#but her younger siblings are flowers and winter

[spiral-of-stars]

Say hello to one of my absolute favorite side characters, Shrikepaw! A very sweet, well spoken cat who has a strong sense of moral justice, and feels a deep obligation to do good and help others. Never really talks about her own feelings. Has a huge crush on someone, but its hard to tell due to how nice she is to everyone. Part of a rather large family, Shrike does her best not to trouble her parents or siblings, or even most cats her own age. Spends most of her time with older cats and acting like an adult. Pestopaw is the outlier, as she feels a kinship with the strange cat. Love this little lady so much!! I didn’t want to post too many side characters quite yet, but she holds a special place in my heart. I’m also proud of her design, it took a few tries to get her right.

[azen13]

Hello

might I request the grass ring for purchase?

A Promise To Keep

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Grass Ring: A small, shoddily-woven ring made from dead grass, containing echoes of childhood promises uttered in a land of frost. Maybe the ring’s maker, after disappearing from the world for three months before returning, acted on those vows.

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CW: Yandere Themes, Kidnapping, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Implied Murder, Blood

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Snezhnayan summers are always brief and fleeting. For only a few weeks a year, gray skies part like curtains to let the smiling sun gaze over every mile of the land of frost. Withered fields of grass sway with new vigor, trees awaken from their winter slumber, and flowers bloom in all sorts of stunning shades and hues. It’s also one of the few respites you have from aiding your father and siblings in tending to the house. With the icy waters bordering Morepesok rapidly thawing, the ship your mother sails has finally docked; with her return comes both the occasional small sack of Mora sneakily smuggled from her pocket to yours, as well as a gentle push to go and enjoy the fair weather while it lasts.

With windmilling limbs, you scramble out the front door into the bustling streets of town, and head off to your favorite place. It’s a little past where the dirt path ends: over a fallen tree, down a ravine, back up the other side, and just to the right of the raspberry bushes. Making your way through the last few trees, you find yourself in a quaint clearing. For a moment, you think the world is frozen in amber–both from the tranquility you feel, and how everything from the tallest tree to the smallest fern is bathed in a gilded glow.

“Hi there!”

A squeaky voice shatters the illusion of permanence and manages to make you stumble backwards until you slam into a sturdy spruce tree trunk. Looking into the tall grass, you manage to spot a single sapphire blue eye, then another. With a rustle, a flame of ginger hair and a grin that could span the whole of Teyvat pops out from the brush, framed by a speckling of freckles. “Who are you? What are you doing here? My name’s Ajax, what’s yours?” The boy practically pelts you with a myriad of questions, eyes sparkling with interest.

You mumble your name in response, eyes falling down in fear and disappointment. You had hoped to enjoy some time soaking in the solitude of this little slice of paradise, but the journey seems to have been all for naught. 

You quickly learn the entire life story of Ajax, who follows you home after you tell him you had gotten lost in the woods. He lives in Morepesok with his large family, he likes adventuring, and he likes fishing with his father. Also, he likes you, evidenced by the fact that he won’t leave you alone.

Tailing from behind, still rambling incoherently about all sorts of things, Ajax doesn’t seem to take the obvious hints that you want to be left alone. “...and the fish we caught was THIS big! A-and me and my dad brought it home, and my little sis–I told you about Tonia, right? She’s my younger sister, she’s about this tall and she really likes…” His mouth is a never-ending river of words that only ceases when you slam the door to your home shut.

Hopefully you can go tomorrow and enjoy the warm summer sun before the chill of winter returns once more.

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He’s there when you come tomorrow again. And the next day. And the day after that, until eventually, summer’s brief stint has faded away, only to return in a year. At least, you think, you won’t have to ever see Ajax until.

How wrong you are.

It seems the boy is practically camped outside of your house, watching your every move. If you’re carrying groceries, he’s quick to sidle next to you and take them into his own hands. He must think he’s being chivalrous, but you disagree. You try to fight the constant barrage, but find yourself crumbling under it after a while. You start answering his questions, asking some of your own, even. He’s not horrible, just a little overeager.

Soon, you’re happy to call Ajax a friend.

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The promise is made on a brisk fall evening, snow and leaves blanketing the ground like a patchwork quilt of white and orange. The two of you sit in a small clearing surrounded by tall grass; you’re reading a book while Ajax breaks blades of grass and fiddles with them in his hands.

“We should get married.”

You frown and close your book. “Why?

“Why not?”

“Because we’re thirteen, your dad doesn’t like me, and my parents think you’re a weirdo,” you say.

Ajax huffs and crosses his arms. He’s pouting, but you can tell it’s just to cover his amusement. You’d both gotten good at that–reading each other like books, able to point out your favorite chapters and lines. “Well we could do it in secret. Or even do it when we’re older,” he says. An epiphanic look flashes on his face, and he snatches a few more blades of grass. Tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration, you watch as he weaves and contorts the grass until they form a small ring. 

With eyes full of starlight, he presents the ring to you. “C’mon, please? Just promise me.”

You sigh and hold your hand out. “Okay, okay, fine. If you’ll stop being so annoying, sure.” Immediately, he slides the ring on your finger, boyish glee dancing in ocean-blue eyes. “Pinky promise?” He demands, holding his pinky finger out expectantly.

Of course Ajax would ask to pinky swear on it. The boy always kept his promises.

“Fine.” You loop your pinky around his for a moment, before letting go. “Now let me get back to reading.”

Ajax only laughs, though his eyes stay glued on you.

You didn’t realize that this was both the last time you would ever see Ajax again, and the moment your fate in life was sealed.

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Days later, you receive the news. Ajax is missing. Supposedly he had gotten lost in the woods. You spent the next few days in a perpetual state of distress, constantly tearing through branches and brambles, desperate to find your friend.

It didn’t take long until he’s found, though not by you. The moment you hear, you race over to his house and knock on the door. Ajax’s dad, however, is the one to greet you. He’s a tall, lanky man with scars that cut through his face and a permanent scowl marring his cracked lips. At the sight of you standing outside his door, his ire only deepens. “Ajax isn’t here. He’s with the Fatui.” 

With that, he swings the door shut and lets it slam only inches from your face.

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Time moves on,  and you let your life take its course. You take up a job planning shipping routes for merchants, and find yourself falling in half-hearted love with a sailor. 

He’s a good man. But he is not the man you love.

Soon enough, encouraged by family and friends, a ring is slid on your finger. It’s a simple band of silver, yet it feels like a chain around your heart.

You accept your life for what it is. That is, until one morning, you wake up to still air beside you instead of a warm body. Unknowing of what has actually happened, you get up quietly and begin getting ready for the day. 

After putting on some clothes, you go to the small foyer of your little home, ready to go down to the docks and start working. But when you swing open the door, dull blue eyes as deep as the sea meet yours, a monstrous grin splitting a stranger’s face open. “Aw, it’s been so long! It’s so good to see you.” The man walks past you into your home as though he’s lived there his whole life. As he walks, you notice he’s trailing something in behind you.

Blood. It’s blood. When he turns back to face you, you notice droplets of blood speckled on his cheeks like freckles. He’s still smiling.

“Get out of my house,” you say.

“Or what?”

You hesitate. It’s not like Morepesok has an official police, or even anything close to a militia. “Or I’ll scream.”

The stranger’s smile melts away like snow under the sun, and he steps closer to you. “Don’t you remember who I am?” He asks. 

At the sight of you shaking your head, and you taking another step away from him, the stranger tsks and stalks forwards. A hand moves forward, so fast all you can see is a blur of motion before it captures your jaw, claims it. Its fingers force your face forwards, straight into those storming eyes. “What a shame,” the man sighs, his other hand slinking behind your back. “We made a promise, darling.”

His words shoot like icicles into your heart, rendering you speechless for a moment. “A-Ajax?” You murmur, body beginning to fall limp. The only thing holding you upright are his hands, firm against your skin.

Ajax smiles, but it isn’t a sweet smile of summer innocence. His smile is jagged and icy, full of frost. “It’s me,” he confirms. You can vaguely see mirth swimming in his eyes, as though he thinks you’re so shocked to see him, so elated to know he’s still here. But in truth, you’re terrified. After all, it’s not exactly a challenge to make the connection between the blood on Ajax’s cheek and your missing husband.

“Did…did you?”

“Come on, darling,” Ajax responds, sweeping you off your feet into a bridal carry. “We made a promise, didn’t we? And you know how the saying goes.” The man chuckles quietly, pressing a kiss to your temple. “We made a promise. And you broke it.” For a moment, you feel fear unlike anything you’ve ever felt before. “But don’t worry. I know that you didn’t want to marry him. You were waiting all those years for me, weren’t you?” He presses another kiss to your head, holding you closer.

You try to speak, but Ajax shushes you. “Don’t worry. I’ll show you what real love looks like.” With a steady gait, he begins walking outside, looping around your home to where a carriage is waiting. Gently, he brings you inside and deposits you on a bench. His eyes are full of hunger.

“That’s a promise.”

[futfemfantasies]

Communication issues \\ alexia putellas x reader

As promised, the first fic from the poll. Next fic coming shortly… enjoy!! :)

You find out via Alba, Alexia’s sister. Thankfully, your family understands why you have to leave halfway through Christmas day in Australia. Alexia knew she needed surgery for her knee to figure out why it was still painful but the question is, when is the surgery going to happen. Apparently tomorrow, Spanish time, is when. With your bag packed and the farewells beginning, the departure back to Barcelona begins, a week earlier than planned. One of your sisters offered to drive you to the airport and made you promise to text her when you arrive, regardless of the time. With a quick hug as the Australian he becomes unbearable, the airport doors lead you to Spain. With Alba agreeing to pick you up, the long flight and stopovers begins. From Dubai, sleep immediately hit to like a brick.

Next thing you know, one of the flight attendants has woken you up for landing. Putting the seat up, the view at your window is breathtaking. The plane lands and you go through the process of getting off, customs and collecting luggage. Cold winter air greets you as you walk through the airport, making you regret a warmer hoodie. Spotting the younger Putellas sibling is easy in her vibrant clothing and you give her a tight hug before moving towards the car. You notice Eli sitting in the front when you move to the back. Greeting the older woman, she immediately apologises for Alexia's lack of communication.

"Don't apologise for Ale mama. She's an idiota for not telling her girlfriend when her surgery is, while her girlfriend is halfway around the world" Alba states, earning is hard slap on the arm from Eli.

You quickly text your sister and she replied with a thumbs up emoji, must be late back home you think. Alba pulls up to the hospital and you all move inside quickly as Alexia would've woken up not long ago. You pass by a gift shop and buy a bear and some flowers before seeing your girlfriend of 4 years. As you all go into Alexia's room, your eyes meet hers and Alexia gives you a soft smile. Eli and Alba give each other a look and decide to give you both a minute. You place the bear of flowers on the table and sit next to her on the chair.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you" Alexia apologises as she grabs your hand and kisses it.

"Why didn't you? You know I would've stayed with you"

"I know you missed your family and being home, I didn't want to ruin that for you" Alexia softly says, making you melt at the thought.

"Oh baby, you do know that wherever you are is home, right?" Alexia pulls you forward until your lips are on hers.

"Te amo princesa"

"Te amo mi amor. I think you owe my mum a Christmas since I left in the middle of lunch"

"Bebita you did not!" Alexia gasps and hits your arm lightly.

"My girl needed me" you shrug.

Alexia moves over in her bed and pats the spare space next to her, a silent way to tell you she wants cuddles. You cuddle up to Alexia in the small space and she kisses your forehead multiple times.

"Sleep baby, I'll make this up to you. I promise"

And Alexia keep her promises. Around 11 months later when family start organising Christmas, Alexia discussed with her mum that you need to go home and visit your family. After what happened last year, Alexia has to jump at the chance. She organised everything with your sisters and now the final part, telling you.

One cold morning, you roll over to be met with Alexia's sleeping form. She tightens her arm on you as you move closer to give her a kiss. Alexia slowly opens her eyes and smiles at the beauty she sees first thing in the morning.

"Good morning bebita, how you sleep?" Alexia asks sitting up slightly.

"Well since I'm next to you"

"I have a surprise for you. Wait here"

Alexia jumps out of bed, nearly tripping, and runs to your shared closet. She comes back with a smile on her face, extra spring in her step, and an envelope. Alexia wordlessly hands you the envelope and you open it to see printed plane tickets. You read the dates and location and your eyes start watering.

"Ale I - I told you last year in the hospital that I would make it up to you and I am"

You straddle Alexia's lap and kiss her passionately. You both pull away and you cup her cheeks, grazing them softly with the pads of your thumbs.

"I'm going to marry you one day" Alexia whispers, causing a wide smile on both of your faces.

"I want nothing more my love"

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liked by alexiaputellas, stephcatley, samanthakerr20, albaps and 123,456 others

y/ny/l/n: a fairytale come true. the easiest yes I’ve ever made 😍💍 te amo mi amor. No puedo esperar por el próximo capítulo de nuestras vidas juntos ✨😘

Translation: (I love you my love. I can’t wait for the next chapter in our lives together)

view all 15,876 comments…

alexiaputellas: I love you princesa ❤️ let’s start our new chapter 🤩

↪️ y/ny/l/n: mi casa 🩷

samanthakerr20: oooooh Spanish wedding 😮‍💨

↪️ samanthakerr20: super excited for you dude, married life rules! 🤘

↪️↪️ y/ny/l/n: love you long time Sammy 🫶

stephcatley: @ caitlinfoord she’s all grown up 🥹😭😕

↪️ y/ny/l/n: im a year younger than you steffy, stfu 🙄

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y/ny/l/n posted on their story

alexiaputellas posted on their story

[jeding-png]

Enjoy chapter 153 cuz next week there is a break—

Bon appetit, dear readers~

Today's chapter is just as delicious as the previous two, but this time, SUOL-nim has blessed us with a break from crying.

Let's start with Derrick and Ivonne's conversation!

In the novel, this conversation should have happened earlier, that is, we observe a similar situation as in chapters 86 and 87 (if I'm not mistaken, the conversation between Penelope and Reynold was also shown there at a different time).

Little Eckhart siblings and Ivonne holding Derrick's hand... it's so cute, especially in such colors—

In the preview for the chapter, it was written that each brother spends time with his sister. That is, Derrick spends time with Ivonne, who has finally returned, and Reynold spends time with Penelope (in the chapter, there are quite funny frames with them).

I'm actually a bit moved by the Derrick and Ivonne moment, but especially the frame with the three Eckhart siblings. Because you can see how Derrick blames himself for everything that happened. It can be seen that he has not accepted the loss of his younger sister for years, unlike the Duke and Reynold.

Yes, Derrick even has tea with her on the day of Penelope's coming-of-age ceremony—

But what is interesting is that the entire chapter did not show us Ivonne's emotions and gaze. Seriously. Therefore, it seems as if the stories where the girl from the stories about the disappearance of the real daughter are different from the one who actually returned.

Congratulations to Ivonne for finally being able to wash her hair outside of the sea and change her clothes!

But back to the coming of age ceremony!!

Did you want to see Penelope in a tiara? It's time! Look how beautiful she is!!

I like the fact that Winter's necklace was indeed, as written in the novel, slightly superfluous for Penelope's image. Mostly, it seems so because of its gray color, in contrast to the pastel blue colors of other decorations.

Magic works in this world, so the petals that resemble the same Elenvik flowers don't just fall out of nowhere, lol.

In the novel, it was said that Reynold even raised their hands even higher so that all the guests could see and have no doubt that the brother and sister had a good relationship, which also prompted an increase in Penelope's reputation.

I can't put into words how impressed I am with the costumes of the characters. Indeed. They look just fantastic. I especially liked Reynold's costume. The peculiarity is that SUOL-nim always draws outfits that have exactly the same style. That is, a certain element of clothing that we can see and immediately recognize for which character it is.

Also, I'm glad to see the same Reynold's ring that was in the first chapters of the manhwa again, haha. No wonder it is on the middle finger—

But nevertheless, in my opinion, this is an important moment of the chapter!

A conversation between Reynold and Penelope mentions the moment they last met, when Reynold was brainwashed.

Somehow you see what a mouth is for and that it can be used for talking and not just for kissing. Isn't that right, dear Callisto and Penelope?

You see images that were real and from the point of view of a brainwashed Reynold. He didn't act as if he deliberately wanted to reprimand Penelope, but on the contrary, to stop her.

Penelope sees Reynold and realizes that he is at least now brainwashed.

And now the moment I've been waiting for for a very long time!..

YES, THESE ARE THE SAME RABBITS THAT REYNOLD GAVE PENELOPE!

In the next chapter, there will be a rather interesting conversation about how Reynold tried to make a rabbit the color of Penelope's eyes. It's really cute moments between them.

But look at the similarities and differences between Derrick's and Reynold's gifts.

they both presented living beings;

both have similarities with Penelope's appearance colors: Derrick gave a bird the color of her hair, and Reynold tried to create a rabbit with the color of his sister's eyes;

different subtext and symbolism of gifts;

the bird has no one to communicate with, it is alone in the cage, and there are many rabbits, and they are quite fragile, but when they hatch, they are unlikely to live in a cage.

In this chapter, I smiled, while Penelope hardly did, if not at all. The chapter is over on the rabbits... so anyone who wanted to see Callisto, he will be in two weeks :'D

[hugsandchaos]

So I’m starved for Smiling Critters content, but I don’t exactly have a oneshot in mind to write nor do I exactly have an AU. I do, however, have some headcanons that are definitely canon divergent, especially since I imagined it in the cartoon-like world they were in during the tape recording. I don’t know if it’s enough to build up an AU, but I’m posting them anyways.

•Bubba is fluent in English and Portuguese, and is currently trying to learn sign language from Catnap

•Dogday has 2 sisters and 3 brothers, and he is also the runt of the litter (most of his siblings don’t really care, but one of his brothers likes to pick on him for it and is upset he got “special treatment” when they were younger — that special treatment was mostly just medical treatment and their parents and siblings being responsibly worried about him)

•Bobby and Picky share a favorite way of showing her friends love; by making them their favorite/comfort food for them

•Hoppy doesn’t usually like going slow, but she adores running with her two younger brothers to no end

•Bubba strongly believes Hoppy might have seasonal allergies due to her falling ill for a few weeks when winter turns to spring and pollen levels rise, but Hoppy has her suspicions due to the fact that she’s never been diagnosed to be allergic to anything

•Picky always looks at the nutrition labels at the grocery store

•Picky is thinking about starting her own garden

•Crafty prefers to draw rather than write, but enjoys a good book (she definitely doesn’t have a small library in her living room, I don’t know what you’re talking about)

•Crafty isn’t the best at magic, but she’s learning and her friends are very encouraging

•Bobby’s house is a cozy two story cottage that she keeps nice and clean on a daily basis

•Bobby and Bubba both have a closet in their house full of extra blankets, pillows, towels, and winter clothes

•Kickin’ loves to teach anyone who asks how to surf, how to skateboard, or how to ski

•Catnap almost never talks or makes any sound, but it’s not because he can’t, it’s because he simply prefers not to

•Kickin’ has a great sense of balance

•Catnap is a light sleeper

•Bobby and Catnap sometimes work together to get the group to bed, but in the end, Catnap “turns on her” and gets her to bed too before going to sleep himself

•Kickin’ and Dogday love to plan hiking or camping trips for the group (Hoppy has to stay within someone’s sight so she doesn’t run off, Bobby and Crafty like to stop and look at flowers, Picky likes to pack healthy snacks for everyone, Bubba enjoys telling facts about plants, and Catnap keeps an eye on the whole group by walking in the back)

•Catnap has a surprising amount of knowledge surrounding sleep, even Bubba didn’t know a lot of the things he did

•Bobby has made a plushie for everyone except Catnap, who already has a small, odd plushie resembling a blue creature with yellow hands and feet (Crafty has a flower, Dogday has a bone, Bubba has a dinosaur, Picky has a strawberry, Hoppy has a star, Kickin’ has a dragon, and Bobby has a heart)

•Bobby can actually be scary when she’s protecting her friends

[alittletaste]

The one where Harry goes on a hike with his kids

-

Harry looked like a proper dad. His cheeks had a few days old stubble on them, his eyes were clouded with sleep but you could see the absolute adoration in them and he was also supporting some eye bags from the lack of sleep. But, he wouldn’t change it for anything, he loved his kids.

One of them was strapped to his chest, his baby girl, only 5 weeks old and already out on her first hike. Harry felt full of pride, holding his baby against his chest as his elder kids ran along the path of their hike. This was what life was about, enjoying these little moments of love and doing something fun.

He decided on taking the kids out for a nice walk whilst y/n got some rest, given birth only five weeks ago, dealing with postpartum and also having to now look after four kiddos was a lot. So Harry knew she deserved a break, time to get some shut-eye and some peace and quiet.

“Daddy! Look at this flower” Indi, Harry’s five-year-old, spoke. He held up a dandelion, which he picked from the path pointing it towards Harry. “It’s so pretty!”

“It sure is bub” Harry replied, taking ahold of Indi's other hand, making sure to keep him close by. “It’s called a dandelion”

“Is it called a dandelion because it’s yellow daddy? Like a lion?” Beau, Harry’s seven-year-old, asked. Stopping in his track to look back at his dad for an answer. He was Harry’s mini me, the exact same mannerism and hair.

“I’m not sure bud, but that’s a great way to look at it” Harry was attentive in the way he answered, smiling at his secondborn before turning to lean a kiss into his baby girl's hair, who now began to move under the strap. He could feel her reach her tiny hand up to grab at his jumper making him physically awe at her.

“Dad, shall we pick some of the dandelions for mum?” Harry’s oldest, Jude spoke. At just 10 years old, he was very mature for his age, doing whatever he could to make his parents happy. He also loved watching out for his younger siblings, spending his nights cooing at Stella, his baby sister.

“That’s a very good idea lovie” Harry smiled with pride again, “she’ll love it” as soon as the words left his mouth, the boys ran off, on a mission to find their mumma some dandelions. “Stay close though, yeah” he spoke rather loudly, earning a bunch of “yes daddy” from his little ones.

As Harry chuckled, he felt more movement on his chest, his hand goes to rub at Stella’s back as he looks down to see her wide little eyes staring back. “Oh hello you, hi” Harry whispered, leaning in to place another kiss on his daughter's head.

“Did I wake you, eh?” He asked and smiled when Stella made a grumpy face. “Daddy’s sorry bug, just need to make sure you cheeky brothers are safe” he spoke to the girl stuck to his chest, his eyes twinkling with love.

As he looked up, he saw all three boys coming towards him, each holding a bunch of flowers, waving them around happily. “There they are, your brothers” Harry smiled, taking in the sight of the beautiful winter sunset and his absolutely adorable little family. He truly couldn’t be happier.

-

a/n: was in my dad!Harry feels tonight, hope you all enjoyed this 🫶

[princessamahle]

a tour of the hashira's estates part 9

Shinobu: Within each season of the series we have seen the butterfly mansion countless times. And each time we visit, we see a room never shown before or more of what we hadn't seen last time. It's the biggest out of all the hashira estates we've seen.

Now to understand why, let's start off with what we know about the estate so far.

Within kanao's flashback of her early childhood, we've seen her brought to the estate after escaping her abusive father with kanae and shinobu. The home is shown during the fall/ winter time.

The estate doesn't just act as a home but a hospital to the many slayers who visited and are guest here. Kanae acts as a doctor and mother/older sister to all. She also welcomes younger children specifically girls to work and live with her to become nurses to the other slayers. And while she takes on the role of a hashira she wouldn't wish being a slayer on anyone especially young girls. It is done by choice as they gradually become older. Some grow up to be slayers and some move on to become a bride. They are always given butterfly hairpins as signature attires for the butterfly mansion. Many girls have taken perished from kanae's grasp but they always came to the cemetery to pay their respects for those they've lost.

With a little background lets talk about whats actually there exterior wise.

Based on the angles of which tanjiro arrives it's safe to say that their are atleast to buildings on the estate. One is the main house where kanae and shinobu have their respectable rooms including kanao, aoi and the younger girls.

While the other slayers are resting and being nursed in the second building as a medical unit. This is where tanjiro inosuke and zentisu stayed when they needed to recover.

There are private rooms used when the patients are need needed for serious medical attention. It's possible that the first day tanjiro was brought here he was put in a private room of his own because he was the only one able to control nezuko and no one knew what to make of nezuko at the time.

As the days go on nezuko is more trusted around shinobu and was free to roam around the estate as she was becoming more human by the day.

when they're not resting they are taken to the dojo for rehabilitation training.

It's pretty big inside and has the appropriate amenities for getting your physical physique back intact.

When your not training you can also build up stamina by eating in their butterfly kitchen. Where aoi and the kakushi are mostly preparing food within the course of the day. Making breakfast lunch and dinner day by day.

The dining hall was also shown for a brief moment as the boys were shown to eat on tables with chairs instead of the traditional Japanese dining style.

There is a bathhouse shown as a young shinobu is washing a very young kanao.

It could be placed on the left side of the home based on the windows structure of the building.Not much was shown in the flashback of the rest of the estate. As I'm theorizing kanae might have still gotten medical clinic building built at the time.

We've also seen Shinobu's office and possible bedroom. As not much was shown but does clearly see where she keeps all her studies and medicines. The extra is probably just her sister kanae's room used as a shrine for her coping with her sisters passing. But it could very much be her room too as siblings in japan tend to share rooms together.

Now for the exterior, it's pretty massive as the girls love to garden and allow many butterflies to swarm in their estate. They have a beautiful pond set up. A walk way filled with stones, and a well for them to use outside while training. They like to grow hydrangea flowers during the spring as earlier depictions of their estate has shown a weed like garden during the fall or winter time.

They have many training tools for the slayers to practice on if they choose to stay before going on missions.

At first I thought the butterfly mansion was close to the Ubayashiki estate but when muzan came to the estate it wouldn't make sense to keep nezuko somewhere that muzan could easily find her. Especially with the younger girls being present.

The kakushi do travel fast as they must have stamina to carry others to estrange locations of the demon slayer corp.

We do know however shinobu does have a district she and kanao protect on their own that hasn't been name yet but has been shown. They do their daily shopping and possible night watches in order to protect others from demon attacks. It is the duty of the hashira to keep their respectable districts safe.

Based on what I've gathered, I'm giving this estate a perfect 5 out of 5 star review! It was perfectly analyzed shown the most out of any hashira and showed all its amenities for a slayer to acquired for health strength and stamina. Like kanae, shinobu really cared for others as she never wanted someone to ever feel the misery of losing family and a home ever again. Your always welcome and meet many new faces to get along with. It gives them a reason to fight and gain a goal for happiness they once had. Even after shinobu dies kanao kept the spirit of the butterfly mansion alive for aoi and the others.

And that's it! I'll probably make a master list soon to put these all in order so please stay tuned. But i want to thank you all for enjoying this analysis with me! I hope to make more maybe not demon slayer related. But who knows!

[jovialmoonprincess]

AU: Journey to Redemption (Part 4)

First Part. / The Winter Ball / Champagne Problems / Frost and Thorns

Coriolanus Snow x Fem!reader 

Summary: Y/N, a young idealist in Panem, dreams of making a difference in a post-war society. As the winner of the prestigious Plinth Prize is about to be announced, a mysterious woman unveils a grim fate for Coriolanus Snow, Y/N's nemesis. Offered a chance to alter destiny, Y/N must navigate her conflicting emotions and intervene in pivotal moments to prevent Snow's descent into darkness. The story unfolds against the backdrop of complex relationships, past connections, and the challenges of a changing world, as Y/N grapples with the responsibility of shaping an unexpected destiny and challenging the very fabric of fate.

Warning(s): None, enemy to lovers, back in time, destiny, Snow being in love, Snow being Snow, THIS ONE IS SO SHORT SORRY

A/N: I'm on Wattpad now too, click here to read and vote there: WATTPAD

Frost and Thorns

Y/N observed the white rose with meticulous attention. The thorns, now trimmed, led her to contemplate how long it would take for that flower to wither completely. She had just returned to her apartment after the ball, immersed in palpable fear. Everything she had experienced that night seemed like an illusion, a theatrical representation of something she could barely comprehend. Unraveling the mysteries of Snow became a complex and increasingly frightening task.

The fear that enveloped her was not just personal; it was the apprehension of falling into the enchanting webs of young Snow and, thereby, living a life of misfortune in a country on the brink of ruin. Y/N felt the urgent need to document her feelings, a kind of emotional testament. The notebook, once forgotten on the shelf, became her confidant, a repository for her most intimate thoughts.

With the pen touching the paper, Y/N sought not only to understand the complexity of her emotions but also to leave a trail in case something unimaginable happened. Her younger siblings, Orion and Aria, would be the recipients of her words, and she wanted them to know, even in her absence, the events that surrounded her.

The responsibility of teaching her siblings about the treacherous nature of the Hunger Games and the cunning of the Capitol rested on Y/N. Despite their creative souls, Orion and Aria needed to understand the dangerous game society forced them to play. The analogy of the Capitol as a snake, to be handled with caution, was part of the legacy Y/N tried to impart.

Her thoughts turned to her mother, a figure who, after the death of her father, seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. She performed her maternal duties with excellence, cooking, caring, and ensuring the well-being of her children. However, Y/N perceived a spirit once free, now contained, as if her mother were constantly immersed in dark thoughts. The vision of the Capitol seemed obscured by veiled conformity, a resignation to an inescapable reality.

The Academy, with its weekday study routine, represented a necessary escape for Y/N. Weekends were sacred, a time to return home and witness the rapid growth of Orion and Aria, an experience that, for her, was simultaneously beautiful and distressing.

Y/N had never feared her own death, but perhaps this absence of fear destined her for a mission that others would avoid. However, she hoped this mission would not be in vain. Her persistent determination was driven by the need to reunite with the mysterious woman, to understand the dark details that eluded her comprehension. The devastating vision of Snow haunted her, but without the context and order of events, the truth remained elusive.

Who was the girl confined in the visions? Why did Sejanus not emerge in her premonitions, and why did Coryo's gaze seem devoid of life? The need to unravel these key moments became an incessant quest, an infinite puzzle challenging her mind. Was it possible to find the answers before it was too late? Uncertainty hung in the air, and Y/N, immersed in these mysteries, was determined to uncover the hidden truths before time caught up with her.

Several days had passed since the reaping. Y/N, sitting on the couch, absorbed in a book for a few hours, decided to take a break and turn on the television. She soon realized that the first act of the Hunger Games was about to begin. Still reeling from recent events, she felt unfocused, as if she were out of tune with reality. The luxurious apartment, all the comforts provided by the Capitol, now seemed like a tangible reminder of her submission to the system. However, she knew she shouldn't complain, as, in a way, she believed that the State and the Academy had an obligation to provide uniforms, food, and accommodations.

As she watched the screen, she witnessed many people being confined in a cage, with a girl in a colorful dress and a boy in red standing out. As the camera zoomed in, she identified Coriolanus and the girl, the same one seen in her vision, being kissed by Coryo through a cell. The scene clicked, and a wave of understanding hit her, bringing tears to her eyes. If the vision was real, the information about Coriolanus becoming a dictator would also be real. Absorbed in her thoughts, she decided to call Tigris, certain that her friend would share her shock.

"Hello? Tigris?"

"Y/N!! I was about to call you."

"Are you watching the Games?"

"Absolutely. Did you see the reaping? Everyone is talking about it."

"I don't like watching the reaping," Y/N admitted, having given up on following this event years ago. It was not something pleasant to witness.

"Y/N," Tigris seemed a bit cautious, "Coryo's tribute is the girl from District 12, Lucy Gray. She's from a circus family. She put a snake in the mayor's daughter's dress, and after that, he attacked her, but she put on a show. LITERALLY, she started singing and dancing, and now the Capitol can't take their eyes off her."

It was a lot of information to process. Y/N wanted to know more.

"Wow. And how did Coriolanus end up in a cage?"

"I don't know, but yesterday, I encouraged him to get close to her. She must be confused, scared, and angry. It seems like her name was deliberately placed there."

Y/N approached the TV slowly. She noticed the rose behind her ear, the same rose resting on her nightstand. Coryo and Lucy Gray seemed like an odd couple. It would be a funny scene if they weren't in a monkey cage.

"For sure," replied Y/N, ending the conversation. She said goodbye to Tigris and returned to her thoughtful book. Her stomach was churning; fear for Panem's future haunted her, and the sight of Coryo so close to another girl stirred a strange feeling. Holding hands, smiling, it was a strange scene for her, even though she was used to seeing the boy being friendly with everyone. Something about Lucy Gray made her feel a flutter in her stomach. Her disposition, beauty, irreverence, friendliness, courage, and the ability to capture young Snow's attention.

A week later, Y/N found Sejanus in the academy corridor and sat beside him.

"How's the mentoring going?" she asked, her interest genuine, knowing that mentoring for the Hunger Games was not something Sejanus embraced with enthusiasm.

"Not very well."

"Why?" she inquired, aware that there was more behind Sejanus's downcast expression.

"Marcus... he was my classmate before I came here. We weren't exactly friends, but we weren't enemies either. One day, I caught my finger in the door, and he grabbed snow from the window sill to try to reduce the swelling. He didn't even ask the teacher; he just went and did it. And now I'm his mentor. And he's going to win. Anyone would be happy with him."

Y/N was speechless in the face of the emotional burden Sejanus shared. Acting on instinct, she hugged him, seeking to offer some comfort in the face of the distress they shared. Two minutes passed, and the hug seemed to alleviate some of the tension in Sejanus.

"Sejanus, we need to end the Games. We need to free Panem," Y/N whispered, paranoid that someone might overhear. "All of this is madness."

"I know. What are we doing? Putting children in an arena to kill each other? It's wrong in so many ways. Animals protect the young of their species, don't they? We do too. We try to protect the children! It's part of us as human beings. Who really wants to do this? It's not natural!" Sejanus vented, and for the first time in a month, Y/N felt the urge to just listen. Normally, it was she who freaked out about this. She felt lighter. "It's cruelty. It goes against everything I believe is right in the world. I can't be part of this."

"Don't do anything you might regret later, Sejanus. We're few against many. We need a plan, something smart. We have to think calmly. Don't be impulsive. Don't put yourself in danger. The Capitol is treacherous." Y/N spoke as if she were uttering a small prayer for Sejanus to absorb every word. It was advice she repeated to herself as a motto.

"Y/N..." Sejanus began. There was no time to finish the sentence because Coriolanus interrupted the conversation.

"Satyria is waiting for us for the seminar, Sejanus," said a stern Snow, noticing the proximity between Sejanus and Y/N. "Hurry up." Coryo didn't even look into Y/N's eyes. He seemed resentful.

The tension in the air revealed the complicated dynamic between the three. The unspoken words echoed through the academy corridors, and Y/N knew that, in the face of uncertainties and imminent dangers, her decisions would shape the fate of Panem.

"JERK." Y/N was furious about how the boy had treated her earlier. "Snow always falls on top of everything. Maybe it's time for him to fall, stumble, and hit his face on the ground to learn not to be so arrogant." Y/N murmured to herself, lying on her bed, replaying the morning scene.

_____________________________

Hi guys, I'm finally on vacation from college. I will be able to update here more frequently. I will post the next chapter when we reach 60 likes on the fic. And also thanks for the votes <3 I KNOW THIS ONE IS SHORT SORRY I will compensate in the next with a lot of FLUFF.

Taglist: @shari-berri@h-l-vlovesvintage@tea-bobba@daenerysqueenofhearts @commanderfreethatdust @glxzillx

TAGLIST AND REQUESTS ARE OPEN!!!!!

[mrs-willow]

"A Raven and a Falcon"

Chapter 3

The wind and the rain were still raging when Lillian woke in the morning. Still, it was said that her chambers remained the warmest throughout the winter. The ornate rugs and tapestries that covered the girl's chambers brought a certain warmth to the room, as did the unique furniture adoring the connecting study and breakfast room. A soft blue was subtly included within all the furnishing, leaving the girl's chambers as a reminder of the House Arryn colors. Stacks of books littered the desk and tables throughout the room, as well as pages of notes from the girl's lessons with her septas. 

Lillian's eyes slowly blinked open and were greeted with yet another dark morning. Overnight, the hard rain had turned into the first snow of the winter, blanketing the castle and the surrounding mountains. The snow seemed to even muffle the raging winds whipping around the fortress, leaving an unfamiliar quiet in the halls and corridors. 

The girl reached her hands above her head, shoulders, and back, popping as she tried to wake herself for the day. Bringing her fingers to her face, she attempted to rub the sleep from her eyes as a soft knock came from the chamber door as her handmaid entered the room. 

Growing in discomfort, Lillian raised her head to meet her friend. 

“Good morning, my lady,” Sarah greeted. 

With a rather unladylike grunt, Lillian returned the greeting. “Why must I make these mornings so difficult for myself, Sarah?”

“I assume you were reading until odd hours once again, my Lady.” Sarah scolded, “I told you those dreadful bags under the eyes need good sleep to disappear.”

“Oh, how terrible!” Lillian sighed with an eye roll. Perhaps my eye bags will deter my father from offering me up like a cow to the first Lord who comes knocking on our gate.”

“Oh, hush, my Lady. Do not begin the day with that atrocious attitude,” Sarah said with a smile. I will draw you a hot bath, and you’ll be good as new.”

With that, a small army of servant girls rushed into one of the adjourning rooms, beginning to fill the large wooden tub with steaming water. Sarah grabbed her Lady's hands and practically dragged her from the safety beneath the warm covers. Shrugging a blue satin robe over her simple sleep clothes, Lillian was led to the vanity so that Sarah could begin to brush through the mess the girls had become after a night of tossing and turning. The white shift Lillian wore for sleep did nothing for keeping the cold off her skin, if one studied the simple gown closely, they would see tiny blue flowers stitched around the neckline of the gown.

“Ouch!” Lillian exclaimed as Sarah tugged on a particularly hard knot.

“Oh hush,” the older woman sighed with her Lady's constant complaining in the mornings. “If you had agreed to let me type this long, beautiful hair up before bed, these rats would be few by morn.” 

“And I told you that those things hurt my neck,” Lillian started with a huff, tired of her close friend's annoying habit of being right about almost every problem that plagued the young girl. 

Sarah was only five years senior to Lady Lillian and yet filled the role of a daunting mother and caring sister, but mainly Lillian's closest friend aside from her siblings. The two had grown up together in the Eyrie, Sarah's mother being made to the late Lady Charlotte Arryn. The two mothers endured their daughters growing up as sisters and close friends. Lady Charlotte worried for her daughter in a family so dominated by men, ensuring that she and Sarah became confidants; the Lady felt that her daughter would never know loneliness in their secluded mountain fortress. 

As Sarah finally succeeded in working her comb through her Lady's hair, one of the younger maids announced that the bath was ready whenever Lady Arryn saw fit to enter. Sarah dismissed the other girls and began tying her friend's long, silky hair into the tight twists her Lady despised so much. 

If Lillian felt any discomfort, she did not state it, instead favoring the large window to her left. Through the window, Lillian could faintly make out the large pillars and steeples protruding from the mountain face that she called home. The sun had begun to peak through the thick clouds, allowing some light to illuminate the snow that had yet to stop falling. 

“Alright, my Lady,” Sarah announced. “Make haste before the water cools beyond comfort.”

Lillian rose from her perch at the vanity and shed her robe on the back for the chair she had previously worn. She hurried to the bathing chamber, barefooted, like a little girl still. Sarah quickly began unfastening the buttons that ran down Lillian's back as she watched her lady's smooth skin pimple from the cold. Once finished, Lillian allowed her dress to drop to the floor as she lept in the tub.

Sighing in content, she said, “What was it about the bath making me feel better?” 

With a small smile, Sarah began to wash the girl's arms and back, staying true to the Lady's preferred lily-scented soap. 

“What would you like to do today, my Ladys, after your lessons?” Sarah questioned. “Perhaps we should go to the garden and get reacquainted with winter.”

“That would be lovely,” Lillian stated, looking up at her friend. “It always looks so pretty this time of year.”

“Yes, but how I miss the flowers in spring and summer.” Sarah sighed, and Lillian nodded her head in agreement. 

Truthfully, few pretty things could withstand the climate this high in the mountains, save for a few scraggly small blooms. One plant that flourished, however, was a favorite of the late Lady Charlotte: a small white bloom called Edelweiss. The woman even wrote a song to sing to her children about it.

*. ⋆ ✧.·:·.* ☽ ･ ｡ﾟ･ ☾ *.·:·.✧ *. ⋆

As Lillian studied herself in the mirror after dressing for the day in a long sleeve light blue gown with white fabric poking from the sleeves and hemline. The girl truly couldn't believe that she would be turning eight and ten in a few short weeks, Sarah told her she was too harsh in her criticisms, but the young Lady truly believed she still resembled a scrawny child dressed in grown women's clothing. Sarah stood behind her, tying the two front pieces of her long hair into a simple ribbon at the back of her head. 

“Oh,” Sarah exclaimed, “Your brother wishes to take breakfast with you in his study.” I had nearly forgotten to send you there before your first lesson. 

“Excellent,” Lillian stated. I will finally be able to question him about that mysterious woman I saw him following around in the Capital.” 

As Lillian went to meet her eldest brother, her thoughts were dominated by her family, mainly the fact that they all seemed to be preparing for marriage. Caelan, Lillian's eldest sibling, had taken an immediate interest in the soft-spoken Tyrell girl he had met at the capitol a month ago. Lillian had spent a significant amount of time with the girl when she was not occupied with Caelan. The two got along wonderfully as they were only a year different in age, and she sensed a proposal would be announced shortly. Jasper, the second eldest son, resided at Storm's End with the Baratheons, studying strategy and war with his new wife's Lord Father and his council. Lillian's youngest sibling, Rhonnel, remained in the Eyrie but had already been promised to Lyanna Stark once they reached twenty. That left Lillian. No husband, no talk of marriage, no role in the family. She truly had no desire to marry, she understood that marriage was often not kind to women, yet, she still felt lonely up here in the castle in the mountains surrounded by people she had known since before she could walk. In truth, Lillian knew that proposals would be sent to her father the moment she came of age. As she reached her brother's chambers, the Lady prepared herself to properly interrogate her brother and urge him to bring Lady Tyrell to the Vale so that she might gain another friend in the secluded castle. 

Hearing the door to his study open without a proper announcement, Caelen greeted his sister without looking at the paper he was reading. 

“Sister,” he stated in a flat voice, “Still working on the manners I see.”

“Oh, whatever,” Lillian dismissed as she plopped down at the table, eyeing her breakfast hungrily. 

The two ate and talked about all manner of gossip in the Eyrie and in the Capitol, Lillian pressed the older man for news on his Lady in the Reach, which he refused to answer, and Caelan asked her about her lessons and what she had read recently. Finally, the two siblings' plates were empty, both content with a warm meal and good conversation. It was at this moment that Caelan began to grow restless and unable to meet his sister's eye. 

“Alright then,” Lillian said, “tell me the news you have been hiding all morning.”

The young Lord blinked at her, then sat back in his chair with a determined look in his eye. 

“Father and I spoke last night,” he began. 

The man paused, seemingly unable to vocalize his thoughts.

“You are…” Caelan took a breath, “You are to be married.”

Lillian stared at her brother with a slightly open mouth and shock in her eyes.

“He is Father's closest friend's eldest son, Lord Benjicot Blackwood of Reventree. We will ride west after your name day, and the ceremony will take place a month following our arrival.”

Still, Lillian said nothing. 

“He will be a good husband, Lil. I am told he is loved by everyone in the castle and that he can provide you with everything you have here and more.” Caelan reasoned, and he began to ramble, hoping for a reaction from his sister. 

“Lil-” Caelan started again.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND” Lillian screamed as she shot from her chair. “I KNEW IT, YOU ALL PLANNED TO SELL ME OFF THE MOMENT I REACHED EIGHTEEN,” she yelled as she paced the length of the room. 

“No, I will not have it.” the Lady declared as she billowed out of the room in search of her father. 

*. ⋆ ✧.·:·.* ☽ ･ ｡ﾟ･ ☾ *.·:·.✧ *. ⋆

Lord Robert Arryn was studying the stores the Castle had saved for winter when the door to the library burst open with a loud bang. 

“YOU PLAN TO MARRY ME TO THAT MAN!? A MAN I HAVE NEVER MET SAVE FOR WHEN I WAS A BABE, AND YOU DON’T EVEN THINK TO CONSULT ME BEFORE YOU SHIP ME OFF!?” Lillian lectured as she rushed to her father, ignoring the advisors scampering away from the two in an attempt to remain out of the line of fire. 

“Daughter, please-” Robert begged.

With a far-off look, Lillian finally slumped into a great chair as tears began to pool in her eyes. “You didn’t even ask me,” the girl whispered. I thought you would at least tell me before you accepted.”

Robert sighed in defeat and came to kneel at his daughter's feet, taking his small hands in his large war-torn ones, “Lord Blackwood is my closest friend, and he has taught his son that same honor. It was the best possible match for your daughter because I know that you will always be safe, provided for, and content. You may learn to love him, you may not, but he will never treat you as others treat their wives. He will not embarrass you or dishonor you, I know this because I have met the man many times and he is an exceeding reflection of his good Lord Father.” Robert reasoned. 

“Isn’t he ten years my senior?” the Lady asked with a small sniffle and a pleading look. 

“No daughter, only two,” Robert said. “You know I love you with all of my heart, but you cannot stay here forever. I have done my best to protect you from the real world by keeping you here until you turn eight and ten, but this is not the life I wish for you.”  Robert claimed. “You must leave this castle and see the land beside these mountains, meet new people, and make new friends.” 

“Yes, but must I be married to do all of that?” Lillian questioned as a tear rolled down her flushed cheek.

Robert raised his hand to wipe the wetness from her skin, “You know it is my dear. With a husband, you will be safe; when I am dead, I cannot protect you; this marriage ensures that you will be.” As the Lord rose from his kneeling position, he placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders. “This is the only man I will trust you with,” he stated. “Do you honestly think I could leave you with one of those southern boys?”

Lillian shook her head with a tired look in her eye. The girl rose from her seat, bid her father a soft apology, then returned to her chambers. When Sarah found her, she had reclaimed her place in bed and refused to leave her chambers or accept company for the rest of the day nor throughout the night.   

This is kinda what I imagine for the bedroom, just replace the red with light blue. Also, this is the dress, or dress.

[loserboyfriendrjl]

absolutely random headcanons about the marauders and valkyries again <3

sirius’ favourite flowers are roses, especially white ones

james was always really close to elderly people due to his parents being close in age with them. most of the elderly people he meets like him very much, due to him being “well-raised and respectful”

peter has really light-coloured eyes

remus has a big nose

lily loves anything vanilla. if it tastes like vanilla or smells like vanilla, she doesn’t care, she adores it. her favorite perfume is vanilla scented, too

marlene is an ugly crier

mary gets along really, really well with her siblings

james wanted to have a younger sibling when he was younger because he wanted someone to play with and take care of. peter turned into his little brother to him

dorcas hates warm weather, she loves the cold and winter

sirius does not get flustered, and he has no sense of shame either

peter has really faint freckles that only come out during the summer

mary’s absolutely a girl’s girl. she will help anyone who asks her for help, she will always give girls advice, and she always has hairties and anything else that someone might need in her bag

dorcas’ favorite plant is mint, and if she can add mint to her drinks, she will

marlene’s eyeliner never comes out straight. she always asks mary to help her do it to her

lily has a heart-shaped upper lip

remus is a loud as fuck sneezer. he will sneeze and startle everyone in the room

[yuurei20]

Jack Info Compilation part 1: Family and Hometown

Jack has a seven-year-old sister and 11-year-old (magicless) brother.

He says that his sister becomes jealous when he and his brother go skiing together on a local mountain, but he worries about her stamina, as he didn’t attempt the mountain for the first time himself until he was ten.

Jack says his brother is starting middle school this year and is “mouthing off more and more every day” despite how he used to follow him around everywhere he went. “But hey, it’s fun to go back and forth with a brother who’s got some bark.”

Jack said his sister once begged him to make her a flower crown, but after she “cried at how shoddy it turned out” he has “avoided making detailed stuff like that ever since.”

Jack says his two younger sibling used to make him his favorite food, pear compote, on his birthday and they play tag for six hours at a time.

On the subject of his hometown Jack says he has taken his siblings out camping in the woods a few times, would go fishing for pond smelt and, “The area I grew up in is all forests.”

There are many references to Jack’s hometown being cold and snowy: he mentions getting tan from skiing during winter break and racing a reindeer on a snowy mountain, saying, “Our winters are pretty snowy back at home, so I’m used to wearing hoods” and “I can’t stand hot weather.”

Ace assumes he is from Sunset Savanna in a vignette.

There is a mistranslation on NA where Deuce says Jack is “from a cold place that’s farther north than the Shaftlands.”

The original line is closer to, “You’re from a cold place in the northern part of the Shaftlands.” (NA will sometimes confuse the geography of the game, such as when NA-Riddle says the Queendom of Roses is landlocked in English, but on JP he is just saying that he lives inland. A grouping of islands in the shape of a rose, the Queendom of Roses is not landlocked.)

On the subject of his childhood Jack says, “I read a book in elementary school about pirates who sailed the seas and battled giant alligators. I thought the lead captain character was the best. I played pirates a lot back in those days. I’d put on a hat, wield a stick-saber, and go out with my friends in search of hidden treasure.”

Jack based his idea for Savanaclaw’s Halloween costumes on these childhood memories.

Werewolf lore seems to be a thing in Twst, with Jack saying that they are “the monsters that wolf-beast-people are said to turn into when they get possessed by the power of the full moon. Back home, they’d tell kids not to stay up too late or they’d turn into werewolves.”

[blackswallowtailbutterfly]

My Garden Flowers Part 6

All photos mine, unedited.

In order of appearance:

151. Canada Ginger (Asarum canadense) Not a ginger; the root just tastes like it. Flowers are springtime only and you miss them entirely if you don't get close to the ground!

152. Ohio Spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) Was able to get her by calling up one of the plant places I order from directly during the COVID years. Their usual boxsets weren't listed as available so I asked if they ever would be that year, as a repeat customer, and listed the plants of theirs that I'd like and they put it together for me! She's a morning flower only, but she's stunning.

153. Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) One of my very first. Grassy green foliage and cute little light blue bell-shaped flowers.

154. Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum) Well behaved for an aster. When she starts growing onto the sidewalk I ease her back into the bed and she stays.

155. Smallflower Columbine (Aquilegia brevistyla) You can eat these flowers too but she's not quite as profuse as her taller red cousin so I'll wait before trying one.

156. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) Considered much more well-behaved behaved than her cousin the common milkweed, and therefore favoured in garden settings, I find she's not nearly as fragrant, but her flowers are stunning. In spite of her name she's quite drought tolerant. And while she doesn't spread by rhizome (well-behaved), she does seed prolifically. But like her common cousin, her young pods, young shoots, and flower clusters are edible cooked!

157. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) She moves around. Died back in the area I initially planted her but has popped up in several places nearby and considerably further away. Her dried flowerheads still smell amazing after the winter if you give them a squeeze.

158. Wild Geranium (Geranium maculata) A beautiful plant from spring to fall. Her foliage is roundy in the early spring and then she has these wonderful pink flowers against the dark green of her leaves. After the flowers are done the foliage is still interesting, and then it turns red in the fall.

159. Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata rugosa) Not technically native to the area and can't survive the winter, but grown here long before colonization. She makes a rather handsome garden plant in my opinion.

160. Purple Poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) Just a strikingly beautiful groundcover for a dry area.

161. Smooth Rose (Rosa blanda) She doesn't bloom very often and suckers very slowly, but a non-aggressive rose is exactly the sort I need for property that isn't mine.

162. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) Beloved of the bumblebees, and I like to use her in flavouring my pies.

163. Redroot Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexa) Not pictured as I don't have pictures yet. Not sure if she reseeded this year. I rescued her from a fallow area and she has reseeded at least once, so we'll see.

164. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) Not pictured as I don't have pictures yet. Also one I rescued from a fallow area. I don't know why so many people don't like purslane. She's a cute succulent groundcover in my opinion, and a nice snack too.

165. Crowfoot Violet (Viola pedata bicolor) Not pictured as I don't have pictures yet.

166. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) The only one I planted without any known food use--it's poisonous--but purely because I saw a picture in David Attenborough's The Secret Life of Plants and always wanted one.

167. Wild Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) Beautiful flowers and tasty all around. What more could one want?

168. Field Thistle (Cirsium discolor) The parent of that field thistle, which appears to be dead in both halves, sadly, though her younger siblings are still alive. Her flowers are quite lovely and I do hope to see them in the garden next year if they don't get cut too.

169. Canada Milk Vetch (Astragalus canadensis) Interesting yellow-green flowers become deceptively inviting bean-looking fruits, but those don't have a known edible use. Other parts do, though.

170. Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium) I can't remember if she's named as such because she was used to treat snakebites back in the day or if her flowerhead kind of looks like snake's rattle. Anyway she's interesting.

171. Compass Plant (Silphium laciniata) Not pictured because she hasn't made a flowerstalk yet. Must be young. Her relative the cup plant has been flowering reliably every year.

172. Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) Not pictured as I haven't got any pictures yet.

173. Rough Blazing Star (Liatris aspera) A very drought-tolerant blazing star species. Not quite as showy as dense blazing star but a nice tall plant for the back of a sunny garden.

174. Blanketflower (Gaillardia xgrandiflora) A hybrid with one parent native to here and the other out west. Not sure if she's fertile or not. Got her because I needed another plant for the minimum order and she looks nice enough not to be mistaken for a weed.

175. Graceful Cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis) Flowering in her first year in the garden! She's hopefully going to form a groundcover in a relatively short period, over which her flowerstalks will sway in the breeze.

176. Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) Glad I got pictures before the landlord cut her. (:

177. Wild Savoury (Clinopodium arkansana) Not pictured as I don't have pictures yet.

178. Small-Leaved Pussytoes (Antennaria parvifolia) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

179. Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium nigrescens) Not pictured as I haven't seen any flowers yet.

180. Red Elder (Sambucus pubens) Not pictured as she hasn't flowered yet.

[novemberhope]

Soooo… guess here are my current obsessions One Piece OCs

@auxiliarydetective I did give it a try… not everything is final yet. Might not be a great introduction like this but it was fun to do and if anyone has different questionaires (or whatever they're called) just tag me.^^

Ideas, criticism, inspiration, all is welcome :) I've never so openly done this tbh

Animal Resemblances Neri: Betta Fish Niara: Emerald Swallowtail Azura: Arctic Fox Cordelia: Bombay Cat Ellaria: Splendid Fairy Wren (Not 100% sold on that yet but it will be a beautiful bird) Ginny: Leopard Seal (looks cute but could actually kill you)

Specific Numbers Neri: 5/1/4 (ka – i - yo) (her last name) Niara: 22 (ni - a) Azura: 26 (a - tsu - ra) (eh, close enough^^) Cordelia: 5 10 0 2 (Ko - da - lei - a) (lol again close enough - but the many numbers look weird, this one might definitely change in the future?) Ellaria: 3-6-1 (Mirai = future) (it's a vision thing - but might also change if her name happens to fit better when she eventually gets one) Ginny: undefined yet

Specific Colors Neri: turquoise, light blue Niara: pale green, pale pink Azura: white, gold Cordelia: black, red Ellaria: white, grey, silver, very pale colors Ginny: a fiercy, angry red

Specific Smells Neri: ocean breeze, salt water Niara: apple & honeysuckle Azura: citron Cordelia: amber Ellaria: jasmine Ginny: honey & rose

Favourite Type of Island and Season Neri: summer on a spring island Niara: spring on a summer island Azura: winter on an autumn island Cordelia: autumn on an autumn island Ellaria: spring on a winter island Ginny: spring on a spring island

Favourite Food Neri: Seafood Niara: icecream, watermelon, blueberry pancakes, cupcakes Azura: oysters, shellfish, salad, filet mignon Cordelia: sunday roast, fried shrimp, spicy food Ellaria: Mushrooms, coffee, asian cuisine Ginny: strawberries, meat, soup

Least Favourite Food Neri: greasy food, meat, alcohol Niara: most vegetables Azura: fast food, cheap food, candy, cake Cordelia: lentils, fish sandwiches, anything with pumpkin Ellaria: fried foods, asparagus, ketchup Ginny: rhubarb, olives, brussels sprouts, eggplant

As a Family Neri: the adopted sister that comes from an entirely different culture Niara: cheerful youngest sister, always getting into mieschief Azura: the wine aunt Cordelia: oldest sister, often annoyed at her younger siblings but quick to defend them/come to their rescue Ellaria: the mother Ginny: (distant?) cousin

Real-World Nationalities Neri: Danish (as Denmark is associated with the little mermaid) Niara: Dutch (the Netherlands are described as the country of flowers and her devil fruit power is flower-based, so…) Azura: English-Irish (the latter shines through when she's drunk…) Cordelia: Italian Ellaria: Japanese Ginny: Scottish

Inner Brain Neri: probably lot's of excitement over various things that are happening around her or that she wants to give a try Niara: having fun with her friends, pretty things she likes, crushes (well one crush in particular) Azura: is annoyed at stuff and/or people half of the time so that's in her head a lot. Also, training. Cordelia: work hard, party harder, looking hot while doing both Ellaria: the fate of the world, secrets Ginny: training, anger, distrust, more anger

Suited Flower Neri: water iris Niara: sunflower Azura: white lily Cordelia: amaryllis Ellaria: tall garden larkspur Ginny: fire plant

Are they Strawhats? Neri: yes Niara: joins after the timeskip The others: no Azura: is a warlord of the sea Cordelia: works at a bar - it would be a different bar in cannon but she could keep her overall story I guess - might have to join a crew at some point though otherwise the characters would move on without her Ellaria: is with the revolutinary army (at least for some part of her story) Ginny: is with the revolutinary army

Ideas that first popped into my mind when certain OCs came to exist… Neri: it's a show about pirates, there's GOT to be a mermaid Niara: I want a character that uses a devil fruit mmmh what about plants/flowers (strangely enough, none of my pokemon oc's ever cared much about the grass type lol) Azura: I want a cool sword fighting lady Cordelia: I want a hot fierce type of character that looks good in black and that doesn't take anyone's crap Ellaria: came into the picture much later, I only recently decided somewhat on her looks, only things I know for sure is pale green eyes and can sort of see the future. Might never make it into any kind of story but she popped into my mind so here we go. Ginny: falls into the category "looks cute but can probably kill you".

Made some Picrew of them coz I saw other creators doing that

Neri:

Niara: (fun fact, she's currently one of my favorites)

Azura:

Cordelia:

Ellaria: (I'm almost certain I'm gonna keep the color palette and probably the hair...)

Ginny: (not her final look probably but I kinda want to keep the scars idk)

I took her pictures out because I decided on a different look for her. She will be a redhead now. She definitely has a scar or two on her face.

Bonus: A picture drawn by @indig0pearl featuring Neri and her own OC, Sora, as well as Nami, Robin, Chopper, and three of our friends (here also draw as OCs - yes the alpaka is one of them, she ate a devil fruit^^)

[simtrovart]

The 🌹 Family

I've been playing with this family for a while & sure, if you are familiar with my previous story with The Ilkay's, you might find some resemblances between the characters.. as I miss that save. I can assure you, they are not really the same. Below you will find a little description of them. The Rose family is a beautiful blend of vibrant personalities and talents, each member contributing their own unique flair to their family dynamic. At the heart of it all is Mikaela Rose, a nurturing mother who cultivates beauty not only in her flower arrangements but also in the warmth she brings to her family's home. As a skilled florist, she infuses their living space with the fragrant essence of her creations, fostering an atmosphere of love and creativity. Stephen Rose, the family patriarch, is a master in the kitchen, crafting culinary delights that tantalize the taste buds of patrons at his restaurant in Tartosa. His passion for food is evident in every dish he prepares, and he takes pride in providing not only for his family but also for the community through his culinary expertise. Their daughters, Winter and Autumn, add their own distinct colors to the family palette. Winter, the younger of the two, is a bundle of energy and charisma. An outgoing extrovert, she thrives in social settings, effortlessly making friends wherever she goes. Her zest for life is infectious, bringing joy and laughter to those around her. In contrast, Autumn, the older sibling, possesses a quiet grace and introspective nature. While she may be a bit socially awkward at times, she finds solace and expression through the gentle melodies of the family piano. Lost in the world of music, she discovers her true self, navigating the complexities of adolescence with the soothing rhythm of each key she plays. Despite their differences, the Rose family is bound together by love, understanding, and mutual respect. They celebrate each other's strengths and support one another through life's challenges, creating a home filled with warmth, harmony, and the sweet fragrance of love.

[achaotichuman]

My mutual told me to post something interesting so we here we go.

Beron/Tamlin/Elain.

Tamlin and Beron meet for diplomatic reasons aka Beron is planning to siege Spring and Tamlin’s caught onto his plans.

Elain is desperate for her mortal life back, but knows she can’t have it. She settles on finding power where she knows she’ll find it.

Goes to Autumn, demands to speak to Beron. She gets an audience with Beron and Tamlin.

Beron is about to cast her aside because what would the flower girl know about power.

Tamlin wants to hear her out.

Elain tells her tragic tale, she wants to find control and power over herself and the people who have wronged her then put her in the box of being the ‘empty headed flower girl who will just end up someone’s wife.’

Tamlin resonates with her story. He was a younger sibling only regarded as the spare son who his father tried to use for a marital alliance with Amarantha, obviously he refused.

Tamlin agrees to work with Elain. Now Beron wants in after he hears about Elain’s seering powers and how she’s been secretly learning to control them.

Anyway, plot plot plot etc etc, Elain Tam and Beron take over Hybern, they fuck on Hybern’s throne. Elain meets with Vallahan’s Court and gets them to agree to an alliance after promising to seer for them (she never said she had to be truthful in what she told them she saw in her visions so yay loophole Vallahn is now under their thumb)

Yada yada yada, they fuck in the Spring manor on the throne. Lucien catches them, yada yada yada screaming fighting, broken bonds and angst.

Tamlin’s runs after Lucien, they fight, Tamlin convinces Lucien he deserves to take back power too. Eventually convincing Lucien to the dark side.

Blah blah blah Lucien uses his lineage in Day to kill Helion and take over the Court, they siege Winter and Dawn. By now Tamlin has convinced Tarquin he also deserves to take back power now Summer is on their side.

Blah blah blah, they walk dramatic style into the Night Court. Lucien, Vassa and Jurian burn Velaris to the ground. Rhysand is executed, the IC is imprisoned. Beron, Elain and Tamlin fuck on the Night Courts throne.

The end, I just made this up, so sorry if none of it makes any sense.

@fell-in-luvs was this interesting enough for you?

[deluxewhump]

Lawrenceville Baptist

III - Sam Morgan

Prev

CW: gun, drugs and alcohol, mentions of murder, some misogynistic language, codependent qualities in a sibling relationship

Paulo had slipped from one bad dream into another. This one was stranger to him than the first, though probably safer. He was being housed by a family called the Sullivans, who belonged to the church that had found him on the rural winter road where he’d been left unconscious.

Their names were Glen and Tabby, and he’d seen very little of them since coming to their farm. The house was a one story ranch that reminded him of another decade with its flowered curtains, glass shelves full of memorabilia, beige wall-to-wall carpet, and framed sepia pictures of dead grandparents. The house was four miles from the main road, on an unmarked lane narrow enough you had to pull onto the shoulder if another car came from the opposite direction.

From what he had seen on the drive from the Lawrenceville Baptist church, the road wound through empty woods and fields, dotted intermittently by other residences that belonged to other church members. They called themselves close knit, but the sense he got so far was of isolation, both from any urban area and from each other. As they’d driven him out, each house seemed to him an island, or an outpost, lonely and silent.

The older Sullivan boy, Jesse, left the house most mornings to go to various job sites, where he worked for a local contractor. The younger Sullivan, Peter, was a senior at Cheshire highschool. He woke up early to catch a ride with Jesse if he was headed that way, or even earlier to catch the school bus into town if not. “Town” was Cheshire, fifteen miles away. It was the nearest anything— grocery store, school, gas station. There was nothing out here but the little church, and the houses that dotted the woods and fields.

After the night he almost froze to death in the barn, the Sullivan boys let him sleep on the living room sofa. Mr Sullivan was often gone for a week or two at a time for work, and Paulo began to wonder if Mrs Sullivan didn’t have a covert drug or alcohol problem with how little she would come out of her bedroom during those periods.

One morning, he got bold enough to make a pot of coffee for himself. He was contemplating taking a page from Mrs Sullivans book and just turning on the TV when there was a knock at the door. He didn’t think he was in any position to answer it, but Tabby didn’t come out of her bedroom, no matter how loud and insistent the knocking got. He couldn't see a vehicle from the front window. Fear curled in his belly like a snake. Was it the police, come to hand him over to his rightful custodians? Why would they come back for him after leaving him for dead like that in the cold?

He opened the door just enough to peek through. It wasn’t a cop or a social worker on the other side, but Samson. His eyes seemed to shine like ice, squinting against the sun. He had on a beanie that pushed his golden brown hair down around his ears in their tight curls. “Hey,” he said, as friendly as if they had never met and he wanted to give a good first impression.

Paulo went to close the door but Sam had already stuck his foot in its path. “Woah,” he laughed. “I don’t know where you’re from but around here that’s considered rude. As. Fuck.”

“What do you want?” Paulo asked, annoyed that his heart was pounding this hard over a barely-out-of-highschool bully. He’d dealt with people that would eat this kid for lunch.

“I want to make up for the other day. I want to make it up to you.”

Paulo barely heard himself laugh. It wasn’t what he’d expected to hear. The moment Sam moved his shoe he would slam the door shut, without hesitation or falling victim to curiosity on what he might say next.

“Your fly is unzipped,” he tried ridiculously, hoping in a moment of reflex the other boy might lift his shoe from where it was jamming the door open. Sam just kept smiling, all those blunt white teeth. “C’mon. I’m serious, I come in peace. I'll bring you back in an hour.”

“From where?”

“Just a cruise. No destination. I swear on my mother I’m not gonna hurt you. I thought maybe you had questions, and I could answer them.”

“About what?”

Sam shielded his eyes from the winter sun so he didn’t have to squint so hard. “This place. The church. The Sullivans. Me. Whatever.”

“Do I have a choice?”

Sam raised his eyebrows. Paulo guessed he wasn’t used to someone being so blunt about it. He supposed he shouldn’t behave like a pet, like prey. He was just used to it.

“I mean sure,” Sam shrugged, like his feelings were hurt. “Not very neighborly of me, what I did to you the other day. I hoped you’d give me a chance to set it right. I mean it was all in good fun, of course. You know that. Right?”

Paulo wouldn’t give an answer.

“I was a little messed up, I got carried away. In retrospect I see how not cool it was. That’s really clear to me now, trust me. I’ve got a handle on it though, I’m not doing that stuff anymore. I wasn’t going to hurt you. Not really.”

“Sure,” he shrugged, just to get him to stop.

“C’mon, a quick ride. I’ll show you Cheshire.”

Paulo took Peter’s coat off the rack and followed Sam reluctantly to an ancient Toyota pickup.

The ride into town was undeniably beautiful. It had snowed, and all the bare spots and hard packed ice were covered with a pillowy, glittering coat of white. The sky was a washed out, glasslike blue. They made their way east , the yellow divider line in the road almost completely invisible from salt and gravel. Sam’s heater melted the snow off his shoes and wetted a crushed pack of Camels on the floorboard.

“So?” Sam asked. “Whatcha got for me?”

“Huh?” he asked before remembering and hurrying to correct himself. “Oh. Questions?”

He tried to think. He didn’t want to ask anything too invasive, or seem rude or ungrateful. He was sure whatever he asked would get back to the Sullivan brothers.

“Ok, you’re shy. I get it. Me too. I’ll just start us off. I’m Samson Morgan. You know Jesse and Peter Sullivan. Peter used to be a Gatcomb, but they are, uh, no more, rest in peace.”

Sam was trying to bait his curiosity. Paulo watched sun warmed snow drop from telephone wires as they passed. “What’s that mean?” he asked mildly.

“Pete’s adopted. Family died in a house fire. Probably grandpa’s cigarette. I dunno. They were from Pittsburgh. The Sullivans wanted another kid I guess, couldn’t have one. The Pastor did a sermon about some adopted kid one day, real tear jerker, it gave Tabby the idea… and now there’s Pete.”

“How old was he?”

“I dunno, like twelve or thirteen? Most people want babies, she wanted an older kid, thought it would blend better with the family. He and Jesse are attached at the hip. It’s weird, everyone knows it’s weird, no one says shit though because A, it’s boring by now and B, Jesse will stroke out and beat the shit out of anyone who makes fun of Peter in any way. Especially about him and Peter. So word to the wise, don’t mention it. Peter knows how to hide it better in public now though.”

Who cares? He thought. Peter's whole family died. Why would they begrudge him having someone? The empty fields were becoming more populated with farms and houses. It seemed like each driveway had a pickup in it with a plow attached, like a sentinel. Barns like the one he’d spent a night in before the Sullivan boys took pity on him sat behind the houses. They either had a shiny new tin roof and fresh coat of paint or were dilapidated, half collapsed.

“There's Cheshire High,” Sam said, pointing up a steep hill topped with a long brick building. “Jesse and I graduated last year.”

“Jesse works for a contractor, right?”

Sam seemed pleased Paulo was engaging. “Dover County Builders.”

“What do you do?”

His face faltered for a millisecond, and then he affected an air of bored apathy. “Oh, I’m getting far away from this shithole.” He stopped his truck at a red light. “I got into Penn State no problem, but I decided to take a gap year. It’s more for my family than for me, really.”

“Do you work in Cheshire?” he asked innocently.

“You could say that,” Sam grinned, looking at him sidelong as if deciding something before reaching into the center console and pulling out a can of Skoal chewing tobacco. He handed it to Paulo, who turned it over awkwardly before popping it open and being hit with the overpowering smell of pot. He closed the lid. “Oh.”

“Just weed,” Sam said, as if he had asked if he sold heroin, too. “And I mean, some molly or mushrooms or whatever when I’ve got it.”

Paulo handed the can back.

“I don’t sell anything harder than that, though. Maybe Xanax, Adderall, whatever. Vyvanse. There was a guy I knew of around here you could get other shit from but he uhh, disappeared a year or so ago.”

“Disappeared?”

“Yeah, him and his car. Never found him. It was the same time, the same weekend actually, they found Jasmine Black in the cemetery. Did Peter tell you about her? Jesse still probably won’t talk about it.”

“No.”

“Jesse was dating this girl, Jasmine. Brunette, maybe five three, no tits whatsoever, but she was smoking hot anyway, you know how with some of them it just doesn't matter? So she turns up dead in the cemetery last fall around Halloween, stabbed like twenty some times, head caved in, really fucked up. The same weekend, Charlie, or Evan— he went by his middle name over Washington county for some reason— disappeared, and they never found him. There is still not even a shred of evidence he took off and went somewhere else, or that his car was stolen and he was shot or something… just nothing.”

“Is he a suspect?”

“Oh yeah. Big time. I mean, there was no other reason I ever heard of why he would need to skip town like that. And it's not like he was rich, it’d be a pain in the ass to get reestablished somewhere else without your reputation, your network, you know. So yeah, I mean maybe Charlie killed her and took off. They couldn’t connect them with her phone records but, duh, dude’s a drug dealer, he’s got a burner. Either way, Jasmine was an honor student, everybody loved her, church girl, all that. It was a whole thing around here. She didn’t go to our church, but one here in Cheshire. Presbyterian, I think.”

“That church is really a big thing for your families, isn't it?”

“Oh, could you tell?” Sam grinned over at him. If he hadn’t already made it so clear he was a psycho, Paulo would probably be drawn to his easy chattiness, his quick smile and golden Peter-Pan curls. “What about you? You’re probably Catholic, right?”

“Why do you say that?”

“Your name. What is that, Italian?”

“I was born in Oregon.”

“Oh. But really, are you bought in? They’re gonna try to get you saved and baptized, washed in the blood of the lamb, all that.”

“Isn’t that what you were trying to do the other day?”

“I was just kidding, I told you. I don’t give a shit about any of that stuff. I just go because it keeps the peace, and all the girls there are super repressed and horny. And look… I’m sorry. I’m sorry I dunked your head in horse water. That was not cool. But I was trying to get a rise out of Jesse, because he’s been so fucking lame ever since Jasmine was killed. And I wanted to see what Pete would do. He’s dying to be a good little Christian so that everyone will love him and accept him and forget he’s adopted. It’s sad.”

“He told me it wasn’t my fault,” Paulo said. They were driving past a cemetery with an iron gate and he wondered if this was the one they’d found that girl in last year. “Peter.”

“But yet he didn’t try to stop me,” Sam wrinkled his nose. “Have the courage of your convictions, you know? I can take just about any crazy thing from anyone, but I hate a hypocrite.”

Paulo didn’t buy this backpedaling reasoning for a second, of course. What Sam was saying was ostensibly true about Peter, and Jesse, but it wasn’t the reason Sam had done what he did. He did it because he saw an opportunity to, and he liked it. He enjoyed himself. Sam might be able to fool his church and the Sullivans and whoever else, but Paulo knew exactly how that looked and felt on someone.

“Are you ever afraid a deal will go wrong?” he asked. “Or that someone will try to claim your turf?”

He was giving Samson an opportunity to grandstand, and he took it without a second thought. “Who?” he said with a smile. “These incompetent hicks?” He pulled up his flannel outershirt to reveal a holstered handgun.

“SIG P365.” He patted it fondly and let his shirt fall back down. “Don’t worry,” he winked. “You’re in good hands.”

He thought Sam would ask him questions now about his time as a pet-slave, quid pro quo for all the information he’d just given him.

But he never did.