"I see, then you will be graduating soon!" He shook my hand vigorously and my whole body also shook following his movement. "Congrats!"

"I haven't graduated yet, why are you congratulating me?" I smiled.

"Because that means I will be the first to congratulate you!"

"Ah, that makes sense."

"So, you're not asking about what major I studied?" He asked with a wiggle on his eyebrows.

"Why should I?"

"Well because I'm a teacher. Isn't it natural to ask what major I studied?"

"Well, yeah." I nodded. "But then, a sorcerer doesn't have to go to college in order to be a Jujutsu teacher, right?"

He made a big surprised O. His expression is very cute, I can't hold back my laugh. "Are you a psychic?!"

"You can say that." I grinned.

"Oh, a sorcerer and a psychic. That would be a dope story." He smiled, his smile could light up the whole continent.

"I bet." I smiled back.

We spent like hours talking about various things. Mostly about our worlds, he's beyond surprised to hear that curses doesn't exist in my world.

"... That would be a perfect place to live." He told me in a rather solemn voice.

"Maybe."

He raised his eyebrows in question.

"Because in my world, some people have to live with something worse than a curse." I smiled bitterly at the thought. "You can say that we're cursed in one way or another."

"...True," he said. I thought he's a nosy person who invades others' personal space as he likes, but he doesn't push further after that.

"Hey, Gojo."

"What?"

"..." I'm hesitating to say this. I know that our time will be over soon and I don't know if I will be able to meet him again. But I always want to say this to him if I can. This is maybe just a dream, but my heart says otherwise— that's why I need to tell him this.

"... What are you going to say?"

"——————."

His eyes widened after hearing my words.

"Be careful." I told him with a sad smile. His surprised face somehow made me feeling hurt. "I don't want you to hurt even more."

Satoru woke up in a cold sweat.

"... Just a dream." It's supposed to be a dream. But why is his heart racing and filled with such uneasiness?

The words from the stranger in his dream keeps haunting his mind even with his hardest effort to forget it.

"Fuck." He bit his lips as the memory of his dream comes back again.

"Suguru Getou is alive but his body is taken over by Noritoshi Kamo."

Masterlist

[acourtofsnakes]

Solus - Rogue, Chapter 1| Mandalorian x Force Sensitive! Reader(F)

Summary: So I don’t want to give too much away, but a rough outline - You are Force Sensitive, and after being hunted your whole life, you’re not surprised to find another Mandalorian on your tail. What you didn’t expect, was THIS Mandalorian. Nor anything that happen’s after. And so begins a journey of two Rogues (three if you count the womp rat). 

Warnings: Not many in this chapter as it’s an opening but, mentions of death, angst?, swearing, fighting, my rusty writing after I haven’t done it in years, let me know if there’s anything else!!

AN: So, I think this might be a little messy in terms of tenses. It jumps around from the past to present a little too, so I’m sorry if its confusing… Let me know what you think!! And if you want to be added to the taglist!

Word count: Just over 4k.

Rogue Masterlist | Introduction| 1: Solus| 2: Arir | 3: Tor | 4: Gaa'tayl

Rogue Taglist:  @snipskixandbeskar​ @weirdowithnobeardo

Mando’a translation: Solus - Alone

Alone.

That word had come to change its meaning over the years. When you were a small child, alone meant you were outside, playing in the grass and flowers with your parents just a few metres away indoors, within sight of you still. Close enough to come running should anything happen to you. Including that time you got stung by a bee and screamed so loudly the neighbours thought you were being raided.

A few years later, alone meant being shut away inside your room, windows closed, door firmly shut.

“It’s for your own safety, honey, you know what will happen… We don’t want this for you, we hate this, but we must keep you safe, my darling.”

You understood, of course. It was your own fault; you didn’t mean for it to happen… But just because you understood, it didn’t mean you had to like it.

A year on, alone changed properly for the first time.

The true meaning of the word hit you like a speeder when you were kneeling in the mess on the dusty ground.

Blood had soaked your knees, staining your tunic. It had coated your hands, your arms as you frantically shook the shoulders of your mother, willing her to open her eyes, to sit up and hold you. To stroke your hair and tell you it was okay, it was all just a bad dream. To take you home, where you could forget this whole thing.

It didn’t truly sink in until you heard your fathers strangled scream as he ran around the corner…

And then the sickening hiss and sizzle as the blaster hit him square in the chest. The way he tried to crawl across the ground to you and your mother, but there was a heavy white boot planted firmly in his back, a gloved hand yanking his head up and a vibroblade sliced across his throat.

His blood had coated your own bare feet as you ran to him.

You were only 12.

From that moment on… you were truly alone. No family. No more friends, they had all left when you showed them your power. Such a beautiful, natural thing, being in line with the Earth, the energy that connected all living things. It was rare, meant to be celebrated…

Instead, it just bought death upon those you loved.

So, as you ran from the horror scene within the market square, your parents blood baking onto your skin in the hot sun, you buried it. Deep inside, locking it in a box, surrounding it in darkness and keeping it hidden.

And that’s where it had stayed for the last 20 years.

~~~

Sorgan was a good place to be for a little while.

The air was breathable, the forests thick and lush, providing good cover, and the inhabitants were spread few and far between. It was quiet, the only habitable planet in its system, in fact, so it was… safe?

Well. That’s what you had told yourself when you made the split decision to come here after somehow managing to stow away on a ship that just happened to be going there.

You’d just been attacked by a Trandoshan bounty hunter, chased halfway across the planet you were on and forced to dump most of the belongings you’d managed to acquire for yourself in an effort to get away. The green lizard humanoid was… beyond eager. Hunting was their way of life, they thrived on the ritual of it and this one was no different. He was relentless. Constantly tasting the air for your scent with that disgusting flickering tongue. He’d even licked your neck once and you thought you might throw up all over his weird, scaly body. 

It had gone on for more than a week before you decided to try and get the jump on him. You laid a trap, using his eagerness against him and it had worked…. Mostly. You fought, hard, managed to sever his arm and you were just going in for the kill when out of nowhere the tables turned. Knocking away your weapons, he’d pinned you to the ground, a wickedly sharp blade pushing into your shoulder and scraping bone.

He took one look at you, battered, exhausted, blood soaking your shoulder and burst out laughing, preening in glee that he’d finally caught you, finally managed to capture the girl everyone wanted (you hadn’t bothered to ask if he was employed by the Republic or the Imperials. At this point, it didn’t matter anymore).

What he failed to notice in his gloating, was the vibroblade you pulled from the sheath on your thigh. One moment, he was laughing, the next, his head was thudding onto the ground next to your own, mouth still open in glee, reptilian tongue lolling out.

The next hour or so had been a blur, making your way through the town again, cloak pulled up over your head and over your shoulder to hide the wound. You’d managed to steal cloth and a tincture from a street vendor, binding and cleaning the knife wound whilst hiding in a small alley. It was there that you saw the ship, only a small cargo ship, the door left open. You’d slipped in like a ghost, settling between some crates of unidentifiable objects and let yourself slump, adrenaline leaving your body, leaving it shattered and full of pain. Too close. You’d almost been caught and taken back Maker knows where. Luckily you had that blade, one you’d stolen from an Imp a couple years back after he’d tried to capture you.

As you hid in the cargo hold, you heard the co-pilot ask about the turquoise planet.

“Sorgan? Why Sorgan? That place is beyond boring. I’m surprised the people living there haven’t started a war just for something to do.”

The pilot had laughed, “You’re right there. Barely anyone comes out here anymore. Most people don’t even remember it’s here.”

That suited you just fine then. A mostly empty planet with a krill-fishing village that kept to itself, swamps and forests… hey, maybe you’d finally get a chance to relax.

Since then, you’d found a little place in the forest, up high in some clustered branches, near a source of running water. It was high enough to stay out of the way of predators, but close enough to the ground that you’d be able to spot any enemies ��� and get away quickly.

You’d even made a friend here.

Well… sort of.

Your first night on the planet, you were trekking through the forests when your legs had just… given out. You were spent, mentally and physically, blood pooling through your fingers from the knife wound which had since opened up again. As you lay there, staring through the canopy, you decided that maybe this was it now. Maybe it was time to give up the fight.

You had been running for so long, it was a way of life now. Had more injuries than you could count and been hunted by twice as many people. Hunters and mercenaries of all species and origin, IG-11 droids, the occasional Imp or New Republic official, even a Mandalorian once – that one had been bad. You’d had to give in after you killed him and go to a hospital, he’d left a blaster hole in your thigh so deep you could see bone.

It was quiet here, peaceful, you remembered.  The treetops had begun to blur and swoop under you as you came to your decision.

I’m sorry, mumma, I’m sorry, papa. I tried, but I can’t do it anymore.

You had closed your eyes, giving into the darkness with a final goodbye and letting it wash over you like a tidal wave.

Only to be woken up what felt like seconds later by a wet nose and furry face pushing against your hand. Lifting your head, you’d blinked away the blurriness to find a rounded, big eared head resting on your hand. A Loth cat. It appeared that you’d gotten yourself a little friend.

Since then, she hadn’t left your side, following you everywhere, climbing up the trees and curling up on your lap of a night. You weren’t sure what had drawn her to you, but… it was the first companion you’d had in such a long time, and her warm body against yours was such a comforting feeling that you couldn’t bear to part with her.

That was a few weeks ago.

Nothing had happened in those few weeks. No fighting, no threats, no beeping of tracking fobs waking you in the night and sending you hurtling for the trees.

Nothing but trees, swamps and your furry little friend that you’d called Duru, after a childhood friend.

The only thing bothering you at this point, was your arm. You’d managed to smuggle some herbs from an apothecary hut in the fishing village, but it wasn’t healing properly. The wound had sealed, but it ached. Insistently. Some days it wasn’t too bad, but most of the time, it caused you enough grief that you struggled to grip anything. It was just lucky it was your non-dominant side.

A small groan left your lips as you rubbed at the skin around the wound, perched on a low branch, watching the village. The string of your bow dug into it, sending small shockwaves down your nerves and making your hand spasm. You shifted the bowstring, curling your hand into a fist and releasing it again to get some feeling back into it, an absent action as you just watched the day-to-day life of the village.

It soothed you in a way, just watching people go about their daily lives, how each person had a part to play. Even though you hadn’t met any of them and doubted they knew you were there, you liked and respected them nonetheless. So, whenever you snuck into the village for supplies, you always left something in return. Prey you’d shot down in the forest for food, herbs you’d gathered, fish you’d caught. Just a small way to say thank you to the for keeping you safe, even if they didn’t know it.

You weren’t sure how long you had been sat there for, eyes closed, one leg dangling from the branch and just enjoying the sunlight on your face, the cool and faintly briny breeze when Duru suddenly shot to her feet, a low growl rumbling from her throat. Your eyes snapped open in an instant, bow drawn and pointing into the forest, ignoring the lick of pain as your shoulder protested.

You scanned the branches, the ground below but… nothing. There was no-one there, but Duru was still staring, eyes fixed on something you couldn’t see. You huffed, leaning back against the trunk. She probably just saw a bird or a bug or something.

Still, you remained on edge for the rest of the afternoon, your hand flying to the hilt of your knife at every little crack of branches or whisper through the trees.

It took you a long time to sleep that night, but your body eventually gave in and fell into a somewhat fitful slumber, hand still resting on your bow just in case.

---

Beep.

Beep.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Beep. Bee-

Within seconds, your eyes shot open and you were bolt upright. You knew that noise.

Instinct took over and you grabbed Duru, urging her still sleepy body onto your shoulders as you scrambled down the tree trunk… only to fall the last metre because of your shoulder.

Stifling the cry of pain, you shot back to your feet and took off running, in the opposite direction of that noise.

You’d been too relaxed, let your guard slip down too much here. You should have left the second Duru went on alert last night. Of course, her instincts were so much better than yours, but you ignored it. Like a fucking fool.

The curses kept slipping from your lips as you ran, not daring to see who was behind you just yet. Maybe you’d get lucky, maybe it was just a normal hunter, looking for a big job, not realising the countless that came before him or her. Or it.

You almost laughed to yourself as you zig-zagged through the trees, feet flying over the undergrowth.Maker, you had to get off this planet, it was making you too lax.

The predator’s presence was like a dark cloud behind you, slipping through the trees, lapping at your heels every time you thought you had gotten away. Trees and branches whipped past your face, stinging but you didn’t have time to brush them away. You didn’t even have time to turn your bow and shoot an arrow, the hunter was just that close. Your brain worked frantically, seeking for a way out, an escape, a distraction, anything.

Wait.

A distraction.

You cursed yourself again, drawing in a ragged gasp of air into your aching lungs as you fumbled at your belt. You had a small flash grenade in a pouch on your belt. You used to have three, you’d had them for years and only used them for dire situations. Like this one, you just need a distraction, even for just a few seconds to get up into a tree.

Duru dug her claws into your shoulders for grip – ow, claws -  as you activated the grenade and threw it over your bad shoulder without even turning around. The hunter was so close behind you, you knew it would work no matter where you aimed.

As the grenade exploded into light, you shielded both your eyes and Duru’s with the hood of your cloak, putting on a burst of speed and adrenaline and you bolted for a tree to your left, practically flying up into the canopy. Without hesitation, you began to make your way through the trees, almost sobbing with relief to the Maker that the branches intersect and cross over so that you can make your way across them.

After about 10 minutes of moving through the air, you stopped, hunkering down against the trunk of a huge willow tree as you tried to haul air into your lungs, whilst staying quiet. The pain in your shoulder nearly brought tears to your eyes, the ache in your chest but you stayed still, breathing in through your nose slowly, then out through your mouth, massaging the stitch in your side.

Was the hunter still all that way back? Was he looking for you on the ground? Maybe he was in the trees too, opposite you, watching and waiting to-

“You can’t hide from me.”

The voice came from below and somewhere to the right, a few metres away. On the ground then. The voice sounded male, a little distorted, but that may have just been the roaring of blood in your ears.

You barely breathed, scanning your surrounds and slowly rising to a crouch on the branch, calming your body into a hunters pace of your own. Slow, even movements, balancing your weight as you crept around the tree to a branch on the other side.

Even Duru was silent, hunkering around your neck, her head barely peeping out of your cloak.

“You might have evaded all the others, but you can’t run. Not from me.”

Typical. You rolled your eyes as you slipped along the branches like a phantom. Another hunter thinking he’d get the glory because he captured you. The faint call of fear in your blood quietened as you realised he was just like the others.

Let him gloat, you thought. He could be dispatched as easy as the ugly reptile last time. And his tongue. 

You kept your ears pricked as you eased over to the next tree, but you couldn’t hear him. Obviously trying to get the jump on you. You let out a silent laugh as you reached the adjoining tree and began to descend.

“I can bring you in warm. Or I can bring you in cold.”

You froze, going rigid, praying the leaves would hide you as one foot dangled in the air. He was right underneath you.

You dared a glance down, finally looking at your current attacker and…

Nearly fell from the tree.

Standing on the ground below you, pulse rifle pointed at you was a tall figure. Decked out in beskar armour so shiny you could have done your hair in it, the infamous helmet covering his face, tilted in an almost casual, cocky expression.

A Mandalorian.

The Mandalorian.

You’d heard whispers of this one. That beskar armour, more than any other Mandalorian has ever laid their hands on, paid for by the collection of a high-stakes bounty. A bounty which he stole back, from the hands of The Client and Stormtrooper bodyguards, breaking Guild code and going on the run. Wanted by The Galactic Empire, The Guild, and countless others, he became a rogue, travelling the Outer Rim with his little green child in tow, completing jobs and missions for normal people, all the while being hunted himself by Moff Gideon. He was relentless, one of the best, not hesitating to kill if someone threatened him or the Child.

Someone obviously wants you very, very badly, to call upon a wanted man to track you down.

And he obviously wants to bring you in just as much, to take the risk of this hunt. You briefly wonder just how much he’s being offered.

Fuck. You’re really screwed now, aren’t you?

All of this flashed through your mind in an instant, as your arm shook with the pull of your body weight on the wound. You made as if to move, put suddenly he’s there before you’ve even let your foot drop, a gloved hand grabbing the bottom of your cloak and yanking you to the ground with a thud. Duru made a yowl of protest, springing off your shoulder and into the trees, which you were relieved about because at least she’d be safe.

Twisting to avoid putting weight on your bad shoulder, you bared your teeth at him in a grin, “I bet you use that line on all the ladies, don’t you?”

Really?? This man, this Mandalorian was going to either kill or take you, and you were trying to flirt with him??

Shaking your head at yourself, you rose to your feet, grabbing your bow, thankful you spent 4 years saving the credits for it. It was made of a strong but flexible metal, perfectly shaped for your height, as familiar to you as your own arm. Its edges were razor sharp, a knifes edge. You spun, swinging it toward him and it lightly clanged as it met the armour on his forearm, the vibration skittering down your arm.

The Mandalorian lifted his other hand, a knife in it that he guided toward your side, “Only the ones that have a bigger bounty than I’ve ever seen on their head.”

You quickly jumped back, but not before he caught you, cutting through the fabric of your tunic and opening a small cut just under your ribs. “Ooh, now we’re onto flattery so soon? Careful, Mandalorian, I’d think you were trying to woo me, not kill me.” You flung out with your bow again, only to have him grab it, yanking it out of your grip and throwing it to the side.

Mandalorian made a faint noise, whether it was disgust or exasperation you didn’t know, “You talk too much” He came at you again, a flurry of fists and kicks that were almost too quick for you, making you realise that you weren’t just fighting some cocky hunter.

This was possibly the most dangerous Mandalorian out there, save for Boba Fett. He wasn’t going to let this go. You were a good fighter, excellent, even, but as you both danced a routine of attack and defence across the clearing, you realised… you just might not walk away from this.

You panted, ducking under his arm as he swung for you. Maybe… maybe you could go and seek help in the village, you could hide in a hut or a boat, beg them to take you in.

It was like he read your mind, seeing what you were planning to do, “Really? You’d lead me into the villages? Haven’t enough people died for you already?” His voice was like a rasp as it come out through the modulator, cutting straight through the clarity of the fight and into your heart, making you pause.

How did he know that? Your parents were common knowledge within the hunters of course, nearly everyone knew, but everyone else, those that tried to hide you…

~“Run!!! Y/N, run. Don’t look back, whatever you see, whatever you hear you must promise me you will not look back.”~

A hard impact to your jaw made you stumble backwards, dragging yourself back to the present. Asshole. He’d distracted you. “You’re talking to me about death? How many have you killed, Mandalorian?” You kicked out at his knee, your boot connected just under the plate that covered his thigh and he partially went down.

The Mandalorian grunted as he rose back to his feet, “I’ve killed, yes. But criminals. Murderers. People who deserve it. I haven’t killed innocent people.” He came for you again, fists up and his blaster out this time

You couldn’t help the shocked laugh as you avoided his advances, slashing out with another small knife, grinning when it found home in his shoulder, “You haven’t? What about all the Jedi your little clan murdered?” You spat out the word clan, punching him hard, ignoring the protest your knuckles made at the impact of the beskar. “You didn’t understand a people, so your first instinct was to slaughter them like animals.”

You could almost feel the frown behind the T-visor of his helmet, “That was before me, I was never a part of the war. And why do you care about the Jedi?”

~“Mumma!! I’m not leaving you!! I’m sorry, I’m so so sorry, this is my fault, I shouldn’t have done anything, I’m sorry!!”

“Shhh, shhh, my darling. It’s alright. They just don’t understand you, that’s all. Which is why you have to run, you must go and find your father and be safe, please.”

“There she is!!! Over there! Kill anyone that tries to protect her”~

You hesitated, lost in memories of the past, explosions, screaming and blood. So much blood…

He shot out a grappling line from his vambrace and it wrapped around your ankle and he pulled you off balance and to the ground, again. Weapons made specifically to combat Jedi, people with the same abilities as you, reminding you just how hunted you were. He rose to his feet, walking over to you, “I don’t know why they want you. I don’t know what you’ve done. I don’t care. I just know that you’re a criminal, you’re wanted, and the price on your head is nearly as big as mine.”

You snarled at him, reaching for your vibrobrade and pulling it from your thigh.

He just sighed, kicking it from your hand with one foot easily and at the same time he jammed the end of his rifle against your shoulder, already having marked it as a weakness.

A howl of rage and pain ripped through your gritted teeth, and the edges of your vision started to go black. It was broken by the helmet coming into your eyesight, the moon bouncing off the surface, “Give in. You can’t win. Even if you beat me, more and more people will just keep coming after you.” His voice had turned to honey on a knife edge, persuasive. Wrong.

Right.

You shook your head, as if trying to shake off his words, deny the truth of it even as tears started to burn the back of your eyes. You arched your back from the floor, trying to get up, trying to shift his knee off of you but he was like a damn rock on you, pinning you to the floor. “Fuck off, you’re just as heartless as the rest of them.”

Your power cried out to be used, begged form that place buried deep within you, but you pushed it down. You wouldn’t, couldn’t. Instead, you swallowed, lifting your head and opening your mouth to scream.

Only for his hand to wrap around your throat, his fingers lightly pushing against you. It wasn’t enough to strangle you, or cut off your air supply, but the squeeze of his fingers was enough to warn you that he would do it if you tried to alert the villagers. The Mandalorian leaned down, close enough that you could see your reflection in the black visor. More honey dripped from that voice, worming into your head, your defences.

“More people will die for you. And I don’t think you want that. I won’t touch those villagers, but anyone after me might not be so lenient.” He tilted that stupid helmet, merely watching you struggle with another light squeeze around your throat, another slight prod into your shoulder.

~Explosions lit up the market, local people screaming and running for cover as spices and fruit flew through the air. You choked, searching through the smoke, until your bare feet landed in something warm and wet. Blood.~

As you glared up into the unrelenting metal, you caught your own reflections eyes. Bruised. Battered, snarling. A danger to anyone you came near. How many people had died because of you? Either directly or indirectly? All because you kept running. Maybe you just didn’t deserve it. Deserved to live freely. And hell, you were so tired. 20 years on the run, more if you count the years with your parents. Always having to look over your shoulder, never being able to completely trust another living person. The closest thing you’ve had to a friend in the last 5 years is a Loth cat, and even she left.

It was time to just… give in.

~“Mumma? Mumma wake up, please wake up. You have to, you have to get up, please mumma, PLEASE!!”~

You couldn’t do it anymore.

I’m sorry.

The Mandalorian saw the defeat in your eyes, the way your body slumped into the ground, your muscles relaxed. As a tear rolled down your cheek, you took one last glance at the stars, so you didn’t see him hesitate for just a second before using the shock of his rifle to knock you into darkness.

Next chapter

[empty-dream]

70-72 commentaries (No pic, spoilerific nonetheless)

The most important thing: S3E70-72 have no visual for Hockney's face. I, as a Hockney fan, can not deny my disappointment. Though his head from the back does something to soothe my ache.

I want to scratch Yasratcha's face so much.

So I googled and found that the name of the game, Gakjadosaeng (각자도생) literally translates into "Self-Help", and is an idiom meaning "Each one tries to make a way out of it." Fitting. Tho I’m actually surprised Yasratcha doesn’t name the game “Cat Game”

This entire kill-the-prisoners-who-just-wants-freedom-to-get-what-you-wish-for thing is not gonna do Bam good. It's foreshadowed already.

I have a feeling the special gift Yasratcha prepares in Yama's map are the same canine species as Yama. Either way, being Yama is gonna suck now.

I wonder what Evankhell's map is like since it's not shown. And also what's up with Kallavan's map, the goal is right in front of his face?

White: "I can't believe I had to get my feet wet." Me: I can't believe that's the first thing you say after 1 year hiatus.

White as an enemy is an anoying trash talker. White as an ally, however, is a satisfying trash talker. I forget if he's always able to honestly admit his pride gets hurt when someone blocks his sword, or if this is because of White's Clone effect on him? Last time I remember, as Hoaquin he exploded when Boro did it.

That Lyborick minion is so fucking unlucky to run into both Dowon and Karaka. This duo is not what I expect to find here but now I'm looking forward for their dynamic. She actually calls him "Kid." I know she’s ancient and all but. still. Karaka. A KID. LMAO.

I have no basis to say this but what if AA will face Maschenny's minions and they give hints about Maria and lit up the path to Khun Family Arc. I don't think said little brother is Ran, tho. The Wiki states Ran wants to kill Maschenny, and I feel like she is the type that will sardonically call any Khun male younger than her as "little brother."

Hansung really says "Me? Wanna be a hero? Nuts."

But anw, what is 'Where it all began?' Why is he "the only one mad for Jahad and the Great Families for turning their back against morals'? Am I forgetting something about Hansung's past or is it really not touched upon yet?

I still can't believe I start with "I hate Yu Hansung" and now I'm all "I love Yu Hansung."  Or the fact that Hansung, Karaka, White and Kallavan, all antagonists from previous long, long seasons, now are allied with Bam. What kind of fever dream is this.

Flash news: Yasratcha is into mixed furries.

*Haratcha spewing those words on Hansung* Me: Wow he really hates heroes huh *Haratcha's past is shown* Me: Wow he really hates himself huh.

So Haratcha's past is basically Elaine's but so much bloodier. And it's tragic in a different way because unlike Elaine's family, the Rashangs didn't start off such greedy bastards. They were just a good minority group that was being persecuted. But when they got to taste wealth, comfort and power for a bit too long, they became cruel and lazy.

And "How People Change" is a common theme in TOG. Just look at Bam in general, or Floor of Death arc with Joe, or Jahad and the Great Family Heads who, as Data!Eduan and Data!Jahad stated, were not like *that* before.

Haratcha's dying scene is unnerving because of how much this stays true. The ghosts (?) of the Rashangs are still so greedy. But when he offers them the only thing he has left, his mark, they just curtly say 'we have that already.'

His dying thought is correct: The Rashangs had no ambition. They never learned. They were given multiple chances to go back to living normally and safely, but they busted them all. They had passed the point of salvation because, as narrated, " They could no longer stand it if anyone had even a little it more than them. They developed a habit of demanding equality, but they made no effort to make things truly equal."

But that didn't go one way. Haratcha was the one enabling the Rashangs to depend on him and eventually leech him off. He said "I will give you power"; he never said, "Let's become strong together." He shot himself on the foot by becoming their wish-granting machine. Just like how he accused Hansung of doing, Haratcha was trying to be a hero for his marginalized people. But one fundamental mistake and several unfortunate things kickstarted his downfall.

Hansung himself also highlighted this. Hansung was not a hero trying to save anyone. He encouraged races trampled under Jahad to stand up for themselves, he made use of people, he left those dragging him. All of these were not things Haratcha did.

Said fundamental mistake, at least for me is that it got worse for Haratcha because unlike Elaine who still had her subordinate, he was alone. He was the lone leader of the group and the only one Yasratcha transformed into a feline. There was no one to raise with him nor to fall with him. No one understood what he really wanted, no one truly asked or argued more with him.

So when the pre-greed Rashangs worried about him and he waved them off with the words "Ask me anything, I'll give it to you!" they believed him and took it literally. After that he just kept giving and giving despite everything until it drained him and led him to kill everyone. And the reason why he couldn't be as harsh as Hansung is, why he is the wannabe-hero one, is because it was out of unconditional love that he did everything for his people.

(I'm just a fan of Hero Deconstruction so don't mind me spitballing about one minor character's past.)

By the way, SIU's narration and drawings to show Haratcha's past is insanely good and chilling. Right to the very end, it was *chef kiss* God I miss SIU so much it's so good to have him back.

[azz-clazz-shit]

2. Rain by @azz-clazz-shit

Inspired by @dreaming-of-assclass 's spring prompt list.

Characters: Karma Akabane

Wordcount: 1266

Summary: Karma in a cool, rainy Saturday. Also, a cat?

»»————-　♡　————-««

Karma woke up to this Saturday morning coddled up in his blanket, keeping whatever body heat he had from the cold air. Even though it was the morning, no ray of sunshine was out for it was covered with grey clouds, letting out dewdrops of water.

He tried to shut his eyes shut, hoping to go back to sleep but it seems that his body did not agree. He groaned, sitting up right, with the blanket wrapped around him like a cape revealing his sleepwear, consisting of a plain shirt and sweatpants. He glared at the clock and saw the bright white numbers that said 8:46.

He let his feet touch the floor, slightly flinching feeling how icy it was. Nonetheless, he persisted in getting up so he doesn't stay in bed all day.

As he stood up, the blanket fell off his back as he stretched his body out, letting a small yawn. He headed to the closet to get himself a pair of comfortable clothes.

He headed to the bathroom, and saw that there was no need to get a towel since there was one on the rack already. He turned the shower on to high heat, and as he waited for the water to get warm, he tossed his worn clothes away in a hamper and the new set on the sink counter.

He held out a hand in the shower stall and checked that the water was hot enough already. He got in and felt a wave of warmth as he let the water come in contact with his skin. He just let the hot water relax him as he washes himself clean. Even after cleaning himself, he let himself stay in the water a little longer just to keep on feeling the warmth.

Once he finally decided to get out, he patted himself with the towel, letting it absorb every drop of water it can. He dressed himself up with the comfy clothes he prepared and headed out with the towel hanging around his neck.

He heads down the steps of stairs and heads to the kitchen to make himself a warm drink. He decided that some tea would be nice. He followed the procedures on how to make some lemon tea. After making the warm cup of liquid, he added a splash of honey to sweeten it.

He took his drink to the corner of the living room. It had a chair attached to the walls with shelves filled with books and some foreign items but the best part for the redhead was the window. He sat on the chair as he leaned on the transparent cool glass. He listened to the sound of beads of water coming in contact with the window, feeling small vibrations as both collided. He sipped on the tea and made a note on himself to use a little less honey next time because it was too sweet, and proceeded to take small sips.

It was peaceful and calming. That was until a thud coming from his door, silently jumping and almost chocking on the tea from shock. He wanted to have a little 'talk' with the person who disrupted his peace.

He got up from his seat and placed the cup of tea on one of the shelves. He stomped his way over to the front door with furrowed eyebrows and a disgruntled look on his face. He slammed open the door only to get his legs attacked causing him to lose his balance and fall to the ground. He felt something applying pressure on his body, starting from his legs to his stomach. Karma groaned as he tried to get back up. As he opened his eyes, he was met with a lick on his face. And at that moment, he knew. He grabbed them by the armpits and sighed as mercury eyes were met with blue.

"Why are you doing this Goji?" Karma asked irritatingly. In Karma's hands was a cat dripping wet with mud all over it and eyes that glistened like sapphires.

Goji replied with a meow. Karma groaned at the unhelpful response. "Well, we got to get you cleaned up." The redhead properly tucked the white-furred cat on his arms and looked down his clothes to find it all wet and muddy. He sighed again. "And me too."

He shut the door behind him and went up to the bathroom.

After some time, Karma was in a new set of clean clothes while Goji was free from mud showing their fur that was as white as snow and soothing to the touch. Karma got 2 bowls and set them on the ground. He walked back and forth, getting cat food and returning it, getting some milk and placing it back to it's designated place. Goji was munching on the cat food.

Karma left the furry friend alone and went back to the living room corner. He took the tea cup he used but sadly, it had gotten cold and he really didn't want to microwave it because the quality of the tea would go down. He carried the cup and placed it away in the kitchen sink.

While in the kitchen, he checked the clock and saw that it was already 12:22. He decided to make some food for himself since he didn't have any breakfast yet. He took out the ingredients to make cream puffs. The reason why he chose cream puffs was because he felt like it. While he was making it, he hummed a soft tune that people wouldn't expect of him but not that he'd really care.

As he waited for the dough to bake, he made the sweet cream for it, which didn't take that long. And when that was finished, he went to look for Goji. He saw Goji lying on the living room sofa as he reminisced the first time he met the feline creature.

It was a rainy day like today when he was peacefully taking a stroll in an empty street under his umbrella as he let the sound of the rain drown his ears. That continued until he heard a mewl. He searched for the source of the sound and in the corner of his eye, under the streetlamp was a kitten in a box.

He looked at it for a brief minute before picking it up and carrying it with his arm and taking it home.

His journey through memory lane was interrupted by the loud beeping coming from the oven, signaling it was time to take the pastry out. The smell sweetened up the kitchen's atmosphere. He started to stuff the cream and placed them in a plate just for himself.

He walked back to the window corner again and ate his brunch. Goji invited themselves in by jumping up the chair and placed it's curled up body on Karma's lap. He finished his food and placed the dish away on a shelf being careful to not bother the cat. He started petting the cat's soft fur in a rhythmic motion.

He leaned his head against the window looking at the raindrops, sliding down the window, moving from left to right. Not so long later, his eyes suddenly felt droopy. The combination of the soft fur and the sound of the rainfall got him all weary. He blinked his eyes a few times wanting to stay awake. But it seems the sleepiness washes over him as he slowly drifts to slumber, as his chest heaves up and down and his hand rests on Goji's fur.

[littledarlinwrites]

Dream a Little Dream Of Me

1940s!Bucky Barnes x Reader

This is for @teamcap4bucky Summer Sun and Fun Game! Thank you so much for hosting and for being so patient with me when I screwed up the due date. This was specifically written for @majesticavenger, I'm so sorry for the wait, but I hope it was worth it! Anywho, this is the first time I've wrote 40s!Bucky and I'm hella needy at the moment 'cause life, so leave me some love y'all! (Also, as soon as I can jump on my laptop I'll add a keep reading link, I'm not savvy enough to do it on mobile).

You trudged up to your Brooklyn apartment, your cat howling on the fire escape outside your bedroom window to be let in. A tired smile graves your face after a long day of work. A job you were grateful for, but bittersweet under the circumstances, patients sick or dying, and men going off to war only to never return either physically or mentally. You couldn't wait to hide away in your apartment for the rest of the night, draw a hot bath, listen to a radio program before nodding off to sleep. And, if you were lucky, maybe your apartment pen pal had sent you another note attached to your cats threaded collar. The thought of it made you pick up your pace as you climbed your apartment buildings staircase.

You practically ran into your apartment and to your bedroom window, flipping the latch and looking for the paper that was typically wrapped around your cats collar and tied with a baby blue string.

You found the paper, tying the baby blue string to an embroidery hoop with the others you collected. Today the note was short, just a song suggestion, something he would do on a rough day. You drew your bath water while turning up the radio station to catch the song. It wasn't until you were crawling into bed that the song played. Moonlight Serenade. You just hoped Lucky, the nickname he had told you to call him, was somewhere listening to it too.

The following morning you rushed around to get ready for the day and out the door in time. You scribbled your note to Lucky and wrapped it around the cat's collar before shooing it out the window.

----

Bucky laid on his bed, window open, waiting for the furry creature to make its way to him like it always did. Nox, she had said was the cat's name. Usually Bucky appreciated cats from a distance considering they would make him sneezy and itchy, but he couldn't help but enjoy the conversations with his pen pal. Luna, she had said to call her. A nickname her mother gave her due to her infatuation with the giant orb in the sky. He won every single match after he started talking with her, and he didn't consider that a coincidence. 

Bucky heard the mewling from the black cat before he felt it curl up on his chest. He scratched the cat behind its ears causing the cat to purr contentedly before he began unfurling the note attached to its knitted collar. 

“Silently if, out of not knowable

night’s utmost nothing, wanders a little guess

(only which is this world) more of my life does

not leap than with the mystery your smile

sings or if (spiraling as luminous

they climb oblivion) voices who are dreams,

less into heaven certainly earth swims

than each my deeper death becomes your kiss

losing through you what seemed myself, I find

selves unimaginably mine; beyond

sorrow’s own joys and hoping’s very fears

yours is the light by which my spirit’s born:

yours is the darkness of my soul’s return

–you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars”

-E. E. Cummings

Bucky read the poem three times before reaching for a piece of paper and jotting down some words. He wrapped the piece of paper around the cats collar, tying it with a frayed blue string from his work shirt and turned over to get a couple hours of sleep, if only his heart would stop fluttering like a hummingbird in his chest.

----

Walking through your door was a complete relief, even more so after stripping your nurses outfit and stockings. The hot shower relaxing your stiff and sore muscles. You donned your nightgown before opening your window for your cat to come home while running a brush through your wet strands. Eventually you heard the telltale meowing of your hungry cat before you heard its soft padding jumps to your floor from your window. You manage to scoop the black cat into your arms before you have to chase him through your apartment. You pull the thread holding the note onto his collar and unfurl the note to read it.

My lucky star

You shine so brightly

My lucky star 

You guide me through the night

My lucky star

You give me hope

My lucky star

You guide me home

My lucky star

You help me more than you know

My lucky star

Oh how you glow

My lucky star

Please never let me go

The words set fire to your face as your stomach erupted with a swarm of butterflies. You pulled out your journal, pressing the note between the next set of empty pages. You turn your radio on humming along to the song as you lay in your bed fighting sleep just to think about Lucky just a moment more.

When you wake in the morning you grab a paper and something to write with as you write down a couple lines to a song, one of your favorites, before you got ready for the day, humming the tune on your way to work and all through your day. Except, you forgot to leave the window open for your cat to get out to pass on the waiting note.

----

Bucky was fighting sleep waiting for the cat to prance his way through the window before making a home on his bed. Sleep clawed at his mind, his eye lids weighed heavy and sore with a need for rest. And just like that, Bucky fell asleep for the first time without the sound of a cat purring on his bed.

He woke up and walked to the shipyard, loading and unloading pallets until the sun hung low in the sky. He felt off kilter all day. Like he was just a hair off with his footing and could never get it quite right. He was a bit more clumsy than usual. All signs that he should cancel his match tonight and back out while he still could, but he trudged on, assuring himself that he could use the money so maybe he could take his lucky star out on a proper date. He made his way to the Y for his match pumping himself up, he just couldn't help this nagging feeling though that he was missing something.

----

When you got home from work your humming abruptly stopped when you saw your cat staring at you in the middle of the room, tail twitching every so often. Your shoulder slumped when you realized you never let your cat out with your note. You moved slowly to refill the food bowl before making yourself a small dinner. Your gut sinking by the minute that something was wrong. You went to bed that night hoping the feeling would pass by morning.

When you woke you realized you were running late. You dressed quickly before running out the door and to the hospital before checking your patient list, a relatively short one, but you had patients to attend to nonetheless. You made your way through your rounds before stopping at the last bed. A mess of bruises, a boxers fracture, sprained wrist, 2 broken ribs and the rest bruised, a black eye and a concussion. However, one look into the man's eye that wasn't swollen shut took your breath away. You decided then that blue was your all time favorite color. You checked his pulse, administered his medication which involved rousing him from his slumber, and making sure his bandages were fresh and in place. You turned to leave but stopped short at the site of a baby blue work shirt with frayed edges. You thumbed over the loose threads and noticed it was missing a few as if they had been pulled and cut for a purpose. The faintest whisper escaped you.

"Lucky?" A few beats passed before you heard the man you were just attending to clear his throat.

"Luna?" He asked confused. Your hand flew to your mouth as you gasped. You couldn't believe the man that made you blush on more than one occasion, that had worked his way into your dreams even though you had never seen his face, was now your patient.

"You okay there, doll?" He asked. When you barely nodded telling him yes he began to move as if to get out of bed sending you into a flurry of motion. 

"Lucky, you're hurt-"

"Bucky. I mean, my real name is James Buchanan Barnes, but most people call me Bucky." He grits out as pain shoots through his ribcage.

"Well, Bucky, you're hurt, you shouldn't move much quite yet." He nods as he waits for the wave of pain to pass.

"What happened to you?" You can't help but ask.

"I, uh, work at the shipyard during the afternoon, but at night I box. Damn good at it too. Guess luck just wasn't on my side last night, doll."

"Uh, Y/N. My name that is. My name is Y/N." A smile made its way onto Bucky's face.

"Why didn't you write back, doll? Didn't think my on the spot poem was that terrible." The giggle that managed to escape you at his humor about his poetry was like music to his ears, and he decided that he wanted to hear that sound forever.

"Sorry, that was my fault. I wrote you a note, I really did, but I forgot to open the window for my cat to deliver it. I loved your poem actually." A blush crawled upon Bucky's face at your words. 

"What was the note?" He asked curiously. 

"Oh, just some lines from a song, nothing special."

"It's always special coming from you, doll. What was the song?" This time it was your turn to blush.

"Dream a Little Dream of Me." You replied bashfully.

"What lines?"

"Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you

Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you

But in your dreams whatever they be

Dream a little dream of me."

"That's one of my favorites, doll."

The rest of your shift you spent at Bucky's bedside talking music, poetry, family, pets, friends, where your apartment was and everything else under the sun. You told Bucky you would come by tomorrow to spend the day with him since it was your day off. You couldn't wait to come back, although it was bittersweet realizing there would be no note to come home to. 

When you woke the next morning you heard a tapping at your door. You opened it to reveal Bucky standing there with a bouquet of flowers with a note.

I dreamt a little dream of you.

[thegnasticious]

Hunted

I grew up hunting. My Father taught me first with crude means, of how to go out there and more or less hunt to eat. From shooting to navigating the forest, he’d help me, but he never made it easy. I’d have to use an old BB gun with bent sights and every five shots or so succession would send it about 20 degrees off mark. Later, if it was a good night, I’d find myself cleaning the BB’s from the carcus of a squirrel or bird in an old shed out back of my Father’s house. I did most of my hunting alone as my Father reached an age where he no longer felt well enough to, he gave me his gun. I would leave at the break of day and he would sit at a bonfire that would be smolders by the time I returned. Reaching at that time, an age where I was meeting people through school, some classmates gathered a curiosity in what I was doing after school. I told three of my closest friends who sat with me at lunch, while they were eating cafeteria bred goops of something, that I hunt to eat my dinner at night. Instead of being revolted, they wanted to know how I did it. I described the whole process, from gutting to skinning, and the mounds on their plates seemed to stay the same size. My best friend in the group, Kevin, asked, “Could we join you on a hunt sometime?”, I replied, “Anytime”. 

The forests around where I grew up were thick and filled with all sorts of trees. Being Alaskan forests, there is expanses where man has never set his foot. The particular spot I liked was about 40 miles from the house, I’d take my Dad’s old station wagon down there and spend the whole day, hunting ducks and deer. It was a quiet place, formed completely by nature. There was a lake in the middle surrounded by thick forest, with one peak at the North end, I’d use this as a vantage point to scout out prey.

I decided to take Kevin and the other two there. It was a grey Saturday, kind of cold, you could see your breath fog with each exhale. We had one gun between the 4 of us, so we were going to switch shots. We had a point system worked out in the time of the drive, different types of animals, would be worth more points, with smallest creatures and bucks being the main game. Most of the meat we would cook at my Dad’s place after. Winner was supposed to get the best meal. 

Kevin grabbed the gun first, claiming he called shotgun, so that enabled him to have the best seat in the car and a gun, I guess. I took him and the other two up to the vantage point. He set up shop right at the peak as something caught his eye right away, “I see something!”, he exclaimed and readied. He fixed his sights on a mound about 20 yards away, laying on a rock. I cocked the gun for him, and he pulled the trigger right away. The gun blasted louder than a hammer-strike, luckily I caught the blowback instead of Kevin’s face. 

From afar the thing seemed to flip over, and it exposed a beige type of flesh. The snow began to fall heavily, and it was hard to make out if it was even trying to get away. We went down from the point to scout the kill, as we neared, I could make out the red of blood dripping from the furry mound. Kevin was the first to approach it, he looked at the rear of it from our perspective and gasped. Time seemed to freeze for a second. 

“I shot someone”, he said.

I ran to him, and looked on the other side, and saw an old woman’s face, she was wrapped in the carcuses of animals all throughout the woods. From afar it was impossible to tell the two apart. The shot was clear through her head, and her eyes were still open, white as the coldest day’s sky. I told Kevin to calm down and hand me the gun, but he wouldn’t. It was my Father’s heirloom and I knew it had an energy. I told him Kevin, please give me the gun, and he strapped it closer to his chest. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to make anything worse, so I told him he could hold the damn gun. I had to get rid of this lady he just blew the brains out of. No one could see this. He sat down with the gun, the other two staying completely silent and afar from him. Something in him seemed to change when he shot that lady, I saw a Green glow from his eyes, like something entered him. I grabbed the lady by the feet and she was heavy, I motioned for the other two to help me, Kevin was still indisposed in the corner, toying with my gun.

A crimson trail followed us from Kevin as we dragged the lady through the fresh laid snow. I could feel the weight of her, the nearest lake was way too far, I didn’t know how we were going to do this. I closed my eyes for a second and another shot rang out. I felt something wet cover my shoulder and in my peripheral I saw the red of blood again. I ducked behind the old lady’s corpse. I could see the 2 others dropped to the ground with a shot clear through one’s head. I’ll never forget seeing that the other held him as a shot blew threw his chest, Red blowing out on the snow all over. I swear the old lady’s eyes rolled back then, and a voice told me to “RUN!”. 

I got up and took off, the gun seemed to jam like it always did on my Dad and I. 

I tried to think of anything but Kevin following my trail and killing me. The snow was falling real heavy now and any footprints would be covered in seconds, so I had nature on my side. The negative was that I had no clue where I was at this point. I was deep in the thick of the woods. 

The cold started getting to me, I had ditched my heavy coat a couple of miles back to help put speed on my side. 

The sun went down and I still couldn’t find the old trails I took. Snow completely obscured any recollection I would of had and I was becoming a bit delirious. I though I was finding my way out, but then something kept leading me in circles again and again. I finally gave up and rested against an old tree. As I touched it’s bark, a voice started in my head, “Look to the North Star”. I looked in the sky and saw that bright cross in the sky, It looked as if it was gleaming to me. I looked down in the direction of the Star and a little Orange light lit up in the distance. I approached it and could see it was the glow of a lantern. An Old lady with long White hair and a face like the one I had seen dead earlier, stood beckoning. I approached her and as I did, I swear that her age went back, and the grey in her hair turned to a bright blonde. The wrinkles faded to show a pristine, almost glossed skin. 

“I’m the apple of the forest, and I’m sorry for my sister you met earlier, do you want to go home now?”, she said.

“Yes”, I said. My stomach grumbled with the hunger of a million days. All I could see was a nice stew back at my dad’s place. 

She glowed green for a second and held her hand to my head

I closed my eyes and opened them. I was in bed. That day I went to school, and I ate all by myself. I tried to tell people about my dream and my friend Kevin, but they looked at me like I was crazy and told me there was never anyone named Kevin. Nonetheless I never returned to that forest and I never hunted. My Father never asked about why or where his rifle went. 

One week he just started getting me dinner and that was the last we talked of hunting